Go BCC Blue Jays!: Birds of a Feather

After three consecutive weekends of rain, the Blue Jays and the Cardinals were eager to play baseball on Friday, June 1, at Avenel Local Park!

The Blue Jays entered the contest with plenty of enthusiasm!

Keeping their focus on the game, the Blue Jays commenced to hitting without delay and turned in an incredible final inning in the field after shaking off the rust.

All 13 players contributed to an outstanding team effort!

June 1 Game Report

The coach's son doesn't lead the game report unless he does something special. Clark Roggie did exactly that in the game with the Cardinals, turning in the best all-around effort of his baseball career! Clark ripped a line drive single, a towering fly ball base hit, and a ground ball double - all to the grass in right field - in successive trips to the plate. Individual batting practice sessions in the rain during the long layoff paid off in a big way!

Clark's awesome catch of a well hit fly ball to left field might have been the defensive highlight of the game! Proving that being ready and making plays in the outfield can inspire an entire team, Clark jump started what would become an incredible seven-out effort by the Blue Jays in the bottom of the third inning. The strong finish allowed the team to collect ten outs on the day, one more than its weekly goal!

Peter Herdman could've used some better pitches from the coach. As it was, Peter managed to be productive despite the hurler's lack of command, sending two base hits to the left side and a ground ball single up the middle. A model of consistency, Peter possesses the skills and make-up to excel amid less than ideal circumstances!

Peter added to the Blue Jays' out total in the field in the top of the second inning. Playing at 1st base, he knocked down a well hit line drive, kept his wits about him, and picked up the ball and stepped on the bag for an unassisted put-out. That play extended Peter's impressive streak of consecutive games producing at least one out.

Noah Solovey possesses an innate ability to heat up quickly at the plate. After fighting off a bloody nose, Noah promptly ripped a base hit to left field in the bottom of the first inning. He delivered two more solid knocks to the left side of the infield in the second and third, respectively.

Noah showed dedication when he attended optional practice on the most recent rainout date and was rewarded with a turn at right pitcher's helper. Learning that things happen rapidly when you play "up front," Noah showed increased aggressiveness to balls hit on the right side of the infield in the top of the second inning.

Brody Gottfried assumed the clean-up spot in the line-up and did not disappoint. His solid base hit to the left side in the bottom of the first inning drove in the Blue Jays' first run of the game. Keeping his hands up high, Brody added to his hit total in the second and third innings.

Normally a position that features lots of put-out opportunities, right pitcher's helper proved to be a surprisingly quiet spot in the top of the first. Brody appeared to be ready with his mitt on every pitch. He also took an impressive turn at center field in the top of the second, nabbing a well hit grounder and returning the ball to the infield to prevent extra bases.

Dominic Delgado's powerful warm-up swings convinced the opposing coaching staff to suggest that fielders move back and anticipate some big hits! Dominic did not disappoint, pounding two ground ball base hits and a line drive double to center field!

Dominic helped the Blue Jays shake off the rust in the field. Playing at left pitcher's helper in the top of the first inning, he ranged to his right and caught a fly ball to complete the first out of the game. In the top of the third, Dominic hauled in a bouncing grounder and stepped on the bag at 1st base to notch an unassisted force out.

Jacob Carle arrived more than 30 minutes before game time, claimed the top spot in the batting order, and gave the Blue Jays an excellent start in each offensive frame. Above, Jacob strikes a pose after smashing a line drive to left field in the top of the first. He later added a single in the second and double to center field in the third.

Jacob's heads-up play at left pitcher's helper resulted in an unassisted tag-out in the top of the third inning. After cutting off a throw from the outfield, Jacob noticed that an opposing runner had been a little too greedy trying to score. Jacob chased the runner down and tagged him out halfway between 3rd base and home plate! Jacob also logged an unassisted put-out at 1st base in the top of the first.

An in-game hand placement adjustment was key to Josh Porter's offensive surge. Above, Josh holds his hands high to facilitate a more level swing. After nailing a line drive to center field in his first at-bat, Josh launched a fly ball base hit to left in the second and a towering shot over 2nd base in the third.

Josh continued the upward trajectory of his defensive play in the game with the Cardinals. One of the more aggressive players on the roster, Josh does not have to be told to put his body in front of the ball. In Friday's game, he stopped two well hit balls at right pitcher's helper and prevented a single from becoming a triple when he cut off a base hit in the outfield.

Niara Gupta made good use of pregame batting practice to work on timing her swing. Showing up early and practicing certainly paid off at game time! Above, Niara takes off for 1st base after slicing a liner to right field. Making quick work of each plate appearance, Niara put together a 3-for-3 batting line and set the table for the big boppers in the middle of the order.

Here, Niara stands ready in left field in the top of the second inning. In the top of the first, Niara played at 2nd base and worked to cover the bag quickly whenever the ball was hit to another infielder. Middle infielders will find that their responsibilities increase substantially when we move to machine-pitch; it's a different game when you no longer have a right pitcher's helper or a right shortstop. Quick decision-making will be even more important than it is now!

After clearing the cobwebs in his first at-bat, Evan Phillips shortened his swing and kept his feet quiet at the plate in the 2nd and 3rd innings. The simplified approach enabled Evan to smack a liner up the middle and a solid grounder all the way to center field. Batting with runners on base in each inning, Evan drove in so many runs that we lost count!

Evan stepped up and handled 3rd base in the top of the first inning. Above, he warms up prior to his stint at the hot corner. Evan made up for the fact that the Blue Jays had only one outfielder when the game began, chasing a well hit ball to left field and returning it to the infield to hold the runner to a single. We also liked the way that he hustled to fly balls that were hit in foul territory.

Adam Farber had too cool off on the bench after heating up at the plate in the bottom of the third inning. Adam got a pitch where he likes it - down in the zone - and slammed a line drive to left field that would allow him to run all the way to 2nd base for a double. His singles up the middle in the first and third innings were equally impressive.

Adam was a one-man rally killer in the top of the third inning. Playing at 2nd base, Adam fielded a grounder and stepped on the bag for an unassisted force out that gave the Blue Jays three outs in the inning. And he wasn't done yet! Adam repeated the same trick on two more occasions, making him responsible for three of the team's seven put-outs in the game's final stanza. What an inning!

Milen Hukmani found his batting stroke midway through his first plate appearance of the day. Above, he gets levered up before blasting a line drive to left field in the bottom of the third inning. All told, Milen deposited two balls in the outfield and reached on an infield single.

Milen started one of the better defensive innings in Blue Jays' history in the top of the third. Playing at 3rd base, he scooped up a bouncing grounder, recognized that he had a force opportunity, and stepped on the bag to notch the first of seven outs in the frame. He nearly added an infield assist when he stopped a grounder and threw to 2nd base for a force play, but the runner was just a little too quick!

Henry Goldstein arrived early, took batting practice, and aptly handled the second spot in the Blue Jays' lineup. A classic table-setter, Henry legged out three infield base hits including one that was fielded by the 1st baseman. Grounders to 1st are almost always easy outs, but not when Henry turns on the afterburners! Henry's dedication and hustle resulted in a richly deserved 3-for-3 day!

Another player who chose to work on catching and throwing at optional practice two weeks ago, Henry made his debut at right pitcher's helper in the game with the Cardinals. He learned that playing "up front" means covering lots of ground because the 1st baseman doesn't have time to field slow rollers AND cover the bag. Henry listened, learned, and improved, just as he has at every practice and game this season!

Wyatt Fotiades continued to refine his swing and generate good results at the plate. Above, Wyatt works to keep his hands back as he anticipates the next pitch. He knocked a solid base hit to the left side in the bottom of the first and a grounder up the middle in the third. Unlike those who played last year, Wyatt hasn't had the benefit of one-to-one hitting instruction. He's done well to learn on his own.

Wyatt was ready for action in the outfield but the ball didn't find him. That happens sometimes in baseball. He did pursue some well hit balls at left shortstop in the top of the third inning.

Thanks to the Cardinals for showing up and playing on our field and at our practice time. The guys in red were ready to play.

In yet another strange schedule quirk in a season that has had many of them, we will see these guys again at our final game on June 17.

Helpers

Eric Delgado proved to be a rock, providing catching services and helping the players in the outfield even after the head coach ran out of gas. This guy did not wilt in the sun on what turned out to be a rare sunny and hot afternoon!

Eric Carle coached at 1st base. The job is getting more interesting now that more hits are going to the outfield. Stay-or-go decisions aren't so easy anymore!