Softball: Table to Table outlasts AFI

Table to Table jumped in front 2-0 in the bottom of the first as Perry Nalevka delivered a two-strike, two-out double.

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
israel softball 88 (photo credit: )
israel softball 88
(photo credit: )
Reflecting more survival and grit rather than outstanding play, Table to Table defeated AFI 16-15 in an amateur softball in Israel game last week at Kibbutz Gezer. Table to Table jumped in front 2-0 in the bottom of the first as Perry Nalevka delivered a two-strike, two-out double just inside the left field line. After falling behind 4-1, AFI stormed back to take a 6-4 lead. AFI had five straight hits to open the third, but Table to Table answered with seven of its own. Marc Bodner, who went 4-for-4, and David Kaplan each delivered RBI hits in the inning. Facing an 11-6 deficit, AFI answered once again by putting up seven runs in the top half of the fourth inning. T2T tied the game in the bottom half of the fourth when Joe Gitler delivered a triple to the left-center field gap and Kaplan again delivered an RBI single to bring him home. While retiring AFI in order in the fifth and sixth, Table to Table regained the lead with a run in the fifth and two in the sixth. Heading into the seventh behind by three runs, it was only fitting that AFI mounted one last rally. After AFI scored two runs and had the tying run on third, T2T induced a groundball out to wrap up the victory. Table to Table's Gitler, Saul Fiedler, Danny Harelick, and Amnon Eisner each had three hits in the game. Bodner, T2T's emotional leader, picked up the win on the mound and persevered through some shoddy fielding by his team. Aztek 25, Rehovot 7 Aryeh Stern hit an inside-the-park home run with two on in the first inning and completed the cycle with a single, double and triple and a sacrifice fly for a total of five RBIs and three runs scored to lead Aztek over Rehovot. Mike Barth and Avram Aron each had four hits and Ron Gorodetzer was superb in his first start of the season after returning to Aztek after a two-year hiatus. Gorodetzer was also involved in the defensive highlight of the game when he threw a strike to catcher Avi Schlossberg, who reacted alertly to an attempted steal of home by quickly moving to block the plate and put the tag on the hard-charging runner from third. Aztek captain Dave Epstein, who has been playing softball in Israel for the past 28 years, had three hits, three RBIs and scored four runs in the leadoff position. Zevie Klaristenfeld had three RBIs and three hits, as did Jon Wall, who was back on the field after completing his army service, marrying and becoming a father. Aztek also welcomed Chaim Baldesare back to the team and he responded with three hits - a triple, double and a single, two RBIs and three runs scored. Greg Geller added two hits, two runs scored and an RBI. Aztek's defense was nearly flawless with excellent plays by Stern at shortstop and Klaristenfeld in right. Aztek, Rise Hi and Table to Table are all chasing the undefeated Bet Shemesh Suns for the league lead.