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25 · OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, August 19, 2009 Coaches deserve credit for Titans' quick success Continued from page 24 HISTORIC WIN: The Oakville midget tier 1 Angels became the first-ever Canadian team to win an United States Specialty Sports Association World Series championship earlier this month in Texas. Angels make history with USSSA win By Jon Kuiperij BEAVER SPORTS EDITOR McLaughlin was named both MVP and best pitcher of the competition, but she had plenty of help. Angels catcher Kirsty Grant, second baseman Kelly · See page 26 for team roster Though he quickly recognized their talent, Ian Hannivan, shortstop Sam Patoff and McLaughlin were and photo Abbott wasn't overly impressed with what he saw the named to the all-tournament team. Grant played every first time he met the Oakville midget tier 1 Angels. inning of the four games on the final day, Hannivan 9 L O C A T I O N S T O S E R V E Y O U B E T T E R ! "They were a bunch of egotistical prima donnas," batted .560 in the tournament, and Patoff demonstratWHY WAIT? WHEN THE GOVERNMENT recalled Abbott, who took over as coach of the girls' ed impressive range defensively. IS PAYING OVER 50% OFF THE PRICE OF fastpitch team last fall. "A lot of them had their The Angels also got contributions from the rest of YOUR NEW FURNACE & A/C own agendas." their regulars. Abbott thinks a lot more highly of them Jennifer Rossetti used her speed to make several sig- Up to $ * Cash Back now. nificant defensive plays in the outfield, Kayla Forbes *OAC AND The Angels made history earlier threw out a runner at first base from right field this month in Plano, Texas by winin one of the final games, Michayla Caughlin UP TO UP TO UP TO UP TO ning the United States Specialty broke open the semifinal with a grand slam, third $3580 + $1000 + $550 + $1350 GOV. MANUFACTURERS HYDRO TAX Sports Association (USSSA) 16-under A World baseman Theresa Linatoc recorded all three putCASH BACK CASH BACK CASH BACK CREDIT Series championship, becoming the first-ever outs in the final inning of the championship game, *Call for details. Canadian team to claim a USSSA World Series title. and Megan Doherty's sacrifice bunt cashed the OVER 60,000 Financing Available SATISFIED Oakville went 8-2 at the prestigious tournatying run in one of the Angels' bracket round A+ Rating CUSTOMERS ment, clinching the gold with a 4-2 victory victories. over the Kansas City Freeze -- the Angels' Oakville's three callups also made their third consecutive game and fourth of the presence felt. Alannah McKenzie, a callup day in sweltering conditions. from the Angels' tier 2 midget team, Lauren 9 Locations To Serve You Better! No one felt the heat more than made a key play at first base in a 1McLaughlin Oakville pitcher Lauren 0 win over the Colorado DC Jets. www.aireone.com 1-888-827-2665 McLaughlin. The 17-year-old Holy Nicole Cerpnjak, loaned from the Trinity student, who pitched complete games in all but Halton Hills Hawks bantam squad, consistently moved one of the Angels' 10 contests, fought through near-40- runners along or drove them in while degree (Celsius) temperatures to throw 336 pitches on hitting second in the lineup. Alex the final day. Crane, a member of the Mississauga "It was pure adrenalin," said McLaughlin, who pre- North Tigers bantams, hit a home run pared for the tournament by practicing yoga in a 40- to give Oakville a 1-0 win over the degree room. "I had no energy left." Arkansas Rockets in the bracket McLaughlin resorted to mostly curveballs and round. changeups in the final game, but still managed to "Everybody made a contribution," reach back for her 60 mile-per-hour fastball on occa- said Abbott, who was assisted by Greg sion. It was enough to put the bats of the Freeze, which Cowan. "I would be wrong to say it Week Twelve had downed Oakville 4-1 earlier in the tournament, on was one particular person or two parPhoto Contest ice and give the Angels the gold -- a championship ticular people. It was everybody." that even surprised some of the Oakville players. The USSSA title concludes the seaWinner: "Our team has had a little trouble connecting. son for the Angels. Abbott said all the Paul Fink We've had a lot of drama," said McLaughlin, who was- players on the team are eligible to play n't surprised by Abbott's assessment of the team last midget (age 16-19) for at least two fall. "Honest to God, I didn't think we'd be able to go more seasons. the whole way. I guess everybody just overcame those Sponsored by: and A Proud Sponsor of Oakville Soccer Club (problems) when they went out on the diamond." the team in its first year." Hall credited the Titans coaching staff for much of the team's success, particularly Moscato. Recruitment of players for the team was going slowly last winter until Moscato, who played NCAA Division 1 football at Northern Illinois University in the early 1990s and is quickly building a strong football tradition at Holy Trinity, decided to coach the junior varsity Titans. "Once Joe joined as our head coach, the floodgates of kids started. Not just players from Holy Trinity, but kids who had played for him two years ago (with the Halton Invictas)," Hall said. "We got a lot of players from Abbey Park, Blakelock, Iroquois Ridge... we saw the talent that came from all of Oakville, and I think we knew at that point we had something. "(Joe) gets a tremendous amount of respect. He's a disciplinarian, but he makes it fun too. He gets to know the kids on a level that not many coaches do." Moscato even lent his shoes Saturday to lineman Erik Luciano after Luciano's cleats were deemed illegal by officials in the fourth quarter. Ashton Rochester led the way offensively for Oakville in the league final, running for three touchdowns. Zack Secord accounted for the Titans' other two majors, and Kyle Sanson was successful on all five converts. Quarterback Fabian Desantis was good on five of 11 pass attempts for 167 yards. Meanwhile, anchored by middle linebacker Te Nguyen, the Oakville defence held the Steelers to less than 100 rushing yards. The Titans also forced five Hamilton turnovers, including interceptions by Ford Simpson, Michael Sparling and Aaron Jervis. Nicholas UlerykCarvalho and Matt Toppan recovered Hamilton fumbles. NO PAYMENT! NO INTEREST! 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