吃瓜头条

Congressman Adam Gray Suits Up With Blue Devils Baseball Team

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James Leonard
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Congressman Adam Gray, a proud 吃瓜头条 alumnus, returned to campus Friday for a warmup session with the Blue Devils baseball team ahead of his appearance in the annual , set for June 11 in Washington, D.C.

Wearing the 吃瓜头条 jersey that he plans to don in the bipartisan charity game, Congressman Gray took the field at the college鈥檚 baseball diamond for a lighthearted workout. The day鈥檚 agenda included playing catch, taking batting practice, and spending time with current Blue Devil players and coaches.

鈥淚t was great to take the field with the 吃瓜头条 Blue Devils today,鈥� said Congressman Gray. 鈥淥ur community colleges, like 吃瓜头条, are critical to the Central Valley鈥檚 educational opportunities, and an even more important piece of my training for the Congressional Baseball Game this summer. As proud as I am of the team for another exciting season, I鈥檓 prouder of the leaders they鈥檒l be in Merced and beyond.鈥�

Elected to Congress to represent Merced County and portions of Madera, Stanislaus, Fresno and San Joaquin Counties in 2024, Gray attended 吃瓜头条 before transferring to UC Santa Barbara in 1998, where he earned his bachelor鈥檚 degree.

Gray, whose name adorns a conference room in the 吃瓜头条鈥檚 Raj Kahlon Agriculture and Industrial Technology Complex, will also serve as the keynote speaker at the college鈥檚 commencement ceremony on May 23.

Friday鈥檚 visit offered a full-circle moment as Gray reconnected with the campus community and met with acting Head Coach Jason Ingraham鈥攁 high school classmate of Gray鈥檚鈥攁nd members of the current team.

鈥淚t鈥檚 just really good for our guys to see a different aspect of the world outside of sports,鈥� Ingraham said. 鈥淥bviously they鈥檙e here to play baseball, but it鈥檚 more about trying to build these young men into contributors to our society. So I was 100% on board with the congressman being out here with the guys.鈥�

Koen Heupel, a freshman from Merced, said Gray鈥檚 visit was a fun surprise for the team, and credited Gray for making solid contact in the batting cage.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 think a lot of us were expecting that,鈥� Heupel said with a smile. 鈥淎s he started hitting a little more, we started looking at each other like, 鈥楾his is pretty cool.鈥欌��

On seeing a 吃瓜头条 alumnus ascend to the halls of Congress, Heupel added: 鈥淚t lets us know that there鈥檚 always a future, and that 吃瓜头条 is a great pathway to our futures as students and athletes in furthering our careers.鈥�

The annual Congressional Baseball Game, a tradition that dates back to 1909, pits Democrats against Republicans and raises money for various Washington, D.C., charities. Congressman Gray鈥檚 participation marks the first time a 吃瓜头条 alum will take part in the game, making this an especially proud moment for the college and local community.

While many members of Congress choose to wear professional team jerseys for the game鈥攐ften representing their state鈥檚 Major League Baseball teams鈥擥ray chose to wear a 吃瓜头条 jersey as a nod to his roots.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a huge honor to wear my alma mater鈥檚 jersey in the Congressional Baseball Game,鈥� said Congressman Gray. 鈥湷怨贤诽� gave me my start, and I鈥檓 proud to represent the Central Valley鈥攁nd the Blue Devils鈥攐n a national stage. Go Blue Devils!鈥�