Woman celebrates her 106th birthday by tossing out first pitch at Marlins game

Woman marks 106th birthday by tossing first pitch

JUPITER, Fla. — A South Florida woman has celebrated her 106th birthday by throwing the starting pitch at a spring training game between the Marlins and St. Louis Cardinals. Maude Newkirk received a standing ovation at Roger Dean Stadium after tossing the ball about a dozen feet toward Marlins catch John Baker on Thursday. Young relatives rushed to hug her.

The Georgia native is no stranger to baseball: Thursday was the seventh time she’d made a first pitch during spring training. She began the tradition upon turning 100.

Newkirk has 25 great grandchildren, and there are six living generations of her family.

Information from: The Palm Beach Post, www.pbpost.com