12-year-old lands in the national spotlight after unbelievable play at home plate
It’s been a busy week in sports, with the Washington Capitals winning the first Stanley Cup in franchise history and the Golden State Warriors sweeping LeBron James and the Cavaliers to win their third NBA title in four years.
But a Little Leaguer in Kansas might have made the most memorable play of the week.
A baseball game played by 12-year-olds Thursday in Wichita featured a play at the plate that had viewers staring in disbelief.
After a single hit to center field, Mason Cherry attempted to score from second base. But the ball reached home plate before he did, which forced him to adjust on the fly …
… Literally, on the fly:
@SportsCenter 12 yr old Mason Cherry leaps over catcher! Incredible!! #SCTOP10 pic.twitter.com/5TY02jGNAo
— Scott Allen (@WarriorsB8sball) June 8, 2018
With the catcher in a crouched stance and attempting to tag the runner out, Mason leaped over him like he was the last obstacle in an Olympic hurdling event.
He then somehow managed to catch home plate with his trail leg while the only thing the poor catcher tagged was air.
The video was posted by Scott Allen, who says he is the coach of Mason’s team, the Warhogs. Once it hit the internet, it quickly went viral, and various media outlets reached out to Allen for permission to show it.
Hello, ESPN would like permission to use the following video. Do you own the content, and can we please use on all platforms? please dm @ESPNAssignDesk if possible, thanks.
— ESPNAssignmentDesk (@ESPNAssignDesk) June 8, 2018
Is this your video? Could we get irrevocable permission to share your video in our posts and social platforms with credit to you?
— SB Nation (@SBNation) June 8, 2018
MLB Network would like to use this video on all platforms in our programming. Is this your video and are there any issues with us using provided we credit your handle? Thanks!!
— MLB Network Clearances (@mlbnclearances) June 8, 2018
Some social media users tried to rain on the parade by saying Mason made an illegal play as Little Leaguers aren’t allowed to “leave, dive, hop over or run into prone defenders.”
But Allen said this league has a “no malicious contact” rule, so Mason did the only thing he could do and that was avoid contacting the catcher on his way to home plate.
Mason even got a shout-out from a former NL MVP as Andrew McCutchen of the Giants compared his leap to the great Bruce Lee.
— Andrew McCutchen (@TheCUTCH22) June 8, 2018
Leave it to a 12-year-old from Kansas to steal the spotlight from Alexander Ovechkin.
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