The stadium was filled with excitement. Thousands of fans poured through the gates hoping to witness history on Friday, September 30th. The jumbotron showed the Baltimore Orioles’ games against the New York Yankees. If the Orioles lose, The Mariners make the playoffs for the first time since 2001. No matter what, if the Mariners beat the Oakland Athletics, the Mariners clinch. 

The Mariners’ 25-year-old star pitcher Logan Gilbert took the mound. Gilbert dominated in the first inning. Mariners’ second baseman Dylan Moore led off the bottom of the first with a single to centerfield. He then stole second base and scored on a Ty France double. 

In the top of the second, Gilbert quickly blew through the first two batters. Athletics’ catcher Shea Langeliers quickly received two strikes on him. The whole stadium was on their feet hoping to be able to cheer for a Gilbert strike out. That’s when Langeliers crushed a slider to right field to tie the game. 

Gilbert quickly regained his confidence and didn’t give up another run. He pitched a total of eight innings. In the top of the 9th, rookie Matt Brash came in to pitch. He struck out two of the three batters he faced.

In the bottom of the ninth, Mitch Haniger, the star right fielder came up to bat. A sold out crowd led to 44,754 people all on their feet. No one better to do it, Haniger has the longest tenure out of any Mariner. Unfortunately he struck out, as did the next batter, Carlos Santana. 

Then came Mariners’ catcher, Cal Raleigh, pinch hitting. The combination of anxiety and hope made the stadium silent. There he was, two outs, a 3-2 count, tie ball game; that’s when he got a hanging slider. He crushed a home run, 406 feet off the Hit it Here cafe. The stadium erupted, yelling, hugging, crying. 20 years of pain, disappointment, suffering, all erased. The Mariners celebrated at home plate, before quickly running into the clubhouse to celebrate with champagne. 

In one moment, the franchise was changed forever. Many fans, including every student at University Prep, were not even alive the last time the Mariners played in the postseason. The Seattle Mariners had done it. As late Mariners’ broadcaster Dave Niehaus said, “my oh my.”