Perry to toss 1st pitch before game with U.S. Olympians
BUTLER TWP— Former Butler High and Butler County Community College softball pitcher Chelsea Perry will be making one more pitch.
Perry, 23, saw her softball playing career ended when she suffered a brain aneurysm and subsequent stroke on March 7, 2006, that threatened her life.
After intensive rehabilitation, she has since returned to BC3 as a student and plans to graduate with a degree in early childhood education in about a year.
Perry will throw the ceremonial first pitch May 1 at Consol Energy Park in Washington, Pa., before the U.S. Olympic softball team's game against Robert Morris University at 7:30 p.m.
Perry was selected for the honor by the Pittsburgh Power, her former summer softball program, which applied for and received a bid to host the U.S.team for a game during its pre-Olympic tour.
"We have a good relationship with Robert Morris. Some of their players have played in our program," said Pittsburgh Power director and coach Warren Pirring.
"Since we bid for the game, we were given VIPprivileges, which include naming who throws out the first pitch.
"Well, we don't gave a VIP. ... Then we thought of Chelsea. She's our VIP,"Pirring added.
Perry last pitched for the Power three years ago. Pirring coached her for two years with the organization.
"She was a competitor who gave her best all the time,"he said. "I'm sure that same attitude helped her overcome her illness.
"She is one of my favorite players ever."
Perry has attended some Butler High games this spring and still plans to coach the sport at some point.
For now, throwing the first pitch will quench her thirst for competition.
"It's a great thrill,"Perry said. "I'm honored that they (Power) would think of me like this."
Pirring said Perry is one of the "pioneers" of the Pittsburgh Power organization.
"We only had three or four teams in the organization when she played for us,"Pirring said. "Now we have 19 teams. Chelsea helped us get started"
Perry attends stroke survivor group meetings in Pittsburgh and Butler. Her plans are to operate a day-care center when she graduates.
"When we first got word of her illness, it was a shock to everybody," Pirring said. "A lot of us thought she wasn't going to make it.
"She's always been a fighter. Now she's an inspiration."
