Harrison squeaked by Rye High May 3 at home, 5-4. It might be more accurate to say that Rye’s baseball team beat itself. Two fly balls dropped in the outfield resulted in three of Harrison’s five runs, and a base running mistake by Rye at home plate cost Rye a crucial run that could have sent the game into extra innings.

 

 

By Melanie Cane

 

Harrison squeaked by Rye High May 3 at home, 5-4. It might be more accurate to say that Rye’s baseball team beat itself. Two fly balls dropped in the outfield resulted in three of Harrison’s five runs, and a base running mistake by Rye at home plate cost Rye a crucial run that could have sent the game into extra innings.

 

Jeff Dempsey was the losing pitcher. He pitched well but didn’t have strong fielding to back him up. Freshman pitcher Ryan Popp relieved Dempsey at the top of the sixth inning and threw a scoreless seventh. Popp batted two for three with two RBIs. Popp has been an invaluable reliever, fielder, and hitter; he was the first RHS player to hit a home run this season.

 

Freshman Tim DeGraw also batted two for three while his brother, senior Matt DeGraw, had two hits in four at bats.

 

In a disappointing rematch May 5, Rye lost to Harrison, 8-4.

 

All of Rye’s runs came in the final inning of that game. Popp drove in the fourth run with a two-out double. As relief pitcher, Popp struck out three of Harrison’s last four batters. Griffin Tuten had three hits in four at bats, slamming in one run.

 

RHS Coach Mike Bruno said the two league losses were especially tough.

 

“Tip your cap to Harrison in both games,” Bruno said. “They made the plays they had to to win and we didn’t.”