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Home My WebLink AboutThe Times Advocate, 2007-07-25, Page 18Fie oWdl THIS WEEK IN SPORTS Lawn bowlers Page 19 Saddle club Page 19 18 TIMES ADVOCATE Sports SPORTS Tips? Contact Times Advocate Tel: Pat Bolen (519) 235-1336 x113 Fax: (5 1 9) 235-0766 E-mail: sports@southhuron.com Wednesday, July 25, 2007 Team Penning Challenge gets ready Fury edged 1-0 By Pat Bolen TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF ZURICH — Three hun- dred team penners are about to converge on the Bluewater Community Centre in Zurich in a few weeks both for some large cash prizes as well as to raise money for a good cause. Kevin and Joanne Oke say the Oke Woodsmith Classic Aug. 17-19 is receiving lots of com- munity support but they are always willing to take more. Opening ceremonies and registration for the event will take place Aug. 17 with 800 tick- ets sold for a beef bar- becue Saturday night. There will also be a dance and silent auc- tion with all proceeds going to Bobby Kinsmen, who is bat- tling cancer and Epilepsy research. Joanne said any kids who need high school co-op hours can volun- teer for the Challenge by contacting the Okes at 263-2448 or 236- 7789. As well as the compe- tition, Kevin said there will be a tug-of-war demonstration Friday night and other events such as a lasso and cat- tle loading competi- tions. Preparations for the Kelsey Oke of Zurich will be one of the competitors taking part in the Oke Woodsmith Classic Team Penning Challenge Aug. 17-19 in Zurich. (photo/submitted) event will start Aug. 14 when the first of 50 loads of dirt are moved into the arena as well as cattle pens and fenc- ing. The Okes say if the support from this year's event is any indication, the Challenge will turn Tough weekend for Express EXETER — The Exeter Express came to play on July 17 against the London Bulls said team spokesper- son Joe Fulop. Needing to sweep their final three season games to qualify for the league championship the team put in one of their best efforts of the year as they hammered out a 13-0 lead and held on for a 13-4 victory. Curtis Meyers was dominant over the first eight innings allowing no runs on five hits. He struck out 12 Bull hitters and they have a good lineup of hitters. He tired noticeably in the ninth allowing four runs but Jason Cox relieved to save the day. The Express led all the way scor- ing three runs in each of the first, second and fifth innings with the final four scored in the ninth. Several players brought their hit- ting shoes for the game Fulop said. Bobbie Grant had four, Lonnie Hawke had three, Dan Masse had three walks and a hit while Nate Burns, Adam Leppington and Tim Eifert each had two safeties. Aaron Patterson, Darwin Barker and Cox chipped in with one each. But the Express were unable to field a team for the game in St. Thomas on Saturday. Sunday's game was also a forfeit as Exeter had to use an ineligible player. The actual game score was Strathroy 9 and Exeter 7. The eight regular team members plus Scott Smith and Mike Tindale gave Strathroy as much as they could handle. The Express jumped to an early 5 -0 lead by the fourth inning. Strathroy responded with nine runs by the eighth inning and seemed to have the game won easi- ly. The Express rallied for two runs in the ninth and had the tying runs on base before their last rally ended. Exeter batsmen had 13 hits. Patterson led the way with a homerun and a double while Burns, Grant, Hawke and Rob Burk had two hits apiece. Masse, Leppington, Scott Smith and Mike Tindall had one hit each. Masse went four innings allowing three runs on seven hits and Burk pitched three plus innings allowing three runs. Burns pitched a perfect inning and Paul Elston had to finish up as there was no relief available. Elston had already pitched during the week and was touched up for three runs in his one inning. The team is scheduled to begin league playoffs soon and is entered in the Lakeside tournament next week, if they have enough players - said Fulop. into an annual event. "It went as easy as we thought it would," they said. EXETER — The Exeter Fury lost its sec- ond game in a row Friday night in Arkona, losing 1-0 to Taxandria. Once again the Fury ran into trouble with numbers and had to use three call-ups again just to field a full squad. Matt Strano, Tony VanMierlo and Jason McFalls were penciled into the lineup but the Fury were still short handed for the first 10 minutes of the game until Nick Williams arrived to fill out the roster. The game was evenly played and Exeter appeared to gain the first goal but it was ruled offside. Ryan Ralph fired a shot that Shawn McFalls redirected with his head right to VanMierlo who then redirected the ball out of the air and past the keeper who was going the wrong way. Unfortunately for the Fury the goal was disal- lowed which gave some momentum to the home team. Neither team gar- nered many scoring chances the rest of the first half and that trend continued into the sec- ond half. Exeter's defense of Shawn McFalls, Chris Hern, Joe Forrester and Ryan Ralph continued to turn away the Taxandria strikers and limit any chances on keeper Ryan Masse. The game appeared headed to a scoreless draw until Taxandria got the break they needed. With the Fury again shorthanded for eight to ten minutes due to an injury a loose ball in the box squirted loose to an open man who had no trouble beating Masse for the lone goal of the game. After returning to even strength the Fury pressed for the tying goal late in the game. Exeter gained a cou- ple of chances, one by Roger Mills and the other by Shawn McFalls, but both shots finished wide of their target. "Injuries have been a problem for us all sea- son and are now finally catching up to us, "commented team spokesperson Jason McFalls. "The guys that have been playing all season with nagging injuries need to be commended for their dedication and commitment but we need more of an effort from the guys that are healthy if we want to remain competitive the rest of the season," McFalls added. The next action for the Fury is Saturday in Ingersoll. Hawks preparing for season By Pat Bolen TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF EXETER —The Exeter Hawks are hoping to rebound after a tough season last year and are getting ready for the upcoming sea- son. Behind the bench again this year is head coach Deryk Howard who will be assisted by new assistant coach Jamie Pearce who says sports has always been a big part of his life. Pearce played with the Lucan Irish for three years and was assistant coach with the team for another three and says he is look- ing forward to getting started with the Hawks. Other changes this year include Dennis Pfaff tak- ing over in the general manager position and Phil Potter as president of the Hawks. The team is also looking for another assistant coach and a trainer as well as more executive members. Howard said there is a good core of returning players for the Hawks r and the team is always looking to upgrade with new faces. With Pearce looking after the defence, Howard said the Hawks will employ a conservative style and want to cut Jamie Pearce down on their goals against and penalty minutes. The first ice times for potential Hawks will be Aug. 22 at the London Ice Park from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Phil Potte Dennis Pf and again in London Aug. 29 from 7:30 to 9 p.m. The Hawks will be on the ice at the South Huron Rec Centre Sept. 4 and 7 and have an exhi- bition game sched- uled versus the Goderich Sailors Sept. 9 in Goderich at 4:30 p.m. Howard said the Hawks are looking to work with the minor hockey sys- tem and would like players to come to the tryouts even if it is just for the experience. The Hawks also want the players more involved in the community and are looking for any fundrais- ing ideas from the players. With the second year of the rule changes in the league and the crackdown on obstruction Howard said the league should be getting good fast hockey this year. Deryk Howard