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Under-'Dogs stymied by Buzz in game one Series continues here Thursday night EAMONN MAHER Staff Writer The Halton Hills Bulldogs proved once again on Monday night that they can give the top-ranked Jr. B lacrosse team in Ontario all it can handle. But until the underdog Bulldogs can get a win to show for their efforts, their season could be over this weekend and veteran Halton Hills' goaltender Kyle Kennery isn't interested in scoring any more moral victories. The Eastern Conference-champion Oakville Buzz scored three times in the final seven minutes to earn an 11-8 win over the very game Bulldogs in the opening game of their best-of-5 first-round playoff series at the Maple Grove Arena. Halton Hills led on a couple of occasions, yet the 19-1 Buzz prevailed over the 10-10 'Dogs for the fifth time this season, maintaining its unbeaten home record in 2006. "There's no consolation in just keeping it close. It's go big or go home," said the 21-year-old Kennery, in his fifth and final campaign with the eighth-place Bulldogs. "On paper, all you see is a win or a loss. If it's close, it's close, but in the end that doesn't matter. We're just trying to focus on the positive things. If we happen to lose the game, that sucks, but we look at what we can improve upon. The way we played tonight showed this is far from over." Game two of the series will be played Thursday at Georgetown's Mold-Masters SportsPlex beginning at 8 p.m., with game three in Oakville Saturday evening. As has been the case many times this season, the Bulldogs allowed their opponents to get a good start, with the Buzz grabbing a 3-0 lead just six minutes into Monday's spirited contest, played in front of about 400 fans in the sweltering Maple Grove Arena. But Halton Hills would rally, taking leads of 5-4 and 8-7, before the hosts turned the tide in their favour. Oakville's Sean Thomson took advantage of a defensive breakdown by the Bulldogs, walking in from the half-boards and deking Kennery for the winner. "It always seems to be that we've got them, then sometimes it's a call or we just let off, and even though we have a foot on their throats, we can't finish it," Kennery added. Nole Coutrouzas, Cameron Flint and Travis Bland had two goals each for the visitors, with Matt Laidlaw and David Brock adding singles. If a fourth game is required, it would be played in Georgetown Sunday at 6 p.m. The sweetest swing Former Major League Baseball player Al (Scoop) Oliver held a a hitting clinic at the Gellert Community Centre recently, where the former Toronto Blue Jay and Pittsburgh Pirate demonstrated some techniques to about 20 kids. Here he observes Luke Gomes as he hits the ball. Local resident Paul Cartwright of Sports Celebrity Marketing plans to stage similar youth clinics with former Blue Jays Lloyd Moseby and Tony Fernandez slated to make appearances. Dates have yet to be finalized. Photo by Sabrina Byrnes Lapointe prevails at Star Amateur All that time spent in the gym during the winter months appears to be paying dividends for Georgetown resident Mary Ann Lapointe. The 47-year-old bookkeeper embarked on a rigid training routine during the off-season in order to be better prepared for physical challenges like she faced last week at the Toronto Star Women's Amateur Championship held at Pickering's Whitevale Golf Club. Lapointe won all four games she played in over Thursday and Friday in the match-play segment of the tournament, which drew the best amateurs in the province. Playing against much-younger opponents under hot, humid and sometimes stormy weather conditions, Lapointe's fine week culminated with a 2-and-1 victory over 21-year-old Kristy McLaughlin of Wasaga Beach. McLaughlin led by two after 10 holes, but Lapointe rallied to take the match. "Age isn't on my side, but I had a strong workout regimen over the winter," Lapointe said. "Every day this winter I went to the gym. I just hated it. But I guess it paid off." It's the second time the North Halton Golf & Country Club member has won the Star tourney, last taking it in 2001. She has also finished second twice. She now turns her attention to the Golf Association of Ontario's women's amateur this week in St. Catharines. With files from Torstar News Service Georgetown's Mary Ann Lapointe receives the Ruth Atkinson Hindmarsh Trophy for winning the Toronto Star Women's Amateur tournament last Friday from event founder Glenn Goodwin. Considered North America's top city championship, Lapointe has now won the event twice and was runner-up on two other occasions. Photo courtesy Julie K. Green