The Kushner Cobras boys baseball team had the unique privilege of participating in the third annual Ezra Schwartz Memorial Baseball Tournament in Sharon, Massachusetts last weekend. The Cobras were joined by the Ramaz Rams, SAR Sting and host Maimonides M-Cats. The Cobras finished pool play in second place behind the M-Cats who outscored their opponents in pool play by a combined score of 37-1.
Shabbat was a unique and memorable experience for the Cobras. Davening was held at the shul where Ezra had his bar mitzvah, the Young Israel of Sharon. The participants heard more about Ezra and his remarkable personality. On Shabbos afternoon, the teams first heard from professional baseball player and member of Team Israel, Jeremy Bleich, who was extremely engaging. Then the teams went to the home of Ezra’s parents, Ruth and Ari Schwartz, who hosted all tournament participants for a wiffle ball tournament, in Ezra’s beloved home stadium, and a Ping Pong tournament, giving the teams a chance to bond off the field.
After Havdalah the teams headed to a senior league field named in Ezra’s memory with fences at 200’ for a home run derby. Kushner’s participants were sophomores Ilan Cohen and Eli Fishbein. Cohen went first and hit an impressive eight home runs. Fishbein was up six out of 10 and hit the most home runs in the opening round, with 16 to advance to the finals. Fishbein went last in the finals and needed to hit nine home runs to tie and 10 to win. With only one out left Fishbein hit a long drive to left center field that cleared the fence to tie and a long drive to center to win the home run derby.
On Sunday morning it was time for the Cobras to face the M-Cats in the tournament championship game. The Cobras jumped out to a 2-0 lead on the top of the first on a two RBI single by senior Josh Matthew, scoring sophomores Jesse Koppel and A.J Keiser. Koppel got the ball to start the game and was phenomenal, pitching three and two thirds innings and allowing just one earned run. The Cobras scored two more in the top of the third to jump out to a 4-0 lead. Sophomore catcher Ilan Cohen led off with a monster triple to center field and scored, stealing home. Matthew scored the fourth Cobra run after he walked, stole third and crossed the plate on an error. Kushner turned to Matthew after Koppel was done and he was wonderful as well, allowing just one run in his two and two thirds innings before departing with a blister. With the score 4-3 Cobras in the bottom of the seventh, and a man on second with one out, junior Josh Shapiro came to the plate to replace the injured Matthew. Shapiro struck out two to earn the save and finalize the championship for the Cobras.
The Kushner boys had a truly incredible experience and wish to thank the Schwartz family and the Sharon and Maimonides Community for their warm hospitality.
By David Ptalis
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