ABERDEEN, Maryland – It’s been a long winter … all the more so for the Newtown Bombers 12-year-old travel baseball team.

Two years ago the Bombers captured State and New England Regional and then finished in the top five at the Cal Ripken 10-year-old World Series in Russellville, Arkansas. That led to high hopes for the 2006 season, but those were dashed by a much improved Southbury team in the 2006 Connecticut state tournament as the locals were denied a chance to repeat as New England champs.

With anticipation building all winter long, the team was looking forward to a fresh start in 2007 as a number of changes this year will dramatically alter the way the game is played.

In an effort to ease the transition between the traditional 60-foot field used in youth baseball and the standard 90-foot base path at the high school level, the Newtown Babe Ruth League opted to adhere to the national organization’s suggestion that 12-year-old divisions play on a 70-foot field.

In addition to aiding player development, the larger field also provides safety benefits for pitchers and corner infielders, moving them farther away from the laser-like line drives that come off of today’s high-tech metal bats.

In addition to the bigger infield, leading, stealing, pick-off moves and balks are all now part of the game for U12s. In the past, players wouldn’t experience these aspects of the game until they participated in the 13 year-old division.

With inclement weather limiting the Bomber’s training to indoors, the team had a lot of energy to get outside and experience the new format first hand. And with school closed for the April break, the Bombers took the opportunity to travel south to Cal Ripken’s Baseball Academy in Aberdeen, Maryland for a tournament featuring the new larger field format.

The Ripken Academy complex is home to the Aberdeen Iron Birds, the Baltimore Orioles Class A minor league team, along with a beautiful youth field replica of Baltimore’s Camden Yards. Smaller sized replicas of Chicago’s Wrigley Field and Fenway’s “Green Monster” add special touches to the Academy and playing experiences.

In addition to weekend tournaments March through October, the Academy hosts the national Cal Ripken 12-year-old World Series, which the Newtown Blaze competed in last summer.

The Bombers knew they had their work cut out for them as this tournament gathers interest from the mid-Atlantic region’s best teams – most of whom have been playing on the larger field for years and were already playing in their third or fourth tournament of the season.

In their opening game against the Chester Valley Crawdads, the Bombers jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning on doubles by Reid Schmidt and Gary Braun (2-for-2, 2 doubles). Unfortunately, the lack of experience in the new format showed through and the Bombers surrendered 13 runs while being held to just five hits – including singles from Dan Poeltl and Jon Hull – as the Crawdads ran the bases at will.

The loss was not in vain though, as the Bombers came back in the second game of the doubleheader much improved in the new playing format.

Now facing the Maryland Orioles travel baseball club, the Bombers jumped out to a 2-0 lead after three innings on strong pitching performances from Hull and Poeltl. Dean Demers’ RBI double, Kyle Wilcox’s two-bagger and Schmidt’s solo home run over the center field fence led the offense.

The Orioles’ offense came to life in the fourth inning, plating four runs … largely on a three-run homer.

The momentum had shifted and the Orioles pitching proved too much for the Bombers, who managed just two base runners in the final four innings. Meanwhile, the Orioles offense tacked on five insurance runs.

Entering the final game of pool play against the 2-0 Lake Shore Gray Sox, the Bombers knew they were facing their toughest opponent of the tournament. The Pony League affiliated Gray Sox finished 2006 with several tournament championships, including the coveted Maryland state title.

The Gray Sox came out showing their skills, aided by two extra years of experience playing on the bigger field under Pony League rules. The Gray Sox put six runs on the board in the first two innings while holding the Bombers hitless. A lead off walk and stolen base by Andy Kelley in the top of the third finally sparked the Newtown offense as 11 batters came to the plate with five runs scoring to draw Newtown within a run at 6-5.

Key hits by Hull (2-for-3, 3 runs, 3 RBIs) and Rich Sandler (2-for-3, 5 RBIs) each plated two runs. A spectacular diving catch in left field by Colton Sposta capped off a 1-2-3 bottom of the third on strong pitching from Sandler.

Joe Davis (2-for-4) didn’t waste any time getting things started in the top of the fourth, drilling the first pitch to right field for a single. Kelley then followed with a sharp single and Braun drew a walk and the momentum was clearly shifting, as six batters came to the plate before the first out was recorded.

Wilcox’s double and Schmidt’s triple (2-for-3, 3 runs) both plated two runs. Eleven batters came to the plate again and seven runs later the Bombers had opened up a 12-6 lead. Another strong pitching performance from Poeltl held the Gray Sox scoreless in the bottom of the fourth.

The Gray Sox managed to scratch out three runs in the bottom of the fifth to draw within three, but the Bombers answered right back scoring twice in the top of the sixth on a perfectly executed sacrifice bunt by Sposta and a clutch single by David Gerics (2-for-3 on the day).

The Gray Sox continued to battle, though, matching the two runs in the bottom of the sixth.

Heading into the seventh and final inning, it was clear the offensive battle was not over. Newtown came to bat looking to add some insurance to its 14-11 lead. Mike Allwein (1-for-2, 2 BBs) started things off with a double to the right center field gap and Sandler followed by drilling a 2-1 pitch over the centerfield fence for his fourth and fifth RBIs of the game.

But the Gray Sox showed why they were Maryland state champs, scoring four times in the final frame by the time the first out was recorded. An ill-fated running bunt resulted in a rare out-of-batter’s box violation, bringing the Bombers within one out of the win and a foul pop from the ensuing batter ended the Gray Sox hopes of a come-from-behind victory and the Bombers ended up on top 16-15, a thrilling victory to cap the weekend off before the long drive home.

The new baseball season for 12-year-olds in Newtown promises to be an exciting one. In addition to the change in field size and playing format, the league will be sponsoring teams competing for State, Regional, and World Series titles on both the new 70-foot field format and the old 60-foot field.

Newtown will also host the 12-year-old Cal Ripken Connecticut state championship (70-foot field teams) beginning July 7 at the Bob Glander Complex on the Fairfield Hills Campus.

U12

Noyes Ryder Rangers 7, Westport Worldwide 4 – Nick Barreto scored three runs as Andy Kelley tripled in a run and scored two others to lead Noyes to the win. Patrick Thornberg added a fifth-inning home run. Gary Braun, Jon Hull and Kelley each pitched scoreless innings. For Westport, Pat Sullivan and Mac Morlock homered as Mike Koch, Pat Sullivan, Alex Roche and Dan Poeltl combined to strike out 10 batters and allow only four hits.

Emmett and Glander 4, BASE Technologies 2 – Stephen Conway belted a three-run homer, singled, and drove in all four runs to lead Emmett and Glander. Robbie Hughes and Kyle Buckley made run-saving catches in the field and Chris Devaney made a throw from rightfield that resulted in the game-ending putout. For BASE, David Gerics doubled and scored both runs while Mike Newman singled in a run. Centerfielder Sean Elliott had an assist in centerfield, gunning down a runner trying to stretch a single into a double. Joe Davis made a nice play at short and Matt Spencer a nice play at second base.

Onex 6, Lee J. Demers, Builder 4 – Chad Magoulas belted a towering home run to left center to lead Onex to the win. Jack Champagne collected two singles and an RBI as Nick Heron chipped in with a single and run scored and Michael Lengel popped a long double to right center. For Demers, Richie Sandler doubled, singled and scored a run as Kyle Hagerman, Kyle Wilcox and Dean Demers all singled.

Lee J. Demers, Builder 5, BASE Technologies 3 – Richie Sandler stroked a three-run home and Ben Stoller added a run-scoring double to lift Demers to the win. Tyler Gibney and Nicky Sajovic made strong plays in the field. For BASE, David Gerics doubled and Joe Davis belted a three-run homer to pace the offense. Jeff Grasso had a strong game on the hill, striking out the side, including two on called third strikes, in the third inning.

U10

 

Cascone Painting 8, Mastercard 4 – Will Swain and Markus Elken pitched two shutout innings each for Mastercard in their opening game of the 2007 season. James Barry and Swain each added a hit in the losing effort in this young season. John Bashak walked twice and scored a run.

Cascone Painting 8, Mastercard 6 – Nick Cirone went 3-for-3 and scored twice while Victor Vasquez and Andrew Hickey pitched two hitless innings each to lead Cascone to the win.

Newtown Mobil 4, Cascone Painting 3 – Nick Cirone, Jack Corbett and Andrew Hickey combined to give up five hits over six innings as Cascone fell to Mobil.

Cascone Painting 9, AERCO International 5 – Jack corbett and Jake Reed each went 2-for-3 and scored twice to lead Cascone to the win. Andrew Hickey hit an inside-the-park home run and Angel Santos added two hits.

Mount Pleasant Animal Hospital 5, Sal And Pepe 1 – Jim Parker, Jonathan Rospenda, Daryl Silverlieb, Matt Wood, and Forest Speed combined on a three-hitter while walking only one to lead Mount Pleasant. Peter Corello and Parker each had two hits to pace the offense. For Sal And Pepe,Colton Maroney and Wylie Zahansky were the offensive stars while Jeffery Peterson and Sean Reilly played well defensively.

BW Retail Real Estate 6, Mobil 1 Lube Express 3 – Charlie Huegi, Ryan Rosenberger, and Brennan O’Sullivan lead the offensive attack for BW Retail Real Estate, collecting two hits apiece. Mark Dowling also contributed on offense with a first inning triple. Connor Roche, Mark Dowling, and Ryan Rosenberger all had excellent outings on the mound for the winners.

U9

Associated Refuse 11, Coldwell Banker 0 – Michael Parker who went 3-for-3 and knocked in three runs to lead Associated. Jaret Devellis scored three runs and Keaton McCleary knocked in a run as Chris Calo, Patrick Berger and Michael Parker combined to pitch a shutout. For Coldwell, Tim VanderHave pitched a strong inning, striking out two of the batters he faced. James Accousti collected a single.

Associated Refuse 2, PC Metals 2 – Chris Calo, Jaret Devellis, Michael Parker and Patrick Berger pitched well for Associated. Kevin Finnegan, James Leuci and Jacob Hill all made great defensive plays. PC Metals was led offensively by Zach Weiland’s two hits. Aidan Petershack had a key single and Etan Carpenter had the game tying RBI in the fifth inning. David Matthews and Dave Luzietti combined to pitch four scoreless innings.

Newtown Financial Mortgage 5, Newtown Shell 1 – Curtis Williamson and Matthew Elias combined for eight strike outs on the hill. Stephen Brittin, Jake Courchene-Roy and Griffin Davis had key hits. For Shell, Holden Turk collected three hits . Josh Houle pitched well and Shawn McCarthy was solid behind the plate.

PC Metal 10, Dina 2 – Nick Randle homered, David Mathews doubled and Andrew Pfeiffer drove in a run to lead PC Metal to the win. Glen Damota and Devin Luzietti combined on the mound for the win.

Rich’s Keys & Locks 12, Turner Construction 12 – Alex Daignault went 3-for-3 with a double and two singles and pitched well to lead Rich’s. Justin Appley singled and Jesse Cabral scored a crucial run. For Turner, Sam Czel singled and doubled, Mason Melillo threw a solid inning in his pitching debut and Chance McMahon made a fine running catch in centerfield.

Rich’s Keys & Locks 6, Dina 2 – CJ Dunn tripled, walked twice, stole two bases, scored two runs and recorded three strikeouts during an inning of pitching to lead Rich’s to the win. Jacob Nezvesky played well defensively and singled and doubled to pace the offense. Austin  Martinez struck out the last three batters to seal the game and also singled twice. For Dina, Matt Hess doubled twice while Luke Rustici and Rob McCabe scored runs. Mike Doyle and Andrew Cragin played well in the field while Rustici struck out the side in the third.

Coldwell Banker 11, Newtown Shell 8 – Joey Duero, Matt Maturo and Erik Street hit the ball hard to lead Coldwell to the win. For Shell, Nicholas Nelson had two hits and made a terrific diving catch while Matt Perun had two hits and four RBI.

Turner Construction 3, Newtown Financial Mortgage 3 – Ryan King stroked two hits and Sam Czel drilled three hit,s including a game tying triple in the bottom of the sixth, to lead Turner Construction. Czel, Jack Procaccini and Declan Sullivan combined to strike out 17 batters while walking only two in six innings of work. For NFM, Curtis Williamson had two key hits. Williamson, Matt Elias And Alex Klang combined for 10 strikeouts in six innings of work.

Standings

TEAM      W-L-T

PC Metals                1-0-1

Associated Refuse   1-0-1

Newtown Financial Mortgage               1-1-1

Rich’s Keys & Locks               1-1-1

Coldwell Banker     1-1-0

Dina        1-2-0

Newtown Shell       1-2-0

Turner Construction                0-0-2