At the season’s midway point, the Rye softball team was just hoping for its first win, let alone a shot at the postseason.
But after posting a 7-4-1 record in May, including three wins in their final four games, the Garnets overcame an 0-7 start to earn a playoff spot. Rye beat Scarsdale 7-3 on Friday to extend what looked like a lost season a month ago, then routed Westlake 14-0 on Sunday to win a third-straight Westlake tournament title.
“The team worked very hard and kept working hard to improve, and are now seeing the results of their hard work,” said Rye coach Alex Tejera. “I’m very proud they qualified for the playoffs after our difficult start.”
Sophomore Penelope Gilmore pitched a complete game, with five hits allowed and no earned runs against Scarsdale, and sophomore Caroline Joyce was 3-for-3 at the plate. Ava Cross, the team’s lone senior, went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored in her Senior Day game.
It was a fitting regular-season finale for the Garnets’ captain, who was able to play the final nine home games of her high-school career on the new field the team unveiled on April 28.
“Obviously, playing all away games in the beginning of the season was difficult, but they never complained and have won some great away games this year,” Tejera said. “The field was worth the wait and looks amazing. They were all very happy to play on the field this season. It has definitely helped.”
A week after the debut of their new field, a new scoreboard was added as well. The only thing more exciting than the new-and-improved electronic display is the numbers the Garnets have put up on it. On May 13, Rye beat Pelham 13-0 at home, marking the fourth time the team scored double-digit runs in May. Gilmore earned the win as the starting pitcher and also drove in a run.
Sandwiched between the two convincing wins was an 8-0 loss to Ursuline on May 15, showing the team still has challenges to overcome, but after the way the season started, Rye is happy to be moving on to the playoffs.
“We need to have solid pitching and defense and some timely hitting,” Tejera said of the team’s keys to postseason success. “We have a lot of great teams in our class and without those factors I mentioned, it will be difficult to go far in the playoffs.”
The 10th-seeded Garnets (7-11-1) open the playoffs with a first-round game at 4:30 p.m. Thursday at No. 7 seed Pleasantville (12-8). The winner moves on to play at No. 2 Ardsley (14-5) on Saturday.
