UNC Tar Heels outfielder Casey Cook provided a textbook lesson for young baseball players in a game Saturday.
Don’t ever give up on a play.
Patrolling right field for the Tar Heels against the Virginia Cavaliers in the first game of a doubleheader, Cook went back to the outfield wall for a towering fly ball off the bat of Kyle Teel.
Cook timed his leap perfectly, reached over the wall and prevented a home run, knocking the ball back into the field. That would have been enough to make this a great play, as he prevented a home run.
Yet as Cook fell backward. he never took his eyes off the ball. He reached out to grab the ball barehanded and then held on as he slammed to the ground.
An incredible circus catch by UNC’s Casey Cook! ⚾️😲🪄 pic.twitter.com/w6gQEPJCrv
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) March 11, 2023
The home crowd in Chapel Hill gave Cook a huge round of applause.
Cook, a freshman, hails from Chantilly, Virginia. He’ll always remember this catch. Family members are probably already waiting to tape his play’s appearance on ESPN’s “SportsCenter.”
Fans on Twitter definitely liked the play.
— Harris Yudin (@hayudi18) March 11, 2023
Casey Cook 🔥🔥🔥 https://t.co/xWZnbIFYCa
— UNC Barstool (@UNCBarstool) March 11, 2023
— Don Bovair (@DonBovair) March 11, 2023
Catch of the year so far.
— Jimmy Johnson (@tarheels4244) March 11, 2023
#UNC right fielder Casey Cook made a play at the wall that probably makes ESPN’s top-10 plays tonight.
— R.L. Bynum (@RL_Bynum) March 11, 2023
@espn @SportscenterTop #SCTop10 catch of the year. I don’t care who dunked in what game, this has to be #1
— Nolan Shoffner (@NolanShoffner) March 12, 2023
=[Carolina Baseball; Photo Credit: Carolina Baseball]
