Grosse Pointe South standout to attend Edgewood College

MADISON, Wis. – Edgewood College head baseball coach Al Brisack announced today that James Bertakis, a 2007 graduate of Grosse Pointe South High School, will attend and play baseball at Edgewood College beginning this fall semester.

“I’m looking forward to going to school and playing baseball at Edgewood College,” said Bertakis, a 6-foot-2 right-handed pitcher. “I’d like to thank Coach [Dan] Griesbaum and all the coaches at Grosse Pointe South High School for four great years; my pitching coach, Joe Fletcher, for his guidance and encouragement; my Fed Ball and Little League coaches who taught me to play and love the game of baseball; my family for their love and support; and Coach Brisack for all his efforts and for giving me the opportunity to play baseball at the next level.”

Bertakis’ 2.02 career earned run average ranks sixth all-time at Grosse Pointe South, as do his 14 career victories. He compiled 89 strikeouts in just over 93 innings pitched during his prep career. Bertakis was an all-conference and all-district selection following both his junior and senior seasons with the Blue Devils.

“James has the ability and work ethic to contribute to our pitching staff as a freshman,” said Brisack. “It would not surprise us at all if he found his way into the starting rotation. He is an outstanding young man, from a strong, supportive family. He has faced quality competition in both high school and summer ball, and this will have him well-prepared for facing college hitters. Our staff is eager to start working with James to help him reach his full potential. He will be a perfect fit with our program, and we believe he will excel as a student-athlete at Edgewood College.”

Edgewood College is a member of the Northern Athletics Conference, competing at the NCAA Division III level. Since 2001, Edgewood College baseball has perennially been ranked as one of the top 10 teams in the Midwest Region.

Thanks James!  You deserve most of the credit for all the work YOU put in...Congrats!

Fletch 

This is a recent email I receiced on MAy 22nd from Zach Dials: 

Hey Fletch, this is Zach Dials I worked out with you many times through Mark DeLaGarza when I was in high school and I just wanted to contact you and let you know how I've been and what I've been up to.  After a great year of high school I signed at John A. Logan Junior College and struggled my first year but put it together my sophomore year.  They turned me into a closer and I threw well gained some velocity and consistency and got the notice of a few large schools 3 being from the SEC.  Tennessee, Kentucky, and Vanderbilt out of the three Kentucky fit me the best and they gave me a very good scholarship.  We had a great year and we won the SEC and I got myself a ring.  I was then drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 28th round and recieved decent money to sign plus money to go back to school.  Pitched in rookie ball as a closer for 3 innings and I was then promoted to short season A ball in the New York Penn League and threw 2 innings of relief before they turned back into a starter.  I pitched well and was an All-Star got invited to Instructional League last fall.  I am currently starting for the full season A Lansing Lugnuts in the Midwest League and I'm doing okay so far.  I haven't heard from you in quite a while so I called Mark and he said he hadn't from you you in a while so I decided to look you up and see how you were.  I was hoping I could get the chance to talk to you and thank you for what you did for me.  I still use many of your techniques and I have always been very concious of the things you taught me and I still believe in those things very much today.  I look forward to hearing from you.  Take care.

Zach Dials 

Hey Fletch i just wanted to say thanks for working with me on friday cuz

today i started our 1st world series game and went all 7, 1 unearned, no

fly balls, and 5 Ks with my breaking ball, and using my change and

breaking ball for strikes ahead and down in the count getting quality

outs.  Thanks again and tell me when you'll be around again after this

week cuz i throw again Friday and were done Saturday.

Koehler

 College pitcher (St Francis Ill) 

• Chris Smith RHP Chesterton IN, 05 HS Grad. PEN since senior yr. Now at Ohio Dominican (NAIA) on scholarship. Finished season as one of the top pitchers in the conf. as a frosh. 8-1 and led league in ERA. NAIA All American 3rd team as a frosh. 

• Robert Woodard RHP Charlotte NC ’03 HS Grad. U of North Carolina... Trained in PEN in high school (only throws low-mid 80’s). In ‘05 at UNC he was 8-0 with 95 IP and a 2.11 ERA. First team all-ACC and “Pitcher of the Year” for the Tarheels. He is 16-2 over his 1st 2 seasons. Shutout Clemson in College World Series in ’06.

• Jon Babinnski  RHP 5’8” ‘04 Lake Central HS grad, Schererville IN. Did not pitch much as a JR.  Signed w/PEN in Aug 03 then became the Pitcher of the Year in Duneland Conference with an 80-84 mph fastball (sinker).  Signed scholarship at Purdue North Central (NAIA.)

• Christian Castori  RHP 6’4” at Ga. College and State University (Top Ranked NCAA D-2). Drafted out of high school. Signed in P.E.N. in April ’05 after control and arm problems in past. Arm  feeling great, 90+ FB. Having a great Sr. season in ’06 see stats:Currently, '07 spring, with Pirates in spring training .
  
  http://www.gcsu.edu/athletics/baseball/teamcume.htm 

• Dan McCaulley RHP 6’5 RHP ’04 Freemont, IN. Hardly pitched for HS team in ‘04. (Had bad delivery, no control and arm problems before 4 months of training in P.E.N). Unrecruited until July.  Signed at Ohio State after OSU camp in July 04. 

• Kyle Devries LHP Holland MI ’01 HS Grad. Unrecruited out of HS. Walked on at Jacksonville U. Worked his way into becoming the JU Staff ace in ‘05.

• Mike Piernick RHP ’04 (Detroit). Unknown as a JR. Had sore arm and little control. Started in PEN in Fall 03. Made East/West All Star in ‘04 season. Unrecruited through most of ’04. In June ‘04, Mike jumped from low-mid 80’s to upper 80’s. Signed at Jacksonville U. (D-1, Fla) on scholarship in July 04. 

• Kris Regas LHP  IL ‘02 JU U Grad. Featured in PEN DVD. ‘05 independent pro stats: 53IP, 72 K’s, 9 BB’s. One of only three pitchers selected to the Northern League All-Star in ‘06. Broke league record for appearances in a season also in ‘06. See ‘06 stats in DVD. See news article showing his rare durability and command. Kris has always been a “crafty” LHP with a mid 80’s FB. However, as a 26 year-old now Kris is pitching 88-91 consistently after re-structuring his workouts and nutrition in the last year.  See feature news article on PEN website.

• Billy Schlee RHP ’04 Olivett, HS (MI) Unknown as a JR. Average stats in 03, bad mechanics. Started in PEN in October 03. Had great ’04 season. 2nd team All-state. Scouts love his future. Became one of the best pitchers in state in ‘04.  Had a dominant season in ’06 at Kellogg CC as a closer. As a soph in "07 he is now the staf f's #1 starter getting recruited by many D-1's.
  

• Rob Snarskis  RHP Mt. Carmel HS ’04 (Chicago)  Low 80’s FB. Signed in PEN in July 03. Did not pitch much as a JR (inconsistent command)  Had GREAT stats in ’04 spring. Dominant in Chicago Catholic League in ’04. Beat the top team in state on a 6 hitter. Signed scholarship at St. Joe’.s (Rensselaer, IN)

• Dan Kapala  RHP Detroit area. With a mid to high 80’s straight fastball after his junior year, Dan had no serious college contacts. Lack of control and bad mechanics kept them away. Dan signed withPEN in July before his senior year. Signed at Notre Dame in November. Later that winter Dan was hitting 90-94 MPH, with good command and sink at showcases. Dan became the Detroit Free Press #1 prospect in the state. The article headed, “Once a wild unknown, Kapala worked his way into a college scholarship”.  (See article on site)  Drafted but is now a junior at Notre Dame. Frosh season 2.70 ERA in 40 IP as a reliever.

• Jason Taulman  RHP, Lafayette, IN. Walk-on at St. Joe’s (NCAA D-2) in ’92. Pitched on JV team as a frosh.Was cut from his HS team as a junior. In his junior and senior seasons he led the Great Lakes Valley Conference in ERA with a low 80’s fastball. Jason then pitched independent pro ball for several years after college. Pitched a perfect game as a pro that was recognized in a Baseball Weekly article. He later became the pitching coach at Butler U. and Ball State.

• Darren Truty  RHP Morengo, Il (Chicago Area) Unknown at the beginning of his senior season (’98.) Named the Chicago suburbs “player of the year” by the Northwest Herald after training in PEN that year. Pitched at JU under Fletch as one of their top pitchers throughout his college career. Played pro for 3 years after college.

• James Ray LHP Jacksonville FL.  Was a freshman at JU when Fletch got there in ‘99. Not expected to make the rotation earlier in the year, James became one of 3 top starters among 2 others that were drafted, one in the 2nd round. James made the all-TAAC Tourney team that year with a huge win to get the Dolphins the 1999 TAAC Championship ring. Transferred to Brigham Young on scholarship for family reasons.

• Jason Ryals Gainsville, FL. A JU walk-on. Almost quit after he didn’t make the travel team as a freshman. By his junior year, after one year working with Fletch, Jason became the “go-to” guy out of the bullpen. He ended that season with the lowest ERA on the team and a great performance in the NCAA Regional.

• Andy DeLagarza LHP Ft. Wayne IN, 2003 HS Grad. As a Jr. had a low 80’s fastball with control problems. Trained in PEN in the winter before his senior season. Had a dominant season as a Sr. Was the winning pitcher in the State Championship game, drafted by the Twins, and decided to accept scholarship at Coastal Carolina where he is one of their top starters Andy recently (May '07) has become one of the top 10 finalist for Lowes senior class award. See:http://goccusports.com/ for more and to vote for Andy. Andy signed with the Giants in '07 , had a great '07 summer in A ball and was invited to their fall instructional league.
  

• Baseball's DeLaGarza Named A Candidate for Lowe's Senior CLASS Award
  
  

  CONWAY, S.C. – Coastal Carolina University baseball senior Andy DeLaGarza (Ossian, Ind./Norwell) has been selected as a candidate for the Lowe’s Baseball Senior CLASS Award, it was announced April 16. DeLaGarza is one of 30 senior baseball players that made the initial list.

  DeLaGarza is 8-1 with a 2.16 earned-run average in 10 appearances this season. He has pitched 66.2 innings and allowed just 16 earned runs. He also has 39 strikeouts compared to just eight walks. He is tied for the lead in the Big South with eight wins and is second in ERA. He struck out seven March 9 against Bethune-Cookman and did not allow a run in 6.2 innings in a win over Radford March 23.

  An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School, the award is designed to honor the attributes of college senior student athletes who stay in school and pursue the many rewards that a senior season can bring. Candidates are selected based on personal qualities that define a complete student athlete. While the on-the-field performance during their collegiate baseball careers is a factor in determining candidates and the eventual winner, their personal character and off-the-field achievements in the classroom and community are major areas of focus.

  DeLaGarza is among three candidates from the Big South. Charleston Southern’s Wes Brundridge and Radford’s Steve Mignogna also were named to the initial list.

  A national media committee will select 10 finalists for the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award in May. Those 10 names will then be placed on the official ballot for a nationwide vote beginning May 9 and concluding June 6. Fan balloting will be couple with votes from coaches, media and sponsors to determine the recipient of the award. The award winner and the college baseball All-Senior All-America Team will be announced this June during the 2007 NCAA College World Series in Omaha, Neb.

  Coastal travels to Winston-Salem, N.C., to face Wake Forest Wednesday, April 18 at 3 p.m.

• Nick Regilio Daytona Beach Fl, Pitched for Fletch at JU in his senior year. Nick was a 2nd round draft pick and played in the majors with the Texas Rangers.

• Jeff Gerbe  RHP Shelby Township, MI, MSU (‘06 College grad). Went to MSU tryout and made the team in 02. Was in rotation as both a frosh and soph. Had 2nd lowest ERA on team as a junior. Signed by Tigers in '06.  Playing A ball in Tigers Org. in '07 (West Michigan Whitecaps, Midwest League) See Jeff's Stats May '07  0.92 ERA in 19 IP see...  www.minorleaguebaseball.com/external/brandedstats/t582.html?cid=582&t=t_ibp

• 6/04/2007 11:56 PM ET Gerbe, patient Whitecaps two-hit Wizards Converted reliever goes career-high seven innings in resumed game By Ryan McConnell / Special to MLB.com

  Jeff Gerbe has found a new niche since converting to a West Michigan starting role. (Emily Smith/MLB.com)   MiLB Headlines

  
  
  • Jeff Gerbe's player page
  
  
  
  Whether it's as a starter or reliever, Jeff Gerbe is dominating the Midwest League this season.

  Gerbe (1-0) surrendered two runs -- one earned -- on two hits in a career-high seven innings as West Michigan edged visiting Fort Wayne, 4-2, on Monday.

  The 22-year-old allowed just a third-inning walk and a single in the fifth through his first 6 2/3 innings before yielding another base hit and hitting two batters in the ninth. He relieved starting pitcher Chris Cody when rain halted the proceedings Sunday.

  "I felt really good out there," said Gerbe, who finished with three strikeouts and one walk. "My slider was working and the defense behind me was outstanding."

  Gerbe has a 1.26 ERA and two saves through 35 2/3 innings and is holding opposing batters to a .195 batting average. He recently got moved into the Whitecaps starting rotation after tossing 20 1/3 consecutive scoreless relief frames.

  The 16th-round selection in the 2006 First-Year Player Draft said his spotty performance for Class A Short-Season Oneonta last season -- 1-4 with a 5.08 ERA in eight starts -- provided the necessary drive to improve.

  "Last year gave me a lot of motivation. I was pretty frustrated," said Gerbe, who pitched through an injured hip last year.

  He responded by working out at the gym "six times a week" in the offseason.

  "I made a lot of adjustments to clean up my delivery," he added. "If I didn't, something was going to break down."

  Brett Jensen retired the final two batters for his 11th save. Cody set down the first four batters in order before rain suspended the game.

  Michael Bertram put the Whitecaps (31-24) on the board with an RBI single in the first. Ryan Strieby and Gorkys Hernandez hit back-to-back run-scoring doubles in the fifth. Deik Scram chipped in an RBI fielders' choice in the eighth.

  Javis Diaz delivered an RBI groundout and later scored on shortstop Audy Ciriaco's throwing error in the ninth for the Wizards (24-31).

  Fort Wayne starter Andrew Underwood (3-5) took the loss after giving up a run on one hit and a walk while fanning one in one inning. Steve Delabar yielded two runs on three hits and three walks with a strikeout in 3 1/3 innings, and Wilton Lopez gave up a run on two hits in one frame.

• TIGERS PROSPECT WATCH

  Guitar-playing Gerbe blossoms

  West Michigan right-hander's stock skyrockets

  July 1, 2007

  BY JON PAUL MOROSI

  FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER

  One year ago, Jeff Gerbe's status as a Tigers prospect was unclear.

  Gerbe, a right-handed pitcher from Shelby Township, had a 5.38 ERA during his final spring at Michigan State, before shoulder tendinitis forced an end to his summer at short-season Class A Oneonta after only eight starts.

   

  He returned to metro Detroit for the off-season and worked on a shoulder-strengthening program. Assigned this year to Class A West Michigan -- close enough to home that his family has watched him pitch -- Gerbe compiled a 2-0 record and 1.27 ERA in 14 games (four starts) and was named a Midwest League All-Star, before soreness in his pitching shoulder forced him to miss his most recent turn in the rotation.
  

  The Tigers don't think the injury is serious. He will probably miss one or two more starts -- good news for a 22-year-old who has quietly had one of the best seasons of any pitcher in the Detroit farm system.
  

  "He's gone from a guy who we signed to see what he could do to a top prospect," West Michigan manager Tom Brookens said. "No question about it.
  

  "He showed up to spring training on a mission. He was in great shape."
  

  This season Gerbe has lived at the Rockford home of Carmen and David Cox, the same host parents who housed top prospect Cameron Maybin last year and pitching prospects Dallas Trahern and Jair Jurrjens in 2005.
  

  "I'm staying in the Cameron Maybin Suite and using Dallas Trahern's comforter," Gerbe said, with a smile. "I'm trying to channel Cameron's work ethic and Dallas' sinker."
  

  Gorkys Hernandez, arguably the system's best position player who isn't Maybin, also is living with the Cox family this year. Because Hernandez does not have a U.S. driver's license, Gerbe has been entrusted with making certain that both he and the star centerfielder arrive at the ballpark on time.
  

  Gerbe is an early riser. Hernandez is not. So the expression Muevete! -- which means "Move!" -- has become an important part of Gerbe's developing Spanish vocabulary.
  

  Gerbe, who plays an acoustic guitar in his spare time, listens to edgy rock music during his commute. So Hernandez has -- whether he wants to or not -- heard plenty of Taking Back Sunday, Plain White T's, Silverstein, and, especially, Senses Fail.
  

  "Gorkys likes that one," Gerbe said.
  

  Hernandez is a rising star in the farm system, and Gerbe may ultimately take on similar status. The organization thought enough of him that, when a spot starter was needed at Double-A Erie, Gerbe was summoned there and aced the test, with two earned runs in six innings.
  

  His best start since moving to the West Michigan rotation -- seven innings without an earned run against Dayton on June 16 -- came with Tigers assistant general manager Al Avila in attendance at Fifth Third Ballpark.
  

  "He's popped up on a few people's radars this year," Tigers pitching coordinator Jon Matlack said of Gerbe.
  

  Gerbe throws a hard-to-hit sinking fastball that tops out around 94 m.p.h., and his slider and change-up have shown improvement since the year began.
  

  "He's just what the organization is looking for," Brookens said. "He's a hard-throwing right-hander with movement on his fastball."
  

  Contact JON PAUL MOROSI at 313-223-4097 or This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it .

  .

• Matt Gerbe  RHP ’06 HS Grad; Shelby Township, MI. Brother of Jeff (above). 6’4” with only a low 80’s fastball. Was unrecruited until spring of junior year. Signed with PEN in May. Committed to U. of Michigan in Oct. ’05 on scholarship.   

• Luke Debold  RHP Dyer IN,  1997 HS grad. Was basically ignored during his senior year in high school (threw low-mid 80’s.) Signed at Miami after a showcase in winter. Became one of their top pitchers with great stats for three years. Has 2 National Champ rings as a Hurricane grad. In the ’03 College World Series he was considered for the tourney MVP after he closed out 2 huge wins for the Canes. Trained with Fletch since age 12.

• Tim Day RHP West Chester Ohio, MSU under Fletch as a frosh; named freshman all-American at MSU with only a low 80’s fastball. Signed pro after jr. yr.

• Josh Daws RHP Ft Lauderdale FL, Jacksonville U. ace under Fletch for 2 years. Undrafted out of high school and junior college. Drafted by Twins after his JU senior season. Dominant in pro-ball, he was involved in a trade from Twins to Reds in ‘02. Pitched AA  in 03 season.

• Andy D’Amore RHP Chicago, St. Joseph’s College 1997.  Went there to play basketball. Ended up one of the top D-2 pitchers in the nation as a junior.Played on JV team as a freshman. Went 12-1 as a junior and won 3 games in the NCAA D-2 College World Series in 1996.

  Ryan Courson  RHP Ft Meyers  FL, 5’10”. Threw 78-82 mph in HS. Walked-on at JU under Fletch as a frosh. Became one of JU’s top starters for the next 3 seasons and received scholarship. Beat ranked Florida in his 1st college start as a frosh. Pitched many big wins for the Dolphins over his 4-year career. 

• Jim Crowell  LHP Valparaiso IN. Played at D-2 University of Indianapolis. Is now an 8-year pro veteran pitcher. Pitched in majors with the Marlins in ‘05 and with Reds in ‘99 also.  Has trained with Fletch since high school and now in off season. Triple A all-star in ’04, ’05. Active pro at age 32, currently with Phillies (Dec ’07.)

• Craig Brookes RHP Naperville IL,  02 HS Grad, MSU Sr..  Joined PEN in '02 during his HS senior year.  No other D-1’s recruited Craig (only mid 80’s.) Made the rotation as a frosh at MSU with good command and deception. All-Big Ten as a sophomore and was named MSU Pitcher of the Year ‘05, ‘06.

• Jon Huizinga RHP Grand Rapids MI, ‘02 college grad at Michigan State. Featured in PEN DVD. Threw 85-87 in Sr. year of college. ERA over 6 at MSU signed in PEN after graduation for 9 months and gained 5-7 mph. Signed with the Brewers. Had injury (broken arm) recovered to have great independent ‘06 season. Signed with Rockies in Oct ‘06 at age 27.

• Nick Bates Blissfield, MI.  MSU pitched under Fletch in his senior year (’02). Before Fletch got to MSU, Nick had an ERA over 7 with arm problems in his soph. and jr. seasons. Became one of the Big Ten’s best pitchers as a senior with a 9-2 record and an ERA under 4. Drafted by the Royals.  See article on site.

• Jake Chapman LHP Rensselaer IN, walk-on at St. Joe’s under Fletch (‘96 grad). Played JV in first 2 seasons. Drafted as a junior and a senior. NCAA D-2 all-American as a senior. Eight year pro veteran. Great pro stats: A through AAA,  Jake has 43 wins, 27 losses, 3.28 ERA, 234 games, 59 starts 597 IP, 274 runs.

• Tony Manville RHP Mt. Carmel HS Chicago ’07 Grad. Signed in PEN in Aug ’05 with a low 80’s FB no college contacts and no varsity baseball experience. Had a great junior season with several D-1 college offers (throwing 86-89 mph so far.) Signed early (Nov ‘06) to play on scholarship at U. of Iowa.

• Sean Green RHP Chesterton, IN. “07 HS grad. Signed at Jacksonville University on scholarship. Projected to be drafted in ’07, has been in PEN since ‘04
  
  View the most recent article on Sean Green here!

• Rick O’dette LHP Tinley Park, IL Pitched with Fletch at St. Joe’s in ‘95, ‘96 and ‘97. Pitched in D-2 College World Series. Signed with Red Sox and was doing real well until an unfortunate accident and injury (non-throwing) ended his career. Rick is now the Head Coach at St. Joseph’s College.

• Casey Shumaker RHP Jacksonville, FL JU ’00- 01 Undrafted out of HS, Casey was a first team all-American as a sophomore at JU. He led the nation in strikeouts per 9 innings, ahead of Mark Prior. He signed with the Pirates as a 21-year-old sophomore.

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