Hawks, ‘Hounds bow out of states

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Woodland’s Tyler Boisvert pitches versus Brookfield in the qualifying round of the Class M tournament Saturday in Beacon Falls. Brookfield won the game, 1-0. –KEN MORSE
Woodland’s Tyler Boisvert pitches versus Brookfield in the qualifying round of the Class M tournament Saturday in Beacon Falls. Brookfield won the game, 1-0. –KEN MORSE

Naugatuck and Woodland dropped opening-round games in state tournament action to end their seasons.

No. 31 Woodland (9-11) lost a heartbreaker in Class M action Saturday in Beacon Falls. The Hawks fell, 1-0, to No. 34 Brookfield (8-12).

Woodland senior Tyler Boisvert scattered five hits and struck out five in a complete-game performance.

Brookfield scored all the runs it would need in the sixth inning when Anthony Masuillo doubled to right and came around to score on a double to left from Nick Droukas.

The Hawks had their chances to get on the board with runners in scoring position.

In the first inning, Zach Bedryczuk singled and reached second base on a groundout. In the fifth inning, Matt Szturma singled and pinch runner Brendan Rowley reached second on a wild pitch. In the sixth inning, Boisvert unloaded a two-out double into the right field corner.

In each of the circumstances, the Hawks were denied the timely hit by Brookfield pitcher Mason Blanchette, who came out on top of the pitchers’ duel.

The Hawks surged late in the regular season to reach the tournament after starting the year 3-9.

“We could have easily kicked this season to the curb at 3-9,” Woodland head coach Mike Kingsley said. “These seniors couldn’t have set a better example. We got a team full of freshman and sophomores and we turned it around and got a home game in the state tournament out of it.

“That is going to go a long way in building the character of this team next season. But it’s going to be tough losing guys like Tyler (Boisvert), Jared (Grillo) and Matt (Butterworth).”

On Tuesday, No. 23 Naugatuck (10-10) traveled to No.10 Fairfield Ludlowe (14-6) and came up on the short end of an 11-4 final in the Class LL first round.

Fairfield Ludlowe took control of the game early, plating four runs in the first and two runs in the second and third innings to build a commanding 8-0 advantage.

The ‘Hounds struck back with two runs in the fourth and single runs in the sixth and seventh to account for their four runs on seven hits.

Ludlowe put the game out of reach with three runs in the sixth.

Corey Plasky, Mike Plasky and Joevanni Torres split the duties on the hill for the Greyhounds.

Mike Plasky led Naugatuck with two hits, two runs and an RBI. Corey Plasky and Steve Marinaro had a hit and an RBI each. Joe Kwaak and Matt Nofri each added a hit and a run scored.