{"id":25564,"date":"2015-08-24T01:33:40","date_gmt":"2015-08-24T07:33:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/?p=25564"},"modified":"2015-08-25T02:00:25","modified_gmt":"2015-08-25T08:00:25","slug":"beth-israel-captures-ssl-championship","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/beth-israel-captures-ssl-championship\/","title":{"rendered":"Beth Israel captures SSL championship"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"p1\">Beth Israel Synagogue won the 2015 \u00a0New Orleans Synagogue Softball League (SSL)\u00a0Championship on August 2, defeating defending champs \u00a0Congregation Gates of Prayer in the championship game \u00a07-6 at Wally Pontiff Playground.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_25577\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/IMG_14772.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-25577\" class=\"wp-image-25577 size-medium lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/IMG_14772-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"IMG_1477[2]\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/IMG_14772-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/IMG_14772-1024x768.jpg 1024w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 300px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 300\/225;\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-25577\" class=\"wp-image-25577 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/IMG_14772-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"IMG_1477[2]\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/IMG_14772-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/IMG_14772-1024x768.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/noscript><\/a><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-25577\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Front row, from left: Rabbi David Posternock (C), Randy Opotowsky (P) Back row, from left: Justin Napoli (3rd), Henry Opotowsky (RCF), Gerald Levin (1st), Jason Feder (2nd), Hilton Title &#8212; Team Captain (RF), Dylan Laventhal (LCF), Austin Kirzner (SS), Cameron Kirzner (LF) Not pictured: Rabbi Gabe Greenberg, Alvis Wilson, David Higgins and Lee Kirzner<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"p1\">The championship reflected an impressive turnaround for Beth Israel, which started the season 0-3 and was 1-4 at the halfway point of the regular season. However, the team stormed back and went unbeaten for the remainder of the season including all playoff games.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">In winning their second SSL championship in the last three years, Beth Israel repeated the same performance it had two years ago, when their team also finished the regular season at 5-4-1, earning the fourth and final seed in the playoffs before going on to win the 2013 SSL Championship against Gates of Prayer in the finals.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Due to an unprecedented four weekends of rained-out games, the entire \u00a0SSL playoffs involving the top four teams of the regular season\u00a0were held on the same day. In the first semifinal game of the day\u00a0pitting second seed Shir Chadash Conservative Congregation against third seed \u00a0Gates of Prayer, it was Gates of Prayer that came from behind\u00a0to win\u00a0 by the score of 22-7. After being behind 7-5 after 4 innings, Gates of Prayer erupted for 12 runs in the\u00a0top of the 5th and then added 5 more runs in\u00a0 the 7th to cruise into the finals, looking to play the winner of the second semifinal game.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">In the second semifinal game, matching top seed and regular season champs Temple Sinai versus fourth seed Beth Israel, a very close game ensued. Beth Israel struck first to score all of their 5 runs in the top of the 3rd inning, with Temple Sinai scoring all of their 4 runs in the bottom of the 4th. Neither team was able to score again, and Beth Israel prevailing by the final score 5-4, advancing to the finals to play Gates of Prayer in the rematch of the 2013 championship.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">In the Temple Sinai vs Beth Israel game, strong pitching performances were turned in by \u00a0both teams&#8217; respective pitchers&#8212; Eli Ackerman for Temple Sinai and Beth Israel&#8217;s \u00a0substitute pitcher Randy Opotowsky (for regular pitcher Lee Kirzner). Other standout players of note in this game for Temple Sinai were: \u00a03B Andy Weinstock, who went 3-3 at the plate with 1 RBI and pitcher\u00a0Eli Ackerman, who went 2-3 with 1 RBI. \u00a0For Beth Israel:\u00a0 LF\u00a0Cameron Kirzner&#8217;s diving and sliding backhanded catch of a foul fly ball was especially memorable; LCF \u00a0Dylan Laventhal , who went 2-4 with an opposite-field triple and 1 RBI; and 1B Gerald Levin and catcher Rabbi David Posternock, who each had RBI singles.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">In the championship game a very close, even more exciting game ensued. Gates of Prayer went up 1-0 in their bottom of the 1st inning. In the top of the 4th, Beth Israel pushed across 2 runs on RBI singles by Dylan Laventhal and Gerald Levin to take a 2-1 lead. In the top of the 6th, Beth Israel added 3 runs via RBI singles by Jason Feder and Justin Napoli to go up 5-1. In the bottom of the 6th, Gates of Prayer added 3 runs also,\u00a0scoring two of them on \u00a0a towering two-out opposite-field triple to the\u00a0\u00a0right field fence by LCF Brad Rosenblatt.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_25565\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/IMG_1478-Copy3.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-25565\" class=\"wp-image-25565 size-medium lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/IMG_1478-Copy3-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"IMG_1478 - Copy[3]\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/IMG_1478-Copy3-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/IMG_1478-Copy3-1024x768.jpg 1024w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 300px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 300\/225;\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-25565\" class=\"wp-image-25565 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/IMG_1478-Copy3-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"IMG_1478 - Copy[3]\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/IMG_1478-Copy3-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/IMG_1478-Copy3-1024x768.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/noscript><\/a><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-25565\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Celebrating the victory after the final championship. (Courtesy Hilton Title)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"p1\">Then in the 7th, Beth Israel\u00a0added \u00a02 runs on RBI singles, making the score 7-4, \u00a0setting the stage for Gates of Prayer&#8217;s last at bat. In their bottom of the 7th and last inning, Gates of Prayer rallied for two more runs on RF Martin Fischman&#8217;s 2-out inside-the-park home run, making it a one-run game at 7-6. \u00a0Beth Israel retired the\u00a0next batter to preserve the score with Beth Israel holding on to win the SSL Championship in a nail-biter finish by the score of\u00a0 7-6.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Most Valuable Player (MVP)\u00a0for the SSL Playoffs was Beth Israel&#8217;s Dylan Laventhal, who for the two playoff games went 5-8 with a triple and 3 RBIs.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Winning pitcher for Beth Israel in both playoff games was Randy Opotowsky, who only three weeks prior to the playoffs, had knee surgery and played courageously throughout the season to help Beth Israel make their &#8220;minyan&#8221; of ten players out on the ballfield.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">A team championship victory BBQ\u00a0Party was held the following Sunday, August 9, at Beth Israel team captain Hilton Title&#8217;s home, where First-Year SSL Commissioner Brian Shepard\u00a0presented the SSL Championship Epstein Trophy, named in honor of past SSL Commissioner of 23 years (1992-2014), Rick Epstein.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">This year the SSL welcomed back the Chabad House Center\u00a0Team, who had not fielded a team for the previous two years, bringing the number of synagogues participating to a total of six.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Other synagogues\/players (both male and female) in the Southeast LA region interested in fielding teams\/participating in the league are urged to contact Commissioner of SSL Brian Shepard (also Touro Synagogue Team Captain)\u00a0or the respective captains of the other five SSL Teams:<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Ben Horwitz, captain, Shir Chadash Conservative Synagogue<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Rabbi Yochanan Rivkin, captain, Chabad House Center<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Fred Shear\/Allan Berger, co-captains, Congregation Gates of Prayer<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Brian Shepard, captain, Touro Synagogue<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Hilton Title, captain, Congregation Beth Israel<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Jake Weinstock, captain, Temple Sinai<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">The 2016 SSL season commences in March and games will be held at Mike Miley Playground in Metairie\u00a0on most Sunday mornings through July.<\/p>\n<div style=\"padding-bottom:20px; padding-top:10px;\" class=\"hupso-share-buttons\"><!-- Hupso Share Buttons - https:\/\/www.hupso.com\/share\/ --><a class=\"hupso_toolbar\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hupso.com\/share\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/static.hupso.com\/share\/buttons\/share-medium.png\" style=\"border:0px; padding-top: 5px; float:left;\" alt=\"Share Button\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" class=\"lazyload\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.hupso.com\/share\/buttons\/share-medium.png\" style=\"border:0px; padding-top: 5px; float:left;\" alt=\"Share Button\"\/><\/noscript><\/a><script type=\"text\/javascript\">var hupso_services_t=new Array(\"Twitter\",\"Facebook\",\"Google Plus\",\"Pinterest\",\"Linkedin\",\"Tumblr\",\"Email\");var hupso_background_t=\"#EAF4FF\";var hupso_border_t=\"#66CCFF\";var hupso_toolbar_size_t=\"medium\";var hupso_image_folder_url = \"\";var hupso_url_t=\"\";var hupso_title_t=\"Beth%20Israel%20captures%20SSL%20championship\";<\/script><script type=\"text\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/static.hupso.com\/share\/js\/share_toolbar.js\"><\/script><!-- Hupso Share Buttons --><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1491],"tags":[1702,8812,8790,8795,8788,167,3222,8802],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25564"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=25564"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25564\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":25580,"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25564\/revisions\/25580"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=25564"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=25564"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=25564"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}