Baseball Downs Naugy on Senior Day

Plenty was on the line for both the Woodland and Naugatuck baseball squads during last Thursday’s regular season finale in Beacon Falls--the Hawks were battling for playoff position on their Senior Day, while the Hounds needed a victory to qualify for the Class LL state tournament. Only one team achieved its goals, and despite the efforts of Naugatuck senior Greg Rice, the Black and Gold took a 6-3 win.

Naugy sophomore Arber Mehmedi gave his team an early 1-0 lead with a one-out, solo home run in the top of the first off Woodland senior Nick Boucher. The score remained so through the first three innings, as the Hawks threatened but left five men on base.

The tide turned in the bottom of the fourth. Woodland junior Mike Diurno led off with double to deep right-center and junior Lou Enama stroked a double down the right field line to plate the Hawks’ first run. Enama scored on the next pitch after junior Ryan Genua’s single up the middle to make it 2-1.

Boucher continued to hold the Hounds at bay and received more insurance runs in the fifth. A two-out rally consisting of a pair of walks, another Diurno double, and three-straight RBI singles by Enama, Genua, and Boucher pushed the Woodland lead to 6-1.

The Hounds tried to close the gap in the seventh with a leadoff single by senior Jimmy Cegielski and a two-out home run by Rice, but it was too little, too late for the Garnet and Grey, as the Hawks prevailed on Senior Day.

WOODLAND 6, NAUGATUCK 3 Naugatuck 100 000 2—3 5 0 Woodland 000 240 x—6 9 0 Pitchers: Greg Rice, Mike Kennedy (5) and Arber Mehmedi, catcher; Pitcher: Nick Boucher and Jason Skibek, catcher. HR: Arber Mehmedi (N), Rice (N). SO: Rice 2, Boucher 8. Records: W 13-7, N 7-13.

Naugatuck finished 7-13, just one win short of qualifying for the Class LL state tournament, making Thursday’s game the last for seniors Rice, Cegielski, and Joe Iannotti.

“Greg was a tremendous competitor for us,” Naugatuck Head Coach Tom Deller said. “He came back very strong this year and pitched a lot of good games for us. He kept us in basically every game he took the mound and always gave us an opportunity to win.”

“Jimmy was as good an outfielder as any I’ve had at Naugatuck,” Deller continued. “He could go and get just about any ball out there. I’ve seen him crash into fences and dive and catch baseballs. And Joey is the ultimate unsung hero. He just gives you everything he’s got every moment that he’s in his cleats. If I had 15 guys like him, I wouldn’t complain.”

Woodland’s five seniors, including co-captains Jason Skibek and Boucher, will continue their season.

“Jason’s been the best defensive catcher in the league for the last three years at least,” Woodland Head Coach Joe Steele said. “He’s such a competitor and a leader out there and he’s done an outstanding job handling the pitching staff this year, which is something he takes a lot of pride in.”

“Nick is such a team player, just like all of these guys,” Steele noted. “He’s never about Nick; he’s about the team all the time. He always has a great attitude out there. He’s been our best hitter all year long and has done a great job on the mound for us as well.”

The Hawks’ other three seniors, Matt Sherman, John Merriman, and John Augelli, were also recognized by Steele.

“Sherm’s done a great job stepping in for his first starting varsity season replacing an all-valley player [Cody Kingsley],” Steele said. “He’s been a solid hitter for us all year and has played very well defensively. Merriman plays with such confidence and has really become an excellent hitter and has played a great left field for us. And Augelli has been a team player in his role as designated hitter and has hit above .350 for us most of the season. He’s had a lot of critical hits for us, which has been huge.”