Israel wins U-23 Baseball Euro Qualifier in Zurich, Switzerland

Israel shut out Switzerland 5-0 in the final thanks to a strong pitching performance by Aviv Bobrov and Akiva Epstein, who issued no hits and no runs in seven innings on the mound. Their only blemish in the box score where a combined eight walks, from which the Swiss team couldn’t take advantage of.

On offense Israel got off to a strong start, scoring four of the five runs in the game in the first two innings. In the first Aviad Schechter scored on a based loaded walk to give Israel a 1-0 lead. Lyrr Friesem doubled the advantage with a RBI single. Dovid Solomon then scored on a passed ball to make it 3-0 after the first. A RBI double by Zev Moore and a RBI triple by Friesem secured the victory for Israel.

Fabio Bundi got charged with the loss, conceding seven hits, five runs (4 ER) and three walks in 5 2/3 innings. Fabio Bundi and Oscar Hundt each walked twice for Switzerland.

During the preliminary round robin Israel already had dominated with four wins in as many games to clinch a final berth. Switzerland came in second with a 3-1 record. Belgium, Poland and Lithuania finished in third, fourth and fifth in the final standings.

Zurich, Switzerland hosted one of two B-Pool U-23 Baseball European Championships, which are played this week with the second taking place in Budapest, Hungary.

All games were streamed live through www.baseballeurope.tv. Results and statistics for all games are available at www.wbsceurope.org.

Photo by Sue Fisher