Halpern's Homer leads Men's Masters to 6-1 win over Israel

Game 1 for the Canadian Masters Men Softball team featured a match up between the Canadian Team and Team Israel at Kibbutz Gezer at 12:00 pm.

The game featured a one-two pitching tandem for Canada of Mark Bendahan and John Marshall, facing off against their Israeli tandem counterpart.

Canada put up 3 quick runs in the 1stinning and followed with single runs in the 2nd, 6th and 7th on their way to a convincing 6-1 victory over Israel who scored their lone run in the 6th.

Mark Bendahan started the game and pitched an absolute gem, going 3 innings of no hit baseball, striking out 3 and not allowing a single baserunner as he hit the spots perfectly, dialing up the speed and mixing it in with off speed pitches all the way through his pass through the lineup.

John Marshall came in and pitched 4 shut down innings, giving up a lone hit and striking out 3 with his mix of heavy rise balls and drop balls. John shut down the Israeli bats in the 7th to lock down the win in convincing fashion.

The Canadian team hitting was paced with great contributions from throughout the lineup including:

Big slugger Colin Halpern who pounded a two out 3 run home run in the 1st inning to put Canada on top 3-0 and continue his power hitting binge from 2009.

Second baseman Mike Krestell who pounded out 3 hits, including an rbi double, single and bunt single, scored a run and stole 2 bases.

First baseman Jeff Michaels with great glove work around the bag and 2 hits, including a screaming single through the third base hole and a deep double to left field and riving in a run on a ground out to 2b.

Left fielder Gavin Ziv who scorched 3 hits including a triple and two singles and made a nice running catch in left field.

Stephen Goldsmith with a bunt single and two walks to move the line.

Robbie Cooper with two singles, including a line drive to left field to start the game and two running catches in Centerfield.

David Goldstein with a sacrifice bunt and catchers interference.

David Katz with an rbi ground out in the 7th to plate the 6th run to extend the lead.

John Marshall with a line drive single up the middle in his first at bat;

The Canadian Masters move to Game 2 at Kibbutz Gezer on Sunday July 9 at 8:00 pm against Venezuela.