Rye beat Byram Hills 17-12 at home Tuesday in an epic softball game that lasted two and a half hours.

 

By Melanie Cane

 

Rye beat Byram Hills 17-12 at home April 24 in an epic softball game that lasted two and a half hours.

 

The Garnets got out to an early 2-0 lead, scoring one run in the first inning and another in the second. Brigid Lonergan crossed the plate in the second inning after reaching first base on a walk, second on a stolen base, third on a wild pitch, and home on a double steal. This sequence of events set the tone for the rest of the game, as did the rest of the inning, which saw more walks, stolen bases, and a runner out at the plate for running outside the lines.

 

In the third and fourth innings, Byram capitalized on their walks, stolen bases, wild pitches, and bases loaded, shooting ahead 8-2 in the top of the fourth. But Rye put up a valiant fight in the bottom of the fourth inning, knotting the game at 8. Their rally was sparked by freshman pinch hitter Keira Nesmick’s single. She reached second base on a throwing error.

 

The next two batters, Emily Antinozzi and Nicole Alimena, walked to load the bases. Kristen Verille hit a single that drove a run in, followed by Allysa Longo’s RBI walk, and Lonergan’s outfield single for another run batted in. The next two batters drew RBI walks. Emily Severance doubled, slamming in yet another run, before getting thrown out at third.

 

Rye entered the bottom of the fifth inning, trailing 9-8, but the Garnets went to town on Byram’s relief pitcher, walking in three runs and amassing three more runs on freshman catcher Amanda Yannett’s double.

 

Down 15-9 at the top of the sixth inning, Byram scored three more runs; Rye answered with two of their own in the bottom of the sixth. Rye ended the game with a long awaited 1-2-3 inning.

 

Sophomore Alissa Vitiello won her first varsity game. Lonergan went one for two with two runs batted in. Severance was two for four with two RBIs. Allysa Longo went two for three with three RBIs, and freshman pinch hitter Keira Nemsick was two for three.

 

Coach Alex Tejera said he was proud of his team “who showed a lot of heart coming back after being so far down.”

 

The Garnets are now 3-3, and face Harrison at home on Saturday April 28.