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NORTH NEWS Friday, July 1, 1994 â€" 1 STILL BEST SELECTION IN TOWN DAYS ONLY 120 SPEERS RD., OAKVILLE 845â€"1561 (@® y m# P o T Antoinettes do well in America Antoinettes finish first in United States The Antoinettes Gymnastic Club took six girls to New Waverly, Texas on June 18 for an elite competition being held by Bela Karoly, the former coach of Nadia Comenenci and other Olympic gold medalists. The Oakville club compted against nine other ‘Level 8‘ terams from across the l United States and received the first place award. Here are their results: 15 and over Name: Vault Bars Andrea Dowdall 1st 2nd Samantha Rowley 3rd 2nd Amy Pfeiffer 6th 1st 12â€"14 years: Name: Vault Bars Andrea Gustafson15th _ 13th 3rd 8â€"11 years: Name: Vault Bars Sani Pollard 1st 4th Nicole Don 12th 5th Beam Overall 1st 1st 2rd 2nd 2nd 3rd Beam Overall Beam Overall 2nd 2nd 10th 9th He‘s a b1ig hit Rick Johnston, a transplanted American baseball star who played for years on Canada‘s national and Olympic teams and who now suits up for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the Intercounty league, is now finding there‘s something more he‘d rather do with his life than continue the ageâ€"old battle of trying to outfox opposing pitchers. He‘d rather teach others how to do it. And that‘s exactly what he‘s doing now as director of baseball operations at Oakville‘s Sportdomes, a job he‘s held for more than a year. No nineâ€"toâ€"five for this guy. He comes to work when others come to play â€" mainly evenings and weekends. Spurred on by the two Blue Jays World Series titles, baseball has never been more popular in Canada, and this has resulted in a steady parade of teams and individuals through the Sportdomes all trying to find that elusive edge, whether they play pickâ€"up or allâ€"star, little league or oldâ€"timers, softball or hardball. With the Sportdomes‘ unique facilities, which include batting cages, instructional area and a complete field under the dome, players can brush up on all aspects of their game including fielding, throwing, baserunning, catchâ€" ing, pitching and â€" what is probably Johnston‘s favourite part of the game â€" hitting. "It‘s definitely my forte," he said, in a recent interview. "It‘s what | enjoy the most." A twoâ€"time MVP with the Intercounty league and a member of the Maple Leats allâ€" time allâ€"star team, he has smashed out 64 homers (including five homers in six games this year), tieing him for fifth on the league‘s allâ€"time list. League records include total bases in a season (122 in 1990), runs scored in a season (59 in 1993) and the number of times hit by a pitch in a season (11 in 1993). At the same time, the 29â€"yearâ€"old athlete, who has picked up his third level national coaching certification, has worked equally hard in the classroom to figure out the mechanics behind hitting a 90 mile an hour meteorite. As most ball players suspect, "there‘s no magical formula to hitting." Just a lot of hard work. You have to learn "the parts before the whole." And the younger you learn them, of course, the better. Years ago, Johnston, like many wideâ€"eyed youngsters, hoped his sweet swing might be his ticket to the pros, but although he had a few tryouts, "nothing materialized." AUTO WINDOW TINTING From 530 PErR Winpow Scratch Resistant â€" All Shades CALL For APPOINTMENT 844â€"5556 Rick Johnston So after college ball at Cuyahoga College, in southern Ohio, which he attended on a base ball scholarship, he went west (and north!) td attend the National Baseball Institute i Vancouver. Taking a page from the dozens of Canuck shinny players who find success in smaller for eign ponds, the American ball player "becamg a Canadian citizen in 1985 in order to play for Canada‘s national team." He suited up for six years and the highligh was "definitely the 1988 Olympics in Seoul Korea." He quit in 1991 after the Pan America Games, turning his full attention to thd Intercounty Maple Leafs. But even that‘s coming to. an end, in favo of fullâ€"time teaching. This year, the Oakville re: ident, who coaches a Burlington rep midge team, has played in only six of 15 games fo the firstâ€"place Maple Leafs and he feels the torch has been passed to some capable yound hands. "It‘s my last playing year, for sure," he said. Ironically, Johnston, who does some scout ing for the Florida Marlins, still hopes to ond day "become involved with a professional base ball organization" â€" not as a player, of coursel but on the coaching side. In the meantime, with school coming to a end, he‘ll have plenty of coaching to do thig summer with future major leaguers. Sportdomes is again holding its junio baseball development camps for kids aged 8 td 16 years of age. The weekâ€"long session which last year attracted more than 100 particil pants, run until midâ€"August. The facility, which also boasts equally impressive golf facilities, is also offering a spe cial combination baseball hitting and gol school. And of course, Johnston and his instructor are always available for private instruction fo individuals, groups or teams. For more information, phone Sportdome at 847â€"3663.