CHESHIRE – A busy summer for the 14-and-under Newtown Heat ended in the semi-finals of the Central Valley Fastpitch League tournament last weekend in Cheshire.

The Heat had wins over the Valley Nightmare (4-2 and 8-3) and Watertown Rapids (4-1) with a tie against the Norwalk Mariners (7-7) and loss to the Newtown Hawks (4-2) to qualify for the semi-finals. There, the Heat dropped a 6-2 decision to Beacon Falls.

In the CVFL, the Heat finished the summer at 11-4-1. But outside the league, the Heat took second place in the New Jersey Tournament, played in the Regionals, and advanced all the way to the ASA Nationals.

A good year.

Wayne Ciaccia (Head), Steve Nicolosi and Jay Nezvesky coached the team.

In the 7-7 tie with Norwalk, the locals scored their first three runs in the third inning as Kelly Garerra singled, advanced to second by Katie Hirschauer, and then scored on consecutive singles by Nicole Stolz, Sammie Ciaccia and Val Nezvesky. In the fifth inning, singles off the bats of Nezvesky, Ashley Ferris, Michele Bolduc and Garerra fueled the offense. Rachel Nicolosi had a key bunt.

In the 4-2 loss to the Hawks, Courtney Mead and Michele Bolduc combined on the mound for six strikeouts. Ciaccia went 2-for-3 with a double while Nezvesky was 2-for-3, and Ferris 1-for-3 with a triple. Hirschauer and Garerra each had hits while Nezvesky had five assists in the field.

In the 4-2 win over the Valley Nightmares, the Heat scored three times in the first innings to take charge. Stolz singled and stole second, Nezvesky singled, Ferris walked and Bolduc singled in a run. Nicolosi and Garerra followed with run-scoring singles. In the sixth, Bolduc doubled, was sacrificed to third by Nicolosi, and scored on a single from Garerra.  Kelly Garerra pitched well (with four strikeouts) while Ferris, Stolz and Tricia Leonard sparked the defense.

In the 8-3 win over the Valley Nightmares, Ciaccia (two doubles, three RBI) Ferris (single, triple, two runs scored) sparked the offense. Stolz had a couple of singles while Garerra and Hirschauer also had singles. Nezvesky laid down two sacrifice bunts while Nicolosi, Hirschauer and Ferris were once again solid in the field.

In the 4-1 win over Watertown, the Heat did not get on the board until the fourth inning. Ciaccia singled, stole second, and scored on a double by Ferris. Bolduc and Nicolosi also had singles, but were unable to score.

With the game tied at 1-1 at the end of regulation, it went to a tiebreak – where the Heat pulled away. Ciaccia started at second and quickly scored on a Nezvesky double. Ferris walked (with Ciaccia pinch running). Nicolosi singled in Nezvesky and then Garerra singled in Ciaccia. Hirschauer sparked the defense with eight assists.

And in the 6-2 loss to Beacon Falls in the semi-finals, Bolduc pitched a fine game, striking out seven batters. Nezvesky, Ferris and Stolz had singles and Bolduc had a two-run double to account for all the Newtown runs. Danielle Nicolosi sparked the defense with a fine catch in right field.

Stolz, meanwhile, was presented with a coaches award for her efforts in the field and at the plate, always playing at 100% with the attitude of a champ, never giving up.