Hawks’ Travel Softball Team Earns Second Place

The U10 Newtown Hawks’ travel softball team beat the heat and held it together to take second place in the Babe Ruth State Tournament held in New Milford, July 15-17.  

On Friday, the Hawks got off to a slow start and lost their first game in an upset to the Southbury Heat, 10-8. In the first inning Rachel O’Grady and Joy Metzger teamed up to drive in the first three runs, but Southbury returned fire and tied the score in the bottom of the inning. Abby Pereira went 2-for-3, and Julia Anderson ripped a double and drove in her first RBI with her first at bat with the team.

On Saturday, the beginning of the double elimination round, the Hawks’ offense rebounded and tore up the field with a 22-1 revenge victory against Southbury. The Hawks started off slowly with no runs in the first two innings but soon thereafter started pouring on the heat with seven runs in the fourth and 13 runs in the fifth. Allie Eurell held Southbury to only four hits. Shannon Cheh knocked in four runs, and Jacklin Gouveia, Rachel O’Grady and Zoe Beals each drove in three runs. Jaclyn Moccio, who drew three walks, was hit by a pitch, stole four bases, and scored four of the runs. 

In the second game of the day, against New Milford, the Hawks’ bats, still smoking after the Southbury game, continued to rip hit after hit en route to a 17-4 victory. In the second inning, Jacklin Gouveia got the delayed steal sign and stole home following the throw back to the pitcher from the catcher. Tess Mubarek and Zoe Beals teamed up to drive in nine of the 17 runs. Rachel Daum, Gouveia, and Allie Eurell each drove in two runs apiece.     

On Sunday, the Hawks started out their long day with a 10 am game against the second seeded Stamford Stars, who prevailed 12-8. Amanda Berry got on base each of her four plate appearances, stole home, and drove in two runs. Daum and Joy Metzger had strong performances at the plate.

In the second game of the day, at noon, the Hawks met up with the Norwalk Zoomers. The entire game was tight but the Hawks held tight in the excessive heat and pulled out a 9-7 win. Cheh went 2-for-4 with an RBI, Daum stole home on a wild pitch, Amanda Berry went 3-for-4 with two RBIs, and Anderson knocked in two runs with a fourth-inning double. Olivia Mubarek had a walk and stole a base at her first at bat with the Hawks.

With the win against the Zoomers the Hawks immediately headed to the state finals against Stamford. It was the third game of the day for the Hawks, and Newtown fell 15-7. In the second inning Mubarek hit a line drive double down the third base line which drove in Eurell. Amanda Berry followed it up with a single which brought in another run. The Hawks’ offense was stifled during the third and fourth innings, but in the fifth inning Tess Mubarek and Cheh each reached first on singles. With two on, Beals hit a triple down the left field line which drove in two runs..  

The Hawks are managed by parent Head Coach Scott Beals and parent Assistant Coaches, Keith Cheh, Jeff Murabek, Jeff Moccio, and team photographer Sue Gouveia. Sarah Dowling was absent from the Tournament.

The team is sponsored by Sabrina Style, Katherine’s Kitchen, The Villa Restaurant, Landworks LLC, DD Electric LLC, Holmes Fine Gardens LLC, Newtown Mobil, and Coalition Equipment & Services, all of Newtown, Choice Security Systems LLC of Bridgeport, and Dental Associates of Connecticut. 

The Hawks wrap up the year with the Fairfield County Fastpitch Softball League tournament and the Central Valley Fastpitch League tournament.