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By: Marc Miquel Helsen | Posted: on August 02, 2008

HE’S SAFE! Elmira’s Jacob Code, 7, of the South Woolwich Cardinals finishes off a home-run with a nail-biting, high intensity slide into home plate July 26 in St. Jacobs.

It was all about putting the “fun” back into fundamentals July 26 at Snider Park in St. Jacobs, as youngsters five to seven years of age learned the ins and outs of softball at the area ball diamond.
The day-long event capped a successful run for this year’s South Woolwich Minor Ball season.
“It was just for fun; basically wrapping up the season for these kids,” said Woolwich Cardinal coach Greg Brubacher.
The day saw some five teams in total – four from the Woolwich area, and one from St. Clements – competing in a friendly, positive environment that underscored enjoyment.
“All season we never kept score; basically it was for fun and to teach the kids the fundamentals and the basics of the game.”
The event also helped the kids make the transition from T-ball to a more challenging version of the game, without the stand.
“It’s a level above T-ball. It’s starting to get the kids to be able to swing at the ball without having to use a stand; what we’re really just trying to [get them] to know is the knowledge of the game – where the positions are, teach them how to throw and catch the ball,” said Brubacher. “At the end of the season, [they] really improved.”
The kids played a different brand of softball: while incorporating the underhand pitch of softball, the kids used a smaller ball, more typical of baseball.
“The kids, they loved it. The whole day they did a lot of fun things. They really enjoyed it and got a lot out of it.”
Among the day’s events was a skills competition where kids could run around the bases and hone their throwing skills while aiming for a bull’s-eye.
After a few years that have seen registration numbers losing out to other sports such as soccer, there appears to be a renewed interest in softball, he noted.
Stimulating interest in the game was another objective last weekend.
“It’s another option other than just playing soccer.”

By: Vanessa Moss | Posted: on August 02, 2008

A 250-yard approach into the wind on number 18 landed Elmira’s Garrett Rank the win at the 61st annual Idylwylde Men’s Invitational Golf Tournament July 27 in Sudbury.
“It was definitely a confidence-builder,” Rank said Wednesday from a cottage in North Bay.
The 20-year-old shot 71 in the qualifying round July 25 to put himself in the top 16 of more than 190 amateur golfers from across Canada. On Saturday and Sunday, he competed in championship match play.
While in stroke play the final score dictates the winner, in match play each hole is a competition that the players try to win. This invitational is Canada’s largest and longest-running match play event, Rank said.
After winning his first three matches of the weekend, Rank was paired with Vince Pallidino, a 37-year-old local and five-time tournament champ.
“It was pretty nerve-racking,” he said of the matchup.
“He’s a really good player. He’s a fan favourite for sure. There were more people cheering for him than there were for me.”
As the underdog, Rank was pleased to be able to challenge Pallidino the whole round.
“I never really saw myself too far behind in the match.”
On the final hole, Rank was putting for eagle after his second three-wood shot, while Pallidino was shooting for birdie. The latter missed a 10-footer, while the youngster made his 20-foot putt in two, securing him the victory.
Since Rank lost the tournament in the final last year, he was glad to post a win this time around.
“It felt pretty good. … To be able to win this year was definitely a big thrill for me.”
He originally entered the event as a tag-along with his brother, but now considers it an important part of his summer.
Rank spent the rest of this week celebrating his win by fishing, wakeboarding and not surprisingly, playing a friendly round of golf on Wednesday.
Having finished up his final year with the Elmira Sugar Kings this past spring, Rank is heading into his second year in economics at the University of Waterloo on a golf scholarship this September.
“[I will] carry that [new confidence] into the fall year with the golf schedule at school,” he said.

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