CINCINNATI – Mechanicsburg’s Corey Bogan won the 2017 Harvey Haddix Memorial Sportsmanship Award and was honored before Friday night’s game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Washington Nationals at Great American Ball Park. Bogan followed in his brother’s footsteps as a winner of the award and also celebrated his birthday on Friday.
Bogan threw out the ceremonial first pitch, heaving a ball off the plate. Bogan, a pitcher during his senior season, decided not to throw as he had all season for the Indians, instead electing for a soft toss.
“I guess because I didn’t get a warmup. It was just great to come down here to Cincinnati in honor of Harvey Haddix. I mean, that’s what it’s all about,” Bogan said. “It was also great to have everybody come from Mechanicsburg and to have my brother catch it, because he won it four years ago.”
Matt Bogan was indeed on hand to dash to Corey’s rescue, snatching a ball that would have likely found a piece of any right-handed batter. The pair shared a laugh about the lob after the fact, hugging each other before retreating to the track for pictures and camaraderie.
More than 40 Mechanicsburg residents purchased tickets to see Bogan throw out the pitch and take in the game. That was a welcome sight for the young man who celebrated a birthday on Friday and plans to attend Clark State in the fall.
He plans to attack the next part of his life just as he has for his entire preparatory career.
“You just want to go out there and compete and have fun, just like in baseball or any other sport for that matter,” he said.
The Harvey Haddix Memorial Sportsmanship Award is sponsored by the Urbana Daily Citizen and the Cincinnati Reds.
