COLUMBIANA - For one young Cleveland Indians fan, a round of open heart surgery led the way to an experience many baseball enthusiasts only dream about.
Alyson Smith, 5, the daughter of Kevin and Kathy Smith, Columbiana, threw out the ceremonial first pitch in the second game of the Indians' double header against the Detroit Tigers on July 17.
"It was just so cool. We got to go down into the underground part where most people don't get to go," her mother described the experience.
Alyson had been the victim of a membrane that had been growing and closing off the left side of her heart, which prompted her to have surgery on June 15 at the Cleveland Clinic. Kevin reported the surgery went "fantastic" and Alyson is doing fine.
Throughout the process, he noted, a child life specialist he knows as Andrea had been helping her deal with her hospital visits through her friendly demeanor.
"Whenever they had to get something painful done, she was there to cheer her up," he noted.
About a month after the surgery, Alyson went for a follow-up visit to the clinic, which is when Andrea revealed her surprise - a trip to Progressive Field and the chance to throw out the first pitch. The family gladly took her up on the offer.
Alyson was permitted to throw the ball from as close as she chose to home plate. Despite having had surgery just a month earlier - coupled with being only 5 years old - Kathy said her daughter insisted on throwing from the mound.
Kevin noted though the ball hit the ground about two-thirds of the way to the plate, it successfully rolled the rest of the way there, where shortstop No.16 Jason Donald was ready to pick it up and sign it for Alyson.
Kevin noted both of his daughters were born in Cleveland, so, "They're anything (that is) Cleveland fans."
And as an added bonus, despite a 1-1 tie starting in the fourth inning and a two-hour rain delay, the Indians walked away with the win in the bottom of the 11th.
