Blackhawks Win Jimmy Fund Tournament

The Newtown Blackhawks 10-year-old Travel Baseball team won the rain-delayed 15th annual Jimmy Fund Tournament, with a 12-4 victory over a good West Norwalk team. The Blackhawks ran their 2008 tournament record to 9-0 on the way to the title.

 Newtown 8, Danbury 7 (8 innings) – In a nail-biter, Newtown outlasted a stubborn Danbury team in extra innings. Michael Parker pitch three gritty innings in relief to earn the victory. Newtown jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the top of the first on a steal of home by Dave Matthews and a clutch two-out two-run double by Michael Doyle. Danbury answered with two in their half of the first and scratched out a run in the fifth to tie it. However, that was the only scoring until the explosive eighth. Newtown used four consecutive singles and a triple to deep left by Jaret Devellis (his third hit of the game) to score three runs. Devellis then stole home for what looked like an unneeded run. Danbury (which also had the potential winning run at third in the seventh) plated three runs of its own and had the tying run at third when Parker induced a grounder back to the mound for the win. Tim Krapf, Matt Maturo, Declan Sullivan, and Doyle each had two hits. Doyle, Krapf, and Devellis each had two RBI’s.

 Newtown 8, New Milford 7 – Newtown jumped out to a 6-0 lead and then held on to defeat the 2007 New England Regional champions. Dave Matthews struck out eight in 2.2  innings to earn the victory, while Luke Rustici limited the potent New Milford line up to four runs over the final 3.1 innings to pick up the save. Newtown’s four-run third inning was highlighted by an RBI double by Krapf, and RBI singles by Doyle and Jack Proccaccini. Alex Klang walked and scored a key run during the rally. Newtown scored another two in the fourth on Krapf’s towering home run over the left center-field fence and Doyle’s RBI double. With the tying run at third in the bottom of the sixth, Rustici induced a sinking liner that was caught by a diving Maturo at first base to end the game. Krapf, Maturo, Doyle, and Proccaccini all had two hits and scored at least one run.

Newtown 12, New Canaan 3 – After a slow start against the hard-throwing New Canaan starter, Newtown scored four in the third, five in the fourth, and another three in the sixth for the victory.  Matthews pitched three scoreless innings (and allowed only one hit) for the victory and Curtis Williamson pitched the final inning to close out the game. Parker, Rustici, and Williamson only gave up four hits in the last three innings. Nick Samuelson, Devellis, Maturo, Matthews, and Doyle each had two hits. Devellis, Matthews, and Doyle each scored two, and Maturo and Devellis each had three RBI’s.

 

Newtown 8, West Norwalk 3 – In the winners’ bracket finals, Newtown broke open a relatively close game with four runs in the bottom of the fifth for the victory. Matthews was again near perfect with no runs and one hit allowed over three innings. Parker pitched the final three for the save and would have completed the shutout if not for some uncharacteristic miscues by the defense in the last inning. In that fifth inning, the big hit was a two-out two-run double by Rustici. Devellis (triple), Parker (double), and Maturo had two hits apiece. Proccaccini and Parker scored twice, and Krapf and Rustici had two RBI’s.

Newtown 12, West Norwalk 4 – Newtown overcame an early three-run deficit with nine runs in the third through fifth innings to capture the championship. Matthews again picked up the victory, while Rustici was stellar in relief, allowing no runs on three hits over the final three frames. Devellis had three hits (including a double), and Maturo two (with a double off the top of the right field fence). Sullivan also had a long double to left center in the fifth. Devellis and Krapf each scored three runs, and Matthews and Parker scored twice. Proccaccini had three RBI’s, and Krapf, Maturo, Doyle, and Devellis had two each.

Tournament notes: Matthews was named MVP. On the mound, Matthews was 4-0 with 27 strikeouts in 14.2  innings. Parker had a win and a save, and Rustici contributed two saves. At the plate, Devellis had 11 hits (including three triples) and batted .579, and Maturo had ten hits and batted .625 (with an on base percentage of .684). Sullivan batted a superlative .800 (with an obp of .857). Krapf scored eight runs, Devellis seven, and Matthews six. Devellis had nine RBI’s, Doyle eight, and Krapf and Proccaccini knocked in six each.