LOS ANGELES -- You would think that in her long career as a Olympic gold medalist and current "Dancing with the Stars" contender that Kristi Yamaguchi would have had a chance to visit Dodger Stadium, but the figure skating legend said Friday was her first time.

"I have never actually been to Dodger Stadium, so it's an honor to be asked to throw out the first pitch, and hopefully, it will go OK," said Yamaguchi with her trademark smile before the game.

With the semifinals of her dance competition on Monday, this is a very busy time for Yamaguchi.

"It's been tough," said Yamaguchi, who with her partner Mark Ballas, had been leading the competition of the ABC series from the start, only to be overtaken by fellow semifinalist and football star Jason Taylor two weeks ago and tied with another semifinalist -- actor Cristián de la Fuente -- last week.

"I came from a wardrobe fitting, then to rehearsal, then to a television shoot and now I'm here, and I probably won't be able to stay for the whole game, because we are rehearsing tonight as well," Yamaguchi said. "So it's a pretty busy schedule."

But the chance to throw out the first pitch at a Major League Baseball game was an extraordinary opportunity that most people would not pass up.

"It's not something you get asked to do every day," said Yamaguchi. "It's definitely a special occasion ... and hopefully I can get some more people here to vote for us and get their support behind us.

"At this point, it's the semifinals and it's a question of reaching the masses out there."

When asked if she hoped that the Dodgers would put the 800 number that fans need to call to vote for Yamaguchi on the Diamondvision board, her husband, Stanley Cup champion and Carolina Hurricanes star defenseman, Bret Hedican, chimed in.

"We certainly hope so," Hedican said.

The Hedicans are a very competitive couple, but they truly enjoy coming to the stadium.

"We like to see the different ballparks around the country," said Hedican, who married Yamaguchi in 2000. "For us to come here and do things that she's been asked to do, and I've been able to tag along with, have been a lot of fun."

Yamaguchi grew up in the Bay Area, and she did attend some Giants games at Candlestick Park as a kid and AT&T Park as an adult. She couldn't remember her favorite players growing up, but when she was one of the recipients of the Thurman Munson Award for her community work last February, she got to meet a fellow recipient who really impressed her.

"I met David Wright, and he's an amazing guy," said Yamaguchi. "I was so impressed with him, his attitude and what he does in the community and, obviously, his career, and he's just a great guy."

Looking around the field, Yamaguchi liked what she saw.

"This stadium has a real nice vibe to it," said the 1992 gold medalist. "Being down here on the field is certainly more electric than normal, and just to see the power on display at batting practice -- seeing how fast the ball comes and they're just slamming it out of here -- it's fun."

Though she has been in the limelight her entire adult life, Yamaguchi said that being on "Dancing with the Stars" has been like nothing she has experienced before.

"It's kind of like a phenomenon," said Yamaguchi, who was elected into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame in 2005. "[An] Olympic gold medal was great and all, but that was in the sports world, but when I was asked to be on 'Dancing with the Stars' and accepted, I was on 'Oprah' right away. I've never been asked to be on 'Oprah' and it's funny. We had our first touch of paparazzi coming in here -- first time ever in our lives -- so this entertainment world is a lot different."

So the moment arrived, Yamaguchi took to the mound with Dodgers catcher Gary Bennett, who crouched behind the plate to receive the ceremonial first pitch. Showing good form, Yamaguchi threw a tailing fastball for a strike. As she got a hug from Bennett and received the ball as a souvenir, the Dodger Stadium Diamondvision had a huge photo of Yamaguchi and Ballas, and what do you think was written next to it?

Vote for Kristi and Mark on "Dancing with the Stars."

A fun night at ballpark and maybe a few extra votes to boot.