Harry Ford leads Everett over Spokane for series win
By Jason Fridge, edited by Charles Hamaker
Everett, WA - If getting downtown for a Mariners game is too much of a hassle, might I recommend a trip up north to watch their High-A affiliate Everett AquaSox. You may come for the giveaways and stadium experience, but you’ll most definitely stay for some exciting baseball.
The AquaSox (54-48) started the month of August getting back on the right foot as they held a six game series with their I-90 rivals the Spokane Indians (48-53). Everett had a tough ending to July, losing five of their last seven games in the final weeks of the month, but their offense felt much more comfortable with home fans filling the stands at Funko Field. The AquaSox were able to take four out of six games in the series, reversing the script from the last time they played Spokane in early July.
The series victory keeps Everett above .500 on the season and 8.5 games behind top seeded Vancouver with just over a month remaining in Northwest League regular season play.
Series Recap
Both the AquaSox and the Indian came out with strong bats in game one, and Spokane certainly didn’t show any fatigue after a long trip over the Cascades. Jamari Baylor’s RBI single in the top of the first got the scoring started before Nic Kent followed up the very next at bat with a two-run homer. Everett threw the next punch minutes later as with the bases loaded, Walking Cabrera sent a ball over the fence in right center field for a grand slam ending the first inning with the AquaSox leading 4-3. Defensive missteps in the second inning caused the Indians to punch back with five runs that put Everett back playing from behind and formed a lead that ended up being insurmountable. The AquaSox would add solo homers from Gabriel Gonzalez and Cole Young in later innings but still fell short, dropping game one 9-6.
Game two saw a similar start for Spokane, as Nic Kent sent a ball deep to kick off scoring with a solo homerun in the second followed by a Benny Montgomery RBI single to make it a 2-0 lead. Everett would respond once again with a run in the bottom of the second to cut the lead in half before both defenses stood strong holding each team scoreless the next four innings. The Indians would break the silence once again in the top of the seventh to make it a 3-1 game, and unlike in the first game Everett’s answer would turn the tide. Cole Young and Hogan Windish would each drive in a run in the bottom of the seventh to tie the game at 3. After Leon Hunter Jr. kept Spokane off the scoreboard in the top of the eighth, Colin Davis would hit a two-out double into left field to drive in what would be the winning run of the evening. Jarod Bayless hopped onto the mound in the top of the ninth and would go three up, three down to seal the AquaSox 4-3 victory.
Everett took this momentum directly into game three where they made a statement in their first chance at the plate. After Benny Montgomery gave Spokane a 1-0 lead off a leadoff home run, the AquaSox responded with six runs in the bottom of the first capped off by a Mike Salvatore grand slam to the delight of fans in attendance for University of Washington alumni night. Spokane would put up a fight in later innings but it wasn’t enough as Everett was able to hold one for a strong 7-3 win.
If fans thought seven runs from Everett was exciting, the Sox put on a show for Funko Friday under the lights in game four. A Harry Ford homerun in the bottom of the first got the scoring started before Everett would rattle off five unanswered runs through the next three innings to match their run total from the night before heading into the fifth. Reid VanScoter led the defensive effort with seven strikeouts in his six innings pitched only yielding one run. The AquaSox kept their foot on the gas in the bottom of the sixth where they used two triples and a Gabriel Gonzalez RBI to put the cherry on top of a great offensive day. In the final three innings of the ball game, Everett pitchers held Spokane hitless as the team added another tally to the win column taking the game 11-1.
The AquaSox would keep up with their strong starts heading into game five breaking the ice with a sacrifice fly in the first inning, but Spokane proved they weren’t done lighting up the scoreboard. They used a four run performance in the top of the third to take back momentum and kept the game in control adding two more runs in the sixth. Although Everett was able to cut the deficit to two in the bottom of the sixth, a Nick Kent home run in the top of the eighth iced the game and allowed Spokane to walk away with a 7-5 victory.
Game six played off like a broken record with Everett building a strong lead early and carrying it throughout the game behind a strong defensive effort. James Parker’s home run in the bottom of the seventh ended the weekend on a high note for the AquaSox as they were able to cruise for a 3-1 win and take the series four games to two.
Player of the series
Mariners fans should be excited to hear that 2021 first-round pick Harry Ford is quickly making his name known around the Northwest League. He’s made big jumps in each of his first two years playing in the minors and now finds himself as an offensive weapon for the AquaSox. Ford finished the series batting 7/17 with six runs and three RBIs, including a solo homer in game four. With his game four blast, he matches his 11 home run total from 2022 during his stint on the single-A Modesto Nuts still with plenty of baseball to be played.
Ford leads the team in runs so far this year with 68 along with being second in hits (86) and fourth in RBIs (47). The 20-year-old Kennesaw, GA product already got a chance to run the bases at T-Mobile park when he competed in the 2023 Futures Game during MLB All-Star weekend and remains a top prospect in the Mariners system. Keep your eyes peeled for Ford’s name as he continues to climb through the ranks.
What’s next?
Everett gets a day to celebrate their Sunday victory before hitting the road once again for a series in Eugene against the Emeralds. Eugene sits 3.5 games behind the AquaSox for second place in the Northwest League and the two teams have been very evenly matched all year.
After this quick road trip, the AquaSox return to Funko Field for a series with the Hillsboro Hops starting August 15. This series will feature some fun promos for fans to enjoy as they celebrate Salute to the Mariners Weekend.
The six game series with the Emeralds kicks off Tuesday, August 8 at 6:35 PM from PK Park in Eugene.