The Teaneck TBO 11U baseball team kicked off its first ever Spring NEBAS travel season on March 30, notching an impressive 4-inning mercy rule shortened 10-0 victory against the neighboring New Milford Knights. The win featured dominant pitching, timely hitting and aggressive baserunning that has become the hallmark of this talented squad. The strong and balanced roster includes Mordechai Angel, Gideon Apter, Ezra Ashkenas, Zevy Bluman, Jojo Boim, Nathan Demby, Binyamin Epstein, Elisha Finkelstein, Aiden Merkin and Simon Rauch.
Teaneck wasted no time setting the tone, taking a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Bluman worked a walk, showcased his speed by stealing second and third base, and then raced home on a wild pitch. The offensive floodgates opened in the second inning as Teaneck put four more runs on the board. Finkelstein drew a walk to start the rally, followed by Ashkenas delivering an RBI single that scored Finkelstein. After Rauch walked, an error by the Knights allowed Angel to reach base and Ashkenas to score. Bluman then delivered the big blow with a two-run double, driving in both Rauch and Angel to extend the lead to 5-0.
The pitching combination of Merkin and Bluman allowed just three hits while striking out five batters over four innings. Merkin was masterful through the first two innings, striking out three batters while allowing just two hits. His performance was complemented by Bluman, who took over pitching duties for the final two innings, recording two more strikeouts and preserving the shutout with a perfect relief appearance. The Teaneck defense played sharp error-free baseball, with impressive putouts by 3B Apter, Shortstops Bluman and Merkin, 2B Finkelstein and 1B Demby. After New Milford put 2 runners on in the top of the second inning, Angel came through with an impressive catch of a towering shot to right field to end the scoring threat.
The Teaneck offense continued to apply pressure in the third inning, exploding for five more runs to put the game out of reach. Aggressive baserunning was again on display with multiple stolen bases, including Ashkenas stealing both second and third base. Bluman continued his standout day with another run-scoring double, and the Knights contributed to their own struggles with defensive miscues that allowed Teaneck to capitalize. When the dust settled, Teaneck had built an insurmountable 10-0 lead and the 4-inning matchup concluded by mercy rule.
The offensive attack was led by Bluman, who went 2-for-2 with two doubles, four RBIs and three stolen bases. Ashkenas also made a significant contribution with a hit, an RBI and three stolen bases of his own. In total, Teaneck stole nine bases during the game, continuing to demonstrate their aggressiveness on the basepaths. With this convincing victory, Teaneck TBO 11U continues to demonstrate why they’re an impressive team in the league. Their combination of explosive offense, clutch pitching, and resilient defense makes them a formidable opponent and an exciting team to watch. As the Spring NEBAS travel season progresses, the Teaneck TBO 11U team has set a high bar. The team will look to extend their winning streak in their upcoming games against Northern Valley and Emerson. Come out and cheer on the boys!
