Playing Their Best Baseball at the Right Time
The record doesn’t tell the whole story of the Greenhills varsity baseball team’s season. A glance at the standings might suggest a difficult year for the Gryphons. A closer look reveals something different: a young team that has grown dramatically through adversity, developed valuable depth, and is entering the postseason playing its best baseball of the spring.
For head coach Jon Evans, the most meaningful measure of the season isn’t found in wins and losses. It’s found in the progress his players have made since opening day.
“We started the year with a lot of guys in new roles who simply needed experience,” Evans said. “Then we had injuries that forced even more players into the lineup. The results weren’t always there early, but the growth has been tremendous. The baseball we’re playing now is completely different from what we were playing in March and April.”
Greenhills graduated a large senior class from a team that won 27 games a year ago. This spring, a younger roster was asked to step into key positions while also weathering a string of injuries. Two players were lost before the season began, and three more starters went down during the first few weeks of competition. Instead of folding, the Gryphons adapted.
Junior Landyn Samberg emerged as a key contributor after seeing limited varsity action a year ago. Freshman Simon Mariani stepped into varsity competition and quickly found his footing against older, more experienced opponents. Across the roster, players embraced new responsibilities and learned on the fly.
One of the team’s greatest strengths, Evans said, has been its culture.
“It’s a team-first group,” he said. “The older players have done a great job taking the younger guys under their wing. Whether it’s a senior or a freshman having success, everyone is genuinely excited for each other.”
That spirit has been tested repeatedly throughout the season. In a seven-day stretch earlier this month, the Gryphons found themselves in a series of dramatic games that helped define who they are becoming.
Against Cabrini, Greenhills rallied from a 5-2 deficit in the seventh inning to tie the game before eventually falling. A few days later, the Gryphons nearly erased another late three-run deficit against Father Gabriel Richard. Then came a matchup with Whitmore Lake that showcased the team’s growing resilience.
After surrendering a late lead and watching the game slip into extra innings, Greenhills responded immediately when senior captain Nick Roney launched a home run on the first pitch of the extra frame. The Gryphons went on to score five runs in the inning and secure a memorable victory.
“It felt like a turning point,” Evans said. “We’ve learned how to battle from behind, and we’ve also learned how to respond when things don’t go our way. Those experiences have made us tougher.”
That toughness surfaced again on Senior Day last Tuesday against Taylor Prep. Trailing 7-4 late in the game, Greenhills erupted for seven runs and pulled away for an 11-7 victory.
The recent surge has coincided with continued player development and the return of sophomore pitcher Josh Dorfman from injury, giving the team an additional boost as the postseason begins.
Perhaps most encouraging is that many of the players who gained valuable experience this spring will return next season. The Gryphons have just two seniors on the roster, and several injured contributors are expected to return as well.
But the focus remains firmly on the present. Greenhills opens district play Saturday against Stockbridge with confidence built from weeks of competitive baseball and hard-earned growth.
“We’re right there,” Evans said. “A lot of our losses have been one- or two-run games. The guys can see how much they’ve improved, and they believe in themselves. That’s a good place to be heading into the playoffs.”
After a season defined by perseverance, the Gryphons are entering the most important games of the year with momentum, confidence, and the feeling that their best baseball may still be ahead of them.
