Editor’s Note: The Jewish Link would like to welcome our friends at the Teaneck Doghouse as our new weekly Sportstar of the Week sponsors. We look forward to many future editions of recognizing and celebrating our community’s Sportstars!
The Jewish Link of New Jersey would like to recognize 10-year-old Akiva Rotenberg as this week’s first-ever Teaneck Doghouse Sportstar of the Week. Rotenberg just completed a championship TBO season as a pitcher/first baseman for the Kosher Fit team in the 9/10 Division. Team Kosher Fit finished in third place in the regular season with a 6-4 record. Rotenberg put up some impressive numbers for the team: four wins, one loss, 26 innings pitched, one run allowed, a strikeout/walk ratio of 9:1 and only four hits allowed.
Akiva, congratulations on the championship and an amazing season. Who is your role model and why?
Henrik Lundquist because he always competes and never underrates the opposing team.
What is your favorite sport?
Hockey.
What is your greatest sports accomplishment?
Winning the Breakout Player Award as a goalie in the TABC Junior Hockey League this past season.
Who is your favorite athlete and why?
Kris Bryant of the Chicago Cubs because he is always respectful of the umpires and never loses his cool.
What is your pregame routine, if you have one?
I stretch and get loose.
What is your earliest sport memory?
Going to a Brooklyn Cyclones games when I was three with my parents. I had my first glove with me and couldn’t understand why the players wouldn’t throw me the ball.
What is your favorite sports memory?
Throwing four no-hit innings on the way to winning the 9-10 TBO championship in 2016 and then going 3-3 with five RBIs to repeat in 2017.
What is your favorite thing to do when you are not playing sports?
Watch sports.
What is the best thing about being a Sportstar?
I really like being part of a team and cheering on my teammates.
The Teaneck Doghouse Sportstar of the Week will receive a $15 gift certificate to Teaneck Doghouse. Please send nominees for next week’s Jewish Link of New Jersey Sportstar of the Week to [email protected].
