The host/Newtown-based 10U Connecticut Hawks softball team captured the Grateful Dad Tournament Championship with a run through pool play and bracket rounds, culminating with a victory over the Darien Diamonds in the pinnacle matchup on Father's Day, making for a group of truly grateful softball dads.

The Hawks won a trio of games each in pool play and in the bracket round, highlighted by a tremendous late-game comeback in the semifinals before pulling away early to win the title matchup. This marks the first time the Newtown squad has won this tourney since the team began hosting it in 2021.

"Being able to host the Grateful Dad Tournament as part of the SouthWest Connecticut Fastpitch League is an honor for our community. We are blessed to have these beautiful fields here in town and it is great to show off all of the year round hard work put in by Newtown's Parks & Rec and our team," said John Williams, head coach of the Hawks and president of Newtown Softball.

"Hosting the Grateful Dad Tournament was a fantastic experience and winning our first ever championship here at home is a milestone we will cherish forever. It is the culmination of every practice that runs long, every carpool to a winter workout, and years of unwavering commitment that these coaches and players have made to one another," Williams said. "This belongs to the girls and the overwhelming support the coaches have received from the families. This isn't just a group of teammates; they are a family who has shared the field for years. To be the first Newtown team to win our own tournament on Father's Day resonates a little deeper when you are able to share that accomplishment with players and parents who have formed such a strong bond."

Tournament highlights are as follows:

Pool Play

Hawks 11, Pomperaug 9: Ramiza Johnston stepped into the circle and earned the win for the Hawks in their tournament opener. The Hawks amassed eight hits in the game. Alexa Carias and Katie Conlin each collected two hits with a big home run blast from Carias in the bottom of the fourth inning. Madigan Williams, Carias, and Kendall Rondini each drove in two runs. The Hawks had a strong eye at the plate, accumulating ten walks. Mia Gerardi, Johnston, and Rylee Lancaster led the team with two bases on balls each putting constant pressure on the Pomperaug defense.

Hawks 11, CT Timberwolves Grey 1: Mia Gerardi earned the win; the starter gave up one hit and one run over four innings, striking out four, and walking none. The Hawks accumulated 12 hits. Madigan Williams drove the middle of the lineup, leading the team with three runs batted in. Williams, Adelyn Santorella, and Katie Conlin each collected two hits. The Hawks ran wild on the base paths, tallying eight stolen bases. Solid defense did not commit an error in the field and turned the day’s first double play.

Hawks 14, New Canaan Black 6: Katie Conlin earned the win; the starting pitcher gave up four hits and six runs (five earned) over three and one-third innings. The Hawks collected nine hits in the game; Abigail Anstett and Lia Reiske were a force together in the lineup, as they each collected two hits. Adelyn Santorella and Reiske each drove in two runs and Alexa Carias paced the Hawks with two walks. Madigan Williams, Mia Gerardi, Carias, Reiske, Kendall Rondini, and Kaitlyn Flynn each stole multiple bases among 19 stolen bases for the team. Solid defense added two more double plays to the day’s count.

Bracket Play

Hawks 13, Danbury Storm 9: Katie Conlin stepped into the circle for the Hawks; the starting pitcher surrendered nine hits and seven runs over five innings, striking out eight. The Hawks tallied 16 hits, including six extra base hits — five triples by Abigail Anstett, Adelyn Santorella, Kaitlyn Flynn, Katie Conlin, and Mia Gerardi leading the way. Madigan Williams and Lia Reiske also each collected multiple hits and Reiske, Alexa Carias, Santorella, Conlin, and Flynn each stole multiple bases.

Hawks 8, CT Timberwolves Navy 7 (semifinals): Ramiza Johnston began the game for the Hawks; the hurler gave up seven hits and six runs over six innings, striking out three. In a matchup between pitching aces, the game opened in a defensive battle for the first three innings. The Hawks did not allow a base runner until the top of the fourth, when three singles by the Timberwolves brought in the game’s first two runs. The Hawks quickly tied the game in the bottom half of the inning and took a three-run lead in the fifth on a triple by Lia Reiske, a bunt single by Johnston, a walk by Madigan Williams, and singles from Mia Gerardi and Abigail Anstett. Trailing 5-2 in the top of the last inning the CT Timberwolves scored five runs to take a 7-5 lead, leaving the Hawks to face elimination in their last at bat. After singles by Kaitlyn Flynn and Anstett, the Timberwolves recorded two outs. With a runner on second base, Katie Conlin stepped in and provided some spark on a first-pitch double, scoring one and leaving the tying run in scoring position. Down to the game's last strike, Johnston doubled to right field, knotting the game 7-7. Williams drew a walk and with runners on first and second, Gerardi, the team’s cleanup hitter, came through on a first-pitch single to walk off the semifinal game and put the Hawks in the championship.

Hawks 14, Darien Diamonds 4 (championship): Riding the walk-off momentum, Mia Gerardi toed the rubber for the Hawks as the tournament’s top-seeded Hawks met the No 2 seed Darien Diamonds in the pinnacle game. Darien struck first, scoring one run on two singles to take a 1-0 lead. The Hawks answered quickly and loudly in the bottom of the frame. Back-to-back walks from Katie Conlin and Ramiza Johnston were followed by consecutive singles by Madigan Williams and Gerardi, giving the Hawks a 2-1 lead. Adelyn Santorella followed with a three-run home run. The Hawks were not done; another single by Alexa Carias saw the first six batters reach base, and a hard-fought seven-pitch walk to Abigail Anstett backed by another Lia Reiske single had the team from Newtown leading 6-1. Ramiza Johnston drove a single to center field, scoring another pair. A walk by Williams had runners on first and second when Gerardi unloaded on a ball for the inning’s second home run. The Hawks sent 14 batters to the plate, putting up 11 runs in an eye-opening first inning.

Offense was not the only thing firing on all cylinders for the Hawks as they ended both the second and third innings with double plays to shut down Darien’s offense, the team’s sixth and seventh double plays recorded in the tournament. The Hawks added another run on a Williams line drive to left field in the bottom of the third for a 12-1 lead. In the top of the fourth the Darien Diamonds scored three runs on a walk, two singles, and a fielder’s choice. Carias led off in the bottom of the fourth inning with a single and was followed by singles from Kaitlyn Flynn and Anstett. With the potential game-ending run on second base, Reiske singled hard up the middle to bring in Flynn, sending the team to a mercy-rule victory.

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