Carrying Legacy to the Big Stage: Seattle Owls Softball Team Honored at T-Mobile Park Ahead of World Series
By Omari Salisbury & Dylan Wiest
The Seattle Mariners hosted the Seattle Owls softball team of Softball Beyond Borders at T-Mobile Park last night, delivering an inspiring pregame celebration before the squad travels to compete in the Nike RBI Softball World Series in Florida this weekend. Fresh off winning the Nike RBI West Regional Championship in Portland, the Owls spent time on the field during Mariners batting practice hosted by Nike RBI Ambassador George Kirby. The young athletes were also honored on the field prior to the national anthem.
This milestone marks a momentous occasion for Pacific Northwest youth sports, as the Owls become the first Seattle softball team to reach the Nike RBI World Series in nearly 20 years. Throughout regional play, the players donned historic alternate jerseys honoring the original 1938–1939 Seattle Owls.
Softball Beyond Borders OWLS join Nike RBI Ambassador George Kirby before last nights game. (Photo: Seattle Mariners)
Stephanie Johnson-Tolliver of the Black Heritage Society of Washington State highlighted that the original championship-winning, all-African American team was deeply rooted in the community, with many players hailing from Garfield High School. Bookie Gates, founder of Baseball Beyond Borders and Softball Beyond Borders, emphasized that wearing these jerseys connects the athletes directly to a legacy of excellence while giving young women of color the opportunity to shine on a national stage.
The championship roster features standout local talent, including Mariners Hometown Nine program members Kennedy Fane, Kaitlyn Washington, and Isabella Garcia. SBB assistant coach and pitching coach Kaelani Randle—herself a former RBI player—noted that defensive discipline was key to their title run, as the Owls committed the fewest errors of any team in the regional tournament. Pitcher Kennedy Fane reflected on how the group overcame past tournament disappointments by strengthening team chemistry, bringing vibrant energy, dugout hooting, and nicknames into every matchup.
For organizational leaders like Mariners Care Foundation CEO Nova Newcomer, the Owls’ journey represents the culmination of intentional, long-term investments in softball access for athletes ages 13–18. The Nike RBI platform continues to build representation and pathways toward college softball and HBCU opportunities. As the Seattle Owls head to Florida, they carry both championship ambitions and the pride of a rich local heritage.
