B'nai B'rith: 2011 WHSL Champions
Sometimes the narrative matches up with reality. Today was one of those times. B'nai B'rith entered the final having allowed only 6 runs in the playoffs, including shutouts in the quarterfinals and semifinals. Supported by outstanding infield defense, B'nai southpaw Dan Forrester allowed only two runs in a 5-2 victory over WJC to earn the 2011 WHSL Championship.
B'nai seemingly put the game away in the first inning. Forrester led off with a single and came around to score on B'nai's third straight hit to open the frame. WJC pitcher Jon Nissenblatt got the next two outs and was on the verge of escaping with no further damage. But Eric Zimmerman hit a bomb over over the left-center-fielder. He pulled into third base with a two-run triple. Murray Goldfarb followed with a single to score Eric Z., and B'nai had a lead it would never relinquish.
WJC scored both of its runs in the top of the second. Eric Brown struck a sharp grounder to third base. The throw pulled B'nai first baseman Dan Wurtzel off the bag and into the baseline, where he collided with Brown. The ball rolled away, allowing Brown to rumble all the way to third. WJC's bottom of the order came through, with RBI singles by Steve Zelin and Jon Nissenblatt. But the top of the order couldn't sustain the rally.
The championship game was filled with spectacular defense. B'nai's infield turned two slick double plays and made numerous rangy grabs to keep WJC off the bases. Those included a blind, over-the-shoulder catch by shortstop Jeremy Cohen on a pop-up to shallow left field. WJC's shortstop Dan Kaplan leaped to pick off a line drive and used Blind Brook's turf field to one-hop a throw to first for a double play. Alex Weisberger threw out a B'nai runner at the plate from his position in left-center.
All that defense allowed only one run over the final seven innings. B'nai was able to keep WJC from threatening after the second inning, riding impressive run prevention to the 2011 WHSL Championship.
B'nai seemingly put the game away in the first inning. Forrester led off with a single and came around to score on B'nai's third straight hit to open the frame. WJC pitcher Jon Nissenblatt got the next two outs and was on the verge of escaping with no further damage. But Eric Zimmerman hit a bomb over over the left-center-fielder. He pulled into third base with a two-run triple. Murray Goldfarb followed with a single to score Eric Z., and B'nai had a lead it would never relinquish.
WJC scored both of its runs in the top of the second. Eric Brown struck a sharp grounder to third base. The throw pulled B'nai first baseman Dan Wurtzel off the bag and into the baseline, where he collided with Brown. The ball rolled away, allowing Brown to rumble all the way to third. WJC's bottom of the order came through, with RBI singles by Steve Zelin and Jon Nissenblatt. But the top of the order couldn't sustain the rally.
The championship game was filled with spectacular defense. B'nai's infield turned two slick double plays and made numerous rangy grabs to keep WJC off the bases. Those included a blind, over-the-shoulder catch by shortstop Jeremy Cohen on a pop-up to shallow left field. WJC's shortstop Dan Kaplan leaped to pick off a line drive and used Blind Brook's turf field to one-hop a throw to first for a double play. Alex Weisberger threw out a B'nai runner at the plate from his position in left-center.
All that defense allowed only one run over the final seven innings. B'nai was able to keep WJC from threatening after the second inning, riding impressive run prevention to the 2011 WHSL Championship.