The Times Advocate, 2008-09-10, Page 19Wednesday, September 10, 2008
SPORTS
Times -Advocate
19
Express come up short in pennant drive
EXETER - Exeter Express
spokesperson Joe Fulop calls the
team's season, "The year that almost
was."
Fulop explains, "It was stated in pre-
vious articles that (manager) Doug
Fairbairn, many team members and I
think this could be the best of all the
teams assembled in this town to play
baseball. It was also stated that talent
alone was not enough. Players must
practice to hone their skills. Players
and management need to co-operate to
put the best product on the field."
Fulop said the Express efforts so far
have been almost the league pennant,
and a tough loss to Tillsonburg in
league playoffs. The Express won the
first two games and then lost three in a
row. In all three games, they had nine
useable players.
The Express has won the OBA 'D'
championship the last two years. The
players and management decided to try
for a higher category this year by
entering the 16 -team tournament at
Tillsonburg for the Senior 'C' title.
The decision seemed to be a question-
able one, Fulop said, when the Express
lost three straight games to Tillsonburg
in league playoffs. This was followed up
with a poor showing at practices in the
two weeks before the tournament.
Exeter 2 Port Hope 1
The first game was on Friday night.
Fulop said the Express hitting, field-
ing and pitching was not up to its nor-
mal levels, with one exception. Their
hopes seemed to ride on the strength of
Derek Masse's right arm once again.
Masse was up to the task striking out
14 batters and allowing four hits.
"Port Hope was a very worthy oppo-
nent," Fulop said. "They had a very
solid team that played defense very
well at making their opponents make
errors."
The Express were able to push
across a run in the third inning as
Adam Leppington singled. He then
moved to second on a walk to Chris
Gosnell. Both runners advanced on a
sacrifice bunt. A ground ball out
pushed him home.
Port Hope tied the score in the fourth.
Dan Masse led off the fifth with a tow-
ering drive over the left field fence,
which proved to be enough as the
Express won the game.
Exeter 8 Niagara Falls 6
The opponent in round two was a
team from Niagara Falls. Curtis Meyers
was the starter for the Express. Fulop
said he was effective but his stamina
turned out to be a problem as he
reached his pitch limit. He allowed one
run.
The Express rallied for a run as
Aaron Patterson singled, stole second
base and scored on hits from Rob Burk
and Bobbie Grant.
Dan Masse relieved him. Niagara
Falls scored five runs on four hits and
four walks against Masse.
The Express rallied for seven runs in
the fourth. Lonnie Hawke singled, Nate
Burns and Masse walked, Vic Oliveira
doubled, Patterson and Burk walked,
Justin Hayter banged out a double and
Hawke hit a second single.
Brian MacLeod relieved for two
innings giving up three runs on five
hits.
Chris Gosnell, the other half of
Exeter's top tandem relieved allowing
no hits and struck out.
The Express had gambled a little with
their pitching in the game but managed
to win the game, Fulop said.
Exeter 1 1 Creemore 2
Game three was against Creemore.
Fairbairn used his best remaining
pitcher in Chris Gosnell. He shut
Creemore down except for a two -run
rally in the second inning In total he
had eight strikeouts and allowed six
hits.
The Express did all their scoring in
two innings - the second and the
sixth. In total they scored 11 runs.
Standing out in these rallies were
Aaron Patterson with two hits, Rob
Burk with one hit, Justin Hayter with
two hits, Lonnie Hawke with three hits,
Adam Leppington with a double, Nate
Burns a single, while Dan Masse had
two walks and Vic Oliveira had a sin-
gle.
By this game one could see the
Express defense starting to shine Fulop
said.
"Aaron Patterson and Rob Burk made
numerous great stops and double
plays. Lonnie Hawke scooped up every-
thing that came his way. Justin Hayter
made no mistakes at third. The opposi-
tion barely would take the chance to
steal as Bobbie Grant's reputation pre-
ceded him. The outfield improved in
every game. They were able to track
down almost every fly ball hit in their
direction."
Exeter 7 Barrie 2
Entering game four, only Exeter and
Barrie were undefeated. Fairbairn
chose Terry Hogg to do the job. Hogg
had won two games for Exeter in the
2007 tournament and was ready to go
against Barrie. He allowed only three
hits plus seven walks scattered over the
seven innings (one in the fourth and
one in the seventh).
The Express attack hit early with
seven runs scored in the first two
innings. Pacing the attack were Chris
Gosnell with a walk, Nate Burns with a
single, Lonnie Hawke with a walk,
Bobbie Grant with a single and a walk.
Rob Burk had two hits and Aaron
Patterson had two walks. The Express
pretty much coaxed their opponents to
sleep the rest of the way, Fulop said.
Port Hope 5 Exeter 4
The Express had to dig into their
reserves of pitchers for game five
against Port Hope.
Brian MacLeod was selected even
though he had a short relief stint in
game two. MacLeod started off poorly
but was more impressive as the game
progressed, Fulop said.
MacLeod allowed one run in each of
the first, third, fifth and seventh
innings. MacLeod allowed his runs on
seven hits. Justin Hayter caught his
first game of the tournament as Bobbie
Grant was away on a personal leave.
Grant's leadership and his bat were
missed, Fulop said. Manager Fairbairn
blamed himself for the loss as he left
MacLeod in for too many pitches. It is
only speculation that these events could
lead to a win or a loss.
What was evident was that neither
MacLeod nor the team were quitters,
Fulop said.
"MacLeod tried to carry on pitching
despite the fact that his shoes actually
fell apart."
The Express rallied for a run in the
first, three more in the sixth and
appeared to have the game under con-
trol.
Port Hope replied with a home run in
the seventh to tie the game. The
Express could not score in the eighth.
Port Hope pulled off a suicide bunt
with two out to clinch the game.
Exeter 5 Creemore 1
Having lost this game Exeter was put
into a situation of having to play both
Creemore and Port Hope in back to
back games on Monday.
Manager Fairbairn felt it was the best
choice to use his ace, Derek Masse, to
start game six.
Masse pitched exceptionally well with
only two days between starts. He
allowed one run on four hits and struck
out nine batters. The Express were
able to gain five runs from the
Creemore pitchers to win the game 5 -
1.
Hitting stars for the Express were
Justin Hayter with two singles and a
home run, Adam Leppington con-
tributed with a single and a home run,
Nate Burns had two hits and Rob Burk
had one.
Port Hope 5 Exeter 3
For game seven against Port Hope,
Fulop said it would be difficult to prove
which of these teams was the best dur-
ing this tournament. They had split the
first two games with both games decid-
ed by one run.
Fairbairn used his other ace, Chris
Gosnell, with only one day since his
previous start.
Fulop said, "He pitched his heart out
for three innings but gave up three
runs in the process on four hits and
two walks."
Derek Masse came in for two innings
and allowed one run on three hits. Dan
Masse pitched the last two innings
allowing one run on three hits.
Port Hope used a pitcher who threw
the Exeter batsmen "slow looping
junk," according to Fulop, which had
them off balance for six innings The
Express could muster only three runs
on seven hits.
Port Hope used its ace in the seventh.
Vic Oliveira singled and Aaron
Patterson hit into a fielder's choice.
With good contact hitter Rob Burk at
the plate Fairbairn opted for a run and
hit. Patterson was almost to second
base when Burk hit a line drive that
was snared by the third baseman. He
then threw to first for the double play.
Port Hope won the final game, win-
ning two out of three games against
Exeter.
Explains Fulop, "The best collection
of players ever gathered in Exeter
came up short in attempts to win the
league pennant, the playoff round with
Tillsonburg and the OBA tournament.
They put forth their best efforts, they
showed how much talent and grit they
had. They possibly were overconfident
and didn't expect the quality of compe-
tition they faced. If they all return next
season they could possibly do better
yet. But, they need to attend more
games and practices. Congratulations
to Doug Fairbairn on a job well done.
I'm sure there will be much to talk
about and plan for next year."
Exeter Golf Club scores Ironwood golf league weekly scores
Monday Night Men's
Sept 1
A: LG -Andy Freiter 37,
LN -Peter Rowan 34
B: LG -John Westlake
40, LN -Bob Reynolds 35,
C: LG Craig Hebert 45,
LN -Richard Neevel 36, D:
LG -Bill Coleman 46, LN
Sam Toornstra 34
CTP #3 Mike Burton,
#6 Mike Nice
A/B Peter Rowan #1,
C/D Richard Neevel #2
Senior Men's
Sept. 4
A flight: LN -Larry Wein
34 CB, B flight LN -Ross
Mathers 33 CB, Jim Alce
33, Bev Skinner 34 CB
CTP #3 Al Preece, #6 Don
Ross
Events: Closing lun-
cheon awards presenta-
tion and elections Sept.
25
First: Jim Alce, Ross
Mathers, Llyod Moore, Al
Preece -135
Second Bob Cooper,
Bob Fisher, Richard
Rader, Larry Wein-143
Wednesday Night
Ladies
Sept. 3 - A: LG Louise
Pincombe, LN Rhonda
Yeo
B: LG Leah Morgan, LN
Lorna Davis, C: LG
Pauline Passmore, LN
Lynda Freiter, D: LG
Mary Draisey, LN Shirley
Martin
50/50 Lynee Dobson
Tuesday Morning
Ladies League
Aug. 19 - A Flight
Carole Preece, B Flight
Liz Roestenberg, C Flight
Barb Cook, D Flight Millie
Ross
Share the wealth: Barb
Cook and Brigitte
DuBarry
Lucky Plate: Anne
Helum
Men's Club
Sept. 2
A: Marty Mitchell
34n33, Adam Skillen
34n33, Brad Murray
34n33, Mark Cronyn
38n37, Ken Pinder
391137, Clayton Hefley
41n37
B: Dave Jackson
39n37, Jason
Restmayer 43n38,
Jarett Palen, Rob
Dickey 41n38, Ben
Hoogenboom 42n39,
Jeff Kints 42n39
C: Darryl Kingma
43n40, Ed Preszcator,
Mark Mcllwain 43n40,
Len Veri 42n40, Fred
Godbolt 45n42, Dean
Barclay 44n42
D: Earl Ross 42n39,
Jeff Kerslake 43n39,
Steve Schroeder, Paul
Overholt 41n43
CTP: A/B #12 Clayton
Hefley, #17 Jason
Restemayer (eagle),
C/D #14 Doug Watson,
#18 Brian Brooks
Skins A/B #11 Harry
Disher, #14 Marty
Mitchell (eagle) #15
Andy Geiger, #16 Adam
Skillen, #18 Brad
Murray (eagle)
C/D #11 Randy
Gilfillan, #12 Jeff
Kerslake, #13 Jack
Kraft, #16 Bob Ross
Senior Men Sept 3
First: Rob Snell 40,
Joe Wilson 42, Jim
Campbell 41, Lorne
Ridout 38-161, Second:
Jim O'Toole 43, Terry
Bourne 38, Don
Heywood 41, Ernie
Ahrens 40-162, Third:
Bill Farquhar 38, Bob
Coates 51, Jim Gifford
36, Ben Hoogemboom
41-166, Fourth: Al
Preece 40, Larry Ilde
47, Murray Morrison
42, Bob Laye 43-172,
Fifth: Jack Chipchase
40, Bob Clark 48,
Howard McDonald 42,
Al Taylor 43-173,
Sixth: Scott Burton 39,
Tosh Yamamoto 45,
Casey Zeehuisen 44,
Brian Wedlake 46-174,
Seventh: Frank Dumont
39, Hal Snoddy, Casey
Cook, Jim Morrisey 48-
181, Eighth: Mike
Barclay 43, Guy
Giddings 56, Charley
Chambers 43, Bill
Soldan 42-184, Ninth:
Al Mathers 44, Lee
Richards 37, Dennis
Hockey 52, george
Tryon 57-190, Tenth:
Bill Haskett 52, Ken
Herman 54, Doug
Pearson 44, Jack
Johnston 48-198
CTP #4 Jim Campbell,
#7 Jack Chipchase
Ladies
Sept.4
LG: A -Sylvia Bedford
41, Judy Hodgins 41,
B -Louise Pincombe 44,
C -Marla Wilson 50
Pot of Gold Throw Out
for low net
A -Marcia Sweet 24,
Lynee Farquhar 25,
Judy Hodgins 25, B -
Louise Pincombe 27,
Elaine Tomlinson 28,
Joy Darling 29, C -
Marla Wilson 29, Gayle
Ready 32, MaryJane
Taylor 34
CTP #7 A -Judy
Hodgins, B -Joy Darling
Longest Drive #5 A -
Barb Smits, B -Nancy
Croucher , C -Marg
Prout
50/50 draw Liz
Hodgins, Free cart -
Elaine Tomlinson