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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Thursday, July 23, 2015 | 10 Oakville's Mullaley, Canadian softball team chase world title with Pan Am gold by Jon Kuiperij Beaver Sports Editor Oakville resident Steve Mullaley (33) celebrates with teammates after winning Pan Am Games gold in men's softball Saturday in Ajax. The first baseman went 11-for-19 in the tournament with seven runs scored and eight runs batted in. | photo by Riziero Vertolli -- Oakville Beaver -- @Halton_Photog Finally, Steve Mullaley can allow himself to celebrate. The Oakville resident won his second international championship in as many weeks Saturday in Ajax, helping Canada claim its eighth straight Pan Am Games men's softball gold with a 2-1 victory over Venezuela. Asked to compare the Pan Am gold to the world championship he won with Canada two weeks earlier in Saskatoon, Mullaley wasn't quite sure how to answer. "To be honest, I don't think it's sunk in yet. After worlds, we didn't dwell on it too much at the time because we knew how important (Pan Ams) was. It will take a few days to sink in," said the first baseman. "I'm just really proud of this group. To come off of Saskatoon, being world champs and then having to come out and play like champs again to win the double gold -- that was always our goal." Unlike the world championship final, when Mullaley mashed three home runs and drove in seven, the Freshwater, Nfld., native was held in check offensively in Saturday's Pan Am final. He hit lined out hard to shortstop in the first inning, was intentionally walked in the fourth and lined out softly to short in the sixth. Mullaley contributed plenty in the first six games of the tournament, however, going 11-for-17 with seven runs scored and eight RBI. And he wasn't bothered at all by not being the star in the Pan Am final (teammate and fellow Newfoundlander Brad Ezekiel was, belting a two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth inning to break a scoreless deadlock). "That's the thing about our team. It can be someone different any game," Mullaley said. "Bradley just showed how good he is." Life now goes back to normal for Mullaley, who planned to show up Monday morning for his sales manager job with FirstOntario Credit Union. Men's softball is not an Olympic sport -- it only made its return to the Pan Am Games this year after a 12year absence -- and the national team has no more major competitions this season. "Enjoy this," Mullaley said when asked what's next for him. "I think this is very encouraging for softball throughout the country. A lot of attention was given to this team and our accomplishments. We're world champions and Pan Am champions in the same year, on Canadian soil, which has never been done before." -- For more local Pan Am Games coverage, see pages 13, 17 and 22 Keep a level head in an up - and - down market. Great Family DininG For over 40 years! Visit our new location today! 2420 Lakeshore rd., W., Oakville Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner 905-827-4851 Mon. - Sat. 8am - 9pm Sun. 8am - 3pm Our Services Earn Credit from Physiotherapy 20% · Massage · Acupuncture · Reflexology · Chinese Massage · Fertility Acupuncture · Physiotherapy · · · · TRIMMING helpS To keep.... Raccoons and Squirrels off your roof 1395 Abbeywood Drive, Unit 14, Oakville Open 7 days a week 905-491-6860