SEATTLE — Edmonds-Woodway senior Owen Jones dreamed about playing baseball at Safeco Field but never thought he’d get the chance while still in high school.
“You always dream of playing here,” Jones said before the Mariners Cup doubleheader Aug. 12. “It’s definitely a goal of mine to play in a major league ball park and I’ll do it before I graduate from high school and go to college.”
Jones, a right-hander, started the second game of Saturday’s doubleheader and threw four innings. He gave up four hits, two runs, both earned, while walking none and striking out three. Despite a solid outing, the Northwest team of incoming seniors could muster only one hit and Jones took the loss, 2-1, in the seven-inning game.
However, the Mariners’ Northwest scout team won two of three games against a squad of Southern California all-stars picked by Mariners’ scouts in the inaugural Mariners Cup Aug. 12-13 at Safeco.
Jones’ teammate, Jackson senior left-hander Geoff Brown loves pitching at Safeco Field. Even before his performance in the Cup opener, Safeco was a special place for Brown. During the state 4A championship game back in May at Safeco, Brown allowed only three hits and one unearned run in five innings to pick up the win. He also hit a two-run home run, his first ever in a high school game.
Last Saturday, Brown threw four strong innings in the opener, allowing only one hit, an unearned run and three walks while striking out eight.
Brown left with the game tied 1-1. He allowed a run when he made a throwing error on a bunt attempt in the top of the third inning.
In the Mariners’ dugout before his start Brown said his goal was simply, “to go out there and relax and play ball.”
“It’s fun, a lot of fun playing here in this ballpark,” he said. “All these guys are good ballplayers to make this team.”
The Northwest team broke the game open with five runs in the bottom of the sixth and went on to win, 7-2, in the nine-inning game. Shorecrest senior Pierce Rankin stroked a RBI double in the inning and went 2-for-4 as the designated hitter in that game. Rankin went 3-for-9 with three runs and two RBI in the series.
Brown said he knew many of his Cup teammates from high school ball and playing select ball for the Seattle Stars. Both Jones and Rankin also play for the Stars.
College recruiters and pro scouts watched the series and the players were eager to make a good impression.
It’s a routine Brown grew familiar with as a Jackson teammate of Travis Snider whom the Toronto Blue Jays selected with their top draft pick this June.
Both Brown and Rankin have verbally committed to play at the University of Washington next year.
“This is the most important year for a baseball player,” said Rankin, who along with Brown, played in the Area Code Games in Long Beach, Calif. on a team assembled by Washington Nationals scouts earlier this month. “All the hard work’s paid off.”
In Sunday’s nine-inning rubber match, the Northwest team hung on for a 6-5 victory. Rankin went 1-for-3 with two runs and a RBI.
“What we’re trying to do is give them the big league experience any way we can,” said Phil Geisler, who managed the Northwest team and serves as the Mariners’ Northwest scout. Playing in the Cup, hopefully can “open eyes to career opportunities in pro baseball.”
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
