By Kim J. Harmon

TRUMBULL – Considering where they had been a year ago – way down at the bottom of a 1-19 hole looking up – the Nighthawks’ 9-7 win over St. Joseph’s of Trumbull on Saturday will turn out to be a pretty important one.

First and foremost, it was a win. Those have been so hard to come by in the last couple of years that getting the first one should pretty much indicate that more are on the way.

Second, the ‘Hawks themselves can reflect on the win and realize that as much as things might have fallen apart on them in losses to Pomperaug and Brookfield, they do have the ability to put it all together.

And third, it was new coach John Larkins’ first career victory and – as fate and a perfect world would have it – it came against his former coach and good friend, Christy Hayes.

It was an important win all right.

“The key,” said coach Larkins, “was Les (Russell) and Kevin (Carolan). Les pitched five solid innings and didn’t walk anyone in that monsoon wind and Kevin came in and walked only one. That allowed us to keep excess baserunners off the base paths.”

It is those excess baserunners that turn into excess runs and that is something coach Larkins – after seeing his team walk 18 batters and commit 12 errors in losses to Pomperaug and Brookfield – knows all too well.

In the win over St. Joseph’s, Steve Bertè and Matt McCarthy collected two hits apiece. Bertè singled in the first inning and doubled in the third while McCarthy doubled in the first (batting behind Bertè he failed to drive in a run only because Bertè was gunned down at the plate) and singled in the five-run sixth inning that carried the ‘Hawks to the win.

John Fiscella, Rob Weiss, Steve Moulton and Russell all banged out hits.

Things got started for Newtown in the top of the second inning. Fiscella led off with a single, was sacrificed over to second by Carolan, and reached third on a wild pitch. He then scored the first run on a double by Weiss. The ‘Hawks took a 3-0 lead in the top of the third inning when Nick Savino and Bertè both scored (Savino was hit by a pitch, stole second, and scored on a double by Bertè).

St. Joseph’s scored a run in the bottom of the third and fourth innings to trim the Newtown lead to 3-2. After the ‘Hawks went ahead 4-2, though, in the top of the fifth inning thanks to two errors and two wild pitches, the Cadets exploded for four runs in the bottom of the fifth to take a 6-4 lead. A hit batsmen and outfield error by Newtown fanned the flames.

But the ‘Hawks took the lead – and the game – right back with a five-run sixth inning. Fiscella, Carolan and Weiss were all walked to lead off the top of the frame and Moulton reached first on a fielder’s choice grounder that got Fiscella nabbed at the plate. Still, with one out and the bases loaded Russell singled in a pair of runs. Savino and Dave Roodhuyzen were walked to force in another run and then McCarthy, with two outs, slapped a two-run single to put Newtown ahead 9-6.

The Cadets added a run – unearned – in the bottom of the frame.

“It was a great game,” said coach Larkins, “because we put the ball over the plate and played baseball.”

The same can’t be said, though, about losses to Pomperaug (12-5) and Brookfield (8-3).

Against Pomperaug, Newtown pitchers Ray Reynolds and Gregg Burkhart walked 11 batters while the defense committed five errors. Sure, they held the Panthers to just four hits, but the damage had been done. McCarthy doubled and singled while Savino and Bertè each singled for Newtown’s only four hits.

Against Brookfield, the ‘Hawks saw a 3-2 lead disintegrate was the Bobcats scored six runs over the fourth, fifth and sixth innings. Fiscella singled twice while Burkhart, Carolan, McCarthy (another double) and Savino all had one hit apiece.

The ‘Hawks left 10 men on base.

“The kids have to realize that they are winners inside and they have to go out there and show it,” said coach Larkins.

The ‘Hawks started a five-game road trip on Friday with a ride to Bunnell High School. On Friday, the ‘Hawks will the Panthers of Masuk before visiting Stratford and Pomperaug on Monday and Tuesday of next week.