Boys Tennis (11-2)

The Millburn Tennis team has been on a roll, winning three of their last four matches 5-0. On Monday against Seton Hall, the dominance continued. The boys took down the Pirates 5-0, losing only four total games. The Millers have now won an incredible 15 straight sets and with the County tournament approaching, they are getting hot at just the right time.

The boys fought to a 3-2 win over Montclair earlier in the season, and round 2 took place on Wednesday. Matias Feoli got the Millers off to a perfect start like he has all season with a 6-1, 6-1 victory. Aarush Gupta and Will Boo both lost their singles matches, as Montclair grabbed a 2-1 lead. It was up to the doubles teams to bring home a victory for the Millers. Eric Jones and Seth Abrams took the first set 6-4, but dropped the second 4-6. The dominant doubles duo came up clutch in the third set and won 6-3 to tie the match up at two. It came down to Aryn Juneja and Liam Pilarksi in second doubles to complete the comeback. The boys dropped the first set 1-6, and it was not looking promising. However, they scrapped their way to a 7-6 tiebreaker victory to tie the match at one set a piece. In the final set, the boys did what they had to do and came out on top 6-4, to win the match 3-2. The Millers moved to 8-0 in conference play and 9-1 overall in a huge come from behind win.

The Millers faced off against Verona in the quarterfinals of the Essex County Tournament on Thursday. Like always, Matias Feoli got the Millers started with a 6-0, 6-0 win. Will Boo and Aryaman Sampat also won in their respective singles matches. The doubles matches were no different, as Eric Jones and Seth Abrams won in straight sets, along with Aryn Juneja and Liam Pilarski. The Millers punched their ticket to the semis with a 5-0 thrashing of Verona, not losing a single set throughout. 

The Millers took on Montclair for the third time this season, this time in semifinals of the County Tournament. Both matches earlier in the season were decided by just one game, ending in Millburn’s favor. This time around, on Saturday, the Millers did not let it get that close. Matias Feoli continued his remarkable season with a 6-0, 6-1 win to get the Millers started. Arush Gupta got the victory in straight sets 6-3, 6-3. In third singles, Aryaman Sampat had to fight harder than his teammates. After dropping the first set, Sampat took the second right back 6-3. He then went on to win in a tiebreaker 10-6 to give the Millers a 3-0 lead. After the victory was already clinched, both doubles teams buried the Mounties. Eric Jones and Seth Abrams won their first doubles match 7-5, 6-4, and Aryn Juneja and Liam Pilarski closed it out with a 6-2, 7-5 win. The boys 5-0 victory moved them into the finals of the County Tournament.

Millburn took on Newark Academy in the finals of the County Tournament on the same day as the semis. The boys blew through their opponents on the way to the finals, but Newark Academy was too much to handle. The Millers were defeated by the undefeated Minute Men 5-0. 

Baseball (12-3)

On Monday, the Millers had their six game win streak snapped at the hands of Seton Hall Prep. Sophomore Drew Oppenheim had the tough task of shutting down an elite Pirate lineup, and he was unable to do so. Oppenheim gave up a grand slam in the second inning that sparked the Seton Hall offense. The sophomore would end his tough day with 8 earned runs over 3.1 innings pitched. The Miller offense could not do much either, their only two runs coming in the third. The final score, 11-2 in favor of the Pirates.

Millburn faced off against Bloomfied in the County Quarterfinals on Wednesday. Miller ace Daniel Cifu was on the mound. In the top of the first, Cifu gave up his first run of the year. After two lead off walks, a fielder’s choice and a big double, Bloomfield jumped on top 2-0. In the bottom half, the Miller bats had their pitchers back. With the bases loaded, Matt Holander hit a double that drove everyone home, and the Millers grabbed a 3-2 lead. After the first, Cifu was back to his normal self. He finished his day with five innings pitched, 3 earned runs and four Ks. This quarterfinal was all about the Miller offense, as they were not nearly done after the first. The Millers scored one in the second and two in the third, and found themselves with a 6-2 lead going into the fourth. After Bloomfield got a run back, Millburn put the game to bed with a three run fourth inning. The boys completed the mercy after scoring four in the fifth to make it 13-3. Steven Echavarria went 2-3 with an RBI, and Matt Weiner went 1-1 with a two RBI single. Jake Zirlin, Copeland Culp and Alex WIlson were run scoring machines, combining for eight runs scored between the three of them. Culp and Wilson each drove in a run as well. D.J Lew and Max Rubin also had one RBI each, as the Millers advanced to the County Semifinals. 

On Thursday, the Millers battled against Livingston in a game for the ages. Livingston got off to the perfect start, scoring four in the bottom of the first. The Millers were able to keep it close, and then take the lead. Driving one home in the third and adding four in the fourth put the boys up 5-4. The Lancers tied it back up in their half. Both teams scored another in the fifth, and then it became a pitching duel. The game was tied at six for the next eight innings. Luke Goldenberg was lethal in relief, throwing six innings, giving up one earned run with seven K’s. Goldenberg tossed 112 pitches in his outing, and got the job done. The Millers finally took the lead on an overthrow in the top of the 13th inning. Emory Kaplan finished it off, ending his stellar performance with four scoreless innings and five strikeouts. Henry Jacobs had two RBIs in the win, and Jack Meyerowitz went 3-4, along with scoring the game winning run. Jake Zirlin, Matt Hollander, Copeland Culp and Alex Wilson each tallied an RBI in a crazy 8-6 victory. 

On Saturday, Millburn was set for a showdown with Montclair in the Semifinals of the County Tournament. Oregon commit Steven Echavaria was on the hill for the Millers, and the Mounties got to him early. Montclair used some small ball to get on the board in the first. In the second, a two run double put them up 3-0. Recently, the Millers bats have come alive when their backs are to the wall, and on Saturday it was no different. In a deep hole, the Miller offense scored two runs in both the third and fourth, and just like that, it was a 4-3 Millburn lead. After the run support, Echavarria settled down and threw three straight scoreless innings. An RBI single by Jake Zirlin gave the Millers a two run lead going into the top of the sixth. The young Miller offense really showed their will to win, never giving up in the battle. Steven Echavarria helped himself with an RBI single. Henry Jacobs and Alex Wilson also each tallied an RBI in the contest. Sophomore Drew Oppenheim came in to relieve Etchavarria in the seventh. Oppenheim got himself into trouble, allowing Montclair to have runners on second and third with two outs. In the biggest moment of his career, Oppenheim showed the ice in his veins with a strikeout to seal the win. The Millers are set for a showdown with Seton Hall to crown the County Champion this Saturday.

Boys Volleyball (4-6)

The Millers took on Belleville on Monday. After winning the first game 25-17, the Millers  were unable to grab a second, and would go on to lose the match 2-1. Ethan Itkis and Luigi Zamlickas combined for 11 kills in the defeat.

The Millers dominated a winless West Essex team in the first round of the County Tournament. Luigi Zemlickas had eight kills and five service points en route to a 2-0 smashing of West Essex. Ethan itkis had 9 kills, while Anthony Chen had eight kills and three service points in the win.

The Millers battled against Bellville on Friday for the second time in a week. Both sets were decided by less then four points, but the Millers were defeated 2-0 in a tough one. Luigi Zemlickas and Ethan Itkis each had four kills in the loss. Jason Lam ended his day with 13 assists.

Softball (6-7)

After an eighth run first inning, the Millers beat Payne Tech in a mercy rule 13-0. Amie Sorkin went 2-2 with an RBI, and Brielle Angelson went 1-2 with a homerun. Madelyn Tavel, Katherine Soughan and Hanna Macca each had one hit and one RBI in the win.

The Millers used a huge six run sixth inning to defeat Newark Academy 15-5 on Thursday. The Millers poured five runs on the first, but Newark Academy came right back and tied it in their bottom half. The game was locked at 5 until the Millers added two in the fifth, and remained in control for the rest of the game. Madelyn Tavel, Katherine Soughan and Hannah Macca each tallied three hits in an offensive clinic that accounted for 17 total Miller hits. Tavel also had three RBIs in the win. Brielle Angelson also had three RBIs on two hits.

Boys Golf (11-4)

On Tuesday, the Millers competed in the North Jersey, sections 1-2, Group 3 tournament. Out of 16 competing teams, the boys took home second place, behind only Chatham. Nate Beck had the second best overall score, shooting a 71 to end the day +1. Blake Oppenehieim was right behind him, stuck in a tie for third at +2 (72). Jayson Levy rounded out the top three Miller scores with a 79 (+11), placing him in a tie for 11th among all competitors.

The Millers faced off against Seton Hall Prep on Thursday. Blake Oppenheim, Richard Erhardt and Jason Levy all tied for the second best score of the day with a 42 (+6). Nate Beck finished with a 45 (+9), and Alex Berg shot a 49 (+13). Yash Tripathy completed the Miller day with a 52 (+16). The Millers used their consistent play throughout to defeat Seton Hall 171-183.

Girls Lacrosse (9-4)

The Miller girls started their week off at the winless Glen Ridge Ridgers. The girls got off to a good start, obtaining a four goal lead at the end of the first half. However, the second half was a different story. Glen Ridge outscored the Millers 9-4 to end the game, and handed the girls a shocking 12-11 loss. Carly Bernstein netted six while Ally Lipkin put in four more. In her first game back and on limited minutes, Jordyn Lipkin added one. Julia Davisson made 18 saves in the loss.

Looking to bounce back from their surprising defeat, the girls traveled to Montclair to take on the Mounties. In what seems like a recurring pattern every game, the offense was led by seniors Carly Bernstein and Ally Lipkin. Bernstein scored five, Lipkin added four and they both tacked on an assist. Lana besner scored two but it was not enough as the girls were defeated 22-11. 

On Thursday, the girls took on West Morris looking to snap a two game losing streak. Ally Lipkin and Carly Bernstein made sure they got back on the winning track. The two seniors combined for 13 goals and two assists. Lipkin netted four, Bernstein had six, and the Millers got a much needed 17-11 victory.

Boys Lacrosse (6-5)

Connor Davisson and Brandon Merves were unstoppable on Tuesday against Delaware Valley. The Seniors combined for nine goals and four assists in a 9-7 victory. Davisson scored six and had one assist, while Merves had a hat trick of both goals and assists. Griffin Geller made 11 saves in the victory as the Millers extended their win streak to two straight. 

The Millers traveled to Columbia on Thursday, looking to build on their win streak. Andrew Kanter did everything he could to help the Millers, scoring three, but it was not enough. Columbia held off a late push from the Millers to win 9-8. Brandon Merves was dishing to everyone, ending the day with four assists and one goal. Griffin Geller made 15 saves in the loss.

The Millers got their chance at redemption against Columbia in the first round of the Essex County Tournament on Saturday. After losing in a tight game just two days prior, the Millers were jumping at the bits to get revenge on the Cougars. In this contest, the entire Miller squad played a part. The boys had seven different goal scorers in a huge 9-8 win. Ethan Shapiro led the charge with two goals and two assists, while Jack Witty also put in two. Brandon Merves had one goal and two assists in the win, and both Isaac Lenner and Connor Davisson put in one goal and dished out an assist. The Millers move on to face top seeded Seton Hall Prep in the second round.