Times-Advocate, 1996-06-19, Page 16t
Exeter Express move into first plat
Exeter is undefeated after beating Listowel and three time league champions Lakeside
Marty Merner delivers a pitch during an Exeter Express baseball game last week. Without a
stick of gum to chew on, Memer pitched six straight innings against Lakeside on Fridaystrik-
ing out seven batters. Exeter defeated Lakeside 6-4 to move Into first place.
One stro , .can be
worth once Million
HURON PARK - Hit a hole-in-one....win one million dollars.
The Stephen Township Arena Committee is holding a fundraiser
at the Exeter golf club from July 3 to 17 with some big prizes up for
grabs.
The committee is trying to raise enough money to expand the
dressing rooms and build a warm room at the Stephen Township
Arena and have organized an enticing contest for golfers.
According to arena manager, Rob Funston, the five day event will
begin with qualifying rounds open to anyone. For a buck a ball or
12 balls for $10, duffers can try to qualify for the million dollar
round by landing a golf ball within a five foot radius around a pin
placed 110 yards from the tee.
An unlimited number of people can qualify for the semi-final
round Sunday at 6 p.m.. Each qualifying ball will earn you a stroke
in the semi-final. The pin will be placed 155 yards from the tee and
the ten closest to the pin will advance to the final round. Anyone
who hits hole -in -one at this stage will win a brand new Cavalier
from Huron Motor Products.
The ten finalists will then tee -off for the grand prize at 8 p.m. lat-
er that day. The one who is closest to the pin will receive a trip for
two to Las Vegas from Ellison travel and anyone who sinks the 155
yard hole -in -one will receive a cool one million dollars payed out in
$50,000 increments over 20 years.
The Centralia/Huron Park Lions club are sponsoring the event.
They are supported by associate sponsors Bluewater Recycling, Hu-
ron Tractor, McCann Redi-Mix, Veri Trucking and Glavin Sand-
blasting.
Funston said the contest is open to anyone and all qualifiers will
receive a prize.
Golf clubs are available at no charge for those who don't own one.
LONDON - The Exeter Express moved into first
place after beating the previously undefeated Lake-
side team in London on Friday.
With the odds against them, Exeter pulled out a 6-
4 win over the three -time league champions from
London and are currently sitting in first place with
a 3-0 win/loss record.
Lakeside, known for their strong hitting and mer-
ciless pitching started the game with their two best
pitchers and managed to keep Exeter down to two
runs for most of the game. With the score tied at
two, the Express exploded for four runs in the sixth
inning. Lakeside responded by scoring a run in the
seventh and eighth' innings, but couldn't overtake
Exeter losing the game by two runs.
Pitcher Marty 'mud' Memer, took to the mound
first for Exeter and pitched six straight innings
striking out seven Lakeside players and giving up
only three runs off five hits. He was relieved by
Mike Agnew who pitched for two innings striking
out two batters allowing one run off four hits. Scot
Russell finished things off for Exeter pitching a no
hitter in the ninth.
Not expecting a big offensive game against such a
strong pitching squad, coach Doug Fairbairn was
surprised to see five Exeter batters combine for
nine hits. Rick Boon led the way with three hits,
Don MacDonald and Scot Russell hit two while
Dave Russell and Darcy Martin had one each.
Fairbairn admitted some of the players had their
doubts about going up against Lakeside's starting
pitcher, known for having the best arm in the
league; however, his reputation was probably his
biggest downfall as early hits by Exeter built their
confidence up and sustained it throughout the
game.
"We went right at him and got a run in the first in-
ning," said Fairbairn. "We realized we could beat
the best pitcher in the league and that made us feel
good."
Strong defensive play in both outfield and infield
was also a factor as Exeter kept errors down to a
minimum.
The Express went into the game hot off a 10-0
drubbing over Listowel in Exeter last Tuesday.
Boon pitched for six straight innings and almost
went the distance without a hit. He allowed two,
but only after striking out four baffled batters.
Merner relieved Boon for a flawless last inning
preserving Listowel's goose egg on the scoreboard.
Scoring against this team wasn't a problem for the
Express who sent a steady stream of runners across
home plate.
Richard 'burger' Schilbe led the way offensively
after he sent a ball into orbit in the sixth inning for
the only home run of the game. Fairbairn told
Schilbe he was going to send a player in to run for
him if he got a base hit so he wouldn't aggravate his
pulled hamstring. Schilbe responded by telling Fair-
bairn not to bother with the pinch runner because
he was going to hit a home run.
"Sure enough he did," recalled Fairbairn adding
he also hit a single after that.
Scot Russell contributed to the offensive cause
hitting three for Exeter and Bill Glover, Dan Dowl-
ing, Rob Dickey, Mike Agnew and Mark Russell
all recorded two hits each.
Fairbairn credits their success to a talented and
prolific pitching team knowing he can count on any
one of them to do their job at any time.
"In year's past we had to stretch our pitching
making them go a little farther than they should
have and games would slip away from us because
we had to keep them in longer. But this year our
pitching is deep enough we can put a fresh guy on
the mound whenever we need to," said Fairbairn.
Fairbairn said the win over Lakeside was a tre-
mendous confidence builder for the players.
"After we beat them every player was grinning
from ear to ear," he said. But it only confirms what
Fairbairn knew from the beginning of the season. "I
feel this is the strongest team we have ever
had...we know now this team is for real."
Jeff Glavin
runner up for
Player of the
Year Award
EXETER - Jeff Glavin of the
Exeter Junior "D" Hawks placed
second in the. Ontario Hockey
Association Player of the Year
Awards during the OHA conven-
tion in Niagara Falls on the week-
end.
Glavin was nominated by
Hawks coach Dave Revington
early in the season and was
named Player of the Year from
out of nine other nominees in the
Yeck Conference.
The award was created to rec-
ognize athletes who combine
hockey skills with community in-
volvement while playing Junior
"D" hockey in the 1995-96 season.
Glavin, from Crediton, accumua
lated 41 points playing for the
Hawks in the regular season and.
recorded 16 points during the !u.
playoffs. He was a contributing
factor in the Hawk's first ORA
All -Ontario Championship in
twenty years.
1
h life new coaches ,
tt will takelon coaching responsibilities for the Lucan Irish
By Chris Skalkos
T -A Reporter
LUCAN - The Lucan Irish hock-
ey organization announced last
week they have hired a new coach-
ing staff for the 1996-97 season.
George Pratt Jr. of Hensall as-
sumes the position of head coach.
He will be joined behind the bench
by assistant coaches Jason Bukala,
from London and Bill Bourne from
Strathroy, who are also new to the
team.
Irish co -manager Ken Freeman
said the coaching positions were
opened at the end of last season
and the Lucan Irish Executive body
reviewed eight applications.
Previous coaches Scott Bogart
and Mark Bannon re-applied for
the their jobs but according to Bo-
gart the interviewing process was a
formality.
"At first I thought we had a 50/50
chance but in hindsight we had
zero chance...I think they had their
minds made up before our inter-
view," he said.
Last year the Irish finished their
regular season with a successful
23-12-3 win/loss/tie record and
were one of the only two teams in
the Junior Development League to
hand out a loss to the Exeter
Hawks, current provincial cham-
pions.
However, Lucan lost to Seaforth
in the first round of the playoffs
four games to one bringing their
playoff season
to an abrupt
halt.
Bogart feels
the Lucan Irish
executive body
based their de-
cision to dis-
miss them be-
cause of their
early exit in
the playoffs.
"Apparantly
a winning
record doesn't
mean much
anymore," Bo-
gart said.
He admits he
is disappointed
because he and Bannon didn't have
a chance to prove themselves and
added that some of the team ex-
ecutive weren't knowledgeable
enough about the sport to make
hockey decisions.
"There are three or four people
on the executive who are making
hockey decisions, but wouldn't
know a hockey game if it bit
them...," said Bogart.
Freeman said he and co -manager
Grant Guymer are looking forward
to the experience Pratt and his two
assistants will bring to the or-
ganization.
Pratt, 29, was
head coach of the
Exeter Hawks
from 1989 to 1994
and spent two
years in the Junior
"B" ranks as as-
sistant coach for
the St Marys Lin-
colns.
Reached at his
father's home in
Exeter, Pratt said
the amount of
time and travelling
required to coach
in St Marys helped
make his de-
cision, but he also
gave top marks to the Junior "D"
league adding OHL scouts are be-
ginning to take a serious look at the
talent it offers.
"I've always had a lot of respect
for the Junior "D" league and I
think it's come a long way in the
last 10 years," he said. "The Lucan
organization is a top notch club and
I'm glad to be a part of it."
Pratt, describes his coaching style
as defense oriented and likes to
emphasize special teams. He said
many experienced players are el-
igible to return next season and he
is looking forward to coaching the
Irish to a first place division title.
"I want the best for this club and
I want the best out of every player
who is going to play for me," he
said.
Centennials and Fury will meet in Cup tournament
EXETER - Exeter has two competitive senior mens' soc-
cer clubs ..ad tomorrow night (Thursday) they will meet to
decide the better team.
Both the Exeter Fury and the Exeter Centennials soccer
teams play in the Western Ontario Soccer League, but the
Fury play in the Ea4t division and the Centennials play in
the Central, so they never meet during the regular season.
However, the two teams will square off in a competitive
contest when they play each other in a Division Two Cup
Tournament Thursday night at Canners Field.
The game doesn't count in regular league standings and
the winner will only advance within the next round of this
isolated tournament. However, local soccer fans will be
treated to a highly entertaining soccer game as the two
hometown teams go head to head at 7 p.m..
According to statistics, the Centennials look like the odds
on favorite.
With a 4-2 win/loss record they are on a three game win-
ning streak and will be heading into the game coming off a
hot 2-1 win over the German Canadians on Sunday.
They are a strong four man defensive team that is suc-
cessful in forcing their opponents to shoot from the outside
by not giving strikers a chance to penetrate the inside box,
but a repetitive offensive strategy makes them predictable
and consequently, they don't score many goals.
Their main offensive weapon, Jeff Lingard, a speedy
striker with a smart sense of play, has scored eight goals so
far this season including two natural hat tricks.
The Centennials have traditionally been an older team,
but according to team spokesperson George McEwan, they
are a younger team this year with an average age of 26.
The benefits are obvious.
"We're able to push young speedier guys in key positions
and we can cover the field much more effectively," he
said. Ironically, McEwan said it will not be the Centennials
defense that will decide the game, but their offense.
"We can count on our defense and our offense is capable
of scoring, but it's just a matter of how well they play that
night."
McEwan downplays any notion that a heated rivalry ex-
ists between the two teams and most players on the Cen-
tennials agree.
"I don't think this is for bragging rights. We're just in it
to play the game." he added.
Fury coach, Jeff Playfoot echoed McEwan saying the
only reward for winning that day will be getting the chance
to advance in the tournament.
"There's always going to be a little rivalry because both
teams are from Exeter, but we're only concerned about
getting to the next round," said Playfoot. "This is just an-
other game we have to win."
However, Fury player, Jason McFalls said he and some
of the other players are still stinging from the last time
these two teams met. Last year's Second Division cup pit-
ted them against each other in a lopsided game that had the
Centennials take an easy 4-1 victory.
"They beat us last year and we don't want that to happen
again. A win against them might get our team going in the
right direction for the rest of the year," said McFalls.
But defeating the Centennials will not come easy for the
Fury who have struggled so far this season with a 2-2-2
win/loss/tie record.
A defensive oriented team, the Fury have been successful
in keeping the ball out of their net, but have yet to find a
scoring formula.
"All our goals seem to come from scrambles. We don't
get pure goal scoring opportunities," said Playfoot.
The Fury are entering the game against the Centennials
on a losing note after losing 3-0 to Ingersoll on Friday and
will certainly need to find a way to muzzle Lingard if they
hope to keep the Centennials off the scoreboard.
"The key for us will be to outwork them. If we can do
that we can be successful," said McFails. Playfoot isn't
making any predictions and is conservatively optimistic.
"It's going to take a full team effort, but I hope we can
make a game of it," said Playfoot.
Oakwood
invitational
GRAND BEND - The third An-
nual Oakwood Invitational Golf
Tournament for charity will be
held at Oakwood Inn Golf Course
in Grand Bend, Thursday, June 27
at 1 p.m. with a shot gun start.
Every year, Oakwood owner,
Dave Scatcherd donates the use of
his golf course for the tournament
and all proceeds go towards A.R.C.
Industries. Last year local arca
golfers and a group of volunteers
helped raise $6,500 for A.R.C. In-
dustries.
•