Millburn 8U picks up the pace

The Millburn 8 & Under Travel Team has begun their season in the New Providence Gold League. The season got off to a rough start in June with losses to Westfield, Chatham, & Clark, but late June & July has been good for the youngsters as they have righted the ship with wins over Basking Ridge & South Orange/Maplewood and redeemed themselves with wins over Clark & Westfield. With a 2nd loss to Chatham, this leaves the team at 4-4.

One of the improvements that has led to the recent wins has been reliever Jack Dufner (pictured). Once Millburn has been able to take the lead, "Gentleman" Jack has come in and slammed the door shut on the opponent. Against Ridge, in the bottom of the final inning with bases loaded and Millburn ahead 10-7, Dufner entered the game in relief. He was able to overcome an RBI by Sam Rojas of Ridge to mow down the next three batters with a short pop-up to 1st, a ground-out to himself (pitcher) where he threw out the runner at home, and then he used his deceptive fastball to strike out Ridge's hard-hitting Gavin Henderson to end the game with a 10-8 win.

On the offensive side, Adam Chung has been on a tear. He went 1 for 1 with a hit-by-pitch (HBP) against Ridge, then 2 for 2 against Clark, and 2 for 2 against South Orange Maplewood with a double and 2 RBIs. Additionally, Ashankit Khanna has been an on-base machine in the recent wins. Against Ridge, he contributed 2 walks and was hit-by-pitch along with an RBI. Against Clark, he had 2 more RBIs. Against Westfield, he reached base in both at-bats with a hit and another HBP. Even in the loss to Chatham, he sacrificed his body again with another HBP. Combined with a walk, he was 2 for 2 in reaching base. Khanna has been battered and bruised by opposing pitchers, but nothing stops him from getting on-base.

The team practiced and rested over the July 4th holiday in preparation for a quartet of tough games on the 10th, 11th, 12th & 13th. No rest for the fierce 8 & under team.