Lifetime Cache Valley resident throws ceremonial pitch on 100th birthday

SMITHFIELD – As the catcher of the Logan High baseball team, Dakota Jenson has been on the receiving end of thousands of pitches, but a recent pitch was extra memorable. Jenson’s great-grandmother Lorna Rasmussen threw the ceremonial first pitch before Tuesday afternoon’s game at Sky View High – on her 100th birthday.

“He found out he had a game on her 100th birthday so he asked her if she would be willing to throw out the first pitch,” said Mindee Jenson, mother of Dakota Jenson and granddaughter of Rasmussen. “She said, ‘I’d be honored.’ Then she started to cry and said, ‘but I don’t deserve it.’”

Leading up to the moment, Rasmussen said it was scary, but she was able to deliver the pitch from her wheelchair as fans of both teams sides cheered her on. As she left the field the crowd sang “Happy Birthday.”

Rasmussen has been a Hyde Park resident her whole life and attended North Cache High School. She raised three kids, all of whom were able to be in attendance to watch the ceremonial pitch. She said her son from East Lansing, Michigan flew in and had been helping her practice for the throw.

The game was originally scheduled to be played at Logan High, but wet field conditions moved it to Sky View, which Mindee Jenson said was actually a blessing.

“She attended North Cache High School, because Sky View wasn’t around,” Mindee Jenson said. “She’s a north ender, so it’s kind of cool it ended up being out here.”

Rasmussen agreed that it was an enjoyable way to celebrate 100 years.

“It’s been a very outstanding day in my life,” she said.

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