Opening day of the 2026 season of the JCSL by MDSC finally arrived this past Sunday morning, and if Week 1 was any indication, we’re in for another unforgettable spring. Under beautiful skies at the JCSL fields (sponsored by The Friendship Circle), nine teams took the field with one shared goal: to battle their way through the regular season, reach the coveted “Ashley Homes” postseason, and ultimately hoist the prestigious “Premier Financial” championship trophy.
This year’s league features a strong and competitive lineup of teams: Clothier, CREZLY, Naftali Gerstman: Allstate Insurance, Lazar Real Estate, Orshan Legal Group, PsychCare, Tov Pizza, Web Interactive Technologies, and YL Waitering. With a blend of returning stars, exciting rookies, and retooled rosters, parity across the league may be at an all-time high.
Adding to the excitement this season are the stunning new jerseys, made possible through the generous sponsorship of Stutman Chiropractic. The uniforms brought a professional and polished look to the league on Opening Day, and players across all teams proudly took the field looking like ballplayers ready for a championship run.
A special thank you to Josh Finkelstein, whose photography once again captured the spirit, intensity, and camaraderie of the JCSL. From diving catches to clutch swings, his work helps bring these moments to life for the entire community.
Now, let’s get to the games.
Clothier 12, Tov Pizza 7
Clothier opened their 2026 campaign with a strong and balanced performance, defeating Tov Pizza 12-7 in a game that featured timely hitting, solid pitching, and standout defense.
Leading the way offensively were Yanky Goldsmith, Yossi Muller, and Ozzie Marizan, who each collected three hits in the win. Goldsmith set the tone at the top of the lineup, doubling, walking, driving in two runs, and delivering a steady outing on the mound. Marizan powered the middle of the order, driving in three runs while also adding a walk and a sacrifice fly.
Clothier jumped out to an early lead and looked to be in control, but Tov Pizza mounted a spirited rally to keep things interesting. However, Clothier responded like a seasoned team, tacking on key insurance runs late in the game to put things out of reach.
Jeremy Strauss contributed two hits, including a triple, and made his presence felt defensively at shortstop with several impressive plays. He was joined by a host of teammates who each recorded multi-hit games, including Yitzy Hyatt, Hillel Stutman, Tzvi Schechtman, and Nosson Waldman.
Defensively, Clothier was sharp throughout, with Menachem Blackman also standing out in the outfield with strong, reliable play. It was a complete team effort and a statement win to start the season.
YL Waitering 18, CREZLY 14
If there were any questions about whether the reigning champions would pick up where they left off, YL Waitering answered them emphatically on Opening Day.
In a high-scoring battle that featured multiple momentum swings, YL Waitering ultimately pulled away from CREZLY for an 18-14 victory, showcasing the depth, firepower, and championship pedigree that has made them the team to beat.
The offensive star of the game was All-Star Zack Lerner, who delivered a performance for the ages, going 5-for-6 with five RBIs and finishing just a home run shy of the cycle. Every time YL needed a big hit, Lerner seemed to be at the plate—and delivering.
Yaakov Furman made his impact felt in multiple facets of the game, wreaking havoc on the basepaths with his speed while also anchoring the outfield with strong defensive play. Meanwhile, Koby Leder made a dazzling debut at shortstop, driving in three runs and flashing the kind of defensive brilliance that had fans buzzing.
Simcha Malin turned in one of the most complete performances of the day, going 2-for-4 with a walk and two RBIs, while playing exceptional defense at second base. On the mound, Mayer Goldsmith once again proved why he is one of the league’s most decorated pitchers, delivering a composed outing and shutting things down when it mattered most.
The supporting cast also came up big. Jason Mann showed off a cannon arm at third base, while rookie Aroni Levine impressed in his debut, reaching base four times with a hit and three walks. Mendy Rauh added pressure on the bases with his speed, and both Yair Moinzada and Avrumi Friedman contributed key hits and solid work behind the plate.
The defensive highlight of the game belonged to Yoni Levin, whose sliding catch in the outfield ended an inning and prevented what could have been a game-tying rally.
With the win, YL Waitering starts 1-0 and looks every bit like a team capable of building a dynasty.
Lazar Real Estate 21, Gerstman Insurance 6
In perhaps the most dominant performance of the opening week, Lazar Real Estate sent a clear message to the rest of the league with a resounding 21-6 victory over Gerstman Insurance in a game shortened by the mercy rule after six innings.
From the outset, Lazar’s offense was firing on all cylinders. The team reached the maximum run limit in three separate innings, showcasing an explosive lineup that was relentless from top to bottom.
In a remarkable statistical feat, seven different players reached base at least three times in the game: Ben Blackman, Captain Chaim Finkelstein, Yoni Finkelstein, Team Owner Mordy Lazar, Walter Johnson Jr., Gershon Vegh, and Moshe Tuchman. That level of production across the lineup is virtually unheard of and speaks volumes about the team’s depth.
Walter Johnson Jr. delivered the walk-off hit in the sixth inning to seal the mercy-rule victory, capping off an already dominant showing.
On the defensive side, pitcher Dany Donaty kept Gerstman’s hitters off balance all game, inducing a steady stream of ground balls. Many of those found their way to shortstop Chaim Finkelstein, who seemed to be everywhere on the field, making play after play. His performance included several highlight-reel moments and multiple double plays, anchoring a defense that backed up its offense in every way.
After Week 1, Lazar Real Estate has firmly established itself as a serious contender.
Orshan Legal Group 17, Web Interactive Technologies 7
Rounding out the Opening Day slate, Orshan Legal Group put together an impressive offensive showing in a win over Web Interactive Technologies.
Orshan’s lineup came out swinging early and often, piling up runs and keeping constant pressure on the WIT defense. With players like “Baboon Cruncher,” “Uncle Philip,” and “The Sawdust King,” OLG looks like a team to beat. It was a game filled with hits, aggressive baserunning, and consistent scoring, as Orshan steadily built a lead that proved too much to overcome.
