Some folks deal with ceremonial first pitch pressure better than others

Mary Sirmon tosses out first pitch during 2017 Opening Day ceremonies.

Evergreen Cal Ripken Baseball-Softball League President Brian Martin announced on Monday that the league will hold its Opening Day festivities on Fri., April 20, at Evergreen Municipal Park.

The league had planned to hold its Opening Day ceremonies tomorrow (Friday), but Brian and other league officials decided to postpone it one week due to expected bad weather.

Opening Day festivities on April 20 will begin at 5:30 p.m. “sharp,” Martin said, and all teams are expected to be there in full uniform at 5 p.m., ready to go on the field for pictures. League officials are also asking all team sponsors to be present for team photos. A full slate of games will follow immediately thereafter.

I predict that Brian will have a big crowd on hand for their Opening Day ceremonies, especially if the weather cooperates. When you take into account all the players, coaches, parents, grandparents and others, that makes for a sizable crowd. I’m sure they’ll also have plenty of good stuff to eat at the concession stand.

Over the years, I’ve been to more than a few of these Opening Day-type events, and I always look forward to the ceremonial first pitch. I don’t know who’s going to throw out this year’s first pitch, but if memory serves me correctly, Mrs. Mary Sirmon threw out last year’s first pitch. Mrs. Mary really let it fly last year, so whoever does it this year will have big shoes to fill.

I’ve never been asked to throw out a ceremonial first pitch, but I think it would be cool to do it at least once. The only drawback that I can see is the pressure to make a good, manly throw to home plate in front of that big crowd. With no one around, I know I could zip it down the pipe like nobody’s business, but that Opening Day crowd would be a game-changer.

Here in Evergreen, about the best “first pitch” thrower I’ve seen is Police Chief James Simpson. “Simp” looks like he keeps himself in good shape, and the times that I’ve seen him make the first pitch he has thrown it home as well as any 18-year-pitcher at Hillcrest. While I doubt that he spends much time in his backyard practicing to make first pitches, I’ve never asked him about his secret to success. Some folks just naturally perform well under pressure, which is probably the reason that he’s the city’s police chief.

Changing the subject, and before I forget to mention it, I was looking through some notes on Monday and saw where in April 2009 the City of Evergreen recognized Brian Martin for two decades of service to the local youth baseball league. Nearly 10 years have passed since then, so Brian’s getting close to 30 years of service with the local youth baseball league. Folks like Brian really are the unsung heroes of local sports, and they deserve all the recognition they can get. If you see Brian out on the street this week, give him a big pat on the back for a job well done.