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Texas A&M’s season got off to a memorable start on Thursday night against Utah State.
Not because the Aggies won the game against Utah State, because this had nothing to do with the final result. Instead, it was all about Aggies left fielder Kramer Eschete, who went all out and then some to make a catch that would be hard to duplicate if you had 1,000 attempts.
In the top of the 2nd inning of Thursday’s game, with 1 out, nobody on base and an 0-2 count, the batter smacked the ball down the left-field line. This was the kind of play where if the outfielder makes it, it’s an incredible catch, and if the outfielder doesn’t, it’s on to the next pitch and everybody moves on.
But this was no typical play and Eschete was ready for her moment. She banged into the wall down the left-field line, but got a glove on the ball, making it carom back toward the field. Eschete fell to the ground, but incredibly she kept her concentration on the ball and caught it on the way down.
Instantly, Eschete became a legend in Texas A&M softball:
She wears No. 91 for the Aggies, which is unique enough, and the game announcer screamed “put it on the highlight reel!” after Eschete came down with the ball.
Now, she’ll have all season to try to top a catch that would seem hard to top.
Cory Nightingale, a former sportswriter and sports editor at the Miami Herald and Palm Beach Post, is a South Florida-based freelance writer who covers Alabama for SaturdayDownSouth.com.
