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The Canadian Champion, Tueaday, June 13, 2000 -27 RiPdleys picked up in major league draft By STEVE LoBLANC The Champion Milton's Ridley brothers have finished flying wiîh the NCAA Bail State Cardinals. But Ibat doesn't mean tbey'll be tuming in their wings anysime soon. Nos afler being acquiresi by a couple of flocks during last week's Major League Basebail entry draft. Sbortstop Sbayne, recently named the 2000 Misi-American Conference (MAC) Player of the Year, was picked up in the l9sb round by the Baltimore Orioles June 5. The foilowing day feilow twin tower/second baseman Jeremy was taken by the Toronto Blues Jays in the 34tb round. The Z2-year-old switcb-bitting siblings were among four BSU players seiected in last week's two-day draft - wbicb inciuded 50 rounds - and are currensiy being scrutinized down south as mini camps in Fiorida. Pleaseti with pick Sbayne - who's being assesse i n Sarasota andi wili iikely spend the test of the season witb the Orioles' Ciaso A term in Biuefield, West Virginia - said be was extremeiy pieased to go 10 Baltimore. "Honestiy, that's exactiy wbere 1 wanted to end Up," be remarked, juat before leaving for camp Sunday. "They showed the moos inirresi in me." MAC's top bitter this past spring witb a bas- ting average of .434, Sbayne said that despite sucb a successful season be rraliy didn't expected to go any bigber than be did in the draft. "Seniors don't bave as mucb bargaining power," be explained. "Tbey (major irague trams) know Ihey've gos you and can wait a little longer than witb juniors. 1 was just happy to be picked up on the first day." The talented shortstop - who sits top 10 on the Cardinals' ail-time list inl fine different offensive categories including runs scooed (4th with 167), total bases (4th with 387), RBI (5th with 155) and bits (61h witb 222) - givra part of the credit for bis improvement at the plate this year 10 his brother, who passed along some of bis patience. "Jeremy and our bitting coach helped my stars looking more for what 1 wanted and I was reai- ly able to eut down on my strikeouts," said Sbayne. That patience shoulsi serve bim weil over the next few yrars, as he begins the long ciimb to the show. "I'm rraiiy not going to put any pressure on myseif in terms of wben 1 want to be witb Baltimore. I'm just giad 10 have the opportunity to become a major iraguer. When andi even if that happens, t don't know." Down in Dunedin Jeremy lrft for camp a couple of days before his brother and is currentiy piaying 'in Dunedin. Hr wiii iikeiy be assignesi 10 rither Toronto's Class A tramt in Brookiin. New York (formry in St. Catharines) or their rookie bail club in Medicine Hat, Alberta. The ianky second baseman - third on BSU's ail-lime carrer hit list with 256 - said a iss than steliar srnior year, compared 10 bis remarkabir junior campaign, probably cost hlm some ground in the drafi's pecking ordrr. But Ibmn br's not losing any sleep over it. 11i'mjust giad 10 grt the opportunity, il wasn't that important wben 1 wrnt (in the draft)," be said, during a telephone interview from bis Clearwater, Fiorida botel roomn Sunday. Jrrmy figures bis consisîency at the plate and overali soiid ganse wiii be bis strongeat asset in bis quest 10 beome a major leaguer. 'm not really a flashy piayrr or a onr-tool Photo by GRAHAM PAINE Shayne Ridley and twin brother Jeremy (minet) who bath taken in last week's Major League Basebaîl entry draft. Shayne was plcked Up by Baltimore whlle Jeremy went ta, Toronto. guy," be explained. "I pretty much contribute in eve r ea. That was fairly evident over bis time with the Cardinals, during wbich be set the term record for both runs scored (194) and ganses started (221). Expectesi 10 be oeassigned later Ibis week, the second basemnan said one of the biggest adjust- ments t0 be made now wili be playing witbout bis brother beside him in the fieldi. Remarked Jeremy, 've gos a shortstop brr who speaks a different languagr. It' il takr some getting use 10." The Ridirys led BSU to a MAC West Division Co-Championship Ibis season. Meanwhiie, Bisbop Reding's Sbawn Hill. a right-handed pitcher, was picked up in the sixth round by the Montreai Expos. The Georgetown native helprd the ochool make the playoffs Ibis spring and guided thens past Burlington's Nelson Lords 10-5 in the first Spa rtan softball squad advances to se- mifinals 81 STEVE LaBLANC T1he Champion E.C. Dnary's girls sofWIal squati waan't exactly aI Use top of ils gaine Tbursday. Nevertbeleas, Use local laies were stili beati andi shouiders abssvr turir quarterfinai. opposition aI Milton' s Lions Sport Park. Thse Spartans' asivancemnens 10 thse Halton Region final four was a psrtty safe bel before Use tiraI pitch was Usrown - andi was ail but guaranteed by Use midway mark of Use afternoon contrat, ias tbey bruIte away and evrntnally bumbîrd Burlinglons M.M. Robinson Rama 10-4. Dsusy - wbo bas boitsefield advansage for Use remainder of Use playolffs - showrd signa of nastinesa afler being off almoat an entire werk, due to the tiraI-round bye tlsey rarnies for finish- ing asop Halton's Ricbardaons Division. This was especially evident in the s'txth inning, when Ibe train commiltesi tdm of ita six errors 10 offer the viaitors a faint gliro- nier of ope. But for tse roost psrt the Spartans weoe neyer really in any tbreat of being eliminatd - ar lest flot after a five-run outhurst in their baff of the fourth frame. Undsey Harrold highiighted Ibis aure with a two-russ double Usas casbed in Tasha Leslie and Jennfer Willias. Flawed field- ing by tiseir guests led ta Use fifth andi siistb rnn bring scored by Harrold andi Cristina Hutchisous, wbile it was Leslie andi Kisslt Roberge putting Usinga away with two-nan tiples. -OUser RBI were posted by Hutchison and Alicia Taylor. As usuali k was Harroid and Melissa Park combining for a rock-solid piscbing canspaigs. Collrctively Use veteran duo gave up just eigbl bits and beidth Ue opposition scorelesa througb Use final two itslgs. Druty - wbo've lost just once ail season and were undefeat- ed ins league play - will now do battle wiUs Burlington's Lord Elgin Lancers in today's semifinaLs as Lions Sports Park. Ganse lime is 3:15 p.m. Memnwhile, tise Georgetown Rebels and Oakviiie's St. Thoinas Aquinas Raiders will square off ius the osiser semifinal sbowdown. The winners will vye for the regional clsampionsbip Thursday. #2.342 Brainte St. njoy »tMit.n