Photos: Who Is Katherine Connors, Miss Iowa?

(Canvas Staff Reports) - Who is the spunky young Miss USA contestant Katherine Connors, a small-town girl from Bettendorf, Iowa, to challenge a million-dollar major league baseball player to "duel of skills"?

Washington Nationals pitcher Miguel Batista is trying to set the record straight after starting a feud with Miss Iowa. Fans expecting to see Stephen Strasburg ended up finding Batista pitching at Nationals Park on Tuesday when Strasburg was scratched from the game at the last minute, according to Yahoo!'s Big League Stew sports blog . What he found was 40,000 booing fans.

He later spoke about understanding the fans' disappointment. "Imagine if you go to see Miss Universe, then you end up having Miss Iowa, you might get those kind of boos."

Katherine Connors, the reigning Miss Iowa, tossed a comment right back.

"I know I can throw a pitch or two," she said. "The question is, can Miguel Batista walk the runway in a swimsuit?"

Batista has been quick to call his foul and try to ease things over. The Washington Post reported that Batista has sent flowers to Connors' home in Bettendorf, Iowa. He also tried to explain what he meant to say.

"People started booing me, and they hadn't seen me throw a pitch yet," he said to the Post. "It's like you hear Miss Iowa, and you say, 'Iowa?' And then you see her close up and you say, 'Wow, she's gorgeous."

Connors has simmered down and is enjoying the media spotlight. She announced on Twitter that she will be throwing out the first pitch at Washington Nationals' game Friday night in Washington, D.C.

"Thank you Miguel Batista for the flowers - they are beautiful," she tweeted. "See you tomorrow at the game!!"

She later tweeted that the experience has been totally unexpected but that she's having fun.

"Batista has been great about this too," she said.

According to The Pageant Update Page , Connors, 20, grew up in Bettendorf and graduated from Assumption High School in 2007. She is studying nursing at Scott Community College.

She was second runner-up in 2009 and fourth runner-up in 2008 for Miss Iowa.

Slideshow of 2010 Miss Iowa courtesy of Miss Universe. All images Copyright © Miss Universe L.P., LLLP / © Neuco Image Group, Inc.