28> PORYPERRY STAR Tudsday, July 73; 1991 "Scugog's Community Newspaper of Choice' A" PORT PERRY STAR | The Port Perry Canadian Tire bantam Boys fastball tea m claimed the championship at their home tournament held this past Saturday. Pictured are the team members: Back Row: (I-r) Todd Smart, Kent Jamieson, Grant Kay, Craig Venning, coach, Wayne Venning, manager, Chad Kearns, Jeff Card, Paul Linton, Garnet Warriner, coach. Front Row: (I-r) Greg Rankin, Chad Venning, Steve Parish, Duane Einpringham, Gavin Cochrane, Corey Bricknell, Steve Stiles, Denis Smith. Please see story for more detalls on the bantam's ex- citing win. Bantams win home tournament The Port Perry Bantam Fast- ball team with some late inning heroics for a comeback victory; captured the Port Perry Minor Softball Bantam Tournament held at the lakefront parks on Saturday. The host team opened the tournament round-robin play early Saturday morning with a 7-1 victory over Aurora. Chad Venning received credit for the win as he did not allow a hit in recording his first no-hit game of the season. Aurora scored their only run in the last inning on a couple of walks and a fielder's choice. Todd Smart had a big game with a double and a triple, while Duane Empringham, Corey Bricknell, Jeff Card, Grant Key, and Steve Stiles each had one hit. In game two the local team played one of the best teams in the area, as they defeated Oshawa 2-0 in an exciting fast- ball game. Denis Smith for Port Perry and John Titterton of Oshawa, both "left-handers" went five scoreless innings before Port Perry put their two runs on the scoreboard. Kent Jamieson opened the inning with a single and Duane Empringham sacrificed him to second base. Corey Bricknell then put the local team up one run with a base hit. Bricknell then scored on a double by Jeff Card to give Smith all the runs he would need for the game. Oshawa did threaten in the top of the seventh inning as a walk and their only basehit of the game put the tieing run on base, but Smith then retired the next three Oshawa batters for the win. Game three in the tourna- ment was no contest as Jeff Card recorded a well pitched three hit 6-0 victory over Thornhill. Card also added a long triple off the top of the right field fence. Corey Bricknell added two singles with one hit each going to Todd Smart, Grant Kay, Ste- ven Parish, Greg Rankin and Chad Kearns. Paul Linton made a fine de- fensive play at second base in the top of the sixth inning to preseve the shut-out These three victories in their division put Port Perry in the championship game Saturday evening Zins North Fronte- nac from the Kingston area. North Frontenac had won their division with victories over Stroud, Bramalea and Scarborough. These two excellent ball teams played the most exciting game of the year at the lake- front park. Denis Smith again started for Port Perry on the mound and pitched a strong game, but tired late in the contest after a long and very hot day. The Port Perry team scored two runs early off Frontenac pitcher Ron Percy as Duane Empringham and Corey Brick- nell both singled and scored as the big first baseman Gavin Co- chrane lined a triple to deep right field. Port Perry added a third run in the fourth inning as Steven Stiles walked, stole second base and scored on Todd Smart's base hit. Frontenac narrowed the margin to two runs as they scored a run in the top of the fifth inning and took the lead by scoring three more runs in the top of the sixth inning. Fronte- nac then brought in the "ace" pitcher Andy Clark and Port Perry was faced with getting some runs off this big left- handed pitcher. With the crowd cheering the Port Perry team started their come-back bid. Denis Smith opened the sixth inning with a single and moved to second on a pass ball by the catcher; he then scored on a hit by Grant Kay to tie the game at 4-4, Chad Venning then came in to pinch-hit and completely crossed up the Frontenac de- fense by dropping down a bunt and beatingit out for a base hit. Todd Smart then had his third hit of the game to drive in arun, and was followed by Kent Jamieson who also has an in- field hit. Corey Bricknell then capped a four run inning for the local team as he doubled in two more runs to a take a 7-4 lead. In the top of the seventh in- ning, Frontenac had the Port Perry fans nervous as they scored two runs to make the score 7-6, and had two runners on base when the final batter hit a fly ball to deep left field to end the game. Both teams received a stand- ing ovation from the large crowd as Port Perry received the championship awards. This tournament victory completed three tournaments in the past three weekends, as the Port Pory team were final- ist in the Bramalea tourna- ment, and in the three tourna- ments their record was nine wins and only two losses. In York-Durham league ac- tion last week, Port Perry de- feated Oshawa by a 3-1 score and East Gwillimbury 17-10 to remain in top spot in the league. Merchant Midgets reach finals in Guelph tourney The sports report for the Mid- get Merchants is sponsored by IVES FLORISTS and PORT PERRY IGA. This past week-end the Port Perry Midget Merchants were in Guelph for a fastball tourna- ment. In the first game, Port met Bracebridge, an old rival, and won 2-1, in a real pitcher's duel. The game was tied at 0 until the fifth inning when Steve Laird reached first base on a walk, was advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt off the bat of Ja- son Cochrane. Tim Timms then got on base with a single. Both runners crossed home plate on a single by Jason McBride. In game two, Port cruised to an easy 11-3 victory over Cam- bridge. Port broke the game wide open in the third with a four run inning. This game had a lot of unusual events which kept the game interesting. ambridge tried to sneak a substitute runner into the game, but Coach Redman was able to convince the umpires that this was an illegal move. This attempt by Cambridge backfired because it caused them to lose their second pitch- er from the game on the re-. entry rule. Steve Laird who has been in a bit of a slump, came alive with three singles, one double and five RBI's. We also saw John Ennis come out of a three year pitching retirement to throw two perfect innings for the save. He allowed no runs, no walks and struck out one batter. This was a much needed relief for Richard Brough who had pitched 12 innings straight in .90 degree weather. With Port's alternate pitcher, Brett Puck- rin, out west on holidays, Rich- ard was going to have to start his third game of the day in the championship game. Gamblers The championship game was against a strong Stratford team which is no stranger to the Port Midgets this year. These two teams have met twice in earlier tournaments, and Port had lost each time with close scores. Un- fortunately, the Midget Mer- chants met a hot pitcher who struck out 13 batters for an easy 7-1 win. The only hits were a single by Jason Cochrane. and a home run by Darrell Vander Slagt. In spite of the heat, the team played excellent ball, and spe- cial mention must go to Richard Brough who pitched 18 strong innings. In recent league play, the Port Midgets beat Oshawa 4-0, and Bramalea 11-5. They lost to Stouffville 8-3. Games coming up are July 23-Port at Scarborough at 8:30 in Adam's Park; July 25, Scar- borough at Port at 8:30; July 3 Stouffville at Port Perry at 8:30. Hitters for the week: Richard Brough with four singles, two doubles, one home run and four RBIs; Jason Cochrane with six singles, one double and three RBIs, Jasen Dawson with one single; John Ennis with four singles, one triple, and three RBIs, Steve Laird with three singles, one double and five RBIs; Scott MacLennan with one single and one RBI; Jason McBride with three singles and two RBIs, Brad Moase with four singles, one double, one triple, and one RBI, Brett Puck- rin with one double; Tim Timms with two singles and two RBIs; Darrell Vander Li with two singles, one double and three RBIs; Darrell Vander Slagt with three singles, one double, two home runs, and nine RBIs. chalk up three straight wins The Greenbank Gamblers had their best week of the season in the Peterborough city league as they chalked up three straight victories over their rivals for play off positions. Only four of the six teams in the league will be eligible for play-off action and the race is extremely close. Peterborough I.C.G. have all but locked up top spot in the league but the rest have been bun- ched in a tight run. So the Gamblers three wins were very crucial if they were to advance to play-off action. On Monday night in Greenbank park the Gamblers met Moore Auto Repair with only a single point separating the teams in the league standings and Greenbank squeezed out a 2-1 win behind the six hit pitching of Mark Goreski. Trevor Till had given the Gamblers a one run lead in the fourth inning with a booming home run but Moores had tied the game in the sixth on a Marvin Moore double and Ron Jackson's single into centre field. But Greenbank scrambled back as Mike Giroux was hit by a Keith Sanderson pitch to lead off the bottom of the sixth inning and was sacrificed to second by Terry Till. Then Brian Till laced a two out shot through the infield to score Giroux with the winning run. Moore Auto Repair out hit the Gamblers by 6 to 3 but Mark Goreski scattered the hits well and struck out 10 batters during the game. Tuesday night in Peterborough saw Mark Goreski again take the mound for the Gamblers (Wayne Wells is on a weeks vacation) and he tossed a nifty 6 hit shut out at Winslow-Gerolamy Motors as Greenbank claimed a 4-0 win. Trevor Till was the batting star for the Gamblers as he drove in all 4 Greenbank runs with a two Turn to Page 29