Conard Softball Winning Streak Snapped in Loss to E.O. Smith
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E.O. Smith's Rachael Morales slides into second as Conard's Sadira Forcucci waits for the throw. Conard vs. E.O. Smith softball. April 25, 2025. Photo credit: Paul Palmer
The Conard softball was held to two hits in an 8-1 loss to E.O. Smith Friday afternoon in West Hartford.
Sports reporting is sponsored by Keating Agency Insurance
Susannah Lasek had Conard’s first base hit of the game. Conard vs. E.O. Smith softball. April 25, 2025. Photo credit: Paul Palmer
By Paul Palmer
The Conard Red Wolves saw their five-game win streak ended Friday by a buzzsaw named Olivia Lipps. The senior pitcher for E.O. Smith struck out 12 batters and gave up just two hits in the complete game win. Among the strikeouts for Lipps was career number 400.
The visiting Panthers got on the board first in the opening frame. After Conard pitcher Elise Talbott retired the first two batters, Rachael Morales beat out a ground ball to third, and advanced to third on the wild throw. She came in to score on a Conard error on a ball hit by Lipps. The first two Wolves’ batters struck out before Sadira Forcucci drove a ball to center that was caught.
Elise Talbott struck out five in a complete game outing. Conard vs. E.O. Smith softball. April 25, 2025. Photo credit: Paul Palmer
Talbott had an easy second getting the Panthers in order, but Lipps topped that by striking out the side in order when Conard came to bat in the second. Smith pushed across a pair of runs in the top of the third taking care of some miscues by the host team. With one out, Brynn Cartier reached on an error when a pop fly was dropped. She stole second went to third on a wild pitch and would score – along with Morales who had walked – on an RBI single by Lipps that got through the infield with speed to spare. With her walk, Morales had reached base in 27 of her 30 plate appearances on the season.
Susannah Lasek would get Conard’s first base hit – a single – before Mattingly Ford drew a two-out walk and the Wolves had two on and two out, before Lipps got her third strikeout of the inning to stop the threat. Smith used a double, single and a sacrifice in the top of the fourth to make it a 4-0 game.
Olivia Lipps struck out 12 batters in a two hit effort. Conard vs. E.O. Smith softball. April 25, 2025. Photo credit: Paul Palmer
It was in the bottom of the inning where Lipps got strikeouts 400 and 401. Behind a single, a double, and another single in the top of the fifth, the Smith lead was up to 6-0. The damage could have been more but for a pair of heads-up baseball plays by Forcucci. With two runs in and runners at first and second she fielded a ground ball at short and made the snap throw to third to cut down the lead runner. One batter later, she did it again, this time to end the inning.
Smith tacked on another pair in the seventh as Lipps and the defense continued their solid play to keep Conard off the board.
Mattingly Ford shows off the ball after making a sliding catch. Conard vs. E.O. Smith softball. April 25, 2025. Photo credit: Paul Palmer
The Red Wolves managed to avoid the shutout in the top of the final frame. It started when Talbott led off with a walk that was followed by a sacrifice to move her up to second. Talbott would score when Ford grounded to second and the Panthers took the out at first, allowing Talbott to cross the plate. Lipps then ended it with her 12th strikeout of the game to end things at 8-1.
Despite the loss, Conard coach Kevin Mason likes not only where his team is right now, but also the character and attitude they possess. “This is a fun group who want to play softball every day. We have won all the games that we should have,” said the third-year bench boss.
Tea Higgins puts away the pop fly. Conard vs. E.O. Smith softball. April 25, 2025. Photo credit: Paul Palmer
Conard’s Talbott pitched the complete game, giving up 10 hits with five strikeouts and just five earned runs. The loss not only snapped the Wolves five-game win streak, but it also handed them just their second loss of the season.
“I’d sign up for 7-2 if you told me we’d be here at this part of the season,” said Mason who added that having had some of the players for multiple years, there is a level of acceptance. “We have a level of trust. I trust them and they trust me,” he said.
Conard plays the first of three games next week when they face Middletown on the road Monday before heading to one-loss Rocky Hill on Wednesday. The Red Wolves will close out their week hosting Simsbury on Friday.
Nola Ostafin (5) waits for the throw at first as Louise Champagne tries to beat the throw. Conard vs. E.O. Smith softball. April 25, 2025. Photo credit: Paul Palmer
Conard’s Tea Higgins goes all out in the effort to snare the ground ball. Conard vs. E.O. Smith softball. April 25, 2025. Photo credit: Paul Palmer
Olivia Lipps watches a called third strike in the seventh inning. Conard vs. E.O. Smith softball. April 25, 2025. Photo credit: Paul Palmer
Rachael Morales is safe with the headfirst slide on a stolen base. Conard vs. E.O. Smith softball. April 25, 2025. Photo credit: Paul Palmer
Tea Higgins stretches to get the out while covering first. Conard vs. E.O. Smith softball. April 25, 2025. Photo credit: Paul Palmer
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