A Big-League Atmosphere Makes Games At Safeco Special
May 10, 2011
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When the Huskies hop off the bus in downtown Seattle this Friday night a few hours before their date with No. 2 Oregon State, they'll be the latest UW baseball team to participate in what has become a yearly ritual: the Safeco Field game.
The yearly contest at the home of the Seattle Mariners has become a highlight of the schedule each spring. It's an opportunity for the Husky players to compete in a big-league setting, with all that it entails, and a chance for fans to experience a game at one of the jewels of the Major Leagues at cut-rate prices.
For the players, everything adds to the experience. The Huskies take over the visiting clubhouse on the third-base side. They sit in the huge dugout or the well-appointed bullpen. They look out at the massive video board in center field and, along with the crowd, they know that rain can't interfere with the game thanks to Safeco's retractable roof.
For the fans, along with the knowledge that rain can't spoil the evening, it's a chance to get to sit in terrific seats, close to the action, for a fraction of the usual big-league prices. Tickets for the game are only $8, and since it's all general admission seating, the early birds can find themselves in the high-roller seats with ease. With those prices, you could bring around eight people for the price of one Mariners ticket.
Several Husky players have had the opportunity to play or pitch at Safeco Field both at the high-school level, and in college, as the Washington state championships have been played there for the last several years.
Last year, Husky freshman Austin Voth was the winning pitcher for Kentwood in a state semifinal as his team went on to the state title. Both Aaron West and Brian Wolfe played for state champion Snohomish High in 2008. Pitcher Adam Cimber won a semifinal game for Puyallup in 2009.
Senior Geoff Brown pitched Jackson High to a win over fellow Husky Troy Scott and Auburn High School in the state title game in 2006. Since then, he's pitched for the UW on the Safeco mound.
Even with all the high-end accommodations, Brown mostly points to the big crowds as the highlight. "In high school, it was a bunch of kids trying to get everybody riled up," he recalls. "In college, it's a lot the same. You're not used to pitching in front of that many people, so it's a really cool experience."
At the same time, Brown appreciates getting to roam the same field, clubhouse and dugout as all of today's biggest baseball stars. "When we get to go in visitors' clubhouse, it's like 'wow,'" he says. "This is what these guys get every day."
West recalls walking on to the field at Safeco as a high-schooler and being awed. "It was just huge. I felt like I was an ant," he remembers. "It's nice to player there since it's so big, especially as a pitcher."
The Huskies' five prior games at Safeco have included some truly great games. The large crowds and top-notch setting seems to have raised the quality of play on the field -- for both teams -- over the years.
"I think playing in a big league park amps up everybody and gets everybody excited to play," Brown says. "Having people there to cheer for you is great."
"You always want to play well," West agrees, "but when so many people are watching, it's even more intense."
On May 4, 2007, the Huskies beat an eighth-ranked Oregon State team, 6-2, in front of 10,421 fans, at the time a Pac-10 record for a conference game. The Beavers, who were the defending NCAA champions and who would go on to win another College World Series that season, brought a lot of their own fans as well, making for an exciting atmosphere for both teams.
The following season, the UW welcomed an 18th-ranked Arizona team, and Husky pitcher Nick Haughian turned in one of the most impressive outings in Washington history. Haughian went the distance for a two-hit shutout, striking out 15 Wildcats as the Huskies eked out a 1-0 victory in front of 5,187 fans.
In 2009, the Huskies played two games at Safeco, falling in close games to a pair of ranked opponents in No. 3 Arizona State (3-1) and No. 25 Oregon State (6-4), who got revenge for the 2007 loss.
Last year, the UW was improved to 3-2 in games at Safeco (all against ranked opponents) with an 8-1 victory over No. 21 Stanford.
First pitch on Friday is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. Bring your radio to the stadium and listen live on KKNW AM-1150 as Steve Sandmeyer and Gary Hill call the action.
