Israel’s national baseball team secured its first win in its third appearance at the World Baseball Classic and it also guaranteed a fourth.
After a relatively expected 11–3 loss to Venezuela in its tournament opener in Miami, Israel rebounded with an impressive 5–0 victory over Nicaragua, effectively securing its participation in the next World Baseball Classic.
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Israel national team players celebrate their victory
(Photo: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)
Pitcher Dean Kremer, Israel’s biggest star who also impressed in the previous tournament, led the blue-and-white to victory against the Central American team. Israel, ranked 21st in the world, will now finish ahead of Nicaragua in the five-team group, allowing it to avoid the need to qualify through the preliminary rounds.
“This is huge for us,” said Kremer, the only player to take part in all three of Israel’s appearances — including the 2017 tournament, when the team stunned the baseball world by advancing to the second round. “Not just for the team, but for the entire country that we’re proud to represent.”
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It's the team's third appearance at the World Baseball Classic
(Photo: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)
Kremer, who pitches for the Baltimore Orioles, held Nicaragua (ranked 16th in the world) scoreless through the first four innings, and the relievers who followed were just as effective.
The pitcher on the other side, Carlos Rodríguez, also delivered a strong performance, but the Israeli team, made up mostly of American Jews along with a small number of native-born Israelis, still managed to find ways to score.
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Israel will now need to pull off a stunning upset against the Dominican Republic
(Photo: Carmen Mandato / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP)
A successful hit by Noah Mendlinger in the second inning produced the first run, and an excellent fifth inning — with strong hits by Harrison Bader, Zack Levinson, and Cole Carrigg — extended Israel’s lead to 5–0, which held until the final out.
The next challenge will be far tougher. To keep its hopes alive of advancing to the next stage, Israel will need to pull off a stunning upset against the Dominican Republic, ranked No. 2 in the world. The game will take place later today, but Carrigg is not losing hope.
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Cole Carrigg in action against Nicaragua
(Photo: Carmen Mandato / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP)
“It will be tough, but it’s a one-game series — and you never know what can happen,” he said.
Israel national team manager Brad Ausmus, who described the loss to Venezuela as “a stab in the heart,” explained how the victory that kept Israel alive felt. “It's like pulling the knife out of your heart for a minute. You have to enjoy every win,” he said.