OTTAWA - Larry McLellan, of St. Marys, and Jurgen Fessler, of London, won the Ontario men’s pairs lawn bowling title here this past weekend.
Sixteen teams competed in the double-knockout event.
The McLellan-Fessler entry went undefeated in four matches, and two opponents conceded before the completion of 15 ends. “We played exceptionally well,” McLellan reported.
The local duo defeated Kitchener district No. 7 16-8, Milton district No. 9 (last year’s Canadian champions) 17-2 in 11 ends, Tilbury district No. 1 17-13, and Thamesford district No. 3 in the final 18-11.
It is McLellan’s sixth provincial title (four pairs, one fours and a colts), and Fessler’s second. He bowls out of Exeter.
The McLellan-Fessler team now advances to the Juan De Fuca lawn bowling club in Victoria, British Columbia, Aug. 15 to 22, for the Canadian championships.

•Last week, St. Marys Minor Hockey Association president Don Gibson announced that several more coaches are in place for the 2009-10 season.
Rob Wrigley has the reins of the McDonald’s Independent Grocer ‘BB’ Atoms, Tony Klomp will be behind the bench of the ANAF ‘BB’ Bantams, while Greg Smale returns to guide the Frayne Custom Cabinets Additional-Entry Bantams.
Long-time Bantams’ mentor Ken Schiedel moves up to coach the Minor Midget ‘BB’ squad, while John Rutherford will call the shots with the Minor Midget A-E squad.
President Gibson reports that the association is still looking for someone to be head coach of the Bantam ‘C’ girls team next season.

•This weekend, July 11-12, four teams will be taking part in a two-day Invitational men’s fastball tournament in Tavistock. They include: the New Zealand’s national team, Jarvis, St. Thomas and a combined squad made up of Kitchener Rivershark Twins and Sebringville Sting players.
Playoff games are on Sunday, with the final at 2 p.m.
For New Zealand, it’s a tune-up for the ISF world fastball championship in Saskatoon, July 17-26.
Before they also head to Western Canada, the Australian national men’s team, meanwhile, completes a busy schedule of exhibition games this week at Arand Field (arena) in Milverton.
Tonight (Wednesday, July 8), Australia plays the South Perth League all-stars at 7:30 p.m. On Thursday, July 9, Australia plays Millbank Mustangs at 7:30 p.m.
On Friday, July 10, Australia plays Elmira Expos in a doubleheader at 7 and 9 p.m. On Saturday, July 11, another twinbill features Australia against Port Elgin Blue Devils at 2 and 4 p.m.
On Sunday, July 12, there is a Milverton Softball Reunion celebration game at 2 p.m.

•The date for the annual Mark Bell Pyramid Classic hockey game has been changed to Thursday, August 20 at the Pyramid Recreation Centre in St. Marys.
This exciting event will host current and former NHL players, as well as OHL and Jr. B players in a fundraising hockey game.
Tickets will go on sale very soon. Admission is $10 for adult, $5 for those 16 years of age and under, and 5-and-under are free.
Once again, organizers will be offering the opportunity for two lucky winners to play in the celebrity game. Tickets for the ‘Suit Up’ draw will also soon go on sale; watch for posters and announcements in the next few weeks.
Proceeds raised will go to the Pyramid Centre.

•The 2nd annual Stonetown Dodgeball tournament will take place on Saturday, July 25 (at the Flats) during the St. Marys Kinsmen Summer Fest.
This outdoor tournament is for anyone of high school age and up and is a fundraiser for the St. Marys Optimist Club. The team entry fee is $30.
A team will consist of six members and there is no mandatory female or male component. A team can have more than six members, but substitutions are only allowed between sets. To register a team, you will need a team name (Summer Fest is a family event, so please keep the names rated G or PG).
Teams can register by contacting Andrew Hodges at 519-284-2820 or e-mailing team information to stonetowndodgeball@gmail.com.

•The Cement Peewees will soon be hosting an eight-team baseball tournament on the July 24-26 weekend.
Teams making the trek to St. Marys include Whitby, North York, Uxbridge and Mississauga.
Games will be played at the Rotary diamond and at Teddy’s Field. “Teddy’s is just right for Peewee ball,” St. Marys coach Tom Valcke said.

•Valcke, meanwhile, says the Baseball Hall of Fame is looking for volunteers to sell 50-50 tickets at the Friday, July 17 Major League game between the Toronto Blue Jays and Boston Red Sox at Toronto’s Rogers Centre.
Those interested should contact Scott Crawford at the Hall of Fame at 519-284-1838.

•Owen Sound won the Ontario Junior Men’s elimination fastball tournament this past weekend in Mitchell.
Eighteen teams took part in the double-knockout event.
Owen Sound defeated Waterloo twice in the final, 4-3 and 8-1. In the 4-3 win, Owen Sound scored twice in the bottom of the seventh inning to pull out the victory.
Four Ontario teams now advance to the Canadian championship tournament in Owen Sound next month. In addition to host Owen Sound and Waterloo, Fingal and Napanee also earned berths in the national tourney.

•The new coach of the Southern Ontario Junior Hockey League’s Exeter Hawks is Jeff MacLean, 30, who was a teammate of Mark Bell’s when they won the Memorial Cup with Ottawa 67’s back in 1999.
MacLean, an Exeter resident and Exeter minor hockey product, was named the Hawks’ bench boss early last month.
During his playing days, McLean was also a member of the OHL’s Kitchener Rangers, Lake Superior State University Lakers and the University of Western Ontario Mustangs. He played five seasons with the Sr. ‘A’ Exeter Mohawks as well.