Times Advocate, 1992-06-17, Page 13Dan Masse of Zurich was one of many hardball pitchers who
got the speed of his pitches read through a speed gun at the
L.A. Dodgers tryout clinic held at the Alvin Willett Field in Exet-
er on Saturday. Ontario scouts worked with players who gath-
ered from areas as far as Stratford and London to look for po-
tential talent.
Pros scout locals
L.A. Dodgers host
Exeter try clinic
EXETER - About two dttttsn
young, eager hardball players hew
as far as Stratford and London, at-
tended -a tryout clinic -held -by the
Los Angeles Dodgers at the Exeter
hardball diamond on Saturday.
Rick Birmingham, of Sarnia, 'is
the Ontario scout fbr the Dodgers
and does two or three clinics a sum-
mer to help spot potential players.
On Saturday, the clinic worked sep-
arately with the pitchers and the in
and outfielders.
A speed gun measured the veloci-
ty of the pitchers throws and Birm-
ingham says this is because veloci-
ty cart^tl them a lot about the
pitcher before they consider move-
ment of we .gall.
He say he looks at the arms of
the fielders when lonldajfbr future
players. The clinic is 'Nit to distin-
guish the tools that they have. If
they have -the =tools,-1t111n you get
into their mental ability," says
Birmingham.
He points out that although they
may offer something 'to a player
they see as a "top prospect" often
they aren't mentally ready for the
big leagues. Because the Dodgers
have good connections with U.S.
colleges, many Canadian athletes
are encouraged to attend school
there to play and'finish their educa-
tion.
The clinic also included timed 60
yard dashes and a scrimmage to
round out the day.
Zurich bowler becomes
provincial runner-up
TORONTO - A local bowler was
fust runner-up at the 1992 Provin-
cial Championships for "Bowler of
the Year" held in Brampton last
Saturday. Youth Bowling Council,
Ontario Division, 5 -Pin bowling
sponsored the event.
This was a two-day event as all
finalists were treated to a day at
Canada's Wonderland on Saturday,
then bowled on Sunday.
Brad Brown, a first year junior
from Town and Country Bowling
Lanes in Zurich represented this
zone. The count was for pins over
average.
Brown was fust runner-up out of
19 bowlers from throughout the
province. His average was 150 and
he bowled 205, 176 and 267 for a
648 triple.
First place went to E.J. Braca-
monte of Brockville, with 30 points
over Brown and third place to
Chantel Beadle of London who was
only five points behind Brown. All
three bowlers were well ahead of
the other 16 participants in their
category.
Mike and Bev Creagan were the
volunteer chaperones/
representatives for the zone.
Underwater hockey
Exeter player returns from work!
By Ray Lewis
T -A staff
EXETER .- It wasn't gold for
Canada's National Underwater
Hockey Team, but if experience
counts for anything Jim Fleming's
return to the pool will be a big
splash.
Fleming, a gold medalist with the
Ontario men's hockey squad re-
tumed recently from the world
championships in Wellington, New
Zealand. Although the Canadians
were not fortunate enough to come
home with a medal, they did gain
some new insight into the game.
"We lacked the intensity and
speed of the other teams," said
Fleming. "But as far as strategy is
concerned, we didn't see anything
we haven't seen before."
The game is, played much the
same as ice hockey, the exception
Jim Renting'
being that it is played underwater.
Wearing a mask, snorkel and fins,
players use a small wooden stick to
push a three pound brass puck
along the pool's bottom, and into a
trough at pool's end. Teams dress
10 players and change on the fly
with six permitted in the pool at
once.
The world championships are
held every two years, and Fleming
is definitely preparing for the next
ones which will be held in France.
"We'll be a lot more prepared and
a lot better conditioned next time,"
vowed Fleming.
Team Canada faced off against
eight otic countries in their divi-
sion which followed a round-robin
format, with Australia claiming its
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third consecutive championship.
Fleming found himself the only
Ontario representative, as the team
itself was comprised of seven
players from Vancouver, two from
Thunder Bay and one from CaI-
gary.
The players had a week in New
Zealand to prepare for the champi-
onships, and most of it was spent
training and trying to get the team
organized with hopes of it gelling.
"A lot of our problem was the
fact that we had never played to-
gether before," said Fleming.
"We've played against each other,
but to play .against them and with
them are two different things."
Something else Fleming found
Continued on page 14
•
Who will be the saviour
of high school sports?
De ale optimists
wbo belieso the Boon -
May 4s g eo
tttbettttd;!► thS►1hehead
bolt leers to n another
atoteb. Every loosed ffOr every or-
ganisation art theses seems too '
have a damn men waids: cut
spec diug.
The illu in -may �eatd of
Educaticln is tine such beard
„tit,
which this year Is finding itself under closer scrutiny than ever
when it canes* Ste a iocatibn of hinds. .
Eutraounticular aotivides find themselves on the verge of being
elimhtated •in an emit to save money. High school sports is cur-
rently the Most debated issue, as school boards everywhere contem-
plate some sort of re -alignment. Are they worth the cost and time to
salvage?
One in every tour students at South Huron District High School is
an athlete. A quick survey tells you that most involved find that
athletics not only boost morale and school spirit, but also can im-
prove grades.
While some people believe school athletics to interfere with
grades and homework, statistics prove that students who are in-
volved in sports actually have better grades. Those who take part
seem to learn at an early age the precious skills of time manage-
ment, while others have been found to better themselves scholasti-
cally in an effort to remain in school and as pan of their beloved
CCM.
Athletics can create their own society and along with success on
the court or playing field comes a feeling of prestige. But more im-
portant comes a characterisdc required by many students; a sense of
belonging.
So who will be the savior of high school sports?
There are already marry dangles slotted for next year awaiting ap-
proval. Some sports have been placed directly on the chopping
block, while others have had their seasons shortened in an effort to
cut down an both student absentees and the number of hours teach-
er -coaches are out of the classroom, to help reduce the need for hir-
ing substitutes.
Instead, it has been suggested that students play more games on
weekends and after school. Mot a bad idea but what about the con-
flict with the area's minor athletic programs. What will the effects
be on say, minor hockey if basketball games are played at night? Is
it unrealistic to imagine fewer basketball players taking part and the
cancellation of the program a few years down the road? It wouldn't
be hard for conflict to keep players off the court and thereby per-
suade those higher up to eventually cut the program entirely, ar-
guing a 'lack of interest'
To compensate would be a virtual schedulers' nightmare, but it
could be done. Perhaps in such a way tee instill even more school
spirit. Night games in various sports may encourage more fan sup-
port from both students and parents alike, as it does south of the
border.
It's been suggested that on nights when games are held that in
conjunction students' council hold a dance. What a novel idea.
During a discussion here at work, the idea was struck of having
more tournaments. If schedules are shortened, what if each school
held a Satunlay or weekend tournament in which their win/loss
record could be tied to regular season standings. Revenues from
tuck shops, etc., at the events would certainly be a plus, and referees
would be less expansive.
While it would mean more time for coaches to spend in organize-
..tiou.iDf the event, which they may ill afford, perhaps a committee
could be 3armed at each .clfiai7`i
`e caYly .65 i1ati toolirfin t : -
Although each school in the county docs not have the facilities to
host a tourney in every sport they are involved, they do have the
space for most indoor games. Surely some compromise could be
worked out as far as field space with other schools; one school hold
a volleyball or basketball tourney, another soccer.
But in order to make any of it work, high school athletics are go-
ing to need a stronger voice. The students themselves are going to
have to sit up and take notice before its too late. It's going to be up
to them to make a difference.
It's a reciprocal relationship. If you expect school support, then
support the school. It's your program.
Only you can be the saviour.
Ten busloads of Huron Countyites travelled to the Sky Dome in
Toronto Saturday to watch the Blue Jays battle the Red Sox as part
of Huron County Day. Jays fans weren't impressed with what they
saw of the game which ended in a 5-2 Bosox victory, but they were
impressed with what they saw of some homegrown talent. Exeter's
George Pratt Jr.; who was seated in the stands, made a great bare-
handed grab of a drive down the third base line. Perhaps the Jays
should have put him in.
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