Karli Stander, analyst-Health & Public Service, is perhaps one of the best women’s fast-pitch softball players in the United States, possibly the world. While she has earned numerous honors on the field of play, nothing could have prepared her for the experience of playing in the 2009 Maccabiah Games held during July in Tel Aviv.

The event featuring 8,000 world-class athletes—larger in participation than the Olympic Games—was an opportunity for Karli to represent her country in competition against other Jewish athletes from around the world. Karli, with her sister Kelsey, formed two-thirds of the Team USA’s starting outfield, leading the undefeated team to a gold medal.

Karli maintained her usual left-handed “slap” hitting prowess, compiling a hot-hitting .437 batting average (7-for-16) during the tournament. She was 2-for-4 with a double in the sweep against Argentina, with six runs scored and four walks in round-robin play.

“My sister and I are both the type to hit the ball on the ground and get infield hits with our speed,” Karli says. “We’ll then usually steal second base.”


All-American outfielder

Karli starred at Washington University in St. Louis where she was a four-year letter-winner and voted an All-American as well as to the Jewish All-American Team. In her first international competition, the 2007 Maccabiah Pan-American Games, she batted an incredible .667 and garnered the Most Valuable Offensive Player Award for her team.

“It would be a dream come true to play in the Olympic Games, but the Maccabiah Games will probably have to suffice, as it appears softball will be dropped as an Olympic sport,” Karli says.

“The passion people have in playing for their schools could not be compared to playing for one’s country,” Karli said. “It was great becoming close with the other athletes and rooting for them at their events.”

The Maccabiah Games wasn’t only about sports, as the teams put in a fair amount of community service time. Team USA gave their time to the Heart to Heart organization, which provides recreational centers to athletes with disabilities in Israel. Karli helped deliver items such as toys, book and videos to the center and played sports with the children at the centers.

“It was fun and eye opening for us to work with these kids and see that they work as hard at sports as we do,” Karli said.

Turning pro?

Karli was invited to turn professional with the Chicago Bandits women’s fast-pitch softball team, but having started her Accenture career in Sacramento, California about two years ago, a professional softball career wasn’t realistic. “Having an outside activity like softball really helps with my work/life balance,” Karli says. “Unfortunately, there aren’t any women’s teams in my area to play for, but I still try to keep in shape, go to the batting cages and looking for the next opportunity.”

She is considering dual Israeli citizenship so she can join the Israeli team and compete in the European softball events.

“Even though we beat Israel in the Maccabiah Games, it was a bummer that the Israeli team got to go on to the European Championships and the US team wasn’t allowed,” Kari said.