She tried her best to smile after it was over. She forced a laugh here and there, attempting to disguise her somber tone. But Central’s Trish Ellis couldn’t mask her frustration.

Never was that frustration more obvious this year than after a 7-2 softball loss to city rival Manchester West on Monday, April 30.

“We’re going to lose games,” said Ellis. “But I can’t accept losing this way. I know we have a team that can compete with the best teams, but when we don’t play the way I know we can, it’s unacceptable. We didn’t hustle, left a lot of baserunners. I’m awful fun, but not after this game.”

And perhaps Ellis’s aggravation wasn’t unfounded in seeing the usually disciplined Little Green show an uncharacteristic lack of focus. Routine ground balls turned into Blue Knight baserunners, fly balls sometimes weren’t caught and no one came around despite Central loading the bases with one out.

Entering Wednesday, May 2, with a 2-3 record, it’s not like the Little Green aren’t capable.

Central chipped away at a 3-0 lead in the top of the second inning, as starter Tanya Robidoux drew the game’s first walk. She moved to second on a nicely executed sacrifice bunt from Alicia Doucet, then scored on a Lindzy Hamet double.

The Little Green cut it to a 3-2 West advantage the next inning. Leadoff hitter Laura Jobin started things with a single, scoring from first on a blast to center field from Chelsea Drew.

“It was close there for a while,” said Ellis. “But we haven’t had a chance to practice very often, and routine plays that should be made we haven’t been able to practice.”

Robidoux finished her threeinning outing giving up four runs on four hits with three strikeouts and no walks. Ashley Kitchell relieved the starter, allowing three runs on five hits with two strikeouts.

The Little Green battle another Queen City club in Manchester Memorial on Friday, May 4.

“Of course being city champs is one of our goals,” said Ellis. “But obviously there wasn’t a spark today, even though we were playing another Manchester team. I hope they’re more feisty against Memorial.”