Your favorite story at a baseball tournament

We've all seen some unique things that have happened at a tournament. It could have been at the field, at the hotel room or in the parking lot. What have you seen that you will always remember?

 

Proud

....seeing my Dad honored by having the
hs field named after him and the granite/brick entrance to the park giving him the props that he desreves.
Also, having the locker rooms at WFU named in his honor.

'Ol Pop taught many a kid this game.

Marlin

 

Outstanding!!!!! You should be proud, Fish

 

Watching my son slide around the catcher to touch home plate for a run at the Cape Fear Invitational in Wilmington during his senior year. Maybe not that spectacular, but he's my son, and the pictures are pretty cool...

....two favorites from regular season college games last year....a true freshman who homered over left field in his first-ever at bat for the team and his teammate, a walk-on freshman, who hit four HRs in one game.

 

Watching my son hit two grandslams this summer!

 

Watching my son lay down a perfect bunt to score the game winning run in the last inning, last year. At 9 yrs old.

 

Celebrating a bit early...

Our travel team was playing at Cooperstown Dreams Park a few years ago and we drew the prior nights' home run champion's team for our first game. Our pitcher struck out the home run champ twice on a total of 7 pitches and it was a close game...we held them in check. A game-winning third-out throw to our first baseman was dropped in the top of the sixth and two runs scored, leaving us trailing 3-2. We were the home team and now it's our last at bat. Our leadoff hitter tripled off the top of the wall, but our next two hitters were unable to bring him in. Our cleanup hitter struck out swinging to end the game, but the catcher did not catch the ball cleanly. He retrieved the ball and fired it down to first for the game-winning last out.....only problem was the first baseman was sprinting to the mound to celebrate the win and the throw went down into the right field corner. Our runner on third scored to tie the game and they brought in the home run champion to pitch. He promptly walked three in a row and we won 4-3. Crazy game!

 

What's That Saying?

Ain't over until the fat lady sings! Sounds like it was a wild finish!

 

I've told this story before, but it remains one of my favorites. On Deck was playing the defending champion Miami Sluggers at PG/WWBA Jupiter event.

The Miami team was filled with many ML draftees who played the game with flair and an arrogant swagger. They had a pre-game infield routine designed to intimidate their opponents and their fans played their part too. As each player would snap throw each groundball, the bench players would line the infield and their fans would line the backstop cheering each throw and each player as they came off the field. Then during the games the fans would beat their drums and shake their tambourines trying to excite their players and to continue to intimidate the other team and their fans. These guys were good---and they knew it….and they were playing this On Deck team that nobody ever heard of. At this time, the Jupiter event was a highly restrictive event. It was invitation only and accepted very few at large teams. In fact, they were invited only because of Mike Shildt’s connections.

The pitcher that had to face the Miami team had to not only be talented, but had to be super competitive with a strong will. We pitched Robert Woodard,

Robert was sensational and as each inning finished you could see the fans and players for the Sluggers show signs of confusion—who is this team? How could they be ahead? We’re the reigning champs. Okay, enough is enough; let’s put those guys in their place.

Well, Robert and On Deck went on and dominated that game. The fans were stunned, the players were humbled and On Deck made a name for themselves in Jupiter.

That same night I was watching the Sluggers play somebody and one of their parents recognized me from the On Deck game. They came up and congratulated me for the victory and loved the way On Deck played the game. Then they went on to say how impressed they were of Robert Woodard. I said to them, don’t tell me; tell him---Robert was next to me. The fans murmured through the stands that Robert was there. Before you know it, they surrounded him as they congratulated him on his performance.

On that night, Robert Woodard became an honorary member of the Miami Slugger’s entourage; and as years went by I still ran into some of those fans in Jupiter and they always asked how Robert was doing.

 

That was a lot of fun, Braves!

I have 3 recollections that come to mind readily:

1. Coach Hal Bagwell (Ardrey Kell) was coaching my son's On Deck 16-year-old team in the USSSA state tournament. We were pitted against a rival team and emotions were high.

After the 5th inning, we were ahead 2-1. Coach Bagwell came over to me and said, "Your son is going to have the opportunity to pitch in bigger games than this one if we keep him healthy. He's reached our pitch count; so, unless you object, we're going to take him out."

Of course, I had no objection, as Coach Bagwell had done exactly as I would have wanted him to for my son or any other's. I've always felt that his action was exemplary; highly indicative of the sort of coach he is.

2. 2006 Division I Super-Regional tournament against the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa; game 2 of a 3 game series. If we win, we go to Omaha for the first time since the 1980's. The stands are packed overwhelmingly with loud 'Bama supporters, and there's a terrific hill over the right field wall where many more U 0f A fans are tailgating and watching the game.

Late in the game, Forrest City's native son, Chad Flack, comes to the plate and hits a home run in each of his last two at bats. The first one puts us ahead, a lead we'd surrender in the following inning; and, the second one wins the game!

Apart from the pandemonium that ensued from our dugout and among our fans, the thing I remember most is the Alabamans' expressions beyond the right field wall as Chad's second homer flew straight in their direction. Utter disbelief.

3. The best Father's Day present I can imagine: a 3-hit complete game shutout of Clemson that my son pitched in the 2006 College World Series. Coming into that game, Clemson had the highest team batting average in Division I; and, the win solidified our position in the winner's bracket. Even if the game ball didn't sit on my office shelf, I'd never forget it!