DRS Wildcats Stomp TABC Storm 9-1, Move to Semi-Finals

By Natalia Kozikowska
Standard Staff

The DRS Wildcats of Woodmere swept New Jersey’s TABC Storm 9?1 in the first round of the Yeshiva League playoffs last week. Wildcats pitcher Yitzy Schwalb shut down Storm’s lineup and Daniel Ash hit a grand slam, leading DRS to a 9?1 victory over TABC.

The game turned sour for The Torah Academy of Bergen County in the bottom of the second when star pitcher, Ari Minsky, gave away three walks. By the end of the inning the Wildcats scored four runs, three of which were the result of Minsky’s shaky hand. With bases loaded, Minsky walked David Rosenthal, Yitzy Schwalb and Dani Scheinman. A base hit by Gavi Dechter also allowed Chili Szlafrok to score a run, giving the Wildcats an early 4?0 lead. The third inning was not much better for the TABC Storm pitcher who gave up another walk to opposing pitcher Schwalb, who eventually ran across home plate after a base hit from Dani Scheinman for a 5?0 lead.

DRS Wildcats batter, Daniel Ash, as he hits a Grand Slam. Photo by Natalia Kozikowska.

The fourth inning proved to be another difficult challenge for the Storm when Minsky walked Gavi Dechter, Avrumi Blisko and Doron Youseflalek, leaving the bases loaded. With two outs, Daniel Ash hit a grand slam, his first homer of the season, and the Wildcats took a staggering 9?0 lead. At this point of the game, whispers of the “Mercy Rule” began to fill the air.  “Winning the game obviously means more than the homerun” said Ash. “I’m just happy I was able to help my team with the homerun.”

TABC did manage to score in the top of the fifth inning after Tzvi Kaployeff knocked a single between second and third to allow Etan Bardesh to score. This effort may have come a little too late for the Storm. Both the Wildcats and Storm remained run-less after the sixth inning.

DRS Wildcats coach Larry Gross was feeling great after the win. He praised Ash’s grand slam. “It was a really nice shot” he says. “He really got all of it” he adds. Gross also gives credit to his star pitcher Yitzy Schwalb for leaving TABC scoreless until the fifth inning. “He pitched great” says Gross. “He only walked two batters which is amazing” he adds.

While it is clear that the DRS Wildcats had a strong offensive game, coach Larry Gross feels that the Wildcats played really well defensively as well. “That’s all you have to do. Not walk anybody and let your fielders play behind you” he says. “I just thought the entire infield played extremely well… everybody.”

TABC Storm coach Bobby Kaplan agrees that in this game, there were just far too many walks. He hopes that next season his team can improve in every facet of the game. Kaplan says that overall TABC Storm’s season was “fine.” With a disappointed sigh he added, “Every time you have a one game situation, someone loses. That’s the way it goes.”

The DRS Wildcats will be playing their first semi-finals game against the HAFTR Hawks of Lawrence on Friday, June 8 at North Woodmere Park at 2:30 pm. Look for the game results on our website, StandardLI.com.