Blackhawks Reached District Finale

Newtown’s Babe Ruth Baseball team, the Blackhawks, reached the championship game of the U13 district tournament on July 10. The Blackhawks fell to New Milford in the finale.

In the opening game of the districts, Newtown defeated Danbury 11-1 in five innings. The offense was led by Jaret DeVellis, Michael Parker, and Tim Krapf who had two hits each. Erik Street knocked in two runs and Chris Calo had a single to support the offense. Parker pitched four shutout innings with three strikeouts, and Mason Melillo closed out the game for Newtown in relief.

In game two, Newtown played rival New Milford in a game the Blackhawks will think about until next season. Newtown jumped to an early lead by scoring two runs in the first and third innings behind the hitting of Griffin Davis, Stephen Brittin, Sam Czel, Parker, DeVellis, and Krapf. Newtown carried a 4-0 lead into the sixth inning behind the brilliant pitching of  Brittin who had only given up two hits through the fifth inning. In the sixth inning, New Milford scored six runs on three walks, two balks, three hits, and two fielder’s choices as Brittin and then Parker could not get out of the inning with the lead.

Newtown rallied for three runs in the bottom of the inning to retake the lead, 7-6, as Jack Procaccini, Parker, Czel, and Krapf all got key hits. New Milford scored two runs in the seventh inning for an 8-7 win. Newtown got the first two batters on base in its half of the seventh but couldn’t scratch out another run.

Newtown then started its long way back in the loser’s bracket by defeating Bethel 18-3 in five innings. Melillo and Krapf combined for five strong innings to quiet the Bethel bats.

Newtown’s offense was led by Krapf and Czel, both of whom hit two home runs. DeVellis, Melillo, and Procaccini all had two hits each. Calo, Brittin, and Davis all chipped in with hits to power the Blackhawk offense.

In the next game, Newtown defeated Danbury 10-9 in dramatic fashion. After three innings, the Blackhawks held a 4-3 lead in this tense elimination game. Danbury took a 6-4 lead in the fifth inning when its first baseman hit a two-out three-run homerun that stunned the Blackhawks. Danbury added two more runs in the top of the sixth inning to take an 8-4 lead into the bottom of the sixth.

Melillo, Procaccini, and DeVellis all scored to bring Newtown to within one run going into the seventh inning. Danbury scored a run in the top of the seventh to take a 9-7 lead into the bottom of the frame.

Melillo walked and Procaccini singled to start the inning. Michael Doyle lined out to center field,  Melillo was doubled off second base, and Newtown was now down to its last out with a runner on first. DeVellis reached base on an error which gave the Blackhawks another chance. With the season on the line and runners on first and second, Parker delivered a two-out game-saving hit into the gap that scored both runners to tie the game. Davis delivered the game-winning hit with the bases loaded to give Newtown a stunning victory.

Newtown then faced a tough Pomperaug team in the final of the losers bracket but won 9-2. The Blackhawks jumped out with five runs in the first inning with David Matthews delivering the key hit of the game with the bases loaded to knock in two runs. Brittin pitched another strong game by limiting the opposition to one run over the four innings he threw. Melillo pitched two scoreless innings and Procaccini closed out the game in the seventh.

After defeating Pomperaug, Newtown immediately faced New Milford on a hot afternoon, and kept winning with a 13-3, five-inning triumph. The Blackhawks again took the early lead by scoring five runs in the first inning. In the bottom of the first, with the bases loaded and one out, Melillo jumped as high as he could to snare a line-drive and then dove to tag out the runner on third for an inning-ending double play. Melillo’s sensational play saved at least two runs and deflated the New Milford team. Newtown scored three more runs in the second and rolled to victory. Parker, Melillo, and Procaccini pitched well to stymie the New Milford hitters. The Newtown offense was led by Davis, DeVellis, and Melillo with three hits each. Doyle, Matthews, and Procaccini also chipped in with hits.

Newtown outscored its two tough opponents by the score 22-5 to force the winner take all championship game.

In the finals on Sunday, Newtown could not get the bats going against Jackson Olson who pitched a complete game for a 5-1 New Milford victory. Brittin pitched seven good innings for the Black Hawks, but New Milford strung together enough hits to claim the championship.

Calo, Czel, Matthews, and Krapf batted .500 or better in the playoff’s. Krapf led the team with 12 RBI, and Parker scored 14 runs. DeVellis was sharp on the bases to help spark the offense. Melillo pitched to a 1.50 ERA and Brittin was the workhorse on the mound by tossing 16 strong innings.