Sports

Back To Back: 10U Hawks Make It Two State Titles In A Row

Published: Jul 18, 2025 6:55 am

The Newtown Hawks 10U Blue baseball team completed a perfect 7–0 run through the Connecticut Cal Ripken State Tournament, securing their second consecutive state championship in mid July and earning a trip to the Cal Ripken Regional Tournament in Massachusetts.

Newtown dominated pool play from the outset. The Hawks opened with a 12–0 shutout of the Nonnewaug Nukes, followed by a win via forfeit against Bridgeport. In their third game, the Hawks’ offense erupted for a commanding 22-0 victory over Roberto Clemente, before closing out pool play with a 10-0 shutout win over Bethwood. With four wins — three by mercy rule — and not a single run allowed in their completed games, Newtown entered bracket play as the tournament’s top seed.

In their first elimination game, the Hawks were tested by a resilient New Fairfield squad but pulled away late to secure a 7-5 victory thanks to timely hitting and steady defense in the final innings. Next, they faced Norwalk, earning a solid 8-3 win to advance to the next round.

The tournament’s most dramatic game came in the matchup against rival New Canaan. The teams were tied 3-3 heading into extra innings. Newtown held defensively through the top of the eighth before drawing a bases-loaded walk to earn a 4-3 walk-off win, sending the Hawks into the championship.

In the state title game, the Hawks once again faced Norwalk and battled through a competitive matchup, pulling ahead late to secure a 6–3 victory and complete their undefeated tournament showing.

The state championship run was fueled by balanced hitting, consistent pitching, and solid defense throughout the roster. With back-to-back state titles secured, Newtown advances to the Cal Ripken Regional Tournament, where the Hawks will face top teams from across the Northeast. The tournament is set to begin Saturday, July 19.

The Hawks are made up of players Brayden Andrews, Luke Dobson, Parker Esposito, Jack Fregoe, Grayson Kohlasch, Maverick Levy, Chase Pacuk, James Otis, Baer Rangel, Austin Rekos, Jacob Steeves, and Joey Skura. The team is led by head coach Mark Skura, with assistant coaches Bobby Andrews, Joe Esposito, and Jon Steeves.

The 10U State Champions are, from left, front: Chase Pacuk, Joey Skura, Brayden Andrews, Jack Fregoe, and Austin Rekos; middle: Maverick Levy, Baer Rangel, Grayson Kohlasch, Luke Dobson, Parker Esposito, James Otis, and Jacob Steeves; and back: Coaches Jon Steves, Mark Skura, Bobby Andrews, and Joe Esposito. —Janet Kuzma photo

Top Of The Mountain

My Brother’s Band Planning ‘Mixed Bag’ Set List For Summer Concert Series Gig

Theater Review: A Very Happy Homecoming For ‘All Shook Up’

Theater Review: ‘Camelot’ Given The Royal Treatment In Neighboring Brookfield

David Ober Retires After 24 Years Of Service To Town

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!

PLEASE NOTE that the Panacea Reunion on August 31st is not "AN ALL CLASS Reunion." This event has been hosted by members of Panacea band for the past 12 years as a town-wide event, and all from Newtown are invited to attend. Any Newtown High School classes are welcome to meet and organize their own gatherings, too.

NHS Class Of 1975 50-Year Reunion Celebration Planned For Labor Day Weekend

Log In

Back To Back: 10U Hawks Make It Two State Titles In A Row

Leave a Reply Cancel reply