Korth’s first pitch made possible by Children’s Hospital Colorado

AURORA – You may have noticed an unfamiliar face throwing out the first pitch at Saturday’s 5A baseball championship between Valor Christian and Cherokee Trail at All-Star Park in Lakewood.

Don’t be alarmed, that was Cameron Korth!

Although he’s not on the active roster for either team, Korth is an energetic and fun five-year-old who has a passion for baseball. He’s played t-ball with Dakota Ridge Sports for two years and his parents foresee him sticking with it for years to come.

Korth also loves to climb and has a desire to be outside playing with his brothers, so it’s no surprise that he’s experienced an injury. As a patient at Children’s Hospital Colorado, Korth has received stitches across his forehead and was treated for pneumonia during an urgent visit in the middle of the night. He has remained strong and brave though, and he’s ready to be back out on the field playing the sport he loves so much!

Due to his love of baseball and his relationship with Children’s Hospital Colorado, Korth was invited to join the two teams on the field to throw out the first pitch at the championship game.

“From the moment Cam found out about this opportunity he started to count-down the “sleeps” until he got to throw the first pitch,” Korth’s mother, Dani, said. “As we walked onto the field you could see his eyes light up and he immediately had so many new role models he was looking up to and wanting to be like one day. This experience gave him such excitement about the sport and a new friendship in his catcher Cashel, from Valor, who welcomed him and made him feel so comfortable up on the mound!”

As Korth came off the field, he stated in pure excitement: “That was the coolest, they even gave me the ball to keep!”

Through the Colorado High School Activities Associations partnership with Children’s Hospital Colorado, a child is selected each year to be an honorary guest on the field and throw out the first pitch of the state championship baseball game.

“This is absolutely one of my favorite things we do with our partners at Children’s Hospital Colorado,” assistant commissioner Jenn Roberts-Uhlig said. “To be able to highlight the strength and resiliency of the amazing kids within our community is something we take pride in. To be able to bring them together at the state championship game and give them an opportunity to throw out the first pitch is a pretty remarkable experience.”

Once the pitch was thrown and the game had started, Korth and his family found their seats and cheered on Valor Christian to its first 5A baseball state championship.