Spotlight on a Baseball Rookie: Jamie Gutterman

Ari Esrig ‘17

Q: What is it like being new on the high school baseball team?

A: Having not played baseball since seventh grade, I was not really sure what to expect when joining the baseball team. However, the transition has been relatively easy due to how some of the players on the team were my teammates on the basketball team, so they helped me out with a lot in the beginning of the process.

Q: What is your biggest strength as a player?

A: I feel like my biggest strength as a player is my speed. I have always been a fast player in any sport I play, so I am looking forward to using my speed to my advantage during games.

Q: What is your biggest weakness as a player?

A: I am still getting used to all the new signs, fundamentals and mechanics.

Q: What’s your favorite position on the baseball field?

A: I really enjoy playing centerfield and leftfield.

Q: If you had an introductory song that would play when you came up to bat, what would it be?

A: If I had an intro song, it would be “Stronger” by Kanye West because it makes people feel stronger, hence the name.

Q: If you could give yourself a nickname, what would it be?

A: If I had to have a nickname, it would be “cheetah” because of how they use their speed to their advantage.

Q: What are your personal goals for the season?

A: My personal goal for this season is to maintain at least a .250 batting average, because hitting is one part of my game I feel I need to work on the most.

Q: What is your favorite part so far about playing for GOA’s high school baseball team?

A: My favorite part of playing for a GOA team would have to be how all my teammates are Jewish, which may not seem like much, but I have never played on a sports team with other Jews. Not that it has ever gotten in the way of anything, as I was not ever mistreated for my religion, but it just feels good to have teammates that have a lot in common with you.