The Jewish Link of New Jersey and Gotham Burger would like to recognize 17-year-old Sam Bernstein as this week’s Sportstar of the Week. The RKYHS rising senior was selected to play for the elite Wladyka baseball 17U Nationals team and was selected to pitch at the prestigious select fest college recruiting showcase. Sam has worked extremely hard at his craft spending time working with elite pitching coach Tim Byron. He is learning to pitch, and get a feel for a strong changeup.
Rabbi Richard Kirsch, Athletic Director at the Rae Kushner Yeshiva High School, told JLNJ, “Sam is a 6-2 lefty with room to grow and strength to gain. He throws in the low to mid 80s and has a good curveball. Sam has a very bright future in baseball and the work ethic to succeed.”
Sam, congrats on another great season. RKYHS fans are already looking forward to seeing you pitch next year as a senior. Who is your favorite pro pitcher?
I’d say my baseball role model and favorite athlete is (LA Dodger pitcher) Clayton Kershaw. He’s the greatest pitcher I have ever seen. I got to witness him pitch in person in the playoffs last year, and even though he beat the Mets I was in awe of how dominant he really is. He makes professional hitters look like they’re in Little League, and I love watching him work.
What is your pregame routine?
I don’t have an elaborate pregame ritual. I try to eat something with a lot of carbs like pasta a few hours before the game, and then I have an energy bar in the dugout after I stretch and throw right before the game begins.
What is your earliest sports memory?
My earliest sports memory is watching the Endy Chavez catch in the 2006 NLCS. Everyone in my family is a Mets fan, so I remember clearly how loud my house was when he robbed Scott Rolen of a home run.
What is your funniest sports memory?
My funniest sports memory is the bus ride my basketball team took to a Montreal tournament in 10th grade. We had a small party bus instead of a normal coach bus. Sixteen kids squished together for 10 hours is an interesting combination, and even though it was funny I would not suggest it to anyone. But our Athletic Director thought it was a rousing success and did it again for a nine-hour bus ride to Columbus for a baseball tournament a few months later.
What is your favorite sports memory?
My favorite sports memory was going to Cooperstown with my 12-year-old travel team. There were 102 teams and we ended up one win away from making it to the top 16. We didn’t expect to come close to that, but we ended up beating teams from all over the country.
What do you like to do when not playing sports?
My favorite thing to do when I’m not playing sports is watching a Mets game. Like I said, everyone in my family is a die-hard Mets fan, and I’m no exception.
What is the best thing about being a sportstar?
I’d say the best thing about being Sportstar of the Week is the gift certificate to Gotham Burger. I’m pretty excited to use it.
The Gotham Burger Sportstar of the Week will receive a $10 gift certificate to Gotham Burger. Please send nominees for next week’s Gotham Burger Sportstar of the Week to [email protected].
