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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2018-07-05, Page 8PAGE 8. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2018. Sports Tigers welcome Steelers for rain -shortened affair Back on the diamond As has become an annual tradition, the Brussels Tigers fastball team welcomed a team from Australia to the village last week for some friendly competition. This time it was the Australian Junior Men's Steelers, a team full of young, talented players. The day kicked off with a special workshop for young area baseball players, but then ended early due to the threat of torrential rain. Before the storm, however, Ty Sebastian did his best to keep the Steelers off the bases throwing heat from the mound. (Shawn Lou gnirn photo) By Denny Scott The Citizen While rain truncated the event, the Brussels Tigers, for the third time in four years, hosted the Australian Junior Men's Steelers softball team on June 27. The event, which saw the teams host a youth workshop before the Tigers faced off against the Steelers, had scheduled two games, however, in anticipation of the coming rain, Tigers representative Shawn Daw said instead the two teams planned to face off for fun as long as they could, and ended up getting 10 innings in. "The game went very well," Daw said. "Ty Sebastian pitched very well, and kept the balls in the park so they were playable. We all hit fairly well. It was a good game all around" Sebastian played in Australia several years ago thanks to a connection between his father Paul and the coach of the Australian team, both of whom were originally from Milverton. This year was the first year the Tigers welcomed the Junior team. Daw explained that, in previous years, it was always the men's team. Before the games, the Steelers offered training, as they have every year they've visited, and First G2G tour shows promise A hot tour With 10 registered cyclists, the first-ever Canada Rides G2G challenge tour was a success according to organizers, despite the extreme heat over the weekend. Some of the riders are pictured here at the newly -installed Blyth Brook bridge west of Blyth on Sunday morning. From left: G2G Founding Director Doug Cerson, Alice Strachan, Dennis Miskie and Wayne Noble. (Shawn Loughlin photo) By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen Despite the unbearable heat over the weekend, organizer Grace Vanden Heuvel says the first-ever Canada Rides G2G (Goderich-to- Guelph Rail Trail) challenge tour was a success and will only continue to grow. The tour welcomed 10 participants and travelled all over Huron and Perth Counties from Friday, June 29 to Monday, July 2. Vanden Heuvel said that not all cyclists completed the tour, but that was to be expected, even without the oppressive heat. Vanden Heuvel said she knew the trail would be challenging thanks to the distances and the terrain, especially through Perth County. However, Vanden Heuvel said that for a first-year event, the tour represented a great first step for the G2G organization, which is hoping to make it an annual event. Those who did brave the heat and Continued on page 24 Daw said the experience was a good one for those who took part. "There was a good turnout," he said. "Lots of young kids came out to take advantage of that opportunity." The training, which Sebastian helped organize, consists of drills to help the young players reach their potential under the wing of the Australian players who regularly make this trip prior to the world championships. Aside from the youth involved in the training program, Daw said that there was a lot of support from the community. "The stands were full," he said. "It went very well, except for the weather of course." The Australian players stayed in Milverton, and, prior to the event, played in several other communities in preparation for the Junior Men's Softball World Championship set July 7-15 in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. The Junior Steelers are in Group A, which includes Japan, Argentina, Mexico, Denmark, South Africa and India. Canada is in Group B alongside opponents from New Zealand, the U.S., Czech Republic, Guatemala and Hong Kong. New Zealand is the top seed approaching the tournament, with Canada just behind in second. Canada's first game is on July 7, the first day of the tournament, against the United States. Canada's team includes players from across the country, many of whom are from Ontario, including players from Kitchener, Glencoe, Teeswater, Napanee, Thamesville, Clifford and Williamsford. 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