SEQUIM, Wash — When 18-year-old Pearle Peterson of Sequim performed a song at a Boys and Girls Club event in New York on Oct. 5, she had no idea she’d made an impression on the vice president of Major League Baseball, who was sitting in the audience.
Weeks later, she is getting ready to sing the national anthem-- all by herself-- at Game 2 of the MLB World Series this Saturday.
Peterson will be the first young person from the Boys and Girls Club to ever have such an opportunity, in the group's history.
"I'm proud of her hard work," said Mary Budke, CEO of the Boys and Girls Club of the Olympic Peninsula.
By the dawn’s early light Friday, her flight will proudly hail on an airport runway in Texas.
"For years, coming from an eight-stoplight town," said Peterson. "I always felt that my dreams are just too big for the barriers."
But come Saturday, her perilous fight will be matched only by the one between the Diamondbacks and the Rangers.
She said she's always dreamed of singing the anthem at a stadium game, and soon enough her voice will be "gallantly streaming" to about 10 million viewers across America.
No pressure, right?
"I'm so, so excited," Peterson said.
Peterson is currently a high school senior and is homeschooled.
Budke said that this achievement is a result of Peterson's talent, hard work and "that fire in the belly."
Her Boys and Girls Club family told KING 5 that they endlessly support and believe in her. After all, she's been a member of the club for 11 years.
"Always gonna support the Seattle team," Peterson said of the Mariners.
Even if the Mariners didn’t make it to the World Series this year, Peterson is prepared to represent Washington, even if she says, "It has not soaked in entirely."
Budke said Boys and Girls Club is a partner of the MLB, and that the league often supports the group's charity. Saturday, she said, is "Boys and Girls Club Night" at the game.
"I don't think I'll really soak it in until I'm there," said Peterson.
World Series Game 2 will be broadcast live this Saturday beginning at 5 p.m. PST.