Newtown Inferno Win Cal Ripken 40/60 State Title

(Submitted by Richard Dieckman)

The Newtown Inferno defeated a tough West Norwalk team twice this weekend to win the state title in the 11-year-old, Cal Ripken 40/60 tournament in Danbury.

That means two Newtown teams have captured both state tournament titles in the 11-year-old division. In addition to the , Newtown won the 40/60 title, which is played on a smaller field, in Danbury on Saturday. Both teams now head to regional play.

In the 40/60 matchup, West Norwalk had taken the Jimmy Fund tournament championship in June by defeating the Inferno 13-12 in extra innings.

But this time around the boys from Newtown caught fire, defeating West Norwalk 10-6 in the winner’s bracket final and then 8-7 in the championship game, scoring three in the bottom of the 6th inning to burn their arch rivals.

In the first game played Friday, Eugene Citrano doubled home Joe Palanzo in the first inning to stake Newtown to an early 2-0 lead. West Norwalk quickly tied it up in their half of the 1st frame before Patrick Godino got the last two batters swinging to get out of a bases loaded jam.

In the 4th inning Jacob Steinebrey led off with a perfect bunt single and came around to score on a pinch-hit full count single by Harry Eppers giving Newtown a 5-2 lead.

West Norwalk rallied for one run in the bottom of the 4th and again left the bases loaded when Owen McInerney came on in relief of Godino and struck out two batters to end the inning and preserve a small two-run lead.

The Inferno bats caught fire in the 6th, scoring four runs and extending their lead to 10-3. Ethan Aug led off the inning with a walk and after a bunt sacrifice by Nick Venezia scored on a pinch-hit single to right by Rob Lombardo. Henry Primavera was hit by pitch and then Joe Palanzo plated both runners with a two-run double to right and later scored on an RBI ground-out by Peter Debona.

West Norwalk would not go down easily and rallied for three runs in the bottom of the 6th before McInerney induced their last batter to a hit to tough grounder to third base, which was fielded nicely by Aug, who fired to Palanzo to get the batter-runner by half a step for the final out.

In the championship game, the high stakes drama unfolded in the 1st inning as Henry Primavera hit a 1-out triple and scored on a sacrifice fly by Palanzo. But then heavy rain came, and the game was halted in the bottom of the inning with two outs, the bases loaded and Newtown leading 1-0.

Owen McInerney had to wait 24 hours for his chance to extend Newtown’s lead. When play resumed the next day Owen laced a 1-1 offering into left center for a two-run double. Rob Lombardo was nailed at the plate trying to score from first base to end the inning.

A third inning RBI-double by Debona gave the Inferno a 4-0 lead. Newtown’s starting pitcher, CJ Shambelan hit his first career home-run, a solo shot with two outs in the 4th inning to help himself to an insurance run.

He was cruising toward a no-hitter as he took the hill in the top of the 5th inning. But after a lead off walk and an RBI-double and with the heart of Norwalk’s order coming up, CJ was pulled, and later Patrick Godino was called upon to get the last two outs of the inning to preserve a 5-3 lead.

West Norwalk again rallied for four more runs in the top of the 6th to take a 7-5 lead before Citrano made a great catch in center field on a line drive shot, which ended the inning with two runners on.

That set the stage for the Inferno’s 6th inning rally. Lombardo led off with a walk and McInerney also walked. One out later, Ethan Aug knocked in Lombardo on an infield single making the score 7-6. After Shambelan flied to center, Primavera hit another infield single and McInerney scored the tying run from second base when the throw from the shortstop sailed over the first baseman’s head.

Palanzo was intentionally walked to load the bases for Peter Debona. Debona hit a long fly to center on a 1-2 pitch that was initially caught on a nice play by the center fielder up against the 200 ft marker in center field, but the impact of his glove crashing into the fence dislodged the ball giving Newtown a dramatic win and a berth in the 2011 46/60 Cal Ripken New England Regional’s this weekend in Marlboro, MA.