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I
I
t hasn't taken long for Congregation
Shir Tikvah to make an impact in
the InterCongregational Men's Club
Softball League.
In only its second season in the
league, Shir Tikvah is tied for fifth place
among 12 teams at the mid-season
Fourth of July break.
That statistic doesn't tell the full
story. Shir Tikvah is 6-3 with wins
over league powers Temple Israel No.
1, Temple Israel No. 2 and Temple Shir
Shalom on its resume.
Player-coach Herschel Poger's team
is winning the right way, according to
Chuck Freedman, one of the league's
coordinators.
"Herschel has learned the art of how
to balance a competitive team with the
camaraderie of teamwork and brother-
hood:' Freedman said. "It's an honor to
have Shir Tikvah in the league and to
play against them:'
Poger said his team is a cross section
of the Troy shul with players ages 35-55,
board members, family education
teachers and even new Associate Rabbi
Dan Horwitz, whose first "official"
function with Shir Tikvah came on the
softball diamond.
Most Shir Tikvah players drive
from the eastern end of the commu-
nity — places like Troy, Oak Park and
Rochester — for games each Sunday
at Community Sports Park in West
Bloomfield.
Matt Bassin motors from Grand
Blanc.
"It's not a bad drive. About 35 min-
utes:' he said. "I really enjoy playing. I
hadn't played ball for about 20 years.
And it's been awesome becoming
friends with the guys on the team. You
used to see the same faces in shul and
not talk to them. Now you do:'
There's even two father-son combina-
tions on the team in Mark and Jordan
Small and Ken and Yale Williams.
"We look like our shul," Poger said.
"We're members first and softball play-
ers second.
"We're winning because we have ath-
letic ability and great team chemistry.
Guys on the team have gotten to know
each other. Someone you used to give a
polite nod to as you passed in the lobby
at shul is now your friend and teammate:'
Poger said announcements of the
team's game results at services always
get "a rise" from the congregation. A
team potluck open to the entire shul
community is planned for July 27 in the
Community Sports Park pavilion after
the team's games.
Jason Golnick DDS, MS
Arnold L. Golnick DDS, MS
Sam Blanchard DDS, MS
Shir Tikvah
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The team was born in early 2013 at
a fundraising euchre tournament in
a West Bloomfield restaurant. That's
where Freedman and Poger met, and
Poger learned about the league from
Freedman.
"I wasn't aware of the league' Poger
said. "I was relatively new to the shul
then, so I contacted some guys my age,
told them about the league, and we had
our first practices right before the sea-
son began:'
After a slow start last season — Poger
said players needed to knock the rust
off their games, and he had to figure
out everyone's best position — Shir
Tikvah won a few games toward the end
of the summer.
"We were shell-shocked before we got
our act together; he said. "We finished
strong. That's why we're not surprised
we're doing so well this season:'
Poger is confident Shir Tikvah has
enough players that a second team can
be formed to play in the league in 2015.
"We even thought about it this year:'
he said.
Also on this year's Shir Tikvah ros-
ter are Jordan Acker, Paul Blatt, Kyle
Edwards, Gary Gerson, Scott Kleiman,
David Leszkowitz, Scott Litt, Justin
Racklin, Marty Rinke, Josh Rusgo and
Adam Skrzynski.
Adat Shalom Synagogue No. 1 was on
top of the league standings through the
games of June 29 with a 7-1 record.
It was followed by Temple Israel No.
1 (7-2), Temple Israel No. 2 (7-2-1),
Congregation Beth Ahm (5-2-1), Shir
Tikvah and Shir Shalom (6-3), Adat
Shalom No. 2 (4-5), Temple Beth El
(3-5), Congregation Shaarey Zedek
(3-6), Temple Israel No. 3 (3-7), Temple
Kol Ami (1-8) and Bais Chabad Torah
Center(1 -9). ❑
Please send sports news to
sports@thejewishnews.com.
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Andreina Castro DDS, MS
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