“Quoth the sage:Pitching’s what wins it.Agreed Graham Wright:We’ve got a local boy (Poulsbo’s Aaron Sele) pitching, and they’ve got a crippled staff. The local boy’s going to be our edge.Kitted out in full Seattle Mariners regalia, Wright and his family were among the throng of islanders heading across the water on Friday’s 11:10 ferry, to see the hometown nine face the Chicago White Sox.In tow was the family broom – shaken free of garage spiders – in anticipation of a game-three victory in the divisional playoff. They’re gonna sweep, Kathleen Wright predicted, already looking ahead to the next series against the Oakland A’s or New York Yankees.I’m hoping for a win, agreed Kier Schmitt, who took the day off from work to take his Poulsbo family to the game. I’ve got my lucky jersey, and they haven’t lost when I’ve worn my lucky jersey.For some, the morning’s excitement harkened back to autumn 1995, when a late-season run vaulted the M’s into a one-game, Monday afternoon playoff with the Anaheim Angels – and then thrilling series with the Yankees and Indians.Now as then, parking was a challenge around the ferry terminal, with road construction in full swing and drivers looking for somewhere, anywhere, to pull in as the ferry loaded up.We had several women yelling at us – frantic women – ‘where’d you get a parking spot? said Bill Point resident James Snydal, bound for the game with his wife Kathryn MacDonald. The pair took it as a providence, and a good omen for the game, that a space opened up in front of them on the street.I like their chances, said Snydal, noting that he’s already got his World Series tickets lined up.We turned down a free five-day trip to Vegas, because we didn’t want to miss the end of the season, Snydal said.Well, one of us didn’t, MacDonald said.She listened to her husband, Snydal rejoined.So far, it looks like the right choice, particularly compared to the last M’s playoff appearance in 1997. A less euphoric affair – frankly, a dismal one – fans then saw a hard-hitting M’s nine stymied by the crafty pitching of the Baltimore Orioles staff.Friday, with an uncharacteristically solid bullpen in reserve, optimism ran high. The Wrights predicted a summary disposal of the Windy City crew, and said they’re looking ahead to a World Series matchup with the San Francisco Giants.We’re originally from the Bay Area, Kathleen Wright said.It’s the fun boat going over, Wright said on a ferry awash in Mariners blue, and hopefully, it’ll be the fun boat coming back.One presumes that it was; as the Review went to press, Rickey Henderson crossed the plate in the bottom of the ninth, and the M’s prevailed by score of 2-1. “