Go BCC Blue Jays!: Blue Jays prevail in Fall Classic

The intensity of fall baseball was on full display when the Blue Jays squared off with the Mets on Sunday, September 29, at Whitman High School.

In what had already been a successful fall season, the Blue Jays took their play to a higher level. EVERY player collected a minimum of two hits.

This blue-collar bunch was undaunted following a surprisingly hot late September warm-up session.

The teams batted to a virtual dead heat. The Blue Jays put the ball in play in 44 of 49 plate appearances (90%). The Mets made contact in 36 of 41 at bats (88%).

In a battle of good hitting teams, defense would ultimately decide the outcome.

This was a truly outstanding showing on a tricky infield with bouncy baseballs. In a great TEAM effort, the Blue Jays completed 13 outs in the field.

The Mets made some nice plays, too, completing eleven put-outs.

But the Mets were also bailed out twice by the five runs per inning limit. The Blue Jays received no help from the league rulebook, completing the full complement of three outs in each inning.

Despite the handicap, the Blue Jays prevailed. The final score was Blue Jays 19, Mets 16.

September 29 Game Report

Milan Hukmani played a brilliant game at 2nd base. Above, he stands ready at the keystone position prior to making three consecutive put-outs in the bottom of the third inning. First, he covered the bag and handled a throw from the shortstop on a 6-4 force play. One batter later, Milen ranged to his left and caught a high fly ball for the second out. He then covered the bag and completed another 6-4 force out to end the inning. Milen added one more assisted put-out in the bottom of the fifth, alertly covering 2nd base and collecting a throw from the center fielder for an 8-4 force play that turned a likely base hit into a fielder's choice.

In yet another efficient performance in the middle of the Blue Jays' batting order, Milen was 3-for-4 with two runs scored. For the season, he's batting .846 with eight runs scored, six RBI, and a 1.000 contact rate.

Reto Lamparter completed all three put-outs in a tone-setting bottom half of the first inning. He handled the game's first out all by himself, gloving a bouncing grounder and stepping on the bag for an unassisted put-out. Above, he hauls in a throw from the shortstop to complete out number two on a 6-3 grounder. He then received a throw from the 2nd baseman on a 4-3 groundout that retired the side in order. In the bottom of the sixth inning, Reto collected a throw from the shortstop to make the game's final out, a 6-3 grounder that slammed the door on the Mets' last-gasp rally.

This swing of the bat resulted in a double to left field that helped the Blue Jays reach the five-run limit in the top of the second inning. Reto's two-bagger was part of a 2-for-4 day that included a single, a run-scoring fielder's choice, and three RBI.

Competitive baseball games tend to hinge on a few key plays at crucial moments. No play in this game was more important than the second out in the bottom of the fifth. Having already rallied for three runs, the Mets were looking for more in hopes of tying the game. A fly ball was lifted to 3rd base, whereupon Adam Farber sized it up and caught it without incident. Adam's catch left the Mets with none on and two out. The inning ended harmlessly one batter later.

Adam was a significant cog in the wheel offensively. Here, he lines a shot up the middle for an RBI base hit in the top of the fourth inning. Adam also collected another single, reached on a fielder's choice, scored once and drove in a run.

Take a look at Dominic Delgado as he guns down a runner at 1st base on a 6-3 assist in the bottom of the first inning. He later charged a slow roller at shortstop and threw to 1st for a 6-3 groundout in the second. In the bottom of the fifth, Dominic handled a shot to center field and wheeled and threw to 2nd base, completing a force play that reduced a likely base hit to an 8-4 fielder's choice. Returning to shortstop in the final inning, Dominic caught a liner for an unassisted put-out and made a smooth play on a 6-3 grounder to end the game.

On a team that has no shortage of good hitters, Dominic has established himself as the undisputed alpha. In Sunday's game he ripped a grand slam home run, a three-run home run, a two-run home run, and a run-scoring triple. That translates to 4-for-4 with three homers, a triple, four runs scored, and ten RBI. Dominic now has 26 RBI in four games. His 2.188 slugging percentage means that he averages better than a double per at bat this season.

Jacob Carle offers the versatility to play at multiple infield positions. In Sunday's game, Jacob gave the Blue Jays skill up the middle versus a good hitting opponent. Playing at 2nd base, he fielded a well struck grounder and threw to 1st for a 4-3 put-out that ended the bottom half of the first. One inning later, Jacob covered the bag at 2nd and hauled in a throw from the shortstop to complete a 6-4 force play. Following a mid-game outfield assignment, Jacob returned to 2nd base in the bottom of the sixth, first staying with and picking up a ball that he initially dropped, and then sprinting to the bag at 2nd to complete an unassisted force-out.

Jacob's workman-like batting performance resulted in a 3-for-5 line with three runs scored. The Blue Jays' leadoff man is now batting .583 with seven runs scored this season despite missing the stat-padding festival that was last week's game with the White Sox.

The emergence of Sebastian Bloomberg at shortstop gives the Blue Jays multiple options at a spot that teams often struggle to fill at this level. In Sunday's game, Sebastian moved to his right and used his quick hands to scoop up a grounder and throw to 2nd base for a 6-4 force play in the bottom of the third. He repeated the process and notched a second 6-4 put-out later in the same inning. In the bottom of the fifth, Sebastian ranged to his left and threw to 1st base for a 6-3 put-out that ended the frame. After four games, Sebastian leads the Blue Jays with seven infield assists.

The sparkplug that tends to ignite the Blue Jays' offensive attack, Sebastian was 3-for-4 with a triple, three runs scored, and an RBI in the game with the Mets. Equally adept at setting and clearing the table, Sebastian has scored 14 runs and driven in ten to go along with his .867 batting average this season.

Vinny Guo chipped in with an assisted put-out in the bottom of the fifth inning. Playing at 1st base, he was on the receiving end of a good throw from the shortstop on a 6-3 groundout that ended a rally. Vinny is one of the team's defensive leaders with four put-outs on the season.

In the photo above, Vinny pulls in at 2nd base after whacking a double to center field in the top of the first. He would go on to score later in the frame. Vinny's batting average stood at .714 after his 2-for-4 day with two runs scored.

Brendan Wang has proven to be a great teammate in his first season with the Blue Jays. Above, he stands ready at pitcher's helper in the bottom of the third inning. Brendan took one for the team on Sunday, playing two innings behind the dish at catcher.

Opponents have learned that every portion of the Blue Jays' batting order has potential to explode for multiple runs. Above, Brendan keys in on the ball before knocking a single to the left side of the infield. His 3-for-4 outing included a run scored and an RBI. For the season, Brendan is batting at a robust .667 clip.

Another grinder who played two innings at catcher on this day, Brody Gottfried had the look of a guy who could've donned the gear a few more times without batting an eye. Brody played at pitcher's helper in the second inning.

Brody seems to add a little more power to his swing with each passing week. Above, he puts a charge in one to reach on a fielder's choice in the top of the second. In addition to scoring a run, Brody went on to collect solid base hits in the third and sixth innings.

Noah Solovey had us gasping for air with a great effort that generated a near-miss on a high fly ball to pitcher's helper in the bottom of the fifth. We also loved how Noah scooted out from behind the plate in an attempt to field a swinging bunt from the catcher position in the bottom of the third. The first catcher to throw somebody out at 1st base will win an ice cream cone from the head coach!

Noah's consistency in the batter's box has given the Blue Jays a huge lift this season. Above, he prepares to drill an RBI base hit to the left side in the top of the fourth. Noah's 2-for-4 day gave him a total of eight hits and an excellent .667 batting average through four games.

Here, we see Seamus Bain as he focuses on an incoming pitch from the catcher position prior to the bottom half of the second inning. Seamus played two innings at pitcher's helper but didn't see much action come his way.

Always a tough out, Seamus stubbornly fouled off pitches to stay alive in multiple at bats. His efforts were richly rewarded with four singles and an RBI. The 4-for-4 day helped Seamus lift his overall contact rate for the season to a solid .833 clip.

Dehydrated and feeling generally lousy, Clark Roggie did not have his best game in the field. He gets credit for gutting it out and making three nice stops at 3rd base despite his discomfort. Clark's near-miss on a pop-up foul ball was an admirable effort.

Clark did manage to continue what has been a remarkably consistent year at the plate. He slammed four solid base hits in four plate appearances, scored two runs and collected an RBI. For the season, Clark is batting .857 with a 1.000 contact rate and a 1.143 slugging percentage. His eleven RBI rank second on the team.

We see no reason to pretend that we don't care whether we win or lose. With help from their parents, the Blue Jays have worked hard. It certainly looks as if the Mets have worked hard, too. The result was a fun, exciting and competitive game that pitted two teams that care about what they're doing - which is awesome, in our opinion.

Stepping Up

Lance Bloomberg arrived early and lugged the pitching machine from the coach's car. Above, he sets up camp in the Whitman outfield and attempts to herd the cats for pregame batting practice. When the game began, Lance served up pitches that enabled the Blue Jays to collect 19 runs on 34 hits.

Navin Hukmani waved the runners around 3rd base and sent them home. He also coached in the field, helping to keep the outfielders engaged on a day when their services were needed.

William Guo worked hard in the 1st base coaching box, encouraging baserunners to round the bags aggressively in a highly competitive game.

October Beckons