Naugy ‘putting the pieces in place’

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NAUGATUCK — The Naugatuck softball team came into the season with a few of holes to fill, and the early results have seen the Greyhounds fill some of them.

The Greyhounds opened up the season with a new pitcher in sophomore Megan Schofield and an entire new outfield. In the season-opener April 3 against Kennedy, Schofield fired a two-hit shutout and struck out 16 batters to lead Naugatuck to a 12-0 win.

The Greyhounds got out to a 3-0 lead through three innings before erupting for seven runs in the fourth to put the game away. Two more tallies in the sixth accounted for the final margin of victory as Naugy smacked 15 hits and played errorless ball in the field.

Julia Pelliccia led the Greyhounds at the plate with four hits and three runs scored. Katie Jaronecyzk belted a home run and had two hits, two runs scored and drove in three runs.

“Megan hit her spots and did a nice job for her first varsity start,” Naugatuck head coach Kevin Wesche said. “Julia (Pelliccia) did a lot of good things especially at the plate. We moved her up to the number two spot, and we got people on and she got them in.”

Alexandra Langhans also produced at the plate with a home run good, two RBI and a run scored. Olivia Filanowski had two hits, one run and one RBI. Schofield also came through with two hits.

Olivia Rotatori, Molly Kennedy and Hailey Deitelbaum all had a hit and a run scored. Katie Jones added a hit and an RBI. Briana Tavares chipped in with two RBI and a run scored to account for the Greyhounds’ offensive attack.

The rainy weather wreaked havoc on the schedule. Naugatuck did manage to get back on the field against Trumbull on April 5 after being forced back into the gym for practices.

Trumbull pitcher Ally Szabo threw a five-inning no-hitter as the Greyhounds fell, 25-0. Wesche took it in stride as the team prepared to regroup and head to Florida for its annual trip.

“We didn’t hit the ball and they did,” Wesche said. “And on defense they caught more balls than we did. We did have a few errors and a few mental mistakes, but we are going to work on that and get better every time we get on the field.”

The Greyhounds were in Orlando, Fla. this week where they played two games at the Disney’s ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.

“I think the trip down to Florida will help us to bond together and come back with a lot more confidence and be ready to go,” said Wesche before the team took the trip. “We had quite a few holes to fill in the lineup and we are putting the pieces in place.”

The Greyhounds lost to Windsor, 12-4, on Monday and Torrington, 12-1, on Tuesday in Florida to fall to 1-3 on the year. Naugatuck will be back in Connecticut to take on Wolcott on the road on Saturday.