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Enter the wild race to get the ballplayers, the K fellows that can open the door to another big “\championship in New Zealand next year. Stop dreaming Stop dreaming, fellas. Stop embarrassing what faithful softball fans you have left. the definitive hope). Spring is a giddy time of the season which is all right with me. Except that it gets me involved with softball people who must have invented the word‘and live by it faithfully. 7.94 :A__L LL‘L Jewellers out The Richmond Hill Dynes Jewellers will not operate this season. Period. This is hardly news to softball people but I’m writing it down just to purify my soul u-J UV...“ Yes, I’m sick of the softball season already. I feel like I’ve just come through 124 games with one more to go and, according to the calendar, it hasn’t even started yet. 1‘ v A-“ Al'v . ___,., v v, .v -_ V I like softball people, mind you. It’s just that they’re so, well, giddy. I suppose you’ve guessed by now that I’m going to refer one more time to the Richmond Hill Dynes Jewellers‘ softball situation, or non-situation, or whatever it was or is. It embarrasses me but that’s the_way it is. This is .0...â€" --w _, e What’s wrong with people anyway? I can remember when softball used to be a summer past- time, something to while away the time on a warm evening That was the time grown men acted like it. ‘ _ Fever. madness Then a certain fever, maybe madness, gripped the softball world. I believe you can trace the beginnings of the present “dark age” to 1972 when the Richmond Hill Dynes Jewellers stunned a few people by winning the world’s championship in Manila. reached its peak The begihnings began with the emergence, or re- emergence. of such power pitchers as Ray Judd and Bob Domik, Pete Landers. Madness set in It was only after that the madness set in. All of a sudden every softball sponsor and manager in the country wants to do it too. ' Surgeâ€",‘Ih‘ey Qere and are great pitchers. I’ve had many hours of enjoymentuwafiching them. r éut after Mon-ila all these people became “Gods” with all the softball people in a headlong race‘to throw themselves at their feet. 7» _ Get this player, that player. and he’ll lead us to that big, fat. fabled end of the rainbow. Who really cares? Does it matter? Who's to blame? Who cares? Speaking strictly as a ball fan I really don’t care. No one‘s really to blame, the players nor the team managements who chase them as if lured on by a mating call. It’s a disease that affects them: _ lt’siust sad that people have to react in this way So The Jewellers won the World's? So what? Fine More credit to the team _but let’s face it. Thev were lucky, too. Everything fell into place at exactly the right time and place. You‘re not going ‘to conquer any great worlds_, you‘re never going to reach the heights of the NHL or WHA (if that’s a height to reach). I don't even think you'll come close in New Zealand next year. You‘re all good types, really, but it‘s time to put away those childish thoughts and get back to playing softball for what it is: A good sum- mer night’s respite from the work-a-day world. Sofiball, I i‘epeat, will never reach dizzying heights in this country or any other. Just not in the cards. You're just having a wild/ dream. Give it back to the sdftball fans before you pull the plug and it all goes down the drain._Am9n. “Hul‘rumph! wa that the sermon for this week is over, we‘ll get down to more worldly matters. Such as: Orgy of food Now that the minor hockey season has finally melted away we’re into what I refer to as the banquet parade. ,-_L_A:“A L__._A r“HAâ€"ll the various town representative team management and players are stocking up on chicken wings, gravy bowls, and all the rest of the calories that go with banquets. The Richmond Hill Legion Midgets had their seasonal wind-up Tuesday night of last week with scads of people in attendance. All eating way, way too many calories. It‘s the piece of pie or ice cream that gets you. Be more careful from now on. Don‘t get hit by a car either. Peewee Carpenters Coming up Saturday night is a buffet and dance as put dn by the Richmond Hill Peewee No. 2 Car- penters Local 3233 (phew) at the Lions Hall on Centre Street East. There will be prizes, refreshments, admission, $4 each._ The ’giddy’ season not saying it started then. I’m just saying it Sweating, Steve Cox wins at tennis iéfitétement on the whole weird case (I (continued on page 2 l) Nineteenâ€"yearold Steve Cox of Richmond Hill is continuing to prove “talent” is a key word in tennis success but that it also mixes well with another one. Sweat. As in work. “I‘m not blessed with exceptional natural talent so I’ve had to work hard at improving my game by playing a lot of tennis and more especially by doing a lot of exercise with the weights to build up my strength." Fred Simpson The formula combining talent and sweat has worked well for Cox to date who was ranked number five in Ontario last year for junior players which saw him also winning his share in senior competitions. Cox, now ranked as a senior, listed among his tennis victories in 1974 while playing out of the Richmond Hill Toronto Boulevard Tennis Clubs: The Intercounty Men’s singles, York- By Fred Simpson Talent, sweat Most of you people out there probably didn‘t realize it but the Stanley Cup hockey championships started and finished Saturday afternoon in Richmond Hill. What? That’s right. That hockey game you saw Sunday afternoon between Montreal Canadiens and Buffalo Sabres was all an illusion. It didn't happen. H Do or die The real happening was in the North Mall of the Rich- mond Heights Centre where 65 youngsters from 9 to 16 years of age clashed in do or die conflict in a table hockey tournament. 717‘here were almost as many starting players in the By Fred Simpson “We’re out of ball," was the somewhat terse way Richmond Hill Dynes Jeweller fastball Coach Russell “Casey” Cripps put it before launching into a sometimes happy, sometimes bitter ex- planation of “just what happened." The subject was the final demise of the Jewellers after weeks of sometimes total confusion and indecision. “I’m happy in one way and unhappy in another," said Cripps Sunday while sipping a coffee in the living room of his home and ruminating about his up and down fortunes after winning the World's championship in Manila in 1972. “I’m happy that I’ve had 19 good years in softball, this would have been 20, but I’m unhappy at the way we went out. We should have been in the OFL two years ago. Then we wouldn't have had this trouble." Tortured journey Cripps was referring to the Jewellers’ somewhat tor- tured attempt to get back into the softball scene by joining forces with the Toronto Globals of the Ontario Fastball League. The action is hot and heavy as these Richmond Hill youngsters battle it out for the “Stanley Cup” at Richmond Heights’ north mall Saturday in a table He maintained the deal fizzled out with the Greg Currieâ€"managed Globals when “he (Currie) didn’t follow through with what he said he would do. That really disappointed me.“ Cerps claims The Jewellers agreed to “bail out talent key to tennis success his official' Dynes fall! Those vicfinries included wins over the same professional player in both the Intel-county Men’s singles and in the York- Simcoe. He’ll do the same this season by entering as many major tournaments as he can squeeze in between working at his new summer job. “0n the first occasion," said Cox, “I defeated this professional in the semi finals and in the YorkSimcoe I won over him in the finals.” “I‘ll be working as a tennis pro at the Thornhill club this season which will in- volve giving lessons. The extra money will help put me through univerity. It will also give me a ‘name' in tennis which is an asset for a possible university scholarship in the United States." Cox also credits his increasing success with “getting some coaching help last summer from seasoned players as well as playing against better competitors." Simcoe County Men’s singles; Richmond Hill singles; and was also a competitor with the Ontario junior team. The final saw-off saw three sets of players â€"â€" in age groups of from 9 and 10 year~olds, 11 and 13, 13 and 16 â€"â€" playing off for the Stanley Cup in a cool breeze which made the at- mosphere seem just like hockey weather in the open mall. tournament as hockey teams in the NHL or WHA but they fell with startling rapidity as the afternoon wore on. Lots of action In the 9 and 10 year-old group, Paul Howorth and David Moulton played for 25 minutes with the lead changing three times before Moulton put his opponent away by 6-3. the Globals” who didn‘t have a sponsor {his yealf. “We had agreed to take over the franchise this year with the option of buying it next year. He agreed but he never put it on paper and the OFL wouldn’t go for it." Newmarket Rays He also touched on the OFL‘s decision to allow the Jewellers to operate the Globals’ franchise out of Richmond Hill for one year only. The one-year stipulation was due to the Ray Twinney- operated Newmarket Rays having territorial rights under OFL regulations that included Richmond Hill. Dynes Jeweller Sponsor, Vern Dynes, declined to accept such conditions and Richmond Hill was out in the cold again. Ni'ne-Slear-old David took Thornlea Secondary School chalked up another im- pressive year in badminton winning the York County championship handin and finishing a strong third in the Georgian Bay finalrs. “This was one of our finest showings in ‘the Georgian Bay.“ commented Thomlea coach Shan Pinkerton. “Penetang won it as they usually do but we had a big winner with Debbie Attwood and a couple of thirds and fourths.” Debbie, one of the top badmintbn players in the area, won the women’s single championship while Stephanie Clarke and Craig Evans finished third in the mixed doubles. Drawing a fourth in the men‘s doubles were Bob Flemming and Steve Davis. “I tEink we should have Thornlea was competing against such northern schools Thornlea ’tops’ in badminton his win with much humility When asked if he thought he would win he answered: ((NOQ‘. His father. Bob Moulton of 357 Browndale Crescent. was one of the promoters of the tournament along with Ed Kay. “Everyone thought the tournament was fixed because my son won it," was his only comment. The 11 and 12 year category Stephen Harris had no difficulty in downing Gary Sutherland by 12-3. Stanley Cup action It was a different story for Dave Weatherhead when he came up against Murray Alexander in the 13 to 16 age group as the twosome came accepted the one year and then worried about the rest later on,” said Cripps. “I hockey tournament which attracted 65 entries. The three top winners in the age brackets went home clutching trophies . Cox is a student at Bayview Secondary School in Richmond Hill and plans to lake up geologlcal engineering at unlv-ersity. “l‘ve talked to several universities in the United States.“ he said, “including the University of Texas and Illinois regarding scholarships but the competition is pretty stiff. “My fifth ranking in junior plus playing and winning some senior tournaments will make my name known better which is what they gorby.” Cox doesn’t figure he'll play the pro circuit “because you have to be very, very good to make it in Canada. There are at least nine or 10 better players than me so I don’t figure my chances are much in ma direction." Cox is eager to teach young juniors pointing out that “it‘s very vital for a young player to learn properly from the begin- ning. You can win or lose a tennis match on your attitude alone. puuluus Uul. LIth n. g vun: um“. .v. ‘4 JV“..° player to learn properly from the begin- ning. You can win or lose a tennis match on your attitude alone. “You have to approach any game with a good attitude and retain it. You shouldn‘t get upset when things go wrong. “You have to move a lot more and quicker on the badminton courts then playing tennis. There‘s a lot more running. Tennis is more of a game of strength.“ “I like badminton but tennis is where I make my money to go to university." Russ Cripps ...lots of fire yet up with strictly Stanley Cup action. Weatherford, who had won his two previous games by 18â€"0 and 14-0 had some trouble with Alexander. The first 10 minute period scoreless with both players hitting the post twice. The second 10-minute period saw both defences tight but Weatherford scored from the right wing to lead 1- 0. He scored again late in the same period to lead 2-0. Then came the five-minute third period with Alexander scoring early only to have Weatherford coming right back with a quicky. Alexander scored again to make it 3-2 but his opponent and eventual champion came through with a late don’t blame Twinney for not committing himself for n‘ore than a yeari HI ...... IA...” HI," :1 H' “‘1 wouldn't like it if someone brought a team into Richvale and competed against us in our own league. 1 still think things would have worked out." Too late for Beaches Cripps said the Jewellers then attempted to get into the Beaches league, but it “was too late in the season. Then we offered to pay $2,700 for an OFL franchise. but that was no go. “Our big mistake after winning the World’s was not joining the OFL. I've wanted to be in the OFL for the past two years Then we wouldn‘t have this problem of people stealing our team.” The word “raid” brought him back to winning the World‘s championship. (continued on page 2 1) as Sutton, Parry which won it all It was a vastly different story in the York County championships as Thornlea dominated the 14 northern schools competing compiling a team total of l6 poims to eight for the second place club. A \_,.A4- _. ...-ll “5... .v. m- _---__“ ,, The team comprised the aforementioned players as well as 3 doubles duo of Scott Meddick and Rod MacDonald. Debbie Attwood was also an easy winner in the singles in this one. "Eho'r'nlea qualified for the York County by winning the Zone 6 competition from local and area schools such as ,Bayview, Langstaff, Woodbridge. King. Markham by 18 to 9 for? the second place club Sutton, Parry Sound and the aforementioned Penetang (Photo by Hogs) Experience and the ability to stay cool are the. keys. You have to keep on top of the situation in any match and use you: head._" Cox‘s best weapon is his serve which “is my game, where I get my points. I have trouble otherwise in my game which I have to keep working on." For instance: “I tend to be a little clumsy and often I trip over my own feet. I‘m trying to develop a style to avoid this but it's not easy." Cox is also adept at playing badminton having won the Georgian Bay Badminton singles tournament for Bayview for the past three years with little difficulty. Just recently he picked up his third title winning 15-1. 15-2. ‘ Hé didn’t fare so well in the All Ontarios this past weekend being eliminated in the semi finals at Seneca College. goal to win the game 4-2. All three were presented with “Stanley Cup" trophies. Acting as special referees were Dave Earl of the Rich mond Hill Midgets and Bill Slevenson, of Richmond Hill, a former Sudbury Star stalwart. Qoooh, that was close. A picture of intense concentration here is nine-year-old Paul Howorth of 234 Zelda Crescent. Paul ended up in the finals but, alas, lost out to Dave Moulton by 6-3 after a close battle. The look of champions here as Ed Kay presents “Stanley Cup" trophies to the three winners (left to right): Steve Harris, Dave Weatherhead and Dave Moulton. Stan/6v n Tournament sponsors. Bob Moulton and Ed Kay. hope to set up more tourâ€" naments this fall with the adults in mind. Others contributing to the tour- nament‘s success were Bob's Bottoms and Up‘ Alliance Sports, Music Centre, Elks Men‘s Wear Detroit Little Caesars, grand champions at the eighth international Richmond Hill midget hockey tournament, recently went on to win the United States national midget championshiip at Fort Wayne, Indiana. In a three day American Hockey Assocation sponsored tournament, Little Caesars won five straight games defeating Duluth, Minn. 9-0; Marlboro, Mass. 7-1; Fort Wayne, 7-1; Philadelphia, 4-1 and Amherst, NY. 4-3 ’ The national title capped a successful season for the Caesars. In addition to being the first American team to capture the Richmond Hill midget crown. the club had previously won the State of Michigan championship, the Michigan Silver Stick and the World midget tournament held in Detroit. The team also played an exhibition series in Sweden winning four games and tying one. v Dave Ga’ndini was leading scorer at the US nationals with 10 goals. Tom Michaleki who was named leading scorer at the Richmond Datrait Caesars still conquering and Seaford Corner; and Coleco Canada Ltd.. who supplied the games. As for the success of it all? Commented one Dad watching proceedings: “It‘s great. When my sons playing in a tournament he‘s not home beating me at the game." HUI evenL had dght goals and nine assists at the annual American tourney. Michalek ended the season with 105 goals and Gandini 103 as Little Caesars posted an overall won-lost-tied record of 7%6. Tom Wright, who was named most valuable defenceman at the Rich- mond Hill tourney said in an interview published in The Detroit» News: “The Canadians are much faster skaters. Once they get going, they can be awfully hard to stop. You‘ve got to be moving a)! the time." Caesars’ manager, Frank Bouffard, said last week that six of his players had be'en ap- proached by OHA major junior “A” scouts at the Richmond Hill tour- nament. The annual midget draft is to be held May 15 at the Westbury Hotel in Toronto. Last year, 41 players were picked from teams taking part in the Richmond Hill midget tourney. While American players may not be drafted by Canadian clubs. they may, however, be invited to attend training camp.