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The Canadian Champion, Tueaday, September 11, 2001- 23 SSPORTS -Bantam girls' hopes for gold quashed again By STEVE LeBLANC The Champion Championship heartbreak once again reared its ugly head for the local bantain girls basebali teamn Milton was vanquished in the provincial playofi finals briee weeks ago and relived that painful ordeal late last week duning a two-game, most-runs-wins league championship series with North York. Though 3-I victors in the opening clash at North York Thursday, Nick Wollaston's charges were offensively suffocated during the retum engagement at Bnian Best Park Saturday. Managing just two hits throughout the momiug contest -sud none past the ftrst inning -the local ladies were hammered by 4North York 10-2, to put the ftnishiug touches on an always-the- bridesmaid-uever-the-bride season. Both Milton muns came in its initial at-hat when an infield chop- per by centre ftelder Richelle Hanuah was misplayed, allowing Katie Wollaston and Nicole Gooding to score. From there, however, it was aIl North York. Suffering through a pair of brief but costly collapses, the hosts 4 surrendered four runs in the second and another five in the sixth. The latter scoring bursi was highlightcd by a bases-clearing dou- hIe that essentially sealed the deal. Milton was hardly at its best defensively in gamne two, but a lack of pitching prowess was just as much a stumbling block. Gooding, Ali Stoffels, Ashley Beehoo, Laura Wellstead ali saw duty on the mound and noue of the four could get into a sustained groove. About the only bright spot in gaine two was a second-inning shocstring catch by Hannah that saved at least ouei mn -and probably Iwo. She made an even more impressive play two nights earlier on the road, and that time it equaled victory for Milton. With North York threatening to tic things up in its final at-bat, thc crafty outfielder suagged a fly hall on the run and then doubled up a runner at ftrst to clinch gaine one. Wellstead, Beehoo and Wollaston combined for a much stronger pitcher performance on the road - collectively allowing just three bits aud six walks while fanning half-a-dozcn batters. Erin Baker led at the plate with a double and a single. Milton reached the leagur finals with a conviucing semnifinal sweep of Ajax. Wollaston's four-bit, three-mun clinir paced thse locals to an Il1-4 victory in gaine oue whilc a 12-2 series clincher was due largely to three shutout innings by Beehoo. Jans Wollaston Photo by GRAHAM PAINE had a 4-for-4 performance in the latter win. Milton catcher Haley MacDonald laya down a tag on a North York baserunner during bantam girls league champ!- Making up the rest of this season's teain - that finished second onship play at Brian Best Park Saturday. Milton was hammered 10-2 and came up short In the two-game, most-runs- in the regular season as well as in both sets of playoffs - were wins serles. Haley MacDonald, Alana Petrie and Justine Williams. êGET rdine Real Car YêsiRange * Real Gla Best Shotne693mO3O0