The sun beat down on the field on the hot ninety degree day in Teaneck. All the players assembled work hard during the season for a chance at the championship.
During the opening ceremonies, the four teams playing in the day’s first two games lined up around the infield. Representing the 11/12 boys were Team Leasco and Back to Health Physical Therapy; representing the junior girls teams were Chopstix and Generator Plus.
Two American flags were held at the pitcher’s mound and each player’s name was announced. The crowd cheered for the players and for all the hard work they had put in during the season to get to this point. Former TBO player Jessie Gronowitz was called to the pitcher’s mound and sang a beautiful rendition of the National Anthem.
Fran Wilson, Teaneck’s Director of Public Works was honored with throwing out the ceremonial first pitch to the Leasco Catcher. Before the pitch, Mr. Wilson was presented with the Appreciation Award for his selfless service to the township of Teaneck and TBO. TBO thanked the township for enabling 52 teams, over 600 TBO players and 160 coaches and volunteers to have another successful season. Mr Wilson then wished both teams good luck and success in the future, and then yelled “Play Ball!”
The game started with a bang: Back to Health gathered two hits in the first inning but left those runners stranded.
In the second inning, Leasco’s Akiva Boyarsky set the table with a line drive to center field for a single. Yair Wall sent another pitch to right field for a single. Yehuda Teitelman took to the plate with two “on” and smacked a line drive up the middle for a single / RBI, scoring Akiva Boyarsky. Dovid Uretsky followed with an RBI, on a fielder’s choice grounder to shortstop.
Two innings later, and down two runs, Back to Health answered back. Liam Levy reached first on a walk and stole to second. David Matheson singled to left, driving Levy home. Gavriel Pudell hit in the gap between third and short stop for a single. Matheson and Pudell then pulled off a double steal and Zachary Gibber drove them both in with a single to the left.
Liam “Bulldog” Levy was pitching a masterful game and as he entered his third inning of work (3rd, 4th and 5th) it looked like Back to Health was going to take home the big trophies. But Leasco was not going down without a fight; Akiva Boyarsky once again got it started with a double to right field. Yair Wall hit a single and Boyarsky advanced to third. On a “bang, bang” play, Akiva Boyarsky was out attempting a steal of home. Yehuda Teitelman followed with a deep double to center scoring Yair Wall and tying the game at three.
Both teams fought hard, and after a grueling six innings the game headed to extras, tied 3-3. After Back to Health went scoreless in the top of the seventh, Leasco began with back-to-back walks for Zach Levie and David Siesser, following a successful double steal. Leasco now had two runners in scoring position. Back to Health intentionally walked Yair Wall and, with Akiva Boyarsky at bat, Zach Levie stole home for the win.
Team Leasco pushed forward all season: after starting 2-3, they finished 7-4 and obtained a first round bye. The 4-3 final score earned them a well-deserved title. Triumphant Leasco was led by the careful coaching of Mark Levie, Adam Wall and Howie Teitelman, and Team Back to Health Physical Therapy played under the wing of Mordy Simpson and Steven Pudell.
By Akiva Wiener
