Windsor playing host to Legion track provincials
Nearly 400 athletes are in Windsor to compete at the 40th Royal Canadian Legion provincial track and field championships.
The two-day meet got underway on Friday at University of Windsor Stadium with athletes competing for nine districts throughout the province in two age divisions for competitors 17 and under and 15 and under.
Eighteen area athletes will compete for Ontario’s District A at the meet, with athletes trying to secure one of 40 spots on the Ontario team for the Legion National Youth Track and Field championship, which is set for Aug. 11-13 in Brandon, Man.
BRONZE FOR ONTARIO
Team Ontario, which featured six players from the Essex Ravens, captured the bronze medal for the second straight year on Friday at the Football Canada Cup Under-18 championship in Wolfville, N.S.
Ravens slot receiver Justin Pope was named Ontario’s offensive player of the game in a 34-29 win over Team Alberta. Team Ontario also features Essex defensive tackle Christian Fecteau, defensive backs Mat Williams and Tylar Johnston and linebackers Jethro Oleko and James Halon.
ATTACK PICKS GILL
Former Windsor Spitfires defenceman Todd Gill was named head coach of the OHL’s Owen Sound Attack on Friday.
The 51-year-old Gill, who played for the Spitfires from 1983 to 1985, went on to play more than 1,000 games in the NHL.
Previously, Gill spent three seasons as head coach of the Kingston Frontenacs from 2011 to 2014 and has been an assistant coach in the American Hockey League the past three seasons.
GREEN GIANTS SELECTED
Four members of the St. Clair Green Giants were selected to participate in Tuesday’s Great Lakes Summer Collegiate Baseball League All-Star Game in Mason, Ohio.
Right-handed pitchers Hunter Brown and Tyler Whitbread were chosen along with shortstop Connor Mckenna and outfielder Jalen Thomas.
“For a first-year team, that’s pretty good,” Green Giants head coach Dave Cooper said.
Heading into Friday’s action, Mckenna was leading the team with a .307 average and a teamleading 11 stolen bases while Thomas is batting .275 and a teamleading 27 walks.
Brown is 4-1 with a 1.02 earned run average while Whitbread is 3-1 with a 1.76 earned run average.
THREE TO FISU GAMES
Three athletes with local ties were named to Canada’s 51-athlete team for the FISU World University Games, which will be held Aug. 19-30 in Taipei, Taiwan.
Recent University of Windsor grad and Riverside high school product Corey Bellemore will compete in the men’s 800 metres. Essex’s Kelsey Balkwill will compete in women’s 400-metre hurdles while current Lancer will compete in the women’s shot put.