Rye High Softball
Garnets Romp, Before Having an Off Day Against Harrison
By Melanie Cane
Even in the midst of a phenomenal streak — a ten-inning 6-5 win against Albertus Magnus, a 13-2 pounding of Riverside, and a 16-0 shut out of Port Chester —, a loss to Harrison hurts. And it really hurts when Harrison beats you on your home turf, as they did May 3 by a score of 9-0.
The game began as a pitchers’ duel between Garnet Mara Ball and Husky Tamara Day rematch of Rye’s 4-0 win at Harrison April 17 between Mara Ball and Harrison’s Tamara Day. Ball was trying to bounce back from five great innings in relief against Albertus Magnus the previous day.
The Huskies entered the second inning with a 1-0 lead, after which they capitalized on walks, errors, and a few hits to tack on five more runs. Rye senior co-captain Taylor Tolve made a fantastic play at third, tagging out a runner who was attempting to steal. Coach Alex Tejera sent Arianna Ottrando to the mound to stop the bleeding.
Neither team scored in the third inning, but the Huskies added one in the fourth and the Garnets went down in order. In the top of the fifth, Rye’s fielders were on point. Senior co-captain Hannah Mullaly caught a pop-up near first, Julia Batemen, snagged a long fly ball in center, and catcher Athena Hadjipanayis gloved a foul ball.
The Huskies tacked on a run in the sixth inning and another in the seventh to make it 9-0.
Rye made some good contact late in the game, resulting in their only hits – singles by Mullaly, Isabella Abbot, and Caitlin Antonizzi – but no runs.
After the game, Coach Tejera could only muster, “We had an off day. It happens.”
The Garnets are currently 8-7, with four games left in the regular season.
Arianna Ottrando on the mound for the Garnets
Christina Cardino at bat