FYHS is very proud of our Yeshiva baseball team for competing for the very first time in the Columbus Baseball Invitational in Columbus, OH.
With 13 teams from Jewish high schools around the county, the Yeshiva took the field and opened the tournament with a convincing 10-0 victory over Rae Kushner Yeshiva High School from Livingston, NJ. Ari Lefton threw a dominant five shutout innings and Coby Kamish closed the game with two strikeouts and a pickoff. Together with big doubles from Nissim Zahtz and Ari Lefton, three runs scored by Avidon Garfinkel, and a 2-RBI single by Yaakov Avner, the Yeshiva earned the overall three-seed in the tournament. This earned the Yeshiva a first-round bye and a game against Yeshiva University Los Angeles (YULA). Three strikeouts by pitcher Yosef Volkowitz, a combined seven strikeouts in relief by Coby Kamish and Yoni Silberstein, and Nissim Zahtz’s throw from left field to Yonatan Greenberg behind the plate to save a run from scoring didn't prove to be enough and the Yeshiva fell short 9-4 to YULA.
The Yeshiva then faced SAR from New York. Thanks to a strong four inning starting pitching performance by Azi Aberman, two hits and three RBI from Boaz Greenfield, and RBI from Nissim Zahtz, Coby Kamish and Zachary Perl, the Yeshiva held off a late rally by SAR to earn a 9-8 victory. In the final game against Katz Yeshiva from Boca Raton, FL starting pitcher Azriel Greenberger struck out six batters and Shai Sulkin and Ari Lefton each struck out two in relief. Shai Warso made two key plays in the outfield and heads up base running by Jonah Levinson allowed him to score a run on a close call at first base. The Yeshiva fell 6-4 to Katz earning 6th place in the tournament.
Overall, participating in the tournament was a great experience for the team on and off the field. Our students modeled mentchlechkeit on and off the field and really put Yeshiva Baseball on the map. Special thank you to FYHS coaches Shaya Avner and Michael Perl for coaching our students and dedicating many hours on and off the field.