Cal Ripken Baseball Champs Are Crowned

The Newtown “red” team won the 10-11-year-old Cal Ripken baseball championship on Saturday by defeating Redding in the championship game. In the semifinals, Newtown “red” defeated Newtown “yellow” 10-0.

The winners were led by the hitting of Joe Duero who had a double, single and knocked in five runs. Jake Blast and Mason Melillo each had two singles and scored two runs. Nicholas Brereton and Matthew Stewart also scored key runs to help the offense. Michael Parker, Melillo and Duero combined for the four-inning, one-hit shutout.

Newtown defeated Redding in the championship game 5-1. Newtown was led by CJ Kowalski who hit a bases-loaded triple with two outs in the third inning to knock in three runs. Michael Parker knocked in one run and reached base three times and John Michos made a great catch in right field to thwart a Redding rally. Matthew Kugler reached base on a walk and Robert Katrinak walked and stole home to give Newtown a key insurance run. Parker, Melillo and Duero pitched well again by holding Redding to only one run and five hits. Michael Schlesinger and Michael Ziluck were also on the team. The team was coached by Bob Duero, Gary Kugler, Joe Schlesinger and Jim Parker.