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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, July 18, 2014 | 28 Intermediates struggled early before hitting stride Jays' Buehrle role model for Bratton continued from p.27 Cubs striking for one run in the top of the frame before Oakville answered with a pair. Members of the junior Whitecaps are Brian Bowman, Wyatt Darling, Cameron Dyck, Austin Fishwick, Jeremy Higa, Justin Hui, Michael Legge, Matthew McGuigan, Harrison McKay, Justin Soares, Tyler Stodulski, Bernn Tabuyog and Brandon Wasslen. The team is coached by Nick Rigato, Michael Lunder, Anthony Rigato, Jonathan DelPozzo and Stephen McPhadden. April Dyck is the squad's scorekeeper. Intermediates Things looked bleak for the intermediate Whitecaps through two games and one inning at provincials. Oakville lost its first two contests, 6-4 to the Kanata Cubs and 11-1 to the East Nepean Eagles. Needing a victory in their third game to avoid elimination, the Whitecaps found themselves in an early 5-0 hole against the Carleton-Russell Aces. Emily Baxter slugged two home runs and Nathan Shute, Steven Hospital and Jibran Qureshi added round-trippers as the Whitecontinued from p.27 Nebraska, Iowa and Texas. Rookies, like Bratton, receive as little as $800 a month, though their accomodations and travel are paid for throughout the season. Meals are also provided in the clubhouse on game days, and players receive a meal allowance on the road. Bratton, who has not allowed a run in his first three relief appearances with the Goldeyes, is clearly in Winnipeg purely for the love of the game and the pursuit of a dream. He looks up to a fellow lefty who nearly went undrafted himself, Toronto Blue Jays hurler Mark Buehrle. The Chicago White Sox selected Buehrle in the 38th round of the 40-round MLB draft in 1998. Two years later, Buehrle began an MLB career that has seen him win 10 or more games for 14 straight seasons and earn five all-star selections. Bratton can also be inspired by the success stories of several American Association alumni who went on to pitch in the majors, most notably Detroit Tigers ace Max Scherzer, last year's American League Cy Young Award winner. "I have taken a step in the right direction," says Bratton, who compares the American Association to a high-A level of minor league baseball. "It might be on a different path, but this path eventually leads to the major league path again. It may be that I'm taking a longer route there, but I don't think (going undrafted) is a setback at all. Everything happens for a reason." It's also entirely possible, Bratton realizes, that the path ends here. If nothing else, his time with the Goldeyes can be used to build contacts in the game. His other career goal is to use his sports management education at Western Alabama to land a coaching, scouting or executive job in baseball. "I've already done a lot of things most kids don't get to do, especially kids from Canada. I got to go down south and get an education and play baseball at the exact same time. Now, I'm getting to play professional baseball, and a lot of kids don't get to do that," Bratton says. "I'd be happy if this is as far as it goes. Obviously, I'd like to go further. But I'm grateful for this opportunity and for the Winnipeg organization responding to that email and giving me a chance." -- Jon Kuiperij can be followed on Twitter @Beaversports The Oakville Whitecaps intermediate (under-13) team shows off its championship banner after winning the provincial Little League title. The junior Whitecaps also won an Ontario crown recently, and both teams are preparing to compete in national championship tournaments in Alberta. | photo submitted caps rode the strong pitching of James St. Louis for a 15-11 victory. Oakville then pounded the Pembroke Pirates 14-0 to advance to the semifinals, where it clubbed Kanata 19-5. In the final against East Nepean, Hospital's pitching limited the Eagles to a fourth-inning run and the Whitecaps defence turned two double plays. Graham Hammell hit a two-run double and Baxter added a run-scoring single in the second inning. Jack Swanson ended the game by tagging out an Eagles runner at third base. Other highlights from the tournament included grand slams by St. Louis (against Pembroke) and Hospital (in the semifinal against Kanata) and home runs by Evan Chambers, Nicholas Maitland and Nicholas Jaeggin. Mike Cummings contributed a pair of singles in the semifinal. Geoff Hospital is the club's head coach, assisted by Norm Baxter see Senior on p.31 Don't miss this, and other great deals! 2014 HOUSE LEAGUE SEASON AVAILABLE FOR ONLINE REGISTRATION Visit Follow us: @wagjag Proudly Canadian facebook.com/wagjag E S U HO E L K C A T E U G LEA IN PERSON REGISTRATION Sunday July 20th, 2014 10 am to 1 pm. HOUSE LEAGUE DIVISIONS Tyke (players born 2006-2008) Atom (players born 2004-2005) Peewee (players born 2002-2003) Bantom (players born 2000-2001) NELSON STADIUM $7 FOR $15 TOWARDS ALL-YOUCAN-EAT SUSHI AT SUSHI HOUR Registration is available online for 2014 House League TackLe PRogRam. For more information please contact BmFa Director of House League Nicole Desrochers at houseleague@burlingtonminorfootball.ca Buy Online: 1 How to buy a WagJag: Go to www.wagjag.com 2 53% off $7.00 3 Receive your deal, tell your friends and enjoy! Click buy on the offer and follow the instructions. 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