White House press secretary Jen Psaki threw out the first pitch at the Washington Nationals baseball game yesterday, following a shooting outside the ballpark the day before sent fans scrambling.
Three people were injured in the shooting, including a fan outside the stadium, and they are all expected to recover. Police are still looking for the suspect.
As the Daily Mail noted, while considered an honor for any Washingtonian, throwing an opening pitch is often a honor best reserved for presidents and senior officials and one press secretaries rarely experience and President Joe Biden has yet to throw an opening pitch while in office.
The selection of Psaki for the ceremonial first pitch was part of “William & Mary Day,” as Psaki is a graduate of William & Mary University.
In a tweet, William & Mary Tribe Athletics shared pictures from the Psaki’s first pitch and said, “It’s William & Mary Day at Nats Park and @williamandmary and @WMTribeSwim alum Jen Psaki (@jrpsaki) threw out the first pitch. #GoTribe.”
Psaki quote tweeted the tweet and said, “Thanks @williamandmary for the best 4 years and this was pretty amazing too. And to @Nationals who made this so fun today.”
Thanks @williamandmary for the best 4 years and this was pretty amazing too. And to @Nationals who made this so fun today. https://t.co/UFioD4IHqc
— Jen Psaki (@jrpsaki) July 19, 2021
While Psaki may not have had the best form, she did fare better than Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s leading infectious disease expert, did last year when he was selected to throw the opening pitch for Major League Baseball’s 2020 season opener, but fumbled the ball into the ground.
As for the violence the day before, the DC Police Union quote tweeted a video that was shared of the chaos at the ballpark.
“Welcome to Washington, D.C. Where violent crime permeates everything. It is a tragedy that elected officials won’t let us do our jobs,” they explained.
Welcome to Washington, D.C. Where violent crime permeates everything.
— DC Police Union (@DCPoliceUnion) July 18, 2021
It is a tragedy that elected officials won’t let us do our jobs. https://t.co/IA5N5qHv5P
The Nationals along with the District of Columbia issued a statement on the “gun violence” where they said that it is “unacceptable and will not be tolerated.”
Joint Statement by the District of Columbia and the Washington Nationals pic.twitter.com/GyAzMFjd62
— Mayor Muriel Bowser (@MayorBowser) July 18, 2021
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