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20 - The Canadien Champion, Tuésday, April 13,1999 oN EstabIlshed Since 1989 878-9293e 3006Derry Rd. W. *(across tram the Hospital) An unldentlflad Marchants player blows by a couple of Bramalea opponents durlng gaine four at Memorial Arena Sunday. Milton won 6-2 to knot the caries at two wlns each. Feast or famine for Merchants By STEVE LaBLANC The Champion' The Merchants' mitler coaster ride continues. Two nights after a pitiful performance - which could have easily sent them into a tailspin - the defending provincial Jr. A champions rebounded with their strongest statement of the play- offs to spank Bramalea 6-2 Sunday at Memorial Arena. Milton's triumph, by an identical score as their gamne three loss at Victoria Park Friday, knotted the league finals at two wîns apiece. The best-of-seven rematch rcsumed last night in Bramalea witb gamne six back ini town tonight at 8 p.m. Maybe it was the surprise snowstorm coming sbortly before game lime wbich promptedi such a reversai of fortunes, because the Merchants certainly looked, like the samne team wbicb domi- nated aIl wintcr long. Finding a cure for everything that ailed them just 48 hours earli- er, Milton manhandled tbe Blues fron start to finish and regaincd momcnbsm for the final slretch of the series. 'This should be the one whicb cardes us tbrough," claimed rigbt winger Nathan Qillies, who tallied twice on the nigbt. "We all pulled together and tumced this thing around. Most of the one- on-one batties went in our favour and discipline was a key as well." Rcasserting themscives pbysically - with a newfound commit- ment to forechecking and corner work - proved to be the Merchants' ticket to victory. Also, improvements by the defence wcre notbing short of sen- sational. More authoritative breakout passes and tie-ups with con- viction bigblightcd the blueluse unit' s best showing in recent weeks. Rearguard Chris Baben said, "We got ail our bati habits out of the wsy on Friday. We cleared the zone well tonight and imited our giveaways. More physicai play was also a big factor." Starting for the first time in nearly two weeks, goalie Daniel Jacques made 28 saves for the win, delivering impressive giove and blocker work along the way. Milton jumped out to a 2-0 iead in the opening frame and unlike recent clashes witb Bramalea and Coilingwood, tbcy wcre able to put their opponents away witb two more goals earlier in the sec- ond. Ed McGrane bunced a bottom shelf rebound 4:22 into perîod two for the gamne winncr. The backbreaking fourth tally, wbicb chascd tbe Blues' Nathan Maraters from thse cage, came a few minutes later on a fine effort in the siot from captain Kevin O'Flahcrty. Bramalea's goals were registercd by Lawrence Longo and Scott Neil - who scored eight minutes apart in the second. Aiso scoring for tbe winners were Mark Beisel and Jasen Hopiavuori, wbo capped the bit parade with a nifty wraparound lesa than a minute after Gillies dcposited bis second of the game on the powerplay. Assisting on botb bis goals was Geoif Schomogyi, who did a nice bit of skating to create quality scoring opportunities. David Csumrik also pickcd up a pair of belpers. Milton was 4-for-4 on penalty killing, thanka largely to Bahen and Matt Bannan, wbo completely neutralizcd stars Mike Cammalleri and Kyle Amyotte duning their firat sbortlsanded stint to set the tone for tbe entire evcning. Fniday thse Merchants bit rock bottom with a dismal 6-2 loss e se SERIES on page 22 ajWWLkA 69ME 'U'd%%7T'U'A Jaramy Rldiey Shayne Ridlay Ridley bros key as Bail State pounds dingers Milton's Jeremy Ridiey was right in the thick of things when Bail State University launcbed tbree consecutive home runs Wednesday againat Purdue. The junior second baseman, formerly of Milton District Higb Scbool, drove dinger number two over the lefi centrefieid wail to heip highligbt an eigbt-run sixtb inning. His bomer - one of six tagged this spring - was part of a achool record tying baif dozen that the Cardinals bit on the after- noon, en route to burying their opponents 23-7. Jeremy's output is merely a continuation of iast season but for twin brother Shayne, the team's new starting shortstop, long bails are a brand new commodity. In fact bis seven home runs this year. încluding five within a six-game stretcb, aiready surpasses bis combined total for 1997 and '98. "Sbayne was outstanding defensiveiy iast faîl. I really think this will be the season be comes into bis own," commented Cardinals' skipper Rich Maloncy, in bis pre-season review. To say the lcast, this prediction bas proved true. Witb BSU's season just past tbe midway mark, Sbayne bas already improved ini every category. Having piayed in ail 23 games prior to tbis past wcckend, be sported a .340 batting aver- age, 33 bits, 21 rns and 30 runs batted in. His biggcst single sbowing came April 4 in a doublebeader againat Akron, during wbicb be crusbed a tbree-run biast as part of a 3-for-6 day and finisbed witb seven RBL. Before that he, clobisereri a pair of two-nin shots against Kent - a feat bis brother accomplisbed one year carlier, almoat to ie day, against Butler. Equally potent this season, Jeremy is batting .396 with 40 bits, 27 runs and 28 RBL. He bas also started: in every game and, witb another year remamning at BSU, is on track to record 200-plus carcer brits, wbicb bas only been donc by a bandful of players in the scbool's bistory. The 6'2", 190 Iba. brothers bave belped get the Cardinals off to, another great season in the Mid-Amcerican Conférence. Prior to thse weekend, the tcami sat at 15-8 and remalned undefeated at home. Duning a recent six-game winning streak tbey outscored the opposition a wbopping 106-37. 1 vi 1 r, CANADIAN CI lAý\1 PION ITSDAY M)RIl 1'iý