Seventeen years ago, when he was a 7-year-old youth baseball player, current Seattle Mariners right-handed pitcher Brandon Maurer was among some children in Costa Mesa, Calif., located a little more than an hour southeast of Los Angeles, who received a visit in 1997 from a then-active Major League Baseball player.

"To be honest, I don't remember who it was," said the now 23-year-old Maurer. "I was in Little League. It was kind of fun to hear about how life is and what you've got to do to get there."

NOW THAT Maurer has gotten 'there', pitching in front of tens of thousands of people per game around the country as a big leaguer himself, he, left-handed reliever Charlie Furbush and Mariners announcer Mike Blowers had the opportunity to be that same sort of role model for nearly 400 young students on Thursday at Bryan Elementary School in Coeur d'Alene. Maurer talked about the dangers of illegal drugs and staying drug-free.

The Seattle Mariners caravan consists of a three-week tour across the Pacific Northwest from Jan. 7-24, stopping in places like Spokane, Yakima, Moses Lake, Vancouver, British Columbia, and Oregon.

MAURER SPOKE to the students briefly about a talented piano player he grew up with who took illegal drugs, had some problems with his life, but turned it around and is staying drug-free.

"He almost lost his life," Maurer said during the assembly. "From a first-person perspective, I can say drugs are a terrible thing."

Maurer, who bounced between the starting rotation and the bullpen, pitched 10 games with Triple-A Tacoma, where he went 3-4 with a 5.21 ERA.

Maurer is competing for a starting pitching spot. On Seattle's official team website this week, he was listed as the team's fifth starter in the rotation.

"I'm just trying to stay healthy is the biggest goal, getting ready for (training) camp," Maurer said. "I'm just trying to go in there and do my best."

Maurer finished 5-8 with a 6.30 earned-run average with 14 games started in his first season in the major leagues. He was drafted in the 23rd round of the 2008 First-Year Player Draft, after playing Orange Lutheran High School in Orange, Calif. He earned his first MLB win on April 14.

"It was a big-time learning year," Maurer said. "It'll be nice to put that behind me and kind of go in there with a fresh start this year."

MAURER TALKED about the free agent signing of All-Star second baseman Robinson Cano, a 31-year-old who after nine seasons playing for the New York Yankees, signed a 10-year, $240 million on Dec. 6 with the Mariners. Last season, Cano batted .314 with 27 home runs and 107 runs batted in.

The team also signed former Milwaukee Brewers slugger Corey Hart, another nine-year veteran, who hit 30 home runs last season and hit .270.

"It can't be a bad thing, right?" Maurer said. "Get a high-powered hitter right there (in the middle of the starting lineup)."

THE 27-year-old Furbush, acquired in a trade in 2011 with the Detroit Tigers, finished 2-6 in 2013 with a 3.74 ERA. He held opposing hitters to a .199 batting average and appeared in 71 games. He was 10th in the American League in game appearances and 13th in the AL with 20 holds - when a pitcher is able to hold the lead before the next pitcher comes in to pitch.

Furbush was born in South Portland, Maine. Furbush played for LSU in 2007 after transferring from St. Joseph's College of Maine, a Division III school, before his junior season. He was drafted in the fourth round out of LSU in 2007.

Furbush is a classic example of how Major Leaguers come from places other than say, places where there's year-round sunshine, like several big leaguers tend to be from.

"I'd tell all these kids never give up and keep having fun," Furbush said. "It was something I learned was to keep playing and you never know who's watching (like scouts or college coaches). I'm from Maine and there's not too much baseball and you never know who's going to give ou an opportunity. I didn't have much (interest from bigger schools) coming out of high school, so I ended up going to St. Joseph's College of Maine. After that first year, I got a chance to play in the Cape Cod Summer League, so that's kind of where everything changed."

Furbush also spoke briefly about the busy offseason and the signing of Cano. On Dec. 17, Furbush avoided a potential salary arbitration hearing by signing a one-year contract worth $750,000.

"It's been great," Furbush said. "I think it just shows that our team is making a point to win now. We're doing the best we can to put ourselves in a position to succeed."

BLOWERS HAD an 11-year playing career, playing for the Mariners, as well as the New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers and Oakland Athletics.

The 48-year-old broadcaster went to Whitman College in Walla Walla, Wash.

"For me, it's personal," Blowers said. "I always asked for this (the caravan). I love coming to the east side. They (Furbush and Maurer) are good examples of what can happen if you work hard and stay in school. It's not too long ago these young guys were in a school like this. I never had an opportunity like this. It's cool we get to do something like this."

ALL IN all, it was a fun day for the Bears of Bryan Elementary.

One side note - I'm a sucker for mascots. You've got to love the Mariners' own Mariner Moose, who shot confetti out of a plastic device and made everyone laugh, both students and teachers.

The mascot came in to an ovation as if he were the late, great Elvis Presley.

Can't beat the moose!

Bruce Bourquin is a sports writer at The Press. He can be reached at 664-8176, Ext. 2013, or via email at bbourquin@cdapress.com Follow him on Twitter @bourq25