HAMDEN – With just two players returning from the defending state championship softball team, the Newtown Babe Ruth 10-year-old All Stars nevertheless earned itself another trip to the New England Regionals with a second-place finish at the Connecticut Babe Ruth State Tournament last weekend at Bassett Park in Hamden.

The Hawks suffered a 15-9 loss to Stamford in the tournament finals.

The Hawks will be traveled to Milford, New Hampshire, for a Friday, July 25, contest against the New Hampshire state champion (first pitch is slated for 3:30 pm). The tournament runs through Sunday, July 27.

“I am proud of the way the girls performed this weekend,” said coach Nancy Bowen. “We only had two players (Katie Bowen and Ally Modzelewski) return from last year’s state championship team, but the firls have been working very hard and their efforts were rewarded.”

In the Connecticut Babe Ruth State Tournament, the Hawks opened with a win over Hamden (13-6) before dropping their first decision to Stamford (16-1). A win over Norwalk (12-0) in the loser’s bracket vaulted the Hawks into the championship finals.

Modzelewski was 2-for-4 with an RBI single while Stephanie Suhoza banged out an RBI double and Paige Woodhouse added an RBI single. Stephanie Suhoza scored a pair of runs while Taylor Johnson (2B), Modzelewski (SF), Rachael Ruiz (1B) and Woodhouse (RF) sparked the defense. Bowen pitched three strong innings and whiffed five batters.

In the win over Hamden that opened the tournament, Stephanie Sanchez combined with Modzelewski and Bowen on the mound for the win. Bowen and Sanchez combined for 11 strikeouts in four innings of work while Modzelewski relieved in the fourth with the bases loaded and whiffed the Hamden batter.

Bowen was 3-for-4 with a triple and six RBI while Modzelewski had two singled. Suhoza also singled while Johnson, Kelly Burton, and Jackie Kissack scored two runs apiece.

In the first loss to Stamford, Ruiz doubled in Modzelewski for the Hawks’ only run. Suhoza also singled. Ruiz (SS), Bowen (SF) and Nicole Elias (1B) all sparkled on defense.

And in the win over Norwalk, Bowen pitched three near-perfect innings, striking out eight batters. Modzelewski was solid, relieving in the fourth, while Ashley Kuligowski made a strong fielding play and combined with Suhoza, at the plate, to prevent a Norwalk run from cross the plate.

Ruiz doubled and Kuligowski singled to spark the offense. Burton, Brooke Fell, Elias, Sanchez and Kissack all scored runs. For the tournament, Suhoza (.428 average, .666 on base percentage) led the team in hitting while Modzelewski (.400 average, .666 on base percentage) was equally as strong. Ruiz (.636 on base), Joyhnson (.625 on base) and Burton (.625) were also tough outs.

And Bowen (.727 on-base percentage) was named the tournament MVP for her overall performance.

Regular Season

The Hawks squad rolled to three wins in its first four regular season games. The locals defeated Bethel (16-1), Brookfield (17-3) and Redding (11-1) while falling to Cheshire (6-2).

In the win over Brookfield, Modzelewski (four strikeouts), Sanchez (four strikeouts) and Bowen (five strikeouts) combined on the mound for the win. Kuligowski, Ruiz and Woodhouse each ripped singles for Newtown. Right fielder Fell had the defensive play of the game as she threw out the batter at first base taking away single to right. Kissack, Burton and Johnson each scored two runs for the Hawks.

In the win over Redding, the Hawks banged out 12 hits. Bowen (3-for-3), Ruiz (2-for-3) and Modzelewski (2-for-4) led the offense. Kuligowski, Woodhouse, Sanchez, Johnson and Elias also collected hits. Bowen, Modzelewski, Sanchez, Elias, and Woodhouse (five strikeouts in two innings) combined on the mound to whiff 15 batters.

In the win over Bethel, Modzelewski, Sanchez and Bowen combined on a no-hitter. Kuligowski was 3-for-5 with a pair of doubles and sparked the defense by throwing out a runner attempting to steal. Johnson and Taylor combined to score eight runs while Fell, Suhoza, Woodhouse and Bowen all had hits.

In the loss to Cheshire, Bowen whiffed 10 batters in six innings or work and was 3-for-3 at the plate … but it wasn’t enough. Woodhouse was 2-for-3 while Modzelewski, Kuligowski, and Fell had singles. Ruiz (behind the plate) and Suhoza (at second) made sparkling defensive plays.