The downward motion as it reaches the plate could have struck out a professional player.A Dominican nun impressed the Chicago White Sox and their fans when she delivered an impeccable ceremonial first pitch before Saturday’s White Sox-Royals matchup. Sister Mary Jo Sobiek took the mound brimming with confidence and even showed off a bit, bouncing the ball on her arm before bringing on the heat.
Loyola has Sister Jean, but the White Sox have Sister Mary Jo Sobieck of @Marian_Catholic! The Sox might have a little help from the man upstairs today! pic.twitter.com/MkQ84yNMjg
— NBC Sports Chicago (@NBCSChicago) August 18, 2018
Guaranteed Rate Field was celebrating “Marian Catholic High Night” and in support of the local school, Sister Sobiek, an administrator at Marian Catholic, was afforded the opportunity to let her skills shine. She donned the high school’s softball uniform jersey for the occasion.
The Washington Post spoke with White Sox Manager Rick Renteria, who seemed very surprised by the pitch:
“… she was talking to someone and she wanted to warm up. She had a mitt and a ball. She gave him the mitt. She stepped back at about 45 feet and threw a bullet.
“I’m like, ‘Wait a minute.’ He threw it back to her and she fielded it barehanded. I was like, ‘Okay, she looks like she can play a little bit,’ so we started talking to her. I think she said, ‘I played center and short.’ ”
One of the most impressive first pitches of all time. 😱 https://t.co/PA7M4iC9X5
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) August 18, 2018
To catch the ceremonial pitch was White Sox starting pitcher Lucas Giolito, who commented to MLB.com, “That was awesome. She had a whole routine. She had it planned out. I was just lucky to be back there. She threw a perfect pitch.”
A 2008 profile by the Times of Northwest Indiana notes that Sobieck played softball and volleyball during her years at The College of St. Scholastica, in Minnesota. In her prime her fastball clocked in at 76 mph.
