Baseball makes game try in Israel: Most of the fans are transplanted Americans.

Byline: John Murphy

Jul. 10--PETAH TIKVA, Israel -- In this land that is holy for Jews, Muslims and Christians, Benjamin Engelhart is hoping to find believers in America's favorite pastime: baseball.

The 26-year-old switch-hitter from Silver Spring took to the field last month to play in Israel's first professional baseball league.

A bold new experiment to export hardball to the United States' closest Middle East ally, the Israel Baseball League is the latest evidence of the steady Americanization of the Jewish state.

But many here wonder whether the often slow-moving game with a complex, almost Talmudic set of rules will gain followers in a country raised on soccer and basketball. Most Israelis would likely have trouble finding first base, let alone know whether a ball is foul or fair.

"If it stays around it can catch on," says Engelhart, taking a break between innings last week as his Netanya Tigers took on the Ra'anana Express at the Baptist Village baseball field near Tel Aviv. "It's still trying to find its place."

That was clear on opening day. Befuddled announcers for the June 24 opener realized…