Come and celebrate Hanukkah 2014 with the Israel Association of Baseball.

This year there will be two main baseball events: The ‎Hanukkah Tournament for Minors, Juveniles and Cadets and the All-Star day with ‎skills competitions for players from minors to cadets, candle lighting, a BBQ and the Howie Osterer Memorial Juniors All Star Game.‎

IAB Hanukkah Tournament
The 2014 Hanukkah Tournaments for Cadets, Juveniles (Tiva Pelter Tournament)‎, and Minors (Eliyahu Jackson Tournament) will take place on Friday, December 19 in the Sharon, Shfela and Bet Shemesh/Jerusalem regions. Final locations to be announced. The games will start at 9:30 and will finish by 14:30.
The tournament will be a regional, one-day only event that begins in the morning. Rain day - Tuesday December 23.

IAB All Star Day
The All-‎Star Day will take place on Sunday, December 21, at the Baptist Village from ‎‎16:00 to 21:00. ‎
Schedule‎
‎16:00-17:00 – Skills Competitions for Minors, Juveniles, and Cadets‎‎
‎17:30 - BBQ
18:15 - Awards ceremony, candle lighting, memorial ceremony for Howie Osterer z"l and the first pitch.
‎18:30 – Howie Osterer Memorial Juniors All-Star Game.

All-Star day is FREE. So come join the festivities for a great day of baseball, ‎family, and ‎friends, Sunday, December 21, at the Baptist Village for IAB All-Star Day. ‎
Happy Hanukkah!!‎ 

The untimely passing of Howie Osterer – Israel Association of Baseball umpire, coach, Jerusalem Regional Director and friend – has left a void in Israel baseball. In his memory, the IAB is setting up the Howie Osterer Scholarship Fund.

The fund will financially assist children from families with limited means, who wish to play in the Israel baseball leagues or participate in the IAB’s various baseball programs such as summer camps, National Team tournament trips, enrichment programs, etc. Howie’s approach to baseball was to make it all about the children and he firmly supported helping players who were unable to afford to pay for baseball activities. By setting up this scholarship fund in his memory, we will ensure that his legacy lives on.

To donate to the Howie Osterer Scholarship Fund, please download this donation form, fill it out and email it to us, or you can make a tax deductible donation via the JNF Project Baseball website – details regarding payment procedures for both methods are in the donation form.

Israel Baseball has lost a true friend and a real mensch. Coach, umpire and Jerusalem Regional Director Howie Osterer, 59, passed away suddenly while doing what he loved most - umpiring a game - at Kibbutz Gezer on Tuesday November 11.

Howie made Aliyah from Ottawa, Canada in 2008 through Nefesh B’Nefesh. A teacher by profession, Howie was always involved in sport – from baseball to wrestling to football – and umpired baseball in Canada on the national level. As a result he was a welcome addition to the Israel baseball umpiring team. He quickly became known for his positive, fair and friendly approach to officiating at games.

He expanded his baseball activities to coaching, and last year took on the role of Jerusalem Regional Director. He brought a new spirit to Jerusalem baseball, expanding the rosters and developing new programs. His tireless energy, caring and compassion ensured that he was loved by the players, coaches and parents.  

“Howie will be remembered for his warm smile, his positive attitude and approach to life, and his total dedication to baseball in Israel,” says Israel Association of Baseball President Peter Kurz. “He will be sorely missed by us all.”

Howie leaves behind his parents, five children and five grandchildren. May his memory be a blessing. 

The Israel Association of Baseball’s Israel Baseball Academy had its first practice on Tuesday evening. The academy is recognized by Major League Baseball as the elite program for 14-21 year-old baseball players in Israel.
The program is by invitation only and the following players were invited to take part in this year’s academy: Tal Erel (Tel Aviv); Roey Shelem (Tel Aviv); Noam Calisar (Binyamina); Yoav Moeded (Tel Aviv); Yotam Ben-Amran (Bet Nir); Ilan Klein (Bet Shemesh); Shlomo Lipman (Bet Shemesh); Avi Watson (Bet Shemesh); Ori Wachspress (Modiin); Ofer Bobrov (Misgav); and Assaf Lowengart (Timorim). In addition to this year’s players, a group of 20 players have been placed on a "scout list" as potential candidates for next year.
IAB National Director Nate Fish and National Team Coach David Schenker will co-direct the Academy. Former college pitcher and long-time Israel National Team player Dan Rothem will serve as pitching coach.
Academy players will train together weekly. In return for their commitment to baseball, they will have opportunities to play in the Israel National Team Program, to be recognized as Elite Athletes in the IDF, and have access to Major League Baseball’s programs for the best young players in Europe.
The Israel Baseball Academy is for baseball players in Israel who are interested in competing at the highest levels of the sport: summer baseball in the USA, college baseball, and professional baseball.
“This is a good group of young players who have a chance to do something really special in the next few years,” says Fish.

The IAB's annual Enrichment Program for begins on October 21 and 22. The program is a chance for players to get an extra day of baseball, work with great coaches, and be seen by Israel National Team and Israel Baseball Academy coaches. The program is 14 weeks long and is being offered at 2 locations - the Baptist Village in Petah Tikvah and Kibbutz Gezer.

At the conclusion of the Enrichment Program, tryouts for the Israel National Teams will begin. 

DATES AND TIMES

Baptist Village, Wednesdays, October 22 – January 28
Juveniles - 17:30-19:30 
Cadets and Juniors – 19:00-21:00

Kibbutz Gezer, Tuesdays, October 21 – January 27
Juveniles, Cadets and Juniors - 17:00-19:00

PRICES - for registered IAB players only

Enrichment Program – 650 NIS 
National Team Tryouts – 200 NIS 
Enrichment Program and National Team Tryout Package – 750 NIS

Registration and payment on our website.

TRANSPORTATION

We would like to organize transport by region. Contact the following people for information:

Ra’anana / Lev Hasharon – Margo Sugarman – 

Modiin - Ira Moskowitz - 

Bet Shemesh - Shlomit Becker - 

Jerusalem – Howie Osterer - 

Tel Aviv – Yaron Erel - 

Last year's program was a great success. Don't miss out this year!