Fastballs with Jimmy Spithill
Oracle Skipper Throws Out First Pitch: Press Release
August 25, 2012
SF
Giants Pitcher Sergio Romo and Oracle Team USA's James Spithill. Photo:©2012 Guilain Grenier/Oracle Team USA
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Photos
(3):©2012 Guilain Grenier/Oracle Team USA |
Oracle Team USA helmsman Jimmy Spithill took the mound for America’s Cup Day with the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park on Sunday, Aug. 25, prior to the day’s America’s Cup World Series races in San Francisco Bay. Spithill, skipper Russell Coutts, tactician John Kostecki, and several members of Oracle Team USA also participated in an on-field ceremony with Giants manager Bruce Bochy and CEO Larry Baer.
Spithill was handed the ball and tossed the ceremonial first pitch, right across the plate. Relief pitcher Sergio Romo, standing in as catcher, signaled a strike.
“What a fantastic day,” Spithill said. “I’m a big fan of the Giants and that was one of those once-in-a-lifetime experiences.”
Prior to stepping onto the field, Spithill got a few pointers from Giants ace pitcher Matt Cain, who passed along the advice, “Just get it across the plate and you won’t get booed.”
Not the best remedy for Spithill’s nerves, as his teammates and Baer added pressure by reminding him there were 40,000-plus people in the stands watching and a lot more tuning in on television.
"What was really cool was that just before I threw the first pitch, the team came and stood behind me,” Spithill said. “It felt like I had them as back-up. What an opportunity, to go to AT&T Park, hang out with Matt Cain and Sergio Romo.”
A pair of trophies joined them on the field the America's Cup Trophy, won by Oracle Team USA in 2010, and the World Series trophy the Giants also captured in 2010. And, the pre-game festivities featured a fly-by from the entire 11-boat fleet racing this week.
In June, Bochy took a ride onboard with Oracle Team USA Coutts to get a taste of racing an AC45. It also happened to be the same day Cain pitched a perfect game.
"It was exciting going to AT&T Park and meet the Giants, an iconic team,” said Coutts.
Coutts, Spithill and Kostecki, a life-long Giants fan, left the field before the game even started as they had their own competition an hour later the penultimate day of racing at the ACWS.
Legendary Giants broadcaster Mike Krukow served as host for the members of Oracle Team USA as they met with fans prior to the ceremony. Team members Jonathan MacBeth, Will McCarthy, Gilberto Nobili, Joe Spooner, and Brad Webb joined in the activities and signed autographs at the ballpark’s Community Clubhouse.
Spithill and Coutts both went on to win their respective match races on the day to advance to Sunday’s final. Spithill also finished second and first in the two fleet races to remain on top of the week’s leaderboard. The Giants lost to the Atlanta Braves, 7-3. More racing, and more baseball, are on tap for Sunday.
--From Oracle Team USA
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The America's Cup and the SF Giants 2010 World Series Trophy, Russell Coutts and James Spithill at left. |
Rooting
for the Home Teams. |
