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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday February 27, 2008 - 25 Raiders pound St. Paul, Little League gets a little bigger off to basketball OFSAA The St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders were less than stellar during the recent Halton high school senior boys' basketball playoffs. Monday, they were back to their old selves. The Raiders blew out Peel's St. Paul Wolverines 73-42 at Aquinas, earning the right to represent their region at next week's Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations AA championships. Aquinas, which was 10-0 in regular-season play before squeaking past Georgetown in its first playoff game and falling to Holy Trinity in the semifinals, led 4628 at intermission after ending the first half on a 17-2 run. "After being 10-0 in our season, it was a big disappointment not going to the Halton finals," said the Raiders' Jon Silver. "We understood what we needed to do and we didn't want to end our season like that." So much so that the Raiders held a practice the previous day. Sunday practices are hardly the norm for high school basketball teams. It paid immediate dividends. The Raiders put up 22 points in the first quarter, then tacked on another 24 in the second frame, breaking down the Wolverines' zone defence with ease. Centre Ryan Thomson scored 10 of his team-leading 16 points in the first half and also often set up his teammates with open looks under the basket. Trevor Williams scored 14 points, four of them coming on powerful one-handed dunks. Silver had 10 points and Matt Blaha contributed nine. The OFSAA tournament begins Monday in Oshawa. "I think we're definitely up there with the best teams," Silver said. "Hopefully we can take it." Trinity, King's denied Holy Trinity and King's Christian Collegiate, the respective Halton senior Division 1 and Division 2 champions, were denied OFSAA berths with losses last week against Hamilton schools. Trinity bowed out with a 70-51 AAAA qualifier loss to Cathedral. The Titans were down 11 points in the late going before being forced to foul, putting the game out of reach. Jahmal McQueen led the Titans with 15 points. King's lost its A qualifier against Academie Catholique Mere-Teresa, the defending OFSAA champs, 58-38. -- Jon Kuiperij Oakville Little League has expanded its age limit for players from 17 to 18 years of age. The decision came after the league received several requests from parents and overage players who had come up through the Little League system. The 18-year-olds will play in the league's Senior division, which will expand to six teams this summer. All games in this division will be played in Oakville. "We want to provide the youth of Oakville with the opportunity to continue playing baseball in both fun and competitive environments for an additional year," said Oakville Little League president John Sweeney. "For most players, that means they can play house league baseball in Oakville until they are finished their high school years." In addition, the league has announced plans to field a Big League select all-star team. Big League is a division of Little League International for players aged 16-18. The Big League team will represent Oakville in tournaments and, if there is sufficient interest, may participate in playdowns towards the Big League World Series, held annually in Easley, South Carolina. Senior division convener Paul Doherty, an all-star and house league coach in the Oakville Little League system for the past 13 years, will coach the Big League squad. For more information on the expansion of the Senior division, call 905-827-1831. Registration for the upcoming season can be done online at www.oakvillelittleleague.com. It can also be done in person on Saturday, March 1 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Oakville Little League Field House, located at 425 Cornwall Rd. Providing Quality Baseball in Our Community for over 44 Years 2008 Player Registration House League, Select and Rep Programs for all Boys & Girls Born 1985 - 2003 McParland goal a `relief' Divisions & Fees: T-Ball (Ages 5 & 6).........................$145 Coach Pitch (Age 7).........................$145 Rookie Ball to Junior (Ages 8 to 23).....$205 ncludes Town User Fee, Family Discount 10% for 3or more players) Continued from page 24 opening-round upset of the Hamilton Red Wings -- were in position to steal Game 1. "I knew our guys would be squeezing the sticks a bit. We're a young team with very little playoff experience," he said. "When a goalie's hot and you take 33 shots at him and have one powerplay goal, you get concerned. (McParland's goal) was a relief. Our energy level got better and better as the game went on." Coccimiglio said he was particularly pleased with the play of forwards Steven Guzzo, Kyle Badham and Sean Teakle, praising their physicality and effort. Badham, Cimadamore, McParland, Lain, Lindsay Sparks, Jeremy Welsh, Luke Moodie and Chris Corbeil drew helpers Sunday. The series is slated to continue tonight (Wednesday) with Game 3 at Milton's Memorial Arena, a 7:30 p.m. start. NOTES: The Blades were forced to play Game 1 on the Blue rink at Joshua's Creek Arenas, rather than the Red pad that they're accustomed to, because of previous ice bookings. "It did concern us," Coccimiglio said. "It's not the same. It was like going to a strange building." The team also wanted to begin the series Friday, but couldn't because of the Oakville Hornets girls' tournament at the arena... Milton has two local residents on its roster, Tyler Stothers and Connor McMonagle. McMonagle and Guzzo, former rep teammates in Oakville and born only five days apart in 1990, roughed it up in the second period and each received minor penalties. When : February 16, 2008, from 10 AM to 4 PM When : March 1, 2008, from 10AM to 4to 3PM March 1, 2008, from 10AM PM Where : Iroquois Ridge Community Centre 1051 Glenashton Drive $35 You may also download our Registration Form and mail with payment to 1236 Speers Road, Unit #4, Oakville, Ontario L6L 2X4 or Register Online. For more information please call 847 5545, email us at omba@oakvilleminorbaseball.com or visit our website at www.oakvilleminorbaseball.com The Oakville Minor Baseball Association is af liated with f