The Bethel Admirals American Legion Baseball team, which includes several Newtown players, capped off its regular season with five games this past week, Wednesday, July 11 through Monday, July 16. The recent stretch was highlighted by a pair of shutout wins. The Admirals also dropped a trio of contests and finish with a record of 15-9 and in fourth place in the Zone 5 standings.

The state playoffs get started on Saturday, July 21, with the top four teams in every zone qualifying. The Admirals will visit Hamden in the first round, at Hamden High, beginning at 1 pm.

Having allowed 50 runs, the Admirals have surrendered the second-fewest in the zone, behind only zone leader Oakville (44 runs allowed).

"Our pitching and defense have been a constant throughout the season. The hitting has been up and down," said Admirals Coach Josh Hull, whose team has been productive at the plate overall, scoring 94 runs. Oakville, with 114, has had the most potent offense in Zone 5.

"I know these guys are looking forward to it a lot," Hull said of the playoffs. "We feel like we've got a chance in any particular game. We can pitch, and we can play D."

The Admirals were shut out 5-0 by host Washington on July 11.

"A pair of Washington pitchers pounded the lower third of the strike zone. They only struck out one Admiral batter, but kept the ball off the sweet spot throughout the contest at picturesque Ted Alex Field," Hull said.

In a head-to-head match-up between teams that were tied for second in the standings, Naugatuck came away with a 3-1 win despite six solid innings by Admirals pitcher Tyler Davis the next night.

On July 14, the host Admirals blanked Shelton 9-0. The Admirals' batsmen supported right-hander Kyle Roche's complete game three-hitter by blasting 12 hits at the plate. Contributing to the barrage were Rob Lombardo (3-for-3, two doubles, three runs scored), Ben Harrison (2-for-2, double), and Cole Demirjian (2-for-4, double).

"It was great to see them swing the bats so well, with such confidence," Hull said.

The infield turned a 4-6-3 double play to end the fifth inning as second baseman Andrew Ridzik tossed to shortstop Brian Ridzik who stepped on second and threw to first baseman Stephen Spinella.

More shutdown pitching followed the next day as the host Admirals topped Danbury 4-0. Orlando Swift whiffed 11 batters and walked only two. The Admirals scored three of their four runs on sacrifice flies, with Harrison lofting a couple of them. Dylan Champagne went 2-for-3, and Rob Murray went 1-for-2 with a double.

The Admirals visited Waterbury on July 16 and concluded the season with a 6-2 loss.