The Chilliwack Progress from Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada • Page 20

B8 THE CHILLIWACK PROGRESS, Wednesday, May 16, 1990 TR4NS-GNADA Slo-pifching for fun The emphasis is on fun in Chilliwack's four slo-pitch leagues and that's a good thing because organizers say it's tougher than ever to predict who will win this season's championships. Players Arms G.S. Stucco were last year's regular season champions, while Wavan Auto Electric took the A division in the playoffs for the Players Arms Sports Lounge Slow Pitch League. This year Wavan was off to a strong start with three wins after its first four games, but G.S. Stucco lost its first two.

Although those two clubs and Ernie's Lounge Lizards are perennial powerhouses in the league, organizer Dale Browne was wary about predicting this season's winners. "It could be a whole new shake-up this year." Originally called the Wildlife League, Players Arms at 12 years and 17 teams is the oldest and largest of Chilliwack's slo-pitch leagues. Despite its size, 17 clubs is a drop of three from last season, but it's not because of lack of interest, Browne said. "Actually we could have had 25, there is so much interest." Many of the players have been in the league since its start, Browne said, and by keeping the numbers down the league hopes to maintain its close "casual atmosphere." She also cited a lack of diamonds as another reason for stopping the league from fielding more than 20 teams. The league plays a 20-game regular season that began on April 11 and ends Aug.

25. Games are Wednesday's starting at 6:30 p.m. at the Chilliwack Fairgrounds, Mc-Cammon, Little Mountain, Leary and Evans elementarys. The bottom eight teams play in a is in its third season. For the first two it was called Annie's Mixed Slo-Pitch League.

The number of clubs is the same as last year, but four are new to the league and several others have changed moniker. The new teams are Visscher Cyclones, Slobs, J.K.N. Dream Team, and Friendly Mike's. Due's Devils used to be the Times Wanderers, the Brat Pack were Kel-Gar Trucking and Paller Farms were Charlie Browns. Most of the Dream Team's players are from the old Westbow Slammer squad (last year's year-end tournament winners), while the current Westbow Slammers are mostly new players.

Even last year's regular season champions made a move. The Aztec Warriors team fell apart. League president Darlene Mac-Donald isn't sure who is going to win this year. The regular season started May 1 and ends July 19 with games on Tuesdays and alternate Thursdays. Most are at Vedder Junior Secondary.

The mid-season tournament is June 9-10, with the wrap-up July 21-22. Both are at Little Mountain Elementary. Four teams didn't make it into the league this year because they tried to i egister too late, she said. Those interested in joining next year can contact her at 792-2960. Seniors ball club With the players on the teams changed around as the year season proceeds and a special sponge-type softball, the emphasis is definitely on fun in the Chilliwack Seniors Slow Pitch Ball Club, says field coordinator Jim Falconer.

"This is a social outing on Thursday nights and we'll try to keep it that way." loser's tournament at the end of June. At the end of August all teams participate in a one-day playoff tournament which uses a single round-robin format to determine three divisional winners. There are also plans for an invitita-tional tournament at the end of July. Each team must field a minimum number of women. When eight or nine players are on the field, three must be female, when 10 are out four must be of the fairer sex.

The minimum age is 16 years and the league attracts a wide range of players, Browne said. "It's a pretty mixed age group. We've got quite a few 40- to 50- year-olds as well as lots in their 20s." East Chilliwack Colour Your World was last season's playoff champion in the East Chilliwack Slo-Pitch League but president Brian Mosby didn't want to predict a winner this season. "Our league has fairly good ball players in it and any given team can win on any given night." The league's 11 teams play two games a week on Monday and Wednesday nights and a 20-game season. Most games are in Rosedale with some in Greendale and Chilliwack.

The season started April 16 and concludes with the season-ending tournament July 27-29. The number of teams is the same as last year, but one of two Wooden Shoe teams is gone and Wild Willys Outlaws joined the circuit. The emphasis is on enjoyment, Mosby said. "It's mainly for fun and to get out and socialize." Friendly Mike's A change of name is the name of the game in Friendly Mike's Slow Pitch League. The 13-team curcuit Saturday, May 19th 10 exciting waterslides Delicious food and drinks from our snack bar Souvenir and gift shop Camping next door rsiauies Dumper ooais 18 hole mini golf Giant hot pool OPEN 10 A.M.

8 P.M. EVERY WEEKEND UNTIL JUNE 17th (Weather Permitting) A Group Bookings Available wmm mm Present this coupon and receive 2.00 OFF your admission. Ball games six nights a week Coupon Valid Until June 10, 1990 II II TR4NS-GNADA JUST EAST OF FLINTSTONE'S and next to Camperland 10 minutes East of Chilliwack at the intersection of Hwy. 1 and Hwy. 9 794-7455 AT BRIDAL FALLS i Park.

Games start between 6 and 6: 15 p.m. The season started in the first week of April, with year-end tournaments completed by the end of June. The pony and colt teams play in Fraser Valley leagues, the rest play in Chilliwack. At the end of the season all-star teams are formed for bronco, pony and colt. Theses teams compete in the zone playoffs in late July with the winners advancing to the provincial championships and from there possibly to the Canadian national tournament in August.

Last year's bronco entry from Chilliwack Minor Baseball won its zone and placed fifth in the province. Most of the players on that team are now in pony. Association president Ian Wicker thinks that group of boys "should do well again this year." This past weekend the association held a bronco and its first-ever pony tournament. Six nights of the week some of the Chilliwack and District Minor Baseball Association's 37 teams can be found playing league games at various fields in the community. Sunday is the only day the association hasn't scheduled games for the 480 players registered on the teams in the six divisions from t-ball (six- and seven-year-olds) through to colt (16- and 17-year-olds).

T-ball has 11 teams, pinto has six, mosquito and bronco have eight, pony has three and colt has one. Last season there were 40 teams. All divisions of play had tryouts at the beginning of the season with mosquito and bronco players split into two tiers of play, as well as clubs. Teams play two games a week. T-ball and pony games are played at various school diamonds in the district on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Mosquito, bronco, pony and colt divisions play at Fairfield Park. Mosquito and hronco also play at Sardis orse show this weekend More than 200 horses and riders will take over the Ag-Rec Centre this weekend for the annual Chilliwack Horse Show. Organized by the Chilliwack Horse Shows Association (CHSA), this will be the 26th consecutive year that the show has been held in Chilliwack on the Victoria Day long weekend in May. The show is organized by CHSA president Sue Holtby and a committee of volunteers. Holtby and treasurer Len Blackstock are the show's managers.

Classes will be offered for Arabians, dressage, open and junior entries. There will also be new hunter classes added to the open competition. A class for sport horses is new this year. Other classes are for thoroughbreds a a 1 1 -thoroughbreds. The high-point awards have been expand.

to give everyone a chance to win a high-point prize. The major dressage, English and western classes will be run on Saturday and Sunday in the Ag-Hec Centre. The trail horse class, to be held in the outside ring, is the one exception. Junior classes will be held on Monday, also in the Ag-Hec Centre. A horse show dance is planned for Saturday evening at the Chilliwack Curling Club.

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