The Marlboro Iron Dukes got off to a fast start, scoring three runs in the first inning, leading to a fast start in their 2024 season when they defeated the Valley Central Vikings, 7-3, on Wednesday at Valley Central High School in Montgomery.

“We were super relieved to get that win out of the way,” said Marlboro’s John Ryder, who drove in three runs and pitched three innings in relief for the Vikings. “It’s really nice and hopefully we can just glide the rest of the way.”

Ryder contributed on both sides, as he capped off the Iron Duke’s three-run first inning with a booming two-run double to center field. He then expanded the Iron Dukes’ lead with a solo home run to nearly the same spot in the fourth inning.

“Today, it looked like a beach ball,” Ryder said. “I felt like my bat was just the best it’s been in a while. I’m just super confident going up, especially knowing I’ve got guys behind me.”

Matt Ciarimboli scored the Iron Dukes’ first run on a passed ball.

“The first inning was huge,” Ryder said. “It just gave us a lot of confidence going into the rest.

After that, I felt like a lot of guys settled down after the first, and we can just be ourselves and put everything into it.”

Tommy Benfer got the start on the mound for the Iron Dukes, going the first three innings. He gave up his only run in the second inning when Valley Central’s Colin Quinn led off with a double to left field and then scored on a base hit by Caleb Swart.

Ryder came in for the fourth inning, and got into a little bit of trouble, walking Quinn and Swart.

Quinn advanced two bases on a pair of passed balls. He scored when Swart broke toward second base. Marlboro catcher Justin Piscopo’s throw hit Quinn in the head as he dove back into third base, and Quinn was able to score. Swart advanced to third on the play and scored on a passed ball, pulling the Vikings to within a run.

“It took a little bit to settle down, but that’ s just how it works,” Ryder said. “I was super happy to settle down and I know my guys have got me.”

The Iron Dukes tacked on two runs in the fifth inning on a single by Mitch Neer and a sacrifice fly by Benfer, who also reached on an error and scored in the seventh.

Ryder followed with two scoreless innings before giving way to Tyson Fernandez for the seventh inning. He struck out four. Fernandez worked around a leadoff walk to finish the game.

“He’s given his all,” Morrissey said. “He wants to build momentum and he wants the team to win.

He wants to build momentum for himself after high school. We’re just trying to catch that wave and get momentum going across the board.”

The Iron Dukes are looking to draw even more momentum as they head into their league schedule, which will begin Thursday at home against the New Paltz Huguenots.

“It just gives us a lot of confidence,” Ryder said. “We already have a lot of guys. We’re friends on the team, and I think that just makes our camaraderie that much better.”