NAUGATUCK — The Naugatuck American Legion baseball team continues to get solid pitching while the bats are struggling to put runs across the plate.
Shane Swierbitowicz turned in another solid outing last Saturday, scattering three hits in five innings in a 4-0 loss to Waterbury at Municipal Stadium.
Post 17 belted seven hits, but Naugatuck was shut out for the third time in four games this season. Waterbury plated two runs in the first to break out on top and one run in the second.
Will McDonald and Mike Patton came on in relief for Post 17. Waterbury tacked on a final run in the sixth. McDonald and Patton both delivered a hit to try and spark the offense.
Zach Royka led the way with two hits. Kyle Torok, Steve Marinaro and Corey Plasky added base hits, and Mike Nofri reached base on a walk. However, Naugatuck lacked the timely hit to put much-needed pressure on Waterbury.
The weather hasn’t helped Post 17 to get into a rhythm offensively with two recent rainouts.
On Tuesday, Naugatuck got a strong pitching performance from Marinaro, who went five innings against Shelton. Marinaro threw four shutout innings and scattered five hits, but Shelton put up four runs in the fourth. Jack Messina worked two hitless innings in relief.
Trailing 4-0, Post 17 responded with two runs in the fifth and out hit Shelton 7-5, but still ended up on the short side of a 4-2 final margin to fell to 1-4 on the season. Naugatuck has scored four runs in five games.
Jarrett Allen and Messina singled and scored in the fifth for Post 17. Marinaro and Torok had RBI hits in the frame. Derrick Jagello had a hit with Plasky and Swierbitowicz adding doubles to account for the Naugatuck offense.
Post 17 will try again to get the offense on track against on Oakville on Wednesday at Taft School in Watertown. On Thursday, Post 17 will be at O’Brien Sports Complex to take on Ansonia. Naugatuck will host Oxford on Friday.
