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* wp 17 Scugog Cliizen -- Tuesday, July 23, 1991 Corey Bricknell of Port Perry takes a quick breather after sliding Into third during toyrnament action against Oshawa on Saturday. Ump Peter Christie was right there to make the call. Ww » ; ' ny fi CITIZEN SPORTS Port Perry Bantams sweep four games to win home tourney The Port Perry Canadian Tire Bantams were as hots the weath- er (almost) as they won their home "tournament Saturday at the lake- front diamonds. Playing through the hottest and most humid day this summer, the Bantams were perfect as they swept their three round-robin games in convincing fashion. But in the championship against North Frontenac, they were forced to stage a late rally and then hold off a final inning up-rising for the 7-6 victory. North Frontenac from the Kingston area, had advanced to the finals with wins over Stroud, Bramalea and Scarborough. And the game to decide the tournament was a real thriller, one of the mest exciting seen so-far this season. 5 Denis Smith got the start on the / mound and pitched a strong game until the late innings when. he began to tire after the long and very hot day. '3 Port jumped into an early 2-0 "ead as they touched up Frontenac starter Ron Percy. Duane Empringham and Corey Bricknell both singled and scored when big first baseman Gavin Cochrang¢ laced a triple to deep right field. Port.added another run in the 4th when Steve Stiles walked and stole second. He was then driven home on a hit by Todd 'Smart. But Frontenac narrowed the margin to two runs in the top of the 5th and an inning later went ahead with three ruins. They brought in their'ace hurler Randy Clark and Port was faced with the tough challenge of getting at least a run off. this big lefty. And the Canadian Tire boys did just that. With the home town crowd cheering them on, the comeback attempt started as Denjs Smith opened the 6th with a single and reached second on a passed ball by the catcher. Grant Kay got a hit to drive 'home Smith and the game 'was knotted at fours. Chad Vienning was called on to pinch' hit and he crossed up the Frontenac defense by placing a "bunt. He was able to beat it out for a single. Todd Smart got his third hit of the game to drive home a run, fol- lowed 'by Kent Jamieson with an infield hit. Corey Bricknell delivered the big blow to cap this four-run inning as he doubled in two more runs to give Port a 7-4 lead. But in their last at bats, Frontenac staged a rally to' make the score 7-6 and had two on base. But the final out was a long fly to centre field land that was the old ball game. Both teams received a standing * ovation from the large crowds as Port received the championship awards. * This was the third tournament in as many weekends for the Bantams who were finalists in Bramalea. They have, lost just two games in tournaments so far, In Saturday's blistering heat, the Bantams won-their first game 7-1 over Aurora with Venning in fine form as he tossed a no-hitter. Aurora got its only run in the final inning on a pair of walks and a fielders choice. Smart was hot at the plate with a double and triple, with Empringham, Bricknell, Jeff Card, Stiles and Kay getting hits as well. = Game two was a different mal- ~ter as the Bantams ran up against a tough squad from Oshawa and came out on top by a 2-0 score in a well-played match. Denis Smith for Port and John + Titterton for Oshawa ; both lefties, went five shut-out innings before Port/got its two runs. Jamieson started with a singles and Empringham moved him along with a sacrifice, Bricknell scored Jamieson on a base hit, then scored himself as Card lined a double. And that gave Smith all'the scoring he would need. . Oshawa threatened in the 7th, but Smith got three batters in a row to preserve his victory. Jeff Card got the nod to pitch in game three and tossed a three-hit- ter in a 6-0 win over Thornhill. He banged out a long triple off the right field fence and Bricknell added two singles. Others who did some damage with the bat were Smart, Kay; Steve Parish, Greg "Rankin, and Chad Keams. Paul Linton made a fine defen- sive play at second late in the . game to help preserve the shut- oud. And that win advanced Port to. the finals against North Frontenac. Meanwhile in York-Durham League action last week, the . Bantams continued to play solid baseball as they dumped Oshawa 6-1 and out-scored East Gwillimbury 17-10 to remain in top spot in the league. Es The Port ey Canadian Tire Bantams won Steve Parish, Corey Bricknell, Duane - Not evenclose. First baseman Chad Venning of Port Perry had the ball in the big glove long before the Thornhlli runner reached the bag In round-robin tournament plan Saturday. The Port Bantams went on to win this event (see story). thelr home tournament on Saturday. The boys had a fairly easy time in the round- robin, but made it a bit of an adventure In the champlonship match against Frontenac. They had to stage a late rally and hold off a _ final Inning charge by Frontenac. In the front, from left: Greg Rankin, Chad Venning, Empringham, Gavin Cochrane, Denis Smith, Steve Stiles. In the back, from left: Todd Smart, Kent jamleson, Grant Kay, Wayne Venning, coach, Cralg Venning, assistant «cbach, Chad Kearns, Jeff Card, Paul Linton, ; Garnet Warriner, manager.