A sports miracle, if you will, as Washougal’s John Scukanec plays catch with Ken Griffey Jr at Seattle T-Mobile Park
Paul Valencia
ClarkCountyToday.com
John Scukanek, a baseball romanticist and Seattle Mariners fan from Washougal, who set out to play catch with someone every day for a year completed journey Wednesday morning.
In Seattle.
At T-Mobile Park.
A Journey with Junior.
That’s right. Day 365 of Catch 365 was John Scukanek playing catch with Ken Griffey Jr.
Seriously.
Clark County Today’s Paul Valencia was Day 348, and he wrote about Scukanek and the origins of Catch 365. For that story, see: Catch 365: One man’s quest to play catch every day for a year
Scukanek had hoped for something special for Day 365.
Then a sports miracle happened. Miracle? Well, yes. That’s the way Scukanek described it on social media.
“I’ve done the match. It doesn’t add up. There’s just now way. How did this happen?” Scukanec wrote.
“One year ago, I went out into my backyard at night, in the rain and I played catch with my son. I haven’t missed a day since.
“365 days later, somehow, I walked out onto the field at T-Mobile Park and played catch again. With Ken Griffey Jr.
“Baseball Hall of Famer. The greatest Mariners of all time. My favorite player.”
He noted how if someone had said a year ago that this could happen, he would have said no chance.
“But sports are filled with miracles, Hail Mary’s, and buzzer beaters. Dreams come true all the time. That’s why we watch. Yet I still don’t really believe what just happened.”
Oh, it happened. He took pictures and video.
To see more of Scukanek’s message, go to his Twitter page at: @jsukanec
Also read:
- State basketball: Columbia River shines to take fourth place: Camas ends up sixth
Columbia River secures fourth place, and Camas ties for sixth in the Washington state high school basketball championships - High school girls basketball: Camas coach Scott Thompson’s resignation becomes official
Camas girls basketball coach Scott Thompson officially steps down after leading the team to multiple state tournaments, including a 2024 championship. - State basketball tournaments: Camas boys, Columbia River boys advance to trophy roundCamas and Columbia River boys basketball teams advanced in the state tournament, securing a spot in the trophy round after key victories.
- High school basketball: There will be no state champions from Clark County this seasonClark County teams fell short in the WIAA state basketball quarterfinals, with all six teams now battling in the consolation bracket.
- High school basketball: Defending champions, three other teams survive Wednesday elimination gameFour Clark County basketball teams secured victories in state tournament elimination games, advancing to the elite eight in their respective divisions.
