If recent history has taught us anything about the Rye Neck softball team, it’s that they’re a tough team to beat in the Section 1 tournament. If we’ve learned anything else, it’s that the Panthers have a flair for the dramatic.
On May 27, the Panthers captured their second straight Class B crown in walk-off fashion, as Ariana Hammer’s seventh-inning double plated the winning run and sent Rye Neck back to the state tournament with a 1-0 victory over Albertus Magnus.
With two outs and leadoff hitter Olivia Tobin on second base, Hammer drilled an offering from Magnus’ hurler Teagan Dwyer deep into the left-centerfield gap to score the game’s deciding—and only—run to keep the Panthers’ undefeated season alive.
Hammer said that she was aware she was coming to the plate in a big spot, but did her best to clear her head and simply react to the pitch.
It’s the kind of mindset that has helped the Panthers win their first 22 games of the season, explained Hammer.
“That at bat, I wasn’t thinking, I just knew I had to hit the ball and get her in,” said Hammer. “We’ve gone out this year and just had fun. Nobody knows what’s going to happen, so we’ve all just gone out and had fun since the beginning.”
Dwyer and her Rye Neck counterpart, Katie Blanch, were both stellar in the championship game, with Blanch allowing just two hits and striking out 14 batters. Dwyer fanned nine while keeping the Panthers off the scoreboard for the first 6.2 innings.
Blanch said her job was made easier by the solid play of the Panthers defense, which allows her to execute with confidence in the circle.
“It’s huge knowing that my teammates are behind me,” said the Rye Neck ace. “We all believe in each other and I think that shows in the way we play.”
With the win, the Panthers will move on to the state regionals, where they will take on Section 9’s Marlboro on Tuesday, after press time. Marlboro topped the Panthers in last year’s state tournament, but Blanch said that she’s looking forward to having an opportunity to avenge last year’s loss and keep the Panthers’ run going.
“Who knows what’s going to happen, but we’ve had such a great time this year,” she said. “I’m so proud of this team because we’ve all put in a lot of hard work and we’ve grown together.”
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