Spring Training – Peoria

With hockey coming to a close it’s time to turn your attention to the Diamond and more importantly, the Seattle Mariners, south of the 49th.

As players work to make the pro’s, Delta’s James Paxton is in the current rotation and tonight’s starting pitcher for the game in Peoria against the San Diego Padres.

Paxton grew up in Ladner and at the early age of 12 set his sights on making the pro’s, but realistically he never thought he would be playing this close to his home town of Ladner.

The step to the major’s was not an easy one for the young Paxton, but he stayed focused and pushed hard and worked on what all his coaches told him he needed work on.

His call up was interesting as he was pitching for the AAA Tacoma Rainer’s and the parent club the Mariners called him up during the day, but they didn’t want to tell him until after the game

Knowing that he likes to finish the game, they told him after the second inning and mentioned he was finished for the day, which shocked him.

He had a look of frustration on his face and even his Dad was concerned when he failed to return to start the third inning, of course like any parent, he thought he was injured.

Seeing this; management felt compelled to tell him he was called up to the Majors which was a huge sigh of relief on this youngster from Ladner.

When his Dad came to the dugout, he (James) told his Dad, which saw both Father and Son hug and cry in the corner.

He made his start last fall in front of his Family and over 55 supporters from the Ladner area, which alone was an extremely emotional day for him.

Not just taking to the mound in his debut, but also faced with the loss of a Family member earlier in the day, which one would think would set him back.

To the shock of many, he was so poised and professional in how he took to the mound and set his sights on winning for one of his favourite Fans.

This camp has been interesting for all the players attending this complex in Peoria Arizona, which opened in 1994 and has become a huge source for the City in all areas, but mostly tourism.

The cost of this was a “small” $15.5 million for clubhouse improvements with a total square footage of 60,846 feet.

There are six practice fields, including 2 for Major League and 4 for the Minor League’s and all are well used from dawn to dusk by several different teams.

Earlier in the day the Langley Blaze was on one of the smaller diamonds playing against a minor league team, which was no doubt a warm-up to pre-season play in Langley.

The complex can accommodate 2,800 vehicles and has 12 full size practice fields and four half -size fields.

Earlier in the day we had a chance to grab an interview with Seattle Mariners play by play person Rick Rizzs who has spent many a day at the ball diamond in various parks around the Nation.

Rizzs resides in Issaquah and has one son, Nick and two grandsons, Jaxon and Braden, who he dearly loves them all.

Rizzs also provided the commentary for the 2005 Nintendo Gamec-ube game Nintendo Pennant Chase Baseball, but for what ever reason the game’s U.S. release was canceled.

A true Gentleman and extremely open to discussing various areas of the game, his career, and oh yea – his Grandkids who he says are more excited about project 64 roms than hockey!

James parents were at the game and came in the day prior enjoying the sights and naturally spending time with James who is a true Family Man.

Delta TV sent Chad Dey (Reporter), Justin Borges (Camera/Producer) and myself (Jack of all trades) to Peoria for the weekend to cover the 2014 training camp as well as embrace the Seattle Mariners and make Delta “home number 2.”

Naturally it’s great to support Canada’s team the Toronto Blue Jay’s, who’s Single A team are the Vancouver Canadians who play at the “Nat” and also support Tom Robson – another Delta player.

http://seattle.mariners.mlb.com/index.jsp?c_id=sea

The trip has been exceptional and everyone with the Mariners has been truly professional, with every request we have asked of them.

Fernando Alcalà who was our contact has gone out of his way to help assist our requests and to him, we give him a special “thanks” for a job well done.

No doubt we look forward to covering the Seattle Mariners for this 2014 season and beyond!!