Player development is Twins’ focu Bob Mackin Sports Reporter bmackin@nsnews.com PLAY ball! The North Shore Twins opened the 2000 Premier Baseball League season Saturday when they split a dou- bleheader with the North Delta Blue c Jays. The Twins were edged 5-4 at Park, kgate Field, but handily defeated the Jays 14-4 in the second game. Jeff St. Pierre had a home run and four KBIs on the day for the Twins. Mark Roberts and Adam Daniels both had a pair of doubles. In a scheduled exhibition doubleheader Sunday, the Twins edged the visiting Coquitiam Reds 8-7 and 10-1. - Tom Huntingford was six- for-eight on the day with four runs and two RBIs. Pierre had : three RBIs. ; The Twins mect ‘the ‘Abbotsford ‘Cardinals fora 1 pm. twiobill on . Saturday re returning home Sunday - to host Whalley’s Fraser Valley cue First pitch at Parkgate is is m. PThe Twins play.a a 90 game | x season and tournament schedule through the first week *- of August with another 20 “fall _ Abbotsford and Whalley. Players range in age trom 15 to 18. The Twins won the Premier championship tournament: in 1998 after posting a 6]-27 overall reco: The team went 51-39 over- all in 1999 and was third in the league championship tourna- ment. Coach Dave Empey said the Twins’ gual isn’t to win cham- ball” "games - in September.:- Le They're in ‘the 12-team. “PBL os NOATH. Shore Twins: catcher doit St. “le 's als: an interesting’ * ‘coincidence to be told that’ jung cancer is now killing -- _“- more vomen (that’s your.” ea to, change their mind: ‘For example, an ‘employee ‘a' spontaneous abor- , low birth weight baby, ° ‘or; God forbid, contracting . er-and § suing their damages. The . nkee is group” _ wife, mother, sister and lover, don’t forget? than breast: can? cer! Oh yes, the legal position. By-laws went into effect . this year in all three North . Shore municipalities, effective- - ly-banning smoking in pubs . and restaurants irrespective of: any change in position by the: WCB: (in West Van, the* bys law allows for a separately ~ only thio: SPORTS pionships, but to send players to higher levels of baseball — provincially, nationally and internationally. “Losing players to (provin- cial or national teams) makes it very difficult for the Twins to win championships as the sea- son progresses, but that isn’t the point of the team,” Empcy said. “Player development is what it’s about. We're here to send our players to selects, to "sealed room with its own venting ‘system). “I just hope the local coun- ve dillors will want to do the “right thing and take a firm and courageous position on behalf of the vast majority. “They have the power to _ force ‘compliance or rescind business licences for violators "and I challenge them to take a firm and ethical stand. Let's remember that the that stay in the middle of the road are dead “ skunks and yellow lines and college and to the pros.” Twins’ graduate Ryan Dempster, 22, is a starting pitcher with the Florida Marlins. He was 8-13 in his first. cwo. seasons in the National League. Other ex-Twins working toward big league careers include minor leaguers Simon Pond (Montreal Ex tem) and Clint Hodeed (Les Angeles Dodgers’ system). Plerre tags Brock Griffin of the Coquitiam _ Reds during the first game of ‘Sunday’ 's doubleheader at Parkgate Field. — bids smoke I’m sure they wouldn’t want to collectively be added to that list. On a closing note, a com- ment I have used before cour- tesy of Anglo-Irish statesman and political philosopher Edmund Burke. “The only thing necessary for the tri- umph of evil is for good men lo nothing.” Shane Collins is a physical trainer, athletic conch and marathon swimmer. He is also n professional speaker on the sub- fect of sport and health. Wednesday, Aoril 5, 2000 — Nerth Shore News - 41 COME to the woods of North Vancouver Sunday and see if Tiger gets another green jack- et. Northlands Golf Course is inviting | olfers to try and master the course in the morning and stay through the afternoon for final round cov- erage of the 2000 Masters on a large-screen TV. Masters Mania begins with a7 a.m. shotgun start. A view- ing party in the Northlands Bar and Grill begins at noon. “The Masters is one tour- nament that news travels fast about who — won,” said Northlands’ general manager Laurie Craddock. “The aver- age ardent golfer or interested tournament-watcher on Masters Sunday has to give up a day’s golfso he can sit by the TV and watch it. Or often he’s trying to escape everybody LEAGUE INFO. g Golf and see Masters after a game of golf before he gets home to watch it on tape.” There is space for up to 128 golfers. Green fees will be the regular $47 per golfer. Craddock promises prizes galore and a barbeque at the 19.1 hole. “Pm trying to present Northlands as a golf facility that’s plugged into the game of gol that's linked with the mentality of the interested golfer,” Craddock says. Northlands, near = the entrance to Mount Seymour Provincial Park, opened in 1997 and is owned by the District of North Vancouver. The Masters, first cun in 1934, begins Thursday in Augusta, Ga. Winners are tra- ditionally presented with a en blazer. Call 924-2950 for more information. — Bob Mackin O Teams & Individuals are welcome Ci Games: 2 Exhibition, 8 Divisional And 2 Playotf Games Guarantced ( Teams Will Be Seeded According To Caliber - C} Games Are Played Any Day Of The Week: -§ C Weekday Start Times At 6:00 P.M. CO Latest Weekday Start Time 10:30 P.M. 1] Playoff Is A True Double Knock Out << 0 11/4 Hour Free Practice Session Season Starts April 17, 2000. . Enis late Jove Cost $2460 per team ast fncloted. Ef, Deposit ....se..s0608 + 6900.00 2, Payment by May ist... ..$1200.00 3. Final payment May 19th .. $950.00 Total Regular Cost $2450 GST included | * 2 Referees and a scorekeeper provided e¢ Game format 10 min, 15 min, 15 minutes period ¢ All Games ston time Contact: Looking for credit courses and programs avail- JUDSON SELIG able year-round, delivered where you live? ; Tel: 291-0626 #248 Fax: 291-2213 Web: wwwicesports.com This..:ing of starting, completing, or adding to your university degree? BC Open University combines the flexibility you need with the recognized credentials you want. Phone: 604 431-3300 -663-97 | | student@ola.bc.ca wwwy.ola.bc.ca/bcou ©” BC Lower Mainland) oll-free) ~ BURNABY | 6501. Sprott Street. 291-0626. - Email: Website: BCOU is a fully accredited BC public university and a member of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada. a a) ‘A Dission af the Open Learning Agency