The Most Insane Baseball Performance You’ve Never Heard Of

Some baseball stories transcend the game itself, becoming legends that remind us why we love this sport. Ryan Heath's April 23, 2007 performance is exactly that kind of story.

Imagine a quiet, hardworking kid from a small rural high school who had never hit a grand slam in his life. Then, in one magical doubleheader for Oakland University, he launches three grand slams, adds another home run, and drives in a staggering 14 RBIs. This isn't fiction – it's the incredible true story of a former Buckeye Valley player who made national headlines and found himself featured in Sports Illustrated after doing something that defies belief.

What makes Heath's story so powerful isn't just the eye-popping statistics, but the character behind them. Before becoming a Louisville Slugger National Player of the Week, he was a three-sport athlete who embodied everything coaches hope to develop: humility, grit, and a team-first mentality. His response after the historic performance? "I think I was just trying to hit a sac fly." That tells you everything about who he was as a player and person.

For coaches everywhere, this episode delivers a powerful reminder of why we invest countless hours in player development. The spectacular moments that make headlines are almost always built on a foundation of ordinary, consistent effort when nobody's watching. Ryan Heath's once-in-a-lifetime performance demonstrates what happens when preparation meets opportunity, and why character development matters just as much as physical skills. Listen now to this inspiring story that captures the very essence of what makes baseball so special and coaching so rewarding.

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Chapters

• 0:00 Ryan Heath's Historic Baseball Performance

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:00

What if I told you one of the greatest offensive performances in college baseball history came from a small-town kid who never hit a grand slam in his life until he hit three in one day On today's episode of Baseball Coaches Unplugged, I'm taking you back to April 23, 2007, when a former Buckeye Valley player of mine, ryan Heath, stepped on the field for Oakland University and did something so unbelievable and made national headlines Four home runs, three grand slams, 14 RBI and a doubleheader. But this isn't just a story about stats. It's about the kind of athlete every coach hopes to develop Humble, hardworking, prepared when the moment came. Stick around as I share this incredible story of a young man who quietly made baseball history and the lessons we can all learn from his once-in-a-lifetime performance.

Speaker 2: 0:57

Welcome to Baseball Coaches Unplugged with Coach Ken Carpenter, presented by AthleteOne. Baseball Coaches Unplugged is a podcast for baseball coaches With 27 years of high school baseball coaching under his belt, here to bring you the inside scoop on all things baseball, from game-winning strategies and pitching secrets to hitting drills and defensive drills. We're covering it all. Whether you're a high school coach, college coach or just a baseball enthusiast, we'll dive into the tactics and techniques that make the difference on and off the field. Discover how to build a winning mentality. Inspire your players and get them truly bought into your game philosophy Plus, get the latest insights on recruiting, coaching, leadership and crafting a team culture that champions productivity and success. Join Coach every week as he breaks down the game and shares incredible behind-the-scenes stories. Your competitive edge starts here, so check out the show weekly and hear from the best coaches in the game. On Baseball Coaches Unplugged.

Speaker 1: 1:54

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Speaker 1: 3:01

Now to one of the greatest hitting performances in college baseball history. Country. Now to one of the greatest hitting performances in college baseball history. I want to tell you an incredible story, not just any story, but one that reminds all of us why we coach While we put in the long hours, the early mornings, the tireless BP sessions in the cage and the endless ground balls after practice. It's about one of my former players at Buckeye Valley High School, ryan Heath. Now, back on April 23rd in 2007, something happened that still doesn't feel real. It was like one of those days that even when you tell it, people look at you and go, no, there's no way that happened. But I can tell you without a doubt it did, and I couldn't be prouder to have played a solid player who played in the all-Ohio series. When he came through Buckeye Valley his senior year Quiet, hardworking, coachable he wasn't the biggest player in our lineup, but you didn't have to worry about his attitude and effort and man, he had grit. He bought into doing things the right way. He was a student of the game, never wanted to make it about himself, always about the team. He was a coach on the field, a true team leader, one of the best I've ever had the opportunity to coach, and he had the opportunity to sign a Division I scholarship with Oakland University. Fast forward to his senior year at Oakland University. That's where this unbelievable chapter begins.

Speaker 1: 4:38

It was a doubleheader against Western Illinois A typical college conference series, right? Nothing too out of the ordinary. Well, until Ryan Heath stepped into the batter's box that day, he went five for seven on the day. But here's where it gets wild. He hit four home runs, three of them grand slams, and drove in 14 runs 14. That's video game stuff.

Speaker 1: 5:06

Before that day, ryden hadn't hit a single home run all season not one and he had never hit a grand slam in his entire career. That day alone he hit three In game one. He was three for three with two grand slams, a double and nine RBI. In the nightcap he added another grand slam, a solo shot and five more RBI. And when he was asked about it afterward, in true Ryan fashion, he said I don't even know how to explain it, I think I was just trying to hit a sack fly. Now, that's the same kid I remember at Buckeye Valley, humble, focused, unshaken by the moment, just doing his job.

Speaker 1: 5:49

His performance earned him Louisville Slugger National Player of the Week Award, making him only the sixth player in the history of the Mid-Conference to receive that award, and rightfully so. You don't double your season RBI total in one day without turning some heads. Sports Illustrated featured him and the Detroit Tigers had him show up for a game and throw out a first pitch. But here's the thing that hits home for me. For any coach listening, it's easy to see the highlight, the stat line, the awards. But what people don't realize is he's a three-sport athlete football, basketball and baseball. He played at a rural school and competed the right way. He had the ability to play more than one position in college and became a four-year starter and a team captain. A quiet leader. Ryan Heath didn't just show up at Oakland and become that guy. He became that guy over years of hard work and dedication, when the lights weren't on and the crowds weren't watching. Another highlight was when we were groomsmen for another teammate of Ryan at Buckeye Valley, matt Stegner. We were in his wedding. That's why we coach, because sometimes a kid you've worked with in high school goes out into the world and has a day that no one will ever forget and he carries with him the lessons he learned when no one was watching. To all the coaches out there grinding right now trust the process. And to all the players chasing the dream keep working, because one day it will be your turn when the ball just keeps going. Thanks for listening.

Speaker 1: 7:36

This has been Baseball Coaches Unplugged. I'm Coach Ken Carpenter and I'll see you next time. Baseball Coaches Unplugged is proud to be partnered with the netting professionals, improving programs one facility at a time. Contact them today at 844-620-2707, or you can visit them online at wwwnettingproscom. If you enjoyed today's show, please be sure and share it with a friend, and don't forget to hit that subscribe button. And please feel free to rate and review our show. It helps us to grow it. As always. I'm Head Coach Ken Carpenter, and thanks for joining me on Baseball Coaches Unplugged. Thank you.