Docs claim immortality with 7-5 win in 11 innings.

NJAIM and Westrock, two amazing teams battled leaving their hearts on the field for over 2 hours and 11 innings.  Neither team would be willing to concede this game.  The defending Champs showed they were hungry, striking first, in the bottom of the second inning with 2 runs.  They knew it wouldn’t be enough however as the allopaths struck back in the top of the third with a single by Benyamin Friedman (3 for 4 2 runs scored)  with a one out single to CF.  Jason Shatkin came through with a single sending Friedman to 3rd.  Then Jack Bodner would send home the first run of the night with a sac fly, scoring Doc Friedman from third.  It was not the last time Bodner would come through during the game.  Westrock was not to be denied however… With hitting Stars Steve Romer and Dovid Singer, they immediately struck back with 2 runs putting the score at 4-1.  With Lobenberg looking like the champion he is, it became quiet in the NJAIM dugout, indeed.

In the top of the fourth, Yitz Greenbaum singled to right field.  Shalom Schwartz followed with a ground ball to second base, that Greenbaum beat out.  Noam Block followed with a single bringing home Greenbaum.  Ari Shatkin followed with a ground ball to the usually  sure handed Yossi Ritterman but the ball went under the glove of Ritterman and into left field.  Schwartz tried scoring from second, but an amazing throw from Naftali Mark to Steve Romer nailed Schwartz at the plate, deflating the doctor’s sails.  Season MVP Elchanon Tenembaum followed with a sac fly brining home Block and sending Shatkin to third.  The docs would tack on 2 more on an error and the docs took the lead 5-4.  Suddenly all seemed right in their world and the smell of champagne was in the air, however only a fool would count out this amazing Westrock team, that followed with a run in the bottom of the fifth keeping the score at 5.  It would stay that way for a very long time, until the bottom of the 9th, when Westrock had a runner at third base with one out, and the heart of their lineup coming up to bat.  Not since Obama care were the docs so depressed…… Shalom Schwartz and Shatkin were hugging in the dugout as the impending doom filled Reisman stadium….. Fortunately  veteran Yitz Greenbaum stared that fear in the face and said…”Not tonight you don’t win”.  He induced a pop up, walked the dangerous Jeremy Nussbaum and when the ball left the bat of the dangerous Dovid Singer, all hearts were lifted when they realized the ball was headed to the sure handed Noam Block……They knew they would get out of it and the game would continue in extra innings.   It would stay there, with both teams trading innings like cards until the top of the 11th.  Avi Orlansky led off reaching  on an error…Doc Friedman followed with a double sending Orlansky to third.  Jason Shatkin was intentionally walked which brought tonight's hero, Jack Bodner to the plate.  They were praying for a sac fly but what they got instead was a base hit, scoring Friedman and Orlansky, giving the docs a 7-5 lead.

Westrock was not going to go down quietly.  Base hits by the dangerous Steve Romer put runners on first and second with one out.  The great and longtime Westrock Centerfielder Shumy Reichman was up….. as the ball left his bat and continued up the middle it was only a question of how many runs would score, but Meir Stimmel ran to his left, and dived like he always does…..picked up the ball…… touched second……and fired into the outstretched glove to his longtime teammate, captain and friend Jason Shatkin, who stretched all of his 5’8” frame  would allow, beating the fleet footed Reichman by a hair…… breaking the willful hearts of Westrock, while allowing the docs to celebrate with glee and joy……no shortage of hugging and pictures would follow as NJAIM entered in the elite class of RJSL immortality with a win that would be the hardest to come by this season, and the most satisfying by far……

Congratulations to Steve Romer, and the entire West Rock team, for being in the championships 5 years in a row and winning 3.  They fought a great battle and they left every ounce  of their hearts which are full and alive, if even for a short time broken, on the field where it belonged.   There should be only pride in their being because they are truly a great team.  Captain Steve will….be back in the championships next year, guaranteed.

And NJAIM crowded around the pitchers mound with hugs galore and emotion flying. And Commissionser Sam and Marve showed the trophy to them.  They said, This is a symbol of RJSL greatness.  Many have strived for it…..but tonight it only belongs to you….. They then presented the MVP for the post season to Meir Stimmel who, carried the team with his bat and uplifted them with his defense.

So NJAIM celebrated there, on the field of Reisman…. Their eyes had not dimmed and their vigor had not diminished through the entire wonderful year.  Never before in the RJSL has there been  a team that had the outstanding record of 24-2… In the immortal words of your captain…Jason Shatkin, who loves you with all of his heart…..”You are all, just amazing…and thank you for everything you have given to this team and to yourselves…… Our work is completed….……”

2014 Championship Series