CI, Aztek head to semifinals

CI's victory sets semifinal clash against Rise-Hi, while Aztek will face the Beit Shemesh Suns.

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
softball 88 (photo credit: )
softball 88
(photo credit: )
CI and Aztek have advanced past the first round of the amateur softball in Israel series playoffs. CI defeated Optica International 12-9 on Sunday night, while Aztek beat Nefesh B'Nefesh 10-4 on Friday. Both games were played at Kibbutz Gezer. CI's victory sets up a semifinal clash against defending champion and top-seeded Rise-Hi on Wednesday, while Aztek, which finished the regular season in third place, will face the No. 2 playoff seed, the Beit Shemesh Suns, on Thursday night. CI 12, OI 9 CI held Optica International scoreless in the top of the first and then burst ahead with six runs in the bottom half. After two innings, the score was 8-2, and OI continued to chip into the deficit. Going into the fifth inning, CI led by four. Solid pitching by CI's Marc Bodner and Joe Gitler's plays in the field helped CI out of some jams. OI came up to bat in the top of the seventh trailing by three runs (12-9), but CI held on for the victory. With one out and runners on second and third, OI's Binyamin Kaffel hit a fly ball to left field. After JJ Sussman made the catch, OI captain Steve Harvey attempted to score from third, but CI catcher David Kaplan caught Sussman's throw cleanly and put the tag on Harvey before he touched home plate, capping the double play and sending OI to Wednesday's semifinal. Aron Heller led OI with three hits, including a solo home run, and also had five RBIs. Aztek 10, Nefesh B'Nefesh 4 Aztek defeated Nefesh B'Nefesh for the third time this season, as pitcher Danny Gewirtz gave up three hits in seven innings. NBN got its first hit in the fourth inning. Gewirtz also contributed on offense, scoring three runs and picking up two RBIs. Chaim Baldasare had a perfect day at the plate, going 4-for-4, a home run short of the cycle, and picking up three RBIs. Ariel Gilor went 3-for-4. Aztek 31, Applied Materials Rehovot 5 Aztek dominated the final game of the regular season. Please submit items for 'Games We Play' via e-mail to sports@jpost.com