DOVER, New Hampshire – When George Zaruba and Joe Fedak both smashed long home runs in the opening game of the New England Regionals (a 7-2 win over Dracut, Massachusetts), more than a few jaws were dropped.

“I don’t think they are accustomed to seeing home runs hit over deeper than normal fences,” said head coach Matt McGrath, “so we have kind of been the buzz of the tournament up here. But we ask the kids how many games does it take to win a tournament and they say, ‘one.’ This one.”

But after three games and three easy wins, the Newtown 11s are two wins away from a New England championship.

“After we won the state title,” said coach McGrath, “you could see the kids were relieved. They got the monkey off their backs and when they came up here they were really relaxed and played loose.”

Dracut was the Eastern Massachusetts state champs and after the locals dispatched them, they proceeded to pound Dover, New Hampshire (14-2) and South Weymouth, Massachusetts (12-2) to qualify for the single-elimination semi-finals.

In the win over Dracut, Newtown jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the first inning. Fedak got things started with a strong single to left field and then rounded the bases on a majestic two-run homer by Zaruba. Ralph Sergiovanni followed with a double to left center and scored when Nick Nazer reached on an error.

Newtown later increased its lead to 5-0 when Jeff DiNicola drilled a single to left field, Kyle Kromberg reached on a fielder’s choice, and Fedak belted a blistering line drive to a van parked behind the left field wall.

The locals were not finish and came right back to score two more runs in the top of the third inning. Sergiovanni hit his second double of the game to left field, but was doubled off when the pitcher made a nice play of a line drive back to the box. With two outs, Nazer tripled to right field, Robbie Blanc was hit by a pitch, and Kyle O’Connor brought them both home on a double to left field.

Dracut scored two runs in the bottom of the third inning off three singles, but it would be the last scoring of the day.

Newtown’s pitching was solid, with Fedak, Michael Coates, and Sergiovanni giving up only six hits with nine strikeouts and no walks.

In the win over Dover, New Hampshire, the locals scored eight runs in the first four innings and never looked back. Fedak, Coates and Sergiovanni combined on a spectacular two-hitter, allowing just two unearned runs and striking out eight batters.

Newtown scored its first run of the game when Fedak reached on an error, Sergiovanni singled to left field, Nazer walked to load the bases, and Keith McGrath walked to score Fedak. The locals scored two more in the second when DiNicola singled to left, Tyler Edwards walked, and Kromberg doubled home both runs. Kromberg then took third base on a passed ball and stole home on a wild pitch.

Newtown led 4-0.

Newtown scored four more runs in the fourth inning by batting around. Coates started off with a single to right field and Edwards reached on an error by the third baseman. O’Connor was hit by a pitch to load the bases and then Fedak walked on four pitches to score Coates. Zaruba and Sergiovanni followed with sacrifice flies while Fedak scored by stealing home on a wild pitch.

Newtown closed out the scoring in the top of the sixth inning by scoring six more runs. Fedak reached on a walk, stole second base, and came home on Sergiovanni’s double to left field. Nazer then hit a titanic home run over the center field fence. McGrath and Anthony Gruce walked and DiNicola singled to load the bases. O’Connor then emptied the bases with a triple to left field and later scored on a wild pitch.

And in the win over South Weymouth, Massachusetts, the locals ended the game early with an eight-run explosion.

With a 4-0 lead, the floodgates opened in the fourth. Walks to Fedak and Zaruba, a single by Sergiovanni, a double by Nazer, a walk by Kromberg, and singles by Gruce, Blanc, and Coates ended the game.

Now on to the semi-finals

“Our approach all along,” he said, “has been – the team we are facing will be the toughest team we will face all year. We take it one game at a time.”