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Gary Dix is a chiropractic student in Toronto and he says that if he‘s going to drive 606 miles to play about it. baseball, he wants the fun put back in the game. Brother Dave is a teachâ€" er at Brantford Centennial Public School and feels the same way. And that‘s why both of these valuable performers will be suiting up with Waâ€" terloo Tigers of the Interâ€" County Major Baseball Leaâ€" gue this season. Dave, 27, started his Inâ€" terâ€"County career with a plate appearance in Galt in 1970. For the next two years he played outfield with his hometown Brantâ€" ford Red Sox as well as the junior Braves. Dix brothers: putting the fun back into the game He joined the Detroit Tiger organization in 1972 and played two years of minor league bail before reâ€" turning to the Red Sox, where he toiled through last year. Gary, 2%6, and the smallâ€" er of the brother act, joinâ€" ed the Red Sox full â€" time in 1973 and worked as catchâ€" erâ€"infielder also through last season. But something just wasn‘t quite right in the Red Sox camp and both Dixes, along with shortstop Alf Payne, decided they wanted out. What better time, or place to move than to Waterloo at the beginning of this year to join longâ€"time friend Waterloo Tigers would like to give themselves a present on Mother‘s Day â€" that is â€" win their opening game of the Interâ€"County Major +~Baseball League season â€" against Toronto Maple Leafs, And field manager Gary Jeffries says Tigers will be as ready as can be. ‘We‘ve still got a few wrinkles to iron out but we‘ll be ready," said Jefâ€" fries after Tigers intraâ€" squad game with Waterloo Expos, their junior affiliâ€" ate, Sunday afternoon. Tigers practise tonight, play an exhibition game in Guelph tomorrow _ night, practise Saturday and then head for Toronto Sunday to open the season. Their home opener is scheduled for one week later at 2 p.m. at Bechtel Park against Kitchenerâ€" Waterloo Panthers. Missing from the intraâ€" squad game were ace hurlers Dave Harris and Scott Bailey. The teams arranged it so that each faced its own pitching. Taking turns for Tigers were former Otawa player Mark Gryba, Brockâ€" By Rick Campbell By Rick Campbell Tigers ready Gary Jeffries, who assumâ€" ed the reign of field manâ€" ager of the fledgling club at Christmas time. *‘We‘re here mainly beâ€" cause of Jeff," said Dave at the Tiger intraâ€"squad game Sunday. *"We talked to him last October at WLU‘s (Laurier) homecomâ€" ing about having a club in Waterloo and ‘when they got one we gave him a call"‘. ‘‘*We had been taiking about â€"leaving â€" Brantford last year," said Gary matâ€" terâ€"ofâ€"factly. "It wasn‘t that much fun there anyâ€" more. We were just going through the motions and we weren‘t enjoying it at all. "The relaxed attitude beâ€" gar. to hurt mÂ¥ performance and although I always tried my best I just wasn‘t getâ€" ting the results. "It was about last Noâ€" vember that we really thought of changing clubs. *‘I‘m going to chiropracâ€" tic college at the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic Colâ€" lege in Toronto. This year I‘ll be on internship and I‘m going to spend a lot of time in the clinic so I didn‘t know how many games I could play. I find now I‘ll be able to play nearly all of them. "It was natural that I come here. Jeff and 1 are good friends, we played football together at WLU*". The signing of the Dixes and Payne was a controverâ€" sial one to say the least, since they were inked beâ€" fore being waived by Camâ€" bridge and Kitchener as ville pitcherâ€"infielder Larry Crooke and Dan Collison, while Craig Dubecki, Scott Hannah and Bill Scharlach took turns for Expos. _ ""I thought Larry (Crooke) threw extremely well," said Jeffries. "He really had his stuff." hit of the Tigers but also fell victim to several misâ€" cues by his mates afield. ‘*‘Wasn‘t I terrible," said Gryba with a laugh. "It‘s early in the season, 1 couldn‘t get the ball where I wanted it. On the whole I felt good out there ‘‘Mark‘s ball was really moving, but he was standâ€" ing up too straight and the balls were sailing high. It‘s an early season adjustâ€" ment,"‘ said Jeffries. ‘"Outfield‘s really my spot anyway," said Gryba, who was 144 with Ottawa last year. "But the team‘s got a really good infield, they‘ll help me out when I‘m pitching." Centre â€" fielder Mike Blake returned home from university in Ohio for the weekend and batted once in the intraâ€"squad game. ‘"He‘s really quick in the ‘"He‘s really quick in the Waterioo Tiger rightfielder Dave Dix will be looked upon to supply inspirational leadership this year, as will brother Gary. The pair say they have come to Waterioo to put the fun back in the game. about a month but he‘s alâ€" ready talking of coming up for several games," said Jeffries. field and has a smooth stroke at the plate. He won‘t finish school for The field manager was especially pleased with the infield. ‘"We‘ll have Mike (Yosurack) at third, Alfie (Payne) at short and Dan (Collison) at second. 1I don‘t know who‘ll he at first, but our infield will be as good as any in the league." league rules stipulate. Patrolling the outfield will be Dave Dix, Blake, Gryba, Crooke and possiâ€" bly Jimmy Taylor. Gary Dix will handle the catchâ€" ing. We‘ll also have to find a spot for Bobby Schnurt, he‘s too good not to play," said Jeffries At the moâ€" ment Schnurt is maligned by a sore elbow. Most impressive at the plate Sunday were Crooke, Collison and junior catcher Tim Forsyth, who cracked the ball firmly several times." ‘‘Fundamentally _ we‘re getting better all the time," said Jeffries. "I guess we‘ll see Sunday if we‘re for real." However, at a league meeting, Waterloo, a first year club, was sympathized with and the three were allowed to sign. "It wasn‘t a package deal for the three of us although we sort of wanted it that Veteran Leo Durocher has joined the Tigers this season. Here he displays his batting form in the team‘s Intraâ€"squad game Sunday. way," said Dave. ‘"Really we didn‘t know how to go about it. we hadn‘t made up our minds what to do. Now ready to play ball." Both Dixes feel at home in their new surroundings, especially with Payne and Interâ€"County veteran Leo Durocher also in the lineup. "It isn‘t really a difféerâ€" ent feeling coming to a new club," said Gary. "It‘s a challenge, and it‘ll be interâ€" esting to see how the team fares. The change of scenery will be fun." s Since Tigers have been combining their practices with Waterlgo Expos,. th DBixes, Payne qnmdfe: are, really the elder statesâ€" men on the youthful club. But they haven‘t let that situation affect their attiâ€" **We notice the younger players a little more, buat once the guys are on the field we don‘t look at them as junâ€" iors. It doesn‘t make much difference what age you are as long as you can play ball," said Gary. ‘"I can‘t deny the fact that the leadership bit falls on our shoulders but that‘s great. If we can show the youngsters a couple of tricks and help Jeff out, that‘s fine. ‘‘I‘ve always looked to Dave and Alf as leaders anyâ€" ways. They were our capâ€" tains in Brantford. You just notice it here a bit more." The Dixes, both graduates of Wilfrid Laurier Univerâ€" sity say the Interâ€"County west division of Kitchener, Waterloo, Stratford, Lonâ€" don and St. Thomas will be the stronger unit in the Maâ€" jor League. ‘"It may be to our advantâ€" age," said Gary, "with four of five making the playoffs we can set our initial goal **You‘ve got to have a couple of flamethrowers to get the job dene, or else you‘ll wind up like the Torâ€" onto Blue Jays. Lots of runs, that we could finish as high as third behind London and Stratford,"" said Dave. *‘Right now our problem is pitching. We‘ve got eager guys, but the experience isn‘t there. get the guys out."‘ with Brantford and has a lifetime. average of .307. Last year ‘heshit .299 and committed no errors in the outfield. © Therefore, if his bat can imprgve slightly, the strongâ€"armed Windsor native will settle for a re peat performance defensiveâ€" ly. _With Gary, however, it‘s a different story. ‘‘I‘m definitely looking to improve," he stated emâ€" phatically. "I pulled a muscle in my arm last year and was out of the lineup for a while. I got back in, but was moved around the infield and never did get back in as catcher. My hitâ€" was a disappointing year. ‘‘But you make sure you write one thing," said Gary, a wide smile breaking across his face. "Just ask the big slugger (Dave) who had more homers last year‘‘. ‘‘I had three," admitted Dave. ‘"I had four," smirked mighty mite Gary. They both howled with laughter. One got the impression that‘s the kind of fun the Dixes are looking for this year. & .rd g was affected tpo. It has hit over .300