Naugy’s season not short on accomplishments

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Naugatuck High junior Gillian Fortier earned All-State honors for the third straight season. Fortier produced 42 hits and hit .618 with 31 runs, 30 RBI and 10 stolen bases for the Greyhounds this year. –FILE PHOTO
Naugatuck High junior Gillian Fortier earned All-State honors for the third straight season. Fortier produced 42 hits and hit .618 with 31 runs, 30 RBI and 10 stolen bases for the Greyhounds this year. –FILE PHOTO

NAUGATUCK — The Naugatuck softball team’s 2013 resume featured many accomplishments.

The ‘Hounds put up a 15-win season, advanced to the second round of the state tournament and received several individual honors. And they played with spirit all the way through the last game — a 3-0 loss at Darien.

“I was proud how hard they played and attacked the ball at the plate,” Naugy head coach Kevin Wesche said. “It’s always tough to end the year and even a few careers on the road. They are a great group of young ladies.”

Gillian Fortier, a junior, earned All-State honors for the third straight season. Fortier produced 42 hits and hit .618 with 31 runs, 30 RBI and 10 stolen bases.

This season marked the end of the careers of five seniors who played a major role in the program’s success — Sarah Chandler, Amy Dietz, Sydney Cotto, Gretchen Hale and Nina Kosciuszek.

“These five seniors brought leadership and personality to the team,” Wesche said. “They are a fun bunch that isn’t afraid to smile, play a joke or when the time comes, get serious between the lines and focus on the diamond. This combination helped the team relax when the pressure was on and made long bus rides more enjoyable.”

Chandler was selected Academic All-State, All-Copper Division and was a two-year captain.  She hit .409 with 23 runs and 22 RBI with a .488 on-base percentage.

Cotto also earned All-Copper Division honors with a .291 average and a .351 on-base percentage.

The Greyhounds also improved throughout the season at the plate, which encouraged Wesche.

“Our hitting continued to get stronger as the season progressed and their confidence grew,” Wesche said.

Dietz became very reliable ending the season with a .452 batting average after not seeing the field the first three games.

Naugatuck’s Nina Kosciuszek was one of five seniors, including Sarah Chandler, Amy Dietz, Sydney Cotto and Gretchen Hale, to lead the Greyhounds this season. –FILE PHOTO
Naugatuck’s Nina Kosciuszek was one of five seniors, including Sarah Chandler, Amy Dietz, Sydney Cotto and Gretchen Hale, to lead the Greyhounds this season. –FILE PHOTO

Assistant coach Maribeth Ford will also be honored next week by the Connecticut High School Coaches Association as the Assistant Coach of the Year. 

Naugy has some promising talent for 2014. The team returns Kait Barry, Erika Andreoli, Kara Klimaszewski, Erica Bohuski, Shannon Searles, Jenna Miller and Jackie Aronin, along with Fortier.

“We will have a lot of spots to fill in the lineup next season but many of the potential returning players have already begun the process of improving their skills by participating in travel teams and joining gyms,” Wesche said. “The future can be bright for the Greyhounds if they stay focused and work smart.”