Shimshon Hi-Tech wins ISA opener

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Shimshon Hi-Tech of Beit Shemesh broke open a tight pitching duel with an 11-run fifth inning en-route to a 14-9 win over the Galil Twisters in the Israel Softball Association's opening game. Shimshon drew first blood off Wild Bill Arscott when Mark Chass manufactured a run, bunting for a hit, stealing second, advancing on a ground-out and scoring on a sacrifice fly by Stu Schrader. The Twisters answered with two on an RBI triple by Jake Miller who then scored on Moshe Hyde's groundout. The Twisters tacked on single runs in the third and fourth off of Shimshon Gadi Bossin, a modified pitcher who induced an astounding 10 pop-outs in five innings. In the fourth, Tomer Molovinsky singled, stole second and scored on Alex Crane's hit. Shimshon made it 4-3 in the fourth when Shem Tov Shapiro and David Kurtz singled and scored on errors. In the fifth, the Twisters pitching collapsed as third hurlers combined to allow eight walks and 11 runs, capped by Jeff Mor's bases clearing smash to right field. The Twisters threatened in the fifth when Miller, Hyde and Eitan Milgram bunted for hits, but the rally was snuffed when Milgram was called out by the umpire for not maintaining contact with the base. In the ensuing argument he was thrown out of the game and the wind was taken out of the Twisters sails. Young pitcher Adir Hagbi set down Shimshon quietly in the sixth and Shapiro took the mound to close out the game, allowing three runs. For Shimshon, Chass scored three runs and Yudi Axelrud walked three times. Chass and left-fielder Rafi Goldmeir both made fine catches. The Twisters were led by Crane, who went 3-3 in his league debut and played great defense, and Hyde, who chipped in three hits.