48 | OCTOBER 19 • 2023 J
N

SPORTS

quick hits

BY STEVE STEIN

R

at” seems like a
perfect nickname
for a softball
umpire. But Barry “Rat”
Lepofsky doesn’t fit that
narrative. He’s a good guy.
“Rat is a consummate
pro. He’s a student of the
game,” said fellow softball
umpire and longtime
friend Rob Landaw, who
hired Lepofsky to work in
the Inter-Congregational
Men’s Club Summer
Softball League about a
decade ago.

“Rat knows how to
manage a game. He’s
respected by everyone,”
Landaw said. “He’s an
excellent umpire, but he’s
an even better human
being. Pure class. The most
humble person I know. It’s
not about ‘I’ for him. We
talk every day, and I enjoy
our conversations.”
Lepofsky’s long softball
umpiring career — 53
years — was recognized
Monday by the Michigan
Jewish Sports Foundation.

Longtime softball umpire Barry
‘Rat’ Lepofsky joins the ranks of
Pillars of Excellence recipients.

This ‘Rat’ is
‘Pure Class’

STEVE STEIN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Barry “Rat”
Lepofsky shows
off his classic
strike call.

SHERRI LEPOFSKY

This is an important season for
hockey player Josh Nodler from
Oak Park. It’s his final season of
collegiate eligibility. After playing
previously for Michigan State and
the University of Massachusetts,
Nodler landed at Bowling
Green this spring.
Unfortunately, controver-
sy has clouded the start
of the Bowling Green sea-
son. Coach Ty Eigner and
three unnamed Bowling
Green players were sus-
pended in September for
an alleged hazing incident
off-campus. Eigner is
on administrative leave
while the incident is being
reviewed.
The alleged hazing and suspen-
sions reportedly led to a decision

by Bowling Green star Austen
Swankler, the pre-season Player of
the Year in the Central Collegiate
Hockey Association in a poll of
coaches and media, to enter the
transfer portal. Swankler is now at
Michigan Tech. Assistant
coach Curtis Carr has
taken over as interim
Bowling Green coach.
Eigner spoke highly of
Nodler in an interview
with the Jewish News this
spring.
“Josh’s resume shows
he’s a good offensive play-
er, and that’s still there,”
Eigner said. “He comes
here with a clean slate.
We know he’s motivated to do well
here and he’s happy about being
close to home.”

Josh Nodler

Josh Nodler’s New Team Starts its
Season with Distractions

Calling all Jewish athletes
ages 12-16 as of July 31,
2024. If you’re interested
in participating in the 2024
JCC Maccabi Games in
Detroit, here’s what you
need to do: Send an email
to francisilver27@gmail.com.
Basketball, baseball, dance,
golf, ice hockey, soccer,
swimming, table tennis, tennis
and volleyball are offered.
Girls ice hockey is new to
the Maccabi Games. There’s
also a Star Reporter program
for those interested in writing
about the Maccabi Games.
Host families, coaches,
assistant coaches and

volunteers also are needed.
Coaches must be at least age
21. Assistant coaches must
be at least age 18. Those
interested should also send an
email to francisilver27@gmail.
com.

Want To Compete in the 2024
JCC Maccabi Games in Detroit?

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