Back in June, 33 girls tried out for the Newtown Hawks 12-and-under softball team and only three of them (Christie Caruso, Jessica Duch and Amie Walston) had ever played on a travel team before. Twenty girls were named to the opening roster, all were invited to continue training with the program, and eventually 23 girls got the opportunity to play in games.

The coaching staff was most proud of the fact that 20 girls got their first opportunity to play travel softball and that all 23 played in their first-ever season of fall ball.

The team – consisting of 10 eighth graders, 12 seventh graders, and one sixth grader – played in the Central Valley Fastpitch Summer League and the Hudson Valley (New York) Fall League. The Hawls also participated in two tournaments – the CVFL Summer Wrap-Up and the Wappinger Falls Fall Invitational.

The combined record for both summer and fall was 15-20-2.

The team:

EIGHTH GRADE

 

STEPHANIE HENSS (C, CF): Stephanie hit .470 with four doubles, two triples, and 15 RBI. “By the end of the season,” said coach LaFrancesca, “Stephanie was the best pure hitter I had seen all season.” Can hit to all fields and has speed to beat out infield slaps.

EMILY NEZVESKY (CF, C): Batting cleanup, Emily blasted five home runs and three triples. Hit .348 with 18 RBI and 21 runs scored. Season highlight was going 4-for-5 with a home run and three RBI in her first-ever travel games against New Fairfield. “She has that unique blend of speed and power and can break any game open with either one,” said coach LaFrancesca.

AMIE WALSTON (2B, SS, P, C, 3B, CF): Versatility was her middle name. Amie started at second, but also played shortstop, third base, catcher, centerfield, and pitcher. Hit. 303 with a pair of doubles, two triples, a home run, and team-high 20 RBI. Possesses the strongest arm on the team.

EMILY BLEWETT (1B, OF, P): Emily hit .268 with a double. A hard-luck hitter who flew out often on hard hit balls. Did an outstanding job on defense. Season highlight was 3-for-3 performance against Beacon Falls that featured a double and two RBI.

CHRISTIE CARUSO (SS): Christie hit .277 with a double, triple, and 22 runs scored. The fastest player on the team. “Christie was the glue of out infield and always gave 100% effort,” said coach LaFrancesca. Starred in the CVFL Tournament game against Bethlehem/Woodbury.

CHRISTINA WOLF (3B): Hit .350, playing only in the summer (in the fall she plays goal for two soccer teams). “Christina was a human highlight film at third base,” said coach LaFrancesca. Against the Connecticut Thunder, she was 2-for-2 with two wicked line shots (one sent the Thunder pitcher to the bench) and made six spectacular defensive plays.

SARAH HOLROYD (3B, 2B, OF): Hit .238 with a double and 15 runs scored. Started her first travel season as a utility players and finished as the starting third baseman in the fall.

JESSICA DUCH (1B, 3B, OF): Hit. 444 with a double. A team captain during the summer season, has a big heart to match her big bat.

THERESA VILLAFANO (OF): Hit. 286. One of the fastest players on the team, she was a scoring threat every time she reached base.

CAITLIN THURSLAND (2B, OF): A late addition, Caitlin hit and ran well for the Hawks in the fall.

LISA MORGAN (P, 1B, OF): “Getting this highly-experienced Connecticut Charmer tournament player into the lineup did a lot for us, both on and off the field,” said coach LaFrancesca. A dominating pitcher, her performance in the circle helped raise the level of play of the rest of the team.

SEVENTH-GRADERS

 

JENNA VAN WAALWIJK (P): Hit .302 with a double, home run, 10 RBI and 15 runs scored. The #1 pitcher, she hurled a three-hitter against the Brewster Rockets. “Jenna could either supply a clutch RBI or drop down a bunt to start a rally,” said coach LaFrancesca.

ANNIE GRILLS (C, OF): Batted .368 with two doubles, a triple, 16 RBI and 15 runs scored. “It’s tough to find players who give a greater effort than Annie,” said coach LaFrancesca. Annie belted a two-run double in the seventh inning against Brookfield to help her team rally from behind.

ALI LEGROS (LF): Hit .333 with two doubles, 11 RBI and 14 runs scored as the starting leftfielder. “Ali is a very coachable young lady,” said coach LaFrancesca. “She gives 100%, works hard without the ball, and is a supportive teammate.”

KARLI BEITEL (1B, OF): Hit .341 with three doubles, a home run, and 12 RBI. “She did an outstanding job for us at first base and has one of the best stretches in the league,” said coach LaFrancesca.

KAYLA KOSCHEL (P, OF): Hit .313 with a double, nine RBI and 13 runs scored. Kayla supplied the Hawks with the most gutsy performance of the season when she pitched eight innings on a 90-degree July day for the team’s first victory of the season versus Bethlehem/Woodbury. She scattered 12 hits and walked two in the 9-8 win.

ALLY KIRK (3B, C, 2B, OF): Hit. 250 with four RBI and eight runs scored. “Ally possesses the sweetest swing on the team, has one of the strongest throwing arms, and is aggressive on the base paths,” said coach LaFrancesca.

JACKIE US (OF, P, IB): Hit .280 with a double, five RBI, and eight runs scored. A relief pitcher, she could be counted on to throw strikes, especially early in the season when the team was struggling.

GINA BLOSHUK (3B, SS, OF): Playing only in the fall, Gina hit .444 with a double, two triples, a home run, 10 RBI and 14 runs scored. “Aside from her bat,” said coach LaFrancesca, “she is a student of the game who did an outstanding job in catching up to her teammates despite her late start.”

BRIA INNAURATO (OF, 3B): Batted .250 with a double and five RBI. “Bria made some of the biggest outfield putouts of the season,” said coach LaFrancesca, “and does an outstanding job of playing without the ball.”

ASHLEY GABOR (OF, 2B, P): Hit. 278 with seven runs scored. “Ashley was always eager to contribute and even more eager to learn,” said coach LaFrancesca.

LISA ALBERICO (OF, 2B): Hit .235 with a double and 11 runs scored. In a CVFL tournament game versus Brookfield, Lisa had one of the team’s five hits, scored one of the team’s four runs, caught a line drive in rightfield and alertly doubled off a runner at first.

JESSICA COSGROVE (3B, OF): An injury forced Jessica to miss the fall season. “While with us,” said coach LaFrancesca, “she always gave the team everything she had.”

SIXTH GRADER

 

VALERIE NEZVESKY (RF, 2B): A U10 player playing up, Valerie hit an impressive .328 with two doubles, two triples, 18 RBI (second on the team) and 14 runs scored. “Val is a sponge who takes everything in and the best thing about her is you only have to tell her once,” said coach LaFrancesca. “Seeing an 18-year-old make the necessary adjustments in the box after a pitch, or during the next at bat, with her feet or her hands is most impressive, but seeing a 10-year-old do it is phenomenal.”