Softball Captures First Conference Title Since 1989

In the top of the fourth inning, Rachel Ruiz saw a pitch that she knew was going to make her day, in fact, her entire high school softball career.

"It was right there," she said of the pitch. "I was like, 'Oh, that was a mistake. Oh, that was just – oh that was perfect.' It finally came when we needed it."

Ruiz slammed a double to center field, allowing teammate Kate Bowen to score. A wild pitch and another RBI later, Newtown was up three runs against Lauralton Hall in the South-West Conference championships held at DeLuca Field in Stratford on Friday.

Later in the sixth inning, another double off of Ruiz's bat added a fourth run.

Lauralton Hall tried answering back in the seventh and final inning but unable to muster more than one run, the Milford team could only watch as Newtown players ran toward the mound to celebrate their 4-1 victory – the school's first conference title since 1989.

"I waited for so long for this," Ruiz said. "Going out my senior year with this kind of game is memorable."

The win also was the first for Bob Guerrera in the five years he has been Newtown's head coach. Although the Nighthawks have been close to the title, including a trip to the conference finals in 2008, they have never been able to win under his tutelage – until Thursday.

"It is particularly sweet," Guerrera said of the title. "This year, we finished. It was huge."

The game was the Nighthawks' 23rd consecutive win of the season, a streak that didn't do much to ease nerves.

"I was just hoping that we didn't make some maybe sophomoric mistakes that would cost us the runs," Guerrera said. "But we didn't. We played the same way we've been playing all year long."

Bowen pitched well, as she has during the regular season, using her best pitch -- the change-up -- to set-up batters. She threw a complete game, striking out six players and limiting hits to three and walks to one.

"It starts in the epicenter – it starts in the center with Katie – and then everybody complements us," Guerrera said of the team. "She's been tremendous for us."

Bowen, who was named the conference's Most Valuable Player following Newtown's win, said the extra pressure didn't affect her any more than usual.

"Coming in every game I'm nervous," she said. "I think the nervousness helps."

Lauralton Hall's Courteney Collins was able to get a double off of Bowen, and eventually reached home. But hers was only one of three hits on the day for the Crusaders.

A fairly large Nighthawks fan contingent who stomped their feet on the bleachers, held out signs and began chants added to the atmosphere of the finals. On the sideline, assistant coach Craig Sears needed no microphone as he shouted to players, "Focus, focus."

Ruiz said that prior coming into the playoffs, she struggled at-bat.

"I was kind of a little down – I 'm not going to lie – at the beginning part of the SWC tournament," she said.

Newtown recorded seven hits, including a single from Jessica Gibbons and an RBI from Natalie Dunn, against Lauralton Hall's lefty pitcher, Hayley Spragg.

The Nighthawks, with a first-place ranking, heads to play in the state tournament starting Wednesday.