The Washington Nationals baseball team is stoking up a young fan who had a game ball thrown to her by an outfielder snatched from right in front of her by an adult. Avery Hilliard and her teammates from the Shenandoah Recreation League softball all-star team were in Washington, D.C., to see the Nationals play. Their team was among several honored with an invitation to the game on Youth Champions Day.
While the ten-year-old and her teammates lined up at the outfield wall, outfielder Joey Meneses tossed a ball right toward Avery, who had her glove ready to make the catch. Just as the ball made it to Avery, a man stepped up to the wall and extended his glove over in front of Avery’s glove and caught the ball. Avery’s mom, Gina Hilliard tweeted a video of the moment and tagged the Nationals, asking if Maneses will sign a ball and send it to her daughter.
The Nationals responded to Gina’s tweet asking her to follow them so they could DM her. A few days later the team tweeted a pic of a signed baseball and a personal note from Maneses to Avery. He writes that he wanted to make sure she got a ball this time and says he hopes to see her at a game soon, signing it, “Your friend, Joey.”
Source: Today