Philadelphia, PA, May 11– Josh Persell, Chairman, USA Juniors Boys’ Baseball, has selected seasoned baseball athletes to coach the USA Team at the 19th World Maccabiah Games in Israel, July 2013. Nate Fish of Brooklyn, NY has been appointed as Head Coach and Eric Holtz of White Plains, NY has been appointed Assistant Coach.
Fish played for the Tel Aviv Lighting in the inaugural season of the Israel Baseball League (IBL) in 2007 and for the Haar Disciples in Munich, Germany for the Baseball-Bundesliga, Germany’s professional Baseball league. Originally from Cleveland, OH, he also played college Baseball for the University of Cincinnati. Fish was the Assistant Coach for the Israeli National Baseball Team for the 2011 European Championships and currently runs the Yorkville Baseball Academy in New York City. He is also an alumnus of two World Maccabiah Games where he participated as an athlete on the USA Open Men’s Fastpitch Softball Team in 2005 and 2009. Fish is also the Co-Chair of the Maccabi USA Juniors Boys’ Baseball Team.
“I want the Team to win the gold medal,” Fish said when asked about his expectations for the team. “However, these Games are about much more than competition, they are an opportunity to make lifelong friendships with athletes from around the world and connect with the State of Israel. I met [assistant coach Eric] Holtz when we both played for the IBL, and it is our priority to provide our players with a great all-around experience in Israel.”
Holtz has played and coached at nearly every level of Baseball throughout his career. He played professionally during the IBL inaugural season for the Shemesh Blue Sox in 2007. From 2003-2006 he was the hitting coach at Manhattanville College in Purchase, NY where he led the Men’s Team to a conference championship and assisted the Women’s Softball Team at a conference tournament and an NCAA bid. Holtz currently coaches at Westchester Community College and is a senior instructor at Frozen Ropes, a nationally-recognized Baseball and Softball training complex in Elmsford, NY.
All interested athletes, both alumni and new, must fill out an application before trying out for the team. Applications are available at maccabiusa.com and can be filled out either on-line or mailed in. Eligible athletes for the Juniors Boys’ Baseball Team must be born 1995 – 1998. Tryouts will be held:
August 5, 2012 – Los Angeles, CA
August 19, 2012 – Chicago, IL
August 26, 2012 – New York, NY
Should you have any specific questions about eligibility or the tryouts, please contact the Team Leaders atmacjnt2013@gmail.com.
About the organization:
Maccabi USA (MUSA) is a federally-recognized not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization with an extensive history of enriching Jewish lives through athletic, cultural and educational programs. The organization is the official sponsor of the United States Team to the World Maccabiah Games, the Pan American Maccabi Games and the Maccabi competitions in Europe and Australia, as well as a sponsor of the JCC Maccabi Games for teens in North America. As the official Maccabi representative in the U.S., Maccabi USA supports Jewish athletic endeavors, enhanced by cultural and educational activities in the United States, Israel and throughout the Diaspora.
MUSA develops, promotes and supports international, national and regional athletic-based activities and facilities. It strives to provide Jewish athletes the world over the opportunity to share their heritage and customs in competitive athletic settings. MUSA supports programs that embody the Maccabi ideals of Jewish Continuity, Zionism and Excellence in Sport. Maccabi USA Builds Jewish Pride Through Sports.