BY BRITTNI MCCOY
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

NAUGATUCK — The Tug Valley High School baseball team is the Kirk & Crum Law Office Players of the Week.

The Panthers put together one of the most memorable postseason runs in recent program history under Coach LeeAnn Blankenship during the Class A Region 4 Tournament.

Tug Valley battled through four intense regional games to finish the season 18-18 (they tied one of the best records in program history).

The Panthers delivered a dramatic 4-3 walk-off victory over Calhoun County in nine innings, then followed it with a dominant 15-0 mercy-rule win over Van in which Chandler Copley and Parker Smith combined for a no-hitter.

Tug Valley also pushed Man to the limit twice in hard-fought regional battles before the season came to an end.

Several Panthers stepped up throughout the tournament. Darian Vance led Tug Valley with three hits in the elimination game against Man. Dawson Richardson collected multiple key hits during the tournament. Gage Whitt, Gavin Fitzpatrick and Parker Kelly all delivered clutch offensive performances.

On the mound, Copley struck out 14 batters in relief against Calhoun County.

Smith tossed 2-2/3 hitless innings with seven strikeouts in the no-hit win over Van.