La Porte man thrilled about his first pitch throw

BY STAN MADDUX

Practice paid off apparently for a La Porte man very pleased with his ceremonial first pitch at a major league baseball game.

Mike Kellems said his throw Monday, June 12, at Comerica Park in Detroit may have been a bit too high but it was close enough to the strike zone to avoid his worst fear going in.

Being laughed at on a network TV sports video displaying some of the not so spectacular moments in baseball.

“I’m very thankful that I am not a highlight on SportsCenter today,” he said.

It was law enforcement appreciation night during the game between the Detroit Tigers and Atlanta Braves.

Kellems is a retired La Porte County Police officer now working part time as a police officer for Purdue University Northwest at the Westville area campus.

He’s also an ambassador for the National Law Enforcement Officer’s Memorial Fund, which provides financial help to families of fallen police officers.

The Washington D.C. based organization knowing it was going to have a presence at the pregame ceremonies asked Kellems to throw out the first pitch.

Kellems said he was honored to be chosen primarily to help pay tribute to officers who gave their lives during the line of duty.

He was also thrilled and nervous about the opportunity as a baseball fan.

Kellems said he played organized baseball for just one year as a child and men’s softball for a season or two, but never pitched.

To avoid potential embarrassment, he sought advice from La Porte High School head baseball coach, Scott Upp, who advised him to throw a lot of pitches to build arm strength and accuracy.

Kellems ended up throwing from a portable pitching mound to coaches in the athletic program at Michigan City High School, where he was a lifeguard during physical education classes in the pool.

The indoor throwing sessions were held about twice a week for several weeks.

Kellems said he became a little emotional when a helicopter flew over the stadium and a law enforcement color guard marched on the field as part of the festivities honoring fallen and current police officers.

Suddenly, he was asked to stand in front of the mound and throw out the first pitch. His toss to home plate not only had decent speed but landed nowhere near the dirt or back stop.

The catcher was still crouched behind the plate when he reached out and squeezed the ball with his glove.

“If I was an umpire I would have called it a strike. I think I might have caught the corner,” he said.

The catcher was Zach Short, who’s actually an infielder and outfielder for the Tigers.

He autographed the ball, which Kellems brought home as a keep sake.

“I can’t tell you enough what a thrill it was to be able to do something like that,” Kellems said.

Celebrating 71 years of the ‘World’s Longest Flag Day Parade’

BY FRANCESCA SAGALA

Despite the lowlying clouds and slight drizzle, residents and visitors converged on the streets of downtown Three Oaks for the 71st year for what has long been billed as the “World’s Longest Flag Day Parade” the afternoon of Sunday, June 11.

The parade lived up to its name this year, as it featured nearly 90 units. As was tradition, the parade opened with six Harley Davidson Road King Police Motorcycles from the Berrien County Sheriff’s Office Motorcycle Unit. Other units that made their way down Elm Street were the Three Oaks American Legion Post 204 Color Guard; the parade’s grand marshal, Berrien County Sheriff Paul Bailey, who has served the county as police officer since 1979 and was elected sheriff in 2001; the Miss/Mr. Three Oaks/River Valley Royal Court; Mid-American Cowgirls Rodeo Team,and the usual endless stream of tractors and antique cars.

The parade was emceed by none other than Richard Smith, president of the Village of Three Oaks.