Newtown High School’s softball team saw its state playoff run end in 3-2 loss to host Darien, in the Class LL quarterfinals, on June 5. The sixth-seeded Nighthawks couldn’t overcome a 3-0 deficit despite putting some pressure on the third-seeded Blue Wave by scoring twice in the fifth inning and putting the potential tying run on base in the seventh.

This was a tough loss for Newtown Coach Bob Guererra and company to take given the Darien benefitted from miscues in the field to score each of its runs.

“It was the difference,” Guererra said. “We gave them three runs.”

Darien took advantage of a leadoff walk and an error to take a 2-0 lead in the opening inning, and benefitted from an infield single and wild pitch to plate another run, on Lexi LoPiano’s two-out base hit in the fourth.

Haley Ryan put down a bunt and beat the throw after the ball was bobbled, to start the fifth inning. Mikayla Kuligowski reached on an error, and – after Katie Laaksonen moved both runners into scoring position on a groundout – Emily Woznick came through with a two-out single up the middle to drive in two runs.

Newtown’s Lauren Wilcox, who relieved starting pitcher Gillian Galante in the fourth, worked around a pair of fielding errors in the fifth.

After a mostly-uneventful sixth inning, Newtown began the seventh as it did in three other innings, by getting the leadoff hitter on base. Sara Kennedy smacked a first-pitch single to right and took second base on a passed ball, but Darien pitcher Erika Osherow struck out two batters and retired Megan Goyda on a fly ball to deep right field, ending things.

The Nighthawks scored 15 runs in the first round of the state tourney, and were a strong offensive squad throughout the spring, but Osherow was tough and found her way out of most jams the Hawks created.

“They’ve got a good pitcher – that you can’t deny – and we didn’t play good defense, Guererra said.

Despite the setback, the Nighthawks had a memorable campaign, racking up 16 regular-season wins before capturing the South-West Conference championship.

“It was a phenomenal season,” the Newtown coach said. “I’m proud of every one of them.”