30 | JULY 25 • 2024 

Max was the main man 
behind the plate this past 
spring for the Lakers’ out-
standing pitching staff. 
“He called all the pitches 
and did a great job defensive-
ly,” Birnberg said.
Gross complemented his 
defense by hitting around 
.300.
Rebtoy, one of four team 
captains along with Gross, 
played everywhere except 
first base and catcher for the 
Lakers.
“He was very valuable to 
our team,” Birnberg said.
Now, about that frustrating 
ending of the Lakers’ season.
West Bloomfield lost 7-1 to 
No. 1-ranked Brother Rice in 
a district championship game 
June 1 at Bloomfield Hills.
That defeat was deja vu for 
Birnberg and his troops.
In his four years as the 
Lakers’ coach, Birnberg has 
watched his team lose in the 
districts — the first round of 

the state tournament — to 
national powerhouses Brother 
Rice (twice) and Orchard Lake 
St. Mary’s and Lake Orion, 
which went on to advance to 
the Elite Eight.
“It’s really frustrating to 
continually face great teams so 
early in the state tournament, 
but we’re getting used to it,” 
Birnberg said. “We just have to 
accept the fact that no matter 
how good we are, we’re going 
to have to go up against one 
of the top teams in the state in 
the districts.”
What’s Gross’ take on West 
Bloomfield’s state tournament 
schedule?
“It was frustrating, but I 
never worried about it because 
there was nothing we could do 
about it,” he said.
The Lakers haven’t 
advanced out of the districts 
since 2015. 

Send sports news to 

stevestein502004@yahoo.com.

West Bloomfield High 
School catcher Max Gross 
called all the pitches when 
he was behind the plate.

THERESE SHEIDT

SPORTS

continued from page 28

 

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Jewish Literature Crossword 
Puzzle Answers from July 18th
page 44

