The West Haven softball team opened its 2019 campaign with a trip to Hamden and slayed the Dragons 20-6 behind a potent offense. The Blue Devils put up two runs in the first inning and never looked back. Morgan Peryer singled to lead off the game, was sacrificed to second by Ashlynn O’Keefe and scored on a single by Veronica Lynn.
Lynn came around to score when Kailey Carrano blasted a double to the base of the wall in right-center to make it 2-0. In the second inning, the Westies got walks to Paige Beurer and Gigi Perkins to open the inning. Neve Krajcir grounded into a fielder’s choice to second base to advance the runners and then Morgan Peryer reached when Hamden couldn’t complete a fielder’s choice, allowing Beurer to score. O’Keefe followed with a single to score Perkins making it 4-0.
Peyer then scored on a passed ball before Carrano hit another double off the wall in center to score O’Keefe. Ivy Santos put an exclamation point on the rally with a two-run homer to center to increase the lead to 8-0.
After the Green Dragons got a run back in the bottom of the second, the Blue Devils were at it again in the fourth inning. Lynn and Carrano were both plunked to start the inning and both came around to score on a series of wild pitches and passed balls to make it 10-1.
In the fifth inning with one out, the Westies got singles from Peryer and O’Keefe and then Lynn reached on an error. Carrano hit a sacrifice fly to score Peryer and Santos followed with a double to score O’Keefe and Lynn lengthening the lead to 13-1.
Hamden put two runs on the board in the bottom of the fifth before the Blue Devils got another run in the sixth inning. Beurer reached on an error by the shortstop, Gigi Perkins walked and both runners were moved up on a groundout by Krajcir. Peryer’s sacrifice fly scored Beurer for the 14th run of the game.
West Haven then used a six-run seventh inning to increase its lead to 20-4. Carrano hit a towering home run to left to lead off the inning. Santos singled, Didi Rodriguez reached on an error, Beurer walked, Perkins singled, Peryer singled, O’Keefe was hit by a pitch, Lynn walked and then Carrano singled again. The Green Dragons scratched out two, more runs for the 20-6 final.
Kailey Carrano led the Blue Devils going 4-4 with a HR, two doubles and five RBIs. Ivy Santos went 3-5 with a HR, single, double and four RBIs while pitching a complete game, allowing three earned runs and struck out nine Dragons.
This week, the girls hosted O’Brien Tech on Monday, traveled to Guilford on Wednesday and finish the week with a trip to Darien to take on the Blue Wave on Saturday at 1.
The girls’ lacrosse team struggled in its first outing of the season. The Blue Devils hosted the Sacred Heart Academy Sharks on Saturday afternoon at Ken Strong Stadium. The Sharks jumped on the Westies, scoring six goals in the first 11 minutes before CC Condon was able to get the girls on the board with 10:13 left in the first half. Sacred Heart added three, more goals in a span of 1:47 to increase the lead to 9-1 with 3:50 left in the half. Angela Borelli scored for West Haven with 1:24 remaining in the half to cut the lead to 9-2.
The second half saw the Sharks score five, more times to increase their lead to 15-2 before Gianna Sliby scored with 12:19 left in the game followed by Mackenzie Gardner 1:02 later to cut the lead to 15-4. After SHA added a goal, Keegan Riccio scored with 4:10 remaining but, the Sharks responded with another goal with 2:29 left for the 17-5 final. Nicole Gaston finished with nine saves in goal for the Westies.
This week, the girls traveled to Jonathan Law on Monday, hosted the Guilford Indians on Wednesday and wrap up the week when they host the Hamden Green Dragons on Saturday at 6.
The rest of the spring sports teams open up this week as well. The baseball team played Wilbur Cross on Wednesday, travel to Milford on Thursday to take on Platt Tech at 3:45 and host the Bassick Lions on Saturday at noon. The boys’ lacrosse team opened up on the road at Lyman Hall on Monday and head to Bristol Central on Thursday at 5.
Girls’ tennis played at Lyman Hall on Monday, at East Haven on Tuesday and finish the week at Career on Friday at 3:45. Boys’ tennis hosted Shelton on Monday, traveled to Branford on Tuesday and travel to Milford on Thursday to face Platt Tech at Eisenhower Park at 3:45. The boys’ and girls’ track and field teams had a meet at Lyman Hall on Tuesday.