Houston: How NOT to catch a foul ball

By Jonathan Yardley - June 02, 2007

We just saw a great contrast in approaches to catching a foul ball. Prairie View's Paul Johnson hit a towering pop-up into the first-base stands. Rice athletic director Chris Del Conte (sorry, Chris, but we needed a public figure to tease) ducked out of the way as the ball landed just a few feet away. To be fair, he might have lost it in the sun. On the next pitch, Johnson hit a curving line drive into the bleachers in foul territory down the right-field line. A Prairie View fan reached out and, while seated, caught it one-handed to protect the woman with whom he was sitting. Very casual and very well done.

On the field, Prairie View threatened with back-to-back singles and a balk with one out, but the runner at third base - Greg Ford - broke for home on a grounder to first and was tagged out. The Panthers really could have used an early lead, so head coach Michael Robertson was visibly upset.