Greyhounds celebrate senior night with win

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Naugatuck seniors Amy Dietz, Nina Kosciuszek, Gretchen Hale, Sarah Chandler and Sydney Cotto celebrate senior night with their families at Breen Field in Naugatuck Tuesday night. The Greyhounds earned a 12-0 win over Crosby. –KEN MORSE
Naugatuck seniors Amy Dietz, Nina Kosciuszek, Gretchen Hale, Sarah Chandler and Sydney Cotto celebrate senior night with their families at Breen Field in Naugatuck Tuesday night. The Greyhounds earned a 12-0 win over Crosby. –KEN MORSE

NAUGATUCK — The Naugatuck softball team held senior night festivities at Breen Field on Tuesday. Head coach Kevin Wesche introduced senior captains Sarah Chandler and Sydney Cotto along with fellow seniors Amy Dietz, Gretchen Hale and Nina Kosciuszek.
Naugy went on to defeat Crosby by a 12-0 margin, improving to 14-5 on the season, as Kosciuszek tossed a four-hit shutout.

“Collectively the seniors brought all different aspects to the game with their hustle, dedication and commitment,” Wesche said. “They did a phenomenal job showing leadership to the younger players in setting the example on how to get things done. I’m very proud of the seniors and what they’ve done. When the opportunity knocked they got the job done and have earned the spots in the lineup.”

That leadership showed as Cotto drove in three runs, Dietz had three hits and Hale scored three runs. Chandler made all the plays in the infield at shortstop and collected two hits and two runs.

Naugatuck scored early, plating two runs in the first. Gillian Fortier reached on an error and Chandler drew a walk. Erica Bohuski hit a run-scoring single to left and Cotto chased home the second run on a sacrifice fly.

The Greyhounds increased the lead to 5-0 in the second inning as Hale, Dietz and Kara Klimaszewski crossed the dish with Chandler and Cotto providing the RBIs.

Crosby was only able to manage one single through the first three innings against Kosciuszek, and before the Bulldogs collected their next hit the ‘Hounds knocked the door off the hinges.

Naugatuck erupted for five runs in the bottom of the third to take a commanding 10-0 advantage. Hale bunted for a hit with one out and Dietz singled to get things started. Fortier drove in a run on a sacrifice fly and Klimaszewski sent a run home on a single to left.

Chandler walked and Bohuski was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Cotto and Shannon Searles followed with singles to send three more runs across the plate.

The Greyhounds added a pair of runs in the fifth when Hale drew a walk and Fortier hit a blast in the center-field gap for a triple. Kaitlyn Barry came through with a sacrifice fly for the 12-0 final margin.

Kosciuszek held on for the shutout with five strikeouts.

“I’m very happy at where we are and how we progressed through the season,” Wesche said. “Both Nina and Jenna Miller have been doing a great job pitching and keeping us in the game. They are not dominating with strikeouts but getting the ball in play and letting the defense get the job done.”

Naugatuck closed out the regular season with a 2-1 loss Thursday at Torrington. The Greyhounds gave the Read Raiders, who finished the regular season perfect, all the could handle

The Greyhounds will now gear up for the Naugatuck Valley League tournament, which starts Monday.