The Rye softball team is off to an 0-4 start this season, but a sweep of league opponent Byram Hills in two Florida scrimmages gave the Garnets reason for optimism on the return flight to New York.
The Garnets beat Byram Hills twice on April 14 and 15 at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports in Orlando before losing scrimmages against Dobbs Ferry the following two days.
The annual spring training trip came at a good time for Rye to experiment with positions and lineups, and see the capabilities across the roster. Although the wins against Byram Hills don’t count toward the team’s record, they do provide a confidence boost, as the teams will meet again on May 7.
After traveling to Florida, the team will continue what has thus far been a season-long road trip, playing in the Westlake Tournament on April 26.
The Garnets’ much-anticipated home debut is set for 4:30 p.m. April 28, when Rye High School unveils a new field, scoreboard, batting cages, and permanent fence.
HARRISON 14, RYE 2 – The Garnets were chasing from the start of their league opener on April 11, going down 2-0 in the bottom of the first. Harrison’s Alexia Cozzali scored after tagging up, and another run scored on an infield error.
Rye got back within one run in the top of the third inning when sophomore Caroline Joyce drove in Jill DeSanto to make it 2-1. Senior Ava Cross doubled to score junior Charlotte Dinger for Rye’s other run in the fourth inning, but Harrison’s offense was too much to overcome.
The Huskies scored seven runs in the bottom of the third and another five in the fourth to put the game away.
“Tough loss against a good team,” said Rye coach Alex Tejera. “We made a few too many mistakes and they took advantage of them.”
Cross went 2-for-2, with other Rye hits coming from Joyce, Dinger, Clara Meszkat, and Reese McGill. The Garnets had five errors over the five innings played, serving as a key factor to Harrison’s dominant offensive performance.
“We need to be a little more consistent with our fielding,” said Tejera of improvements he’d like to see as the season progresses. “And continue to play hard.”
