Braydon Salzman is a pitcher for Huntington Beach, California. In a game Friday against the team from Cumberland, Rhode Island, Salzman was nearly hit in the forehead by a line drive off the (explosive aluminum) bat of a youngster named Ryan McCormick. What saved Salzman? The bill of his cap.

Check out the amazing video. In slow motion, you can see the ball hit the bill of the cap, which then crumbles up as it absorbs the blow:

I’m sure it didn’t feel so good when that cardboard-like bill smacked up against the kid’s forehead, but the ball sure would have felt a hell of a lot worse.

I guess we’ll file this one under “close calls.”

Hat Tip -[Big League Stew]

Frederick Goodwin, 42, is the coach of a midget team in Watertown, NY.  Wednesday evening he decided that coaching Little League was so easy, he could do it drunk.  That was exactly what he did, but Goodwin likely didn’t consider the backlash he would receive from parents.  When they noticed he was intoxicated, they informed Watertown police chief Joe Goss who was in attendance watching his son play with the other 8-10 year olds.

The city’s recreation director, Jayme St. Croix was contacted and made his way to the park to discuss the situation with Goss.  That’s when Goodwin made his way down the first base line towards the outfield to “water the grass” with some of his booze.  As he stood their urinating with his back to the field, the parents and officials had enough.  Patrol was called and Goodwin was escorted off the field.

This is not the first incident for Goodwin, as he was arrested by state police for a DWI in May.

Goodwin has been banned from coaching in the league.  Maybe someone like himself is better suited for just watching from the stands.

[News Watch 50]