San Francisco -- In what has now become an annual tradition for San Francisco Fleet Week, the Academy of Art University softball team participated in a friendly competition with many of country's servicemen and women during this year's festivities. ART U joined members of the Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, as well as the San Francisco Police and Fire Departments for the third consecutive October.

“We feel fortunate to be involved in Fleet Week,” co-head coach Sami Strinz said. “Anything we can do to show offer appreciation for our servicemen and women is something our team is passionate about. It was so much fun to see some pretty tough men struggle hitting off of our pitchers. It was a great time and meant so much for us to shake the troops' hands, look them in the eye, and sincerely thank them for their service and sacrifices.”

San Francisco Fleet Week is the annual opportunity to thank the men and women of the National Services for their hard work and dedication (www.fleetweek.us). Following a similar format to years past, the Urban Knights helped out by having a short practice in which they showcased their talents, followed by a competition between the ART U pitchers and the Fleet Week participant batters. Members from each of the groups involved had a chance to face the Knights' pitchers to see how they stacked up against their intercollegiate counterparts.

“Fleet Week to me is a time when the student-athletes can spend time with the men and women serving our country,” senior utility Andrea Hanchey said. “It's always such a great experience to see them in such a relaxed environment. Not only are we interested in their stories of being in the military, but they too take interest in what we do as artists and athletes.”

Following the pairing with Academy of Art University and the servicemen, it was time for the annual Interagency Softball Tournament which had the Urban Knights cheering from the sidelines. The Coast Guard was crowned champions this year after they defeated the San Francisco Fire Department on a walk-off home run. Whether it was on the field itself or among the crowd, ART U continued to offer its support of these national heroes for the third consecutive year in 2012.

“I love how our school is involved with Fleet Week,” sophomore pitcher Kamyle Glover said. “Being able to pitch against [the servicemen] and having my team back me was an experience to share with others. I had a lot of fun and, at the same time, they showed the love, passion, and desire for what they do and how they serve our country.”