Inferno On Fire — Wins Districts

The Newtown Inferno baseball team captured the Cal Ripken 12 year old 46/60 District 5 championship by defeating Middlebury 7-6 with four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning on June 27.

With one out, Harry Eppers drew a walk and Peter DeBona singled to right. CJ Shambelan followed with a line drive double off the center field fence scoring Eppers. One out later Eugene Citrano hit an infield single in the hole at short to bring the Inferno within one run, at 6-5. Citrano then took second on defensive indifference to put the winning run in scoring position. Adam Beckett hit an offering up the middle scoring Shambelan with the tying run and a sliding Citrano with the winning run on a close play at the plate. 

Patrick Godino pitched four plus innings, striking out five Middlebury batters. Newtown had beaten Middlebury earlier in the first game of the tournament, 2-1, after Beckett hit a two-run home run to left field in the fourth inning. Trailing by one, Citrano singled to left center before Beckett lined a pitch over the left field fence. Colby Olson picked up the win in one inning of relief of Owen McInerney who threw three strong innings, allowing only one run and striking out four. Godino nailed down the save, shutting down Middlebury in the last two innings.

The Inferno beat Oxford 6-3 to reach the championship game. Olson pitched an outstanding game, allowing only an infield hit and striking out seven in four innings of work. Eppers made a fine over the shoulder catch on a blooper over second base in the last inning. McInerney made a diving catch in right field ending the fifth inning.