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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1997-10-08, Page 9THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 8,1997. PAGE 9. Way to go I 1997 Huron County & WOAA Champs The Brussels Tigers Tigers tops Back row, from left: Ron Strome, Corey McKee, Doug Conley. Middle: Neill. Front: Doug McArter, Todd Uhrig, Pete Exel Murray Pipe Tim Fritz Dave Smith, Steve Fritz, Mark Pennington, Greg Fritz, Ken Higgins, Brian Doug Shaw. Absent: Brett Clarkson, Shawn Conley For the third year running Brussels Tigers are the Huron County Fastball League title champs and for the first time have added the WOAA grand championship to cap off a great 1997 season. It wasn't looking so positive at the begnning of the season. This year was a slow start for the Brussels Tigers, who played many times short-staffed, and succeeded by the beginning of June to build a one win, four loss record. By the middle of the month they had added one more in the loss column. Then with true championship determination and drive, things started to shift as the Tigers ripped through three games to bring their record up to four wins, five losses. By the time they got to the playoffs they were on a tear. After taking the first round they went into the second round playoffs all over the opposition, winning three games straight. The members of this year’s WOAA and Huron County Men's Fastball League Championship Tigers team are: Tim Fritz, Greg Fritz, Steve Fritz, Murray Pipe, Todd Uhrig, Ken Higgins, Brian Niell, Doug Conley, Ron Strome, Doug Shaw, Brett Clarkson, Shawn Conley, Dave Smith, Cory McKee, Pete Exel, Mark Pennington, and Coach Doug McArter. The history The Tigers have had many accomplishments since their Tri-County League beginning. They began in 1981 as a Junior Fastball team sponsored by Bruce McCall and Brussels Stockyards Ltd. At this point a name for the team had not been settled upon but consideration was being given to the Junior Bulls, for the local hockey team. The final decision was made to keep baseball and hockey separate and the team was named the Jr. Tigers. In their first year, the team, coached by Ralph Watson and Wayne Todd, played in the WOAA Men's Fastball League. Members of the team were David Pletch, Bill Smith, David Smith, Dan McKay, Mike Watson, Wayne Higgins, Ken Cousins, Steve Rainwell, Peter Exel, Bruce Cox, Ken Higgins, Brian TenPas, Todd Wheeler, Doug McArter, and for one summer a Quebec exchange student named Reggie Martel. In 1991 the team joined the Huron County Fastball League where they had great success at a 68-21-6 win-loss-tie record for the five seasons before 1996. This also included a first place finish in 1992. Playoffs didn't go quite as well as the season had. They bowed out in the first or second round with four wins out of 12 games played prior to 1995. Their first great success was in 1995. The Tigers placed in three area tournaments, and in the Huron County Fastball League. The playoffs started with a loss of their first game against their town rivals the Bulldogs. The Turnberry SL Brussels 887-6221 l igers then changed their tune and went on to win the next six of seven games played. This claimed them their first league championship. The Brussels Tigers came back in 1996 to defend their title in the Huron County Fastball League and again won the League Championship and playoffs entering the WOAA undefeated. They were beat out by the Harriston Mercurys in the WOAA Grand Championships. They were also the winners of the Western Ontario Homebrew Championship and were Grand Champion finalists. As well, they were B division champs of the Goderich Fastball Tournament and were the first Brussels team in the 25 year history of Brussels Fastball Tournaments to reach the championship semi-finals. Congratulations Tigers! from all of us at Brussels Variety Your convenience store Featuring greeting cards, daily and weekly newspapers, magazines, video rentals, snack foods and grocery items. We now carry a line of no-name grocery products at excellent prices! ________________ __ ______________/ Our Hallowe'en goodies have also arrived!