The Jewish Link of New Jersey and Gotham Burger would like to recognize nine-year-old Zev Wiener as this week’s Sportstar of the Week. After the little leagues crown their champions, the best players are invited to try out for a travel baseball team that plays against neighboring towns. Wiener was invited—and was one of the key contributors—to this year’s Teaneck 8U travel team that came so close to winning (losing a heartbreaker in the championship game). When asked about Zev, Coach Norm Blumenthal told the JLNJ, “This year I had the pleasure of coaching the 8U team. One of the real bright spots on the team was Zev Wiener. He was a real workhorse at the pitcher’s position, logging more innings than anyone else on the team. When Zev wasn’t pitching, he played shortstop, and was the number two hitter in the lineup. Besides his athletic prowess, what made Zev special was the way he interacted with his teammates and his coaches. There was always a smile on his face and never did he leave a game or practice without saying thank you.”

Zev told us that his older brother Netanel is his role model, because he works hard to always improve his game. His favorite athlete is Clayton Kershaw because “he is the best pitcher” in Major League Baseball.

Zev’s earliest sports memory is of his father (a pretty decent ball player himself) teaching him how to dribble a basketball and how to catch a baseball. His favorite sports memory was in first grade when he hit his first home run for TBO.

Zev said the best thing about being a Sport Star is showing others that with practice and a great coach (Norm Blumenthal) you can accomplish a lot. He is pretty much always playing sports but when he isn’t, he loves to swim, “which I guess is also a sport.”

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]