Thursday, October 1, 2026
Valley Stream South baseball has put together a tidy campaign by squeezing every drop of production from a highly versatile roster.
Coach Rich Hess said each pitching change feels like a chess game with players shuffling between positions, but readily adapting in the delicate system has been crucial to the Falcons’ success.
“We put a priority on communication,” Hess said. “The kids know what their expectations are and who's going to be counted on to go fill in those spots when the situations come. We try to develop multi-positional players because the lack of depth forces you to do that.”
If any player represents Valley Stream South’s commitment to a diverse skillset, it’s senior co-captain Danny Casey. The catcher is also in the starting rotation and pitches the third game of each series. On May 1, he struck out nine and led the Falcons to a 7-1 victory against Cold Spring Harbor. His ERA is 1.47 and he has struck out 62 batters in 38 innings.
“He's wired,” Hess said. “Quite simply, he gets it. He knows what it takes to compete. You don't have to motivate him. He's completely self-motivated, and everything he does has a purpose.”
When Casey pitches, senior Kris Lopez moves behind the plate, which has had no effect on his outstanding offensive production. He’s batting .404 with 16 RBIs.
Peter Greif is another senior captain capable of carrying the Falcons, as he did in the first game of a crucial series against Oyster Bay on April 21. The starter threw a complete game, striking out seven batters and allowing just one run. At the plate, he hit a home run and a triple, almost singlehandedly producing a 3-1 victory. He has scored 24 runs and stolen 24 bases in 17 games.
Senior Zachary Dyer, also a captain, seemed certain to miss the season after sustaining an injury last fall. But with the help of trainer Winta Thompson and others, he completed a rigorous physical therapy program, and in 14 games, he’s batting .389 with 11 RBIs. Hess couldn’t help but call him “special.”
“It’s a testament to his character, his makeup, his willingness to do hard things,” Hess said. “The rehab process to get that knee back into shape is grueling, and I saw what he went to.”
Freshman Leo Sanchez accepted a trial by fire as a starting pitcher and has gradually improved beside his older teammates. Senior Gabe Sukhu put in innings at the start of the year and has been hot at the plate recently, earning five RBIs in two wins against Cold Spring Harbor.
Giada Simone made her mark soon after becoming a varsity starter in eighth grade. Now a junior, she has stepped up to become a seasoned contributor and defensive standout.
“People ask me why I have a girl playing second base,” Hess said. “I tell them I'm trying to win games.”
Junior Michael Kinzer and senior Elijah Espinal round out the starters and have had their share of timely contributions.
With a 10-7 record and one series remaining against East Rockaway, the Falcons’ success is a result of working to one another’s strengths. It’s a system Hess devised to fill in gaps, but it has become the life blood of a thriving program.
