Eric Collins, the play-by-play commentator for the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets, is known for losing his mind -- and his voice -- to deliver electric calls during TV broadcasts.
On Thursday, Collins brought his energy to the diamond for an Athletes Unlimited Softball League matchup between the Portland Cascade and the Carolina Blaze on CBS Sports Network, and boy, did he deliver.
ATHLETES UNLIMITED SOFTBALL LEAGUE
When Portland’s Korbe Otis smacked a grand slam off former Oklahoma star Keilani Ricketts to cap a 12-run second inning -- off Otis’ own face on the scoreboard in left field, no less -- Collins’ excitement was palpable.
“Oh my goodness!” Collins cried. “A grand slam home run! Korbe Otis, how do you DO? A cavalcade of runs for the Cascade!”
It was the perfect call from a commentator used to bringing the heat, and it wasn’t his first foray into sports other than basketball. Collins was a joy when he called a Carolina Panthers-Miami Dolphins NFL game for FOX last fall, and he has extensive softball experience, calling NCAA Super Regional games and serving as the AUSL’s lead play-by-play broadcaster.
His call of Otis’ grand slam was the perfect soundtrack to one of the top highlights of the new AUSL season so far. The regular season began Tuesday and runs through July 20, with the postseason set to begin July 23.