A fixture with the Newtown High School softball program, as ever-present as the fences, dugouts, and scoreboard is Lin Hertberg.

Competitors plodded through the mud, climbed up and over, or crawled through obstacles, and had a blast – of water from the firefighters on hand to knock them off of the wood log balance beams. This was all part of the challenge in the annual Newtown Parks and Recreation sponsored Mad Dash, at Fairfield Hills on June 29.

Among the many talented and hard-working athletes who completed ultra successful high school careers this spring are Carly Swierbut and David Brestovansky who, for their performances on the track, ice surface, and golf course, have been selected as The Newtown Bee’s Newtown High School Athletes of the Year.

Competitive matches unfolded in the once-annual, back-again Newtown Tennis Open at Dickinson Park and Newtown High School during a pair of perfect weather days, June 22 and 23.

Fundraiser benefits Newtown Youth Football and Cheer.

Fans who attend Newtown High School sporting events are consistently treated to announcements of goals, player check-ins, statistics, and more detail courtesy of public address announcer Jason “J” Edwards. A big part of making this happen is the effort of team managers.

The 27th Annual Jack Friel Memorial Golf Scramble, sponsored by Newtown Scholarship Association (NSA), was held at two courses, Newtown Country Club and Rock Ridge Country Club on June 17.

The Mad Dash Adventure Race, Newtown's Mud Run, will take place at Fairfield Hills on Saturday, June 29. The Elite and Superhero/ Team races (4.3 miles) begin at 8:30 am; the Mini Dash (seven mini stations finishing in the mud) is at 9:45 am; and the Open Course race (1.7 miles) is at 10 am.

Justin Halmose won another race, and a neck-and-neck battle produced a close finish among the top women in the 5K, as Lyndsey Fregoe was the top female in the Rooster Run race on June 15.

The game of balls and strikes, America’s Pastime, has predominately been a boys’ and man’s game. But while the underhand pitch game of softball is the route most girls take for competition, there are some who prefer throwing fastballs overhand style.