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Page 12 ♦ THE CANADIAN STATESMAN ♦ February 22,2006 durhamrcgion.com | ' i£ - à ' - Æ Æ ïVî ■ 1 ' -;:h: iffii i ..'Brad Kelly t ■ . Begg F > I ' * team } * * [Pitcher will play !ât World Baseball [Classic in March î.jThe fastball of Chris Begg is sure to rj»et a couple of miles per hour quicker ■during his daily workouts now that a. [weight has been lifted from his shoulders. shoulders. , [ v The Uxbridge resident received the [Call he was hoping for, asking him to lt)e part of the Canadian team that will Compete in the first-ever World Baseball Baseball Classic, bringing the best baseball [players in the world together to decide [which country is tops. K"I knew I had a chance to be named •to the team, it really, depended on [Some of the big league guys," says [the 26-year-old of his inclusion on [the national team. When injuries and [other issues of major league players [prevented some of the pitching staff [from committing, the call went out to Begg. : t 'Because of the numbers, I. knew I ■tyas near the back end of the pitching •staff, but when the call came, it was [a weight off my shoulders. I'm really [Making forward to going to the tourna-, ment." Begg, a right-hander in the San Francisco Giants organization, is no Stranger to international baseball. He xyas a member of the Canadian team that placed fourth at the 2004 Olympic Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, making five relief appearances. He has also pulled on a Canadian Canadian jersey at an Olympic qualifier qualifier in 2003, and more recently, at last September's Senior World Cup that was held in Holland. His travel schedule schedule over the next couple of weeks is going to be [ a busy one. He left for Arizona for a team training camp yesterday, has to report to San Francisco's minor league camp on Feb. 28, before heading out again to Florida on March 2 where the Canadian team will play a couple of exhibition games against the Toronto Blue Jays before leaving for the Classic on March 5. Canada opens the 16-team tournament tournament on March 7 in Scottsdale, Arizona Arizona against South Africa. Subsequent games will follow against the United States on March 8 and Mexico on March 9 in first round pool play. ■The highlight, obviously, would be getting the chance to pitch in the game against the United States, where his stuff from the mound would be tested against some of the top hitters in the world. "That would be awesome to get in that game," he says with a hint of excitement. "You always want to face the best players, and if it's not the Dominican Republic, it's the US. "If the games are close, the coaches are likely to go to the major league veterans veterans who have the experience, which is, understandable. If I don't pitch much, I will understand and that will be fine." "As for playing for Team Canada next month, the opportunity to represent his country isn't lost on Begg. lie cher- • ishes the chance. fit's unbelievable playing for Team Canada because it's so much fun, The core of the team has stayed the same for the last few tournaments and you learn to bond quickly," lie says. "Playing in the Olympics has been the highlight of my career, and aside from making the major leagues, playing playing for Team Canada is so much fun," Hind Kelly's column appears every third Wednesday. ' E-mail: bkelly@durhanireyion.com Chris Begg Trying to stage a triathlon Swim, bike, run event would be based in Courtice BY BRAD KELLY Sports Editor CLARINGTON - It comes as no coincidence that Derrick McKay needs three things to fall into place before he can stage an event that requires three elements to complete. First he has to get the necessary approval, then volunteers and finally some athletes to register to complete the trio of needs if he is successful in resurrecting a triathlon for kids this summer. In years past, Clarington Kids of Steel was part of a triathlon tour stop for young athletes who would attempt to complete a swim, bike and nin course of varying lengths. Based out of Courtice, the race, was open to kids up to the age of 18. But the race hasn't been staged for a couple of years now, and McKay would like to change that. "It always bugged me that the race never came back," says McKay, who would like to use the Courtice Community Complex pool as the starting point. "I used to race, my kids raced, and triathlons have always been an interest of mine." McKay originally introduced the idea to the Clarington Youth Advisory Committee, Committee, which consists of about 15 members who look at and discuss the needs for youth in' Clarington. They gave the idea the thumbs up, with the purpose in mind to raise awareness about the Firehouse Youth Centre, located in Bowmanville. Next, he will try to get the blessing of the municipality, which he hopes to secure over the next couple, of weeks. If every- On the move A.J. Groen/Metroland Durham Region Media Group COURTICE - Holy Trinity's Brian Santo (20) goes in for two points while Clarington Central's Jeff Salway (43) tries for the stuff during first half action in a LOSSA junior boys' basketball game. Santos scored 14 points in a narrow 56-52 victory for Holy Trinity. Top scorers for Clarington Central were Khalrel Brown with 17 and Steve Murray with 16. thing falls into place, he is looking at a race date in late-August. "I'm hoping for just a small race, something something informal," he says. In an attempt to broaden the range of participants, he is hoping to include corporate corporate teams from the business community to also get on board with registration. He plans to approach local clubs and organizations organizations with hopes they will set up information information booths as a marketing tool. Additional information about the triathlon triathlon can be received from McKay by calling calling 905-623-6814 or by e-mailing derrick. mckay@jhsdurham.on.ca. Gens not sold and aren't John Davies shoots down rumours BY BRIAN MCNAIR Staff Editor OSHAWA - The Oshawa Generals will remain under John Davies' ownership for years to come. So says the team's majority owner in response to a persistent rumour that was revisited on an OHL forum Web site this week. ■ .• As the current! rumour goes, Oshawa resident Sherry Bassin will self his portion portion of the Erie Otters and purchase the Oshawa Generals from Davies. Other rumours have had Bassin joining the Generals in other capacities. All rubbish, according to Davies. "I can categorically tell you I have never had a conversation with Sherry Bassin regarding ownership, ownership, general managership, managership, coaching coaching or any other position with the club in my life," says Davies. "Not only am I not selling selling the team, I'm 1 in fact buying up all the little pieces that remain." Davies recently purchased 13 per cen of the team's shares from Rick Gay, giv ing him nearly 90 per cent ownership Cost for Gay's shares was rumoured to b< in the low $600,000 range. Even if Davies was interested in sell ing the team, which he insists he is not he said now would be the worst possible time to do so. The Generals are closing out their second non-playoff season in i row and are scheduled to move into a new 5,500-seat arena next season, with budding budding superstar John Tavares sure to attracl the crowds. 1 ' "Absolutely nothing could be furthei from the truth," he says. "We're definitely here for the long haul, This team has been a lifelong dream, We're, not going anywhere." anywhere." John Davies Eagles reel in sweep over Muskies Top-seeded Bowmanville advances to second round BY SHAWN CAYLEY Staff Writer LINDSAY -- Advantage: student, That being said, Bowmanville Eagles head coach Curtis Hudgins didn't want to go there after his team posted a 6-0 win to oust the Lindsay Muskies in Game 4 of their Provincial Jr. A quarter- final. But the results were clear. The student, got the best of his teacher, Four games to zero, However, Hudgins, who played for Lindsay Muskies coach and (1M Mark Provincial Jr. A play GAME 1, Bowmanville 4 Lindsay 3 GAME 2 Bowmanville 8 Lindsay 2 GAME 3 Bowmanville 8 Lindsay 2 GAME 4 Bowmanville 6 Lindsay 0 Watson in the Eagles Junior C days, and coached with him for one season at the Tier II level, refused to look at it that way, staling it was never about the mentor mentor and the protégé. "We have a job to do here. We are on a mission," said Hodgins, "It just happened happened to be Lindsay, I didn't really think too much of it. We had to get through it, and like I said before, it was never about Curtis Hudgins against Mark Watson, it was Lindsay against Bowmanville. We had to beat them four games, we did it, and I am just happy for our club." And they did it the only way they know how, on the strength of a potent power play, solid goaltending and their usual disciplined play. The latter being the most crucial in a series that didn't sc much in the way of hockey smarts froi the opposition. With those three elements falling int place, it's safe to say Hodgins was happy man when the scries wrapped u in Game 4. "We didn't want' this to go too fa especially the way Games 2 and 3 wer played as they were kind of chippy," h said in reference to the 2I7 penalty mir utes the teams combined for in the tw games. "(Going) into (Friday) we ha everything to lose and they had nothin to lose. We are glad it's over, round one we had to get through it, and there is n better way to do it than with a sweep s we can get some extra rest heading int the next series," The Eagles have prided themselves al season long on being a disciplined team See EAGLES page 13