Since my last email, we've had the last day of qualifying races, then a rest day, and today's races - the first of the final series.

The C's are coming off an afternoon game the previous day with sights set on a penant win giving them the lead heading into the playoffs.
Teamed up with the BC Sports Hall of Fame they feature several past players who have put the game on the map at the Major League Level. Names such as Andrew Dawson and on this night Lee Smith, who has a story posted last week on the site for your reading.
Smith was welcomed by all 4,921 fans on hand to take in a game that is a must win game in order for the C's to clinch the league title and was pleased to get this response. He "thanked everyone for his welcome", then threw out the first pitch - down the pipe, so he hasn't lost his touch.
Salem started (LHP) 6'2" Escobar who is 2-4, while the C's started (RHP) 6'3" Christensen who is 0-1. The first inning was strong for  Salem-Kaiser as Izturis managed a single, Murray grounds out advancing Izturis to 2nd. Scoma walks followed by Burkhart grounding out allowing Izturis to score moving Scoma to 2nd. Medina singles on a fly ball to RF allowing Scoma to score. Medina takes 2nd on the throw. Jurica reaches on fielding error by shortstop to Kirkland placing Medina across home plate.
Kirby-Jones hammers his 13th homer this season on a long fly ball to LF setting the record which dates back to 2002. Landaeta singles on a line drive to RF. Kirkland steps up allowing Landaeta to steal 2nd. Kirkland strikes out on a call strike three bringing Lipkin up who singles on a line drive to RF. Landaeta moves to 3rd only to see Thompson grounds out scoring Landaeta moving Lipkin to 2nd. Nester walks and Pineda grounds into a force out.
The third saw both teams trade three up with three out.
The fourth sees Thompson ground into a force out scoring Landaeta putting Kirkland out at 2nd and advancing Thompson to 1st.
Scoma get's on base by a fielding error by Kirby-Jones moving Scoma to 2nd. Kaiser's Burkhart singled on a ground ball to CF Choice scoring Scoma. With Medina up to bat a, wild pitch by Zachary Thornton moving Burkhart to 2nd. Medina flies out to RF and Jurica grounds out.
The bottom of the 5th sees Pineda get a walk and with Bercume up to bat a wild pitch given up by Escobar puts Pineda on 2nd. Bercume is out on a sac-bunt moving Pineda to 3rd followed by Choice walking. Kirby-Jones grounds into a force out, second baseman scoring Pineda. Choice is put out at 2nd moving Kirby-Jones to 1st. Landaeta get's on due to a fielding error scoring Kirby-Jones. Kirkland grounds out ending the inning. 
The 6th had both teams go scoreless and the top of the 7th was the same for Salem.
Bottom of seven see's Pineda get put out on a 6-3 play, bringing Bercume up to the plate who takes a walk.
Choice swings at the first pitch but sent it to the parking lot for a call strike. Next pitch was a wild pitch that

Locally the Richmond Oval is set to organize various sports groups which will be a change from the speed skating they have hosted in the past.
Talks have been underway for sometime now and (sources tell me) several groups were in the running to put things in place. Hopefully it'll be a win-win for the Oval and the sporting community. This is always a tough decision for any community, but given what it mean's to Richmond no doubt this will be watched.
Having worked with Urban Rec in the past, they have set all sights on playing sports for various ages, be it young and/or old.
The announcement was made official earlier and will be embraced by the area.
Urban Recreation is the exclusive provider of adult coed league sports at the Richmond Olympic Oval starting effective September/2010. They will offer Volleyball, Basketball and Futsal (indoor soccer) leagues in the worlds newest and largest community.
The last time I was at the Oval they were in the process of setting the plates on the floor for the two ice hockey rinks they started. They are well underway, but not finished yet. The hockey part of the Oval will be taken care by the ASHL, which is located out of Burnaby 8-Rinks.
This is the league that has the officials pay to register in which to officiate for the season. Not a bad idea and it keeps everyone up to date with any rules and/or policy changes implemented by the leauge. No number (as of yet) has been announced regarding the number of teams that have signed up to play, but should be released shortly.
This one of a kind  facility will feature 4 full hardwood courts as well as 3 indoor soccer fields and a Floor hockey surface on a state of the art pulastic multi-sport flooring.
Leagues will run from 7pm - 11pm Tuesday, Wednesday &Thursday Nights

On an overcast day where the winds were 7 mph with winds blowing left to right, the C's were coming off a 5-4 loss the previous night, which included Fireworks, and today's focus is that of discipline and stronger fielding. Starting pitcher for Salem-Kaiser is (RHP) Shane Kaufman with a 1-4 record sporting a 5:02. In front of 4,635 fans the C's started (RHP) Matt Thomson who is 2-2 on four games. Looking at the league stats, it's interesting that no pitcher has a complete game.
Attendance to date is 131,991 vs last year it was 133,296 on 33 games. Last season the C's had three games in a row that were over 5,000 to put the attendance level at a high. From 2008 to 09 the attendance raised by 20,000 which say's a lot for either the game or what the C's have to offer.
The Volcanoes start was short lived while the C's as Pineda got a walk  followed by second-up Bercume managed a single on a fly ball to CF moving Pineda to 3rd. Choice grounds into a forceout scoring Pineda.
Salem-Kaiser's second inning was short lived, while the bottom of two was good for the C's. The first pitch of the inning saw Lipkin hit by a pitch on the upper left leg followed by Kirkland's single on a fly ball to RF putting Lipkin on 2nd. Thompson flies out to CF allowing Whitaker to get on due to a fielder's choice, Lipkin moves to 3rd and Kirkland takes 2nd. Pineda walks scoring Lipkin. Wade Kirkland gets to 3rd and Whitaker grabs 2nd.  
Bercume is put out on a sacrifice fly to RF scoring Kirkland. Choice walks while Whitaker get's to 3rd and Pineda get's 2nd. Kirby-Jones strikes out swinging retiring the side.
The third for Salem-Kaiser was the same as inning two, with nothing happeing, again scoreless inning.
The C's were active in the bottom of three as Landaeta singles on a fly ball to C  Lipkin singles on a fly ball to RF allowing Landaeta to move 2nd. Kirkland was called out on strikes as Thompson doubles to LF. Landaeta manages to score moving Lipkin to 3rd. Whitaker out on a sac-fly to RF scoring Lipkin.
The C's continued to play strong in the bottom of four grabbing one run as Kirby-Jones scored Bercume and Salem-Kaiser getting one in the top of the 5th, power was the name of the game for the C's on this day.
Choice nailed a long drive over the RF fence (photo include) for his 7th on the season, with no-one on to put them up 7-1.
Kaiser had a pitching change with Vidal replacing Thomson, due to a pitching count - coaches choice.
Proszek replaces Rodriguez on the mound and the bottom of seven see's Kirkland striking out and Thompson grounding out, Final out of the inning was Whitaker as struck out swinging at a fast inside curve ball.
Bottom of eight saw the C's walk up and the final out of the inning was to Choice who grounded out to third, only to leave the score at 7-1.
The top of the 9th saw the C's keep Salem-Kaiser "at bay" and shut the door.
In conversation with Rick Magnate following the game he states "he has not put any pressure on any of the players. Play the game and have fun, the rest will take care of itself".
C's win 7-1 and if Everett wins the magic number is one and if they lose the magic number is three.
Always interesting to talk to the visiting broadcaster and on this day I took him to the Whitecaps game at Swanguard Stadium where the "Cap's" played Austin. Turns out that Matt is a soccer fan and had the chance to take to Bobby Lendaruzzi, which for him was a real treat. Then we took him to the hotel in Richmond for his overdue rest.
More C's action Monday August 30th with first pitch set for 7:05 pm.

At the start of the season I had a chance to talk to Coquitlam Adanac's coach Curt Malawski while doing a broadcast for the Delta Islanders.
Curt is truly no stranger to the world of Lacrosse. His resume speaks for itself and with his sights set on bringing the Minto Cup back to Coquitlam, it made the sesaon all worthwhile for Curt and those with the team.

The last weekend of August features an evening of exceptional ball played in front of 5,157 die-hard fans.
The night started off with a display by the Vancouver Dog Squad which impressed everyone on hand. Prior to the game I bumped into a Pete Stromquist & his Son Bryce from Countenay who were attending the first Canadian's ball game - ever!
We chatted and after a while they managed to find where the seats were and enjoyed the game, which if I must say "it was almost like Christmas all over for both of them". Always fun to spend quality family time.
The top of the 1st saw Scoma singles to LF Bercume followed by a single by Burkhart who hit to LF sending Scoma to 2nd. Medina singled to CF scoring Scoma giving themm the early lead.
The bottom of one saw nothing exciting happen for the C's, but this would change in the bottom of two.
First up was Lipkin who managed a walk placing Landaeta up who grounded into a force out, Lipkin was put out at 2nd moving Landaeta to 1st. Kirkland singles on a line drive to RF sending Landaeta to 2nd. Thompson reaches on throwing error by third baseman scoring Landaeta moving Kirkland to 3rd and Thompson to 2nd. Nester walks and Pineda out on a sacrifice fly to CF scoring Kirkland. Bercume doubles to CF scoring Thompson and sending Nester to 3rd.
The bottom of three Lipkin grounding out having Landaeta singles to CF. Kirkland singles on a fly ball to LF moving Landaeta to 3rd.