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GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE September, 1989

JUST JOCKS

NCBA rolls into season finale

by K.D. Mahnal

Competition in the North Coast Bowling Association's summer league is really heating up, with five teams still in the competition for the title.

The NCBA league bowls on Thursdays at Westgate Lanes.

Slush Sisters holds a 4 1/2-game lead over Summer Four Play, with Just Us, Friends of Dorothy and Leather Stallion Saloon all within six games.

Slush Sisters also holds high-team totals in a Single-Handicap game at 971 pins, and High-Handicap Series (threegame pin total) with a 2,671-pin count.

The top three individual leaders in the league in High Scratch Game are Paul Y. (Just Us), with a 300 game; Ted H. (Summer Four Play), 298; and Bill G. (Cleavers), 280.

High Scratch Series leaders are: Paul Y., 762; Bob L. (Just Us), 752; and Bill Harrison (Old Goose and Ganders),

729.

NCBA members represented Cleveland in the Maple Leaf Classic in Toronto last month.

The Classic is an International Gay Bowling Organization-sanctioned tournament. IGBO is the largest gay/lesbian international sports organization in the world, with more than 52,000 members in the United States and Canada.

NCBA will soon begin its 32-week season, held on Sundays at 1:30 p.m. at Ambassador-Superior Lanes, 1500 Superior Ave. This will be the ninth year for the league, sanctioned by IGBO. The league anticipates 32 teams with seven members, five bowlers and two alternates.

League Secretary Bill Harrison invites all community members to participate in a league open to men and women. “You meet new people and don't have to go to the bar or drink," he said. "It's a fun

Ladies touch football

by K.D. Mahnal

Cleveland's Ladies Touch Football league is planning to expand to include a fall season. The league currently operates a spring season, which begins in April.

The league plays under American touch football rules, which creates a less physical, more injury-free environment. "I don't want women to be hurt. I get upset if a girl gets hurt. She's off the field; she's not coming back in, even though she says she's not hurt," said league coordinator Cindy Pizzano.

'Touch football, under the American rules, has few similarities to professional football. For starters, the field is 45 by 80 yards, marked off in increments of 10, 20, 35 and 45 yards on each half. Kicking is limited to punts and kickoffs. Pointafter-touchdowns are running plays from the 5 yard-line for one point and the 10 yard-line for two points. Game length is

similar, with four 15-minute quarters, but only a five-minute half-time.

The league provides no insurance and a waiver must be signed before the start of the season. Each player is "responsible for their own injuries, but I will contact whoever it is that needs to be contacted if you are hurt," said Pizzano.

The league needs five teams to begin a fall season. Each team has a 12-player roster limit, with 7 members on the field during the game. A $175 team entry fee is required, which covers the field, officials' fees and banquet for the sixweek season. Players must purchase their own jerseys, with a number on the front and back. The fall season is scheduled to begin Sept. 17.

The league meets on Sundays at 9 a.m. at East Denison Elementary School. For more information, call Cindy Pizzano at 741-4095 or Vanessa Harris at 251-5426.

group."

The teams will bowl in four divisions, determined by team captains in a drawing.

Registration will be accepted until Sept. 17 and individuals will be placed on teams as needed after that time. The sponsors fee will be $45 and team members will pay $7 per week. These fees include prize money, a banquet, Ambassador's fees and nominal league administrative costs.

Teams or individuals interested in bowling with NCBA should contact Harrison at 228-2296.

NCBA Summer League Standings (as of 8-2-89)

TEAM

Slush Sisters

WON LOST

40.0 23.0

Summer Four Play Just Us

35.5 27.5

35.0 28.0

34.0 29.0

31.0 32.0

30.5 32.5

25.0 38.0

18.0

45.0

Friends of Dorothy Leather Stallion Old Goose & Ganders Love Me Dad, Make Me Squirt Cleavers Friends of Toto

Big Boys

JustUs captures second

by Ken Leckler

The Just Us softball team, made up mostly of players from Greater Cleveland, finished second in the Canada Cup Gay Invitational Softball Tournament in Toronto June 30-July 3.

The tournament was sanctioned by the North American Gay Amateur Athletic Alliance and featured teams from across the United States and Canada.

Just Us is a unique team in many respects. It is a self-sponsored co-ed tournament team that does not play together on a regular basis.

This was the sixth year Just Us has participated in the Canadian tournament. Previous finishes have included: Recreational Division Champs, and strong placement in the Competitive Division, 1984; second, 1988; third, 1985; and 1987; and fourth in 1986.

This year, Just Us competed in the Men's Open Division (formerly the Competitive Division), against all-male

teams.

In the opening day, Just Us defeated BJ's of Toronto, 19-12. In the next game, Just Us allowed only five hits and played superb defense in topping the Pilsner Penguins of San Francisco, 8-2.

The second day of tournament play

NCAA season winding down

by K.D. Mahnal

The North Coast Athletic Association softball league is approaching the conclusion its 1989 season.

A Sunday league which plays at Brookside Park at 12:30 p.m., the NCAA is in its seventh season. The league consists of six teams, with 20 players each. Amateur Softball Association rules govern league play.

League Commissioner Bob Johnson is extremely satisfied with this years' league. "I think the season is going great. It's one of the best seasons in years. It's been exciting," he said.

On July 30, the league accepted nominations for the NCAA All-Star Team. Each team nominated five players

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and two coaches. Only two players from each team and two coaches will be selected. The All Stars and eight players from the first place team will be chosen to represent Cleveland in a national tournament.

The Midwest Invitational Softball Tournament will be held in Detroit on Labor Day weekend. The NCAA All Stars will be Cleveland's ambassadors.

NCAA league leaders in Earned Run Average are pitchers: Dick P., Keys, 3.94; Dick F., Leather Stallion Saloon/Club Body Center-LSS/CBC, 5.25; and Michelle E., Memoirs, 7.71. Tops in Runs Batted In are: Bob C., A Man's World, and Bob Garfinkel, Keys, 20; Paul Y., Keys, and Tim S., LSS/CBC, 19; Curt Gage and Aaron H., LSS/CBC, with 19 and 17 RBI, respectively.

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Highest averages in the league are held by: Ken Leckler, Keys, .690; Bob C., .680; George B., Keys, .667; Garfinkel,.615; Gage, .607; Kevin H., Keys, .563; and Harold Weiss, A Man's World, .542.

Tops in home runs: Bob C. and Paul Y. with five each, Garfinkel with four and Ray D., Memoirs, Jim Michaels, A Man's World, and Tim S., three each. NCAA League standings (As of July 30)

TEAM KEYS

LESS/CBC

A MAN'S WORLD II

WON LOST

MEMOIRS

NUMBERS

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started with a most formidable foe, Frontier of New England. Frontier defeated Just Us in 1987 to claim the Competitive Division crown and Just Us had waited a long time to avenge that loss. The game featured an awesome display of both offense and defense, as Just Us overpowered Frontier with 25 hits in a slugfest that lasted only five innings. The final score was 25-1.

What a difference a day makes, as Just Us met Atlanta's Burkharts and were overwhelmed 12-2 for their first tournament loss. With only a 15-minute break, Just Us prepared to face their next opponent, the Los Angeles Goldcoast. LA won the coin toss and elected to bat first, hoping to attack an already flattened Just Us team. Just Us met the challenge, as batter Paul M. led the attack with a leadoff home run against the shallow playing LA defense. In addition to superb offense, the defense also sparkled as second base player Pam made a tremendous diving catch to kill an LA rally in the sixth inning. Just Us never looked back as they won 10-2. This was an especially sweet victory, since there were numerous derogatory remarks made about Cleveland by LA, and Just Us had earned the right to face Atlanta in the championship game.

Once again Atlanta proved to be the superior team as they crushed Just Us, 16-1. Bridesmaids again, but an accomplishment accepted with great pride.

The tournament ended with an awards banquet July 3 at the Westin Harbour Hotel. Just Us received silver medals and pitcher Ken L. was named to the all-tournament team.

Top averages were: Ken L. (.647), Bob C. (.571), Karen (.538), George (.555), Paul Y. (.500) and Paul M. (.404). Other members of Just Us are: Wendy, Wayne, Gwen, Pam, Steve, Bill, Rick, Mike and Margaret.

The Just Us team plans to travel to Washington, D.C., to represent Cleveland in an invitational tournament in October. ▼

Send all sports inquires and/or scores to: GPC, K.D.Mahnal,PO Box 556, Edgewater Branch, Lakewood, OH 44107.

781-0148

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