Date: Thu 13-Jul-1995

Author: TOMW

Illustration: I

Full Text:

Babe Ruth Prep, 13-Year-Old

Arms got tired, bats cooled down, and, like all good things, the Newtown Babe

Ruth Prep Division All-Star team's quest for a District 4 title came to an end

on Tuesday night, July 11, as Danbury came away with a 12-8 victory in the

tournament finals at Bethel High School.

Newtown's high-powered offense, which had rallied from behind several times

during the tournament, twice erased Danbury leads in the title contest, but

the usually dominant Newtown pitching staff couldn't hold off the all-stars

from Hat City.

" We just fell apart at the end, " said Newtown starting pitcher Ken Seferi. "

If we pressed a little harder I think we could have won, but most of the guys

arms were hanging. "

Playing out of the loser's bracket, Newtown was faced with the task of having

to defeat Danbury twice in two days to earn the championship, after having

beaten Bethel 8-6 on Sunday. They pulled out the win on Monday night, but

Tuesday was when it came crashing down.

" We just had too many games in a row, " said Newtown star Jeff Rucktenwald,

who pitched a seven-inning complete game on Sunday and two innings in the

final. " By Tuesday night, our arms were tired. "

Newtown staked Danbury to an early lead when Seferi was reached for three runs

in the top of the second. As it had done throughout the tournament, though,

the Newtown team struck right back.

Against Danbury's top gun, Doug Riepe, Larry Isler slammed a leadoff double

and Rucktenwald walked. Ray Reynolds reached on a fielder's choice and then

followed Ruckty up the baseline on a double steal.

After Rucktenwald scored on a wild pitch, Steve Moulten worked out a walk and

Justin Dahlmeyer singled home Reynolds. After Rich Engel was hit by a pitch to

load the bases, another run scored on a wild pitch before Kyle McCullough

wiped the bags clean with a long two-run double.

By the time the smoke had cleared, Newtown was on top 5-3.

A walk, double, triple, and single produced three Danbury runs in the top of

the third inning and made it a 6-5 Danbury lead until Newtown again responded.

When Rucktenwald tripled home Isler, who had singled, and then scored on a

base hit by Reynolds, Newtown was ahead, 7-6.

Ruckty took the mound for the Newtown stars in the top of the fourth, and

retired the Hatters in order thanks to a key double play, but in the bottom

half Newtown failed to add to its lead despite a leadoff walk to Les Russell.

Danbury captured the lead for good in the fifth inning on a walk, an infield

error, a long double to the fence, and a wild pitch that made it 9-7.

Rucktenwald singled, stole two bags, and scored on a grounder by Christian

Pesci in the bottom half, cutting Danbury's lead to only one. But Danbury got

it right back off relief pitcher Larry Isler in top six on a walk and some

devil-may-care baserunning.

In its last two at bats, Newtown's comeback efforts were thwarted and Danbury

added two in the seventh and came away with the 12-8 win.

" When some of the calls started going against us towards the end there, I

think it took away some of our spirit, " Rucktenwald admitted.

Rucktenwald was 2-for-4 in the game with a triple, Isler was 2-for-4 with a

double, and McCullough added a Newtown double as well.

Against The Wall

With its back against the wall on Monday night, July 10, Newtown took the

first step towards a possible district title when it rallied from an early

deficit to beat Danbury 10-5 on the Bethel High ballfield.

Danbury scored four runs in the first inning against Isler, but Newtown wasted

no time in getting it right back.

Highlighted by Seferi and Isler doubles and a long Rucktenwald triple, Newtown

scored four runs in its half to even it back out.

The Newtown stars took the lead for good in their half of the second when Rich

Engel doubled and scored on Seferi's double down the line after Russell had

walked. Russell then trotted home on another double down the line by Isler.

Seferi scored on a wild pitch and the inning ended with Newtown ahead, 7-4.

McCullough came on to pitch in the fourth and shut Danbury out over the final

three innings.

Ken Seferi was 4-for-4 in the game with two doubles, Isler smacked two

doubles, Rucktenwald mashed a triple, and McCullough doubled. The

fearsome-foursome was virtually unstoppable in the tournament until the well

ran dry.

l In its 8-6 win over Bethel on Sunday, July 9, Rucktenwald pitched seven

innings and Newtown rallied from a 4-0 deficit thanks to five RBI by Seferi.