Bishop Moore and UCF alum Drew Butera caught the final out of the World Series on Sunday, becoming the first UCF Knight to win the Fall Classic.
The final out of the World Series was a called strike three. The shocker of an umpire calling a third strike always leaves a little delay before the celebration begins.
After 12 innings, a two-run comeback in the bottom of the ninth inning and 25 years waiting as a franchise, the Kansas City Royals won the World Series with Bishop Moore and UCF alum Drew Butera holding the final out.
Butera has had a bit of a journeyman’s career since hitting the majors in 2010. He played in only 45 games this year for the Royals with 99 plate appearances.
He played in three Playoff games for the Royals, checking into Game Five on Sunday in the 12th inning to replace pinch runner Jarrod Dyson. Royals pitcher Wade Davis struck out the first two batters before giving up a hit and allowed a runner to reach on defensive indifference before striking out the side.
Butera made only three appearances in the Playoffs and played in only that one World Series game. He batted .198 for the Royals this season.
Despite the meager statistics, Butera will forever be part of Royals history as the one who caught the franchise’s final out in its first world championship in 30 years.
Butera was a standout locally at Bishop Moore where he helped the team reach the state finals in 2001. He went on to UCF for two years where he was a member of the Atlantic Sun all-freshman team in 2002. Butera was drafted in 2005 ironically by the New York Mets and made his MLB debut in 2010.
Butera became the first UCF Knight to win a World Series.
