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 History |
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Prehistory
Ya'aqov (Jack) Kurtz, a Sabra from Tel-Aviv, comes to live in Eilat after 30+ years in the United States. A lover of sports and youth, Jack starts teaching local kids softball in Saturday afternoon pick-up games. For three years youths and adults play and learn on empty sand (and broken-glass) lots in the North Beach hotel area. When a new hotel springs up, the softballers move to a different vacant lot.
At the end of 1994 Jack finds three ex-Americans, Avi Goren, Harvey Wein and Yossi Sa'ar, willing to donate their time as coaches, and the Eilat Softball League is ready to go.
In The Begining, 1995
Founded in 1995 by Jack Kurtz and three volunteer coaches, Avi Goren, Yossi Sa'ar and Harvey Wein, the Eilat Softball League started with four teams. Preseason practices are held on a recently leveled sandlot, north of the new Industrial Park, today the site of Mifalay Tovala.
League games are held in the Municipal Soccer Stadium, next to Begin High School. Teams are named after American baseball clubs and each has a local sponsor. Yotam Printing Cubs roll to the first league title with 10 wins versus just 2 losses. Players include Gil Carmel, Liron Veisser, Tomer Rosenzweig, David Marciano, Yoni Levi, Omer Tiran, Yoel Selwyn, Lior Yosef and Omer Gamlieli. Head Coach Yossi Sa'ar says that if they can't win in Chicago, at least the Cubs in Eilat are champions. Asst. Coach was Dave Selwyn.
Other teams include the Dodgers, Twins and Indians.
Expansion, 1996
With great popularity, the Eilat Softball League becames one of the largest programs for youth in the 12-18 age group. Two expansion teams, the Blue Jays and the Yankees, were added to the League and play continued in the Soccer Stadium next to Begin HS. Girls were not to be left out, as the League included at least 3-4 among the boys.
The Photo Center Dodgers took the pennant on the last day of the season with a 16 and 4 record. Jack Kurtz was their Coach.
Moving to the Lagoon, 1997
The league maintained six teams, but lost the use of the "grass" fields at the Municipal Soccer Stadium. The stadium next to Begin HS was closed to make room for the expanding needs of the high school.
Soccer in Eilat was moved to the new grass stadium on Rehov Kampen, just south of the Salt Ponds. Softball was not allowed on the new grass, and we found a new home on a large empty lot further east on Rehov Kampen, just north of the new Shalom Lagoon. There was no problem lining three diamonds, but there were plenty of rocks. Slowly, slowly, the rocks were cleared and permission was received to use the vacant lot. The area, however, was owned by the Eilat Foreshore Development Corp. and zoned for commercial/hotel construction. All softball improvement was not feasible. No backstops, no outfield fences and no benches. There was an empty fieldhouse, near the public telephone, in the southwest corner of the field, and we were entitled to use one room as a storage facility.
With a lot of returning hitting power, the Yotam Printing Cubs took their second ESL title, 17 wins vs. 3 losses. Coach Yossi Sa'ar was elated, almost the same winning percentage as the Chicago Bulls at 72-10.
The first ESL All-Star Game was played with the Nationals walking over the Americans.
National Team Participation, 1998
The league continues with six team. Nothing new under the Eilat sun. The Yotam Printing Cubs can't be stopped, recording 15 wins and 5 losses. A playoff is held for the first time between the first two teams in regular season play. The Cubs win the best of three series, two games to none.
The All-Star Game goes to the Nationals for the second straight year.
Seven local players are included in the Israel National Junior Men's Team participating in the 1st European Championship in Prague, Czech Republic. Players included David Marciano, Idan Benishu, Yoni Weiss, Ron Blumenthal, Nir Ben-Moshe, Yoni Levi, Isaac Kurtz, Liraz Arulker and Guy Liani. Yossi Sa'ar was the Asst. Coach.
Two Divisions, Eight Teams, 1999
Everyone was overwhelmed with the huge turn out on the opening day of practice in October. It was decided to split the League into two divisions, four Noar teams (aged 18 and under) and four Na'arim teams (age 15 and under). A fourth field was lined on the parking lot, just west of the Ma'arav Field.
The two expansion teams in the Na'arim Division were the Mets and Marlins.
The Yotam Printing Cubs (17-4) won the regular season Noar title, and the Na'arim were topped by FM 120 Marlins. In the playoffs, both the Cubs and Marlins were victorious in their division, but both series went the full three games.
The Americans won the Noar All-Star Game surprising everyone.
Two Eilat youth players, David Marciano and Guy Liani, were members of the National Men's Team that represented Israel in the European Championship in Prague.
The Eilat Softball League is granted registration with the Ministry of Justice as a non-profit, registered association.
Jack Kurtz Departs, 2000
After five wonderful years as Commissioner of the Eilat Softball League and Coach of the Photo Center Dodgers, Jack Kurtz left Eilat in favor of Rehovot. We were all saddened by his departure, but looked forward to playing against the new Rehovot Softball League. Debby Fleiss elected new ESL Commissioner.
The Eilat league was back to six teams, none with a full roster. It was quite difficult to field full nine-man teams.
The Photo Center Dodgers with a powerful veteran team came out on top, 16 wins vs. 4 losses. The top four regular season teams participated in a Page System playoff, as used in the Olympics and other international play, and the Dodgers won with little difficulty.
Despite the dominance of the Nationals (Dodgers, Cubs and Marlins), the Americans again upset to win our 4th Annual All-Star Game.
Five locals were on the National Junior Men's Team that played in the 2nd European Championship in Enschede, Netherlands. Pitcher Yoni Weiss was the outstanding player on the team. Israel took the bronze medal in a big upset victory over Denmark. Other Elatis included Ron Blumenthal, Liraz Arulker, Guy Liani and Aviram Sa'ar. Third place in Europe entitles Israel to participate in the World Championship at the Olympic Softball Grounds in Sydney, Australia, in April 2001.
Register Now for 2001-02 Season
Now is the time to register for the forthcoming 2001-2002 season. All players from last season should already have a registration form. If not, call the League Secretary, 637-1507 (day) or 637-4748 (evening). Players submitting forms and paying before July 1, 2001, receive a NIS 50.00 discount.
Medical Exams will be given Sunday and Monday, August 5-6, 2001, at the Sports Hall, next to Alon High School, HaTemarim Blvd. Don't forget to bring your ID number and to write in "Softball Eilat" on the medical form. Save your receipt and "Eshur Rofeh" certificate.
Roberto RED SOX Sweep into Fall Tournament Final
The Red Sox, coached by Roberto Ehrlich, swept all four of their games in the preliminary round and will appear in the Fall Tournament Final on Friday, December 28, 2001, at the Lagoona Ma'arav Softball Field.
Undoubtedly the outstanding pitching of Yigal Zabolotni paved the way for the R-Sox. The hitting was provided by Ittamar Ben-Asher, Genia and Dima Polishchuk, Yaniv Blumenthal and Zabolotni.
3rd National Jr. Men's Championship
The Yarqon Facility in Petah-Tiqva will play host to the Third Israel Junior Men's Softball Championship, Monday and Teusday, February 25 and 26, 2002. Guaranateed participants are the Merkaz all-star team and the Softball Eilat team. Also expected are the Rehovot nine and possibly the Haifa (Bat-Galim) team. The tournament will take place during the Purim school holiday, so come out to see some quality youth softball.
Thursday, April 18
2002 Grand Final: White Sox vs. Cubs
Yotam Printing Cubs drubbed Lomdat Dodgers 37-10 in the Final of the ESL 2002 playoff. The Cubs will face the regular season champion 1 Carpenter White Sox in the best of three Grand Final starting Friday, April 19.
Softball School Every Tuesday
The Eilat Softball School is back in operation. Every Tuesday from 3:15 till 4:30 pm at the Lagoona Ma'arav Field. Rookies and second-year players are invited to participate. Instruction is led by Jr. National Team veteran Ron Blumenthal. Ron holds the title of Recognized Sportsman while serving in the Israel Defense Forces. Assistant coaches are ESL graduates Nissim Gibraltar and Yoni Levi.
Don't miss this great oportunity to improve your skills and learn the fine points of the game. Instruction is one-on-one and all the participants vouch for it. Especially suited for youths aged 11-14.
See you on Tuesdays at the Eilat Softball School. No charge for registered ESL players.
Old-Timers vs. Softball Eilat Youth
On Saturday, February 23, 2002, the Softball Eilat youth team will take on the local Old-Timers in an exhibition game on the Lagoona Ma'arav field at 2:30 pm. For the Old-Timers it will be a real game opportunity, after weeks of Saturday pick-up games. For the Softball Eilat youths, it will be the last home practice before the 3rd Israel National Youth Championships, which will be played on the Purim holiday, starting on Monday, February 25, at the Yarqon Facility in Petah-Tiqva.
Eilat has finished second for the last two years, both times losing to the Merkaz All-Star team, in a not very even competition.
Invited to the Softball Eilat training camp are Ron Blumental, Nissim Gibraltar, Aviram Sa'ar, Yigal Zabolotni, Shay Skornik, Genya Polishchuk, Yonatan Aziza, Avi Dery, Yaniv Blumental, Gal Skornik, Ya'aqov Abdallah, Ben Viron, Omri Bramy, Ittamar Ben-Asher, Boris Yegudayev and Dima Polishchuk. Coaching the Eilat team will be Yossi Sa'ar.
Monie Music
Saturday, March 9
Na'arim U16 All-Star Game, March 9
The Eilat Softball League under 16 All-Stars, National vs. American, will face off in the annual ESL All-Star Game on Saturday, March 9, 2002, at 2:30 pm at the Lagoona Ma'arav Field in Eilat. This is the ideal showcase for younger players in the ESL.
Saturday, March 9
Na'arim All-Stars: National 21, American 17, in 8 Innings
In today's Na'arim (under 16) All-Star Game, the National team led for six-and-a-half innings, but the Americans pushed across 3 runs in the bottom of the seventh to send the match into extra frames. In the top of the 8th, the Nationals moved ahead with two hits and the help of an American error to go ahead 20-17. Ori Buyanjo homered to make the final tally 21-17. In the bottom of the 8th in the darkness, the Americans were 3 up, 3 down.
Yaniv Blementhal and Boris Yugudayev stood out for the Nationals. Yani Aziza homered and doubled for the losers.
Sunday, April 7
2002 Playoff Schedule
The playoff schedule for the Eilat Softball League 2002 Noar Championship has been announced. All games start at 2:30 pm.
SEMIFINALS, Friday, April 12, 2002
Game A. Lomadat DODGERS @ 1 Carpenter WHITE SOX, Lagoona Ma'arav Field.
Game B. Pizza Domino RED SOX @ Yotam Printing CUBS, Lagoona Mizrakh Field.
FINAL, Wednesday, April 17, Independence Day
Game C. Winner Game B @ Loser Game A, Lagoona Ma'arav Field.
GRAND FINAL SERIES (2 out of 3 games). All games at Lagoona Ma'arav Field.
Firday, April 19, GF-1. Winner Game C @ Winner Game A.
Saturday, April 20, GF-2. Winner Game A @ Winner Game C.
Friday, April 26, if necessary.
Winner Game C @ Winner Game A.
Playoffs: Mercy! Mercy!
The semifinals of the Eilat Softball League 2002 Noar Championship were decided by the mercy rule in both outings. The first seeded 1 Carpenter WHITE SOX downed the Lomdat DODGERS 29-2 in four innings, while the third place Yotam Printing CUBS took six innings to defeat Pizza Domino RED SOX 29-12. The Final game will pit the Dodgers hosting the Cubs on Independence Day, Wednesday, April 17 at 2:30 pm at Lagoona Ma'arav Field. The loser finishes third in the ESL 2002.
The Dodgers await the Final winner in a best of three Grand Final series. The first game will be on Friday, April 19. Game two is on Saturday, and game three (if required) will be the following Friday, April 26. The Dodgers have held the title for the past two years.
Sunday, April 21
White Sox Sweep to Championship
One Carpenter White Sox swept Yotam Printing Cubs two straight games to take the best-of-three Grand Final Series giving them the 2002 ESL Championship. This marked the first time a team other than the Cubs (4 times) or the Dodgers (3 times) have taken the ESL title. For manager and fill-in first basewoman Debby Fleiss, it was her first title in four years managing in the League. For coach and fill-in center fielder Ron Blumenthal, it was a third consecutive trophy, having won the past two years with the Dodgers.
Friday's opening game was a pitcher's battle all the way. The Cubs opened the scoring with two in the second inning on some head's up base running. The Sox countered with two also in the bottom of the frame on hits by Shay Skornik, Yonatan Pex and Fleiss. Cubs manager Yossi Sa'ar bunted in Boris Yegudayev with the lead run in the third, but the Pale Hose scored twice in the fifth and once in the sixth.
Needing two to tie in the seventh, the Cubs evened it on a single by Yigal Zabolotni and a double off the bat of Ben Viron. Skornik doubled to leadoff the bottom of the seventh inning for the White Sox, while Alon Gibraltar followed with an opposite field home run to sink the Cubs.
Saturday's second Grand Final game saw the White Sox roll to a 22-11 victory on big hitting by the younger players. Ya'aqov Abdallah recorded six hits including three doubles and a triple, while doing an excellent job behind the plate. Debby Fleiss had five singles and Alon Gibraltar four. The White Sox big bats where quieted by Cubs ace Yigal Zabolotni, who notched 14 strike outs! The Cubs hitting was provided by Zabolotni, four hits including a home run; Ben Viron, three with two doubles; and Yegudayev with four singles.
The White Sox left no question about the leaders in the 2002 season.
Monday, May 13
Annual Softball Happening and Awards Presentation
The sailing yacht "Sinem" will host the annual Softball Happening and Awards Presentation on Saturday, May 25, 2002. Boarding time is 10:30 am at the Eilat Marina, sailing at 11:00 am. Come with an appetite and your swimsuit. We'll have an oriental grilled lunch and lots of time for swimming.
After the meal, trophies will be presented to our Eilat Softball League MVP and the championship team, 1 Carpenter White Sox. Certificates will be given to the leading hitters of the ESL.
At 3:00 pm we return to the Marina and head over to grass field of the Eilat Soccer Stadium. At 3:30 pm the American Division (White Sox and Red Sox) team will faceoff against the Nationals (Cubs and Dodgers).
Don't forget your questionaire to participate in the prize drawing and register now for the 2002-3 season.
Saturday, June 1
Genya Polishchuk 2002 MVP
Genya Polishchuk, Lomdat Dodgers LF, won the voting for the 2002 Most Valuable Player in the Eilat Softball League. Runner-up was League-champion 1 Carpenter White Sox pitcher Shay Skornik.
Tabulation of the votes was done during the Annual Softball Happening, Saturday, May 25, on the sailing yacht "Sinem".
Other award winners included Rookie of the Year Omri Brami, 3B of the Pizza Domino Red Sox. Receiving certificates for outstanding play in the playoffs were Pitcher Yigal Zabolotni, Yotam Printing Cubs; Batter Alon Gibraltar, White Sox; and fielder Yonatan Aziza, White Sox.
In the Drawing, two lucky players each won a family pizza, compliments of Pizza Domino of Mall haYam. Na'ama Mor won a microscope donated by Lomdat Stationers of Merkaz Mor.
After returning from the Red Sea excursion the National team downed the Americans 23 to 8 in a game played on the grass at the Eilat Football (soccer) Stadium.
Saturday, February 14
Show Down: Eilat Noar vs. Eilat Bogrim
In Game 2 of the series, Saturday, Feb. 14, the Noar pulled off the upset, winning 14-12 against the Bogrim. It was an exciting game played in a heavy westerly wind. The Noar were lead by centerfielder Omri Brami and catcher Donaldo Javinao. Pitcher Boris Yegudayev kept the Bogrim bats under control and held National League player Goto Hirofume without a hit. The game ended on his long fly to center.
Game three will be Saturday, March 6, at 2:00 pm.
Sunday, April 11
1st National Championship for Eilat
After finishing second three times, the Eilat Noar team won the 2004 Israel National Youth Championship on Friday, April 9, at the Yarqon Field in Petah Tiqwa. In the Final, Eilat prevailed handily against Zafon, a first-time entry, 25-7 in a five-inning two-hour time limit victory.
Eilat was paced by the pitching of Boris Yegudayev who struck out nine, while walking ten in the final. Yegudayev ended the tournament, like he started it, by fanning the side. At bat he had three singles, a walk and reached on an error by the Zafon shortstop.
Left fielder Amos Pollack (Qetura) lacked only a triple for the cycle and also scored after being hit by a pitch in the first inning.
ISA addition Amit Megiddo (Li-On) homered, singled and scored three runs for the Eilat cause at third base.
Batting leadoff for the first time in the Tournament, Nadav Viron came through with a perfect day, three singles and two walks in five trips to the plate, scoring five runs!
A stellar performance behind the plate was given by Donaldo Javinao, who caught four games in two days.
In Thursday's round robin play, Eilat finished with a tournament best three wins and one defeat. In the opening game against Rehovot, pitcher Yegudayev struck out the side in the first inning and went on to add five more in the 16-8 win. It was the first time Eilat has beaten Rehovot in two years in any form of competition.
The celebrating over the opening win was dampered by a 8-15 loss to Zafon in game 2. Eilat was down 15-1 at the end of three, but came up with seven in the fourth showing they could score. The appetite was set to get revenge latter.
An exciting 8-7 victory over Rehovot in game 4 clinched Eilat's appearance in the Final. Rehovot closed with two runs in the bottom of the seventh and left the tieing run on third when the final out was made.
In game 5 a weary Eilat, playing it's fourth game on Thursday, secured home advantage in the Final with a 27-7 rout of Zafon. Amos Pollack did the pitching to give Yegudayev a rest and came thru with a fine performance. Zafon could come up with only one extra base hit, a leadoff double in the fourth, long after the game was out of reach.
Other members of the National Championship team: Roy Even, Yaniv Blumenthal, Alon Gibraltar, Dima Polishchuk, Ittamar Elgazi, Diego Yanovski, and last-minute addition Dor Mahsilker.
Results of previous Israel Jr. Men's National Championship Tournaments.
2000- ISA Merkaz, Eilat
2001- ISA Merkaz, Eilat, Rehovot
2002- ISA Merkaz, Eilat
2003- No Tournament
Otzma Indians 2004 ESL Champion
Ron Blumenthal's Otzma Indians downed the Otzma Cubs 22-17 in game four of the Eilat Series to take the 2004 Eilat Noar Championship three games to one yesterday. It is the Indians second straght title.
After taking games one and two with little difficulty, the Indians came up against a determined Cubs team that won handily in game three. In game four the Cubs scored eight in the bottom of the sixth to tie the score at 15-15. The Indians pushed across a seven spot in the top of the seventh on great hitting and held the Cubs to only two in the bottom half.
Congratulations Indians!
Sunday, June 20
Boris Yegudayev 2004 MVP
Otzma Indians pitcher Boris Yegudayev was awarded the ESL Most Valuable Player trophy for 2004 at the June 11 Annual Softball Happening. Yegudayev again and again proved the Indians couldn't do without him and took the MVP award with no serious challengers.
He led the Indians to an 8 and 4 regular season and a 3-1 playoff record giving Tribe their second straight ESL title. His fastball did a great job of mowing down the remainder of the league, while his change-up kept everyone honest.
Boris brought the National Championship to Eilat for the first time and in July he will be one of the leading pitchers on the Junior Men's National Team at the European Championships in France.
2004-5 Season Approaching
The 2004-5 Youth League season is just around the corner. Activities start Monday-Wednesday, October 11-13, with a Professional Instructional Clinic open to all players and prospective players. Starting time is 3:30 pm at the Shalom Lagoon Softball Field, Rehov Kampen, opposite Denis Kingdom Fish Restaurant. The clinic is being given by the staff of Global Youth Baseball Foundation of Atlanta,Georgia, U.S.A. There is no charge or registration fee.
Regular Friday practices and games will start on October 15 at 2:30 pm, also at the Shalom Lagoon Softball Field. Youths aged 9-11 play in the Peanuts Division. High school players, aged 12-18, play in the Noar Division. Softball activity is every Friday thru April. Registration fee is NIS 400 for the full season. Ask for a form. The number of places is limited.
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