Battier the Batsman

Most people don't know that NBA vet and former Oakland County prep basketball superstar Shane Battier was also a stud baseball player.

Besides leading Birmingham Detroit Country Day to three straight state championships on the hardwood, he played one year of ball on the high school diamond, garnering all-state honors as a wicked-hitting first baseman/outfielder and a shutdown presence on the mound as a smooth and steady right-handed pitcher.

In fact, before being known for his outstanding career playing hoops, he was known for tearing it up as a little leaguer on the baseball diamond. Twice, Battier's summer all-star little league team from Birmingham came one game away from qualifying for the nationally-televised Little League World Series out in Pennsylvania.

After putting the bat and ball down for a little while, the 6-foot-8, multi-talented Battier resumed his baseball career as a junior at DCD in the spring of 1996 and returned with ferocity.

AKA…he hit over .500, with 32 RBI, 4 HR and 20 stolen bases and compiled an ERA from the rubber below the 2.00 mark.

Currently, Battier is an 11-year vet, playing with the Miami Heat, who are as we speak in pursuit of an NBA World Championship ring, slugging it out in the Eastern Conference Finals.

While at Duke in college, Battier started on two final four teams and was an All-American and National Player of the Year on the Blue Devils '2001 NCAA title squad.

For his career in the NBA, Battier averages 9 points and 5 rebounds a night.