‘Trial By Fire’ For Nighthawk Softball Team

By Andy Hutchison

Sure, Newtown High School’s softball team lost only four starters from its 2010 conference champion and state runner-up team to graduation. But among them were battery-mates Kate Bowen, a standout pitcher, and Ashley Kuligowski, the catcher.

Throw in the fact that the first handful of opponents on the schedule are all tough and it makes for the possibility for a tough start to the new season.

“I really never think that trial by fire is a bad thing. It shows you your character, it shows your desire — it shows you your confidence level,” Newtown Coach Bob Guererra said after his team dropped its second straight game to start the season, 3-1 to Pomperaug of Southbury on April 9. Newtown had been beaten 6-2 by Holy Cross of Waterbury in the season opener the day before.

The team was scheduled to have another good test, against last year’s Class M state champs, St Joseph of Trumbull on Tuesday, but the game was rained out and will be rescheduled for a date to be determined. On Wednesday, the Nighthawks were slated to battle always-tough Masuk of Monroe.

“I’d rather get beaten four times and see how our character is, see where our desire is, and see who’s going to step up than crush four teams and then, all of a sudden, have a good team and have a false sense of security,” Guererra said.

The good news, the coach points out, is that these games are all either against non-South-West Conference opponents or don’t count toward the conference standings. Newtown will face SWC foes Pomperaug and Masuk again later this season.

Guererra would like to see his team put forth a stronger effort than it did in the Pomperaug game. He said the fielding wasn’t crisp, the base-running needs improvement, and players need to come up with some clutch hits and move runners along the base paths.

“The performance today was, I think, lackluster and I really don’t think we played well,” Guererra said after the defeat.

Of course it’s still early on and Guererra is confident that his team can turn things around. Among the early-season highlights was Megan Gibbons’ two-run home run in the loss to Holy Cross, and two-hit efforts by Monica Macchiarulo and Colleen Cunningham.

Junior Emma Herring steps into the top pitching role this year, and has done well, Guererra said. “Emma takes the ball everyday for us and throws her heart out,” the coach said.

Herring is adjusting to pitching three feet farther back than she did in past seasons, as Connecticut high school pitching circles have all been moved in line with those on collegiate fields. Herring says it takes a little speed off the pitches and will result in more action for the infielders, but the team has adapted well to the change.

The NHS pitcher is hopeful that the team grows from its challenging early-season schedule. “I think it’ll prepare us for what’s going to come throughout the whole season and make us stronger,” she said.

Newtown is scheduled to visit Bethel on Friday, April 15, and will host Brookfield on April 18 at Treadwell Park at 3:45 pm.