Softball League
Is A Family Affair

STEVE STEIN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

T

FRANKLIN

ENJOY
YOUR
SUMMER
WITH A

OUTDOOR

POOL

MEMBERSHIP

SPECIAL OFFER:
JOIN NOW AND ENJOY FULL CLUB PRIVILEGES

* R E S T R I C T I O N S A P P LY

F R A N K L I N AT H L E T I C C L U B
29350 NORTHWESTERN HWY
SOUTHFIELD, MI 48034

26

July 5 • 2018

jn

franklinclub.com

248.352.8000 exT 235

000000

he Inter-Congregational Men’s
Club Summer Softball League is
as much about family as it is com-
petition and camaraderie.
Take Mitch Kline and his son Evan
Kline, for instance.
They play for Temple Shir Shalom No.
2. Mitch Kline is the team’s manager.
Father and son have been on the team
since its inception in 2016 after playing
one season when Shir Shalom had just
one team.
Evan Kline and his wife, Lisa, are
expecting their first child in October.
They found out about a month ago that
the baby is a boy.
“One of the first things Evan said to
me after he learned he and his wife are
having a boy is he wants his son to play
on the same Inter-Congregational league
team with his father and grandfather,”
Mitch Kline said. “I’ve got to hang in
there and stay healthy for that to hap-
pen.”
Indeed, he will. He’s done the math.
Mitch Kline is 59. Evan Kline is 29. The
minimum age to play in the league is 18.
In the meantime, Mitch Klein said his
son will continue playing in the league
after he becomes a father.
“Evan said he knows he’ll have to give
up some things because he’ll be busy
with the baby, but he doesn’t want to
give up playing softball,” Mitch Kline
said.
Evan Kline plays mostly left field for
Shir Shalom No. 2. He fills in at shortstop
and pitches occasionally. His father plays
first base and right field and sometimes
is behind the plate as the team’s catcher.
Another Kline family member plays
once in a while for Shir Shalom No. 2.
Brett Kline, 27, who lives in New York
City and makes a living as a standup
comedian, fills in as a substitute on the
softball team when he’s in town.
Mitch Klein said he and Evan joined
the Shir Shalom team so they could play
softball together.
Steve Achtman tells a similar story.
He said he gave up playing golf on
Sunday mornings a decade ago so he
could play softball with his sons Shawn

TOP: Teammates Steve Achtman (left), Brandon
Achtman, Shawn Achtman and Jonathan Fellows
and Brandon Achtman’s daughter Ellianna
Achtman. ABOVE: Mitch Kline (left) and his son
Evan Kline.

and Brandon.
They play on the Temple Israel No. 1
team. Steve Achtman is the manager.
He’s also an Inter-Congregational league
director and he runs the league’s fall
season.
Shawn Achtman, 30, is an outfielder.
Brandon Achtman, 28, is an outfielder
and catcher. Steve Achtman, 56, is a first
baseman and catcher.
Jonathan Fellows, 47, Steve Achtman’s
brother-in-law, also is on the team. He
plays second base.
“It’s a family affair,” Steve Achtman
said.
Inter-Congregational league leaders
through June 24 were Temple Israel No. 6
(7-0) in the Greenberg Division, Temple
Israel No. 3 (6-2-1) in the Koufax Division
and Shir Shalom No. 2 (6-3) in the Rosen
Division.

REGIONAL MACCABI GAMES

Maccabi USA has put out a call for
Jewish athletes, coaches and volun-
teers to represent the U.S. at the 15th
European Maccabi Games from July
29-Aug. 7 in Budapest, Hungary.
These regional games are held every
four years, two years after the Maccabiah
Games are held in Israel.
For more information, contact
Maccabi USA Program Director Shane
Carr at (215) 561-6900 or scarr@
maccabiusa.com. •

Send sports news to stevestein502004@yahoo.
com.

PHOTOS B Y CHUCK FREEDMAN

sports