Former Baseball: Opelousas Police Chief Perry Gallow throws out first pitch at UL game

William Johnson, Daily World, March 27, 2014

Opelousas Police Chief Perry Gallow sends one over the fence as he competes in a recent home run derby to benefit the Opelousas Boys and Girls Club. / Freddie Herpin, Daily World

Opelousas Police Chief Perry Gallow enjoyed the honor of throwing out the first pitch at Wednesday’s University of Louisiana at Lafayette baseball game.

UL’s Ragin’ Cajuns have garnered plenty of attention this baseball season.

On the way to the best start in school history, as of Wednesday, the team had already won 12 games in a row — most, decisively. The Cajuns are a perfect 6-0 in Sun Belt Conference play after a weekend home sweep over Georgia State.

As a result, the team places in the top 10 in all major polls. Collegiate Baseball’s NCAA Division I baseball poll ranked it as the best in the nation for the first time in the program’s history.

Gallow, who pitched for the team during his college baseball career in the 1980s, said he called Coach Tony Robichaux to congratulate him on that first-place ranking.

That is how the honor came about.

“He asked if I would be at the game tonight and I said I would,” Gallow said Wednesday.

To Gallow’s surprise, Robichaux asked if he’d be willing to throw out the first pitch.

Gallow said his first response was shock and he asked, “You are not serious, are you?” But Robichaux assured him he was.

“I’m very excited and honored,” Gallow said. “I’m pretty sure I can still reach the plate.”

Although his college baseball days are behind him, Gallow has never lost his passion for the sport.

He hosts a home-run derby every year to raise money for the local Boys and Girls Club.

He is also a member of Team Louisiana, a softball team that represents the state at police and fire games throughout the nation.

Athletic Network Footnote:

Chief Gallow was a member of the USL Baseball team from 1982-84.