The Prince George Citizen — Thursday, June 29,1989 — 15 Rain and holidays play havoc with women’s soccer in Prince George, but the keeners play regardless. SOCCER CIRCUIT SURVIVING Women's league flexible by DON SCHAFFER Sports reporter Flexibility means survival for fledgling sports groups like the Prince George women’s soccer league, and the four-team circuit is doing its best to bend. The three-year-old league suffers during the summer months, when players have vacations or other family commitments to draw them away from the fields at Prince George Secondary School, where the league plays. But rather than insist on forfeits if teams can’t field the regulation 11 players, the league will introduce summer rules next week. Summer rules give teams an opportunity to play even-up with as few as seven players. If a team shows up with fewer than seven players, the game is defaulted. But, if the teams show up with different numbers of players, the teams play with equal numbers of players. The team with more players holds its surplus as reserves. “We used to break for the summer,” league president Patti Smith said Wednesday, “but the players used to lose a lot of interest before they came back in September. “Plus, a lot of girls go to university, and they’d go back so we’d be short.” The league has fielded four teams for a 24-game schedule since its inception three years ago. Before that, Smith said there used to be one team, but interest was high enough to generate a league. “We’ve got about 80 players,” she said, “if we can ever get them all out.” She admits that some players lose interest in the summer months, and others don’t have the season-long commitment the league would like. Defaults tend to be relatively frequent — both of Wednesday’s games were forfeits — but Smith said the recreation-oriented league is healthy nonetheless. “A lot of people don’t even know Wrestler surprised by Japan excursion by DON SCHAFFER ; Sports reporter » One man’s bad luck is often another's fortune, as Prince George J wrestler Dennis McCarthy found out last week. McCarthy, who’ll enter Grade 12 at Kelly Road Secondary School in September, left Vancouver this morning for Japan, where he’ll spend the next two weeks wrestling with the Carson Graham Secondary School team on its cultural exchange program. McCarthy applied for a spot on the team in March while attending the provincial high school championships, where he finished second in the 74-kilogram class. But, since the trip looked booked, he didn’t think much more of it, and certainly didn’t expect an invitation. But last week, McCarthy got his invitation — albeit at the expense of a Carson Graham wrestler. “The fellow who was supposed to go got into a car accident and had to pay for the wreck,” McCarthy explained earlier this week. “He couldn’t afford the trip.” McCarthy is one of several local wrestlers who’s hitting the road this summer to further his ambitions. While McCarthy is in Japan, six others will either be, or are preparing to go to, Simon Fraser University in Burnaby for wrestling camps. After this week’s SFU camp, Travis Bellerose takes part in a dual meet as part of the team that will represent B.C. at the Canada Summer Games Aug. 13 to 26 in Regina. He was to have been in Puerto Rico earlier in August as part of the Canadian team at the International Junior Achievement tournament, but Prince George Wrestling Club head coach Don Roy said the Canadian Amateur Wrestling Association has cancelled the trip. Before Bellerose leaves for Regina, Jason Demers and Louis Van Grootel will be in Cheney, Wash., at an intensive elite camp at the University of Eastern Washington. McCarthy, who spent the week in Vancouver training with Carson Graham coach Barry Callahan, said he’s excited about the Japan trip, especially since it isn’t going to be all spent wrestling. After a week spent mostly in the gym, the group starts to relax, travelling to two different cities to absorb the atmosphere. The group lands in Tokyo Friday morning, and is entered in the Japanese national high school championships Saturday and Sunday in Ichihara. They travel to Tokanesa-wa for a dual meet Wednesday to Friday, and wrestle in two more dual meets, Saturday in Tatebaya-shi and July 11 in Kyoto, r McCarthy: to Tokyo Disneyland. The group then tours Tokyo Disneyland (“I didn’t even know they had a Disneyland,” McCarthy said) and Yaizu City. “It’s a bit overwhelming,” he said of the suddenness of the trip. He got funding from both the Prince George Wrestling Club and the Kelly Road student council to help with expenses, he said. Van Grootel, meanwhile, is looking forward to the Cheney camp, despite the rigorous schedule. “I really wanted to go,” the Prince George Secondary School student said. “It’ll help me get a higher standard.” Van Grootel and Demers will face a gruelling two weeks — wa-keup call is 6:45, with a half-hour run to start the day. After breakfast, there’s skill training, wrestling, psychological training and more running or other conditioning exercises lasting until about 9:30 each night, with lunch and dinner squeezed in somehow. “It’ll be tough,” he said. “But I think it’ll be worth it.” Van Grootel finished second at the B.C. high school championships in the 66-kg division, and Demers was third in 48 kg. Both attended the Canadian championships in March and finished in the top six in their weight classes. Roy said he’s gratified that local wrestlers are finally getting some attention from the wrestling establishment. “It’s starting to come together,” Roy said. “After 10 years we’re starting to get the bodies to accomplish the things they’ve always been capable of but never done. “It’s pretty rewarding.” we’re here,” she said about the league’s low profile. But youth soccer’s female program is generating interest among younger players. And, even though the calibre of play here doesn’t approach that of places like Williams Lake or the Lower Mainland where strong high school and youth programs provide vast numbers or skilled players, Smith said the Prince George league is raising its level of play. “We’ve got lots of players that have never even played before,” she said. “But there are a lot of players from youth soccer, and there are some really good players as well.” The league has organized a rep team that will play in this weekend’s tournament in Williams Lake. Smith said the team is one outlet for league members who crave more competition. The league has also joined the B.C. Soccer Association this year for the first time. “We’re moving along,” Smith said. “We’re getting better.” Ann O’Shea helped boost Howat Insurance’s winning streak to 18 games Wednesday as Howat defeated Better Transport 4-3 in Prince George women’s slo-pitch. Lois Vassallo batted two-for-three with one run-batted-in for Howat. The winning run came in the seventh inning on a throwing error by Better. In the other game Wednesday, the Analog Angels defeated Laugor Holding 7-5. Marina Evans batted two-for-three for Analog and Sherry Thibault was the winning pitcher. Two Prince George women slo-pitch teams, the Terry Logging Blues and the Prince George Dodgers, head to Kamloops this weekend for a six-team tournament. The tournament is part of the Coors National series. The winner of the round robin, double knockout event is invited to a tournament in Calgary next year. Veilleux hot Jamie Veilleux went three-for-three with three runs-batted-in Wednesday as Steamers’ Pub defeated P.G. Engine 9-4 in Prince George mens’ slo-pitch. Marty Braun hit three-for-four for Steamers’ and teammate Steve Corbett hit two-for-two. Darrell Ra-hier threw for the win. In the other game Wednesday Tom Ferris hit two-for-three as The Keg-Barry’s Video Station defeated Sgt. O’Flaherty’s 6-1. Jeff Bredo added to Keg-Barry’s punch, batting three-for-three with a double and a triple and two RBIs. Dan Stearns hit two-for-three. Brian Luhovy was the winning pitcher. Victory lopsided Tracey Morrison hit two-for-four with one run-batted-in Wednesday as Norgate Autobody defeated Bruce’s Excavating 8-1 in Prince George senior women’s softball. Laura Hladchuk pitched the victory for Norgate. In the other games Wednesday, Bencher Logging defeated the Masters 1-0 and Howat Insurance defeated the Karolat Angels 6-4 in Quesnel. Eva Reikort scored the winning run on a hit by Nancy Habraken. Jewel Manion was the winning pitcher, allowing only three hits. Mary Potskin pitched for the Masters and managed seven strike outs and allowed three hits. Blue Jays perplexed by Baltimore's birds ★------- Smarter pitcher stymies Giants by Canadian Press As the distance between the Baltimore Orioles and the rest of the American League East widens faster than a speeding bullet, the Toronto Blue Jays can only shake their heads and wonder what kind of supermen they have confronted. The Orioles edged Toronto 2-1 on Wednesday for their 43rd victory of the season. Last year, No. 43 came on Aug. 24 when the Orioles were in last place, 30 games out of first. They now enjoy a 7Vi-game lead over second place New York and Milwaukee — the biggest margin among baseball’s four division leaders — and Toronto fell eight games back by losing their fourth in a row. In other games Wednesday, it was: the Minnesota Twins 2, Oakland Athletics 0; Cleveland Indians 2, California Angels 1; Detroit Tigers 6, New York Yankees 5; Texas Rangers 10, Chicago White Sox 5; Milwaukee Brewers 12, Boston Red Sox 5; Kansas City Royals 12, Seattle Mariners 7. “We had respect for them coming in,” said Toronto manager Cito Gaston. “They wouldn’t be seven or eight games out in front if they weren’t playing well. You can’t think you’re going to come in and sweep them.” Gaston may not have been thinking sweep, but that’s just what his team needed to get into the pennant race for the first time this year. They trailed Baltimore by five games heading into the three-game series. A Baltimore sweep would put Toronto in a deep hole — even though there’s still more than half the season to go. With one out an no one on in the eighth, Cal Ripken hit a John Cerutti pitch well over the left-centre field wall to break a 1-1 tie. Ripken, one of the few players left from Baltimore’s 1983 championship team, had knocked in the game’s first run with a double in the opening inning. Twins 2 Orioles 0 Frank Viola outduelled Dave Stewart in a battle of the American League’s winningest pitchers the past two seasons. Viola scattered seven hits while Stewart allowed just six, but Wally Backman and Jim Dwyer had BRI doubles in the third and seventh innings. Indians 2 Angels 1 Scott Bailes allowed five hits in eight innings and Felix Fermin scored the winning run on Willie Fraser’s wild pitch with two out in the bottom of the eighth as Cleveland broke the Angels’ four-game winning streak. Rookie Jim Abbott who limited Cleveland to four hits in 7% innings and retired 17 batters in a row until the Indians broke through for the winning run. Tigers 6 Yankees 5 Lou Whitaker, who scored the tying run in the eighth inning, led off the 10th with his 16th home run, sending the Yankees to their ninth straight defeat at Tiger Stadium. Mike Henneman, the third Detroit pitcher, worked the final lVs innings. New York reliever Dave Ri-ghetti served up Whitaker’s homer on a 2-0 pitch. Rangers 10 White Sox 5 Texas broke a 4-4 tie with five unearned runs in the fifth inning, including RBI singles by Steve Buechele, Jeff Kunkel and Cecil Espy, to win. Scott Fletcher, leading off the inning, was safe when first baseman Greg Walker dropped his pop fly and Rafael Palmeiro singled him to second. Brewers 12 Red Sox 5 B.J. Surhoff drove in a career-high five runs, Rob Deer hit his American League-leading 21st home run and Teddy Higuera won his first game in almost a month for Milwaukee. The victory gave the Brewers their first three-game winning streak since April and ended a stretch of four straight no-decisions for Higuera, 2-2. Royals 12 Mariners 7 Bob Boone drove in four runs, Kurt Stillwell hit a two-run double in a five-run fourth-inning rally and Bo Jackson hit his 18th home run as Kansas City rallied from five runs down to win and end a three-game losing streak. The Blue Jays visit Baltimore at 4:30 this afternoon on TSN (cable 16). Goertzen stifles baseball Rangers Howard Goertzen was the winning pitcher Wednesday as Senior Babe Ruth defeated the Saxon Logging Rangers 10-2 in Prince George Senior Baseball. Goertzen allowed only four hits as the Rangers failed to muster an offence. Blake McIntosh drove in two runs with a single in the first. The win elevated Babe Ruth to second place as they trail the Simon Fraser Timbermen by 2Vt games. Joey Potskin pitched for the Rangers and batted one-for-two. The Rangers only runs came in the third inning when Troy Waldie’s base, hit brought in Mark Skaar. Waldie tagged home on a sacrifice fly from Ian Doak. The Rangers are in fourth-place in the five team league with four games behind the Timbermen. by Canadian Press Jim Deshaies isn’t pitching better this season - just smarter. “I can’t really say this is the best I’ve every pitched, but I think I’ve learned a lot from year to year that’s helping me,” Deshaies said after winning his seventh game in his last eight decisions as the Houston Astros beat the San Francisco Giants 7-3 Wednesday in National League action. “What I’ve done this year is learn to battle and stay in the game when I don’t have good stuff. We’re a late-inning club, and I’ve tried to take advantage of it. “Also, I’ve learned the hitters better, and how to set them up in different situations.” In other National League games Wednesday it was: the Montreal Expos 4, New York Mets 3; Pittsburgh Pirates 3, Chicago Cubs 1; Atlanta Braves 4, Cincinnati Reds 3; St. Louis Cardinals 2, Philadelphia Phillies 1; San Diego Padres 2, Los Angeles Dodgers 1. Deshaies, 8-3, gave up three runs on five hits in seven innings, striking out four and walking three. Larry Anderson finished up, allowing one hit and striking out four. “He’s throwing great. He’s keeping us in games and giving us a chance to win,” Houston manager Art Howe said. “Even in a couple of his losses, he’s done an outstanding job. We fell good any time he’s on the mound.” Glenn Davis backed Deshaies with an RBI double and a run-scoring single as the second-place Astros cut the Giants’ lead in the Na- tional League West to two games. Houston has won five of its last six games. Candv Maldonado hit his fifth homer of the season. Pirates 3 Cubs 1 Bobby Bonilla tripled in two runs to break an eighth-inning tie as the Pirates won their fifth in a row and handed Chicago its sixth straight loss. With two outs in the eighth, Barry Bonds drew a walk off Mike Bielecki, 6-4, and Jose Lind had an infield hit. Braves 4 Reds 3 Tom Glavine allowed two runs in 8Vi innings and Tommy Gregg had three hits as Atlanta broke ended a five-game losing streak. The Reds pulled off their first triple play in 22 years in the sixth inning when Bruce Benedict lined out to shortstop Barry Larkin with runners on first and second moving on the pitch. Cardinals 2 Phillies 1 Joe Magrane pitched a seven-hitter and Pedro Guerrero drove in his first run in 12 games as St. Louis ended a four-game losing streak. Magrane, 7-6, won for the fourth time in five starts. He lost his shub out when Steve Lake singled home Randy Ready with two outs in the ninth. Padres 2 Dodgers 1 Tony Gwynn hit a two-run single in the eighth inning and Ed Whitson won nis 10th game for San Die- S>. Mike Morgan, 5-7, had shut out e Padres on seven hits through seven innings. Kerrigan tough early by Canadian Press Mike Kerrigan threw three touchdown passes by halftime to lead the Hamilton Tiger-Cats to a 41-7 CFL preseason victory Wednesday night over the Ottawa Rough Riders. It was his first quarterbacking assignment since last October when he separated his right shoulder. “It felt good getting back out there,” he said. “There was no problem at all with the arm.” In one other preseason game, it was Saskatchewan Roughriders 28, Edmonton Eskimos 24. Kerrigan had a pin removed from his shoulder in December and the Ticats brought him back slowly. He wanted to play in an intrasquad game a week ago but head coach Al Bruno refused to let him put the pads on. Finally back on the playing field in a game situation, Kerrigan picked the Ottawa secondary apart. “The guys ran some good patterns,” said the 29-year-old graduate of Northwestern University. “You’ve got to hit the seams when you’re playing against a zone defence like that and we found them. “When you first go out there after being out for so long, you realize you haven’t been in a game situation, but you settle down pretty quickly.” Kerrigan threw touchdown passes of nine yards to Tony Champion, 24 yards to Rocky Di-Pietro and 44 yards to Richard Estell. He completed 12 of 21 for 219 yards, with no interceptions, before Todd Dillon replaced him with two minutes left in the first half. Ottawa quarterback Damon Allen, who signed with the Rough Riders as a free agent after four years with the Edmonton Eskimos, had a disappointing game. He com' Dieted seven of 18 pass attempts tor only 78 yards. Roughriders 28 Eskimos 24 Eight quarterbacks divided five touchdowns as the Saskatchewan Roughriders scrambled to a 28-24 win over the Edmonton Eskimos in Regina. With Edmonton veteran Tracy Ham the only quarterback relatively secure in his job this season, the crowd of 18,988 at Taylor Field saw seven others trying to win starting, backup or even practice-roster spots. Saskatchewan veterans Kent Austin and Tom Burgess, both looking for a starting spot, each completed a touchdown in the first half with Austin tossing 36 yards to Ray Elgaard and Burgess throwing 60 yards to Ray McDonald. 74 LC IRADi 5. f l N r Come in different sizes, ages and colors but they all want a bike . . . and we have a lot of different bikes ... in 3 speed, 5 speed, up to 18 speeds. Mountain bikes, touring bikes, 3 wheel bikes, red bikes, blue bikes. 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