The best Seattle pitcher was left on the sidelines as the Seattle Mariners gave up seven first inning runs to lose to the Detroit Tigers 7-3 last Friday.

Seattle School District superintendent Maria Goodloe-Johnson threw out the ceremonial first pitch during the Ballard Night at the Mariners event at Safeco Field.

"It was fun, it went straight," said Goodloe-Johnson.

Ballard principal Phil Brockman brought his Mizuno glove and was Goodloe-Johnson's catcher.

"It was a fast ball over the plate. It was right over the middle," said Brockman.

This is the eighth year for the Ballard Night at the Mariners event, made possible by Moose Clausen, the director of suite sales for the baseball team and a Ballard graduate.

The Ballard High School Foundation held their meeting at Safeco Field prior to the game and Goodloe-Johnson was their keynote speaker.

"She is the new superintendent," said Don Simpson, foundation president. "We wanted to hear what she had to say. She excites and motivates about education."

The foundation has supported Ballard High programs over the years.

"It's incredible. Two million raised is absolutely incredible," said Goodloe-Johnson. "Seattle has incredible public support all across the city. It's the first district I've worked in that has that."

The superintendent, turned pitcher for one night, played softball in high school in Colorado.

She practiced a few throws that morning to warm up for her pitch in front of 34,019 Mariner fans on a perfect spring evening. In section 315, sat 544 Ballard fans. Many wore the school colors red and black.

"It is always fun. I wear my Ballard red vest," said Clausen.

Brockman has pitched and caught before. This was his fourth Ballard Night at the Mariners field appearance.

"I'm always excited to get on the field. You get your picture on the Jumbo screen," said Brockman.

He advised his boss to take it "nice and easy and don't think about the throw."

The principal for the Beavers won a championship with the Ballard Little League in 1969 or 1970, he recalled. A team picture can be found on the wall at Zesto's restaurant.

As a Beaver student, Brockman ran cross-country. "I was fast, not any more," he said.

Goodloe-Johnson's favorite player is Ichiro Suzuki.

"I enjoy baseball. He is popular. He is a good player. I always enjoy watching him," she said.

Senior girls basketball players Kayla Williams and Evangeline Spracklin, the school's student body president, joined the others on the field. All the Ballard representatives posed for pictures with the Mariners Moose and relief pitcher Sean Green, who signed balls for Brockman and Goodloe-Johnson.

Dean Wong may be reached at 783.1244 or deanw@robinsonnews.com