CINCINNATI -- As part of Major League Baseball’s annual Going to Bat Against Breast Cancer initiative, the Reds recognized Laura Fay of Cincinnati as their Honorary Bat Girl before Thursday’s game vs. the Cubs. Fay, the wife of Cincinnati Enquirer Reds reporter John Fay, is currently in her second battle with breast cancer and has shown courage and fight against the disease while maintaining her upbeat and positive demeanor.

Laura was on the field before the game to bring the lineup card out to the umpires, but her work was not only ceremonial. A few days ago, Reds clubhouse manager Rick Stowe invited her to serve as an actual bat girl during the first inning, which made her the first female to serve in that role for Cincinnati during a regular-season game. Fay was put to work as she retrieved Nick Senzel's bat after he flied out in the first and twice brought out fresh baseballs for home-plate umpire Dana DeMuth.

“It’s kind of funny because John came in and said, ‘Yeah, she’s kind of nervous because she thinks she’s actually going to be a bat girl,’” Stowe said. “I thought about that for a second: ‘That would be really cool. Let’s try it for one inning.’ I think it’s great.”

Reds management first had to approve of Stowe’s idea.

“They thought it was a great idea,” he said.