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i www.durhamrcgion.com Œljt Cmmbvm Statesman THE CANADIAN STATESMAN, May 19,2004 PAGE 13 infodurhamiogioii.com Clarington's Award-Winning Newspaper Since 1854 Get your Brad Kelly Same old, same old for Gaels A year ago, almost to the day in tact, Clarington Green Gaels general manager Doug Luey pulled the trigger on Kevin O'Brien, firing the head coach after the Jr. B lacrosse club stumbled out of the gate through just eight games. This season, the club has posted a record almost a mirror image to the one a year ago, yet Luey hasn't so much as hit the panic button. "Definitely not," was his response when reminded of last year's firing and asked if he was considering making any changes to try and shake up the current club. "I'm really happy with the coaches," coaches," he adds of the work of the tandem of Jason Crosbie and Jonas Derks. Yet there remains a parallel between between this year's edition and the one from last season that didn't meet the usually high standards set fora Green Gaels team. Through eight games last season, the Green Gaels were 4-3-1. One of the losses was by a single goal, while in the other two, the Green Gaels were edged by just a pair of goals on each occasion, enough to cost O'Brien his spot behind the bench. Things didn't get much better as the season progressed, with a third place finish (11-8-1) and first round playoff exit. Fast forward a year later, and the Green Gaels were a disappointing 5-4 heading into Markham last night to face the Ironheads. Two of the set- 1 backs have come in overtime, while another loss was by just two goals. Unlike last season, there seems to be no sense of urgency as the schedule hits the midway point. Crosbie, rightly so, notes that the Founder's Cup isn't won in May. Conceding Conceding his club isn't playing its best, right now, the objective is to reach the highest level of play possible come playoff time, he says. Luey reiterates that point, adding he's "not concerned" and is still '.'pretty '.'pretty confident we can still win" the Eastern Eastern Conference. Both are on the same page, an important important élément for harmony within the organization, shrugging off the team's current struggle for wins against some of the more competitive teams in the loop. Of their five wins, just one, against Mimico, came against a team with a winning record Luey may have learned a lesson last season that firing the" coach doesn't doesn't solve the problem. So if the GM and coaches are secure secure in their positions, that leaves the players as the ones who have to be accountable, accountable, for the sluggish start. Like Luey, the players would best be served to learn a lesson from last season as well: that a mediocre team in the regular regular season is just that in the playoffs. i- : vu Ron Pietroniro/ The Canadian Statesman The Clarington Green Gaels earned a split over the weekend, winning 10-3 in Huntsville and dropping an 8-4 decision in Halton Hills. In an overtime loss to Oakville last week, JefTTsuji (5) of the Green Gaels tried to make a play while protecting the ball from Oakville's Andrew Kingston. Mediocre season continues for Gaels Clarington earns a split against Huntsville and Halton Hills to stay just above .500 BY BRAD KELLY Sports Editor BOWMANVDLLE - The Clarington Clarington Green Gaels have established one of those can't win for losing type starts to the season. In the past eight games, the Green Gaels have followed a victory with a loss on each occasion, and that didn't change this past weekend.. After winning rather handily 10-3 in Huntsville against the winless Hawks on Saturday night, the Green Gaels were doubled 8-4 by the Bulldogs in Halton Hills one night later. Aside from two wins in a row to open the Jr. B campaign, the Green Gaels have not managed to register back-to-back wins since, but on the flip- side, haven't lost two in a row yet either with this win/lose trend. "We haven't seen a team we can't beat yet. We just haven't won the games," said general manager Doug Luey of his team's mediocre 5-4 start to the season. In Halton Hills, Eric Howe was named Player of the Game for the Green Gaels after scoring three times, while Steve Hutchins added the other marker. The Green Gaels were down 3- 1 after the first and 6-2 going into the third. "It wasn't as bad as the score looked," offered Luey. "We hit every post we could. We actually played really really well." The four-goal spread was the most lopsided loss of the four this season for the Green Gaels, which lost the other three earlier outings by a combined five goals, two of the setbacks coming in overtime. A night earlier in Huntsville, Shane Sargent had three goals and an assist, while Jeff Tsuji had the opposite with a goal and three helpers. Peter Vanden- heuvel and Howe had two each, with singles from J.H. McDonald and Craig McDonald. Rookie goaltender Joel Weber went the distance to earn the win, the second of the season over the Hawks, who are winless in seven outings, Huntsville's lineup was further depleted due to a prom, forcing the club to dress 11 affiliated affiliated players for the game". Next up for the Green Gaels is the first meeting of the season with the defending defending Founder's Cup champion Barrie Tornado on Thursday night at the Garnet Garnet B. Rickard Recreation Complex. Game time is 8 p.m. THE SCOOP - The Green Gaels headed into a battle for first place last night (after our deadline) in Markham, which occupied first with a 6-2 mark. The Green Gaels were just two points back, while Barrie was four behind, but with three games in hand. Scarborough (six points) and Huntsville round out the Mid East. motor running at Mosport Victoria Day Weekend welcomes race fans back to legendary racetrack CLARINGTON - Ladies and gentlemen... start your engines. Mosport International Raceway is gearing up for it's annual Victoria Day Weekend extravaganza where race fans will get a chance to watch multiple series hold their championship championship rounds on May 21,22 and 23. The big horsepower cars of the weekend will be the American GT Challenge series machines. Comprised Comprised of the GT1 style muscle cars, the grid will likely see some former Trahs-Am names. Honda and Michelin will be resurrecting resurrecting the entertaining and competitive competitive Spec Civic series and also retuhiing to Mosport will be the FF2000 ZETEC Championship. The Mafcdaspeed Miata Cup is new this yeal" and the Formula SCAA Open Whçel series will as well excite race fansifor the first time at Mosport. 'F^oad racing skills belonging to Cup) Lite cars will be tested this wedkend along with the Canadian Formula Ford series, who will likely be trying to impress some FF2000 ZETEC teams that will be on hand. One of the more equal and competitive competitive open series within the CASC ranks is the ISSECO/KUMHO FV1200 Championship, which is back for another go around this weekend. The Ontario Touring Car Championship' is expecting to pro- T - vide {('Strong-and diverse grid of cars for their éndürânce race. . 1 Police and Community Educating Racers (P.A.C.E.R.), in partnership with Mosport, will be putting on an exciting new show called Turner Paradise. It will take place within the track's infield. In addition to the road course events, ticket holders can also gain access to the half-mile speedway for Saturday Night Racing. Event organizers organizers are encouraging camping for the weekend. . Tickets can be purchased for the weekend by calling 1-800-86.6-1072 or by logging on to www.mosport.com. Sold by Lorn doubled down CLARINGTON - Sold By Lorn dropped an 8-4 decision to Team #3 in Clarington Minor Lacrosse minor novice action. Daniel Michel scored a pair of goals for Sold By Lorn while Jake Walker and Ian Colby recorded singles. singles. Walker and Colby collected one assist each. Zachary Bonura went the distance in goal for Sold By Lorn and played well. weather the Storm to earn split Win doubleheader openei' 6-0, but drop second game 5-1 BY RAUL FUTHEY Staff Writer OSHÂWA - After splitting a home- opening doubleheader Saturday, the Os- hawa Dodgers found that the two games, despite their differing results, possessed an important common denominator. denominator. In losing 5-1 to the Stratford Storm in the, back end of the twin bill, the Dodgers failed to do what they had done so effectively in the 6-0 win to open the day: take advantage of their offensive offensive opportunities. "That's what this league is all about," said Osliawa manager Troy May, noting that with pitching a strength in the In- tcrcounty League, squandered offensive chances arc potentially fatal, "The players players know that, They just have to bear down In those situations," In that second game, the Dodgers twice had the bases loaded with fewer than two outs and failed to score both times, Osliawa left 11 runners on base in the game overall. In the first game, Osliawa had no such trouble, enjoying a six-run second inning en route to victory. The outburst was punctuated by Ken Galway's solo home run to right centre field, which proved to be all the scoring the home side would need. The Dodgers added a two-run single by Darryl Reid and RBI singles by junior call-ups Adam Sylvestre and Chris Bowler to take complete command of the situation. Vance Cozier (2-0) went six innings, giving up five hits, walking none and striking out four in winning his second straight start. He has yet to give up an earned run in 11 innings of work. Gord Robertson pitched a scoreless seventh to preserve the shutout. Dan Nautli, who took the mound for the second match, gave an equally impressive impressive pitching performance, scattering scattering seven hits over six innings, The Storm erupted in the seventh off relievers relievers Blake Farley (0-1) and Nick Ctinjak, however, scoring four times to break open a 1-1 game. Their next action is tonight at home against the Guelph Royals (1-2), the defending defending league champions, Game time at Kinsmen Stadium is 7:45 p.m. A.J. Groen/ The Canadian Statesman Travis Gilligan (8) of the Oshawa Dodgers beats the throw back to first base during a doubleheader split against against the Stratford Storm on Saturday at Kinsmen Stadium.