THE NEWS REVIEW - Thursday, October 4, 2012 - Page 17A
Rapid fire rants: Riders, NFL, MLB playoffs, NBA camps October is supposed to be the beginning of the NHL season (it actually starts next week technically, sorry if I put anyone on a ledge with that reminder) to add to an already packed month of sports in what is one of the busiest times of the sports schedule. NBA training camps started on Monday, the NFL and American college football are in full gear and in Canada the CFL is in a full fledged playoff race, and of course the MLB playoffs are an early October staple. So after a few weeks hiatus it is time top turn on the clock and get into Ruttig’s Rants: Rapid Fire Edition. On Saturday I took the benefit of not having anything to cover at night and having Rider tickets and headed to Taylor Field for what was a pivotal game for the Riders as they hosted the Western Division Lions. The Riders had early season success against B.C. at Taylor Field and after a win against Calgary had a chance to build some momentum going into the regular season’s final month. The Riders took advantage of great pass coverage on defense and a legendary performance from Weston Dressler which included two second half
touchdowns as well as a third one called back in what was one of the best Rider receiving performances in the past two seasons. Of course things got interesting as they always do and after what seemed like a game winning touchdown followed by some “B.C. Sucks” chants turned into a six point Rider lead with ample time for Travis Lulay, the Riders needed their defense to step up one more time. They did just that and secured the win in what was a turning point for the Riders season and helped them out massively in gaining confidence heading into the standings and playoff race in October. After a hot start to the season followed by some roadblocks, it is hard to tell if this Rider team has the magic of all the great Rider teams of the 00’s that always made things interesting and were constantly knocking on the door to crash the Grey Cup or Western Division Finals party. One thing is for sure though, these Riders have the fight and the confidence that last year’s rendition sorely lacked. As for the American league, the NFL hosted Week Four action as teams playoff pictures continue to take shape. The Houston Texans sur-
Ruttig’s rants Column Chase Ruttig vived undefeated after a dominant performance against the Titans, the New York Jets look like they might not make the playoffs this season as they received a thrashing at the hands of NFC contenders San Francisco. The defending champion Giants did not fare much better as a missed last second field goal by Lawrence Tynes gave them a second loss of the season on the road to NFC East rivals Philadelphia. Monday Night Football saw the Chicago Bears make a statement to a tight NFC North that includes hot starts from the Vikings, Packers, and Lions with a defensive clinic against the Cowboys. After four weeks the NFL looks as even as ever and with a return to the real referees it is nice to see a return to a product that never fails to disappoint. While the NFL season
heats up, it was time for the NBA to finally lace up the sneakers and kick off their training camps in anticipation for the beginning of the season. New faces are all over this season as Dwight Howard and Steve Nash head to Los Angeles to build a superteam to rival the Miami Heat, who also added a star of their own in alltime 3 point leader Ray Allen in the offseason. However, it is the team Nash spurned that intrigues me the most as Canada’s, and my team, the Toronto Raptors opened their training camp with high hopes and saying all the right things. They have a new point guard and shooting guard in Kyle Lowry and Landry Fields and a team that is dead set on making the playoffs, not just improving. With one of the league’s best defenses last season and a healthy An-
drea Bargnani looking for an 82 game season this year, the Raptors may just be able to get back on the post-Chris Bosh playoff schedule early than expected. Speaking of playoffs it is October which means it is time for the MLB playoffs. With two one game playoffs to determine the Wild Card places in this year’s playoffs it is hard to give a full comprehensive preview of the series which start on the weekend. However it will be exciting to see teams like the Baltimore Orioles and Washington Nationals play must win baseball for the first time in years as they both are guaranteed a role in October. The Nationals have already shut down pitching prodigy Stephen Strasburg for the year to preserve is arm in a controversial decision that has severely hurt the Nationals odds as favorites to win the NL pennant which will serve die hard former Expos fans just fine as the sting of them winning a World Series might just be too much for some Canadians to bear. At the time of writing the evil empire that is the New York Yankees are in a battle for first place in the AL East with the Orioles to avoid the one game Wild Card playoff and will once again be expecting a
return to the World Series. With potential one of the best lineups from 1-9 and clutch role players like Eric Chavez and Ichiro Suzuki hungry for their first ever World Series ring. They look like they might just anger the baseball world with another run at the title. However the Texas Rangers do have bats of their own as well as the last two American League pennants and will want to take the monkey off their back and prove that the third time is the charm this postseason. The team that I will be pulling for in the play in game and the playoffs will be the Atlanta Braves and Chipper Jones. Jones has been one of the National League’s best players for the better part of two decades and is one of the most stand up guys in baseball. The Braves have had attendance issues for years now, but Turner Field was sold out for every single one of the last series of the regular season and Jones received a standing ovation on numerous occasions. The Braves might not even make it into the real deal after the Wild Card game, but they will be the team to watch as a true legend says goodbye to the game in the only way that fits. In a Braves uniform in October.
Lady Saints soccer post strong road weekends By CHASE RUTTIG N-R Writer
With the high school soccer provincial playoffs kicking off this month, the Sacred Heart Saints girls soccer team finished September off strong in road tournaments in Moose Jaw and Prince Albert. With a B Side championship in the 16 team Noose Jaw tournament and a bronze medal in Prince Albert the Saints got valuable match experience against top 3A high schools as well as rival 2A sides in their preparation for provincial qualifiers and likely the provincial tournament later in the month. In Moose Jaw the Saints girls won their first two games, including a second half comeback to win 2-1 against Weyburn before losing to Regina Leboldus in the third round robin game, sending them to the B Side. In the B Side playoffs the Saints dispatched Evan Hardy 2-1 in the semi-final from two goals from Rita Fetsch be-
fore setting up a rematch from their home tournament with Prince Albert St. Mary’s. In the rematch of their 1-nil defeat the Saints benefited from the return of Fetsch, who potted two goals in the 2-2 game, sending it to penalty kicks where the Saints prevailed. The win was the Saints first ever against PA St. Mary’s and gave the Saints the highest finish of all the 2A schools in the tournament and an impressive showing against schools reaching almost four times the size of Sacred Heart’s enrollment. In a five game in two day stretch coach Jeanne Fetsch likened the weekend in Moose Jaw to “running a marathon” and was impressed with her teams effort in a difficult tournament trip for her squad. Kaitlin Inglis and Kristen Jonassen played remarkable on defense all weekend, and Shayla Merriam played strong in midfield in what was the highest finish for the Saints in Moose Jaw. The following weekend the Saints
headed up to Prince Albert where the Saints once again went to compete against top 3A competition to prepare for their 2A playoff run. The Saints opened the weekend with a 8-1 drubbing of the PA Carlton B team with six goals from Fetsch as well as Kaylee Ford and Lauren Maier markers, the win set up a third game of the season with Prince Albert St. Mary’s and an opportunity to advance to the tournament finals. However a second straight win over St. Mary’s was not in the cards as the home team won 3-nil and sent the Saints to the bronze medal game where they beat Lloydminster 1-nil to secure a medal and finish the weekend with another winning record. The tournament put the Saints record at the season at 7-4, playing mostly upper division 3A schools, giving them a added advantage of playing tougher competition heading into their 2A provincial title quest. Shayla Merriam
was praised in moving from midfield to centreback in place of the regular starter on the weekend and doing an admirable job out of position. Rookie Taneisha Roussin and defender Connor Rosluk also earned praise from coach Fetsch for their performances in Prince Albert The Saints are still undefeated in their own 2A level of SHSAA schools and have competed in close matches with some of the best 3A schools in the province, showing that they are a skilled and competitive side that will be top class in their category at the end of the month when regional playoffs begin. The Saints now look to work in practice to maintain match fitness as well as improve on skills in preparation for their playoff fixtures at the end of the month. Friendlies against the YRHS and Hamiota to continue to get match experience in.
Yorkton Bowl Arena Stats LEAGUE NAME MONDAY GA 1:00 CMI TUESDAY GA 9:30 TUESDAY YBC TUESDAY MIXED STS WEDNESDAY GA 1:15 HOSPITAL LEGION THURSDAY LADIES HANCOCK QUINE SATURDAY 9:30 YBC SATURDAY 11:30 YBC
MEN’S HIGH SINGLE Terry Hudy 239 Tyler Senchuk 213 Ed Aichele 256 Cody Bencze 385
MEN’S HIGH TRIPLE Terry Hudy 616 Tyler Senchuk 551 Martin Phillips 598 Cody Bencze 831
LADIES HIGH SINGLE Mildred Thiele 182 Lisa Gibler 216 Verna Moroz 205 Cassidy Boychuk 157
LADIES MOST PINS HIGH TRIPLE OVER AVERAGE Dorothy Ostapowich 502 Terry Hudy +66 Lisa Gibler 578 Tyler Senchuk +62 Marie Ann Kreutzer 497 Ed Aichele +91 Cassidy Boychuk 377 Cody Bencze +209
Don Pfeifer 266 Fritz Borys 295 Lawrence Kitz 288 Ed Aichele 264
Martin Phillips 671 Wally Sedlick 632 Lawrence Kitz 701 Don Haider 627
Kelly Hancock 290 Kyle Rathgeber 353 Jairus Pellatt 206 Ryan Lebo 274
Kelly Hancock 693 Trent Aichele 843 Jairus Pellatt 442 Ryan lebo 640
Paula Beck 225 Adella Hansen 242 Jenn Kostiuk 301 Anne Oucharek 186 Colleen Haider 249 Jenn kostiuk 259 Jamie Sereda 311 Madison Varga 161 Abbey Somogyi 169
Elanor Yasinsky 626 Adella Hansen 589 Jenn Kostiuk 743 Bernadette Hagon 475 Colleen Haider 654 Des Cross 724 Jamie Sereda 738 Kayla Exner 352 Abbey Somogyi 442
Don Pfeifer +88 Fritz Borys +104 Jenn Kostiuk +111 Ed Aichele +92 Joyce Maksimow +74 Kelly Hancock +109 Kyle Rathgeber +187 Alle Shivak +43 Carson Pinno +46
KRISTEN JONASSEN plays the ball in one of two recent road tournaments for the Saints.
Upcoming Yorkton Terrier Home Games Saturday, October 6, 2012
Friday, October 12, 2012
YORKTON TERRIERS vs NIPAWIN HAWKS
YORKTON TERRIERS vs MELVILLE MILLIONAIRES
Game Time 7:30 p.m. at the Farrell Agencies Arena
Game Time 7:30 p.m. at the Farrell Agencies Arena