Montezuma baseball fan catches world series home run

​        Coyce McNaul of Montezuma holds the home run baseball hit by Volunteer first baseman Blake Burke that he caught in the stands on Wednesday, June 19 at the College World Series in Omaha in a game between Tennessee and Florida State. Coyce was at the game with his grandparents, Jim and Bev Smothers, who took him there for his upcoming 12th birthday. Submitted photo.

​By J.O. Parker
 
        Montezuma’s Coyce McNaul brought home more than a memory last week from the College World Series in Omaha.
       Coyce, who will soon be 12, was at the game between Tennessee and Florida State on Wednesday, June 19 with his grandparents.
        It was the top of the ninth inning and Tennessee Volunteer first baseman Blake Burke hit a home run that landed in Coyce’s glove in the stands.
       The big catch was caught on television and Coyce’s mom, Mindy, was watching from home in Montezuma.
     “I was watching the game and saw the catch and thought, “Wow, that looks like Coyce,” not really thinking it was,” she said. “I went to back up the game as Coyce called and told me he caught a home run in the stands. I was jumping up and down screaming and crying.”
       Coyce said he couldn’t believe what had just happened when he caught the ball.
      “When I saw the ball, it was coming down in slow motion,” said Coyce, who held his baseball glove in the air. “I had a big grin when it happened.”
        After catching the home run, Blake’s dad, Scott, found Coyce in the stands and invited him to meet Blake at the team bus after the game to get the ball autographed.
      Tennessee won the game, 7-2, advancing the Volunteers to the CWS championship series against Texas A&M.
        The home run was the 20th this year for Blake and his 98th career homerun. Blake, a California native, is a junior this year at Tennessee. He plans to return for his senior season. 
     Attending the game was a gift from Coyce’s grandparents, Jim and Bev Smothers, who take all their grandchildren on a one or two day trip of their choice when they turn 12. Even though Coyce isn’t quit 12, he wanted to go to the College World Series and his grandparents made it happen.
      “The experience with Coyce catching the home run was surreal,” said Bev. “It was wonderful to see his excitement when the ball was in his glove. It was an experience of a lifetime we will not forget.”
      Coyce, who has been playing baseball since he was age 5, said the game is his favorite sport. And this year, Coyce’s Montezuma Major Little League team won the league championship.
        Coyce plans to buy a case for the signed baseball and put it his room.

​         Coyce McNaul of Montezuma has his photo taken with Tennessee Volunteer first baseman Blake Burke by the team bus following the Volunteer’s 7-2 win over Florida State at the College World Series in Omaha on Wednesday, June 19. Coyce was at the game with his grandparents, Jim and Bev Smothers, when he caught a home run in the stands that Blake hit in the top of the ninth inning. The catch was caught on television and after the game, Blake’s dad, Scott, found Coyce and invited him to meet his son and have the baseball autographed at the team bus. Submitted photo.