Newtown 13s Reach I-84 Finale

The 13 year old Newtown One travel baseball team stormed through the I-84 playoffs, beating Brookfield 12-2, Amity 11-1, and Pomperaug 13-10.  Newtown came up just short in the championship game, falling to Norwalk 3-2 this past week.

In the championship game, Newtown got on the board quickly in the top of the first inning when Nick Samuelson hit a long double to right center field, driving in Matt Elias. Norwalk tied it up with two hits in the bottom of the first.

In the second, after battling through an eight-pitch at bat, Connor Miller worked a leadoff walk and scored on Jared Brady’s RBI single. Norwalk tied it in the third and pushed across the eventual winning run in the fifth.

Austin Martinez singled in the sixth and Dillon Palumbo singled in the seventh, but both were left stranded as Newtown just could not muster a timely hit in the late innings.

Key contributions through out the playoffs were made by Andy Braun, Matt Elias, and Jake Courchene-Roy. Outstanding pitching performances were turned in by Connor Miller, Tim Vanderhave, and Newtown’s ace pitcher and closer Curtis Williamson.

Highlighting the web gems were Nick Samuelson who, from behind the dish, threw out several would-be base stealers; Dillon Palumbo making an all-out diving catch in centerfield and throwing out a runner at home; and Austin Martinez with five putouts at shortstop in the championship game.

At the plate, Vanderhave hit .777; Jared Brady hit .500; Matt Hess hit .455; and Samuelson hit .385 with a triple, two doubles and five RBI.