Watch: NCAA baseball player goes head first into opponents' dugout to make catch
When you see the spectacular defensive plays that Stetson University made Saturday against Oklahoma State, you’ll understand why the Hatters are considered one of the best Division I baseball teams in the country.
Stetson improved to 47-11 with a 10-3 win over the Cowboys in the regional round of the College Baseball World Series in Deland, Florida.
The Hatters are now 2-0 in the Deland Regional and secured a berth in the regional final.
The win over Oklahoma State was punctuated by two spectacular defensive plays.
The first came with two outs in the bottom of the second inning, when OSU’s Carson McCusker hit a foul pop-up that drifted toward his team’s dugout.
Stetson third baseman Jonathan Meola gave chase, running full speed toward the dugout. He caught the pop-up right at the railing and his momentum carried him over it as he spilled into the Cowboys’ dugout.
MY GOODNESS. #SCtop10 #SCtop10 #SCtop10#SCtop10 #SCtop10 #SCtop10#SCtop10 #SCtop10 #SCtop10 pic.twitter.com/bYqAa87SWy
— NCAA Baseball (@NCAABaseball) June 3, 2018
“What a catch! Meola! ‘SportsCenter,’ we’re ringing you up from Deland, Florida,” said the announcer. “Jon Meola looked like his dad, Tony Meola.”
Tony Meola was the former goalie for the U.S. men’s national soccer team.
“I don’t get impressed easily, but that was a wow catch,” Meola’s teammate, Jorge Arenas, said after the game, according to the Orlando Sentinel.
Meola’s coach was impressed, too.
“Jonathan diving into the dugout might be the greatest baseball play I’ve witnessed live,” Stetson coach Steve Trimper said.
Meola also had a great day at the plate, going 3-for-5.
But his wasn’t the only spectacular defensive play of the day. Stetson catcher Austin Hale also made a great catch on a pop-up behind home plate in the third inning.
Umm… what's in the water down there, @StetsonBaseball??
👀⤵️ pic.twitter.com/k3Ut7tgJun
— NCAA Baseball (@NCAABaseball) June 3, 2018
Hale dove and caught the ball over his shoulder just before hitting the wall.
“Guys selling out trying to get outs like that is huge,” Stetson starting pitcher Logan Gilbert said. Gilbert tied his season high with 14 strikeouts and picked up the win.
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