Sports
Wave Softball
Noujaim gets new chance, bats it out of the park


May 8, 2008

Darien softball standout Amanda Koslo checks her strong swing. (Darien Times/Steven Buono photo)

Darien beat New Fairfield on Saturday, then blew out Bassick to cop its 10th win of the season this week.

The Wave blanked New Fairfield 2-0 and shutdown Bassick in five 20-0 on Monday.

Carly Dudzik had two hits in the victory over New Fairfield, but that’s nothing new. Dudzik has been at the center of the Wave’s driving force that is pushing the girls into the post-season all year.

The new glint on the diamond was Danielle Noujaim.

“Well, she doesn’t get much playing time,” said Wave coach Nick DeMaio. “But I had her in as a designated player and she hit one over the fence.”

Noujaim jacked the ball into the woods in the fifth inning for a 1-0 lead, and Darien added a run in the sixth to make it 2-0.

Mallory Kahn batted in Olivia Vegliante for the second run.

Vegliante (4-4), who has come to the fore on the mound after missing last season with an injury, had the win.

“She did a good job,” DeMaio said.

Darien has had the option of going to either last season’s sole starter on the mound Christina DeMaio (5-3), or Vegliante this spring.

“Christina pitched the Trinity game,” said DeMaio of what was probably one of Darien’s more impressive wins this season. “And I don’t look at it that I have a number one.”

Darien beat the Crusaders 2-1 on April 14.

“You see, last season Christina was No. 1 because that is all that we had,” DeMaio, who is the pitcher’s dad, said. “Last year (Vegliante) hurt her back.”

This is the first time in more than 10 years that Darien has had pitching co-equals — and good ones — to go to in any one season. Usually the Wave, is blessed in fact, with one highly regarded, all-star-type on the hill who is asked to carry so much of the load, and right through elimination in states.

Happy-go-lucky DHS catcher senior Nicole Buch has held down her job at home plate very nicely again this season. (Darien Times/Steven Buono photo)

That’s enough whirling underhand action to unscrew a perpetual starter’s arm at the shoulder joint. The reduced stress in the bull pen can only help the Darien cause in post-season.

“From a case of effectiveness they are both, right there,” DeMaio said. “I mean, their ERA’s are very close — and where it helps me is if one is struggling I can bring the other in.

“And it gives the opposition two looks that they need to be concerned with. They don’t know who they are facing on any given day, so that’s always a plus.”

Things get serious now with only two games left in the regular season, including a big one vs. New Canaan on Friday.

DHS dropped to 10-7 overall and 8-7 in the league with a 5-0 loss to Danbury (10-6, 10-4) at home on Wednesday.

“Right now we are in the hunt for the FCIAC (playoffs),” DeMaio added. “It’s going to go to the wire — every game is a must win for us right now.”

The top eight teams in the league go to the big dance.

“And right now we are No. 10 in that mix,” said DeMaio speaking prior to the loss to the Hatters yesterday. “And so in order to climb back into it we can’t afford any more losses.

“The state tournament, we are setting up pretty good for that.”

In rolling over Bassick the Wave had the win from Christina DeMaio while at bat it was Reilly Horan cracking two doubles and a single and driving in five runs to lead DHS.

Vegliante had three hits and drove in three runs, Kahn doubled, singled and batted in two runs, Lauren Duwan had two hits and first baseman Cristina Tarantino doubled.

Nicole Buch caught.

The Wave follows its clash with New Canaan with games vs. Harding and at Norwalk before FCIAC playoffs begin on May 19.

Next week’s bout with the rival Rams will be featured in the May 15 print issue of The Darien Times.


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