B2 THE FREE PRESS SPORTS JUNE 7, 2001 Quarenghi beats the odds and a broken nose The distraction of a broken beak wasn’t enough to stop Josh Quarenghi from claiming a spot on Team B.C. The 13-year-old DP Todd student earned the spot of alternate for the provincial Under-14 basketball team at the weekend tryout in Pitt Meadows despite having recently broken his nose in high school gym class. “It distracted me,” admits Quarenghi. “It was throbbing.” Quarenghi was one of four alternates picked along with the 12-person squad out of the 35 invited to try out. A broken nose wasn’t the only thing singling Quarenghi out. In addition to being a full five inches below the average height he was the only invitee from outside the Lower Mainland or Okanagan. “It was very tough, everyone was so big,” he says. For battling through those odds Quarenghi was given a Gatorade Will to Win award, signed by Toronto Raptor Vince Carter. Quarenghi will begin practicing with the U-13 team at the end of the month. If any of the 12 regular players are injured he’ll have a chance to join the roster for the team’s games. Four other Prince George players will be trying out for provincial teams in the weeks to come. Tyler Woods of Duchess Park tries for the boys Under-15 team this weekend, while Christine Kennedy of College Heights Secondary and Erin Beckett from Southridge Elementary will compete to get their names on the Under-14 girls roster the following weekend. BK mmitm 3641 - I 5th Ave 562 48S6 Parkwood Place S62-4880 www.bktwoway.bc.ca ALL CLASSIFIED ADVERTISEMENTS INCLUDE FREE INTERNET LISTING! No Credit? No Problem! 1341 2nd Ave 564-9250 WANTED: ANY PERSON OR BUSINESS WHO: —* donated to —* worked at —»participated in —* helped out or contributed in any way with the construction of the four diamond complex located at 4855 Heather Road (behind the Hart Community Centre -across from the back of the Elkscentre) for NECHAKO LITTLE LEAGUE Please contact Corrine at 962-5705 before June 9th REGISTRATION For new and returning players Prince George Minor Hockey At the Minor Hockey office, upstairs at the Kin Center, until June 15th Monday thru Friday from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. in order to have $20 00 deducted from the following fee. one half must be paid prior to June 15 along with a cheque dated no later than Aug 10. 2001 for the remaining half. Fee as follows: Tykes 5,6, & 7 year olds bom 1994 - 1996.............$220.00 Novice 8 & 9 year olds born 1992- 1993.............$250.00 Atoms 10 & 11 year olds bom 1990-1991...............$250.00 Pee Wee 12 & 13 year olds born 1988- 1989...........$280.00* Bantam 14 & 15 year olds born 1986- 1987.............$300.00* Midget 16 & 17 year olds bom 1984-1985.............$300.00* Juvenile 18 & 19 year olds born 1982- 1983...........$300.00* ’Registration fee includes the cost of a keeper |ersey New players MUST bring along their birth certificate and care card. r ^ Applications are also being taken for Divisional Managers, Referee Assignors, Coaches and Assistant Coaches . in all house divisions. - ^ The newly elected executive for the 2001 02 season Nevio Rossi - President Doug Howarth - Vice President, Jane Newman Treasurer. Dan Martin - Secretary, Bob Lepage - Past President, Directors • John Morrison Rick Remesch, Stan Horodyski, Elaine Giadue, Doug Morrison. Cathy Mason Wes Scott. Randy Huolt. Randy Young. Gary Burgess. Curtis Cannon. Lu Verticchio ▼ From Page B1 Rebuilding junior team a big task those players have moved on, along with most of the other veteran players and the team is rebuilding, refocussing and looking for people to step into leadership roles. That makes it the perfect time for Walton to come out of the shadows. “It’s tough when you think of how good we did last year, but at the same time it makes us all strive that much harder to be better,” he says. "I hope I’m ready to take a leadership role. I think that I am.” Walton played out his college season last year with the University College of the Cariboo Sun Demons, but next year will be attending Jamestown College in Jamestown, Colorado, playing in the NAIA division one. Although he says the skill at the college level is a little higher than in the B.C. junior league, he adds that the intensity of the players never wavers. “It always means a lot to perform on this team in front of a local crowd.” But a 1-11 record is beyond being a slow start for a team that was playing better than .500 the same time last year. In the 8-0 loss Saturday and the 9-0 and 12-6 losses on Sunday errors were far too common and the hitting didn’t come when it was needed. It’s a big problem and one head coach and manager John Kazakoff isn’t entirely sure where to look to correct. “The guys can play ball but we need repairs, and you wonder where you start repairing,” says Kazakoff. “But I’ve been there before.” With throwers like Corey Bonnar, Brodie Norn and Conor Whitely, not to mention Walton, pitching is the least of the Grays worries — it’s everything else. “We’re making mental mistakes and giving up easy plays,” says Kazakoff. "We have to support our Gray Curtis Colebank breaks up a double-play dur- ing Saturday’s first game. pitchers and make those easy plays.” The squad the Grays brought out for the first home games of the season is what Kazakoff expects to have for the remainder of the season. Any hopes John McKenzie/Free Press for the last-minute returns of college players have vanished, leaving them to work with the players they’ve got. “We’re missing some ingredients," says Kazakoff. “But what they are. k No membership » required to compete! PRIZE MONEY & TROPHIES _ SAT & SUN _ 1/4 MILE DRAG RACING June 9-10 Classes: Super Pro, Pro, Sportsman, Street, Sled-Bike, Jr. Dragster 10 and Under FREE (with an Adult) GATES OPEN AT 9 AM TIME TRIALS 10:30AM • ELIMINATIONS 2:00PM High School Series " - June 9 ifir^iT; EVERY FRIDAY 6 PM - 9 PM Svtcldon... 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