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The Canadian Champion, Friday June 20, 1997 - 25 STigers maul midgets File photo by STEVE LeBLANC Shayne (lefI) and Jeremny Ridley helped Bail State University ta their best showing ever in the NCAA's Mid-Amnerican Conference (MAC) this spring. While on the losing end of' most games this season, the Miltont Red Sox mnajoif midgets have - by and large -kept things interesttng until flic late stages ol each basebail contesi. Their l'ans enjoyed no such luxury Tuesday ntght a( Maplehurst Bail Park, where the Karmnax-sponsored crew was mauled 101-5 by the Mississauga North Tigers. With haif of their regular lineup sitting out tor year-end exams and their usual sub-par delence at work, the Red Sox went in the tank early and trailed 7-0 by the end of the fifth. Starting pitching Justin Lawrence was banged around through (lie ftrst five, givitîg UP tour eamed runs and seven in total betore major bantatn eall- up Nathan Perrott worked thre solid relief innings. Todd Black came in to close. Catchier Jack Turner provid- ed the only bright spot in an otherwise dismnal hitting perfor- mance. He went 4-for-S with batted in. Second-basemati Curt Mitchell also cashed tn a run wtth a double. The loss dropped Miltoni to 4-12-4 on the year. While titeir strttggles catt bc partially blatned on their triple-A con- petition (they arc otîly a single- A îeam>, manager Larry Black says horrible def'ence is the overwhelming l"act(tr behttîd their poor record. "The only bright spot so lar tn our season was thrc weeks ago ai the Stoney Creek Tournamient, where we tîtade only l'ive errors in Cive games and reached the semnifinals," said Black, who coaches the teamn alongside Ntike Brooks, Adam FIait and Barry Turner. -We turned around and made 18 errors tn our next two gantes. "We struggledi through the ftrst hallf of lasi season as well though, and ended up .500 and went to the COBA (Central Ontario Basebaîl Association) semnifinals s0 I'i flot overly Ridley brothers prove they can play Milton looks steady on the tough NCAA basebali circuit during early season By STEVE L eBLANC Special to Thie Champion Less than a year after leading one basebaîl team 10 the promnisedi land, Jeremy and Shayne Ridley have begun laying the ground- work for a returfi visit. The 19-year-old twin brothers - who Ibis lime last spring were taking the Milton District Mustangs to the Bob Prentice/B3lue Jay Cup - recently completed their rookie season with Bail State University (BSU) of Muncie, Indiana. No sooner did the local boys of summer arrive on the scene, than tbey helped make Cardinals' bistory. BSU linished the regu- lar season with an overaîl 40-19 record, which includied a 21-10 showing in the Mid-American Conference (MAC). "We set a record for most wins in a season and our second- place ftnisb in MAC was the sehool's best ever," said Jeremy, who spendi the bulk of bis playing lime ai second base. "Unfortunately, we lost the regular season title to Ohio by just a single game in the very ast week. "We split a four-game series with Kent while Ohio swept, Akron four straight to edge their way past us. Losing by just one game really hurt." The heartbreak didn't stop there, as the Cardinals tnissed a golden opportunity at the MAC Toumnament to advance to the regional playdowns. They opened the weekend with a huge 17-5 vicîory over Kent, but then feil 9-6 to Ohio and 18-10 in their rematch with Kent - despite leading both games. "Wc wcre leadittg 9-2 in the second Kent gamne, but just lèelI spart ai one point and couldn't hit anymore. We weren't there mentally," Jeremy recalled. Yet despite a somnewhat disappointing conclusion to their first year in the NCAA, Shayne said it was extremely rewarding and juat as educaîlonal. -There's so much more intensity in college hall, you have 10 be sharper and in better shape," he said. He and Jeremy seemed to handle both without much trouble, as they each eamred regular spots in the lineup. The more offenisively sound of the two, Shayne was BSU's des- ignated hitter and posted a .301 hatting average. He lashed out 13 extra-base bits, including two home-runs, and collected 32 RBIs. *Continued on page 27 The Milton Magie under-17 girls soccer squad has kick- started their season in style with strong performances in both league and tournament play. A highly physical encounter wtth Kitchener ended in a 1-I1 draw aI home, in the teamas regular season opener. Carmnen Smeitink providied the goal while nelminder Kirsty Goodearle was sound between the pipes. Milton lollowed this up with an excellent showing at the Grimsby "DazLlin' Dozen" Tournament, reaching the semniftnals, where they ficl 3-0 10 the Windsor Nationals. A 3-I victory over another Elite Division team, Welland, helped themn advance 10 the playoff' round. Vanessa Gunter did ail the scoring f'or the Magie. Compristng the rest ol' teatn - who have graduated from select 10 rep level play - are Laura Adamson, Ticky Anderson, Kari Beal, Amber Block, Fions Brawley, Shannon Ferris, Shautia Hasselfeldt, Kelly McLaughlin, Danielle McNally, Jane Myers, Rhea Newman, Laura Spagnuolo and Laura Stix. Coaching the team will bc Bob Adamson, Bob Brawley and Tenry Myers. M" 1J 4 A[f Cmigt. 111141 st>t- 1114- NEYF 1