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Sports Oakville Beaver SPORTS EDITOR:JONKUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 432) Fax 905-337-5571 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com · FRIDAY, MAY 18, 2012 31 PHOTOS BY JAMES HOGGETT / SPECIAL TO THE OAKVILLE BEAVER BIG LEAGUE FEEL: More than 300 fans filled the stands of Glen Abbey Recreation Centre last week to watch the Oakville bantam 1 Hawks play their first home game of their box lacrosse season. Pictured clockwise from left, Hawks players take to the floor; fans hold up signs and noisemakers; and the Hawks' mascot revs up the crowd. The Hawks rewarded their supporters with a 7-2 win over Orangeville. Opener to remember for bantam Hawks "I think it was really the impression we wanted to leave with the kids, which was that the game is all about teamwork and bringing the kids together." After the excitement and thrill had set in for the young For young lacrosse players, most games are filled with excitement, teamwork and passion. For the Oakville bantam 1 Hawks, Hawks, they prepared to face off against a very tough Orangeville team who had success against them in years their home opener was one game they will cherpast. The Hawks won the game 7-2 in front of ish for the rest of their lives. "Running through the the large and boisterous crowd. Follows said Coaches and volunteers arranged a wonder- tunnel and hearing the that the end result could not have been better. fully put-together surprise for the Hawks last "The parents and volunteers showed them Thursday as Glen Abbey Recreation Centre filled noise of the crowd, you what teamwork could accomplish. The effect on up with more than 300 roaring fans and parents. couldn't wipe the smile the boys was that they played as a team and beat They were quietly ushered into the arena, while off their faces, they an Orangeville squad that is traditionally very the Hawks had no idea what was awaiting them. were so excited." difficult," he said. Banners were dropped; fans were painted in the Follows said that after claiming the victory team's traditional blue, white and gold; and even Oakville bantam 1 Hawks and playing to their full potential, the boys were a mascot cheered and danced around tossing head coach Mark Follows overwhelmed with happiness. They felt like pro T-shirts into the crowd. athletes even before the game had even begun. Mark Follows, the Hawks' head coach and also "The pre-game pep talk really stuck with them. Running the main organizer of the event, said the inspiration was brought upon by a Super Bowl commercial filmed in Mississauga, which through the tunnel and hearing the noise of the crowd, you couldn't wipe the smile off their faces, they were so excited," he had the same effect on a local men's hockey team. "We thought about it a few years ago, and then we saw the said. Michael Varanesi, president of the Oakville Minor Lacrosse Budweiser commercial which gave us the push to do something like this," Follows said. See Game, page 32 By Lucas Casaletto SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER