Good Times (And a Few Bad Throws) Highlight Ceremonial First Pitches For Chattanooga Lookouts

Chattanooga-(WDEF-TV) You never know who you might see throw out the ceremonial first pitch at a Chattanooga Lookouts game.
We’ve had a former U-S president handle the honor, as well as a few American Idol stars.
It seems everyone wants to be apart of this baseball tradition, even though they’re not exactly a pitcher

For one brief moment, the average fan gets the big league spotlight with the ceremonial first pitch.
Said Lookouts Marketing Director Alex Tainsh:”It really is a special and a unique thing with baseball. Other sports try to replicate it in different ways, but I don’t think anyone has really captured that magic of the ceremonial first pitch.”
Rarely though is there anything ‘magical’ about a first pitch.
We saw that dud Cole Strange.
Said Tainsh:”Sometimes someone will tell me hey, I’m really nervous. You got any tips? I always stress take the word ceremonial seriously. High and soft. If you’re looking to maximize your chance of having a great pitch, high and soft.”
Mocs football coach Rusty Wright and former Mocs basketball coach Lamont Paris make it look easy.
But everyone else is trying to avoid the embarrassment of a bad throw.
Said Lookouts General Manager Rich Mozingo:”Frank Gifford spent about 15 minutes in the bullpen warming up for that one. It’s a different world when you get out there. You’re on the mound. You’re throwing 60-feet six-inches. It’s not what you do in the backyard with your 8-year-old. It’s a real pitch. So he got out there and prepared and threw an absolute strike.”
Tainsh:”Once had a guy show up at two o’clock the day he was supposed to throw it and was like, can you help me? I don’t know how to throw a baseball. So we came out right out there, and we practiced throwing a baseball.”
I bet it was New’s 12’s Chip Chapman who showed up early for a lesson.
When the Lookouts get really desperate, they can on News 12 talent.
At least Looie gives us that Angel Hernandez strike zone.
Said Tainsh:”You know a lot of people aren’t throwing all the time. They come out here, and it just kind of gets away from them, but we clap. We smile, and we say hey, that was awesome. Great job. Thank you so much for coming.”
And remember folks, always throw home safely.
Said Tainsh:”You can get as close to home plate as you want or wherever you are most comfortable. I’ve probably said that a thousand times.”
Reporter:”Yeah Larry Ward he figured it out when he threw that first pitch out a couple of years ago.”
Said Tainsh:”He said I probably haven’t thrown a baseball in 30 years. Can I walk it up? I said Larry, ham it up and walk it on in there.”
Said Mozingo:”It’s amazing how many people I run into that tell me I got to throw a first pitch out there one time, and it was the highlight of my life.”