Spring is the season of new beginnings, but this year Rye High School’s varsity softball team hopes to build on their momentum from spring a year ago.

The Garnets’ varsity girls team finished the 2023 regular season with a 12-9 record – good enough to secure themselves a spot in the playoffs. There they displayed their resilience by clinching a victory in the out-of-bracket game before bowing out in their next tournament match.

As it seeks to improve further on that performance this spring, the team has a solid core of 10 returning players, including six seniors who are primed to lead the charge. Captains Millie Brooks and Charlotte Derman, along with stalwarts Laura Svoboda, Hana Murati, Erin Delfs, and Tayna Lombardo, bring invaluable experience and leadership skills with them to the 2024 roster. They are joined by returning starters Ava Cross and Ava Rollanos, who are expected to play pivotal roles on the field, and two other returning players, freshman Penelope Gilmore and sophomore Tessa Labovitz.

But it’s not just the familiar faces that are generating excitement in the Garnets’ training camp. Head Coach Alex Tejera is upbeat about the talent displayed by incoming freshmen and sophomores, particularly the potential of standout newcomers Gilmore and Rebekah Golub.

“This season, we’re looking for a balance between our returning players and the fresh talent we’ve brought in,” Tejera said. “Our seniors will be instrumental in guiding the younger players as we navigate through a challeng- ing league.”

Indeed, the road ahead won’t be easy, with formidable opponents such as Ardsley, Eastchester, Pelham and Edgemont looming large within Rye’s local league. Still, Tejera is eager to see how this year’s team rises to the occasion.

“We have a relatively young team, but with the right guidance and determination, I believe we can compete for a league title and make another playoff run,” he said. Players are already anticipating the exciting matchups and camaraderie expected during their training trip to Florida.

The regular season starts April 2 with an away game versus Yorktown, followed on April 6 with the team’s home opener against Nyack.