Getting pegged by a foul ball in the....

So I was at a Carolina Mudcats farm team game in eastern N.C. with my dad and a buddy named Joe. My Dad had spoken to me before about folks trying to snag fouls with their bare hands -- "don't hurt yourself," he said, "just catch it on the bounce...."

So we're sitting out around third base, my Dad on my right, my buddy on my left.... CRACK! One's coming at us. My Dad stands up, and I recall what he said about not trying to catch it, so I get up too, thinking we're getting ready to move for cover. But he's got his arms out trying to catch the fool thing....

I can't move left because Joe's there. I can't move right because my Dad's up trying to snag the foul. But as it bullets towards us it curves away from his hands right into my....

"Groin." Let's just say, "Groin."

I doubled over, the ball landed in front of me, some kid made a grab for it, my Dad was telling me to dive on it but honestly I had other concerns....

Utlimatly I was fine and the kid gave me the ball.

I'd earned it.

A few years later I was in a rec soccer league at UNC....

I was on the sidelines with a teammate, a buddy named Ray.

A ball was flying at me, and I figured I'd just head it back into bounds.

The ball dipped lower. I figured I'd just chest it.

Lower. I figured I'd just belly it.

Lower.

Yep. The ball bounced back inbounds. I just looked over at Ray with my best, most stoic John Wayne grit... YEAH, I'M THAT TOUGH.

MOMMY~~~~~ sniff, sniff......