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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday September 10, 2008 - 33 Burloak's Masters paddlers second at national meet Burloak Canoe Club's young paddlers weren't the only ones to enjoy success at the national level recently. Burloak's Masters (25 and older) paddlers finished second in the club aggregate standings at the Canadian Masters Canoeing Championship in Dartmouth, N.S., one day after Burloak clinched the Canadian Sprint Canoe/Kayak Championships team title at the same venue. Debbie Bell led the 45-paddler Burloak contingent at the Masters event, winning each of the canoe disciplines (singles, tandem, fours and war canoe) and finishing with five gold medals. She was also named the recipient of the Canmas Female Canoe Paddler of the Year award. Also keying Burloak's secondplace finish were the performances of Cynthia Perry, Kim Stephen and Ildico Tettero, who each won three golds. Rookie paddlers Karen Roe and Jonathan Lancaster also chipped in with victories in their novice kayak singles events. In war canoe, Burloak won the ladies' and mixed races by more than a boat length. The men's crew finished 0.8 seconds behind firstplace Banook Canoe Club, which hosted the championships and won the overall team title. MASTERS OF WAR: Burloak Canoe Club's Masters mixed war canoe team paddles to victory at the recent Canadian Masters Canoeing Championships in Nova Scotia. Burloak finished second in the overall team standings. Locals close in on Mann Cup title Going into last night's (Tuesday's) action, Dan Dawson, Paul Dawson and Troy Cordingley were one win away from becoming Canadian major lacrosse champions. SPORTSBRIEFS The three local residents and their Brampton Excelsiors had a chance to wrap up the Mann Cup title last night at Brampton's Powerade Centre, gunning for a sweep of the New Westminster Salmonbellies. If New Westminster was victorious last night, Game 5 of the series would be played tonight (Wednesday), a 7:30 start. All games of the series are being contested in Brampton. The Excelsiors, shooting for their ninth Mann Cup title in team history, took a 3-0 stranglehold on the best-of-seven series with a 7-3 win Monday. Dan Dawson had a goal and two assists for Brampton, which scored four unanswered goals in the third period. The Excelsiors' other wins came Friday (8-5) and Saturday (6-5). Paul Dawson plays defence for the Excelsiors, while Cordingley is the club's head coach. New Westminster holds the record for most Mann Cup championships, having won 24. The Salmonbellies, however, have not won the Canadian championship since 1991. Brampton's last Mann Cup title came in 2002. SILVER SMILES: The Oakville mite Angels went 3-2 at the recent Provincial Women's Softball Association championships, winning silver. Shepley clinches LPGA membership A 30th-place finish at last weekend's ILOVENY Championship in Albany, N.Y. was enough to clinch 2009 LPGA membership for local golfer Jessica Shepley. Shepley finished the Duramed Futures Tour season seventh on the money list. The top 10 earners on the Futures Tour earned their LPGA membership. The Iroquois Ridge grad fired a three-round total of 219 at the tournament. Mite Angels claim provincial softball silver Losing only to the host and eventual champion Brampton Blazers 98's, the Oakville mite Angels earned silver at the recent Provincial Women's Softball Association championships. Oakville went 3-2 in tier 1 competition at the provincials, posting victories over Kitchener, Mississauga North and Waterloo. The Angels' losses came to Brampton in round-robin play and the gold-medal game. Maddie MacGrandle got the Angels off to a strong start at thechampionships, firing a one-hitter and striking out 20 in a 4-3 win over Kitchener. The game was likely the longestever contest for the Angels players, beginning late Friday night because of a thunderstorm delay and then concluding the following morning. Oakville then played one of its best games of the yeaer in a 10-0 rout of Mississauga North. House league call-up Bryn Vella keyed the offence with a triple, while Ciara Papaioannou allowed only four hits, striking out 12 and walking none. Following a mercy-shortened loss to Brampton, the Angels earned a spot in the gold-medal game by doubling Waterloo 10-5. Papaionnou pitched into the fifth inning, and MacGrandle -- who was named the most valuable player in the tournament -- closed the game out by striking out all four batters she faced. Oakville's final game against Brampton was also shortened by the mercy rule. Other members of the team are Nicole Lemieux, Alessandra Castro, Sarah Benn, Marielle Wing, Charlene Cruz, Karly Gomes, Jamie Jang, Katie Jaeggin, Allison Chan and Erica Chan. This is the third straight year a mite Angels squad has won provincial silver. Blades open 2008-09 season Friday at home The defending Dudley Hewitt Cup champion Oakville Blades will open their 2008-09 season Friday with a home game at Joshua's Creek Arenas. Oakville will host the Mississauga Chargers for a 7:30 p.m. start. The game will be preceded by ceremonies honouring last year's Blades squad, which won the Provincial Junior A Hockey League and Central Canadian titles for the first time in team history. A tailgate party is also scheduled before the game, slated to begin at 5:30 p.m. in the parking lot at the arena. See Friday's edition of The Oakville Beaver for a preview of what to expect from this year's Blades squad. www.oakvillebeaver.com