Travel, community service and baseball are three pretty nice ways to spend a summer. And Jake Ayers '06 is experiencing it all.

The recent Knox College graduate, with a degree in Social Science Education, has traveled to Israel to play in the inaugural season of the Israel Baseball League (IBL). Ayers left for Israel on June 19 and the six-team league opened play on June 24. He won't return home until the season ends in late August.

The former Prairie Fire catcher has played in one game for the Bet Shemesh Blue Sox, and is 0-for-1 while also reaching base after getting hit by a pitch. Primarily a catcher at Knox, Ayers also has previous experience at first base, third base and in the outfield, and will be a utility player in the IBL. The Blue Sox sit atop the standings with a perfect 3-0 record through Wednesday's games.

Ayers' journey to Israel began in the winter, prior to his final baseball season at Knox.

"I was searching online one day and found the Israel Baseball League," said Ayers, a two-time Midwest Conference All-South Division first team selection. "They were looking for players so I thought I'd give it a shot and I sent them an email. They emailed back and asked for my stats. They must have liked what they saw and since I have quite a bit of coaching experience, they asked, 'Do you want to play for us?'"

At the conclusion of his Prairie Fire season, a season in which he batted .378 with five doubles and one home run, Ayers received and signed a contract with the Israel Baseball League.

"During the season, I didn't even tell my coaches about this possible opportunity in Israel, just my family. I kept it to myself," said Ayers. "I waited until after the season to tell my Knox coaches and teammates, but I know my mom had been telling my teammates' parents about it during the season."

Even with his Prairie Fire baseball career ending in early May, Ayers stayed in shape, working out with the Farmington High School football team and taking batting practice with his Farmington Legion baseball team.

Then Ayers left for Israel, not really knowing what to expect.

"I don't know much about Israel," admitted Ayers. "I tried to teach myself online as much as I could. I will be living in a suburb north of Tel Aviv, so I don't think there is going to be a huge culture shock. I'm just going over there with a see-what-happens attitude.

"I'm not worried at all. I'm very excited," Ayers continued. "Others are nervous for me – after all, it is Israel. My parents are nervous; they want me to email as often as I can."

The one constant in his life is baseball. The Israel Baseball League plays a 45-game schedule, concluding with the Championship Game on August 19. The teams play six nights a week with nothing scheduled for the Sabbath. There is even an All-Star Game slated for July 29. The one major difference between the IBL and baseball in the United States is that a game tied after the regulation seven innings in Israel is decided by a home run derby.

The league is made up mostly of American players, a mix of former Minor Leaguers who never reached the Major Leagues and recent graduates from the NCAA Division III, NAIA and junior college ranks.

According to the IBL website, 15 of the 21 players on the Blue Sox roster reside in the United States. Three are from Israel while the Dominican Republic, Canada and Australia each have one player on the team. The players are housed together in a dorm.

If adjusting to a new country wasn't enough, Ayers had to adjust to a new team within days of arriving in Israel. Originally assigned to the Netanya Tigers, Ayers was traded to the Bet Shemesh Blue Sox before the season opener. The Blue Sox had difficulties getting two of their catchers from the Dominican Republic and the Ukraine out of their respective countries, so Ayers was sent to the team to fill a catching void.

Ayers is playing for manager Ron Blomberg, one of four IBL managers with Major League Baseball playing experience. Blomberg, the #1 overall pick of the New York Yankees in the 1967 draft, played for eight years in the Major Leagues with the Yankees (1969, 71-76) and Chicago White Sox (1978). He is perhaps best known as the first designated hitter in MLB history.

Outside of the league games every night, the IBL has a community relations goal of teaching the game of baseball to the youth of Israel. Along with his impressive playing resume, Ayers has four years of coaching experience with the Farmington Legion and Junior Legion programs, which made him attractive to the IBL. Jake's brother Nate, who just completed his sophomore year at Knox, will coach the Farmington Legion team while Jake is in Israel.

With help from the Israel Association of Baseball (IAB) and the Dan Duquette Baseball Academy, the IBL players and coaches will offer baseball camps and clinics throughout Israel this summer. According to the league website, the IBL will also participate in the 1.000 Club, where 1,000 bats, 1,000 gloves and 1,000 baseballs will be given to underprivileged children in Israel.

"It is going to be pretty much all baseball," said Ayers of his time in Israel, primarily considered a soccer and basketball country. "We'll teach and coach in the mornings and play every night. This is a wonderful opportunity. And on our off days, I'll get a chance to look at some of the historical sites in the area."

Ayers hopes to continue teaching and coaching after his stint in Israel comes to an end. He is even willing to consider continuing that career path overseas.

"Having professional playing experience is good for my resume," said Ayers. "And if things work out right, I'd love to stay and maybe help in starting a National Training Academy here.

"I know Europe needs American coaches. Baseball is growing there but the players in Europe are still mostly 'weekend pros.' But they pay for your housing and you get to see the world, and it's not on your dime. Coaching overseas would definitely be an interesting lifestyle."

Related links

External Site
Israel Baseball League – http://www.israelbaseballleague.com