Home Plate Connection: Vikings C Garrett Bradbury & Twins P Bailey Ober Go Way Back

[Viktor]

"It was crazy. It was definitely something you can't even dream about living," Ober told Vikings.com. "A lot of the stuff that happened, I'm still kind of trying to take in, and kind of sit back and realize and just remember all the things that I observed."


The experience felt almost as surreal for Bradbury, who – despite gray, drizzly weather – thoroughly enjoyed being in the stands among 9,500 others after playing in mostly fan-less NFL stadiums last season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.


But better than a live sporting event was watching his friend realize a lifelong dream.


"It was awesome to hear the crowd, and [the reaction to] every strikeout he had, it was just so much fun," Bradbury said. "To see them win on his opening night and to get a couple strikeouts, it was just crazy.


"The last time I saw him on a baseball field was high school," he added. "And now he's in an MLB stadium pitching against the White Sox. It's so cool."


Sweet spot at Charlotte Christian


Bradbury and Ober first met in 2011 when Ober transferred to Charlotte Christian for his junior and senior seasons.


Bradbury, a grade below Ober, already was familiar with the pitcher's skills. But Bradbury's diamond talents weren't too shabby, either, and by his junior season he was the Knight's primary catcher for a shining Ober.


"He's the reason we won a whole lot of games," Bradbury said. "There was a connection where if I was calling the game, if I got to call the pitches, I kind of knew what his strengths are. He was so good.


"The connection was great, but he kind of took it upon himself to win the games for us sometimes," Bradbury added. "Being 6-foot-9, the delivery point at which he throws a baseball is just so different compared to all the other pitchers, and his change-up in high school was just unbelievable."


With the help of Bradbury and Ober – "he was unhittable!" – the Knights won back-to-back NCISAA state championships under longtime coach Greg Simmons. (Charlotte Christian's baseball team recently earned its 16th state championship in school history).