The 17U Sid Jacobson JCC baseball team captured its third straight gold medal at the Maccabi Games in Kansas City on August 6, 2025, edging Hudson 3-2 in a tightly contested final.
What made the triumph especially remarkable was the composition of the squad: twelve newcomers joined just two returning players, yet the group surged to a 19‑game winning streak that defined the tournament.
At the heart of that run was pitcher Noah Gross of Uniondale’s Hebrew Academy, who delivered five and two‑thirds scoreless innings, striking out batters and surrendering only a single hit when the pressure was highest.
Beyond the diamond, the team gave back to the community, assembling more than four hundred washkits for Repair the World Los Angeles’ shelter initiative, weaving service into every step of their championship journey.
Midot Medals highlight individual contributions
Three team members—Jack Goldberg, Chase Eichner, and Cole Eichner—earned Midot Medals for their selfless contributions after the tournament, underscoring the team’s emphasis on character as much as skill.
The championship also drew messages of encouragement from prominent figures such as Juan Soto, Francisco Lindor, and Dwight Gooden, who reached out with supportive calls and social‑media posts.
Coach Mark Rosenman praised the squad’s chemistry, noting that the players displayed little ego and a shared commitment to collective success, a dynamic that proved decisive in high‑stakes moments.
The Maccabi Games’ Olympic‑style format incorporates community‑service days, reinforcing the tournament’s broader mission of teamwork and giving back, a principle that the Sid Jacobson squad embraced wholeheartedly.