NCAA champion Napier throws out first pitch

BOSTON -- While John Farrell is admittedly not much of a college basketball fan, the Red Sox manager was impressed with the run the University of Connecticut men's basketball team had to claim the 2014 NCAA Championship.

"They seemed to find so much momentum late in the season. They played with so much confidence," said Farrell.

The Red Sox honored the team at Fenway Park before Tuesday's game against the Yankees. Huskies senior guard Shabazz Napier, who graduated from Lawrence Academy in Groton, Mass., threw out the ceremonial first pitch, and Connecticut governor Dannel P. Malloy also participated in the ceremony.

The Huskies had an unprecedented run to the title after coming into the tournament as a No. 7 seed. They beat five teams before beating Kentucky, 60-54, in the championship game.

Farrell saw many similar traits between the 2014 Huskies and the '13 Red Sox.

"You could see that they had such momentum regardless of the seeding. Nothing was going to stop them," Farrell said. "More than anything, it was their energy and confidence. It was evident when they went on the court."