Slopitch and rugby action highlight coming days
If you’re looking for hard-hitting action to cap the local campaign there are multiple options, featuring very different styles of hitting, this week.
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The Southern Alberta High School Rugby League regular season is in the history books. From what I can gather online, LCI topped the varsity boys table, followed by Fort Macleod F.P. Walshe, Winston Churchill, Chinook, Medicine Hat High and Dunmore Eagle Butte.
The varsity girls were divided into (yes, I imagine there is an attempt at dark humour here) the Black and Blue Divisions. Black was led by Raymond, with Taber W.R. Myers, Churchill, LCI and Walshe in pursuit. Vulcan County Central led Blue, which also included Chinook, Pincher Creek Matthew Halton, Cardston and Medicine Hat Crescent Heights.
JV teams do not keep standings in the circuit.
The varsity post-season goes directly to Alberta Schools Athletic Association South Zone competition, bypassing the league playoff step. This year the ASAA has moved from two tiers to three.
Action began last night. All finals are set for next Monday at the northside Lethbridge Sports Park. I suspect it will be a figurative multi-ring slobberknocker. Well, perhaps a literal slobberknocker at times.
Qualifiers advance to ASAA provincials, which are Friday and Saturday, June 9-10. Tier III is shared by Highwood and Oilfields, Tier II hosted by Strathmore, while McNally presents the Tier I showdown in Edmonton. History indicates no matter where they are held South Zone reps will likely garner plenty of hardware. ••• Softball is not an ASAA sport. However, the Southern Alberta Girls High School Slopitch League certainly thrives in this area. Varsity regular season action is divided into East and West Divisions, and there’s an overall JV section, too.
Regular season standings as of May 28 showed Milk River Erle Rivers, Coaldale Kate Andrews, Vauxhall, Taber St. Mary’s, Brooks, Picture Butte and Bow Island in the East Division parade. West went Cardston, Vulcan County Central, Catholic Central, Chinook, Magrath, LCI and Claresholm Willow Creek.
The JV table listed Kate Andrews Blue, Kate Andrews Black, Vauxhall, Catholic Central, County Central and LCI.
Rainouts were being made up this
week. However, on Thursday, the varsity squads will take to the lovingly manicured Softball Valley diamonds for a huge one-day playoff. The JV playoffs are scheduled for Saturday at the same area showplace.
League organizer/Kate Andrews coach Kevin Holland
notes: “Big thanks to volunteer umpires and Softball Valley for donating the facility for free.”
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The massive Alberta Schools Athletic Association Provincial High School Track & Field Meet is set for Friday and Saturday in Edmonton. About 1,000 entrants are expected.
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In a manner of speaking the 2017-18 ASAA campaign has already begun, with multiple fall sports allowed to practise from May 1 on. On June 1, volleyball programs can potentially join the preparation party.
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Next week, I’ll put a wrap on the 201617 high school campaign in this space and look ahead to some major events planned for next season.
WELLSIE’S WORLD — In an alternate universe it would not surprise me if that version of me is working in the horse racing business. I’m very happy to see Rocky Mountain Turf Club weekend action back on the scene.