State Champ Thunder Continues Success In New England Regionals

The Newtown Thunder 10-year-old Cal Ripken Baseball team, coming off its state championship, continued its winning ways in the New England Regional Tournament in Londonderry, NH during the final week of July.

The Thunder won its first three tourney games, beginning on July 24, to clinch a spot in the Regional Championship game on Thursday (after The Bee went to press).

Team members participated in the Skills Competition on day one, July 23. Members of the Thunder ran, hit and threw their way through the Friday afternoon event.

Nick Venezia, Connor Barrett, Owen McInerney and Sam Grossano ran the bases in record breaking time, taking first place among the seven other teams. Lucas O’Brien finished third overall in the home run hitting contest with a monstrous shot into the bleachers in left field. The competition came down to the final event, golden arm throw — 140 feet from home plate. Will Huegi got the job done with his strong arm to enable Newtown to take the trophy.

Game highlights are as follows:

Newtown 13, Hartford, Vermont 6: Colby Olson and Adam Bergeron hit Newtown to victory on July 24. With the thunder down 6-4 in the fifth, the boys woke their bats and exploded for seven runs. Sam Grossano’s bunting and Owen Mcinerney’s clutch single to center led the way. Connor Barrett kept two rallies alive with sharp singles up the middle.

Newtown 6, Sutton, Massachusetts 3: Jason Hebner pitched a complete game with less than 80 pitches on July 25. He used precise location and kept the Sutton nine off balance all day. O’Brien hit another long homer, this time over the bleachers in left. Ben Dieckman’s defense shut down any chance Sutton had of making a comeback, laying out his body to tag a runner and quiet a rally.

The unsung hero of the first two games was catcher Ben Harrison. Along with his stellar leadership on the field Ben “The Hammer” Harrison also doubled deep to left. Ryan Kost continues to lead the outfield play with great catches he makes, seemingly, with ease.

Winner’s Bracket Finals

Newtown 2, Exeter New Hampshire 1: Jason Hebner singled to left field to score Connor Barrett in the bottom of the seventh inning to lift the Thunder to a hard-fought victory over the New Hampshire state champs on July 27. Barrett doubled to center to start the inning, his fourth hit of the game, Ben Dieckman worked out a walk and, after a wild pitch moved the runners up, Hebner ended the extra-inning affair with his clutch hit to left.

Lucas O’Brien pitched six magnificent innings, holding the powerful Exeter team at bay. Colby Olson pitched a scoreless inning for the victory.

Nick Venezia made an outstanding catch to end a threat in the top of the seventh inning. Owen McInerney, Lucas O’Brien, and Will Huegi made sharp fielding plays all night long to help Newtown escape Exeter’s threats.

Sam Grossano’s perfectly executed bunt sent Will Huegi to third base in the fourth inning, setting the table for Ben Harrison to knock in Huegi for the Thunder’s first run.

Newtown is one victory away from earning a trip to the Cal Ripken World Series in Ocala, Fla.

Coach Barrett, Coach Harrison, and Coach O’Brien’s players are Ryan Kost, Ben Harrison, Owen McInerney, Adam Bergeron, Jason Hebner, Colby Olson, Ben Dieckman, Connor Barrett, Lucas O’Brien, Will Huegi, Sam Grossano, Nick Venzia, and Trevor Barrett.