Throw Out the First Pitch at a Major League Baseball Game

“I felt my heart thumping as I entered the infield. Then, my jaw dropped. I had thought I would be throwing the ball to one of the players on the team. Instead, Billy the Marlin stood at the plate, patting his oversized glove. My catcher was the team’s mascot! I took a deep breath. The buzz of the crowd stilled. There was just me, Billy the Marlin, and his giant glove. I felt the ball’s weight in my hands, pressing two fingers against the raised seams. Then, I wound up and threw that ball with everything I had. I really went for it! And the second the ball left my hand, I knew my pitch was way too high. The red laces spun in slow motion, rising higher with every rotation. Billy the Marlin dropped his glove, put a hand to his forehead like a visor, and mockingly tracked the ball as it sailed overhead and slammed into the backstop.”

“After the pitch, catcher says “you threw a cutter!“ I said “I didn’t mean to.“ Then, while walking away from me, he told the marketing woman, “that was kind of fast“ and then I went to my seat and ate nachos and I was the happiest boy.”