Congressman Davidson throws American Legion fist pitch

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Congressman Warren Davidson throws out first pitch at American Legion District 2 & 3 Regional Tournament played at Troy's Duke Park. (Gaylen Blosser photo)

TROY – Congressman Warren Davidson threw out the first pitch at the American Legion District 2 and District 3 Regional baseball tournament following a week at the Republican National Convention.

Davidson threw the opening pitch over the plate but came up a little short on the throw.

“I can’t believe I hopped it,” Davidson said. “You always know you have to throw down a little bit because you’re on a mound. I short-hopped it, but the catcher recovered pretty nicely. Of course, you want to throw a strike, but it’s an honor to get to throw out the first pitch. What a great tradition to have American Legion Baseball here this summer.”

Congressman Warren Davidson and his batterymate at American Legion Regional Tournament. (Gaylen Blosser photo)

Davidson was an athlete growing up and attending Sidney High School, where he was a member of the Yellow Jackets wrestling team.

“When I stopped playing baseball, I realized I was probably not going even to be able to start for our high school team,” he said. “There are a couple of guys better than me in these kinds of leagues. Baseball is a great sport, but athleticism is important.”

“God designed an amazing machine with the human body, and being able to use sports and creatively do it, it’s such a great challenge,” Davidson continued. “I like a sport with a clear winner and a clear loser. It’s easy to keep score in baseball; there are all kinds of stats. I love wrestling, a very clear one-on-one sport, but you worked together as a team to hone your skills.”

Eighth District Congressman Warren Davidson leaves field following throwing first pitch of American Legion Regional baseball tournament game. (Gaylen Blosser photo)

Davidson appreciates American Legion Baseball and the structure of the clean play and conduct required between the lines on the field.

“Before the game starts, players and coaches recite the Code of Sportsmanship to say there are better ways to live and not just to play the game and the rules you learn from sports,” Davidson stated.

American Legion Code of Sportsmanship

I will: KEEP the rules, KEEP faith with my teammates, KEEP my temper, KEEP myself fit, KEEP a stout heart in defeat, KEEP my pride under in victory, KEEP a sound soul, a clean mind and a healthy body

“One of the things we learned at West Point was a message from Douglas McArthur, and he said,”

“Upon the fields of friendly strife are sown the seeds that on other days, on other fields, will bear the fruits of victory.”

“The kinds of thing you need to prevail in battle are the kinds of things you learn from sports,” said Davidson. “One of the great things about being on a team is people don’t really care about elder attributes; they care about winning. They get out there, and they focus on the mission, and that builds its own cohesion.”

“There seems to be in culture this tendency for certain factions to try to create some sort of artificial replication of that essentially by preventing it, and reality is getting together and having that kind of comradery and assured purpose does bring out excellence, and that really ought to be our focus and a lot of life,” Congressman Davidson concluded.