Penultimate week of local spring school sports

It’s said all good things must come to an end. Well, in terms of this year’s local high school sports campaign, the curtain will soon drop. But not this week. In fact, there are prime shows on multiple stages.

••• The Alberta Schools Athletic Association South Zone Track and Field Championships are scheduled for Thursday at the University of Lethbridge Community Stadium. While not as big in numbers as junior high extravaganzas, it is a really big event indeed.

Qualifiers advance to the ASAA Provincial High School Track and Field Meet, June 2-3 in Edmonton.

Overall, I’m happy to see there were 10 school track meets scheduled at U of L in May. It’s quite the facility (with one exception I’ll get to later, story editor willing.)

••• The Southern Alberta High School Baseball League wraps up this weekend. Tier I playoffs are in Medicine Hat, with Tier II hitting the diamond in Vauxhall.

As for the Lethbridge and District High School Baseball League, I understand rain interceded in finale proceedings last week and the hardware winners are now set to be finalized in the next few days.

With baseball, elite players may well be performing on club teams as well at this time of year. ASAA rules do not allow kids to play on non-ASAA teams during specific sport ASAA Seasons of Play, but

baseball is not an ASAA endeavour.

Since baseball is not an ASAA sport, it stands to reason there is no ASAA provincial championship. The Southern Alberta High School Baseball League (actually formally known as “Association” for many years) used to proclaim their champs as provincial victors. I don’t know if that still continues, with the Lethbridge and area loop schools breaking away a few years ago.

••• Rugby is a ASAA sport. In fact, organizers worked very hard and, to me, intelligently to bring it under that big tent, including pursuing leading roles in the ASAA’s volunteer administrative set-up. One hand often washes the other.

The Southern Alberta High School Rugby League regular season concludes this week, with a junior varsity festival slated for Saturday. Monday, the varsity post-season begins. The combined League/ASAA South Zone finals are set for Monday, June 5 at Lethbridge Sports Park north of the northside Walmart. Provincials go June 910, in Edmonton (Tier I), Strathmore (Tier II) and High River (Tier III).

••• Slopitch is not an ASAA sport, but the Southern Alberta Girls High School Slopitch League rolls along steadily. One more week in the regular season, before the varsity playoffs hit Softball Valley, Thursday, June 1. ••• I was invited to by the city to present my

ideas regarding area football facilities to a consultant. That’s right up my alley.

So, I opined it would be wonderful if Lethbridge had one more field turf playing facility, which could be shared by multiple sports. Anywhere would be fine.

Another thought was a second grass dedicated football venue in the fall. To me, Lethbridge Sports Park would be ideal.

Of course, any new facility would need a suitable spotter’s booth.

For that matter, the booth at U of L should be doubled at least. And, yes, I pointed that out, too. I mean heck, it’s not even big enough for a provincial ASAA track meet. ••• Talk about a short head coaching retirement.

Bradley Morris Karren stepped down as Lethbridge College women’s basketball head coach to great, earned fanfare a fortnight ago. Last week I became aware Brad will be back calling the shots on the bench with the Magrath varsity girls high school team next season. Over the weekend, it was obviously true. There was Brad alongside his daughter Ashley

Karren and former sidekick Ron Strate coaching a Magrath club team in one of a seemingly endless array of spring local club hoopfests! WELLSIE’S WORLD - One of the major changes over the last four-plus decades locally is that kids extend their school sports seasons by playing for provincial organizations. I am always willing to publicize national championship roster announcements here, but usually just don’t know unless the provincial sports governing body sends me the info. Football Alberta, who are instrumental in helping ASAA high school competition, are the leaders by a Secretariat 1973 Belmont Stakes victory margin in this regard.

Unfortunately, from my perspective, there are no locals on Alberta’s 2017 Football Canada Cup team which will play in Nova Scotia, July 6-15. However, I see three area players

(Callum Hyland, defensive back, LCI; Blake Gibb, defensive line, LCI; Chayton Nidd, defensive back, Claresholm Willow Creek), are on the U-17 Pacific Challenge Football Alberta squad headed to Maui, Aug. 5-13. After an extended email exchange with Football Alberta guru (now officially executive director) Tim Enger,I understand the U-17 team is comprised of potential 2018 Canada Cup reps who just missed out on this year’s team. At one time (let’s call it the Clifton

Walters era) this area had a huge presence on the provincial team football scene. These days it seems a majority of topflight high school football players choose to play basketball in the spring and summer. Our area won a lot more ASAA provincial football championships in the Clifton Walters era, too. Not playing provincial team is obviously not the only factor in our lessened ASAA gold haul. But, I absolutely believe it is a factor.