Knoll Orthodontics finished its regular season at 2-8, earning second to last place in the standings. When the playoffs began these boys kicked into second gear, putting together a string of three straight post-season wins. During this streak they knocked off the second- and third-place teams. On Father’s Day they faced the division’s first-place team, St. Anastasias Church (9-1), in the championship game.

Championship MVP Rafi Suss got St. Anastasias off to a great start with a 1-2-3 inning, striking out the side. In the bottom of the first, play-off MVP Avishai Najman hit an opposite field two-run homer (two of his five RBIs in the game) to give St. Anastasias the early 2-0 lead. In the second, the team’s other superstar pitcher; Liev Wolin, struck out the side, for another 1-2-3 second inning. Catcher Yoni Bernath provided a great target behind the plate for both pitchers.

With key hits by Lazer Stechler, Matt Ruben, Eytan Sheinfeld and Isser Stadtmauer, St. Anastasias was able to build a lead. For St. Anastasias, the real story was the always stellar defense: Yosef Warburg picked off some tricky bounces, Jared Kinches and Zaviel Taubenfeld also came up big in the field, stopping Knoll’s late-game rally. In the last inning, St. Anastasias turned yet another one of their play-off double-plays. St. Anastasias’ most impressive double play was turned in its semi-final play-offs game by Ezra Silfen, who made a tremendous catch in left field and then doubled the runner off second.

With a final score 11-2, this was a great “team” win for St. Anastasias and an unbelievable ending to a great season.