The Garnets softball team faced off against the Panthers for their mutual opening games April 4. Rye Neck pummeled Rye High 20-0, but the real story was that Rye Neck All-State pitcher Jessica Calvini made school history, breaking the 2004 record for most wins, with 58.

 

By Melanie Cane

 

The Garnets softball team faced off against the Panthers for their mutual opening games April 4. Rye Neck pummeled Rye High 20-0, but the real story was that Rye Neck All-State pitcher Jessica Calvini made school history, breaking the 2004 record for most wins, with 58. She had ten strikeouts, two walks, and only gave up one hit.

 

Calvini didn’t know it was the potential record-breaking game until it was over. “I had no idea until Coach Spedafino told me,” said the excited senior. A varsity pitcher since eighth grade, she credited her team with her success. “It’s great to have a really good team backing you up in the field and at the plate.” Joined by her three fellow senior captains, each one praised individual players — from senior shortstop Nicole Pineda’s outstanding fielding to freshman second baseman Brianna Cefaloni’s good instincts to senior Lauren Bradley’s great at-bats. “She started off a lot of innings with hits.” Bradley went three for four with two RBIs. Dianna King had a triple, as well as two RBIs.

 

Rye Neck’s captains said the game was not what they expected, but that, “We learn something from every game we play. This one taught us how to deal with a different speed of pitching.”

 

After the game, Garnets coach Alex Tejera said, “Rye Neck’s pitching and their entire team were great. It was a tough way to start the season, but we can only improve from here on in.” Rye’s starting pitcher, senior co-Captain Erica Becker, who missed most of last season due to a shoulder injury, also had to sit this one out.