College Basketball

Sister Jean switches sports, tosses out 1st ball at Wrigley

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 5:48 p.m. ET

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CHICAGO (AP) Sister Jean did just fine on the diamond, too.

The popular 98-year-old chaplain of the Loyola-Chicago basketball team that reached the Final Four switched sports Tuesday, throwing out a first ball before the Cubs' home opener.

Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt drew a big cheer at Wrigley Field when she made an underhand toss from her wheelchair. She laughed as the ball bounced toward home plate.

The nun wore a Cubs jacket and had a No. 18 Cubs jersey with Sister Jean written on it. She also talked with manager Joe Maddon before the Cubs' 8-5 loss to Pittsburgh.

''She was awesome,'' Maddon said. ''Really, really sharp. Lucid lady. It was really fun to have that conversation with her, looking forward to that. I was hoping to have that conversation.''

Loyola coach Porter Moser and some of his players were recognized on the field before the game. Senior guard Ben Richardson also threw out a ceremonial first pitch.

Moser and a couple of the Ramblers led the crowd in the singing of ''Take Me Out To The Ball Game'' during the seventh-inning stretch.

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