MONTREAL, Quebec - The bad luck that Santa Maria's Paul Edwards has at Montreal's Circuit Gilles Villeneuve continued on Friday when a possible podium finish was thrwarted by a failed fuel gamble in the Grand-Am Rolex Series Montreal 200.

Edwards and co-driver Kelly Collins had battled back from an early-race incident to possibly score a top-three finish in the GT category, only to have their No. 07 Banner Engineering Pontiac GXP.R run out of fuel on the final half-lap.

The duo qualified fifth on the GT grid at the island circuit on the St. Lawrence River, but another driver collided with Collins on the final chicane before the start/finish line, sending him spinning back to 13th.

A gamble on fuel mileage allowed them to send Edwards back out after a caution in second place, where they ran until the end.

The seventh-place finish, added to the win by fellow Pontiac drivers Robin Liddell of England and Georgia's Andrew Davis, closed the gap that Edwards and Collins had in the GT point standings. The Banner duo now lead the Speedsource Mazda RX-8 of Nick Ham and Sylvain Tremblay by only six points (316-310), while Liddell and Davis moved to third, 16 points behind the leaders.

The GT class returns to action on August 31 at the new Thunderbolt Raceway in south New Jersey.

Semi-pro baseball

Advertisement

Indians' Dodos earns CCL MVP honor

Santa Maria Indian Jimmy Dodos is the 2008 California Collegiate League MVP.

Dodos, who starred for Hancock College and Chico State University, was one of the Indians' most consistently productive hitters this year. He was also a dependable outfielder.

Dodos started out the season strong at the plate, went into a brief slump, then hit well the rest of the season.

Besides playing center field, Dodos handled some of the Indians' pitching duties. He has one season left at Chico State.

The Indians' season is complete. The team will not be moving on to the NBC World Series.

Shoemaker's blast gives Packers win

Brady Shoemaker's two-run home run in the fifth inning gave the Santa Maria Valley Packers a 3-2 win over the San Luis Obispo Blues at Sinsheimer Park in San Luis Obispo Friday night.

Packers starting pitcher Paul Tremlin earnd the win. He worked six innings. Jeff Farnham gave the Packers (29-19) their other run with a double in the third inning.

Santa Maria's home finale is at noon against the Blues today at Hancock College's John Osborne Field. Raffle prizes will be offered.

The Packers wrap up their season with a 6 p.m. game today against the Blues at Sinsheimer.

Softball

California Waves slate tryouts

The Oxnard-based California Waves 18-Under Gold squad is seeking players for the 2008-09 season.

Tryouts are on Aug. 24 and 31st at Pacifica High School in Oxnard at the corner of Oxnard Blvd. and Gonzalez Road from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Players are advised to arrive early in order to have time to complete paperwork and stretch.

The fall schedule inlcudes the R&R Gold Showcase in September; the Las Vegas Showcase and Ocktoberfest Lancaster in October; and the Batbusters Prethanksgiving and Diamond Sports Elite Showcase in Plano, Texas in November.

Call Jess at 805-559-5983 or e-mal ca-waves@hotmail.com to confirm attendance at the tryouts.

August 2, 2008