Softball seasons end

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Woodland’s Samantha White (14) reaches second base June 2 versus Northwest Catholic High School during the first round of the Class M tournament in Beacon Falls. Woodland won the game, 7-4, but fell in the second round June 3 to Suffield. –LUKE MARSHALL
Woodland’s Samantha White (14) reaches second base June 2 versus Northwest Catholic High School during the first round of the Class M tournament in Beacon Falls. Woodland won the game, 7-4, but fell in the second round June 3 to Suffield. –LUKE MARSHALL

The postseason runs for the Woodland and Naugatuck softball teams ended abruptly in early-round state tournament action this week.

The Hawks, seeded eighth in Class M, bowed out to No. 9 Suffield in Tuesday’s second round. The Greyhounds, ranked 13th in Class L, suffered an eight-inning defeat to No. 20 Windsor in Monday’s first round.

Woodland’s 4-3 defeat Tuesday came despite outhitting Suffield 9-6. Cameron Caswell cracked a homer and a single, Carla Piccolo had three hits and an RBI, and Sam White doubled. Brianna Pacileo, Rachel Starkey and Natalie Veneri each singled off Suffield starter Laura Somerville.

Hawks pitcher Samantha Lee only allowed six hits with six strikeouts against the Wildcats, who were led by Lexi Pallotti (single, triple, two runs).

It was the second straight second-round exit for the Hawks (18-6), who have not reached the state quarterfinals since 2010.

On Monday, Woodland earned a 7-4 win over Northwest Catholic in the Class M first round. Pacileo led the offense with a homer, a double, three RBI and two runs. Lee struck out four in her complete-game effort, while Piccolo doubled, tripled and scored.

Naugatuck, meanwhile, faltered against Windsor in a Class L opener at Breen Field on Monday. The Greyhounds (15-7) pounded nine hits, including two each by Gillian Fortier and Lauren Burns, but allowed the Warriors to get back into the game and take it late in the going.

Naugatuck’s Erica Bohuski connects with a pitch June 2 versus Windsor during the Class L tournament in Naugatuck. Naugatuck lost the game, 4-3, in eight innings. –ELIO GUGLIOTTI
Naugatuck’s Erica Bohuski connects with a pitch June 2 versus Windsor during the Class L tournament in Naugatuck. Naugatuck lost the game, 4-3, in eight innings. –ELIO GUGLIOTTI

Fortier ended her stellar career with a double, triple and an RBI.

Local runs end in NVL semis: Both Woodland and Naugatuck bowed out in the Naugatuck Valley League semifinals last Wednesday at Wolcott High.

The third-seeded Hawks lost for the third time this season against eventual champion Seymour, falling by the final of 7-2.

Woodland took a 1-0 edge early and threatened to take a bigger lead but stranded runners on second and third with no outs in the third inning to miss out on a key opportunity.

The Wildcats tied the game in the third and took a 4-1 lead in the fourth. Seymour pulled away in the later innings before beating top-seeded Torrington for the league title last Friday.

No. 5 Naugatuck managed only two hits against Red Raiders star Sydney Matzko in a 6-0 defeat, and none of those hits came past the second inning. Fortier and Kait Barry were the only Greyhounds who got to Matzko.