Here's dirt in your eye. Freak pitch strikes airborne clod, and Oregon softball catcher pays price
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — As Oregon's catcher, Emma Cox knows All-American Lyndsey Grein throws lots of filthy pitches.
Grein outdid herself Friday night at the Women's College World Series when she kicked up a clod of dirt with her cleats during her pitching motion against Mississippi. The clod was in the air when it was struck by the ball, breaking it into pieces.
Advertisement
The 67-mph pitch ended up in Cox's glove and one of those dirt chunks in her eyes. She immediately came out of her crouch and went to her knees, reaching for her eyes through her mask. She was able to stay in the game.
'I thought it was dirt from my glove that must have hit me,' Cox said in an interview with an Oregon in-house reporter Saturday. 'And I was like, 'OK, whatever.' And then the umpire was like, 'No, it was a bug that flew into it and then the ball hit you, or the bug hit you in the face.' '
The dirt-in-the-eye pitch was one of those freak moments that probably couldn't be repeated, akin to Randy Johnson hitting a bird with a pitch in 2001.
"I didn't believe it until I saw the video,' Cox said in the interview.
The Ducks won 6-5 in 10 innings and will play Oklahoma on Sunday in an elimination game.
___
AP college sports: https://apnews.com/hub/college-sports
The Associated Press
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
7 minutes ago
- USA Today
Why does Teagan Kavan wear No. 17? Texas softball ace honoring late grandmother
Why does Teagan Kavan wear No. 17? Texas softball ace honoring late grandmother Show Caption Hide Caption Why Texas Tech, Texas will win 2025 WCWS It's a Lone Star State Women's College World Series this year, and reporter Jenni Carlson breaks down one reason Texas Tech will win and one reason Texas will win the WCWS. As the Women's College World Series championship series begins June 4 in Oklahoma City, Teagan Kavan has Texas two wins away from reaching the college softball mountaintop for the first time in program history. The sophomore right-hander has once again dazzled at the WCWS, posting a 2-0 record with a 0.41 ERA in 17 innings of work while recording her fourth career save in Texas' semifinal win vs. Tennessee. That clinched the Longhorns' first back-to-back appearance in the championship series in program history. Kavan's dominance this season in Oklahoma City has also come with a heavy heart, as she has had to deal with the loss of her grandmother, who was a passionate and dedicated Longhorns fan over the last two seasons. REQUIRED READING: Teagan Kavan-Caitlin Clark connection: What to know of Texas ace, basketball star The West Des Moines, Iowa native is expected to have the start for the Longhorns in Game 1 of the WCWS championship series on June 4 at 8 p.m. ET against No. 12 Texas Tech and NiJaree Canady in Oklahoma City at Devon Park. Here's what you need to know on the meaning behind Kavan's jersey number: Why does Teagan Kavan wear No. 17 for Texas softball? Kavan wears the No. 17 on her jersey because of her late grandmother, Anna, who died before the Longhorns' WCWS game on May 31 vs. Oklahoma. Her grandmother was 97 years old. "I wear 17 for my grandma, who was born on Nov. 17, 1928. She is 97 years old, and softball is her favorite part of most days. Her love and support for me knows no bounds," Kavan said in a statement released on Texas' official X (formerly Twitter) account. "Though many miles separate us, she is with me every pitch. She doesn't miss a game, and while she sometimes gets too nervous to watch live, she will replay the recordings of my games over and over. Through the No. 17, I honor her, her love for the game, and her love for life itself." Pitching with a heavy heart on May 31 vs. the Longhorns' longtime rival, Kavan delivered perhaps one of her best outings of the season, pitching her 16th complete game of the year while striking out eight OU hitters. She only gave up two runs on seven hits and two walks. Following Texas' 4-2 win against Oklahoma — its first win against the Sooners in the WCWS — Kavan told reporters at Devon Park in Oklahoma City that there was no thought of her skipping her start. "No," Kavan said. "They told me it was my ball if I wanted it. I said, 'Yeah.' That was it." Added Kavan on ESPN to Holly Rowe after the game: "My grandma has the best seat in the house. This is where she wants me. She's rooting for us all the way, and this is where she wants us." In that same interview with Rowe, Kavan credited her teammates for being there for her and "having her back" as a way she was able to get through the start pitch by pitch. The ability to come through for her team stood out to her coach, Mike White, and several teammates. "When Teagan told us this morning, it was honestly my worst nightmare. I was scared that's what it was when she texted us this morning," said Longhorns infielder Joley Mitchell. "But she told us, the first thing she said she's good and she's ready to go today. So Teagan Kavan is my hero today."
USA Today
19 minutes ago
- USA Today
Texas A&M lands 2026 four-star cornerback out of Arizona
Texas A&M lands 2026 four-star cornerback out of Arizona Summertime for college football is a crucial period for making progress with recruits before they are fully immersed in preparations for the fall. Texas A&M head football coach Mike Elko and his staff have been active on the recruiting trail, working to bring several prospects to Bryan-College Station. On Wednesday afternoon, it was announced that 2026 four-star cornerback Camren Hamiel has committed to Texas A&M. He becomes the 12th commitment in the 2026 class and the second cornerback. This is a significant pickup for the Aggies, who will need depth at the cornerback position with several upperclassmen on the roster. Texas A&M outcompeted top programs like Oregon, Penn State, and Nebraska for Hamiel's commitment, with him stating, "IM HOME" His junior season concluded with an AIA Conference 5A state championship, along with 50 tackles, five tackles for loss, and three interceptions. A top-250 recruit, Hamiel is currently ranked as the 226th prospect in the 2026 class, the 34th-ranked CB, and the No. 2 prospect in Arizona by 247Sports. Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Jarrett Johnson on X: @whosnextsports1.
Fox News
33 minutes ago
- Fox News
Shaquille O'Neal delivers scathing assessment of NBA's direction as Finals approach
Basketball Hall of Famer Shaquille O'Neal is not happy with the current state of NBA basketball. O'Neal, 53, lamented how the game had gone "soft." "The league is getting soft, the game is getting soft and it's going to take a couple of people to bring it back," O'Neal said during a recent appearance on "New Heights." The 15-time NBA All-Star does not like the trend of centers shooting 3-pointers and prefers the big men dominating in the paint. "Like, I hate big guys shooting (3-pointers). Victor Wembanyama is a great player, but I would love to just see him dominate so much that people start complaining, and they change the rules like when I did. I could shoot, but I'm not going to shoot a (3-pointer)," O'Neal said. "Why would I shoot a (3-pointer) when I could put your little a-- in the basket and dunk on you and put these balls in your face." O'Neal also expressed his disdain for the current NBA All-Star game format. "Our NBA All-Star format is terrible. I don't know who's in charge, but it's terrible," O'Neal said. The NBA's format this season had four different teams in a mini-tournament drafted by O'Neal, Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith. The fourth team in the format was the winner of the Rising Stars challenge. Over the years, the NBA has tinkered with the format in hopes of getting more effort from players. Regardless of the format, the players have not given 100% effort during the game and the product has declined. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said next year's All-Star game will be USA vs. World, but he is "not exactly sure what the format will be yet" during a recent appearance on "Breakfast Ball." The NBA Finals begin Thursday at 8:30 p.m. ET between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
