1,400 fans watch Hawks charity softball game

By Gail Wood | The Olympian • Published June 08, 2008

• Video

Twenty Seattle Seahawks players scooped grounders, clobbered monstrous home runs and clowned around Saturday to the delight of 1,400 fans at Lacey's Bucknell Park.

They gave Seahawks fans a rare behind-the-scenes peek at the National Football League players they watch on TV every fall and winter.

It was part of the Bobby Engram Seahawks Celebrity Softball Game, a fundraiser for the Seahawks wide receiver's charity, the Bobby Engram Foundation.

"It was a lot of fun," Engram said. "I look forward to doing this again next year."

Bernie Keller of Olympia, one of the top fastpitch pitchers in the Northwest, pitched to Engram to open the game. But instead of tossing slow rainbows, Keller hurled fastballs, surprising Engram. When one pitch brushed Engram off the plate, Nate Burleson charged the mound, pretending to fight Keller.

"It was just for fun," Keller said. "These guys are amazing. This is why they win. Look at them. They pull together."

Engram's team won a five-inning game 16-15, but the game was hardly taken seriously.

Tony Ventrella, a longtime Seattle TV sports reporter, emceed the game, often making calls. He called Leonard Weaver out on a tag at second after Weaver hit a towering shot over the left-field fence. The ball cleared the fence but not a temporary net raised behind it.

"I want instant replay," Weaver joked as he stomped off the field.

Weaver, the Seahawks' fullback, didn't have to give it a second thought when Engram asked him to play.

"I'm doing this is because Bobby has been such a good mentor in so many ways," Weaver said. "Why not help out someone? I'm here to support him and what he stands for."

Seneca Wallace, the Seahawks backup' quarterback, hit a towering shot over the left field fence. He stopped at first base then did a backflip on his way to second.

"We're here for Bobby," Wallace said. "It's a family. It's Seahawks. Everyone tries to go out and support everyone."

Other Seahawks who came included Marcus Trufant, Lofa Tatupu, Julian Peterson, Jordan Babineaux, Kelly Jennings, Darryl Tapp, Logan Payne, Jordan Kent, Deion Branch, Steve Vallos, Kyle Williams and Ben Obomanu.

Skyler Fulton, a 2000 Capital High School graduate who had a tryout with the Seahawks two years ago, organized the event. He began planning in March and pitched the idea to Engram.

Fulton said Engram wants to do the game again next year.

Ricky Hunt of Puyallup waited an hour and a half to get Weaver, Engram, Darryl Tapp and several other Seahawks to autograph a football and a framed poster.

"I really wanted to get some autographs," Hunt said. "Leonard said he was going to hit some home runs."