sports

BIRMINGHAM

Just Warming Up!

Steve Stein

I Contributing Writer

year from now, after Gabe
Berman completes his junior
season with the Western
Michigan University baseball team,
he'll be eligible for the Major League
Baseball first-year player draft.
Would the right-handed pitcher like
to be selected by the Detroit Tigers?
You bet.
"I played a couple
of games at Comerica
Park with Bloomfield
Hills Andover!' he
said. "I remember
looking around and
imagining how it
would be for a home-
town boy to play in
Gabe Berman
front of packed stands.
"If it doesn't hap-
pen, if some team other than the Tigers
drafts me, that would be all right. I just
want to be drafted!"
After several players he knows were
drafted earlier this month, Berman
said, he's more determined than ever
to catch the attention of major league
scouts.
Berman has been an effective relief
pitcher for WMU in his two years on
the team.
The 6-foot-2, 220-pounder appeared
in 18 games as a freshman in 2013
and went 1-1 with a 3.18 ERA in 28%
innings. He had five of the team's 10
saves and opposing batters hit just .210
against him.
Berman had nine of the Broncos' 11
saves this season.
He was 1-3 but his ERA was 2.62 in
23 games and he struck out 41 in 34%
innings, good numbers for a team that
went 24-31 overall and 11-16 in the
Mid-American Conference.
With no intention of jinxing him,
it would be factual to point out that
Berman hasn't allowed a home run in
his college career.
Berman played several positions for
the Andover baseball team — he was
the starting catcher as a freshman — but
WMU coaches especially liked what they
saw from him on the mound.
He struck out 97 and had a 1.58 ERA
in 58 innings as a senior after fanning
105 with a 1.43 ERA in 63% innings as
a junior.
Despite never being a closer in his
baseball career, "My coaches (at WMU)
thought I had the skills to fill the role,
and now I like it," he said.
"I can't lie. I miss hitting. I think I
can hit at the college level and I'm not
ready to put the bat down, but I'll do
whatever I can to help my team:'

A

There's talk of converting Berman
into a starting pitcher next season
who would be in the rotation for the
Broncos' conference games.
"Time will tell if that happens!' he
said. "I've heard they're thinking my
stuff is too good to keep me in the back
end of the bullpen!'
Michigan State University and
Central Michigan University also were
big players in the recruiting battle for
Berman, but he said he selected WMU
because "it was a good spot for me:'
The 20-year-old Bloomfield Hills
resident is majoring in business man-
agement. He hopes someday to be a
baseball coach or an instructor at a
training facility.
"I want stay involved in baseball for
as long as possible!' he said.

Fast Start
Temple Israel No. 1 took the early lead
in the InterCongregational Men's Club
Summer Softball League standings,
winning its first four games.
Adat Shalom Synagogue No. 1 and
Temple Israel No. 2 were the only other
undefeated teams at 3-0. There are 12
teams in the weekly league.
Three key Adat Shalom No. 1 play-
ers are family members and from
Congregation B'nai Moshe, which
doesn't have a team in the league.
This is the third year that Gary
Yashinsky and his sons Sam and Joey
are on the Adat Shalom No. 1 roster.
Gary Yashinsky plays third base, Joey
Yashinsky plays shortstop and their
father is in left field.
"From the first time they stepped on
the diamond, they have been welcomed
to the team!' said Michael Betman, one
of the league directors.
"They're great fielders, hitters and
teammates. Sam (Yashinsky) received
the team's sportsmanship award last
year!'
Joey Yashinsky was married over
Memorial Day at B'nai Moshe (when
no league games were scheduled) and
played softball the following weekend.

Tragedy at Cobo
The Detroit Free Press reported that
former state boxing commissioner Dr.
Stuart Kirschenbaum rushed to help
longtime friend and well-loved Kronk
Gym boxing trainer Keith Lee when Lee
became ill during a May 30 boxing card
at Cobo Arena in Detroit.
Lee, 57, was transported to Henry
Ford Hospital, where he died from a
suspected heart attack.
"Keith's spirit will live on!'
Kirschenbaum told the Free Press.

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June 12 • 2014

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