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RE NT TE rae] NAL an Nor --_--"I st Pd al -------- a TE -- -- rr ------------ pe -- a em aa TV ary co AT SETI NEE TA -------- Ao) rw I EI 4 FAT "A Family Tradition for 131 Years" PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, August 12, 1997 - 19 SPORTS emma S 0 Junior Merchants to represent Port in North Dakota Merchants to make first appearance in NAFPA's World Series Over a dozen players from the local fastball town will be off to represent Port Perry in the World Series next week. After qualifying for the North American Fast Pitch Association's Intermediate World Series last June in St. Catharines, the team will be off to Fargo, North Dakota, on Aug. 20 for a five day tournament against 64 other teams from across the continent. The local contingent -- 18 people including 13 players -- will catch a flight to Winnepeg where they will take a van three hours south to the site of this year's 'Series. While this may be Port's first appearance in such a large tourament, co-coach Wayne Venning says that the local Juniors -- who are sponsored by Toronto's Champion Team Wear -- are well prepared and should do well. : "We qualified last summer at the men's senior tour- nament when we finished second behind Colborne so we've had a year to get ready," he said last week, adding that the team is guaranteed at least three games in the double elimination tournment. "This will be their first appearance as a team outside of Ontario; it's the first time they are going to the States together. I think we have a real good team this year and while I've never seen the competition, I think we've got a really good shot; I'm hoping for a' top 10 finish." The local Junior Merchants will be one of 104 teams at the event, but will play against 64 other teams in their division, including Ontario's Colborne, Scarborough and six or seven other provincial teams, adds Mr. Venning's friend and co-coach, Ron Redmen. "There are a total of 18 Canadian teams going to the tournament and most of the American representa- tives are state champs. This event is a pretty big deal; it's as big as it gets in the United States for fast pitch competition," said Mr. Redmen. Besides playing in the Oshawa City and District Men's League -- they currently post a 10-8 record -- the team plays in as many tournaments as they can, which, says, Redmen, is one of their strong points. "We've got a pretty good record in league play this year but we play very good in the tournaments we attend. We placed fourth in the Junior Elimination tournament in Kitchener last month and we qualified for this tournament so we're doing pretty good. With plenty of coaching experience between the two of them -- 47 years in total -- the two area men have won All-Ontario championships at many different levels including Midget C, Midget B, Juvenile A and have also posted wins in the Junior B and Bantam divisions. While they may have known that they were attend- ing the 'Series for a year, Mr. Venning says that player confirmation and last minute changes have delayed their fundraising efforts for the trip, which is estimated to run about $8,000 for the team. In an effort to raise the money, the team will be . selling tickets on a raffle for 10 various prizes including $500 and $250 cash, a $500 gift certificate at National Sports and other prizes. With the purchase of a ticket everyone gets a Reebok t-shirt which features a baseball slogan and mentions the local Junior team. Anyone interested in buying a ticket to help support the Port Perry Junior Merchants can call 985-2723, 985-3562, 985-0180 or Ives Florist at 985-2525. CHRIS HALL, / PORT PERRY STAR LOW BALL: The Blackstock United Church Saints went on to win the Cartwright Minor Ball Mites championship last Saturday after they defeat- ed Turner's Green Giants. Action resumes this weekend when the Tykes, Squirts and Seniors take to the field. = Port's Merchants lose to Innerkip in B Final Juniors fall short in championship game The Champion Teamwear Juniors one more than p came was a close winning 13-7 in a full \ This division proved to be the most to interesting to date. A protested game by Campbell's for an unplayed open inning was upheld and thus the league "Turn to Page 20 had a great weekend at the OASA Junior B Provincial Tournament held in Smith Falls. Even though work com- mitments cut short the roster by five players, nine of the team members plus Jason Best (affiliate Midget call- up) gave it their best and ended up as the tournament "Finalists." In the first game, Port met the host squad from Smith Falls and started strong with a run in the first and third inning on a home run'by Todd Smart and a double by Corey Bricknell scoring Jason Best. In the bottom of the third, Smith Falls tied the score and it remained a tight pitching duel until the end with the game going into extra innings. Smith Falls scored in the bot- tom of the eighth to win 3-2. Hitters for the game were Bricknell with a double and RBI, Herbert with a walk, Smart with a home run and RBI, Vander Slagt and Venning with singles. Herbert pitched the complete eight innings striking out 12, walking two, allowing eight hits and two earned runs. In game two, Port met Peterborough and again went into extra innings. It remained a scoreless game until the sixth inning when both teams were able to score a run each. Cameron's home run woke the team up, and in the top of the eighth, Port's bats came alive to score three runs and proceeded to get the three final outs for a 4-1 win. Hitters for the game were Bricknell with a single, Cameron with a double, home run and three RBI, Harris with a walk, Moase and Smart with singles. and Vander Slagt with a double, single and RBI. Venning pitched six strong irinings striking out eight, walking two, allowing five hits and no earned runs. Hebert completed the game, striking out two, walking one, allowing two hits and no earned runs. In game three, Port again met the Smith Falls team on the B side who had lost a close game to Innerkip. This game remained close with Smith Falls scoring in the first and Port in the sec- ond. It wasn't until the fifth that Port began to put some runs on the board for a final 6-1 win, knocking the host team out of the tournament. Hitters for the game were Bricknell - walk Turn to Page 20 «>