The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/544673
BY CHRIS BALAS t's the rare athlete who can carry his team to a champion- ship, performing at a level that separates him from the rest. Basketball's Glen Rice did it in 1989, setting NCAA Tournament scoring records in leading the Wolverines to their first national championship. Hockey's Marty Turco did so in 1998, too, standing on his head in carrying Red Berenson's team to a second na- tional title in three years. In June, baseball's Jacob Cronen- worth added his name to the list when he paced the Wolverines to a Big Ten Tournament title. The junior played different positions in the in- field — wherever he was needed — carrying a number of different field- ing gloves with him. With the championship game against No. 2 seed Maryland on the line, he came in and closed out a 4-3 win from the pitcher's mound to lead Michigan into the NCAA Tourna- ment for the first time since 2008, earning conference tournament MVP honors. Head coach Erik Bakich has seen In addition to playing wherever he was needed in the infield, Cronenworth led the Big Ten with 91 hits and 62 runs while also recording eight saves, which tied for fifth in the league. PHOTO COURTESY MICHGAN ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS KING Of The Diamond Jake Cronenworth Did It All While Leading Michigan To A Big Ten Tournament Title MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR JACOB CRONENWORTH