Willamette University Baseball Team Set to Host Annual Awards Banquet and Silent Auction on Feb. 9

SALEM, ORE. The Willamette University baseball team will hold its annual Awards Banquet and Silent Auction on Friday, Feb. 9, at the Cat Cavern in the Putnam University Center on the WU campus. The event, which costs $20 per person, is open to the public and will begin at 4 p.m. (PST) with the start of the silent auction. Food and beverages will be available. (Register to attend the Awards Banquet and Silent Auction)

The banquet will start at 6 p.m. with a buffet dinner, which will be followed by an awards ceremony for the 2006 season. Bidding for auction items will remain open until 7 p.m. and the items will be distributed to the highest bidders at the end of the evening. Proceeds from the event will contribute to this years travel expenses. Some highlights of the auction include professional sports memorabilia and Willamette apparel.

This year, the baseball team is making a conscious effort to reach out to Willamette alumni and encourage them to the banquet. WUs coaches and players are hoping this years banquet will enable baseball alums to reconnect with each other, the University and the Willamette baseball program. Other individuals interested in supporting the team are welcome to attend. Please RSVP by printing out and completing the on-line form, then mailing it to: Willamette Baseball, 900 State Street, Salem, OR 97301.

In addition to raising funds from the auction, the team will be accepting direct donations to the baseball program. Checks should be written to Willamette Baseball.

Following the awards banquet, the Willamette mens basketball team will host George Fox University at Cone Field House. Game time is set for 8 p.m. (PST). There will be a separate admission charge for the basketball game.

The Willamette baseball Awards Banquet and Silent Auction is the primary fundraiser for the team. It also provides a good reason for alums and others to visit the WU campus for the banquet, then root on the Bearcats the following day in their season-opening series against Lewis & Clark College on Saturday, Feb. 10 at Tigard HS in Tigard, Ore.