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36 Sports Oakville Beaver SPORTS EDITOR: JON KUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 432) Fax 905-337-5571 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com · FRIDAY, AUGUST 6, 2010 Local tandem set to compete for national fast pitch title By Jon Kuiperij BEAVER SPORTS EDITOR An all-Oakville battery has helped power the Mississauga North Tigers 1997 team to an appearance in the 2010 Peewee Girls Canadian Fast Pitch Championship. With pitcher Taylor Kangas and catcher Laura Carabott both playing key roles, the Tigers qualified for the nationals by finishing third at provincials in Guelph last month. Mississauga North went 4-1 at the competition -- its only loss coming in the semifinals against Waterloo -- and won bronze with an 8-6 victory over Brantford, a team it had never beaten before the tournament began. Making Mississauga North 1997's performance even more impressive was the fact the Tigers were the youngest team to compete at provincials. The rest of the teams, including another Mississauga North entry, featured second-year novice players. "I knew we had a pretty good chance because we have such a good team this year," said the 13year-old Kangas, a student at Post's Corners Public School. "But it's surprising because we're playing up a year in an older league." Kangas also surprised herself by being named the top pitcher at provincials, allowing no earned runs and striking out 10 in the 10 innings she pitched during pool play. If Kangas felt she made a name for herself at the tournament, however, those feelings were quickly erased when her name was pronounced incorrectly as the award was presented. "They called me Kaylor Tangas," she said with a laugh. "That's what all my team calls me now, Kaylor Tangas." Carabott got a first-hand look at Kangas' deliveries throughout the tournament, catching 28 of the 35 overall frames the Tigers played. "She was so aggressive, always into it," said the 13-year-old Carabott. "She was really hitting her spots well." Carabott, who attends Heritage Glen Public School, shared pride in Kangas' top pitcher award. "A bit, cause me calling the right pitches helps her out, right?" she said. "I was able to help her out." The Tigers will face teams from Oakville teens Taylor Kangas (left) and Ontario, British Columbia and Championships in Quebec. host province Quebec at nationals, which begin Wednesday in Ile- against older players at the nationPerrot. al level. Kangas and Carabott realize "Not that our coaches aren't they'll be in tough competing confident, but one of our coaches Laura Carabott will compete at next week's Peewee Girls Canadian Fast Pitch said we can shave his moustache if we win," Kangas said. "I'm just hoping we play our best." "This year may be a bit more (about) experience," Carabott added. "We'll see what it's like, and next year we'll have a better opportunity to do well." Oakville players help three Stampeders teams reach OFC finals Nineteen local residents will try to help their Burlington Stampeders teams win an Ontario Football Conference championship this weekend in Waterloo. The varsity, junior varsity tier one and bantam Stampeders squads will all play for an OFC title Sunday at the Wilfrid Laurier University campus. The bantams will face the Sarnia Sturgeon at 9 a.m., while the junior varsity squad will take on the Twin Cities Predators at 4 p.m. and the varsity club will clash with the Predators at 7:30 p.m. Varsity The varsity Stamps earned their spot in the OFC final with a 20-3 win over the Sudbury Gladiators in last weekend's semifinal round. Burlington outscored the Gladiators 17-0 in the second half, putting the game out of reach on a long interception return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. Cooper Sleeman, Joe Stampone, Anthony Berry and Trevor Reid suit up for the varsity Stampeders. Junior varsity tier one The junior varsity Stampeders go into the league final with an undefeated mark after hammering the York-Simcoe Bucs 49-13 last weekend in the semifinals. After failing to gain a first down on its first possession, Burlington went on to score seven touchdowns on the afternoon. Andrew Ziebart kicked the converts on each score. Doug Dubeau pulled in three passes for 79 yards, while Ziebart contributed six tackles on defence. John Thomas, Brady Switzer, J.P. Ortega, Sean Terrio, Michael Joukov, Keelan Dorsett and Connor Jensen round out the Oakville contingent on the junior varsity Stamps. Bantam The bantam Stampeders have also yet to taste defeat this season as they shoot for their third straight undefeated season. The team blanked York-Simcoe 12-0 last weekend to stamp its ticket for the final. Burlington's league-leading defence once again came up big, forcing three turnovers and sacking the Bucs quarterback three times. Carter Gladman had four tackles and a sack, while Josh Charnicovsky picked up another sack. Offensively, Brandon Smyk had his best passing game of the season, throwing a pair of touchdown passes and finishing with 90 yards through the air. Chandler Bradshaw, Mitch Stodulski and Michael Parent also play for the bantam squad. Junior varsity tier two Burlington's junior varsity tier two team, meanwhile, closed out its season July 28 with a 45-27 loss to the Oakville Titans. Brett Colangelo had two interceptions and three tackles for the Burlington defence, which held the first-place Titans to 21 points until late in the third quarter. Oakville broke the game open with a pair of punt returns for touchdowns. Sprios Dhimarko, Austin Passarillo, Giancarlo Damiano and Jesse Harton played for the junior varsity tier two Stamps.