—Sports Flashbacks—

This week’s flashbacks are from 1979

Juveniles split weekend games

The Leamington Juveniles won and lost over the weekend with a 5-1 loss to Woodslee and a 15-7 victory over Sandwich West. Larry Balkwill singled home Paul Unrau for Leamington’s only run against Woodslee. Tracy Wiper tossed a complete game for the locals and took the loss.

He allowed nine hits, struck out four and didn’t walk a batter. In the win over Sandwich, the locals exploded with 19 hits en route to their victory. Balkwill and Ewald Dobetsberger sparked the winners with four hits each. Brad Dunmore, Tracy Wiper, Andy Wiper and Mark Ribble each had a pair of hits. Ribble got the win on the mound, pitching a complete game 10-hitter.

Bats fail Barons

The Leamington Barons had all sorts of opportunity to score runs but just couldn’t muster much offence, losing to Essex Tavern 4-1 on Wednesday. Ron Voakes took the win for Essex and managed to put out any threat the Barons could produce. Mike Klym and Mike Arner shared the mound chores for the Barons, scattering eight hits. The Barons’ only run was scored in the first inning when Gene Biekx scored on a single off the bat of Klym. Paul Jeffery had two hits for Leamington in a losing cause.

Midgets runners-up in Strathroy

The host Strathroy Midgets got a walk-off homerun in the bottom of the 11th inning off the bat of Mark McKeen to defeat the Leamington IOOF Midgets and win the A division of the tournament held there on the weekend. The title game was a thriller all the way as Leamington built a 6-1 lead and appeared to have the championship wrapped up.

With the score tied 6-6 after eight innings, Leamington scored to take the lead and left the bases loaded, before Strathroy tied it in the bottom of the inning, setting the stage for McKeen’s eventual heroics. Phil Wiper, John Balkwill, Gary Gayer, Mark Johnston, Chris Lamotte, Eric Gow and Dave Manning had the Leamington hits, with Johnston’s hit being a solo homer. Johnston went the distance on the mound for Leamington, allowing 10 hits. Leamington had defeated North Bay in the semi-final by a 10-1 score on a nifty four-hitter by Todd Hodgson.

Packers whip Essex 15-8

The Leamington P-459 Tyke Packers defeated Essex 15-8 on Tuesday night. Jeff Hrynewich sparked the Leamingotn offence with four hits including a long triple. Mark Weil, Mike Dunmore and Rodney Sallmen also hit triples. Aaron Hiller hit a pair of doubles. Jason Unger started on the mound, working four innings before being relieved by Aaron Diewold. They allowed eight hits.