Female coach Siegal making mark for Israel

NEW YORK — With Israel a win away from earning the last spot at the 2017 World Baseball Classic, Justine Siegal could soon be coaching in the world’s premier international baseball tournament.

Siegal, who has a Ph.D. in sport and exercise psychology, is working as a mental skills coach for the Israeli team, which beat Brazil, 1-0, on Friday to advance to the championship game of the Brooklyn WBC qualifier. Last year, she became the first woman to ever coach for a Major League team as a guest instructor with the A’s in their instructional league.

“I’m here to help the players, and I love coaching, but I understand the significance,” Siegal said before Israel’s WBC qualifier game Friday. “And when I’m standing on that line with those guys, it shows that women can do it, and girls can look up and dream of being there, too.”

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She agreed to join Israel’s World Baseball Classic coaching staff last fall. Israel’s manager, Jerry Weinstein, knew of her from her time with the A’s and invited her to coach with the team. He said Friday that should Israel advance to the global competition’s main draw, he would “absolutely” like to keep Siegal with the team.

“She’s a great resource from the mental-game side, and she also throws BP and she hits fungoes and takes throws — she’s a ballplayer,” …

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