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Health & Fitness

Diamond Notes: Renegades Open State Tournament with Two Wins

Newtown's 9U team beats Norwalk and South Meriden to advance to the third round of the Cal Ripken 9U CT State Tournament.

Newtown’s 9U team beats Norwalk and South Meriden to advance to the third round of the Cal Ripken 9U CT State Tournament.

Newtown Renegades 16, Norwalk 6
In the first round of the Cal Ripken 9U CT state tournament, the Newtown Renegades beat the District 1 champs from Norwalk by the score of 16-6. 

Norwalk jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead, but the Renegades offense erupted in response. Josh Taylor led off the bottom half of the first inning with a triple to center field. The next two batters walked, then Connor Haywood blasted a base clearing triple. John Godino’s flare single brought in the fourth run. CJ Demers singled, then Dillon Robinson brought in the fifth run with a base hit. Taylor came back to the plate and doubled, driving in two more runs to give the Renegades a 7-5 lead.

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The Renegades tacked on another run in the second inning and Norwalk another in the third inning, making it an 8-6 game. In the bottom half of the third inning, the Renegades bats exploded again for eight runs. Tristan Andrew led the offense with two singles, while Robinson, Haywood, Godino, and Taylor each knocked a base hit for the Renegades offense.

On the mound, Godino went three innings with four strikeouts. Taylor pitched a scoreless fourth to seal the 16-6 win. The Renegades defense was highlighted by two outstanding plays. Shortstop CJ Demers snagged a pop fly way behind third base and outfielder Thomas Tavar made a sliding catch in short right field to rob Norwalk of a base hit.

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Newtown Renegades 12, South Meriden 5
In the second round of the Sunday's second round of the Cal Ripken 9U CT state tournament, the Newtown Renegades beat the District 2 champs from South Meriden by the score of 12-5.

In the top of the first inning, South Meriden struck first with one run. Matt Bradbury doubled in the bottom of the inning, but the Renegades were unable to bring him in.

In the second inning, South Meriden added two more runs and were looking to add more. With no outs and the bases loaded, John Godino fielded a sharply hit ground ball, stepped on third for the force out and threw home to double up the runner trying to score. Catcher Matt Bradbury then threw out a runner trying to steal third, ending the inning and the South Meriden offensive threat. Down 3-0 in the bottom of the second inning, the Renegades offense came to life. Walks to Shaine Luzietti, CJ Demers and CJ Giacin loaded the bases.  With one out, Josh Taylor doubled to bring in two runs.  Matt Bradbury walked to load the bases again for Joey Rios.  Down two strikes, Rios ripped a bases clearing triple to left center to give the Renegades a 5-3 lead.

In the top of the fourth inning, South Meriden had two on with two outs, but were robbed of another scoring opportunity by Giacin who made a great sliding catch in right field to end the inning. In the bottom half of the fourth, Tom Tavar drew a walk, Taylor hit an infield single and Bradbury walked to load the bases. Rios crushed another bases clearing triple to give the Renegades an 8-3 lead. Connor Haywood and Godino each then walked to load the bases again. Will Swift came up and hit a single to bring in another run for the Renegades. At the end of four innings, the Renegades held an 11-3 lead.

South Meriden added two more runs in the top of the fifth inning. With the bases loaded and one out, Taylor struck out the next two batters to shut down the South Meriden offense. In the bottom of the inning, Bradbury slammed a one out triple and scored on a ground ball by Rios to add another run and give the Renegades a 12-5 lead.

South Meriden had one runner on base in the sixth inning, but with two outs, Taylor struck out the last batter – his sixth strikeout over three innings – to secure the win.

Pitchers Rios and Taylor were backed by solid defense, allowing only three hits while striking out eight.

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