September 22,1990 CastlegarNews 81 Talk to us today. => Castes News SPORTS Blue Jays just plain weird i When a baseball team goes on a magical run, then weird strategy and late-inning homers off relief pitchers don't ruin a pennant march. They're merely obstacles to overcome. Just ask the Toronto Blue Jays. In going 13-4 this month entering Wednesday's game against the New York Yankees, there’s been more than Mookie Magic working for them, especially during the current homestand. On Tuesday, a tired Dave Stieb entrusts his 19th win to Bud Black, just arrived from the Cleveland Indians af- Where You Belong Bosox repeat choking act BOSTON (AP) — If.this year’s American League East race has a familiar ring to it, there’s a reason. And it’s all too fami to the Boston Red Sox. In 1978, the Red Sox took a 6%-game lead into September. They blew it, battled back to tie it and then watched Buckey Dent and the New York Yankees end it “*I just go up there with a game plan,"’ Mulliniks says in his distinctive cool, calm manner. Talking to him in the rambunctious Jays clubhouse lately has been like Standing in the eye of a hurricane. “‘It's like everything else in life. If you know what you're doing ahead of time, if you eliminate the second- guessing, you can be much more relaxed."’ The next day, when Gaston needs a left-handed hit- ter, he sends up Jim-Eppard. In his first at-bat this mon- th, he grounds out. Weird and spooky things have been happening at the ball park with the roof that moves in good weather Willie Blair got two wins on three pitches last weekend after being ignored since his recall from Class AAA Syracuse. A fluid build-up behind George Beil’s retina opens a spot in left field and the speedy Ducey, the Jays’ native son, has been equal to the challenge. He's wand after a season of inactivity. The last three times up Provided solid defence and has been hitting around .300. he’s had clutch hits, delivering three runs. As though somebody turned on a switch, Gruber ““We wanted to get him some more playing time emerged from a two-month slump to light up the league, earlier on in the season,”’ said Gaston. “‘We just weren't winning player-of-the-week honors. able to.” Before last weekend, Toronto had come from behind So he shook off the rust and tied Friday's gAimé with just once when trailing after eight innings. Of the five @ two-run single in the ninth and wins Tuesday’s with games Preceding Wednesday, the Jays had used their last Rob Ducey. Gaston counters by going to his bench for a right-handed hitter. But why is it Ken Williams, who's batting a paltry .1617 “‘He’s been swinging the bat good lately,” says the maestro. Meawnwhile, Pat Borders, whose batting average continues to hover around .300, remains on the bench. Williams makes the second out on a fly ball, but the night comes toa joyous conclusion as Rance Mulliniks, also pinch-hitting, delivers Kelly Gruber with a, single. On Monday, two wild pitches and a balk by the Yankees leads to three runs. Then Williams scores a bizarre run by racing from second to third, back to second to avoid being doubled up on a pop fly, then back to third and around to score when the throw to second sails into the outfield. Mulliniks (89 at-bats) has been waving the magic ON SALE Monday & Wweeday Only September 24th and 25: While Quantities Last Pets & Plants conra McCarthy advises spring election | spring before calling a general election in British Columbia, says former For Women This year, Boston also took a 6%-game edge into September. In just two weeks, the Red Sox already have blown Now, trailing the Toronto Blue Jays by one game, it’s 150 down and 12 games to playYor both teams. But the Red Sox, who are 1-6 on a current road trip and 5- 12 since Sept. 3, face an uphill fight. Toronto has won six games in a row and 12 of its last 14. After dropping two games in Baltimore, the Red Sox enjoyed a day of rest Thursday in New York, where they open a weekend Series with the Yankees tonight. At least something good finally happened — Roger Clemens was given medical clearance to pitch for the first time since Sept. 4. The Red Sox welcomed the break in the schedule. The Red Sox, 8-2 this year against the Yankees, will get another off-day Monday. Food & Grocerie EXPOS SURGING, Page B2 fer an emotional and whirlwind 24 hours. Forget that John Cerutti, Willie Blair, Duane Ward and Tom Henke are armed and ready out in the bullpen. 4 Black, in his first relief performance of the year, gives up a 420-foot homer to Kevin Maas. “He needed to” get some work,” manager Cito Gaston says. But hey, no problem. With two runners aboard in the ninth, Yankees | i cabinet minister Grace McCarthy. Other caucus members also don’t want a fall vote, she said. “People are enraged at governmen- ts at all levels and they’ve got good reason to be enraged,”’ she said in an interview at a public meeting in her Vancouver-Little Mountain con- stituency. “I think a lot of federal policies have spilled into the provincial level.’’ During the meeting, riding president George Anderson said Van- der Zalm should not call a fall elec- tion because there is an anti-gover- mment and anti-politics mood in Canada. The Social Credit government's mandate runs until next October but it has been widely speculated Vander Zalm will call an election in the next two weeks. “‘For the most part, the majority of the people I talk to advise against an election now,"” he told reporters. “More and more, for the same reason, that people are mad at gover- nments and politicians in general.”” He said he has not made a final decision, but the advice he is getting makes it difficult to call an election now. McCarthy said Socreds should first deal with an internal problem — striking out a reference to ‘*Christian Principles’’ in the party constitution — before heading into an election. “I’ve always said we shouldn't (change the constitution) to be more Popular), I’ve said we should do it because it’s right,’’ she said. ‘I want to see that righted at the convention (next month), and I’m hopeful that will be done.” Earlier, Vander Zalm met Indo- Canadian businessmen, Socred sup- Porters and a few Hare Krishnas during a luncheon in the city’s Pun- jabi Market district Ashok Sharma, who is seeking the Socred nomination in Vancouver- Kensington, said the Social Credit Party ‘“‘hasn’t really come out struggling to enlist” Indo-Canadians. He said there were only six Indo- Canadians at the }988 Socred conven- tion while the NDP has drawn widespread support from the Indo- Canadian community because many have worked as laborers and joined unions The current generation of Indo- Canadians is far more middle-class with ‘‘big cars and big houses’’ and could be drawn to the Socreds, he said. Action Ad Phone Number is 365-2212 ‘A WORLD WIDE PICTURES PRODUCTION WEW LIFE ASSEMBLY Sunday, Sept. 23 6:30 p.m. TT i ty fl (9009) ate Orchid Yarn 2 1 acrylic knitting wor in in asst’d. fashion colours. -69 ea. ea Girls’ Sweaters Choose from our fabulous selection of fall colours! Sizes S-M-L. Reg. 12.99 table! |. 3.69 Bathtub Appliques Rubbermaid. Stondard 17” x 23”. . 4.97 on 17 Cideet Fits 2 pock of 4. Rag. oy /' 2 Video Case HES itt i Ce re jut os fe Microwave Turntable model, or Micro Go Round Plus. 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Saturday Monday to Thursday 9:30 to 5:30 Friday 30 to 9:00 9:30 to 5:30 a esieenineainmedmentan manager Stump Merrill brings in a left-hander to face another two-out single. at-bat four times to win. Amazing. College athletes get grants By ED MILLS ‘Staff Writer The decision whether to work part- time or participate in athletics has just been made slightly easier for students at Setkirk College. For the first time at the college level, student athletes at Selkirk who qualify will be getting money from the Provincial government It isn’t a lottery windfall, says college athietic director Rob Johnson, but it’s a start, and it’s better than what they used to get. “Five hundred dollars might not seem like a lot, but it’s certainly a lot if you don’t have $500,"" Johnson said. ‘University athletes get $1,500 and up, and until this initiative was brought in, college athletes were get- ting nothing. So we're quite pleased with the fact that it’s being done and obviously we'd like to see it (the grant money) increased down the road.”” Called the College Sports Awards Program. it is funded by the provin- cial government through the Ministry of Advanced Education, Training and Technology, and applies to nine other B.C. colleges besides Selkirk. Johnson, who just recently-got the grant application forms, said the B.C. Colleges Athletic Association has been pushing for a program like this for years. Johnson said the program is impor- tant because the time commitment in- volved in playing on a college team often means that potential players are forced to choose between sports or getting a job to help fund their education. The new program makes it easier for the student to choose, or remain with, athletics. “I don’t think it will bring more athletes in, but it'll give more people an option of whether to participate because there will be some recognition of the time put in,”’ he said. Mike Perra, who played for the college volleyball team last year and mow coaches the women’s team, said every little bit helps, but when you work it out, the award doesn’t even cover the cost of tuition. “‘It requires the student to take 12 units (four courses) to get the award. It costs approximately $350 a semester, so it doesn’t quite cover the cost of tuition, which is what I think most athletes look for,"” Perra said. What the program does do, which is very important for the continued success of the athletic program at the college, is give students an incentive to stay in the area after high school, he said. “If athletes aren't sticking around then Selkirk will always have a weak athletic program. (Now) it becomes. financially wise to stay at home,”’ he said. The awards carry some academic and performance requirements but they are less stringent than the ones already in place for student athletes at Seikirk The college currently has three sports — men's and women's volleyball and men’s soccer — from which athletes could apply for the grants. of these days. There was no She hasn't managed to put one in the basket problem NEXT TIME, THE HOOP yet but Clara Hancock vows to'do it one with her passing and catching Thursday as she CosMews photo by Ed Mills ind y Living worked out at Selkirk College. Rebels lose 3toJr.A By ED MILLS Staff Writer In terms of sheer numbers, the Junior B. Castlegar Rebels came out om the losing end when cuts were “made from Junior A teams last week But Rebels'coach Ed Cooper, who also has aspirations to move to a higher level, said nobody loses when players take the next .step in their hockey. careers. . Of the five Rebels prospects who tried out for Junior A. squads, three — defencemen Kevan Rilcof, forward David Vecchio and goaltender Matt Kolie — made the step up. The other two, forward David Green and defenceman Chris Post- nikoff, have returned from Junior A camps to play for the Rebels. All the players, except Green, Played for the Rebels in the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League last season. Rilcof and Vecchio will play for the Vernon Lakers of the B.C, Junior Hockey League this season while Kolle will play for Quesnel Postnikoff also tried out for the Lakers and Green — who was invited to the Lakers camp — was the last player cut from Penticton of the BC- JHL. Cooper said he’s happy for the guys who made it “That's what it’s all about,’* he said as the Rebels training camp con- tinued Thursday night at the Com- plex. **You never:want ‘to hold a guy back when they get a chance to move up in the world.”” Cooper said he thinks the KIJHI should be a development league -for all the Junior A leagues — and not just for players. “I don’t want to be a truck driver all my life,"’ he said As for the two players he got back, Cooper said they'll definitely help the club, especially Green “He's played a year in this league and I think he was a 60-point man last year. He’s a smart player, good with the puck, he’s got a good shot and he makes things happen,”’ Cooper said. Green, 17, who went on to lead the Rossland Warriors of the KIJHL in scoring with 58 points after being cut from the Rebels last season, said it was more than hockey that led to his release from Penticton. “‘They (the coaches) told me there was a lot of politicking going on and they had to keep some local kids,” Green said. “I thought I was doing pretty good. I was kind of shocked when I got cut.’" Now that he’s home though, Green said he’s looking forward to the season and his final year of high school. He said he doesn’t really feel any pressure returning to play in front of the hometown crowd Any pressure he feels comes from high expectations to live up to his per- formance with the Warriors last season “4f guess that’s the pressure. I have to do as good as I did last season — _ better. But on the ice the pressure doesn’t come into play, I don’t really think of it. I'm sure the points will come if I work hard.”’ NOTES: Rebels president Russ Rilcof said the team or fans shouldn’t get any false sense of security from a pair-of pre-season wins over the Trail Smokies last week “They (Trail) were just playing theif rookies, only two of whom will be playing on the team,"’ Rilcof said The, Rebels, 2-0 in pre-season, Played the Grand Forks Border Bruins last night at the Complex (results weren't available at press time) and will play them again tonight atthe Complex. * The Rebels open the regular season next Friday with a game in Grand Forks. The next night, the Rebels will play their home opener against the Beaver Valley Nite Hawks at the Complex. On Sept. 30, the Rebels visit Spokane Calendar can be cruel to kids By JOHN MILLS “*He’s got a bad birthday!"* If you hang around youth sport long enough, you are bound to hear that remark from a coach. The “‘bad birthday” is one that falls just before the eligibility cut-off. In Little League baseball it’s Aug. 1; in minor hockey, it’s Jan. 1. As Ken Dryden outlined in his book Home Game, the child that turns nine in January plays hockey at the same tevel_as-a-school classmate who won't turn nine until December. This 11- month differential is a 10 per cent ad- vantage. Although the percentage will drop as players age (11 months ai age 15 is about six per cent, it’s a jimct advantage that the January child will carry until full maturity. In sport, like the education system, we use the calendar as a means of separating our youngsters. It means that @ talented young athlete with a “bad birthday’’ will have a tougher SATURDAY FEATURE time advancing to a rep team, or to the all-stars. Similarly, a promising entry into sport, highlighted by hopeful parents and a timely birthday, can produce expectations the child may have dif. ficulty achieving. © Currently, many youth soccer associations have gold, silver an- d bronze teams at each level. The rosters of the gold teams, to which the Strongest players are usually Streamed, are loaded with January, February and March birthdays, since the soccer eligibility date is Jan. 1 Naturally these children will be Stronger, faster and more mature than those born later in the year. Players at all three levels may be misled as to their long-term potential, It isn’t just chronological age dif. ferences that can mislead coaches. All children mature at different rates. A photograph™that is used in all the physiology texts places two 12-year old boys side by side. One boy is six feet one inch tall and almost fully mature, the other is four feet 10 in- ches and looks more like he’s 10 years old than 12. Clearly the calendar fails us when children each have their own timetable. Recently, a Taiwanese team laid waste the rest of the world’s 12-year old baseball players, including the team from Trdil representing Canada. about administrative sleight of hand but the Taiwanese are the same age as the rest of the Little League all-stars They are extremely disciplined and well coached. But it also appears that their 12 years have taken them a little closer to physical maturity than the 12-year-olds elsewhere. It's at this point that we begin thinking’ of the expectations that our children may have, and that we may have for them. Is it reasonable to ex Pect that the Taiwanese, after 20 years of dominance at the Little League World Series, should be developing Major League talent? Has this occurred? No. In fact, Canada just recently defeated Taiwan #3°at the World Youth Champion ships (under 18), demonstrating that our youngsters narrow the hy al gap between ages 12 and Trail’s out ing group of youngsters were the only team to score a run on the Taiwanese in a 20-1 loss. There are the usual alegations 18 Another group that -generally matures earlier than 12-year-old boys, are 12-year-old girls. Kelly Craig of Trail became the fourth girl to play in the Little League World Series. At five feet eight inches, Kelly was the tallest member on her team and one of its leading players. Is it reasonable to expect that Kelly can advance to the next level of Canadian baseball and continue to compete with her male teammates? There are those that would urge Kelly to try and yet. the evidetice in. dicates that her male teammates will grow much bigger and stronger over the next six years and Kelly won't Here again coaches must be sensitive to stages of development and cautious about forecasting the future. Ethnic, physiological, cultural chronological, climatic and economic factors all influence the outcome of youth sport Educators and physiologists frequently tout the advantages of ploase see LITTLE LEAGUE, page 82