LSU fan gifts home-run ball to Jared Jones' father during College World Series game
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — The father of LSU first baseman Jared Jones received a special gift from an LSU fan during the Tigers' matchup with the UCLA Bruins on Monday, June 16.
LSU fan Dillion Bird gave the home run ball from the bat of Jared Jones to Jones' father, Mr. George, soon after it was hit in the first inning of the game. At the end of the video, Dillion also connected with Jared's mom.
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Jones' blast put the Tigers ahead 4-3, paving the way for the Tigers to defeat the Bruins on Tuesday, June 17, by a score of 9-5 after a weather delay postponed the game on Monday.
The moment was captured in a now-viral video by Bird's mother. Dillion said he and his family made the trip to the game together.
Dillion said Jones' home run did not make it into the stands. He said, 'Without looking, UCLA's AJ Salgado threw it over his shoulder back into the stands, and it landed right in my lap.'
The LSU fan said he immediately started screaming the Tigers' chant, and then his thoughts turned to giving the ball to Mr. George.
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Dillion was seated in Section 134 at the time, and after the inning was over, he went to look for Jones' dad.
The LSU fan said Jared's dad thanked him and hugged him tightly. Dillion said he 'was aware before the home run was hit that Jared's parents had never gotten a home run ball back since he went off to college.'
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He said that was what made the moment so special. 'Playing ball growing up, I know how much it meant to my parents to get my home-run balls back,' said Dillion. He is thankful that the Lord put the right people in the right place so Jared's dad could get his son's home-run ball.
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Dillion was at the game to support his long-time friend, LSU outfielder Jake Brown. He said they were on the same travel ball team and have played together since they were seven years old.
'Being able to support him on this big of a stage and watching him have success means the world to me and our community back home,' Dillion said.
Dillion was born and raised in Louisiana and lived in Baton Rouge for two years while playing baseball at the Baton Rouge Community College. He is now playing for the Lake Charles Gumbeaux Gators in the Texas Collegiate League.
Playing for the Gators will keep Dillion from going to Omaha for the LSU series against Coastal Carolina, but he said, 'If I did catch another ball, I might keep that one to myself.'
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