Barrett Austin, Family Honored at BLWS

The honor of throwing out the official first pitch to start the 2013 Big League World Series went to the family of a true American hero.

The family of Army Pfc. Barrett Austin was honored at the start of the first game of the series.

Austin died April 21 in Germany from injuries sustained while serving in Afghanistan.

Big League World Series Tournament Director Jon Humphrey said the tournament’s committee decided to ask the family to throw out the first pitch.

“We knew that they were a family that supported Little League,” Humphrey said. “We know how much their family as given up for our country and for our community and we wanted to honor that.”

After Curt Austin, Barrett’s father threw out the first pitch, Humphrey presented the family with a commemorative home plate and some special baseballs.

“Typically, we have a World Series baseball that has our logo. It’s a white baseball from Spaulding that we use. This year we had a special ball that was a camouflage ball that had a special message from Little League and also it had our logo on there,” Humphrey said. “The message – ‘Character, Loyalty and Courage’ – comes from the Little League motto. We thought that was exemplified by that young man, that’s why we added that to the ball.”

He said having the Austin family out on the diamond that night was “a special moment.”

“I felt very privileged to be able to go out there and present them with home plate and also watch him throw out the first pitch in memory of his son,” Humphrey said.

The Easley Fire Department attached an American flag to one of their ladder trucks and hoisted it aloft as the National Anthem played, Humphrey said.

“They helped us to help show that support also,” he said. “It was a pretty special moment.”