The Hoboken Zephyrs are champions of the Wycliffe Stiffs Stickball League for the 2023-24 season. In the championship final, which was played Tuesday, April 2 at Village Park in Wellington, the Zephyrs defeated the Bronx Clippers, 10-4.
It was a come-from-behind victory for the Zephyrs, who had to overcome a two-run deficit with an eight-run rally in the bottom of the eighth inning in order to take the lead and secure the win.
The Clippers were led by Jay Schlesinger, who hit a solo home run, and by Andy Cohen, who stroked a single, double and a triple in a losing cause. In the Zephyrs’ eight-run eighth inning, Al Leon singled to begin that inning. During the inning, run-scoring doubles were slugged by Phil Strassler, Steve Gralnick, Doug Lipman and Ira Hirschbach. Steve Klein had three RBIs for the Zephyrs.
“The victory by the Zephyrs was their first in the history of the league, which has been in existence for 22 years and has always been played at Village Park in Wellington,” said Marty Ross, longtime league commissioner. “We refer to Village Park as Stickball Blvd. South, as it reminds us of our original stickball home back in Brooklyn, New York, which is 1,221 miles away from Wellington.”
The Wycliffe Stiffs Stickball League will conclude its season on Tuesday, April 9 with its annual all-star game, also at Village Park. The game will start at 1:30 p.m.
Plans are already underway for the 2024-25 season, which will begin in early December.
