Tel Aviv wins over Bet Shemesh

The Tel Aviv Lightning earned themselves a bye and the second seed in the playoffs with a, 5-4, win over the Bet Shemesh Blue Sox at Sportek. Tel Aviv’s centerfielder Bryan Langbord drove in the first run of the game with a bases loaded walk in the bottom of the second inning. The Lightning only had only three hits on the day but they made them count. In the bottom of the fourth inning, Australia native Dane Wigg had a pinch-hit bases clearing double to put Tel Aviv up 5-0. Bet Shemesh made things interesting in the top seventh inning, when they loaded the bases with no outs.

Tel Aviv brought in reliever Mike Etkin of Brooklyn, New York who proceeded to get one out before 1B Johnny Lopez, who was 2-for-4, hit a two-RBI single to cut the lead to one run. With the tying run on third base and the winning run at first, pinch hitter Juan Feliciano was retired on a fly ball to short right field which was caught by RF Jeff Hastings. Justin Cardinal of Canada, who pinch ran for Lopez, was doubled off first base for the final out before the runner at third base could cross the plate to tie the score.

Meanwhile at Gezer Field, the Petach Tikva Pioneers won a back-and-forth game, 11-10, over the Modi’in Miracle. The game which was completed early due to darkness had six lead changes. Californian 2B Willis Bumphus, who was 2-for-3 with two RBI, had run scoring singles in the first and fourth inning for the Pioneers. Pioneers SS Seth Binder was 3-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored on the evening. In the top of the sixth inning, with Petach Tikva leading, 11-8, the Pioneers brought in LHP Ari Alexenberg to relieve George Chityat. Although, Alexenberg surrendered a bases loaded hit-by-pitch and walk, he was able to strikeout Modi’in’s Greg Marlett to end the game and earn his first save of the season.

At Yarkon Field in the Baptist Village, the Netanya Tigers clinched the fourth seed of the playoffs with a, 4-1, comeback victory over the Ra’anana Express. The Tigers have now won six games in a row and are steam rolling into the playoffs. LHP Matt Comiter (2-4) earned the win, pitching 6.0 innings allowing one run on five hits. Netanya was trailing 1-0 until the top of the sixth inning when C Sam Faeder (2-for-4) hit a bases loaded single driving in one run to tie the game. DH Justin Prinstein then drew a bases loaded walk to take a 2-1 lead over the Express. Netanya added two more runs in the top of the seventh and in the bottom of the inning Dominican RHP Julio Guerrero was brought in to the game and earned his first save of the year.

Wednesday at 4:30 pm the Bet Shemesh Blue Sox and Modi’in Miracle will complete the bottom of the seventh inning of the 14-13 suspended game on August 8 at Gezer Field. After the conclusion of the suspended game, the Modi’in Miracle and the Bet Shemesh Blue Sox will play their regularly

scheduled game at Gezer Field. The Petach Tikva Pioneers and the Tel Aviv Lightning will play at 5:00 pm at Sportek in Tel Aviv. At 7:00 pm the Netanya Tigers take on the Ra’anana Express at Yarkon Field at the Baptist Village. Fan Appreciation evening will be held at both Sportek and Yarkon Field, which will include free admission to the game and a 10% discount on all IBL souvenir merchandise.