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THE CANADIAN STATESMAN, JUNE 20,2001 PAGE 11 Sports &LEISURE CANADIAN STATESMAN JUNE 20, 2001 Quantrill is at home in role with Blue Jays I BY BRIAN McNAIR 1 Staff Writer | TORONTO - If you 'were to pick a word to describe describe Paul Quantrill these •days, 'settled' would work nicely. 1 The 32-year-old Port Hope resident has achieved a comfort zone that precious precious few in the topsy-turvy jworld of professional sports are fortunate enough to ever attain. ! Currently in his sixth pampaign with the Toronto Blue Jays, Quantrill has established established a reputation as one of baseball's premier piddle relievers - and one of the best Canadians ever to play America's favourite pastime. But, much more important important to the soon-to-be-fa- ther-of-three, he has managed managed to earn such heady praise while living as close as possible to his roots. "We've got a lot of support," support," says Quantrill, whose entire, family lives in prox- itnity to him, wife Alyson and children Cal and Reese. !"My kids and my wife are No. 1 and when you have all the support of your immediate immediate family around you, iinertffinGr diwFo.ther plày.efj who can say that." Quantrill was born in London, Ont., but spent muclv of his youth in Kendal, where the seeds of la pitching career were sewn as he chucked rock after rock against the side of a bam. 1 Well-travelled as his father, father, John, moved from job to job, Quantrill's career took off while at high school in baseball-crazed ^Michigan, his ticket to a scholarship to the University University of Wisconsin, where he was named rookie-of-the- year in 1987 and most valuable valuable player in 1989. He was originally drafted drafted in the 26th round by the Los Angeles Dodgers out of high school, but, based on the collegiate success, was re-drafted in the sixth round by the Boston Red Sox in : Auto Centre edged 4-1 ' The Darryl's Auto Centre major tyke soccer soccer team lost to Tim Hortons by a score of 4-1. Kevin Porter had the lone goal for Darryls. Iain Cooper and Ellen Potts "split the goal- tending duties and both played well. More sports starts on ipage 16 1989. Known for durability, pinpoint control and an ability to induce ground balls, Quantrill bounced between between the starting rotation and the bullpen throughout his first six seasons in the Major Leagues before lie found his niche as a middle reliever with the Jays. After consecutive terrific seasons in 1997 and 1998, Quantrill broke his leg in a snowmobile accident in • 1999 and struggled somewhat somewhat to regain his form. He's struggling no more. Quantrill has been nearly nearly perfect so far this season, having allowed just one run in his first 30 appearances. He has a 5-0 win-loss record and 2.09 earned-run average. "I've felt good from Day 1 in spring training," Quantrill said following a recent 8-7 win over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, à game in which he was poised to earn his first save had a right-handed batter come to the plate. "This year I've just felt in more of a rhythm and if I get in a rhythm, I'm good to go," says Quantrill, who has .alloWdSlÿfSîxbthmf.SÎi'cl' 38 hits through 38-plus innings. innings. "And if you pitch me a lot, even better." Asked if he expects to see more save situations while closer Billy Koch works on his delivery, Quantrill shrugs and says, "I pitch in any situation - anything and everything." Andy Stewart, the Os- hawa native who has forged a friendship with Quantrill since accepting the job as bullpen catcher with the Jays, can't say enough about his fellow Canuck. "He's just so good with his spots," Stewart says of Quantrill's impeccable control. control. "The ball's moving and he's confident too - that has a lot to do with it... He's just coming into his own. He's money. He's lights out as they say." WALTER PASSARELLA/ Statesman photo Toronto Blue Jay relief pitcher Paul Quantrill is having another strong season. The 32-year-old Port Hope resident, who is in his sixth season with the Blue Jays, is able to commute back and forth to games from home. It's a luxury that few major league players enjoy. The extra time he gets to spend with family is something he covets. COLLEGER SPORTS CAMP Register Now! * Basketball *Golf * Baseball * Tennis * Volleyball * In-line Skating Choose your week! 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