Induction Graduation Sport Type

2022 2012 Softball Athlete

Jessica Calvini, a 2012 graduate of Rye Neck, was a standout on the diamond setting the standard of excellence for future softball players.

Jessica started her varsity softball career as an eighth grader and immediately became a presence at the plate and on the mound. In her first varsity season, she hit .393 with a .590 slugging percentage, driving in 23 runs.  On the mound she posted a 7-4 record with a 1.77 era giving up 63 hits while recording 86 strikeouts - an incredibly impressive first year on varsity as a middle schooler.  She earned All-League and All-Section honors in what was the start of a dominant career in Section I softball.

Entering high school, her dominance continued as her hitting power improved each year.  By senior year, her batting average was .521 with her slugging percentage nearly doubled to 1.014 while her RBIs totaled 46. Needless to say, her pitching prowess stymied batters regularly.  As a senior she garnered a 16-2 record, 11 of which were shutouts. She boasted a .61 E.R.A. giving up 56 hits while striking out 186 hitters.

Jessica ended her Rye Neck career setting a multitude of offensive and defensive records for the Panthers. She still holds records for: career doubles, 38;  triples, 21; homeruns, 17; on base percentage, .580; and batting average, .452. While on the mound she baffled batters for five years ending her career with records in: games played, 98, innings pitched, 628; era, .98; wins, 73; strikeouts, 852; shutouts, 35, games started, 94; games completed, 93; and career no hitters, 10, with one perfect game.

She also garnered a variety of honors:  All-League, 5 years; All-Section, 5 years; All-State, 4 years.  She was a MSG Varsity Top Ten Player to watch her senior year, along with being named Journal News Softball Player of the Year, and being a part of the Journal News All-Decade Team.  She was also a Con Ed award winner.  

Jessica continued her career at Lehigh University where she played 4 years of softball.  In the field, she moved her talents to outfield and first base, while still being a presence at the plate.  She earned All-Patriot League honors, for her softball contributions and All- Academic Patriot League for her efforts in the classroom, 3 of her 4 years, while maintaining Dean’s List status.  She graduated with a B.A. in English and completed a Masters in Education at Manhattanville College.  She returned to Rye Neck in 2018 to teach English while also coaching soccer and softball.