‘Collective effort’ to spark offense

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Naugatuck High seniors, from left, Katie Jaroneczyk, Alexandra Langhans, Olivia Rotatori and Olivia Filanowski will lead the Greyhounds this season. -CONTRIBUTED

NAUGATUCK — The Naugatuck softball team comes into the season needing to find a way to manufacture a few runs.

Naugatuck graduated All-NVL and All-State slugger Jackie Aronin, a .455 hitter who is now playing for Utica College, and All-Copper Division shortstop Jenna Massicotte, a .448 hitter with 30 hits and 30 RBI.

That’s a lot of production out of the lineup that also graduated starting pitcher Jessica Conover, who is now playing at Wells College, Taya Diaz and Mckenzi Staples.

“We have been working on a few girls who came back trying to get them to be more aggressive at the plate,” Naugatuck head coach Kevin Wesche said. “But you just can’t replace the talent that we lost, especially two hitters like Jackie and Jenna.

“Hopefully we can put up those offensive numbers, but it will have to be a collective effort. It does create a little bit of pressure on our defense, especially coming in with a sophomore pitcher taking over for a senior.”

Naugatuck will be led by senior captains Olivia Filanowski, Katie Jaroneczyk, Olivia Rotatori and All-Copper Division catcher and .455 hitter Alexandra Langhans.

Megan Schofield will take over as the starting pitcher for the Greyhounds, with junior Julia Pelliccia getting innings in the pitching circle when she is not playing in the infield.

Rotatori will hold down first base, with Filanowski at second and Jaroneczyk at third with a very productive bat in junior Molly Kennedy at shortstop.

Recent weather hasn’t allowed for any practice time out on the field, as the Greyhounds look to secure spots in the lineup.

“Being stuck in the gym during preseason will have the most effect on the outfielders,” Wesche said. “You need to be outside and have some room to be able to learn how to judge tracking down fly balls. So going into the season that will be one of the crucial spots that will need to be addressed.”

Naugatuck has a good group of outfielders looking to make an impact led by junior centerfielder Briana Tavares. Senior Christina Caruso and juniors Jayla Piazza and Aryana Powell will be in the mix patrolling the outfield.

The Greyhounds also have sophomores Shannon Burns and Hailey Deitelbaum, who will be able to provide a productive bat and speed to cover the outfield.

The Greyhounds went 11-11 the past two years and will be looking to ramp it up to the 2014 level, or above, when Naugy reached the semifinals in the NVL tournament sporting a 15-7 record.

“We will be ready to go once the season opens and making it to the NVL tournament and the states is always the goal,” Wesche said.

Naugatuck is scheduled to start the season April 4 at Kennedy, followed by home games April 5 versus Trumbull and April 7 against St. Paul.

The following week the Greyhounds will take off for their annual trip to Disney World in Orlando, Fla. with games scheduled against Windsor and Torrington.