Mariners Players Go Back To School
Students in the greater Seattle area got a treat on Friday afternoon when Seattle Mariners players visited four elementary schools in Seattle, Burien and Issaquah.
This is the 22nd consecutive year the entire team took an inspirational message to the students through the principles of the Mariner Moose DREAM Team.
Players took turns using the letters of DREAM to encourage the kids to focus on a five things that they can do now to help them achieve their life’s goals.
At Hilltop Elementary in Burien, which has an English/Spanish immersion curriculum, the presentation was bilingual, with three of the seven Mariners players doing their part in Spanish.
Pitcher Marco Gonzales led off with the letter D, which stands for Drug-Free. Gonzales pointed to his six teammates and said “See all these guys? We made it here by staying drug-free and making good choices.” Then he asked the kids for a two letter word that they can use if someone tries to offer them drugs. The students responded with a resounding NO!
Catcher Omar Narváez joined in and challenged the kids, in Spanish, to just say no.
Next pitcher Dan Altavilla, who was called up earlier in the day from Tacoma, took the letter R, for Respect.
Altavilla told the students how important it is for them to respect each other, their teachers, their parents and themselves. “It’s important for you to take care of yourselves, too. One way you can do that is to eat food that is nutritious so you can get big and strong.”
Pitcher Cory Gearrin took the letter E, which he said stands for Education. Gearrin said even though school is almost out, the kids don’t have to stop learning just because they won’t be in a classroom. Gearrin told the students that getting an education is the most important thing they can do for their future. “I wouldn’t be here without an education. I wasn’t the fastest or the strongest, but I was able to get where I am because I am always learning.”
He also suggested the kids do one thing that he does every single day — read.
Teammate Gerson Bautista picked up that theme and, in Spanish, he challenged the students to read two extra books each week during the summer.
Roenis Elías, also speaking to the kids in Spanish, took the letter A, for Attitude. He told the students how important it is for them to have a good attitude about everything they do and to “always look forward” and support each other.
Connor Sadzeck finished the presentation with the letter M, for Motivation. Sadzeck said none of the players would be where they are without motivation. He urged the kids to “stay positive and constantly motivate yourself and each other to become the person you want to be.
In addition to a fun afternoon and some knowledge, each of the students went home with a Moose poster, some baseball cards, a Jr. Mariners Wiffle Ball and a piece of school letterhead with the autographs of all seven players.
