Games we play: Nefesh B'Nefesh edges Contact Int.

NBN pounded out a season-high 25 hits, including three home runs.

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
baseball 88 (photo credit: )
baseball 88
(photo credit: )
Expansion team Nefesh B'Nefesh is no longer winless after it opened up a big early lead and held on to beat Contact International 17-15 in an amateur softball in Israel series game at Kibbutz Gezer on Friday. NBN pounded out a season-high 25 hits, including three home runs. Third baseman Aaron Lazor hit two homers and NBN captain-center fielder Steve Accardi drove in five runs. The "Wings" took a 6-1 lead in the first inning, and extended it to 12-3 after a six-run third inning that featured back-to-back homers by Lazor and DH Yossi Hadad. CI chipped back with five small-ball runs in the fourth inning to cut the deficit to 12-8, and then with another two runs in the fifth. Accardi's two-run single made it 14-10 for NBN after five innings, but CI cut it to 14-13 in the top of the sixth. Doubles by 1B Avrum Aaron and catcher Dov Friedman, who was 4-for-4, were followed by Lazor's second home run as NBN beefed up it's lead in the bottom of the sixth. Winning pitcher Yedidya Rausman went the distance on the mound and was 3-for-3 at the plate with three runs scored. Mike Hochman was strong at shortstop and six NBN starters had three or more hits in the game. Optica International 13, Aztek 8 Optica International's Aron Heller belted a grand slam over the fence in deep center field to cap an eight-run first inning as OI swept its two-game season series with Aztek. Heller knocked in a total of five runs and Zach Harvey drove in another three. Heller also made the catch of the day, running full speed from short into left. OI's Kenny Zwiebel continued his hot hitting with three hits and two runs scored, and also made a great diving catch running in from center. The key to the victory was brilliant pitching from Joel Katzin, who, after giving up four runs in the bottom of the first on back-to-back Aztek homers by Alan Tover and Adam Watstein, settled down and allowed only four runs over the last six innings. Tover has now homered in four consecutive games. Danny Gewirtz took the loss for Aztek, but also pitched well over the last six innings.