Reds prospect involved in bizarre play that left veteran broadcaster stunned

Chattanooga Lookouts broadcaster Larry Ward has seen a thing or two during his 45 years behind the microphone. Ward, now in his 36th season as the play-by-play personality for the Lookouts, is known simply as "The Voice". With a nickname like that, one that invokes a reputation of experience and wisdom, it's doubtful that Ward sees anything nowadays that comes as a surprise.

But Ward was taken aback on Wednesday night following a bizarre play involving Cincinnati Reds shortstop prospect Dominic Pitelli. A broken-bat base hit during the top of the fifth inning of a game between the Lookouts and Columbus Clingstones resulted in an RBI single and an extra base. But how the play unfolded was absolutely mind-boggling.

Lookouts pitcher Donovan Benoit came on in relief of Kevin Abel during the fifth inning with Chattanooga trailing 3-2. Benoit did not have a good outing, and allowed five of the first six batters he faced to reach safely—though a terrific relay from the outfield helped Chattanooga secure the second out of the inning. An RBI single off the bat of Clingstones' left fielder Ethan Workinger put Columbus up 5-2 and brought catcher Chandler Seagle to the plate.

Reds prospect Domnic Pitelli involved in bizarre play that left veteran broadcaster stunned

With runners on the corners, Seagle stepped into the batters' box. Benoit sawed off Seagle with an inside pitch that shattered his bat causing the barrel to whiz past the mound on the pitcher's right. Benoit avoided the flying lumber, but the ball did not.

As Pitelli charged toward the ball, it struck the bat that came to rest just in front of the infield dirt. The ball bounced off the bat and made an abrupt turn toward third base. Pitelli overran the play, forcing Lookouts' second baseman Austin Callahan to pick up the ball that eventually rolled to the vacated spot where Chattanooga's shortstop was playing.

The broken-bat single allowed the runner from third base to score and the runner from first base to come all the way around to third. The Clingstones took a 6-2 lead and the crowd, players, and announcer were all stunned. "I have never, ever seen that in my 45 years of calling baseball. Holy cats," Ward exclaimed.

Benoit got the next batter to strike out and put an end the Clingstones' scoring barrage in the fifth. Rain came during the seventh inning and brought the game to an early end. The Lookouts lost by a final score of 6-4.

Much like Reds Hall of Fame announcer Marty Brennaman, Ward has been around the game for a long time. While he was shocked by the play itself, he'll probably be the first to tell you that despite baseball being around for well over 150 years, the game still has some surprises up its sleeve.

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