The U10 Newtown Hawks travel softball team was runner-up in the Southbury Tournament this past weekend. On Saturday, the Hawks dropped the opening game of the tournament to the Southington Lightning 2-1. A pitching duel from the start, the Hawks rode the arm of Gillian Galante who collected six strikeouts in the contest.  The Lightning held Newtown to a run scored by Haley Ryan who singled, stole second and third and then scored on an RBI single by Mikayla Kuligowski. Going into the bottom of the sixth, the Lightning broke the 1-1 tie with timely hits. The second game featured Newtown against a big rival in the FCFSL, New Canann. Led by strong pitching from Lauren Wilcox and Kuligowski, the Hawks tallied seven strikeouts and won the game 13-1. Katie Mossbarger made a key defensive play at third base, grabbing a hard hit grounder and throwing home for the out to get Newtown out of a bases-loaded jam. Wilcox had a triple, Shannon Mullins had a double and Caitlyn Linden, Kuligowski and Kathryn Kerins each added a single. On Sunday, the Hawks won 20-2 over Southbury in a shortened, four-inning game. Galante and Kuligowski combined for eight strikeouts and the win. Katie Laaksonen led the hitting attack with a double and single, Ryan added a double and Mullins and Kuligowski each had a hit.  With a 2-1 record, the Hawks made it to the championship game where a rematch awaited with the Southington Lightning. Despite a great effort, the Hawks fell 9-3. In the finals, the Hawks’ hitting was led by Linden, Wilcox, Mullins and Emily Woznick.