By Jed Rabinowitz
Congratulations to the Frisch Cougars baseball team, which edged out the SAR Sting 8-6 on Sunday night to repeat as MYHSAL varsity champions and cap off a perfect 11-0 season. It was a beautiful night for baseball. The two prior meetings between the Frisch and SAR teams were tight, one-run affairs. Fans were expecting a similar battle. The capacity crowd that had gathered at Overpeck Park to watch the finale would not be disappointed.
SAR came buzzing out of the gate, capitalizing early with a couple of hits and taking advantage of an uncharacteristic error by the Frisch defense. After the first inning, the Sting held a significant 5-0 lead. But Frisch battled back with a six-run third inning and then added two more runs in the fourth. Meanwhile, the Cougars’ ace, Jack Ruditzky, had settled down and was near perfect in the second through fifth innings.
But SAR started to push in the top of the sixth. After the leadoff batter grounded out, SAR’s next three batters reached base. With the score now 8-6, runners at the corners, and only one out, Frisch turned to its closer, sophomore Akiva Rotenberg, to get them out of the jam. The next SAR batter flew out to outfielder Gavriel Weinstein in shallow left. With runners now on second and third, Rotenberg induced a routine grounder to Eli Knapp at second base for the final out of the inning. The sense of relief on the Frisch sideline was palpable.
SAR pitcher Sammy Eis, who pitched a near flawless three innings, made quick work of Frisch in the bottom of the sixth. With the score still 8-6 in favor of Frisch, and the championship on the line, it was now Rotenberg’s turn on the bump. He did not disappoint, striking out the side in a 13-pitch gem of a seventh inning. Rotenberg’s clutch pitching performance and two RBIs earned him MVP honors.
The Cougars were led this season by an exceptional quartet of seniors: Ruditzky (P/SS), Knapp (SS/2B), Weinstein (LF) and Eitan Green (RF), who consistently demonstrated their fielding and hitting acumen, and, perhaps more importantly, served as mentors and teachers to their younger teammates. They will be greatly missed next season. Junior Josh Markovitz locked down third base and the middle of the lineup. Sophomores Akiva Rotenberg (P, 2B), Ryan Buchsbayew (C), Joshie Rabitz (P), Jason Gamms (CF) and Jared Reich (DH), and Freshman Jacob Fineman (1B), were all impact players and rounded out the Cougars’ squad of regulars. The team also received key contributions from Noam Weintraub, Eitan Danzger, Howie Rudolph, Joe Ruditzky, Josh Lebovitch, Judah Vogel, Nethaniel Cohen, Noah Lowe and Zachary Cohen. Head coach Dylan Edelstein and assistant coaches Josh Garcia, Daniel Dripchak and Ari Green provided stellar tutelage and guidance throughout the season. A shout out to the SAR Sting for a great game and season.
