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20-The Cariadian Champion, Fmday, May 4, 2001 SPORTS vBishop Reding stages late raliy to shade MD By STEVE LeBLANC The Champion Nate Perrott made a rather memo rable return to the Milton District Mustangs' basebali team at Brian Best Park Monday. However, he'd just assume forget the way things ended Nq and for that matter, so would his teammates. Against cross-town rival Bishop Reding, MD's heavy hitter launched a monster two-run shot over the centre field f ence to give his squad some insurance heading into the bottom of the seventh inning of season-opening play But ecstasy would quickly bc followed by agony - at least where the Mustangs were concemed. Ahead 5-2, Perrotts relief pitching performance took a drastic downward tumn - as he coughed up the lead and allowed the win- ning mun on his second balk of the aftemoon. Coming in to score [rom third base was Reding catcher Chris Dumencu. Jodie St. John, Reg Taylor and Liam Tennant also scored rally runs for BR. While Perrott's short-lived heroics and lasting heartbreak was the main story of the day, a notable sidebar was the impressive effort of rookie Royal Julian Ricci. The 11th grader delivered a nifty bit of relief pitching - giving up just a couple of its, including the home mun, over four innings - and served notice that he has the potential to be a reliable back- up [or starter Conan O'Brien. O'Bnien wasn't too shabby either, allowinig an unspectacular yet respectable haîf-dozen hits and three runs (one of them uneamned) through the first three innings agaînst his offensively talented opponents 'Me Mustangs jumped ahead early, staking theroselves to a 1I-0 advantage on three straight singles in the opening frame. They doubled that in their next at-bat before BR cut the lead in haîf in the bottom of the second. The teams exchanged runs in the third inning as well and that's the way it would stay until the exciting finale. Dumencu and Andrew Pepper each had two RBI for Reding, while driving in muns for MD were Perrott with two plus Brad Finkbeiner and John Melito with one apiece. Dumencu threw out runners at tirst and second while Pepper and fellow Royal Dan Digironimo made a couple of standout pîsys at shortstop and third base respectively. MD had three of the four ex-tra-base hits on the aftemoon and overaîl out-hit Reding 8-5. Spartans start year on winning note E.C. Drury's basebaîl teain bas wasted no time in shaking the memory of last year's lacldustre showing. The Spartans took both contests this past week and have already matebed their win total rom 2000. In Oakville Monday. E.C. scored early and often to mercy the T.A. Blakelock Tigers 14-0. The hosts quit in the top of the fifth inning. Pitcher ion Gleed earned the win with a six-strikeout, one-hit performance through four [rames. His teaînmates offeoed full support in tie field, delivering an errorless aftemnoon. Offensively, Drury was led by Chris Holmes - who went a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate - driving in a couple of runs and scoring three tîmes himself. Jordan Jeans stood out as well with three its - including a pair of doubles - and three RBI. Two days later at Brian Best Park, Drury edged Oakville's St. Thomias Aquinas Raiders 4-3. Kevin Sales scored the winning mun in the bottom of the sixth while Jeans smacked a two-nsn homer in the opening [rame. Mark Black also drove in a mun. Reliever Jamnes MacDonald worked tbree shutout innings to pick up the victory. The Spartans bost cross-town rival Bishop Reding Monday. Gaine ime is 3:30 p.m. Gloves, Rats, Sotbls, Uniforms, Rases EVE & more arrivuig daily. V EVRYTH3ING YOU NEED FOR THE SEASON! 18 Thompson Rd., Unit #6, Milton Featurifig «'Cblbm-Zm