I'd be interested to hear about amazing things people have seen on the field in youth/HS baseball. I'll get it started with something I witnessed last summer.
My son was asked to play on a thrown-together team of 13 year-olds for the purpose of going Anaheim to play in a California tournament. In the semi's we played a good Michigan team which had a great looking catcher, a big rangy agressive kid.
He was at bat against our best pitcher, a kid (not my son) who was not all that big, but had real good control, a nice curve, and a bit above average speed.
I was the scorekeeper.
The batter worked the count to full, and then fouled off the next 10 pitches. Among those pitches were some great breaking balls that he somehow fouled off. On the sixteenth pitch he finally swung and missed at another great curve.
I remember thinking that I wasn't sure whether I was more impressed by the batter or by the pitcher. I've seen a few 10, 11 and 12 pitch at bats before, but I don't believe I have ever seen a 16 pitch at bat at any level.
It was a remarkable performance by both kids. Talk about a battle!
That is what I love about baseball.... so many games within the game.
Original Post