The weatherman gave the Blue Jays and the Phillies almost no chance of playing on Sunday, May 6, at Ritchie Park Elementary School. The weatherman was wrong.
This wasn't exactly a picturesque day for baseball, but it was good enough. Even better, the Blue Jays were more than good enough between the lines!
All twelve players contributed as the team met its goal of collecting at least nine outs - for the third consecutive week! The process of setting a goal, focusing on the goal, working toward the goal, and achieving the goal breeds real and lasting confidence.
Having made it through a challenging practice on Friday, the crew appeared confident as it took the field on Sunday. Every player earned the right to feel good about the results.
May 6 Game Report
Adam Farber arrived early and secured the leadoff spot in order. More importantly, Adam had time to take lots of swings and make technical adjustments during pregame batting practice. The subsequent production spoke for itself. Adam lit the fuse of the Blue Jays' offense when he hammered a line drive past the right fielder to lead off the bottom of the first. Amazingly, he managed to top that effort in the second inning, slamming a liner that tore a path through the dandelions in right center. Somebody call True Green and cancel service at Ritchie Park this week! Adam completed his 3-for-3 day with a single to the left side in the top of the third.
Adam lent a sturdy hand to the nine-out effort in the field. Playing at 3rd base in the bottom of the first, he wisely chose to cover the bag and allow the left pitcher's helper to pursue the ball on two different occasions. In one of those instances, Adam handled the throw from the LPH and completed the assisted force play to notch the Blue Jays' third out of the inning.
Milen Hukmani bolstered the middle portion of the Blue Jays' batting order with dependably hard contact in each plate appearance. The longtime RBI man came through with three big rips to the left side, two of which bounced to the left field grass. A key cog in the Blue Jays' offensive juggernaut, Milen also came around to score in each inning.
The Blue Jays have Milen to thank for the out that enabled them to achieve their nine-out goal. Keeping his focus on the game in left center field, Milen backed up the 2nd baseman on an errant throw from the 1st baseman on an attempted fly ball double play. Fielding the baseball as if it were a grounder, Milen ran hard to second, beat the runner back to the bag, completed the double play, and clinched the nine-out performance! Milen understands that it's important to be ready and pay attention in the outfield. As the team gets older and the opposition hits harder, heads-up outfield play will be essential!
Henry Goldstein made quick work of his three at bats in the game with the Phillies. Converting a good attitude and hard work into offensive production, the five year old rookie needed exactly four pitches to distribute two base hits to the left side and a knock up the middle. The look on Henry's face should tell you all you need to know - he was having fun!
Wyatt Fotiades accelerated his progress with the bat in the matchup with the Phillies. Above, Wyatt looks determined as he hustles to 1st base after blistering a groundball to the left side in the bottom of the first inning. Wyatt singled again in the second and drove in a run when he reached on a fielder's choice in the third. Focused and fully locked in, Wyatt put together a fantastic performance at the plate!
Overall, Wyatt enjoyed an excellent weekend of baseball. Friday's breakneck pace at practice was intended to challenge relatively experienced players. Having played all of five weeks, Wyatt kept his head in the game and powered through it. On Sunday, he demonstrated improved field awareness and increased understanding of his responsibilities at right shortstop in the top of the third.
Josh Porter was determined to end the game with a big hit! Batting twelfth in the 12-player lineup, Josh appeared to put some pressure on himself as he approached the plate for the day's final at bat. Fouling off the first pitch seemed to increase his confidence. Josh then left no doubt on pitch number two, crushing a liner that landed inside the 3rd base line and rolled all the way to left field. Josh's smile as he crossed the plate to score the game's final run was priceless!
Josh made an outstanding grab on the type of high bouncer that is only seen in the BCC National League. Playing at right shortstop in the top half of the second inning, Josh reached up and nabbed a chopper over his left shoulder and delivered an accurate throw that made the play at 1st base much closer than it should have been. Josh also willingly put his body in front of the ball to stop hot grounders at right pitcher's helper in the top of the first.
Niara Gupta logged yet another 3 for 3 day at the plate, continuing an incredible season-long streak! Batting in the ninth spot in the order, Niara jacked a solid base hit through the left side of the infield in every inning. Once on base, she was characteristically unstoppable, scoring in the latter stages of each offensive stanza.
Niara didn't see much action at left shortstop in the top of the first, but she did have some balls hit her way at 2nd base in the bottom of the third. Playing the bases requires quick decisions as to whether to go for the ball or cover the bag. Not every BCC National League coaching staff expects its players to make those decisions. We do. Niara had the misfortune of having to deal with some "tweeners" that were hit between her and another infielder. No decision at this level is more difficult; Niara gave great effort. We will practice those next week!
Brody Gottfried returned to his reliable hitting ways in the game with the Phillies. Appearing to enjoy playing earlier in the day, Brody knocked three quality base hits up the middle. Brody delivered RBIs from the third spot in the order in the first and second innings, benefitting from the extra base hits that were generated at the top of the order. Brody put a bow on his day at the plate with three runs scored.
For weeks, Brody has been knocking on the door of completing his first infield assist. On Sunday, the door opened. Playing at right pitcher's helper in the top of the second inning, Brody fielded three different grounders and tossed good throws over to 1st base. On the third grounder, the throw - in our opinion - beat the runner. Mission accomplished! We look forward to seeing more assists from Brody in the season's second half.
Evan Phillips continued his torrid pace at the plate during Sunday's game. Batting eleventh in the order, he crushed two singles up the middle that evaded opposing fielders and one base hit that made it all the way to center field. Evan drove in at least three runs and scored in every inning. It's going to take a really good defense to get Evan out this year!
Peter was a productive standout at two different infield positions. Playing at left pitcher's helper in the top of the first, he stopped a groundball, turned, and threw on time and accurately to 3rd base, completing the Blue Jays' third and final put-out of the initial frame. Taking over at 1st base in the top of the second, Peter hauled in three different throws from teammates, ensuring his involvement in all three outs of that particular inning.
Dominic Delgado came through with one of the better all-around individual performances we've seen at a BCC National League game. We held Dominic to doubles on the line drives he hit to the outfield in the first and second innings; the second one was an especially ridiculous blast that landed in the grass and rolled more than halfway to the trees in left field. In the bottom of the third, a great play by the Phillies' center fielder was the only thing that prevented Dominic from going for extra bases in three consecutive at bats; he had to settle for a long single. To say that Dominic was squaring it up would be an understatement.
Dominic channeled his inner Omar Vizquel in the top of the second inning. After making a routine assist (that really isn't routine at this age) on a grounder early in the inning, Dominic shot across the field, stabbed a hot smash that appeared headed for center field, and threw with precision and on the run to 1st base for one of the more spectacular put-outs we've seen! Then, playing at 1st base in the top of the third, Dominic caught a well hit line drive and alertly threw to second base to double the runner who had not tagged up. An additional unassisted put-out at 1st base gave Dominic a role in five of the Blue Jays' nine outs.
Noah Solovey is another player who seems to prefer playing early in the day. The Blue Jays' late Friday practices tend to be pretty tough for Noah, who has a way of coming up big in games on Sunday afternoons. He needed a total of five pitches to collect three awesome hits in the matchup with the Phillies! When it really counts, this guy is a prime time player!
The coach noticed that Noah appeared to be a little disappointed with his fielding assignments at Sunday's game. A candid heart-to-heart discussion between coach and player led to one of our favorite moments of the contest. A grounder up the middle evaded the left pitcher's helper in the top of the third. It appeared that the play was over until Noah, apparently having been shot out of a cannon from the left shortstop position, darted across the field, gloved the ball and threw to 1st base in a single motion. THAT is how you attack a groundball and earn more playing time in the infield! Well done!
Batting second in the order, Clark Roggie was inspired after watching his teammate lace a leadoff double to right field to start the game. Clark gave the Blue Jays back-to-back doubles with a line drive of his own to center field. Clark added a single to the left side in the bottom of the second and a hard ground ball - unfortunately, an at 'em ball to the 1st baseman - in the bottom of the third.
Clark contributed two outs, both unassisted, to the Blue Jays' nine-out total. Playing at 2nd base in the top of the first, Clark made a routine stop on a grounder and stepped on the bag to notch the Blue Jays' first out of the game. The second out was not routine at all. Clark ranged to his left and extended his glove, cleanly picking a high bouncer over his left shoulder. That alone would have been a good play, but Clark wasn't finished. He reversed direction on a dime and beat the runner to the bag at second to complete the unassisted force play!
The Phillies are a quality opponent. The schedule does not have us meeting them again this season, but we're pretty sure we'll see them somewhere down the line.
Steady Hands
The indispensable Eric Delgado helped the batters and fielders throughout the afternoon, as usual. He also pitched batting practice prior to the game. Considering how well the Blue Jays hit in this one, we might give Eric the BP pitching role permanently.
Supportive brother, baseball man, and all around mensch Henry Herdman handled 1st base coaching duties with aplomb. We love it when Henry joins us!
Navin Hukmani kept the drain swirling from the 3rd base coaching box. The rapid pace of the hit parade didn't provide much opportunity for instruction. "Go that way and touch the plate when you get there," was the order of the day.
Shivani Gupta provided the postgame snacks for Niara and her teammates. Thank you!
Making the Turn
The season is now a little more than halfway complete.
The players have had lots of fun, worked hard, and improved by astounding proportions!
They've eaten lots of delicious snacks.
They've exchanged their share of fist bumps.
And they have successfully executed some very impressive postgame cheers following equally impressive on-field performances - with more to come!
Coach Steve
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