Bradenton Florida Softball Team Wins State Title With Beautifully Executed ‘Hidden Ball Trick’

The Lakewood Ranch Lady Mustangs softball team out of Bradenton, Florida was up against Lake Brantley (Altamonte Springs, Florida) for the 2022 State Championship. Lakewood Ranch was coasting on an 8-2 lead going into the final inning with the championship in their sights. That's when they closed out the game on a classic old Little-League style play. The hidden ball trick.

According to brobible, "After sending the pitch over the plate for a ball, the catcher threw back to the pitcher, who pretended to throw back behind her to second. Except she didn’t.  While her infield pretended to freak out around her as if the errant throw went soaring into the outfield, the pitcher held the ball in her glove and pretended she had lost the throw. Except she hadn’t.  Seeing the play unfold, the Patriots’ runner on second took off toward third base, at which point the Mustangs pitcher ran over and tagged her out. It was the third out of the final inning of the state championship and Lakewood Ranch ran it back with an all-time trick play."

Everyone on the Lady Mustangs team sold the play perfectly and celebrated the final out with a state championship. That's a story the Bradenton, Florida girls will be telling their whole lives.