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(Story by Marco Stoovelaar; Photos by Henk Seppen & Robert Bos)
     Israel in Final World Baseball Classic Qualifier; Pakistan eliminated
Nederlands
 BROOKLYN, NEW YORK CITY, New York (USA) -
Israel is the first finalist of the fourth and final World Baseball Classic Qualifier after winning only 1-0 against Brazil on Friday-afternoon (September 23).
In the evening, Great Britain won 14-0 in seven innings vs. Pakistan, which was eliminated.
With this, Brazil now will meet Great Britain on Saturday to determine the second finalist.
As Pakistan now has lost twice in this double-elimination tournament, it was eliminated.
The event is played at MCU Park in Brooklyn, which is a borough of New York City.
Brooklyn has been the home of one of the most successfull Major League-clubs, as the Brooklyn Dodgers played there from 1884 through 1957.
After having played under different names in early years, the name 'Dodgers' was added in 1911.
With players as Jackie Robinson, Roy Campanella, Gil Hodges, Pee Wee Reese, Duke Snider, Sandy Koufax, Don Drysdale and Don Newcombe, managed by famous Walter Alston, the Dodgers formed a rivalry with the New York Yankees and New York Giants.
After the end of the 1957 season, both the Dodgers and Giants moved to California to become the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants.
In 1962, New York got another team when the New York Mets joined the Major League.
MCU Park is the home of the Brooklyn Cyclones, which is a Single-A team of the New York Mets.
The stadium is located at the famous Boardwalk at Coney Island, which is well known as the site of amusement parks and a seaside resort with a beach at the Atlantic Ocean.
Legend has it that the Island got its name around 1639 when the Dutch established the colony of Nieuw Amsterdam (New Amsterdam) and named the area 'Conyne Eylandt', which is old spelling in Dutch for 'Rabbits island'.
The winner of this tournament will be the 16th and final country to qualify for next years Classic.
The winner will meet Chinese Taipei (Taiwan), South Korea and the Netherlands Kingdom Team in Pool B of the preliminary round of next years fourth edition of the World Baseball Classic in March.
This group will play its games in South Korean capital Seoul.
Earlier this year, the other three Qualifiers were played.
In February, Australia won the first Qualifier, which was held in Blacktown, near Sydney (Australia).
In March, Colombia won the Final in Panama City (Panama) to qualify for the first time to play in the Classic.
In the Final, Colombia nipped Panama 2-1, which has participated in the three previous Classics.
Also in March, México won the Qualifying Tournament that was played in Mexicali (México).
These tournament-winners join twelve countries, who already were qualified for participation.
Canada, China, Chinese Taipei, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Italy, Japan, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Puerto Rico, South Korea, the United States and Venezuela received automatic invitations based on their performance in the 2013 tournament.
The final of next years World Baseball Classic will be played in Dodger Stadium, the beautiful home of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
(September 23)
Related Articles:
 Brazil and Israel open World Baseball Classic with win. (September 22, 2016)
México wins big against Nicaragua to return to World Baseball Classic. (March 20, 2016)
Colombia nips Panama to qualify for World Baseball Classic. (March 20, 2016)
France eliminated after early lead in WBC Qualifier. (March 19, 2016)
Czechs eliminated in 11 innings in WBC Qualifier. (March 19, 2016)
France eliminates Spain; Colombia in Final WBC Qualifier. (March 18, 2016)
Czechs eliminate Germans; México in Final WBC Qualifier. (March 18, 2016)
Narrow escapes Nicaragua & México in WBCQ openers. (March 17, 2016)
Colombia & Panama open WBC Qualifier with wins. (March 17, 2016)
Australia wins first World Baseball Classic Qualifier. (February 14, 2016)
South Africa second finalist in World Baseball Classic Qualifier. (February 13, 2016)
Australia in Final World Baseball Classic Qualifier. (February 12, 2016)
Australia, South Africa open WBC Qualifier with convincing win. (February 11, 2016)
First World Baseball Classic Qualifier to open in Australia. (February 10, 2016)
Dominican Republic new Classic-champion. (March 19, 2013)
Dutch Team ends up short in semi-final. (March 18, 2013)
Dutch Baseball Team World Champion! (October 15, 2011)
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Israel vs. Brazil
In this semi-final, both teams collected only three hits in a game that saw some fine pitching and nice defensive plays.
Israel scored the lone run in the game in the fourth inning.
Israel got its first scoring opportunity in the bottom of the second inning when Ike Davis led off with a walk and Cody Decker followed with a single.
The two moved on a grounder, but then were left behind when a line drive by Scott Burcham was caught by centerfielder Gabriel Maciel.
In the top of the fourth, it was Brazil that got a chance of opening the score off of starting pitcher Corey Baker, who this season played in Double-A and Triple-A in the organization of the St. Louis Cardinals.
With one out, Dante Bichette, Jr. walked and moved on a grounder.
With two outs, Bichette advanced on a wild pitch, then Juan Carlos Muñiz walked.
The latter then also advanced on a wild pitch, which kept Bichette on third base.
Brazil also would leave their runners when a grounder ended the at bat.
Moments later, Israel opened the score in the bottom of the fourth inning off of Bo Takahashi.
The 19-year old righthander plays professionally since 2014 in the organization of the Arizona Diamondbacks.
This year, he played at the Single-A level for three different teams and was 6-4.
Takahashi gave up a lead-off double to Nate Freiman, then saw next batter Ike Davis reach on an error.
With runners at the corners, a sacrifice fly by Cody Decker brought in Freiman to score the first Israeli run.
A strikeout and line out to rightfield ended the inning, but Israel had taken the lead.
...In 2009, Ike Davis played for Team USA during the...
...World Championship; Here, he plays against the Netherlands...
...during the Final Round in Nettuno (Italy)...
(© Photo: Henk Seppen) |
Ike Davis is one the most experienced professional players on the Israeli roster.
The lefthanded first baseman has played in 665 Major League-games since 2010, including eight this year with the New York Yankees.
Earlier, Davis played in the Majors for New York Mets (2010-2014), Pittsburgh Pirates (2014) and Oakland A's (2015).
Davis was a regular player in the Majors in most of these seasons, except for 2011 and this year.
In his Major League-career, Davis belted 81 homeruns.
He was released in August of this year by the Yankees.
In the top of the fifth, Corey Baker struckout the side for Israel in what was to be his final inning in the game.
The righthander struckout six batters and gave up only one basehit.
In the sixth, he was relieved by lefthander Jared Lakind, who this season pitched in Double-A in the organization of the PIttsburgh Pirates.
Lakind walked lead-off hitter Irait Chirino, but he was forced out at second base on a nice defensive play by short stop Scott Burcham on a hard grounder by Leonardo Reginatto.
Moments later, Reginatto stole second base, then next batter Dante Buchette, Jr. walked, while Reginatto took off to steal third base.
With runners now on second and third base, Lakind struckout Luis Paz and Juan Carlos Muñiz to end the inning and keep the minimal lead intact.
20-year old Paz plays professionally in the Rookie League of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
40-year old Cuban-born Muñiz played in the Cuban National Series, then played professionally in the organization of the Florida Marlins in 2005 and 2006.
In 2010, the outfielder played 14 games in the Japanese big league for Chiba Lotte Marines.
In the seventh, Brazil was retired in order, but Israel got another baserunner in its seventh at bat.
With two outs, Scott Burcham singled.
Moments later, he was caught stealing by catcher Luis Serafin de Camargo, who turned 40 last Tuesday.
Burcham's leg appeared to touch the base just moments before being tagged, but 2B Umpire Alberto Ruiz (Triple-A) ruled the runner out, ending the inning.
Serafin de Camargo played for Brazil in several more international tournaments, but also represented Italy at the 2007 World Championship.
He played in the Italian Baseball League for Pirati dei Rimini several years ago, but returned to the team this year.
With Rimini, he reached the Italian Series, but lost to UnipolSai Fortitudo Bologna.
With two outs in the top of the eighth, Leonardo Reginatto and Dante Bichette, Jr. both singled for Brazil, which led to a pitching change.
Ryan Sherriff took over from reliever Jeremy Reich and faced pinch-hitter Reinaldo Sato
He grounded to third baseman Cody Decker, who tagged out Reginatto to end the inning.
Reginatto, Sato and Muñiz also played for Brazil during the 2013 WBC.
Israel got another chance to add a run in the bottom of the eighth.
New Brazilian pitcher Felipe Sales walked lead-off hitter Mike Meyers.
He followed a strikeout, then walked Ryan Lavarnway.
Another strikeout followed, but thereafter, Sales was relieved by lefthander Hugo Kanabushi.
He faced veteran Ike Davis, but the inning ended when he popped out.
27-year old Kanabushi plays in the Japanese big league since 2012 and this year, he pitched for Yomiuri Tokyo Giants.
In the top of the ninth, Brad Goldberg became the new pitcher for Israel.
Veteran Juan Carlos Muñiz led off, but popped up behind second base, where short stop Scott Burcham made the catch.
The righthander then struckout Bo Bichette and then Luis Serafin de Camargo grounded to second baseman Josh Satin for the final out.
With that, Israel won to become the first team to reach the all-deciding Final on Sunday.
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Pakistan vs. Great Britain
Great Britain led 4-0, then rallied for six runs in the fifth inning to decide the game against Pakistan.
The British squad won 14-0 in seven innings on 13 basehits, including three by Jasrado Chisholm.
Pakistan registered only two basehits.
Muhammad Zohaib, the lefthanded starter for Pakistan, began the game by striking out (called out on three pitches) lead-off hitter Champ Stuart, who this season played in Single-A and Double-A in the organization of the New York Mets.
Hereafter, Jasrado Chisholm doubled, but he stranded on second base.
Chisholm was one of seven players in the starting British line-up tonight, who are born on the Bahamas.
The other two players were American-born.
Lefthander Greg Hendrix started for the British squad and retired the Pakistani side in its first at bat.
During last week's European Championship, Hendrix pitched four innings in relief against the Czech Republic in a 4-1 loss.
A few days later, he was the losing pitcher in a 9-6 loss against Sweden in eleven innings, pitching the final three innings.
Great Britain opened the score in the second inning.
Albert Cartwright then led off with a triple and scored on a following sacrifice fly by Chris Berset.
Hereafter, Zohaib retired the next two batters and recorded his second strikeout.
In the bottom of the second inning, with one out, Pakistan got two baserunners.
Fazal Ur Rehman then accounted for the first Pakistani basehit and next batter Umair Imdad Bhatti was hit by a pitch.
But the inning then ended when Hidayat Ullah grounded into a double play.
Great Britain took some more distance by scoring twice in the top of the third.
Kyle Simmons then led off with a walk.
Moments later, he stole second and was able to advanced when a throwing error followed.
Hereafter, Champ Stuart walked.
The two then respectively scored on a single by Jasrado Chisholm and double play-grounder by Todd Isaacs to make it 3-0.
...Nateshon Thomas playing for Great Britain...
...a week ago during the European Championship...
...which was held in the Netherlands....
(© Photo: Robert Bos) |
In the fourth, the fourth British run was added.
Albert Cartwright then led off with a walk, stole second base and scored on an one-out single by Chavez Young.
With two outs, Kyle Simmons singled, resulting in a pitching change.
Asrar Ahmad took over and retired the next batter to end the inning.
In the top of the fifth inning, the British squad increased its lead even more, as it rallied for six runs to make it a 10-0 score.
Jasrado Chisholm led off with a single, then Jordan Serena walked with one out.
After a double-steal, both scored when Albert Cartwright hit his second triple in the game.
Next batter Chris Berset walked and Chavez Young added a runscoring single, which led to another pitching change.
Muhammad Asif took over, but was greeted with an RBI-single by Reshard Munroe.
A walk for Kyle Simmons loaded the bases and Champ Stuart added another runscoring single to bring in the ninth British run.
Hereafter, Asif struckout the next batter, but an error on a hit by Todd Isaacs lifted the lead to 10-0, before a flyout ended the long at bat.
In the sixth, Great Britain added three more runs with two outs.
With one out, Mitch Evans was hit by a pitch and with two outs, Reshard Munroe walked.
Hereafter, Nateshon Thomas was inserted as pinch-hitter and delivered a runscoring double.
Thomas, born on the British Virgin Islands, is one of the players who last week participated in the European Championship as both a pitcher and infielder.
Speedsters Munroe and Thomas then both scored on an infield-hit by next batter Champ Stuart to lift the lead to 13-0.
In the bottom of the sixth, Cody Chartrand pitched for the British squad.
Chartrand also participated in the European Championship and last year played for Twins in the second highest league in the Netherlands.
This season, in pitched in the highest division in Germany.
Great Britain made it a 14-0 score in the seventh.
Pinch-hitter Maikel Azcuy, born and raised in Cuba, led off with a double, advanced on an outfield-error and scored on a sacrifice fly by Jordan Serena.
Azcuy also participated in the European Championship a week ago.
With this, Great Britain now has to play against Brazil on Saturday to determine the second finalist.
Pakistan was eliminated, but is a great experience richer.
The team is managed by Syed Fakhar Ali Shah, who father Syed Khawar Shah founded the Pakistan Baseball Federation in 1992.
Through the years, the Khan family has done a lot of work to promote the sports of baseball in Pakistan.
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