HEYWORTH - A Heyworth couple tied the knot at Heyworth Community Centennial Park on Saturday in a baseball-themed wedding.

And then they played together on a team against another group led by best man Greg Wilhelm.

Sharona Threlfall, 29, and Patrick Carr, 28, said their vows and then took to the field with teams pickedfrom the wedding guests. The newlyweds lost, 17-14, but at least they played on the same team.

"It has been a lot of fun," said Threlfall, who said she came up with idea to have baseball as the theme for their wedding. Carr, 28, originally of Findlay, agreed to the idea.

Threlfall calls herself a "converted" fan of the Chicago Cubs, the team whose logo was in pink on the groom's specially designed jersey.

Presiding at the wedding was Pastor Brad Nave of the Apostolic Pentecostal Church. He dressed as an umpire for the ceremony. Nave said the wedding was "absolutely the most unique I've ever presided over."

"It fits them well," the pastor said. "It's been really relaxed. The kids loved it."

The church also played a part in moving the newlyweds from free agency to being on the same team. The best man, Wilhelm, who attends the church with Threlfall, also attended Bible college in Indianapolis with Carr. Wilhelm introduced the pair.

"I'm having a great time," said Chady Hosin, friend of the groom, after he snacked on Crackerjacks. "It's the most original wedding I've been to. It's a totally new conception. It's fun to dress casual."

The baseball theme began even before the big day: Guests were invited with orange baseball tickets.

In lieu of a traditional guest book, a blue bin held 22 baseballs which guests could sign. At the ceremony, the bride and groom poured sand with the two bridal colors, orange and pink, into a canister instead of lighting a unity candle.

Designed by the bride

The three bridesmaids and three groomsmen wore jerseys the bride designed.

Nachos and hot dogs were served from a concession stand to the roughly 200 guests.

The groom's mother, Debbie Carr, made the cake, which had a green, diamond-shaped base and was topped with an oversized edible baseball.

Threlfall said she and a bridesmaid made 80 bags of cotton candy Friday night for the wedding reception.