www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday March 5, 2008 - 33 OMBA preparing for upcoming baseball season Plans are already in full swing for the upcoming Oakville GOLD FOR Minor Baseball Association (OMBA) season. PEEWEE, This year, the OMBA will continue to offer a full baseball BANTAM program for players between the ages of five and 23. The asso- HORNETS ciation is also introducing a Coach Pitch division, allowing SQUADS: players to learn the game in an instructional manner while still enjoying the opportunity to hit the ball and run the bases. A pair of Oakville The OMBA features both house league and rep systems. Hornets house House league players can also try out for a select team from league teams won each division, a chance to play additional baseball on top of gold at the recent their house league schedules. The select teams are formed Flamefest girls’ once the house league season has begun, in order to ensure hockey tournament all players have an opportunity to try out for the select team(s) in Clarington. The in their age groups. peewee Blue “The objective is to provide a fun, safe environment for the Thunder (top) won kids to learen and develop their skills,” OMBA president John all four of its Holloway said of the house league system. “Having said this, games at the com- the ball is good quality and the kids have a great time com- petition, while the peting against each other.” bantam Cougars Rep ball has teams from Rookie Ball (8-9 years old) to went 3-0-1 to earn Junior (19-and-older). These teams compete throughout gold of its own. Ontario and quite often in the U.S. Rep players do not com- pete in the house league divisions. “This allows this group of highly-skilled and talented kids to focus on practicing and playing with only one group of teammates, which maximizes their opportunity to improve and be competitive against organizations that we compete against,” said Holloway. Rep teams have been formed since November, and have been participating in indoor conditioning at Frozen Ropes in Oakville for the past two months. Three of the OMBA’s rep teams (junior, minor peewee AAA and mosquito AAA) are defending provincial champions, while four others are com- ing off Central Ontario Baseball Association championship Hornets teams burn it up at Flamefest seasons. Two Oakville Hornets house league Seccaspina, Rachel Rush, karina again scored the final three goals of the Blue Jays instructional clinic teams won championships at the Larramee, Kendall Merritt, Celena game against Clarington for a 4-2 win. The OMBA will once again be partnering with the Toronto recent Flamefest girls’ hockey tourna- Charron, Shannon McInerney, A 4-0 shutout of another Clarington Blue Jays organization to host the OMBA’s third annual ment in Clarington. Amanda Vrbensky, Jaimie Rodriguez, squad earned Oakville a bye to the final, Toronto Blue Jays Instructional Clinic. The clinic, to be held The peewee Blue Thunder was vic- Melissa Coulson, Emily McGrath and where Nicole Amaral’s shorthanded June 1, will feature two sessions and is for players between the torious in all four of its games at the Alex MacGrandle. goal in the final minute gave the ages of 7-15. Training staff from the Blue Jays will give hands- competition. After enduring a long Rob Neil, Geoff Coulson and Mark Cougars a 1-0 triumph over Whitby. on instructional assistance in the areas of hitting, catching, drive down the 401 in a snowstorm, Merritt coach the team, which is spon- Other players on the team, spon- fielding, running and throwing. the Blue Thunder pounded Oshawa 6- sored by Dr. Vrbensky Dentistry. sored by JCB Consulting, are Erica Participants must be pre-registered to attend. For more 1 in its opening game. Oakville then Maureen Neil, Cindy Rush and Joy Jutras, Madison Merritt, Shoshana information on the clinic, visit the OMBA’s web site at edged host Clarington 1-0 and doubled Coulson serve as trainers. Adler, Amber Aquino, Rachel Berman, www.oakvilleminorbaseball.com. Norfolk 4-2 to reach the gold-medal The bantam Cougars, meanwhile, Kendra Bolton, Alex Keefe, Melanie OMBA pre-season player preparation clinics will begin game, where a late goal lifted the Blue rallied from deficits in their first two Birtles, Olivia Andersen, Catherine April 19 at Frozen Ropes. Space is limited but free, and can be Thunder to a 2-1 win over Oshawa. games and carried that momentum to Birtles, Laura Richardson, Jennifer reserved by e-mailing the association at omba@oakvillemi- Emily Neil was selected as tourna- the championship. Mason and Erin Belleghem. Mark norbaseball.com. Players must be registered with the OMBA ment MVP. Also contributing to the Oakville scored three goals in the Merritt, John Belleghem and Eric in order to attend one of the free sessions. gold-medal win were Holly Miller, final two minutes of its opening game Birtles coach the team, and Tina Gaisin Lindsay Clarke, Leigh Ptashnik, Rachel against Aurora, salvaging a 3-3 tie, and is the trainer. Oakville Minor Burloak offers paddling for all ages, skill levels Baseball Association 1236 Speers Road, Unit #4, Oakville, Ontario L6L 2X4 Providing Quality Baseball in Our Community for over 44 Ye a r s The Burloak Canoe Club will hold open houses and regis- Atom (born in 1998-2000), peewee (1996-97) and bantam House League, Select and Rep Programs for all tration sessions for the upcoming season next month. (1994-95) participants train in a group environment and have Boys & Girls Ages 5 to 23 From May to September Dates for the events are Saturday, April 5 and Sunday, April an opportunity to compete in their age classes at local regat- 20. Both events will take place at the Burloak Canoe Club tas. Development and high-performance levels (1993-and- 2008 Player Registration Saturday’s March 8th, 15th, 22nd and 29th clubhouse, located at 160 Water St., from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. prior) have more program-specific training. from 10 AM to 1 PM Membership is open to all, without restriction, and pro- A Masters program is also offered for both experienced and At the vides coaching, equipment, programs and facilities for inexperienced paddlers age 25 and older. Training is done in a OMBA Clubhouse 1236 Speers Road, Unit #4 canoeists and kayakers of all skill and fitness levels, from group environment and there are opportunities to compete in OR Register online by visiting our website at beginner to Olympic competitor, and all ages, from eight to age class local regattas. www.oakvilleminorbaseball.com 80. Those interested in dragonboat can take advantage of With your registration we provide: Our Fees: • Player Development Clinics T-Ball (Ages 5 & 6)………………….…$145 Programs are available for both inexperienced and experi- Burloak Dragonboat’s program, with practice times available • Coaches taught by qualifi ed instructors Coach Pitch (Age 7)……………..……..$145 • Baseball Ontario Certifi ed Umpires Rookie Ball to Junior (Ages 8 to 23)…..$205 enced paddlers. Participants will learn to paddle both canoe for booking by corporate and community crews who have • Complete uniforms, Individual & Team Photos For further registration details and information visit our and kayak in singles, doubles and fours, as well as war canoe. committed to compete in dragonboat festivals and seek prac- website at www.oakvilleminorbaseball.com The season begins in May and runs through the end of tice time. email us at: [email protected] or call us at 905-847-5545 September, weather permitting. For more information, visit the Burloak Canoe Club to talk The Oakville Minor Baseball Association is affi liated with One-week summer sessions for children are also available to its coaches, or log onto its web site at www.burloakcanoe- conjointly with Oakville Parks and Recreation. club.com.