Five Seattle Mariners — with their beloved Moose in tow — hit a grand slam with their discussion of thriving in school and following dreams with Kenmore Elementary students Wednesday during the team’s 13th annual DREAM Team day.

First baseman Casey Kotchman discussed being drug-free (D), third-base coach Mike Brumley talked about respect (R), bullpen catcher Jason Phillips discussed education (E), pitcher Sean White chatted about attitude (A) and shortstop Josh Wilson went with motivation (M). Other M’s players visited five other schools in the Seattle area Wednesday.

“I think it is great that the Mariners organization, their players and coaches participate in these community outreach events. The messages they delivered are important and very similar to messages they hear from school staff and their parents all the time,” said Kenmore Elementary Principal Craig Madsen. “Students were certainly paying attention when the players and the Mariner Moose were delivering them. There was a great deal of positive energy at school all day in anticipation of this event.”

Sixth-grade Associated Student Body President Kaylee Roe and her classmates were enlightened by the M’s speeches and enjoyed the Moose’s antics.

“I thought it was really exciting, especially for all the little kids when the players sat by them,” Roe said.

On the DREAM messages, she continued: “They mainly said to follow your dreams — they got to follow their dreams to be baseball players. The DREAM phrase was really important; the sixth-graders have been learning a lot about that.”

While some students said they wanted to be teachers and singers, Roe wants to work with animals someday or play sports (she’s a jack-of-all-trades with cross country, track, soccer, softball, basketball and volleyball on her resume).

Whatever she or her classmates specialize in, Roe said they do it by respecting everyone involved.

So, Brumley’s R struck a chord with the students.

“Our school is all about respect,” she said. “Usually, we have that (Aretha Franklin) song playing when we come into the gym for assemblies.”