June 23, 2008

DETROIT, Mich. - Future incoming Bowling Green State University baseball student-athlete, Jonathon Berti, was named the Detroit News Baseball Player of the Year for 2008, by the daily news' organization on Saturday (June 21). Berti, a right-handed shortstop from Troy High School in Troy, Mich. hit .476 this past season to help lead his team to the Michigan Division I state semifinals, setting four single-season school records along the way.

Earlier this month, Berti became the lone Falcon to be selected in the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft in Florida, as he was taken 1,084th overall in the 36th round by the Oakland Athletics. The 5-foot-10-inch prospect signed a National Letter of Intent back in December to join the Falcon baseball family, along with left-handed pitcher Kacy Dwornik from Toledo St. John's.

In 2007, Berti was named to the All-Oakland Activities Association [OAA] Team, as well as the All-District and Academic All-District teams, as he has hit over .400 the past three seasons. He has been a four-year starter for head coach Frank Divito.

Berti has until August 15th to negotiate with the Athletics organization should he decide to pursue professional ball immediately.

Berti's focus earns him accolades

By: Tom Markowski / The Detroit News

TROY -- For eight years, Jon Berti divided his time: baseball for six months, hockey for six.

Entering his senior year at Troy High, Berti had to make a choice. He knew he couldn't play both at a high level in college, so one had to go.

"When it came down to it, baseball is my passion," Berti said. "If I wanted to play at the next level, I needed to gain weight."

So Berti quit hockey and worked with a personal trainer to gain strength and improve his quickness.

The workout regimen increased his strength and improved his bat speed.

And because of the success he had this season, Berti has been named The Detroit News Baseball Player of the Year for 2008.

"He's one of the best players ever to come out of Troy," coach Frank DiVito said of the shortstop. "Every year he got better. He did whatever he could to get to that next step."

Berti, who signed with Bowling Green, weighed 160 pounds as a junior and has put on 15 pounds since. The added strength in his legs and upper body helped make a singles hitter into an offensive threat.

As the leadoff hitter, Berti was the catalyst in Troy's offense and helped it reach the Division 1 semifinals for the first time since 1999.

This season, Berti set school season records in:

• Stolen bases (40);

• Runs (64);

• Hits (65), and

• Triples (nine).

He hit .476, 75 points higher than last season, and had nine home runs.

The Oakland A's drafted Berti in the 36th round this month, but he plans on honoring his scholarship to Bowling Green.

"I'm pretty quick," Berti said. "My hand-eye coordination, it really helped that I played goalie. The movement from side to side helps with my footwork at short.

"It was a great experience this season, after getting bumped out of the district last year. We lost 11 seniors and people weren't expecting too much from us."