46 “S&turday, May 16, 1992 ™ There’s nothing like a good, positive story to break the monotonous mo- roseness and drudgery that pervades my existence. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not an un- happy man in the least. No, no, life as a sports writer is full of untold plea- sures. As opposed to the life a news writer, which is chock full of unspoken horrors. Same goes for news readers versus sports readers. Stay here for the good news folks and, if only for your own piece of mind, stay clear of ‘that nasty news stuff. Stay here and I'll tell you a good sports story about the good fortune fastball has met with in our fine city this year. It seems fastball, from the minors to the men in the commercial league, is making a long awaited comeback in Castlegar. This pleases yours truly immense- ly in that it proves to me that nice guys and girls don’t always finish last, no matter what those cynical goobers in the news department say. The comeback makes me happy be- cause, of all the sports I cover on a reg- ular basis, the coolest people are the folks in fastball. That’s cool as in al- right, as in decent and right on, not as in ice or Alaska. The men’s league has a bunch of good guys in it and even the kids league — specifically the Midget girls team I’ve taken photos of over the last Fastball is making aco two weeks — is full of neat people. Maybe it’s just that the-universe-is actually-a-ball-diamond mentality that makes fastball players, parents ‘and fans a little more laid back than, say, minor hockey people. It’s refreshing to see athletes and others who know they are just playing a game, the outcome of which will in no way affect the earth’s rotation on its axis. Back to the comeback, it seems fastball has recaptured the interest of this community. Interest that had been sorely lacking in the past few years. I remember talking to Castlegar Commercial Men’s Fastball League past president Terry Taranoff last year about how it appeared the game was dying around here because it had been abandoned by the young. Well Terry, my sources tell me that registration in minor softball has grown or remained stable in all divi- sions this year. In competitive fastball, the division Taranoff would be most interested in, Castlegar now has two Bantam boys teams as opposed to one last year, and three comp~titive girls teams— in Peewee, Bantam and Midget— as op- posed to two last year. I mean, even if these teams don’t win another game this season, it will have been a successful season for fast- ball in Castlegar. Free Agent But all of those teams have their sights set on either a provincial cham- pionship or a medal in the B.C. Sum- mer Games. And from what I hear, at least three have legitimate shots. “There was a couple of years where there was a lull when nobody wanted to play, but now it’s started to pick up again,” said Bantam girls co-coach Ron Bartsoff, who has been involved in the game as a player and coach for a good dozen years. “It’s looking good for the league,” he said. “It seems to be getting better ev- ery year and the calibre is getting bet- ter, the girls are learning a little more, so it’s getting enjoyable now.” In the men’s league, all the talk is about the infusion of young talent, which I’m guessing is referring to last year’s addition to the league of the meback Castlegar Merchants. Listen to Pete Evdokimoff, who’s been in the game longer than I’ve been on the planet, so I personally tend to think he knows what he’s talking about. “I believe that we’ve got some young exciting teams in the league and I believe we've turned a corner in terms of fast pitch in the Castlegar area,” said Evdokimoff, who then pro- ceeded to expound on the topic. — “Several years ago, probably for so- cial reasons, the younger athletes were turning to slo-pitch. But there are more younger players interested in it now than, say, four years ago, and J feel that is healthy for fast pitch in this area. The younger players are keen on learning the game and as a re- sult it’s starting to show.” Of course, you have to remember Evdokimoff has been around for a while, so I would suppose people I would think are ancient he would con- sider to be babes in the woods. Sorry about that Pete. About the only thing fastball is lacking this year is the audience it de- serves. Personally, fastball is about the on- ly game I go to see even when Tm not working. If you’ve never seen a game, take if from me, it is well worth your while. And take your kids, they might just be the next players in a game on the comeback trail. ROLLERBLADES RULE! skills. Coaching bigwigs on line for clinic Wi Conference offers Hs unique opportunity for local coaches to upgrade NEWS STAFF Some of B.C.’s and the coun- As Dave Nitsche will be quick to tell you, Rolle never tried them but have always wanted News photo by Ed Mills rblades are sweeping Castlegar and the country. If to, your time comes Wednesday at the Community when the Rollerblades Demo Van makes a stop in Castlegar. The free demonstrations try’s most knowledgeable and respected coaches and teach- ers will in Castlegar for the Kootenay Coaches Conference at Selkirk College May 29-31. Among the visiting lumi- naries at the inaugural coach- ing conference is Canada’s Davis Cup tennis team coach and Simon Fraser University sport phycologist Dr. David OX. Also attending is the direc- tor ofthe National Coaches In- stitute, Bill Thompson, and the director of B.C. Sports Ser- vices Branch, Bob Bearpark as well as professor of physical education at the University of B.C., Dr. Eric Broom and the coordinator of Alpine Ski Canada, Istvan Balyi. Besides lectures and train- ing activities, the conference will enable local coaches to up- grade their qualifications in Level I Theory, Level III Theo- ry and Level IV. Selkirk College physical ed- ucation instructor Bob Gurney Bob Gurney is coordinating the event. “This is the first time certi- fication training at this level has been available to profes- sional and recreational coach- es of the southeast interior,” Gurney said in a college news release. “Tf this conference is well at- tended, I see no reason why these couldn’t become a regu- lar addition to the continuing education of sports educators. Details of the conference are available from the Contin- uing Education branch at Selkirk College’s Castlegar Campus. @ Saturday, May 16, 1992 178 AQUANAUT OUT OF WATER ee . Shelley Stansbury, 13, demonstrates her flexibility as she and the rest of the Castlegar Aquanauts Swim Club were put th i paces at a dry land training session Wednesday night at the Community Copies allel baal News photo by Ed Mills Japanese skiers say Canada Is the best NEWS STAFF Forget Garmisch, forget Val D’Isere and forget Vale, for Japanese skiers, Lake Louise and Whistler, Black- comb and Banff are their des- tinations of choice. That word comes from Bra- vo, a popular Japanese ski magazine, which reported that more than three quarters of the respondents to its poll on the best skiing in the world rated Canada No. 1. Europe’s Alps finished a distant second and the U.S. was well behind. One of the big reasons Canada’s so hot’ with Japanese skiers, according to an article in the Canadian Ski Council’s Ski Focus magazine, is that skiing here is infinitely more affordable for the them. In Japan, where the hills are often crowded beyond the comfortable zone, skiers pay an average of $70 a day for lift tickets and $10-$20 a day to park their cars. The magazine reported that Alberta recorded an esti- mated 950,000 visits by Japanese skiers last year. It said operators are en- couraging the invasion by of- fering special packages aimed specifically at attracting the Japanese skier. TheNUMBERS WHL MOLSON PLAYER OF THE YEAR YEAR 1991-92 Corey Hirsch, Kamloops 1990-91 Ray Whitney, Spokane 1989-90 Wes Waiz, Lethbridge 1988-89 Dennis Holland, Portland 1987-88 *Joe Sakic, Swift Current 1986-87 *Rob Brown, Kamloops 1985-86 Emanuel Vi ; 1982-83 Dean Evason, Kamloops 1981-82 Mike Vernon, Calgary 1980-81 Barry Pederson, Victoria 1979-80 *Doug Wichenheiser, Regina 1978-79 Brian Propp, Brandon 1977-78 Ryan Walter, Seattle 1976-77 Kevin McCarthy, Winipeg i 1975-76 Bernie Federko, Prince Albert 1984-85 *Dan Hodgson, Prince Albert 1983-84 Ray Ferraro, Brandon 1974-75 *Ed Staniowski, Regina * Indicates player was also selected as the Molson/Cooper CHL Player of the Year. MINOR HOCKEY ALL PERSONS INTERESTED IN COACHING Rep, Pee Wee, Bantam and Midgets. TREVOR maneR i $1.00 Suggested retail (SUBJECT TO CHANGE) ADULT GOLF LESSONS BEGINNER AND INTERMEDIATE Beginning Sunday, May 24 3-4 p.m. & 4-5 p.m. 6 Lessons only $50°° Please help out by submitting your application by May 30 to: COACHING CO-ORDINATOR CASTLEGAR MINOR HOCKEY ASSOCIATION P.O. BOX 3264 CASTLEGAR, B.C. VIN 3H5 Application forms at the Rec. Centre Castlegar Sportscards Lari BUY e SELL e TRADE 636-18th Street Castleaird Plaza Castlegar - 365-7556 SEASON OPENER SPECIALS 7-Piece Starter Sets. Junior $4 1 0 or Adult. Reg. $125 .. NOW 11-Piece Set of Decca. MENTION THIS AD AND GETA 10% DISCOUNT ANY ON CLOTHING PURCHASE! ee oe For more information regarding tee times, merchandise, golf equipment or lessons call 365-5006 SAT., MAY 23 Castlegar Complex 6°" Early Bird 7°™-Reg.