A22 - The Canadian Champion, Wednesday, August 27, 2008 Senior Red Sox make valiant run in COBA playdowns But fatigue and a la&k of depth finally does in defending champs By Steve LeBlanc CANADIAN CHAMPION STAFF By Saturday evening the Senior Red Sox were running on fumes. in fact even those were in short supply at the tail-end of a tbree-games-in-eight-hours stretch that saw Milton stave off elirnination twice hefore finally being ousted by the eventual charnpion Erindale Cardinals in the double-knockout Central Ontario Basebaîl Association (COBA) playdowns. Despite missing a few key players, the defending champs staged a valiant mun fnllnwing Thursdays 2-1 hearthreaker to the Oakvdlle As - delivering a couple of decisive wins at Burlington's Nelson Park to hold off their 2008 exit for as long as possible. Here's how Saturday's mun played out. Milton 7, Burlington 1 Hopes for a lengthy day looked a ltile bleak after the opening frame, as the Red Sox suffered a couple of mental glitches and had their 1-0 lead wiped out. However, Ian Zettle continued his late-season prowess- scattrnng four bits over a sharp complete-game performance - while a four-mun second inning propelled Milton to a commanding win over its regional rivaIs. Haîf of the Red Sox's 10 hits were of the extra-base variety, including a two-run horner by seasoned third basernan 10e jumus, who drove in three mias overaîl to help elirinate the second-place finishers. junior call-up Sean Mathe - at shortstop - drove in two mons on a pair of bits, while also recording RBI were catcher Curt Davies and centre fielder Carlos D'Costa, who scored twice and aided the second- inning surge with a two-out triple. Zettle didn't allow more than one bit in any inning, while a line-out double play by second basernan Kurt Mitchell in the bottorn of the fourth served as a buge blow against the stîl hopeful Brants. Milton 6, St. Catharines 3 St. Catharmnes scored two in the bottom of the seventh to Lt looked as though the Red SoxIs penchant for leaving add a lile suspense. runners on base migbt corne back to haunt tbern like it did Erindale 8, Milton 0 in round two agarnst Oakville. Deserving a closer finish after such a hard-fought mun, But Milton carne through in the clutch, scoring five the Red Sox kept the Cardinals scoreless until the trnes in their final at-bat - witb four mons cornîng fourth inning, but just didot enjoy the breaks neces- on two outs - to send the regular-season champi- sary to extend their season. on Metros packing. Young Scott Mclrach was impressîve in his first D'Costa and DH Matt Tales powered the Red start with the seniors, working bis way into the Sox's late drive with RBI doubles, while Mitchell \ " / fiftb inning, and collected five strikeouts to keep also drove in a mun and had two hits. Other RBI things close. Darnian Carnpbell wrapped it up on the were recorded by first basernan Kevin Cooper and mound and Milton was quite strong in the field. Davies, rnoved over to left field after Nick Mazzorato But Erindale - with more in the tank, baving played two returned behind the plate. garnes to the Red Sox's three - carne up wrth a few terrific Milton had a rnodest five hits heading into the last innmng defensive plays. Meanwhile, Milton left seven on base wbile and had stranded seven on base. Allowing thern to stay in the the garne was still up for grabs and stranded nine overaîl. garne was an exceptional effort by southpaw Brian Stewart - The Red Sox finish the season - which included a 2-2 who gave up just two hits before Steve Spiers carne in to showing at the Ontario 1V Elirninations and a 14-11 regular close things out - and error-free defence. season - at one game over .500. Lawn bowling ladies trio advance to provincials Talk about a reversai of fortune. Harnrered 18-2 in the second round of the recent double-knockout district charnpionships in Brarnpton, Multon's lawn bowling ladies trio was the clear-cut underdog for a do-or-die rernatch with the sarne Port Credit squad in the finals. Only thing is, sorneone forgot to tell tbern that. Making the round two loss look like a cornplete fluke, the Nicola Austinsrnith-skipped tearn staved off elirnination with an 18-8 decision and then took a wmnner-takes-all garne 18- 10. "Our garne just carne together on Sunday," said Austinsrnith, whose triples tearn is rounded out by vice Silvia Linder and lead Lynda Miller. "We just said 'Let's go for it' and ail played well. We didn't rnake any huge shots, we just played really consistent. "They (Port Credit) bad a good garne on the Saturday, though. 1 would- n't want to take anything away frorn thern and say we played that bad." The local ladies had a bit of a scare thrown into thern in the final contest, as Port Credit scored four points down the stretch. "It rnade things a little rnore exciting at the end," said Austinarnith, who played vice for a Milton tearn that was beat out in the district sernifinals last surnrer. The ladies recorded 24-8 and 21-7 decisiona over two other Port Credit squads earlier in the tournent. With its overaîl win, the team advanced to this corning weekends provincial charnpionships in Sarnia. Multons rnens entry - led by last year's district charnpion vice John Chow - rnade it to Sunday play before getting put out by a Port Credit tearn. Meansehile, fellow Milton Lawn Bowling rnernbers Helen Kret and Christine Wild hrought horne bronze frorn the recent Ontario Senior Garnes in London. Representing Halton Region, the duo grabbed third-place honours arnong an overaîl field of 32 tearns. Mebrhp Avalal Ifyou love golf you will love Trafalgyar Golf & Country Club! e 18 New Greens e Family Oriented ePractice Facilities e No Capital Assessments Join for 2009 & Play Remainder of 2008! GREAT DEALS FOR 2009! 2009 Membership Sale: September lst - 2lst, 2008 Cati 905-878-2303 or visit wwtrafaigargoif.com Milton Pleasure League Oldtimers Hockey PLAYDIS WANTW REGISTRATION DEADLINE 18 SEPTEMBER 108 Our 10 teamn league requires a few new players. Must be age 40+, live in Milton. Gamnes are non-contact, no slapshots, full cage required. No stats, no standings, no playoffs, no goons. League has operated wîth safe and fun hockey for 25+ years. Sunday mornings October to March, annual fee $370. End of season ending ladies appreciation banquet. Please complete registration form available on the website. More details on the website. http://mplhoclkey.com s A MONTHLY PUBLICATION FOCUSINO ON THU ABSIDENTS OF MILTON a AREA Our Readers have beeri askiîîg for a palper vvilh more coinifunity fcs and wc have dellvered! Our readers wvrite-- -%bal: a grat paperi Ws so %«I prffmed v4Ih the bold olour mnd doear photographa.L R ls truly a P.Ukun paper th tons et aluif for local people la lm"u and ee» KOup 9W, the gaat V-oIc!" 10o SHOWCASE VoUR9 BUILSINESS UNi THIS QILJAILITYr ffR"OIJC- BOOK NOW! ZLbe C~anaban (CDbampicn -~----------~555 Industrial Dr., Mlo CATHY CHLJCHMACH SMITH - --cathysmith@miltoincanadianwhampion.tom ______Tel: (905) 878-2341 ext: 217 Fax: (905) 876-2364 a