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Hartley Miller's Slap Shots August 26th Edition

By Hartley Miller

How can a team finish in last place in a junior league and at the same time challenge for first place in a higher senior league? It may be a first for sports. Let’s take a look at the Prince George Grays Baseball Team. 

Yes, they are a perplexing bunch. The Grays stunk the joint out as they finished their worst ever season in the B.C. Junior Baseball Association with a 4-20 record. On the other hand, this same group of players, aged 18 to 21, finished 13-5 (.722 winning pct) just behind the 21-8 Shallard & Shallard Tigers (.724 winning pct) in the regular season of the PWB Senior Baseball League. This is a mystifying scenario with something not adding up. 

Second year skip Rob Haviland should be considered manager of the year in the Prince George Senior League, but an argument can be made that he deserves to be sacked from his duties in the Provincial Junior Loop. When asked if that’s a fair assessment, the 46-year-old Haviland said, “I don’t know, I can’t put my finger on it”. Haviland also stated, “We have a talented club” but offers no reason as to why the team underachieved at the junior level. Haviland considers the juniors more important, yet agrees the players get more pumped playing the higher caliber seniors. 

It is quite apparent the Grays have had more than their share of turmoil. Haviland openly admits that he was criticized by the players for having too many team meetings. He fired (can a volunteer be fired ?) assistant coach Dan Zacharuk early in the season, which left him with inexperienced Dave Lacasse, and part timers Dale McMann and Connor Flynn as helpers. He also took a bold step by releasing talented pitcher/infielder Joey Roberts during the season because he felt they weren’t on the same page (in other words attitude issues). Yet, Haviland welcomes both Roberts and Zacharuk back to the team next year, if they so desire. 

At the start of the season, General Manager and PG Sports Hall of Famer, John Kazakoff, who founded the club 10 years ago, predicted a 16-8 junior record. This guess was conservative compared to Haviland's projection of 18-6. These expectations might have been realistic considering the Grays won Provincials three years ago, and since that time have been acquiring talent from the highly successful PG Knights, who have been a Provincial power and medal winner at the Nationals. 

Kazakoff, who claims he is phasing himself out of the team due to a number of factors including a lack of enthusiasm, would like to see Haviland return to his position next year but with more help. As the 60-year-old Kaz states “he didn’t get the support from me that he should have”. Haviland wants to return to the job but knows that decision will be up to the team’s new executive. 

It is quite apparent there are many mitigating circumstances to the Gray's inconsistent season. Both Kazakoff and Haviland realize there is a lot going on behind the scenes that has attributed to this Jekyll and Hyde year, and chose not to share. 

There appears to be more questions than answers. Will Kaz actually just stick to selling cars (at family prices)? Will the team's new executive give Haviland another chance? And maybe the biggest question of all is there anybody in their organization that doesn't have “Gray” hair?


--The World Toe Wrestling champions are Paul Beech and his wife, Heather, who made his-and-her history by sweeping both titles in Ashbourne, England. Apparently neither wanted to comment afterward, fearing they may put their foot in their mouth.

--When the Baltimore Orioles hired Lee Mazzilli, he became the first manager in big league history with a double Z in his name. The Orioles recently fired Mazzilli and replaced him with another double Z — Sam Perlozzo.
Gregg Drinnan of the Kamloops Daily News writes, "Who's next? ZZ Top?"

--And from Greg Cote of the Miami Herald, on a new rule in the NFL this year which does not allow for horse-collar tackles.
"However, those tackles will still be allowed against the Colts and Broncos."

And, how is your week?

--Hartley Miller is the sports director for radio stations 94X and the Wolf@97FM. He also writes for the PG Free Press.

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