Writing at a site like this, I’ve seen more than my fair share of hidden ball tricks.
They’re still pretty rare at the pro level, especially Major League Baseball, but with the slowly increasing use of video at the collegiate and high school level of baseball and softball around the country… you get to see some good ones.
And not one of them stack up to this absolutely PERFECT execution of everyone’s favorite play (the coordination of those 4-5 players alone … I mean wow). You might even have to watch it more than once to really see what happens.
Check it out and be amazed:
Can't get over how perfectly executed this hidden-ball trick was by @TrineUniversity (Indiana).
And this was to advance to the Division III Women's College World Series! Unreal pic.twitter.com/rQKzNZWAoO
— Kendall Baker (@TheKendallBaker) May 21, 2019
So in case you can’t tell what’s happening, the runner on second gets her lead after the pitch is delivered to the plate, but it’s a big one so the catcher fires the ball back to the pitcher who then quickly turns and PRETENDS to attempt a pickoff at second.
As the shortstop, second baseman, and center fielder ALL fake dive after a ball that appears to have gotten by everyone, the runner at second takes off for third only to be met by the pitcher, who had the ball all along. The coordination and timing of three fake diving fielders is SO PERFECT everyone is fooled and bam: hidden ball trick.
But here’s the added fun: Not only was that a game-winning final out … it was the game-winning final out that sent Trine University to the Division III Women’s College World Series! How freakin’ unbelievable is that?! What an ending … I would HATE to be that girl on second base. 🙂