NAUGATUCK — Naugatuck Post 17 split the first two games of the American Legion baseball season.
Naugy opened the season with a 1-0 loss June 8 at Danbury.
Heading into the season, Post 17 coach Mark Nofri said hitting was the key for his team. Against Danbury, Naugatuck scraped together just two hits, one each from Zach Bedryczuk and Derrick Jagello.
Nate Deptula was great on the mound, giving up one run in six innings and striking out six.
Post 17 responded with a 4-0 win in the home-opener on June 9 against Torrington, a new addition to Zone 5.
After not scoring in the opener, Naugy scored right away in the first inning with a bases-loaded walk from Justin Marks. Marks drove in two more runs in the third to extend the lead to 4-0.
Marks finished the day 1-for-2 with 3 RBI. Justin Butterworth added a hit and an RBI. Bedryczuk, Jagello and Austin Verab also pitched in with a hit each, and Naugatuck’s first seven batters in the lineup all reached base safely at least once.
Post 17 had five days off due to a rainout before starting of a stretch of five games in six days — all at home —Saturday against Bethel. Naugatuck will then play Danbury, Washington and Oakville next week before a rematch with Bethel Thursday.