Sports

 

The way baseball used to be
A look back at the Negro Leagues

 

by Jonathan D. Chapman

The crack of the bat, the smell of old
leather gloves, and freshly cut
grass. This picture has been in every
baseball nut’s head since the dawn
of baseball. The players especially
feel this love for the sport.
However, back in the days before
the signing of the great Jackie
Robinson, the players in the Negro
Leagues played for the love of the
game and not for the love of money.

Sport shorts

WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL

The Douglas College Women’s
Volleyball team travelled to
Langley on Friday, February 7 to
complete the 1997 BCCAA regular
season against the Trinity Western
University Spartans. With playoff
positions already determined for
both squads, this was basically a
tune-up match for the provincials,
as well as a preview to one of this
seasons semi-final matches.
Douglas came out strong and
dominated the first game, taking
TWU 15-4. The second game saw a
much closer affair, with TWU
hosting a 13-10 edge. Douglas
fought their way back to take leads
of 14-13 and 15-14, only to see
TWU even things up. Douglas
finally prevailed, escaping with a
17-15 win in the 32 minute game.
The third and final game was
never in doubt as Douglas took
leads of 10-6 and 13-7 in the 15-8
victory to close out the match by a

Eric Milner Photo

 

Don’t dare Eric with his Nikon.

PROFILE: Ross McDONALD

 

Eric Milner Photo

Those were the days that baseball
was in its purest form.

The first ever black league was
the Negro National League,
founded in 1920 with six Midwest-
ern teams playing in it. It lasted
through to 1930.

In 1923 the Eastern Colored
League formed and raided star
players from the west. Some of the
stars were Ernie Banks, Bill Foster,
and Joe Williams, just to name a
few. The league survived until 1929

3-0 (15-4, 17-15, 15-8) game score.

Leading the attack for Douglas
was second year power hitter
Stacy Dupuis with 15 kills, 7
blocks and 3 ace serves. Also
contributing to a balanced attack
was Becki Kosinski with 8 kills,
Coralie Hiemstra (7 kills, 6
blocks), and Vesna Rukavina (7
kills, 5 blocks).

With the victory Douglas
closes out the season with a 8-2
regular season record, good for
second place behind 10-0
Malaspina. The Royals are now
off to the Provincial Champion-
ships on the weekend of Febru-
ary 21 and 22 at Malaspina.
Douglas will get a first round bi
and await the winner of the
Capilano and TWU match. The
finals are set for 6 pm.

MEN’S VOLLEYBALL

The men also made the trek to
Langley to take on the second
place TWU Spartans. The men
were looking to extend their
BCCAA league undefeated streak
to 20 matches, covering two perfect
seasons. Unfortunately, they ran
into a hot TWU squad and a
boisterous TWU cheering section.
TWU defeated the Royals by a 3-2
(15-11, 6-15, 15-5, 9-15, 15-10)
match score.

Douglas was led by Ken
Kliendienst with 25 kills and
Darren Ettles with 21. With the loss

and hosted four world series, from
1924-27.

But as the Stock market came
crashing down in 1929, so did the
Negro Leagues. From 1931-32
teams formed and folded in the
same year because of lack of money.
During the depression money was
scarce and so were fans.

By 1933, one league of six to eight
teams was formed and the National
Negro League was back in business.
In 1937 two regional leagues

 

the Royals fell to 9-1, but still in
first place.

The men will also go to the
island for the Provincial Champi- —
onship. They also get a first round
bi, while awaiting the winner of
the Camosun and Cariboo match.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Two extremely well fought contests
this weekend: Douglas played a
smart strategic game in the second
half against UCFV, but could not
put the ball in the ocean! The team
shot 20% from the floor and 50%
from the line. Bright light for
Douglas was Leanne Trotter who

et.
ov
—
»s
2
~
La

reappeared—the National Negro
League (in the east) and the
American Negro League (in the
west). Each league had six teams
with the two top teams in each
league playing each other in a black
world series in September or
October. By this time the leagues
were being flooded with talented
young Dominicans and Mexicans.
This shift took away from many
black players much like the high
demand for young European

only scored 6 points on the
night, but dominated on
defense. Top scorers were
Jasmine Foreman (14 points),
Andrea Dufva (12 points), and
Stacy Reykdal (11 points) ina
losing cause. The final score
was 67-44.
The bus ride to Kelowna was
. fine, with both teams getting
psyched by watching the
basketball classic Hoosiers. It
worked. After a slim one point
lead at the half, Douglas
executed their inside game to a
tee, resulting in a 40-23 romp-
ing in the second. Once again
the post players led the way.
Stacy Reykdal was incredible
with a 23 point, 7 rebound
night. It should be noted that
Darcy Savage, Leanne Trotter
and Rosleyn Kraft each had 8
assists to allow teammates to score
easily.

MEN’S BASKETBALL

On Friday, February 7,the Royals
travelled to Abbotsford to battle
against UCFV. The game was even
through the first five minutes, until
UCFV went ona nine point run.
The Cascades continued to outplay
the Royals and increased their lead
to 54-42 at the half. Douglas went
down by 20 early in the second half,
but battled back to trail 65-57
midway through the period.
However, a couple of scoring runs

players in today’s National Hock
League leads to North American
players being overlooked.

The day that spark plugged the
Negro League’s death was in 1945
when Brooklyn Dodgers’ GM,
Branch Rickey, signed Jackie
Robinson. As the continued
demand for negro baseball playe
increased, the black teams had no
choice but to die off. By 1949, the
league remained only in the hearts
of the fans.

sealed the game for UCFV as they
went on to a 98-81 victory and a
season split with the Royals.
Leading the way for Douglas was
Lee Craven with 27 points and 11
rebounds, while second year guard
Ravi Duhra pitched in 12 points.

Saturday, February 8, the Royals
traveled to Kelowna for a game
against the OUC Lakers. The Lak
held the lead for most of the first
half, as both teams traded baskets.
Douglas surged on a 7-0 run, and
hit a three pointer at the buzzer to
lead 50-43 at half-time. The secon
half was a closely played affair wit!
both teams trying to gain momen-
tum. The Royals’ tough defense
enabled them to dominate down
the stretch, outscoring the Lakers
21-8 on their way to a 96-78 win.
Lee Craven scored his second
double-double in as many nights
hitting for 20 points and 11 re-
bounds, while second-year forwar
Reece Bennett had a strong game
adding 12 points.

   

 

BADMINTON

In the BCCAA’s fifth tournament
Douglas placed a solid second
behind UCC. They were lead by
the women’s doubles team of Juli
Chen and Gwen Chua. Douglas
also placed second in the league
standings and is now going to
travel to UCC for the BCCAA
Championships on February 22-

 

Age: 19

Program: Marketing Man-
agement

Why do you have the

desire to play wheelchair
basketball?

Basketball is a great sport to
play on its own, and the extra
challenges the chair provides
makes this incorporation a
greater sport to play.

How would you describe
yourself on the court?

I am intense on the court
because I want to play my
best. I do what it takes for my
team to come together, that
everyone is having fun and is
comfortable.

 

Classifieds

 

Accommodations
Roommate wanted for house near
22nd St. SkyTrain. Must be under 30,
alive, able to pay bills, considerate,
animal friendly, have a fresh change
of CD’s, and female. 524-1454

20-year-old studious male looking for
roommate for March 1st in spacious,
semi-furnished, top floor, two-
bedroom apartment across from
Royal Columbian Hospital—10
minute bus ride to school. $360/
month + hydro, laundry available.
Call Andrew at 517-8860

Volunteer Public Service

Burnaby Volunteer Centre has
volunteer opportunities in the
following areas: assist & supervise
children’s skating group, ceramics,
out-trips with children ages 6-12,
helping with seniors, assisting pre-
school children, adult ESL. For more
information call 294-5533

MusicWest is looking for volunteers
to help in its 6th annual MusicWest
Conference. Hospitality, sound &
light techs, crew chiefs, computers,

media, admin., stage managers, site
crews, security, transportation,
production, registration, etc.
Pick up or send your application to
#306-21 Water St., Vancouver, or
call Jolene Cumming at 684-9338 or
FAX 684-9337, or email
volunteers@musicwest.com

Surrey, Delta Immigrant Services,
Host Program needs hosts and
volunteers call Chris at 597-0205

Courses
Low impact beginners aerobics
classes now being offered at John
Robson Elementary School (kitty
corner from Douglas). Mon & Thurs
evenings 5 to 6 pm. Drop-ins
welcome $3. Use gym doors.

The People’s Law School is now
offering courses in Legal Help: How
much does it cost, Feb 20; Buying a
Condominium, Feb 24; Home
Renovations, Feb 26; and Seniors
Benefits, Feb 28. For more
information call Jeane Cook 331-
5412.

The Learning Centre is offeri
seminars in Memory Strategies Tu
Feb 22, 4-6 pm, room 1803; a
Exam Writing Tues Feb 25, 4-6 p
room 2802

For Sa
Poison, Native Tongue CD, inqui
at Other Press

1980 BUICK Skylark, ‘Limite
original owner, 176 000 kms;
engine; 4 speed stickshi
accessories; excellent conditio
driven by economist—follow the |
of supply and demand (Y
demand a great car: | supply it). B
offer around $1500. Colle
telephone (leave message) 52
5173; home phone 294-4557

Mi
Wanted, dramatic situations f
research. Call Rachel at 527-20
with your stories of highly emotio'
events and situations that you wai
need to share. Confidential
assured.

 

 

12 February 171997 The Other Press