Grip on Sports: As a Mariner star of the past exits, is another one stepping forward?

A GRIP ON SPORTS • Let’s keep this simple. The Mariners won yesterday afternoon. And Ichiro, in what may have been his last plate appearance in Safeco Field, hit a home run. It was dramatic and all, but maybe an infield single would have been more fitting. Read on.

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• Yes, Ichiro pulled a fastball into the right-field stands. Turned on it, actually, and then circled the bases in his rarely imitated quick style. The fans at Safeco, what was left of them as the Mariners were finishing up a 10-5 win, gave him another standing ovation.

It was a great way to say goodbye, for Ichiro and for Mariner fans.

The guy will be remembered as an all-time great Mariner. You could argue he deserves to be on the franchise’s Mt. Rushmore, along with Junior, Edgar and Felix, though that’s a discussion for another day.

For now, let’s remember him for what he was.

He was the catalyst for the special 2001 season. He was a hit machine who gave you something to watch even when the team was not that good. He was a strong-armed right fielder who made you gasp at some of his throws.

And he was always, for some reason, the point man for the M’s inability to return to the postseason after 2001.

Now he’s fading into the background once again, his three-game visit with the Marlins over. He’s headed back to the Miami bench, an occasional player who, at 43, can’t do the things he once did as often. (His signature hit in Seattle always seemed to be that four-chopper to the hole at short that he would beat out with ease.)

But every once in a while there is magic, as there was yesterday in the ninth. It was a great way to bid one of Seattle’s legends “happy trails.”

• When the M’s traded Taijuan Walker and Ketel Marte to the Diamondbacks this offseason, Jean Segura was the player everyone focused on in return. Of course they did. He led the National League in hits last year and gave the M’s a presence at the top of the order.

But with Segura hurt, the other player the M’s received in that trade has been standing out.

If Mitch Haniger was a straight up deal for Marte, than it may be the best trade in Mariner history. At least in April.

Marte is in the minors. Haniger is entrenched in right field – and in the second spot in the lineup. He’s hitting .323. His OPS is 1.029. He’s got four home runs and 15 RBIs.

But most importantly, to me anyway, is how he is adjusting. The Marlins decided to shift radically to the left side against him. So Haniger, 26 years old with only 34 games of big league experience last year, took the ball the other way. Hard. And often.

That shows skills. Maturity. Patience. Brains. Heck, everything you want in a guy.

He’s yet to hit a low spot, sure, and we’ll know more when that happens. But Haniger is, right now, one of the brightest of bright spots in the season.

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WSU: There is a battle for one of the cornerback spots this spring, and Jacob Thorpe takes the time today to introduce you to one of the combatants, Marcus Strong. … The baseball team picked up a non-conference win yesterday. … The football program released pictures of its new uniforms yesterday and they were well received on social media. … Around the Pac-12, Utah’s athletic director has held that spot longer than anyone in the nation these days. … In football, Washington was back on the practice field, with Jake Browning talking about the lessons he learned late last season. … Oregon seems to have found its quarterback. Now the Ducks need to solidify the offensive line. … UCLA has asked a receiver to try being a defensive back. … In basketball, Lorenzo Romar speaks about his decision to join the Arizona staff. … I missed the original story of Johnny Dawkins suing Stanford, but I saw the response today.

EWU: The defensive line is now up in Jim Allen’s continuing spring series of spring previews.

Preps: A lot here today, starting with Jim Allen’s feature on the international flavor of Rogers’ soccer team. … There is also Greg Lee’s notebook, which features the rosters for the annual Jack Blair Memorial girls all-star basketball game. … Greg also has a track notebook and the honor roll. … Former Lewis and Clark High star Briann January is returning to Arizona State as an assistant basketball coach. … East Valley’s Adam Fisher has been contacted about the head football coaching position at his alma mater, South Kitsap.

Mariners: There is not only one Mariners Log by Dave Nichols today, he did a special one focused solely on Ichiro’s final Safeco at-bat. The links are available on the first one.

Seahawks: The Hawks have a lot of depth at running back, but the draft still holds some intrigue at that position. … Last year’s draft picks were not universally successful. Will tight end be a position targeted soon? … Some Hawks are touring Haiti right now.

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• The M’s hit the road this weekend with a chance to climb back to the .500 mark. After the awful start, to get back there before the month ends would be something. Until later …