After an outstanding season, the Wellesley-Weston Chabad Shluggers captured the 2026 Men’s Shul Softball League championship, defeating the league’s strongest competition. Competing in the league’s highest and most competitive level, the team proved that determination, teamwork, and heart can lead to something special.

Founded by Rabbi Moshe Bleich, who also serves as the team’s pitcher, the Shluggers have become much more than a softball team. While the championship is a remarkable athletic accomplishment, the team’s greatest impact is the community it has built both on and off the field.

As the league’s only Chabad team, the Shluggers proudly represent Wellesley-Weston Chabad every week, in a league of close to 50 Reform and Conservative Shul teams. The softball field has become a place where Jewish men from across the Greater Boston area connect, build friendships, and strengthen their Jewish identity. Whether it’s helping organize a minyan before a game, encouraging someone to put on tefillin, inviting players for Shabbos meals, or simply creating meaningful conversations, the team has become another avenue for sharing the warmth and values of Chabad.

For many players, the friendships formed through softball have led to deeper involvement in Jewish life and a stronger connection to the local community. The team’s welcoming atmosphere has made it easy for newcomers to feel at home, regardless of their background or level of observance.

“This team has always been about more than wins and losses,” said Rabbi Bleich. “Softball brings people together, and when people come together, incredible things can happen.”

Winning the championship is a proud milestone for the Shluggers, but those involved know the real success lies in the relationships they’ve built and the positive impact they’ve had on the Jewish community.

Congratulations to Rabbi Moshe Bleich and the entire Wellesley-Weston Chabad Shluggers on an unforgettable championship season. May they continue to achieve success both on the field and in their mission of bringing Jews together through friendship, community, and mitzvos.