A woman from Midland, Mich., celebrated her 109th birthday by throwing the ceremonial first pitch at a minor league baseball game April 7.

Violet Smith’s toss bounced a few times but eventually made it to the catcher before the Great Lakes Loons’ home opener in Midland, about 100 miles northwest of Detroit.

Smith told WNEM-TV before the game that she wasn’t nervous. Her 72-year-old son, Richard, said he brought along a ball so they could practice before the big pitch.

The Loons ended up losing to the Lake County Captains 13-3 before a crowd of 3,823 at the Dow Diamond. — ap

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