Soldier makes his pitch

Post Soldier throws out first pitch on Armed Forces Night

By Bob Reinert, Northwest Guardian

SEATTLE — The pitch brought to mind Jamie Moyer rather than vintage Randy Johnson, but it got the job done.

When Staff Sgt. Daniel Deen’s right-handed soft toss from in front of the mound at Safeco Field settled into the glove of Seattle Mariners pitcher Shawn Kelly, Deen had successfully performed his part in Saturday’s 7th Annual Boeing Salute to Armed Forces Night.

Deen, a member of Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, represented the Army as I Corps and Fort Lewis NCO of the Year. He joined service members from the Navy, Marines, Air Force and Coast Guard in throwing out ceremonial first pitches.

“It’s a huge honor,” said Deen before stepping onto the field. “I found out about this ... Monday or Tuesday.”

The 24-year-old Deen, a seven-year Army veteran, had little time to prepare for the event.

“I can throw a ball, but I wouldn’t really call myself a pitcher,” said Deen, who said he practiced “a little bit. Tuesday, me and one of my buddies threw (a baseball) around a little bit, but nothing major.”

No doubt, Deen’s wife, Stephanie Lynn, would have enjoyed switching places with her husband.

“Yeah, she’s a big sports fan,” Deen said of his wife. “She’s the one who usually drags me around to Mariners games and stuff.”

Sergeant Stacey Trinidad of the I Corps Band, asked to play taps before the Mariners game with the Detroit Tigers, had a slight case of butterflies before raising the bugle to her lips behind home plate.

“I’m nervous,” Trinidad admitted. “This is like extra — bigger, bigger audience. It won’t change the way I play, but it will be a little bit more intimidating.”

Despite her nerves, Trinidad played flawlessly after a moment of silence was observed for fallen service members.

Also before the game, Brig. Gen. Jeff W. Mathis, I Corps rear detachment commander, received a plaque from Mariners president Chuck Armstrong marking the occasion.

Service members from all the branches and veterans mixed with players from both teams along the first and third base lines for the playing of the national anthem.

After Petty Officer Thomas Horner’s rendition, Ken Griffey Jr. walked up the first base line shaking hands with service members, including Fort Lewis Warrior Transition Battalion Soldiers Sgt. 1st Class David Williams, Staff Sgt. Virgilio Rodriguez, Sgt. George Cloy, Sgt. Brendon Frazier and Sgt. Brice Hamilton.

The first 20,000 fans arriving at the game received commemorative coins from Boeing. They saw the Mariners drop a 2-0 decision to the Tigers.