Fast Break

BASEBALL

Holcomb named most valuable

Former Gonzaga University third baseman Darin Holcomb was named the South Atlantic League’s 2008 Most Valuable Player following his outstanding season playing for the Asheville Tourists, the single-A minor league affiliate of the Colorado Rockies.

Holcomb hit .314 with 153 hits, 13 home runs and 93 RBIs in 131 games. Holcomb’s numbers placed him third in RBIs, fifth in average and ninth in home runs among South Atlantic League leaders.

The Shadle Park graduate was drafted in the 12th round by Colorado in June of 2007.

BASEBALL

Indians tickets on sale now

The Northwest League Eastern Division champion Spokane Indians will play host to the first two games of the Northwest League Championship Series on Thursday and Friday.

Tickets for both games in the best-of-5 series are on sale at the team’s offices at Avista Stadium.

The Indians will face either the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes, NWL champions the last two years, or the Eugene Emeralds. Both games at Avista are scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m.

Tickets can be purchased by calling the Indians’ ticket office at 535-2922, visiting www.spokane indiansbaseball.com or at any TicketsWest location.

FOOTBALL

Players to honor Upshaw with patch

NFL players will wear a uniform patch this season to honor former NFL Players’ Association leader Gene Upshaw, who died Aug. 20.

The league announced Monday that the patch will have the initials GU and the number 63, which he wore while playing for the Oakland Raiders. He led the players association for 25 years from 1983 until his death

Upshaw died of pancreatic cancer just three days after he was diagnosed.

The patch will be worn on the left chest of jerseys and is scheduled to make its debut Thursday, when the New York Giants and Washington Redskins open the season. Upshaw’s wife, Terri, and his three sons will participate in the coin toss.

Upshaw made the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1987.