The opportunities were there. The results were not.
Traveling to play fourth-seeded E.O. Smith, No. 20 West Haven could not capitalize on its opportunities and fell 5-3 in the second round of the Class LL state tournament Wednesday afternoon.
The Westies had six hits in the game, with Veronica Lynn and Makenna White leading the way with two hits apiece as West Haven finished the season 12-10.
Ivy Santos went 3 1/3 innings, allowing six hits, four runs, three earned, while walking five and striking out three. Kasey Marron finished the contest, throwing 2 2/3 innings, allowing two hits and one earned run, while walking one.
West Haven took a 1-0 lead in the first inning as Lynn, who played valiantly in the postseason with a knee injury, singled with one out. Lynn scored the first run of the game on White’s two-out single to center.
The Westies increased the lead to 2-0 in the second as Marron reached on a one-out error, moved to third when Dianesse Rodriguez bunted and reached on another error, and scored on a ground out by Brianna Sebastian.
West Haven could not hold on to the lead as E.O. Smith scored single runs in the second and third innings to tie the contest, before adding two more in the fourth for a 4-2 advantage.
The Westies went down in order the next two innings, before Lynn tripled with two outs in the fifth. Lynn went no further as Kailey Carrano grounded out to end the threat.
West Haven got within 4-3 in the sixth as White led off with a double, moved to third on Morgan Peryer’s single, and scored when Marron singled. With two outs and Marron on, Rodriguez grounded out to end the frame.
E.O. Smith added a run in the sixth for a 5-3 lead, leaving West Haven three outs from the end of its season.
Neve Krajcir led off the seventh with a walk and Lynn drew a one-out walk to put a pair of runners on with one out. After Carrano popped out, White was intentionally walked to load the bases.
Peryer laced a shot to right but the ball was snared and the season ended for the Westies.