Prep Baseball Report

2022 Spring Team Preview: Noble and Greenough School


Bruce Hefflinger and Dylan Hefflinger
PBR New England Senior Writer and Editor in Chief/Scout

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2022 New England High School Team Previews

2022 Spring Team Preview: Noble and Greenough School

DEDHAM, Ma. - Four senior college commits bring an enormous amount of optimism to The Noble and Greenough School baseball program in 2022.

“We have a lot of multiple sport athletes who love to compete,” pointed out Nobles head coach Rob Murray about what he likes about this year’s squad. “As a coach, that’s all you can ask for.”

Murray, an assistant coach at Belmont Hill in 2011 before moving to Nobles as an assistant a year later, has been in charge of the program since 2013 and excited about the return of Matt Travisano, Marc Willi, Jake Bollin and Peyton Rose, all of which played important roles on last year’s team that finished 16-8.

A Pittsburgh signee, Travisano batted .516 with five home runs, five doubles, four triples and 14 RBIs a year ago. The fifth-ranked senior shortstop in New England will also help out on the mound where Rose, a Williams College commit and the 16th-ranked 2022 right-handed pitcher in New England, is being counted on in a big way after posting a 5-2 record with a 2.08 ERA in 50.1 innings last season.

Big expectations are also anticipated this year from Willi, a Michigan recruit ranked 11th in the nation among 2022 first basemen. The 6-4 230-pound left-hander batted .328 with four homers and 15 RBis a year ago.

Bollin, a Villanova commit ranked fourth in the 2022 New England class of catchers, adds more firepower at the plate following a junior season averaging .305 with three home runs, five doubles and 12 runs scored while driving in 10.

“I feel that our pitching staff and athleticism in the field will be the strengths of this team,” related Murray, who has an 89-65 record in his time at Nobles and Greenough. “We have a few guys who are able to play multiple positions which will be beneficial.”

Shortstop Luca Danos (William & Mary), outfielders Joe Bianchi (Bates College) and James O’Connor (Williams College) along with right-handed pitchers Jack Barton (Hamilton  College) and Ethan Barnett (Skidmore College) are among the key players that graduated from last year’s team.

“If I had to pick a weakness it would be our inexperience in certain positions,” explained Murray. “We have a couple of key injuries this year that will cause some of the younger guys to step up and play a bigger role.”

Among the newcomers Murray is counting on this year are right-handed pitcher Dagan Darnell, the 35th-ranked 2023 RHP in New England, middle infielder Sebastina Ortiz, the fifth-rated 2024 shortstop in New England, and sophomore RHP/3B Devin Hunt.

“If we are able to throw strikes and play defense we should have a successful season and be able to compete with anyone,” Murray said about the keys to success this season.

But it will certainly be a challenge.

“We have a very competitive schedule once again this season with both league and non-league games,” Murray said, pointing to teams like Dexter, Winchendon, St. Sebastians and Belmont Hill. “The league just keeps getting better and better. Everyone is good. In the end, I hope we have a shot at being at the top.”

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