Boston, MA – Winning an Olympic gold medal was the highlight of her skiing career. But throwing out the opening pitch of a Red Sox game has to come close for U.S. moguls skier Hannah Kearney.nThe Olympic champion from Norwich, Vt., was on hand in Boston Tuesday night to throw out the first pitch at the Red Sox-Yankees game at Fenway Park. On the receiving end of the throw was none other than Sox center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury.
It was a fitting match for the Gold medalist, given that her chosen attire underneath the Olympic uniform for the Opening Ceremony was an Ellsbury jersey.
“The Red Sox jersey wasn’t a part of the issued Opening Ceremony uniforms, so I had to wear it underneath everything else, but I had it on me,” Kearney said.
According to Ellsbury, he had nearly as many friends texting him when they found out Kearney had his jersey on as he did when the Sox won the World Series in 2007.
“I mentioned his name more than once, but I didn’t want to come across as a creepy stalker – I’m just a Red Sox fan,” Kearney said. “The fact that anyone on the Red Sox knows that I won a gold medal is incredibly flattering.”
Kearney is so big a fan that in addition to the jersey she brought Red Sox ticket stubs to Vancouver with her for good luck.
While the pitch was solid, Kearney admits she had a little case of nerves heading into Fenway Park on Tuesday night.
“I was very nervous. I trained for moguls skiing and I trained for the Olympic moment,” Kearney said. “I have been practicing, but I’ve not been practicing for 22 years for this moment.”
Following the pitch, Ellsbury presented Kearney with a baseball and bat before the medalist spent the rest of the night enjoying the game.
“I am so excited and honored,” Kearney said.
Sadly for Kearney, the Sox lost 6-4 to the World Series Champions, the New York Yankees.