Robot to make baseball history

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - When Indianapolis Indians fans attend a game at Victory Field, they can expect a lot: concessions, entertainment between innings, and possibly a chance to say hi to mom on the Jumbotron. However, on Tuesday at 7:05 p.m., one thing faithful fans might not see coming is a ceremonial first pitch thrown by the field’s first-ever baseball-pitching robot before the team faces the Toledo Mud Hens.

The robot was created by Cyber Blue, the FIRST Robotics Team from Perry Meridian High School. FIRST, or “For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology,” is a program designed to motivate students to pursue careers in engineering, science, and technology fields.

Beginning in 1999, Cyber Blue was the FIRST team in Indianapolis. Every January, FIRST releases a new game challenge. Then, teams have six weeks to design and construct a 120-pound robot to play the game as the season culminates with the world championship in April. The robot used Tuesday is a modified version of their 2011 machine friend.

As well as the robotics competitions, Cyber Blue is involved in the community and has conducted robotics classes at two youth camps this summer. Rolls-iRoyce, Allison Transmission and Morris Machine are the major corporate sponsors of the team.

With 9,000,000 fans having attended Indians games, Tuesday’s crowd will get to witness history with the first pitch by the robot, nicknamed "Lefty Circuits."

Tuesday’s game begins the final week of the Indians 2011 regular season. The tribe hosts the Mud Hens in back-to-back games Tuesday night and Wednesday afternoon, followed by a two-game series against the Louisville Bats on Friday and Saturday. Tickets can be purchased by visiting IndyIndians.com, calling the Victory Field Box Office at 317-269-2282 or visiting the Box Office at 501 W. Maryland Street.