FanFest 2011

This past weekend the Seattle Mariners hosted "FanFest" to jump start the upcoming baseball season.  Afterall, spring training starts in a couple weeks....So, while Jay worked at Northlake and Trev stayed home with gram, I took Scotty and Zac over to Safeco Field for the day to explore every corner of the stadium, play games and have a little fun.  It was FREEZING and I hadn't planned that well for it, but we survived.  First thing was first, the boys wanted to eat a Mariner Dog for lunch...

And enjoyed the scenery for a minute while we figured out our game plan....

There were several stations throughout the field where you could catch some flyballs in the outfield, batting stations, run the bases and even a makeshift sportscaster desk where you could actually have a real interview with FSN's Jen Mueller, a regular Mariners game coorespondent.  But for the little ones who didn't want to wait in those long lines, they had kiddie stations throughout the stadium.  So the boys enjoyed throwing some balls.....

 

Hitting some balls......

Climbing.....

Trying things on for size....

And even having a photo op with the Mariner Moose (Zac's highlight of the day)....

But of course, part of the fun was to be able to experience the stadium like the players experience it.  So we had to stand in line for some things, like running the bases....

And posing for mom when she makes you stop at second base....

We had to walk on a metal walkway in order to get to the bases, as the grounds crew didn't want you to step on other areas of the dirt, but of course the boys were gravitating toward it....they did good, but it was a challenge!

They got to sit inside the visitors dugout.....

Then we went on to tour the clubhouse....the players locker room (Ichiro's actual locker!)

And where they workout...

Then we had to visit the touching tribute to the late, great Dave Niehaus, Mariners beloved announcer who died of a heart attack last November.  He had been with the team and called the games since the very beginning in 1977....

They had special Q&A sessions with certain players but the boys weren't about to sit for that.  However, I had to snap a picture when a couple of the favorite veterans showed up: Jay Buhner and Bret Boone, along with the other Mariners announcer Rick Rizzs....

But my most favorite part of the day came when we got in line to throw pitches in the Mariners actual bullpen and two Mariners pitchers came over to hang out!  Brandon League is one of the relief pitchers.  He said hello to us as we walked by....EEK!

And starting pitcher Jason Vargas was at the station we were sent to and the boys got to throw pitches with him.  They weren't starstruck, but I sure was!  It was pretty darn cool...

It was a great day and got us excited for the baseball season, though it is still two months away!  Fingers crossed our beloved Mariners have a better season this year.....