THE WINDUP, AND THE PITCH ... MAYOR GETS IN PRACTICE AT HIGH SCHOOL GAME.Byline: Amy Raisin Darvish Staff Writer SAUGUS - It was only a warm-up in preparation for today's ceremonial first pitch The ceremonial first pitch is longstanding ritual of American baseball in which a guest of honor throws a ball to mark the end of pregame festivities and the start of the game. at Dodger Stadium • • [ , but Santa Clarita Santa Clarita, city (1990 pop. 110,642), Los Angeles co., S Calif., suburb 30 mi (48 km) NW of downtown Los Angeles, on the Santa Clara River; inc. 1987. Situated in the Santa Clara valley and nearby canyons, Santa Clarita includes the former towns of Canyon Country, Mayor Cameron Smyth Cameron Smyth is a Republican who has represented Califoria's 38th Assembly district since December of 2006. He succeeded Keith Richman who was term limited. Prior to being elected to the state legislature, Assemblyman Smyth served on the Santa Clarita City Council, where he was nervous as he tossed the first pitch Friday to kick off Saugus High's playoff baseball game Noun 1. baseball game - a ball game played with a bat and ball between two teams of nine players; teams take turns at bat trying to score runs; "he played baseball in high school"; "there was a baseball game on every empty lot"; "there was a desire for National League against Moorpark. ``My biggest concern was just making it over the plate,'' Smyth said afterward. ``Yeah, I was nervous.'' If Friday's warm-up was any indication, Smyth should have no problem when he takes the mound before today's game at Dodger Stadium. It is part of the city's 28th annual Santa Clarita Dodgers Day. Throwing out the ceremonial first pitch prior to the 1:10 p.m. game between the Dodgers and the Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. Angeles of Anaheim will not be Smyth's first time on that hallowed baseball diamond. Smyth's father, Clyde, himself a former mayor of Santa Clarita, served as the honorary batter during one of the Santa Clarita events at Dodger Stadium years ago, when the younger Smyth was a child. ``I was 10 or 11 years old, and I got to come down with my dad,'' Smyth said. ``I went down and got Steve Garvey's autograph, and Manny Manny may refer to: In nobility:
Smyth has been practicing with Ed Masterson, chairman of the Santa Clarita Valley The Santa Clarita Valley is the valley of the Santa Clara River in Southern California. It stretches through Los Angeles County and Ventura County. Its main population center is the city of Santa Clarita. The valley was part of the 48,612-acre (19,672. Chamber of Commerce, who will be behind the plate today to catch the mayor's pitch. Masterson said he has faith in his battery mate. ``He's pretty good; I've had to let my hand cool down after we warmed up,'' Masterson said. ``I'd say he's over the plate about 82 percent of the time.'' Smyth says he is looking forward to throwing that pitch across home plate, but the honor goes beyond the actual pitch, he said. ``It's great to be able to throw out the first pitch at a major league game like this, but when you're representing a great community like Santa Clarita, that's the biggest honor,'' he said. Amy Raisin Darvish, (661) 257-5254 amy.raisin(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): 2 photos Photo: (1) Moorpark's Mitchell Rudebush gets positioned to slide into second base as Saugus High's Dan Hughes tries for the ball during the third inning Friday in Saugus. (2) Santa Clarita Mayor Cameron Smyth brings the heat as he throws the first pitch of Friday's playoff game between Saugus and Moorpark high schools. David Crane/Staff Photographer |
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