Bear River center fielder Olivia Taylor’s leaping — although that’s not a strong enough word, as you’ll see — grab in the Utah 4A State Softball Championship on Saturday is one of the most astounding athletic feats you’ll see today.
KSLsports.com has the full story and provided the video of a play that is unique because it involves Taylor backing up at full speed, going airborne and then knocking into a short, flimsy fence. This kicks her off balance and yet she still manages to snag the ball and land with it in her glove despite landing heavily on the grass.
The replay below helpfully turns into a slow-motion reel repeating the catch multiple times, and it somehow gets with each viewing.
CATCH OF THE YEAR!!! Watch Bear River Center Fielder Olivia Taylor going airborne, clearing the fence to make this catch in the @UHSAAinfo State Championship game. @KSLSports l @BRHSinfo l @BearRiverCoach pic.twitter.com/9aw1f1Fhu5
— Sam Farnsworth (@Samsworth_KSL) May 22, 2021
Taylor handles the whole thing so effortlessly. I’m in awe. I wish I’d been covering this game so I could have ask her how much time she’s spent practicing for that exact scenario. She seems to have total control and understand exactly how to manage what, quite honestly, seems like a potentially dangerous hazard. To know you’re going to have your feet taken out from under you and still make that grab …
The Bear River Bears (fantastic name, way to not overthink it) came into their 3-game series with Tooele down 1-0 but swept both games on Saturday to win the state title.
