The Israel Baseball League (IBL) has thrown another curve ball and is scuttling its re-scheduled games for the summer in favor of an exhibition series and a winter league in the south. The IBL's strategy is to build up more interest for baseball in Israel before launching a full season next summer.

Instead of having four teams play each other in a shortened season this summer, as previously announced, an all-star exhibition best-of-seven series will feature the best players against international teams, according to Boston businessman and IBL temporary president David Solomont.

The exhibition games will include youth clinics, and the initial game will coincide with the opening of the Beijing Olympics on August 14.

The league suffered serious financial and organizational problems last year, but Solomont said debts have been paid off. "In the next three to five years, the challenge and the opportunity, is to develop a local fan base," he said.

The IBL plans to launch a winter league in the south although facilities have not yet been arranged. Gary Woolf, a new member of the league's board, is optimistic. "Now that the potential is established, a more robust and sophisticated league, teams, management and vision can be engaged," he said. "This is going to be the Dominican Republic of the Middle East."