Tygart Media

Category: Everett Sports

Sports & Arena beat parent — Silvertips, AquaSox, USL, Arena, HS, Outdoor recreation

  • Forest Park’s New Pickleball Courts Open in June: What’s Built, What’s Closed, and Why It Matters for Everett

    What’s being built at Forest Park in Everett? The City of Everett is constructing its first multi-court outdoor pickleball facility at Forest Park, including four dedicated regulation pickleball courts, two renovated multi-use sport courts, sport fencing, a pickleball practice wall, site lighting, drinking fountain, benches, cornhole, and horseshoe pits. Construction began in November 2025 and is estimated to complete in June 2026. Some park access east of the water park is currently affected by the project.

    Forest Park’s Pickleball Courts Open This June: What’s Built, What’s Closed, and Why It Matters

    Outdoor recreation is a sport. That’s how this desk treats it. And the biggest outdoor-rec story in Everett right now isn’t on a hiking trail or out at Jetty Island — it’s tucked into the trees at Forest Park, where the city is six weeks from opening its first dedicated multi-court outdoor pickleball facility. If you’ve been driving past the trailhead and wondering why a chunk of the park east of the water park has been fenced off all winter, this is the answer. June 2026 is the target. The shape of the project tells you Everett is serious about outdoor rec.

    What’s Being Built

    Per the City of Everett’s Parks Department project documentation, Forest Park’s new outdoor recreation hub includes:

    • Four new dedicated regulation-size pickleball courts on a new paved court
    • Renovation and expansion of two existing multi-use sport courts
    • New sport fencing around the courts
    • A pickleball practice wall
    • Site lighting (so courts can run into the evening)
    • A drinking fountain
    • Benches
    • Cornhole pits
    • Horseshoe pits

    Read that list as a unit and what you’re actually looking at is a small park-within-a-park: a casual outdoor recreation hub that supports the fastest-growing outdoor sport in the country plus a pair of casual lawn-game options for the people who didn’t come to play pickleball. The lighting matters more than it sounds. Lit courts mean weeknight league play, weeknight pickup, and a community asset that doesn’t shut off when the sun goes down — which in Pacific Northwest seasonal terms is the difference between a 5-month facility and a 10-month one.

    Why It Matters for Everett

    Pickleball is the fastest-growing organized recreational sport in the country. Snohomish County has been chasing demand for years — local YMCAs, indoor athletic clubs, and converted tennis courts have been eating the demand on borrowed time. A purpose-built outdoor facility with four dedicated regulation courts plus two multi-use courts plus a practice wall is the kind of investment that turns Everett into a regional destination for the sport instead of a county that loses players to Marysville and Mill Creek.

    It also fits Forest Park’s identity. The park already runs miles of wooded trails, a self-guided nature tour, a hill-climb course, and an orienteering course. A pickleball complex with cornhole and horseshoes is exactly the right addition: low barrier to entry, social, intergenerational, and not a thing that competes with the park’s existing trails or wildlife. You don’t have to choose between the trail-running crowd and the pickleball crowd. They can share the parking lot.

    What’s Closed Right Now

    Heads up before you head to Forest Park this weekend: the section just east of the water park is blocked off due to the construction. Most of the park’s signature wooded trails, the central loop, the playground, and the picnic shelters are unaffected. But if you’ve got a regular running route or a dog-walk loop that hits that east section, plan around it. The Washington Trails Association notes that not all trails are currently accessible because of the work. Save your scouting; check the park’s posted signage before you commit to a route.

    If you want to keep your trail-running miles up while Forest Park is partially closed, the rest of Everett’s trail network is fully open: Lowell Riverfront Trail, Langus Riverfront, Forsgren Park, Howarth Park down to the beach. Lowell Riverfront has its own active project right now (worth checking signage there too), but the main path is intact and is one of the flattest, fastest 5K-loop options in the city.

    The Bigger Outdoor Rec Picture

    The Forest Park project is one piece of a broader Everett parks investment cycle. The city’s Active Projects list includes other parks-and-trails work in different stages — Lowell Riverfront Trail being the other one most regular outdoor users will notice. Add the upcoming Jetty Island ferry season opening on July 8 and the Snohomish River paddling launch points coming back online for spring, and Everett’s outdoor calendar in 2026 is fuller than it’s been in years.

    From a fan-of-Everett perspective: the city has decided that outdoor rec is part of the downtown stadium / waterfront / arena economy, not an afterthought. A pickleball complex at Forest Park, the Jetty Island ferry, the Lowell Riverfront work, and the year-round trail system at Forsgren and Howarth are all the same project from 30,000 feet — they’re the city saying “we are a place where you can live outside.” The new courts open in June. Mark the calendar.

    If You Want to Get Ready

    If you’re new to pickleball and want to be ready for opening week in June, Snohomish County has a strong indoor scene to get reps before the outdoor courts come online. Local YMCAs and rec centers run drop-in sessions; USA Pickleball has a beginner clinic finder; and most sporting-goods stores in the county now stock starter paddles in the $40-80 range. The barrier to entry is genuinely low — that’s why the sport is growing the way it is — and an outdoor weeknight league at Forest Park is the kind of thing that turns a casual player into a regular.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    When do Forest Park’s new pickleball courts open?

    Estimated completion is June 2026, per the City of Everett project documentation. Construction began in November 2025.

    How many pickleball courts will there be?

    Four dedicated regulation pickleball courts on a new paved court, plus two renovated multi-use sport courts that can be used for additional pickleball or other court sports.

    Is Forest Park currently open?

    Yes — most of Forest Park is open, including the wooded trail network, central loop, playground, and picnic areas. The section just east of the water park is closed due to active construction. Check posted signage on site before committing to a route.

    What else is being built besides the pickleball courts?

    The project also includes a pickleball practice wall, sport fencing, site lighting, a drinking fountain, benches, cornhole pits, and horseshoe pits.

    Will the courts have lighting for evening play?

    Yes. Site lighting is part of the project scope, which means the courts will be usable into the evening hours — important for weeknight league play in the Pacific Northwest.

    Where is Forest Park in Everett?

    Forest Park is a Everett city park with a wooded trail network, water park, and event facilities. Full address and trail maps are available via the City of Everett Parks Department website.

  • Bryce Miller Threw 3 Scoreless With 6 Strikeouts: AquaSox Walked Off Spokane 2-1 to Cap His Rehab

    How did Bryce Miller’s AquaSox rehab start go? Mariners right-hander Bryce Miller threw 3 scoreless innings on Friday, April 24, 2026, at Funko Field, allowing one hit and one walk while striking out six on 47 pitches (35 strikes). The AquaSox then walked off the Spokane Indians 2-1 on an Axel Sanchez sacrifice fly to cap Miller’s two-start minor-league rehab assignment.

    Bryce Miller Walked Out of Funko Field With Six Strikeouts. The AquaSox Walked Off Spokane 2-1.

    Friday night at Funko Field had the kind of energy you only get when a Mariners big-leaguer is on the mound for the AquaSox. Bryce Miller — recovering from oblique inflammation that cost him spring training — made his second and final minor-league rehab outing, and he pitched like a guy who’s about to be back at T-Mobile Park: three scoreless, six punchies, 47 pitches, 35 strikes. Then the Frogs went out and walked it off 2-1 against the Spokane Indians on an Axel Sanchez sac fly. Fireworks Friday delivered the rare combination of major-league rehab work, a tense one-run nightcap, and an actual walk-off in front of a sellout-energy Funko crowd.

    The Bryce Miller Line

    Miller did exactly what a healthy 27-year-old big-league starter on rehab is supposed to do at High-A: he was too good for the league. Three innings, one hit, one walk, six strikeouts, no runs. Through the first two innings he didn’t allow a single baserunner. The one moment of trouble came in the third when he had two runners in scoring position with two outs — and he punched out Indians first baseman Kevin Fitzer on four pitches to escape it. That’s the kind of inning that tells the Mariners’ player development staff everything they needed to see.

    Compare that to his first rehab outing the week before in Tacoma — 1.2 innings, four hits, three runs, two strikeouts, one walk on 33 pitches. Friday at Funko was a clear escalation: more pitches, more strikes, more strikeouts, no damage. Two scoreless innings to start, a tough spot navigated cleanly, and a clean exit. The Mariners now have to decide whether Miller is ready for a Triple-A finishing touch in Tacoma or whether he goes straight back to the big-league rotation.

    The Walk-Off

    The AquaSox didn’t waste Miller’s start. Locked in a 1-1 game late, Everett got runners moving in the bottom of the inning that mattered, and Axel Sanchez delivered the sacrifice fly to center field that ended it. Final: AquaSox 2, Spokane 1. Sixth straight loss for the Indians, which tells you Spokane’s not having a great early-season trip through the Northwest League — but Friday wasn’t about Spokane. It was about a homegrown Mariners arm in front of an Everett crowd, and a Frogs roster that keeps finding ways to win one-run games.

    That’s three straight wins now for Everett, on the heels of the Carlos Jimenez 6-RBI Thursday-night blowout. The Frogs are still climbing toward .500 territory but the run differential is back in the green and the offense is finally chaining at-bats together. Saturday and Sunday wrap the homestand against Spokane — Saturday at 7:05 PM and Sunday at 1:05 PM at Funko Field — and the Frogs have a real chance to take five of six in the series before they head out on the road.

    Prospect Watch

    Friday wasn’t just a Bryce Miller showcase — it was also a chance for the AquaSox prospects to share a clubhouse with a guy who’s already done it. The fan-eye view from Funko Field this week:

    Carlos Jimenez — 6 RBI on Thursday is the kind of night that pulls scouts. Power-and-RBI profile is what the system needs after the Lazaro Montes promotion conversation cooled off.

    Axel Sanchez — Walk-off sac fly Friday. Not a stat-line player but a guy who keeps showing up in late-game spots. The kind of A-ball at-bat that grades up scouting reports.

    The pitching staff behind Miller — Whoever gets handed the ball after a big-league rehab outing has to keep the lead. Friday’s bullpen got the result. That’s a quiet thing, but it matters when you’re tracking who’s developing.

    What’s Next for Bryce Miller

    Two rehab starts down. The natural next step is either a Triple-A Tacoma tune-up or activation off the IL and back into the Mariners rotation. Friday’s outing makes the case for the latter — three scoreless against pro hitters, six strikeouts, fastball back where it needs to be after his April 18 Tacoma outing reportedly clocked at 98+. The Mariners haven’t said publicly which way they’re leaning. Either way, his time at Funko Field this spring is done, and the AquaSox roster goes back to being all about the prospects.

    Saturday and Sunday at Funko Field

    The homestand wraps with Saturday’s 7:05 PM game and Sunday’s 1:05 PM matinee. If you missed Friday, those are the last two chances to see this Spokane series at Funko before the AquaSox hit the road. Tickets are still available through milb.com/everett. Funko Field on a sunny April Sunday afternoon is one of the better cheap-date afternoons in Snohomish County.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What was Bryce Miller’s line in his April 24 AquaSox rehab start?

    3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 6 K on 47 pitches (35 strikes). It was Miller’s second and final minor-league rehab start.

    What was the final score of Friday’s AquaSox game?

    Everett AquaSox 2, Spokane Indians 1, walk-off win at Funko Field on April 24, 2026, on an Axel Sanchez sacrifice fly.

    Why was Bryce Miller pitching for the AquaSox?

    Miller is a Mariners right-handed starter rehabbing oblique inflammation that sidelined him in spring training. The AquaSox start was the second outing of his minor-league rehab assignment after a brief Triple-A Tacoma appearance the week before.

    When are the next AquaSox home games?

    Saturday April 25 at 7:05 PM and Sunday April 26 at 1:05 PM at Funko Field, closing the homestand against Spokane.

    Will Bryce Miller pitch for the AquaSox again this season?

    Friday was Miller’s final rehab outing with Everett. His next appearance will likely be either Triple-A Tacoma or back with the Mariners, depending on the team’s decision on activation.

    Where do the AquaSox play and where can I get tickets?

    The AquaSox play at Funko Field in Everett (formerly Everett Memorial Stadium). Tickets are available at milb.com/everett.

  • Silvertips Beat Penticton 5-4 in Double OT: Series Lead 2-0 Heading to South Okanagan

    How did Silvertips Game 2 end? The Everett Silvertips beat the Penticton Vees 5-4 in double overtime at Angel of the Winds Arena on Saturday, April 25, 2026, taking a 2-0 series lead in the WHL Western Conference Final. The winning goal came on a power play in the second overtime period after the Vees had tied the game 4-4 with 56 seconds left in regulation.

    This One Had Everything: Silvertips Take Game 2 of the Western Conference Final 5-4 in Double OT

    If you left Angel of the Winds Arena early Saturday night, you missed one of the best Silvertips games in years. Everett took Game 2 of the Western Conference Final 5-4 over the Penticton Vees in double overtime, and Tips Nation now heads up to the South Okanagan Events Centre with a commanding 2-0 series lead and a team that simply will not lose.

    The shorthand version: Everett built a lead, Penticton clawed all the way back to tie it with 56 seconds left in regulation, the first overtime period was a Vees goalie clinic from AJ Reyelts, and a delay-of-game penalty a few minutes into the second overtime gave the Silvertips a power play. They cashed it in. Series 2-0. Eight playoff games, eight wins. Best run anyone in the building can remember.

    How the Game Got to Double Overtime

    This wasn’t a game where Everett played down to a lower seed. The Vees came in as the second seed in the Western Conference for a reason — they’re a hungry, structured team with NHL-drafted scoring and a goaltender who can steal a game. Saturday night, Reyelts almost did exactly that.

    The Silvertips carried play for big stretches and built a 4-3 lead late in the third. Then, with the goalie pulled, the Vees converted with 56 seconds remaining to send a packed AOTW crowd into a collective groan. That’s the game where seasons either turn or get sealed.

    The first overtime belonged to Reyelts. Everett poured shots on him, the bench was rolling four lines hard, and nothing got through. The way the building was leaning, it felt like the kind of marathon OT where one bad bounce ends a series — for either side.

    The Power Play That Ended It

    The break came a few minutes into the second overtime. Penticton was whistled for delay of game — the kind of call you can’t argue with because the rule book is the rule book — and Everett went to the power play with a chance to end it. They did. The Silvertips converted and the building emptied 5-4 winners, the AOTW horn going off at the kind of hour where weeknight Tips fans are usually already asleep.

    The Silvertips are now 8-0 in the 2026 WHL playoffs. Anders Miller has been the constant in net all postseason, and Saturday added another marathon to his ledger. Landon DuPont and Carter Bear continue to drive offense. Hunter Rudolph, fresh off his Game 1 third-period dagger, was a factor again. Different game-winners every night — that’s what good teams do, and that’s what Everett has been all year.

    Series Now Heads to Penticton

    The series shifts to Penticton’s South Okanagan Events Centre for Games 3 and 4. The Vees are now in the worst spot a 117-point regular-season Everett team can put a 2-seed in: down 0-2, going home to a building that’s loud but has been outscored over the regular-season head-to-head 3-1. Penticton needs to win Games 3 and 4 just to keep this series alive, because no team wants to come back to Everett trying to win three straight in a barn that’s 5-0 at home in these playoffs.

    For the Silvertips, this is the part of a deep run where the math gets interesting. Two more wins in any combination of the next five games and Everett is in the WHL Final, four wins from the Memorial Cup. That’s where the conversation should be after a Game 2 like this — not whether they can do it, but how soon.

    Everett Sports Coverage

    If you’re new to Silvertips coverage on Tygart Media, you can catch up on the playoff run from Round 1 through this Western Conference Final via our running game-by-game coverage of the 2026 WHL playoffs. The Game 1 4-1 recap is here for context on how the Vees series opened, and our pre-series preview lays out the Penticton matchup, NHL-drafted talent, and head-to-head record.

    Game 3 is in Penticton — check the WHL schedule for puck drop. Watch parties at downtown Everett spots will be back if Game 5 returns home next week. The way this team is playing, you want to see every minute of it.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What was the final score of Silvertips Game 2 vs Penticton?

    Everett 5, Penticton 4 in double overtime at Angel of the Winds Arena on April 25, 2026.

    Where does the Silvertips-Vees series stand?

    Everett leads the best-of-seven WHL Western Conference Final 2-0. The series shifts to Penticton’s South Okanagan Events Centre for Games 3 and 4.

    How did the Silvertips win Game 2?

    Everett scored the game-winner on a power play in the second overtime period after Penticton was assessed a delay-of-game penalty. The Vees had tied it 4-4 with 56 seconds left in regulation to force overtime.

    What is the Silvertips playoff record in 2026?

    Everett is 8-0 in the 2026 WHL playoffs through Game 2 of the Western Conference Final.

    When are Games 3 and 4 of the WHL Western Conference Final?

    Games 3 and 4 are at the South Okanagan Events Centre in Penticton, BC. Check WHL.ca and Silvertips official channels for confirmed puck-drop times.

    Who is Everett’s goaltender in the 2026 playoffs?

    Anders Miller has been Everett’s starter throughout the 2026 playoff run, posting historically strong save percentages over the team’s first eight playoff games.

  • Everett’s $10.6M Stadium Design Vote Is Wednesday: What April 29 Means for the AquaSox and USL Soccer’s Future Here

    What’s at stake: On Wednesday, April 29 at 12:30 PM, Everett City Council will vote on whether to approve another $10.6 million for the downtown Outdoor Event Center — the future home of the AquaSox and two new United Soccer League teams (men’s and women’s). The vote covers $5.6M for property acquisition and $4.8M in contractor amendments. If approved, design hits 100% complete and the path opens toward a possible August project go-ahead vote, ground-breaking in September, and a late-2027 opening. If it doesn’t pass cleanly, the timeline starts to wobble.

    If you care about the AquaSox staying in Everett — and the city’s two incoming USL professional soccer teams actually having a place to play — Wednesday afternoon’s council vote matters more than any single game on the schedule this spring.

    Everett City Council is set to vote April 29 on a package of four items tied to the future Outdoor Event Center: an additional $10.6 million in spending, contract amendments with four project contractors worth $4.8 million, acceptance of a $7.4 million state Department of Commerce grant, and the addition of one more land parcel to the project’s acquisition list.

    The fan-perspective version of all that procedural language: Everett is one council vote away from finishing the design phase of a stadium that determines whether minor-league baseball stays here and whether professional soccer ever gets here at all.

    What the $10.6 Million Actually Buys

    The breakdown, per City of Everett project documents and reporting from the Snohomish County Tribune and HeraldNet:

    About $5.6 million is allocated to the costs of acquiring the properties needed to clear the stadium block — bounded by Hewitt Avenue, Pacific Avenue, Broadway, and the railroad tracks, one block east of Angel of the Winds Arena.

    About $4.8 million is for contract amendments with the four firms working on stadium design and pre-construction.

    The funding mechanism is an interfund loan — Everett borrows the money from its own general fund balance, then issues municipal bond debt to repay the loan. Long-term bonds backed against city tax revenues handle repayment. This is a way to move quickly on cash flow without holding up design while waiting for outside grants and bond markets.

    Counting earlier spending, the city has already invested about $7.2 million in capital funds into the project since site selection in late 2024. That money has gone toward environmental studies, conceptual design, and putting properties under purchase-and-sale agreements.

    The Real Number You Should Know

    The total project cost is now estimated at $120 million, up from the $82 million estimate the city used when it asked for $4.8 million in funding back in June 2025.

    The funding stack so far: roughly $17 million committed by the AquaSox and incoming USL ownership groups in exchange for 30-year leases (with operations and maintenance handled on-site and ticket and parking revenue shared with the city); $30+ million from other bonds repaid through lease and ticket revenue; and roughly 21% of the funding pie that, as of last week’s council presentation, is not yet identified.

    That 21% gap is the one to watch. City project staff said they intend to return to council in summer with more financial models, with possible sources including state, regional, and private dollars. “We are pursuing all possible options,” the project representative told the council.

    Why This Matters for the AquaSox

    Major League Baseball changed minor-league facility requirements in 2021. Funko Field, which has been the AquaSox’s home for decades, doesn’t meet the new standards. If Everett doesn’t build a compliant stadium, the AquaSox lose their MLB affiliation. They go away. The economic, cultural, and identity hit to the city would be real.

    Mayor Cassie Franklin has called the project a “once-in-a-generation opportunity” prompted by the league’s facility-standard changes. She framed Everett’s decision to put the stadium downtown — in late 2024 — as the city already making “tangible progress.” Wednesday’s vote keeps that progress moving.

    Why This Matters for USL Soccer

    The Outdoor Event Center is being designed as a true dual-purpose venue: artificial turf, the ability to convert the field between baseball and soccer in the span of a few hours, soccer played on the diamond’s infield, and a retractable mound. The plan calls for hosting two USL teams — a men’s team in either USL Championship or USL League One, and a women’s team in the USL Super League.

    This is why we don’t yet have team names, colors, kits, or a confirmed league level. Without an approved stadium plan, USL won’t finalize franchise placement. Without USL franchise placement, the city can’t fully market what the soccer side will look like. Wednesday’s vote moves the design from 60% complete (where it sits today) to 100% — and that opens the door for the August funding decision and the broader project go-ahead.

    The USL teams won’t be playing in 2026. The current target is a late-2027 opening, which means a 2028 inaugural season at the earliest. But every step on the design timeline is a step closer to seeing professional soccer in Everett.

    The Take

    This stadium project has been criticized — fairly — for cost growth. $82 million in June 2025 to $120 million today is a real escalation, and the 21% unidentified funding share is a legitimate concern.

    But the alternative — losing the AquaSox, losing the chance at USL, leaving the downtown stadium block as a parking lot — is worse. The downtown location is a significantly better long-term play than rebuilding at the existing Funko Field site. The dual-purpose design that makes baseball and soccer both work in one venue is genuinely innovative for a city Everett’s size. And the public-park amenities and walking loop in the design plan turn what could be a single-use box into a downtown asset that serves the city year-round.

    The April 29 vote isn’t the final yes. It’s the vote that lets the project finish its homework before the bigger August decision on the full project. If Everett wants to be a city where minor-league baseball thrives, professional soccer arrives, and the downtown stadium becomes the anchor of a real entertainment district next to Angel of the Winds Arena — Wednesday afternoon matters.

    How to Weigh In

    The City Council meeting is Wednesday, April 29 at 12:30 PM at 3002 Wetmore Avenue. Public comment is part of the council process for items like this. If you have a take — for or against — that’s the room and that’s the meeting where it lands.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What is the Everett Outdoor Event Center?
    A planned 5,000-seat dual-purpose stadium in downtown Everett that will host the AquaSox baseball team and two new United Soccer League teams (one men’s, one women’s). It also includes an urban park and walking loop.

    When is the city council vote on the additional funding?
    Wednesday, April 29, 2026 at 12:30 PM at Everett City Hall (3002 Wetmore Avenue). The council will vote on four items tied to the project.

    How much will the stadium cost in total?
    The current total project cost estimate is $120 million, up from $82 million in June 2025. Property acquisition and business relocation alone is estimated at $35 million.

    When will the stadium open?
    The current project timeline targets construction starting in September 2026 and the stadium opening in late 2027, with a 2028 inaugural USL season at the earliest.

    Will the AquaSox leave Everett if the stadium isn’t built?
    Funko Field doesn’t meet the post-2021 MLB facility standards for affiliated minor-league teams. Without a compliant stadium, the AquaSox would lose their MLB affiliation and likely leave the city.

    What USL teams are coming to Everett?
    The city has agreements in place to host two USL teams — one men’s professional team and one women’s professional team. Specific league level (Championship vs League One for the men, Super League for the women), team names, colors, and ownership branding have not been publicly finalized pending stadium approval.

    Where will the stadium be located?
    On the block bounded by Hewitt Avenue, Pacific Avenue, Broadway, and the railroad tracks — one block east of Angel of the Winds Arena in downtown Everett. The city is acquiring 15 properties on that block to clear the site.

    Who pays for the stadium?
    A combination of city interfund loans repaid by long-term municipal bonds, $17 million committed by the AquaSox and USL teams (in exchange for 30-year leases), state Department of Commerce grants ($7.4 million pending council acceptance), and approximately $25 million still to be identified by July.

  • Bryce Miller Pitched at Funko Field Friday Night: Mariners Right-Hander Targets 3 Innings, AquaSox Riding 3-Game Win Streak

    The setup: Mariners right-hander Bryce Miller made his second 2026 rehab start on Friday night, April 24 at Funko Field in Everett, taking the mound for the AquaSox against the Spokane Indians. The plan, per AquaSox manager and Seattle’s player-development staff: stretch to roughly three innings and about 45 pitches as Miller works back from the oblique injury that has kept him on the IL. First pitch was 7:05 PM, and yes — it was Fireworks Friday.

    This is what we’ve been waiting for since Wednesday’s announcement.

    The Mariners’ actual second-best starter from last season pitched at Funko Field on Friday night. Bryce Miller made his second rehab start of the spring with the AquaSox against the Spokane Indians, the next step in his climb back from the oblique strain that landed him on the IL early in the Mariners’ season.

    The Plan for Miller’s Outing

    Per the AquaSox release earlier in the week, the target for Friday was three innings or about 45 pitches — a clear escalation from his first rehab outing on April 18 with Triple-A Tacoma, where he threw 33 pitches across 1.2 innings (21 of them for strikes), striking out two and walking one while allowing three runs on four hits.

    Three runs on four hits in fewer than two innings isn’t the line Mariners fans wanted to see from Tacoma — but the two strikeouts, the strike-throwing rate, and the simple fact that he was on the mound are what mattered. The Mariners have been deliberately conservative with him. The oblique is the kind of injury where you can’t rush the timeline.

    That’s why Friday night’s start in Everett mattered. Stepping back from Triple-A to the Northwest League gave Seattle a controlled environment to push his pitch count and build his stamina without the consequences of a full Triple-A workload. By the time you read this, Miller’s box-score line for Friday will be public — but the meaningful number isn’t ERA. It’s pitch count, innings, and whether he came out of it healthy.

    The Spokane Series Has Quietly Been a Showcase

    Even before Miller took the mound, the AquaSox were riding a hot stretch of the homestand against the Indians. Tuesday was a 5-2 Adam Dollard gem — six innings, two hits, no runs, one walk, seven strikeouts, the best start of an AquaSox arm so far this season. Wednesday was the 7-5 Eike-and-Caron offensive show, with Tyler Eike‘s 418-foot home run still being talked about and Felnin Celesten Jr. finally getting hot at the plate.

    And Thursday? Carlos Jimenez went 2-for-2 with a home run, a double, two walks, and six RBIs in an 11-3 demolition of Spokane. Jimenez has been the kind of streaky bat that turns into a 30-RBI week when he gets locked in. Right now he’s locked in. That was Everett’s third straight win over the Indians, who came in with a four-game losing streak of their own and saw it become five.

    Going into Friday’s game, Everett was 6-4 on the season, six runs of separation in the standings, and looking like a team that found its footing after a rough opening series at Eugene.

    The Funko Field Experience Around Bryce Miller

    Miller starting at Funko Field on a Friday night was always going to be the most attended weeknight game of the homestand. The combination of a real major leaguer on the mound, Fireworks Friday, and the AquaSox playing actually-good baseball was the perfect Everett baseball night.

    If you couldn’t make Friday, the homestand finishes Saturday April 25 at 7:05 PM and Sunday April 26 at 1:05 PM. The Sunday afternoon game is the one to bring kids to — Funko Field on a sunny April afternoon is one of the better $15 entertainment values in Snohomish County, and prospects like Celesten, Eike, Aidan Caron, and Carlos Jimenez are showing legitimate signs of taking a step forward this season.

    What’s Next for Miller

    The full picture from Friday will come together in Saturday morning’s box scores. The number that will dictate Miller’s next step isn’t strikeouts or earned runs — it’s how he feels Saturday morning. If the oblique held up under a 45-pitch workload, the next move is almost certainly back to Tacoma for a longer outing, then a final tune-up before activation.

    Mariners fans need Miller back. The rotation has been doing its best, but the version of Miller who threw 98+ mph with command in his April 18 Tacoma outing — that’s a version of this rotation Seattle needs in May and June. Friday at Funko Field was a real step in that direction.

    And honestly? It’s just kind of cool to have him here. AquaSox baseball with a major-league rehab start is the platonic ideal of a Friday night in Everett.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Why did Bryce Miller pitch for the Everett AquaSox?
    Miller is on a rehab assignment from the Mariners’ injured list (oblique strain). Pitching for the High-A AquaSox lets the Mariners build him up gradually before sending him back to Triple-A Tacoma and eventually back to Seattle’s starting rotation.

    What was the plan for Miller’s April 24 start?
    Per the AquaSox release, the target was approximately three innings or 45 pitches — a step up from his April 18 Tacoma rehab outing, where he threw 33 pitches in 1.2 innings.

    Where do the AquaSox play?
    At Funko Field in Everett, also known as Everett Memorial Stadium. Located near Everett Community College on Broadway.

    When are the rest of the AquaSox vs Spokane games?
    Saturday, April 25 at 7:05 PM and Sunday, April 26 at 1:05 PM. The Saturday game is the final 7:05 first pitch of the homestand; Sunday is a 1:05 afternoon game.

    How is the AquaSox season going so far?
    Entering Friday, Everett was 6-4 on the season after winning three straight over Spokane. The team has scored 16 runs in the eighth inning across the last six games — a sign the lineup is figuring it out.

    Who are the AquaSox top prospects to watch in 2026?
    Catcher Felnin Celesten Jr., outfielder Tyler Eike (whose 418-ft homer Wednesday was the best AquaSox swing of the homestand), infielder Aidan Caron, and outfielder Carlos Jimenez (six RBIs Thursday).

    How can I get tickets to AquaSox games?
    Tickets are available at the Funko Field box office on game days or through the official AquaSox site at milb.com/everett. Standard tickets are usually under $20, and Sunday day games are family-friendly.

  • Silvertips Take Game 1 Over Penticton 4-1: Anders Miller Solid, DuPont and Rudolph Score, Game 2 Saturday at 6:30 PM

    Final score: Everett Silvertips 4, Penticton Vees 1. Landon DuPont opened the scoring and added an assist, fourth-line forward Hunter Rudolph buried the third-period dagger, and goaltender Anders Miller stopped 23 of 24 shots as the Tips took Game 1 of the WHL Western Conference Final at Angel of the Winds Arena on Thursday, April 23. Game 2 is Saturday, April 25 at 6:30 PM PT in Everett before the series shifts to Penticton.

    Everett picked up exactly where it left off in Round 2 — and the WHL’s hottest team is now one of three with a series lead in the conference finals.

    The Everett Silvertips opened the WHL Western Conference Final on Thursday night with a 4-1 win over the Penticton Vees at Angel of the Winds Arena. The win pushed Everett’s playoff record to 8-0 and gave them a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.

    How Game 1 Went Down

    The Silvertips set the tone early. Landon DuPont, the 16-year-old phenom defenseman who’s been the postseason’s most quietly dominant player, opened the scoring late in the first period to send Everett into intermission with a 1-0 lead.

    The second period saw Everett extend the lead to 2-0. The Tips kept their defensive structure even as the Vees matched them shot-for-shot — both teams ended the period with 18 shots on goal, an unusually even shot count for a series opener at home.

    Penticton finally broke through early in the third on a goal from Ryden Evers, his seventh of the playoffs, cutting the deficit to 2-1 with most of the period still to play. For about five minutes, the building got quiet. The Vees had momentum.

    And then Hunter Rudolph happened.

    The fourth-line forward — exactly the kind of depth scorer championship teams find a way to get from — restored Everett’s two-goal lead at the 11:28 mark of the third. Kayd Ruedig sealed it with an empty-netter to make the final 4-1.

    Anders Miller Keeps Doing Anders Miller Things

    Goaltender Anders Miller stopped 23 of 24 shots, continuing the playoff run that has put him in WHL postseason record territory. His save percentage through the postseason continues to lead all goalies with nine or more games played, and through eight playoff games Everett’s combined goal differential is sitting in plus-territory that very few WHL teams ever post.

    Miller didn’t have to be miraculous on Thursday — Everett’s structure forced Penticton into low-percentage looks and the puck didn’t sit in dangerous areas for long. But every time the Vees did manufacture a clean chance, Miller swallowed it. That’s the version of Anders Miller that Everett needs four more times.

    What Game 1 Tells Us About This Series

    Three things stood out from Thursday night.

    First, DuPont is operating at a different level. The 16-year-old led Everett in playoff scoring entering the series and added another goal and assist in Game 1. Watching him retrieve pucks under pressure and make clean breakouts is one of the most fun things in junior hockey right now.

    Second, Everett’s depth is winning games. Hunter Rudolph isn’t on the scouting reports the Vees brought into the series — and that’s exactly the player who scored the back-breaker. Championship teams get goals from fourth-liners. Everett is getting them.

    Third, Penticton is not going away. Don’t let the 4-1 final fool you. The Vees matched Everett’s shot count for two periods, generated chances, and got an early third-period goal that legitimately changed momentum. They were the only team to beat Everett in regulation more than once during the regular season. This is going to be a series.

    Game 2: Saturday Night, 6:30 PM at Angel of the Winds

    Game 2 is Saturday, April 25 at 6:30 PM PT at Angel of the Winds Arena before the series shifts to Penticton’s South Okanagan Events Centre for Games 3 and 4. If Everett wins Saturday and takes a 2-0 lead on the road trip, this thing could go very quickly.

    If you’ve been thinking about getting to a playoff game this spring — Saturday is the one. The WHL Western Conference Final, at home, against the team that pushed Everett harder than anyone in the regular season. Tickets through the Silvertips and Angel of the Winds Arena box offices.

    The puck drops at 6:30 PM. Wear green.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What was the final score of Silvertips Game 1 vs Penticton?
    Everett won 4-1 over the Penticton Vees on Thursday, April 23, 2026 at Angel of the Winds Arena.

    When is Silvertips Game 2 vs Penticton?
    Game 2 is Saturday, April 25 at 6:30 PM PT at Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett.

    Who scored for Everett in Game 1?
    Landon DuPont opened the scoring, Hunter Rudolph added the third-period insurance goal, and Kayd Ruedig sealed the win with an empty-netter. DuPont also recorded an assist.

    How did Anders Miller play in Game 1?
    Miller stopped 23 of 24 shots, continuing his record-pace playoff run. He has the highest save percentage of any WHL goaltender with nine or more games played this postseason.

    Where will the rest of the WHL Western Conference Final be played?
    Games 1 and 2 are at Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett (April 23 and 25). Games 3 and 4 shift to the South Okanagan Events Centre in Penticton, BC. Games 5, 6, and 7 (if necessary) alternate back to Everett and Penticton based on series standing.

    What is the Silvertips’ playoff record so far?
    Everett is 8-0 in the 2026 WHL playoffs after winning Game 1 on Thursday, having swept their first two opponents to advance to the Western Conference Final.

    Who is favored in the Silvertips vs Vees series?
    Everett enters as the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference after a 117-point regular season — the franchise’s best in 12 years. The Vees were the No. 2 seed. Everett also won the regular-season series 3-1, but Penticton handed them their only regular-season shutout loss.