Championship weekend matched the top two seeds in each division this year for the first time in a long time. Number one seed Sharey Tefilo Israel (14-0) entered the A division final on a 37-game winning streak matched against an AABJD (9-5) team that averaged 15 runs scored per game this season. AABJD also scored 19 runs against STI earlier in the year in a 26-19 loss. But this past Sunday it was all defense for the stingiest team in the league (7 RA per game) led by STI pitcher Mark Licht who only gave up five hits while stopping everything up the middle. Mike Somekh, Cary Bayer, and Corey Feigenbaum shored up the defense with some great plays behind him in a 15-3 victory for the undefeated champs. Their 38th consecutive win gave them their 3rd championship in a row. Eric Rothfeld’s 3-run homer led to a 5-run 1st inning which would be all they would need. Dave Dennenberg, Dave Kramer and Mark Licht each had three hits for the winners.
In the B division, top seed B’nai Brith (12-2) had beaten second seed Chabad of West Orange (11-3) in two close games during the regular season. For the first five innings this game was no different and tied at 5-5. CWO opened the scoring in the 2nd with two runs. BB responded with 4 in the 3rd. Evan Bell then blasted a 3-run homer over the left fielder in the top of the 4th for a 5-4 CWO lead. BB came back and tied it in the 5th. But CWO broke it open in the 6th scoring 9 runs and then added 2 more in the 7th to seal the victory at 16-5. Evan Bell was red hot in the playoffs going 10/11 and 4/4 in the final with six RBIs and a triple away from the cycle. Donny Kanovsky, who is moving to Vermont, has played 10 seasons with the team and goes away a champion. Peter Gelman pitched a great game, had two hits and scored three times. Micha Mandel also had two hits, scored twice and had an incredible diving catch in left center. Jeff Stiel was 4/4 and scored twice. David Levine was 2/4 with a triple (both hits in the big 6th inning). Rabbi Mendy Kasowitz was 3/3 plus a sac fly. Chabad of West Orange was the only visiting team in the playoffs to win out of 14 games played.
Umpire Aaron Greenberg was honored in a presentation before the finals began for 30 years of service to the league after announcing his retirement.There were only three umpires in our first season and he was one of them. Commissioner Steve Weiner presented the plaque to Aaron prior to the championship games.
By Rob Sperling
