BASEBALL TEAM CARRYING MOMENTUM INTO SECOND HALF OF SEASON

Greenhills baseball is midway through one of its most challenging schedules in recent history. The team has already competed in three games against two of last year’s state finalists. It has faced teams with strong baseball programs, like University Liggett, Plymouth Christian, and Father Gabriel Richard. And it has done so with some key players on the bench because of injuries. Despite all the odds stacked against them, the Gryphons have battled to a four and eight record—including five losses by two or fewer runs—and they’re playing well enough to compete for conference- and district-championships.

“This is probably the most challenging schedule I’ve ever played at Greenhills,” said Tom Ward, Greenhills athletic director and varsity baseball head coach. “Our conference schedule is as challenging as our non-conference schedule. It’s a bit front-loaded, though, and we’ve played competitive ball against a lot of ranked teams, so I think our record will continue to improve.”

Wins and losses are just one measure of a team’s performance and potential. In most of their losses they’ve outhit their opponents. Pitching has been dominant when they’ve minimized walks. And defensively they’re playing the kind of ball you’d expect from a veteran lineup that has competed together for several years.

That experience is key to the team being able to weather tough losses and remain optimistic about the season. Last year, Greenhills only graduated one senior baseball player, Sam Dorfman ’23, and he’s now part of the program’s coaching staff. These players know what it’s like to play a long, challenging season, and they understand that every game is preparing them for the postseason.

Recently, the team earned two big wins against Bishop Foley (5-2) and Oakland Christian (7-1). In the former, junior pitcher Fran Love went seven innings, with 10 strikeouts and only one walk.

“Fran had a huge complete-game win for us,” said Ward. “It was a crucial game for the standings and for the playoffs. We didn’t outhit the other team, for once, but we played good team baseball otherwise.”

At this point in the season, the team has settled in and has learned what it needs to do to win games. They know who to go to and in what situations. And they’re regaining their mojo.

“This is a really, really talented team, and I think they forgot that for a moment,” added Ward. “We’ve already played five games against ranked teams, and we lost some we should have won. That can take its toll on a team that is used to winning. But now the confidence is coming back, the energy is really high, and it’s exciting.”

There’s still a lot of baseball to be played with a key conference match up with Allen Park Cabrini on the docket this Saturday, April 27. Qualifying for the CHSL tournament is within reach before the team ultimately turns its attention to post-conference play and the MHSAA playoffs.

> See more baseball photos here.