The WBSC recently had a chance to talk to Ophir Katz, the head coach of the Israel Baseball Academy.
WBSC: You recently led a group of six players to the Dominican Republic. Can you describe the experience?
Katz: "It was an amazing two-week experience. The six players are all soldier-athletes. It is really inspiring to see baseball in that country. The passion, the love, the skill. And also the camaraderie, everyone helping everyone and players giving back to their communities. I believe this was a start of a long relationship that both countries will benefit from."
The Israel Baseball Academy is a growing project.
"Nate Fish and David Shanker inaugurated the academy. It ran for six years as an elite academy for about 15 players in the 15-21 age range. Three years ago we decided to change it a little bit. It has now four age groups with 20-25 players in each age group. We have a U-12, U-15, U-18 and U-23 academy. The players come from all over the country to practice twice a week at our main field in Petach Tikva. Our goal is to improve the level of play across the country and to provide opportunities for those who choose to take this sport as a career. We prepare them as best as we can towards their next step, be it college baseball or professional baseball."
Katz was part of the first Israeli National Baseball Team. He travelled to the Netherlands to participate in the Juvenile European Championship. Peter Kurz and Shlomo Lipetz were his coaches.
"It was a great experience. It was my first international tournament, and that really helped me motivate. After that, I wanted to go every year, so I kept playing and working hard so that I could make the team."
Ophir's father, Haim Katz, served as the Israel Association Baseball (IAB) president.
"My dad used to take me with him to play softball on weekends, and I remember us playing catch for as far as I can remember. When I was about 10, we found out that there was a league in Israel. So he signed me up to play on the Tel Aviv team. After about a year or two, they asked him to coach. That's how he started being involved in baseball. And since he doesn't know how to say no, he became the president, eventually."
WBSC: You were one of six players born in Israel who competed in the 2007 Israel Baseball League. Your former teammate with the Netanya Tigers, Shlomo Lipetz, believes it was good baseball, but not very well managed on the business side.
Katz: "I don't think anyone can claim it was good business. But for baseball in Israel and me personally, it was significant. Having a high-level baseball league in Israel was eye-opening for many of us. It was the first time we saw real baseball consistently and at a high level. I know that it helped me decide to play baseball at Cyprus Community College in the US."
WBSC: You were a player-coach on the team that finished second at the European Championship. What's the next step?
Katz: "Winning the European Championship, obviously. What I would really call a success would be qualifying for the European Championship in all the different age categories."
