Minor league update

By CASEY OLSON

The Mirror

Travis Ishikawa is in the midst of his best season in professional baseball. The 2002 Federal Way High School graduate is starring for the San Jose Giants in the California League.

The left-handed first baseman is currently hitting a respectable .291 with a team-leading 16 home runs and 58 RBIs. The home-run total is seventh in the California League.

Ishikawa had his best game of the season July 19, when he connected on a pair of home runs during a 7-4 win over the Lancaster JetHawks.

San Jose is the Class A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants. Ishikawa was drafted in the 21st round in 2002 and turned down a scholarship from Oregon State University.

Baseball America lists Ishikawa as the No. 10 prospect in the entire San Francisco Giants’ organization.

• Brady Everett — The 2001 Federal Way grad is leading the Idaho Falls Chukars in hitting with an impressive .396 average. Everett also has four home runs and 15 RBIs in 15 games with the Chukars. Everett has been splitting time at catcher for Idaho Falls.

Everett was a first-team All-Pac 10 catcher for the Washington State Cougars during the spring after hitting .337 with 15 home runs and 62 RBIs. He also led the Cougars with 50 runs scored. His 15 homers were second in the Pac-10 and he started all 57 of Washington State’s games at catcher.

He was selected in the 15th round of the 2005 Major League Draft by the Kansas City Royals. Idaho Falls is the short-season, Class A affiliate of the Royals.

• Andre Piper-Jordan — The 2003 Federal Way High School graduate is playing Rookie League baseball for the Arizona Athletics in the Arizona League. The centerfielder is hitting .253 with 23 runs, three doubles, four triples and 11 stolen bases in 25 games.

Piper-Jordan was drafted in the 28th round by the Oakland A’s in 2004 after playing one season at Everett Community College. Piper-Jordan turned down a full-ride scholarship to play wide receiver on the Eastern Washington University football team.

Sports editor Casey Olson: 925-5565, sports@fedwaymirror.com

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