Stan Grossfeld/Globe Staff

The Israeli baseball team, fueled by a roster mostly filled with Americans, is seeking to qualify for next year's World Baseball Classic.

Stan Grossfeld/Globe Staff

Shlomo Lipetz, left, a native of Tel Aviv who lives now in New York, got hooked on a baseball as a child during a trip to see the New York Mets.

Stan Grossfeld/Globe Staff

Former Major League Shawn Green, a two-time All-Star who's now 39, is one of several ex-big leaguers playing for the squad.

Stan Grossfeld/Globe Staff

Bullpen catcher Nate Fish delivered the blessing when the team gathered for Rosh Hashanah dinner on Sunday.

Stan Grossfeld/Globe Staff

Fish bills himself as the "King of Jewish baseball" and has a blog where he documents the team's path to the WBC.

Stan Grossfeld/Globe Staff

The team must win a qualifier to make it to the March tournament. Oren Gal was thrown out trying to score in a scrimmage.

Stan Grossfeld/Globe Staff

Lipetz and the team have been training in Florida, where they recently took in a Marlins game as a team-building event.

Stan Grossfeld/Globe Staff

Ex-big leaguer Brad Ausmus, the team's manager, officiated this footrace between outfielder Josh Weiss, left, and his nephew.

Stan Grossfeld/Globe Staff

Ausmus, left, has commitments from major leaguers such as Kevin Youkilis to join the team in March if it qualifies for the WBC.