21/04/2023 1 Minute Read

Leon, Hadar homers lift Israel past South Africa in Placement Round

Leon was also the winning pitcher for Israel. He struck out 11 in seven innings while giving up eight hits, four walks and two runs.

Kfir Leon and Shani Hadar homered for Israel to harvest a 5-3 win over South Africa, on Day 2 of the Placement Round. Israel clinched their second win in the WBSC U-23 Men's Softball World Cup.

Both teams scored one apiece in the second inning, with Israel’s pitcher Kfir Leon hitting a homer over the centre field fence. while South Africa levelling the game on a wild pitch.

In the bottom of the third, a Kiddo Malematja triple scored Rian Hatting, giving South Africa a 2-1 lead.

However, in the fourth Israel mounted a three-run rally to retake the lead. Hadar homered, Leon hit an RBI double and then scored on a wild pitch for a 4-2 edge over the South Africans.

In the sixth, South Africa scored a run to make it 4-3. After two quick outs, the African squad hit three consecutive singles, the latest an RBI single by Joshua Wentzel, to reduce the gap to one run.

In the top of the seventh, Israel scored an insurance run with three consecutive singles. Hadar singled in Seth Ross to extend the lead to 5-3.

Leon was also the winning pitcher for Israel. He struck out 11 in seven innings while giving up eight hits, four walks and two runs.