Greyhounds bow out of Class L tourney

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Naugatuck’s Samantha Mullin (18) throws to first for an out during a Class L tournament first round game against Lyman Hall May 28 at Naugatuck High School. –ELIO GUGLIOTTI

NAUGATUCK — The Naugatuck girls softball team had a short run in the Class L state tournament.

The No. 12-ranked Greyhounds came up on the short end of an 8-5 final May 21 against No. 21 Lyman Hall of Wallingford in the first round of the tourney. Naugy (12-10) trailed 5-0 early on and staged a four-run, sixth-inning rally but couldn’t complete the comeback against the Trojans (11-10).

Samantha Mullin and Kendall Allen led Naugatuck with three hits and an RBI each.

Head coach Kevin Wesche and assistant coach Maribeth Ford knew there would be a learning curve this season after inserting four freshmen into the lineup. Led by a group of four seniors — Hailey Deitelbaum, Megan Schofield, Shannon Burns and Alyssa Ulrich — the Greyhounds won six of their last eight games to end the regular season.

Deitelbaum, who batted .484 with 17 runs scored and 18 RBI, earned All-NVL and All-State honors. Schofield, who batted .345 and scored 18 runs, was named to the All-Iron Division team.

Deitelbaum, Burns and Ulrich were selected to play in the Naugatuck Valley League senior All-Star game June 9 at Municipal Stadium in Waterbury. Junior Jordyn Hunt was chosen to play on the Select College Showcase team June 11 at Dunn Sports Complex in Meriden.

Naugatuck’s Alyssa Roberts (21) pitches during a Class L tournament first round game against Lyman Hall May 28 at Naugatuck High School. –ELIO GUGLIOTTI

The Greyhounds will have plenty of experience returning next season.

Sophomore Alyssa Roberts, last year’s All-NVL and All-State pitcher, earned All-Iron honors this season and teamed up with Allen, a freshman catcher who batted .494 with 40 hits and 22 RBI and earned All-NVL and All-State honors, to form one of the strongest tandems in the NVL.

Mullin and fellow freshmen Nadia Cestari and Felicia Salvati provided plenty of firepower at the plate this year and give the Greyhounds an awful lot to look forward to next season.

“We lose a lot in the leadership department graduating four seniors,” Wesche said. “But we did gain valuable experience with Hunt, Roberts and our four freshmen in the lineup that should return stronger and more confident.”