Bats fall silent as Midgets slump
Don Fennell, Sports Editor
Richmond's Midget AAA baseball team is going back to basics after five straight losses.
Kelowna's drubbing of the locals in a doubleheader here Sunday, 8-0 and 5-0, was particularly disappointing for coach Gary Parker.
"We had a discussion after the two games and I asked (the players) what they thought it was," he said.
Sometimes the team seems to think it can just breeze through games.
So Parker has challenged his team to work hard for the balance the season, confident they can still realize their goal of winning a provincial championship.
"I think they know they can do it, but we have to have the drive to get there. We have to work hard every day we're out (on the field) and respect the game. You can't just turn it on and off."
Richmond also dropped a pair of games to Bellingham on Saturday, both by 5-4 scores, and fell 4-1 to Newton last Thursday, leaving the locals at 8-8 in league play.
"The games against Bellingham were fairly good," Parker said.
"But we left 12 runners on base."
Parker suggested the reason the bats also went silent on Sunday has to do with some of the players pressing.
He said they're trying to make everything happen with one swing.
"Somewhere along the line we've lost a little focus on what we want to accomplish," he said.
Strikers reach B.C. finals
Don Fennell, Sports Editor
The Hugh McRoberts Strikers have qualified for next week's B.C. High School Rugby Championships.
The Strikers rolled out to a 31-0 halftime lead and went on to defeat the Kwalikum Condors (Qualicum Beach) 53-19 in a winner-take-all showdown Wednesday at Ladysmith. Third-ranked McRoberts plays 14th-ranked Prince George in their opening game at the provincials next Wednesday at the University of B.C.. Kickoff is set for 10:30 a.m.
"The boys came out fired up," McRoberts coach Garry Hirayama said.
He said the Strikers' mental approach to the game was the biggest factor in the win.
Kwalikum had a strong pack and fast centres, but were unable to keep pace with McRoberts, which collectively played one of their most complete games of the season.
Brandon Sim, Chris Manwaring and Evan Croner (who scored 14 points off three tries and two converts) led the way for the Strikers. But Hirayama said it was very much a team effort.
"Whenever you get a score like that there has to be consistency throughout," he said.
"And playing a good squad like that put a little fright in us. We couldn't go in at half speed."
If the Strikers can repeat their effort next Wednesday against Prince George, Hirayama is confident they'll advance.
"If we're prepared to work hard from the go, I think we should be able to get to the semis," he said.
World record holder at home on the track
Don Fennell, Sports Editor
The last five years have been busy, but productive ones for Avril Douglas.
Besides working and completing a degree at the University of B.C., the Richmond Kajaks masters' runner has been able to reach the top of her sport.
Last season she established new world records in both the women's 200- and 400-metres (in the 55 to 59 age group).
"(A lot of people) thought to do this would be a real burden but it wasn't," said Douglas, who is expected to participate in The Richmond Review Kajaks International Track Classic on Tuesday at Clement Track.
"One thing it did for me was help get my energy level up," she said.
Douglas set a new 400-metre record (1:03.41) Aug. 18 at a meet in Seattle, breaking the previous standard of 1:04.50 held by Germany's Brunhilde Hoffman, and then betterred the world record to 1:02.40 at the Canadian championships Aug. 25.
She set the 200-metre mark (27.90 seconds) the following day, breaking Hoffman's old record of 28.13 seconds.
Douglas also set a Canadian record of 14.24 seconds in the 100 metres and also won the 800-metre race in 2:33.29.
"I knew the 400 metres was certainly in my reach if everything went well," Douglas said. "The 200 metres was a bonus. I wasn't really focusing on that."
This season, Douglas is hoping to better her personal best at 800 metres.
But whether there's a specific goal to work toward or not, she simply enjoys working out.
"I never find going out and training an effort," she said.
"It doesn't matter what the weather, I totally enjoy it. And I know I'm keeping myself fit."
Douglas' penchant for running began early when, without any special training, she did very well at her elementary school's sports day events. Accompanied by her brother and sister, she also used to go to races which were held in conjunction with a soap box derby fair and regularly finished first.
After taking a break from the sport, Douglas became a member of the Richmond Kajaks Track and Field Club in 1989 following a few road races including running a marathon in 1986.
The Kajaks didn't have a masters' program at the time she joined, so she ran with the general group until one was organized.
Today, there is a strong group of Kajaks masters' athletes who train every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday at Clement Track.
But Douglas stressed that not everyone is competitive - and that's the beauty of the group.
"It's a wonderful group," she said.
A lot of the athletes have continued on through diffrent age groups and wound up mentoring or encouraging others in the sport.
"Certainly getting into a group really helps," Douglas said. "If you think you're sort of stagnating and want to improve your running, getting into a group like the Kajaks you always find encouragement.
"But you don't have to be competitive. There are lots of people who just want to improve their own running (and enjoy socializing). Improving your own time is a source of pride by all of us."
While track and field in North America may not enjoy the media attention it does elsewhere in the world, it is never the less a popular pasttime. And a rewarding one, too.
Douglas herself is amazed at how fit the athletes in the masters' division are.
"You would be amazed how healthy and young they look, and vibrant and energetic," she said. "I'm always marvelling at those older than me. I hope I'll be like them when I reach their age."
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