Valley’s convincing win over Millburn sends them to their first Group 3 final in school history.

Pascack Valley defeated Millburn in the Group 3 semifinal, advancing to the Group 3 final where they will play Ocean City. Although the team was victorious, it was not an easy road to the final result.

To start the game, PV went down early 1-0 off of a misthrow by Mason Baronian to home plate. Following this PV came back in the bottom of the 1st to tie the game at 1 a piece. 

In the third inning, Valley scored 3 runs giving them a 4-1 lead over Millburn. Zach Novakowski and Charlie Saul led this rally as Valley took a convincing lead.

However, Millburn was not going down that easy as they cut the deficit to two runs with a walked-in run. Valley shortly answered with MJ Biener hitting in Anthony Rossomando to take a 5-2 lead in the bottom of the sixth.

Again, Millburn would not go away. In the top of seventh inning, with their final chance at tying the game, Millburn batted in a run, hanging on to their final out.

Bases were loaded with 2 outs as Senior Jared Shiffman came to relieve Senior Cole Porter of his 5 strikeout day. Shiffman rose top the occasion, as he forced a grounder to Mason Baronian who flipped it to Zach Novakowski for the final out of the game.

Valley has finally accomplished the elusive fate of reaching the Group 3 final. This is the farthest PV could go and the farthest they have ever been in school history.

This game was a true pitching battle as Porter for PV and Sophomore Steven Echavarria both had stellar games. Porter is committed to University of Massachusetts Boston to play baseball and has proven his worth on the mound today. While Echavarria is a sophomore and has already verbally committed to the University of Oregon.

The Group 3 final will be played on Saturday at 7pm at Veterans Park in Hamilton, NJ, and Porter has one goal in mind for Saturday’s final.

“Win it, at all costs. It is our last game no matter what so [let’s win it].” Porter said.

Coach Will Lynch was also pleased with the win, however he is now focused on the task ahead – winning the Group 3 final. 

“They have done all of the [things you’re supposed to do] well. We have not [crushed] the ball but we have pitched very well,” Lynch said.

PV looks to continue this run against Ocean City in the team’s final game.