Trappe business owner throws out first pitch at Reading Fightin Phils game during PV Chamber Night

Trappe Borough business owner Chris Kelsey, whose business Nashcards Philly is a member of the Perkiomen Valley Chamber of Commerce, was nervous approaching the mound at FirstEnergy Stadium at the Reading Fightin Phils v. Akron Rubberducks game Wednesday night.

"I was a little nervous, not going to lie," Kelsey said. "I don't think I've thrown a baseball since almost high school."

To make matters worse, Kelsey and his crew were running late to the 7 p.m. game.

"So there were no warm-ups involved or anything," he laughed.

Kelsey was asked to throw (one of) the first pitches at the start of the game during Reading Fightin Phils' 2024 PV Chamber Night.

"(Nashcards COO Jess Westerfer) messaged me and said, 'Do you want to throw the first pitch?' and I said, 'Hell yeah, I want to do it.'"

Last year, Westerfer's sons got to throw the first pitch at PV Chamber Night, and she said Kelsey was a bit upset that he missed the opportunity.

"I heard her child bounced the pitch," ribbed Kelsey. "I was making sure I would reach the plate. I was nervous."

"He did great," Westerfer said.

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    Nashcards Philly owner Chris Kelsey throwing out the first pitch at the Reading Fightin Phils game July 10, 2024.
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Kelsey said it is a great benefit to be a member of the Perkiomen Valley Chamber of Commerce.

“We do that in all our stores,” said Kelsey, who runs two Nashcards locations in Mt. Juliet, Tenn. “You get a presence in the community that way.”

A perfect example: The man in front of them in line to throw the pitch, who turned around and asked, “Do you own the card business?”

“He got (Chief Strategy Officer) Rick (Westerfer’s) information and he’s going to bring some cards down to grade,” Kelsey said. “Whatever we’re doing, it’s like you’re getting a customer. They connect to you.”

“It ties the community together,” Jess said.

    Nashcards Philly CSO and Wissahickon High School graduate Rick Westerfer, left, Perkiomen Valley High School graduate and COO Jess Westerfer, middle, and Blue Bell native and president and owner Chris Kelsey, right.
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The Perkiomen Valley Chamber of Commerce is located at 521 W. Main St., Trappe. Find out details on how to join the Chamber here.

Visit Nashcards Philly at 130 W. Main St., Trappe.