Beth David Wins Sixth Consecutive Main Line Shul League Softball Championship!

The Main Line Shul League's title game, played annually on Labor Day at South Ardmore Park, featured two perennial league titans, the five-time defending champs Beth David Bruins vs. the 5th seed Beth Hillel Gold The game, played under impeccable weather conditions, was a title rematch from 2006 — the Gold outlasted the Bruins 13-12 on the final weekend regular season schedule game, knocking the Bruins out of a potential first place finish.

Both teams seemed a bit tight at the onset with Beth Hillel Gold taking an early half-inning lead, 1-0. The Bruins could only manage one hit in the bottom half by Eric Zager, but with a walk to Peter Ochroch and two long fly outs, Zager was able to score on Rob Pearlstein's sac fly. The Bruins' offensive tightness carried over on the defensive end with an uncharacteristic string of errors on routine infield plays that nearly unraveled the whole season. But cool heads and a modicum of poise ultimately prevailed and the Bruins got out of the second inning with luckily only yielding four runs. Trailing 6-1 and going into the bottom of the second, the Bruins were on the ropes early but were able to string three hits and salvage two runs to close 6-3. Neither team scored in the third while Beth Hillel added one in the fourth, which could have easily been three if it were not for a fine defensive stop by catcher Larry Berlin on an errant outfield cut-off throw.

With the score 7-3 going into the bottom of the fifth, the Bruins were down to nine outs and clearly needed a spark. Pitcher Mitch Clair was working on a masterpiece, constantly keeping Bruin hitters guessing with magnificent off-speed and breaking pitches while scattering four single hits and two walks through four. Center fielder Neil Sukonik led off and lit the fuse with a smash single, sending a statement to the Men of Gold. Within moments, Beth Hillel's Cinderella finish was dashed by an 11-run torrent with the Bruins batting around, sending 14 men to the plate, including doubles by Eric Zager and Ken Margulies and a three-run homer by Jeff Scher that nearly ended up at Haverford Road. The Bruins added an unnecessary insurance run in the sixth with doubles by Judd Hollander (the only Bruin to collect three hits) and Steve Berk. The Gold, rattled by the fifth inning, did not mount a threat in the sixth or seventh while the final tally was not indicative of how close the game really was.

Former Commissioner Scott Plaver presented the Bruins with the Bennett Solomon Memorial trophy for the sixth time to Coach Don Lucoff and Assistant Coach Neil Sukonik. States Lucoff, "This was our third title game with Beth Hillel (2002, '04 and '06) and all three have been extremely competitive. Of the six overall titles, they have been the team that takes us to the brink. I personally look forward to playing them more than any team, probably because I can't seem to get on base. But that's what makes champions — when the going is rough we pull together and support one another. We have tremendous depth and different players always seem to step up in clutch situations week after week."