The Oceanside Lions peewee football team, having completed a turnaround from a ninth-place season to a runner-up finish this year, is ready to embark on the postseason chase for the Island Gold Cup.
Now, they just need a field.
The Lions, a tackle football team made up of players from 8 to 12 years of age, were scheduled to host the Saanich Wolverines at 1 p.m. this Sunday at Ballenas Secondary School. But directors of the Greater Victoria Youth Football League, which hosts the cup playoffs, have informed the program the field is not safe for youth players and as of Tuesday afternoon were still exploring another venue for this weekend’s game.
“We don’t care where we play; we’re just ready to play some football,” Lions coach Bill Dubesky said. “We’ll play in a parking lot.”
Dubesky said league officials were exploring the possibility of fields in either Nanaimo or Ladysmith for Sunday’s game.
—NEWS Staff
Pro beach volleyball tour makes Parksville stop this weekend
The $25,000 Volleyball B.C. Pro Beach Tour makes its annual stop in Parksville this weekend with a crowd of contenders hoping to separate themselves from the pack in the third event of the summer series.
Play will be held Saturday and Sunday on the sand “courts” near the beach at Community Park, with competition held in both men’s and women’s doubles. The Clearly Parksville Pro boasts a total prize purse of $2,500, with $660 for the winning team, $340 for the runner-up and $160 for third place for both men and women.
After the first two series events, Alex Russell, Dan Caverly and Jonny Wiskar are knotted atop the leaderboard with 362 points.
On the women’s side, Juliana Kaufmanis holds the top spot but will not compete due to an exchange program. That opens the door for a tightly packed group of challengers including Quinci Birker and Darby Dunn (361 points each) and Tammy Thomas and Rachelle Thomas (358) to take a shot at the lead.
As part of Sunday’s action, Oceanside Outdoor Sport will kick off the Youth Sand Series for teams of youth doubles.
Registration for the Parksville Pro has closed, but interested players have another opportunity for competition the following week when Oceanside Outdoor Sport hosts Thibault’s Tournament Saturday, June 25 at Community Park.
The co-ed triples tournament for adults and youth of all skill levels is held in memory of Ryan Thibault, who played for VIU and for Team B.C. and who later coached volleyball in Nanaimo.
Cost is $75 per team, with all proceeds going to the Ryan Thibault Memorial Scholarship. Check-in at the beach begins at 9:15 a.m. and a social will follow the tournament.
To register for Thibault’s Tournament or for more info, visit www.oceansideoutdoorsport.com.
—NEWS Staff
Parksville golfer 6th in seniors
Josee Deslauriers of Parksville’s Morningstar Golf Club sat in a tie for fifth place, five strokes off the lead, after two rounds of the B.C. Senior and Super Senior Women’s Golf Championships Wednesday at Kelowna Golf & Country Club.
Deslauriers shot a 6-over-par 78 to start the three-day, 54-hole tourney Tuesday. She slipped to a 79 in round two but was at +11 155 and still within view of second-round leader Jackie Little of Port Alberni (77-73—150). Holly Horwood of Vancouver was one stroke back in second. The tourney wraps up Thursday with the final round.
—Submitted by B.C. Golf
