The team also learned a lot about life.

That was evident during the recently played championship game of the City Rec league, when the number one seed Affinity One Blue Jays took on Ecklof’s Rockies, the number two seed, at Bergman Park. Those who looked closely at the assembled mass of Blue Jay coaches uniforms saw tw names – Bob and James – printed on each shoulder.

“We dedicated this season and this championship game to Bob Devlieger, the father of our assistant coach, Chad Devlieger, and the grandfather of our teammates, Connor, Collen and Chandler Devlieger,” said Denny Wilder, the head coach of the Affinity One Blue Jays and veteran coach of 35 years.

“Bob is fighting a battle with cancer; The other name on our jersey is for James Dieter. James is the younger brother of our teammates, John Dieter, and our official batboy, Jude Dieter,” he said. “James is fighting a form of pediatric cancer.”

Underneath the lights of Bergman Park’s the Affinity One Blue Jays played the Ecklof Rockies during the Jamestown Parks, Recreation and Conservation Department, City Recreation Youth Baseball championship final game. However, the focus wasn’t entirely on the game for the Blue Jays. P-J photo by Christopher Blakeslee

The Blue Jays’ team is run as an extended family, which is, in part, why the names are adorned on the coaches’ uniforms.

“We really run our team as a family,” said Wilder. “We expect a lot out of the team, but we also do a lot for them. We’ve taken them to Putt-Putt, have pool parties and cookouts, and we have an end of year banquet for the ages -we practice a lot, but we have a lot of fun off the field too.”

The team-family approach to coaching, and the name of their son being adorned on the team’s jerseys is something which Bryce and Amanda Dieter appreciate dearly, and have solidified their love for the Blue Jays even more.

“This league and this team are amazing,” said Bryce Dieter. “I want to see this program grow.”

Amanda Dieter added, “The team has been amazing not only for John, but our entire family as well. They really care about the players and treat everyone as extended family.”

Chad Devlieger, the assistant coach for the Affinity One Blue Jays, donned a Blue Jay costume during the Jamestown Parks, Recreation and Conservation Department, City Recreation Youth Baseball championship recently at Bergman Park. Devlieger’s father, Bob Devlieger, also the grandfather of three of the Blue Jay players, is fighting a form of cancer. P-J photo by Christopher Blakeslee

“Cancer is no joke,” said Wilder. “We stand and fight with our extended family.”