The players on Westhill's softball team are going to replay the first inning of Monday's state championship game against Conard in their minds for a long time. The Vikings had five runners reach base, but three of them were thrown out on the base paths. Opportunities squandered all game were the theme for the Vikings as they fell to Conard, 4-1, at West Haven High School.
"We ran ourselves out of a big inning,'' said Westhill coach Tom Pia, whose team was seeking its second straight Class LL championship. "I have to take some of the blame for that. It was huge. It wasn't the greatest base-running game we've ever had."
Allison Macari allowed five hits and struck out two for the top-seeded Vikings (23-2). She pitched well enough to win most games, but the Vikings' defense committed three errors, and another run scored on an illegal pitch. And Westhill had five runners thrown out on the base paths.
"You have to channel your energy and stay in control,'' Pia said. "They were doing things they haven't done all season. When you get to this level of competition, you can't make those types of mistakes."
Cassandra Kish walked to lead off Westhill's first and Brittany Horn was safe on a sacrifice bunt on a Conard error. Kish raced to third. Horn stole second, and when the ball eluded the Conard fielder, Kish broke for home. She was thrown out, and Horn was gunned down attempting to take third. Westhill reloaded the bases on a walk and two singles, but another runner got picked off first base.
Westhill wasted another scoring opportunity in the second after a one-out double by Megan D'Alessandro. Conard, of West Hartford, grabbed the lead with a run in the third on a single by Rebekah Hoisl that ticked off the glove off shortstop Kate Brainard, then added an unearned run in the fourth.
Westhill trimmed the lead to 2-1 in the fifth on Allyson Souza's leadoff triple and Kish's fielder's choice. Conard added two more in the sixth. Souza and D'Alessandro had two hits each for the Vikings, who left seven runners stranded, including four in scoring position.
Westhill seniors Brittany Horn, Eileen Tublin and Erin Downey close the books, having played in three league championship games and two state title games. "They're seasoned, and you can't replace that,'' Pia said. "You saw some of the inexperience out there. We're going to miss their leadership."
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