Daughter of Tigers' Manager Roots from Kent State

Despite his busy schedule, Kellie Leyland talks to her dad, Jim, every day as he manages the Detroit Tigers through the Major League Baseball playoffs.

Kellie, a freshman at , didn't grow up playing baseball even with her dad's prowess and connections in the game. Instead, she spent time cheerleading — a role she continues for her dad's team.

So what does she tell him when they talk daily as the Tigers battle the Texas Rangers?

"I tell him to win!" she said. "I talk to him probably 10 times a day. He's really busy, but I talk to him."

Her dad, an award-winning manager, is trying to coach the Tigers out of a 2-1 deficit against the Texas Rangers in the American League Championship Series. Game four of the series was rain delayed Wednesday.

Having such a high-ranking connection to the team is fun but can be awkward at times when Kellie has to entertain constant ticket and autograph requests.

"It gets hard because people don't really realize ... most of our tickets go to family," Leyland said.

The fashion design and merchandising major watches every game. She  even drove up to Detroit for last week's game against the Rangers, and she'll be driving up again Thursday — after class, of course — to watch game five of the series.

"I try to go to as many games as I can," she said.