World Series bound: Federal Way grad hits game-winning home run

FEDERAL WAY, Wash. -- With a swing of the bat, Federal Way High School grad Travis Ishikawa crushed a game-winning home run Thursday night, sending the San Francisco Giants to the 2014 World Series.

"Oh man, I get goose bumps talking about it now," said Danny Graham, Ishikawa’s close friend and high school coach. "Every kid that wants to be an athlete always thinks about that scenario and he actually lived it."

Graham and Federal Way High School Athletic Director John Meagher were at the school homecoming football game Thursday when they heard Ishikawa stepped up to the plate and into baseball history.

"I think it is the fourth time in the history of the game that somebody has hit a walk-off home run in the League Championship Series,” said Meagher, who wore an Ishikawa jersey to school Friday. “It's incredible."

It was a moment that almost didn’t happen. Graham said he spoke with Ishikawa this summer as he was contemplating retirement. Instead, he signed with the Giants and will now play in his second World Series.

"He's just a selfless guy and it's easy to root for guys like that," said Graham.

The San Francisco Giants will meet the Kansas City Royals in the World Series. The first game is Tuesday night on Q13 FOX.