Nationals Make Amends as Miss Iowa Katherine Connors Tosses First Pitch

WASHINGTON - You could call this story "Beauty and the Batista." He is Miguel Batista, veteran big league pitcher. She is Miss Iowa USA Katherine Connors. They met behind home plate at Nationals Park Friday night to bury a mini-controversy over Batista’s innocent slight of Connors’ home state.

Let's flashback to Tuesday night. Nationals fans were upset that pitching phenom Stephen Strasburg was scratched from his start due to injury. His replacement, Batista, was booed when he took the mound for Strasburg. After pitching a pretty good game, Batista sympathized with fans by saying those who were expecting Miss Universe wound up getting Miss Iowa instead.

That remark touched off a firestorm that was put to rest Friday night.

"I think this is outstanding," one fan said referring to the offer the Nationals made to Connors in throwing out the first pitch at Friday night's game against the Phillies.

"I'm completely blown away by the fact that they invited her here,” said another fan. "So I think it's really cool.”

Connors says reaction to the comment in Iowa has been mixed.

"A lot of people are mad about it because somebody's talking smack about Iowa," Connors told FOX 5 before the game. "And you do not talk smack about Iowans - they're crazy. But other people think it's hilarious and they're glad that we're putting Iowa on the map right now."

Batista quickly apologized for the slight.

"Well, the whole snow-balling thing was going in the wrong direction," he said after meeting Connors. "So my agent called me and says 'OK ... we've got to move to plan B.'"

So Batista sent Connors some flowers and gave her a call, inviting her to Washington to throw out the first pitch. And just before 7 p.m., Miss Iowa USA took the mound and threw not a strike but not in the dirt either. The ball now in Batista's court.

"I told him that I could throw a pitch or two, but the question is if he can walk in my bikini in high heels," Connors quipped.

Miguel declined the challenge.

"No, I already told her I lost that battle. I'm not even going to try it. I don't stand a chance," said Batista.

So she threw another pitch.

"My directors from Miss Iowa USA contacted him to see if he'd like to come and judge a Miss Iowa USA pageant coming up in October," Connors explained. "To see all the beautiful women that we have in Iowa."

What about that one? Batista replied, "I would like to do it. I mean I haven't been in Des Moines in a while. But I have some good friends in Iowa and as you can see there are a lot of pretty things that come out of there."

By the way, Steven Strasburg, whose injured shoulder touched off this whole matter Tuesday night, was in uniform Friday night despite being on the disabled list.