'The Comeback Kids' move into 1st place

Millburn's 8 & under travel team continues to play well during the dog days of summer. They began their week against the formidable Scotch Plains-Fanwood (SPF) team. SPF jumped out to a 1-0 lead on Millburn in the first and increased that lead to 4-0 in the second, but as has been the case for the entire season, the plucky team from Millburn fought back and regained the lead 5-4 in the third as Jack Lawler drilled a double to center to knock in two runs. Millburn had a rare bad inning in the top of the fourth giving up 5 runs on 2 errors and 3 walks. With SPF now ahead 9-5 going into the bottom of the fourth, Millburn had their backs against the wall, but the comeback kids started with a walk by Ryan Dooley, a single by Logan Saperstein, and a double by L.J. Tuso. The hits kept flowing and Millburn matched SPF's 5 runs with their own 5 runs to reclaim the lead, 10-9. Millburn slammed the door shut in the fifth and sixth inning with Dooley, Lawler and Gavin Talles no-hitting SPF for the final two innings. Final score was an 11-9 victory for Millburn.

Next up for the comeback kids was Basking Ridge. As usual, Millburn spotted them a 9-4 lead heading into the bottom of the sixth just to make things exciting. Zach Goodman led off with a walk and stole second. Oliver La Londe followed with a single and knocked in Goodman. Now down 9-5, Noah Shidlovsky and Hugo Gurijala walked to promptly load the bases with no outs. Ridge got an out at home, but the bases were still loaded. Nicholas Treue drove a single to center to score another run. 9-6. Ridge then traded a run for another out, 9-7. But with two outs in the bottom of the sixth, unfortunately the Comeback Kids were not able to score any further and Ridge held on for a 9-7 win.

On July 6th, once again, the comeback kids left the game undecided until the sixth inning with two outs and bases loaded against North Hunterdon. With the score 7-7, Saperstein and his good eye earned a walk-off RBI base on balls with another late inning victory for the 8 & under team from Millburn.

In the last game of the week, this determined bunch saved their parents from another heart attack and beat New Providence 17-5.

Oliver LaLonde continues to play well for the Millburn team. This week, he went 2-2 with a walk and 2 RBIs against SPF. Next, he went 2-4 with 3 RBIs against Ridge. Despite not getting a hit against North Hunterdon, he stole 3 bases and chipped in 2 more RBIs. Lastly, the scrappy infielder went 1-2 against New Providence with 2 walks, 2 RBIs and 2 steals.

Millburn's 8 & under team is now 8-2 in the New Providence Gold League and in 1st place.