SEATTLE — Carter Hart wandered down the warning track and along Safeco Field’s third-base line.
Spotting several Silvertips teammates in the stands, Hart, the Everett star goaltender walked over to the railing and offered a smile and a wave, his billet Parker Fowlds at his side.
Hart then strode out to the Safeco Field mound and delivered the ceremonial first pitch to recent trade acquisition Ben Gamel as Texas Rangers and Seattle Mariners players warmed up around him.
“As soon as I walked out to the mound I got a little bit nervous. I felt a few butterflies, but overall it was just a really good experience,” said Hart, who was a second-round pick of the Philadelphia Flyers in this year’s NHL draft after he was named the WHL and CHL Goaltender of the Year. “I’m very thankful the Mariners gave me this opportunity.”
Hart is no stranger to America’s Pastime. He was a youth hockey and baseball star back in his native Alberta where he played center field and pitched. Like many of his countrymen, Hart had to make a choice after the age of 12 when spring hockey began to interfere with a burgeoning baseball career.
The highlight of his career was a relief appearance he made during the Alberta “Mosquito” (U11) AA Provincial Tournament. Hart entered the game in the fifth to protect a three-run lead and promptly drilled the first batter in the head. But he made his wildness effective.
“The next five batters nobody wanted to get in the box,” Hart said. “I was just throwing softies down the pipe. We won gold that year and we won provincials that year.”
No doubt Tuesday’s experience will be the new highlight. Hart warmed up at Xfinity Arena after Silvertips practice with a little help from Tips head coach Kevin Constantine’s son, Nicholas. Then it was down I-5 to Safeco, where he exchanged a red hat for a Mariners cap and donned an authentic Mariners jersey with his name and familiar No. 70 on the back.
Hart then made his way to the bowels of stadium and into the hallway that connects to the tunnel that leads to the field. There he was able to warm up from 60 feet, six inches, the distance from the rubber to home plate.
His pitch to Gamel was perhaps a bit wide. But, as Hart said afterward, he was happy he didn’t bounce it on the way to the dish. Hart finished up his evening by granting several interviews inside the main press conference room inside the stadium.
Tuesday’s trip to Safeco reminded Hart of his trip to Philadelphia this summer when he visited the Wells Fargo Center after he was taken by the Flyers.
“They’re both top of the line stadiums and top of the line staff. You get treated so well at these places,” Hart said. “You just realize what being a pro is all about and just going out there and seeing some of the pros that you’ve grown up watching your whole life like Robinson Cano and Adrian Beltre. It’s pretty cool to see those guys face-to-face and overall just such a great experience.”
Unlike many of his Everett teammates, Hart is not a fan of the Toronto Blue Jays, but rather of their American League East rivals, the New York Yankees. It’s all due to a future Hall of Famer named Derek Jeter.
“He’s a tremendous leader and probably the most-respected athlete in all of sports,” Hart said of the former Yankee captain. “Obviously he’s one of my idols that I look up to. He’s a well-respected athlete and there is a lot can be learned from him. Just the way he played and the way he carries himself as a professional.”
Those are lessons in professionalism Hart hopes will serve him well when he eventually reaches the Philadelphia Flyers.
Notes
The Silvertips continue their preseason with games Wednesday and Thursday at the Tri-City Tournament. Everett plays Spokane on Wednesday and faces Portland on Thursday. Both games begin at 3 p.m. at the Toyota Center in Kennewick.
For the latest Silvertips news follow Jesse Geleynse on Twitter @jessegeleynse.
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