Sports

 

It was a Messy Day at the Beach on Friday, and for the 130 kids who attended the annual event, co-organized by South Dundas Recreation and Ontario Early Years, that was just fine.

“We were very happy with the turnout,” said Ben Macpherson, Recreation Program Coordinator for the Township of South Dundas. “We had about 60 kids last year, so we more than doubled the amount this year. To get that many kids out to the beach and participating in activities, I think, and I think Fiona would concur, is awesome. It exceeded expectations.”

“The kids had a blast. We had a lot of parents and children tell us how much fun they had.”

Fiona Carr, Family Resource Coordinator with Ontario Early Years agreed with Macpherson. “We’ve been doing this for probably six or so years now. It started with the Early Years and then we linked with South Dundas.”

The turnout on Friday far exceeded previous turnouts for the event.

In keeping with the theme for a Messy Day at the Beach, youngsters could squiggle and wiggle their toes in the pool of green-dyed noodles or explore (up to their elbows) a tub of pink goop. Then to wash it all off they headed over to the Cruickshank Amphitheatre Hill, where Macpherson was hosing down a giant water slide.

Once minus the goop and the noodles, they could participate at a craft table.

“We hope to see the same numbers out or even more to the Pirates Day at Iroquois Beach on August 10,” says Macpherson. “We have a great community and seeing that many people out having fun is always a good reminder of that fact.”

Youngsters from throughout South Dundas are invited to attend the Pirates Day at the Iroquois Beach on August 10 from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m.

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With just two weeks of regular season play remaining in the Men’s Roller Hockey League, it remains anybody’s game.

After another week of action on, July 26, New Blue and White Lightning remain tied for the league’s top spot with 14 points.

Last Thursday night, New Blue trampled the Morewood Monkeys 16-5, while White Lightning doubled the Red Rockets 10-5.

Coming up this Thursday night, August 2, Lightning plays the Monkeys and New Blue takes on the Red Rockets.

Justin Elliott was back in form as he led the New Blue to the 16-5 win against the Morewood Monkey with eight goals. Jamie McIntosh, Garreth Cochrane and Connor Hodgson supplied two goals each and Tommy Keyes and Nick McGill added singles.

Will McIntire was in the New Blue net for the win.

Justin Heuff answered for the Monkeys with two goals and Chris Embury, Tyler Jones, and Jake Byers all scored singles.

Kyle Shane was in net for the Monkeys’ loss.

New Blue led 5-2 after the first period and added six more in the second to carry an 11-4 lead into the third period.

Dave Summers, Brandon Buma, Billy Henderson and Tyler Gallinger scored two goals each as Lightning nabbed the Red Rockets for a 10-5 victory.

The game was tied 2-2 at the end of the first period, but in the second, while goaltender Barret Brundige held the Rocket from the scoreboard, Lightning went to work for three goals and a 5-2 edge as they headed into the third period.

They out-scored the Rockets 5-3 in the third for the 10-5 win.

Steve Mattice and Rob Thurler added single goals for Lightning while Chad McMillan and Darrel Moore answered for the Rockets with two goals each and Chris Rice connect for a single.

Chris Sloan was in net for the Red Rockets loss.

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The 130 cyclists who participated in this year’s Great Waterfront Trail Adventure, from Niagara on the lake to the Quebec Border, declared this area beautiful on Friday morning, but the pedaling tough. 

The riders pedaled through South Dundas against a brisk east wind as they headed for their overnight stop in Cornwall on the sixth day of their adventure.

After being greeted in Iroquois by South Dundas mayor Steve Byvelds, deputy mayor Jim Locke, councillor Archie Mellon, and South Dundas Municipal Clerk Brenda Brunt, the riders saddled up to continue on their way east on County Road 2 to the River Road/Lakeshore Drive. They then stopped in Morrisburg at the Docksyde for ice cream and a greeting from Morrisburg and District Lions Club president Bob Bechard. 

Joining the cyclists in Iroquois for their ride to Cornwall was South Dundas director of recreation Ben Macpherson.

The 730 km Great Waterfront Trail Adventure began in Niagara on the Lake on Saturday, July 14. The ride took participants to Hamilton, Fort York, Oshawa, Trenton, Amherstview, Prescott, Cornwall and ended this past Saturday, July 21st in Riviere Beaudette. In all the riders experienced 41 communities in eight days, riding 45-100 km per day.

“It’s been wonderful,” said Beth Jones of Toronto during her stop in Iroquois. “This is a beautiful area. It’s lovely to see. When you drive through places you don’t get to see things this way. And everywhere we have been, people have been so welcoming.”

Jones explained that she rides her bike in Toronto, but “this is my longest ride ever and I’ll admit, it is pooping me out.”

Allison List of Buffalo, New York said she was really enjoying the ride because of its variety from the big cities to the small towns along the waterways.

She ranks the annual Great Waterfront Trail Adventure with other rides she has completed including the Buffalo to Albany Canal ride and the Albany to New York City ride on the New York State Park parks and trails.

Participants came from throughout Canada and the United States to participate in this year’s event which is organized annually by the Waterfront Regeneration Trust.

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When the Carp 14C team (pronounced One Four C) team defeated the Donnacona Blue Sox, 7-6, in the championship final of the 50th annual AuSable Forks Memorial Fastpitch tournament on Sunday, July 15, the team included some local South Dundas talent.

Carp 14C is managed by Morrisburg native Eric Rosenquist and catching for the team is Riverside Heights native, Bobby Jack Hart.

Hart, who is enjoying his final season of fastball, has played for Carp for two years. At the tournament, he was named the most valuable catcher to join Rosenquist, who was named most valuable manager, in the silverware department.

“It was my 20th anniversary at this tournament,” said the talented catcher noting that on the tournament’s prestigious trophy there are some familiar old-time local team names like the Williamsburg Pioneers, the Johnstown Counts and the Cardinal Pats. “It’s a pretty prestigious tournament with some high calibre ball.”

Hart says he has had some great experiences with Carp 14c and is totally impressed with the skills of fellow South Dundaser, Eric Rosenquist. “I have played for a lot of managers over the years, but Eric is far and away the best. His attention to detail and the fact that he always goes above and beyond for his players speaks volumes for his love of the game. His most valuable manager award was well earned.”

Sweetening the victory for Hart was the fact that Carp defeated the two-time defending champs from Donnacona after trailing 6-2 in the fifth inning. That’s when Bruce Hackett connected for a grand slam to even the score 6-6.

Carp claimed the victory in the bottom of the 7th when Matt McKnish ended the game dramatically with a walk-off, two-run homer.

Last year Carp 14C lost to Donnacona in the final.

Hart also pointed out that Donnacona is the team that has dominated the Casey at the Bat tournament in Williamsburg each spring. Hart suits up for the local tournament with the Williamsburg Cigars who this year lost in the championship final to Donnacona, 6-1.

Hart says that although he is officially retiring from competitive ball at the end of this season, he will play next year, just once, as a member of an all star team that will be going to the 8th World Masters Games in Torino, Italy in August.

For his work, he is currently preparing to relocate his young family out west.

 

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Canada Golf Club took a big step forward on Sunday, July 15 when they hosted and won Division J of the Ottawa Valley Golf Association’s Intersectional match play tournament.

The 10 member team (plus two spares) collected 40 points to narrowly edge out the Canadian Golf and Country Club who settled for second place with 38 points. Royal Papineau was third with 23 points, and the Copperdale Golf Club at Woodlawn, Ontario was fourth at 19 points.

For their first place finish, the Upper Canada golfers will move up to compete at level I next season and Copperdale will drop down to level K.

Winning top spot in the A division this year was the Ottawa Hunt Club. The Hunt Club edged out Rivermead by a single point (42 to 41) for the win and the title of the top Intersectional Team in the Ottawa Valley which includes 80 member clubs in the geographical area from Deep River east to Thurso, Quebec, south to Alexandria and west to Brockville.

Other local results saw Prescott win level C with 43 points to the Royal Ottawa’s 39. Prescott will  move up to play at level B next year.

Cedar Glen, Williamsburg golfers played in the I division where they will play again next year with their third place finish. Hammond won level I with 42 points and moves up. Metcalfe was second at 30 and DVB Petawawa finished in fourth and will drop down to level J.

Their spot at level I will be filled by Upper Canada.

At level L Eagle Creek and Iroquois finished tied for 27 points and Poplar Grove was third.

At level O Morrisburg finished second behind Falcon Ridge.

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It was another stormy week in Men’s Roller Hockey League with Lightning making a direct strike on the New Blue for a share of the league’s top spot.

It was the second consecutive loss for New Blue who find themselves stalled at 12 points and now having to move over to share first place with Lightning who posted a very solid 9-4 win.

The evening play also saw the Red Rockets double the Morewood Monkeys 10-5 for their second consecutive victory. This keeps the Rockets in second place, now just three points back of the league leaders.

In the battle for first place, White Lightning and the New Blue both got off to a slow start offensive when they each managed just a single first period counter. In the second period, Lightning took a 4-2 lead, and in the third they turned it up a notch to out score the Blues 5-2 for the 9-4 victory.

Dave Summers led the Lightning effort with four goals and Tyler Gallinger backed him with three. Singles came from the sticks of Steve Mattice and Tyler Brown.

Answering for the New Blue were Connor Hodgson with a pair and Justin Elliott and Tommy Keyes with singles.

In other action, the Rockets went up 2-1 in the first period and 5-2 after two. They struck five more times in the third period to claim the 10-5 win from the Morewood Monkeys.

Dean Moore had a big night for the Rockets scoring five goals while Chris Phifer struck for three. Chad McMillan and Dan McLaughlin added singles.

Justin Heuff and Jake Byers had two goals apiece for the Monkeys and Mike Thompson contributed a single.

[…]

 

On Monday July 16th the Seaway Kickers U18 girls team travelled to D.A. Moodie park where they gave up a 3-1 loss to the Nepean City soccer club.  

The Kickers started out very slow and were losing 2 – 0 after the first half.  

They got on board in the second half with a nice pass from Bailey Hass to the top of the box where Kelsey Douglas scored in the bottom left corner but Nepean City charged back to make it 3 – 1.  

Sara Gudlaugsson, for Seaway, had a penalty shot but the keeper made the save to maintain the Nepean two-goal edge. 

Ashley Smith drew a penalty shot and Leah Wells took the shot to score what would be the Kickers final goal of the game.  

In the last minute of the game, the Kickers pull everyone into the attacking zone but they could not score the tying goal and were forced to settle for the 3-2 loss.  

Wednesday, July 18th, the Seaway Kickers were home to the Nepean Hotspurs, and after a very slow start they found themselves once again down 2 – 0.  

In the second half the girls picked up the pace and some of them spread the field which led to a goal by Lesley Anne Tupper in an individual effort.  

The Kickers tied the game, 2-2, on a goal that started from a very nice corner kick play between Michaela Morrow and Kaitlyn Geurkink and resulted with a nice finish by Ashley Smith.  

The Kickers took a 3-2 lead on a beautifully timed rush by defender Leah Wells, and put it away off a very strong corner kick by Michaela Morrow with a header by Sarah Gudlaugsson.

To date the Kickers season record is six wins and three losses

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Friday, July 13 was anything but ‘unlucky’ for 17 year old Marc Beckstead of Morrisburg. It was the day the talented right winger signed with the Kingston Frontenacs of the Ontario Hockey League.

Beckstead, a late cut from the Frontenacs last year,wisely spent last season with the Cumberland Grads in the Central Junior Hockey League where he had a good year and followed the advice of the Frontenacs.

“I’ve been working really hard. I’ve been training for it and it paid off,” said Beckstead at his Morrisburg home on Monday.

Beckstead had a good season with the Grads. In 57 games, the 16 year old counted 12 goals and added 27 assists. He worked on body conditioning throughout the year to put on some size. 

Last weekend (July 6-8), it, along with many years of dedication and hard work, paid off when he stood out at an NHL Showcase camp in Belleville.

In addition to putting up a few points and playing well at the camp, Beckstead experienced his first fight.

Although he says he has been in tussles before, it’s “never been like drop the gloves.”

According to his dad Ernie, the fight didn’t hurt a bit…in fact it showed the scouts that Marc can handle himself.

At the camp, the five foot 11, 175 pound Beckstead drew the attention of the Frontenacs’ scout, who, they later learned, contacted Frontenacs General Manager Doug Gilmour and Coach Todd Gill and suggested they stop in.

“I went down to see him…this past weekend,” said Gill in an interview with CKWS Television in Kingston, “and he was like a man amongst boys. He is a very talented kid, lots of speed, good size. He’s a play maker more than a goal scorer, but he can put  the puck in the net. I see him fitting right in on the right side and he’s a right-handed shot which is what we needed.”

Also at the camp, Beckstead was being scouted by the Cedar Rapids Roughriders of the United States Hockey League (USHL), which is listed among the top junior leagues in North America, along with the OHL.

The USHL is said to be a focussed and fast track to both the NHL  and scholarships to play NCAA Division I U.S. hockey.

After returning home to Morrisburg, Beckstead first received a call from Cedar Rapids with an offer on Sunday night at about 9 p.m.

Within minutes he received a second call from his agent Shane Sullivan to inform him that the Frontenacs were offering him a contract.

And so began several days of talks…as Marc and his parents, Ernie and Leisa, worked on making the best decision.

An education component was a big factor in their decision and when they were able to work out an education plan with the Frontenacs that was to their satisfaction, the decision was made.

Marc will head to Kingston in late August. He will be enrolled in grade 12 at a Catholic High School there and will be billeted with a local family. Post secondary considerations are also included in his contract.

“This is surreal,” says Marc. “I couldn’t believe it when I got the call. This has always been my dream. I’m still on cloud nine.”

Training camp will start for the Frontenacs in September, and they will  bring their relatively young team this direction  in September for an exhibition game with the Brockville Braves.

In addition to his dad and mom, Marc was accompanied to Friday’s signing in Kingston by a number of family members. They were all given a tour of the K-Rock Centre where the Frontenanacs play their home games.

“The home opener is against Barrie, and we are going to have all of our family and friends there,” said a very proud Ernie. 

Beckstead was drafted by the Frontenacs in the 2011 OHL Priority Selection in the 14th round (270th overall).

He was also drafted second overall by the Cumberland Grads in the Central Hockey League Bantam and Midget-aged draft last year and ended up playing for the Grads for the season.

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In one bold decision, the organizers of Tubie Weekend have added a new event, and extended one more day to the festivities.  

This year, on the Friday night of Tubie Weekend, August 3rd, a teen dance will be held under the big tent.  It is a substantial addition the event lineup, but one the organizing committee is committed to.

“We have thought about adding a teen dance in the past,” admitted Michael Domanko of the Morrisburg and District Lions Club.  “But last year it didn’t work out, as we were preoccupied with the building of the playground.  This year, we talked it over and came to the conclusion that now is the perfect time.”

This is the 6th year the Lions Club has organized the Tubie Festival, and the third year since it moved the Tubie Dance from the Morrisburg Arena to the outdoor venue at the softball diamond.  

“Many of our participants are between 16-18,” added Domanko, who pointed out that a 16-year-old, Katherine Lee, captained the winning Tubie craft a year ago.  “They are involved in the parade and the race, but they are not old enough to get into the dance.  Now, there is an event just for them.  They will have something to do on every day of Tubie Weekend, starting on Friday and continuing on Saturday and Sunday.”

Domanko says that when the group took over the organizing duties, they hoped to have events and activities for the entire family to enjoy. 

“We are closer to realizing our goal,” said Domanko.  “Between the Teen Dance, Little Ray’s Reptiles on Saturday morning, and the Inspired K9s show at the Dog Park, we feel confident that we’re going in the right direction.”

The doors for Friday’s Teen Dance will be open from 7-11 pm.  Food and non-alcoholic drinks will be available.  Admission to the event will be $8.

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A number of parents here are hoping that someday, baseball/fastball will again be popular.

With less than a handful of minor ball teams playing in South Dundas, Paul Sheldrick, who is heading up a T-Ball program in Morrisburg, says he hopes to see that change down the road.

“We all used to play ball in this town, and we would like to see it return,” said Sheldrick who had a 30 player response to his T-Ball program run on Monday nights in Morrisburg.

We have enough kids that we have divided them into four teams, and I have four parents who came forward as coaches. 

“A few of the kids are coming down from Iroquois, and I unfortunately had to turn a few kids down.”

Every Monday, Sheldrick and his coaches who include Bob Paradis, Daryl Martin and Jason Cole work with the kids on  their basic batting and fielding skills.

The evening then wraps up with a little game between the Orange Tigers and the Purple Dragons.

The registration cost was kept to a minimum for the eight week program and from it each of the players received a  team T-shirt.

“I have been working with Ben (Macpherson, South Dundas recreation coordinator) and the guys from the municipality have been out and fixed up the diamond.”

Sheldrick says that he is hoping that this year will be one small step in the right direction. He is hoping one of the current coaches will take over the T-Ball next year and he can move up.

“My thoughts are just to rejuvenate some interest in ball. We bought them all little shirts, which they will keep, and Bill Morrow really helped us out. We have a closing party planned for the Legion and Blues Bakery is donating a cake for the kids.”

“We have stepped up as citizens. We played ball here and we want to try to get the kids involved in it again.

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