Lacey Eden’s summer to remember continued on Friday.
The 24-year-old Annapolis, MD native threw out the ceremonial first pitch ahead of the Washington Nationals’ game against the Miami Marlins.
Eden tossed what we’re going to assume was a perfect strike down the middle to Nationals pitcher Will Dion, who served as the catcher.
Eden was honored on the field as part of Women’s Night at Nationals Park. The Nats teamed up with the Washington Spirit, the city’s NWSL women’s soccer team, to “highlight the women who power the world of sports on the field, in the stands or in the front office.” Fans who purchased special tickets to the game also received a Nationals x Spirit co-branded sweatshirt.
Eden would end up seeing an emphatic 9-2 victory from the Nationals. Prospect Jackson Kent earned his first Major League win after going seven innings and giving up only one run. Brady House also hit a mammoth 474-foot home run and batted in three.
The night marked the second ceremonial first pitch Eden has participated in this summer, previously getting the opportunity with her hometown Chesapeake Baysox in mid-July.
Eden, who is one of the most accomplished Maryland-born hockey players of all time, made history in March by becoming the first women’s hockey player to win four NCAA national championships as a member of the Wisconsin Badgers. Months later, she became the first Maryland-born player ever selected at the PWHL Draft, getting selected fifth overall by PWHL Las Vegas.
Eden also previously won two gold medals as a member of the United States national team in 2023 and 2025, as well as three silver medals in 2021, 2022, and 2024.
While training for her upcoming season, Eden also led a summer hockey camp for girls at The Gardens Ice House.
