Let Me Earn Your Business!
From Environment Canada
WED., APRIL 13 THUR., APRIL 14
CHRIS BABKIRK
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FRI., APRIL 15
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high
390 Talbot St. N. Essex
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7
SUN., APRIL 17 MON., APRIL 18
519-776-6447
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chrisbabkirk@kenknappford.com
Wednesday, April 13, 2022
5
Southpoint Sun - 25
Honour Jerry Sleiman
Flyers push Rockets to brink in series
By C. Scott Holland LEAMINGTON — Once the playoff butterflies subsided,the Leamington Flyers got their offense going and defeated the Strathroy Rockets 4-2 in front of 947 fans here last Thursday night. They followed that up on Saturday night in Strathroy, where the Flyers beat the Rockets 5-1, and then on Sunday afternoon the Flyers took the Rockets 5-1 at home for a commanding 3-0 series lead. Prior to the start of the Thursday contest, the Flyers honoured volunteer Jerry Sleiman who retired from the local fire department after a 40-year firefighting career. The salute included highlights of Jerry’s career as both a firefighter and a valuable Flyers volunteer. De-
spite his firefighting days ending, he will remain a Flyers volunteer as their official home scorekeeper and occasional announcer. In the first period, it was apparent that both teams had initial playoff jitters. The teams battled hard for puck possession and traded bodychecks. Starting goalies Matthew Brazeau (Strathroy) and Ryan Polidori (Leamington) held their ground and stopped the pucks which came their way. The best chance the Flyers had arrived late in the period with a delayed penalty call on the Rockets. Polidori was lifted for an extra attacker and during a one-minute span, the Flyers controlled the play but did not score. SEE FLYERS - Page 26
Long-time volunteer Jerry Sleiman tips his hat to the fans last Thursday. Sleiman was honoured by the team after announcing his retirerment from the Leamington Fire Department. SUN photo
In the left photo, Leamington Whitecaps pitching coach Julie Schell provides grip instruction to Avery Hill at last week’s gym workout, while on the right, Ryleigh Biekx prepares to throw a ball. SUN photos
LDMBA introduces Girls Under-11 fast-pitch By Mark Ribble LEAMINGTON — There will be a brand new division of fast-pitch softball in Leamington this season. The Leamington District Minor Baseball Association is running a U11 fast-pitch division for girls softball. The league will consist of four house league teams, which totals the 44 girls playing in that age group. For years, the girls house league divisions have played slo-pitch softball, but girls aged 9-10-11 will transition to fast-pitch softball — or fastball as it was previously known. Division convenor Mark Epplett and a bevy of volunteers held an optional workout last week at the Nature Fresh Farms Recreation Complex gymnasium, as they introduced about 30 girls to the finer points of fastpitch softball. The recent surge in popularity for fast-pitch softball has created an interest locally that can only be met with trying out the sport on a local level. “It will be really exciting for girls’ baseball here in town,” said Epplett. “Pitching and catching will be the most challenging part of the transition.” Having four teams will allow Leamington to have
their own league without being tied to other centres and the possibility of different rules. “This allows us to manage and tailor our division to what we feel the girls need developmentally,” said Epplett. There will be a home-and-home series with LaSalle Turtle Club later in the season to bring some variety to the girls’ season. Epplett has the help of former Leamington softball standouts, Jordyn and Madison Clark, who went on to play fast-pitch in Windsor and for St. Clair College. The sisters have offered to help in any way they can as long as their schedules allow. “Having Jordyn and Madison involved is huge,” said Epplett. It’s expected that pitching machines will be utilized for the first few weeks until live pitchers and catchers can be properly trained. Meanwhile, the workouts continue at the complex with an emphasis on teaching the proper pitching and catching techniques for the girls who are interested in playing those positions. Workouts for other fundamental skills will also be held before they hit the diamonds.
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