ABERDEEN, Maryland – The Newtown Babe Ruth 12-year-old travel team opened the 2005 season with a four-game swing to the Cal Ripken baseball complex in Aberdeen, Maryland, on April 23 and 24.

The complex features replica stadiums based on Wrigley Field in Chicago, Camden Yards in Baltimore, Fenway Park in Boston, and the old Memorial Stadium in Baltimore. The locals won three out of four games there.

Newtown won its first two games against the Spotsylvania Renegades of Pennsylvania and the Manchester Mavericks of Maryland by scores of 15-6 and 15-10.

In the first game, Ryan Schmidt was 4-for-4 with two doubles, two RBI and two runs scored. Daniel Lynch (3-for-4, 3 runs, RBI), RJ Roman (2-for-4, 2 doubles, 4 RBI) and Mikey Tobin (double, run scored) also had great games at the plate.

Alex Nordstrom (single, walk, run), Erik Hoffman (single, walk, run) and Richard Andreotta (single, run) also chipped in to the offense as the pitching committee of Johnny Fracker, Schmidt, Lynch and Mitch Udiskey combined for the win.

After falling behind Manchester by a score of 9-2, a thunderstorm forced a postponement of the second game and allowed Newtown to gather their thoughts – and their hitting stroke – and the locals recovered with a furious comeback the next morning. Udiskey was perfect at the plate, going 3-for-3 with a double and an RBI as Roman stroked a long grand slam home run (with 6 RBI for the game) to spark the rally.

Sean Kennedy homered and tripled for Newtown as Brian Czel (2 doubles, RBI), Fracker (2-for-3), Lynch (2-for-2, 2 RBI), Schmidt (double, 2 RBI) and Andreotta (single, walk, run) contributed to the potent Newtown attack. Czel also contributed two gutsy innings of scoreless relief, which helped wake up the Newtown bats.

In game three, Newtown ran into an AAU juggernaut from Virginia – aptly named the Blasters – and after a big first inning, the Blasters cruised to a 13-2 victory and sent the Newtown squad to the tournament’s wild card round. Schmidt (2-for-2, 2 doubles) and Udiskey (2-for-2, double, RBI) continued their torrid hitting while Czel went 2-for-2 with a double and an RBI and Kennedy chipped in with yet another double.

Czel also made a great diving catch in center to end the fifth.

Wanting desperately to come away with a win in the wild card game, manager Michael Lynch turned to one of his aces, Brandon Rosenberger, and asked him if he could take the ball for the final game of the tourney. Rosenberger pitched five innings of two-run ball, keeping the team from Valley Forge, Pennsylvania off balance with a brilliant mix of fast balls and off-speed pitches and allowing Newtown to take a 5-2 lead into the sixth inning.

Newtown scored four runs in the second on a long solo home run by Tobin, an RBI single by Fracker and another tape measure two-run homer by Czel. Not wanting to go home with a loss either, Valley Forge battled back and tied the game at five all in the top of the seventh, setting the stage for a dramatic bottom of the frame.

With one out, Fracker worked a walk and promptly stole second, getting into scoring position for the hot-hitting Udiskey, who flared a single over the shortstop’s glove, plating Fracker with the game-ending run and making the four-plus hour drive back to Newtown a little bit easier.

The team will next see tournament action in Ossining, New York on Memorial Day weekend.

U11

Enterprise Electric 9, Sallyport Global Holdings 2 – Sean Ross banged out a three-run triple to snap a 2-2, seventh-inning tie and lead Enterprise Electric to the win. Kenny Toal turned in two defensive gems and recorded three strikeouts in one-inning on the mound and Matt Pruner helped spark that seventh inning rally. Ian McWilliams pitched a 1-2-3 seventh, with two strikeouts.

Coldwell Banker 6, Newtown Tree Service 2 – Kyle Wilcox, Ryan Dunnigan and Curtis Droniak combined to hold Newtown Tree service to only five hits. Luke Shearin had two hits and a sacrifice bunt to lead the offense as Jack Curry collected two hits. For Newtown Tree, Ryan Tita went 3-for-3 with two doubles while Anthony Maki and Ryan Cassidy each picked up a base hit. Mark Agugliaro made a great defensive play.

Sallyport Global Holdings 12, Newtown Savings 1 – For Newtown Savings, Jack Kneisel banged out two hits while Kyle Hagerman and Ryan Kleinert also played well. Louis Fenaroli pitched well in his first appearance on the mound.

Enterprise Electric 4, Newtown Tree Service 1 – Austin Bonadio was 3-for-3 and pitched two scoreless innings while Jack McManus had a key base hit and scored the winning run to help lead Enterprise to victory.  Behind the plate Richie Sandler threw out a would-be base stealer and stopped a run with a key tag out.  For Newtown Tree Service, Greg Frattaroli, Erik Samuelson, and Ian Kirner led the offense while Jim Mooney made a nice catch at second base.

Union Savings Bank 6, Connolly Woodworks 5 – Ryan Powers belted a walk-off homer to lead Union Savings to the win. Kevin Morrissey anchored the defense for Union Savings while Chris Haylon was 4-for-4 at the plate.

Connolly Woodworks 12, Stony Brook Development 6 – Oliver Powers and Sean Connolly had three hits apiece as Connolly Woodworks earned the win. Greg Williamson made a great catch in right field and Clayton Makuch added a defensive gem at third. For Stony Brook, Chris Tenney had two doubles and Sean Burson collected three hits to lead the offense. Brandon Ziman and Don Morrissey had key hits.

Connolly Woodworks 7, Newtown Savings Bank 6 – Ryan O’Keefe hit a clutch double to tie the game and later scored the winning run for Connolly Woodworks.  Defensively, Sean Connolly made a crucial catch in center field and Will Arndt pitched two scoreless innings while Jeffrey Grasso was solid behind the plate.

Stony Brook Development 6, Union Savings Bank 1 – Sean Burson, Connor Blanc and Christ Tenney scattered three hits and struck out 10 while leading Stony Brook to the win. Burson’s double and hits from Blanc and Brandon Ziman led the offense.