Broken bats are a common occurrence on the diamond. Jam shots, off the end of the bat, etc. … it’s normal to see a cracked piece of lumber flying out of the batter’s box.
In softball, though, where the pros are still using metal and composite bats? Not so common. But it happened Monday night amid a thrilling Athletes Unlimited Softball League slate, when both games were decided by one run.
Leading off the bottom of the sixth inning, Utah Talons designated player Kailey Wyckoff got a pitch in on her hands and took a hack. The ball caught the bat near the handle, and during Wyckoff’s follow through, the bat head completely snapped off.
The broadcast then showed the comical shot of the purple barrel, detached from its body, sitting just behind home plate. The unlikely occurrence had the booth in shock.
“You don’t see that very often!” play-by-play voice Noah Frary said.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen that," added color commentator Natasha Watley.
Luckily for Wyckoff, a teammate in the on deck circle was ready to supply an identical-looking bat after the original one snapped. Pitcher Kelly Maxwell then induced a flyout from Wyckoff to end the at-bat.
Eventually, Maxwell earned the win for her Portland Cascade in a nail-biter. The Cascade posted a two-run first inning thanks to a Sydney Stewart single and a Sierra Sacco-Ferrie triple. Wyckoff’s RBI single in the home half of the first brought the Talons closer, but the Cascade’s Korbe Otis then drove what served as the game-winning run on a second-inning groundout.
Maxwell pitched 6 1/3 strong innings with a pair of strikeouts, and Sam Landry then worked a strikeout and groundout for the 3-1 win.
ATHLETES UNLIMITED SOFTBALL LEAGUE
Game of the year!?
The 2026 AUSL season is still in its infancy, but Monday night delivered a game that will be hard to top.
The Carolina Blaze and Texas Volts went back and forth all evening, with the Blaze walking it off for the 6-5 W in extra innings. It took multiple lead changes, some excellent defensive plays and clutch hits to get through nine epic frames.
Aleshia Ocasio, who also started the game in the circle with 2 2/3 innings of two-run ball, ignited the crowd with the walk-off moment. With the Blaze trailing by one entering the bottom of the ninth, Ocasio shot a single through the infield to score the necessary pair of runs.
With the Volts leading 3-1 entering the sixth inning, Ana Gold rocketed a dramatic homer to left field to tie things up for the Blaze, setting up Ocasio’s game-winner.
The Blaze have had a, well, blazing start to 2026. Monday’s walk-off helped Carolina improve to 4-1, leading the AUSL, after finishing 7-17 a year ago. Ocasio’s .462 average with seven RBIs has been a driving force, while 2026 second-round pick Reese Atwood has two homers in four games.