By Alex Goodson
After a strong regular season, in which they held or shared first place throughout, Frozen Ropes earned the Holyland Series Championship Trophy in convincing style. In the title game, Frozen Ropes beat MMJ, another powerhouse and fierce competitor, by a score of 10-1.
The post-season had proven far more dramatic for Frozen Ropes. In the quarterfinals, they emerged victorious from a tight 5-2 defensive battle with Water Sensations. Then in the semis, staring down a 9-4 deficit in the final inning, the Ropes exploded for a 10-run rally, punching their ticket to the big dance.
Meanwhile, MMJ’s road had been relatively simpler. After earning a first-round bye, MMJ trounced Tzionim 12-1 in the semifinals, strengthening their “Murderers Row” credentials.
Frozen Ropes started the championship game off strong, and never took their foot off the gas. With two outs in the top of the first inning, Darren Wolff drew first blood for the Ropes, hitting a 3-run homer. Alex Getraer lead off the second with a solo shot, to extend the lead to 4-0.
MMJ wasn’t going to give up that easily, putting runners at the corners in the bottom of the second and then driving in a run, to trail 4-1.
In the fourth inning, the Ropes’ Yehoshua Zirman stepped up to the plate with two runners in scoring position. Zirman hit a seeing eye single through the hole between shortstop and third base to drive in two more runs, lengthening the Ropes’ lead to 6-1.
After Ropes added a run in the fifth, MMJ had their most serious comeback threat of the night. Their first two batters got aboard, and the next batter sent a hard shot up the middle - only to see it nabbed by Frozen Ropes’ pitcher Matt Rosenberg, who tossed to third base for the force out. Rosenberg then struck the next batter out, and the last out came on a nice outfield catch by Kobi Greenberg, ending the potential comeback by MMJ.
With the score 7-1 in the sixth inning, Frozen Ropes attempted to close out the game and seal the victory. David Berger led off with a walk, Adin Kanefsky singled, and captain Jeremy Schechter doubled to left center to bring in a run and put two runners into scoring position. With 2 outs, Darren Wolff - who already had a homerun and 3 RBI’s on the day- singled to right, driving in two runs, and making the tally 10-1.
Rosenberg closed out the complete game victory on the mound, with five strikeouts, several big defensive plays, and grace under pressure in threatening situations.
After the protagonists’ post-game handshakes, the Frozen Ropes gathered for the presentation of the Holyland Series Championship Trophy, and proceeded to celebrate with their fans late into the night.
After a strong regular season, in which they held or shared first place throughout, Frozen Ropes earned the Holyland Series Championship Trophy in convincing style. In the title game, Frozen Ropes beat MMJ, another powerhouse and fierce competitor, by a score of 10-1.
The post-season had proven far more dramatic for Frozen Ropes. In the quarterfinals, they emerged victorious from a tight 5-2 defensive battle with Water Sensations. Then in the semis, staring down a 9-4 deficit in the final inning, the Ropes exploded for a 10-run rally, punching their ticket to the big dance.
Meanwhile, MMJ’s road had been relatively simpler. After earning a first-round bye, MMJ trounced Tzionim 12-1 in the semifinals, strengthening their “Murderers Row” credentials.
Frozen Ropes started the championship game off strong, and never took their foot off the gas. With two outs in the top of the first inning, Darren Wolff drew first blood for the Ropes, hitting a 3-run homer. Alex Getraer lead off the second with a solo shot, to extend the lead to 4-0.
MMJ wasn’t going to give up that easily, putting runners at the corners in the bottom of the second and then driving in a run, to trail 4-1.
In the fourth inning, the Ropes’ Yehoshua Zirman stepped up to the plate with two runners in scoring position. Zirman hit a seeing eye single through the hole between shortstop and third base to drive in two more runs, lengthening the Ropes’ lead to 6-1.
After Ropes added a run in the fifth, MMJ had their most serious comeback threat of the night. Their first two batters got aboard, and the next batter sent a hard shot up the middle - only to see it nabbed by Frozen Ropes’ pitcher Matt Rosenberg, who tossed to third base for the force out. Rosenberg then struck the next batter out, and the last out came on a nice outfield catch by Kobi Greenberg, ending the potential comeback by MMJ.
With the score 7-1 in the sixth inning, Frozen Ropes attempted to close out the game and seal the victory. David Berger led off with a walk, Adin Kanefsky singled, and captain Jeremy Schechter doubled to left center to bring in a run and put two runners into scoring position. With 2 outs, Darren Wolff - who already had a homerun and 3 RBI’s on the day- singled to right, driving in two runs, and making the tally 10-1.
Rosenberg closed out the complete game victory on the mound, with five strikeouts, several big defensive plays, and grace under pressure in threatening situations.
After the protagonists’ post-game handshakes, the Frozen Ropes gathered for the presentation of the Holyland Series Championship Trophy, and proceeded to celebrate with their fans late into the night.