HATTIESBURG — Southern Miss catcher Blake Johnson knew the decision wasn't his to make. Still, he couldn't ignore what he was seeing.
An unproven freshman named Tanner Hall was mowing down Ole Miss hitters in a game the Golden Eagles had to win to extend their 2021 season. More than the results, Johnson saw the psyche of a young righthander proving his worth on the national stage.
"The way he was acting, his demeanor, he kind of carries that big dog status," Johnson said.
"I remember he came off the mound in his third our fourth inning, we went in the dugout and I told him, 'This is your moment.