Better Know a Mariner - Nate Calderon

This installment of "Better Know a Mariner" is yet another coaches' kid. Nate Calderon is a returning member from the Minor Pirates last year. Nate ALWAYS has a smile on his face. On the field, Nate Dog takes that same, always-a-reason-to-smile attitude to his game. His is the poster child for the positive attitude and sportsmanship that the Mariners want to have. Nate is a Giants fan, plays a spectacular shortstop and is a very good pitcher.

Off the baseball field, Nate is an excellent soccer player. He plays both indoor and outdoor. He's been known to piece together a Star Wars Lego Battleship in less than an hour. He builds up his legs with a stringent, offseason trampoline workout.

He has an older brother, a younger sister Gabi and a younger brother. His brother Noah plays on the Farm Angels. I coached his older brother Jacob in Minors a few years back. He has since followed coach Kirk's leaning toward golf. He always was good at those low pitches....

Here's Nate in his first year a Mariner when he was 5 years old!

Better Know a Mariner - Ted Giberson

The second installment of "Better Know a Mariner" is Ted Giberson. Ted is one of two returning members from the Minor Pirates last year. Ted absolutely loves baseball! He spends many of the days that he doesn't have a game at the ballpark scouting the opposition and getting mentally prepared for the Major Division next year. Ted also runs the first ever Arden Little League fantasy baseball league.

Ted is an excellent pitcher. With his tall frame and command of the strike zone, this left hander is expected to take the hill many times for the M's this year. "Two Strike Ted" likes to get ahead in the count and put away the batters early. He also is a very good catcher and first baseman.

Ted is a fifth grader at Mariemont. His favorite baseball player is Dan Haren, an excellent left handed pitcher on the Diamondbacks (and former Rivercat). He has a younger brother playing t-ball and an older brother blowing the saxophone around the world as part of the renowned Rio Jazz band. "Teduardo", as my sons are prone to call him, is a very intelligent boy and will be counted on to set an excellent example of sportsmanship and enthusiasm.

Better Know a Mariner - Ryan Maves

The first edition of "Better Know a Mariner" starts with a coaches' kid! Ryan Maves is the youngest of all of the Mariners. He will not turn 9 until just after the season ends. He is a third grader at Mariemont and is the youngest of 4 boys in his family. His twin brothers play on the Reds in the Major Division.

Ryan's favorite baseball team is the Mariners and he is just really starting to get into the sport. He likes playing third base but he is itchin' to pitch. His favorite player is Richie Sexson. He's in the market for a new favorite player.

Outside of baseball, Ryan's a budding stand up comic. You can see his next gig at the Mariemont Talent Show on April 15th and at Morty's Yuck-Yuck Hut on April 31st. Ryan says that if he can't be a baseball player when he grows up, he wants to be a bartender. His parents are already trying to find a different "safety" career to baseball.

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Send me an introduction to your Mariner before I am forced to make something up. Ted, you're on deck!

2009 Schedule Released

Here are the dates, times and opponents for the upcoming Mariner season!

3/21 - 5:00 - Cubs (Pre-Season Game)

3/24 - 5:00 - Cardinals

3/28 - 11:30 - Yankees

3/31 - 5:15 - Cubs

4/04 - 12:15 - Dodgers

4/06 - 5:15 - Cardinals

4/15 - 4:15 - Giants

4/18 - 3:00 - Brewers

4/21 - 5:30 - Red Sox

4/25 - 5:30 - Cubs

4/27 - 5:30 - Yankees

5/06 - 5:30 - Red Sox

5/09 - 10:00 - Brewers

5/11 - 5:30 - Cardinals

5/16 - 5:30 - Giants

5/18 - 5:30 - Dodgers

There are other important dates to remember:

Opening Day Ceremonies - 3/28 at 10:00

Easter 4/12

Anna's 40th Birthday(!!!) - 4/17

Pancake Breakfast/Picture Day - 5/2 - Time of picutres to be determined

Mariner end of year party - 5/30? -Date tentative, time and place TBD

Welcome to the Arden Mariners!

I am very anxious to get the 2009 Little League season underway. I was thrilled with the kids and families that we were able to draft. I have had the pleasure of coaching many of these kids in previous years. Here is the team roster...

Nate Calderon
Matt Condrin
Ben Couch
Peter Edelmayer
Ted Giberson
Declan Hogan
Jack Kotal
Hayden Long
Ryan Maves
Patrick Miller
Jacob Nelson
Tyler Nelson

That guy's not on our team. This is the Mariner Moose! He is the mascot of the Seattle Mariners. If anyone wants to dress as the team moose during our home games, let me know.

I'll be updating this blog throughout the season, so bookmark it! We will be posting the schedule, important events, recapping fun games and profiling the "M of the game". I love to add pictures to every post, so please send me digital photos to post.