Fenway Park's favorite VIP was on hand at the Gatemen game last Friday night: Wally the Green Monster!

The Fenway furball hung out with the kids from the Gatemen clinic before the game against the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox and threw out one of the game's first pitches.  He then had a constant line of fans asking for his autograph and pictures.

"It was the second-best baseball moment of my life," said Noah Campinha, who turned twelve on Saturday.  He said his first best was going to Fenway last summer and nearly getting the autograph of slugger David Ortiz (sorry, Wally.).

Carter Hunt, of Southcoast Hospitals, said he was okay sharing the duties of throwing out the game's first pitch.  Although he threw a better pitch than our Fenway friend, he noted that he didn't quite have the same handicap.

"I'm not throwing with a big green paw," Hunt said.

Wally's fur proved to be quite a handicap throughout the hot and humid night, in fact.  Unfortunately, once the rain started in the sixth inning, he had to leave...apparently the second-highest payroll in Major League Baseball doesn't like to have Wally's fur dry cleaned...

But while he wasn't there to see the Gatemen come from a 5-2 deficit to eke out a 6-5 victory, Wally indicated (I think so, he's not the greatest interview...) that he had a good time in his first trip to Wareham.

"What did you think of Wareham, Wally?

[Two thumbs up.]

"Do you want to come back again?"

[Pounded his chest twice and jumped up in the air, cheering].