Post 17 falls short of tournament

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Naugatuck’s Shane Swierbitowicz sends a single to left field against Waterbury during American Legion play July 12 at Municipal Stadium in Waterbury. Waterbury won the game, 5-3. –KEN MORSE

NAUGATUCK — The Naugatuck American Legion baseball team relied on solid pitching to get into position to battle for a spot in the state tournament, but the lack of key hits in crucial situations hampered Post 17 throughout the year as the team fell out of contention for the playoffs.

Naugatuck ended the season July 12 with losses to Waterbury, 5-3, and Oxford, 8-3, in a doubleheader to finish 8-15 and seventh in Zone 5.

“It certainly didn’t play out the way we thought it would at the start of the season,” Post 17 head coach Robert Swierbitowicz said. “Pitching was our strength all season. Pitching coach Chris Saunders did very well managing the pitchers and keeping the kids’ arms injury free.”

A slow start out of the gate had Naugatuck chasing the rest of the Zone. Post 17 scored two runs in the first four games, three of which ended in the loss column.

General manager Paul D’Agnone and assistant coach Gabe Torok helped coach Swierbitowicz to turn things around, and Post 17 responded with a pair of three-game winning streaks.

“From the beginning all the way till we finished, I always thought this team had a chance,” Swierbitowicz said. “We started out behind the eight ball and never seemed to gain hold of it.”

In spite of the 1-3 start, Post 17 had the pitching to stay competitive, only allowing eight runs in the first four games.

Shane Swierbitowicz was the workhorse on the mound, throwing 33 innings with a 2.52 ERA this season.

Steve Marinaro posted a 1.68 ERA in 25 innings on the hill, and Zach Royka pitched 26 innings with a 1.27 ERA. Mike Patton, Tristan Crelan, Will McDonald and Jack Messina came on in relief.

“Our offense never really materialized the way I thought it should have,” Swierbitowicz said. “It’s a challenge to play 23 games in such a short season. It really doesn’t allow you the time to work on things.

“Then you need to contend with players quitting over playing time, injuries, work schedules and graduation parties. It’s hard to form a competitive team with so many changes in the lineup, but every team goes through the same stuff. I give credit for the kids who stuck it out. They gave a maximum effort, and we did turn it around and had a chance at the end, we just couldn’t come up with the key hit in crucial situations.”

Naugatuck’s Tristan Crelan delivers a pitch against Waterbury during American Legion play July 12 at Municipal Stadium in Waterbury. Waterbury won the game, 5-3. –KEN MORSE

Naugatuck was led at the plate by Shane Swierbitowicz with a .340 average on 16 hits. Post 17 had seven batters who reached double figures in hits. Marinaro had 15 hits and batted .294. Kyle Torok hit .263 on 15 hits.

Royka batted .286 and led the team with seven RBIs on 12 hits. Corey Plasky led the team in runs scored with seven on 11 hits and had a team-leading eight stolen bases. Derrick Jagello and Patton belted 11 hits each. Jarrett Allen led the team by getting on base 18 times with nine hits and nine walks. He added five stolen bases.

Naugatuck had several younger players from the Junior Legion team step up this season. Crelan along with Mark Nofri, Matt Polek and Justin Carasone gained valuable experience and will be ready to take on bigger roles next season.

“It was good to see some of the younger guys step up and fill some roles for us,” Swierbitowicz said. “We only lose Matt Butterworth and Kyle Torok for next season. So we should have almost everyone back.”