Virginia Tech President Charles Steger threw a pitch off the mound in Yankee Stadium on Wednesday night; perhaps Mike Mussina will do the same in Blacksburg next spring.

Steger threw the first pitch of the Yankees-Red Sox game after thanking the organization for a $1 million donation to the Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund.

Steger's throw preceded the final game of a three-game series between baseball's biggest rivals -- the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox. The game was aired on ESPN, though Steger's pitch and the pregame ceremonies were not aired live.

In addition to Wednesday night's ceremonies, the Yankees announced the team will play an exhibition game against the Tech baseball team next spring on or near the Blacksburg campus. Dave Smith, Tech's director of sports information, said details of the game have not been worked out.

Tech's English Field seats only 1,500 people. Another possibility could be Salem Memorial Stadium, home of the Salem Avalanche. It has a capacity of 6,300.

Avalanche General Manager John Katz said Wednesday that he had received no requests to use the stadium for the exhibition game but that the teams would be welcome.

Smith said Yankee President Randy Levine called Tech Athletic Director Jim Weaver the week of the shootings to say the team wanted to do something to help the school. Discussions evolved from there until the team announced the donation, exhibition game and Steger's appearance at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday.

Tech spokesman Larry Hincker has known Steger for several years and said he has never heard him talk about being a baseball fan or playing the sport much -- his athletic pursuits were wrestling and equestrian events when he was younger.

"But I would think, to anybody, the chance to throw out the ceremonial first pitch of a baseball game in Yankee Stadium has got to be the highlight of a lifetime," he said. "And it certainly is a wonderful tribute to our lost loved ones for the New York Yankees to make a contribution to the Hokie Spirit Fund. It's just really kind of over the top."

Yankee players also wore the Tech logo on their hats, and one was also painted on the field for the game.

The memorial fund was created to cover expenses related to the shootings on Tech's campus April 16. Funds will go to assist families of the victims, cover some memorial costs and may also go toward the 33 scholarships established related to the shootings. There is one general scholarship related to the tragedy as well as one for each of the 32 victims.

Donations to the fund and to the scholarships are approaching $5 million, not including the Yankees' gift.

Joining Steger on the field were Capt. Vince Houston of the Virginia Tech Police Department, Jason Dominiczak, captain of the Virginia Tech Rescue Squad on April 16, and Matthew Johnson, the squad's current captain.

Staff writer Katrina Waugh contributed to this report.