West Hartford’s Conard High School softball team defeated crosstown rival Hall 4-3 in Tuesday’s ‘Strikeout Cancer’ game.

Sports reporting is sponsored by Keating Agency Insurance

By Savannah Cote. Photos by Scott Sulkazi

Hall and Conard faced off in their annual Strikeout Cancer game on Tuesday, with Conard ultimately coming away with a 4-3 victory in a tightly contested pitcher’s duel.

Conard set the tone early, scoring in the first inning. Julia Talbott reached base on a dropped third strike and moved into scoring position on a passed ball. Elise Talbott then delivered an RBI double to give Conard a 1-0 lead.

Both teams were held scoreless until the third inning, when Conard added another run. Elise Talbott singled and stole a base to get into scoring position, then came home following two passed balls to extend the lead to 2-0.

Hall’s pitching settled in from there, keeping the deficit within reach and allowing the offense time to respond.

That response came in the bottom of the fourth inning. Molly Grove sparked the rally with a single, and Talia Santiago followed with a double to bring in a run and cut the deficit to 3-1.

Hall continued its push in the fifth inning. Lila Fried reached on an error to put a runner on base, and Danica Carrero delivered one of the game’s biggest moments with an inside-the-park home run, tying the game.

Conard answered in the top of the sixth inning to regain control. Nola Ostafin and Elise Talbott each recorded singles to set up the rally, as Conard pushed across the winning run to take a 4-3 lead.

Both pitchers delivered standout performances. Conard’s Elise Talbott threw a complete game, recording eight strikeouts without issuing a walk. Hall’s Lena Leung was equally dominant, finishing with 16 strikeouts and seven walks in a complete-game effort.

In the end, Conard’s late-inning response proved to be the difference in a competitive and meaningful matchup.

Hall (6-10) travels to Northwest Catholic on Wednesday and Bristol Central on Friday, and will host Lewis Mills on May 18.

Conard (9-7) will host Rocky Hill on Thursday, travel to Bristol Central on Monday, May 18, and host Plainville on Tuesday, May 19.

The West Hartford teams will meet again on Wednesday, May 20, at Conard, to close out the regular season with the annual Mayor’s Cup game that will also mark the 50th anniversary of high school softball in town.

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