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20-The Canadian Champion, Tuesday, June 25, 2002 Fax your team -Parents irate over cancellation of last reoorts and sports story ideas to Steve LeBlanc at (905) 878-4943. OLD AGE US GOLDEN i-r e isrohigîfte motr ihrme r ec rry os cornie oave orihririn ror 'r ees no ,her c1 crt,',rroaohe.o Vpise wci -dr r; food i, hr -t 'in ovsfrcry ce lý-r t's" hope 1oi, r ý rc spports 1fras" rfr n'y feer (r wod, t eriaece serire r'reer 5eep ýs ored me r grr cher rghi Bu reveî1 mornrg 1f!n rr oai, Mdy Mem'r y s falong 'r eoo a spr, Btr r uocdsdiy ceilfor ire inope la r.,i -iw cdo r koc rihor as ourr s olrscient 'ver my ge' p anicggc sos gai vp and ceai 5u! i eoiry don rt'rminares hirk via gi 'ofrh di00places 'ry ger vp fr0 beer ad agie is galder ý e reord i 500d But somneirmes c rde cos r ger orS fed .'rsîfh m cas'nifeodrave 'r, 'eerfrr o' cu MJ î eyes or hetle iofe1r rcake sp, e seep cr'res oet rire, i ay otrirserf ,iherecoryfifrg e15e i hould loy or he sirvif? Auhr ia nkracr You do ro' seed ca eerrol 'rpfy cffo!ri if v airec VVECARE ABOUT Y pR'VitEc' Garry Trenton, Dentunist 1,59 Main S3t., Milton 905-876-2000 ~î± 0~~f JXCIYd9W~ I~C~~Ç0 19<~1~~' ÇP9ÇQW~ (-'a By STEVE LeBLANC The Champion Multons bouse league lacrosse season may be over, but controversy surrounding ils bantamn divi- sion rages on. Coaches, parents and players are up in armns over an 11 th-bour decision to cancel the bantams' semi- final and championsbip final games last week. The move stems from parents' concems about the mixing of eight midget-age (15 and 16 year- olds) players - who didn't have enougb numbers 10 make up sheir own division - into the younger four-teant hantan ( 13 and 14 year-olds) loop. While Milton Minor Lacrosse President Sue Grant says the mixing of age groups is nothing new - including at the bantam level - some par- ents took exception to it. citing a safety issue involving the inclusion of midget players. "My son's a tbree-time concussion sufferer. 1 don't need a 15-year-old pounding on him,- said parent and past executive member Jef Lecky. On June 1, tbree parents brougbt their growing concemrs to tbe MML's board - which prompted an inquest into the situation. According to a letter sent to al hbantant division parents thîs past week- end, findings did not support the parents' concems was being called for. Explained Grant, "There were 339 penalty min- utes assessed in the bantamn division during the regular season, and of that 317 were t0 bantam-age players and 22 to the seven (remaining) midgets." Furthermore, she read from the letter. of the "four specific injuries where additional attention was required for the player after leaving the floor, three were found t0 involve two bantamn players and one involved a bantam and midget player." But Darlene Zulak- who coached one of tbe four bantam teams and brougbt the matter to Tbe Champion's attention Friday aftemoon- said she witnessed many incidents of over-aggression by the midget-age players. Lecky recalled a particular case where one of the midgets - playing against Zulak's squad- con- tinually hit igb, shouted profanities at Zulak and even advanced toward bier when asked 10 watch tbe rougb stuff. "The kid was on a rampage, hie was out of con- trol." said Lecky. Zulak verified this incident and said in recent weeks the situation bas only escalated - with a number of players being threatened at scbool. She said, "F'm really upset over this, it's gotten so ugly. The kids are being rpped apart. I's unfor- tonale because we're supposed 10 be bere for tbe kids, not t0 pis îhem against each other." Grant said that MMIL was expected 10 hand down a decision on the mater last Tuesday, but before that could happen a parent called tbe Ontario Lacrosse Association. While individual associations are within their rigbts to mix different age players mbt one division (where circumstances calI for it), recent concemns and ensuing OLA involvement sparked tbe issue of liability - wbicb in tom caused Grant and comn- pany to cancel the last week of the season last Tuesday night. 'I love the kids, but it's not worth giving up my bouse for il," said Grant, wbo in lieu of the cbam- pionsbip finals scbeduled a non-contact skills competition for the bantam division at John Tondul Sports Centre Saturday. She said simply removing the midget players and flnishing out the season wasn'i a viable option, since the potential for over-aggression by some of the bantamn players could also leave MML legally vulnerable. Lecky doesn't buy that, statmng "Alil hey had to do was remove the midget players." He took exception 10 a number of other things about the letter, including the fact that the board didn't mention that the three parents who hrought their concems to the MML were speaking on behalf of four others who submitted letters as well. Saîd Lecky, "The leter is so far off in left field, it's annoying. l'm just furious that they would actually 'publicate' something like this." Also in question now te player releases. Lecky - wbo did admit that Grant read the ban- tamn teams "the riot act" about the seriousness of the mater earlier this month - has asked for play- er releases for bis two sons for next season, but bas been refused. I dont want my kids learning a mninor sport under tbis format. l'm very upset because the kids are the ones that are suffering," he said. Grant explained that the decision not to release players was made late last failI long before this seasons bantam division controversy arose. The move was made in an effort to curb the los of players 10 nearby centres, which in recent years has hurt botb tbe rep and house league progrants in Milton. "We made the decision not to release players last year. Mr. Lecky can appeal it to tbe OLAs Zone 8 if he wants 1," explained Grant. Junior Mystics wrap up spring with split Milton's junior girls fast-pitcb seans closed oui spring in roller-coaster fashion - witb Iwo very different outcomes on the field last week. The Mystics began with what was arguably their most impressive win of the season Tuesday. limit- ing Townsend to just a handfol of its en route te, prevailing 5-I. Lindsey Harrold went the distance on the bill. She gave up no walks and enjoyed rock-solid defensive support to pick up the victory. A 4-for-4 clinie by Sarah Mooney igligbted Milton's 13-bit performance. Case Kennedy came tbrougb witb a couple of bits, while snagging a blistering Une drive as third hase was Sherylene Leslie. 'Me Mystics evened tbe count in tbe third inning before forging ahead witb two-run fourtb and fifth frantes. Two nigbts later at Six Nations, Milton bad alI sorts of trouble against an explosive senior-level opponent on the way 10 being bumbled 16-3. The Mysties acsually took a 1-0 lead inso the Kennedy for a second tinte and started exploiting ber pitcbing in rather fierce fashion. Six Nations put things out of reach with a nine- mun fiftb inning. Mooney drove in swo runs, while Alicia Taylor recorded tbe other RBI. The Mysties were hoping to, fare better against Six Nations' other squad wben sbey wrapped up a lengtby road trip last nigbt. Tonigbt sbey boss Fort Erie aI Lions Sports Park at 8:30 p.m. SUMMER RIDING CAMPS Starting July 22 to August 23 Ages 7+ Beginner, Novice 'Show & Survivor Camps illonna Farms and Equestrian Centre provides a safe and encouraging environment in which to leamn to ride on 88 acres of manicured posture and hacklng trouls in Milton (Five minutes fromt the 401). Camps rua freon 9:30 te 4:00 pin and Arrangements cau and Gilionna Fi or maa it a b. made for earIy drop off d late pick Up. ?arma - 90"493-1657 jflona@hobmail.com Mountain bike camp slated to mun m July Local moîmtaint bikers ame once again getting ingearsobhonow' one of their falien peers. Milton and mme racers amt prepar- mng for Rory's Camp in mnemoîy of Rory Dick - one of tlare E.C. Dnixy lgh School teenskdin ba car-train crash September 28, 2000. The second annual camp a5 sched- uled to nia July 9 and 10 as Hilton Fails Conservation Area. l'ne wçekend prograt is open to