CHESHIRE – The 12-and-under Newtown travel softball team seems to have achieved the proper momentum heading into the Central Valley Fastpitch League (CVFL) tournament this weekend in Cheshire.

Five more wins – over Bethel, Cheshire Black, Cheshire Red, New Milford and Stratford – have given the Hawks a 14-1 record. Not only has that secured the locals a first-place finish, but also a No. 1 seed in the tournament.

In an 11-5 win over Bethel, the Hawks got off to a slow start giving up five unearned runs in first inning. But then they started a rally off Joanna Barry doubled in the second inning and didn’t stop until they had rolled to the win.

Jaclyn Van Waalwijk went 2-for-2 with a double and an RBI while Megan Sajovic went 2-for-3 with a pair of singles and a sacrifice fly that scored a run. Laura Newberry and Stacy Broughton both collected singles while Melissa Fracker singled and twice brought in runs off sacrifice hits. Nora Lynn Shimko had a bunt single for an RBI.

Sajovic pitched well, striking out four and allowing just one hit and three walks in the last six innings of play. The team played well defensively and collected 10 unassisted outs – Van Waalwijk at 1st (3), Kaila Harrington in left field (2), Fracker in right field (2), Jenna LeGros at shortstop (2) and Shimko behind the plate (1).

In a 10-5 win over the Cheshire Black Wildcats, LeGros hurled a complete-game five-hitter with four strikeouts and only two walks. Broughton got the game off to a good defensive start by making three unassisted put outs at first base to quickly end the first inning. Then Lisa Alberico made a nice catch in left field in the third inning and Newberry caught a big hit to center for the last out of the game.

The Hawks really took advantage of the free pass in this one. In the second inning they scored two runs off two walks, in the fourth scored four more off of five walks, and in the seventh scored one more run off a walk to Elissa Robertson.

Amidst all that, Fracker knocked in three runs while Van Waalwijk singled in a run. Barry and Sajovic also singled to pace the offense.

In a 10-6 win over the Cheshire Red Wildcats, the Hawks rallied back from a three-run deficit with two outs in the seventh inning.

The Hawks were scoreless until the third inning. Shimko doubled and moved to third off LeGros’ sacrifice bunt, scoring off Robertson’s sacrifice bunt. In the fourth, Fracker and Broughton both singled, with Fracker scoring off a passed ball and Broughton scoring off Sajovic’s sacrifice fly to put the Hawks up by one.

In the sixth inning, Cheshire scored three runs to take the advantage. But in the seventh inning, Van Waalwijk sacrificed a run in and, with two outs, the Hawks proceeded to score another six runs on singles from Shimko, Robertson, and Barry along with the help of six base on balls.

Cheshire scored just once in the bottom of the frame.

Sajovic had a good game on the mound, allowing just two hits and striking out four in seven innings. Defensively, Robertson caught four fly balls at second base and assisted in three outs. Broughton took care of two grounders at first base and assisted in six put outs.

In a 10-0 win over the New Milford Gems, Sajovic pitched a two-hitter, whiffing eight batters and walking just one. Katie Schmidt played well behind the plate, catching a fly ball and preventing a steal at second. Fracker made two nice pickups in right field, throwing out the runners at first base, and the infield (Barry, Robertson, Newberrry, Broughton) made smart plays to keep the game a shut out.

At the plate, Fracker went 2-for-3 with a double and a single while Schmidt and Robertson each hit doubles. Alberico, Kelly Tenney, and Broughton all collected singles as Sajovic knocked in a run off a sacrifice fly.

And in a 6-1 win over the Stratford Seahawks, Tenney sparked the offense with a blast to right field that went all the way to the Newtown Middle School wall (a ground-rule double) and drove in a run. Shimko singled in a pair of runs while Broughton and Katie Kirrane had sacrifice flies that brought in runs.

LeGros pitched very well for seven innings, allowing only three hits and striking out seven. Tenney had a good game defensively, too, making one unassisted and six assisted plays at first base – one of which was a double play from Barry at third base. Shimko played well at short contributing with one unassisted and two assisted outs.

U10 Hawks

The Hawks split a doubleheader last week with the Watertown Rapids.

In the first game, the locals pulled out a 15-8 victory. Nicole Elias had a great day at the plate as she was 2-for-3 with two RBI. Ally Modzelewski, Kate Bowen, Rachael Ruiz and Paige Woodhouse each collected singles. Bowen pitched the complete game and struck out seven in the process. Taylor Johnson scored a run for the Hawks. Woodhouse made a heads up play in right field as she threw out a runner at first and Ashley Kuligowski made two nice plays at second to spark the defense.

In the nightcap, the Hawks fell 8-1. Johnson scored the only run as she arrived on base by a base on balls and scored on a fielders choice ground out by Kuligowski.. Modzelwski struck out four batters in a nice pitching effort while Stephanie Sanchez (2B) and Elias (3B) made great plays to spark the defense. Jackie Kissack, Brooke Fell and Kelly Burton each earned a walk, but the offense was unable to bring them home.

U14 Heat

Rachel Nicolosi singled twice and tripled to lead the U14 Newtown Heat to a recent 11-2 win over the Stratford Breakers. Katie Hirschauer doubled and a singled while Val Nezvesky and Sammie Ciaccia each had a double. Jessica Cosgrove played well in left field, Ciaccia made a double play at first, and Nezvesky, Hirschauer, Nicolosi and Ashley Ferris held down the infield.