|
| |
|
|
|
Short-staffed Trail carries proud legacy |
|
|
|
Written by TED CLARKE, Citizen staff
|
|
Thursday, 17 July 2008 |
Local baseball coach Jason Schwing works a sump pump at Joe Martin Field as volunteers -- in back, Troy Waldie, and Art Polmik, left -- work to dry out the swampy right-field area. Tournament organizers suspect a broken irrigation line was the cause of flooding that left people scrambling. The city got the water shut off and provided a pumper truck, while local rental companies Highlander and Cat offered equipment to help dry the ground before today’s opening games in the provincial Little League championship. (David Mah photo)
Related Items
WHITE ROCKLITTLE LEAGUE
As much as it puts the Trail All-Stars on edge for the next 10 days, there’s no getting around the rule that requires each team to field a minimum of nine players in a game. Any less, and it’s an automatic forfeit.
Just nine Trail players made the 13-hour drive to Prince George, which is hosting the 11-12-year-old Little League provincial championships, starting today at Joe Martin Field.
“I’m kind of nervous about it,” said 12-year-old Trail pitcher Sean Barta. “But if you think about it, we’ve had so many games and only one person has gotten hurt in a game. It’s not like it’s going to happen, but it could. You try not to think about it.”
Trail got into its predicament due to the fact it has just 22 qualified players in its Little League organization. Of that group of 22, two developed appendicitis, one broke his arm (twice), and 10 other eligible players declined the two-a-day practices and other commitments it takes to play for an all-star team. Trail could have picked up players from neighbouring cities -- Fruitvale, Nelson or Castlegar -- but none of those baseball organizations are affiliated with Little League.
“Our guys know that whatever happens on the field, they’ll have to suck it up and get out there play, because they all wanted to come up here,” said Trail manager Lou Cicchetti.
“I didn’t want to come up with just nine, but there wasn’t even a discussion with the parents, they just said, ‘Let’s go.’”
The Trail coaches learned a week ago they would be down to the bare minimum for the trip and appealed to Little League Canada to allow a 10-year-old as a 10th player, but were denied.
“Next thing you know, we were down to nine kids, and we struggled with what to do,” said Cicchetti. “You’d think they would work with us a bit. We tried our best to bring at least 10 or 11 kids and we exhausted every avenue. But we’ve got some kids that can play ball, and that’s why we’re here. Otherwise I wouldn’t even come up here.”
Trail’s participation in the 2008 tournament is that much more meaningful considering it marks the year Little League legend Andy Bileski died at age 88 of cancer. Bileski, a Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame member, was involved in coaching in Trail for 55 years and was the architect who brought 12 provincial titles and five Canadian Little League championships to the West Kootenay city of about 10,000.
“Andy passed away this year and this is a tribute to him,” said Cicchetti. “He dedicated his life to Little League Baseball and in the back of our minds we were saying it would be nice to go to provincials one more time as kind of a tribute to him.”
Known as a disciplinarian with a heart of gold, Bileski never let a kid who showed up at the park go without a ball glove and cleats. He used his own money to buy equipment and fuel the ‘Andy van’ for roadtrips to tournaments. Even though he required a crutch to get around the field in his later years, he was always willing to lend his experience to teach some of the finer points of the game.
“He was an icon, and because he was so dedicated he knew how to take advantage of the weaknesses of other teams,” Cicchetti said. “He could read a third baseman and know to bunt that kid to death because he couldn’t make the play.”
Trail begins its provincial quest today at 5:45 p.m. against host Prince George Cap-abilities. Last year at the 11-12-year-old provincials in Dunbar, a Trail team of mostly 11-year-olds finished fourth out of eight, losing a semifinal in extra innings to North Vancouver.
“Our goal is to get into the playoff round, the top four,” said Cicchetti. “We did it last year and I can’t see why we can’t do it again. We just have to pitch well and get good defence. We have key guys back from last year and they’ve been there before and hopefully they will bring on the other kids.”
Tournament schedule
Little League 11-12-year-old provincials, games at Joe Martin Field.
Friday games
9:30 a.m. -- White Rock vs. Prince George LTN Construction
12:15 p.m. -- Hastings vs. Layritz
3 p.m. -- Dunbar vs. Mt. Seymour
5:45 p.m. -- Trail vs. P.G. Cap-abilities
Saturday games
9 a.m. -- Dunbar vs. Layritz
11:30 a.m. -- Hastings vs. P.G. LTN Construction
1:30 p.m. -- Opening ceremonies
3:15 p.m. -- Mt. Seymour vs. P.G. Cap-abilities
5:45 p.m. -- Trail vs. White Rock
Sunday games
9 a.m. -- Hastings vs. P.G. Cap-abilities
11:15 a.m. -- Dunbar vs. P.G. LTN Construction
1:30 p.m. -- White Rock vs. Mt. Seymour
3:15 p.m. -- Trail vs. Layritz
7 p.m. -- Skills competition
Monday games
9:30 a.m. -- Hastings vs. Dunbar
12:15 p.m. -- Layritz vs. P.G. Cap-abilities
3 p.m. -- Hastings vs. Trail
5:45 p.m. -- Mt. Seymour vs. P.G. LTN Construction
Tuesday games
9:30 a.m. -- Hastings vs. Dunbar
12:15 p.m. -- White Rock vs. P.G. Cap-abilities
3 p.m. -- Trail vs. Mt. Seymour
5:45 p.m. -- Layritz vs. P.G. LTN Construction
 |
|
Last Updated ( Sunday, 07 September 2008 )
|
|
|
Who's Online
We have 94 guests and 7 members online
|
Subscribe to this comment's feed
