Softball: Rise Hi back in first place

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Rise Hi, now 4-1 on the season, regained first place in the Amateur softball league last week as they pummeled AFI in a 20-5 whitewash. After going down 4-1 early on, Rise Hi scored four in the bottom of the third to take the lead they never relinquished. The big hits for Rise Hi were a Yoni Shwartz two-run HR and a bases clearing double by Tzvi Harow. Ariel Gilor had four hits and scored five runs, Tzvi Harow drove in five, Doni Harow scored three and David Tover had his first hit for Rise Hi to drive in a pair or runs. Ed Harow won his fourth decision, pitching Rise Hi to the blowout victory. Optica International 17, CleanTech Warriors 7 Optica International scored seven runs in the bottom of the second inning to jump to an early 8-2 lead over the CleanTech Warriors, and the team never looked back as it cruised to a 17-7 victory. Fred Moncharsh had another brilliant day on the mound and helped out his own cause by going 3 for 3 at the plate with a triple and five RBI. Optica captain Steve Harvey set the stage for the second inning attack when he bunted a single down the third base line to load the bases after two walks. Harvey had a perfect day at the plate with three hits and a walk. After two CleanTech errors, Aaron Lazor belted a three-run homer to close out the OI scoring for the inning. In the bottom of the sixth, Lazor blasted another three-run shot to seal the game after hits by Harvey and Moncharsh and a walk to Zevie Klaristenfeld, who scored four runs on the day. As for the Warriors, they could not mount a sustained attack against Moncharsh and the solid OI defense. CleanTech manager Aron Heller had a pair of hits and two RBI's, while his younger brother, Daniel, also had two hits, as did Nisan Hirsh, Matt Brenner and Joe Federman, who scored three times - once for each of his kids watching in the stands.