The Garnets didn’t get the storybook ending they were hoping for after winning their first-round playoff matchup on a walk off hit versus Ardsley, losing to eventual Section One finalist Walter Panas in the quarterfinals by the final score of 8-2.
Faced with one of the section’s hottest teams – Panas had won six of their last seven entering last week’s game – Rye ultimately couldn’t stop the Panthers’ offense. Panas scored five runs in the first inning off senior pitcher Charlie Margiloff to give themselves a lead that the Garnets ultimately couldn’t overcome.
This season was not without its heroes, especially with six players earning either All-League or All-Section honors following the end of the regular season. Senior pitcher and captain Shepherd Griffiths took home quite a bit of hardware: He won both All-League and All-Section honors, as well as leaguePitcher of the Year, following a season where he went 6-1 on the mound, never allowing more than two runs in any of his starts.
Sophomore Infielder Nolan Hutson was honored with All-League and All-Section awards after his breakout season where he led the team in runs and stolen bases, and started every game of the season for the Garnets at shortstop.
Hutson will likely be an anchor of the team next year, with the departure of seven of his senior teammates – Dillon Schmidt, Cam Holler, A.J. Miller, Tommy Broderick, James Kennedy, Griffiths, and Margiloff.
The team will be left with some solid talent next season. Of the six All-League winners, two are returning, including Hutson and catcher Jackson Pineault. With the Garnets finishing above .500 in every season since 2014, there’s no doubt that their goals remain the same, to contend for a section championship.