WESTPORT — Newtown High School’s baseball team saw its strong season come to a close with a 5-0 loss to host Staples High in the Class LL State Tournament’s second round, on May 31. Although the campaign may have come to an end, along with that of the careers of the seniors, the spring on the whole served as a potentially big step for a bright future.

The Nighthawks finished off the season with underclassmen at every position in the field. And while the seniors did play a big part in Newtown going 13-7 in the regular season, there were plenty of freshmen, sophomores, and juniors who not only got a taste of varsity game action but also had the chance to play prominent roles on the pitcher’s mound, in the batter’s box, and around the infield dirt and outfield grass.

“The sky’s the limit for this group. They’ve got a lot of talent,” Newtown Coach Ian Thoesen said of the potentially returning players.

“It was exciting — it was really cool to see what we could be. We’re going to be right there next year,” said Jamie Piccuillo, a freshman who was one of Newtown’s best starting pitchers and also contributed in the batter’s box and in the field as well.

Newtown’s players had plenty of experience not only in games but close ones, going 7-5 in one-run nail-biters this spring. After falling to eventual champion Joel Barlow of Redding 3-1 in the South-West Conference Tournament quarterfinals, the Nighthawks hosted Ridgefield in the opening round of the state tourney and came back to tie the game in the bottom of the seventh inning before winning 5-4 in eight innings.

The Hawks were limited to just one hit, a booming double off the left-center field fence by Reid Burns in the loss to Staples.

“You never want to lose – it’s disappointing because you expect to win every time,” Thoesen said. “They got some timely hits and we didn’t.”

Staples pitcher Chase Siegel held the Nighthawks scoreless for just the second time this season.

“He hit his spots, mixed speeds, and kept us off balance,” Thoesen said.

A key to the Hawks being in contention in almost every game this spring was a combination of that belief they will always win and the effort to get the job done.

“As a coach, all you can ask is your athletes give you 100 percent and compete,” Thoesen said. “They were all just a pleasure to coach.”

Senior Will Burns, the ace of a solid pitching staff, is among those who will leave big shoes to fill but has high hopes for the program in the years to come.

“It’s disappointing,” he said of the season coming to an end. “But I look to the future for our young guys. I know they’ll have a great one.” Will Burns added that he is looking forward to seeing some more championship banners hanging in the Newtown High gymnasium; the Nighthawks won the SWC one year ago.

Will Burns will bring his pitching abilities to Harvard next year. “It’s a whole new level of baseball. It will be exciting both academically and athletically. I’m looking forward to the challenge and all that comes with it,” he said.

Thoesen and the returnees will look forward to their set of challenges on the high school diamond in the seasons to come. The seniors will be missed.

“They’re still part of our baseball family but it’s a tough thing,” Thoesen said of the departure of Josh Rosen, Filippo Formica, Reid Burns, Nick Tetreault, Sammy D’Aprile, Ryan Goldsmith, Will Burns, Tighe Zavatsky, and Logan Akbas.

“I loved every single senior. They’re great leaders and mentors. A lot of them took me under their wing and accepted me,” Piccuillo said.

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