Yeshiva vs. Lehman: The search for a first win

The Yeshiva University Maccabees travel to face off against the Lehman College Lightning in an important doubleheader next Tuesday, all of which for the wrong reasons.

The Maccabees have not won a baseball game since February 27, 2022.

As for the Lightning, they are currently riding a 41-game losing streak spanning 691 days.

Here are some storylines about the upcoming matchup.

Fun facts about the Yeshiva baseball program

The Yeshiva Maccabees’ baseball program had its inaugural season in 2008, where they went 0-28 overall.

Much like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, they opened with a long losing streak, as Yeshiva lost its first 37 games as a team carrying over into 2009.

The Maccabees play in the Skyline Conference, a Division III conference, as they have been for all 18 seasons as a baseball program.

Yeshiva has never had a winning season, with their best season being in 2009 when they went 4-19 overall.

Fun facts about the Lehman baseball program

The Lehman Lightning baseball program has not won a game since May 9, 2023 in a 7-4 win over Baruch College.

Lehman’s last season with a win percentage of .500 or better was in 2015 when they went 14-14 overall.

The Lightning play in the City University of New York Athletic Conference, a Division III conference.

Lehman has won four CUNYAC conference tournament titles since the conference’s inception in 1983.

The history of Yeshiva-Lehman

Lehman leads the head-to-head series with a 17-0 record against Yeshiva since May 4, 2008.

In the most recent meeting, the Lightning swept the Maccabees in a home doubleheader on May 13, 2022.

Yeshiva has not won a single game against Lehman on the road, going 0-15 against them since May 4, 2008.

Maccabees’ players to watch

Catcher Jake Arnow has been far and away the best hitter for Yeshiva this season with a .667 slugging percentage that places fourth in the Skyline Conference.

Shortstop Coby Kamish is tough to beat on the basepaths with three stolen bases–tied for the team lead–and has not been caught stealing this year.

Pitcher Yehuda Speyer leads the Maccabees with 13 strikeouts this season in a team-high eight appearances.

Pitcher Noah Steinmetz has the best strikeout-to-walk ratio for Yeshiva with nine strikeouts to six walks.

Lightning players to watch

First baseman Juan Maldonado is third in the CUNYAC in batting average, hitting .395 in 38 at-bats this season.

Center fielder Kevin Arias leads the Lightning with six stolen bases and is second in the CUNYAC in home runs with two.

On the mound, no arm in the CUNYAC is better than that of right-handed pitcher Justin Chamorro with a league-leading 21 strikeouts.

Pitcher Tim Kiley has the lowest walks and hits per innings pitched between qualified Lehman pitchers with 1.80 in five appearances.

Bryan Portney is a first-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email bep5295@psu.edu.