Steven Souza Jr. is going to have to wait to make his Seattle Mariners debut.
The Cascade High School graduate and seven-year Major League Baseball veteran was reassigned by the Mariners to their minor-league camp Tuesday. The move was one of four made as Seattle reduced its roster to 32 players. The Mariners need to get down to 28 for Thursday’s season opener at Minnesota.
Souza was signed by the Mariners to a minor-league contract in March with an invitation to attend major-league camp. The 32-year-old outfielder batted .261 with three home runs and eight RBI in 13 spring training games with Seattle. However, the Mariners’ decision to keep highly touted prospect outfielder Julio Rodriguez on the opening-day roster left little room for Souza.
Souza will presumably join Seattle’s Triple-A team in Tacoma for the start of the season and be available for call-up should the Mariners need an outfielder.
Souza has 72 home runs in 499 major-league games, including 30 in 2017 with the Tampa Bay Rays when he was named The Herald’s Man of the Year in Sports. Last season he spent the majority of the season with the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Triple-A team, batting .274 with 12 homers in 56 games, while also going 5-for-33 with a homer in 17 games with the Dodgers.
Hubby places second at wrestling nationals
Lake Stevens High School graduate Kiley Hubby, now a first-year on the Big Bend Community College women’s wrestling team, placed second in her weight class at the National Collegiate Wrestling Association National Championships, held March 10-12 in Allen, Texas.
Hubby took second in the 191-pound weight class as she helped the Lady Vikings claim the team championship.
Taggart named NWAC Player of the Week
Everett High School graduate Casen Taggart, now a freshman catcher/first baseman on the Centralia College baseball team, was named the Northwest Athletic Conference Baseball Hitter of the Week for March 21-27. Taggart batted 7-for-19 with a pair of doubles and 11 RBI as he led the Blazers to a 2-1-1 record during the week.
This season Taggart is batting .333 with 19 RBI in 18 games for a Centralia team that is 10-10.
Forseth receives NWAC softball honor
Edmonds-Woodway High School graduate Annika Forseth, now a first-year member of the Skagit Valley College softball team, was named the Northwest Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Week for March 21-27. Forseth threw a four-hit shutout in an 11-0 victory over Bellevue, walking none and striking our four while handing the Bulldogs just their second loss in 13 games.
This season Forseth is 4-1 with a 3.00 ERA, walking four and striking out 41 in 30.1 innings for the Cardinals, who are 8-6.
If you have an item for the community sports roundup, email Nick Patterson at npatterson@heraldnet.com.
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