Nighthawk Sluggers Look To Teamwork For Success

By Andy Hutchison

Newtown High School’s baseball team has a mostly new starting lineup, and is looking for some different postseason results, in 2011. Among nine graduates were six starters from last year’s Class LL quarterfinalist squad. Those who return, along with Coach Matt Memoli, are looking to avenge some tough-to-swallow losses, including a bitter season-ending defeat, and make a run at a championship this spring.

The Nighthawks have waited ten months to get back on the field since their 13-12, nine-inning heartbreaking defeat to eventual state champion Pomperaug Panthers in last year’s LL tourney. Newtown was one strike away from winning that game and advancing into the semifinals before the ball unraveled on them. “It definitely left a bad taste in our mouths,” said Memoli, whose team, undoubtedly, has the May 4 clash with Pomperaug, in Southbury — along with the May 20 regular season-ending home game with the Panthers — circled on the schedule.

Pomperaug is one of several tough teams Newtown will compete with for a South-West Conference title, along with Bethel, Masuk of Monroe, and Weston — the latter of which knocked NHS out of the SWC tourney a year ago — according to Memoli. Circle the April 13 home game with Weston on the schedule as well.

Memoli believes his team, despite the lineup turnover, will contend for a conference crown and has high hopes for a run deep into states.

“We’re losing a lot, in terms of senior leadership, but we also have a lot coming back,” the coach said.

Among the returnees are senior captains Bryan Czel, Ryan Powers, and RJ Roman. Czel will play in left and center field, Powers will start the year at second base but can play shortstop, third, and catch, and Roman will pitch and play some first base, Memoli anticipates. “A lot of these guys are going to be asked to do a lot more than play one position,” he said.

Other key players whom the Nighthawks have back in the fold are senior pitcher Chris Haylon, senior infielder Ryan Tita, junior outfielder Kyle Wilcox, and junior shortstop Evan Noonan.

Czel and Roman should provide power in the middle of the lineup, with Powers, Noonan, and Tita expected to work their ways on base and help set the table for some productive turns at bat, Memoli said.

The coach anticipates his team having success if the pitchers can go five or six innings on a given day, and if the Hawks play as a team — executing the hit-and-run, laying down bunts, moving runners over — to do the little things.

“If we can do that every day we should be pretty good,” Memoli said.

Newtown was slated to begin the regular season at home against Masuk on Wednesday (after The Bee sports section went to press), and will visit New Fairfield on Friday, April 8.

“This is the best time of year for me, personally. I have such a passion for working with these kids. They’re great kids, they’re great students — and it makes it so much easier for me,” Memoli said.