2022 Pitcher Tells Rebels to Enjoy Every Moment in Omaha

But for Johnson, a senior at the University of Mississippi, it was a moment of calm.

"I remember I had this sense of control," Johnson said. "That sounds weird, but that's what it felt like: calm control. We had so much momentum. We had a two-run lead. Everything was on our side.

"And right then, I knew the outcome of the game before it even happened."

Johnson threw the final strike against Oklahoma to win Ole Miss' first College World Series championship. Four years later, and as the Rebels return to Omaha, he still views that championship run as one of the defining experiences of his life.

"I remember the moment we made it (to the College World Series)," he said. "It was Southern Miss (at the Hattiesburg Super Regional). The popup went up and when they caught it, I just had this overwhelming sigh of relief.

"We went through a lot that year, but the fact that we were able to make it to the pinnacle of college baseball, it was like everything we had to do to get to that moment was worth it."

If the moment before Johnson's slider sailed into catcher Hayden Dunhurst's glove and sealed a Rebel victory was calm, the seconds after were anything but, he said. Dunhurst tackled Johnson to the ground, and the team followed suit as they celebrated being national champions.

"Now, I can't tell you what happened in the next 20 minutes," Johnson said. "Hayden and I, we had talked about what we were going to do if we won, but in the moment, we just forgot everything."

After graduating, Johnson was drafted by the Kansas City Royals and continues to work toward a spot in the major leagues. But his Ole Miss teammates remain close friends.

"We have a group chat that was just going insane on Saturday," Johnson said. "We watch every single game that we can. And when we can't, that's because we're playing.

"I'm watching every single pitch I can watch. Sometimes I tell people in the stands, 'I've got a ball for you if you can give me an update on Ole Miss.'"

The road to a national championship is long and not easy, Johnson said. That is often the side of baseball that fans, no matter how dedicated, do not get to see.

"What I think a lot of people forget is the sacrifices and the hardship that go into these games," he said. "Because everybody loves the glory, right? They see the videos and the parades and the pictures and the smiles.

"But, man, there were some tough times."

When things got hard, Johnson relied on his teammates.

"For me, it was having connections with the guys, both the team and the staff," he said. "We shed tears that year. We sacrificed our time, our bodies.

"It was a really powerful thing, but it showed me that if you have the right people around, you can accomplish anything."

To see a video message from Johnson about why Hotty Toddy is special to him, click here.

Regardless of the score at the end of the College World Series, Johnson said he hopes the team pauses to realize their accomplishment.

"Just enjoy the moment," he said. "It's a moment that not many people get to experience. There are so many great players and great teams who never make it. The stars have to align, and they have for this team.

"Everything from walking out and seeing the stadium to going to the zoo on your off day – that's what we did – just experience all of it with one another. These are the moments you'll remember for the rest of your life."

Top: Somewhere at the bottom of the dogpile of Rebel players celebrating the College World Series championship in 2022 is Brandon Johnson, the pitcher who threw the game-winning strike. 'That actually does hurt a lot,' Johnson said. 'At first, it's really cool, and then you realize you have two tons of muscle on top of you. I was sore the next day.' Photos by Joshua McCoy/Ole Miss Department of Athletics