The Rye baseball team had a successful spring training last week in the Sunshine State.
The Garnets had seven outings at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, including two games and five scrimmages. They return to Rye with a winning record (4-3) after beating Byram Hills 12-0 on April 15 and losing 16-6 against Ketcham on April 16. Rye also went 3-2 in scrimmages that don’t count toward the team’s record.
Florida is “always a fun trip,” said Rye coach Mike Bruno. “This is our 14th time visiting Disney. Having the team spend some time away from home together is a perfect way to build bonds and trust.”
Spring training not only brings the team closer together, but allows for experimentation with the roster and maximization of playing time in scrimmages — both important entering a jam-packed part of the schedule, with 13 games over the next month.
“The biggest takeaway is playing time,” Bruno said. “With the amount of scrimmages we play down here, everyone has a chance to get reps.”
Between the two games, sophomore left fielder Luke Ontaneda led the team with five hits: three against Byram Hills and two against Ketcham. He and junior Jamie Morris each drove in two runs against Byram Hills, and senior Charlie Rupp had a multi-hit game, going 2-for-3. Freshman Clayton McCarthy pitched five shutout innings for the win.
Against Ketcham, Ontaneda and Rupp both had two RBIs. Rye took a 5-0 lead in the third inning before Ketcham answered with eight runs in the bottom inning and five more in the fourth.
“We still need to clean up the little things,” Bruno said. “More attention to detail, and be more consistent at the plate and in the field.”
Rye jumps right back into action after returning to New York. The Garnets host Hendrick Hudson on Saturday before playing Bronxville at home Monday and away Wednesday.
