Livingston Temple Softball League 08/02/15

Championship weekend matched the top two seeds in each division this year for the first time in a long time. #1 seed Sharey Tefilo Israel (14-0) entered the A division final on a 37 game winning streak matched against an AABJD (9-5) team that averaged scoring 15 runs per game this season. AABJD also scored 19 runs against STI earlier in the year in a 26-19 loss. But this past Sunday it was all defense for the stingiest team in the league (7 RA per game) led by STI pitcher Mark Licht who only gave up 5 hits while stopping everything up the middle. Mike Somekh, Cary Bayer, and Corey Feigenbaum shored up the defense with some great plays behind him in a 15-3 victory for the undefeated champs. Their 38th consecutive win gave them their 3rd championship in a row. Eric Rothfeld's 3 run homer led to a 5 run 1st inning which would be all they would need.  Dave Dennenberg, Dave Kramer and Mark Licht each had 3 hits for the winners.  

In the B division, #1 seed B'nai Brith (12-2) had beaten #2 seed Chabad of West Orange (11-3) in two close games during the regular season. For the first 5 innings this game was no different and tied at 5-5. CWO opened the scoring in the 2nd with 2 runs. BB responded with 4 in the 3rd. Evan Bell then blasted a 3 run homer over the left fielder in the top of the 4th for a 5-4 CWO lead. BB came back and tied it in the 5th. But CWO broke it open in the 6th scoring 9 runs and then added 2 more in the 7th to seal the victory at 16-5. Evan Bell was red hot in the playoffs going 10/11 and 4/4 in the final with 6 RBI's and a triple away from the cycle. Donny Kanovsky, who is moving to Vermont, has played 10 seasons with the team and goes away a champion. Peter Gelman pitched a great game, had 2 hits and scored 3 times. Micha Mandel also had 2 hits, scored twice and had an incredible diving catch in left center. Jeff Stiel was 4/4 and scored twice. David Levine was 2/4 with a triple (both hits in the big 6th inning).  Rabbi Mendy Kasowitz was 3/3 plus a sac fly. Chabad of West Orange was the only visiting team in the playoffs to win out of 14 games played. 

Umpire Aaron Greenberg was honored in a presentation before the finals began for 30 years of service to the league after announcing his retirement.There were only 3 umpires in our first season and he was one of them. Commissioner Steve Weiner presented the plaque to Aaron prior to the championship games.