Mother's Day with the Blue Jays

The Mother's Day Game is a traditional mid-season favorite each spring.  For one afternoon, the players take a back seat.

Moms are the real stars of this show!

But when it's time to get down to business, the Blue Jays know how to get serious about having fun.

Jake Wilson, Dominic Delgado, and Jacob Carle were ready to play after warming up.

Grady Blair and Clark Roggie enjoyed a lighthearted moment prior to the game.

Milen Hukmani wore a champion's smile.

Luke Kavounas pondered the excellence that was to come.

Noah Solovey hung on every word of the coach's last-minute instructions.

Niara Gupta was suited up and confident.

Following a hearty team cheer, the Blue Jays were ready to make Mom proud in their Mother's Day match-up with the Nationals.

May 14 Game Report

 

Luke Kavounas was an out-making machine at 3rd base in the top of the first inning.  On each of three consecutive plays, Luke fielded a grounder and alertly stepped on the bag for a force out.  Luke's incredible hat trick was the first we've seen in a BCC National League game.

Luke made such quick work of his three trips to the plate that we weren't able to take a picture of him in the batter's box.  His smash to right field in the bottom of the second inning was stunning.  Here, Luke hustles to 1st base after crushing another fantastic hit.

Milen Hukmani has been a reliable 1st baseman for the Blue Jays since Day One.  Above, Milen prepares to man the bag in the top of the first inning.  Milen is good because he always remembers to play the ball first and to cover the base and get ready to catch a throw if the hit doesn't come near him.

Milen's smash to left field had the Blue Jays circling the bases in the bottom of the second.  Above, Milen prepares to pound a grounder to the right side of the infield in the bottom of the first.

Jacob Carle has added another skill to his already impressive repertoire - catching!  We noted that Jacob successfully intercepted several throws back to the pitcher.  Catching with a mitt can be difficult for kids his age, but Jacob makes it look easy.

Jacob's combination of solid contact and excellent foot speed makes him a force near the top of the order.  Batting in the number two spot, he reached safely in each trip to the plate versus the Nationals.  Above, Jacob kicks it into gear after belting the ball through the middle of the infield in the first inning.

Dominic Delgado made his debut at 1st base in the top of the third inning.  He, too, caught a thrown ball - something we'll see more often and from more players after we're able to have a few practices!   Dominic also fielded a grounder and did an excellent job working on his footwork around the bag.

Batting in the cleanup spot, Dominic again wielded a powerful bat.  Above, he sizes up a pitch just before clubbing it to left field.  Dominic continues to hit the ball hard in each trip to the batter's box.

Noah Solovey's plate appearances seem to take less time every week.   Thanks to his keen focus on the ball, Noah needs few pitches to put it in play.  In Sunday's game, he reached 1st base safely on three consecutive grounders.

Above, Noah shows that he is ready for the ball at right shortstop in the top of the first inning.  Noah also enjoyed his first opportunity to play 2nd base in the top of the second.  As expected, he was alert and ready to make force outs if the ball were to come his way.

Like many left-handed hitters, Clark Roggie is most effective when he hits the ball to the middle of the field.  Above, he does an excellent job of putting his hands together and getting the bat up and back.  In the bottom of the second inning, Clark's powerful approach paid off with a fearsome liner up the middle that did not stop until it reached center field.

Defensively, Clark took his first turn at right pitcher's helper, where he fielded a slow roller and delivered an accurate throw to the 1st baseman.  Above, Clark prepares to play at 3rd base in the top of the second.

Niara Gupta is always ready with the mitt.  Here, she focuses on the batter from the right field position.  Niara later made an excellent stop on a grounder at right pitcher's helper.  Niara's glove work is improving every week.

Niara proves that you don't have to be the biggest guy - or for that matter, a guy - to get big hits!  Niara's up-the-middle approach and blazing speed make her a tough out on any Sunday afternoon.  Here, she puts her bat into motion and drills a base hit up the middle in the bottom of the third inning.

Adam Farber is ready to go regardless of the position he plays.  Here, he prepares to track down well hit baseballs in left field.  Adam very nearly completed an unassisted force out at 3rd base in the bottom of the third.  He also did an excellent job of getting his glove on thrown balls at 1st base.

A slugger with serious power, Adam looks to break things whenever he steps to the dish.  In this photo, Adam creates ample torque while loading up to hit a high fly ball to the right side of the infield.

Grady Blair continues to develop his defensive skills at a blistering pace.  Here, Grady delivers an accurate throw to 1st base from the right shortstop position.  The coaches noticed that Grady is also doing a fantastic job of moving his feet and getting his body in front of the ball when he fields grounders.

Offensively, Grady is a menace to fielders throughout the BCC National League.  Above, he engages the afterburners on the way to 1st base.  Grady even managed to beat out a grounder to 1st after losing his shoe!

Jake Wilson was a busy guy at left pitcher's helper in the top of the first inning.  It seemed that every ball came his way.  Jake moved his feet and fielded each grounder with ease.  He also made some very good throws to 1st base.

Jake has become a consistent hitter in the first half of the season.  Adding power to his improved contact, he smashed two strong grounders up the middle in Sunday's game.  Above, Jake focuses on the batter and readies himself for a quick scamper home to score a run.

Mother's Day seemed to inspire the Blue Jays to achieve a new level of enthusiasm in the game with the Nationals.  Together, they cheered on their teammates during each at-bat.  That was fantastic!

When the game was over, the Blue Jays made their moms proud, demonstrating tremendous sportsmanship in the post-game handshake.

Brain Trust

Rishi Gupta said that he loves coaching at 1st base.  That's good because we love having him there!

Eric Delgado gives the Blue Jays everything they could possibly hope for in an adult catcher.  He helps the players get lined up properly at the plate and congratulates them with high-fives when they come home to score.

In addition to putting on a juggling display that would make Barnum & Bailey blush, George Roggie also finds time to deliver quality pitches to the Blue Jays' powerful lineup.  He might have the highest Earned Run Average in the BCC National League, which, in this case, is a good thing!

Baseball Moms!

What can we say?  Moms love their Blue Jays.  Here's Karlie Wilson and Jake.

Monica Hukmani came to the ballpark to watch Milen.

Lori Solovey is a frequent visitor at Noah's practices (when they aren't rained out) and games.

Shivani Gupta's support is key to Niara's success on the baseball field.

Mikel Blair embraced a Mother's Day afternoon at the yard to watch Grady.

Jennifer Kavounas loves to watch Luke have fun while playing baseball.

Talia Farber enjoys Adam's monster hits more than anybody.

Susan Fraidin, better known as Grandma to Clark and George, is on her second go-round of Mother's Day with the Blue Jays.  She wouldn't have it any other way!

Great game, Blue Jays, and Happy Mother's Day!