Hawks keep battling

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Woodland’s Steph Krebbs tags out Naugatuck’s Olivia Filanowski as she tries to steal second base Tuesday at Naugatuck High School. Naugatuck won the game, 8-1. –ELIO GUGLIOTTI

BEACON FALLS — The softball season may not be turning out the way the Hawks planned, but they are not throwing in the towel.

The Hawks started the week on Monday with a convincing 24-1 win — their second win in a four-game stretch — over Wilby.

Jen Triana earned the win in the pitcher’s circle striking out eight and collecting two hits at the plate. Lindsey Gabianelli had two hits and four RBI. Ivy Geloso had a hit and three RBI and Brianna Vallejo had a hit and four RBI.

Woodland sought to make it two straight Tuesday against Naugatuck but fell, 8-1. Despite the loss, the Hawks showed their resolve.

That was evident when Meredith Dyckman made a sensational lunging catch out in center field to rob Naugatuck’s Molly Kennedy of a run-scoring extra base hit.

“Sometimes we have trouble on offense,” Dyckman said. “But when we keep our attitudes up, we can make the plays. It shows we have a lot of heart.

“Our captains Jen (Triana) and Emily (Brouillette) have been keeping us together. We have started to see some improvement and putting our mistakes behind us.”

Woodland was very much in the game. The Hawks trailed 3-1 in the fifth inning when the Greyhounds erupted for five runs to put the game away.

Brouillette had two hits including a triple and drove in the Hawks’ only run. Steph Krebbs had two hits, including a double, and scored. Geloso and Gabianelli also got hits for the Hawks.

“Our outfield has been working really hard at being aggressive to make the plays,” Woodland head coach Loren Luddy said. “Merrie is the only one out there with varsity experience and she earned the center field spot by being aggressive and trying to catch everything out there.

Woodland’s Lindsey Gabianelli gets the force out at first just before Naugatuck’s Julia Pelliccia (8) reaches the base Tuesday at Naugatuck High School. Naugatuck won the game, 8-1. –ELIO GUGLIOTTI

“They are gaining confidence to call for the ball. We have made a lot of mistakes, but we are beginning to make some plays and putting the mistakes behind us. The goal from here on out is to continue to be aggressive on defense and try to string hits together to get our offense going.”

Woodland improved to 5-9 with a 16-1 (six innings) win over Kennedy on Wednesday.

Dyckman had two hits and four RBI. Brianna Vallejo drove in two runs on three hits and scored three times.

Geloso struck out eight in four innings of work. Jen Triana had five strikeouts in two innings.

The Hawks faced some stiff competition last week. Woodland fell to Seymour, 17-4, last Thursday and to Shelton, 15-3, on Saturday.

Geloso hit a two-run homer against Seymour and Rita Plante came through with a pair of hits.

Krebbs had two hits against Shelton with Jen Triana adding a run-scoring hit. Geloso scored two runs.

The Hawks will visit Wolcott on Friday.

Editor’s note: This story has been updated from the version that appears in the May 5 edition to include results through May 4.