RHS Softball
Turbulent Season All Part Of the Learning Process

– By Melanie Cane –

In winning only two of 15 games, there is no denying that the Garnets had a difficult year. But despite their losing record, the girls never showed one iota of defeatism. They toughed it out to the very end – and even in their last game, which they lost 11-4 to Nanuet at home, this young team refused to roll over.

Facing the end of their season in the bottom of the seventh inning, Rye loaded the bases and scored on a walk drawn by patient first basemen Bonnie O’ Callaghan. It looked as if Rye was going to end the season on a high note. Unfortunately, it was the last run the Garnets would score in 2007, as Sammy Lee and Karly Fitzgerald both hit into fielder’s choices.

The highlight of the game was a ripped line-drive comebacker to sophomore pitcher Kira Hessekiel, who stuck out her glove and made a beautiful catch for the final out in the top of the sixth. The catch, which left Kira’s palm and fingers stinging (she iced them between innings), epitomized the spirit of this team and the tenacity and courage of this young pitcher.

Hessekiel pitched every inning of every game except for the one game she missed, displaying unflappable poise and determination worthy of a player much older than she. That she endured the pressure with so much aplomb is a credit to her and to the coach and the entire team, who supported and encouraged her throughout the season. When she accidentally hit a batter in the top of the seventh, she merely punched her glove, shrugged her shoulders, flashed a quick nervous smile at her coach who was standing on the third base line, and went on to strike out the subsequent batter. For the year, Hessekiel logged a total of 94.0 innings pitched, with 91 strikeouts and an ERA of 6.85.

Last year, head coach Alex Tejera graduated all but one of his seniors. This year, however, only one player, senior co-captain Hannah Simonson, will be leaving the team. Tejera summed it up best when he said, “We had a tough season. We only had two wins, but it was a learning experience for this young team. We’re looking forward to improvement next year.”

Sophomore Alex Giroux led the Garnets in batting average in 2007, hitting at a clip of .378 with five RBIs. Fitzgerald, a freshman, was the team’s undisputed slugger, smashing each of Rye’s four home runs and driving in eight runs. In addition, Fitzgerald was second in batting average, hitting to the tune of .348. Lee, also a freshman, was a force for the Garnets too, recording eight RBIs and stealing nine bases. Along with pitcher Hessekiel, the four young players form a solid nucleus for Tejera to build a future around.

After taking their bumps and bruises in 2007, look for Rye to bounce back in 2008 after a year of learning on the pop fly.