Weston, CT — A combination of veteran and inexperienced/ new-to-varsity players were expected to contribute, and that has been true to form in the early going for Newtown High School’s baseball team. The Nighthawks, following a couple of losses to begin the season, carried a three-game winning streak into a s scheduled visit to Weston on Wednesday, April 12. Newtown has gotten tremendous pitching during this stretch, posting a shutout and allowing a combined three runs in as many games. “The key so far has been the young guys stepping up,” said senior pitcher Will Burns, who is committed to play at Harvard next year, and combined with varsity newcomer and junior Dhilan Amin to shut down visiting Bunnell of Stratford in a 6-2 win on April 10. “It’s great to be backed by a solid offense,” said Amin, who struck out a trio of batters in two hitless innings of relief against Bunnell. Newtown jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning and never relinquished the lead. The Bulldogs twice got to within a run, and the Hawks scored three insurance runs in the fifth, giving Amin a four-run cushion to protect the lead and help lock down the win for Burns, who allowed two runs on as many hits, walked four, and struck out eight in his five frames. Returnee and No. 3 hitter Josh Rosen had three hits, including a double, a run batted in, and two runs scored. Sophomore Jonathan Moseman, a new face on varsity, delivered a triple, RBI, and run scored. Returnees Sam D’Aprile and Evan Nikolas contributed with D’Aprile collecting two hits and scoring a run, and Nikolas with a double, RBI, and run scored. In a 1-0 road win over New Milford on April 6, a trio of pitchers combined to throw a two-hitter with nine strikeouts. Burns tossed four innings for the win, Finn Geisler threw an inning, and Amin went two frames for the save. Danny Leyva, a sophomore who has slotted nicely into the leadoff spot, went 2-for-4 at the plate and made some outstanding stops at short to assist his pitchers. Yarema Stasyshyn went 1-for-3 with the lone RBI, in the fifth. Newtown defeated visiting Norwalk 5-1 on April 8. Freshman Jameson Piccuillo started and went four solid frames, allowing just two hits, one earned run, striking out six, and walking five. Leyva pitched three scoreless innings, allowing three hits, issuing one walk, striking out four, and escaping a bases-loaded jam in the seventh inning to seal the win. The Hawks scored three runs in the second inning and answered a run by Norwalk in the third with single runs in each the fourth and fifth. Leyva had two hits, including a double, and a run scored and D’Aprile had a hit, two RBI, and a run scored. Newtown mustered only three hits in the game but manufactured its three-run rally in the second on two hit batters, a walk, and three fielder’s choice infield plays. The Nighthawks were competitive in their opener, dropping a 5-4 nail-biter at Fairfield Ludlowe on the road on April 3. Rosen had two hits, including a triple, and two runs batted in. D’Aprile and Geissler also drove in runs. The Hawks were blanked 12-0 by visiting Fairfield Warde two days later before getting on a winning role. Leyva has plenty of confidence in the Nighthawks. “We’re going to win a lot more,” he anticipates. Win or lose, the young Hawks will gain valuable playing experience along the way. Kieran Garrity, a freshman, is among several new players who have gotten playing time. “We’ve got a lot of talent on this team; we’ve got a lot of young talent. We’re trying to get kids opportunities,” Coach Ian Thoesen said. The Hawks host Pomperaug of Southbury on Monday, April 17 at 4:15 pm (check the April 21 print edition of The Bee for coverage of the Weston and Pomperaug games). Sports Editor Andy Hutchison can be reached at [email protected]. https://www.newtownbee.com/04152023/hawk-sluggers-get-contributions-from-newcomers-during-winning-streak/