Loading...
The Citizen, 1999-06-16, Page 10PAGE 10. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 16, 1999. SportT" _______________________________________I From the sidelines There’s always Walton By Hugh Nichol One of the many questions surrounding major league baseball involves the introduction of interleague play and whether it was in the best interest of baseball or simply another advertising gimmick. The idea had merit in that fans would be able to see live the stars of their sister league as well as generating interest between geo­ graphic rivals that could not exist because of divisional boundaries. The possibilities were endless: Los Angeles/Anaheim, Florida/ Tampa Bay, St. Louis/Kansas City, Ci ncinnati/C leveland, Oakland/San Francisco and on a national scale Montreal/Toronto. Unfortunately for the most part the fans have stayed away, not a complete surprise as baseball purists argue rivalries can not be media created but must be natural. They believe if major league baseball really cared they would simply schedule more games within the divisions and let pennant races create the rivalry craved by the public. Others believe the difference in the style of play between the leagues is too big an obstacle to ensure entertaining baseball. For instance, American League managers think it is ludicrous that when visiting a National League Park they must sit a million dollar designated hitter in favour of allowing a pitcher to hit. On the other hand, National League bench bosses believe their American League cousins have lost the ability to manage, that they are unschooled in the techniques of manufacturing runs and fail to understand the true etiquette of the game. A perfect example of the above occurred during the last game of the Hot runner The runner was grateful to stop at third as ball teams competed in a fun tournament on Saturday afternoon in hot, muggy temperatures. The event was planned as part of the prelude to the official opening of the new park in Belgrave. (Ashley Gropp photo) recent Blue Javs/Expo series. With Toronto holding a comfortable six- run lead late in the game a Jays runner stole second base. Within pitches the Toronto batter was sprawled in the dirt courtesy of the infamous brushback, and while Montreal manager Felipe Alou will never admit to anything he did state National League teams don’t steal with a safe lead. There are exceptions, the greatest of which occurs in the media capital of the world. No one knows if it is because they are intercity and not interstate but the New York Yankees and New York Mets are textbook rivalry. Despite having always played second fiddle to the Bronx Bombers in terms of press coverage and public support the Mets attracted 170,000 people to Yankee Stadium for a three-game series. The weekend was an unparalleled success. Two Yankee rallies for wins created the excitement, the firing of three Met coaches created the controversy and a Mets 7-2 romp over Yankee ace Roger Clemens created the perfect sequel for the return series in Shea Stadium. Intercity or cross-town competition is nothing new to our area. For years it has been the basis of survival in the Bluewater Fastball League and when the Brussels Bulldogs joined the Huron County Fastball League they were an addition not the exception to the two-team rule. The Bulldogs and Tigers co­ existed for six years and while others may have their opinions the teams combined total of four league championships and two consolation titles obviously makes Brussels the City ofChampions within the area’s realms of fastball. And as for what happens to a Tigers rivalry with the demise of the Bulldogs? I guess if nothing else there’s always Walton. Mites win 1, lose 1 Hard hitting brought both a win and a loss for the Blyth Mites ball team when they took on two Holmesville squads, On May 31, they travelled to Holmesville to take on the Mite Girls team. Holmesville struck first, scoring a run in the bottom of the first inning. Blyth took the lead in the second when Justin Ritchie homered in Dickey Greig who had doubled. In the third, Katie Stryker dou­ bled, scoring three runs. Nick Dale homered and Devin Jenkins dou­ bled. Erin Moore smashed a round­ tripper before Ben Walsh and Adam deBoer each singled. Moore belted a grand slam in the fifth only to see Holmesville earn a slam as well. However, the visitors had well secured their win, taking the 28-7 victory. Katie McClinchey and Moore pitched for Blyth. Three days later Blyth returned for a contest against the boys squad, finding a difficult opponent. Through the first and second, Blyth singles were tapped by Walsh(two), Ritchie and Lisa Nicholson. Kendall Whitfield hit for a double. Holmesville homered in both innings. Blyth fell behind as singles from Moore, Jenkins and Nicholson could not make up for a Holmesville triple with several runs scored. Dale rounded out Blyth’s hitting in the fourth. Blyth took the 29-13 loss. Whitfield, McClinchey and Moore shared pitching duties. Blyth Storm-s to victory In spite of tallying the first netter of the soccer match, the Goderich Suncoast Mall Atoms were unable to stay ahead of the Blyth Storm, June 8. Richard Gregg evened the score for Blyth in the first half when he took a nice pass from Anthony Peters. The squad got rolling in the sec­ ond half, notching three before Goderich could add another. Darcey Cook headed the ball, taking the rebound off a Peters’ shot which had deflected off the crossbar. Cook and Peters combined again when Peters took a pass from Cook and placed it in the top comer. Peters and Gregg worked the ball to the end zone and passed off to Cook who put it between the posts for the fourth Blyth goal. “Justin Dobie made several spec­ tacular saves before surrendering the final goal of the game,” said Coach Steve Cook. Blyth earned the 4-2 win. The team is really starting to gel, showing strong positional play and increased enthusiasm, said Cook. The defense was also very strong, making the goalkeepers’ job easier. D. Cook and Dobie shared net- minding duties. Up and over Even the junior riders soar when they take to the moto­ cross track at Walton. The Saturday night supercrosses under the lights have become a chance for riders at all skill levels to improve. ((Ashley Gropp photo) U-7s down Newton Brussels U-7 Tigers played their third game against Newton I Tigers on Tuesday, June 8 at 7 p.m. behind the BM&G arena. With Karen Slater (coach) and Rita Bowers (assistant coach) at the helm the Tigers played an awesome game. Vicki Blake was captain for the game and starting goalie. Andrew Lindsay and Chris Becker defended the net, with Robert Cronin, Brendan Stretton and Cameron Schlosser as the forwards. Stretton and Cronin had some terrific shots on the Newton net. Becker had some great kicks but it was Newton who got through to score first. Next Matthew Cardiff and Trevor Wood guarded the net and did another terrific job. Black Cardiff, Gavin Bowers and Randy Zwep were terrific forwards resulting in Bowers achieving the first goal for Brussels bringing the score to 1 -1. Brittany Thyssen and Lindsay were Brussels super-speed defence as they quickly booted the ball right back at the opposition. Becker, Elli Schimanski and Schlosser were the Brussels forwards. Even with all this speed and skill Newton still managed to score their On Casual Clothing Including Shorts, T-Shirts, Cotton Slacks, Golf Shirts & OF COURSE Socks & Underwear. Workshop FEATURING MEN'S WORKWEAR WINGHAM 357-4503 All In-Stock Merchandise ON SALE for 10 BIG DAYS for Father’s Day!!! second and third goals. Zwep, Stretton and Cronin all came really close to scoring for Brussels. Zwep persevered and scored Brussels third and fourth goals with Stretton soon following him with the fifth goal for Brussels U-7 Tigers. The second half started with Becker in net for Brussels. Newton quickly scored their fourth goal. Becker and Lindsay both made great saves for Brussels but Newton squeezed by them scoring their fifth goal to even the score 5- 5. Zwep popped yet another goal in the Newton net taking the score to 6-5 for Brussels. Miles Wiseman was great in his passing abilities during the game resulting in Lindsay getting a great shot on the Newton net. However, the Newton goalie was right on the ball, stopping it in its path. Blake soon added another goal to the score making it 7-5 for Brussels. Brussels had a penalty shot on Newton but it failed to result in a goal for Brussels. Bowers and Lindsay both made great stops but Newton ended the game with the last goal. The final score was 7-6 for Brussels U-7 Tigers. SAVE 10% On All Work Wear Including Work Pants & Shirts, Work Shorts, Short Sleeve Coveralls.