Times Colonist from Victoria, British Columbia, Canada • 13

TIMES COLONIST, VICTORIA, B.C. THURSDAY, MARCH 4,2010 B1 timescolonist.com WEB EXTRA: Wells thinking positive thoughts heading into new season Jays centre-fielder needs to stay healthy Editor: Brian Drewry Telephone: 250-380-5344 E-mail: sportstc.canwest.com SCOREBOARD, B4 NHL Vancouver 6 Detroit 3 Chicago 5 Edmonton 2 ECHL Bakersfield 3 Idaho 1 NBA Cleveland 111 New Jersey 92 GOLDEN BASEBALL LEAGUE PORTS Seals cut loose the team's first manager CLEVE DHEENSAW Times Colonist Darrell Evans will not return as manager of the Golden Baseball League's Victoria Seals. Seals president and co-owner Darren Parker said the club decided to part ways with Evans this week because "evidence has come to light to suggest Evans chose to solicit employment as a field manager with another team while still receiving a salary from the Seals for the 2010 season." next week. "We're fine. This doesn't set us back to lose someone is all part of the business in pro ball," said Parker.

"We're well connected in baseball the Parker family formerly owned the Triple-A Calgary Cannons and are talking to some quality people. A manager typically can't do too much in the minor pros until the major leagues make their spring training releases." Meanwhile, in Seals player news, outfielder Sergio Pedroza had his contract purchased by the Los Angeles Dodgers. Parker said outfielder Jamar Hill has signed in the Atlantic League and pitcher Isaac Hess is considering the Mexican Triple-A league. Former Oakland A's prospect Caonabo Cosme, who played last year for Calgary, will patrol third base this season at Royal Athletic. The Seals open the GBL season May 21 at Royal Athletic against the expansion Na Ikaika Koa Maui of Hawaii.

cdheensawtc.canwest.com Evans, one of only 45 players to have hit more than 400 career major-league home runs, cut a colourful swath around Royal Athletic Park as he compiled a 32-50 record in the Seals' inaugural 2009 season. The GBL has placed Evans on its suspended list, said Parker, pending resolution of financial and contractual issues with the club. "The combination of Mr. Evans' desire to seek other employment and the organization's subsequent loss in confidence left us with no option but to relieve him of his duties in all capacities with our club," said Parker. "I am incredibly frustrated and disappointed," Evans, a World Series champion with the 1984 Detroit Tigers, could not be reached for comment.

Evans had not put his name on a 2010 contract, but Parker said the Seals never stopped paying him. "The reason it hadn't been signed yet is that we wanted to define the wording in it a bit more and were working on that," said Parker. "But we were going to sign him and it is an inferred contract because Darrell has drawn salary for the 2010 season. Since the conclusion of the 2009 season, we have paid him between $15,000 and $18,000. He made a commitment to our organization for the 2010 season and this situation disappoints me." Parker said GBL managers make, on average, $44,000 US per year.

Parker said he has begun his search to replace Evans and expects to name the new Seals manager Get a grip Thunder strike down S-Kings Ix STOCKTON 4 VICTORIA 1 CLEVE DHEENSAW Times Colonist A wild day of goalie roulette saw Leland Irving of the Victoria Salmon Kings recalled by Abbots-ford of the American Hockey League. That gave last night's ECHL start to Glenn Fisher, who acquitted himself well by making 38 saves although the Salmon Kings lost 4-1 to the Thunder in Stockton, Calif. It started when Vesa Toskala, acquired by the Calgary Flames from Anaheim in trade for Curtis McElhinney, couldn't get to Calgary in time yesterday. That meant Matt Keetley, who has also played for the Salmon Kings this season, was called up to the Flames from Abbotsford of the AHL and Irving recalled from the Salmon Kings to replace Keetley in Abby. "It's tough on Fish Fisher with so many contracted goalies involved in the situation," noted for Oak Bay's Luke Campbell tries to tackle Eric Beban of St.

Game at Wallace Field last night. SMUS came out on top BRUCE STOTESBURY, TIMES COLONIST Michaels University School during the annual (Reese) Boot by a 23-20 score. Provincial junior boys basketball title on the line ward Adam Taylor, who scored Victoria's lone goal last night. "But he likes the challenge. He thrives on it.

When he gets in the net, he strives to stay in it." Stockton goalie Andrew Perugini faced only 28 Victoria shots. The busier Fisher was beaten by J.F. Caudron, Colin Hemingway and Chris D'Alvise while Oren Eizenmann scored into an empty net for the Thunder (26-22-8). The Salmon Kings (30-22-6) dressed Matt Pamidi of nearby San Jose as an emergency back-up. The club, as of last night, did not know when Irving will return.

Victoria plays in Stockton again tomorrow and Saturday as it tries to halt a four-game losing skid. "We're looking to stop the bleeding this weekend and get back on track," said Taylor. "It's tough going into places like Bakersfield where the Salmon Kings dropped two games last weekend and Stockton, especially after so long on the road the Salmon Kings' eight-game road swing ends on Saturday." day and four Island teams will be among the competitors. Along with SMUS, Island champion Mount Douglas, Lambrick Park and Campbell River's Timber-line will all be in attendance. Mount Doug is coming off a 55-32 win over SMUS in last weekend's Island final in Campbell River.

Elliot Rowe of Mount Doug was named the tournament MVP. Other teams at this weekend's tournament include Vancouver College, Pitt Meadows, Kitsilano, Burnaby South, Tamanawis, Kelowna, New Westminster, W.J. Mouat, Skeena, Duchess Park, Similkameen and LV. Rogers. Action begins today at i its- .5 6, rf wv.

9 a.m. and continues through Saturday's championship game at 2:30 p.m. The Island's top junior girls teams will be trekking to the University of Fraser Valley in Abbotsford this weekend for their provincial championship. Representing the Island will be Spectrum and Oak Bay. At last weekend's Island finals, Spectrum edged Oak Bay 4440.

At provincials, Spectrum, the No. 5 seed, opens play today against fourth-ranked Argyle. Oak Bay is seeded sixth and opens against second-ranked Handsworth. The Victoria-based Pacific Rim under-14 field lacrosse team capped off a near-perfect season with a provincial title last weekend in Burnaby. The Island squad, coached by former Shamrocks boss Walt Christian-son, rolled through the Tier 1 provincial tournament undefeated, including an 8-3 victory over previously undefeated Port Coquitlam.

They also had round-robin wins over South Fraser and Ridge Meadows before downing Langley 9-5 in the semifinals. The Pacific Rim team finished the season with an overall record of 29-1-1 with its only loss coming in an exhibition game against that same Port Coquitlam team. Spring is in the air, so that means it's time to dust off the tennis racquet. And the Oak Bay Recreation Centre has just the thing for tennis players. The South Island Indoor Challenge tournament goes April 2-4 (qualifying is March 25-28) with the winner taking home $2,000.

There will also be fastest serve and most accurate serve competitions, as wells as other skills competitions. To register, contact Dean Gillis at 250-475-7126. Spectators can purchase tickets at www.recreation.saanich.ca. The Falcon Artistic Gym at SMUS nastics Club's Level 2 and 3 athletes ventured up to Comox last weekend and several of them came home with medals. Leading the way was Emily Rebneris, who won the overall gold medal in the Level 2 Argo competition.

Rebneris was first on the beam, second on floor, and sixth on both the bars and vault. In the Level 2 Tyro event, Tyler Chequer earned an overall silver medal thanks to first-place finishes on the bars and beam. And in the Level 2 Novice competition, Gabrielle Janicki was second overall after she was runner-up on the bars and vault. AREN BRIAN DREWRY Names and Games bdrewrytc.canwest.com Some of the best junior boys basketball players in the province will be on display this weekend at St. Michaels University School.

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