APRIL 18 • 2024 | 65 J N quick hits BY STEVE STEIN Ron Silberstein is commissioner of the baseball competition at this summer’s JCC Maccabi Games in Detroit. He needs at least three assistant commissioners and scorekeepers to keep things running smoothly. Sixteen baseball teams are expected to compete in two age divisions: 12-14 and 15-16. Games will be played July 29 through Aug. 1 at West Bloomfield High School, Bloomfield Hills High School, North Hills Middle School in Bloomfield Hills and perhaps Founders Sports Park in Farmington Hills. Ideally, an assistant commissioner will be stationed at each site. Assistant commissioners must be age 21 or older. Scorekeepers need to be age 18 and older. Silberstein said he’s looking for responsible scorekeepers who will interact well with players and coaches. Like Silberstein, who is a volunteer, the assistant commissioner and scorekeeper positions are volunteer. Interested in being an assistant commissioner or scorekeeper? Send an email to Silberstein at ronsilberstein1@gmail. com. Volunteers for other positions and host families are still needed for the Maccabi Games, which will be held from July 28 through Aug. 2. Go to maccabidetroit.com for information. Silberstein has been involved in the Maccabi Games for many years, but this is the first time he’s a sports commissioner. He previously was a Detroit softball team coach for six years (2002-08) and the venue director at North Farmington High School and Drake Sports Park in West Bloomfield, and an assistant venue director at Birmingham Groves High School when Detroit previously hosted the Maccabi Games. Another Academic Honor for Western Michigan Distance Runner Brooke Soper Western Michigan University distance runner Brooke Soper keeps racking up Academic All-Mid-American Conference Team honors. The latest, announced April 1, was for women’s indoor track and field. To qualify for the designation, a student- athlete must have a cumulative 3.20 grade- point average and must have participated in at least 50% of the competitions for his or her sport. Soper, a senior from Okemos, is majoring in digital media and jour- nalism and has a 3.79 GPA. This was the third time she was named to the Academic All-MAC Team for women’s indoor track and field. She also was named to the Academic All-MAC Team for women’s cross country three times. She’s a two-time Academic All-MAC Team selection in women’s outdoor track and field. When she’s not running or studying, Soper is involved with Hillel at Western Michigan. Step Up to the Plate and Help Out with the JCC Maccabi Games Baseball Competition RON SILBERSTEIN Ron Silberstein WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY Brooke Soper The Detroit Jewish Basketball League is back for its fifth season. After three successful summer seasons and another one this past fall, the weekly league is in its first spring season and is bigger than ever. More than 80 players are on 12 teams that compete each Wednesday at the Beech Woods Recreation Center and Tyndall Center in Southfield. League competition began in mid-March and with a one-week break for Passover will continue through May 29. Teams were placed in two divi- sions for the spring season based on the skill levels of players. Daniel Shamayev, 23, is the league’s founder and commission- er. He said he plans to step down as commissioner after the upcom- ing summer season, and he’s look- ing for someone to replace him. Shamayev will graduate in May from Yeshiva University in New York City with a degree in accounting and he’ll be studying this summer to pass the certified public accounting exam so he can become a licensed CPA. Once he becomes a CPA, he plans to live and work in the NYC area. Shamayev said he intends to form the league’s summer season teams through a draft. It will be the league’s first draft. To register for the league’s summer season, go to comeplaydetroit.leaguelab. com and click on “Find a league.” Detroit Jewish Basketball League Springs into a New Season DETROIT JEWISH BASKETBALL LEAGUE While the Final Four in the NCAA basketball tournament was grabbing the national headlines, the Final Four in the Brotherhood-Eddie Jacobson B’nai B’rith Bowling League’s playoffs was making news at Country Lanes in Farmington Hills. Mark It Zero and Hey Gary earned spots in the 24-team weekly league’s Final Four by winning first-round playoff matches April 1. Mark It Zero domi- nated BBB 20-4 and set up an April 8 semifinal match against Uncle Miltie. Hey Gary slipped past the Manute Bolers 14.5 to 9.5 to make it into the semifinals against league defending champion 600 Club. The league championship match was held April 15. Two league tournaments involving individuals were held simultaneously with the playoffs. One was for most over average over the three-week stretch (April 1-15) and the other was a bracket tournament similar to the NCAA tournament. So who were the big stars on the lanes April 1? League secretary Gary Klinger had the high game (289) and high series (289-258-225—772). Bo Essick had the high game over average (266, plus 91) and high series over average (690, plus 165). Avi Knopf was right behind Klinger for the night’s high series with 245-246-231—722, his first ever 700 series. Rick Sherline bowled a sea- son-high 244 game and his 244-156-210—610 series was his first 600 series of the season. Playoffs, Tournaments Take Center Stage as Brotherhood-Eddie Jacobson Bowling Season Rolls to a Conclusion Meet the Mark It Zero bowling team: From left are David Gerges, Josh Alpert, Aaron Zimberg and Aaron Scheinfeld. GARY KLINGER