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14 Independent & Free Press, Wednesday, August 27, 2008 SPORTS & LEISURE The novice-aged Halton Hills Hawks recorded the best-ever result for the local girls fastpitch organization at the national championships by finishing fourth at the recent Softball Canada Tier I peewee tournament in Ile Perrot, Que. After posting a 3-3 record in the round-robin segment of the 12-team event, the Hawks edged the top-ranked team from B.C., the White Rock Renegades, 3-2 in the opening playoff contest. A 7-6 victory over their rivals from Oakville sent the Halton Hills novices on to the next round, where they were stymied for the second time in the tournament by the Victoria, B.C. Devils, 2-0, and were eliminated from further play. A couple of Hawks received individual accolades for their play in the tournament. Maddie Mayberry was named top hitter for the championships by Softball Canada for her .546 batting average and Chantal Prevost won a home-run contest at the event. The bulk of the team consists of Georgetown youths who have played for the Hawks for the past six years. The Guelph Electri-Tech Gators defeated Richmond, B.C. 5-4 in the final. Preliminary round Halton Hills 7, Lac St. Louis, Que. 0: Maddison Presswood, Emily Brownhill (2 hits). Halton Hills 8, Manitoba 1: Maddie Mayberry, Tearney Johnston Jones (2 hits). Guelph Downunder 6, Halton Hills 5: Jaime Vieira (double, 2 runs); Kendra Hole (2 hits). Halton Hills 28, New Brunswick 0: Kat Del Rosso (2 hits, 3 runs); Kelly Locke (2 hits). Oakville Angels 3, Halton Hills 2: Mayberry (2 hits); Vieira (2 runs). Victoria, B.C. Devils 2, Halton Hills 1: Alyssa Page (2 hits). Playoffs Halton Hills 3, White Rock, B.C. 2: Mayberry (2 hits); Crystal Marentette (hit, run). Halton Hills 7, Oakville Angels 6: Chantal Prevost (double, run, RBI). Victoria, B.C. Devils 2, Halton Hills 0: Page (2 hits). Novice Hawks finish fourth at national tourney If youve sent an e-mail message to The Independent & Free Press sports department in the past week, were ask- ing you to please resend it. A major malfunction in the Metroland Media Groups e-mail system occurred on Aug. 18, preventing us from sending or receiving messages for the last few days. Although the system is now functioning, its apparent that some e-mails were not received. If you could resend any messages to emaher@indepe- dentfreepress.com it would be much appreciated. The Independent & Free Press apologizes for the incon- venience. With just over a week until the OHA Provincial Jr . A Hockey Leagues regular season starts for the Georgetown Raiders, the teams roster is taking shape after a num- ber of signings this past week. The Raiders also began their short exhibition schedule with a win and a loss to the Streetsville Derbys, losing 4-2 on Sunday night before rallying to win 7-6 at home on Monday. Veteran forward Trevor Branning scored twice for Georgetown in Mondays victory, including the winner while short- handed midway through the third period. With eight returnees from last season, head coach and general manager James Richmond has been pleased with the quality of players who have come through training camp and is anxious to see who returns from their Ontario Hockey League tryouts after this week. Georgetown is slated to play its season opener a 10 days earlier this year, against the revived Bramalea Blues on Friday, Sept. 5 at the Powerade Centre, although that date is in doubt because of schedul- ing conflicts. The Raiders will play their home opener against the Huntsville Wildcats on Saturday, Sept. 6 starting at 7:30 p.m. Theres not a lot of ice available in Georgetown and weve been kind of pressed into it early, but it s nothing to get upset about, said Richmond, back for his third sea- son with the club. Most of the team has been decided and there are just a few things that were waiting on with the OHL camps this week. Among the newcomers signed are 19-year-old Jordan Dewey, a 6- foot-1, 185-pound blueliner from Chateauguay, Que. who attended Westminster Prep School in Conneticut and has committed to St. Lawrence University next year. Richmond also acquired 19-year- old goaltender Vince Cusick from Burlington in exchange for winger Mark White. Cusick, a Hamilton native who spent two seasons with the Milton IceHawks, played the full 60 minutes Monday night. In another deal , the Raiders picked up big bluel iner Nick Avgerinos from the Toronto Jr. Canadiens and signed another physical defender in Mike Baird from the Oakville midgets. Up front, new faces include David Mathers, who spent last sea- son with Markham and Orangeville, and Steve Perfetto of Mississauga. Speedy Jordan So, 18, attended prep school with Dewey last year and prior to that played two seasons with the Ajax Jr. A Attack. Eighteen-year-old Sean Thomas was signed after graduat- ing from Appleby College in Oakville. Another player in the Raiders camp who has turned heads is Campbellvilles Michael Sgarbossa, a 16-year-old Christ the King stu- dent whose brother Rob starred for f ive seasons in Georgetown. A third-round draft pick of the OHLs Barrie Colts, the talented centre could start the season in a Raider uniform if he doesnt make the Colts. Peterborough Petes second- round pick Aaron Pearce would be another big addition to the forward lines. The Raiders received a scare during Mondays tune-up tilt when second-year forward Fred Gervasi had to be taken to hospital after being struck in the throat area with a stick, but he was said to be fine on Tuesday. Tonight (Wednesday), George- town wil l face the Toronto Jr . Canadiens in a pre-season matchup at the Chesswood Arena and then host the Orangevi l le Crushers Thursday at the Alcott Arena at 7:30 p.m. Those two teams will meet up again Friday in Orangeville to close out the exhibi- tion schedule. Georgetown Raiders prospect Michael Sgarbossa just misses one of sev- eral scoring chances he had during Monday nights 7-6 win over the visit- ing Streetsville at the Alcott Arenas B Pad in OHA Provincial Jr. A Hockey League exhibition action. Sgarbossa, 16, is also vying for a spot with the Ontario Hockey Leagues Barrie Colts as the hockey season quickly approaches. Photo by Eamonn Maher Raiders closer to finalizing roster for 2008-09 EAMONN MAHER Staff Writer Results and sports submissions may have been lost in e-mail crash