My friend and newspaper colleague David Rinald was honored Saturday morning in throwing out the first pitch of the 2013 Dixie Youth Baseball season. I felt honored just to be at Lake June Ballfields to witness the pitch and the other opening day ceremonies.

With a mightly windup, Rinald fired a fastball that crossed home plate for a bulls’ eye strike. Spectators could hear the red laces on the ball slice the air and a solid “thump” when the ball smashed into the mitt of young catcher Jacob Morgan, rocking the youngster onto his heels. Coaches and umpires rushed to be certain the youngster was okay, but Jacob announced he was uninjured and smiled for photographs with the guest pitcher while soothing his catching hand.