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Six-year-old Harry Gilleland wins First Pitch Honors

7/22/2015

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PARMA, Ohio - This year, six-year-old Parma resident Harry Gilleland will have the opportunity of a lifetime - throwing out the first pitch at Progressive Field as the Cleveland Indians take on the Kansas City Royals on Parma Night.

This year’s Parma Night game is July 28 at Progressive Field. Normally, the first-pitch honors would be given to the mayor, however, for the last four years Mayor Tim DeGeeter has given his opportunity away to a lucky Parma kid in attendance.

Harry’s name was drawn from a pool of other eligible Parma youngsters, and he couldn’t be more excited to have been picked.

“He can’t stop talking about it” according to his mom, Courtney.

Harry plays tee-ball on the Parma Rec team sponsored by PAAF, and he says he loves batting and practicing with his dad, Nick, in the backyard. The Gillelands have been to a number of Indians games before, but this one will be special.

“We’ve really loved this aspect of Parma Night at Progressive Field,” Mayor DeGeeter said. “The community gets into it, too, and youngsters all over Parma hope they’ll be the winner. We’re happy for Harry, and we’re sure it’ll be a night he will never forget. I am looking forward to being out there with him.”

Also special for Parma Night will be a parade around the field for Parma‘s youth recreational sports teams.

Go Tribe!

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