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22 ·The IFP· Halton Hills ·Thursday, May 10, 2012 SPORTS & LEISURE CtK one of four schools fielding softball squad the kids back in those days loved it. It just died off. It wasn't even a gradual thing. It was kind of like, boom." It lost its status as an Olympic sport The most convincing argument for several years ago, and its popularity in slo-pitch over softball is that it levels Ontario has taken a hit in recent years. the playing field. Pitching is everything Now, with a rapidly eroding player in softball-- perhaps even more so than base to draw from, might girls' softball baseball-- and any school with two be on the way out of Halton high school quality arms (pitchers have a limit of 12 sports? outs, or four innings, per game) tended Halton Secondary School Athletic to dominate the sport. Association (HSSAA) convener Darrin Meanwhile, teams without inexperiCurtis thinks it just enced pitchers would might be. either watch their op"I don't want to ponents walk around say it's a dying sport," the bases all afterCurtis says. "But it noon or be constantkind of is." ly ducking out of the Curtis has plenty way of line drives. of reason to be con"If you have no cerned about the vi--HSSAA convener pitching, there's no ability of high school point in playing," Darrin Curtis softball. Just three Curtis says. years ago, the HSSAA At the same time, league seemed alive and well with 11 hitters without rep experience are like teams. But in 2010, the loop went down lambs being led to the slaughter when to nine squads. Last year, it scaled down they go up to the plate against higheven further to six. caliber windmill hurlers. That's why Now, just four schools-- Iroquois Georgetown coach Lori Herteis made Ridge, Holy Trinity, White Oaks and the decision to switch to slo-pitch. Georgetown's Christ the King-- will "I've seen the kids who don't play rep compete in the HSSAA girls' softball ball and know they're not going to get a season that starts this week. Formerly hit," she says. "I had to think about my strong programs like T.A. Blakelock, experience, growing up with fast-pitch Notre Dame and Georgetown (the latter and then moving into slo-pitch and lovwon nine of 10 Halton titles from 1995- ing the game. It's just a better game for 2005) are gone, as are all schools from the kids. They're going to feel more sucBurlington and Milton. cessful, it's not as intimidating. They'll Not that there will be a shortage of just have a little more fun." high school girls in the region still runLarose doesn't blame slo-pitch for the ning the bases this spring. The HSSAA's gradual demise of high school softball girls' slo-pitch league, which began in in Halton, however. He points the finger 2007 as an alternative to windmill-pitchat all the other options students have ing softball, has since grown from five these days, noting that the Tigers can't teams to 15. even field a slo-pitch team this season But slo-pitch isn't even close to being because of lack of interest in the school. softball, windmill-pitching enthusiasts "Girls now play hockey 12 months a lament. "I really miss (softball)," says Ron year. And there are a lot of girls playing Larose, the longtime coach at Blakelock rugby, which wasn't around forever," Lawho had to switch to slo-pitch a couple rose says. "I could see one sport suffering, years ago because of a shortage of rep whether it be soccer or girls' softball. It softball players. "I thought the game was great, and just happens to be girls' softball." By JON KUIPERJI Metroland Media Group Cheers! Representing Team Canada for the first time at the recent International Cheer Union World Cheerleading Championships in Florida, Acton's Alandra Telschow had plenty to shout about when the competition was completed. The Canadians finished in top spot out of 11 entries in the All-Girl Elite Team category at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, which drew over 200 teams from 70 countries. The Grade 12 Christ the King student occupies a "main base" position in the 24-member Canadian team's routine, a role she had to audition for. Telschow has been with the Georgetown-based Cheerforce Jaguars' organization for six years and competed at the worlds with Oakville's Cheerforce Wolfpack as well for the second year in a row. Submitted photo `I don't want to say it's a dying sport. But it kind of is.' GSC test results Georgetown Skating Club recently held its high test day and the following skaters passed their tests. Harris Tango-- Brittany Bates Rocker-- Teana Graziani and Danielle Scanferla Paso-- Rebecca Sherk Blues-- Natasha Gushue and Haley Lambert Killian-- Rebecca Sherk and Alexandra Parker Viennese Waltz-- Spenser Callaghan Quickstep-- Alexandra Parker Senior Silver Skills-- Rebecca Sherk Junior Silver Freeskate Part 1-- Alexandra Parker Following are the results from the GSC's recent Low Test Day for the Spring Skate: Swing-- Natalie Gago, Marilena Escoto and Jaidyn McFadden Dutch Waltz-- Reka Somognyi Baby Blues-- Sierra McEwen Willow Waltz-- Kyrsten Praught and Key-Ara Northey Fourteenstep-- Justine Brooks James Robart-Morgan of the Acton Skating Club performed the European Dance at a recent High Test Day held at the Mold-Masters SportsPlex. Results for Acton skaters weren't available. Photo by Eamonn Maher Preliminary Skills-- Gabrielle Pelchat Junior Bronze Skills-- Justine Brooks, Kyrsten Praught and Emma de Vries Junior Bronze Freeskate Part 2-- Danielle Scanferla and Brianna Basha Intro Interpretive-- Rachel Logan Bronze Interpretive-- Rachel Logan SERVICE DIRECTORY? SEE PAGES 18 & 19 OF TODAY'S REAL ESTATE LEADER L KING FOR