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Sports Oakville Beaver www.aplushomes.ca Adam Campbell 905-844-4444 R E A L T YC O R P. B R O K E R A G E I N D E P E N D E N T LY O W N E D A N D O P E R AT E D Broker of Record SPORTS EDITOR: JON KUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 432) Fax 905-337-5571 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com · WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 2010 25 Mother's Day at the ball park PHOTOS BY ERIC RIEHL / SPECIAL TO THE OAKVILLE BEAVER FEELING PINK: Oakville Little League dedicated its opening weekend to mothers and the fight against breast cancer. Pictured clockwise from top left, Jays player Mackie O'Donnell gives a carnation to his mother, Cindy; Rangers player Evan Childress runs towards first base; pink ribbons were painted on the grass at Cornwall Park; Sue Carson and her son Blake sell pink cupcakes; and league president John Sweeney and breast cancer survivor Sally-Anne Hinton show off the pink bases. Sunday's fundraising efforts raised $1,200 for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. Longhorns returning to Northern Football Conference this season The Oakville Longhorns are back -- sort of. The senior men's team has returned to the Northern Football Conference after a one-year leave of absence. But the club will be playing its games out of Burlington this season as its former home, Bronte Athletic Field, undergoes renovations. The Longhorns took last season off to focus on long-range planning to address its increasing expenses, decreasing revenues and shortage of administration. Practices for the league's most successful franchise are being held Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8-10 p.m. at Nelson High School in Burlington. Workouts on Sundays are from 1-3 p.m. The NFC was founded in 1954 and offers players over age 19 an opportunity to play football beyond the high school level. "We've got about 32 players out so far," said head coach Howard Betty. The Longhorns' season opener is Saturday, May 29, at Keith Harris Stadium in Ottawa against the expansion Ottawa Invaders. Oakville plans to play its home games at Corpus Christi Catholic Secondary School in Burlington. The team's first home date is Saturday, June 5, at 7 p.m. against the Toronto Maddogs. Bronte Athletic Field is unavailable as an artificial multi-purpose lined field to accommodate football, soccer and field hockey is being installed to replace the existing natural turf field. Betty, incidentally, formerly coached the Maddogs and worked last summer with the now defunct Kingston Privateers. Other NFC entries are the Sarnia Imperials, Milton Marauders, North Bay Bulldogs, Sault Ste. Marie Steelers, Toronto Raiders and the Tri City Outlaws. Oshawa has applied for a leave of absence for a second straight year. Milton's home field is Milton District High School. They've got 27 players out so far -- 80 on paper -- and practices are Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 810 p.m. at Palmer Park in Burlington. "These are terrifically skilled players but not pro athletes," said the Marauders' new head coach, Gino Arcaro. "You have to find the correct balance of preparation and commitment." All NFC regular-season and playoff games take place on Saturdays, from May until the end of August. The Longhorns were formed in 1978. They had seven undefeated seasons and won 14 provincial championships -- 11 straight from 1993 to 2003. Oakville also captured three Canadian senior titles. For tryout information with the Longhorns, contact Howard Betty at 289456-6372. Arcaro can be reached at 905933-7556. -- With files from Larry Moko, Metroland West Media Group