Thunder Falls Just Short Of New England Title

The Newtown Thunder, a Cal Ripken 50/70 11-year-old baseball team, was an inning away from repeating as New England Regional champions when Exeter, N.H. scored two in the fifth and two more in the sixth for a 7-5 win in New Milford on August 12.

Exeter needed to defeat Newtown twice to win the double-elimination tourney. Exeter, which twice was runner-up for the title and watched the Thunder celebrate in its state last year, returned the favor.

The first game was dominated by Exeter in a 13-2 win. After scoring a run in the first inning and three in the third,

Exeter exploded for five in the fourth to put the game out of reach. Connor Singh had two hits and four runs batted in for Exeter.

The Thunder scored two in the fourth behind hits by Lucas O’Brien and RBIs by Ben Dieckman and Ben Harrison.

In the second game it looked as if the Thunder was going to rise to the challenge and win the big game as usual. O’Brien took the mound and the team took an early lead with an RBI single by Adam Bergeron. Exeter came right back in the bottom of the inning with three of its own.

In the fourth, it looked as if the Thunder was on its way as the Newtowners scored four runs in the inning. Colby Olson, Sam Grossano, and Ryan Kost produced RBIs as Newtown claimed a 5-3 lead. After O’Brien retired the side without a run in the bottom of the fourth, Newtown was six outs away from the title.

“We knew we needed more than a two-run lead versus Exeter,” said Newtown Coach Tom Harrison. “They are a strong hitting team and have been hungry for this title for a few years.”

Exeter came back with two runs in the fifth to tie the game at 5-5. Cody Morissette, one of the star hitters for Exeter who was fanned twice by O’Brien in the game, delivered a double to lead off the bottom of the sixth and final inning.

Owen Willis then stepped to the plate and created a memory for life for him and his teammates. He delivered a 1-0 pitch deep over the left field fence for a two-run walk-off homerun.

“Congratulations to them” said Harrison, whose team won the state championship this summer. “I am very proud of our boys. They have been part of a great three-year run and although this loss hurts there is nothing to be ashamed of in getting one inning short of a regional title. We have a strong mutual respect with the Exeter players and coaches and they earned their title. We will of course be looking to take it back next year and then go on to the World Series.”