When the baseball season ends, although many seniors will be taking off their spikes and uniform for the final time, there are plenty who will move on and continue their careers in college and, in some instances, beyond.

Matt Memoli, seven-year coach of Newtown High School's baseball team, has seen many of his players go on to play collegiate ball. What's more, as opening day to another season fast approaches, Memoli has four current team members who have committed to playing college hard ball.

One of the former Nighthawks - 2012 graduate Kyle Wilcox - was drafted in the fifth round by the Seattle Mariners. Wilcox played for Bryant University for three years and had his first season of minor league ball, for the Washington-based Everett Aquasox, last summer. Wilcox, a pitcher, posted a 3.49 earned run average in 23.1 innings of work. He compiled nine saves and struck out 24 batters.

Other Newtown High products have gone on to lead their college teams in various categories and earn conference recognition.

"I am so proud of these guys - some I even taught in middle school and watched them grow and develop into great ball players, but great young men more importantly," Memoli said. "It's so much fun to see these guys succeed."

Memoli instructs youth baseball players at Newtown Parks & Recreation-sponsored baseball camps in the spring and summer. His April Vacation Middle School & Youth Baseball Academy is coming up in mid-April. Some of Memoli's former players return to the clinics each year to help develop the skills of future Nighthawks.

Memoli - a Shelton High School alum - played college ball, himself, at Central Connecticut State University. He went on to coach at Yale University and makes good use of his connections with other college coaches to help his players continue their careers.

"I just do whatever I can for those kids; if I know a kid is a right fit for a program I am familiar with I always reach out to the coach there," said Memoli, adding that the players put in all of the hard work on the field to raise their games to the next level.

Andy Lapple, a 2010 Newtown High graduate, was a four-year starter at Colby Sawyer. Among Lapple's highlights were leading Colby Sawyer with a .373 batting average, a .484 slugging percentage, 18 stolen bases, and 20 runs score in his junior campaign. He was named to the All North Atlantic Conference Second Team.

In his sophomore year, Lapple was second on the team with a .308 batting average and led the squad with 15 thefts. Lapple was tied for the team lead with five doubles.

John Fracker, another 2010 grad, played at Western Connecticut State University. NHS 2011 grads RJ Roman and Chris Haylon played at Northeastern and Franklin & Marshall, respectively.

Among those still flashing the leather and swinging the lumber on the collegiate diamonds is 2012 grad Andy Kelly, now a senior at Gettysburg, a starting right fielder, who carried a .300 batting average into the middle of March.

Mike Allwein (2012) is at Roger Williams, Dean Demers (2013) plays for Gordon College, Mike Davis (2014) is at Quinnipiac, and David Matthews (2015) is at Johnson & Wales.

Matthews earned Great Northeast Athletic Conference Rookie of the Week accolades for the week of March 10. Matthews made his collegiate debut against John Jay and went 1-for-2 with a two-run double. He also scored a pair of runs.

Charlie Huegi (2015) plays at UMass Boston and hit a home run in his first collegiate at bat.

This year's Nighthawks who are committed to playing collegiate ball are: Jason Hebner (Fairfield University), Andrew Ross (York College), Jake Oliger (Babson), and Sam Czel (Keene State).

"I think it is a reflection of our strong youth program, the job the teachers at NHS do, and of [Athletic Director] Gregg Simon who runs an athletic program witch is second to none," Memoli said of this success.