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The Canadian Champion, Fr Sour note ends season, but it was promising FI By STEVE LeBLANC The Champion A total ripoff. That's how Pat Lynch describes recent circum- stances that cost his Medicine Hat Blue Jays a shot at the Pioneer League title. The 20-year-old pitcher and his rookie ball team- mates were still in playoff contention on the final day of the regular season. As it turned out, their championship hopes were dashed by outside sources. Recalled Lynch, "We needed to beat Helena and for Lethbridge to lose to Great Falls, whom we had han- dled effectively all summer. "We ended up winning and then having to wait around for the outcome of the other game." Already playoff bound, Great Falls mounted an early lead but then suddenly in the third inning - much to everyone's surprise in such a close contest - took out most of their starters. The wholesale change eventually cost them an 8-7 loss, with the tying and winning runs scored on an error and walk respectively. "Great Falls just.didn't want to face us (in the play- offs)," suggested Lynch. "Had it not been for that, we would have won the whole thing. "We got ripped off." As disappointing as the season finale was, it cast only a partial cloud - if that - on the local pitcher's second year of professional baseball. Armed with greater poise and confidence this sum- mier, Lynch put up big numbers in his sophomore sea- son with the Alberta tean. He posted the best eamed run average in the Pioneer League, 2.32, along with a 7-3 win-loss record. Equally impressive was his strikeout-to-walk ratio, which was nearly 5:1. In 89 innings he fanned 77 bat- ters and walked only 16. "That was really a surprising number," he said. Lynch credits his vast improvement to being more mentally prepared for each outing - knowing what batters' strengths and weaknesses were through more intense pre-game scouting. "Basically I came in with a real game plan this year," Lynch added. Medicine Hat's coaching staff can certainly attest to that. In their season-ending assessment of Lynch they classified him as a great student of the game who.now knows how to pitch, as opposed to just being physical- ly able to throw. Among his other strengths are a strong pickoff and a high level of confidence. Their one major concern was that the local hurler wasn't using his breaking pitches early enough in the count - although that's certainly nothing he can't fix. 'The only reason I wasn't using my breaking stuff early was that I was hitting the corners so well," Lynch explained. "If you've got good enough place- ment, not too many guys can hit 93 mile per hour fastballs." With al the improvements made this season, Lynch appears ready to make that ail important step up to class A ball - with either the short-season team in St. Catharines or the higher level. club in Hagerstown, Maryland. Said Lynch, "The way things are going, I'd be sur- prised if I didn't end up in Hagerstown next year." ...yr{ ir*If:& Gold final at Mohawk tonight Mohawk Raceway will host some outstanding Ontario Sires Stakes pacing action tonight (Friday). The Campbellville seven-eighths mile oval will showcase the $103,440 Gold Series final for two-year- old colt pacers as well as two Gold Series elimination divisions for sophomore filly pacers. In the Gold Final, three-time Johnston Cup winner Jim Ainsworth bas powerful entries in Diligent Dexter and Magnetized. Good as gold Diligent Dexter, a son of Dexter Nukes, won his Gold elimination by a head in 1:55.4 with Reg Gassien in the bike. A winner in four of five OSS starts this year, includ- ing a Gold Final at Flamboro in July, Diligent Dexter bas drawn post position four'at Mohawk. Diligent Dexter is owned by Jim Ainsworth's father Larry Ainsworth of Petrolia, Reg Gassien of Graham Chambers Ltd. in Bothwell and Ross Holmes of Ilderton. A $45,000 yearling purchase at the Canadian Classic, Diligent Dexter bas earned $90,770. Magnetized is a Run The Table colt who is 3-2-1lin DROP BY AN ZELLER'S F Bring in this coit business card from yN" (keep it as a hl BONUS Club 2 AUea seven OSS outings this year for eamings of $60,922. He's owned by Larry Ainsworth, Martwest Racing Stable of Mississauga, Graham Chambers Ltd. and Norm Walker of Samia. Distinctive Skeeter, winner of the $200,000 Battle of Waterloo at Elmira Raceway, turned in a solid effort in his Gold elimination after being parked most of the way was beaten just a head by Diligent Dexter. Owned by his trainer and driver Carl Jamieson in partnership with his cousin Jerry Jamieson of Blenheim and Bill Heeley of Nanticoke. Distinctive Skeeter has drawn the number eight post position in the Gold Final. This youngster bas proven to be a tough performer and he'Il be looking to add to his already hefty bankroll of $198,900. Watch The Masters Another colt to watch is The Masters, a son of Armbro Emerson who won his Gold elimination in 1:55.1 for driver Steve Condren. This was the first OSS victory for The Masters, a homebred colt owned by Ray Webb of Dashwood and trained by Mark Horner. He'll leave from post two in the Gold Final. Pat Lyncn PUILSHES OCT21 (ALL TOUR CHAMPION AD REP AT 87832341