Outdoor sports rule the spring
With the Alberta Schools Athletic Association High School Badminton Championships now in the history books, the remaining 2016-17 high school athletic events are all outdoor-based. And there is certainly is a wide variety to choose from. ••• Both the Southern Alberta High School Baseball League and the Lethbridge and District High School Baseball League are in their regular season stretch runs. In fact, the Lethbridge and District loop’s regular season ends Tuesday, with playoffs to follow next Wednesday and Thursday. The Southern Alberta circuit is one week behind that timeline.
I’m happy to see teams from both local outfits are in the Chinook Baseball Invitational Tournament Thursday-Saturday. The event will primarily be held on the lovingly-manicured Lloyd Nolan Yard diamond. Chinook entertains Raymond, Medicine Hat McCoy, LCI, Trail, B.C., Magrath, Catholic Central and Coaldale Kate Andrews. ••• The Southern Alberta Girls High School Slopitch League regular season features doubleheaders most weekdays. This Saturday I note Kate Andrews, a seeming local slopitch Mecca, hosts its very likely under-billed No Frills Tournament. ••• Southern Alberta High School Rugby League regular season games are also weekday staples. This Saturday I see the Pronghorn JV Rugby Festival, hosted (not surprisingly considering the hats Toby
Boulet wears with both organizations) along with Winston Churchill, hits the North Lethbridge Sports Park East Sherring Rugby Field.
According to info I received, the girls squads entered represent Fort Macleod F.P. Walshe, Raymond, LCI, Vulcan County Central and Cardston. Boys entrants are Churchill, Chinook, Walshe, LCI, County Central and (Red Deer/Calgary?; probably not Wilcox, Saskatchewan; most assuredly not South Bend, Indiana) Notre Dame. ••• We are about to see the high school track season accelerate.
I know meets are a May staple at the modern and spacious University of Lethbridge Community Stadium venue.
The Lethbridge City High School Track and Field Championships are set for Thursday, May 18 there. The following Thursday, May 25, the South Zone High School Track and Field Championshps are in the spotlight. WELLSIE’S WORLD — I’m pretty sure the most decorated cumulatively individual and team local high school boys basketball and football player from this area dating back to the fall of 1973 (I’ll let you guess why I pick that start date) is Son of Raymond
Jimmy Ralph. He was featured on ASAA unlimited-enrolment provincial champions in both sports (multiple in football), and earned two Southern Alberta High School Football League most valuable player awards, plus a pair of Southern Alberta 4A Boys High School Basketball League MVPs. Etc., Etc. You get the glorious picture. Personally, I always thought his most elite upside by far was in baseball, where Ralph represented Canada in the World Junior Championships. But, that’s too long a topic to get into in depth here.
Occasionally — actually somewhat frequently — I get asked what the let’s guess in reality fivefoot-nine, 185pounder has done athletically since high school? Well, the order I recall, is Calgary Colts junior football, Lethbridge College basketball, Weber State football (redshirted; practised but didn’t play) and University of Alberta football. I may have missed a stop, or got the order wrong, but that’s the gist.
Ralph didn’t play competitive sports in the 2016-17 university year. I’ve been told he’s getting close to earning an Education Degree from the U of A. However, I noted on Twitter Tuesday he has signed with the Toronto Argos as a free agent and is looking to earn a CFL roster spot in training camp as a receiver.
I’m aware the Canada West Universities Athletic Association tall foreheads (figuratively — at least for the most-part) are having their annual general meeting here this week. Welcome back to 1989-2001 University of Lethbridge men’s basketball head coach Dave Crook, who is now the athletic director (whatever the formal title) at the University of Winnipeg. As well, not sure if Ken Olynyk, Horns men’s hoop HC from 1979-88 (Cal O’Brien was the interim HC the season between) is here or not, but if so, I know he still has friends that wish him well.
Ken is sooner rather-thanlater retiring as the AD at Thompson Rivers in Kamloops. Last time I heard from him he was in Boston watching son
Kelly. Perhaps the perceived by many NBA Public Enemy Number One goon (what a joke that is, but really Kelly probably should learn how to box out without employing grappling techniques) might benefit from his dad as a rather intimidating perceived security presence this week, eh. I really do believe Kelly’s now exponentially increased worldwide profile (he’s become an ESPN staple for example) won’t hurt overall when the Celtics restricted free agent becomes an even richer 26-year-old this summer. Well, perhaps Cleveland and Washington won’t be bidders.
I’m happy to see live Rocky Mountain Turf Club horse racing returns to the area this weekend.