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By Kathleen Szmit
kszmit@barnstablepatriot.com
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photo courtesy of Tino Digiovanni
PERFECT PITCH – Barnstable Patriot sports writer Kathleen Szmit is all smiles after throwing out the first pitch at the July 20 Hyannis Mets game.
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Readers of this occasional column know that while I like most sports, baseball is my true love. Why baseball? Well, there really aren’t enough words. I appreciate the way it has endured through time, the way it appeals to all kinds of people, the energy of an exciting game, and especially the crack of the ball against a wooden bat.
Recently I was given the opportunity to throw out the first pitch at a Hyannis Mets game. While I’m sure that some folks consider such a thing to be no big deal in the grand scheme of nationwide sports, for me it was as if I’d hit the lottery.
After two seasons of hovering journalistically on the sidelines in pursuit of “The Big Story,” I would finally be On The Field. On the same field, in fact, once trod by Doug Mirabelli, Kevin Youkilis, and Jason Varitek. That thought alone had me giddy.
While waiting for the pre-game events to get under way, I snagged a confused-looking but incredibly supportive Mets bat boy whose name, sadly, I didn’t catch, and warmed up (Thanks, kid!). In truth I was more concerned with looking silly than having good form.
The announcement was made that I was to throw out the first pitch. Before taking the mound, or rather the front of the mound, I was presented with a commemorative Barnstable Bat engraved especially for Barnstable Patriot Night at McKeon Field, then handed my first pitch.
ClichŽd as it sounds, everything stopped in that moment except for me and that ball. It wasn’t fast, it didn’t curve, but it was a strike.
It couldn’t get any better than that. Except it did! I learned that both the ball and the bat were mine to cherish. What sealed the evening for me, though, was when Mets catcher Shea Robin shook my hand and said, “Nice throw!”
Yes, friends. I’m still smiling.
The ball is on my desk at work and I’m making plans for a means of displaying the bat, both of which I had signed that night.
As for my future in pitching? Put me in, Coach King! I’m ready to play
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