Nighthawk Sluggers Bounce Back From Defeat With Consecutive Wins

By Andy Hutchison

After seeing its seven-game winning streak snapped, Newtown High School’s baseball team hoped to put together another long stretch of victories. The Nighthawks, coming off an 11-6 setback at Oxford on April 25, beat visiting Joel Barlow of Redding 5-3 under the lights at Fairfield Hills on April 27, then toppled host Immaculate of Danbury 10-1 on Monday.

Newtown improved to 9-3 overall heading into Wednesday’s scheduled battle with always-tough South-West Conference rival Pomperaug of Southbury (after The Bee sports section went to press).

Pitching and power have been a recipe for success for Newtown this season, with the Nighthawks earning four shutout victories and clubbing seven home runs. In the Barlow contest, played on a chilly, windy night, it was pitching and defense that led the way.

Kyle Wilcox struck out ten batters. Wilcox had two hits, as did Andy Kelley (including a double), Mike Davis added a double, David Lucia had a hit, and Evan Noonan drove in a run — the only run batted in among the handful Newtown put up on the scoreboard. Two of Newtown’s runs scored on wild pitches, another came across on a passed ball, and another came in on a fielder’s choice.

The Nighthawk defense came up with some big plays. Wilcox knocked down a comebacker and made a shuffle throw to catcher Mike Allwein to nail a base runner at home plate. Barlow, with runners at first and second, attempted a double steal that was foiled by the Hawks in unusual style. Allwein threw toward second — his throw designed to be short, and cut off by the shortstop to throw home to catch the lead runner, he said. Wilcox, who stands taller than six feet, however, reached up and intercepted the throw, ran the base runner back toward third, and tossed to third baseman Pat Mullins for the tag to thwart the threat and get Newtown out of a jam.

Against Immaculate, the pitching and offense against stole the show. Brandon Marks threw six strong innings, striking out 11, walking only one, and allowing only one run. Newtown put up five runs in the first inning and never looked back. The Hawks were led offensively by Wilcox with a triple and double, also fellow senior Evan Noonan added a triple. John Hull, Lucia and Mike Davis also had doubles in the win. Kelley added a hit and two runs batted in, and Allwein, Mike Koch, and JP Blanco had hits as well. Reid Schmidt and Steven Conway added RBIs.

In the loss to Oxford, Noonan was 4-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored, Lucia had three hits and scored twice, and Kelley had two hits and two runs scored. Justin DeVellis and Chris Tenney both knocked in runs.

Newtown has outscored opponents 76-38. The team will visit New Fairfield on Friday, May 4, and travel to Stratford to take on Bunnell on May 7 before returning home to face Masuk of Monroe at Fairfield Hills at 6 pm on May 9.