Floyd Severance, at 102 years old, wound up and threw a baseball right in the strike zone. He probably could have moved farther from home plate and still made the ceremonial first pitch on target.
The World War II veteran was invited by the Concord American Legion Post 21 to join them on Memorial Field on Thursday afternoon. Standing among the Weare Legion post 65 and Concord players, he kept up pretty well considering the over 80-year age gap between him and the players.
Severance grew up playing the game and was a varsity player for Pembroke Academy. Nowadays, he still stays active by playing golf twice a week.
“I take every day and everything as it comes,” he said. “My main objective is to have something to do tomorrow. I gotta have something to do every day.”
The father, grandfather, great-grandfather and great-great-grandfather of 55 was featured on New Hampshire Chronicle for his sharpness and activity at his age.
His pitch may have given Concord a little luck. After starting 0-4, the team bounced back with a win against Lebanon and took both games against Weare.
Concord 2, Weare 1
Key athletes: Concord: Charlie Bolnick (7.0 IP, 3H, 0ER, 9K), Clayton Nadzan (2-4, run, single, double), Isaac Vaillancourt (2BB), Eric Maccarone (1-1, RBI), Chase Crowell (2BB, run). Weare: Ben Labrecque (2-4), Joey Dykstra (1-2, 2BB, run), Peyton Larrabee (4.0 IP, 1H, 0ER, 6K).
Key moment: Eric Maccarone drove in the game-winning, walk-off run with a single in the bottom of the eighth.
Concord 13, Weare 8
Key athletes: Concord: Eric Maccarone (3-4, 2RBI, 2 runs), Tyler Mayo (2-2, 2RBI, 2 runs, BB), Clayton Nadzan (2-3, RBI, 2 runs, BB), Patrick Owen (2-5, RBI, run), Bryce Gervais (1-4, 2 runs, BB). Weare: Ben Labrecque (1-4, RBI), Joey Dykstra (3-4, double), Ryder Brown (1-3, 2RBI, double, run), Hayden Pond (2-4, 2 runs), Parker LaClair (1-2, 2 RBI, run).
Key moment: A big first inning led by Owen Stewart, Eric Maccarone, Tyler Mayo and Wyatt Rockwell saw Concord take a five-run lead.
Weare American Legion Post 65 pitcher Peyton Larrabee threw six strikeouts in four innings against Concord. Credit: CHIP GRIFFIN / Photos by Chip 
Concord Legion’s Charlie Bolnick tossed seven innings and only allowed one unearned run on three hits and nine strikeouts against Weare. Credit: CHIP GRIFFIN / Photos by Chip 
Concord Post 21’s Patrick Owen dives for a foul ball in the first inning against Weare. Credit: CHIP GRIFFIN / Photos by Chip 
Weare Legion’s Ben Labrecque throws to first at Memorial Field in a doubleheader against Concord. Credit: CHIP GRIFFIN / Photos by Chip