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28 - The Canadian Champion, Friday, May 30, 2003 ,Basebali Royals stage huge upset Reding shocks top-ranked LBP to reach finals l'u By STEVE LeBLANC à The Champion Score one for the underdog! P îng [ibe role i. t dtkillur tu crit ial acclaini ai But lington's Mîllcroft Park i uesday atternion. the Bishup Reding Royals pulled off' ibis sprîng's biggest baseball upset - stunning the seemingly invincible Lester B. Pearson Patinots 4-2. The seiiinal sbocker put BR back in the regional champtonship for the firsi time since 1992. and lefi the beavily-favoured hosts- expccted to win the wbole she- bang again thts year- downright devas- tated. Rob Bennett caught four halls in centre field and made the final out To touch off a huge celebration shortly after 5 p.m. 1 just thought 'l don't care where this thing gues, l'm getting to it',- said the dependably-sharp outftelder, of bis feelings as the semnifmnal-clinching ly bail flew toward htm. 'Ne were pumped for this une. We knew how amazing these guys are, %L but we were ready.' Given Pearson's recent track record. it was bard To siew this match-up as anything less than a bonafide David Vs. Goliath encouniter- albeit without the violent implications. StilI sporting the majority of last spring's Prentice Cup championship squad, the Patriots rode into the semifinals on a 3 1 - game unheaten streak and as the season- long number une seed in the Toronto Star's GTA rankings. But thc Royals - wbo by ail logic should bave been just another vicîim, despite their credible 5-2 regular season mun - refused to be intimidated by ail thie hype. It's nothing 1 did, these guys just came to play," stressed manager Jue Jurus. when asked about any extra pre-game talk before facing Pearson. "'Ne just played great hall. This is fantastic.- Perbiaps inspired by the 'Cao Anlyunc Stop PaîritsY headlîne in Tuesday's Star, BR delivered an error-free pertonnance and got the toptiotcb pitcbtng required to play the spoîler. Photos by GRAHAM PAINE Liam Tennant %ss alked the bases loaded tn tbe openîng trame, but battled bis way out ut that jam cumpletely unsî.atbed and fin- isbed bis allotted tour inniogs having sur- rendered jUSt îwo runs on as many bits Relieser Matt Tlales ssorkcd the balance of' the game and beld the Patriots bitless. -l just kept îhinking Fve cgot Iu wurk ihe hall luss. bit niv spots and let ibeir (Pearsuit s i bits gel to sotmebody. This teels great.- satd iconant. ssbu was among the veterns sho made up tor last spring's serniîfnal embarrassmcnt Io Notre Dame witb a monumental upset win. Redîng posted ,ill tour of is rms in the third on a couple ut' errors and a two-mun double by Coty Hageman. Scoring werc Tennant, Conan O'Brien, Andrew Pepper and pincb ninner Reg Taylor. Pearson eut that lead in hall une inming later, but was bandcuffed the rest of the way. Besides Bennett, second baseman Andrew Pepper and substitute shortstop Tennant shone in the field for the Royals, ss'ho went on to face Loyola in yesterday aftemnoon's Halton championships ai Burlington's Nelson Park. Results were not available at press time. Steî'e Lefilanc cati he reached at sie- hlat(iiiialto,îseat-ruiîcom. Sofiballers ar.e perfect Bishop Reding's girls softball squad punctuated a perfect regular season with back-to-back wins over Acton this week. Melissa Sheppard and Cassi Crevier powered a 12-3 initial blowout in Acton Monday, while pitching part- ners Sarah Cartwrîght and Asbley Edwards were the highlight of the fol- lowing day's retum engagement ini town - combinmng to topple the Redmen 5-2. The Royals' 6-0 run is believed to, be the tirst perfect regular season for girls softball ini achool history. BR began its playoff mun at home against Georgeîown's Christ the King yesterday aftemoeon. Results were not available at press time. THECOUftry Squires Garden v prC- 1 * PE 7 ys ------- P R N IA A N PCA IT a Week Hwy. 401 2601 DERR Y RD., WES T. CA MPBEL L VIL L E ust west ofGuelph Line) IID-J Derry Rd Gro wers of o ver 5, 000 different wînter hardy perennial plants, alpines, dwarf con/fers WE INVITE YOU TO VISIT US. and shrubs, hardy feranes, roundcovers andi native uAilrflwrs Q.E.W. and here's One dollar ofvns vuîWfS "Bloomin' Money" for you! "WJ GROWA WDR~fl OF WM Y PM kRNT H A N UWtEINWORW (95)875.3199 .à, Là