Duncan throws out first pitch at Clippers game
COSHOCTON – Evan Duncan has been to Columbus Clippers games before, but the one he attended this month was extra special.
The 11-year-old, who is the son of Jennifer Duncan and Ryan Carroll and Dan and Mindy Duncan, threw out the first pitch during the Clippers Aug. 15 sold out game against Gwinnett.
“I was pretty excited,” Duncan said. “It’s not something you get to do every day.”
Duncan’s mom Jennifer works for Scott Boyer Nationwide Insurance, which is where the family got the tickets to the game from.
“Nationwide has a lot to do with Huntington Park and Scott was asked to throw out the first pitch, but he decided to transition that opportunity to Evan,” Jennifer said. “He plays on Scott’s rec team for Warsaw. He (Scott) has been good to Evan.”
Evan, who plays second base and catches, spent a few days before the game practicing his pitching.
“I got it right above the strike zone,” he said. “The catcher gave me a high five and told me good job. It was really fun.”
Evan’s mom, older and younger brothers and Tetsuya Ono, a foreign exchange student from Japan, got to enjoy the moment with Evan.
“It was a once in a lifetime chance,” Jennifer said.
While at the game, Evan also got his baseball glove signed by seven Major League Baseball Hall of Famers who were there.
“It was five Indians, a Red and a Pirate,” he said. “I’ve had this glove since coach pitch, but I’m going to get a new one.”
Evan was extremely appreciative of the opportunity to play a special role at a Clippers game.
“I thanked Scott a lot,” he said. “It kind of made me feel like I might be able to do this one day because it’s my dream to grow up and be a Major League Baseball player.”
josie@coshoctoncountybeacon.com
Category: People & Places