Sometimes there are collateral happenings during sporting events that seem to signal things are about to change.
Like when the lights flickered during the University of Louisville vs. West Virginia blackout football game in 2006, the Cardinals immediately showing new life to capture the lead, going on to win 44-34. Felt it, knew it, watched it happen.
The latest one occurring Tuesday in the bottom of the eighth inning with UofL trailing UK 1-0. The Cardinals managing only one hit against UK’s Loan Salow and Dylan Dwyer. The bats were dead, the outlook dim. Two outs, UofL’s Ryan Summers at bat, working the count to 3-2.
On the next pitch, Summers fouls the ball up to the roof, the ball ricocheting toward the observer, sailing past his head, bouncing high off the concrete, right there in front of his face.
The observer reaching out with both hands to snare the ball. A huge cheer, thank you. Telling the couple behind him things had changed.
Summers would strike out but he had summoned the omen.
UK would need four pitchers in the bottom of the ninth before Nick Solak singled to center to send pinch runner Logan Taylor across the plate for the tying run.
UofL would win 2-1 in the 10th after Mike White singles, advances to second on an error, and scores on a single by Blake Tiberi.
The game had turned quickly after some personal intervention, witnessed by record crowd of 5,056 for a regular season game.
Nice Hands
Atta boy Charlie! Good glove, no hit…
Way to go, Charlie! Someone is going to be buying a display case.