[IronJack]

she will always have the knowledge that for a brief few years she was a knock-out.

Yes, she is.

And I don't see that she ever claimed to be a major league pitcher.

[cloudmountain]

Yes, she is.
And I don't see that she ever claimed to be a major league pitcher.

You are 100% correct and those who had her toss out the first pitch knew that too.
This might also have been done for publicity.

Well tempest-in-a-teapot time. It will blow over by this afternoon.