PItching for a Cause

The Pitch for Israel took place on Sunday August 17^th at Camp Robin Hood in Markham Ontario. The event was held to raise money to provide children of families living below the poverty line, with an opportunity to spend one or two four week sessions at a Jewish day camp in Toronto, or a one month session at a Jewish overnight camp. The event was focused around a men’s and women’s softball tournament, eight men’s teams and four ladies teams, playing out a series of Round Robin games. At the end of it all was a final showdown between the top two teams in each division. The men’s tournament champions walked away with a luxury suite at the a Jays vs. Red Sox game in September and a meet and greet with Blue Jays President Paul Godfrey, while the women’s tournament champions prize according to the event materials was still to be decided on.

Among the teams registered was one entered by
JSPORT.

JSPORT, for those of you who do not yet know is Toronto’s only social co-ed Jewish sport league for people ages 18+. It provides an opportunity for young adult/professionals and Birthright alumni to be social, active and have some fun.

While currently wrapping up their own regular summer softball season, a special men’s team for the event was formed by JSPORT’s leader Mattea Wintre who also served as team coach. The team was comprised of nine guys plus one alternate player for a total of 10.


From left to right:
Back row: Mark Uster, David Cooper, Oren Tamir, Adam Stern, Rob Meth, Lawrence Kroach, Jake Jeffries, Arsham Sheiktavi
Front row: Phile Kane, David Zemelman


A valiant effort was made during the three games played during the Round Robin, in which they tied their first game, lost their second and pulled out a win in their third and final regular game. Not a bad day’s play for a team that had never played together before yet showed true camaraderie, and a pure love for the sport.

Field obstacles and a timed schedule aside, JSPORT’s team played it out and their efforts will enable and inspire the underprivileged to take the spirit of tikkun olam to heart. These children will undoubtedly find their own way to pay their upcoming good fortune forward to others like them equally as deserving.