Newtown 12s Win Cal Ripken State Tournament

By ANDY HUTCHISON

Published: Jul 18, 2008 12:00 am

The Newtown 12-year-old baseball team won the 70-foot division of the Cal Ripken League in the State Tournament to advance to the Regional Tournament in New Hampshire. Newtown beat New Canaan 14-4 in the championship game after narrowly beating that same opponent in the winnerâs bracket final.

Newtown went undefeated with eight consecutive wins through the district and state tourneys, run-ruling in six of those games. Newtown outscored its opponents 115-18.

In the winnerâs bracket final, a 9-7 win over New Canaan, Newtown was down to its final out before rallying for three runs in the sixth inning, sparked by JP Blancoâs game-tying home run, his second of the game. After walks to Dean Demers and Mike Davis, Matt Mossberger lined a clutch RBI single. Newtown added a third run and took a 9-7 lead into the bottom of the sixth. After two quick outs, New Canaan picked up a double and brought the tying run to the plate in the form of their number three hitter, but JP Blanco tracked down a long fly ball to seal the Newtown win. Pat Mullins pitched the last two scoreless innings to earn the win.

It was a back-and-forth game. Newtown fell behind 1-0 after one inning, but responded with three runs for a 3-1 lead. Davis lined a solo shot and after a base hit by Brandon Marks, Justin Devellis hit a two-run homer to right center. New Canaan tied the game in the bottom of the second inning.

Newtown answered in the third inning. Blanco hit a solo homer and Demers singled and eventually scored to give Newtown a 5-3 lead. In the fourth inning, Newtown scratched out a sixth run on a single by Bubba Leblanc, a fielderâs choice and a clutch RBI single by Demers.

New Canaan responded in the bottom of the fourth with four runs to take a 7-6 lead before Newtownâs late-game comeback.

New Canaan fought its way through the loserâs bracket to face Newtown in the championship game. Newtown overcame an early deficit to earn the win. Trailing 4-3 entering the bottom of the second, Newtown quickly responded. Garrison Buzzanca and Devellis walked and Leblanc reached on an infield single. A walk to Mullins forced in the tying run. Consecutive singles by Blanco, Demers, and Davis plated three more runs. After a walk to Austin Raftery, Buzzanca lined another RBI single. Two wild pitches resulted in two more runs and Newtown taking a 10-4 lead after two innings.

Demers lined a homer in the bottom of the third to give Newtown an 11-4 lead. In the bottom of the fourth inning, Newtown scored three runs to end the game early under the run rule. Kaleb Rowe led off the inning with a walk after fouling off several two-strike pitches. Buzzanca was hit by a pitch and Devellis singled to load the bases. RBI groundouts by Leblanc and Mullins left the winning run on third base. Blanco lined a base hit to end the game giving Newtown the state championship. Davis earned the win with two shutout innings. LeBlanc made a nice diving play at second base and Buzzanca made a diving stab at short stop to thwart New Canaan rallies.

Regional play starts Saturday in New Hampshire with a trip to the World Series at stake.

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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"

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Newtown 12s Win Cal Ripken State Tournament

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