One Chance on the Mound; One Shot at Stardom ...

And here's the windup from the aging editor ...

... the pitch ...

... it's on the way ...

... catcher Matt Spring reacts ...

... and pulls it out of the ground.

Catcher Matt Spring autographs ball.

No, it wasn't pretty. So all that practice in front of the mirror went for naught. And it wasn't a strike. I had a notion that'd happen, even when the first four pitches I threw in the back yard this morning were right down the middle ... with heat. The fifth one went over the utility building and into the yard with the dog that doesn't like me.

The occasion, as I mentioned earlier today, was the first pitch at the Salem Red Sox Business Professionals Lunch Day at the park. I threw out the first pitch, wearing my authentic Kansas City Monarchs Satchel Paige replica jersey (No. 25) from the old Negro Leagues. One of the Salem players asked if it was real. I told him Satch was my grandpa. Heh, heh, heh ...

I was given a four-pitch warmup in front of the dugout with backup catcher Matt Spring. The first two were impressive enough that Matt shook his hand (like it was stinging) and said, "You're ready." But noooooo. I had to throw two more. Guess I threw my arm away. I certainly threw the ball away.

The one shot I got on the mound was a carryover from the last two pitches. It got all the way to the plate, but was off to the left and in the dirt. Dang. Embarrassing. But you pays your money and you takes your chances. And by gum, it was fun.

(Photos by Christina Koomen ... and not Val.)