For Abigail Moore, throwing out the ceremonial first pitch at a Texas Rangers game was more than a pregame tradition.
It was the latest milestone in a baseball journey that began years ago as a young Rangers fan collecting player autographs.
Moore first made headlines at age seven after collecting the most autographs from Texas Rangers players. Now, years later, she walked onto the field at Globe Life Field to throw out the first pitch before a Rangers game against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
“So, last night I threw the first pitch for the Rangers game,” Moore said.
The pitch was a strike.
“I haven’t been able to stop smiling since then. It was the coolest moment of my life,” she said.
Baseball has been a constant part of Moore’s life since T-ball. She continued playing through high school and was drafted earlier this year into the new Women’s Pro Baseball League.
The moment at Globe Life Field drew support from dozens of people in her life.
About 50 friends, family members and classmates attended the game to watch Moore take the mound. Two young women also traveled from Austin to watch her throw the first pitch.
Brian Womack, head baseball coach at Arlington High School, said it was the first time one of his players had received the honor.
“I was jealous. To get to throw out the first pitch is awesome. At the Rangers game, in front of everybody, is fantastic,” Womack said.
Moore described the experience as surreal.
“I just saw tons and tons of fans, it felt surreal, it felt like I was in a dream,” she said.
She also said she hopes her journey encourages other young women to pursue opportunities in sports.
“I hope that they know as a woman in sports and in life really that we have the power, the enthusiasm, the knowledge, the talent to be just as successful as anyone else and that when opportunities come were gonna take advantage of them and we’re gonna show the world just what we can do,” Moore said.
Moore is also graduating as Arlington High School’s salutatorian.