Oklahoma right fielder John Spikerman. Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports

Oklahoma third base coach helps Notre Dame record out on weird play

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports | By Grey Papke | Last updated 6/19/22

Sunday’s College World Series game between Notre Dame and Oklahoma is certainly providing some memorable plays.

Notre Dame got a fairly valuable accidental assist from Oklahoma third base coach Clay Van Hook. Outfielder John Spikerman was attempting to go from first to third on a single in the fourth inning, but looked like he was out. However, while attempting to make the tag, the ball seemingly got knocked out of infielder Jack Brannigan’s glove.

Amazingly, the ball ricocheted toward Van Hook, who somehow got drilled in the chest and almost checked out of the play. Spikerman assumed he had been tagged out and began walking away, which gave Brannigan the chance to retrieve the ball and tag out the Oklahoma baserunner.

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— College Baseball Nation (@CollegeBallNat) June 20, 2022

Collectively, this is about as strange a play as you will see. If the ball does not hit Van Hook, it was likely headed far away from the bag, and Spikerman could have even scored. Van Hook probably could have done a better job directing Spikerman back to the bag, but he did just take a baseball to the chest out of nowhere.

As weird as this was, it may not even represent the most memorable play of this game.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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