This had to be fun for everyone involved

Imagine you have made the major leagues as a pitcher for your favorite team. Imagine that said team selects you to be part of its winter caravan. Imagine that the caravan makes a stop in your home town. If you are Eric O'Flaherty (WI '04, '05), you do not have to imagine.

M's O'Flaherty dares kids to dream

The Walla Walla native came home Wednesday with the Mariners Caravan, living proof that dreams do come true

The Mariners Caravan made a stop at Sherwood Center on the Whitman College campus Wednesday afternoon, and for Mariners pitcher and Walla Walla native Eric O'Flaherty, the experience brought him full circle.

"I remember when I was 10 or 11 and I was siting in those stands listening to (former Mariners) Charles Gipson and Carlos Guillen," O'Flaherty recalled. "They said that there would be some of us in the crowd who might get to wear a Mariner jersey someday, and for me it came true. It goes to show that if you have a dream, go or it."

Also along on the trip were former Rattler Mark Lowe and frequent Appleton visitor Norm Charlton.

Lowe is looking forward to getting back out there.

For Lowe, the anticipation for the upcoming season has been unbearable after spending much of last season on the disabled list a year after he set a Mariners record for consecutive scoreless innings.

"That was some of the most fun I've had in my life," Lowe said of his record-breaking season. "But we're focused on this season. A bunch of us have moved down to Arizona to train and keep each other in line. We just keep pushing each other to get better."

Charlton is looking forward to having both ex-Rattlers in the Seattle bullpen and comments on O'Flaherty to the hometown newspaper.

"Both of these guys work very hard," Charlton said of his new pupils. "Mark and I are both from Texas, and the first time I saw him pitch I was impressed. Eric's a lefty and a guy who has worked extremely hard. They both throw 90 with their hair on fire, which is a lot like me."