Naugy turns tables on Woodland

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BEACON FALLS — The rematch between the Greyhounds and the Hawks resembled the softball showdown two weeks ago when Woodland took a 6-0 win in Naugatuck. On Monday in Beacon Falls, it was a reversal of fortunes.

Naugy took the rematch with the Hawks by a 5-1 final.

Much like the first confrontation the winner jumped out on top in the first inning, scraped together a run late in the game and then put it away with a sixth-inning outburst.

Jackie Aronin tripled to lead off the game for Naugy (9-6) but was thrown out at the plate on a sacrifice bunt. Olivia Rotatori scored on an RBI hit from Alex Langhans and then Jess Conover went to work to shut down the Hawks (9-6).

Naugatuck’s Jenna Massicotte left her feet twice to pull off defensive gems at shortstop, and third baseman Tanya Diaz recorded the third out of an inning twice stranding Woodland base runners.

“We hit the ball but Naugatuck made all the plays in the field,” Woodland head coach Loren Luddy said.

Woodland had base runners on in every inning but couldn’t break through. Emily Brouillette singled to lead off the Hawks in the second inning. Sam Buzgo hit into a fielder’s choice and Maddie Hupprich followed with a single to left field.

Steph Krebbs beat out in infield hit to load the bases with one out and the Hawks were breathing down the neck of Conover. Naugy’s senior pitcher got out of the jam striking out the next batter before Aronin chased down a fly ball to centerfield to end the uprising.

“The thing that impressed me the most about my team, is how they responded after six days of rain,” Naugatuck head coach Kevin Wesche said. “We had discipline at the plate and our defense really supported our pitcher.”

The Hawks threatened throughout the game but couldn’t get that timely hit.

Naugy was nursing a 1-0 lead when the Greyhounds got an insurance run in the fifth against the Hawks’ pitcher, Ivy Geloso. Langhans singled and pinch runner Briana Tavares reached third when Katie Jaronecyzk split the gap in left center for a double. Diaz hit a two-out RBI single to left for a 2-0 advantage.

“I knew it was on me and I just had to put the ball in play,” Diaz said. “We showed a lot of heart to come in here and beat them on their field.”

The Greyhounds put the game in their back pocket erupting for three runs in the sixth. Aronin reached on an error, Rotatori singled to center and Massicotte drew a walk to load the bases.

Langhans hit into a fielder’s choice as the run was cut down at the plate. Jaronecyzk chased home a run on a bases loaded walk before Mckenzi Staples placed a well hit two-out, two-run single over to open up a 5-0 lead.

“There was a little bit of pressure with two outs,” Staples said. “But it felt great when I saw it go over the fielder’s head. This was a game we needed.”

Woodland got on the board in the bottom of the sixth. Hupprich reached on an error and Gina Farina came through with an infield hit. Carla Piccolo drove in the run on a solid single to center before Conover induced a fly ball to end the threat.

“I tried to focus on a couple of their key hitters and keep it a little bit out of the strike zone,” Conover said. “I have faith in my fielders and they really came through making some big plays.”

Naugatuck will host Wilby on Tuesday, Torrington on Thursday, and Watertown on Saturday for a 6 p.m. game. The Hawks will be at Watertown on Wednesday and home to Wolcott on Friday at the Pent Road Recreation Complex for a 6 p.m. matchup.