Diamond In Rough Times, Strange Home Run: Sports Stories Of 2020

ACROSS AMERICA — Sports stood still for a big chunk of 2020, but the year still produced quite a few good moments.

Champions were crowned, eventually, in all four major professional sports. Los Angeles produced two of them, the Lakers in the NBA and the Dodgers in MLB. Tampa Bay had another, when the Lightning captured the NHL Stanley Cup.

And in what seems like much more than 10 months ago, the Kansas City Chiefs won the Super Bowl back in February.

But the top sports stories on Patch from 2020 are ones you may have missed. Let’s take a look back at some of the most underrated moments of the year.

The Strangest Home Run You’ll Ever See: Philadelphia Phillies all-world catcher J.T. Realmuto stepped up to the plate with two runners on and, with a 1-1 count, drove an inside fastball deep to the opposite field during an August game against the Washington Nationals.

As far as Realmuto bombs go, it wasn't the realest; it lacked the sheer muto that defines so many of the hits by one of the hardest-hitting batters in the game. And yet still, the comparatively softly hit ball sent Nationals right fielder Adam Eaton tearing back and back to the edge of the warning track.

Eaton misplayed the ball, his glove slapping the top of the padded wall just inches from where the ball hit the inside of the top of the fence. Then, as Eaton recovered from his jump, and before the eyes of a stable of lost-looking National relief pitchers, the ball bounced straight up in the air and dropped down on the other side of the fence.

Read more via Justin Heinze / Norristown, PA Patch

‘Field Of Dreams’ Is America’s Hope For Diamond In Rough Times: In a one-horse Iowa town right out of the "Field of Dreams" movie, America's hopes for a Major League Baseball season were riding high.

Read more via Beth Dalbey / Across America Patch

Doctor Of Optometry Makes Eagles Cheer Squad: Cristina Rosano, a doctor of optometry, was one of eight people selected to join the Philadelphia Eagles Cheer Team during auditions held before the 2020 NFL season.

"Being selected as a new member of the Philadelphia Eagles Cheer Team, along with graduating from optometry school this year, has truly been my dream come true," Rosano said.

Read more via Justin Heinze / Phoenixville, PA Patch

Appalachian Trail Speed Record Broken: Liz Anjos, an elite endurance runner, has set a new "fastest known time" on the 2,193-mile Appalachian Trail.

Read more via Justin Heinze / Lansdale, PA Patch

Football Takes On New Look In Alabama Amid Coronavirus Pandemic: Football is king in Alabama, but for obvious reasons, things were different this year.

Read more via Michael Seale / Birmingham, AL Patch