🦏 Special Edition | Ryne Rodrigues hits a walk-off, two-run home run 🦏
I don't believe in luck. I believe in the Luckies.
Tonight at Jaycee Park, Ryne Rodrigues sent the baseball over the fence, sent the Oak City Gliders home crying, and sent Luckies fans into a state of euphoria, all at once!
To set the stage, before the bottom of the ninth, there was a nervous air at Jaycee Park. There was confidence, anxiety, and excitement, as Tyler Sorrell came up to bat. Sorrell was patient, and walked to first base.
The nerves were definitely there for the Luckies. They had a quick team meeting on the field with the game tied in the bottom of the ninth.
Landon Parker almost advanced Sorrell on a bunt, but the umpire called him back and called it a foul. Parker then struck out, and Luckies fans were not happy.
The Ryne-O then came up to the plate.
Rodrigues took a strike looking on the first pitch. On the second one, he absolutely demolished the pitch, but it was called foul. And on the third pitch — well, just watch the video, because it isn’t easy to convey the emotion by typing.
I got interviews immediately after the moment with the owner, the GM, the commentator, the man who was on first base, and of course, RYNE RODRIGUES!
Reidsville Luckies Co-Owner Steve Shropshire’s reaction
Play-by-Play Commentator and PA Announcer Joe Dexter’s reaction
Reidsville Luckies General Manager Justin Dill’s reaction
The man who was on base, Tyler Sorrell’s reaction
The man who gave us this moment, Ryne Rodrigues’s reaction
I learned tonight that people can’t accept kindness. I asked a couple of Gliders on my way out if they wanted to join the Luckies, and they weren’t pleased.
Guess they’ll just miss out.
Ryne Rodrigues will be on our podcast, the Luckies Insider with Joe Dexter and Jay Ramey, this Wednesday! Make sure you are subscribed to get it right in your inbox!
And let me leave you with this chaotic image that does a very good job of summing up the moment. Ryne’s helmet flies, water is thrown, and Rodrigues celebrates with all of his teammates as he stomps on home plate.
