Times-Advocate, 1987-09-02, Page 14Page 2A Times -Advocate, September 2, 1987
Co -Ops junior tournament
host all-Ontariol
Gregus hopes that Exeter will be able to provide the majority
of the excitement over the course of the three day event. The Co-
ops will be shooting for a repeat performance of their 1982 Junior
D championship victory.
No team has won the D title more than twice since 1960.
Hagersville, Tillsonburg, Little Britain, I3eeton, Thamesville and
Langton are the only teams since that: time to win the title two
times.
Gregus will come no closer to predicting -a victory than ex-
pressing his confidence in the team. Understandably, he singles
out his pitchers as the key to success.
"If we get good pitching starts out -of Scott Lovie, Scott Miller,
Darren and Dave Akey and Doug Schade; then I'm confident that
Steve Neil and Terry Evans can provide us with the short relief
'we'll need," Gregus says. "We have to get a good six innings out
of our starters because our relief is just short relief -- just one or
two innings."
The team's weak spot is their base running, but strong bats
will help to minimize the effect that their lack of speed has on their
success. Six Co-op Juniors are batting over :300 at this point.
There are six participating teams in the tourney and at least
ten games to be played in the double knock -out format. The cham-
pionship game will start at 11:30 on Monday.
Mark an X on your calendar and take the time to see some
of the action. Who knows, you might take in the performance of
a future Blue Jay.
Last week., the St. Marys Journal -Argus ran a story about the
California} Cuties. In that article, Ron Rupp, ace pitcher for the
squad, said the Cuties look forward to coming to Canada because
the.fastball competition is so much better here than in the U.S.
,Rupp said that in the States ,the of baseball has
deterioriated to the point where it's just nothing."
In the years to come, the Cuties may have trouble finding any
sort of competition at all, acause, ladies and gentlemen, baseball
has arrived in Canada.
This weekend, Exeter Co-op Juniors will host the 1987 Ontario
Baseball Association Junior D Championship tournament here in
town. The tournament will cap a year of major growth for baseball
in Exeter and in Southern Ontario.
In the span of this season alone, the WOBA has expanded from
39 to 54 teams. In Exeter, the boys division has three minor baseball
teams as opposed to only one minor softball team.
Brad Gregus, manager of the Co-op Juniors, says that baseball
is gaining momentum in Exeter.
"Baseball has expanded to the point where there are about 160
kids involved right from T -ball to junior," Gregus says. .
He puts a lot of emphasis on the job that the front office of the
Toronto Blue Jays is doing. The Jays sponsor a wide variety of
programs to promote minor baseball.
And Canadian kids can now do more than dream about play-
ing ball in the major leagues =- they can perfect their skills through
a minor baseball system which shows signs of getting stronger. .v...i.wira.4.*:VRANSAMMUMUSAMOPMINAMA
Gregus notes that the Exeter junior team is bolstered by
players from other towns in Huron.
"I think what helps our team locally is the steady stream of
talent coming out of Lucan, Seaforth and Dashwood.
I have two boys (from Co-op Juniors) that are probably
capable of playing Junior Inter -county."
Currently the OBA is considering expansion teams in Clinton,
Sports Spotlight
b.Mark Bisset
Winghant ,and Strathroy. There are no indications that the
'baseballs sweep' is slowing down.
Something to shoot for
In 1982, Exeter hosted the OBA Juvenile D tournament. The
final gan a of that event drew approximately 300 people. Gregus
expects that kind of a turn -out for this weekend's tourney. He adds
that events like it give younger kids a focus.
"I think it gives kids in -the lower age brackets something to
shoot for. It gives them something to be excited about," he says.
CHAMPS - The Centralia pee wee boys team won the A championship of the Usborne League
two weeks ago in a weekend tournament held in Cromarty. Back, left, coach Norm Wilson, Mark Bromley,
Pete Gibson, Derek Kenney, Mark Morgan, Jeff Foster and coaches Mike Glavin and Ray Mills. Front,
Mike Rimmer, Jason Hoist, David Andrews, Richard Haggitt, Mark Glavin, Brad Glavin and Brent Mills.
Missing was Trevor Gregoire.
Soccer teams end schedul
In soccer action this week it was a
very light schedule. The Atoms have
finished their regular season as have
the bantams. In other divisions play
was suspended because of bad
weather. Only Thursday night saw a
full schedule being played in the
squirt division. All four Exeter teams
saw action in this their Last regular
game of the season.
Exeter 1 finished their season off on
a winning note as David Farquhar
scored both goals in a close 2-1 win for
Exeter I. Michael Ford and Greg
Geoffrey played excellent in this ex-
citing game.
A short-handed Exeter 1I crew
were full valve for their 3-0 win over
Lucan II and consequently their
secondplace finish in the overall stan-
dings. Trevor Boersma, Geoff Mauer
and Scott Rasenberg scored for Ex-
eter II with the Exeter defence play-
ing a strong game. Michael and
Theresa Wilhelm both played strong
games.
The only Exeter squirt team not to
win was Exeter III. They came up
against the top Lucan team Lucan III.
Exeter III played an excellent game
and the 0-0 tie was well deserved for
both teams.
Exeter IV continued its strong play
as they won their sixth game in a row
to end up seventh overall in the stan-
dings. Jeff McLean scored two goals
early in the game and Exeter IV then
hung on in the second half for a 2-0
win.
Because all four Exeter teams end
ed up in the top half of the standings
they will all play at home in the
deciding game for the A or B round
of the playoffs set for September 12.
Exeter I will play Nairn I and Exeter
II1 will play Ilderton II on September
3.
On September 10 Exeter II will play
Ilderton I and Exeter IV will play
Lucan I. Mosquito playoffs are set for
September 12 also. Atoms, Pee wees,
•
bantams and under 11 girls are
September 19.
set for
Exeter Minor
Hockey Assoc.
HOCKEY
REGISTRATION
Sat., Aug. 22
10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Thurs., Sept. 10
7 p.m. - 9 p.m.
At the S.H.R.C.
Players must be registered
before being allowed on ice.
Stephen Minor Hocke
and Ringette
Registration
Friday September 11 7 - 9 p.m
Saturday September 12
10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
of Stephen Twsp. kena
J