Importance Score: 45 / 100 🔵
College Baseball Matchup Pits Teams with Lengthy Losing Streaks
A pair of college baseball teams, the Yeshiva University Maccabees and the Lehman College Lightning, are set to clash in a nonconference doubleheader on Tuesday, both desperate to break long-standing losing streaks. The upcoming baseball game promises to end years of hardship for one of these Division III squads from the New York City area.
Maccabees and Lightning Seek to End Futility
Yeshiva, representing a Modern Orthodox Jewish institution, has endured 99 consecutive defeats. Their Bronx-based rivals, Lehman College, enter the Tuesday doubleheader in Teaneck, New Jersey, carrying their own 42-game losing skid. This matchup has been dubbed a contest of considerable baseball futility.
Teams’ Recent Performance History
The Yeshiva Maccabees (0-18 this season) last tasted victory on February 27, 2022, when they swept a doubleheader against the John Jay Bloodhounds. Meanwhile, the Lehman Lightning (0-13 this season) last secured a win on May 9, 2023, triumphing 7-4 over the Baruch College Bearcats.
Comic’s Take on the Matchup
Yeshiva alumnus and comedian Eitan Levine humorously described the impending game as “statistically, the worst baseball game of all time.”
Historical Losing Streaks in College Baseball
Despite their current struggles, Yeshiva still has a considerable way to go before approaching the NCAA record for consecutive losses. The Caltech Beavers suffered an astonishing 228 straight defeats from 2003 to 2013.
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NCAA Reacts to Combined Losing Records
The NCAA does not officially track combined losing streaks for competing teams. However, when informed about the upcoming Yeshiva-Lehman contest, an NCAA spokesperson remarked, “Wow, those are big numbers,” underscoring the significance of the combined futility on display.
Yeshiva University Declines to Comment
According to a university spokesperson, Yeshiva coach Jeremy Renna, athletic director Greg Fox, and all team players have declined to comment on the ongoing losing streak. Furthermore, no Yeshiva representative is expected to be available for media inquiries following Tuesday’s game, which will be hosted at Fairleigh Dickinson University.
Zeke Warren-Weigmann, athletic department spokesperson, told NBC News on Monday that “The university has made the call from above myself, and above the AD, that we’re not going to comment on” the team’s prolonged losing streak.
Lehman College Expresses Confidence in Coaching Staff
Lehman athletic director Ryan McCarthy voiced continued support for Lightning coach Chris Delgado, despite the mounting losses.
“We are certain he can turn our program around,” McCarthy asserted in a statement. “He has been diligently working to identify and secure commitments from prospective student-athletes, building a foundation for future success while cultivating a positive culture within our current roster.”
Lehman Coach Acknowledges Challenges, Sees Progress
Coach Delgado, aged 26 and a former pitcher on Lehman’s last winning team in 2023, acknowledged the difficulty of the extended losing streak yet maintained that the team is showing signs of advancement.
“Being on a losing streak is challenging, particularly a long one, because many tend to evaluate success based solely on wins,” Delgado explained. “However, outcomes do not fully represent the quality of our program. With the recent coaching transition, we are rebuilding a program that is establishing a robust groundwork of excellence and integrity.”
Game Venue and Potential for Tie Game
The Naimoli Family Baseball Complex, the venue for Tuesday’s doubleheader, serves as a regular home field rental for Yeshiva. Notably, the facility lacks lights. This characteristic raises the possibility of a Game 1 tie if a lengthy extra-innings game extends into darkness.
Game Time and Previous Matchup
The first game is scheduled to commence at 2 p.m. ET, with sunset anticipated at 7:28 p.m. The Division III programs last competed on the baseball field on May 13, 2022, in a game where Lehman prevailed 12-11.