First-year Newtown High School Baseball Coach Ian Thoesen may bring a new face to the program, but he also brings in familiar philosophy: Small ball leads to big success.

"The little things are going to win and lose games," Thoesen told his players at a late-March preseason practice as the Nighthawks geared up for a bunting drill on the Blue & Gold Stadium turf while the grass baseball field thaws and dries out after the late winter storm.

Sacrifice bunting, base running, situational hitting, pitchers getting ahead in the count ... Thoesen rattled off many of the things that can be difference-makers game in and game out. The Nighthawks are accustomed to this mindset instilled by their previous leader, Matt Memoli, who stepped aside after taking over athletic director duties before this school year.

"We're excited for a coaching staff and looking for a great season," captain and outfielder Robert Lombardo said.

The Hawks are also led by the following captains: Pitchers/first basemen Jason Hebner and Austin Kasbarian, and catcher Ben Harrison.

Fairfield University-bound Hebner and Central Connecticut-bound Kasbarian, as well as Dylan Chapagne, are all left-handed pitchers, and righties Orlando Swift and Kyle Roche round out a seasoned staff.

"If they throw well we're going to be a in a lot of games," Thoesen said. "We have some pop in the bats, too."

Harrison, Lombardo, outfielder Eugene Citrano, and infielders Lucas O'Brien, Greg Brissette, and Will Huegi bring experience back to a lineup that went 15-5 overall and 11-2 in the South-West Conference to earn the SWC's top seed a year ago. The Hawks were beaten by New Fairfield in the conference tourney quarterfinals, and were upset again in the Class LL state playoffs, in a season-ending defeat to Hall of West Hartford in the opening round.

In baseball, one and done playoff scenarios and strong pitchers open the door for upsets. Thoesen is hopeful his Hawks can make some noise when this year's playoffs roll around.

"There's a lot of talent so I want them to compete," said Thoesen, adding that New Fairfield, New Milford, and Masuk of Monroe likely lead a long list of tough teams in the South-West Conference. "I think every team's going to be competitive."

The Hawks lost a half dozen players to graduation, but optimism is high for a squad that the year before retooled and replicated its regular-season success following a 14-6 campaign in after which eight players graduated.

"We're going to be very, very good this year," Hebner promises.

An instructor with Thoesen Baseball and Softball, Newtown's new coach has experience coaching wood bat American Legion and high school ball in Wilton High. He played professionally in the Northern league for three years. Thoesen previously attended nationally ranked Georgia College and won a national championship for Norwalk Community Technical College, where he was also an All American. Thoesen and new Pitching Coach Jeff Slane join longtime NHS Coach Joe Crimi on the staff.