By Steve Bigham

The best way to open up your own tournament is with a win – and that’s just what the Newtown Babe Ruth 12-year-old All Stars did with an 11-1 decision over New Milford in the first round of the Newtown Invitational Baseball Tournament.

The All Stars got off to an immediate hot start with five runs in the first inning, taking advantage of hits from Steve Vichiola, Max Rojo, Seth Hull and Alex Dolan. In the third inning, Newtown extended its lead to 7-0 as Alex Meisel, Ben Striano and Dolan all collected key hits.

Vichiola, Larson, Hull and Meisel each stroked a hit in a four-run, fourth inning explosion that put the game away for Newtown.

Meanwhile, Vichiola, Dolan and David Modzelewski shared time on the mound and shut New Milford down.

Things got a bit tougher for Newtown on Tuesday night, however, as the All Stars dropped a 6-4 decision to West Norwalk. Hull and Meisel each had a pair of hits, but it was a pair of hits by a player on West Norwalk which really made the difference.

“One guy hit two 300 foot homeruns that essentially won the game for them. The kid must have been 190 pounds,” noted head coach Jack Vichiola.

Newtown was scheduled to face an old nemesis, Bethel, on Wednesday (weather permitting). Bethel defeated Newtown by one run in the Babe Ruth District 4 Tournament a little over a week ago. The locals also lost a one-run decision to New Fairfield in bowing out of the tourney with two quick losses.

“Both of those games were heartbreakers,” said coach Vichiola. “We easily could have won them.”

This week’s Newtown tournament will hold its playoffs Thursday night with the championship game to be held Saturday.