The Blue Jays showed what they are capable of doing when they're "Ready!" in a well played game with the Pirates (Black) on Sunday, October 1, at Tilden Middle School.
They were Ready! with their helmets when it was time to bat!
They were Ready! for every pitch in the field!
They were Ready! to delight fans with a spectacular performance!
October 1 Game Report
Peter Herdman led the Blue Jays' offensive onslaught with two searing line drives to the outfield. His hard liner to left center in the top of the first was awesome! His double to center field in the second could have been a home run if the coach hadn't held him at 2nd base! Peter had an incredible day at the plate!
Peter is rapidly developing his skills at 1st base. He demonstrated excellent instincts and footwork in the bottom of the second inning, showing that he knows when to go for the ball and when to cover the bag. Peter caught two throws from the right pitcher's helper and fielded a couple of bouncing grounders on his own.
Jacob Carle was focused and productive throughout the game with the Pirates. The coaches held him to a double on his blistering line drive to center field in the top of the first. He collected another deuce on a high fly ball to center in the second inning. Jacob showed that he can do some serious damage when he's dialed in.
Demonstrating keen awareness at multiple positions, Jacob was equally impressive in the field. He stopped a bouncing grounder at 3rd base and delivered a great throw to 1st in the bottom of the first inning. Playing at left pitcher's helper in the third, Jacob earned admirers with his knowledge of force-out opportunities, hauling in a bouncer and turning and delivering an accurate throw to 2nd base to force the lead runner. That's advanced stuff!
In just four games, Evan Phillips has shown that he can hit to all fields. He smacked a grounder up the middle in the first inning and followed up with a solid ground ball single to the left side in the second. Making good use of his knack for quick contact, Evan then pounded a grounder to the right side for a single in the top of the third.
After making huge strides defensively at practice on Friday, Evan continued the upward trajectory in Sunday's game. Playing at right shortstop in the bottom of the second, he put his body in front of a grounder and delivered a quick throw to 1st base. Evan also made some aggressive moves on the ball at left shortstop in the bottom of the first.
Milen Hukmani treated onlookers to a show of impressive power at the plate. His line drive double to left field in the top of the second was a sight to see. Milen also pulled ground ball base hits to the left side in the first and third innings.
Milen is working hard to improve his catching skills at 1st base. In the bottom of the final stanza, Milen used the fingers-up technique to catch a high throw that he might not have hauled in just a few short weeks ago. Milen was then cool and collected as he fielded a grounder down the 1st baseline and stepped on the bag for an easy out in the third inning.
A small adjustment brought Josh Porter's bat to life in the top of the third. Raising his hands and bat prior to swinging, Josh crushed a liner that bisected the opposing 1st baseman and right shortstop on its way to the grass in right field. That's how baseball works sometimes - a little change in mechanics can make a big difference in production.
Josh showed great promise at right pitcher's helper in the bottom of the first inning. Getting accustomed to lining up relatively close to the plate, Josh made a quick stop on a grounder and delivered a good throw to 1st base. In the final inning, Josh did a nice job of moving his feet and getting in front of the ball at 3rd base.
Noah Solovey was another Blue Jay who took a great leap forward in the game with the Pirates (Black). In the top of the second inning, he made rapid contact and generated what might have been the hardest hit of his brief baseball career, a hard ground ball up the middle. He then topped that effort with an even harder grounder to the left shortstop in the top of the third.
Noah played his typical heads-up baseball in the field in the bottom of the first inning. Playing in right center field, he backed up another outfielder and made a good stop on a well hit ball, preventing it from rolling to the grass. Noah also did a nice job of moving his feet and fielding a grounder at left shortstop in the bottom of the second.
Fielders are advised to be ready when Niara Gupta chokes up on her green bat! In Sunday's game, Niara took little time to distribute two grounders up the middle and one to the left side of the infield. Getting the ball on the ground is a good idea for Niara, who can use her speed to beat most throws to 1st base.
Seeing the light turn on for a five year old is a pretty exciting phenomenon for a coach at this level. Brody Gottfried fully illuminated in this game, whacking two well hit grounders up the middle and setting a blazing pace on the base paths in order to beat the throws at 1st base.
Defensively, Brody moved his feet and went after the ball with confidence in right field in the top of the first inning. Moving to the infield in the game's final inning, he got off his spot and showed good footwork in pursuit of the ball at left shortstop.
Dominic Delgado is making a habit of producing line drives. In Sunday's game, he delivered a laser up the middle in the top of the second. He also showed great hustle to beat the throws to 1st base after pounding infield grounders in the first and third innings.
Dominic was on his game at 1st base in the bottom of the first, always thinking "ball first" and moving to cover the bag when the ball was hit to another player. Blocking throws in the dirt, he prevented runners from advancing. In the second frame, Dominic worked on his throwing technique at left pitcher's helper. On consecutive plays, he extended his arm and delivered perfect throws to the 3rd baseman.
Ethan Chu ended each offensive inning with a well hit ball for the Blue Jays. In the top of the first, he belted a ground ball to the right pitcher's helper. He followed up that effort with even harder hits to the 1st baseman in the second and third innings.
Defensively, Ethan made a very good stop on a ground ball at right pitcher's helper in the bottom of the third. His throw to 1st base was right on target! Playing in the outfield in the first and second innings, Ethan did not wait for the ball to come directly to him. Instead, he hustled to cut off solid hits just as he'd learned in practice.
Working on starting his swing with his hands back, Luke Kavounas got everybody's attention with a line drive foul ball in the top of the third. He then straightened it out and slammed a hard grounder past the 1st baseman and into right field.
Defensively, Luke showed that he knows how to use his glove and his brain! Thinking quickly, he covered 2nd base on a force out opportunity and caught the throw from the left pitcher's helper. Luke also made a nice stop on a grounder at 3rd base in the bottom of the first.
Clark Roggie's plate appearances are lightning-fast! He put the ball in play on the first pitch in each inning. Clark's best hit came in the second stanza when he smashed a bouncer that was too hot for the right shortstop to handle. It ended up in right field.
Defensively, Clark expertly covered the bag at 2nd base on a force play opportunity in the bottom of the first. He also made two good stops and good throws to 1st base at the right pitcher's helper position in the bottom of the second.
When the game was over, the Blue Jays were Ready! to congratulate the Pirates (Black), a nice team that played a good game.
Coaches Ready!
Eric Delgado was Ready! to handle the pitcher's notoriously wild tosses to the plate. Eric also managed to procure a tee and have it Ready! for those who needed it.
Rishi Gupta made certain that the base runners were Ready! to run from 1st to 2nd base as soon as their teammates hit the ball.
Navin Hukmani was Ready! to wave base runner all the way to home plate on big hits!
Sean Herdman served as bench coach, making sure that batters were Ready! to head to the plate. Unfortunately, we were not Ready! to get a photo of Sean, so this shot of Peter will have to suffice.
Ethan Chu and his dad, Ngoc, were Ready! to distribute the snacks after the game!
Great game, Blue Jays! Let's be Ready! again next week for an exciting showdown with the Phillies!
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