The sixth-seeded Teaneck 11U baseball team delivered one of the most dramatic comebacks of the NEBAS spring travel season, rallying from a four-run deficit to defeat the third-seeded Rutherford Rebels 7-5 in eight thrilling innings on June 5 at Garrity Field. The stunning upset victory sends Teaneck to the NEBAS semi-finals, where they will face Secaucus on June 12.
Early Struggles and Mounting Pressure
The playoff atmosphere was electric from the first pitch, but Teaneck found themselves in an early hole as Rutherford capitalized on timely hitting and aggressive baserunning. The Rebels came out swinging in the bottom of the first inning, leading off with a hard single and hustling to third after some defensive miscues. After a pop out to second baseman Elisha Finkelstein, Rutherford delivered a clutch RBI single to center field, driving in the game’s first run. After stringing together a few more hits, the dust finally settled on the first inning, and the Rebels found themselves with a commanding 3-0 lead.
In the second inning, after two Rebel batters drew walks, they manufactured another run, despite Teaneck 11u turning a double play. Pitcher Zevy Bluman fielded a ground ball and threw to first-baseman Merkin to retire the batter. Merkin then quickly threw the ball to catcher Binyamin Epstein to try to nail the aggressive base runner attempting to score from third. Despite the runner being called safe to bring the score to 4-0, an alert Epstein fired the ball to the perfectly positioned third-baseman Gideon Apter who slapped the tag on the sliding runner attempting to take third to record the final out of the inning.
The Long Road Back Begins
Facing a four-run deficit against the third-seeded Rebels, the sixth-seeded Teaneck 11u showed their championship mettle by refusing to fold. In the fourth inning, Teaneck’s offense finally broke through, providing them with a much-needed confidence boost.
Merkin and Epstein both drew walks, putting two runners on base. The breakthrough moment then came off the bat of Nathan Demby, who smacked a revitalizing RBI single to right field, scoring Merkin and cutting the deficit to 4-1. Demby’s timely hit breathed life into the Teaneck dugout and marked the first crack in what had seemed like impenetrable Rebel armor.
Rutherford answered right back in the fifth inning, however, adding another run on a passed ball to extend their lead to 5-1. The situation looked dire for the sixth-seeded Teaneck squad, trailing by four runs going into the final inning.
The Dramatic Sixth-Inning Rally
For the fans who witnessed it and for the players who experienced it, what happened in the top of the sixth inning will surely be remembered as one of the greatest comebacks in Teaneck 11u history. Trailing 5-1 and facing elimination, dreams of advancing to the semifinal round seemed to be all but shattered. But where there’s life, there’s hope; Teaneck 11u had one more turn at bat, one more chance to create the memory of a lifetime.
Calling for a huddle in the dugout before taking what appeared to be their last turn at bat of the season, coach Jason Demby reminded them to go out there, have fun, and leave it all on the field. The team put their hands together and in unison let out the thundering cheer: “ECHAD! SHTAYIM! SHALOSH! TEANECK!!!!”
The inning began with Bluman drawing a leadoff walk. A productive ground out by Merkin advanced Bluman to scoring position. Finkelstein then kept the line moving with a sharp line drive single to left field, putting runners on the corners.
Epstein delivered the first blow of the rally, singling to shortstop to score Bluman. 5-2. Demby followed with another clutch hit, a hard ground ball through the middle of the infield that advanced Finkelstein to third and Epstein to second, loading the bases for Apter. The third baseman came through under intense pressure, singling to left field to score Finkelstein. 5-3. At this point, the crowd was in a frenzy, not one spectator was sitting, and Teaneck 11u was oozing with confidence and determination. They believed. With the bases still loaded, up to the plate stepped Ezra Ashkenas.
There are times in life when one can choose to either run away from the moment or embrace it. Ashkenas crushed the moment. Wasting no time, Ezra launched a booming double down the left field line on the first pitch he saw, scoring Epstein and Demby. 5-5. Tie game. Even at this moment, with the game still undecided, the joy and exuberance on the boys’ faces will be etched into the memories of those who witnessed it. But there was no time to celebrate any further– there was still some unfinished business to take care of. The inning could have been even bigger, but Rutherford’s defense made a spectacular double play to end the threat. Teaneck’s sharp defense recorded a 1-2-3 bottom of the sixth inning to send the game to extra innings.
Extra-Inning Drama and The Winning Moment
With the game tied 5-5 after six innings, both teams settled in for extra-inning baseball. The seventh inning remained scoreless as both teams’ pitching staffs rose to the occasion. Elisha Finkelstein, who had taken over pitching duties for Teaneck, was particularly effective, keeping Rutherford’s dangerous lineup in check. The Rebels’ lone base runner, who reached on an error, was picked off at third by an alert Finkelstein to record the final out of the seventh.
The eighth, and decisive inning belonged to Teaneck. Epstein and Demby began the inning by drawing back-to-back walks. Two on, no out. The stage was again set for Gideon Apter, who had already delivered a clutch hit during the sixth inning rally. Apter came through again, this time in dramatic fashion. The third baseman launched a line drive double to center field that easily scored Epstein. With Demby flying down the third baseline, the Rebels made a perfect relay throw to tag him at home. In a heads-up play that showcased Teaneck’s smart, aggressive baserunning, Apter was taking third on the throw home, and ended up scoring on a wild throw to third base from the Rebel catcher, giving Teaneck a 7-5 lead.
The bottom of the eighth belonged to Finkelstein, striking out the first Rutherford batter swinging, before getting their next hitter to pop out thanks to a spectacular over the shoulder catch by second baseman Merkin. Finkelstein closed out the victory by getting the final batter to line out to Merkin, securing one of the most memorable victories in Teaneck TBO 11U history.
The comeback victory was a complete team effort, with contributions coming from up and down the lineup. Apter led the offensive charge, going 2-for-4 with 2 RBIs and 2 runs scored, including the game-winning extra-inning heroics. Ashkenas provided the game-tying heroics with his crucial two-run double, finishing 1-for-3 with 2 RBIs. Demby continued his clutch hitting, going 2-for-3 with 1 RBI and 1 run scored.
On the mound, the pitching staff showed tremendous resilience. Bluman battled through early trouble to keep the team in the game, while Merkin provided two scoreless innings of relief. Demby was excellent in his two innings of work, and Finkelstein was dominant in closing out the victory. The defense made several spectacular plays throughout the game, including multiple double plays and heads-up baserunning that prevented additional Rutherford runs.
Looking Ahead to the Semi-Finals
With their stunning 7-5 upset victory over the third-seeded Rutherford Rebels, the sixth-seeded Teaneck TBO 11U team has punched their ticket to the NEBAS semi-finals. The dramatic extra-inning comeback showcased everything that has made this team special throughout the season: clutch hitting, aggressive baserunning, solid defense, and the mental toughness to never give up.
By Jason Demby and Andrew Finkelstein
Teaneck will now face Secaucus in the semi-finals on June 12, carrying the momentum of one of the greatest comeback victories in program history. After proving they can overcome adversity, this resilient group has their sights set on reaching the NEBAS championship game. The boys have shown that with heart, determination, and timely hitting, anything is possible in playoff baseball. Come out and support the team as they continue their magical playoff run!
