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continue to struggle. a jumior version of the team has just clinched its pennant and is set to take a semous shat at the Connie Mack World Series And a major component of that team‘s success is Waterloo native Judd Rerdel, 18, a grad of the local minor baseball sysâ€" tem. The powerâ€"hitting first baseâ€" man has helped the Ontario Blue Jays, a team of under 18â€"yearâ€"olds drawn _ from around _ the province, to a 27â€"1 record "They asked me to come We out, it‘s an e invited team, ’ and we just 6 started practisâ€" ing," he said Judd "At the beginâ€" ning of the fall last year they just put together a team, it started to come together and became a good team." Good enough to win the league pennant, they now turn theit sights to qualifying for the Connie Mack World Series in Farmington, New Mexico. They start their run in Kenâ€" tucky this weekend and end up the month with a world series qualifying tournament in Battlecreek, Michigan at the end of July The Blue Jays have only been in existence for three years and already have finished third and fourth and the prestigious championship that draws the best players from across North America annually Coached by Gary Wilson, a former Kitchener Panther manager, the team has also developed a reputation for player development Taking flight with the Jays While the Toronto Blue Jays Wilson said Reidel was a SPORTS Bob Vrbanac Chronicle staf! Judd Reidel Reidel, always a strong detensive player, worked hard to develop some mare consisâ€" wney at the plate I‘ m a pretty sound huter and sometimes can hit for power." he said. "I usually hit for power since I‘m not a high average hitter." vitdl cag in the and noted that be put in aver The thrill. for him. came in using the battung cages and facilities at the Dukd i s / The call of d the big leagues < w6 . is a major 3 attraction of cidel the team as a number of forâ€" mer and current players have been drafted by the big leagues. The rest are on scholâ€" arships to the US Reidel is no exception as he signed a letter of intent to play for Hill College in Texas, where he‘ll join another Waterloo baseball grad, Darin Wahi, on a full baseball scholarship Reidel said he owes a lot of his success to the program "There‘s always university teams or professional teams scouting our games," he said "Our coaches gave us great instruction, and they‘ve improved my game immensely. "They bring your game to the next level, both mentally and physically." It‘s allowed him to set his goals a lot higher and now he‘s hoping to fulfil his ultimate dream â€" a shot at the big club "My major dream is to make it to the major leagues," he said "Or to be part of it samehow." teams success the hard work the winter has SkyDome durâ€" ing the winter He ran the same bases as Joe Carter did when he hit his memerable World Series homerun in 1993 Waterloo Minor Soccer hosted its annual Waterloo International soccer tournament last weekend with a number of strong local The Waterloo underâ€"10 Lightâ€" ning were second in the under 10 division after losing to Oakville 2â€" Ontario Mountain Bike racing came to Kâ€"W over the weekend with the second annual Ziggy‘s Hot Summer Classic at Chicopee Ski Club. The Waterloo cycle shop hosted six crossâ€" 1 in the finals. The team was 3â€"1 in the tournament. In the girls underâ€"12 division Waterloo advanced to the semifiâ€" nals before losing to Niagara Falls 14 In the girls underâ€"11 division, Waterloo was shutout in the first round. In the girls underâ€"14 division, Watetloo ied against Scarborâ€" ough 1â€"1, but lost out in the first round Ziggy‘s Hot Summer Classic Waterloo International soccer tournament In the boys underâ€"13. Waterl * in line skates * protective equipment * wheel & bearing upgrades 1005 of new bicycles expert repairs helmets ino o e e t CR d Mossab Basir, from the Waterloo underâ€"14 team, makes a wide run Saturday at Bechtcl. tied Erin Mills 1â€"1, but were _ division, but were knocked out by Waterloo was also winless in knocked out by Unionville Brantford the boys underâ€"1 1 division, in the Waterloo also had a tie against In the boys underâ€"10 division, _ underâ€"12 the: boys were 0â€"3 and Missiscauea in the underâ€"16 boys â€" Waterloo B went 0â€"2 im the round. _ were winless in under â€"14 Waterloo also had a tie against Mississauga in the underâ€"16 boys country and downhill races, Saturday and Sunday, in 10 difâ€" fereat classes. The Waterloo Cycling club won four medals at the event. Firsts went to Jeff Weber in the Proâ€"Elite, Jerry Clive in the Veteran Downbhill and Chuck Campell in the Master Expert class. Greg Reain was second in the Proâ€"Flite. pRICK Beewery OPEN EVERY SUNDAY 12 Noon â€" 6 p.m., Including Holiday 181 King St S., Waterioo 31