Home Runs & Horan: Members of the San Jose Sharks Throw Out First Pitch at A's Game

Although the San Jose Sharks did not win the Stanley Cup this season, there is still definitely a lot to celebrate about their historic 2015-2016. Throughout their 46-30 regular season record and their fantastic playoff run, they showed just how good the underdog can be. Although this team was not on the top of many people's Stanley Cup Final predictions at the beginning of the season, this group of guys showed that making it as far as they did was no fluke. Offseason changes, like naming Peter DeBoer as their new head coach, acquiring Joel Ward as well as goalie Martin Jones, and naming Joe Pavelski team captain were huge keys to this year's success. They defeated their rival Los Angeles Kings, the Nashville Predators, and the St. Louis Blues to make it to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time in franchise history. What better way to celebrate "25 Years of Teal" than to make it to the final round of the NHL Playoffs for the very first time. In the end, the Sharks lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins in six games. The Sharks fought hard, but did not get the result they were looking for. Even though a Stanley Cup Championship would have been amazing for us Sharks fans who have waited years for this, there is still a lot to be proud of. Looking at the bright side is so important in this type of situation. The team will learn from this experience and will now know what to look forward to in the future. When you look back on how well the Sharks truly played this postseason, you can't help but be proud.

To celebrate the San Jose Sharks' historic season, the Oakland A's invited five of their players to throw out the first pitch before yesterday's game against the Anaheim Angels. Logan Couture, Martin Jones, Justin Braun, Brenden Dillon, and Barclay Goodrow stood near the Coliseum mound in their white home A's jerseys and A's hats and threw to A's players; Sean Doolittle, John Axford, and Liam Hendriks. It was great to see my favorite Sharks player; Logan Couture in A's gear, not Blue Jays gear for a change. It was also great to be able to show the Sharks players that although they did not win the title, they have made the Bay Area incredibly proud. I was also very pleased that Martin Jones was one of the players asked to throw out the first pitch. His incredible 44 saves in Game 5, to avoid elimination, was one of the most stellar performances by a Shark this season. I love when my teams come together to support each other & I am very thankful that the A's showed their love by giving a few members of the Sharks this opportunity. Here's to next season, Sharks.