History isn’t just remembered in Seattle—it’s played on the diamond. Yesterday at T-Mobile Park, prior to the Mariners game against Detroit, the field belonged to the champions of Softball Beyond Borders: the Seattle Owls. Fresh off winning the Nike RBI West Regional Championship in Portland, this squad was hosted by Mariners RBI Ambassador George Kirby for batting practice and a special pre-game honor.

For the first time in 20 years, a Seattle team is heading to the Nike RBI Softball World Series in Vero Beach, Florida. Led by standout Mariners Hometown Nine scholars Kennedy Fane, Kaitlyn Washington, and Isabella Garcia, the Owls embody equal parts grit, sisterhood, and elite talent.

This victory hits deeper than the scoreline. The team wears the name of the 1938–39 Seattle Owls, a legendary all-Black girls' softball championship team rooted at Garfield High School. When the Mariners made Major League Baseball history by introducing the Seattle Steelheads uniform to their regular season rotation, it sparked a movement. In partnership with the Mariners Care Foundation, Black Heritage Society of Washington State, and Nike RBI, youth players were outfitted in historic replica jerseys, bridging past and present.

Founded by Bookie Gates, Baseball and Softball Beyond Borders has built an incredible pipeline for youth of color, while Major League Baseball’s Nike RBI (Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities) program creates pathways for players aged 13–18 to shine. Supported wholeheartedly by Mariners Care CEO Nova Newcomer and the local community, the Owls are bringing Northwest softball back to the national stage. Florida, get ready—Seattle is behind these girls all the way!

This story was produced by Dylan Wiest

Special Thank You:

Black Heritage Society of Washington State

MOHAI - Al Smith Collection

MVP Photography Mariners Care Foundation

Softball Beyond Borders