USC’s Bradley wouldn’t mind getting baseball back
BY | 11:39 pm, Tuesday, Jun. 28 | POSTED IN CWS

It was an in-the-moment reaction, and Jackie Bradley Jr wants a re-do.

The smooth-striding center fielder trotted under the lazy fly ball and secured the final out of Tuesday’s 5-2 win, clinching South Carolina’s second straight national title.

Then, he’s not sure what happened. Most everyone inside TD Ameritrade saw it, though.

Bradley reached into his glove, grabbed the baseball and heaved it into the left-field bleachers. A few fans fell over one another trying to get the ball. Someone eventually left with a pretty valuable souvenir.

At some point in the madness that followed (the dogpile near the mound that included confetti and beach balls), Bradley realized his blunder.

Bradley said he told his teammates and coaches that he deserves a spot on “The Not Top 10” the next time ESPN’s “SportsCenter” unveils its weekly sports blooper reel.

“I was in the moment, and I just launched it,” Bradley said on the field after the victory.

Bradley wouldn’t mind it if he could start negotiating soon to get the baseball back.

“I think we can work out a deal,” Bradley said.

In the meantime, the Gamecocks will enjoy their title. They have their own keepsakes already.

One of the players made a championship belt that said “Back-2-back champs.” Several players filled plastic bags full of infield and mound dirt before leaving the TD Ameritrade Park field. Scott Wingo has himself a new trophy, earning most outstanding player honors.

Speaking of awards, we’ll conclude this blog entry with the CWS all-tournament team: USC C Robert Beary, USC 1B Christain Walker, USC 2B Scott Wingo, UF 3B Cody Dent, USC SS Peter Mooney, Vandy OF Tony Kemp, Vandy OF Connor Harrell, UF OF Bryson Smith, USC DH Brady Thomas, USC SP Michael Roth and USC P Matt Price.

About Jon Nyatawa

Jon Nyatawa has covered Nebraska football for The Omaha World-Herald since 2008. He and his laptop, cell phone, tape recorder, pen and notebook all live in Lincoln. Follow him on Twitter: @JonNyatawa. Email him here: jon.nyatawa@owh.com. He welcomes feedback.

3 Comments on USC’s Bradley wouldn’t mind getting baseball back

  1. Tevin Geter says:

    I am friend’s with the kid who retrieved the ball and was next to him when he retrieved it, if you want a story with him contact me.