On Saturday, the local Newtown Sandy Hook nine closed-out their fifth season with two stunning victories against the rival Bridgeport Orators, set in the backdrop of the glistening autumn hillsides of McLaughlin Vineyards in Sandy Hook.

The match was special for two reasons; not only did it result in the scoring of an awe inspiring eighty-one runs and over one hundred hits by both sides but, it also provided realization that the Sandy Hook's season of development had resulted in one of the finest base ball clubs to ever visit the 'vintage' scene.

After celebrating a clear and decisive victory over the Providence in an earlier outing in September, the club were driven by the hope their final season engagement of the season, without the services of Matt Maleri their sterling shortstop and consistent run producer, would be equally as eventful.

Playing base ball in New England in mid-October brings undeniable challenges with unpredictable weather changes resulting in hazards and potentially unplayable conditions. The normally pristine grounds of the McLaughlin property had just experienced significant stormy weather that littered the field of play with leaves, broken branches and unmowed grass. In spite of that fact, the match would not be altered and as cloudy skies rushed overhead, both sides collected numerous sticks and branches that could hinder play and met at midfield at the stroke of Noon.

Bridgeport's season, which had met some rough going resulting in the serious depletion of their ranks, showed-up with a highly competitive eight supported by the transfer of one of Newtown's recent recruits, Jim Godwin at second sack. Newtown, supported by the considerable talents of their ace hurler Jay 'Mister' Edwards, countered with Captain Snyder, providing backstopping duties, Paes at first, Norwich at second, Weiner at third, 'Dirt' Smith, filling in for Maleri at short and Toomey, Brandt and O'Leary in the garden. Captain Wheat provided hitting power off the bench.

The Orators, paced by captains Ortiz and Wehmann, countered with an equally competitive club similar to the one that bested the Sandy Hooks in Bridgeport back in August. The proposed matches were set to be an 1867 (no bound-out) followed by an 1864 (bound-out) game, which is about as much as the vineyard's dimensions will accommodate. Bridgeport specializes in the '1880 style' overhand game so, this day's event could either be a treat or a potential nightmare for the visitors.

	'Mister' Edwards Hurls Sixteen Inning Double Win

Bridgeport kicked off inning number one by demonstrating their 'small ball' technique. Leaving no time to acclimate to the opponents, the Orators teed-off on Edward's high-speed delivery to quickly place base runners on the paths, while stealing bases every time a mishandled pitch ricocheted beyond Snyder's reach. Their efforts were quick and methodical and before anyone could say , "Katie bar the door!", the Orators had garnered a four run first inning. The consequence of fast pitching (the Orators preference), sure hits, strategic baserunning, along with feebly played grounders (generally the fault of high grass and leaves masquerading as balls) seemed to have made a dent in Newtown's gameday plans.

The Sandy Hooks responded as quickly and decisively in the bottom of the first as "Bullet' Brandt exploded on the first offering to start a five run outburst. Brandt's single was followed by a chorus of line drive hits (seven) and subsequent base-stealing off the Orator hurler Bellagamba who dabbled with a swooping underhand pitch that stayed airborne so long it enable baserunners to move from base to base unencumbered.

Not to be deterred, the Orators came back in the second frame with three runs of their own to which the Sandy Hooks reciprocated with three to stay one run ahead of their visitors. The Sandy Hooks appeared to be using strategically place line drives that caromed off distant tree limbs and buried themselves in bunches of leaves to create confusion in the field and benefit their cause.

In the fourth inning, the flood gates appeared to open as the Orators tacked on a stunning seven seemingly insurmountable runs that left the home side puzzled and dismayed. The Orators had found everything to love about Edwards slick delivery and all of a sudden the day was turning sour for the home side.

Seemingly unfazed by Bridgeport's success, 'Hoboy' Norwich led off in the bottom of the fourth with a sharp liner that skipped down the third base line, hit the close-in stone wall and bounced around the left filed corner like a top. Edwards followed with a quick single, then Snyder doing his best not to let 'Gozer the Closer', the Orators murmuring backstop rattle his concentration, smashed a double to the gap to the winery and the Hooks were off on what would be their own seven run chapter.

The Orators equaled the score in the fifth with one run so, at the end of four and a half innings, the two clubs were knotted in a 16 to 16 barnburner.

In the bottom of the fifth, Edwards led off with a slam to the left field corner to set-off another rally. Edwards probably could have stretched his hit to a double but, still recovering from last season's knee surgery and knowing that the Sandy Hook's behind him were more than capable of driving him in, decided to take it one base at a time. Base hits by Snyder, Paes, Brandt, Smith and Wheat culminated in another six run inning capped-off by a bases-clearing Tristan Toomey triple that rolled around the winery roof and kept numerous Bridgeport fielders occupied in the outskirts of the property while 'Thunder' rolled through the infield.

	Zac 'Dirt' Smith roars home as another Toomey skyball thunders through the outer reaches of the vineyard.

The Bridgeport's edged back into contention in the sixth and seventh with five solid unanswered runs but, not to be outdone Brandt took his turn at the plate in the bottom of the seventh and immediately lash a sure single to set-off another six-run escapade for the Sandy Hooks. This, followed by a four-run Newtown eighth, put the game out of reach for the Bridgeports, who had played a competitive match but were unable to keep pace with the streaking Hooks.

As the Sandy Hooks rolled home to a 33 to 21 two and a half hour victory, in what will go down in history as the largest point total in the history of the Newtown club, it was clear the Newtowners had come of age and their wasn't a challenge they could not overcome.

Toomey had a highly productive effort at the plate in game one hitting six-for-seven times at bat and driving in ten runs. His brethren fared equally as well with Brandt and Norwich matching Toomey's six-for-seven output and plating nine runs. Smith batted five-for-six and scored six aces, and the rest of the team, batting at a .500 clip, contributed equally to an astonishing 45 hit effort.

	When immovable objects collide - Snyder slides under Bellagamba tag.

After a heavy lunch of significant sandwiches, cup cakes and locally grown beverage, both clubs seemed more than content with their day's work in game one and the convivial atmosphere that surrounded them. Unfortunately, the accumulated cranks were looking forward to more non-stop excitement and both clubs decided to play one more game before closing the book on the season. The two obviously weary clubs met at mid field to play a generally less challenging 1864 style seven inning match. 'Rock' Zulli joined the ranks to provide solid support and fresh legs for game two.

The Sandy Hooks held their ground in this event and continued their ball hitting prowess as they vanquished the visitors 16 to 11. Whether the match was any less challenging is a matter of opinion but, in any case, the spectators were treated to one of the most exciting days of base ball ever seen in the area.

Hitting stars in game two were the aforementioned Toomey, who managed a four-for-four effort for the game two including a double and triple, Zac Smith, Jim Brandt and John O'Leary, and Dennis Norwich who contributed twelve hits and nine runs-batted-in for their effort.

Pitching star for the day was Jay Edwards who gave up a significant 33 runs in sixteen innings of work. 'Mister' somehow escaped with two impressive wins for his considerable effort. Accounting for the fact that trees, field conditions and numerous mountain cyclists crisscrossing the outfield played a significant role in causing dozens of undocumented 'errors' during the day-long affair, 'Mister's earned run average (which wasn't calculated in the 1860's) remains in pretty good standing.

	Toomey, Smith, Brandt, Edwards, Norwich and O'Leary combine to hit .760 for the day.

The Newtowner's have now completed a see-saw season with a 12 win and 12 loss record and look forward to 2010 when nearly all of the current squad is expected to return. 2010 should be an exciting season, indeed.

This scribe is buoyed by the fact that the Newtown Nine had finally found weapons (small ball, speed and line drives) that should match any opponent including the always skilled Waterbury club (that has beaten the Newtown club for five seasons running). Waterbury is the likely first opponent of the Sandy Hooks in the '10 season and it will be interesting to see if the local club can resurrect their dynamic play and run producing prowess after the long winter break.

Special thanks go out to all who supported the Newtown Sandy Hooks in '09 and to those who spent a golden autumn afternoon at McLaughlin Vineyard, known far and wide as one of the pure gems of vintage base ball, to watch baseball, the way it was meant to be played...by men who truly love The Game.