Carfagnas take in opening day
Published 7:15 am Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Opening day was an occasion for the AquaSox owners, the Cleveland-based Carfagna family, to make the sojourn to Everett.
Peter A. Carfagna, the family patriarch and principal owner, along with his son Pete E. Carfagna, the team’s senior vice president, arrived in town Sunday and will be here until Thursday to take in the start of the season.
And before a single pitch was thrown the Carfagnas were excited about what they saw.
“The new field is unbelievable,” Peter A. Carfagna said. “With the state’s cooperation there was $400,000 put into installing the new field and $750,000 on all capital improvements. All we’re hearing is it’s like a new facility has been created, and seeing is believing.”
The Carfagnas also like the new additions for the fans at Everett Memorial Stadium, including the Bullpen Barbecue, a tented off area for groups along the right-field line and a new suite in the press box.
“We’re very excited about the Bullpen Barbecue and the press box suite,” Pete E. Carfagna said. “Both have gotten very warm responses from the fans and the community. We’re positioned to have a great year from that standpoint and we’re excited for these guys to suit up, get out there and play some baseball.”
Everett is the last of the Carfagna’s three minor-league teams to get underway. The Carfagnas, who also own the Lake County (Ohio) Captains of the South Atlantic League and the Lancaster JetHawks of the California League, said they hope to have at least one family member in attendance at every homestand this season.
Buhner stops by: Also making an appearance on opening day was new minority owner Jay Buhner.
Buhner, the former Seattle Mariner great who hit 310 career homer runs during a 15-year major-league career, was part of a group that bought a minority share of the AquaSox during the offseason. On Tuesday, Buhner, who lives in Fall City, decided to stop by for a first-hand look at his new toy.
“It’s pretty awesome,” Buhner said about his first day as an owner, in-between signing autographs for fans streaming through the north entrance before the game.
“It’s good to continue to give back to the community and give back to the game of baseball that’s been so great to me. So it’s my way of giving back just a little bit.”
Back again: A name well familiar to AquaSox fans arrived back in Everett on Tuesday as Danny Santin returned for his fourth stint with the club.
The 22-year-old catcher from Miami spent parts of each of the last three seasons in Everett. In 2004, he was called up at the end of the season and appeared in three games. In 2005, he spent the entire season with the Sox, batting .273 with four home runs and 31 RBI in 54 games.
Last season, Santin came back to Everett following shoulder surgery, batting .256 with two homers and 10 RBI in 19 games.
This season Santin began with Wisconsin of the full-season single-A Midwest League. At Wisconsin he batted .203 in 19 games.
Tonight’s game
Opponent: Yakima Bears
When: 7:05 p.m.
Where: Everett Memorial Stadium
Radio: KRKO (1380 AM)
Probable starters: Everett right-hander Juan Ramirez (0-0) vs. Yakima right-hander Dan Fournier (0-0)
