It was a memorable night for Newtown High School's softball team when the Nighthawks defeated visiting Immaculate of Danbury 12-3 under the lights at Treadwell Park on May 2. The game was briefly paused for Addy Cordova to be recognized after she collected her 200th career strikeout. Cordova's fourth strikeout of the game marked the milestone accomplishment, on her way to a whopping 13 fanned batters in the contest.

"I'm so proud of her. She's proven to be such a strong pitcher in our conference. For her to reach a milestone like this to back her hard work is so important. She's so impressive and has earned all 200 of these strikeouts. I can't wait to see what else she accomplishes in her last few weeks on the mound," NHS Coach Megan Goyda said.

What's more, the game was the softball program's first 15 For Life Foundation fundraiser, which supports mental health awareness and suicide prevention.

And on top of supporting this important cause, the Nighthawks hosted a program that features some Newtown residents, including catcher Norah Whitmore, who had a memorable visit to her home town by belting a home run to left field. Caroline Murray, Sophia Yomazzo, and Lela Liben are also Newtown players on the Immaculate roster.

As for the Nighthawks, this was also a big victory to get back into the win column following a 6-1 loss to visiting Bunnell of Stratford on April 29. Four errors led to three unearned runs, and the lone offensive highlight for the Hawks was a Cordova homer.

In the Immaculate game, Newtown got back to its high-scoring ways, notching its sixth double-digit offensive showing of the season en route to improving to 8-4 overall. The Hawks banged out 17 hits. Cordova helped her own cause from the top of the batting order, delivering four hits and a trio of runs batted in. Elena Burdo tripled and doubled among her four hits, and drove in four along with scoring three times. B.B. Diorio and Lila Accousti doubled. Gabby Ansman, Evelyn Schoen — who had two singles — and Emma Clyne also drove in runs. Diorio had three hits and scored three runs. Cordova allowed five hits and just two earned runs; she issued just one walk in a 108-pitch effort that featured 73 strikes.

The Nighthawks defeated visiting New Fairfield 8-1 on May 4. The game was tied 1-1 going to the bottom of the third when the Hawks took the lead and broke things open with a five-spot. Olivia Doersch finished the game with three hits, including a triple, and a pair of RBI. Burdo drove in two runs, and Reagan Schenzer had two hits and drove in a run. Ansman and Izzy Ligouri also had RBI. Cordova threw a one-hitter, surrendering only a triple, and added to her strikeout tally with five more in an efficient 80-pitch effort.

Newtown's busy week continued with a visit to Shepaug Valley on Tuesday; the Nighthawks erupted for six runs in the top of the second inning and never looked back en route to a 16-5 win. The Nighthawks improved to 10-4 overall. Accousti remains hot at the plate; she went 4-for-5 with a double and pair of RBI. Five Nighthawks drove in two runs: Cordova, Mia Napolitano, Ansman (who had two hits including a double), and Gillian Boughan (who collected three hits) joined Accousti. Ligouri and Burdo both had big days in the batter's box as they each tallied three hits. Cordova pitched two innings, fanning six batters for all of the outs she recorded, to pick up the win. Napolitano tossed five innings, allowing five runs, but only two earned, as Newtown committed five errors in the field.

Sports Editor Andy Hutchison can be reached at andyh@thebee.com.