BY MICHAEL OSSORGUINE | Harrison Rottman and Blas Lee — who made their mark as youths in the Greenwich Village Little League — led Eleanor Roosevelt High School to its first Public School Athletic Association AA Division baseball championship on Monday at Yankee Stadium. But their Cinderella run through the playoffs ended in a tough 3-2 defeat against Bayside High School.
“Although we weren’t able to finish off the season with a win, it was an unbelievable experience being able to upset so many teams and exceed expectations,” Rottman said. “And actually getting to play in Yankee Stadium in front of the whole school is something that we’ll all remember forever.”
“It’s like entering the cathedral of all of baseball,” Lee added.
Bayside was quick to take the lead, knocking in a run in each of the first three innings. Then things got interesting, as Eleanor Roosevelt a.k.a. ELRO scored once each in the third and fifth inning. But the Huskies couldn’t muster anything more in the final two frames, and they ended up losing by just one run.
Rottman scored the Upper East Side team’s first run, and Lee had an RBI, ending their fantastic season with more great statistics. Both were involved in a key double play for ELRO, with Rottman at shortstop and Lee at first base.
The boys topped their in-season batting averages in the playoffs, with both notching an excellent .467 according to PSAL stats.
As bittersweet as a loss in the championship game is, both talented teenagers are extremely proud of their team, which went 12-4 in the regular season.
In the fall, Rottman will be heading to Gettysburg College, and Lee to Stony Brook University, and both hope to play ball on the college level. The two say playing in G.V.L.L. and at Pier 40 — the league’s Hudson River Park stomping ground — helped them grow as players and make countless friends over the years.
However, this year, culminating in the championship game, was really something special for the young athletes.
“I can honestly say that this baseball season was the most fun and exciting I’ve ever been a part of,” Rottman said.
