Around The Horn — Bombers And Hawks Compete

Newtown Bombers’ and Hawks’ 10-year-old baseball highlights:

Fairfield American 8, Bombers 6: Sean Ferris and Robert Katrinak led the Bomber offense with two hits apiece in the loss to Fairfield. Trailing 4-0 in the fourth inning, the Bombers rallied for six runs to take the lead. Ferris led off the inning with a double down the third base line, Spencer Johnson hit a triple over the center fielder’s head scoring Ferris and, after two walks to load the bases, Matt Campbell hit a single to score two runs. Peter Winans then followed with a single of his own to plate two additional runs and Robert Katrinak concluded the scoring with single to right field. Fairfield came back in the bottom of the fourth with three runs and scored one more in the fifth to complete the scoring. Defensively, Campbell and Ryan Shaw made nice plays in the field.

Bombers 4, Monroe 2: Scott McLean was the hitting star of the game when he hit a bases-loaded single to lead the Bombers to victory. Shawn Fulton led off the top of the fourth inning with a single, stole two bases and scored the Bombers’ first run of the game on a passed ball to even the score at 1-1. In the fifth inning, the Bombers took the lead for good when Sean Ferris and Matt Campbell singled, Ryan Shaw walked and McLean hit a single to plate two runs. Shaw completed the scoring on a passed ball. Shaw, Spencer Johnson, and Dylan Tyrrell combined to pitch a two-hitter, including striking out eleven batters, while Brian Gallagher, Fulton, Ferris, Tyrrell and Johnson all made defensive plays.

Bombers 16, Brookfield 2: Sean Ferris led the hitting assault on Brookfield by pounding out four of the 17 hits collected by the Bombers in the victory. Shawn Fulton stroked three singles and scored three times, Spencer Johnson hit a pair of doubles, Scott McLean contributed two singles and Brian Gallagher roped a double plating two runs and also scored two runs. Ferris pitched two strong innings, allowing one run while striking out four batters, and Matt Campbell pitched an inning, striking out two. Dylan Tyrrell caught a fly ball in center field, Fulton caught a line drive back to the mound, McLean threw out a runner at first base, and Timmy LeBlanc caught a fly ball to end the game. The highlight of the game came when five players combined to successfully execute a rundown between first and second base when Gallagher’s throw from the catcher position beat the runner attempting to steal second and a pickle ensued.

Bombers 7, Brookfield 1: Timmy LeBlanc, Robert Katrinak, Brian Gallagher and Shawn Fulton combined to pitch a no-hitter to lead the Bombers over Brookfield for the second time this summer season. LeBlanc struck out five batters and Katrinak four batters over two innings apiece. Nick Rohrbacher, Sean Ferris, Gallagher and Katrinak caught fly balls while Peter Winans and Fulton successfully fielded ground balls for putouts. Winans hit a grounds rule double as he one-bounced a ball over the left center field fence and Ferris, Fulton and Dylan Tyrrell each collected doubles of their own.  Matt Campbell, Spencer Johnson and Rohrbacher each chipped in with singles.

Hawks 6, Bombers 1: In the battle of Newtown B teams, the Hawks slugged out the victory to avenge a loss from earlier in the season. The Hawks broke open a 1-1 game with 5 runs in the top of the fifth behind consecutive RBI triples by Geoff Santore and Brandon Hensel and a bases-loaded three-RBI double by Paul Whitaker. Hensel struck out nine batters and walked none in three innings on the mound and winning pitcher Santore faced the minimum nine batters in three innings.  For the Bombers, Ryan Shaw pitched three strong innings, striking out six Hawk batters to start the game, while Sean Ferris pitched a scoreless sixth inning. Ferris collected the lone hit and scored the only run for the Bombers. Brian Gallagher and Timmy LeBlanc caught fly balls while Nick Rohrbacher and Peter Winans had a putout apiece.

Bombers 7, New Milford 1: Spencer Johnson hit a inside-the-park grand slam home run and Peter Winans hit a two-run double to cap a six-run second inning to lead the Bombers over New Milford. Other offensive stars were Timmy LeBlanc with two hits and Sean Ferris, Matt Campbell and Shawn Fulton each with a hit. Johnson pitched three innings, allowing no runs on two hits while striking out six batters, and Dylan Tyrrell closed the game pitching two innings, allowing no runs on one hit while striking out three. Nick Rohrbacher, Brian Gallagher, Scott McLean, Campbell and Ferris each caught a fly ball.

Bombers 12, Southbury 4: Timmy LeBlanc and Brian Gallagher each had two hits, LeBlanc two doubles, to power the Bombers over Southbury. The Bombers played another exceptional game in the field by not committing any errors with multiple plays made by Robert Katrinak, Peter Winans, Scott McLean, and Matt Campbell. The pitching of Katrinak, Campbell, LeBlanc, Gallagher and Sean Ferris held Southbury to three hits. With the win, the Newtown Bombers improved to 11-5.

Hawks 11, Southbury 9: The Hawks scored nine runs in the top of the third to take a 9-2 lead and held on for victory in Route 84 league play. Brandon Hensel was 3-for-4 and picked up the save in relief. Other standouts for the Hawks were Paul Whitaker, Michael Liberante and Kelland Chrystie who had two hits apiece, and Tom Cotton who reached base in all three plate appearances and scored three runs.

Fairfield American 4, Hawks 3: Fairfield won a closely-contested game by striking out the last two Hawk batters with the bases loaded in the sixth inning. Geoff Santore was 2-for-3, including a double and two RBIs. Peter Clifford, Daniel Pearson, Kelland Chrystie and Tom Cotton had one hit apiece.

The Hawks are 7-6-1 this season and head into the season-ending, double-elimination tournament in Middlebury this week.