Fans catch Georgia pitcher cheating, a breakdown
What Happened
In a tense bottom-of-the-eighth-inning matchup, the Georgia Bulldogs hold a one-run lead over the top-ranked Texas A&M Aggies. As the Georgia relief pitcher, Cole Maracna, takes the mound, alert fans in the crowd capture video evidence of him potentially cheating. Maracna is seen discreetly touching the pole in the bullpen area before going to the mound, leading to speculation that he is applying a foreign substance to the baseball. Maracna immediately faces a high-pressure situation, with the tying run on first base and no outs. The Aggies' Ty Coleman steps up to the plate, and on a 1-2 count, fouls off a pitch, forcing the umpire to provide Maracna with a fresh, clean baseball. This is where the fans' vigilance pays off, as they closely monitor Maracna's actions, observing him subtly feeling and manipulating the new ball before delivering his next pitch. Despite the potential cheating allegations, Maracna remains focused and manages to strike out Coleman for the first out. The next batter also fouls off a pitch, leading to another fresh ball, and once again, Maracna is seen discreetly handling the new baseball before firing off his next pitch, a nasty breaking ball that freezes the batter for strike two. As the tension builds, Maracna unleashes a high fastball that the batter swings and misses, recording the second out. The footage clearly shows Maracna's fingers sticking to the ball, suggesting the use of a foreign substance to enhance his grip and spin rate. The Georgia fans erupt in celebration, fully aware of the potential rule violation they have captured on camera. In the bottom of the ninth inning, with Georgia still clinging to their narrow lead, Maracna returns to the mound and promptly strikes out the side, relying heavily on his seemingly enhanced fastball. The Georgia dugout and fans erupt in jubilation, as Maracna's performance secures the victory for the Bulldogs. However, the lingering questions about his pitching tactics cast a shadow over the win, leaving the college baseball community to ponder the implications of the alleged cheating incident.
Full Transcript
Click timestamps to jump to that momentGeorgia's got a one-run lead on the number one ranked Texas A&M bottom of the eighth inning.
The fans have a beat on the bullpen because they just got film on this guy. They knew to
take out the camera and start filming because the reliever, he's actually a starter, but he's
relieving in this game. Maracna goes to the corner, falling in love with the wall. You're
going to see his left hand just go behind that pole, scrape something, put on the glove, go behind
the pole, scrape something, put on the glove. He stands up and he's just putting it on the lace of
the glove, lace of the glove. And then you can see his fingers afterwards. They're a bit sticky.
They're a bit sticky. What was that all about? All right. He comes into the game. He's got an
inherited runner. The tying runs on first. He breathes, gets in there. And number two on A&M,
single. So now there's no outs. Go ahead, runners on first. Doesn't matter. Strike one. Doesn't
matter. Strike two. And now the one-two pitch is fouled back. That's important. That means we get
a new ball. So the umpire gives the catcher a new ball. So the umpire gives the catcher a new ball.
If a guy is using stuff to doctor the ball, this is when you go to see if he's doing it because
a brand new ball's in play after foul balls. He gets it. What's he do? That's when you go to check
if you want to do this later on. And they cut to the batter, but then you can see the pitcher
and straight to that spot on the glove with the right hand. Feeling the glove a little bit. Likes
it. Likes the way it feels. Then high fastball. Nice ride on that pitch. Gets the strikeout for
out one. Now, what is it? It's a good pitch. It's a good pitch. It's a good pitch. It's a good pitch.
Well, it sticks your fingers to the ball, which allows them to just stay on there as long as
possible and really rip it down to get that extra spin rate, which makes it stay on the same plane
for longer. Just that extra spin rate. Next batter comes up. Another foul ball. Another new ball.
And, and yes, you're going to go right to that spot again to make sure this new ball
is loaded up and feels good. 1-0 pitch. We're locked. We're loaded. And little breaking ball.
78 miles per hour. In there for strike two. Fastball. Doesn't get it. A little too high.
Brings it down a little bit. Strike three. Out number two. Look at the action here. Look at the
elbow. It's kind of actually jarringly, ew, gross. And then look at those fingers just stuck on that
ball. Rips through it. The spin rate.
Just a little extra giddy-up on the fastball. Next batter comes up. Slider. Strike one. Fastball.
Strike two. And high fastball again. The high fastball. Catcher's pumped. Oh, let's fucking go!
He's back out there. Bottom of the ninth. He's got a lead to protect. Strike one. Strike two.
Strike three. High fastball again. That ride. It's nice. That's what, that's what the spin rate and
the sticky stuff did in the majors as well. That high fastball.
Fastball just became alive. No foul balls in the ninth inning. He just mowed everyone down to get
the win and close it out. Let's fucking go! Come on, baby! Let's fucking go! Fuck yeah, baby!
Fuck yeah! Let's go! Come on, baby! Pumped up about it. Sticky fingers.