Diamond Notes: Renegades Crowned CT State Champions

Newtown claims the Cal Ripken 9U CT state title and a berth in the New England regional tournament. 

New Milford 7, Newtown Renegades 6
In the third round of the Cal Ripken 9U CT state tournament, the Newtown Renegades lost to New Milford, 7-6. 

New Milford jumped out to a 5-0 lead after three innings. The Renegades erupted with five runs in the 5th inning behind singles from Josh Taylor and Joey Rios and doubles from Connor Haywood and Will Swift.  A two out single from Dillon Robinson brought in the tying run. In the bottom of the inning, New Milford added another run to take a 6-5 lead.

The Renegades tied the game again in the top of the 6th inning after Matt Bradbury hit a one out triple and Connor Haywood hit a hard shot to bring him in. In the bottom of the inning, New Milford had two outs and the bases loaded when a single to center scored the winning run.

Hurlers Joey Rios and Josh Taylor were backed by great defense from first baseman Connor Haywood who made three solid plays in the 4th and 5th innings to thwart the New Milford offense.

The loss moved Newtown to the loser's bracket in the tournament where they would have to face – and defeat -- South Meriden to stay in the double elimination tournament.

Newtown Renegades 11, South Meriden 10
In the semi-final round of the Cal Ripken 9U CT state tournament, the Newtown Renegades beat the District 2 champs from South Meriden, 11-10.

Newtown had already handed South Meriden its first loss in the double elimination tournament with a 12-5 win in the second round, but the rematch proved to be a much different contest.

South Meriden took a 2-0 lead in the top of the 1st inning, but the Renegades came back strong. In the bottom of the inning, CJ Demers led off with a single that was followed by three consecutive walks. At that point it looked like the Renegades were going to blow the game open, but South Meriden's starter struck out the next three batters to end the Renegades threat.

Dillon Robinson led off the bottom of the 2nd inning for the Renegades with a single.  A walk to CJ Giacin put two base runners on for Joey Rios who singled to bring in a run. Connor Haywood singled bringing in Rios, and Josh Taylor tripled to score Haywood, giving the Renegades back the lead.

South Meriden reclaimed a 6-5 lead in the top of the 3rd inning, but the Renegades weren’t done at the plate. Dillon Robinson hit a one out single to get the offense started.  After singles from CJ Demers, Matt Bradbury and a bases-clearing triple from Joey Rios, the Renegades had an 8-6 lead.

South Meriden added another run in the 4th inning. The Renegades answered with the three runs of their own in the bottom of the 5th inning, highlighted by a pinch hit single to center by Tom Tavar that added what would prove to be the game winning run.

With one out in the top of the 6th, New Milford added four quick runs.  With the bases loaded, New Milford hit a ground ball back to Joey Rios on the mound, who threw a one hopper that catcher Matt Bradbury backhanded to get the force out. With now two outs, South Meriden tried to score the tying run from third base on a passed ball, but Bradbury was quick to grab the ball and flip it to Rios who made the tag at home to end the game.

The win put the Renegades in the championship game where they would once again face New Milford.

CT State Tournament Championship
Newtown and New Milford squared off for the Cal Ripken 9U CT state tournament title. New Milford was undefeated and Newtown had one loss going into the championship game of the double elimination tournament. There was so second chance for Newtown. They had to win the first game and force a second to decide the championship.

Game 1 – Newtown Renegades 10, New Milford 0
Facing New Milford's top pitcher, the Renegades grabbed a 1-0 lead in the 2nd inning after Josh Taylor slammed triple and then scored on a passed ball. 

In the bottom of the 3rd inning, New Milford had the bases loaded with no outs when first baseman Connor Haywood snagged a line drive and stepped on first base for the double play. Starter Joey Rios then struck out New Milford's clean-up hitter to end the threat.

With a 1-0 lead in the top of the 4th inning, Matt Bradbury led off with a walk.  With two outs, Josh Taylor hit a single driving in Matt Bradbury. John Godino walked and Shaine Luzietti hammered a double, bringing in Taylor and Godino. 

The Renegades offense added another couple of runs in the 5th inning, and then in the top of the 6th inning, John Godino led off with a single. Tristan Andrew was inserted as a pinch runner and then Shaine Luzietti drew a walk to put two base runners on for Tom Tavar who hit a hard ground ball to bring in another run. CJ Demers singled and Matt Bradbury doubled, tacking on another run. In the bottom of the 6th inning, outfielder Will Swift made a running grab that ended any offensive threat from New Milford.

Starter Joey Rios went four innings with four strike outs. Reliever John Godino pitched two shut out innings to seal the Renegades victory and force the second – and deciding – game. 

Game 2 – Newtown Renegades 12, New Milford 4
Fresh off their victory an hour earlier, the Newtown Renegades came out swinging in the final game.

Starter Josh Taylor kept New Milford off the scoreboard for the first two innings. In the bottom of the 2nd inning, Renegades lead off hitter CJ Demers, who was on base all game for Newtown, led off with a single. Joey Rios doubled bringing Demers in and then Taylor singled to drive in another run giving the Renegades an early 2-0 lead.

In the top of the 3rd inning, the New Milford offense heated up, scoring three runs on two outs to take a 3-2 lead. The Renegades came back in the bottom of the inning with a lead off double by Joey Rios. Connor Haywood followed with another double and scored on a single to center by John Godino, giving the Renegades back the lead at 4-3.

In the top of the 4th inning, New Milford had two outs and one base runner when a single to center brought in a run to tie the game at 4-4. CJ Demers led off the bottom of the inning with a single, Joey Rios was hit by a pitch and Connor Haywood walked. Taylor brought in a run with a sacrifice fly to right. John Godino took first base after a catcher's interference, loading the bases for Shaine Luzietti who hammered a ball to center field for a bases clearing double giving the Renegades an 8-4 lead.

The Renegades held New Milford scoreless in the top of 5th inning. In the bottom of the inning, Tom Tavar led off with a single that sparked a 4-run rally that gave the Renegades a 12-4 lead.

After a lead off walk in the top of the 6th inning, pitcher John Godino forced the New Milford batters to hit three straight ground balls for the final three outs of the game, securing the win and the state title.