FORT MYERS, Fla.- We continue our countdown of the Top 10 FSW Athletics Moments of the 2020-2021 year today with our #3 moment; Beth Reid's game saving catch featured on ESPN's SportsCenter Top 10.
Just one day after our #6 moment on the countdown, the Bucs incredible late game comeback against Seminole State at the NJCAA National Tournament, the Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers found themselves in another grinder of a game in the tournament quarterfinals against Butler. In the top of the 6th inning, holding a one run lead, FSW Head Coach Robert Iamurri pulled a string that may leave even the deepest of Softball thinkers scratching their heads, as he removed red hot Shanika Klett from the game and inserted Beth Reid cold off the bench into left field as a defensive replacement. As most moves Iamurri makes, this one that the NJCAA Coach of the Year made was as usual, on point. The first batter of the inning for the Grizzlies sliced a ball down the left field line and Reid glided over to make a highlight reel play in foul territory for the first out. The second Butler hitter popped another fly ball to Reid, this one more routine for out number two. With two outs and the game on the line, Grizzly slugger Ari Cordova crushed a ball to deep left field and it look like the game was going to be tied at 2. Insert Beth Reid once again. Reid bolted to the wall in left on a full sprint and leaped at the ideal moment, clearing the fence and making a nearly unbelievable play over the fence to secure the third out and keep the Bucs in front 2-1. The Bucs poured out of the dugout to celebrate with Reid in left and eventually went on to win the game by that same 2-1 score to send them onto the Final Four.
The play went viral immediately, ultimately reaching the ESPN SportsCenter Top 10 at #2 later that night, a moment the Bucs were able to celebrate again together as they ate their postgame meal while they watched in their hotel lobby in Yuma.
To see the play again- CLICK HERE
The Bucs went on to win their first National Championship in program history two days later with a 5-1 victory over Grayson.
Check back in tomorrow as we continue to wind down our countdown with the #2 moment of the 2020-2021 FSW Athletics Year which is still a fresh one having occurred just one week ago!
#10- Roberts Breaks Steals Record
#9- Williams' Monster Double-Double
#8- Bucs Volleyball Clinches First Conference Title
#7- Knowles Becomes Bucs Baseball's First 1st Team All-American
#6- Bucs Softball Completes Furious Comeback at Nationals
#5- Seven Former Bucs Play in March Madness
#4- Bucs Volleyball Qualifies For First National Tournament
#3- Reid's Catch Saves Game/Makes SportsCenter Top 10
#2- 7/22/21
#1- 7/23/21