Softball Player Uses Amazing Move to Deftly Avoid Tag at Plate in Viral Video

Talk about thinking outside the box.

When it comes to close plays at the plate, the job of a baserunner is simple: score by any means necessary.

For one high school softball player in Texas, that meant turning to a bit of trickery to get the job done.

Carthage High School senior Jada Walton was put in a tough spot during her game on Tuesday when she rounded third and headed for home. The throw from the outfield easily beat her to the plate, but she got creative to avoid the catcher’s tag and score.

How did she do it? Well, have a look for yourself.

Carthage senior Jada Walton refused with every fiber of her being to be tagged out at home. pic.twitter.com/pusqLYNFno

— Ryan Silapan (@RyanSilapan) March 22, 2023

After the game, Ryan Silapan of the Panola Watchman caught up with Walton, who explained that her move came in the spur of the moment.

“She was just standing above the plate, so I really had no idea what to do,” Walton said. “I was really just goofing around. … I was amazed at what I just did, because I’ve never seen that happen, trick somebody like that.”

We’ve seen players resort to acrobatics to avoid tags at home plate before, but mental warfare is less common. Walton’s play brings to mind Javier Báez’s famous play from 2021 when he successfully baited the Pirates into a pickle between home plate and first base. With her recent escape act, El Mago certainly would be proud.