Softball Team Wins State Title, Heads To Regionals

The Newtown Hawks U12 Softball team played seven games and came out of the loser bracket to win the Babe Ruth Softball State Championship in Cheshire in mid July. The win sends the Hawks to Pittsfield, Mass for the regional tournament. 

On July 9, the Hawks beat Milford 12-0. Lauren Wilcox pitched four shutout innings, striking out ten and allowing only one hit. Haley Ryan had two hits and drove in a run, Caitlyn Linden had two runs batted in, Shannon Lynch drove a run, Kelly Merrick had a double, three RBI, and scored twice, and Sammie Strocchia scored once.

The Hawks had their hands full with Brookfield, and fell 9-7 in the second game of the day. Brookfield took advantage of every opportunity in a close game. Merrick and Lynch had great defensive games. Ryan had a single, two sacrifice bunts, and drove in a run. Linden went 3-for-3 and scored twice. Merrick had another great offensive game with a bases loaded triple and a double, and also scored once. Rylee Mulligan had a sac bunt to drive in a run.

In their third game of the day, the Hawks beat New Milford 13-1. Wilcox again was dominant, striking out nine batters. Tegan Doherty pitched a strong final inning to close out the win. Linden had a single and a double, scored twice, and had two RBI, and Ryan had two singles, two RBI, and scored twice. Wilcox also had two singles and scored twice. Katie Reilly had a single, drove in a run, and scored once. Cassidy Keller walked and scored; Mulligan had a base hit, two RBI, and scored two times.  Shannon Lynch had single and four RBI, and Doherty had a single and drove in a run.

On July 10, because of the loss to Brookfield, the Hawks came out of the loser’s bracket and had to play Milford again. In the tightest game of the tournament, the Hawks won 3-2 in extra innings. Isabella Luciano singled, and Mulligan pinch ran and stole second and third before scoring on an exciting play at home plate resulting from a passed ball. Wilcox again pitched six strong innings and Doherty came in to finish the job. Luciano had two singles, and Linden and Doherty also had a single apiece.

The Hawks then played Brookfield for the second time and had the momentum throughout a 15-1 triumph. Wilcox pitched three strong innings and Doherty tossed two. Linden went 5-for-5 with four singles and a double. She also had five RBI and scored once. Ryan had three singles, two RBI, and scored three times. Wilcox added to the offense with two singles and 2 RBI. Lynch had three singles, two RBI, two runs scored. Merrick had a single and an RBI and Keller had a single and scored twice. Reilly walked twice and scored both times. Doherty had a single and an RBI, and scored three times.

The Hawks now had to beat the undefeated Stamford team twice in order to win the tournament. Again, Newtown got out to an early lead and pulled off and impressive 10-1 victory to earn a winter-take-all matchup. Wilcox was unmerciful, pitching five shutout innings and Doherty was strong in relief. Wilcox also went 4-for-4 with three singles and a triple, an RBI, and three runs scored. Linden, having an incredible offensive tournament, had three singles and scored twice. Merrick had a double, two RBI, and scored once. Keller had a single, an RBI, and scored two times. Luciano added single and an RBI, and Reilly had a single and scored once. 

The victory setup a rematch between the two best tourney teams. Even after six games in the warm sun in a two-day period the Hawks still had plenty left in the tank. Head Coach Monica Mueller made all the right moves and provided endless encouragement as the Hawks beat Stamford 3-1 to win the championship.

Wilcox who pitched the first, second, fifth, and sixth innings, and Doherty pitched impressive third and fourth frames. Ryan had a single, sac bunt, and RBI, and scored once, and Merrick had two singles and scored once. Reilly and Luciano singled, Doherty singled and had an RBI, Lynch had a single and scored once, and Keller had a run batted in. The defense was very sharp in the game. Second baseman Ryan and first baseman Merrick were the dynamic duo, fielding the ball and getting the out at first repeatedly. Wilcox and Doherty also made great plays from their pitching positions. Reilly played a strong third base and Linden near perfect at short. Bella Luciano caught all four games on Sunday.  Mueller credited the determination and will of the U12 Hawks for the win.

The Hawks recognize the following sponsors for their support: Chuck Hull Landscaping, Home Quest Inspections, The Inn at Newtown, and Hawleyville Wines and Liquors.