Pitching and power — anticipated to be the team’s areas of strength — were on full display when Newtown High School’s baseball team defeated the host Bunnell of Stratford Bulldogs 10-1 for their first win of the young campaign.

Charlie Curtis went 3-for-4, and combined his plate prowess and speed for a triple and an inside the park home run. Matt Pietorazio was 3-for-5 including a double and a triple. Josh Rosen went 2-for-3, and David Braun was 2-for-4.

Braun started and pitched five innings, allowing just three hits, one walk, and no runs; he racked up 11 strikeouts. Jakob Hossler and Curtis each pitched an inning in relief and both fanned two batters.

Newtown improved to 1-3 and easily passed its first South-West Conference test of the slate after a trio of tough FCIAC games, a 3-2 loss to Greenwich and a pair of shutouts setbacks, 6-0 to Fairfield Warde and 1-0 to Norwalk.

Following Wednesday’s visit from SWC foe Weston, a 14-10 loss, the Nighthawks host FCIAC team Ridgefield, Saturday, April 16, at noon.

Sports Editor Andy Hutchison can be reached at andyh@thebee.com.