Marines honored in midst of Nationals' winning streak

By Jim DresbachAugust 28, 2014

Marines honored in midst of Nationals' winning streak
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JOINT BASE MYER-HENDERSON HALL, Va. - United States Marines are known for typically wearing their hair high and tight.

The same goes for ceremonial baseball first pitches.

Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. James F. Amos delivered the honorary opening pitch, a head-high delivery that cut across the right-handed batter's box, during pregame ceremonies Aug. 20 as the National League East Division-leading Washington Nationals hosted Marine Appreciation Night.

"I've been practicing at the house, and I'd go out on the parade deck at 8th and I, and I'd march off 60 feet and 6 inches," Amos said with a smile while describing his Marine Night practice ritual. "But there's a lot of pressure going out in front of this crowd."

The Marine Night victory, a 3-2 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks, was the Nationals' ninth-straight victory during the team's 10-game winning streak.

Along with Amos' first pitch, a battalion's-worth of Marines took part in the evening. The game ball was delivered by Sgt. Maj. Micheal P. Barrett, sergeant major of the Marine Corps and the Marine Corps Color Guard and Silent Drill Platoon were also a part of the festivities.

The pregame "play ball" announcement after a brief rain delay was made by Lt. Gen. Kenneth Glueck, and the national anthem was performed by Quantico's Marine Corps Band while 150 Marines lined the left field and right field foul lines. During the final third of the game, retired Lt. Col. Rose-Ann Lynch led the crowd in the singing of "God Bless America."

Outside Nationals Park's center field gate, unwrapped toys were collected by the U.S. Marine Corps Reservists to get a jump start on the 2015 Toys For Tots campaign.

The Marine Night was the fourth of a series of military branch appreciation nights hosted by the Nationals.