Post 17 running out of chances

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Naugatuck’s Steven Marinaro pitches versus Waterbury June 29 during American Legion baseball action at Naugatuck High School. Naugatuck won the game, 6-1. –ELIO GUGLIOTTI

NAUGATUCK — With the season winding down, the Naugatuck Post 17 baseball team needs to make up ground quick to secure a spot in the tournament.

“I still believe we have a shot at the state tournament,” Post 17 head coach Robert Swierbitowicz said. “With the help of other teams, and of course some wins from us, we could still sneak into the fifth spot.”

Oakville (17-1) and Monroe (14-2) have strangleholds on the top two spots in Zone 5. Through games played Tuesday, Bethel (9-8), Shelton (8-9) and Oxford (7-9) sat in the third through fifth spots.

Naugatuck, Ansonia and Danbury had five wins each, with Waterbury sitting on four wins, through Tuesday. Each are still fighting for to be one of the five teams that moves onto the state tournament.

Naugatuck was in a position to make up ground but dropped a doubleheader to Monroe on Sunday by scores of 8-0 and 11-5.

Shane Swierbitowicz took the hill in game one on Sunday and went the distance on the mound, allowing 13 hits and eight runs for Naugatuck (5-10).

After getting shut out in the first game, Post 17 showed a little bit of offense in game two with five runs, but it wasn’t enough to top Monroe. Mike Patton got the start and went 1 2/3 innings on the mound. Kyle Torok pitched 3 1/3 and Zach Royka pitched the final two innings.

“It’s tough when you have to go to the Junior roster to pull up enough guys to fill out the lineup with nine players,” Robert Swierbitowicz said. “Not that these younger kids are not getting the job done, but when you start playing eight or nine games in a span of six or seven days it starts to take its toll.”

Post 17 was ousted by Oxford, 10-0, on June 28 in a game that started a 14-day stretch with 15 games to close out the season.

“It is crunch time,” Swierbitowicz said. “The boys need to just go out there and play and stop worrying about the stats and just play baseball.”

Naugatuck showed some offensive life against Waterbury on June 29. Post 17 scored four runs in the fifth and two more in the sixth to come away with a 6-1 win.

Naugatuck’s Corey Plasky (5) slides to field a ground ball versus Waterbury June 29 during American Legion baseball action at Naugatuck High School. Naugatuck won the game, 6-1. –ELIO GUGLIOTTI

Steve Marinaro went four innings against Waterbury, allowing just one hit and one run. Will McDonald earned the win in relief, striking out three in two hitless innings. Derrick Jagello didn’t allow a base runner in a perfect seventh inning.

Marinaro leads Post 17 in hits and average with a .290 clip. Jarrett Allen is hitting .273 with four runs and four stolen bases, and Corey Plasky is hitting. 250 with three runs and three stolen bases. Royka is batting .250, and Torok has a team-leading four RBI and three doubles, hitting at a .219 clip.

“We had a chance to move up in the standing, but got rained out again wiping out a doubleheader last Saturday against Bethel,” Swierbitowicz said. “That is really causing a strain on the pitching backing up so many games right on top of one another.”

“Bottom line is we need some guys to step up and provide a spark on offense and to make the plays on defense to keep us in these games,” the coach added. “I will fight right alongside these kids until the last out of the season.”

Naugatuck will play Shelton on Wednesday and Ansonia on Thursday. Post 17 will play Bristol at Muzzy Field on Friday. On Saturday, Naugatuck will host a doubleheader against Danbury at 11 a.m. and Bethel at 2 p.m.

Next week, Naugatuck is scheduled to play five games in four games to end the regular season.