The Blue Jays and the Cardinals had fun and played some really good baseball in a game that began under cloud cover and ended amid bright sunshine on Sunday, September 17, at Tilden Middle School.
This team is developing rapidly and having a great time doing it!
Avoiding foot races and focusing on catching and throwing, the Blue Jays proved that they are this close to executing multiple real baseball plays every inning.
September 17 Game Report
Adam Farber worked hard to level his swing and enjoyed a fantastic result in the top of the second inning. Displaying his natural power, Adam lined a laser to center field that did not stop until it reached the outfield grass!
Defensively, Adam demonstrated keen mental focus and physical hustle at three different positions. Playing at 2nd base in the bottom of the first, Adam smoothly fielded a well hit grounder and alertly stepped on the bag for an unassisted force out. Taking over in right field in the second inning, Adam ranged to his left and flagged down a one-hopper that was headed to the grass. When the games become competitive - and they will - that's the kind of play that prevents a single from becoming a triple!
Peter Herdman's first BCC baseball game was an unqualified success! Batting in the key number three spot in the order, he impressively combined consistent contact and advanced power. Peter's contributions included a line drive to right field, a solid grounder up the middle, and a well hit ground ball through the left side.
Above, Peter puts the finishing touch on an accurate throw to 1st base from the left pitcher's helper position. Playing at 1st base in the bottom of the second, Peter teamed up with the right pitcher's helper to execute a beautiful assisted put-out. You can plug this guy into the lineup at any position!
Luke Kavounas gave himself reason to smile with his rock-solid play versus the Cardinals. He earned the opponents' attention when he blistered some hot liners toward the 1st base bench. Luke then straightened it out and took aim at right field, where he deposited a hard grounder in the second and a line drive in the third.
The coach is pretty sure that he can actually see the mental wheels turning in Luke's head when the Blue Jays are in the field. Always ready at 3rd base, Luke learned how to deal with dribblers that bisect the 3rd baseman and the pitcher's helper; sometimes, weak hits can be more challenging than scorchers. Luke also played impressively at right pitcher's helper, cleanly fielding grounders and delivering accurate throws to 1st base. In a couple of weeks, some of those will become outs; next year, they will be easy outs!
Jacob Carle took an enormous leap forward during pregame batting practice and then delivered when it counted! Working hard to visually track the ball's location rather than anticipate it, Jacob sent a line shot to right field in the top of the first. He followed that up with equally impressive hits in the second and third innings.
Jacob was a busy young man at 1st base in the bottom of the second. Above, he stays in front of an errant throw and prevents the ball from going out of play. Demonstrating good footwork around the bag, Jacob put himself in position to complete several force outs in a single inning of play. He also handled the left pitcher's helper spot with typical aplomb, stopping several grounders and delivering good throws to 1st base in the bottom of the final inning.
Having celebrated his fifth birthday just last month, Brody Gottfried is almost 40 percent younger than some of the players with whom he shares the baseball field! You wouldn't know it from watching him at the plate, where he demonstrates excellent fundamental technique. Above, Brody prepares to crank a base hit up the middle - again, on the first pitch of the at bat - in the top of the first.
Brody improved his base running by leaps and bounds in the game with the Cardinals. His base hit in the top of the third was attributable to his hitting and his running! Listening to the coaches throughout the game, Brody learned to run hard to the next base as soon as his teammate hits the ball. The densely populated infield made that a difficult task at times, but Brody was up to the challenge.
In the top of the second inning, Dominic Delgado unleashed a bomb to right field that was one of the best hits we have ever seen in a BCC National League game. The baseballs we use are intentionally designed to absorb energy and prevent huge hits. Dominic's hit was so good that it defied the laws of physics! His liner to right field in the top of the first prompted the opposing coach to advise his players, "Okay, be ready! This is a hitting team!" Indeed, it is!
Dominic chipped in defensively with several good stops and quality throws at left pitcher's helper in the bottom of the first inning. He then put in a yeoman's effort at 1st base in the final defensive stanza. After just missing a thrown ball from the left pitcher's helper, Dominic picked it up and stood on the bag to complete the Blue Jays' second assisted put-out of the day.
We love this photo of Evan Phillips because it shows how he keeps his eyes fixed on the ball throughout the course of his swing. It's difficult to believe that this guy was playing in just the second baseball game of his career! Evan wasted no time putting the ball in play with a solid single through the right side in his first plate appearance of the day. His hot smash through the left side in the game's final inning went all the way to left field.
Evan pays attention and learns quickly, important traits when you're playing a game that doesn't provide much in the way of instant gratification. His base running improved considerably throughout the game with the Cardinals. Defensively, Evan is getting a handle on knowing when to aggressively pursue the ball.
Clark Roggie seemed to hit the ball harder with each successive trip to the batter's box. Above, Clark prepares to send a chopper up the middle in the top of the first. Clark's up-the-middle approach paid dividends in Sunday's game. His hit in the top of the third found a hole and wound up in center field.
Clark demonstrated improved alertness on defense. Here, he reaches down after stopping a grounder at right pitcher's helper. On a similar play, Clark corralled the ball, wheeled to his right, and delivered a perfect throw to 1st base to complete the Blue Jays' first assisted put-out of the day. Clark also chipped in with an unassisted force out at 2nd base in the bottom of the second.
Niara Gupta is bundle of photogenic smiles, hustle, and focus. Above, she rounds 3rd base and heads for home, scoring a run for the Blue Jays in the top of the first. Niara worked on timing at the plate in her initial at bats. She then crushed a grounder to the left shortstop in the top of the third.
Niara excels at 2nd base and at right pitcher's helper. Her natural athleticism gives her uncommon range for a player who is not yet six years old. In the game with the Cardinals, Niara gobbled up two grounders at pitcher's helper in the bottom of the second. She also showed that she knows when to go for the ball and when to cover the bag at 2nd base.
Noah Solovey had an eventful day on Sunday. Arriving directly from Hebrew School and with no time to warm up, Noah drew upon his excellent technique and sound preparation to deliver fantastic hits in both of his at bats. Noah needed a grand total of three pitches to mash two solid singles up the middle.
Noah is consistently ready in the field, as the photo above suggests. He ran down a well hit ball in right field in the bottom half of the second inning. Moving up to the infield in the third, Noah aggressively went after bouncing balls at left shortstop.
Ethan Chu manufactured two more outstanding hits in Sunday's game. Above, he sizes up a pitch and prepares to knock a single to the right side of the infield in inning number two. He then pulled a high pitch down the 3rd base line for a base hit in the top of the third.
Another ready infielder, Ethan took a turn at shortstop on both sides of the infield Above, he stands in ready position at left shortstop in the bottom of the second. Ethan also did a nice job at right shortstop in the game's final inning.
Following the game, the Blue Jays congratulated the Cardinals, a nice team that deserves credit for having the field set up and all twelve players present 15 minutes before game time. That kind of dedication will take them a long way!
Team Players
Eric Delgado is simply the best! In addition to catching, Eric set up the tee when necessary and helped to get players lined up on defense.
Sean Herdman was a welcome addition to the Blue Jays' brain trust. He coached at 1st base and helped get fielders in their positions on the right side.
Peter Kavounas helped the Blue Jays' base runners overcome some unorthodox defensive strategies on the part of our opponents; some seemed to believe that baseball is a game of tag; others attempted to "guard" base runners, basketball-style, and prevent them from running from base to base. If you coach long enough at this level, you start to think you've seen it all. But you haven't.
Talia Farber provided the post game snacks and, importantly, water! This game was hotter than expected! The coach alone consumed more than his share.
Adam Farber and teammate Jacob Carle were all smiles at the
Former preschool classmates-turned-teammates Peter Herdman, Clark Roggie, and Dominic Delgado posed for a nostalgic photo.
Great game, Blue Jays! In the coach's opinion, this was the best game that this team has ever played. We can't wait to see what comes next!
Coach Steve
No comments:
Post a Comment