As many OTs as we need ‘cause I’m done with school
Word from the Woods
Baseball
The Woodland baseball team made important strides last week in its effort to qualify for the state tournament, earning blowout wins over Sacred Heart last Thursday and St. Paul last Friday, before falling in a 2-1 pitchers’ duel at Watertown. The Hawks easily defeated the Hearts, 11-1, last Thursday at Fulton Park thanks in part to a pair of two-run homers by Nick Brown and Jack DeBiase. Brown had three hits and four RBI on the day while Steve Baeder added two hits and three runs in support of Billy Alfiere, who held a strong Sacred Heart lineup to just one run. The Woodland offense stayed hot on Friday when the Hawks throttled St. Paul, 16-3, in Beacon Falls. Ryan Mariotti had three hits, three runs, and four RBI, while Sean Deegan added three hits, two runs, and three RBI. Anthony Scirpo had two hits, three runs, and two RBI, while Tanner Kingsley had two hits, a run, and an RBI in support of starter Mike Masulli. Woodland couldn’t win its third in a row Monday at Watertown as the Hawks were held to one run on five hits, wasting a strong outing by Alfiere. Scirpo had two hits for Woodland, which is now 6-10 and needs to win two of its last four—against Crosby, Wolcott, Derby, and Seymour—to make the Class M state tournament.
Track and Field
The Woodland boys track team beat Torrington on Tuesday but tied Holy Cross in a tri-meet in Beacon Falls. The Hawks beat Torrington, 94-56, but tied the Crusaders, 75-75. Event winners for the hawks included Tim Madormo in the 110 hurdles, Eric Dietz in the 400 meters, the 4-by-400 relay team of Nick LaPerriere, Marc Beaulieu, Adam Baz, and Dietz, Mitch White in the pole valut, Scott Lang in the javelin, and Jon Fitzpatrick in the high jump. The win and tie put Woodland at 10-1-1 on the season and could have made the difference in the Hawks’ quest for the Naugatuck Valley League title. The girls team was set to host Torrington and Holy Cross on Wednesday. Both the boys and girls will compete in the Crusaders Relays on Saturday before an out-of-league tri-meet against O’Brien Tech and Platt Tech on Tuesday. The NVL championships are set for May 24 at Woodland.
Golf
Woodland gained a win in a three-way match last week at Lake Waramaug Country Club between Housatonic and Shepaug Valley before falling to Watertown on Tuesday. Last week, the Hawks narrowly lost to Housatonic, 195-198, but beat Shepaug Valley, 198-209. Anthony Memoli led the Hawks with a 43, while Nick Veneri shot a 47, Mike Segala turned in a 50, and Andrew O’Dell carded a 58. Woodland lost to Watertown, 176-214, Tuesday at Crestbrook Park Country Club. Memoli led the team again with a 46, while Segala shot a 50, Veneri carded a 56, and Dave Hardy turned in a 62. The Hawks are 2-7 and will host Ansonia/Derby and St. Paul on Thursday and Friday at Oxford Greens before four more matches next week.
Naugy Notes
Track and Field
Both the Naugatuck boys and girls rolled over Kennedy and Wilby in a Copper Division tri-meet at Naugatuck on Tuesday. The boys beat Kennedy, 111-38, and Wilby, 120-20. Event winners for the ‘Hounds included the 4-by-800 relay team of Andres Jiminez, Pat Alves, Mike Uva, and Jake Lisokosky, the 4-by-100 relay team of Tom O’Brien, Jamaal Gee, Iman Farimani, and Amanze Williams, Luis Carvahlo in the 110 and 300 hurdles, Gee in the 100 and triple jump, Muad Hrezi in the 1,600, Dan Bronko in the javelin, shot put, and discus, Colton Wagner in the pole vault, Nick Moriello in the 800, Williams in the 200, and Uva in the 3,200. The girls beat Kennedy, 95-53, and Wilby, 116-23. Event winners for the Greyhounds included the 4-by-800 relay team of Kelly Koslosky, Caitlin Colella, Katarina Gulotta, and Madison Beasley, Becky Renzoni in the 1,600 and pole vault, Shannon Hale in the 300 hurdles, Sarah Konops in the long jump, triple jump, and high jump, Gabby Moriello in the 800, Brianna Ritter in the shot put and discus, and the 4-by-400 relay team of Hale, Joselyn Brantley, Renzoni, and Moriello. The girls are 9-3 while the boys are 10-1. Both teams will compete at the Crusader Relays on Saturday before the NVL championships on May 24 at Woodland.
Golf
Naugatuck improved to 5-3 on the season with a win over Watertown last week, but also suffered a pair of losses to St. Paul and Watertown. Last Wednesday, the ‘Hounds fell to St. Paul, 176-191, at Hop Brook. Aaron Johnson led Naugy with a 43 while Mike Leona and Matt Schumacher both shot 49s and Tim Fleck carded a 50. Last Thursday, Naugy edged Watertown, 168-173, at Hop Brook. Nick Tribanas was the medalist with a 40 while Johnson and Fleck both carded 41s and Leona turned in a 46. On Tuesday, Holy Cross beat Naugy, 164-186, at Hop Brook. Leona led the Greyhounds with a 38 while Fleck shot a 46, Colin Waldron posted a 50, and Johnson shot a 52. Naugatuck will host Sacred Heart on Monday before visiting Watertown on Thursday.
Lips to CN’s Ear
“There is just no sense of urgency. We as a team lack the killer instinct. When we have a team down we don’t know how to put them away. How can we beat the only undefeated team in the league and then barely get out of this one with a ‘W’? If we bring that kind of attitude into the tournament it will most likely be a one-and-done scenario.
Tom Deller
Naugatuck baseball coach after the Greyhounds beat Sacred Heart, 9-7, in eight innings on Monday. The ‘Hounds led a late lead slip away to force the game into extras before almost allowing another lead to disappear in the eighth.
“Our team motto is, ‘expect nothing, earn everything.’ So, I won’t say that this goal [of going undefeated] is not in the back our minds, but our team takes it one match at a time. We must not forget the present, because the work put forth now will allow us to reach our goals.”
Mike Krakowski
Woodland tennis senior on his team’s outlook toward the remainder of the season. The Hawks are 15-0, which is the best start in team history, and will likely be the top seed in the Naugatuck Valley League tournament later this month.
