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The Canadian Champion, Friday, September 7, 2001-25 By STEVE LeBLANC The Champion The past few years have heen -to say the least rather dismal for the senior Red Sox. nut Sunday's Ontario 'D' championship win made up for much of that. Puncîuating a much-improved season - and strengthening the hope for a new area of competitive basehall - the short-staffed 1oc"s staved off elimina- lion five straight limes to dlaim gold at the double- knockout provincial showcase in Hanover. The Bob's Auto Service/HJM Insurance Brokers sponsored seniors played with their backs to the wall ail weekend after falling in round one, and were final- ly crowned champs afler hack-to-back decisions over Thotold Sunday. Milton last captured provincial gold in 1992. In addition to mainstay manager Glenn Turner, Matt McCandless and George Moore were part of that teamt -and both figured in the title-clinching victory this time around. Moore saw stme late relief pitching duty and got the final oui while McCandless made up for a costly error just moments earlier hy clohhering a two-out, seventh- inning solo homner to tic the game 5-5 and tend il to extra inntngs. Dramatic conclusion The stage was then set for tome ninth-inning hernies - which Kevin Wilson was only t00 happy to offer. With speedy Dwaynie Johnson ai second hase, the vet- eran slugger -part of Milton Distnict High School's 1996 Bob Prentice Cup championship squad - lashed oui a single to drive in the winning mun and put the fin- ishing touches on a thoroughly memorable weekend. Craig Holloway alto stood oui in the toumnament finale witb a homer -one of three he'd record on the weekend. He finished sip with an amazing 10 RBI plut a second-round victory over Chesley. "Young and old helped put this thing together," said firsî-year coach Moore. "Il was a real roller-coaster weekend with a lot of highs and lows.- Fortunately the latter were kept to a minimum by the Red Sox - who along with missing a few key players alto had to contend with a pint-size park in nearby Chelsey that made long halls a hot commodity, partic- ularly in their initial engagement with Thorold. Milton went downtown only haîf as often as their opponents -thrce times compared 10 six h ut got themn ail in succession as Wilson. Jeif Sommer and Phil Grieg delivered a concentrated homer-fest. Meanwhile, Adam Finkheiner provided a lengthy and highly credihle relief pitching stint and his team- mates offercd a lot of support at the plate Io help ont- distance Thorold 12-Il. Earlier in the day it was the seniors defensive prowess that equaled victory over Clarkshurg. Finkheiner was in cmuise control on the mound and despite the ahsence of shortstop Brian Rothery enjoyed near flawless fielding 10 win 3-0. Catcher Ryan Davison gunned down three munners ai second to, lead the defensive charge. Grieg and Sommer each had multi-hit efforts in the narrow victory. Vshile Milton't provincial succest was mainly their own doing, a lintle third-round fortune played a roie as well. Won round three by default Up 6-5 after îwo innings against Cortwright Saturday aftemnoon, the eventual champs were award- ed the victory when the opposing catcher was ejected for unsportsmanlike conduct and his teammates responded hy forfeiting the game - despite having a handful of suhttutes. Before that. Holloway enjoyed a career game against Chelsey that ended in a 15-2 mercied win. He went the distance on the hilI and allowed a measely three hits while offensively he drove in six muns on three hits, including a grand slam. Versus Owen Sound Friday, Milton was handcuffed at the plate and shaded 5-3. Former Red Sox Bill Corradetti -pant of the team's last provincial cham- pionship squad - delivered the gamne-winning hit while Sommer helted a three-mun shot to highlight bis team's meager offensive perfornmance. Newcorner Brent Kostal provided impressive mound work in the first and fmal rounds of play last weekend. He went Oive innings without an eamed mun against Thorold. Milton made progrets in league play as well this year, upping their win total from three 10 seven and losing eight limes hy just a single mun. The Merchants; may have scored early and often laat weekend, hut tbey ato made a strong caae for te defente. Make that stronger, with tale pre-tea- son moves that thould shore up the defending Western Conference champi- ons' blueline unit. Releaseli followlng Friday's 8-3 drubbing of Si, Michael's were hopeful David Jackson and inctimbent Chad Vidin - wbo under- achieved through ie tail-end of st season atnd was the odd-ma Oui during mincit of te playoffs. Scooping defensive post out front under tierri are Owen Sound Jr B grad- uate Pat Devini, 20, aid Milian Josit VanderWrggen - who saw spot duty widî thte Geosgetown Raler st year Catch the BOA Ml/ton Merchants Canai in exhibition play tonight at Memorial Arena against the Georgetown Raiders. Gamnetime is 8 p.m. BoalingCourses@ and is now one of seven rearguards with bis bometown club. Alto new bo the defensive ranks this year are 16-year-old Toronto Marîhoro graduate Sean Mole and 20-year-old Mat Bartlett - a standout witb the Cambridge Jr B squad lita won te Suthetland Cup two years ago. Tite three newcomners will join veter- ais Vusce Guiduce, Rick laico aid 1ýhi Whog wtaI ndlic e from lte point agaiat St ichael's, Friday. Standing ou witlt a goal aid three itelper ws Miciel Bond. whlle <chip- ping in with a goal, aid ani asalat were Kevin Arnida aid David Ovcjak - a 6'Y', 210-pound left winger picked up sagt week fros te Vaughtan Vipers. TING COURSES lian Power & Sal Squadron REGISTRATION Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2001 7:30pm - 9:30 pm M.M. Robinson High Sohool (Guelph Lite and Upper Middle Rd., Burlington) For turther information:- *905-333-0826 1-888-312-1000 x 329 905-659-2628 aol.com www.bigwave.ca/-janus/bpss EARLYYEARtS CHALLENGE FUND NOWAVAILABLE The Harris government's Early Years Challenge Fund is now accepting applications for funding for community, Francophone and Aboriginal projects that expand and enhance early years programs for parents and young children. This is an exciting opportunity for our community to be creative and design innovative programs and activities that will serve the needs of local children and families. Through the Early Years Challenge Fund, the Harris government will match contributions from the community, including those from local businesses and charitable and voluntary organizations, to help ail of our parents give their children the best start in life. For information on application and program guidelines, please contact your local Early Years Community Co-ordinator at (905) 825-6060, ext. 7487. Or visit the Ministry Responsible for Children's web site ar www.childsec.gov.on.ca or call the Early Years Challenge Fund Branch, Ministry of Community and Social Services by telephone at (416) 326-2800 (collect calîs accepted). Milton Youth Soccer Club * Iinter Indoor League 2001/2002 * Registration I g rop ear of Birthi # of Places 1 I Under 6 1995 to 1996 20 I I Under 8 193 to 1994 40 I 1 Underl11 1990 to 1992 40 1 1 Under 14 1987 to 1989 40 1 1Dates: Fridays & Saturdays - October, 2001 to, April, 2002 ILocations: Milton District High School & EC Drury 111gb Schooll *.Fee: $75.00 per person .,.Restration Dates: Saturday September 15, 2001 Loblaws Entrance Lobby imes: 9:30 arn to 2:30 Pm and Saturday September 22, 2001 Milton Mal Times 9:30 am to2:30 Pm ' First Corne First Served New players please bring your birth certificate. ' Q*r, "V e