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Little League Player Nails Unassisted Triple Play

A 7-year-old White Marsh baseball player completed a rare play last week.

 

OUTSIDE BALTIMORE, MD -- If only Little League had instant replay.

Cristian Banks, a 7-year-old Fullerton Elementary student, completed a rare unassisted triple play on May 3. Coach Marty Neff, who has been involved with the White Marsh Recreation Council for the past 10 years, said it was the first time he's seen it done by one of his players.

It's unusual outside of Little League, as well. According to MLB.com, only 15 unassisted triple plays have been recorded in Major League Baseball history.

Share your favorite moments in kids' sports in the comments.

Neff described the play, which lasted only seconds:

"With the bases loaded and Cristian playing third base, the batter hit a line drive that Cristian moved to his right to catch for the first out. When the ball was hit, the runners on both second base and third base took off. After catching the line drive, Cristian tagged the runner coming from second base for the second out. He then tagged third base, completing the unassisted triple play."

"We cheered when he caught the ball and were yelling for him to tag him, but the last out was instinctive," Neff said. "It was an incredible play. It took a few seconds for us to realize what had happened. Then we gathered the kids together and explained it."

Neff added that teams in the 7-8 year old range don't keep score or track wins—play doesn't get competitive until the next age range.

Cristian, who has been playing since he was 4, is a member of the council's in-house team and the White Marsh Travel Team.

"It felt awesome," Cristian said. "I was happy the inning was over fast."

Cristian's father, Jeff Banks, a Baltimore County police officer, said he felt fortunate to be volunteering on the bench at the time.

"It was a lot of fun," Banks said. "He and his teammates had a good time, although I'm not sure how much they understood what had happened.

"In the car driving home was when it really hit him," Banks said.

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How have rec sports impacted your child's life? Tell us in the comments.

Related Topics: Little League, Unassisted triple play, and White Marsh Recreation Council

chsmm1

6:18 pm on Tuesday, May 8, 2012

What a great article about the excitement of baseball. what a great heads up play for such a young BB player...

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Lisa Yi-Shellenberger

10:08 pm on Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Wow...that was an awesome article about my nephew. Congratulations on a great play...sorry we missed it but what an awesome way to read about it!

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Tim

10:51 pm on Tuesday, May 8, 2012

The Orioles could use him in 15 years! Way to go Cristian!

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Ernie C

12:17 pm on Wednesday, May 9, 2012

If he can play why would he want to play for Baltimore GO BRAVES great play dude

Lynn McCoy

8:17 am on Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Way to go Cristian....what a awesome play!!! Congrats and keep up the great work. Aunt Lynn

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Meisha D

8:38 am on Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Yeah, Cristian!! So happy for you. See you at the next game!!

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Laura Banks

5:43 pm on Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Thank you Meisha! See you and my baby on Sunday :-)

Stacey Schantz

9:26 am on Wednesday, May 9, 2012

What a great story! Way to go Cristian!

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Laura Banks

5:43 pm on Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Thanks Mandy...see you on Sunday!

Eric Bromwell

9:34 am on Wednesday, May 9, 2012

AMAZING! Way to go Christian!

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JV

10:37 am on Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Way to go Cristian. Finally news worthy of printing.

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SwimDude

11:10 am on Wednesday, May 9, 2012

I made a Triple Play once. I was playing Third Base and a Line Drive was hit to me. I caught the ball for out number 1, the bases were loaded and the guy on 3rd had started home so I tagged the base and that made the guy on 3rd base out number 2, the guy on second had started to 3rd so I threw the ball to the Second Base man for Out number 3. It was a Triple Play but not unassisted. I was 12 years old.

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Jordan peters

11:34 am on Wednesday, May 9, 2012

dont steal cristian monment ok

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Emily Kimball

11:42 am on Wednesday, May 9, 2012

I love it, thanks for sharing this great story!

Ted Carey

11:13 am on Wednesday, May 9, 2012

In 1979, a high school player at our school made an unassisted triple play... and we STILL talk about it!!!!! Nice job Cristian!! It is a memory that will never go away!!!!

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Emily Kimball

11:44 am on Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Wow, 30 years later! Great story.

Cheryl Childers

11:29 am on Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Woo Hoo. What a smart young man. Reading this broght back the thrill when my little boy was 5 playing T-ball and did the same thing. My son was playing short stop, caught the line drive runners from second and first went running and he tagged second base and the runner coming from first. He then went and tagged the runner coming back to second but by that time I was standing up screaming, "that's my boy." I feel that is what playing little league is about, having fun and actually learning the sport. Way to go Cristian and congratulations to the parents. I feel your pride!

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Emily Kimball

11:45 am on Wednesday, May 9, 2012

I like it that the coach said Cristian's move was "instinctive," I guess that counts for T-ball, too!

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Laura Banks

5:46 pm on Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Thank you so much! Yes it is a great feeling!

Claire Keon

11:49 am on Wednesday, May 9, 2012

my daughter made the same play when she was 10 playing LL softball but the coach felt bad for the other team and let the girl who ran from third base be safe on third.

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thomas m king

12:00 pm on Wednesday, May 9, 2012

lets not keep score.that way we wont build up any self esteem in the kids.lets start pampering them right away.good job little guys,we just cant tell who won or lost.thats no big deal.you dont need to build character.have fun being a total loser later in life!

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kelly overton

4:25 pm on Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Thomas, How in the world can you find something negative in a story of a police offier's 7 year old son playing sports outside - and getting his name/story on the internet because he completed a unassisted triple play- with his dad watching from the bench? Go outside and get some exercise yourself - maybe you'll feel better.

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Derrick Brown

4:59 pm on Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Yeah because not keeping score in little league would really setup the rest of ur life for failure...you cant be serious. Little league is to teach kids the to the game the right way, the basics. Winning the game on paper doesnt matter. Learning is the important thing. Their are plenty of years to build up W-L records. Your a sad person who im sure doesnt have kids who played any sports so you have no idea. 
 
Loser=a guy who goes to a kids article to try to down kids who play little league

Tomas

12:06 pm on Wednesday, May 9, 2012

In the two pictures, he's obviously not at third base.

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Robin

2:27 pm on Wednesday, May 9, 2012

i agree if these pictures where taken at The Game where is all the other players on the field and was that the left field foul pole in the back ground.

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Laura Banks

5:48 pm on Wednesday, May 9, 2012

I am so sorry...I apologize that we were not able to provide pictures from the actual game.

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Laura Banks

5:49 pm on Wednesday, May 9, 2012

We left our camera at home! Sorry again!!! But it will be a memory that we will keep without that actually picture!

Marla

12:46 pm on Wednesday, May 9, 2012

My now 29 year old son did it when he was 7 also. His grandfather had a glass made for him inscribed with the the date and saying "Unassisted Triple Play". Congratulations to Christian that's a great fete.

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Laura Banks

5:50 pm on Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Thank you so much! That was really nice...the gift from his grandfather!

Mike Tam

1:18 pm on Wednesday, May 9, 2012

My grandson, Jacob Wyers of Jackson, MI also made an unassisted triple play yesterday. While playing SS he caught a pop fly, stepped on second and chased down the runner from first. He amazes us with his ability to keep his head in the game at such a young age. Proud Grandpa

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Steve H

1:37 pm on Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Playing shortstop,runners on 1st&second,one hop smash right to me,tagged the guy going to 3rd from 2nd, ran over and stepped on 2nd base and threw to 1st to get the batter.Not unassisted and I was 26 at the time, barely had time to think! Unbeleivable presence of mind for a 7 year old to pull that off. Great job Chris!!!

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Claetus Cousins

2:00 pm on Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Hey, thomas m king, I bet you're a loser WITH self esteem

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Emily Kimball

2:18 pm on Wednesday, May 9, 2012

In response to a reader's concern about the use of the term "Little League," according to the coach, within the White Marsh Recreation Council, Cristian plays in the Little League division. At White Marsh, it includes the 7.5-8 year old children. Here is a list of their divisions: http://whitemarshrec.org/?page_id=18

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D.M.

2:21 pm on Wednesday, May 9, 2012

What a Feeling seeing a young player making a rare play like that.Congratulations
I was joyed when my son did it at the age of eight.

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Laura Banks

5:52 pm on Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Thank you! It is a great feeling seeing our kids do great!

MARTIN BRUCE PARMER

4:01 pm on Wednesday, May 9, 2012

AMAZING PLAY 4 SUCH A YOUNG BOY , A PLAY HE'LL REMEMBER 4 HIS ENTIRE LIFE . WAY 2 GO CRISTIAN !!

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Colleen Smith

4:05 pm on Wednesday, May 9, 2012

That's my Grandson and that was a awesome play. Way to go Cristian, Mama loves you!!!!!!!!!!!

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Laura Banks

5:53 pm on Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Cristian says he loves you Mama!

Kely Overton

4:13 pm on Wednesday, May 9, 2012

I love that some kids are still out there playing baseball. I love that the dad was there to see his son. Wish I could have seen the play - rarest in sports! Good job Cristian!

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Laura Banks

5:54 pm on Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Thank you Kely. I am glad his dad was there as well since he is at work for half the games.

Laura Banks

5:58 pm on Wednesday, May 9, 2012

I just wanted to say thank you for everyone's comment and taking the time to share our son's story to other people. I know I said thank you individually as well. But you guys took the time to say something nice I can do the same for each of you! When it happened we were so excited but did not think it would end up in an article on the Perry Hall Patch to AOL homepage. It will definitely be a memory we will never forget! Thank you again! Special Thank you to Emily...thank you very much for taking the time to write this story!

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momoftwo

12:42 pm on Thursday, May 10, 2012

How awesome this game can be. My seven year old made the same play last friday night at his game and was clueless at what he had done to bad i was busy talking with a friend about her baby and how his progress was coming along. Congrats on such a big play!!!!

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alex cronin

3:46 pm on Thursday, May 10, 2012

Wow if only I knew to send it to the paper when I got and unassisted quadrupal play smh...

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Jason

3:52 pm on Thursday, May 10, 2012

Great job! Here is another kid who did the same thing but on video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=7FRw5mrWf4c

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tom curcio

10:47 am on Friday, May 11, 2012

I was there watching my grandson a teammate of Christian. It wasexciting to watch. Congratulations Christian. The team is well coached by Mr. Neff and the boys know the game. Tom Curcio

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J.Moller

12:10 pm on Tuesday, May 15, 2012

This is awesome. Great for the kid. Get him a contract with the Yankees!

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Alyssa Luberto

2:24 am on Thursday, May 17, 2012

Future Star! That's fantastic, go little man!

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Daniel Grieves

2:32 am on Friday, May 18, 2012

As a Orioles announcer might say, "Let's give that kid a contract!"

Seriously, a type of play that has rarely been recorded in MLB history done by a 7-year old? This kid definitely has a future in the big leagues!

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