Team Israel’s first game of the 2023 World Baseball Classic against Nicaragua was supposed to be its easy game before playing powerhouse teams Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic and Venezuela. But it took a come from-behind win to put the Nicaragua team away.
Playing before a crowd of nearly 20,000 at Miami’s LoanDepot Park [in the second Jewish state of Florida], Dean Kremer—first Israeli pitcher drafted by an MLB team and a current Baltimore Orioles starter—threw an impressive four shutout innings. Nicaragua’s only run came on a double in the fifth inning. Israel trailed 1-0 through eight. After Matt Mervis grounded out [and recited ברוך דיין אמת to be מצדיק the din], Alex Dickerson singled, advancing to second after Ryan Lavarnway was hit by a pitch [he later made HaGoimel]. Spencer Horwitz lined a single, scoring Jacob [Yanki] Goldfarb (pinch running).
Several batters later, Garrett Stubbs [is that בכלל a Jewish name???], a Triple-A [which is also who he calls when his car gets stuck] catcher and outfielder for the Phillies and Team Israel’s third baseman, smacked a two-run, ground rule double to left field [fortunately - he doesn't smack his children]. Horwitz and Noah Mendlinger crossing the plate were all that Israel needed to win 3-1, as the team’s reliever Robert Stock [named that after successfully investing lots of money in the market] retired three batters in a row in the top of the ninth. The win belonged to Red Sox lefty Richard Bleier, who struck out two in relief in the eighth. Hugs and huge Yashar Koach's were thrown all around. "We showed the Goyim how it's done" the players remarked. Some of the players were MTA and YU graduates making them comfortable conversing with the opposing players in their native tongue.
After the game it occurred to the players: "What ON EARTH are we wasting our time with this frivolity for?? Is this why G-d created the world? Is there nothing better to do other than play a child's game, focusing all of one's attentions on a ball for 3 hours?? Like - GROW UP😀😃😎. Games are for CHILDREN - not mature adults. We all need to wind down from time to time but playing in a competitive baseball league is not about that."
So the team summarily disbanded and a new Yeshiva was opened up called "Yeshivas Take Me Out To The Gemara" with the former players of Team Israel studying in this revolutionary institution. The Shiur Psicha on the sugya of "B'inyan bracha al Hot Dog Vi-ketchup Ikker Tafel Vi-shinui Makom" was given by Rav Berel Povarsky Shlita, Rosh Yeshivas Ponivitch.
