The Premier League Spring Season got off to an exciting start on Thursday evening at the Baptist Village, with the Ra'anana Raiders edging out Fall Season champions and 2015 champions the Tel Aviv Comrades 4-3. 

Doug Liebman, head of the JNF's Baseball and Softball Taskforce, who was visiting Israel on a fact finding mission for JNF Project Baseball and Softball, threw out the ceremonial first pitch to Raiders catcher Hadar Sugarman.  

It was a back and forth game, with the Comrades taking an early 2-0 lead at the top of the first inning off Raiders starting pitcher Brent Powers, and adding to that lead when Tal Erel scored on a sac fly by Dan Rothem. The Raiders scored one run in second inning off Comrades starting pitcher Rothem, when Nadav Levy grounded out bringing Josh Alter home, and scored their second run in the third. 

The Raiders managed to take the lead in a strong fifth inning, assisted by a two-run single from Powers, bringing home Ittai Shickman and Channoch Berman. 

Orr Gottlieb shut down the Comrades when he was on the mound. The Comrades managed only two hits off Gottlieb, who allowed one earned run, one walk and struck out six during his three innings.

The games continue every week on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays at 19:15 at the Baptist Village in Petah Tikvah. 

The JNF's Doug Liebman (center) after throwing out the ceremonial first pitch to Ra'anana Raiders catcher Hadar Sugarman (left), with IAB President Peter Kurz (right).