Blackhawks' 10-Year-Old Travel Baseball Team Finishes Third In State Tournament

By ANDY HUTCHISON

Published: Jul 18, 2008 12:00 am

Blackhawksâ 10-Year-Old Travel Baseball Team Finishes Third In State Tournament

The Newtown Blackhawksâ 10-year-old boys travel baseball team finished third in the Babe Ruth State Tournament this past week. The Blackhawks were 2-2 in the tourney and have an 11-2 overall tournament record this season.

Newtown 19, New Milford 9: The Blackhawks overcame an early 4-0 deficit and scored ten runs on nine hits in the fourth inning, added four more runs in the fifth and another five in the sixth. Outfielders Michael Parker, Dave Matthews, and Jaret Devellis made nice catches to prevent New Milford from scoring several more runs. Jack Proccaccini, who doubled, and Matt Maturo both had three hits. Maturo scored four times and Tim Krapf and Matthews (double) each scored three runs. Proccaccini had six RBI (all with two outs), with Parker (double) and Maturo adding three each. Alex Klang hit a long double and scored in the fifth. Curtis Williamson added two hits and scored a run. Krapf, the catcher, threw out a would-be base stealer in the fourth to help shut down a potential rally. Luke Rustici picked up the win, with Parker getting the two-inning save. Matthews struck out five batters in two innings of work.

Newtown 6, Coventry 5: The Blackhawks used resilient pitching, timely hitting, and outstanding defense to pull out the victory. Newtown jumped out to a two-run lead in the first behind Krapfâs RBI double off the top of the right-center field fence. Coventry answered with four in the bottom half of the inning and would have scored more if not for a diving stop by Proccaccini at short stop with the bases loaded. The Blackhawks took a 5-4 lead in the third. Michael Doyle singled in Matthews, Krapf scored on an error, and Klang singled to drive in Doyle. Starting pitcher Parker settled down after the first and allowed only three hits over the next three innings. He helped himself out in the third by striking out the last two batters with two runners in scoring position.

Coventry tied it in the fourth, but its bid to take the lead was denied when second baseman Doyle made a diving stop and threw to Maturo at first who then threw out the runner at home to end the inning. Newtown went ahead in the fifth when Krapf led off with his second double of the game and scored on a single to center by Maturo. Matthews came on to pitch the fifth. After a lead-off walk and stolen base, the next batter lined a potential game-tying shot to centerfield. Devellis, though, made his second diving catch in as many games. He then threw in to second for the double play. Matthews struck out the next batter and another two in the bottom of the sixth to preserve the victory. Parker picked up the win and Matthews earned the save. Krapf was 3-for-3 with three runs scored and an RBI and Maturo added two hits and an RBI.

New Canaan 9, Newtown 4: The Blackhawks suffered their first tournament loss of the season when New Canaan broke open a 4-4 tie with five runs in the top of the sixth inning. Newtown scored three early runs. Krapf had an RBI single that knocked in Parker, Doyle drove in Matthews, and Krapf and Doyle executed a perfect delayed steal with Krapf swiping home. New Canaan tied it up in the third with two runs, but were stopped from getting more when Devellis threw a runner out at the plate (his second outfield assist in as many games). In the fourth, New Canaan went up 4-3, but Newtown answered back with one of its own when Maturo singled and later scored on Proccacciniâs clutch single. Declan Sullivan played well in the outfield. Matthews (seven strikeouts) and Rustici (four strikeouts) each pitched three innings and allowed a combined five earned runs.

New Milford 10, Newtown 4: Newtownâs run in the states tourney ended when New Milford scored six unearned runs. Matthews was outstanding on the mound, allowing no runs or hits in three innings. New Milford broke open the scoreless tie with four in the fourth and three in the fifth. Newtown answered back with two in the bottom of the fifth on long back-to-back doubles by Krapf and Maturo. After another three runs were scored by New Milford in the sixth, the Blackhawks did not go quietly as Rustici (two hits) and Sullivan had consecutive singles and scored on hits by Parker and Matthews. Klang made a nice diving catch in right field in the second, Williamson made a great throw on a bunt with two outs and a runner on third in the third inning, and Proccaccini made a diving stab of a line drive for an unassisted double play in the fourth.

Maturo (.583 average) and Krapf (three doubles) each had seven hits in the tournament. Klang batted .667 with a .750 on base percentage. Krapf scored eight times, Matthews scored six runs, and Maturo crossed home five times. Proccaccini had seven runs batted in, Maturo drove in five, and Krapf and Parker had four RBI apiece. On the mound, Parker recorded a win, and Rustici a win and a save. Matthews added a save and struck out 19 in ten innings of work.

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It’s important to clarify the tone and context of Derek Pisani’s remarks, particularly the satirical line about suing Newtown for "Gross Stupidity." This was clearly a tongue-in-cheek jab at the exhausting culture of legal threats that’s become a staple on the local Facebook Group forums. It was a reflection of frustration over endless regulatory hurdles and obstructionism, and the desire to avoid common sense solutions not an insult aimed at residents. Satire, is meant to provoke thought and highlight the absurdities. If we are unable to distinguish between satire and literal threats, perhaps the comment hit closer to the truth than we’d like to admit. Rather than focusing on Pisanis style, we should be discussing the substance of what he’s pointing out: that Newtown’s progress is being routinely blocked by a small but vocal contingent who seem intent on saying “no” at every turn. They are saying no to any development, no to common sense solutions to crowd control, etc. Newtown deserves leaders who are willing to call things as they see them, even if their language ruffles feathers. That doesn’t mean they lack respect for constituents—it means they care enough to challenge the Mob and push for solutions. Isn't that what we elect people to do? I applaud Pisani's dedication, he certainly has earned my vote. Regardless, let’s not reduce conversation to tone-policing and outrage. Let’s focus on the issues that matter.

Who is Calling Newtowners Stupid?

Thank you for pointing out the trail access provisions included in the BOS motion—it’s an important clarification that deserves more attention in this conversation. If the development is, in fact, required to provide permanent free public access and commit to ongoing maintenance of this section of the Rochambeau Trail, that is a remarkably beneficial outcome for the town. oIt’s not every day that a private project shoulders the long-term burden of preserving and caring for a public historical corridor at no taxpayer cost—especially one that previously had no formal access, upkeep, or visibility. Let’s be honest: the idea that the only way to protect history is by preventing any development nearby is a rigid and unworkable standard. What’s being proposed here appears to strike a rare balance—historic preservation, public access, and smart development all rolled into one. That’s not a loss its a win. So rather than allowing a handful of voices to derail progress under the banner of “historic purity,” maybe it’s time to acknowledge the reality: this trail is better off with structured stewardship and visibility than remaining an overgrown ghost on old maps. Let’s move forward. Bring in the easement, bring in the public access—and yes, bring in the bulldozers!!! Progress and preservation can coexist. Let’s not let the NIMBY use fear or nostalgia keep us stuck in the past.

Discusses Rochambeau Trail And 6 Commerce Road

I've heard that several people are under the impression that the public might be banned from the Rochambeau Trail. Points 2 and 3 from the BOS motion (included in full below) make it clear that public access to the trail is part of the requirements for the developer. From what I understand, it requires free public access to the trail in perpetuity. Technically, this could be argued to be a "payment-in-kind," that attempts to balance public good with overall town growth. We can argue about weather that balance is acceptable and how the trail may be affected, but with the understanding that the trail is expected to be maintained as a publicly accessible trail regardless. July 15, 2024 Board of Selectmen approved motion: Discontinuance of Reservoir Road: Selectman Cruson moved the resolution: Resolved, that the Newtown Board of Selectmen, in accordance with Section 2-115(d)(8) of the Town Charter and Conn. Gen. Stat. §13a-49, and subject to the conditions set forth below, hereby discontinues an unimproved portion of Reservoir Road described as “Portion of Reservoir Road to be Discontinued “on that certain survey map which will be recorded on the Newtown Land Records titled “Map Showing Portion of Reservoir Road to be Discontinued” dated August, 2023 and revised September 15, 2023, and certified substantially correct by Gregory Szyszowski of SLR (the “Survey Map”), said discontinuance contingent and effective only upon the completion of the following: 1. The approval of an application for the development of land in the manner described in a letter from Attorney Thomas W. Beecher to First Selectman A. Jeffrey Capeci and Members of the Board of Selectmen dated May 30, 2024, pursuant to the “Residential Open Space Development” regulations of the Borough of Newtown by the Borough of Newtown Zoning Commission, and construction of that approval project within the timeframes required for special exception approval; 2. The inclusion of the discontinued portion of the road as part of the final Declaration of Conservation Restriction; 3. The conveyance of a mutually agreeable public easement to the Town of Newtown for pedestrian, bicycling, equestrian, and all other passive recreational uses (to exclude the use of motorized vehicles except as may be necessary by the Town or its designee to effectuate the purpose of the easement), and for municipal utility purposes; Be it further resolved, that Castle Hill Real Estate Holdings, LLC., its successors and assigns, shall not use any portion of the discontinued road as a vehicular road or access way to and from any developed portions of the property. Be it further finally resolved, that should any of the foregoing contingencies not occur, then the discontinuance contemplated herein shall not become effective and this resolution will become null and void. From: https://www.newtown-ct.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif12216/f/minutes/bos_7-15-24_min-_att_final.pdf

Is this paper road (roads that only exist on paper map but not in reality) even owned by the Town? Many roads that predate the Town's road standards are privately owned and were never accepted by the Town, such as many of the nonconforming roads around the lake communities where the property owners own right to the center line. That is something we had to deal with when working on the Roads Ordinance a few years back. We also had to deal with a private road to run the utilities to the new SHS.

For anyone who wants to know, I cant post a link here, but Housatonic Resources Recovery Authority has an entire website. Look up "HRRA whats in whats out"

I Get It!

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Blackhawks' 10-Year-Old Travel Baseball Team Finishes Third In State Tournament

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