TUKWILA, Wash. — Three days after their first win of the season, the Seattle Sounders traded in their soccer balls for mitts and bats. After an off-day Monday, the Sounders blew off some steam with a game of softball at their training facility.
Taylor Graham was the offensive star, smacking two one-handed home runs. Wearing a cast on his left hand, Graham looked like a tennis player as he stroked a pair of deep fly balls deep over the training field’s fence.
Terry Boss and Kasey Keller also looked strong at the plate, with Cuban-born Osvaldo Alonso making some slick plays at shortstop.
However, the game resembled a Keystone Kops routine on several occasions. Sweden’s Erik Friberg air-mailed a few throws while Jhon Kennedy Hurtado displayed a laughable swing before attempting to bunt. The play that drew the most jeers came via Steve Zakuani, who hid his hands in his glove after he dropped a line drive then failed to throw the runner out at first.
“It’s always interesting when you put a bat in a foreigner’s hands, or a glove – or two gloves in Leo [Gonzalez’s] case – and they still can’t catch it,” head coach Sigi Schmid said with a smile.
Joking aside, Tuesday was a welcome day away from soccer for the Sounders, who hadn’t produced a win until the fifth game of the season. Entering Saturday's game at Philadelphia, the Rave Green have now gotten points in each of the past three matches.
Schmid said that these he’s used these sorts of activities, which also include paintball and go-karting excursions, throughout his coaching career.
“I just felt it was time to have some fun,” said Schmid.
The team certainly appeared to enjoy the match, with Kasey Keller’s team winning the closely contested game.
Notebook:
Fredy Montero was cleared to practice Tuesday. But Schmid stopped short of saying Montero would be available for selection against the Union.
“We’ll see how the improvements come along and be smart about it,” Schmid said. “The last two games we’ve been able to produce some offense, so there’s no need to rush it or take an undue chance.”
