Gates of Prayer captures SSL championship

By FRED SHEAR and ALLAN BERGER

The Greater New Orleans Synagogue Softball League(SSL) held its championship game at Mike Miley Playground in Metairie between top-seeded Congregation Gates of Prayer (GOP) and second seed Touro Synagogue on Sunday, July 20. GOP reached the finals by defeating Congregation Beth Israel 14-7 in the first semi-final game and Touro reached the finals by beating Shir Chadash Conservative Congregation 7-5 in the other semi-final game.

Touro threatened to take the early lead when after consecutive two-out base hits by Jason Adler and Steven Fielkow, Zak Rosenberg singled to left field. However, GOP left-fielder Jared Davidson made a perfect throw to catcher Scott Friedman to get the out at home plate.

In the bottom of the first inning, GOP scored its first run with third baseman Michael Gilman scoring on an infield hit by center-fielder Brad Rosenblat.

GOP champions (from left to right): Front row: Jared Davidson(LF), Aaron Karlin (SS), Fred Shear (Team Manager), Jeremy Jacobson (1B), Jon Lappen ( 2B) Second row: Mark Jaffe (RCF), Henry Rosenblat,(Team Statistics) Allan Berger (Team Coach), Scott Friedman (C), David Hirsch(DH), Michael Gilman(3B), Martin Fischman(RF)
Third row: Brad Rosenblat (LCF), Seth Shear (RCF), Damion Michael (P)

After Touro went scoreless in the top of the second inning and despite a sharp double play made by Touro’s second baseman, Keith Adler, GOP added two runs in the bottom half of the inning, scoring after hits by Jon Lappen, Martin Fischman, Jared Davidson and pitcher Damion Michaels.

Touro came back with a run in the third inning after a single by Jonathan Tebeleff, a walk and an RBI single by David Hammer.

In the bottom of the third inning, however, GOP showed why it was seeded first, putting the game out of reach by scoring an additional five runs from hits by Scott Friedman, Michael Gilman, Aaron Karlin, Jeremy Jacobson and an over-the-fence, two-run homer by Seth Shear.

The game stood at 8-1 when GOP added a ninth run in the fourth inning on base hits by Jared Davidson and Scott Friedman. That was followed by the tenth and final run in the game after a base hit by Jon Lappen and a double by Martin Fischman in the sixth inning.

Touro failed to score in its half of the seventh and final inning, thus clinching the 2014 Synagogue Softball League Championship for Gates of Prayer. Damion Michaels was the winning pitcher.

The Synagogue Softball League (SSL) season ended notably with the retirement of Touro’s Rick Epstein, who devoted over 20 years to the league as its commissioner. In honor of his service, the SSL Championship Trophy has been renamed “The Epstein Championship Trophy.”

FINAL SSL REGULAR SEASON STANDINGS:

Congregation Gates of Prayer 5-3 (*#1 seed)

Shir Chadash Conservative Congregation 5-3

Touro Synagogue 5-3 (**#2 seed)

Congregation Beth Israel 4-4-1

Temple Sinai 1-7 4

SSL PLAYOFFS:

Congregation Gates of Prayer* 14 – Beth Israel 7

Touro Synagogue** 7 – Shir Chadash Conservative Congregation 5