The Highlander Base-ball team had its best start since the 2021-22 school year. Both the 2021-22 and 2024-25 teams started off with an 8-6 record. The 2021-22 team had star pitcher Christian Ai-ello, who now plays for Rider University. Aiello earned Four-Time First-Team All-Conference, and Two-Time First-Team All-County awards. Even with Aiello, the 2021-22 team still lost eight of their last nine games. The current Highlanders avoided stumbling where the 2021-22 team fell, ending their season with a record of 16-10.
The boys won the Big North Independence Div-ision with a division record of 8-2. Passaic Valley was in first most of the year, until the Highlanders beat them by scores of 5-3 and 6-2.
The Highlanders suffered a big loss to DePaul in the semi-final round of the Passaic County Tourn-ament, but hosted High Point in the first round of states. It was the first time since the 2020-21 season that West Milford Baseball hosted a state game.
The boys, led by a complete game by Tyburczy, beat High Point by a score of 3-2.
Tyburczy threw 100 pitches, giving up five hits, two runs; none earned; striking out five, and walking two.
Tyburczy was backed up by his defense, as centerfielder Jack Lizza made two great plays to hold back the Wildcats.
Seniors Brayden Primavera and Sean Conklin each had an RBI in the second inning to put the Highlanders up two-nothing.
The Wildcats scored a run in both the third and fourth innings to tie the game.
In extra innings, the Highlanders were tied with the bases loaded and two outs.
Junior Kyle Schwarzlow came to the plate with a chance to win the game for West Milford.
He drew a walk, bringing in the winning run for the Highlanders, and the team moved on to play Vernon.
Vernon turned out to be quite a challenge for the Highlanders, as both Cole Czerepak and Justin Burke were shelled by the Vikings. It just wasn’t their night.
Both pitchers gave up five runs, and the High-landers lost 10-5, ending their season.
Both Sean Conklin and Christian Martinez were 2-3 batting, and Conklin drove in two runs.
Senior catcher Christian Martinez was one of the team’s best bats. He was hitting .361, with fifteen RBIs, five walks, and four stolen bases.
Junior Chase Tyburczy was another one of the team’s best bats. He was crushing the ball, hitting .366 with a strong .695 slugging percentage, five home runs, twenty-two RBIs, eleven walks, thirteen stolen bases, and a triple.
On the other side, Tyburczy had been a lights out pitcher as well. He’s pitched a team high in both innings and strikeouts, withwith 39 innings thrown, striking out 50 batters. He also has a 4.13 ERA.
Another junior pitcher, Cole Czerepak, was also a phenomenal pitcher and closed multiple games for the Highlanders.
Czerepak came in third on the team for innings pitched, with 34.1 innings, third in strikeouts with 29, and a 3.26 earned run average.
In all, the Highlanders were pleased with the outcome of the season, but are already looking ahead to next year and who might be filling the cleats of those who are graduating.
Congrats to all the seniors, and best wishes in all you do in the future.
