Pitt running back James Conner, in the midst of a battle with cancer, threw out the ceremonial first pitch at the Pirates season opener Sunday.
The pitch bounced to Pirates’ catcher Chris Stewart, but Conner said the experience provided an emotional boost as he goes through chemotherapy treatment.
“It feels really good, and also helps take my mind off things,” Conner said. “For me to come out and do this, it’s really special.”
Conner was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma in December, and has completed nine of his 12 prescribed chemotherapy treatments at UPMC’s Hillman Cancer Center.