Conard Tops Hall in Mayor's Cup Softball Game - We-Ha

West Hartford crosstown rivals Conard and Hall met on the turf at Kingswood Oxford on Thursday afternoon for the annual Mayor’s Cup softball game.

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Conard softball poses for a team photo after winning the Mayor’s Cup game vs. Hall on May 16, 2024. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

By Ronni Newton

The Conard softball team picked up its 14th win of the season, beating crosstown West Hartford rival Hall 13-3 in the annual Mayor’s Cup contest that gives the Red Wolves bragging rights and possibly also a spot in the upcoming CCC tournament.

The game, played on the turf field at Kingswood Oxford due to the rain and soggy conditions at Conard’s home field, broke open in the bottom of the third inning with back-to-back home runs from Nola Ostafin and Sadira Forcucci pushing Conard to a 4-0 lead. Nina Ostafin and Lily Zucks singled, and both scored on a two-run double by Lucy Pincince.

Lucy Pincince, one of four Conard freshman on the field, had a double in the bottom of the sixth. Conard vs. Hall softball. May 16, 2024. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

An RBI by Arissa Hanner sent Picince home, and the third ended with Conard up 7-0.

Conard added two more runs in the bottom of the fourth, with Nola Ostafin starting off the inning by smacking the ball over the fence for her second homer of the day.

Forcucci got on base after being hit by a pitch by Hall’s Lila Brown, and advanced on a passed ball before scoring on an overthrow by the Titans, pushing the score to 9-0 Conard.

Sadira Forcucci scores. Conard vs. Hall softball. May 16, 2024. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

The Ostafin sisters switched positions in the top of the fifth with junior Nina Ostafin, who had held the Titans scoreless from the mound, trading place with her freshman sister, Nola, who had been catching.

Nola Ostafin, one of four freshman varsity players on the field Thursday for the Red Wolves, allowed a few hits but the score remained 9-0. In the bottom of the frame Conard loaded the bases, but the players were left stranded after a pop-out led to the third out.

Talia Santiago at the plate. Conard vs. Hall softball. May 16, 2024. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Hall came alive in the sixth when the bases loaded after Talia Santiago walked, Fiona Nelson was hit by a pitch, and Alyssa Puskarz walked. During Samatha Shifrin’s at bat, Santiago scored Hall’s first run on a passed ball. Shifrin then singled, and both Santiago and Puskarz crossed the plate, giving Hall a total of three runs.

Hall’s Samantha Shifrin’s at bat led to three runs for the Titans in the top of the sixth. Conard vs. Hall softball. May 16, 2024. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Conard head coach Kevin Mason called a conference with the team, but left Nola Ostafin on the mound, and the inning ended 9-3 when Hall’s Molly Grove popped out.

Nola Ostafin on the mound for Conard.Conard vs. Hall softball. May 16, 2024. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Conard added three more runs in the bottom of the sixth, with Zucks hitting a single and scoring on a sacrifice by Elise Talbott and Pincince scoring on a sacrifice by Lila Moshka. With the bases loaded, Talbott would score the final run of the game on a double by Forcucci.

The Ostafins switched their pitcher and catcher roles again in the top of the seventh, and Nina, a junior captain, went three-up-three-down to end the inning and the game.

“We have a good team. We have four freshmen on the field and they’ve done an incredible job and our returning players have all gotten better,” Mason said. “This is a good team. They play well together, they get along well.”

Nina Ostafin on the mound. Conard vs. Hall softball. May 16, 2024. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Conard’s regular season is over, but Mason said games by other teams need to be completed before Conard knows if they have secured the final spot in the CCC tournament. With a record of 14-6, the Red Wolves are definitely in the Class LL state tournament this year, however.

“I don’t see how we don’t get a home game,” Mason said. “We’re looking forward to that.”

Nola Ostafin, with two home runs, was the game MVP, Mason said.

Lila Brown on the mound for Hall. Conard vs. Hall softball. May 16, 2024. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

While Hall coach McKenna Driscoll said it’s been a tough season overall for a team that’s mostly sophomores and juniors, “I think they were a lot more focused today,” she said. “I think the energy could have been a little bit better but that sixth inning we were a little bit on a roll and we kind of went with it. … Hall-Conard is always a big rivalry and that’s what we came out here ready to do today.”

Conard is done with the regular season, but while Hall, now 1-16, will not compete in states the Titans have two more games left to play – East Hartford on Friday and Lewis Mills on Monday.

Alyssa Puskarz scored Hall’s third run. Conard vs. Hall softball. May 16, 2024. Photo credit: Ronni Newton