View source for Ra'anana Express

{{Infobox baseball team
| name = Ra'anana Express
| native_name = רעננה אקספרס
| logo = Image:Ra'anana Express.jpg
| founded = {{Baseball year|2007}}
| location = {{Flagicon|ISR}} [[Ra'anana]]
| stadium = [[Yarkon Sports Complex]]
| league = [[Israel Baseball League]]
| league_champs = 0
| colors = Green and yellow
| season =
| record =
| series =
| series_champs =
| manager = {{Flagicon|AUS}} [[Shaun Smith (baseball)|Shaun Smith]]
| h_cap = 008000
| h_body = 008000
| h_rightarm = ffd700
| h_leftarm = ffd700
| h_socks = 008000
| a_cap =
| a_body =
| a_leftarm =
| a_rightarm =
| a_pants =
| a_socks =
}}
The '''Ra'anana Express''' ({{langx|he|רעננה אקספרס}}) was an Israeli [[baseball]] team from [[Ra'anana]] in the now-defunct [[Israel Baseball League]].

The Express finished the inaugural 2007 season in fifth place, 17-24 (.415), and lost to the [[Netanya Tigers]] in the semifinals of the 2007 championship.

==History==
[[Image:Ra'anana Express shirt logo.jpg|thumb|left]]
In 2007 the team was managed by Australian [[Shaun Smith (baseball)|Shaun Smith]].

The first player selected by the Express in the inaugural 2007 draft was [[Australia]]n pitcher John Thew.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.israelbaseballleague.com/news/pressreleases/index.html?article_id=24 |title=First Player Draft in IBL History Yields Bumper Crop |accessdate=2007-04-29 |publisher=IsraelBaseballLeague.com |archive-date=2007-05-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070503021050/http://www.israelbaseballleague.com/news/pressreleases/index.html?article_id=24 |url-status=dead }}</ref>  The team's first game was played against the [[Tel Aviv Lightning]] on June 24, 2007, at the Sportek in [[Tel Aviv]].

Starting pitcher Esequier Pie, from [[San Pedro de Macorís]] in the [[Dominican Republic]], threw two [[no-hitter]]s in the 2007 season.

==Stadium==
Located in the Baptist Village in [[Petah Tikva]], the [[Yarkon Sports Complex]] is home to the Express as well as the [[Petach Tikva Pioneers]] and the Israeli national baseball team.

==2007 roster==
{| class="toccolours" style="font-size: 95%;"
|-
! colspan="10" style="background-color: green; color: gold; text-align: center;" | '''Ra'anana Express roster'''
|-
| colspan="4" style="background-color: gold; color: green; text-align: center;" | '''Active (25-man) roster'''
| colspan="1" style="background-color: gold; color: green; text-align: center;" | '''Coaches/Other'''
|-
| style="vertical-align:top;" | '''Starting rotation'''
* {{player|36|DOM|[[Esequier Pie]]}}
* {{player|3|USA|[[Nat Ballenberg]]}}
* {{player|25|ISR|[[Daniel Maddy-Weitzman]]}}
* {{player|23|USA|[[Nathan Mittag]]}}
* {{player|20|AUS|[[John Thew]]}}
* {{player|4|COL|[[Max Vazquez]]}}
* {{player|30|USA|[[Travis Zier]]}}
* {{player|7|USA|[[Joshua Zumbrun]]}}

'''Bullpen'''
* ''Currently unknown''

<small>† 15-day disabled list<br />
<span class="plainlinks">[http://www.israelbaseballleague.com/teams/raananaexpress/ Roster]</span> updated 28.06.2007<br />
<span class="plainlinks">[http://www.israelbaseballleague.com/news/transactions/ Transactions]</span></small>
| width="25px" | 
| style="vertical-align:top;" | '''Catchers'''
* {{player|9|ISR|[[Mike Hochman]]}}
* {{player|8|USA|[[Jesse Michel]]}}
* {{player|16|DOM|[[Juan Ramirez (baseball)|Juan Ramirez]]}}

'''Infielders'''
* {{player|11|USA|[[Matt Block]]}}
* {{player|10|USA|[[Scott Feller]]}}
* {{player|1|USA|[[Ben Katz-Moses]]}}
* {{player|6|USA|[[Donnie Mott]]}}
* {{player|5|ISR|[[Guy Peled]]}}
* {{player|14|USA|[[Brendan Rubenstein]]}}

'''Outfielders'''
* {{player|12|USA|[[Matt Castillo]]}}
* {{player|18|USA|[[Ben Field (baseball)|Ben Field]]}}
* {{player|2|USA|[[John Toussas]]}}
* {{player|21|USA|[[Stephen Raab]]}}

'''Designated hitters'''
* ''Currently unknown''
| width="25px" | 
| style="vertical-align:top;" | '''Manager'''
* {{player|-|AUS|[[Shaun Smith (baseball)|Shaun Smith]]}}

'''Coaches'''
* {{player|-|AUS|[[Leo Vargas]]}}

'''Suspended list'''
* ''Currently vacant''
|-
|}

==External links==
*[http://www.israelbaseballleague.com/teams/raananaexpress/ Official site of the Ra'anana Express]
*[http://southfloridaexpress.googlepages.com/home South Florida Ra'anana Express Fan Club]

==Footnotes==
{{Reflist}}

{{Baseball in Israel}}

[[Category:Baseball teams in Israel]]


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