Postseason Bound
Westies top Law 8-3
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(May 3, 2017) - Needing one win to qualify for the postseason, the West Haven softball team did not waste an opportunity. Riding a first inning grand slam by Makenna White, West Haven defeated Jonathan Law 8-3 in a Southern Connecticut Conference battle at Biondi Field in West Haven Wednesday evening to qualify for the postseason.
West Haven qualifies for the postseason after a win over Jonathan Law, May 3, 2017. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske.
West Haven (8-4) did not waste any time getting on the scoreboard, scoring four times in the opening inning and never looking back.
Kasey Marron led off with a single, Veronica Lynn reached on the first of seven Law errors and Kailey Carrano reached on another error to load the bases. White followed with a line drive homer to center for a quick 4-0 lead.
West Haven celebrates Makenna White's (15) first inning grand slam against Jonathan Law, May 3, 2017. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske.
Leading 4-1, West Haven increased the margin in the third as Kristal Rivas walked, Ashlyn O’Keefe sacrificed and reached on an error, and Destiny Velez reached on another error to load the bases. Rivas scored on a ground out by Marron for a 5-1 lead, and a single by Lynn scored O’Keefe and Velez for a 7-1 advantage.
White finished with four runs batted in and Lynn drove in a pair. Ivy Santos led the Westies with a pair of hits. Santos also tossed a complete game, allowing three earned runs, while walking one and striking out six.
Westies drill Hamden
Roberts drives in 9 in 18-6 win
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(May 4, 2017) - Sadielee Roberts drove in nine runs on three hits, Kasey Marron also added three hits and drove in three runs as the West Haven softball team won its third straight game and fourth in five contests with an 18-6 victory over Hamden Thursday evening in a game stopped after five innings at Biondi Field in West Haven.
The Westies (9-4) pounded 17 hits and scored in every inning but the fourth in the win. Marron was the beneficiary of all the run support and improved to 4-0 on the season. Marron went the distance, allowing nine hits, six runs, one of which was earned, one walk and striking out six.
West Haven infield against Hamden, May 4, 2017. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske.
The entire lineup contributed in the victory as Kailey Carrano had two hits and scored one run, Makenna White had two hits, scored three runs and drove in another, Ivy Santos, had two hits, three runs scored and drove in a pair, Ashlyn O’Keefe had a pair of hits, and Roberts scored four times.
West Haven took a 5-1 lead after one inning of play. Marron started the rally with a single, and with two outs scored on a single to left by White. Santos walked, Kristal Rivas walked to load the bases, and Roberts doubled to clear the bases for a 4-1 lead. Marron walked later in the inning with the bases loaded to force in Roberts as West Haven sent 11 batters to the plate in the inning.
West Haven outfield against Hamden, May 4, 2017. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske.
The Westies extended the margin to 11-1 with six more runs in the second. Carrano doubled to left, White singled to put runners on the corners and Santos singled to plate Carrano and White for a 7-1 lead.
Rivas doubled to put a pair in scoring position, where they scored on an error with Roberts at bat. O’Keefe reached on another error to score Roberts and Doneifa Thompson for an 11-1 advantage.
Leading 11-2, West Haven increased the margin with five more runs in the third. Carrano singled to left, White and Santos walked to load the bases, before Roberts doubled to left to drive in all three. Thompson’s triple brought in Roberts.
Upper Hand
Tigers blank Westies
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(May 8, 2017) – Riding a four-game winning streak and having already clinched a postseason bid, the West Haven softball team was in perfect position to play Hand-Madison Monday evening. Once again, the Westies had no answers for the Tigers.
Held to just four hits, two by Ivy Santos, West Haven fell to the Tigers 5-0 at Biondi Field in West Haven. With the loss, West Haven dropped to 9-5 on the season.
West Haven against Hand, May 8, 2017. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske.
Santos pitched well enough to win, holding Hand to just five hits. The freshman got in trouble as she walked seven batters and the West Haven defense committed four errors. Santos went the distance, allowing two earned runs and striking out six.
West Haven’s offense never got going, striking out 16 times against Geshwind. Trailing 2-0, the Westies got a leadoff walk in the first from Kasey Marron, before Geshwind struck out the next three batters. Geshwind struck out the side in the second and two of three Westies in the third.
Down by three runs, the Westies were retired in order in the fourth, all by way of strikeout, before Santos finally broke through with a leadoff single in the fifth. Sadielee Roberts singled with one out to put two on, but West Haven could not capitalize.
Veronica Lynn against Hand, May 8, 2017. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske.
Trailing 5-0, West Haven tried to rally in the seventh. Makenna White led off with a double to right, Santos, followed to put runners on the corners, but Geshwind struck out the next two batters. After Destiny Velez was hit by a pitch to load the bases, Geshwind recorded one last strikeout to end the contest.
Streak Busters
Westies stop North Haven streak at 13
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(May 10, 2017) – West Haven coach Joe Morrell and his team were looking for a statement game as the postseason approached. That statement came Wednesday evening.
Behind the two-hit pitching of Ivy Santos, a defense which seemed to make every play, and a clutch hit by Sadie Roberts, West Haven defeated North Haven 1-0 in a Southern Connecticut Conference contest at Biondi Field in West Haven.
Cassandra Thibodeau scores against North Haven, May 10, 2017. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske.
“We made all the plays,” Morrell said. “I thought the big thing was in one inning, we made an error and Ivy (Santos) got us out of it, and in another, Ivy walked a batter and we got her out of it. That was big for us. Those are things we have struggled to do at times this year. This is huge for our confidence. They are a very good team. Sally (Maher) does a great job over there. They beat us up last time we were there.”
The Westies (10-5) scored the only run of the game in the fourth inning to snap a 13-game winning streak by the Indians.
Kailey Carrano led off with a single and went to second on a wild pitch. Cassandra Thibodeau ran for Carrano, and after North Haven pitcher Lauren Card recorded the next two outs, Roberts ripped a single to left, scoring Thibodeau with the game’s only run.
“We came out here with heart,” Roberts said. “We really wanted to win this game. We are a family. We picked each other up all night. Team means family.”
Card and Santos were on their game tonight with each receiving solid defensive help throughout the contest.
For Santos, she allowed just two hits, walked one and struck out seven, while taking advantage of stellar defensive play in center from Ashlyn O’Keefe with three putouts and stellar play from the infield.
Ashlyn O'Keefe makes the play against North Haven, May 10, 2017. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske.
“She makes it look easy out there,” Morrell said of O’Keefe. “A couple of those balls I thought were hit in the gaps and she just jogged over casually and made the play. We challenged Ivy to get those leadoff strikes and she did. She’s freshman but you are not a freshman anymore once the season gets going. She got into some trouble, but she pushed through it.”
The West Haven defense came up big throughout, including the third inning when Carrano made a nice play at the third for the final out to strand a runner in scoring position. Santos returned the favor in the fifth when she worked around a two-out error to record a strikeout to end the frame with another runner in scoring position.
Kasey Marron may have come up with the biggest play of the game for the Westies in the sixth. With North Haven’s Peyton Davis on third with two outs for the Indians, Marron used her backhand to snare a hard hit ball by Sarah Lombardi and stepped on first to end the threat.
“We did not hit,” North Haven coach Sally Maher said. “The balls we hit were right at people. You are not going to win many games with just two hits. West Haven made all the plays out there tonight. They did a nice job.”
The Indians (13-2), who had not lost since a season-opening defeat against Amity and had outscored opponents 116-27 during that stretch, never got going despite the pitching of Card, who allowed just three hits and two walks while striking out seven.
“I thought she pitched well,” Maher said of Card. “We have a busy week with four games. We were hoping to get the lead and get her some rest. That never happened. I think we starting pressing as the game went on.”
Sadie Roberts singles to score Cassandra Thibodeau against North Haven, May 10, 2017. Video courtesy of Mike Madera.
East blanks West
Easties top WH 4-0
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(May 12, 2017) – After a solid victory over North Haven Wednesday evening to stop the Indians 13-game win streak, the West Haven softball team looked to keep the rhythm going two days later. East Haven had other ideas.
Behind a long home run from Julia Sangiovanni and solid pitching from Selena Mauro, East Haven blanked the Westies 4-0 at Biondi Field in West Haven Friday evening.
Veronica Lynn (6) had three hits against East Haven, May 12, 2017. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske.
Mauro kept the Westies in check, allowing just four hits in the game. Veronica Lynn had three of West Haven’s four hits, while Ivy Santos picked up the other.
Santos went the distance in the loss, allowing nine hits, four earned runs, and three walks, while striking out 11.
Kasey Marron (17) and the Westies fell against East Haven, May 12, 2017. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske.
Lynn singled with two outs in the first, but was left stranded, Santos walked with one out in the second, but did not advance. Frissora reached on an error and Lynn singled to put runners on the corners in the third, but West Haven could not score.
Santos singled with one out in the fourth, but was left stranded, and Lynn singled to open the sixth, but was erased on a double play.
WH pounds Branford
Lynn, White, Santos lead way in 16-3 win
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(May 15, 2017) – The West Haven softball team was looking to get back on the field after Friday evening’s loss to East Haven. Just three days later, the Westies got back on the winning track.
Behind a 15-hit attack which saw Veronica Lynn, Makenna White and Ivy Santos each have three, West Haven pounded Branford 16-3 in a game stopped after five innings at Biondi Field in West Haven Monday evening.
West Haven (11-6) got five runs batted in from Santos, four more from White and three from Lynn, while Lynn scored four times, and Kasey Marron and White each scored three.
Ivy Santos pitched two innings for the Westies, not allowing a hit or run, while walking one and striking out two in the win. Marron pitched the final three innings, allowing three earned runs on five hits, while striking out three.
The Westies took control of the game with nine runs in the opening inning for a 9-0 lead. Marron led off with a walk, and Lynn and Carrano followed suit to load the bases. White singled to score Marron and Lynn, and Santos drilled a homer to center for a 5-0 advantage.
Kristal Rivas kept the rally going with a single to left, Ashlyn O’Keefe singled with two outs and Marron walked to load the bases. Lynn cleared the bases with a triple for an 8-0 lead, and Carrano delivered Lynn with a single.
West Haven added four more runs in the third. Lynn singled to center, Carrano reached on an error to load the bases, and White singled to score Marron. Lynn scored on a wild pitch, Santos grounded out to score Carrano, and Sadielee Roberts singled to score White.
Santos blanks Sharks
Freshman tosses four-hitter in 1-0 win
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(May 16, 2017) – The West Haven softball team won its second straight contest and third in four games with a 1-0 decision over Sacred Heart Academy at Biondi Field in West Haven Tuesday evening. With the win, West Haven improved to 11-7 on the season.
Ivy Santos against Sacred Heart Academy, May 16, 2017. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske.
Freshman pitcher Ivy Santos led the way as she tossed a complete game four-hitter. West Haven scored the only run it needed in the first inning of Sacred Heart pitcher Kate Napierkowski.
West Haven and Sacred Heart played in memory of the late Danni Kemp, who passed away earlier this year. Members of both teams reached out in support of the Kemp family against Sacred Heart Academy, May 16, 2017. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske.
Both teams played the game in honor of the late Danni Kemp, who passed away earlier this year. Kemp suffered from DIPG, a form of brain cancer. Kemp was a former All-State player at Foran High.
The Westies scored the only run of the game in the first inning as Kasey Marron singled, moved to second on a sacrifice by Veronica Lynn, and third on a single by Kailey Carrano. When Carrano attempted to steal second and got in a rundown, Marron stole home for a 1-0 lead.
Carrano leads Westies
West Haven tops Academics 19-6
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(May 18, 2017) – The West Haven softball team improved to 13-6 with a 19-6 victory over Hillhouse Thursday evening on Senior Night at Biondi Field.
The Westies scored ten times in the first inning and never looked back in the victory.
Kailey Carrano led the way with three hits, five runs batted in, and two runs scored. Veronica Lynn added three hits, two runs batted in, and three runs scored, while Makenna White, Sadielee Roberts, and Doneifa Thompson each finished with a pair of hits.
Kasey Marron (17) against Hillhouse, May 18, 2017. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske.
West Haven took control of the game in the first inning. With one out, Lynn singled to left, Carrano doubled to score Lynn, White singled to put runners on the corners, and Kristal Rivas singled to left to score Carrano.
Roberts reached on an error to score one run, Doneifa Thompson singled to score Rivas and Roberts for a 5-0 lead, and Sirena Frissora walked to load the bases. Kasey Marron followed with a single to score Thompson and Destiny Velez for a 7-0 advantage, and Lynn increased the advantage to eight with a double to score Frissora. With runners on second and third, Carrano singled to score Marron and Lynn for a 10-0 advantage.
West Haven seniors against Hillhouse, May 18, 2017. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske.
The Westies increased the margin to 15-0 with five runs in the second. Frissora singled to score Roberts, Lynn doubled to score Velez, Carrano doubled to score Frissora and Lynn, and White singled to score Carrano.
Marron picked up the win, tossing the first three innings. Marron did not allow a hit, walk, or run, while striking out seven.
Westies pound Morgan
West Haven finishes regular season 14-6
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(May 19, 2017) – The West Haven softball team pounded out 13 hits on its way to a 16-1 victory over Morgan Friday afternoon in a game stopped after five innings. The Westies had eight different players who picked up hits in the contest, led by Makenna White who had three. Veronica Lynn, Kailey Carrano, Ivy Santos, and Ashlyn O'Keefe each had two hits.
With the victory, West Haven improved to 14-6 on the year. West Haven took an early lead, scoring twice in the first inning, and adding five more in the second and four in the third for an 11-0 lead.
Lynn, and Carrano each scored four times, and White scored three times in the game. White also led the team with three runs batted in, while Carrano and Santos each drove in two.
Santos went the distance, pitching five innings and allowing one earned run. Santos gave up four hits, walked one, and struck out nine.
West Haven took a 2-0 lead in the first inning when Lynn singled with one out to right, Carrano walked, and both pulled off a double steal. White's ground out too short scored Lynn and Santos reached on an error to score Carrano.
The Westies increased the lead to 7-0 with five runs in the second. With one out, Destiny Velez reached on an error, and scored on O'Keefe's double to center. Kasey Marron reached on an error to score O'Keefe, Lynn reached on an error, and White doubled to score another run. Santos singled to right to score the fifth run of the inning and West Haven was on its way with a seven-run advantage.
The Westies increased the lead to 11-0 in the third. O'Keefe opened with a walk and Marron followed with a single to put runners on the corners. With runners on second and third, Carrano singled to center to score O'Keefe and Marron. Kristal Rivas reached on an error later in the inning to score Carrano and White for an 11-0 lead.
Ousted
West Haven falls to North Haven in SCC quarterfinals
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(May 24, 2017) – Just two weeks after the West Haven softball team ended North Haven's 13-game winning streak, the Indians returned the favor.
Using a late rally, the second-seeded Indians defeated No. 7 West Haven 7-5 in the quarterfinal round of the Southern Connecticut Conference tournament Wednesday afternoon in North Haven. The loss ended West Haven's win streak at four games and dropped the Westies to 14-7 on the year.
In a contest which saw both teams battle back and forth, the Westies held a 5-3 advantage until the Indians scored twice in each of the fifth and sixth innings to pull out the victory.
Freshman Ivy Santos went the distance in the pitching circle, allowing seven earned runs, while walking one and striking out four. Sadielee Roberts drove in three runs with a long homer and Ashlyn O'Keefe had a pair of hits and scored a run in the loss.
Makenna White makes a play at the plate against North Haven in the SCC quarterfinals, May 24, 2017. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske.
Trailing 3-0 after three innings of play, the Westies evened the contest with three runs in the fourth inning. Kailey Carrano opened the inning with a single to right, and one out later, Kristal Rivas was hit by a pitch. Roberts then hit a homer to center, scoring Carrano and Rivas to even the game at three.
Sadielee Roberts circles the bases after hitting a home run against North Haven in the SCC quarterfinals, May 24, 2017. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske.
The Westies took their only lead of the game in the fifth with a pair of runs. O'Keefe led off with a single, Veronica Lynn hit a one-out single to right, and O'Keefe scored on a wild pitch. Lynn advanced to third on a grounder to second by Carrano, and scored when Makenna White singled to right.
After North Haven tied the game in the fifth, West Haven did not score in the sixth despite Rivas leading off with a single. Trailing by two in the seventh, O'Keefe led off with a single, but the Westies could not get the equalizer.
Marching On
Westies top Norwalk in Class LL opener
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(May 30, 2017) - Much is to be said about the way a team ends the regular season. Just ask the West Haven softball team.
Winners of their last four regular season games, and five of their last six, the Westies went into the Class LL state tournament as the 17th seed. With 14 wins, one would think the Westies would get a home game.
Such was not the case as West Haven had to travel to face No. 16 Norwalk in the opening round of the state tournament in Norwalk.
Behind the hitting of Kailey Carrano, who finished with three hits and two runs scored, West Haven posted a 6-3 victory over host Norwalk and advanced to the Class LL second round where it will face top-seeded Norwich Free Academy Wednesday on the road at 4 p.m.
"This is a big win for us," Morrell said. "When you win 14 games, you do not expect to go on the road and face another 14-win team. But, that is exactly what we did. Last year, we lost a lot of kids from a team which we thought we had a good team with. These kids have just filled those spots and done a great job."
While Carrano led the way with three hits, freshman Ivy Santos chipped in two hits and scored twice, while Kristal Rivas also had two hits and drove in two runs.
Santos went the distance in the pitching circle. She allowed three earned runs on eight hits, while walking four and striking out three.
For the Westies (15-7), the first-round game was all about getting on the board first and just building on that lead. West Haven had runners on base in just about every inning and opened up the game with three runs in the third inning.
Leading 1-0 after Rivas singled to score Veronica Lynn in the first inning, West Haven extended the lead to 4-0 in the third inning.
Carrano led off with a double to right, Makenna White walked to put runners on first and second, and Santos singled to right to load the bases. Rivas followed with a single to center to score Carrano for a 2-0 lead, and Dianesse Rodriguez singled to center to score a pair to extend the margin to 4-0.
"This one is really important for us," Carrano said. "We proved ourselves today. We did what we had to do. Tomorrow is another day. We will play our game. Getting off to an early lead was really big. We got the lead and just had to keep it going."
The three runs in the third were big for West Haven as Norwalk (14-7) came back with a run in the bottom half of the inning. Brenda Garcia let off with a single, moved to second on a ground out, and scored on Katie Sciglimpaglia's single to right with two outs.
After both teams squandered scoring opportunities in the fourth, the Bears got within 4-2 in the fifth with one run. Samantha Troetti started the rally with a one-out walk, moved to second on a grounder, and scored on Dina DiBlasio's double to left. Santos got out of the inning when she got Jessica Otto to pop out for the final out.
West Haven got that run back in the sixth as Carrano singled to center with one out, and scored on White's double to right for a 5-2 lead.
"I thought that run was big," Morrell said. "They had just scored a run, and we were able to get that run back. We were worried because we were giving up too many runs. We got a couple with the late rallies, and they help. That is a situation you don't want to go into the seventh up by just one run."
The Westies tacked on an insurance run in the seventh when Santos led off with a double and scored when Sadie Roberts tripled to right.
Norwalk did not go down without a fight as Skyler Suda opened the seventh with a single, went to second on a ground out, and scored on a single by DiBlasio to get Norwalk within three.
Santos did the rest for West Haven as she recorded a strikeout and a grounder to end the game and send West Haven to the second round.
DiBlasio led Norwalk with two hits and two runs batted in.
Season Ender
Westies fall to NFA in Class LL second round
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(May 31, 2017) - The season has come to a close for the West Haven girls softball team. A day after defeating Norwalk in the opening round of the state tournament, the Westies traveled to face top-seeded Norwich Free Academy Wednesday afternoon and fell 11-0.
Kristal Rivas (24) against Norwich Free Academy, May 31, 2017. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske.
The Westies (15-8) saw first-hand why NFA is the top seed as the Wildcats jumped out of the gates quickly with two runs in the first inning, then blew the game open with seven more runs in the fourth for a 9-0 advantage.
Senior Elizabeth Fleming did the rest for the Wildcats as she tossed a complete game, allowing just three hits. Fleming also struck out 12 in the win for the Wildcats.
Kailey Carrano, Kristal Rivas, and Sadielee Roberts had the hits for West Haven in the loss.
Kasey Marron against Norwich Free Academy, May 31, 2017. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske.
Freshman Ivy Santos took the loss as she went 4.1 innings, allowing seven earned runs on 10 hits, while striking out four. Kasey Marron allowed just one hit in the final 1.1 innings of work.
Fleming had a perfect game until Rivas singled with two outs in the fifth and Roberts followed with another single. West Haven's only threat of the game went by the boards when Fleming recorded a strikeout to end the inning.
After a perfect sixth, Fleming allowed Carrano's lead off single in the seventh, before striking out the final two batters of the game.
Hand blanks Westies
Tigers post 9-0 win
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(April 3, 2017) - With plenty of inexperience on the team, the West Haven softball team had plenty of questions to be answered heading into the season opener at Hand of Madison Monday afternoon.
Those questions still need to be answered as the Tigers handed West Haven a 9-0 defeat to start the season.
Freshman Ivy Santos got the nod in the pitching circle and allowed just four earned runs on eight hits, while walking three and striking out 10. Santos threw 122 pitches, 84 for strikes in the loss.
Despite the effort of Santos, West Haven could not get anything going offensively and made both mental and physical errors on the defensive side.
The West Haven offense could not get much going as it picked up just two hits in the loss. Those hits came off the bats of Veronica Lynn and Makenna White.
Hand scored five times in the first inning and never looked back in the win. The Tigers put the game away with four more runs in the fifth inning.
The Westies got both hits in the sixth, but were unable to bring a run home. Lynn led of the inning with a single, but was erased on a fielder's choice. With two outs, White singled but could not be brought home.
Rally falls Short
Late surge not enough in loss to Oxford
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(April 10, 2017) - Looking for its initial win of the season, the West Haven softball team thought it had one in striking distance after a late-inning comeback. That was not the case.
Despite scoring a combined five runs in the fifth and sixth innings to even the game, West Haven fell to Oxford 8-6 in eight innings Monday afternoon to fall to 0-2 on the year.
Makenna White (15) against Oxford, April 10, 2017. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske.
“We only had two hits and we made some mental errors. Oxford was heartbreaking. We battled to tie it up and you think you are going to win the game. It was heart breaking not to.”
Trailing 1-0 in the first inning, the Westies evened the contest when Kailey Carrano’s one-out single scored Veronica Lynn who reached on an error.
Kailey Carrano (20) against Oxford, April 10, 2017. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske.
Oxford then took command of the game with two runs in the second, and two more in the fifth for a 5-1 lead. After the Westies got within 5-3 in the fifth, Oxford added another run in the sixth to take a 6-3 lead.
West Haven started its comeback in the fifth with a pair of runs. Lynn opened the inning with a double to center, moved to third on a grounder by Kasey Marron, and scored on a double by Carrano. A double by Sadielee Roberts scored Carrano to get West Haven within two.
Trailing 6-3 in the sixth, the Westies evened the game. With one out Kristal Rivas singled, Destiny Velez walked and Marron hit a two-out single to score Rivas. Carrano doubled to score Velez and Marron, before Makenna White grounded out to end the frame.
Despite the rally, West Haven fell as Oxford scored twice in the eighth to pull out the win.
Carrano led the offense with three hits, four runs batted in, and a run scored. Rivas added two hits, and Lynn scored twice in the loss.
First of the Season
Westies pound Hamden 18-2 to improve to 1-2
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(April 11, 2017) - The West Haven softball team picked up its first victory of the season with an 18-2 decision over Hamden Tuesday afternoon in Hamden.
Ivy Santos went the distance, allowing six hits, two runs, none of which were earned, and no walks, while striking out 10. Santos threw 67 of her 91 pitches for strikes.
Ivy Santos pitches against Hamden, April 12, 2017. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske.
Offensively, the Westies pounded out 14 hits, and were led by Kailey Carrano who had three hits. Veronica Lynn, Kasey Marron, Makenna White, and Ivy Santos each had two hits in the contest.
Carrano, White, and Santos each drove in three runs, while Marron delivered a pair. Marron scored three times, while Lynn, Carrano, Cassandra Thibodeau, Kristal Rivas, and Santos each crossed the plate twice.
“We needed a huge win today,” West Haven coach Joe Morrell said. “You start the season 0-2, you can’t have anything else go wrong. We hit the ball really well, and Ivy (Santos) pitched well. It was a good win.”
The Westies took control of the game in the first inning with six runs and never looked back. West Haven added two more runs in the fourth, four in the fifth and six in the sixth for the easy win.
Veronica Lynn against Hamden, April 12, 2017. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske.
In the first, Marron, Carrano and White all walked to load the bases, before Sadielee Roberts was hit by a pitch to force in a run. Rivas walked to score Carrano, and Santos doubled to score two more. A ground out by Doneifa Thompson scored Rivas, and Santos scored on a single by Velez.
West Haven increased its lead to 8-1 in the fourth when a single by Carrano knocked in Marron, and another single by White scored Carrano.
The Westies added four more runs in the fifth. Marron singled with the bases loaded to score Thompson and Velez, Carrano doubled to score Lynn, and White’s sacrifice fly scored Marron for a 12-1 lead.
Figuring it Out
Westies off to 1-2 start
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(April 11, 2017) - The last two seasons have brought postseason despair to the West Haven softball team. Both times came in its opponents' final at bat.
With plenty of young faces on the roster this season, head coach Joe Morrell would like that opportunity to avenge the end of the last two postseasons. In order to do so, the Westies will need to make up ground as five key contributors departed by way of graduation from last year's squad which finished with 14 wins.
Morrell, in his third year coaching the Westies and fresh off a hockey season in which he was named the Southern Connecticut Conference Division I Coach of the Year, led his team to the postseason with eight wins in his first year and 14 last season.
The key to both of those teams was pitching and the play in the middle of the field. 2017 will be no different. If West Haven is to play in the postseason this year, the play from the middle of the field may well be the determining factor.
With that being said, the Westies will need to follow the lead of sophomore shortstop Veronica Lynn and junior catcher Makenna White.
White is in her third year behind the plate for the Westies, and finished last season with a .327 batting average and a .527 slugging percentage. She was also solid behind the dish.
The junior got going offensively in Tuesday afternoon’s 18-2 victory over Hamden with two hits, including a homer, three runs batted in and a run scored.
“She has a lot of experience and a great arm,” Morrell said of White. “She threw out a lot of runners last year. She will be very important for us. She is one of our power hitters as she can hit the ball a long way. She has taken on a leadership role as we lost quite a few seniors.”
While only a sophomore, Lynn carries plenty of respect on the team and around the league as she stood out as just a freshman a season ago, hitting .367, with a .433 on base percentage and a .517 slugging percentage.
Lynn scored twice in a heartbreaking 8-6 extra inning loss to Oxford Monday afternoon, and added two hits, two runs scored, and a run batted in during a win over Hamden Tuesday.
Lynn not only hits, but she fields her shortstop position well and finishes plays with a strong throw anywhere on the field.
“She had a great year last year,” Morrell said of Lynn. “We have a lot of confidence in her. She may have to run the infield for us. She covers a lot of ground. She may well be a veteran out there for us as a sophomore. She has also stepped up in a leadership role for us.”
While Lynn and White are solid fixtures in the middle, the key to the West Haven season may well reside at second base, in center field and in the pitching circle.
The obvious question for West Haven is who will be in the pitching circle with the graduation of Julia Bothwell. Sophomore Kasey Marron and freshman Ivy Santos are both young, and are different types of pitchers.
Marron is a pitcher who changes speeds and mixes pitches effectively, while the younger Santos throws hard. Morrell has two vastly different arms to go to.
“We have to try to fill in our pitching first,” Morrell said. “We have Kasey Marron and Ivy Santos. We have one (Marron) who is crafty and changes speed, and we have another who throws hard (Santos). We are working on a formula on how to use both in a game. It may take some time to see what happens.”
Santos came on in relief of Marron on Monday, keeping the Westies in the game until they were able to even the game in the sixth. The freshman then went the distance against Hamden, allowing six hits, two runs, none of which were earned, and striking out 10. She did not walk a batter in the win.
The second base position is also determined by who is in the pitching circle as Marron will take over the spot when Santos pitches, and senior captain Destiny Velez will be on the right side when Marron is in the circle.
The final middle position is in center field and another youngster may take over the position as sophomore Ashlyn O'Keefe comes off a junior varsity season of a year ago to control the outfield.
“Kasey (Marron) knows the game which helps,” Morrell said. “She is very smart. We have some girls who have not played a lot. She knows where to be. She has been very consistent. Ashlyn (O'Keefe) had a pretty good season at junior varsity last season. She will get the call up. She can track the balls down. She is very quick. She has come a long way.”
The Westies are 1-2 to start the season with a blowout loss against Hand to start the campaign and a gut-wrenching loss to Oxford, before posting a thorough victory over Hamden.
“We opened the season with a game against Hand which we knew was going to be tough,” Morrell said. “We only had two hits and we made some mental errors. Oxford was heartbreaking. We battled to tie it up and you think you are going to win the game. It was heart breaking not to.”
The Westies finally got in the win column against Hamden. Carrano, who had three hits and four runs batted in against Oxford, followed up with three hits, three runs batted in, and two runs scored against Hamden.
Lynn, Marron, White, and Santos each finished the game with a pair of hits as the Westies pounded out 14 hits in their initial win of the year.“We needed a huge win today,” Morrell said. “You start the season 0-2, you can’t have anything else go wrong. We hit the ball really well and Ivy (Santos) pitched well. It was a good win.”
Westies rally past Law
Big second inning propels WH to win
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(April 12, 2017) - After a slow start to the season, the West Haven softball team won its second straight contest Wednesday morning. Scoring four times in the second inning to overcome a two-run deficit, West Haven defeated Jonathan Law 4-3 in Milford.
West Haven coach Joe Morrell (l.) and catcher Makenna White react in a game against Jonathan Law, April 12, 2017. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske.
West Haven (2-2) had nine hits on the day and was led by Sadielee Roberts with two. Veronica Lynn drove in one run and Ivy Santos knocked in two runs in the victory.
Santos was particularly vital to the win as she came on in relief in the fourth inning and did not allow a run, pitching the final 3 2/3 innings. Santos allowed three hits and struck out two, while not walking a batter.
Trailing 2-0, West Haven took the lead with four runs in the second inning. Makenna White opened the inning with a single, Roberts doubled to put a pair of runners in scoring position, and Kristal Rivas followed with an infield single to load the bases.
Doneifa Thompson (18) against Jonathan Law, April 12, 2017. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske.
Santos then followed with a double to right, scoring courtesy runner Cassandra Thibodeau and Roberts to even the game at two. Veronica Lynn doubled for the final run of the inning and a 4-2 West Haven lead.
Despite having their opportunities, West Haven was unable to build on the lead. Kailey Carrano led off with a single in the third but was left stranded, Marron tripled with one out in the fifth and Carrano walked, but Marron was out attempting to steal home.
Roberts opened the sixth with a single and Thompson added a two-out single, but neither advanced any further.
Santos entered in the fourth with Law already scoring once and having the bases loaded with one out. The freshman responded in emphatic fashion, getting a double play to end the Law threat.
Santos tosses Gem
Freshman pitches 1-hitter in win over SHA
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(April 13, 2017) - After starting the season with a pair of losses, the West Haven softball team has rebounded quite nicely. Behind the stellar pitching of freshman Ivy Santos, West Haven picked up its third straight victory, an 8-0 win over Sacred Heart Academy Thursday afternoon in Hamden.
Santos was in a zone, taking a no-hitter into the seventh inning, before Kate Napierkowski hit a 2-1 pitch for a two-out single to break up the gem. Santos completed the one-hitter two batters later as West Haven improved to 3-2 on the season.
Ivy Santos, seen here against Jonathan Law, tossed a one-hitter against Sacred Heart Academy, April 13, 2017. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske.
West Haven's freshman pitcher tossed a complete game, walking two and striking out five. Santos was equally impressive at the plate with two hits and two runs batted in for the Westies.
West Haven had 10 hits on the day, getting three hits from Veronica Lynn and two more from Kailey Carrano. Lynn also scored twice and drove in a pair, while Carrano knocked in a pair.
Leading 1-0, West Haven broke the game open with a run in the fourth and four more runs in the fifth.
West Haven took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Sadielee Roberts homered to lead off the game. After Sacred Heart retired eight straight Westies, Lynn doubled with two outs in the fourth and Santos followed with a single to score Lynn for a 2-0 advantage.
The Westies broke the game open in the fifth. Destiny Velez was hit by a pitch and moved to third on a sacrifice by Roberts. A single by Carrano scored Velez, before Makenna White walked to load the bases.
Lynn followed with a double to score Roberts and Carrano, and Doneifa Thompson was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to force in White for a 6-0 lead.
After Kasey Marron reached on an error in the sixth, she was brought home by a single off the bat of Carrano.
West Haven capped the scoring in the seventh when Lynn led off with a single and scored on a double by Santos.
Carrano leads Westies
Four hits key to big win
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(April 17, 2017) - Kailey Carrano and the West Haven softball team are on a roll. Paced by the bat of Carrano to lead a 14-hit attack, West Haven easily cruised to a 14-3 victory over Trinity Catholic Monday afternoon at Biondi Field in West Haven.
Carrano led the offense with four hits, three runs scored and three runs batted in. Kasey Marron had three hits, four runs scored and two runs batted in, while Veronica Lynn drove in four runs, and Ashlyn OKeefe added two hits and two runs scored.
Kailey Carrano (20) and the Westies topped Trinity Catholic, April 17, 2017. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske.
Marron went the distance in the pitching circle, allowing nine hits and three runs, one of which was earned, while walking one and striking out four.
West Haven (4-2) won its fourth straight game and took control of the contest with 10 runs in the first inning and never looked back.
Marron started the rally in the first with a one-out walk, Carrano singled, and Makenna White reached on an error to score Marron. Lynn doubled to score Carrano and White, Ivy Santos singled to score Lynn, and O'Keefe singled to load the bases.
Kasey Marron and the Westies topped Trinity Catholic, April 17, 2017. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske.
Destiny Velez walked to score Santos, and with two outs, Marron singled to score Kristal Rivas for a 7-0 lead. Carrano singled to score Velez, White reached on an error to score Marron, and Lynn reached on an error to score Carrano for the 10-0 advantage.
Streak Over
Indians ending West Haven's winning ways
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(April 19, 2017) - Looking to extend its winning streak to five games, the West Haven softball team had to contend with some cold weather and hot North Haven pitching Wednesday afternoon.
The end result was a 9-1 defeat at the hands of the Indians to snap West Haven's win streak at three games.
West Haven could not get anything going in the game as it was held to just four hits and one run, a solo home run by Makenna White in the second inning.
West Haven had its chances in three other innings to get on the scoreboard, but could not capitalize.
North Haven, on the other hand, scored four times in each of the fourth and sixth innings to sandwich one run in the fifth. on its way to the 9-1 victory.
After the Westies went down in order in the first inning, White ripped a 1-0 pitch to right for a line drive home run and a 1-0 West Haven lead. Kristal Rivas follow with a one-out walk, but was stranded on base as West Haven led by one run after two innings of play.
That was all the offense West Haven could manage despite having runners on base in the third, fourth, and fifth innings.
In the third inning, Kasey Marron lined a one-out single to center, and Kailey Carrano followed with a two-out single to right. Marron was thrown out at the plate on the play as West Haven looked to extend its lead to two runs.
In the fourth inning, West Haven got a two-out walk from Rivas, but could not score. After the Indians scored four times in the fourth inning to take a 4-1 lead, West Haven had one more rally.
The Westies could not capitalize on Marron's two-out single in the fifth as she was left stranded.
The final seven West Haven batters went down in order as West Haven fell to 4-3 on the season.
Westies thump O'Brien Tech
16-hit attack key in 18-2 win
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(April 20, 2017) - After seeing its four-game winning streak snapped with a loss in North Haven a day earlier, the West Haven softball team looked to get back on track. The Westies did that and more, scoring 11 times in the second inning, on their way to an 18-2 victory over O'Brien Tech in a game stopped after five innings.
West Haven used a 16-hit attack in the victory. Veronica Lynn, Ivy Santos, and Doneifa Thompson each had three hits in the game. Lynn and Santos each scored three times, while Kailey Carrano, Kasey Marron, Makenna White, and Destiny Velez each scored twice.
While the offense was clicking on all cylinders, Marron threw a complete-game, allowing four hits, one earned run, one walk, while striking out five.
Veronica Lynn makes a play against O'Brien Tech, April 20, 2017. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske.
West Haven got on the board early, scoring three times in the first inning. Lynn hit a one-out single to right, Carrano followed with a single, before a passed ball put two runners in scoring position.
White brought in the first run on a sacrifice fly to scour Lynn, and Santos doubled to left to score Carrano for a 2-0 lead. Three straight walks, including the last by Ashlyn O'Keefe, brought in Ivy Santos for the third run of the inning.
West Haven put the game away with 11 runs in the second inning.
Marron started the inning by reaching on an error, Lynn followed with a single to left, and Carrano added a single to center to score Marron.
White bounced into a fielder's choice to score Lynn for the second run of the inning, and Santos doubled to center to put two runners in scoring position.
Sirena Frissora (3) takes a swing against O'Brien Tech, April 20, 2017. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske.
Kristal Rivas walked to load the bases, Thompson singled to bring in White and O'Keefe followed with another single to bring in Santos. Velez added a single to score Rivas and one out later, Lynn singled to center the score O'Keefe and Velez.
Carrano reached on an error to score Marron, White walked to load the bases, and Santos singled to center to score Lynn. Rivas walked to force in Carrano, and Thompson singled to score White, and end an inning which saw West Haven bring 16 batters to the plate.
After O'Brien scored twice in the third inning, West Haven added four more in the fourth.
A groundout by Rivas scored Santos for the first run, O'Keefe reached on an error to score Thompson, and Sadie Roberts singled to left to score Velez to give West Haven a 16-run lead.
East beats West
East Haven blanks Westies
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(April 23, 2017) - After responding to a slow start to the season with four wins, the West Haven softball team is struggling to get into a rhythm once again. Waiting an extra 24 hours to play in East Haven, the Westies did not capitalize early and fell 4-0 to the Yellowjackets.
Freshman Ivy Santos once again pitched well, tossing a complete-game, allowing seven hits, four runs, one of which was earned, two walks, while striking out six. Santos did not get any run support as the Westies squandered early scoring opportunities.
The Westies (5-4) had opportunities to come up with a big hit.
In the first inning, Sadie Lee Roberts hit a one-out single, Makenna White singled with two outs to put runners on first and second, and Veronica Lynn walked to load the bases. Santos followed with a fly ball to right to end the inning and the threat.
West Haven again threatened in the second as Kristal Rivas led off with a single, but the next three Westies went down in order.
In the third, White reached on a one-out walk and Lynn followed with a single to set up West Haven again, but it could not capitalize.
West Haven again had a runner on in the fourth as Destiny Velez hit a two-out single to right, but Kasey Marron grounded out to end the threat.
Marron's ground out was the start of seven West Haven batters retired in order, before Ashlyn O'Keefe led off the seventh with a single. Once again West Haven did not push a run across as the next three batters went down in order.
Marron, Santos lead Westies
WH tops Branford 9-1
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(April 24, 2017) After falling to East Haven Sunday afternoon, the West Haven softball team looked to get back on the field as quickly as possible.
Just one day later, the Westies got to forget about the loss with a thorough 9-1 victory over Branford on the road Monday afternoon.
The Westies pounded 13 hits and rode the pitching of freshman Ivy Santos to improve to 6-4 on the year.
Six different Westies accounted for the hits as Kasey Marron and Ivy Santos led the way with four hits apiece, and Veronica Lynn added two hits. Santos also drove in five runs, while Lynn and Makenna White each delivered a pair.
Santos also pitched well, tossing a complete-game two-hitter. The freshman allowed one unearned run, while walking three and striking out 11.
West Haven took a 3-0 lead in the first inning when Lynn hit a one-out homer to left. Kailey Carrano singled, White walked, and Santos singled to score Carrano and White.
The lead increased to 4-0 in the second when Marron hit a one-out single, Carrano and White walked to load the bases, and Santos walked to force in a run.
West Haven put the game out of reach with two more runs in the fourth. Marron led off with a double and scored on Lynn's single. With two outs in the inning, Santos singled to score Lynn for a 6-0 lead.
Leading 6-1, West Haven iced the game with three more runs in the seventh. Cassandra Thibodeau walked, Marron singled and White hit a two-out single to score Thibodeau and Marron. Santos capped the scoring when her single scored White.
Lynn leads Westies past Hillhouse
Sophomore drives in nine runs in 18-0 win
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(April 29, 2017) - Veronica Lynn had three hits and drove in nine runs as the West Haven softball team crushed Hillhouse 18-0 in New Haven Saturday morning in a game stopped after five innings due to the mercy rule.
West Haven pounded 17 hits in the win, with Kailey Carrano leading the way with four hits, and Kasey Marron and Lynn each having three. Marron also drove in four runs, Doneifa Thompson plated two more, while Marron scored four times, and Sadielee Roberts and Destiny Velez each scored three runs.
Veronica Lynn led the West Haven offense against Hillhouse, April 29, 2017. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske.
While the offense was clicking on all cylinders, Marron was equally impressive in the pitching circle, improving to 3-0 on the season. Marron went he distance, allowing three hits and one walk, while striking out nine in the win.
After failing to score in the first inning, the Westies scored in bunches over the next four innings.
The Westies took a 6-0 lead in the second inning as Ivy Santos led off with a single, Roberts singled one out later, and Ashlyn O'Keefe moved both runners up with a bunt.
With two outs, Destiny Velez reached on an error to score one run, Marron singled to score Roberts, and Lynn laced a grand slam to right for a 6-0 lead.
Kasey Marron was solid in the pitching circle against Hillhouse, April 29, 2017. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske.
West Haven blew the game open with five more runs in the third. Kristal Rivas, Roberts and O'Keefe singled to load the bases, and Marron hit a one-out single to score Rivas. Lynn plated Roberts with a sacrifice fly to right, and Carrano singled to score O'Keefe for a 9-0 lead.
After Makenna White walked to load the bases, Doneifa Thompson singled to score Marron and Carrano for an 11-0 advantage.
The Westies increased the lead to 14 runs in the fourth on a run-scoring single by Marron and a two-run single by Lynn.
West Haven against Norwich Free Academy, May 31, 2017. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske.
Ivy Santos against Norwich Free Academy, May 31, 2017. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske.
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Makenna White against Norwich Free Academy, May 31, 2017. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske.
THE HOME OF WEST HAVEN SPORTS
SOFTBALL 2017
All-State Players - Stacey Dixon '93; Tammy Hackley '93; Kim DeMayo '94; Angelina Sousa '94; Shannon Curren '95; Laurie DelGrego '98; Liz Vaccino '98; Lindsay Connor '03; Vicci Duane '04; Krystle Denny '04; Shannon Connor '09, '10; Elaina Maio '10; Joanna Fekieta '11; Camdyn Morgillo '13; Kial Watts '15
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