Courtesy of Caitlyn HoffmanWhile many people vacationed and unwound over winter break, senior Karli Stander and sophomore Caitlyn Hoffman won gold medals playing softball for Team USA in the 11th annual Pan American Maccabi Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
The Maccabi World Union dedicates itself to providing a means for Jewish educational, cultural, social and athletic activities.
Stander and Hoffman joined Washington University graduates Jamie Kressel and Monica Hanono on Team USA, along with other college students, college graduates and high school students from around the country.
Although the team beat host country Argentina 6-0 in the final game, the beginning of the tournament was rocky. The team played together for the first time just before the tournament, and the team lost its opener to Israel 6-1.
“It’s hard to bring a group of girls together who have been coached by so many different people and blend them into one in a very short time,” explained Hoffman.
Even though the team’s first game did not fare well, its second game began a turnaround, as Team USA defeated Argentina 6-0.
“Once we realized that we’re here to have fun, not to necessarily win, we started playing much better,” added Hoffman.
Both Stander and Hoffman described the tournament as a very unique experience.
“International play was like nothing I’ve ever experienced before. Usually, we can talk to the umpires and hear what the other team is saying,” recalled Stander.
In this tournament, however, both the team’s opponents and umpires were speaking different languages. The atmosphere was also very different since softball players could see the Mexico and Brazil teams playing soccer on an adjacent field.
Another unique aspect of the tournament was its atmosphere. Hoffman added that the tournament was, “the most friendly competition I’ve ever been a part of.”
Despite the friendly atmosphere, both girls agreed that the championship game against Argentina was very intense, even though Team USA had beaten Argentina twice in the tournament’s earlier rounds.
Since Argentina was the host country, their team had many more supporters in the final game. However, all of the USA male players came to cheer for the women, leveling the playing field slightly.
Unfortunately, Hoffman injured her hamstring early in the tournament and could not play in the championship game.
“Every time someone would make a play or get a strikeout, the crowd would go crazy. Every play was a huge rush. The way the stands were set up, the fans were right around our dugout, so you weren’t just returning to your team. Fans were very close and loud and intense. They’d all cheer when you’d come back to the dugout,” Stander remembered.
Stander’s most memorable moment of the championship game was when she scored her first run after having been stranded on third two times before.
“Someone hit a dribbler to shortstop, and when she threw it to first base, I ran for home. [There was] a big play at the plate, [and] I made a diving slide, and people were going crazy,” said Stander.
Wash. U. players had many shining moments throughout the tournament, and Stander earned the Offensive Most Valuable Player award while Kressel garnered the Most Valuable Player of the tournament award
Wash. U.’s presence throughout the entire tournament was strong.
“By the end of the tournament, we had [Team USA] yelling, ‘Yeah Bears!'” added Stander.