Knights Win 20-8 At Harbor Yard

BRIDGEPORT — Members of the Newtown Knights, a 15U/16U team that competes in Stamford fall league, will never forget their 20-8 win over the previously undefeated Pomperaug Sharks on October 28. The Knights won the game on the field at The Ballpark At Harbor Yard, home of the Atlantic League’s Bridgeport Bluefish.

Ben Stoller and Dean Demers had clutch performances. Stoller ripped an RBI triple to right center in his first at-bat to give Newtown a 1-0 first-inning lead and lined a two-RBI double up the left-center gap to boost the Knights’ lead to 5-0 in the second inning. Stoller drilled an RBI single up the middle in the third inning, finishing the game with four hits and five RBIs in five at-bats. Stoller also struck out all three batters he faced in one inning of relief pitching.

Demers reached base in all five at-bats. He crushed an RBI double to right field for Newtown’s 20th run in the sixth inning, lined an RBI single to left in the third inning, and singled and scored in the fifth inning. He also drew two walks and retired three batters in order in one inning of relief pitching.

The Knights, erupted for 17 hits in the lopsided win and raised their overall season record to 14-6.  During a 10-run outburst, the Knights strung together seven consecutive hits. John Hampford ripped a double to right center; Jon Hull singled; Eric Sutton doubled; Stoller, Demers, and John Lebinski singled, and Brandon Cooper grounded a two-RBI triple over third base into the left field bullpen.

To give many players a feel of the professional mound, the Knights used six different pitchers one inning each. Starting pitcher Colton Sposta worked out of a bases-loaded, first-inning jam by striking out a batter on a 3-2 count.

Relief pitchers Jon Hull and Brandon Cooper closed out the game by each retiring three consecutive batters in the fifth and sixth innings before the game was stopped by darkness. Hull and Cooper each struck out one batter looking.

Hull was assisted by a spectacular, one-handed, backhand catch by right fielder Nick Heron on a sizzling shot to right center. On another play, Heron picked up the ball in deep right and threw a strike to second baseman Lebinski who, in turn, threw perfectly to shortstop Sutton who fired an accurate throw to the catcher Cooper, leading to a rundown. Third baseman Brock Chimileski eventually tagged out the Pomperaug runner. Chimileski had two singles, and Max Temple drilled an RBI double in the fifth inning.

Hull cracked a double and a single, and Sutton smashed a double in the third inning and a long triple to centerfield in the final inning. 

Josh Hull is the head coach. John Lebinski Sr coached first base, and Gary Stoller ran the team from the dugout, assisted by Dennis Stratford and Mike Newman. Newtown’s Angelo Sposta, following the style of legendary New York Yankees announcer Bob Sheppard, announced the game.