(YYL) The 2023 YYL junior boys (JB) championship was an unexpected matchup with the #4 seed Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Center Pirates hosting the #7 seed Right Above Roofing Rockies. The Pirates started the season strong and leveled off as the weather got warmer, while the Rockies struggled all year, pulled an upset in the JB ‘play-in’ game and confidently knocked off the #3 and #2 seeds in the playoffs.
Down by one in the bottom of the first, the Pirates came back with four runs in the bottom of the frame, powered by Ezra Ashkenas, Jakey Berman and the “Bash Brothers” Gavi and Izzy Liebman. Noam Brum flashed leather in the second, protecting a lead until Coby “Clubber” Lamm, Yonatan Feldman, Tuvie Birnbaum and Yehuda Bomzer could widen the lead to 7-1. The Rockies, showing the grit they displayed throughout the playoffs, closed the gap to two runs before PM&R Pirates Noam Erlich, Jacob Safran, Azariah Buchoff and Sammy Straus provided the insurance runs that ultimately secured a 14-8 win and ice cream for all.