The Canadian Champion, Tuesday, May 15, 2007 - A13 SPORTS EDITOR: STEVE LeBLANC e-mail sieblanc@haltonsearch.com Tough start to '07 for Junior Sox If the Junior Red Sox hope to enjoy a little more success ibis season, they'll need to be a little more opportunistic. A prime example of that necessity presented itself in season-opening play at Brian Best Park Sunday afternoon. Trailing the Brampton Braves 4-0 in the bottom of the fourth inning, the Red Sox found themselves in a bases- loaded-with-no-outs situation - offer- ing a big-time chance to change the complexion of the game. That might have happened had Milton scored more than one run, courtesy of Sean Maths sacrifice fly that brought home younger brother Lee. As a result, Brampton dodged a major bullet and went on to win 7-3. "That was the TSN turning point, all right," said manager Glenn Turner. The Mothers Day defeat wasn't without a few bright spots. Catcher Nick Mazzorato gunned down runners ai second in consecutive innings, while as the cornerstone of a solid defensive campaign shortstop Sean Mathé was flawless with eight outs. The Red Sox also enjoyed a laie spark, with two runs on three bits in their last at-bat making the final score a little more respectable. However, an overall lack of plate pop - with just three bits heading into the ninth - and some spotty pitching were just too much to overcome. Milton's only multi-hitter on the day, right fielder Matt Sikorski drove in Mazzorato on the second of back-to- back doubles in the final frame and then scored on a single from pinch bit- ter Justin Moir. Not quite up to his usual efforts on the mound, Scott McTrach took the loss for the hosts, giying up four runs on seven bits and a couple of bit batters through five innings. The Red Sox will look to even their record Thursday evening when they visit the Erindale Cardinals. Sunday they're back ai Brian Best to take on the expansion Mississauga South Twins. Game time is 1 p.m. Sr. Sox power way to first win of season Mitchell leads decisive victory with 4-for-4 day By Steve LeBlanc CANADIAN CHAMPION STAFF he Senior Red Sox broke into the win column with a breakthrough offensive effort at Brian Best Park Saturday. Fueled by a career day by veteran second baseman Kurt Mitchell, Milton jumped out to an early lead and main- tained the pressure en route to its first victory of the still- young season - a 10-4 toppling of the Brampton Battlecats. Mitchell highlighted a 4-for-4 hitting clinic with his first-ever homerun at the senior ranks - a third-inning blast over the right- field fence -- and finished the afternoon with four runs and three RBl. His efforts powered a nine-hit attack by the Red Sox, who essentially put things out of reach with five runs on two outs in the fifth. Coming through in the clutch during that mid-game outburst were shortstop Taylor Lawton and designated hitter Matt McCandless, who delivered a bases-clearing double and two-run homer on consecutive at-bats to tighten the noose on the Battlecats. Lawton drove in a total of four runs, while lead-off cen- tre fielder Nick Aalbers contributed a double and single. Also factoring heavily into the decisive win was anoth- er impressive outing by lan Zettle. In his first start of the year, the dependable right-hander scattered four bits and a walk over five innings - collecting eight strikeouts along the way - and left with his Red Sox up 3-2. Zettle made two ground outs himself and won a hand- ful of lengthy battles to keep Brampton batters at bay. Newcomers Jeff Felker and Scott Campbell saw their first relief work of the season, complementing another short but solid stint by gradually-improving Steve Spiers. • see OVERALL on page A16 Clarke's Golf www.clarkesgolf.com Taylor Made R7 Draw irons Taylor Made Burner Driver Callaway Fil Driver Callaway X20 Irons Nike Sumno Square Driver Nike Ignite Irons And Much More 1% "0 UNI V rs]