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Sports Oakville Beaver SPORTS EDITOR: JON KUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 255) Fax 905-337-5567 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com · SATURDAY, JUNE 24, 2006 37 Close calls PHOTOS BY LIESA KORTMANN / OAKVILLE BEAVER PLAYS AT THE PLATE: There were plenty of close plays at home plate during Thursday's Oakville Little League major game between the Marlins and Phillies. Left, the Marlins' Tyler Cassidy is forced out at home by Phillies catcher Kevin McClain. Right, Phillies' Dylan Roth is tagged out by Marlins catcher Adam Wirkowski. The Marlins prevailed 10-6 at Cornwall Field. Decision to play tennis paying off for local teenager By Herb Garbutt OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Life's all about choices, and Derek Emerson seems to have made all the right ones. The Grade 8 student at Our Lady of Peace was faced with the decision of two racquet sports, badminton and tennis. He enjoyed both but the conflicting swinging motions -- badminton uses the wrists while tennis uses the arms -- hindered him as he switched back and forth. Eventually, tennis won out. "It was a tough choice but I just liked tennis more and I wanted to become really good at it," Emerson said. That also factored into his decision to give up hockey in the winter to take lessons and play year-round. That wasn't an easy decision either, given his dad is a former professional hockey player. But there was also a family link to tennis as Emerson's grandfather taught tennis lessons. Regardless, it's difficult to question Emerson's decision, especially since he recently won the Derek Emerson boys' under-14 Rogers Rookie Tour. The tour, put on by the Ontario Tennis Association for players outside the Top-30 rankings in the province, features tournaments over four months across Ontario. Emerson is currently ranked 64th but that may change after his recent performance. The 13-year-old played in 10 of the tour's 16 tournaments and won six of them, finishing as a finalist in two others. That helped him accumulate 913 points, more than doubling the 340 amassed by the second-place finisher. "I expected to be one of the top players but I didn't expect to win so many," said Emerson, who made his decision to play tennis year-round two years ago. Emerson's victory was also part of an unusual sweep. With Justin Cole taking the under-16 title and Norbert Kapa taking the under-12 crown, all three titles were won by Joshua Creek Sports Tennis Club members -- quite a feat considering more than 500 players competed in the six boys' and girls' age divisions. Emerson splits his time between two clubs, playing at Bronte Tennis Club in the summer and Joshua Creek in the winter. He believes his success on the Rogers circuit will help him in the future. "I think it will give me more confidence to play in higher-level tournaments," he said. -- Herb Garbutt can be reached at sports@oakvillebeaver.com. Where your family is concerned, you deserve peace-of-mind. With a year-round heating & cooling service contract from Air Calm Climate Care, you can rest assured that you're taking care of your family's comfort. Trust Air Calm ClimateCare for regular service and you won't be left in the cold! A member of ClimateCare, Ontario's largest heating & cooling cooperative e-mail: aircalm@climatecare.com 905- 844 -7354 The Heating and Cooling Professionals who C.A.R.E. Comfort. Accountability. Reliability. Excellence. FURNACES BOILERS SERVICE INFLOOR HEATING FIREPLACES AIR CONDITIONERS INDOOR AIR QUALITY