NEWTON, July 28, 2011 -- If a passerby had glanced at the scene unfolding at Cabot School Field as the sun set on this warm summer evening, he would have been surprised to hear from the roucous celebrants exactly what had transpired.

 

Here were members of the Temple Emanuel 3 Bat Sabbath softball team, pounding each other on the back and pounding back Narragansetts like they had just beaten out Newton neighbor Mishkan Tefila for the championship of the Men's Shul Softball League (MSSL). Their smiles and laughs gave no clue as to how the contest had actually ended, an agonizing 17-16 loss in which Bat Sabbath blew a three-run lead in extra innings.

 

The things that had gotten Bat Sabbath to the title game -- great defense, solid pitching, clutch hitting, smart baserunning -- had failed them when it mattered most. And while there would be frustration later for TE3 players as the reality of the event sunk in, at this point there was only the joy and camaraderie that came from a successful season. It may not have ended how they wanted, but for a team that had been under .500 a year before, a 8-4 campaign that ended one inning short of glory was still a victory of sorts.

 

There were several comebacks to applaud. Home club Mishkan had delighted its large and loud fan contingent by taking an early 4-1 lead on some poor defensive play by TE3, but Bat Sabbath rallied to make it 6-6 in the top of the fifth. Mishkan put up a seven-spot in the bottom of the frame to take a commanding 13-6 advantage, but again Bat Sabbath rebounded with a four-run sixth and three-run seventh to force extra innings. Neither Jack Brotman or Saul Wisnia had his best stuff on the mound, but both pitchers bore down as TE3 crept back in it. At bat everyone contributed, with 11 different players getting at least one RBI and run scored.

 

Still, there were ominous signs this would not be Bat Sabbath's night; its sixth-inning rally ended when a runner was called out for missing third base on a sprint home from second, and its chance to go ahead in the seventh was thwarted by a failure to tack on any more runs after loading the bases with one out. Then, after scoring three more in the eighth, they blew a chance to break the game wide open by again leaving the bases loaded. (All told, TE3 left 15 on.) A 16-13 advantage should have been enough, but Mishkan had one more big inning left.

 

Several players stepped forward to "take the blame" for TE3. Wisnia, whose injured knee led to eighth-inning wildness, lamented not taking himself out when the pain accelerated during Mishkan's winning rally. Sluggers Dave Altman and Peter Schuller kicked themselves for not coming through with their usual allotment of doubles and home runs. Nessy Shems, despite 4 RBI and Bat Sabbath's biggest hit  -- a booming triple in the sixth -- wished he could have come through with the sacks full in the seventh. Brotman ached to erase his base-running gaffe.

 

But teammates would have none of this blame-game. On this evening, which ended with toasts and tater tots at Union Street, there were no losers -- only guys who had aenjoyed their time together and looked forward to getting another crack at the title in 2012. END (FOR NOW)