Minnesota Blizzard Baseball

Parents: Mark & Adina (Let’s just jump right into it – outside of baseball these two are saving people’s lives on a regular basis. Both Mark and Adina are ER Doctors – yes, they see some crazy stuff (I love asking questions about different scenarios that might come in the door – knife wound, gun shot, etc. they deal with it all). When they aren’t at the operating table they are an easy target to get pulled out on the fields (football and baseball in the event of injury). I can’t say enough good things about doctors, teachers, firemen, etc. that help us and our children. Other than the two of them basically being walking vampires because they work all night and then hurry to the ball fields they are amazing. Great hosts – they treat there pool house/grill area like an operating room, the work performed on chicken was impressive. Adina is intense, a pacer and vocal, she is rooting her tail off for all the boys! You should be able to pick her voice out of the crowd. Mark, he is a sunflower seed nut (I never had any idea so many kinds existed). He likes the spice and goes for the hot ones. On top of that Mark knows his stuff as he coached both his boys on the diamond and football field. A very methodical thinker that is very in-tune to the game.

History: Aiden is on the shy side but don’t let that fool you as he knows what he wants and is super competitive. Aiden joined Black in the spring of this past year and hit the ground running. He earned a ton of respect when he pitched against 13 Blue and kept that team in check through 5 innings of work (not an easy task). On the mound Aiden will pound the zone. He is going to let the defense help him as he is extremely efficient working a fastball and curveball to keep the hitters off balance. He has a high leg kick and a fast pickoff move. In the field Aiden had typically played infield (even played some first base so far this fall) but found himself anchoring centerfield for the bulk of the summer and it has continued into the fall season. He uses plus speed to cover gap to gap. He reads the ball well of the bat and has a great first step. At the plate I watched Aiden hammer the opposite field gap all summer. The right center gap was his bread and butter as he always went with the pitch. If the other team was going to hammer the outside corner he was going to go the other way (he’s not late – just working with what’s given). Aiden’s stance is similar to how Jeff Bagwell looked at the plate (wide stance, high leg kick and quick hands). Once Aiden reaches first base it is off to the races as he steals second and third at will (congrats Brady – when you threw Aiden out (he got our only hit) in the Blue/Black game at Prospect Select that was super rare 46/49 since summer started). We look for forward to Aiden cementing himself in the Blizzard program not just this fall but for years to come!

Fun Fact: Aiden also plays football and is the QB/Safety for Lakeville South. In the past three years Aiden’s football team is 26-1. They went through some growing pains when they were younger but have found a whole new gear the past few years. Aiden also has a Doodle/mix named Maggie – she is as persistent as everyone in that family (especially when it comes to playing fetch!).