The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

lame BGR by Don Lawrence sports editor Baseball strike over... Thanks but no thanks Well, the professional baseball strike is finally over but before we start heaving sighs of relief, we should take some time to reflect upon what has actually taken place. The country has, in all reality, been held hostage by the striking players and we're supposed to be thankful they've gone back to playing. We've been cheated out of half a season of baseball and even though the players have lost half their salaries, we didn't ask them to go on strike. Even with half their salaries gone for this year, most players will still make more money than most of the folks who go to watch their games. An editorial in a major newspaper in the New York area in the late 1920's commented the players then were entering into a soft period. It further stated the players cared more about money than just playing baseball and the writer said it wasn't that way in the earlier days of the game. Times haven't changed much because we are still faced with that situation, the only difference being the players are getting much bigger salaries and things are more organized. One thing that came out of the strike is a realization by both the players and team owners they are dependant upon each other for a living. Yet, they fail to see that their true life blood is the fan that goes to their games and pays ever- rising prices to sit in rain-drenched general ad- mission seats. That is the true baseball fan and the players really don't measure up to the high standards set by this individual whose love for the game exceeds all expectations of getting his money's worth. Perhaps, it's time that fan got up and said, "that's enough, this blackmail has gone on too long!"' Sure, the players deserve to be paid but some of the salaries are ridiculously high and let's face it, some of the players collecting those salaries simply aren't worth it. It's the same old saw as in hockey and football though with expanding leagues. The more teams that are formed, the more players are needed and that means having to play some of the players who are not as good as others. It happened in hockey with the original six teams and the "'watered-down'"' talent that came in after the expansion. Professional baseball is in danger of doing this and the salaries is just another problem they will have to face. One day, fans will get tired of supporting second class teams and attendance will drop off drastically. Baseball is a fine sport and it's a real shame to see the players exploiting the fan interest it~ receives. Angels off to playdowns The Elmvale Palace Tavern Angels are gearing up for their trip to provincial playdowns in Georgetown next weekend and the group has squeezed in a few practises between league matches to prepare for the big competition. Angels are presently battling with Ivy for the first place position in the Barrie and District Ladies Softball League and will be entering the tournament in Georgetown fresh from a silver medal second place finish in their regional playdowns. ' Elmyale is scheduled to play Belleville Saturday morning at 9 a.m. and the group are looking for- ward to some of the fan fig saer hey received in Stouffeville. - , P +s : Good form Johnny's Pizza House faced Adco Tire in the semi-finals at the Wyevale tournament last weekend and Adco came out on top in the scoring by a 4-0 shut-out. Seen here is Bacowski at bat for the Pizza House squad, taking a good cut at the ball. Reconsider ump! Don Lawrence * Sports editor * The Midland Times This heated discuSSion at first base was the result of what players felt was a questionable call by umpires working the Barrie Floor and Wall vs. Webb's Texaco game in Hillsdale last inning of Sunday. The call came in the 11th the game so nerves were a little frayed at the time. Championships planned for club The Elmvale and District Tennis Club will be a busy spot over the next month as club championships and an invitational set of matches has_ been scheduled courts. According to Katie for~ the Austin, the club championships, for members only, will begin with the preliminary round for mens and ladies singles on Saturday, Aug. 22 at 1 p.m. Finals for that competition will be played Aug. 27 at the Hawks' tournament won by Adco Tires The rain may have caused some problems for the Wyevale Hawks men's ball team when they co-hosted a softball tournament this past weekend in Wyevale but the tournament was finally played, Adco Tires of Midland Recreational League winning the $300 first place prize money. Action started Friday night with Therrien's Furniture of Midland playing Wyevale, Therrien's winning that match 5-4. Other round robin action included Wyebridge defeating Barrie Burger 7-2, Toronto Senators beating Castle Village 6-1, Coldwater downing Wyevale 7-3, Duval's Variety edging out Perkinsfield 3-2, Johnie's Pizza House ousting Phelpston~ 3-1, Adco Tires squeezing out Trout Creek 3-2 and Etobicoke Chiefs doing in Christian Island 4-3. That put seven teams in the consolation round, Wyevale, Barrie Burger, Castle Village, Phelpston, Trout Creek, Christian Island and Perkinsfield. Quarter-final action saw Wyevale blank Barrie Burger 2-0, Castle Village eliminate' Phelpston 4-3 and Trout Creek stop Christian Island 4-0. Perkinsfield was awarded a bye game into the semi-finals. In the semi-finals of the consolation round, Wyevale advanced by beating Castle Village 3- 2 and Trout Creek outscored Perkinsfield 40. In the final game, Trout Creek came on strong with an 8-3 win over Wyevale to take the $150 prize while Wyevale collected $75. Toronto Senators received $150 prize money as runners-up for the tournament. courts, again at 1 p.m. Boys singles cham- pionships wll go Aug. 23 in the village and mens and ladies doubles will be staged Aug. 30, both at 1 p.m. September will see continuation of play with mens and ladies mixed doubles Sept. 5 and boys doubles Sept. 6. According to Austin, matches for _ girls singles and doubles will be held only if sufficient interest is shown by the female members of the club. Anyone wishing to register for play, is asked to contact Mrs. Austin at 322-2508 at least three days prior to the event they wish to participate in. Barrie club Elmvale men and ladies took part in an invitational match against players from Barrie's Riverwood Tennis Club in Barrie Aug. 2. Elmvale was downed by the host team of six men and four ladies by a total of six matches to four. Riverwood agreed to return to Elmvale this Sunday for another round of play and the Elmvale squad will attempt to make up for their losses at that time. by Doug Gadsby Midland Indusmin Bantams hosted the Ontario Baseball Association Divisional Elimination Playoffs 'A this past weekend. Teams from Collingwood, Thornhill, Bolton and Midland competed in_ tour- nament format. The first game was scheduled for Friday evening, however Collingwood Bantams conceded this game to Midland. | In game two Saturday morning, Bolton defeated Thornhill by a score of 5-1. Midland then played Thornhill. In a_ well- played game Thornhill defeated the local team 4-3. Midland was held scoreless until Mike Gadsby hit a _ solo homerun in the fifth inning. The _ other Midland runs were scored on a triple by Ralph Ens. Scott Lefreniere pitched effectively in a losing cause for the Indusmin team. The local squad then met Bolton. This game featured excellent pitching and fielding. Midland was held to just two hits but they were timely ones. In the third inning following two lead off walks, Steven Cour- Perfect hosts? Well yes, but... Indusmin bantams take tourney temanche stroked a double to drive in Midland's only runs. Shane Sallow pitched a four hitter for Midland, holding Bolton to just one run on four hits, while striking out 11 batters. Midland executed a_ perfect pickoff play at second base to end the last scoring threat by Bolton. After eliminating Thornhill 3-1, Bolton met the Indusmin team in a rematch for the championship. Steven Courtemanche again got Midland off on the right foot with a double to drive in two runs. Midland went on Wednesday, August 12, 1981, Page 17 with a spirited team effort to defeat Bolton 9- 5. Defensive highlights of the game were numerous. An accurate long throw by right fielder Brad Denis ripped a_ potential Bolton run at third base. A diving grab by a hard ground smash by second baseman Keith Proulx foiled yet another base running attempt. Scott Lafreniere and Shane Sallows shared the pitching duties for Midland in the cham- pionship game. Indusmin bantams now advance to the next round of the OBA championship _round.