Baptiste Bernadac on the mound. /Contributed photo
At the Kenosha Kingfish baseball game on Friday, July 17, Baptiste Bernadac threw out the opening pitch. Bernadac is being hosted by two families from Westosha Central High School. The 16-year-old from Rennes, Brittany in northwestern France was thrilled for this opportunity.
Westosha Central School Board member Terry Simmons, his host father for the first part of his summer stay, served as his coach — setting up bases and practicing throwing — all the while keeping it secret so as not to make Baptiste nervous.
Bernadac’s second host, Nick Bielski and his family, took Bernadac to the game where they told him he would be throwing out the first pitch. Bernadac was very excited and threw a great pitch. He was given the ball as a souvenir and afterward got the signatures of some of the players.
No doubt this is one of the highlights of his stay in the Kenosha area. Baseball is not very popular in France so this could be the start of a new trend there.
Nick Bielski (left) and Baptiste Bernadac. /Contributed photo
