River Dell baseball is now nearing the halfway point of its season and holds a 10–4 record, marking a remarkably strong start. While much of the team is made up of seniors, the juniors have also played a major role in several decisive victories over other schools.
One of their most impressive wins was a 3–0 shutout over Paramus Catholic. In their home opener, the team dominated Dwight Morrow with a 16–1 victory, along with another shutout against Nutley, winning 2–0. The rest of the team’s matchups have been hard-fought but decisive wins, along with a few incredibly close losses. The team also swept a doubleheader against Mahwah and has continued to compete at a high level in other doubleheaders.
Senior outfielder Jayden Lyness credited the coaches, saying, “Our team has grit, and every guy on the team has each other’s backs. The coaches push us each day.” He later added the phrase, “burn the boats.”
Key players such as senior catcher Nate Silverstein and senior first baseman Jayden Thomas have played major roles in these victories, both serving as strong hitters on the offensive side of the ball. The Hawks have moved like a well-oiled machine, using strategy and speed to keep their opponents from scoring.
Silverstein also said, “It’s been a great start to the year! It’s really been a great team effort, and the guys come out hungry and ready to compete. No one really believed in us at the start, but we are the only ones who need to believe in us to succeed. It’s been a long time coming for this program to go out and win. I’m happy it’s back on the right track.”
The team plans to continue its strong play, having limited fielding errors and maintained a high level of competition. The players stay calm and focused in each game, maximizing their chances to the best of their abilities. With their mantra, “jobs not finished,” the Hawks remain committed to maintaining the standard they’ve set for themselves.
