| Roddick Makes Baseball Debut The 18-year-old throws out the first pitch at Cinergy Field. American teenage sensation Andy Roddick threw out the first pitch at the Cincinnati Reds and San Francisco Giants game on Tuesday at Cinergy Field. The 18-year-old, who lost to top seed Gustavo Kuerten in the first round of the Tennis Masters Series Cincinnati on Monday, used to play baseball as a youngster in Austin, Texas. "I was always a much better baseball player than a tennis player as a kid," said Roddick. "I stopped playing when we moved to Florida, and mainly concentrated on tennis and basketball." Strike As a little-leaguer, Roddick played pitcher and short stop, so it came as no surprise that he threw the first pitch right over the plate. "That was definitely a strike, no doubt about it," said Roddick. "It's funny, I can play in front of 10,000 fans on center court, but to come out in a large stadium like this still makes me a little bit nervous." Prior to the game, Roddick caught up with the real major league players in the Reds' clubhouse. First baseman Sean Casey, an avid tennis fan, met Roddick outside the stadium where the two conversed about tennis, baseball and life in the big leagues. Casey then escorted Roddick through the clubhouse, where he met Ken Griffey Jr. and most of the squad. Before leaving the clubhouse, Casey and Roddick planned to strike a few balls during the offseason. |