Six teams from the mid-Atlantic seaboard, including Ma’ayanot, Naaleh, Kushner, Frisch, Ilan and JDS, from Rockville, MD, awakened East Stroudsburg, PA with an uplifting, rain-filled Shabbat bookended by softball games on Friday and Sunday at Camp Dora Golding.
On the field, Frisch Cougars edged out Ilan Invaders in a one-inning play-in game to take the fourth seed, despite Ilan’s creative cheers and powerful spirit. Frisch ultimately lost to Naaleh Eagles 2-1 in the semi-finals determined by a close play at the plate. Ma’ayanot battled the JDS Lions in their semi-finals, taking that game in walk-off fashion from Na’ama Prager’s blast to center field and setting the stage for a muddy championship between Ma’ayanot and Naaleh.
In the championship, both teams locked up in a 1-1 tie with runners getting called out at the plate on defensive gems and sending the finale into extra innings. In the top frame, Hayley Jessin singled and advanced, then narrowly scored the go-ahead run on a slide at home. Naaleh loaded the bases in the bottom frame, but Sivan Sher threw out the potential tying run at another close, muddy play at home plate and Ma’ayanot punched the final out ending Naaleh’s threat with all hearts beating rapidly.
Tournament MVP was given to Ma’ayanot catcher Hailey Jessin for her consistent batting, heads-up baserunning and critical defensive plays at home plate.
Founder and organizer Avi Vogel’s creative planning ensured fun activities throughout the weekend, and games that could be played in between rain showers. The tournament honored the memory of Mrs. Lorraine Vogel, grandmother of Frisch’s first baseman Hannah Vogel, who helped found and direct Camp Ma-Tov for nearly 30 years. “She would be proud to see 80 high school girls coming together like this for such a special weekend,” Avi reflected.
4G NCSY (“For Girls”) advisors, led by Suzzane Rabinovitch, created meaningful programming throughout Shabbat including chaburahs and an inspiring kumzitz.
Allison Gandlin, keynote speaker and Division 1 flag football player at Rutgers, shared her spiritual journey to becoming religious while balancing her passion for sports and engineering. Allison was featured in the Jewish Link on April 24 (“From Touchdowns to Torah” by Rachel Abramchayev) for her courageous voyage and admitted, “Being part of the Shabbaton meant more for me than the girls probably realized.”
The Shabbat afternoon indoor games tournament, sponsored by Leket Israel which oversees Israel’s national food bank and coordinates volunteer opportunities on farms and distribution centers, featured teams of girls from mixed schools battle intense games of spikeball, bucketball, corn hole and giant jenga.
Kicking off the Sharsheret Skills Competition on Sunday, Frisch superfan Nicole Kinches distributed pink scrunchies and spoke passionately to the girls about the role Sharsheret plays in the chain of women’s health. Awards were given to the players for furthest throw, furthest hit, fastest runner and throwing accuracy.
JDS’s coach Tom Worden took Coach of the Tournament, tending to the fields before and after rains and teaching his girls to adopt Yeshiva League rules without windmill pitching, stealing or dropped third strike that his team is accustomed to playing in the DC/Maryland private school league.
“We’re grateful to all of the organizers, advisors, coaches and hosts for all the work they put into making the tournament so special and for the amazing new friendships we developed,” expressed Hannah Vogel.
