REDDING — Newtown High School’s softball team broke out the power bats in a 21-0 blanking of host Joel Barlow on April 25; the game was called after five innings due to the mercy rule.

The Nighthawk offense certainly showed no mercy from the opening inning with four runs in the first, six more in the second, and five in the third. They tacked on a run in the fourth and added five in the fifth, outhitting the Falcons 23-1.

Power was provided by Gabby Ansman and Maddie Thoesen, each launching a pair of home runs, combining for nine hits, and knocking in five runs apiece. Both standout hitters said it was nice to get the bat on the ball and have success at the plate.

Early on in the season the Nighthawks had some closely-contested games and playing games with no stress is a nice change of pace, Thoesen noted.

“Everyone in the lineup was hitting really well — everyone was having fun,” Ansman added.

Elena Burdo, Sophia Caruso, Lila Accousti, Thoesen, and Reagan Schenzer all had doubles. Schenzer drove in three runs and Gillian Boughan had a couple of runs batted in. Lila Accousti and Sophia Caruso both had two hits and three runs scored, and Evelynn Schoen collected two hits, and RBI, and run scored.

“It’s refreshing to see our offense finally come alive,” said Newtown Coach Megan Goyda, whose team started to heat up at the plate during the previous couple of games, including a 12-3 victory over Bethel on April 22.

Against Bethel, Boughan, Thoesen, and Schenzer all doubled and Schenzer hit a triple. Schenzer led the way with three RBI. Addy Cordova pitched six and two thirds innings, did not allow a run on two hits, and struck out seven.

Unlike in some other sports in which teams can dribble or pass the ball and stop scoring, softball requires batters continue to attempt to hit the ball. Against Barlow, the Nighthawks used substitutions and a different approach at the plate, and didn’t take extra bases on hits as the score widened.

Goyda said the batters worked on hitting technique, trying for line drives rather than looking to launch the ball. This not only cut down on homers and longer/extra base hits, but provided a good exercise in bat control for situational hitting. “I think it helps them see the ball more and makes them more aware of their swings and the types of pitches,” Goyda added.

When all was said and done 14 NHS players got into the game and ten of them had at least one hit. Cordova and Thoesen split pitching duties and struck out a combined 12 batters and issued three walks.

Newtown played a rare Sunday afternoon game when Rhode Island’s LaSalle Academy came to town and posted a 6-1 victory over NHS on April 27. LaSalle has six Division I college commits and provided the Nighthawks with a good test.

As nice as it has been to see the hitters in the swing of things, Goyda said there certainly is a positive to playing in these types of tough contests, too.

“I would rather go against a super-hard team and come away with a loss,” Goyda said. “It’s only going to make them better.”

The Newtown coach noted that Thoesen, who is headed to play at Central Connecticut State University next year, will see this type of competition on a regular basis. LaSalle led just 1-0 until putting up four runs in the sixth inning. Thoesen had two of Newtown’s five hits, including a double, and scored the lone Hawk run. Ansman had a hit and drove in the run. Thoesen pitched well; only three of the runs were earned. She allowed nine hits, did not walk a batter, and struck out four.

Next came a return to winning ways, in dominant fashion, against a South-West Conference foe. NHS traveled to New Fairfield on April 28 and rolled 9-0. Cordova threw a three-hit shutout with seven strikeouts.

Schenzer doubled twice and Burdo and Accousti both had doubles. Schenzer knocked in three runs and Burdo drove in two. Cordova, Ansman, Accousti, and Olivia Doersch all knocked in runs.

A pair of sisters on the Hawks picked up their first career varsity hits with B.B. Diorio getting a single against Bethel and Lucy Diorio reaching on a single and driving in a run against Barlow. The Nighthawks improved to 5-4 this spring.

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