Federal Way High School graduate Travis Ishikawa will be back in town this weekend with the San Francisco Giants.
Ishikawa is currently the starting first baseman for the Giants, who head into Seattle to take on the Mariners in an interleague series Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Ishikawa is currently hitting .236 in 29 games with the Giants with three doubles, one triple, nine runs and 12 RBIs.
Ishikawa won the starting first base job during spring training after a solid 2008 season in the minor leagues.
Ishikawa bounced back last year after a couple off seasons with an impressive season in the minor leagues. He hit a combined .299 with 24 home runs and 94 RBIs in 112 games with the Class AA Connecticut Defenders and the Class AAA Fresno Bees.
His numbers got him a late-season call up with the Giants and he responded with an impressive .274 average in 95 at bats. Ishikawa also hit three home runs, 15 RBIs, six doubles and scored 12 runs for the Giants.
• In response to the recent economic downtown, the University of Washington Tyee Club announced a new program designed to provide assistance to long-time Husky football season ticket holders who are unable to maintain their accounts this season.
Initiated through a generous donation by Husky Fever, the “Dawgs Supporting Dawgs” program will provide two season football tickets to approximately 100 account-holders who were unable to renew due to financial reasons. The Tyee Club is accepting donations to expand the list of recipients through the end of the campaign, which is scheduled to conclude on July 24.
“These are such troublesome economic times and it has been really difficult to see our loyal supporters unable to maintain their season ticket accounts,” said Jo Anne Hume, executive director of Husky Fever. “Husky Fever has always been a major part of what makes Washington athletics so special and we believe this program helps us give back to those who have supported the Huskies over the years.”
UW football season ticket-holders who are selected as beneficiaries through the “Dawgs Supporting Dawgs” program will be provided two (2) season tickets for the upcoming 2009 season. The tickets will be located in general public ticket areas the account holders will be able to maintain their priority points for consecutive years of season ticket purchases.
For more information on the “Dawgs Supporting Dawgs” program, or to find out how to qualify for support, contact Ed Erickson in the UW’s Tyee Club office at (206) 543-0861 or visit www.thetyeeclub.com.
• The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) is offering a special for little leaguers during the 2009 Class 3A and 4A State Baseball Championships at Seattle’s Safeco Field.
Each paying adult may bring up to five little leaguers (ages 12 and under) to the games for free. Each player must wear a piece of their team uniform (team shirt or hat), and must present a Little League Coupon at the Safeco ticket window. Coupons are available at wiaa.com. The offer is good for single-day tickets only. The state championships will be held May 29-30.
• The Sea-Tac Volkssports Club serves residents of Federal Way, Des Moines and the Kent-Auburn valley. The club was organized in 1982 by the Federal Way Noon Lions Club to provide non-competitive walking, biking and swimming events in the South King County area. The club will sponsor a 10-kilometer (6.2-mile) walk beginning at 9 a.m. May 16 at the Jensen Gym at Fort Lewis. The club’s meets 7 to 8 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of the month at Diamond Jim’s Restaurant, 1616 S. 325th St., Federal Way. To learn more, call Fran Carson at (425) 774-0312 or Preston Johnson at (253) 839-1892.
• Several Federal Way school district baseball players will take part in the SPSL Senior All Star Feeder Games June 3 at Auburn Mountainview High School. The South Puget Sound League North Division will take on the SPSL South at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. at Auburn Mountainview. The games will be eight inning each and the cost is $3 at the gate.
Rosters will be set following the season.
• The Kiwanis Club of Greater Federal Way is sponsoring its annual golf tournament fundraiser, which will be held on July 10 at the Whispering Firs Golf Course on McChord Air Force Base in Tacoma.
The tournament will benefit several charities in the Federal Way area. The cost is $320 per foursome and includes green fees, carts, lunch and awards. For more information, contact Donavon Potter at (253) 946-1093.
