Joe Drennan
Sports Editor

Standing on the mound of a Major League Baseball ballpark, ball in your hand with 39,000 looking on as you try to get the last out in a game. Thatís the fantasy of many young pitchers, but Forest Lake native Gary Storm lived out that dream last Tuesday ó sort of.

Storm won the chance to throw out the first pitch at Wrigley Field before the Cubs-Brewers game last Tuesday in Chicago when he had the winning bid in a silent auction to support the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire baseball club.

ìI saw the bid and I thought it was a unique opportunity because itís not everyday that a chance to throw out the first pitch at Wrigley Field comes along,î Storm said. ìWhen I won I was pretty excited and called Dave Schultz and Kale Henry to tell them about it as we were going to all go together with a fourth person to be named later.î

Stormsís son Pete just completed his sophomore season with the UW-Eau Claire baseball team.

The UW-Eau Claire baseball team was holding a silent auction to help raise money to cover the teamís cost. Being a club team, the school does little to support the team.

After winning the Western Lakes Conference the UW-Eau Claire baseball team headed to the regional championships where they defeated Nebraska to earn a trip to the National Club Baseball Association World Series. With only one loss in the World Series to Colorado State UW-Eau Claire finished third in the nation.

The silent auction is where Storm was the winning bidder on the chance to throw out the first pitch before a Cubs game at Wrigley Field.

The pitch

Storm, American Legion baseball coaches Henry and Scott Johnson and Tal Gravelle left Forest Lake last Tuesday morning headed toward the Friendly Confines in Chicagoís Wrigleyville neighborhood for the 7:05 p.m. game. Schultz was unable to make it to the game as he had other business to tend to in Chicago.

Prior to Storm throwing out the first pitch the four were able to sit in the Cubs dugout right where Cubs manager Dusty Baker sits, stand in the on-deck circle and go onto the field.

ìIt was pretty special,î Storm said. ìHaving my friends be a part of that with me was pretty special.î

When it was close to game time Storm and two others were ushered to the pitchers mound, told not to do anything goofy like shake off the catchers signs and given their ball.

ìThere wasnít a whole lot of an opportunity to take a minute and gawk at the surroundings,î Storm said. ìThey kind of rushed us on to the field and off the field so there wasnít any time to get nervous at least.î

Storm toed the rubber, wound up, and released his pitch. The ball almost made it to the plate, but it bounced just before home plate and into Cubs rookie Ronny Cedenoís glove.

ìThe funny thing was Gary loosened up really well and was down there waving his arm all around,î Forest Lake High School pitching coach Gravelle said. ìA young girl went out before him and threw a perfect strike, then he bounced it a few feet in front of the plate.

ìHis form was not real strong. He had a short stride. He didnít follow through and squeeze the ball a bit. I think that was his problem,î Gravelle joked. ìWe got a good chuckle out of it and he got the new nickname Short Hopper out of it.î

After his called ball, Storm got his ball back signed by Cedeno and he and Henry, Johnson and Gravelle took their seat to enjoy what ended up being a Cubs 2-0 win.

ìI wasnít nervous about the pitches, I was just excited to be there,î Storm said. ìI had been to Wrigley Field one other time so it was fun to watch a baseball game there and it was enjoyable to watch a baseball game outdoors.î

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Forest Lake Times
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Forest Lake, MN 55025
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