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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2006-09-13, Page 21Wednesday, September 13, 2006 SPORTS Exeter Times–Advocate 21 Express players take OBA championship EXETER — The Exeter Express had contributions from many players in winning the 2006 OBA Senior 'D' championship. Team spokesper- son Joe Fulop has profiled the players on the team. Justin Hayter Hayter has played as a third baseman, second baseman and as a catcher and has shown impressive skills with a .300 plus batting average that includes excel- lent power statis- tics. His past teams include four OBA championships with minor baseball teams in Dashwood. Brad Baker Baker joined the team after missing several seasons since he played as a junior. He played minor baseball in Exeter, Dashwood and Clinton with one championship in Dashwood. Baker's playing positions have been third base and the outfield. His playing time is somewhat reduced as he tries to fit in and find a spot on the squad. Baker says play- ing for the Express is "a great experi- ence." Jason Cox Cox joined the team as a pitcher and has pitched well. He has filled in as an outfielder also. He played with Lakeside in the past but decided to join the Express this year. He "likes the club. It is a good team with a great group of guys." Kristian Wilson Kristian Wilson is in a separate cate- gory as he has been unable to make many games as he is the second best pole vaulter in Canada and trains hard for that event. He plays the out- field and likes what he has seen about the team this year except for wanting more support from his Geoffrey family relatives in the area. Some of the younger returning players on the team are: Scott Kemp Kemp has played sparingly for the Express as he has divided his playing time between Exeter and his fast - ball team in Monkton. His position with the Express is as a pitcher but he has the ability to fill in anywhere. He starred last year at the OBA playoffs by pitching and winning two consecutive games and pitched nine no -hit innings in the tournament. He played for the OBA Juvenile champions in Exeter in 1995 and was a member of the Express for sev- eral years in the past. Nate Burns Burns has returned to the Express after sitting out a few seasons. He plays the out- field and pitches and he has the sec- ond highest batting average on the team and has pitched well when his shoulder allows it. Burns played minor baseball in Clinton winning five OBA titles. Nick Regier Regier is the regu- lar second baseman for the team. He has supplied excel- lent offensive statis- tics and is the power hitter on the team. His defensive skills have saved the pitchers many times and he is a vocal supporter of good efforts by his teammates. Regier played minor baseball in Exeter, Dashwood and Clinton. He says it is "hard to believe we can compete with the bigger centres in the league. The coaching staff is doing a great job." Curtis Meyers Meyers has been with the team for two years. He is a power pitcher who has held his own against the best teams in the league. Meyers played his minor baseball in Clinton and Junior in Mitchell. Meyers has posi- tive comments about his time in Exeter and says it is a solid team that should continue to win over the next few years. The final group of players according to Fulop are the core players who have gone through good and bad times and keep the others inspired to play on. Paul Elston Elston has been with the team for 18 years and is mainly a left hand- ed relief pitcher who has filled in elsewhere when required. He is the ultimate team man who makes sacrifices for his teammates without complaint. Elston played sev- eral years for Thorndale, one year in Hanover and then came to Exeter. He has been involved with three previous OBA champion teams from Exeter. He also was a Canadian Over 35 champion with a team from Tillsonburg. He says, "Doug has done an excel- lent managing job." Marty Merner Merner has been a pitching stalwart and third baseman for 17 years and his reputation is to come up big in important games. Merner played minor ball in Dashwood and transferred to Exeter to play Junior and Senior baseball. He was on the OBA winner in 2002. He comments that it is "fun to have my son Cody as the bat- boy for the team." Vic Oliveira Oliveira is a natu- rally talented ath- lete who can play any position and play it well. Oliveira's hitting is still among the best on the team at age 40. He played for senior teams in London before deciding to stay in Exeter from 1998 till now. He played on two previous OBA win- ners with the latest being in Exeter in 2002. Oliveira says there are some good additions to the team this year and the results have been surprising as well as it being the best lineup since 1998 with quality pitching, defense and good hitting. Dan Masse Masse is the most versatile player on the team. He has progressed from being a quality pitcher to that plus being able to play any position on the field as well as a good hitter and being the pitching coach. His efforts are tied in with the success the team achieved this year. Masse's father inspired him to attain what he could as a young athlete and gave his support to Masse's efforts in college ball, the minor league team run by Cincinnati and to the Express. Masse had two previous winners with Billing Heights Montana in 1994 and the Express in 2002. He gives credit to Fairbairn and the coaches for their work in providing a good team. Derek Masse Masse has been the ace of the pitch- ing staff since he arrived five years ago. He has dominated teams and in the OBA tournament every season and seldom lets the team down. He played college ball in the U.S. for three years and several years in the Intercounty league with Stratford and London before com- ing home to join the Express. In that time he won one Intercounty title and added an OBA championship with Exeter in 2002. Aaron Patterson Patterson has matured to the point that he is the best shortstop in the league and one of the best players on the Express. He is a good base runner and has one of the better batting averages on the team. Patterson played his minor ball in London and has played for the Express the last six years. He was part of the 2002 OBA champi- onship and thanks the Fairbairns' for their efforts keep- ing the team alive during bad times. Bobby Grant Grant is the num- ber one catcher, top hitter and one of the best players on the team. His catching skills have kept opposing runners close to the bases or they will be victims of his throwing ability. He assists in coaching players whenever the need arises and also has pitched and played third base. His background includes college ball in the U.S., summer baseball in Alaska, minor ball with the London Badgers and time with St. Thomas in the Intercounty league before join- ing Exeter. His only previous OBA gold was as a bantam player in Ilderton. He praises the work of Fairbairn, his family for their dedication and for doing the extra things to make the team what it is today. He praises players for "playing for the team first" and says this is the best senior team he has ever been on. Lonnie Hawke Hawke has been the team's regular first baseman and is an excellent hit- ter and glove man. He played his early baseball in London and St. Thomas before join- ing the Express seven years ago and has an OBA gold from 2002. Dave Russell Russell has been also asked to fill in. He played for the Express in the past but decided to join the Exeter seniors this year due to scheduling prob- lems. Russell thanks Jeff Keller for starting the team. Cory Burtch Burtch has been with the team for five years and is a good outfielder with a cannon arm capa- ble of throwing out any baserunners. He has been on one previous cham- pionship team in 2002. Doug Fairbairn Fairbairn claims to have spent six years with the Dashwood Tigers and 23 with the Express in playing and managing posi- tions. He has been on three OBA previous championship teams in 1986, 1988 and 2002. He thanks his wife Debbie for pushing him to keep the team going during hard times for "those players that did want to play." Fairbairn makes no mention of the hours he put into organizing and run- ning the team's Slo pitch tournament, obtaining lights and a watering system, recruiting players, running the league as the commission- er and managing his own team on the field. Much of this effort has been over- looked until now. As mentioned by several players he deserves better in terms of team sup- port and recogni- tion from people in the Exeter area. Joe Fulop My job as statisti- cian, groundskeep- er, the giver of advice (wanted or unwanted) and newspaper updater is the final position on the team. I also hope for closer contacts with players on other Senior team as it would benefit both teams. If players wanted the opportunity to play against more opponents at some- what different lev- els of competition or just wanted to play more baseball it would make for an ideal arrange- ment. Iict Aquatic CeKte NOW REGISTERING FOR FALL PROGRAMS * Red Cross Swimming Lessons * Aquafit * Parent & Tot Programs * Adult Swim Ca11519-235-2o79 to register or for information Sign up NOW for 1 year and get one month FREE offer expires Sept. 15/06 Ask us about Prrhitt JV � JlV starting this fall. GOLF SALE!!! www.shgf.on.ca 190 Thames Rd. E., Exeter • 519-235-4555