Just how big of a season Newtown High School's baseball team will have this spring likely hinges on the execution of small ball - base stealing, squeeze bunts, hit and runs, for example - the Nighthawks have on the diamonds.

"The little things are going to be huge for us," Newtown Coach Matt Memoli anticipates. "We have speed - we have the tools."

Among eight graduates from last year's 14-6 team, which fell in the South-West Conference tournament quarterfinals and saw its season end in the second round of the state bracket, were power hitters, including Julian Dunn, David Matthews, and Charlie Huegi.

This year's squad is built more around speed than it is power, Memoli believes, and will have to manufacture runs.

The Nighthawks scored in double digits six times, and also put up eight- and nine-run efforts a year ago. There may be a few less crooked numbers on the scoreboard this go-around, but the bottom line is finding ways to win is what counts - no matter how you do it.

"We're going to have to do all of the little things if we're going to win games," said Memoli, adding that deciding when to be aggressive and try to steal third base, or sacrifice or squeeze bunt is what makes coaching so much fun.

Shortstop Jack Procaccini and outfielder Sam Czel are the senior captains. Other senior returnees whom Memoli expects to help carry the team are outfielder/pitcher Jake Oliger, right fielder Dylan Tyrell, infielder Mason Melillo, and pitcher Andrew Ross. Junior pitchers Jason Hebner and Austin Kasbarian bring varsity experience to a deep pitching corps.

"We have another great group of guys," Memoli says. "We have a solid pitching staff and we're going to have to manufacture runs."

The coach wants to see his team compete on an everyday basis, and challenge for a championship.

Tough competition in the SWC stands to come from the likes of perennially strong Pomperaug of Southbury, Masuk of Monroe, and Notre Dame-Fairfield.

The Nighthawks can expect themselves, as well as other teams, to be sharper to start the season than last year when late-season snow limited the teams to mostly indoor workouts in preseason.

"This is such a luxury being on the field. We're pumped. The guys are ready to go - they're excited about it," said Memoli, whose lineup is scheduled to cap off a busy week of scrimmages on Saturday, April 2, when his alma mater and the team that knocked NHS out of last year's state playoffs, Shelton, comes to town.

The games count beginning with the Monday, April 4, opener at nonconference foe Fairfield Ludlowe, beginning at 4 pm. Staples of Westport, another FCIAC team, visits Newtown the next day; first pitch is set for 4:15 pm.

Newtown is scheduled to have yet another matchup with an FCIAC team on Thursday, April 7, when Ridgefield comes to town for a 4 pm first pitch.

In their first game agaisnt South-West Conference competition, the Hawks visit Weston on Monday, April 11, for a 1 pm game. The Hawks return home on Wednesday, April 13, when Notre Dame-Fairfield comes to NHS for a 4 pm contest.