In time of need
Team aids fellow player who lost his father
Cypress Bay High school pitcher Andrew Blardonis thought he had passed the toughest obstacle of his junior year of high school.
Last Friday, he and his father, Armando, celebrated when Blardonis made the cut for the varsity baseball roster. Less than a week later, the jubilation turned to mourning. Blardonis’ dad died Wednesday unexpectedly from surgery complications, but his teammates were by his side as thousands of South Floridians prepared to face Hurricane Irma.
The entire Cypress Bay baseball team arrived at his home the day after his father’s death to help the family install hurricane shutters so they could be ready for the storm.
“We’ve been a team for the last couple of years. I’ve known him since I was 2 years old,” teammate Tyler Nejaime said. “He’s been like family to me. Once we’re a team, we’re always a team. We need to help him in any sort of way. We did what we had to do because we’re a team.”
When the team found out about the trag-
“We need to help him in any sort of way. We did what we had to do because we’re a team.” Tyler Nejaime, Cypress Bay teammate
edy, they immediately rushed over to comfort Blardonis. The suddenness of the death was too much to handle. Blardonis’ father was hospitalized for what was supposed to be a routine kidney surgery, but did not survive the procedure.
“You go in thinking you are going to be healthy and then that happens,” Cypress Bay coach Paul Liotti said.
The team quickly went into action. They asked what Blardonis needed to help cope during the difficult period. Trying to keep his mind off the situation, he said he just wanted to make sure his family was safe during the hurricane.
The rest of the team left, conjured the plan and returned a few hours later to make sure the home was secure. The hurricane, which has wreaked havoc in the Caribbean, was expected to hit South Florida over the weekend.
“They had no idea what we were doing,” teammate Ben Rushing said. “We really just showed up to help. I grew up playing with him. I know him and his dad, and we were all very close friends.”
On his Facebook page, Liotti posted: “What I witnessed my players do for a teammate that suffered a major tragedy while under stress of the storm is why I am so fortunate to coach the young men that I do.”
The gesture served as somewhat of a distraction from what Blardonis is enduring. He’s struggled the past few days.
“He’s really emotionless,” Rushing said. “He’s just in shock because it happened so fast. I can’t imagine going through what he is going through.”
The team said they have plans to continue to assist the grieving family throughout the season, because Blardonis’ father was such a big part of the program. He attended most games and practices. Wayne Linder, the school’s booster club president, said Armando Blardonis was so ecstatic when he learned his son made the team.
So it was easy decision to help in any way possible.
“They knew the hurricane was coming,” Linder said. “Everyone just pulled together. We asked what he needed. The boys were open to doing anything and they did it. He was a part of our program.”