Seattle Seahawks players Marcus Trufant, Kelly Jennings, Jordan Kent and Ben Obomanu will help kickoff the renovation of the Federal Way Boys and Girls Club from 1 to 3 p.m. April 24.

The event is sponsored by Opus Northwest and Rebuilding Together South Sound. The Seahawks will lend a hand in giving this old building a face lift.

The Opus Foundation has awarded the project a grant of $50,000 and with in-kind donations and volunteer labor, the contribution is expected to exceed $300,000 in improvements.

The extensive renovations will take approximately three months to complete. Thursday’s kickoff will be followed by a volunteer day on April 26 with painting starting at 9 a.m. For the next three to four months, Opus’ subcontractors, who are donating their time and materials, will continue the process of making the Club a safer, more attractive place for Federal Way children.

The Federal Way Boys and Girls Club is located at 30815 8th Avenue South.

• The Harlem Wizards will perform an evening of “Trick-Hoopz and Alley-Oops” at Todd Beamer High School on Thursday, May 1. The Wizards, who have wowed audiences since 1962, will play the Federal Way Slammers, a team of Federal Way teachers and administrators, at 7 p.m. in the Todd Beamer gym. The event is a fundraiser for the Todd Beamer basketball program and is sponsored by the Todd Beamer Booster Club.

Joining in on the fun for the evening will be Jashaun Agosto, a fifth-grade student in Federal Way schools who is already gaining national attention for his basketball skills, including profiles on ABC World News Tonight and the Ellen DeGeneres Show. Jashaun will suit up for the game.

To purchase tickets, go to your local middle or high school office. Tickets purchased at a school will also benefit that school’s PTA. Or go to Todd Beamer High School, 35999 16th Avenue South, Federal Way, WA 98003, from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays to purchase tickets. The cost is $10 in advance or $12 at the door for students. Adults’ general admission is $12 in advance or $14 at the door.

At halftime during the game, one adult will be chosen based on ticket stub number to take a half-court shot. By making the shot, he or she will win two free flights for two, anywhere that jetBlue Airways flies in the United States.

The Wizards will be signing autographs and souvenirs will be on sale at the game. The Wizards will also be making surprise visits to lunchrooms and at assemblies at participating schools in the district during the day.

For more information about the Wizards, go to www.harlemwizards.com. For more information about this event, contact Ed Flanigan at (206) 669-6302.

• All Nations Cup, a soccer tournament comprised of teams from throughout the Puget Sound’s

immigrant communities, celebrates its return for the sixth year in a row in June with a larger tournament and expanded arts and cultural celebration.

Founded in 2003 by Sister Communities, a South-end nonprofit organization, All Nations Cup 2008 is expanding to a three-week celebration of cultural diversity in the Pacific Northwest. This year the event is getting started early with the kick off the event on June 6 at Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila.

This year All Nations Cup is further celebrating soccer’s diversity by expanding the Women’s

Tournament to include six regions — Europe, Middle East, East Asia, Africa, North America, and Latin America — and will be introducing the first-ever All Nations Cup Youth Tournament. For the first time, young players will have the chance to mimic what they see on the fields of the adult tournament. Teams will be divided into two age brackets of four regional teams — Africa, Americas, Asia and Europe. The ANC Freestyle Soccer Competition will also return with two youth brackets and an adult bracket for players to show off their skills.

After two weeks of tournament and finals play, the Championship Game Day will be held at Starfire Sports Complex on June 22. An all-star game will be held for the star players

of the teams that did not make it to the semi-finals, coached by two guest coaches from the Puget Sound area.

Participating countries in 2008 include Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bosnia, Brazil, Burma, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, China, Colombia, Egypt, El Salvador, England, Ethiopia, Europe, Fiji, France, Gambia, Guatemala, Honduras, Iran, Ireland, Japan, Kenya, Korea, Kurdish Community, Mexico, Moldova, Morrocco, Nepal, Nigeria, Oromo Community, Peru, Poland, Romania, Russia, Somalia, Spain, Tanzania, Turkey, Ukraine, USA and Vietnam.

• Average daily purses for the 2008 meeting – which began last night – are projected to be an all-time Emerald Downs record, according to track president Ron Crockett.

Crockett said the projected total purse money for the 91-day season is $10,612,403, up 4.52 percent from 2007, when a track record $10,152,760 was distributed in purses. The projected daily average purse is $116,620 compared to $111,569 in 2007.

This increase in purses is made possible in part by the continuing partnership of the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe.

Thirty-five stakes races worth over $2.3 million will be run including the $300,000 Longacres Mile on Aug. 17. The minimum stakes purse is a record $50,000, up from $45,000 last year.

During live racing (April 18-September 28), the $5 fee includes access to the first five levels of the stadium, the Paddock and Park. Kids 17 and under get in free and kids 13 and under must be accompanied by parent or guardian. You must be 18+ to wager.

Preferred parking is $5, while valet parking is $10. Parking in the general lot is free.

Live racing will take place Friday through Sunday through April 25 and will switch from Thursday through Sunday through Sept. 28. Racing starts at 6 p.m. on weekdays and 2 p.m. on weekends.

• Tickets are currently available for the 2008 Des Moines Sports Night Dinner and Auction on May 10 at the Des Moines Field House. The event will include casino games, silent and live auction, event emcee Bruce King, and a keynote speech from former University of Washington football coach Jim Lambright.

Tickets are $40 each or $300 for a table of eight. Des Moines Sports Night is a fundraiser put on by Des Moines Legacy Foundation, Des Moines Dollars for Scholars and the Des Moines Rotary Club to provide scholarships for underprivileged youth in the greater Des Moines Community. Tickets can be purchased at the Des Moines Field House, 1000 S. 220th St. in Des Moines.

• The Federal Way school district will be heavily represented at the annual East-West All-Star Football Game July 3 at Spokane’s Central Valley Stadium.

Four football players will be making the trek east of the mountains for the prestigious game. Beamer lineman Evan Cook will play for the East squad and Federal Way’s Justin Southern, Jefferson’s Bryant Cameron and Decatur’s Israel Kinlow will take the field for the West.

The 6-foot-2, 270-pound Cook has already signed a national letter of intent to play next season at Eastern Washington University as a defensive lineman, as did Cameron. The 6-4, 215-pound wide receiver physically dominated smaller cornerbacks on his way to 71 catches for 1,018 yards. He also caught a league-leading 14 touchdown passes and had a high game of 174 yards for the Raiders.

Southern completed 59 percent of his passes for 1,919 yards in 10 games as Federal Way’s quarterback and led the Eagles’ to their first SPSL championship since 1976. He threw for 16 touchdowns, ran for five more and also caught a touchdown pass on a throwback.

Kinlow was a monster up front for the Gators. The lineman is listed at 6-6, 330 pounds.

• High school football players trying to get noticed by NCAA Division II, III or NAIA programs will get the opportunity May 17 at Sunset Chev Stadium in Sumner.

Coaches from Central Washington University, Western Washington University, Linfield College, Pacific Lutheran University and the University of Puget Sound will attend the combine, event organizers said. NCAA rules prohibit Football Bowl Subdivision and Football Championship Subdivision coaches from attending high school football combines.

Registration is $50 before May 5 and $65 after. For more information, visit www.gottheedge.com.

• The “Night with Apolo” benefit gala scheduled for April 19 in Seattle has been cancelled because of scheduling problems. The event, which was set to have Apolo Anton Ohno as the master of ceremonies, will take place next year, according to organizers.

• The Federal Way Boys and Girls Club is currently enrolling youth for its 2008 spring baseball and softball leagues. The deadline for registration is April 18. Late registration will be accepted on a space-available basis.

The leagues are programs for boys and girls in kindergarten through seventh grade. Grades 1 and 2 will be a co-ed, coach-pitch baseball league. Grades 3 and 4 and 5/6/7 will be separate baseball and softball leagues for boys and girls. Teams are formed from local elementary and middle schools, area and grade. The season runs from April 21 to June 14. Games are played in the surrounding Federal Way-area school ball fields.

The club is also offering a Kindergarten Clinic for 4 and 5 year olds, held on Saturdays from 10 to 11 a.m. The clinic runs from May 3 to June 14. The program costs $60 for 1st-7th grade and $55 for the kindergarten clinic (plus $20 club membership fee).

Registration can be done online at www.fw-bgc.org or in person at the club, 30815 8th Ave. S.

• Teams are now forming for the upcoming softball league with the Federal Way Girls Fastpitch Association. No experience is necessary. The organization focusus in on girl’s athletic development and self esteem. For more information, visit www.eteamz.com/fwgfa or call (253) 520-6514.

• Federal Way Public Schools is establishing an Athletic Hall of Fame to honor past employees who have made a major impact on the district’s athletic programs. Nominees to the Hall of Fame will be evaluated based on the following criteria — has served the district for a minimum of 10 years, has been retired for at least five years or deceased and has made a significant impact on the district’s or a school’s athletic program.

The Hall of Fame inductees will be honored at a regular-season football game in the fall of 2008. Each Hall of Fame member will receive a certificate and have his or her name inscribed on a special banner placed at Federal Way Memorial Field.

A renovated Memorial Stadium will serve as the backdrop for the ceremony and Hall of Fame football game. The stadium’s turf and track are due to be renovated this summer with the use of state match funds the district received as a result of the passage of the bond measure.

In addition, the new electronic scoreboard purchased as a result of a donation by Federal Way’s Del Taco will be installed and operational. The district will dedicate the stadium’s new turf, track, and scoreboard during the Hall of Fame ceremony.

Send nominees to Greg Flynn, 1300 S. 308th St., Federal Way, Wash. 98003. Nominations can also be faxed to (253) 945-5577 or emailed to gflynn@fwps.org.

The deadline for nominations to be received is April 1. A 15-member committee of present and former district coaches and administrators will select the first class of inductees.

• The 73rd running of the $300,000 Longacres Mile is set for Sunday, Aug. 17, the centerpiece of a 35-race stakes schedule at Emerald Downs in 2008.

A total of $2,310,00 will be offered in stakes purses, including a record $50,000 minimum for every stakes race. The 91-day meeting begins April 18, with the first stakes race the $50,000 Seattle Handicap for older sprinters on May 4.

The Grade III Longacres Mile tops a stakes doubleheader with the $100,000 Emerald Distaff. This year’s Longacres Mile champion automatically qualifies for the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Santa Anita Park on Oct. 25.

Longacres Mile weekend also features the $100,000 Washington Oaks for 3-year-old fillies on Aug. 16.

Other leading stakes races are the $100,000 Emerald Downs Derby for 3-year-olds on Labor Day, Sept. 1, and the $100,000 Gottstein Futurity for 2-year-olds on Sept. 27.

The season concludes Sept. 28 with the Stanislaw Ashbaugh Claiming Challenge, a series of six starter handicaps ranging in distance from 6 furlongs to 2 miles.

• USSSA softball is looking for umpires for King County and the south end. Umpires are paid monthly and set their own schedules. For more information, contact Paul at (425) 870-1043 or Dale at (425) 481-2005.

Send Sports Briefs to sports@fedwaymirror.com roll through the SPSL North Division. The Raiders (6-1-2) downed Kent-Meridian Friday night, 2-0, to remain in second place behind Kentwood. The Conquerors sit 7-1-1 in league play. Jefferson took on Kentwood last night in the two teams’ first meeting of the season and the Raiders could have taken over first place (after press time). They will play again next Wednesday at Federal Way Memorial Stadium in a game that was cancelled because of snow.

Against Kent-Meridian, the Raiders got a pair of goals from Chris Miller in the second half. Miller’s first goal came on a pass from Ernan Roman in the 65th minute and the second came nine minutes later on a pass from Amos Nistrian. Chris Hicks and Brian Bosshart combined on the shutout in goal for TJ.

The Raiders got a little help from the Decatur Gators Friday. The Gators played the Conquerors to a 2-2 tie to improve to 3-4-1 in the North. The tie left Decatur (3-4-1) in the fifth and final playoff spot from the North.

The Gators’ Jarod Johnson tallied an unassisted goal in the closing minutes of the game to tie the score at 2-2. Kentwood took a 2-1 lead in the 73rd minute on a goal by Michael Fuller. Decatur’s other goal came from University of Washington-signee Kevin Day in the 28th minute on a pass from Will Brokaw.

Fastpitch

Jefferson picked up a huge extra-inning win Thursday over the Kentridge Chargers in dramatic fashion. With the score tied at 0-0 in the bottom of the eighth inning, TJ sophomore Cassidy DeWaele stepped to the plate and connected on a game-winning, walk-off two-run home run.

The victory, coupled with a win over Decatur on Friday, improved the Raiders to 6-3 in the SPSL North. Kentlake leads the division at 8-0, followed by Kentwood (7-2) and Kentridge (5-2).

DeWaele’s heroics against the Chargers was thanks to the pitching performance by Jessica Dickson. The junior limited Kentridge to just six hits in eight innings of work and struck out 13. Stephanie Ogle finished 3-for-4 with a double and Jayme Carbon ended the game 2-for-4.

Against Decatur, the Raiders needed only six innings to down the Gators, 11-1. Dickson allowed only four hits and struck out eight. Sara Byrne finished 3-for-3 with four runs and two stolen bases, Christi Bruin was 2-for-2 with two RBIs and Erin Fujita was also 2-for-2. Decatur’s Jenn Wagner finished with a double.

The Todd Beamer Titans (3-8) won their second game in a row Friday over the Bethel Braves, 9-8. Bethel rolled out to a 6-1 lead after the second inning, but the Titans fought back to tie the game at 8-8 entering the bottom of the seventh. Beamer pushed across a run to walk away with the win. Sarah Petrosa finished 3-for-3 with a double, Courtney Taylor was 3-for-4 with three RBIs and two doubles and Taylor Winton ended the game 3-for-4 to lead the Titans’ offense. Olivia Jones threw the complete game on the mound.

Track and Field

The Federal Way Eagles swept away the Decatur Gators Thursday in a pair of SPSL North dual meets. The Eagle boys won, 77-59, and the girls took out the Gators, 88-53.

On the boys’ side, Federal Way picked up a pair of individual wins from Andru Pulu in the shot put (50-9) and discus (132-5) and Andre Barrington in the high jump (6-0) and triple jump (43-6 1/2).

The Gators got a pair of individual wins from Ezra John Griffey in the 100 (10.7) and 200 (22.2) and Justin Helm in the 1,600 (4:41.6) and 3,200 (10:36.0).

On the girls’ side, Federal Way’s Jacqie Evenson won three events and Jasmine Johnson won two. Evenson won the long jump (15-11 1/2), 100 hurdles (16.2) and 300 hurdles (47.1) and Johnson won the 1,600 (5:56.2) and 3,200 (12:28.0). Decatur got double wins from Jordyne Woodke in the triple jump (36-7) and 400 (1:01.1) and Shlonda Baker in the 100 (12.4) and 200 (26.9).

The Jefferson boys downed Tahoma Thursday, 72-55. The Raiders got two wins from Ronnielle Battles in the long jump (21-0) and triple jump (41.6) and three wins from Trenton Pinson in the 100 (10.9), 200 (23.1) and 400 (50.2).

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