Softball Penticon, Dimona to Clash for Title

Penticon and the Dimona Mean Judeans will face off in next week's Israel Softball Association finals after sweeping their semifinal series Tuesday.

Penticon defeated Zion Tours 10-4 to take their best-of-three series and Dimona demolished the Galil Twisters 17-1.

Penticon broke out to a 5-1 lead in the top of the fourth but Zion Tours fought back to within one in the bottom of the sixth.

Penticon responded by scoring five in the top of the seventh to put the game out of reach.

Ami Baran kept the Jerusalemites bats off balance most of the game and got two of his three strikeouts to quench a sixth inning rally. Shortstop Mark Mayerfeld and second baseman Sam Goldberg shone in the infield for a sharp Penticon defense.

On offense, David Fleightman had three hits and runs and two RBI's and Howie Hirsch tripled and drove in four off of Zion Tours hurler Blair Portnoy.

Dimona laid waste to a short-handed Galil team, scoring all eight of their runs in the first three innings with two outs and ending the game after five innings on the mercy rule.

Dimona hurler Yarone Ben Israel was almost unhittable, pitching three perfect innings before allowing two hits and a run in the fourth, and striking out seven in five innings.

Benkie Ben Israel had a three-run home run and scored three times, Ahkazyah Ben Israel had three hits, three runs and two RBI's and Ovade Ben Israel drove in four. The Twisters lone bright spot was Rob Barasch who played an outstanding right field.