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Team Israel is making its first ever appearance in the qualifying round of the World Baseball Classic. They play South Africa TODAY (Wednesday Sep. 19) at 7:00p.m. EST at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Florida. If they win, they move on to play the winner of the game between France and Spain.
The team is being managed by former major league catcher Brad Ausmus and includes former major leaguers Gabe Kapler and Sean Green who will be player/coaches.
If the team moves on from this early round, big league stars Kevin Youkilis, Ryan Braun and Ian Kinsler could join for the November round which is after the major league season ends.
If Israel survives through the November rounds which are being played in Taiwan and Panama, the team would begin to compete for the World Championship at the World Baseball Classic scheduled for March 2013.
Chanoch Berman, an 18 year old player from Raanana, told United With Israel: “Everyone is very excited. the morale is very high and we have high expectations for ourselves. We are so proud to be representing Israel on this prominent international stage.”
Reported by DOV LIPMAN for United With Israel.
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