Former Olympians Toss Opening Pitches for Naturals
By: Tyler Thomason
Updated: July 29, 2012
Naturals GM Eric Edelstein describes Olympic night at the ballpark.
"You know we do first pitches here every night, i've just this feeling that tonight's going to be a little bit more special than that."
Fans flock to Arvest ballpark to see baseball players. But saturday night, two former Olympians stole the show.
"It's an unforgettable experience that i would love to share with people," says Anton Kokorin.
Kokorin competed for his native russia in beijing four years ago as a sprinter for the 4 by 400 relay team.
"I got a bronze medal as you know, down there."
And 93-year-old Warren Womble, head basketball coach of Team USA when it won the gold in 1952, over in Finland.
"It was a tremendous experience, and what they say about these awarding gold medals and things, it's very true, very touching - even the hardest of athletes will soften up," Womble says.
Both men, having spent time on the superior stage for sports, humbled, that Naturals GM Eric Edelstein even asked them to be a part of this somewhat smaller stage. At the ballpark. In Northwest Arkansas.
"We work with professional athletes every day and so we see athletes all the time, but there's just somethig about the world stage that these guys came to and worked through," Edelstein says.
"I've had a great time visiting with both of them, and just real excited to have them here."
