Today’s game
Opponent: Spokane Indians
When: 1:05 p.m.
Where: Everett Memorial Stadium
Radio: KRKO (1380 AM)
Probable starters: Spokane right-hander Eric Brooks (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. Everett right-hander Jose Valdivia (0-1, 2.25 ERA).
Halman honored
The AquaSox honored former outfielder Greg Halman by retiring the late Everett player’s number between games of Saturday’s doubleheader.
Halman was 24 when he was stabbed to death on November 21, 2011, in Rotterdam, Netherlands. His brother was arrested following the incident.
A native of the Netherlands, Halman was signed by the Seattle Mariners as a non-drafted free agent in 2004 at age 16, and played the 2006 and 2007 seasons in Everett. In 2007, the 19-year-old Halman was a Northwest League All-Star, batting .307 with 16 home runs in 62 games.
He was promoted to the Mariners in 2010 and spent parts of two seasons with Seattle before his death.
As part of Saturday’s ceremony, a letter from Halman’s mother, Hanny Suidgeest of Haarlem, Netherlands, was read aloud by Kathy Chapman of Everett, whose family hosted Halman during his two AquaSox seasons.
In her letter, Suidgeest recalled that her son “loved playing for the Everett AquaSox. Gregory loved everything about Everett. The community, the fans, the organization, the stadium, the team, and last but not least his host family … the Chapman family.
“Up till now we don’t realize what happened and we still cannot believe it did actually happen. We still cannot face reality and accept that we will never see Gregory again. We will never see, hear or feel him around anymore. We will never again hear his laughter and his jokes or see his wonderful smile. Gregory was a sweet, beautiful and unique person to us and everybody else. … Gregory will always be there in our hearts and in our loving memory.”
Halman’s No. 26 is commemorated on the right field wall along with his initials.
Pregame rain delay
Saturday’s first game was scheduled to start at 6:05 p.m., but the first pitch was delayed to 7:20 p.m. as the AquaSox grounds crew worked feverishly to ready the field after heavy afternoon showers.
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