Seattle Mariners' Minor League Team in Snohomish County Begins Season This Week

Did you know that a professional baseball team in Snohomish County won a championship last year?

Meet the Everett AquaSox, nicknamed the Frogs, who beat the Spokane Indians for the Northwest League title in September. The team’s 48-27 record was the best in its history. The Sox are a short-season class A team affiliated with the Seattle Mariners who play their games at the 3,682-seat Everett Memorial Stadium.

The roster is set, and the 76-game season begins Friday on the road against the Tri-City Dust Devils in Pasco. But before that game, the team will play a home exhibition game on Wednesday in the eighth annual Everett Cup against the Everett Merchants. The game begins at 7:05 p.m. The Sox’s home opener is June 22 against the Vancouver Canadians, an affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays.

The Sox player with the highest profile is 19-year-old Marcus Littlewood, selected by the Mariners with a second-round pick last year. In 27 games with Mariners Class A affiliate Clinton this year, he hit .158 with one home run in 95 at bats. The rest of the roster includes players mostly in their early 20s. The oldest is 25-year-old pitcher Jason Buursma, who attended Lakeside School in Seattle, and the youngest is 19-year-old pitcher Vincente Campos.

Also on the team is catcher Billy Marcoe, whose hometown is Bellevue.

Left-handed pitcher Cameron Hobson from the University of Dayton (Ohio) is the highest Mariners 2011 draft pick on the roster. He was taken in the 11th round with the 333rd pick. Other 2011 draft picks on the roster include 14th-round pick Cody Weiss and 21st-round pick Joseph DiRocco.

The Sox’s manager is Scott Steinmann, who is joined by hitting coach Mike Kinkade and pitching coach Andrew Lorraine.

The AquaSox were originally named the Everett Giants when founded in 1984. The team changed its name when it became affiliated with the Mariners in 1995.

Among the current or former Mariners who have played in Everett include Jay Buhner, Felix Hernandez, Doug Fister, Carlos Peguero, Michael Saunders, Rafael Soriano, Jeff Clement, Tom Wilhelmsen, Willie Bloomquist, Gil Meche, Greg Halman, Adam Moore and Joel Pineiro.

The AquaSox opening home stand will run from June 22-27. The first 1,000 fans through the gates on opening night will receive a commemorative 2011 AquaSox magnet schedule presented by Union Bank. In addition to the games, highlights will include two different post-game fireworks shows and a Mariners throwback jersey auction. Individual tickets for the Everett Cup and the 2011 AquaSox season, as well as season tickets and 12-game and 16-game options.
 
For more information about ticket plans, planning a group outing or about the season schedule, you can go to the AquaSox Stadium Store, 3802 Broadway in Everett, call (425) 258-3673, or log onto AquaSox.com.