Congressman Adam Gray Suits Up With Blue Devils Baseball Team

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James Leonard
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Athletics, Community
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Congressman Adam Gray, a proud Merced College alumnus, returned to campus Friday for a warmup session with the Blue Devils baseball team ahead of his appearance in the annual Congressional Baseball Game, set for June 11 in Washington, D.C.

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

“It was great to take the field with the Merced College Blue Devils today,” said Congressman Gray. “Our community colleges, like Merced College, are critical to the Central Valley’s 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’m prouder of the leaders they’ll be in Merced and beyond.”

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

Gray, whose name adorns a conference room in the Merced College’s Raj Kahlon Agriculture and Industrial Technology Complex, will also serve as the keynote speaker at the college’s commencement ceremony on May 23.

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

“It’s just really good for our guys to see a different aspect of the world outside of sports,” Ingraham said. “Obviously they’re here to play baseball, but it’s 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.”

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

“I don’t think a lot of us were expecting that,” Heupel said with a smile. “As he started hitting a little more, we started looking at each other like, ‘This is pretty cool.’”

On seeing a Merced College alumnus ascend to the halls of Congress, Heupel added: “It lets us know that there’s always a future, and that Merced College is a great pathway to our futures as students and athletes in furthering our careers.”

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’s participation marks the first time a Merced College 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—often representing their state’s Major League Baseball teams—Gray chose to wear a Merced College jersey as a nod to his roots.

“It’s a huge honor to wear my alma mater’s jersey in the Congressional Baseball Game,” said Congressman Gray. “Merced College gave me my start, and I’m proud to represent the Central Valley—and the Blue Devils—on a national stage. Go Blue Devils!”