Baseball team beats Hackettstown, Wallkill Valley

After three straight losses to start the season, the Newton High School baseball team registered two victories in the past week to improve to 2-4 in 2023.

On Thursday, April 13, Jake Benitz pitched a two-hitter with two strikeouts and three walks. He allowed one earned run and also went 2-for-3 with a run to propel the Braves to a 4-2 victory over Hackettstown at home.

Rob Rhine (1-for-3), Matt Williams (two walks) and Ryan Bollette (1-for-2) each scored a run for Newton, which led 4-1, after four innings.

Two days earlier, Newton scored a 4-2 decision over Wallkill Valley at home. It was keyed by Bollette, who went 1-for-3 with two RBI; Brayden Nolan, who was 1-for-3 with an RBI; and Matt Williams, who also went 1-for-3 with an RBI.

Williams, who started the game, struck out 10, walked five and surrendered just two hits over the first 4.2 innings. Domenic Lotruglio struck out two, walked one and scattered three hits in the final 2.1 innings.

On April 12, Newton fell just short in a 12-11 loss at Sparta. Nolan was 4-for-5 with a triple, two runs and five RBI, and Benitz added two hits, including a home run and three RBI.

Newton will play at High Point at 4 p.m. Friday, April 21.

Here is how the other Newton sports teams fared last week:

Softball

Newton halted a two-game losing streak with a 15-2 decision over Wallkill Valley on April 13 at home.

Kiersten Lee and Katie Golder-Ryan each drove in three runs while Bella Deleon went 3-for-3 with an RBI and two runs. Catherine Vena, Allison Mountford, Jaylin Bash and Riley Mills each scored twice with Jaclyn Vena added three runs.

Melissa Fehr scattered eight hits with four strikeouts and one walk.

The Braves (2-4) were slated to play at Sussex Tech at 4 p.m. April 21 and at Ridgewood at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 22.

Boys lacrosse

Led by Ty Guzzo (three goals, one assist), Robert McCullough (two goals), Brenden Lynch (one goal, one assist) and Aiden Akturk (three ground balls, 5-of-9 face-offs won), Newton emerged with a 6-2 victory over Morris Hills on Saturday, April 15 at home.

Goalie Rylan Ivaldi was outstanding in goal, halting 23 of 25 shots.

Newton (3-3) was slated to play at Voorhees at 6 p.m. April 21.

Boys tennis

Newton (1-0) will be taking part in the 13th annual Hunterdon/Warren/Sussex Tournament this week. The event began Monday, April 17 at the Pingry School in Martinsville, continues with the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds at Hunterdon Central High School in Flemington on April 22, and concludes Monday, April 24 at Sparta High School.

Competing for the Braves are Nick DeFini (first singles), Stephen Miller (second singles), Dylan Olsen (third singles), Frankie Lubrano and Arjun Armin (first doubles), and Billy Widgren (second doubles).