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?

continued on page 50

