Rye Neck's Calvini Tosses Two-Hit Shutout

??The Rye Neck softball team is back in a familiar place -- the sectional semifinals. Jessica Calvini tossed a two-hitter and struck out seven yesterday as top-seeded Rye Neck defeated eighth-seeded Pleasantville, 6-0 in a Section 1 Class B quarterfinal-round game. Rye Neck will host fifth-seeded Albertus Magnus in a semifinal tomorrow, 4:30 p.m. Albertus Magnus eliminated No. 13 Pawling to reach the semis.

Last year, Rye Neck halted Albertus Magnus’s attempt at a sectional three-peat with a semi-final-round win. The other Class B semifinal will be third-seeded and defending champion Dobbs Ferry at second-seeded Valhalla, the 2010 Section 1 Class C champion. Calvini registered her sixth shutout of the season and 21st in her varsity career.

“The girls played excellent offensively and defensively,” veteran Rye Neck coach Joan Spedafino said. “Jessica always gives us 100 percent. She contributed defensively also, making back-handed play in the fourth inning that save a couple of runs.” Rye Neck grabbed a 2-0 lead in the first inning as Vanessa Laise singled in Kristen Tamucci, who went 2 for 4, and Nicole Maggio followed with a run-scoring single, plating Calvini. Calvini went 2 for 3 with two RBI and Lauren Bradley collected two hits.

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