Jewish Baseball News

JEWISH BASEBALL NEWS — Garrett Wittels got a hit for the 48th consecutive game Saturday (5/22/2010) as  Florida International University lost a heartbreaker to rival Florida Atlantic University, 14-10.

Wittels, a 20-year-old sophomore, moved into 2nd place in the NCAA Division I record books with his 48-game streak, second now only to Robin Ventura’s 58-game streak in 1987. He went 3-for-5 with 2 doubles and 3 RBIs, finishing the season with a .415 batting average.

FIU was leading its regular-season finale 8-5 until Florida Atlantic’s scored 7 in the 6th inning. All 7 FAU runs were given up by senior RP Eric Berkowitz, the team’s saves leader and a fellow Jew.

Here’s Wittels’ post-game interview on ESPN SportsCenter. FIU’s first postseason game takes place Tuesday (5/25/2010) against the University of South Alabama.

# # #

JEWISH BASEBALL NEWS — Florida International University sophomore Garrett Wittels extended his hitting streak to 43 games Friday (5/14/2010) in a 6-5 win over the University of South Alabama. Wittels hit an RBI single in the first inning but went hitless the rest of the game.

Eric Berkowitz, a senior closer and fellow Jew, pitched one inning of shutout ball to get the save, striking out one batter and allowing one hit.

Wittels, a 20-year-old infielder, has the longest active hitting streak in Division I baseball and the 4th longest in league history. A hit in tonight’s (5/15/2010) game against South Alabama would tie Wittels with Roger Schmuck, who assembled a 45-game hitting streak for Arizona State in 1971.

No word on whether Roger Schmuck was Jewish. But with a name like that, you’d have to hope so.

# # #

JEWISH BASEBALL NEWS — Talk about consistency.

Florida International University sophomore Garrett Wittels has played in 42 games this season, and he’s had a base hit in every one. The 42-game streak is tied for 4th-highest in Division I history and has earned Wittels a bushel of media attention recently, including a Miami Herald profile (in which father Michael Wittels comes out sounding a bit like The Great Santini), and an interview on ESPN 2.

On Friday (5/14/2010), Wittels will have a chance to extend his streak when FIU begins a playoff series against the University of South Alabama. The Division I mark of 58 games was set in 1987 by Robin Ventura, who went on to play for the Chicago White Sox and three other teams over a 15-year pro career.

Wittels, a 20-year-old infielder from Bay Harbor Island, Fla., has rung up some other impressive statistics this season, including a .412 batting average (#1 on the team), .468 on-base average (#1), .537 slugging percentage (#3), 46 RBIs (#2), 12 doubles (tied for #2), and only 16 strikeouts, the fewest of any starter.

Wittels isn’t the only Jewish player making a difference on the Golden Panthers this season. The team’s closer, senior Eric Berkowitz, has six saves, 44 strikeouts and only 17 walks in 47 innings pitched, good enough to earn his own profile in the Miami Herald. As the Herald points out, Berkowitz is tiny for a pitcher (5’8″, 155 lbs.) but can deliver a fastball over 90 mph.

Friday’s game begins at 7:00pm EST.

# # #