Black Hawks Win Wooden Bat Tournament

The Babe Ruth 14U Newtown Black Hawks defeated New Milford on Monday to win the Pomperaug Wooden Bat Memorial Day Weekend Tournament. Stephen Brittin pitched a three-hit, seven-inning complete game to defeat the defending Babe Ruth state champion New Milford Express by the score of 2-1.

The Newtown offense was led by Jaret DeVellis who stole two bases, scored one run and knocked in the go-ahead run with a sacrifice fly in the fifth inning. Sam Czel  had a run-scoring double in the first inning to score Devellis and did not allow New Milford to steal any bases as he played a stellar game behind the plate. Brittin and Jared Brady each had key hits and Brady scored the game-winning run. Michael Doyle played strong defense and made two nice plays late in the game at second base to help shut down New Milford.

The four-team tournament was played in Southbury and Seymour and Pomperaug participated along with Newtown and New Milford. In game one of  pool play,  New Milford scored two unearned runs in the sixth inning to defeat Newtown 2-1. Michael Parker, Mason Melillo and Czel had Newtown’s three hits and DeVellis scored Newtown’s only run on a sacrifice fly by Matt Maturo in the first inning. Brittin pitched five strong shutout innings in this disappointing loss for Newtown.

In the second game of pool play, Newtown defeated Pomperaug 2-1 in a hard-fought contest that Newtown needed to win to have a chance to advance to the championship game. Melillo pitched five strong innings to hold Pomperaug to one hit and no runs to lead Newtown to the victory. Parker had two hits and pitched the final two innings to close out the victory. Maturo had one hit and two stolen bases, and Chris Calo also chipped in with a single and stolen base. Doyle and David Matthews knocked in Newtown’s runs and Jack Procaccini made two nice plays at shortstop to back the strong pitching.

In the third game of pool play,  Newtown defeated Seymour 12- 2 to advance to the championship game. Matthews was the starting pitcher for Newtown and did not allow a hit while pitching three scoreless innings. Maturo and Matt Elias pitched well over the final three innings to seal the victory in this mercy-rule shortened game. Matthews, Procaccini, Czel, and Brady had two hits each. Elias, Melillo, Doyle, and Calo also had hits to key the Newtown offense.