Son saves dad from errant foul ball at San Francisco Giants game

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- A San Anselmo boy is getting national attention after a feat of athleticism saved his dad.

They were at a San Francisco Giants game on Sunday when John Pizzi Jr. reached out and caught a foul ball that was headed straight for his father's head.

"I was literally standing in a catcher's crouch on my seat waiting for a ball," John Pizzi Jr. said.

It was the bottom of the second inning when Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford fouled a pitch over the first base line. The anxious 10-year-old snagged it just in time.

"He had less than two seconds to sort of track the ball, catch the ball, and save me from a head injury," John Pizzi Sr. said.

John's father says he was distracted while ordering a crab sandwich.

"My dad looked back. I showed him the ball in the mitt and he started laughing," John Pizzi Jr. said.

"We got a good laugh and he told me, 'Hey, I saved your life.' I really didn't have a full understanding of what that meant until we got home and we watched the video," John Pizzi Sr. said.

Pizzi Sr. estimates the ball was traveling between 70 and 80 mph. It took an odd bounce off the plate, but the West Marin Little League shortstop made it look easy.

In fact, Pizzi Jr. says he could do it again, for anyone... including an ABC7 News reporter. Thanks kid!