By Kim J. Harmon

 

The sun will come out sometime – you can bet your bottom dollar on that. But this past week it was mostly wet and cold and miserable as Newtown High School struggled through its early spring sports schedule.

A number of games were lost to the weather, but some were actually contested ... with some positive results for the locals.

The girls’ tennis team snapped a three-match losing streak, the baseball team snapped a two-game losing streak, and the softball team continued to hit and score runs. But the girls’ lacrosse team was stopped for the first time (on a last-second goal by Glastonbury) while the boys’ lacrosse team was stopped for the fourth time in a row.

The boys’ tennis team also dropped its second match of the season.

But April vacation is over and the sun is expected to appear sometime this weekend, so read on –

GIRLS TENNIS

Newtown 6, Bunnell 1

No one, least of all Newtown, expected the defending South-West Conference champions to drop its first three matches of the season. But Newtown High School did just that against Lauralton Hall, Joel Barlow and Weston – three of the toughest teams in the SWC.

The Lady Nighthawks finally did get off the schneid, though, with a 6-1 win over Bunnell last week at the Newtown High School courts.

Every match was a straight set decision and No. 1 singles is where the toughest battle took place as Kristene Salbu of Newtown dropped a 6-3, 7-5 decision to Vasilika Cyfeku.

Christina Ciamarra, Maxx Zimmer and Erin Nemeth all recorded easy singles wins while the doubles tandems of Jenna Moser and Katie Serock, Nikia McFadden and Lauren DeFelice, and Rachel Cox and Charlotte Manos all eased their way to wins.

The girls will return to the court on Monday when they visit Notre Dame of Fairfield before returning home on Wednesday to host Masuk. On Thursday, the girls will be in New Milford.

Newtown 6, Bunnell 1

SINGLES: Vasilika Cyfeku (B) def Kristene Salbu 6-3, 7-5; Christina Ciamarra (N) def Devan Alusik 6-1, 6-1; Maxx Zimmer (N) def Kayla Eng 6-1, 6-1; Erin Nemeth (N) def Lauren Rodrigues 6-3, 6-0. DOUBLES: Jenna Moser/Katie Serock (N) def Stephanie Dolph/Maggie Sulik 6-3, 6-1; Nikia McFadden/Lauren DeFelice (N) def Krysta Ortiz/Jennie Cheng 6-1, 6-0; Rachel Cox/Charlotte Manos (N) def Tiffani Fraser/Ann Masella 6-1, 6-0.

 

GIRLS LACROSSE

Newtown 19, Weston 3

Glastonbury 9, Newtown 8

Everyone is going to stumble sometime.

It happens.

And it happened on Tuesday morning for the Newtown High School girls’ lacrosse team.

After storming out to a 6-2 halftime lead against an undefeated Glastonbury team, the Lady Nighthawks – also undefeated – suffered a second-half defensive slump and saw the visitors score five unanswered goals to take a 7-6 lead.

The last came with 13:26 left on a nice dish inside the fan.

The ‘Hawks had taken the first-half lead on three goals from Rachel Maley and one each from Courtney Gleason, Lisa Vendel and Betsy Vendel. It was Betsy Vendel’s second tally, off a fine assist from Gleason, that finally stopped the bleeding and allowed the locals to tie the score at 7-7.

Two minutes later, the Lady Tomahawks re-took the lead and held it for four minutes before the ‘Hawks re-established a tie on Lisa Vendel’s second goal. The ‘Hawks held on tight, dodging a bullet when a Glastonbury shot bounced off the carpet at Treadwell and struck the crossbar, and then making a tough defensive stand in the final minute only to see the Tomahawks win the game on a shot with two seconds left.

Siobhan Wilcox, Margaret Osgood and Emily Allen scored two goals apiece to lead the visitors, who improved to 4-0. Maley finished with three goals and two assists for the ‘Hawks, who dropped to 3-1.

Things were much easier last week as the ‘Hawks – in chilly and wet conditions – romped past Weston, 19-3. The locals scored the first goal just 16 seconds into the game and didn’t stop until the final horn.

Libby Feltch and Steph Paproski scored four goals apiece while Gleason had a terrific day with three goals and four assists. Lisa Vendel scored twice while Meghan Bridges, Maley (with four assists), Jen Greenwood, Katie McNulty, Betsy Vendel (with two assists) and Jen O’Connell all scored solo goals.

The ‘Hawks hosted New Milford on Thursday afternoon and are scheduled to be in Cheshire on Saturday for a 7 pm face-off. Next Tuesday, the girls will host Masuk in a 4 pm start and will then be in Bethel on Thursday for a 5 pm start.

Newtown 19, Weston 3

GOALS: Weston – Ashley Fumai, Madeline Smith, Kendall Bennewitz; Newtown – Libby Feltch 4, Stephanie Paproski 4, Courtney Gleason 3, Lisa Vendel 2, Meghan Bridges, Rachel Maley, Jen Greenwood, Katie McNulty, Betsy Vendel, Jen O’Connell. ASSISTS: Newtown – Courtney Gleason 4, Rachel Maley 4, Betsy Vendel 2, Lisa Vendel. SAVES: Weston – Stephanie Cooperman 9; Newtown – Lisa Isabella 6.

Glastonbury 9, Newtown 8

GOALS: Glastonbury – Siobhan Wilcox 2, Margaret Osgood 2, Emily Allen 2, Candance Underhill, Jen Hoagland, Kelly Segar; Newtown – Rachel Maley 3, Betsy Vendel 2, Lisa Vendel 2, Courtney Gleason. ASSISTS: Newtown – Rachel Maley 2, Courtney Gleason. SAVES: Newtown – Lisa Isabella 10.

SOFTBALL

Newtown 8, New Milford 4

Newtown 12, Pomperaug 1

One thing has become abundantly clear.

The Newtown High School softball team can hit … and hit and hit and hit. The Lady Nighthawks collected 15 knocks in an 8-4 win over New Milford and collected nine more in a 12-1 pounding of Pomperaug and ran their record to 3-1 on the season.

Freshman Katie Bowen has banged out eight hits already, two against New Milford and three more against Pomperaug. Joanna Barry had seven hits in her first eight trips to the plate with a couple of homers and a triple. And while it took sophomore Caitlin Cosgrove until the third game of the season to collect her first varsity hit, it was a line drive triple to deep right-center field that hit on level ground and then rolled halfway up the hill to the lacrosse practice field.

Against New Milford, the ‘Hawks were actually in a 1-0 hole before exploding for six runs in the bottom of the third. Cosgrove belted her two-run triple in that frame and Melissa Fracker added a two-run triple a short time after.

Barry homered in the fifth. Marley Koschel and Nora Lynn Shimko would also double in the game. Bowen, Kelley Tenney and Jenna Legros had two hits apiece. Mariale Renna chipped in with an RBI.

It was first game of the season for the Green Wave and while the ‘Hawks teed off on its pitching, the Wave laid out some good aluminum and collected eight hits off Legros, who improved to 2-1 on the year. Two of those hits included a triple by Vanessa Maloney and a home run by Meg Johnson.

Against an undefeated Pomperaug team, the locals exploded for three runs in the second inning, two more in the third, and then six in the fourth enroute to the 12-1 win. Tenney doubled, Shimko tripled, and designated hitter Sam Ciaccia smashed a home run to fuel the offense. Bowen collected three hits along the way.

Legros improved to 3-1 on the year with her effort in the four-hitter she shared with relief pitchers Stacy Broughton (who came on in the sixth) and Renna (who came on in the seventh).

Newtown 8, New Milford 4

BATTERIES: New Milford – Vanessa Maloney, Lauren Beatty (4) and Hannah Spooner; Newtown – Jenna Legros and Nora Lynn Shimko, Ashley Kuligowski (5). WP: Legros (2-1). LP: Maloney (0-1). SO: Legros 6, Maloney 4. 2B: Marley Koschel (N). 3B: Shimko (N), Caitlin Cosgrove (N), Melissa Fracker (N), Maloney (NM). HR: Joanna Barry (N), Meg Johnson (NM). RBI: New Milford – Kayla Stone, Johnson, Abby Spooner; Newtown – Cosgrove 2, Fracker 2, Barry, Mariale Renna.

Newtown 12, Pomperaug 1

BATTERIES: Newtown – Jenna Legros, Stacey Boughton (6), Mariale Renna (7) and Nora Lynn Shimko, Ashley Kuligowski (6); Pomperaug – Casey Foster, Karly Keating and Melissa Cooling. WP: Legros (N) 3-1. LP: Foster (P). 2B: Kelly Tenney (N). 3B: Shimko (N). HR: Sam Ciaccia (N).

BASEBALL

Bunnell 2, Newtown 1

Newtown 8, Bethel 3

Despite losing its No. 1 pitcher to graduation and its heir-apparent to the No. 1 slot to an off-season knee injury, the Newtown High School baseball team is hanging tough in the early stages of the 2006 season.

A 2-1 loss to Bunnell and 8-3 win over Bethel last week has the Nighthawks at 2-2 overall.

The big boost for the ‘Hawks came last Friday when Greg Rodden put together a workman-like, complete-game effort in the win over Bethel. Rodden scattered 10 hits, saw a couple of pitches turn into loud outs, but he didn’t walk anyone and fanned three along the way to record his first varsity win.

The locals scored two runs in the bottom of the third, saw Bethel take a 3-2 lead in the top of the third, and then rallied in the bottom of the frame to recapture the lead. Newtown collected just six hits on the day – three of ‘em off the bat of PJ Cochrane (a single, double and triple). One of those hits was a triple to right-center by Seth Hull, his second of the season, and another was a double by second baseman Alex Magoulas.

Centerfielder Joe DeVellis scored four runs.

The loss to Bunnell was a pitcher’s duel between Ryan McGrath of Newtown and Brett Palatiello and Dan Paolini of Bunnell. McGrath went the distance, scattering seven hits while walking one and striking out eight while Palatiello and Paolini combined to scatter nine hits and force the locals to strand 16 baserunners.

The ‘Hawks hosted Joel Barlow on Wednesday and Weston on Thursday before heading to New Fairfield on Friday for an 11 am start. The locals will host New Fairfield on Monday, travel to Redding to take on Joel Barlow on Wednesday, and then return home to host Notre Dame on Thursday.

All, of course, pending the weather.

Bunnell 2, Newtown 1

BATTERIES: Newtown – Ryan McGrath and Keith McGrath; Bunnell – Brett Palatiello, Dan Paolini (5) and Dan West. WP: Palatiello (1-0). LP: McGrath (1-1). SO: McGrath 8, Palatiello 4, Paolini 3. BB: Palatiello 3, Paolini 2, McGrath 1. 2B: PJ Cochrane (N), Alex Magoulas (N). 3B: Ryan Everetts (B), Cochrane (N). RBI: Newtown – Cochrane; Bunnell – Palatiello, Taylor Lasko.

Newtown 8, Bethel 3

BATTERIES: Bethel – Matt Barnes, Dan Wogksch (6) and Cody Sesito; Newtown – Greg Rodden and Keith McGrath. WP: Rodden (1-0). LP: Barnes (0-1). SO: Barnes 3, Rodden 3. BB: Barnes 3, Wogksch 1. HBP: Barnes 2. 3B: Manny Cambra (B), Seth Hull (N). RBI: Bethel – Andy Smietana, Sesito, Tony Bonagura; Newtown – PJ Cochrane, Tony Gallucci, Hull.

BOYS TENNIS

Bunnell 6, Newtown 1

The Newtown High School boys’ tennis team was looking forward to a tough match when it traveled to Bunnell last week but got a little more than it bargained for when it saw what the Bulldogs had put out on the court.

The locals managed just one doubles win in a 6-1 loss to Bunnell.

“It was a disappointment, of course, but this was the strongest Bunnell team’s I’ve seen,” said head coach Marty Margulies. “We are obviously not the only ones who have acquired more depth this season and the three decisive matches were achingly close and could have gone either way.”

Evan Batzer and Adam Wenick had the toughest singles matches with Batzer dropping a 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 loss to Matt Wojcicki and Wenick falling 4-6, 6-0, 7-6 (7-4) to Brian Fielding. And the No. 1 doubles team of Timo Roehrs and Peter Manos battled long and hard before suffering a 7-6 (7-5), 4-6, 6-4 loss to the tandem of Loreto Quintiliano and Mike Cox.

Casey Tenney and Colin Jacob earned Newtown’s only win of the afternoon, a 7-6 (7-6), 6-1 straight set win over Matt Esposito and Brendan Ferguson.

The ‘Hawks will return to the court on Monday when they host Notre Dame and will then visit Masuk, at Wolfe Park, on Wednesday before returning home on Thursday to host New Milford.

Bunnell 6, Newtown 1

SINGLES: Elias Castro (B) def Mario Roehrs 6-2, 6-2; Matt Lauer (B) def Chris Meier 6-0, 6-4; Matt Wojcichi (B) def Evan Batzer 2-6, 6-3, 6-3; Brian Fielding (B) def Adam Wenick 4-6, 6-0, 7-6 (7-4). DOUBLES: Luseto Quintiliano/Mike Cox (B) def Timo Roehrs/Peter Manos 7-6 (7-5), 4-6, 6-4; Casey Tenney/Colin Jacob def Matt Esposito/Brendan Ferguson 7-6 (7-6), 6-1; Dan Romaniello/Dave Karasik def Dan Cassidy/Max Paynter 6-3, 6-2.

BOYS LACROSSE

Branford 15, Newtown 9

Weston 15, Newtown 8

With 5:13 left in the first period on Tuesday night, the Newtown High School boys’ lacrosse team had a 2-1 lead over Weston.

No, it wasn’t a comfortable lead because nothing is comfortable for a team that had dropped three in a row after a season-opening win over Immaculate. But after goals by Will Mahony and Travis Speer, the Nighthawks were certainly doing pretty well.

But then it all fell apart.

The Trojans scored 11 unanswered goals to take a 12-2 lead enroute to a 15-8 win that dropped the ‘Hawks to 1-4 overall.

After the Weston goal blitz, the ‘Hawks finally scored again – but over 26 minutes since their previous tally. The goal, Mahony’s second, started a little rally that continued with goals by Jacob Dauz and Ben Mahony that trimmed the Weston lead to 12-5.

The locals scored three more times in fourth on two more goals by Dauz and another by Will Mahony, his third.

It was the second time in a week the ‘Hawks allowed 15 goals after falling to Branford, 15-9, last Friday. Ben Mahony, Will Mahony and Travis Speer scored three goals apiece while Zack Varga, Speer, Kyle O’Connor and Brendan Martin each notched an assist.

Billy Alessi sparked the Hornets with two goals and six assists.

The ‘Hawks will be in East Lyme on Friday to renew a non-conference rivalry and will be in Monroe on Monday to battle Masuk in a 7 pm start.

Branford 15, Newtown 9

GOALS: Newtown – Ben Mahony 3, Will Mahony 3, Travis Speer 3; Branford – Joe O’Keefe 6, Zack Rubin 4, Billy Alessi 2, Mike Mortali 2, Charles Costanzo. ASSISTS: Newtown – Zack Varga, Travis Speer, Kyle O’Connor, Brendan Martin; Branford – Billy Alessi 6, Joe Luchini 2, Zack Rubin 2, Mike Mortali. SAVES: Newtown – Max Beitel 12; Branford – Dave Stacy 9.

Weston 15, Newtown 8

GOALS: Newtown – Will Mahony 3, Jacob Dauz 3, Travis Speer, Ben Mahony. ASSISTS: Newtown – Travis Speer. SAVES: Newtown – Clarence Cheung 8.