By Steve Bigham

DANBURY – The Newtown Babe Ruth 12-year-old All Stars found themselves in the driver’s seat of the District 5 tournament earlier this week. The team opened play with a pair of decisive wins and needed just one more win on Thursday to advance to the state tournament in Danbury.

The locals were slated to face the winner of the Southbury-Bethel game set for Wednesday. The winner of that game would need to beat Newtown twice in order to advance.

This particular group of Newtown players captured last year’s district title and advanced to the states. One year later, the team continues its fine play and has its sights set on a run in the states. Jeff Liska, Bob Lapple and Peter Cochrane coach the team.

Newtown hosted both District 4 and 5 and opened play last Saturday with a 6-4 win over Brookfield. The locals took a 6-0 lead early and then held on behind the pitching of Joe Greenfield and Tony Gallucci, allowing just one run in the four innings they pitched.

Gallucci and Alex Magoulas each drove in runs in the first inning to give Newtown a 2-0 lead. The home team added four runs in the third inning as PJ Cochrane, Bob Lapple, Jr, Gallucci and Greg Rodden all belted hits.

Magoulas finished the day with three RBI. Rodden, Gallucci and Cochrane each collected two hits.

On Monday, Newtown blanked Bethel, 9-0, behind the combined shutout effort of Greenfield, Gallucci and Rodden, who each tossed three scoreless innings, combining for 8 strikeouts.

The Newtown offense registered 11 hits with Davis leading the way with three hits and two RBI. Gallucci added two hits and an RBI, while Jeff Davis and Kurtis Liska each doubled. Cochrane stole home on a double steal in the fifth inning to help seal the victory.

Shortstop Rodden highlighted the defensive effort with two diving catches and started the team’s lone double play.

Newtown used the Jimmy Fund Tournament in Bethel the week before as a tune up for this week’s action. Out of 13 teams, Newtown finished fourth, playing five games at Mitchell Park.

The team opened play with decisive wins over South Meriden (8-4) and New Milford (10-6). Magoulas and Lapple both hit two-run homers to highlight the offense, while leadoff hitter Cochrane rapped two hits and scored three runs. Gallucci added two RBI for the winners.

In Game 3, Newtown lost, 8-3, to West Norwalk, last year’s 11-year-old Babe Ruth state champs. The defeat put Newtown into the losers’ bracket.

In Gave 4, the local beat New Canaan, 5-2, as Rodden, Gallucci and Davis each had two hits. Magoulas hit a homerun to highlight Newtown’s 12-hit attack. Greenfield pitched three scoreless innings and Rodden added a pair of scoreless frames.

Newtown was eliminated by Greenwich, 11-7, in extra (9) innings what many are calling the most exciting game of the year. The game was suspended by darkness and resumed the next day.

Newtown received strong defense by Jared Modzelewski and Greg Larnard, while Lapple and Magoulas each smacked a single and a double. Cochrane scored three times. Gallucci added a clutch RBI single and Nick Urso ripped an opposite field double.