Fresh off its second straight South-West Conference championship, an 11-0 win over Pomperaug of Southbury, Newtown High School's softball team opened state playoff competition with a similarly-dominant victory. The fourth-seeded Nighthawks scored early and often in a 12-3 triumph over No. 29 New Britain, in the Class LL state bracket's first round, at Newtown High, on May 31.

Newtown's first three batters - Haley Ryan, Sara Kennedy, and Katie Laaksonen - drew walks, and Mali Klorczyk's two-run single got the scoring started as the Nighthawks scored five first-inning runs. Kamdynn Moroney had an RBI fielder's choice, Mackenzie Macchiarulo delivered an RBI single, and Emily Bell drove in the fifth run of the opening fame with a ground out.

Laaksonen finished the game with a pair of singles, a double, and two runs batted in; Kennedy had two singles, a walk, an RBI, and three runs scored; Klorczyk had a pair of singles and three runs batted in; Bell singled and drove in two; and Jill Lasorsa added a single, double, and two runs scored.

Kennedy pitched and compiled a dozen strikeouts, fanning the side in back-to-back innings, the second and third.

"They're conditioned," said Newtown Coach Bob Guererra, whose team has been had strong pitching, hitting, and defense especially late in the season and in the postseason.

"The pitching's been phenomenal for us," said Guererra, who platoons Kenney and Lauren Wilcox in the pitcher's circle.

Klorczyk said the Nighthawks didn't allow for a letdown after rolling to the SWC championship less than a week earlier.

"You have to come back ready to work and that's how we approached it," Klorczyk said.

The Hawks will get back to work with a quick turnaround. They're scheduled to host No. 13 West Haven, in the second round, on Wednesday, June 1, beginning at 4 pm.