Bringing Area Athletes to Israel
Eleven Potomac residents to represent U.S. in Jewish athletic competition.

By Noah Goetzel

(Photo by Noah Goetzel/The Almanac) From left to right: Gary Raizon, Harris Rosenblatt, Marc Youngentob, Yahly Levy, Sophie Jacobson, and Michael April will represent the Potomac area as members of Team USA in the upcoming Maccabiah Games in Israel.

Lisa Reichmann, Open Half Marathon co-chairperson for team USA in the upcoming Maccabiah Games, hosted a send-off party on June 22 for all competitors in the Gaithersburg area participating in the upcoming quadrennial event.

The celebration featured many Potomac athletes who will compete in the July 13-23 Maccabiah Games scheduled to be held in several Israeli cities. Included in the festivities were Class of ’09 Churchill alumni Gary Raizon and Marc Youngentob. After winning the Maryland State Golf Championship as part of Churchill’s golf team this past fall, they will go against other international teams in the juniors golf tournament at their first Maccabiah Games.

“After playing for Greater Washington’s golf team in the JCC Maccabi games from 2004-2007, I have always enjoyed traveling around the country and meeting new people,” Raizon, 18, said. “The best part of my Maccabi Games experience was the opening ceremonies in front of huge crowds, so I can’t wait to represent my country for an even more significant event.”

The Maccabiah Games is Israel’s version of the Olympics and is expected to host 5,300 athletes from around the world along with another 2,000 Israeli athletes during its 18th gathering this summer. According to Maccabiusa.com, the Maccabiah Games is the largest sports event in the world aside from the Olympics and World Cup. This summer’s event features participants from 60 countries playing 28 different sports.

“It is a fascinating, but nerve-racking experience that I’m sure I will never forget,” said Sophie Jacobson, 17, a rising senior at Churchill who will run the 400-, 800-, 1500- and 3000-meter races for the Juniors Track and Field Championship. “I want to help my team get a gold medal and record my personal best time in the 800.”

Jacobson runs track and cross-country during the school year, but has been training every day over the summer to increase her mileage. Physician Michael April, 51, will also participate in his first ever Maccabiah Games when he plays catcher in the Men’s Open Fast Pitch Softball Championships in Jerusalem this July.

A former Johns Hopkins baseball player, April says he trains year-round by running, lifting weights, playing for a local league, and coaching Churchill’s girls’ softball team six days a week. However, April says he has upped his training since pursuing a spot on the USA Maccabiah team by traveling around the country and participating in various try-outs and tournaments.

“I value all of the friendships I have made with my teammates and look forward to meeting new Jewish athletes and strengthening my Jewish ties when I visit Israel for the first time,” April said.

April may consider competing in the Pan American Games or Maccabi Australia International Games in the future, but at 51 he considers himself fortunate to compete in this summer’s games.

Other Potomac residents participating in the Maccabiah Games are April’s wife, Linda (men’s open softball manager), Daniel Grunfeld (men’s open basketball), Jashua Hafkin (open swimming), Yahly Levy (juniors swimming), Jonathan Missner (masters tennis), Harris Rosenblatt (masters tennis) and Amanda Saber (women’s open field hockey).

(click logo to go to official website)

International softball tourney seeks volunteers
From The Guardian

The U-19 International Men’s Softball Championship, taking place next month in Charlottetown, is calling on anyone interested in volunteering for the event to sign-up.

Carol Mayne, chair of the host committee, said volunteers are still needed to ensure the overall success of the inaugural event being held July 7–12.

“Our host committee has been diligently working on planning this event for nearly a year,” said Mayne. “The key to the success of any event are the volunteers. While we are grateful for those who have signed up to volunteer thus far, we still need many more volunteers to make this event successful.”

The tournament will include 10 provincial teams and one Territories team from Canada as well as a team from Salt Lake City and a team from New Zealand.

Mayne said as with any event of this size, volunteers are always needed to help ensure the success and offer hospitality.
Volunteers are at a premium this year in Charlottetown with a number of major sporting events hosted in the capital, including a number of Canada Summer Games competition sports.

“The host committee has been aggressively seeking volunteers through a grassroots campaign across Prince Edward Island,”?said Mayne. “It is estimated that 200 volunteers will be needed during the event to help with everything from ticket taking to score keeping to team hosts.”

Anyone interested in volunteering, or for more information volunteer opportunities can visit the event’s website at www.charlottetownsoftball2009.com.

******
It is needed to be a volunteer:

– Availability during the event from July 7-12.
– Positive and enthusiastic attitude
– Willingness to be a part of a team
– Application requirements – The online application form will take less than two minutes to complete. Information will be gathered regarding your availability to volunteer, skills and areas of interest.
– Once an application has been submitted, the applicant will receive an email providing details on the next steps in the volunteer process. A volunteer committee member will be in touch with each applicant to confirm final details with them.

– More at www.charlottetownsoftball2009.com.

Be sure to catch Al’s Fastball’s “Weekend Blog” at his site.

Here is an excerpt, but click the link at the end to read the entire post.

Monday, June 22, 2009
Weekend Blog June 21-22

Well it should not be hard to pick the story of the weekend; it was the Innerkip ISC II Qualifier, yes, held in Innerkip, Ontario.

Why the ISC II Qualifier and not Team Canada visiting Southern Ontario as they prepare for the ISF World Championship in Saskatoon? Well, I would have hoped for a tie in that regard but you have to admit the folks in Innerkip broke their backs to a. get us the results and b. to get the games in on a very wet weekend.

To say I was disappointed with the results coming out of Team Canada on this short but important training camp would be an understatement. Maybe the results are still in the mail but come on, really, this is the national team of Canada! Thanks to St. Thomas / Fingal and Jarvis for sending us the scores, somewhat after the fact, but we appreciate the effort. We know Softball Canada tried; but list me as just one of the many noting disappointment. Canada is hosting the world in Saskatoon and there are fans interested in all the exhibition games outside our own little backyards.

Click here to go to Al’s Fastball to read the entire post.