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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1995-07-26, Page 18Page 18 Times -Advocate, July 26, 1995 This Week in Sports... • Minor soccer in Exeter - page 19 • Exeter Saddle Club host Team Challenge - page 20 Express in third place Exeter Express jump to third place and still going strong Mark Russell EXETER - The Exeter Express continued their strong season last week, by winning two of three games. The week got off to an ugly start Monday night, when the Express suffered their worst defeat in some time, drubbed by league leading Lakeside, 16-2. The game was settled early when Lakeside sent 11 men to the plate in the second inning and came away with six runs, all off losing pitcher Scot Russell. Russell drove in both Exeter runs, Paul Smith had three hits and Fred Gregus added a single and a double. The Express turned things around the next night, trouncing the Lon- don North Stars 13-2. Don Mac- Donald got the Express rolling with a leadoff home run in the bottom of the first. The home side recorded four more in the first and sixth to secure the win. Gregus led the offensive barrage with three hits and two runs scored. Russell and Barry Baynham lashed two hits each. Gregus also made his first mound appearance of the year and picked up the win in relief of Smith. The Express saved one of their best performances for Wednesday night, when they trav- elled to Strathroy to take on the second place Strathroy Seniors. MacDonald started the Express in motion with a leadoff single and a stolen base. A clutch two out dou- ble by Russell plated MacDonald. Gregus then promptly singled to score Russell. That was all the scor- ing the Express could rpuster, but it proved to be all starter Rick Boon would need. After surrendering an unearned run in the first, Boon al- lowed only six hits and one free pass as he went the distance for the win. Gregus continued his torrid hit- ting with three more knocks, and Dave Russell smashed two singles, to pace the Exeter attack. The win vaulted the Express from fifth place to third, with a record of 10-6. The Express will host Thorndale in the season's final game on Sun- day afternoon at 12:00. • Pard Smith launches a pitch during the Exeter Express baseball game against the London North Stars on Tuesday. Juveniles 'need work on offense KOMOKA - After losing their previous game 1-0 to St Marys, the Exeter Juveniles baseball team found themselves in the exact same situation in Komoka last Monday, trailing 1-0 going into their last bat. With one out Bill Hodge singled Dwight Gingerich and Dwayne McNab walked to load the bases. Gavin Snell played a strong game and just missed accomplishing a triple play by inches. Dwight Gingerich pitched the entire game striking out 11 batters, issuing four walks and allowing four hits. In a game against Byron on July 20, starting pitcher Dwayne McNab got off to a rough start allowing seven hits, two walks and hit one batter in two innings. Relief pitcher Dennis Willert pitched the next three innings until the game was called due to rain leaving the score 10-3 for Byron. Al- though hitting a couple of batters, Willert played a strong game for his first time on the mound. Despite the score, the Exeter defense managed to pull out some impressive plays. First baseman Darren Knits knocked down a hard hit grounder in the hole and beat the runner to first base. Right fielder Jo Maskell Gunned out a Runner tagging from third with a perfect throw to home plate and designated lead off hitter Trevor Taylor showed some consistent base running. Blake Schade had two singles, with Taylor, and James Rolph hitting singles. Over the next two weeks, the Juveniles will be working on building their strength up the middle and working on their batting which is still in need of improvement. The Juveniles will play the London Badgers July 26, before head- ing to Hanover July 28-30 to play in a junior tournament. Fury, shut out Morningstar LONDON - The Exeter Fury travelled to London Saturday and defeated Morningstar 3-0. Pete McAllister gave the Fury an early lead when he broke in alone and beat the goalie cleanly. Throughout the game Exeter played a solid defense, waiting for an opportunity to start a rush up - field while conserving their energy for later in the game. The strategy seemed to payoff as the Fury scored two goals late in the second half to seal their victo- ry. McAllister notched his second goal of the game picking up a re- bound off a shot by Jason McFalls who had just completed a long run from half. A couple of minutes lat- er McFalls sent a pass that gave Dave Maguire a breakaway. Ma- guire blasted it home to finish the scoring. The Exeter defense did not allow Morningstar many clear shots on goalie Shawn McFalls who picked up the shutout. Mark Lynn, Justin O'Rourke and Greg Lamport played a strong game in shutting down the Morn- ingstar forwards. The Fury are at home Sunday against Bosnia at 4:00. Julie Campbell takes a practice lap in the Exeter community pool in preparation for the Exet- er Barracudas swim meet in Clinton Last Saturday. Swim Team Clinton meet results 11 and 12 Medley Relay 13 and 14 Medley Relay 8 and under Freestyle 8 and under Backcrawl 8 and under Breast Stroke 9 and 10 Freestyle Relay Fourth Third Fourth Fifth First Fourth 8 and under Freestyle Third 11 and 12 Freestyle Sixth 8 and under Breast Stroke Third 8 and under Butterfly Third Sixth 11 and 12 Individual Medley Sixth 8 and under Freestyle Relay Second Girls Alicia Laye, Jenna Giles, Niki Vermeulen, Nicole Alexander Kimmy Riley, Carly Riley, Dallas Giles, Erin Miles Mandy Marsden Mandy Marsden Mandy Marsden Mandy Marsden, Chantelle Elder, Shannon Postil, Amanda Alien Boys Travis Elder Andrew Spindler Travis Elder Travis Elder Sean Ellison Andrew Spindler Troy Elder, Travis Elder, Nathan Dougherty, Sean Ellison Australian learning hockey in Canada Chris Skalkos T -A staff Ice hockey has long been a Canadian sport, invented by Canadians and dominated by Canadians. With our cold winters, it seems only natural that the sport of ice - hockey would develop here. But, in a country where it never snows, and water never turns to ice, it's a won- der where the sport of ice hockey fits in. Australians Philip Diggens and his parents Martin and Lynne will tell you it's fitting in rather nicely. The Diggens family are from Perth Australia. They have been staying with Exeter resident Jean Talbot while thirteen -year old Philip attends the Craig Bill- ington Goal School in London. When Talbot was teaching in Australia her son Shawn struck up a friendship with Philip who was playing for the Western Australia State under 14 team. Philip was a hot goaltcnder in his league and was named Australian National Goalie of the year so when the Talbots invited the Diggens to Canada, Mar- tin thought it would be a good opportunity for his son to further his hockey skills. The Diggens arrived here on July 6 and after taking four days of rest recovering from a mild case of jet -lag, Philip started at the goal school. "i'm glad i came here, i've learned a lot of stuff at the school," said Philip. The program at Billington Goal School included a vigorous on and off ice training mastering techniques in power skating, puck stopping and warding off breakaways and wraparounds. Needless to say, Philip is the only Aus- tralian to attend the goal school and soon became a popular person among his peers. "I met all of the guys at the school on the first day. They came up and started talking to me because they knew I was from Australia," said Philip who made friends very quickly. "They were very friendly but they all talked funny," he said commenting on their Canadian accents. Martin said Australia doesn't have goalie schools and he was impressed with the professional attitude of the coaches and trainers. "He's quite an instinctive player, he reads the play rather well," said Martin about his son's hockey skills. "The school will really help him." Martin who is half Canadian introduced Philip and his two other sons, Mathew and Tom, to the sport at a very young age and all of them are still playing hockey today. "I took them over to the local ice rink one day to escape the heat and they joined a hockey clinic that was being offered," said Martin. "It was fun watching them. They fell over a lot," he said remembering their first time on the ice. While the Diggens family were enjoying their stay in Canada they had the op- portunity to visit Maple Leaf Gardens and the Hock- ey Hall of Fame in Toronto where Philip learned a little bit of hockey history and Martin learned a little bit about the cost of playing the sport. "We've been greatly helped getting equipment for Phil by Andre Kurbegovic, the head buyer for National Sport in To- ronto," said Martin explaining that Kurbegovic of- fered them some valuable advice about fitting your- self with proper equipment and getting the most for your money. "There is a lack of knowledge about goalie equipment in Australia and the cost is three times more expensive there," he added. • .a MS The Diggens even had the opportunity to experience a vicious Ca- nadian thunder storm. They were just getting back from goal school when the violent July 13 storm struck the area. Martin said they and the Talbots ran for the basement to take cover and Philip insisted he take his newly purchased goalie equipment with him. "I didn't want it to blow away," said -Philip trying to justify his ac- tions. Australian rules football, rugby and cricket are the country's most popular sport, however, Martin said hockey is one of the fastest grow- ing sport in the land down under. "Hockey has been there [in Australia) for years but it's just starting to develop largely due to in-line roller blading which is very popular. Peo- ple have just started to discover that roller blading is similar to ice skat- ing and hockey is something they can do," Martin said. The popularity of hockey in Australia has also been boosted by Hol- lywood movie productions such as the spoof Slapshot and the Disney movie The Mighty Ducks. Even though Australia has a national team in the International "C" pool, he thinks it could be a while before his country can match the high calibre of hockey found here. "1 don't think Canada has anything to worry about from Australia in the next winter Olympics," said Mar- tin. Philip didn't have too much to say about hockey in Canada other than he could get hockey trading cards much easier here. "1 bought 17 packs of cards as soon as I got here and three were of my favorite player, Felix Potvin 'the cat' from the Toronto Maple Leafs," he said. "i want to be just like Potvin, I want to be a pro- fessional goaltender playing in the NHL." If his enthusiasm and de- termination is any indication of his success, Philip may very welt be the first Australian hockey player playing in the National Hockey League.