Showing posts with label baseball. Show all posts
Showing posts with label baseball. Show all posts

Join Shoreline Rotary for dinner and a game at the Everett Aquasox on July 31, 2024

Thursday, July 4, 2024

Funko Field - home of the Aquasox

Everett Aquasox - July 31, 2024
Shoreline Rotarians and Friends
3900 Broadway, Everett WA 98201

The July evening "meeting" for Shoreline Rotary will be on July 31, 2024 at Funko Field to see the Everett Aquasox (the Mariners Single-A Minor League affiliate) host the Eugene Emeralds.

We will have use of the Picnic Pavilion from 6 to 7:30 pm. We will be provided with a buffet of hamburgers, hot dogs, baked beans, potato salad, chips and cookies, and canned soda and water.

The game starts at 7:05pm. The cost is $30.00 per person, which includes a ticket to the game as well as the food.

If you've never been to an Aquasox game, it's very cool! Need not be a Rotarian to attend!

If you will be attending, please contact Robert Brouillard robert@Brouillardlaw.com as soon as possible so he can reserve tickets.


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Shorecrest grad featured in Seattle Times sports article

Monday, July 1, 2024

Skylar Shibayama
Skylar Shibayama, 2012 Shorecrest graduate, Ridgecrest native, and son of Gerry and Jennifer Shibayama, is featured in a Seattle Times sports article by Adam Jude.

Shibayama is the Mariners' director of baseball strategy, and oversees the advance scouting department.

He is credited with modernizing and streamlining statistics for the team.

"Until Shibayama arrived, the Mariners were still printing out sheets of stats before every game, stacks an inch or two thick for the coaching staff to pore through. Shibayama’s objective was to streamline all that data and make it digestible and usable on the field."

Shibayama is now one of Mariners Manager Scott Servais most trusted advisers.


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Little League Day at Shorecrest Baseball field Saturday April 13, 2024 prior to game with Edmonds-Woodway

Saturday, April 6, 2024


The 2024 Shorecrest Varsity Baseball team is hosting Little League Day at the Shorecrest High School Baseball Field on Saturday April 13, 2024. 

This is a new, first time ever event, created and carried out by the team. They are hoping to pass along their love of baseball to the younger generation of Shoreline ball players. 

There will be an opportunity to meet the Shorecrest players, run the bases, check out the field and snack on some Cracker Jacks while you cheer on the Scots.
 
Edmonds Woodway is a formidable opponent, so it will be a great game to watch and root, root, root for the home team.

Shorecrest High School Baseball Field, 15343 25th Ave NE, Shoreline WA 98155. Activities begin 12:30pm and game begins at 1pm.


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Beloved SW baseball coach Wyatt Tonkin dies at 69

Friday, March 29, 2024

Wyatt Tonkin
Photo courtesy Shorewood Boosters
Longtime Shorewood HS Baseball coach Wyatt Tonkin passed away this week. He was 69 years old.

He probably wasn't any taller than 6-1, but in every way he was a big big man. When he shook your hand, you knew your hand had gotten shook. You were just happy to even see it again. And you could feel one of his bear hugs for three days.

His life will be celebrated this Saturday, March 30, 2024 at 1:30pm in the Shorewood gym. Maybe bring a cushion to sit on. Given the number of young men he coached (as well as the people he saw for years on a daily basis at Shorewood), and all the stories they have to tell, the celebration could easily go extra innings.

In 2017 Tonkin was inducted into the Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame
Photo by Wayne Pridemore

Wyatt compiled an amazing record at Shorewood, posting 367 wins against 145 losses, for a winning percentage of 72%.

For reference, such a winning percentage taken over a major league 162-game schedule would work out to 116 wins.

The famous handshake. Photo by Wayne Pridemore
Five times he took his team to the State tournament semi-finals. His teams brought home two 4th place trophies, one 3rd place, trophy, and twice they came heartbreakingly close to winning the State Championship, only to fall just short. 

His most decorated former player is Blake Snell, two-time Cy Young Award winner, now with the SF Giants.

Wyatt attended the University of Washington. In 1976, he was drafted in the 20th round by the Atlanta Braves. 

He pitched three seasons in the minor leagues, rising to the level of A ball before he left the game as a player.

Photo by Wayne Pridemore

Shorecrest Baseball Coach Alan Bruns has a unique perspective on Coach Tonkin, likely knowing him better on the baseball field than anybody.

Said Coach Bruns, "He brought me in as his JV coach in 1999 and I spent 6 seasons there before taking the head position at SC in 2005. This would've been our 19th year of going head to head (we lost the 2020 season of course). 
"Wyatt was always teaching, not just his players but other coaches as well. The baseball lessons came along with a terrific story from his storied baseball past. As a young coach he showed me the importance of building team camaraderie, paying attention to the little things, and making sure players understand the purpose of what they were doing in practice. 
"He's also the most observant coach I've ever been around. He was always noticing subtle tendencies of opposing hitters, finding "tells" in an opposing pitcher's delivery, and picking up on other coaches' habits in how they ran their offense on the bases. With all that said, everything Wyatt did and said was from the heart."

Photo by Wayne Pridemore

Shorewood Principal, Bill Dunbar, kindly shared his thoughts on Coach Tonkin.

"Wyatt has been such a presence in our school for more than 20 years. 
"He was one of the greats in coaching in our region. He focused on character, teamwork, developing young players, mentoring and I've never seen another coach who could bring a group of athletes together to form a team the way he can. 
"Over the years Wyatt taught us all many things about school spirit, about life, about sportsmanship, teamwork and competition. He loved being here and being part of Shorewood in so many different ways ... as a coach for baseball and assisting in football, as gym manager for all of our gym events at every level ( basketball, volleyball, wrestling) and any other event we hosted. 
"He would chaperone social events (dances and prom) and act as a substitute school security monitor whenever we needed him. He was one of the finest coaches in realizing also the impact he could have as a mentor both on and off the field. "

Anyone who lingered in the gym after an event Wyatt managed knew what music he preferred. His gym, his music. Expect to hear the Beach Boys blaring Saturday afternoon.


Photo by Wayne Pridemore

Every summer Wyatt coached a local Select team, most of their games getting played after school let out in June, against the circuit of other like-talented teams. While those games didn't attract nearly the attention that HS games did, they were of high importance to him. It was well within his skill-set to give real-time evaluations to umpires, particularly those whose eyesight or judgement came into question.

His death occurred almost seven years to the day after his beloved wife Alice passed. It's safe to say he never got over it.

And it's safe to say no man ever loved his wife more than Wyatt Tonkin loved his Alice.

He leaves behind two outstanding sons, Shea and Tyler, and their young families.

They're hurting.

They could use all the bear hugs you've got.

--Frank Workman


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Winner of two Cy Young awards, Blake Snell to be honored at Shorewood basketball game January 25, 2024

Saturday, January 20, 2024

Shorewood HIgh School Athletic Department is excited to recognize Shorewood Alum Blake Snell, Thursday, January 25, 2024 at the Shorewood HS Main Gym, during halftime of the Varsity Boys Basketball game versus Monroe. 

Tip off for the varsity game is at 7:15pm.

Snell earned his second Cy Young Award this past year and he will be honored for his accomplishments at Shorewood.

Shorewood High School is located at 17300 Fremont Ave N, Shoreline WA 98133


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Shorewood graduate Blake Snell wins his second Cy Young award in professional baseball

Saturday, November 18, 2023


Blake Snell, Shorewood graduate, won the 2023 National League Cy Young Award.

He was voted as the best pitcher in the league. His record was 14 and 9 with a 2.25 ERA for the San Diego Padres.

Blake at Shorewood. Photo by Wayne Pridemore.

This is the second Cy Young Award won by Blake. He was the American League winner in 2018 while at Tampa Bay. (See previous article)

Baseball scouts on the sidelines of Shorewood games when Blake was playing
Photo by Wayne Pridemore

During his senior season big league scouts were often at Shorewood games timing his fast balls to be sure he was the real deal.  He was.

--Wayne Pridemore


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Scots Baseball is playoff bound with best regular season record in 11 years

Tuesday, May 2, 2023

From left: Beckett Wagner, Harrison McWalter, Coach Bruns, Coach Robbins,
Coach Officer, Jason Clark, Ben Foster. From Senior Night.

By Alan Bruns, Varsity Coach,
Shorecrest Athletic Director

Thanks to a two-game sweep of Lynnwood last week, the Shorecrest baseball team has advanced to the postseason, and ended with its best regular season record in 11 years. 

On Senior Night, April 25, 2023 Dillon Carrell again dazzled on the mound, pitching a 3-hit shutout, the defense turned 3 double plays (they have 12 overall this season), while Beckett Wagner broke the game open with a clutch, 2-run triple, and catcher Jake Lockwood came through with 3 hits. 

In Thursday's season finale - a 4-2 victory - Shorecrest pitching was again the decisive factor, as Hudson Cunningham, Jason Clark, Hudson Ekstrom, and Jake Lockwood combined to hold down the Lynnwood offense.
 
Next up, Shorecrest will play host to a playoff game this Thursday, at 4:00pm, against the winner of Mountlake Terrace and Marysville-Getchell who will play on Tuesday. 

The Scots go into postseason play riding the offensive production of top hitters Quinn Burnham, Beckett, Brooks Murray, and Hudson C. (leads the team with 10 RBI's), the high quality performances by starting pitchers Jake, Hudson C., and Dillon, and the stellar infield defense of Jason, Quinn, Hudson C. , and Hudson Ekstrom

GO SCOTS!


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Search and Rescue Hero Dog caught first pitch at Seattle Mariners game

Wednesday, April 12, 2023

Mariner Moose with Suzanne Elshult, Keb, and Guy Mansfield

On April 3, 2023 at the Seattle Mariners’ home game with Los Angeles Angels, 13-year-old K9 “Keb”, the 2022 American Humane Search and Rescue Hero Dog, caught the ceremonial first pitch of the game!

Keb appeared at the home plate (and on the Big Screen), enjoyed some quality time with the Mariner Moose, and was honored during the Mariners’ “Bark at the Park” program.

K9 Keb has dedicated her life to search and rescue with multiple important finds in the Pacific Northwest. She has searched for the missing and the lost from the mud of the Oso Landslide Disaster to the high slopes of Mount Rainier.

Many of Keb’s adventures are featured in the award-winning bestseller: A Dog’s Devotion: True Adventures of a K9 Search and Rescue Team (Lyons Press, October 2022), written by Keb’s owner Suzanne Elshult, and her search team partner Guy Mansfield.

A Dog’s Devotion is available at local bookstores and online from Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble.com.

Local authors Suzanne Elshult and Guy Mansfield have been local search and rescue volunteers for over 20 years and have been recognized by state and local agencies for their service.

Suzanne is the Past President of Cascadia Search Dogs and deploys with her two dogs Keb and Kili through Mason County Search and Rescue and the Canine Forensics Foundation.

Guy is Director of the Washington State SAR Planning Unit. Both Suzanne and Guy are members of Everett Mountain Rescue. The authors wrote their book to inspire others and bring attention to the dedication of search and rescue volunteers everywhere. They will be donating a portion of their proceeds to local SAR teams.


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Shorecrest baseball wins hard-fought victory over Interlake

Friday, March 17, 2023

Shorecrest Scots baseball team
Photo by Alan Bruns

On Wednesday afternoon, March 15, 2023 at Interlake High School the Scots baseball team made it two wins in a row to start the season, with a hard-fought 3-2 victory. 

Dillon Carrell came through in the top of the 7th inning with the decisive hit as he pulled a hard, 2-out single through the right side, scoring Bennett Foster, and giving the Scots a 3-2 lead. 

Hudson Ekstrom then came on in the bottom of the inning and closed the door, stranding the tying run at 3B, and earning his first career varsity save. 

The starting pitching continues to show early promise as Hudson Cunningham threw 5 strong innings and limited Interlake to two runs. 

Jake Lockwood contributed 2 hits and an RBI on the offensive side, and the team's defense was nearly flawless, including a perfectly executed relay from Gavin Leptich to Quinn Burnham, who threw home for a crucial out at the plate. 

Next up: Friday night, 7:00pm, against Garfield, at Shorecrest.

--Alan Bruns



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Shorecrest baseball team starts season with victory over Ballard

Tuesday, March 14, 2023

On Monday afternoon, March 13, 2023 the Shorecrest baseball team began the 2023 season with a well-played, 7-2 victory over Ballard High School. 

Jake Lockwood was the winning pitcher, as he threw 4 innings, with 6 strikeouts, while Quinn Burnham and Dillon Carrell came on in relief to preserve the lead. 

Offensively the Scots were led by Gavin Leptich, who went 2 for 2, with a triple and a run scored, Hudson Cunningham with 2 hits, as well as Bennett Foster, who had 2 RBI's on a clutch double in the 5th inning to help break open the game. 

The Scots will play their first home game this Friday, March 17, 2023 at 7:00pm, when they host Garfield.

--Alan Bruns


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Ridgecrest native is part of the Mariners' success - and couldn't be happier about it

Monday, October 10, 2022

By Patricia Hale

Home Town Guy, Skylar Shibayama, got a well deserved hug from Mariners Manager Scott Servais following Saturday’s 10-9 win against the Toronto Blue Jays.

Skylar grew up in the Ridgecrest Neighborhood, attending Ridgecrest Elementary, Kellogg and Shorecrest. 

At Shorecrest, he was elected ASB President, was on the Debate Team and pitched for the Shorecrest baseball team. 

A National Merit Scholar who loved math, Skylar attended and graduated from Yale University.

Skylar pitched for the Shorecrest Scots
Photo by Gerry Shibayama
Shibayama began working for Jerry Dipoto as an intern in 2018, and spent 2019 implementing strategic innovations via analytical research and education, with a focus on in-game strategy. 

In December 2021 Shibayama was promoted to Director of Data Strategy where he oversees the advance scouting process and maintains his role in the Mariners’ analytics department. 

He continues to work closely with the Mariners coaching staff and front office on strategy, game theory, objective decision-making and educational initiatives.

Skylar Shibayama
Working for the Mariners certainly holds a special place in Skylar Shibayama’s heart. 

The opportunity to help the club end a 21-year playoff drought – means everything to him.
“It’s my team,” Shibayama said. “I’ve been a Mariners fan my whole life. I was at the 116th win in 2001. So getting to work here is very special.”
So what does Shibayama tell his friends he does for a living?
“I just tell people that I’m trying to help the Mariners find an edge wherever we can find it,” he said.
Guessing all of that is why he got a hug from Scott!



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Cartoon by Whitney Potter: Mariner Home Opener

Friday, April 15, 2022

 
The Mariners play the Astros Friday, April 15, 2022 at 6:42pm. Tickets here.



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Shorecrest Grad Named Minor League Baseball GM

Monday, February 7, 2022

Cloe de Vries
Photo courtesy Rapids Rafters
Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. – The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters named 2017 Shorecrest graduate Chloe de Vries their fourth general manager in franchise history. De Vries rejoins the Rafters after spending three seasons with the organization. 

De Vries, 23, started her career with the Rafters in 2018 as a marketing intern and on-field emcee under current Green Bay Rockers Vice President and General Manager John Fanta’s leadership. 

“We are thrilled to have Chloe returning to the Rafters as our new general manger,” Rafters Owner Vince Fonti stated. 
“The passion and love that she has for the Rafters and the City of Wisconsin Rapids is infectious. Chloe has proven herself over the past two years with her professionalism and hard work and is ready to make this jump. I am so proud of her development and excited to see her lead the Rafters for many years.”

“I could not be more eager and honored to assume the role of general manager and follow in the footsteps of some incredible mentors,” de Vries stated. 

“During my time in Rapids, the community has been so welcoming and their enthusiasm towards the team is what makes this position so rewarding. The success of this organization is based on this community, and I can’t wait to continue to put our best product on the field in 2022.”

De Vries graduated from Chapman University in the spring of 2020 with a degree in Communication Studies and a minor in Broadcast Journalism. During her time at Chapman, she interned with the Los Angeles Clippers for two seasons in the Public Relations department.

De Vries served as the Seasonal Marketing Manager for the 2020 Rafters season before assuming the role of the Marketing and Public Relations Manager heading into 2021. She joined Francis and Hannah Jurgens, becoming the first female dominated front office in Northwoods League history. After the season, she left to return to her alma mater as the Assistant Sports Information Director before accepting the general manager position.



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Former Shoreline Community College baseball player drafted by Milwaukee Brewers

Saturday, November 20, 2021

Zane Zurbrugg played for the SCC Dolphins
Photo courtesy Shoreline Community College

Shoreline Dolphins outfielder Zane Zurbrugg was selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 27th round of the 2019 Major League Baseball draft. Zurbrugg played two seasons for the Phins in 2018 and 2019.

In 2019, Zurbrugg earned First Team All-Northwest Athletic Conference (NWAC) North Outfield honors as well as First Team All-Region American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) Northwest honors. He hit .385, which put him in 2nd in the entire NWAC in batting average. Zurbrugg also reached an on-base percentage of .488, which placed him 4th in NWAC, and a .533 slugging percentage, which put him in 10th in NWAC.

After suffering knee and hip injuries during his freshman year, 2019 was Zurbrugg’s first fully healthy season playing for the Dolphins, and he entered the season ready to prove his ability.

“He is a savvy player who sacrificed and worked hard for this opportunity with the MLB and the Brewers,” said Ben Reindel, Athletics Coordinator and Head Softball Coach. “He battled several injuries that put him on the bench, but kept a positive attitude throughout. When he got back to full health and had a chance to show what he can do, he made the most of it.”

A natural athlete, Zurbrugg throws 90+ miles per hour from the outfield and routinely makes infield ground outs into singles. He was recruited to Shoreline from Bremerton High School.

“Zane has worked himself to a position to be proud of,” said Reindel. “We here in Phin Nation are extremely proud and will be rooting Zane on his whole career. Go Brewers!”


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After being pulled in the 6th inning of baseball's World Series, Blake Snell is fired up for next year

Thursday, October 29, 2020

Blake Snell, Tampa Bay Rays

By Wayne Pridemore

Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash pulled Blake Snell after the lefty gave up a one out single in the top of the 6th inning. Snell had struck out 9 Dodgers through 4 innings and allowed only 2 hits over 5 1/3 innings. The Rays led 1 to 0. Snell had only thrown 73 pitches.

It was a decision that the Rays' manager probably regretted because just 6 pitches later the Dodgers led by 2 to 1. The LA club went on to win the game by the score of 3 to1. The Dodgers celebrated their first world champion title since 1988.

In an after game interview Rays' manager Cash stated "I didn't want the top of the order facing Snell for the 3rd time".

In the same interview Blake said "I wanted to pitch the whole game. That was everything I wanted to do, just burn the tank and see how far I could go. I already want to get back to work and use tonight's loss as fuel to win it all next year."

Jack Morris, color commentator for the Detroit Tigers and former World Series pitcher for the Tigers and the Twins, had these comments.

In a phone interview from sportswriter Patrick Reusse of the Star Tribune Morris said "Blake Snell was throwing better tonight than anyone I've ever seen in the World Series. These analytic guys we have now think numbers are more important than having an ace at his best on the hill."

While it isn't Kevin Cash' fault for the Rays losing the game, it will his burden to bear in the near future.

---
Blake Snell is a 2011 graduate of Shorewood high school.



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Tampa Bay News sports reporter story on Blake Snell ahead of World Series game 6

Tuesday, October 27, 2020

Local sports fans will remembers Blake
when he pitched for Shorewood.
Photo by Wayne Pridemore.
Tampa Bay Times sports reporter Marc Topkin wrote a detailed article about Shorewood graduate Blake Snell - including analyzing his body language.

Snell is the starting pitcher for Game 6 of baseball's World Series on Tuesday against the Dodgers.

Left-hander Snell, who plays for Florida's Tampa Bay Rays, will be on the mound in the World Series game the Rays must win to have a chance to play in a seventh on Wednesday for the championship.

Read it here: Rays put their trust, and their season, in Blake Snell’s hand






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Blake Snell starting pitcher in game two of World Series against the Dodgers

Thursday, October 22, 2020

By Wayne Pridemore

Blake Snell, former Shorewood star, was the starting pitcher for the Tampa Bay Rays in game two of the World Series on Wednesday, October 21, 2020.

The Los Angeles Dodgers won the first game on Tuesday. Several members of Blake's family traveled to Arlington Texas' Globe Life Field to attend the game. This was a highlight moment for Blake and his family.

Snell was very effective in the first four innings holding the Dodgers hitless.

In the 5th inning, with two out, the Dodgers hit a homer off Blake with a with a runner on to bring the score to Rays 5 Dodgers 2. Blake was pulled after he had thrown 88 pitches and struck out 9 Dodgers.

The Tampa Bay Rays won the game with the score 6 to 4. Blake Snell was the winning pitcher.

Correction: Blake was the starting pitcher. Starting pitchers are required to complete at least 5 innings, and Snell fell one out short of the required number. 

Nick Anderson was credited with being the winning pitcher.


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Local Shorewood player Blake Snell will play in the World Series

Tuesday, October 20, 2020

Blake Snell on right
Photo courtesy Shoreline School District

By Wayne Pridemore

Blake Snell, a Shorewood High School 2011 graduate, will play in the 2020 World Series. Game one of the series between the Tampa Bay Rays and Los Angeles Dodgers begins on Tuesday October 20th at 5 pm and can be viewed on local Fox TV channel 13. Blake is a 6'4" left hand pitcher for the Rays and won the Cy Young Award for the American League in 2018. 

Blake at Shorewood
Photo by Wayne Pridemore

Blake played four years at Shorewood for coach Wyatt Tonkin and won 8 games with no losses in his senior year. He was a highly scouted high school player and was a first round pick by the Rays. Blake Snell won the 2015 Minor League Baseball Player of the year Award.

Blake was heavily scouted in high school
Photo by Wayne Pridemore

The Tampa Bay Rays had a 2020 regular season record of 40 wins and 20 losses. In the playoffs they were: 2 wins and 0 against the Blue Jays, 3 wins and 2 losses against the Yankees, and finally 4 wins and 3 losses against the Astros to win the American League crown.



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Shoreline resident sings the anthem at Mariners game

Tuesday, August 11, 2020

Jonathan Awori sings the national anthem in a video
which was pre-recorded because of COVID-19.
It was played at the Mariners game.

By Cynthia Sheridan

Dr Jonathan Awori made his Seattle baseball debut by singing the National Anthem last Saturday, August 8, 2020 for the Mariners, who were honoring the medical profession through their Health Heroes Campaign.

Dr. Awori moved to Seattle in 2017 for a pediatric residency at Children’s Hospital which he has just completed.

Previously, Jonathan had earned a Master’ Degree in Fine Arts at Murray State University where he taught acting and theater before enrolling in the University of Michigan Medical School.

He is now employed as Chief Resident at Children’s. Jonathan’s wife Anne is an architect and also served as ‘chief technical officer’ for the video, which was pre-recorded due to COVID-19.

Jonathan and Anne have two boys: Christian has just graduated from Shorecrest H.S. and is enrolled at Shoreline Community College this fall; Cameron is beginning his first year at Kellogg Middle School.



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Retired Echo Lake teacher honored at Mariners game

Saturday, August 8, 2020

As seen on TV - Jim Siscel honored at Mariners game


Retired Echo Lake teacher Jim Siscel was thwarted in his quest to see a game at every stadium in America by the COVID-19 pandemic (see previous article).


However, he was honored by the Mariners at their game on August 4, 2020.

His picture was shown on the big screen while announcer Dave Sims mentioned his 25 years as a Season Ticket holder and his 26 years in the Air Force.


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