Eastlake grad gets some field time with the Mariners

June 30, 2009

By Christopher Huber

The only close call Laura Bachman has had in her job with the Seattle Mariners was on opening day at Safeco Field April 14 — her first game on the field as a ball girl.

It was the 10th inning and the Mariners and Angels were tied 2-2. Shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt laid down a bunt toward third base and Angels’ relief pitcher Scot Shields threw the ball wide past first, nearly hitting Bachman at her post along the wall.

The right fielder tried to argue that she interfered, Bachman said, but the game was already over.

Betancourt drove in Franklin Gutierrez to win the game 3-2 for the Mariners.

That was the only legitimate action she saw all game.

“On the first day I didn’t get any foul balls,” she said.

Bachman, a recent Eastlake High School graduate, is one of 11 ball girls on staff with the Mariners organization in 2009.

She works most home games, alternating between on-field duty and various other jobs around the park, including collecting tickets.

Though she spends most of her shifts being on alert for a stray ground ball.

“It’s really cool because the players talk to you sometimes. The opposing teams talk to you a lot,” Bachman said about being on the field with famous players. “It’s really cool walking right next to Ken Griffey Jr. or Endy Chavez.”

She was hired for the rare job after Eastlake head softball coach Al Leaverenz recommended her to the Mariners.

Bachman completed tryouts and a lengthy application and interview process before ever donning a Mariners uniform, she said.

“I love watching baseball and I love the Mariners, and I thought it would be really cool to be on the field,” she said.

Ball girls are part of the team’s fielder program, which takes about 30 applications per year from area high school and college softball players, said Garrett Cook, event services manager.

“Laura is one of the younger ones that made it,” he said.

They don’t just look for strong fielding skills, Cook said, but the girls must have solid customer service skills, as well.

When they’re not fielding ground balls on the field, the girls are interacting with the fans in many capacities around Safeco Field.

Bachman and Cook said the Mariners stress having the best ball girls in the majors.

“If you’re going to do something, you might as well be the best at it,” Cook said. I like watching the girls on the field make a good play and then they show it on ESPN or Fox.”

Eastlake fielded four ball girls in 2008, so Mariners officials knew she came from a top-notch softball program, said Cook.

“We’ve had a lot of success from that program,” Cook said.

Bachman said the most challenging part of being a ball girl is anticipating the ball.

“It’s all really fun, but it really is really nerve-wracking sitting on the stool, waiting for the ball to come. It’s really scary just sitting there,” she said. “Ichiro tends to hit a lot of foul balls so I want to stay on my toes when he’s up.”

Other than hanging out with pro baseball players, Bachman said she enjoys the fan interaction, as well.

She’s had to field some hard ground balls in the first half of the season.

While most are routine, one turned into an error.

“You kind of just stick your glove down and pray you get it,” Bachman said. “I haven’t got any really hard ones. I’ve only made one error; it was bad. It was funny.”

Bachman will work at home games this summer until she leaves in the fall to start college at Ohio University.

Reporter Christopher Huber can be reached at 392-6434, ext. 242, or chuber@isspress.com. Comment on this story at www.sammamishreview.com.