panPdWhitbv Prne Prm. Wednesday, May 5. 1993 Jays help increaseAtrsti nnrbl Hi- I Uft has been a big factor,» ho By Lucie flochette Registration for Miner Base- bail Association in Whitby is up this season. "We are just shy of 2,000 chiidren,» says George Clay, the president of the association. Itere bas been a notîceabbe increase in numbers in the ban- tam age level and a general increase tbrougbout the ether age leveis. "We are starting te see it TIRED 0F OUTRAGEOUS IPRICES? THE COMIC STRUP 1235 BAVLV ST. PICKERING - 831-8291 spread out,» says Clay. Clay has been invoived In- miner basebabi for 10 years, and this is his first year as the association president. He ',has been plaJing basebaîl since ho A number of changes are evi- dent in the association this sea- son. There are 124 bouse league teams, 10 select teanis and eight representative teanis. The selec division has increased by six teams from bast year. Aise, there is the addition of a new batting cage at Iroquois Givo us a shot! Good Luck Teams! .... . .... . . .SWKSE A. T.-I WE ARR A IDEVARETY0F ASEALLPRINTS AND UPON PRESENTTO 0 HSAD WE WILL GIVE $25. OFF ANY LIMITED EDITION. L OOK OR XUS ATHE coheso li 3 1 arwod 6Dr.Oshaw seas0 Toa1hckson RSWhitb 435-8200 ROGERS Cablesystems "wPLAY BALL"w Good luck to ail teams. SBe sure to visit our sho s Old Favorites Book Shop Ltd., Out-of-print and used books, for al Leisure World Hobbies Rocketry, plastics, train sets & accessorles, siot cars, r.c. cars, boats, planes, kites. 132 Hwy #7, Pickering, (Green River) 294-3865 Open 7days aweek e llam-6pm______ - e-EVVRSCOIGSOO VV av loes o eMm Park, and it wiii ho ready for the aae beginning the season, May 8. In addition to those changes, there is the introduction of Rookie Bail to the squirt (aged 8-9) division. Rookie Bail is a concept that uses a pitching machine instead of a humain pitcher. "It aiiows the kids te, have more confidence," says Clay. With the pitching nachine the kids don't have to wrorry about Etting hit by a wild pitch, and tley have more confidence te bit the bail. Rookie Bail is very popular in the U.S. and is gainig popu- larity in the Toronto area. The new additions were pos- sible because of generous dona- tions te the association by spon- sors, says Clay. The increase in registration, according te Clay, is due te the Toronto vue Jays winning the World Series. says. "The kids want te emulate them. It's been great for base- baIl. Itfs been a great impact.» Clay says that the kids have idols among the professionnai basebail players. » «I'm sure they do,»lho says. "The interest in basebali bas just taken off. The kids are really becoming in tune with the pro leasue.» Âthough registration is Up, relativeby ifew youth were unabbe to *oin the association. '.here is a limited waiting ist » says Clay. rj4e annual parade that opens the basebail season in Whitb~ wili be on Saturday, May starting at 10 a.m. The parade route is through downtown Whfitby, south on Brock Street before turning east and concuding at Peel Park where ceremnines wiil be held. The season officiaiby starts on Moriday, May 10 and the Mayor's J1 Uup, agamnst teame îrom itjax, i» on Saturday, May 15. ME - lRY It was interest in the Montreai. Expos, a new addition to major eague baseball at that time, that piayed a part in the formation of the Whitby Minor Basebali Asso- ciation in 1969. Until then, some teams of young bail players had played in a prograni organized by the Whitby Branch 112 Legion. Dr. Neil Murkar, Witby opto- metrist, was the first presidont of the association -- he says ho got the job because ho had experience, as a former president of the minor lacrosse association in Whitby. The rgitration fee was $2 per youth in 19T69, and 335 boys were registered, to play in the tyke peewee, bantam. and midget dVI- SEE PAGE 39 juniors afin for top spot By Lucie Rochette Ian Hardy is expecting big things from h;.s Whitby junior basebail tearn this season. Lnst season's teani, also coa- ched by Hardy, won the Eastern Ontario Baseball Association* (EOBA) title and made it ail the ASEBALL'93 *Have fun'& onjoy the season!" Good way te the semi-finals in the provincials. Several players froni last year's teani are returning this season, and there cou id be several new faces in the lineup Registration for minor basebalI in Witby is up this season, and that includes t he junior tearn. "We've got a few more players to pick fron," says Hardy who has been ýcoaching for 12 years, in Ontario and British Columnbia. «We have a good selection of midget age (players).» The average age for players on BOOKS I'N sUF Specializing in. New & UseCiomics Sports .Cards & related colledables 104 William Street N 1 (705)>328-K491 Selections haven't been made yet for the new players on the teani, but some of the pitchers this season, among the returning Ci yers, are Jeremy Harness, ohn Dougherty and Steve Hors- bey. Although iast season's tenni Udidn't hit a lot for power," Hardy is thinking positively about this season's team. "I think weli do weil,» ho says confidently. "We'I be at the top at the end of the season.» The season starts on May 15 with the Mayor's Cup game against a team from Ajax. Wishing ail the Whitby Minor League Basebali Teamns an enjoyable & successtul 1993 Season! *!k Clean-t Centre 500 Hopkins St, Whitby - 666-1224 play bail! NATHAN STANAVECH, 6, is ready for the opening of Whitby minor bail season May 8. Photo by Mrk Reesor, Whthby Free Press mage ffl, yvillwy rgtm r 0 q7oo, m 1