Throwing a ceremonial first pitch at a Major League Baseball stadium can be a stressful experience.

That was definitely the case for Catherine Parenteau on Sunday afternoon at loanDepot park - the home of the Miami Marlins - but she still made it look easy.

The 30-year-old Canadian star participated in the pre-game festivities in conjunction with the club’s third-annual Pickleball Day, which is scheduled for Sunday, May 18, following in the footsteps of previous invitees Anna Leigh Waters and Bobbi Oshiro.

“I was really nervous going up to the mound because it’s been a while since I’d thrown a baseball,” admitted Parenteau. “Honestly, when I got up there, I was like, ‘Oh my gosh!’ I almost blacked out because I was just so excited about doing this. I was just focusing on making a good pitch, so the ball could make it to mascot, Billy the Marlin. In retrospect, I wish he was a little further away because I think my pitch ended up being a little higher than expected. But, that’s OK. I was just happy that I got to do it.”

While Parenteau’s fastball didn't necessarily meet her expectations, her form was flawless - and with good reason since she grew up playing competitive baseball in the Montreal suburb of Repentigny, and even represented the province of Quebec on the national stage as a pitcher and shortstop.

In other words, she had plenty of experience to draw upon for her big moment at 501 Marlins Way.

“When I was younger, baseball was my sport. I was obsessed. I actually started playing on a guys’ team when I was probably around six years old. Every year, I would play on the higher-level teams with the boys,” explained Parenteau. “Then a few years later, we found out there was baseball for girls. Each province had a team that would compete in Canadian Nationals, and I eventually made Team Quebec. I competed for them at the Under-12 and Under-14 levels over four years. Basically, I would play with the boys on a regular basis during the season, and then also play for Team Quebec on the side.”

The Michigan State University product was first introduced to the game by her father, Mario, who even coached her baseball teams along the way.

She still has fond memories of their lengthy practice sessions together north of the border.

"Back home, we had a large enough backyard where we could just throw the ball around. He would come with his bat and just hit the ball at me, so I could practice being a shortstop. I would spend hours and hours in the backyard, and sometimes he would even just throw me pitches with a tennis ball so it wouldn’t go as far as a baseball. We just spent hours and hours drilling," recalled Parenteau. "I really, really loved the team aspect of baseball and having teammates. That was really fun for me, and I just loved it because I could do it with my dad. He helped me a ton."

Watching the Montreal Expos play at Olympic Stadium also played an important part in her genuine appreciation for baseball.

The Parenteaus were proud season ticket holders before the team relocated to Washington, D.C. in 2005 and were renamed the Washington Nationals.

"My parents were always big Montreal Expos fans. I’m always going to remember the last game at Olympic Stadium. That was crazy. I remember my mom, my dad and I were crying, and my little brother was like one or two at the time. We were so sad that they were leaving. We would try to go to as many games as we could. It was the best," said Parenteau. "We also participated in all sorts of activities at the ballpark, and that’s how I got to meet [Expos shortstop] Orlando Cabrera. He was my favorite player. I remember asking him for an autograph. I was so shy. My dad helped because I didn't really know how to speak English at the time. We got a few things signed by him. It was pretty awesome because I looked up to him so much since I became a shortstop myself."

While Parenteau ultimately traded a bat and glove for a pickleball paddle in the long run, she remains a dedicated baseball fan at heart.

And that won't change anytime soon.

"I actually have a bucket list. It's to visit all the MLB stadiums. I would say I still have 20 stadiums left, maybe a little bit less than 20, so I still have a ways to go. Whenever we play PPA or MLP, it’s funny because I always look at the baseball schedule wherever we are. I just love going to different stadiums. It just reminds me of the Expos," mentioned Parenteau. "There was always this connection with baseball. I just love watching it, and sometimes it doesn’t even matter who’s playing. I just love being in a stadium and just enjoying some baseball."

So the next time you see Parenteau's outstanding defensive skills on the court, remember that her days as a shortstop on home soil had something to do with it.

Being a multi-sport athlete as a kid certainly came in handy.

"I think what my parents did very well, instead of having me focus on one specific sport, I was playing multiple sports, so I got to expand. Sometimes I feel like I have a little bit of an edge over other players in my defense," said Parenteau. "I think the position I like to describe is like a catcher position, just getting super low, or even a shortstop. When you’re trying to catch the ball in baseball and you’re trying to defend yourself in pickleball, it’s so similar. You’re trying to absorb the ball with your glove, whereas in pickleball you’re trying to absorb it with your paddle. Pickleball reminds me a lot of baseball in that way, and just very similar also sometimes in terms of lateral movement."

A special ticket package for Marlins Pickleball Day includes a limited-edition Marlins x KillaDinks paddle and a discounted ticket to the game.

You can also play on transformed courts outside of the ballpark on the West Plaza, test new equipment, access exclusive meet and greets, and watch exciting games.

Click here for more information.