New-Look Newtown Softball Team Gains Confidence

By Andy Hutchison

The Newtown High School softball team jumped into the proverbial fire to start the year. The Nighthawks visited perennial South-West Conference powerhouses Lauralton Hall on April 8 and Masuk exactly a week later, in their first two games and held their own in 4-0 and 1-0 losses, respectively.

With a fairly inexperienced lineup this year, including six new players on the field at any time, Coach Bob Guererra says, “That was a tough road to hoe starting out.”

Masuk pitcher Rachele Fico and Hall pitcher Bridget Gates, headed for LSU and Bucknell respectively, shut down opposing teams — even seasoned squads — day in and day out.

Fico also hit a homerun to make the difference in a pitching duel with Newtown’s Jenna Legros.

Newtown bounced back to blank Stratford 14-0 on April 17. Legros tossed a one-hitter, allowing only a bunt single, and nearly pulled off a win against Hall in a rematch on April 18. Outfielder Marley Koschel broke up a scoreless tie with a run-producing triple before Hall struck for three runs to pull out the win.

The Nighthawks beat New Milford 5-1 at home on Tuesday for their second win in three games, giving the team a taste of winning that it needed.

“I’m happy because it just builds confidence,” Legros said. “I think that’s what we needed after the first couple of games.”

Legros, a senior captain, is one of few returning starters in the lineup that was mostly decimated by graduation and injury before the start of this campaign.

“It’s obviously very good to get some of the younger players to believe they can start to win,” Guererra added.

In the win over Stratford, Newtown pounded out 18 hits. Nora Lynn Shimko, Meghan Gibbons and Natalie Dunn each had three hits and Legros fanned 15 batters. Against New Milford, Newtown jumped out to an early lead. Ally Modzelewski led off with a walk, Rachel Ruiz singled, Nora Lynn Shimko sacrificed the runners over and Colleen Cunningham belted a two-run triple. In the third, Newtown padded its lead as Modzelewski doubled, Shimko walked, Gibbons was hit by a pitch to load the bases and Christine Beck (single) and Maddie Hauck (walk) pushed across runs.

Considering the early season competition and the recent winning success, the Nighthawks may be somewhat rebuilding, but also are generating a feeling they can make some noise come playoff time.

“Expectations are guarded but high — I think we can do well,” Guererra said.