A Championship Season for Kushner Academy

The baseball team at Joseph Kushner Hebrew Academy has come quite a way in Coach Chris Henry's five-year rein. What happened June 19 is a terrific example.

The third-seed Cobras, making their first-ever appearance in the Yeshiva Baseball League final, captured a thrilling 4-3 victory over defending champion Flatbush at Bears & Eagles Riverfront Stadium in Newark.

Kushner got to the final by beating perennial Yeshiva powerhouse Frisch in the tournament semifnals at Farleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck. The Cobras were 0-13 against Frisch before beating the Cougars in the semifinals. Kushner ace Andrew Miller, who also won the title game, struck out 11 and allowed just four hits in beating Frisch.

Kushner set a single-season records for wins (11) and rallied in all three playoff games — Flatbush, Frisch and a 3-2 victory over the Heschel Heat at FDU.

The victory in Newark was dramatic indeed.

After two were out in the bottom of the seventh, Flatbush got a walk and single to right field. Both runners moved up on a wild pitch and were in position to win the game with a base hit. But Kushner senior tri-captain Andrew Miller struck out Mo Maleh on a full count curveball to seal the milestone victory.

Freshman Jeremy Schechter scored the game-winning run in the top of the seventh when freshman Daniel Sheris' flyball to center field was deep enough for Schecter to tag and score.

Freshman right fielder, Matthew Stadtmauer, tripled in the top of the fifth inning and came home on Josh Greenfield's single to left. The Cobras rallied to tie the game in the fifth. Schechter walked, was moved up on  Miller's sacrifice bunt and came home on Ethan Stadtmauer's long double to right center field. Steven Wengrofsky then drove in Stadtmauer with a single to right.

The Cobras then took the momentum in a tricky bottom of the fifth.

With the bases loaded sophomore shortstop David Margulis fielded a groundball and threw home to Greenfield for a force out. The next play changed the game. Miller, the pitcher, picked up a roller down the third base line and only had a chance for a play at the plate for the final out, flipped the ball to Greenfield, who held on for the final out of the inning. The base runner was thrown out of the game since he ran into Greenfield as was the head coach who was ejected for arguing.