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Editor: Norm Nelson Phone: 905-845-3824 (ext. 255) Fax: 905-337-5567 e-mail: nnelson@haltonsearch.com W E D N E S D A Y . JU N E II. 2<XH · Oakville's Melanie Hawtin earned gold last week at the O F S A A track and field cham pionship in St. Catharines. Hawtin cruised to a win in the 806-metre w heel chair race. The athlete from T.A. Blakelock con tinues to focus on qualifying for the Paralym pic Games in 2(M)4. O akville's Caitlin Bailey also won a medalat the meet. The Q .E . Park student earned bronze in the midget girls' 4<M)m race with a time of 59.46. SPORTS 1)1 Lacrosse team `Buzzing' around playoff spot Weekend win evens record at 8-8 By Neil Becker SreCIAL ro THE BEAVER The O akville Buzz had reason to celebrate after setting a franchise record of eight v ictories in a season, however, it was still a reserved atmos phere as the players inched closer to the goal which really counts: qualify ing for the playoffs. Leading the Buzz to a 6-5 w in over their divisional rivals Green Gaels Sunday at Maple Grove Arena in Ontario Lacrosse Association junior B action. The goaltending duo o f Jason LeGree and Adam Elias and scoring by veteran Je ff Brownlee who notched a hat trick led the way for the Buzz. The win evens O akville's record to 8-8 in league play. "It feels great and we were talking in the dressing room before game time about setting the franchise record for wins," said Brow nlee who is in his final year with the Buzz. " A ll we can control in terms of making the playoffs is the way we play, and putting up some more wins." After a scoreless 20 minutes, which saw both team's goalies make highlight saves, sniper Joel Levelle gave O akville a 1-0 lead in the opening minute of the second. W ith the score tied 1-1 and both teams exchanging quality scoring chances, the Buzz once again grabbed the momentum as Chris Warren used his strength in close to make it 2-1. Unlike the first period, goals were coming fast and furious in the second, as O akville broke a 2-2 deadlock on some pretty moves from Brownlee from the slot. That goal combined with some stun ning saves from LeGree seemed to energize O akville as it had some gold en opportunities but couldn't quite cap italize before Green Gaels tied it 3-3. Brownlee scored his second of the game to make it 4-3 after two periods. "Je ff shows so much emotion and leadership both on the playing floor and in the dressing room." said Buzz coach Derek Forbes. "O ur defense was strong, but at the same time, our shoot ing is off a bit and we have to move the ball up the floor a little quicker." Once again Green Gaels fought back to lie the game 4-4 before Levelle notched his second on a power shot from the slot to give O akville a 5-4 lead. Goalie Elias replaced LeGree in the third period and looked sharp, making some key saves and Brownlee complet ed his hat trick to secure the win. "That was a huge win for us, espe cially with only four games left, if we are going to sneak in with a wildcard." said Forbes. "W e have to win at least two out of the four." The Buzz play in the southeast d ivi sion of the eastern conference and are currently in third place with 16 points. Halton H ills and M im ico. with 19 points each, are ahead o f Oakville. The Buzz hit the court again Friday when it hosts M ilton at 8 p.m. at Maple Grove Arena. It's W hite Oaks Secondary School night. Any W hites Oaks S.S. siudents showing valid identification get in for free. Harrison Smith · Special to the O akville B eaver Hawtin, Bailey medal at OFSAA track meet By John Kuiperij OAKVILLE BEAVEK STAFF t was a golden weekend for M elanie Hawtin with a bronze touch for Caitlin Bailey. The O akville athletes each took home medals from last weekend's O F S A A high school provincial track and field championships in St. Catharines. Hawtin won the women's X(M)-metrc wheelchair race while Bailey placed third in the midget girls' 400m dash. I For Hawtin. it was fam iliar territory competing with friend Jessica Matassa of Windsor, who finished second. The two athletes have locked horns many times over the years in several different distances."Jessica is faster over the shorter distances," said Hawtin. who competes outside o f school with the Burlington Disabled Sports Association. "I'm a bit better in the 800-, 1,500-. 3,000- and 5.000- metre races." The O F S A A victory is only the latest accomplish ment for the 14-year-old T.A. Blakelock student, who has raced com petitively since the age of five. Haw tin. who has spinabifida. qualified last year for the world championships but was unable to compete because of age requirements. 200m. when he passed four runners for his best She has also competed in Georgia with the O F S A A finish. "The whole race I felt kind of slow, but Canadian national team and w ill race in Quebec on the last lap I turned it on because 1wouldn't get anoth Friday. Hawtin hopes to compete in the 2(X)4 and 2(X)8 er chance," said Barton, who finished 16th in the event Paralym pic Games. one year ago. "M y strategy usually is to wait back and Meantime, Bailey was ecstatic after save that last little push, and hope edging Sherelle Solomon of St. Joseph fully pass people who've already " I was hoping for a topfor the bronze in (he midget girls 400 m used it." five (finish). This was Barton, who won the pre-OFSAA run. "M y only goal before this season more than I could hope was to get (to O F S A A )," the 15-yearsteeplechase, w ill graduate front for" old said. " I was hoping for a top-five Q .E. Park this year and is consider (finish.) This was more than I could ing attending St. M ary's University · Caitlin Bailey. OFSAA hope for." in H alifax or the U niversity of bnm ze medalist Bailey, the only runner in the race Windsor. not to use starting blocks, finished with Other top finishers for Q. E. Park a time of 59.46 seconds, 0.43 seconds faster than her included the school's midget boys 4 x 100m relay previous best and .06 seconds ahead o f Solom on."! team and pole vauller Tara Koenig. knew it was close." said the Queen Elizabeth Park stu The relay squad was the only team with a time less dent. " I just tried to lean at the end." It was the first than 47 seconds not to qualify for the final. provincial championships for Bailey, who admitted to However, the 46.86 second mark was a school feeling intimidated by running in an inside lane. record, good for ninth in Ontario. Rich Barton used a late surge to finish fifth in the Koenig cleared 2.2 metres to tie for 12th in her open 2(XX)m steeplechase. The 19-year-old O akville event, one metre behind winner M arcie Veitch from resident lagged near the back o f the pack until the final St. Anne. Excellence for Gataveckas Volleyball player wins OVA award O akville's Brittany Gataveckas was among a group of Waterdown Raiders Volleyball Club members honoured recently with O V A Awards o f Excellence. Gataveckas. who plays for the ban tam gold team, was chosen an excel lence w inner by her peers. The awards are given to recognize leadership and playing ability and were handed out at the provincial champi onships. Six other Raiders players were also honoured. including Alexandra Steplock o f W aterdown (juvenile). Stephanie K illin s o f Burlington (juve nile). Meagan Nederveen of Dundas (bantam ), Stephanie Beaucham p of Ham ilton (bantam ). Jen H olt of Hamilton (midget) and A licia Gamer. The Raiders club is based in Waterdown and competes in the Ontario Volleyball Association. Other O akville athletes contributed to success on the court for Raiders teams this year. M onica Maher put together an excel lent offensive stand in the provincial tournament where her team earned a sil ver medal. O akville coaches Carl Pahapill and Christine Kalata helped lead the firstyear bantam C D 's to a fourth-place fin ish at provincials. Soccer player off to `Bama Laura Richards, who earned two Ontario Cup championships w hile playing O akville rep soccer, has signed on w ith U n iversity of Alabam a at Birmingham for September. " Laura reads the game extremely well and knows how to put the ball in the back of the net." said coach Paul Harbin. "Sh e has proven her ability to score at every level of the game. I have no doubt that she w ill continue that trend at U A B ." Richards is a forward from W hite Oaks Secondary School and plays club soccer with " Laura reads the game extremely well and knows how to put the ball in the back of the net." · Coach Paul Harbin on Laura Richards the O a k ville Angels. Her rep career is high lighted by two Ontario Cup championships. She was also a mem ber o f the Ontario provincial team in 2000 and 2001. In 2(X)0. her Ontario provincial team won the Canadian National Championship. Richards was the 2001 O Y S L secondleading scorer, scoring 18 goals in 16 games and was named M V P of her team in 2001. Richards was also awarded the A thletic M edal o f D istinction five years in a row (1998-2002) by the O Y S L . ln addition to soccer. Richards plays basketball and volleyball at W hite Oaks. It was a busy weekend of rugby for members of the O akville Crusaders club teams. The men's first, second and third Brittany Gataveckas, left, was recent ly honoured with an O V A aw ard of excellence. Pictured with teammate .Jessie P a rk , Gataveckas plays for the W aterdo w n Raiders bantam gold team. The awards recognize players leadership skills and athletic ability. Local players D.D. Dionisio. Leslie Hanson. Jenny M cG uire and Kristi Pahapill provided solid play. In the first-year midget white class, the Raiders team finished fifth at the tier 2 provincial final. Local players Sarah Collins. Lindsay Franco. Katie Kalata. Shannon Massie. Carrie McGrath. Margot Randall and Janine Serratore led the way. Crusaders now 2-1 `Run `Farther' with Running Company A 12-week distance running clinic, called Run Farther, gets under way this month. Developed locally by running instructors Brian Bid w ell and Greg Nelson, the program is sponsored by the Running Company and aims to provide a fresh approach to recreational distance running. They are few pre-set require ments; each participant is allowed to set his or her own pace and distance. The clinic includes lectured instruc tion and. of course, training runs. The first clin ic is scheduled for Saturday. June 21 at 9 a.m. Cost for the program is $60 per per son and includes a 60-page manual and T-shirt. For more information, phone the Running Company at 905-815-1952 or visit the store al 118 Thomas St. teams travelled to Markham for regular season action. The first team was handed its first Ontario Rugby Union season play of the year, falling 19-17. The Crusaders are now 2-1 in league play. The second and third teams won 3113 and 31-17 respectively. The men's fourth team hosted Aurora and lost 3115. The women's team got its first point o f the season with a 10-10 home tie against Aurora. The men's teams play again this weekend at Crusader Park against Beach. Games begin at 10:30 a.m. The women are away against Scottish. Vytis courting B-ball developmental league The O akville Vytis Basketball Association w ill be running a summer developmental league for boys. 8-11. Games w ill lake place Sundays at Glen Abbey Recreation Centre, from July 6Aug. 24. The program emphasizes participa tion, skills development and fun. Cost is S60 per player, which includes all ses sions and a team T-shirt. For more information and registration forms, visit www.oakvillevytis.com. or call Toney 905-337-7581. Gary at 905337-3685 or Tom at 905-330-0349.