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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2007-09-20, Page 8SportsPAGE 8. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2007. The Blyth PeeWee softball team played three very exciting games against Mildmay in the WOAA major semi-finals. Game one, in a two-out-of-three series, was played in Mildmay on Sept. 10. After giving up three runs in the first inning Blyth battled back with one run in the second and third innings to keep the game close. Mildmay scored two more before Collin Whitfield hit a two-run homer. However Mildmay put two more across to take the first game by a 7-4 score. Game two saw Blyth facing elimination and the end of their ball season, but the team did not want to see that happen. Down 2-0, Connor Prescott led off the second inning with a double. Whitfield followed with a walk and on the attempted double steal the ball skimmed out to left field allowing both runners to score, thus tying the game. Blyth broke the game open in the third inning as the Mildmay pitcher had trouble hitting the strike zone. Two singles and a couple of walks set up a bases loaded at bat for Whitfield. He took full advantage of the situation, living a hard shot down the first base line for a grand slam and his second homerun in as many games. Not wanting to say die, Mildmay came back with five runs of their own to tie the game again. In the bottom of the fourth inning Kayla Black led off with a walk followed by Adam Cronin hitting one to the fence scoring Black. With Blyth leading by one run Mildmay came to bat in the last inning determined to eliminate the home team. Mildmay scored four runs to go up by three and were three out away from moving on to the finals. The Blyth team had other plans. After Tyler Hallahan got hit by a pitch Lukas Witherspoon followed with a double. Whitfield then doubled both of them home and K. Black singled Whitfield home to tie the game. Cronin hit a single before Kirby Cook came to bat with two out and grounded a hard shot through second base to drive in the winning run. The final score was Blyth 12, Mildmay 11. Game three was held in Blyth on a cold Saturday (Sept. 15) night. Mildmay had the hot bats once again in the first inning scoring four runs. Blyth kept the game close as K. Black tripled, in the first inning, followed by a sac fly by Tyler Stevenson, then in the second inning Ty Sebastian hit a solo homerun. Mildmay got single runs in each the third and fourth innings to take a 6-2 lead. Blyth showed that they were not out of it and got the bats warmed up. PeeWees still going in playoffs The Huron County Men’s Fastball League held its year-end tournament in Exeter this past weekend. The Walton Brewers played their first game on Saturday morning against the Zurich Rangers. The Brewers Ron Strome drove in the winning run in the extra inning game to win 3-2. In the Brewers second game against the Belmore Jrs. Walton’s victory was sealed with Jamie Pearn’s homerun to finish the game 4-2. Sunday morning saw Walton against the league leaders the Exeter Braves. It was a good game with Walton falling 5-2 for their first loss of the true double knockout tournament. Facing the Goderich Gators in the next game, the Brewers bats came alive in the sixth inning to outscore the Gators 8-5 for the final core and a berth in the final. The Brewers again faced the undefeated Braves. It was a high scoring game with both teams hitting the ball well. The leader changed almost every inning and at the end of six and a half innings the teams were tied with the home team of Exeter coming to bat. A bloop hit and a deflection put two Braves on. A strikeout and a force out, then an intentional walk to the top batter of the Braves loaded the bases with two out. A slap single ended the game in Exeter’s favour by a score of 10-9. As with the year-end standings Exeter finished first for the year and the tournament. The Walton Brewers finished second for the year and was tournament runnerup. It was a great year for the Walton Brewers. Leonhardt, who pitched all but two innings in the five games was presented with the league award for top pitcher having a 1.11 earned run average for the season. Teamwork Allyson Cardiff has the ball and her eye on the play, while teammate Corrie Sholdice rushes in for support. The pair are members of the Twister Sisters slo-pitch team which took on the Walton Wonders in a game on Saturday. Teams ‘dressed’ for the fun of it at the year-end tournament. (Vicky Bremner photo) Brewers finish second Last Thursday the St. Anne’s cross country team travelled to the UWO Invitational in London to compete against 20 of the regions’ top programs. Eagles runners more than held their own as four divisional teams placed in the top five. Highlighting the strong performance was the midget boys team that won its division. Placers on the team included Grant Sparling, fourth, Pat Hartman, ninth, Stephen Lambert, 11th and Matthew Steele, 16th. Leading the displacers were Simon Fernandes, 22nd and Craig Thompson, 23rd. The senior boys and midget girls both placed fourth respectively. The seniors were led by Dean Reynolds, sixth and Matt Boven, 14th. Julia Huber paced the Midgets with a 10th-place finish. Eagles hold their own ANYONE INTERESTED IN PLAYING Men’s Town League Hockey 19 and over Contact: Kevin ~ 519-887-9078 Mike ~ 519-887-6449 Warm-up skate on October 4 & 11 at 9:00 Start date October 18 at 9:00 MEN’S WORKWEAR AND CASUAL WEAR NO TAX ON ALL CASUAL & WORK CLOTHING CUSTOMER APPRECIATION 180 JOSEPHINE ST., WINGHAM 357-4503 September 20th, 21st & 22nd The Wingham golf course John Malick Memorial Senior Men’s Tournament was held on Sept. 12 with 60 seniors competing. Golfers were on hand from Listowel, Ingersoll, Goderich, Lucknow, Kincardine, Port Albert, Mississauga, Kitchener, Calgary and Wingham. Local golfer, Don Rae, a friend of John Malick, had a prize table second to none and all 60 golfers went home with a great prize. Winners of the John Malick trophy with the low gross of 73 was Rod Dench from Ingersoll. This was the second time Rod had won the trophy having won it in 2004. Low gross in the age group 60 - 69 was Wayne Pearen from Kitchener’s Westmount Club with a 78. Listowel’s Bob Zister captured the low gross for 70-plus age group. Low nets were won by Bob Johnston in the 50-59 age group, George Szdrek in the 60-69 age group and Don Rae in the 70-plus age group. All the low-net winners were members of the local club. Closest to the pin prizes were won by Blackhorse member Ted Hnatkowski on number two, Kitchener’s Wayne Pearen on number four and Listowel’s Bob Zister on number eight. Bill Robinson won the award for closest to the rope on number one putting his ball just inches from the rope. Golf operations manager Dave Meriam did an excellent job in presenting the prizes and Malick’s close friend, Paul Elgie entertained all reminiscing of many good times with John and entolling the great virtues of the once popular member of the local club. The evening was topped with a great steak meal with all the trimmings dished up by Lauri Sturgeon. *** With shorter days numbers were down for Wednesday men’s night. Despite the low number there was some fine hitting. Dan Campbell had a birdie on the second hole. With pars on all three par threes and a birdie on number six Rob Gallaher captured the low gross with a fine round of 39. Low gross honours went to Steve Nixon. *** There was a good turnout for Buff’s gang Thursday night golf action. There was a tie for low score this week as Mark Foxton and Carl Powell both came in with 39, with third spot going to Perry Hauck with a 42. Doug Neil won the closest to the pin on number two although his shot was anything but close being 45 feet from the pin. Carl Powell had the hot putter sinking the longest putt on number six. Terry Walker, on his first time out with the Thursday crew, won the hidden score award. Bob Dickert was a very happy golfer as he came in with a 45, a new low score for Bob. *** Sept. 23 is the curlers’ annual barbecue with reduced golf rates for the day. This is the day many get their once-a-year game of golf and others play their final game of the year before putting away the clubs. Tee times are going fast so call 519-357-2179 soon to book your tee time for this fun day of golf. Short Putts – By Bill Johnston Continued on page 9 Continued on page 9