5 Blue Caps Named to All League Team, Hays Wins MVP-8/27/08

Five Blue Caps were named to the 2008 Clark Griffith League All-League Team, highlighted by Robert Hays (St. Edward's), who was named the League MVP. Hays was the league batting champion, hitting .435 this summer. Hays also led the league in home runs and RBIs, accomplishing the rare feat of winning the Triple Crown.

Hays was also named to the All-League Team at first base along with four of his teammates. Chris Duffy (Central Florida) made the team as an outfielder, Max Eckert (Stevenson) was named the team's catcher, Shane Brown (Central Florida) made it in as the designated hitter, and Jay Joines (Richmond) made the pitching staff.

Blue Caps Sweep Final Day, Win 2008 Jacob's Cup Championship-7/31/08

Entering the final day of the Jacob's Cup Championship, the Blue Caps were facing a tough path to the title. They would have had to sweep a doubleheader against a nationally-ranked Vienna Senators team and then beat the team that had their number this summer, the Fairfax Nationals. With a combination of clutch hitting, a few outstanding pitching performances, and a solid day all around, the Beltway Blue Caps completed their improbable run to win the 2008 Jacob's Cup as the 6th seed in the tournament.

In the first game of the day, the Blue Caps came out of the gates swinging as Shane Brown (Central Florida) and Chris Duffy (Central Florida) each drove in runs as the Blue Caps took a 2-0 lead early. The Senators battled back against starter Max Langford (Dartmouth) to take a 3-2 lead at the end of the second inning. In the top of the third, Max Eckert (Stevenson) and Derek Kline (Millersville) homered to turn a 3-2 deficit into a 5-3 lead. The Blue Caps picked up 3 more runs in the fourth to open up an 8-3 lead.

Langford gave up two in the bottom of the fourth and was replaced by Brett Hammann (Palm Beach Atlantic), who tossed three scoreless innings to match Senators ace Eric Cantrell and bridge the gap to the end of the game, where Jay Joines (Richmond) took the ball and slammed the door to lock down a 9-7 win.

The second game was a different story altogether. Starter Davis Hall (Tennessee) threw six scoreless innings as the Blue Caps jumped out to a 6-0 lead. Shane Brown had a mammoth home run and Robert Hays (St. Edward's) had a two-run single that effectively put the game away. Darren McLean (George Mason) and Andrew Juba (Mary Washington) combined to close out the 6-2 win and seal the championship for the Blue Caps.

Game 1 Boxscore

Recap

Game 2 Boxscore

Recap

Blue Caps Break Out Heavy Lumber, Advance-7/30/08

The Blue Caps wore their hitting shoes and brought the heavy lumber in today's elmination game as they clubbed their way to a 17-5 victory over the Arlington Diamonds.

The Blue Caps picked up four in the top of first inning to set the tone as Robert Hays (St. Edward's) had a three-run homer and Ryan Baione (Stevenson) had a two-out RBI single. The Blue Caps added one in the second and four more in the third to take a 9-1 lead into the bottom of the third inning. Starting pitcher Alex Eliopoulos (John's Hopkins) struggled with his command, but was able to battle into the fourth inning, where Brendan DiBari (Virginia-Wesleyan) took over. DiBari would finish the game from there as the Blue Caps added three more in the sixth with the help of a Shane Brown (Central Florida) home run and four in the ninth, aided by a Max Eckert (Stevenson) home run.

On the day, the Blue Caps totaled 18 hits, 11 of which went for extra bases. Brown finished the day 3-4. Hays and Derek Kline (Millersville) also had three hits in the game. Eckert and Baione each finished with two hits.

The Blue Caps will face the Vienna Senators at 4 pm tomorrow at Water's Field. The winner of tomorrow afternoon's game will play the Fairfax Nationals tomorrow night at 7:15 pm for the Jacob's Cup Championship.

Boxscore

Recap

Hays Wins Triple Crown-7/29/08

After a few anxious days of waiting for the final league statistics to officially be posted, the dust has finally settled, and Robert Hays (St. Edward's) has completed one of the rarest feats in baseball at any level. Hays won the Clark Griffith League Triple Crown this summer, leading the league in batting average (.435), home runs (11), and runs batted in (39). Hays' feat is even more impressive considering he missed a week at the start of the season due to a hamstring injury and was left off of the league All-Star team. Hays also led the league in on-base percentage (.527), slugging percentage (.815), tied for first in total bases with teammate Shane Brown, and finished tied for second in the league in runs scored (36).

Hays will return to St. Edward's University this fall for his senior season, where he looks to be a force in the line-up coming off of a strong junior year and his outstanding summer.

Blue Caps Fall to Nationals-7/29/08

The Blue Caps dropped their first game of the Jacob's Cup tournament today to the Fairfax Nationals, 10-4. It was one of those days were every bounce seemed to go the other way. Taylor Land (St. Edward's) started and threw well, but the Nationals had one of those days where they were locked in on everything, notching 11 hits and 7 runs in the first two innings. Land did an outstanding job of gutting out a few more innings to save the bullpen and Darren McLean (George Mason) threw three innings allowing one earned run in relief.

On the offensive side of things, the Blue Caps fought hard to try and make a game of it late, loading the bases with one out in the 9th while trailing 10-4. Austin Booker (California) had a solid game in the leadoff spot, reaching base four times. Ryan Baione (Stevenson) and Brandon Padula (West Virginia) added two-hit days in an attempt to spark a late rally.

The Blue Caps were bit by the injury bug today. Shane Brown (Central Florida) suffered a some bruised ribs when he was hit by a pitch in Monday's game and had to leave today's game early. Max Eckert (Stevenson) landed on a ball that he had blocked weird and bruised his elbow, also forcing him out of the game.

The Blue Caps now enter the loser's bracket of the tournament, with each remaining game being do-or-die. The Blue Caps next opponent is the Arlington Diamonds, who fell to the Senators this evening, 9-0. The game is scheduled to begin at 4 pm at Water's Field.

Boxscore

Recap

Blue Caps Upset Raiders, Advance in Jacob's Cup Playoffs-7/28/08

The Blue Caps entered the Jacob's Cup Tournament as the sixth seed, having to win a do-or-die play-in game to enter the double elimination field of four. When the dust settled at Water's Field today, the Blue Caps had pulled out the team's first tournament win and had punched it's ticket into the four team field with a 5-4 win.

Today's game was one of the most complete team victories that Blue Caps have had this year. They jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the first inning on the power of a Robert Hays (St. Edward's) home run off of McLean starter Shane Pysh. The Raiders were able to tie the game up, scoring two runs in the fourth and one in the fifth inning off of Blue Caps starter Jay Joines (Richmond). The Blue Caps immediately battled back and took a 4-3 lead in the top of the sixth on an RBI pinch-hit ground out off the bat of Austin Booker (California). Joines got through the sixth and handed the game off to the bullpen having had another one of his typically stellar outings.

Brett Hammann (Palm Beach Atlantic) entered the game in the seventh and set the Raiders down in order. In the eighth though, the leadoff man reached base, was bunted over to second, and scored on a two-out infield single to tie the game at 4. In the ninth, with the season on the line, new Blue Cap Keith Morrisroe (Concord) doubled down the rightfield line with one out, putting the go ahead run into scoring position and capping off a 2-3 day at the plate. Brandon Padula (West Virginia) then worked a two-out walk to extend the inning after being down in the count 0-2, and Max Eckert (Stevenson) smoked a ball that got past the second basemen and brought Morrisroe in with the go-ahead run. Max Langford (Dartmouth) entered the game and picked up his second save of the season, ending the game on a 1-6-3 double play.

The Blue Caps are now in the double-elimination portion of the Jacob's Cup bracket. Their next game will be against the number 2 seed Fairfax Nationals on Tuesday at 4 pm. All tournament games are at Water's Field in Vienna, Virginia.

Interested in Sponsoring the Blue Caps?

If your business is interested in helping to sponsor the Blue Caps, please contact Jonas Singer at 301-461-0602 or jonassinger@bluecapsbaseball.com.

Notes 

For more information on the Clark Griffith Collegiate Baseball League, click here to visit the League Website.