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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1994-8-3, Page 14Page 14 Times -Advocate, August 3, 1994 Sidelines by Fred G roves Black Hawks blunder And the next lucky sucker is.... The Chicago Black Hawks. Why would anyone want to go out looking for a guy like Bob Probert? At one time he was an average hockey player, now he's on the going down side of a hill. He can fight, but so can a lot of other hired thugs, he can check like everyone else over the age of 12 and he can score the odd goal when, and only when he decides to put his mind to it. Probert has been an all-star and he's helped the Wings through some tough spots but unfortunately he's gone by the wayside. Chicago, in my opinion is getting nothing but trouble. He's the type of guy who is more like a little kid and says, "no,no I'll be good real- ly I will." You know how a kid goes out and flashes those big eyes and insists everything will be alright if you let him have his own way - that's our Bobby. He recently signed one of those "am -I -really -worth - that -much- money" contract and I hate to be the one to break the Black Hawks' bub- ble but you guys blew this one. Probert, kicked out of the country for smuggling drugs in, may not be playing for the Black Hawks it appears. Pre- liminary tests show he was using cocaine when he was arrested for drunken driving on his motorcycle. Forget about the fact he • didn't have a license - now the immigration and natural- ization servile said he's going to have to come up with a so- lution to the problem that he does not have legal im- migrant status - whoops! Please explain to me why the Black Hawks would sign such a guy who you have to believe can't clean up his act? Professional sports has had a few knuckleheads over the years but if a crown was to go to the king, it would be worn by Probert. All those guys who are in Major 'A' , university and even as high up as the minor pro leagues who would like to have Probert's talent, raise you right arm. All those who would even go as far as cutting off your right .arm. to be able to play with him - please ac- knowledge. I know there are pressures of being in professional sports what with the media, the fans and the constant need to stay in great physical shape but that's why they don't play hockey in the sum- mer and these guys can let off a little steam. It's too bad the iced Wings released him because if the Black Hawks were sucker enough to pick him up, I wonder what sucker would have traded big-time for him. 4 This Week in Sports... Local golf results - page 15 Geiger heads to Texas - page 16J Hensall girls off to provincials Rooseboom, Taylor and Reaburn help Seaforth team earn trip By Fred Groves T -A staff' HENSALL - Four games in a row for anyone is tough, when you're only 13, it's almost impossible. But for three girls from Hensall, it was a challenge they, along with their teammates, took on and did very well. At the recent Chatham softball tournament, the Seaforth Novice II team which includes Hensall's Jamie Reaburn, Lisa Rooseboom and Kim Taylor, were runnersup and gained a berth at this weekend's Provincial Women's Soft- ball Association championships in Niagara Falls. "All of the kids have a job and they go out and do it," said coach Georgina Reynolds who also coaches the Exeter Greys of the Huron -Perth Ladies Fastball League. "They show the least amount of nervousness." Reaburn is a versatile player in that she is either at second base, third base or pitching. On the mound, she helped win one of the games in the Chatham tournament. The Seaforth team is somewhat like the Centralia Selects in that they take in girls from several communities, in the case of Seaforth they are from Brussels, Hensall, Clinton, Goderich and Palmerston. To join a new team with girls you've never played with before wasn't that difficult according to Reaburn. "It wasn't that hard, they're all nice to us." The Seaforth team has already won the Burlington and Simcoe tournaments and were second at the annual Dor- othy Hill tournament in London. In Chatham, Seaforth dropped their first game to Windsor in the double -knockout tournament but then beat Chatham and St. Marys on Saturday. Facing elimination, they played four games in a row beat- ing Windsor, Oakridge and Sarnia to advance to the gold medal game where they were beaten by Byron who wcrc playing their first of the day compared to the fourth in a row for Seaforth. "They weren't really that hard," said Reaburn of the games. "The last day we played four games in a row." Rooseboom, who is 12 years -old compared to Reaburn and Taylor who arc both 13, plays centreficld and likes the confidence her coaches have in her. "She (Reynolds) kept encouraging me and telling me i was doing a good job covering up." Taylor is in somewhat of a difficult situation because she is what Reynolds calls a utility outfielder which means she will play any of the three outfield positions when called upon. . "It doesn't matter, any of them," said Taylor when asked which one she prefers. She is also the designated player which is a position used in softball similar to baseball, However in softball the des- ignated player can bat tor anyone, not Just the pitcher. "We're one of the few teams that do it. We have a lot of players," said Reynolds. Seaforth is a tier two team, it's just the category Reynolds put thein in, that doesn't mean the tier one teams are better. "We played a tier one team a couple of weeks ago and lost by two runs. We've beaten some tier one teams," she said, For Reaburn, Taylor and Rooseboom the trip to Niagara Falls will be a fun one and one in which they will always remember as it is the farthest they have ever gone to com- pete. Sporting shirts from the royincial Women's Julie Reaburn who head to Niagara Falls this Softball Association are Kim Taylor, Lisa Rooseboom and weekend. Express receive direct entry to OBA They'll be in Kendal for the provincial 'D' baseball senior tournament By Fred Groves T -A staff EXETER - The Exctcr Express will have a month to prepare for their Ontario Baseball Association championship tournament. Announced earlier this week, the Express have been granted direct entry into the 'D' classification event which will be held Labour Day weekend in Kendal which is near Peterborough. "Usually we've had to play two series. This year they're saying its time we got a break," said Exctcr coach Doug Fairbairn. Exeter just. finished their Great Lakes Senior Baseball League sea- son with an impressive 10-6 record. They played .500 ball over the first 10 games than exploded with five straight wins before dropping their last game to thc Strathroy Brewers. Arva is also at the eight -team OBA tournament but they have struggled and aren't one of the fa- vorites. On the other hand, Exeter, look- ing to win its first OBA title since 1987, are playing well and have to be considered contenders. Third baseman Bill Glover who has also done some catching and a little pitching has returned from an injury and his speed and leadership will be counted on. "I think all thc kcy guys arc healthy now," said Fairbairn. We're about as good as we can get." Pitching is the most important component for any baseball team and the Express will rely on a couple of kcy players in Scot Rus- sell and Rick Boon to get the job done on the hill. But that's not the only two pitch- ers they have as nearly everyone except outfielders Don Macdonald and Fred Gregus and infielders Rob Dickey and Dave Russell can pitch. Marty Merner, Dave Atthill and Glover will no doubt get a lot of work on the mound. Fairbairn said the two teams to beat will probably be Wilksport and New Lowell which, according to Fairbairn, is a combined team from clubs around the Barrie arca. "It's not fare but they get away with it every year," he said of New Lowell, the defending champions. it's a long time until the tourna- ment and the Express will have to find themselves some exhibition games. Last night on the Alvin Wil- Icrt Field in Exctcr they started the Great Lakes Senior Baseball Exctcr has beaten Listowel 10-2 League playoffs against Listowel. at home but lost 12-2 in Listowel. "I think all the key guys are healthy now. We're about as good as we can get." "They'll be tough hut they arc beatable," said Fairbairn. Position by positron, the Express arc sound in every department. Al- though the infield changes regu- larly, the outfield stays pretty con- sistent with Gregus in left, the veteran Macdonald at centre and Ron Elliott in right. Usually the infield has Davc Rus- sell at first, Dickey at second, either Merrier or Boon at short and Glover at third base. Behind the plate, the Express arc very confident in rookie Mark Gla- vin who has had to step in for D'Arcy Martin who resigned a few weeks ago. He's been aggressive defensively and continues to hit the ball very hard and have a high on base per- centage. Lots to do the next .few weeks • From football on the sand to drag races, softball and even hockey GRAND BEND - If you're into sports, there's lot to do the next couple of weeks. While some are preparing for Ontario Baseball Associa- tion playoffs, there is also lots going on with football, fast - ball, drag racing, golf and yes, even hockey. The beaches of Grand Bend will once again be the site of the annual Sand Bowl touch football tournament, this year they celebrate their fifth annual event. A maximum of eight teams for Monday, August 15 will be entered and this year there are a couple of added fea- tures. Organizer Jerry Lamport says there will be a skills competition at 2 p.m. and at 6 p.m. and awards and auction dinner. Entry fee for the tournament is $ 150 and a maximum of seven players arc required on the field at a time including five males and two females. Since 1990, nine charity events have been held by the or- ganizers including the Snow Bowl in London, which, along with the Sand Bowl has generated over S16,000 for local charities. • it may be early for many to be thinking about hockey but not down in the Lucan-Ilderton arca. Last week the goalie school got under way for five weeks at the ilderton Arena. On Monday the hitting and checking camp began and on August 8, the popular defensenrien school will go. The Lucan Arena will be the site of the second annual benefit hockey game between NHL players and the Grand Bend OPP on August 16. Among those pros expected to attend arc Dale and Mark Hunter, Keith Jones, Pate Verbeek, John McIntyre, Dave McLlwain, Chris Gratton, Bob Gould and Dave Gagner. Last year's event, held at the Stephen Township Arena drew hundreds of spectators of all ages. • Drag racing has returned to Grand Bend and the strip at the old airport will be filled with the roar of the engines and the smell of fuel on Saturday, August 13. • The Exctcr peewee boys' softball team are set to host their annual tournament this weekend. • Exeter's ironwood Golf Club will be the sight of the Ironwood Invitational. Last year Cam Doig won the 'A' flight with a 68 while Dave Holtzmana shot a 71 to finish second. A A