It’s been quite a week.
After spending all of last weekend at Xfinity Arena, I found myself at Safeco Field not once, but twice this week as both Everett franchises had their respective moments in SoDo.
In-between there was a Labor Day regular-season finale, a rained-out playoff game and three combined games by the aforementioned Everett franchises east of the mountains.
On Tuesday, I was at the Corner of Edgar and Dave to cover Everett Silvertips goaltender Carter Hart as he threw out the first pitch before the Mariners played host to the Texas Rangers.
The Silvertips went on to split two games at the Tri-City Tournament Wednesday and Thursday. Both games went into overtime with Everett falling in the extra session to Spokane Wednesday, and defeating Portland after a six-round shootout Thursday.
In personnel news, it appears recently signed Kyle Walker, a 2000-born defenseman has been reassigned.
Thank you @WHLsilvertips for everything you guys have done for me this past month & the awesome training camp & pre season games. #loveit
— Kyle Walker (@Walker20Kyle) September 9, 2016
Walker inked with the Tips during training camp and tallied 44 points in 37 games last year with the Leduc Oil Kings minor midget AAA team in Alberta.
Friday I was back in the shadow of CenturyLink Field as the Everett AquaSox knocked off the Spokane Indians 8-0 at Safeco to earn the sweep in the Northwest League North Division Series and advance to the NWL Championship Series against the Hillsboro Hops.
It had to be a tremendous thrill for the AquaSox players, all of whom harbor dreams of running out onto Safeco Field with “Mariners” emblazoned on their chests. I’d have to think it was also a thrill for the Indians players to play at an MLB stadium.
It was Everett outfielder Dimas Ojeda’s first trip to Safeco because he was still with the Arizona Mariners when the team attended Seattle’s July 19 contest. Several other AquaSox players had been on the field before. Eric Filia played in the Mariners Cup showcase event when he was in high school, while Joe Venturino, Matt Festa, Bryson Brigman and Nick Zammarelli attended the Mariners pre-draft workout in June.
There were VIPs aplenty. Seattle Mariners hall-of-famer Dan Wilson, the organization’s defensive coordinator, has been with the Frogs for the past week. Brian Hunter, Wilson’s teammate on the 1999 Seattle Mariners, is the AquaSox hitting coach. And Seattle general manager Jerry Dipoto sweet-talked his way into the Diamond Club to take in the spectacle.
The Tips are off until next week Friday. The Frogs are back at it Sunday when they play host to the Eugene Emeralds at 6 at Everett Memorial Stadium.
For the latest Silvertips and AquaSox news follow Jesse Geleynse on Twitter @jessegeleynse.
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