By Jack Borenstein — Tribune Correspondent
B’nai Brith (Toronto) Baseball League playoffs have concluded, with champions ranging from first timers to grizzled veteran winners. Each series was best two out of three, except Executive Fast Pitch, where Royal Blue (RB) defeated Purple 4-0 in a one-game final.
RB were down 5-0 in the decisive round-robin game to Purple. Led by C Hersh Freedman, who hit two homers, they rallied for a 13-10 win, and a trip to the final. Royal Blue 3B/Manager Allen Gerskup said, “This team won every game it needed during the regular season, including the season finale, which helped obtain an easier path through the round robin playoffs.”
Fast Pitch - ‘A’ Division: UCL Mintz & Partners swept past UCL Wolverines 2-0. Mintz’s CF/Manager Les Bernstein said all players knew the importance of going for a 10th consecutive championship. After losing the opening game, the team racked up 17 consecutive regular season victories and swept the semis and finals. They clinched the title with an 8-2 win, with Mintz pitcher Howard Shilling tossing a one hitter and striking out 15 batters.
Modified ‘A’: It was a clean sweep for UCL Steelers (Player/Co-manager Mike Smulevitch) over UTB WTB 2 games to none. The compilation of players from Fast Pitch ‘A’ teams like Wolverines, Unity Encore Sales, TFL EuroFase, and UCL Dynamic Giants and Mintz, combined into a united and talented squad. Steelers won a second consecutive championship, with a 27-2 win.
‘B’: UCL Fire swept Unity B.T. Moose two games straight. Fire Assistant Manager Nate Jack said the team hovered around .500 during the regular season, but the squad turned it around in the playoffs with perfect defence, timely hits and superb pitching from Michael Goldberg. Jack added that it was sweet for 1B/Manager Jay Kofsky who has managed and played for the Fire for more than 10 years, never winning a championship until now.
‘B’: TFL Sailor Saints defeated UCL Angry Dragons 2 games to 1. It was a long circuitous route for the Sailor Saints, coming off a 5-13 record in 2003 in Modified ‘A’. Saints INF/manager Eric Shedletsky said, “Every at bat, every out, and every game was played with one goal in mind: winning. Our mantra for the season was ‘All Business’ .”
‘C’: TFL Shady Lane defeated Unity Royals two out of three. Perhaps the most exciting series of all, with a nail-biting 23-22 victory in the deciding game giving Shady Lane a third consecutive championship.Shady Lane Pitcher/Manager Jason Applebaum said the team retools every season, and still comes out on top. “The 2004 edition just seemed to fit, and is truly a team for the ages.”
‘D’ Division: UCL Blue Jays defeated UCL Sole Power 2 games to 1. The deciding game saw Sole Power rally from a five-run deficit in the last inning to tie the match at 8. Blue Jays LF/Assistant Coach Chuck Weinroth credited P/SS/2B/Manager Steve Lubek for recruiting key new personnel, maintaining fun and cohesiveness for players, which keyed a third championship in Modified and a collective seventh championship in 15 years.
Slop itch: Division ‘A’: UCL Carlton Group Bears defeated Unity Kadimah 2-1. There were many ups and downs during the first half of the season, in part incorporating six new players, according to OF/Assistant Manager Barrie Hytman. “The team played .500 in the first half of the season. We turned it around in the second half, only losing two games along the way.” After spliting the first two games, game 3 saw the Bears break out early, as they cruised to a 16-8 win. A heady achievement given core Bear players having played in lower slo pitch divisions over the years, without achieving a championship.
‘B’: Unity Birman and Friends defeated Maccabiah Maple Leafs two games in a row. Birman LC/Manager Stephen Lapowich complemented the first-year team “after starting slowly, gradually improved as people solidified their defensive positions.” Birman rallied to win game one of the semis against Canyon Sox in extra innings. The win brought renewed confidence in being able to rally from behind, as they smashed eight home runs to sweep the Sox. They concluded the finals with a 24-15 win. Lapowich highlighted contributions of players like P David Freeman’s pitching and hitting, LF/RF Adam Gotfried’s late season timely offense, RC/LF Ari Berman solidifying the outfield and Aaron Kroll’s transformation into a great 3B.
Jack Borenstein can be emailed at j_borenstein@hotmail.com.
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