After a slow start to the season, the West Milford Highlanders baseball team was looking to get back on track on the road at Wayne Hills versus the Patriots. Ryan Lombardi would toe the rubber in his 3rd start of the season. The game was scoreless going into the 3rd inning when senior Brandon Scrimenti drove in Lombardi to put the Highlanders up 1-0. Then in the bottom half of the inning, the Patriots would get a run of their own. In the bottom of the 5th the game was tied at the 3 and the Patriots were threatening with runners on first and second with only one out. Lombardi would then strike the next two batters out for his 7th and 8th strikeouts in the game.  He would finish going six innings, allowing 6 hits, 3R, 2ER 8ks. Will Craten went 2-2 at the plate with 2 BB. Nate Ford had a hit and a stolen base, bringing his total to three on the year. The team played really solid defense, but, unfortunately, the Highlanders would lose the game on a walkoff, continuing their winless drought. 

But Friday the Highlanders looked to bounce back when they took on the JFK Knights. All around the team played well together and dominated the game from the start. The Highlanders jumped out to an early 1-0 lead when Lombardi would score on a wild pitch. Scrimenti went three innings only giving up 2 runs on 4 hits. Sophomore Chris Timmins went 3-3 with an RBI and three runs scored and also shut the door when the Knights were threatening, going 1 ⅔ while striking out 2. Charles Cimmino had his first varsity multi hit game going 2-4 on the day, and he also had the very special “little league homerun.” This win marks Coach Pevny’s first career win as head coach of the Highlanders. The team was ecstatic about achieving the first win and are hoping to keep the good vibes and winning mentality into the rest of the season. They take on Clifton today in the first round of the Passaic County Tournament.