Livingston Temple Softball League 07/27/14

The defending champions were down 8-0 before they even blinked as B'nai Shalom started quickly in the first inning of an A division semi final. The 8 runs to begin the game were twice as many as B'nai Shalom had scored against Sharey Tefilo Israel in 14 innings prior. But there was no panic in TSTI as they came back with 5 in the bottom of the inning and tightened up the defense to allow B'nai Shalom only 3 more runs to the bottom of the 4th. That's when TSTI exploded for 6 runs to take a 14-11 lead. B'nai Shalom was held scoreless the rest of the way and Sharey Tefilo Israel added 7 more for the 21-11 victory. Mike Somekh and Jason Grebin led the offense while Corey Feigenbaum and Dave Denenberg made key defensive plays for the winners. In the other semi final #6 seed Temple Sinai defeated #2 seed B'nai Jeshurun 6-5 one week after knocking off the #3 seed. They now face the #1 seed TSTI (16-0) in the final next Sunday. Only two #6 seeds have reached the finals in the A division so far. In 2004 #6 B'nai Or lost to #4 Sharey Tefilo Israel. But in 2011 #6 B'nai Shalom defeated #1 Lubavitch Center (now Chabad).

Top seeded in the B division was Temple Sholom of West Essex but despite turning 2 double plays and Brian Frese (3-3, 3 RBI's), Glenn Lieberman (3-3), and Ben Taylor with a 2 run triple, the #1 seeded team lost to #5 Suburban Torah 12-8.  In the other semi final of the B division, #2Agudath Israel had a 2 run lead going into the top of the 7th. For #3B'nai Brith Ian Rappaport led off with a single followed by singles from Jared Resnick and Jason Crimmins which tied it up at 8.  After 1 out Paul Velelis was knocked in by Ira Perlstein and Steve Miller's sac fly drove in the 4th run of the inning giving BB a 10-8 lead into the bottom of the 7th. CAI got one run across after 1 out but left the tying and winning runs on base to fall 10-9.  B'nai Brith's defense was outstanding in the win led by pitcher Howie Jacobs, 3rd baseman Ken Merber and especially right fielder Andrew Kasdan who made a highlight reel catch early and threw a runner out at 3rd base later ending a CAI rally. For Agudath Israel Charlie Kessler was 2-3 with a double and sac fly for 3 RBI's. Greg Adelsberg had 3 hits and 2 RBI's while staying in the game with a pulled quad. Paul Aronoff and Joe Kelmanovich also had 3 hits each. It was B'nai Brith's 2nd consecutive come from behind 1 run victory and now they face Suburban Torah in the B division final with the winner moving up to the A division. The teams have met twice this season and BB has won both times.