Connecticut Too Powerful for Newton as Locals Eliminated from Regional

It was a dream season for Newton SouthEast Little League. But on Wednesday, a powerful Westport, Conn., team ended the dream for the local nine.

Needing a win to advance to the semifinal round of the New England regional tournament in Bristol, Conn., Newton pounced to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning.

Connecticut tied the game up in the home half of the inning, and erased another SouthEast lead in the third, pulling away for a 10-4 win to eliminate Newton in a game that was televised on New England Sports Network.

In the opening frame, Adam Freedman walked to lead off the game and within the blink of an eye Brandon Lee put his team ahead, 2-0, with a home run two batters later. Wesport knotted things up in the bottom of the first, but Newton refused to back down to the team that allowed only seven runs in four pool play games.

SouthEast snagged a 3-2 lead in the third, but it was that frame that doomed the locals. Wesport powered home eight runs to regain the lead, and the momentum.

Symbolic of the team’s postseason run, the team refused to let up even trailing by seven runs with two outs in the final frame. The team put multiple runners on and scored on a single by Freedman, but couldn’t add another game to its list of dramatic tournament comebacks. 

Look back at Patch's coverage of Newton SouthEast's run to the New England regional tournament:

• Rhode Island's Big First Inning Dooms Newton Little League
• Newton Little League Falls in Opening Regional Game
• Regionals a 'Once in a Lifetime' Experience for Newton SouthEast
• Newton's Little Big Leaguers Win the Big One
• Meet the Champs: Newton SouthEast Players, Coaches Introduce Themselves
• Road to Bristol Has Been a Magical One for Newton SouthEast
• Trip to Regionals Means Games, Fun and Expenses for Newton's Little Leaguers
• And the State Champs Have Left the City
• When Are the Newton SouthEast Little League Games?
• Good Luck to the State Champs
• Newton Little Leaguers Going Where Few Have Gone Before