The Frisch Cougars varsity baseball team topped off a stellar season on the diamond (9-1-1 in conference play, 12-2-1 overall) by defeating a talented and well-coached TABC squad 2-0 and bringing Frisch its record sixth MYHSAL baseball championship.

The Cougars were led by captains Jack Ruditzky (junior, P/SS), Josh Markovitz (sophomore, 3B) and Eli Rothenberg (senior, 1B). The starting lineup was rounded out by senior Yoel Silverstein (CF), juniors Gavriel Weinstein (LF), Eitan Green (RF) and Eli Knapp (SS), and freshmen Akiva Rotenberg (2B) and Ryan Buchsbayew (C). The small, tight-knit squad, also saw major contributions throughout the season from Joshie Rabitz (freshman, P), Jason Gamss (freshman, DH/OF), Jared Reich (freshman, 2B), Mike Wolf (senior, OF), Josh Lebovitch (sophomore, C/2B), Noah Lowe (freshman, OF) and Noam Weintraub (sophomore, P). Head coach Dylan Edelstein and assistant coaches Josh Garcia and Daniel “Drip” Dripchak, provided superb leadership and mentorship throughout the season.

The Cougars dominated the league with a mix of exceptional pitching, small ball and aggressive base running, along with the occasional bomb by Ruditzky and others. The championship game was no different. Punctuated by a commanding performance on the mound by Ruditzky (7 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 9 K) and flawless defense from the infield, TABC was limited to only four baserunners during the game, two of whom were thrown out on the base paths. With its shutdown pitching and defense at their best, Frisch manufactured runs in the third and fifth innings and never looked back.

On their way to the championship, the Cougars also vanquished last year’s COVID-shortened season winner, Kushner, and defeated SAR in a dramatic semi-final matchup won on an extra innings walk-off single by Rotenberg.

With a 16 man roster including nine underclassmen (six of whom are freshman), the Cougars took home the trophy with one of the youngest (if not the youngest) teams in the league. They are sure to be a force to be reckoned with for years to come.

Congratulations to the Frisch Cougars and their coaches on an outstanding and very memorable season.