Bryan Fuller is now living the dream. He goes out golfing with his buddies on the weekends, married his high school sweetheart on June 13, and he has a job at an accounting firm. Fuller, grew up as the American kid who loved to play baseball, but he knew that his baseball career would end upon graduation from Campbellsville University. A senior pitcher from Lewisburg, Kentucky, Fuller had only thrown 34 innings all season and they were all in relief. At 5'10 160 and only throwing in the low 80s, Fuller knows that he isn't what any scouts are looking for.
Before the NAIA super regional, Fuller told his coaches that he would never play professional baseball, so if needed, they could sacrifice his arm. Out of options and out of pitching, Campbellsville had fallen into the losers bracket in the Super Regional and needed to win three straight to reach the NAIA World Series. Bryan Fuller's amazing story starts here. On a Thursday afternoon elimination game against Linwood University, Fuller threw the final three innings of the game to record the save.
Powered by Fuller's scoreless final three innings, Campbellsville was still alive. Just 25 minutes later Campbellsville had to play again. This time against the number one seed in the regional, Kansas Wesleyan, who was riding a 26 game winning streak. Nearly out of pitching, coach Beauford Sanders was faced with a tough decision. He decided to let Fuller make just his second career start on what was probably the biggest stage of his life. Sanders' logic was to let Fuller start because he was already loose and warmed up. Sanders was hoping to get just 3 or 4 innings out of Fuller, which would give the scheduled starting pitcher time to warm up, and allow him to throw the rest of the game. Fuller did more than throw just 3 or 4 innings. He threw a complete game shutout against Kansas Wesleyan, and Campbellsville won 11-0. Fuller's line for the day: 12 innings pitched, 145 pitches, 0 walks, 0 runs.
With that victory, Campbellsville was now in the Super Regional final. However, to get to the NAIA World Series Campbellsville had to beat Kansas Wesleyan once again. The Campbellsville coaching staff was prepared to throw their number 1 starter on just 2 days rest. Bryan Fuller would have none of that. The senior who was never counted on as a college baseball player, wanted the ball. In the morning, Fuller woke up and stretched out his right arm after throwing 12 shutout innings the day before. Fuller explained that he had just a little tightness and nothing more. He proceeded to send his coach a text and told him that he was good to start the game and give him a couple of innings. Once again, Fuller defied the odds and his coaches expectations. Batter after batter, inning after inning Fuller was in the zone. Everything the senior sidearm pitcher threw worked. Bryan Fuller threw his second consecutive complete game against Kansas Wesleyan. Fuller needed just 77 pitches to set down the regional's number one seed for the second straight day. Maybe even more amazing, Fuller did not even allow a runner to advance past second base.
Bryan Fuller threw 21 scoreless innings in 24 hours. In just a full day, Fuller had a record of 2-0 with one save. On the arm of Bryan Fuller, Campbellsville advanced to their first ever NAIA World Series. They were eliminated in two games, but that does not take away the amazing accomplishment that Bryan Fuller achieved. A senior who did nothing but come out of the bullpen his entire career was finally being thrown onto the mound as a starter.
You have to respect how Fuller knew the situation he was in. He wasn't a big, overpowering pitcher, so he knew that professional baseball was not in his future. He put his arm in danger for his team. I would like to wish Bryan Fuller good luck in all of his future endeavors.
Great story Eddy! Keep copying my ideas! Remember:Imitation is the highest form of flattery!
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