The Citizen, 1998-06-17, Page 8PAGE 8. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 1998.
ports
From the sidelines
When one more year ends,
who will step forward?
Ready for the shot
It was a tough game for the Clinton squad as they took to the soccer field with the minimum
number of players against a strong Brussels U-19 team, June 8.
Tigers continue winning ways
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By Hugh
Nichol
One of the
biggest pro-
blems facing
minor sports
associations is
trying to
convince the
graduates of the system to stay
involved after their playing days are
over, whether by coaching,
officiating, or volunteering for the
executive.
Every year organizations are
forced to threaten, beg or plead
newcomers to step forward using
tactics such as holding the elections
at the year-end banquet on the
understanding no one leaves until
the positions are filled, or by issuing
the supreme ultimatum of no
volunteers, no program.
The end result is usually the same.
The old reliables reluctantly agree to
return for "one more year" and
although their bodies are weary and
enthusiasm dulled, their loyalty
refuses to let them simply walk
away.
Earlier this spring two local
teenagers decided to offer their
services in the soccer department
and were rewarded with the
coaching positions of a minor team.
Together they enjoyed moderate
early season success, before putting
it altogether in a lopsided win over a
cross-town rival.
Sometime after this game the
coach of the losing team filed a
complaint with the minor soccer
executive stating the players were
unfairly divided and that a series of
trades should be made to bring
parity to the teams.
The following day the president of
minor soccer arranged a meeting
where it was explained to the rookie
coaches that they would have to
give up one or two of their quality
players for the betterment of the
sport,
The boys argued that they did not
pick the teams, had no choice in
which players they were given and
refused to dismantle the team
because a more experienced coach
had lost in front of a capacity
hometown crowd. Secondly, they
wondered, why should minor soccer
have the right to buy and sell these
kids like a commodity on the stock
exchange when they do not own the
players.
While this conflict may seem
trivial it is one of the reasons why
newcomers are unwilling to commit
and those that do seldom return.
Squirt Boys
It's been a slow start for the Brus-
sels Squirt Boys, but signs suggest
they may be finding their groove.
On Thursday, June 4 at home in
Walton they were trounced by
Seaforth, 16-1.
On June 10 in Fordwich, it was
another big defeat with the home-
team scoring 20, while allowing
their guests just six runs. However,
the potential for power began to
surface, led by a Mitch Ortman
homer.
Kids don't want to be involved in
the off-field politics of minor sports.
In their world of black and white
they have neither the time, patience
or manners to deal with an
establishment that is perceived as
the first to criticize and the last to
congratulate.
The question is not whether they
won because they had better players,
a better team, or are better coaches,
but rather would minor soccer have
followed up on the complaint if it
had been their team losing.
They feel they have been singled
out due to their age and coaching
experience, are being manipulated
like a puppet on a string, their ideas,
philosophies and theories rejected
because they are not textbook
written.
By acting on the above the
message is clear. While
organizations actively seek new
members, it appears they want only
those that will keep quiet and follow
the guidelines of yesterday.
The executive orders, than fails to
explain, and rather then ask why the
system is rejected, they assume the
kids are simply too lazy, or lacking
in dedication and community spirit.
It is beyond comprehension that in
today's world of mass
communication our society has
forgotten the art of simple
conversation, the ability to verbalize
one to one.
Sam Pollock, one time manager of
the Montreal Canadiens, used to say
a player may be more valuable to
his team than a teammate but he
could never be more valuable than
the team itself. No matter what his
past contribution one policy covers
every man who dons the Red, White
and Blue, be he superstar or
plumber.
This is exactly what the
participants of any system want to
hear before graduating into the
management fraternity, that they
will be given the chance to succeed
or fail without interference, and
even though their attitudes-border
on arrogance and their social skills
are less than tactful they will be
accepted for what they are.
In order to survive, the
establishment must treat them as
equals and acknowledge they are
simply products of modern society.
If not they sacrifice the future of
their sports existence.
In time, that one more year will
end and then who will step forward
to heed the words, "To you from
failing hands we throw the torch, be
yours to hold it high."
The following night in Belmore
Ortman did it again. Two other
power hitters stepped in to show
their stuff in this outing as well.
Josh Biesinger and Darcy
McCutcheon hit homers in the sec-
ond and fourth respectively.
Brussels pitching combined for
seven strikeouts, while Belmore
pitchers sat down five.
Despite the strong offensive and
defensive showing, however, the
Brussels squad came up with an 11-
11 tie.
The Brussels Tigers continued
their hot play in Huron County
Fastball League play chalking up
three more victories to remain
undefeated.
On Tuesday, the Tigers
combined the strong pitching of
Todd Uhrig and hitting from the
entire lineup defeating the
Goderich Gardiners 6-1.
The Tigers opened the scoring in
their half of the second as Tim Fritz
scored Doug Shaw and Brett
Clarkson with a two RBI single.
Brussels added to their lead in
the third as Shaw singled to right to
score Uhrig and Ron Strome, who
had both singled earlier in the
inning.
RBI hits by Uhrig and Steve Fritz
in the fourth gave the Tigers a six-
run cushion.
Goderich spoiled Uhrig's shutout
with an unearned run in the seventh
to complete the scoring.
Uhrig was three for four at the
plate with Shaw going two for
three. Uhrig went the distance
fanning seven.
Wednesday night the Tigers
travelled to Seaforth to tangle with
the Reds and came out on top of a
seesaw 9-6 final.
Once again the Tigers hit the
board first as Brian Neill scored
Steve Fritz with a single. Neil was
plated by a Doug Conley RBI.
Seaforth scored four runs in the
second to take a 4-2 lead after two
complete.
The Tigers knotted the affair with
two runs in the third on RBI hits by
Neill and Conley. The Reds,
however, added a single run in their
turn to regain the lead.
Mosquitoes
lose
to Goderich
It was one in the loss column for
Blyth II Mosquitoes after a game at
home against Goderich Tim-Hor-
tons on June 11.
Scoring for Blyth in this 7-2
effort were Gregg Bechtel and Lee
Prescott. Assists went to David
Passchier and Bechtel.
Tending the home net was Jesse
Hakkers.
offense wakes up
Brussels went ahead to stay in
the fourth as Steve Fritz, Moe Pipe,
and Neill all scored runs on RBI's
by Shaw and Conley.
Brussels added two more
insurance runs in the fifth as Fritz
drove home Mike Dauphin, The
next batter, Pipe, cashed Fritz with
a safety to right.
Fritz, Pipe and Neil, all went
three for five at the dish, with
Conley and Shaw going two for
four. Conley pitched seven innings
for the Tigers for the win ringing
up nine reds on strikeouts. --- -
At home Friday night the home
side battled the goderich Orioles in
an exciting, well-pitched game by
both starts. They came up with a 5-
3 decision over the visitors.
As has become the norm the
Tigers hit the board first as Uhrig
nailed a solo homer to right.
The Birds took the lead in their
half of the third as Bob Graham
homered to right with a man aboard
to make it 2-1 Orioles.
The home side quickly answered
in their third at-bat as Uhrig scored
Steve and Greg Fritz with a sharp
single to right. Ken Higgins plated
Uhrig with a sac fly to right.
Goderich crept closer by
counting a single run in the fourth.
The Tigers added some insurance
in the sixth as Pipe ripped an RBI
single scoring Greg Fritz.
Uhrig was three for four at the
plate for the home side. Conley
went a solid five innings to collect
the win with Uhrig registering his
second save of the season.
Next action for the Tigers was
Tuesday night as they played host
to the world famous California
Cuties at 7:30 p.m. Friday night the
Tigers and the Bulldogs clash for
the first time this season at 7:30
p.m.
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