Erik Burgdoerfer, Liam O’Brien Throw First Pitch at Harrisburg Senators Game

Harrisburg Senators manager Matt LeCroy talks to Hershey Bears defenseman Erik Burgdoerfer and forward Liam O’Brien prior to the Senators game against the Altoona Curve on Tuesday night. (Kyle Mace / Chocolate Hockey)

Tuesday night at the Harrisburg Senators game, Bears defenseman Erik Burgdoerfer and forward Liam O’Brien had the opportunity to throw out the first pitch.

“We were just at the rink this morning and they asked if anyone wanted to come out and throw the first pitch at the ballgame and watch the Senators play,” said Burgdoerfer. “I’m a big baseball fan. When I was a kid, probably until I was ten, [I played baseball].”

This isn’t the first time we saw O’Brien toss a baseball this season. After Harold Reynolds said during the 2015 ALCS “There’s not a lot of people that grew up playing baseball in Canada”, we had O’Brien and Madison Bowey prove the Fox commentator wrong.

So does this mean O’Brien is the next Bo Jackson? “I don’t know if you saw me pitch that ball, but definitely not.”

As the team prepares for their first round match-up against the Portland Pirates on Friday night, it’s always nice to take some time away from the rink and have some fun. “It’s a beautiful day,” said Burgdoerfer. “Great day to take in a ballgame.”

“It’s relaxing,” O’Brien remarked. “It’s a really nice day out like Erik said, and we’re just happy to be here.

This isn’t the first time the Bears have had some fun at a Senators game. The Senators once had a Bears speciality jersey night, and in 2012, Bears players Julien Brouillette, Andrew Carroll, Tomas Kundratek, and Garrett Mitchell participated in the dizzy bat race.

City Islanders FC player and Mechanicsburg native Bobby Warshaw also threw out a first pitch as the Islanders prepare for their first game ever at FNB Field, the home of the Senators.

Video of the first pitches:

O’Brien throws his first pitch.

Bobby Warshaw of City Islanders FC throws out his first pitch.