Riders roll Schalmont in meeting of Top-10, state-ranked squads

VALATIE, N.Y. ( NEWS10 ) — The Ichabod Crane softball team has looked every bit the part of a two-time defending state champion this year. And halfway through the regular season, the Riders appear to have the pieces in place to make a serious run at a three-peat.

Ichabod was slated No. 1 in the state for Class A in the first New York State Sportswriters Association rankings released earlier this week, and have lived up to the hype. Thursday night, Tracy Nytransky’s bunch improved to 10-0 with a convincing, 13-1 over a Schalmont team ranked seventh in the state.

Ichabod opened with a flurry of offense, scoring eight runs in the first two innings on nine hits. That provided plenty of cushion for starting pitcher Kari Graziano, who allowed zero earned runs, and gave up just three hits, while striking out four.

The Riders headed for the bottom of the fifth leading 9-1, and tallied another four runs to trigger the mercy rule, ending the game after just five innings.

Eight members Ichabod’s starting lineup recorded hits. Senior catcher Makayla Walsh had three; five other Riders notched two. Freshman right fielder Skylar Konkle led in the “runs batted in” column with four, Walsh contributed three and Abbey Milazzo and Graziano each added two.

Schalmont shortstop Natalia Devine drove in the lone run for the Sabres in the top of third.

Ichabod returns to action Saturday for a home double-header with out-of-section foes Depew and Liverpool at 3:00 and 5:00 p.m. Schalmont falls to 7-2, and will aim to rebound at home Friday against Voorheesville. First pitch is set for 4:30.

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