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The Canadian Champion, Friday, May 28, 2004-21 s1eblanc@haltonsearch.com Halton repeat bld fails short for Reding Defensive lapse proves costly ____ against opportunistic Central 81atopRsdhig odchu lm Kb* nuyowy aisss tagi out Cmntals Margun KIsIy et the -N duelitWekdedW Nation ohurplonshlp tas et Maon Stadk imu i tlgion. KW *oi* Uree stragM b»» hnmungboue - for th* wkinh unu lni a4-1 doci- sion mveiee4hningohani Pion AoydL SDRon retum to the G$AC finalsw.a àwIi hi mOmis aft wmoon. Pfr*Ot4rBARRIE ERMKNE By STEVE LeBLANC The Champion It's been said time and time again that winning a cham- pionship is tough, but defending it is almost always tougher. Bishop Reding's basebaîl team came face-to-face with tbat barsh reality at Burlington's Nelson Stadium Wednesday aftemoon. Eyeing a Halton title repeat but unable Io build on a first-inning lead, tIse Royals were toppled 4-I by tIse Burlington Central Trojans -wbo were also unbeat- en heading into the regional finals. While certainly a tough pili to swallow - particularly since mental miscues were essentially the difference - tIse champi- onship loss did not have do-or-die implica- tions. The Royals cari still retum 10o the GHAC title picture with a win over Hamilton's Catholic champs this aftemnoon in Hamilton. If victonious, Ihey'll be back for a return engagement against Central Monday aftemoon ai Nelson. "t guess you have Io lose sometime, but fortunately this (defeat) doesn't have any finaliîy to, it," said manager Joe Jumus, referring to bis team 's second chance at GHAC gold and a subsequent trip t the Blue Jay Cup playdowns. "Mhe next loss wiIl be thse devastating one." The Royals are hoping that knockout blow doesn't come anytime soon. But to, stave off elimination, Ihey'll have to side- sîep the type of defensive breakdown that proved disasterous durmng Wednesday's fourth inning - when tbree errors witin the span of a few minutes opened the door "They (frojans) hit the bail welI and capitalized on our mistakes." to a four-mun surge for Central. Said Jurus, "They (Trojans) hit tbe bal well and capitalized on our miistakes." Reding tbreatened to tum tbings around in thse sixth with back-to-back singles, but a huge double play for thse Trojans - fol- lowmng one by BR in thse second - crushed the rally. Overall, thse Royals managed just four bits - includmng Liamn Tennant's RBI dou- ble in thse openmng frame. Driven in on tIse two-out bit was Marcas Gray. Followmng up on a huge semnifmnal show- ing, rookie southpaw PJ. McCoîl worked tbree-and-a-tbird scoreless innings and bat- tled out of a serlous jamn in thse third before endmng off on a rather rougIs note. Tennant - who pîsys alongside Central's Morgan Kielty on Teamn Ontario - came in to close and kept the Trojans hitless and scoreless after their concentrat- ed outburst. With the exception of tbe fourth inning, BR was flawless in the field - with some huge outs by Tennant and Mathé brothers Sesn and Lee. Central's winning mun was scored on tbre straigbt steais by Kielty, who comn- bined witb reliever Curt Long for a rock- solid pitcbing campaigri. Haydar and Admirais reach AHL finals Darren Haydar and bis Milwaukee Admirals are the best in tIse West. Punctuating a tough but efficient series victory over the Rochester Americans Wednesday night, the regular season champs prevailed 4-I to take tIse AHL's Western Conference and book passage to the Calder Cup [mnals. Haydar assisted on goal number one in tIse game-five clincher and now bas 18 playoff points - which puts him first on Milwaukee and fowith overail in post-sea- son scoring. He notched goals seven and eight last weekend 10 aid narrow 2-I and 3-2 deci- sions over the Americans Saturday and, Sunday respectively. The Admirals scored three unanswered goals after Rochester evened things up in the dying moments of the second peniod. Milwaukee wiIl now take on either Wilkes-Barre or Hartford for the AHL's top prize. Wilkes-Barre leads the Eastern Conference fimals 3-2, with gamne six set for tonight. The league chainpionship series begins eitber Tuesday or Wednesday night in Milwaukee. Haydar couldn't have picked a hetter time 10 re-establish bis big-gamne scoring prowess, as bis two-year contract with tIse Admirals and their parent Nashville Predators ends Ibis spring. West Nule virus: Fighting mosquitoes. Get rid of standing water around your house and dill holes in bottom of used containers so water can't collect. At least once a week, change water in bird baths. Turn over compost frequently and dlean eavestroughs thoroughly. To learn more visit our Web site or cati for a brochure. 1-877-234-4343 TTY 1-800-387-5559 www.HealthyOntario.com Darren Haydar Figlit, the Bite! Ontario