Team outing at NC State game

Did you happen to catch Coach Kevin and Coach Sean on TV during the State-Florida State game tonight? Just in case you missed it, here's a screen shot:

Great to see the coaches building some chemistry off the field before the tournament tomorrow. I believe that is Coach Ken in the sleeveless red shirt. Sun's out, guns out.

Fan mail

This is an actual email that I received from an opposing coach after this weekend's games. I have not made up any of it.

<<Im just curious as to the process for team selection of Big Blue, I have heard many rumors.  I heard over 100 kids tryout.  I heard that it costs about $1,500.  Players can come from any area.  I heard the older ages have a RV they take to tournaments.  Is any of this true?  W. Raleigh has proven themslevs as being a very sucessful program, just curious as to some of the information out there. >>

Fortunately, this email reminded me that some of you have not paid your $1,500 initiation fee. Please bring it to practice tonight. As usual, please bring only large, unmarked bills, and either put it in a suitcase or, if possible, an envelope labeled "Coach Sean/Coach Kevin Tahiti Fund." 

Also, some of you have not fully filled out your 2012 fall Big Blue contract. We need to know whether you prefer the five-year contract (comes with an RV) or the ten-year contract (comes with a house). I know in the past, many have preferred the 10-year option, which is the only explanation for why the Oxford parking lot wasn't filled with RV's. 

IMPORTANT PRACTICE NOTE FOR TONIGHT: Tonight's practice is only for the Triangle-area kids on the team. The usual Wednesday practice time (5 a.m.-6 a.m. conditioning, 6 a.m.-8 a.m. field) will apply for the California/Texas players. 

We are likely to play in Wake Forest this Sunday. Only those players who have fully paid their initiation fees will be allowed to ride on the team RV.

Watch out for these guys at the next tournament

As you probably know, Big Blue's likely next destination is a one-day tournament in Wake Forest at the Factory this Sunday. We don't have a list of confirmed teams for that event yet, but we do know one team we hope doesn't show up...the Long Island Vengeance. Why, you ask?

Because they sound a little crazy.

Yep, he named his son's 10-year-old baseball team the Vengeance. All of a sudden wearing green-and-black tribal baseball pants doesn't sound that bad, does it?

Oxford AAU Game 2: Big Blue 6, Blue Sox 4

Sometimes you win and look really pretty doing it. Sometimes you lose and look good doing it. And sometimes you win and, well, it's not quite as attractive. That was the case in Sunday's second game, as Big Blue powered out six runs in the first inning, and then the offense...zzzzzzz. Big Blue had five strikeouts in the game, the same total they had in the last dozen games of the summer combined. As Coach Kevin said, "We've got some things to work on, and we'll spend some time hitting in practice."

The occasional struggles at the plate gave Big Blue a taste of adversity they haven't often experienced. For example, it was just the third game this group has played together (although they were missing Elias and Jake) in which they had three consecutive scoreless innings (the game against WR 8U in Wilmington and the 9-1 win over Sanford in Wilson were the others). The six runs scored were the fewest for this group since the game against WR 8U way back on June 17.

"Sometimes things aren't going to go your way," Coach Sean said after the game. "When that happens, be a good teammate and be ready to move on to the next play. I saw some guys getting down on themselves today."

"Be a good teammate," Coach Kevin added. "Pick each other up."

It may not have been real pretty, but it sure was fun. The team celebrated with a loud "Roll Blue"--see if you can spot Gavin doing some sort of gymnastics in the middle of the huddle--and will reassemble for practice Tuesday night. After the players have their part of practice, the coaches will gather for a coaching practice at which Coach Sean, whose day job is a movie-star cryptographer, will let everyone know what he has changed the signs to on that particular day. Signs are on a need-to-know basis and you may notice Big Blue using some new signals at the next game.

Game 2 Big Blue scoring plays
First inning
Back-to-back hard-hit balls from Bryce and JT gave Big Blue men on first and second. With one out, Chace crushed a two-run double to left-center. Mason reached on a grounder to the right side, and Chace motored all the way around to score. Joey singled Mason to second, and Ben loaded the bases with a single. Timmy scored a run with a fielder's choice to the left side, and then Asher's single back through the middle scored two.
Score after one inning: Big Blue 6, Blue Sox 2

Game 2 Web Gems

• With the Blue Sox threatening to add more runs in the first, Gavin made a nice grab of a line drive at shortstop.
• With runners on first and second and no outs in the second, Gavin ranged up the middle, scooped up a grounder, stepped on second and then fired to first to complete the double play (the first Big Blue double play of the fall). JT ended the threat by grabbing a pop fly in foul territory for the third out.
• With two runners on base, Trey scooped up a screamer at pitcher to end the third inning.
• Continuing the day's theme of stellar outfield defense, Ben grabbed a fly ball in right-center for the first out of the fifth.
• With the tying runs on base in the sixth, Trey snagged a fly ball in left field for the second out.

Game 2 line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	R	H
Blue Sox	2	0	0	2	0	0	4	9
Big Blue	6	0	0	0	0	X	6	13

Oxford AAU Game 1: Big Blue 11, Durham Indians 2

The fall Big Blue season began Sunday in Oxford at Cookout an AAU tournament. I'm not saying these things are related, but JT rolled up about 30 minutes before the game and Coach Joe had a peanut butter fudge shake in his hand. It was awfully nice of him to bring shakes for all the coaches and I hope they all enjoyed watching me drink all five, er, enjoyed them.

The first matchup of the day was expected to be the toughest test, as the Durham Indians come from a solid program and had played well on Saturday.

No doubt having heard all about Big Blue's coin flip problems, the tournament director didn't even bother to hold a coin flip--he just assigned Big Blue to be the visitor, where they are most comfortable. And they fell right back into their top of the inning rhythm, posting three quick first-inning runs to grab an early lead that they would not relinquish.

While Blue did put up 11 runs, the story of the day was really defense. They held the Indians scoreless over their final four at-bats, and only two Indians batters advanced into scoring position during that stretch. The defense was especially strong in the outfield, where three run-saving plays were made.

The win advanced Big Blue to the championship game consolation game some other game. Because Blue was playing Sunday-only, they were not eligible for the official tournament championship. But for the record, they were the only undefeated team in the field and beat the eventual tournament champion (the Indians) decisively.

Game 1 Big Blue scoring plays
First inning
Bryce led off with a single and moved to third on JT's single. Gavin drove in the first two runs of the fall season with a two-run double to right. Chace made it back-to-back doubles with an RBI blast to right-center.
Score after one-half inning: Big Blue 3, Durham Indians 0

Third inning
As usual, the rally began with two outs. With JT on first, Chace doubled to put runners at second and third. Mason came through with a single to right that scored JT and then alertly moved to second on the throw. Joey drove in two big runs with a single to left, and Ben finished the scoring with a single through the left side.
Score after two and a half innings: Big Blue 7, Indians 2

Fourth inning
With one out, Bryce singled to the left side. Then Big Blue picked up two more two-out runs (7 of the game's 11 Blue runs were scored with two down), as Gavin collected an RBI double and Chace smoked an RBI single.
Score after three and a half innings: Big Blue 9, Indians 2

Fifth inning
With a seven-run limit in effect, Big Blue needed to add some insurance and then play solid defense. The offensive spark came immediately, as Joey ripped a leadoff triple to right. Timmy lined a one-out RBI single and advanced to second on a defensive miscue. After a fielder's choice moved Timmy to third, Trey scored him with an RBI single back through the middle.



Score after four and a half innings: Big Blue 11, Indians 2



Game 1 Web Gems

• With the tying run on third and one out in the first, Ben came in and made a good catch of a sinking liner in right-center, then fired the ball back in to prevent the runner from scoring.
• Later in that same inning, with the potential go-ahead run on base, Joey went back and snared a ball that looked ticketed for the gap in left-center to end the inning.
• Joey made another great play in the second, making a diving catch in left-center with two outs and a man on third to end the inning.
• The very next Indians hitter, leading off the third, ripped a line shot between third base and shortstop that looked like a leadoff single. But then Gavin came flying through the air to his backhand side, making a full-out dive to spear the ball cleanly in the air and retire the leadoff man.
• The Big Blue defense was very solid overall after some early-inning jitters, retiring 12 of the final 15 Indians batters.

Game 1 line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	R	H
Big Blue	3	0	4	2	2	X	11	17
Durham Indians	2	0	0	0	0	X	2	5

Uniforms are here!

Big Blue gathered Friday night for a solid 90 minutes of practice, featuring some stellar pitching by Coach Ken and quality relief work by Coach Eric, who picked up the save.

But the highlight of the evening was the arrival of the blue uniforms (the whites will arrive later). I was able to snap a photo of Coach Sean wearing his jersey at practice:

What? You don't see Coach Sean in the picture? That's OK, because that's the same view you're going to get of Asher when he sprints around the bases in his adult medium jersey. However, I do expect him to be a defensive wizard, since we can position him right behind second base and use the shirt as a tarp to catch any balls hit into the outfield.

That reminds me: please check your shirts and make sure you got the right size. We are also looking into having the hats embroidered, so stay tuned for more information on that.

Big Blue is off until Tuesday's practice, at which time we hope to have more information about next weekend's plans.

Just kidding. We all know we won't really know for sure until next Friday around lunch. But let's continue with this charade until Tuesday.

See daylight

Not too long ago, Coach Sean devoted a few minutes at practice to explaining the finer points of baserunning on the left side of the infield. "Always see daylight between his hand and the ball," he advised the players, meaning before you take off for the next base, you should make sure the defender has actually thrown the ball.

As we saw this summer, even major league players sometimes make a mistake on that play. And based on last night, it looks like they can do it even in the heat of a playoff chase. This time, it was Baltimore's 20-year-old third baseman, Manny Machado, who made the tricky play, catching Rich Thompson off third base and even fooling the TV cameraman:


"That is a veteran play by a raw rookie...an unbelievable play."

You're probably wondering why we are writing blog entries and not emailing you with a schedule update for this weekend. It's because we don't really have an answer yet, but you'll be getting an email later today with a final verdict. In the meantime, we do have practice tomorrow (Friday) from 4:30-6 at Ephesus.