Despite what one might expect, the Seattle Seahawks’ first Super Bowl appearance in franchise history is often viewed as one to forget.

In 2005, the Seahawks earned the top seed in the NFC with a 13-3 record, then powered their way through the playoffs to punch their ticket to Super Bowl XL at Ford Field in Detroit. There, they met the Pittsburgh Steelers, the sixth seed in the AFC, which on paper should have given them an advantage.

However, that was far from the case. The Seahawks fell to Steelers 21-10 in a game where nothing seemed to go their way. Some questionable calls are still talked about today, but Seattle failing to capitalize on its chances arguably did even more damage.

Even almost 20 years later, players from both teams are still talking about this game. In a recent book titled “Facing the Pittsburgh Steelers: Players Recall the Glory Years of the Black and Gold” by Sean Deveny, former Seattle fullback Mack Strong explained the inherent advantage Pittsburgh had in that matchup. Rather than harping on the officials like many before him, though, Strong instead pointed to the overwhelming ratio of Steelers fans in the crowd.

“Where it was different, though, was on game day. Detroit is like an hour flight from Pittsburgh. There were probably 60,000 Steelers fans there and about 10,000 Seahawks fans. It definitely felt like a home game for them, an away game for us,” Strong said. “That was the only time— I stepped out onto that field and I was like, ‘This is different.’

“It was supposed to be neutral. But we were just building our fan base at the time, and the Steelers, of course, had 30 or 40 years of winning and history behind them. It was weird walking into a neutral stadium and literally trying to figure out, ‘Wait, where are our fans at?’”

It doesn’t take a detective to figure out why the Steelers had such a strong crowd advantage. Like Strong said, a flight from Pittsburgh to Detroit is just over an hour, while a flight from Seattle to Detroit is over four hours. Add in that the Steelers had history on their side and that Hall of Fame running back Jerome Bettis, a Detroit native, was playing in his final NFL game, and it’s easy to see why black and gold dominated the stands.

Even though this game ended in disappointment, the Seahawks would finally earn their first championship eight years later with a 43-8 dismantling of the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XLVIII.

Chihuahuas 10, Round Rock Express 0

Key Statistics: DH Tirso Ornelas, 1-for-5, R, HR (10), 4 RBI; LF Cal Mitchell, 2-for-4, 2 R; SS Mason McCoy, 2-for-4, R, 2B, RBI; C Chandler Seagle, 2-for-4, R, 2 RBI; RHP Sean Reynolds, 3 IP, H, BB, 4 K; RHP Kevin Kopps, IP, K; RHP Glenn Otto, 2 IP, 2 H, BB, 4 K; LHP Luke Westphal (W, 1-1) 2 IP, 2 K

Prospect Watch: The Chihuahuas used a 10-run attack to blow past the Express on the road. It was El Paso’s second shutout of the series and all four of their whitewashings for the year have come in the Round Rock. … The big hit Friday night came off the bat of Tirso Ornelas, who stroked a grand slam – his tenth homer of the year. The 24-year-old is doing his part to earn his first promotion to the big leagues. He has five homers in June to go with a fantastic .960 OPS. Overall, Ornelas has a solid wRC+ of 119 while sporting a career-best 16.6% K-rate. … Light-hitting catcher Chandler Seagle singled twice and drove in a pair of runs. With Brett Sullivan in San Diego, Seagle has seen an increase in playing time. His current .566 OPS is right on par with his career .564 mark. However, Seagle has played seven professional seasons because he’s a fantastic defensive catcher and an asset to any pitching staff. … The Chihuahuas used five pitchers to bullpen their way to victory. Sean Reynolds pitched the first three, allowing just one hit and one walk while striking out four. The former first baseman and current reliever has struggledin June, allowing at least two runs in four of his seven outings. While he’s 51 in 39.2 innings on the year, he continues to struggle with his command. He’s walked more than 15% of the batters he’s faced this year, in line with his performance since moving to the mound in 2021. … Lefty Luke Westphal followed Reynolds and pitched two innings to earn his first win in affiliated ball since 2022 when he was in his first stint in the Padres’ organization. The 35-year-old re-signed with the Padres earlier this month after a stint in Tijuana with the Toros. Westphal has not allowed a run in four of his six outings while notching 13 strikeouts in 13.1 innings this season. 

Roster Moves: Lefty Austin Davis had his contract purchased by the Padres, giving him a big league roster spot for the first time since 2022. The Padres signed Nabil Crismatt to a minor league deal and assigned him to El Paso. 

Missions 5, Midland RockHounds 3

Key Statistics: CF Ripken Reyes, 2-for-5, 2B; DH Brandon Valenzuela, 1-for-5; LF Cole Cummings, 2-for-3, R, 2B, BB, SB (7); SS Ray-Patrick Didder, 1-for-4, R, HR (6), 3 RBI; 2B Connor Hollis, 2-for-4, 2B, RBI; RHP Victor Lizarraga (W, 3-3) 6 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 7 K; RHP Ethan Routzahn (S, 2) IP, H, K

Victor Lizarraga delivers for the Missions. (Photo: Vashaun Newman)

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Prospect Watch: The Missions overcame a 3-0 deficit to win, clinching at least a series split heading into the weekend. … Shortstop Ray-Patrick Didder had the big hit of the game, smacking a go-ahead three-run homer with two outs in the fifth inning. The blast was Didder’s sixth of the year, keeping him on track to finish his third straight season with a double-digit total. The 29-year-old from Aruba has drawn 37 walks this year, giving him a solid .380 on-base percentage, despite hitting just .222. His .751 OPS is the best among Missions’ regulars. … Cole Cummings had a multi-hit effort with a double and a single. He also drew a walk and stole his seventh base for good measure. The 26-year-old has had a solid June, delivering an OPS of .800 with three homers. Cummings continues to punch out too much, as his 32% K-rate is the seventh-highest in the Texas League. Despite the strikeouts, Cummings has posted above-average offensive numbers in AA – an impressive feat for a former undrafted free agent. … Victor Lizarraga overcame some early struggles and notched a quality start to earn his third win of the season. The former Montgomery High hurler lasted six innings, allowing three runs on six hits, walking two, and striking out seven. The 20-year-old righty has gone at least six innings in three consecutive outings, punching out 23 batters in 18.2 innings. His 3.68 ERA is good for seventh in the Texas League, just behind teammate Jared Kollar.

Roster Moves: Righty Cole Paplham was moved to the 60-day injured list which will effectively end his season. He had appeared in just three games since coming off a previous stay on the IL. Miguel Cienfuegos was moved to San Antonio to take the open roster spot. 

Dayton Dragons 4, TinCaps 3

Key Statistics: CF Homer Bush, 1-for-3, 2 R, BB, SB (36), CS (6); DH Jay Beshears, 1-for-3, 2B, BB, RBI; RF Kai Murphy, 2-for-3, 2 2B, RBI; RHP Henry Baez, 7 IP, 2 H, ER, 7 K; RHP Tyler Morgan (L, 4-3) 2 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 2 K

Henry Baez has been dominant this month. (Photo: Jeff Nycz)

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Prospect Watch: The TinCaps led at two different points in this one but they allowed a pair of runs in the eighth and one more in the ninth to lose their fourth straight to Dayton at Parkview Field. … Kai Murphy was the only TinCap to tally two hits Friday night. The former ASU outfielder had a pair of doubles and drove in a run. Murphy, 23, has slumped in June, notching a .605 OPS after being above .700 during April and May, but he is tied for fourth in the Midwest League with 16 doubles. … Henry Baez turned in another magnificent start but got a hard-luck no-decision. Baez completed a season-high seven innings, allowing just one run on two hits. He struck out seven and didn’t walk a batter. The 20-year-old righty has been lights-out this month, allowing just one run in each of his four starts. Baez has pitched to a sparkling 1.59 ERA as opponents have managed only a .163 average against him in June. … After Baez departed, righty Tyler Morgan struggled down the stretch and took the loss. The Abilene Christian product threw two innings, allowing three runs on four hits. The former 14th-rounder has generally pitched well as a multi-inning reliever this season, pitching to a 3.40 ERA in 21 outings. 

Roster Moves: Tyler Robertson, who left the game on Thursday and was out for almost two weeks earlier this month, hit the IL. Hot-hitting Nick Vogt was promoted from Lake Elsinore and will add needed outfield depth. The Padres also sent versatile Addison Kopack out from the desert to bolster the offense while sending infielder Alain Camou back to Lake Elsinore.

Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 8, Storm 6

Key Statistics: CF Braedon Karpathios, 2-for-4, 2 R, BB; LF Jacob Campbell, 2-for-5, HR (6), 3 RBI; 1B Ethan Long, 2-for-5; DH Kaden Hollow, 2-for-4, R; C J.D. Gonzalez, 2-for-4, R, RBI; RHP Ian Koenig (L, 0-1) 2.2 IP, 8 H, 6 ER, 3 K; LHP Javier Chacon, 3.1 IP, 2 H, BB, 7 K 

Javier Chacon delivers for the Storm. (Photo: Robert Escalante)

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Prospect Watch: The Quakes jumped on Storm starter Ian Koenig in the third, scoring six runs to take a lead they wouldn’t relinquish. The Quakes win snapped their nine-game losing streak to Lake Elsinore. … Jacob Campbell, who has quietly been one of the hottest hitters in the Padres’ system, had a pair of hits, including his sixth homer of the year – a prodigious shot to left field. At 24, Campbell is a bit old for the Cal League but he’s taken advantage of his current opportunity. All six of Campbell’s homers have come in June and he’s hitting .284/.346/.622 this month. … Center fielder Braedon Karpathios had a pair of hits and drew a walk, hitting at the top of the Storm lineup. The 21-year-old has drawn his share of walks throughout his career and has started to hit the ball with more authority as he has matured. However, after a fantastic April, he’s struggled over the last two months but he’s showing signs of breaking out. Over his last five games, Karpathios has gone 7-for-19. … Catcher J.D. Gonzalez singled twice and scored a run. The 18-year-old has looked predictably overmatched at times, but he’s displaying tangible improvement as he gains experience in his maiden voyage in professional baseball. After hitting just .130 in May, Gonzalez has improved that mark to .245 in June. After striking out 25 times in 54 May at-bats, he’s struck out 10 times in 49 at-bats this month. … Lefty Javier Chacon pitched 3.1 shutout innings after Koenig departed and dominated the Quakes. He allowed just two hits, walked one, and struck out seven. The Cuba native has flourished in a move to the bullpen this season. Chacon appeared in seven games this month, pitching to a microscopic 0.56 ERA with 19 strikeouts in 16 innings.

ACL Diamondbacks 7, ACL Padres 2

Key Statistics: SS B.Y. Choi, 2-for-3, 2 R, 2B, BB; LF Colton Vincent, 2-for-4, 2B, RBI; RHP Abraham Parra (L, 0-3) 2.1 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 4 K; LHP Ruben Salinas, 2.1 IP, 4 H, ER, 3 K; RHP Zac Addkison, 3.1 IP, 4 H, ER, K

B.Y. Choi has shown surprising speed in his first year in the organization. (Photo: Jerry Espinoza)

Prospect Watch: The ACL D-backs scored five runs in the first three innings and cruised to a victory. … While the ACL Padres have struggled mightily in June, shortstop B.Y. Choi has been solid in his first full pro season. The 22-year-old shortstop had two hits, including a double and a walk. Choi has shown good power and solid tools in the desert this year. Overall, he’s delivered a .838 OPS. He could find himself in Lake Elsinore before the season is over. … Catcher/outfielder  Colton Vincent had a double and a single as part of a multi-hit night. The 24-year-old made brief appearances in Lake Elsinore and Fort Wayne this season but has spent the majority of the year in the desert. Vincent has hit over .300 in all three spots, including a .306 mark in the ACL in his second pro season. He signed with the Padres last season, after playing his college ball at Florida State. … Lefty Ruben Salinas followed starter Abraham Parra and pitched well. The former outfielder completed 2.1 innings and allowed a run on four hits, striking out three. The 21-year-old has built up slowly in the desert after undergoing Tommy John surgery last season shortly after converting to the mound. Overall, he’s pitched to a 4.41 for the ACL club this season.

Roster Moves: The Padres officially moved pitcher Henry Martinez and outfielder Donte Grant to the 60-day IL. They now have 20 players on either the 60-day or full-season IL, the maximum they are allowed. The club currently has 153 players on active domestic rosters as they approach the draft.

After almost eight days of sailing, Orcas Island teens Dagney Kruger and Else Ranker finished the Race to Alaska (R2AK) on June 20.

Joined by Bellingham teammates Bryce Lutz and Willow Gray, they traveled the 710 miles from Victoria B.C. to Ketchikan, Alaska on their Carrera 19, Loose Cannon. The team faced different challenges throughout their journey, but also met many great supporters and participants along the way.

The team, which chose the name ‘The Juvenile Delinquents’ in reference to the final weeks of school they would skip in order to participate in the race, left for Alaska at noon on June 12. Prior to this official start, teams completed a portion known as ‘the proving grounds’ on June 9, which involved a 40 mile stint from Port Townsend to Victoria B.C. It was during this initial run that The Juvenile Delinquents faced their first challenge. The team discovered leakage as standing water began to pool. Lutz caulked the boat following this discovery, but the leaks continued to be a slight challenge for the team.

Around the third day of the trip, they hit the most difficult part of the journey as they crossed Queen Charlotte’s Strait between Vancouver Island and the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. The team, two of whom had been awake since midnight due to a disruption in their sleep schedule after making a stop to catch the tide, faced high winds and large swells coming off the ocean, the first swells they had experienced thus far.

“Suddenly we’re beating upwind and we can see on the tracker that we’re like, three to four miles [behind them], and these were two teams that we’ve been catching the whole time,” said Kruger. “So we know they’re like right there, but also everyone’s seasick, and all day we see these giant swells and heavy wind, it’s not fun.”

Additionally, Kruger explained that while in Queen Charlotte Strait, you can see Cape Caution, the next daunting landmark for competitors. It is the first cape on the course that is unprotected and out on the open ocean, where the racers experience the largest swells of the trip.

Once they forged through the rough open water, the team experienced smoother sailing, ducking behind islands for more protection and falling into more of a rhythm with their sleep schedules and acclimating to being on the water. They took turns with two awake and two asleep, unless more extreme conditions required three on deck. Kruger said that all of the members needed to know how to do everything since there were only four people on the team and everyone needed to sleep.

Despite a windier start to their adventure during the proving grounds portion, the wind was lighter than Kruger had hoped for. Because their pedal drive was not in top condition, the team was at a disadvantage, but they still finished 4th among other monohull vessels and 8th overall.

One of Kruger’s original goals was to beat the other youth team from Seattle, and the Juvenile Delinquents ended up finishing only one hour after the other youth team.

“It turned into a lot more of a drag race than I ever thought it was going to be,” said Kruger. “You look at the tracker, it’s like we’re basically on top of each other for the last three days, just like drag racing. We didn’t beat them, but we only lost to them by like, an hour after [sailing] over 700 miles, it was crazy.”

However, there were no hard feelings. Kruger described one of the highlights being the night before the two youth teams finished the race, the Seattle team pulled up behind The Juvenile Delinquents and they rafted their boats together, tossing snacks back and forth between the boats.

Besides the camaraderie created by fellow competitors, Kruger mentioned the overwhelming support from friends and family, as well as spectators who kept track of the racers’ progress online. During their only stop on land to get more water, the team decided to stop near a tiny town after making it past Brown Bay and Seymour Narrows, the first major landmark in the race. Kruger said when they pulled up to the dock, there were already two people waiting for them with a hose and a jerry can filled with water.

As for the scenery of the trip, Kruger quoted her teammate Gray who was amazed by the surreal beauty: “It was a lot less rainy than expected and more of a fever dream.”

If given the chance to re-do the race, Kruger said in general she felt they did a good job and wouldn’t change much beyond running more tests prior to the journey to discover the leaks as well as improve the pedal drive situation. As for advice to those interested in competing in the R2AK, Kruger adamantly encourages others to go for it, but to be prepared for the highs and lows of the trip, and that it helps to have someone who has sailed up the coast before.

“You’re gonna hit a low moment, if you don’t move, then you’re gonna stay there. But like, I had such a hard moment in Johnstone strait like, ‘What the hell are we doing here?’ But as soon as you get up and you go outside, there is a beautiful moon and [the water’s] glassy, and there’s no end, it’s so pretty. You just have to appreciate where you are,” said Kruger.

In the future, Kruger hopes to compete in the Washington 360, a 360 mile boat race around the puget sound, which after completing the R2AK will be a ‘less serious’ venture for Kruger. She also hopes to compete in the Pacific Cup, a 2,000 mile yacht race from San Francisco to Oahu, Hawaii, with her father next summer.