Sports | DrumhellerMail

Badlands Lacrosse gets boost from Calgary Roughnecks

    Badlands Lacrosse is getting a helping hand from the Calgary Roughnecks.
   On Saturday, $5 from every ticket sale, using a special code, will be donated to Badlands Lacrosse.
   “We’re getting $5 from the (Calgary) Roughnecks per ticket that’s purchased. The money will go towards promoting lacrosse in the area next season. We’re hoping to bring the Roughnecks to schools and have them do some demonstrations for the kids,” said Brandi Belliveau, vice president of Badlands Lacrosse.
   The game starts at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 4, at the Saddledome.
   Lacrosse season has been going steady for three weeks already.
   The Midget Raptors are looking for their first win of the season on Saturday when they take on the Innisfail Phantoms in the Drumheller Memorial Arena at 7 p.m.
   The Midget Raptors are heading into the game with a three game losing streak, being bested in their last outing 8-2 by the Red Deer Chiefs.
   The Pee Wee Raptors are also looking to break into the win column this weekend. On Friday, May 3, at 7 p.m., the Pee Wee’s will take on the Olds Stingers in the Drumheller Arena.
   “We’ve been having a tough go of it so far, but we have been improving. We had a lot of new kids this year. The most important things we work on every practice are shooting, passing, catching, and positioning,” said Ren Dumaine, head coach of the Pee Wee Raptors.
   The Pee Wee’s were defeated 10-3 by the Sylvan Lake Buccaneers two weeks ago.
   The Novice Raptors have had a busy schedule so far, but are still looking for their first win of the season on Saturday when they host the Blackfalds Warriors at 4 p.m. in the Drumheller Arena.
   The Tykes are looking for some help to get their season off the ground.
   ““They’re having fun and learning, but we’re in desperate need of players. We only have seven kids and we need 12 to keep our team this year. We’re looking for kids to register late. It’s a requirement of the league that you have to have a minimum of 12 players,” said Dan Belliveau, head coach of the Tykes.
   Should the team not have 12 players soon, they will have to cancel their season. If that happens, they will still play as much as possible outside of the league.
   “We’ll continue to practice and pick up games with whoever we can, wherever we can,” said Belliveau.
   The Mini-Tykes are set to start their season this weekend when they take on the Red Deer Chiefs at the Drumheller Arena at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Baxandall commits to University of Massachusetts Amherst

    Another Drumheller Dragon is off to an NCAA Division 1 school.
   The team announced on Tuesday that Brennan Baxandall has committed to the University of Massachusetts Amherst for the 2013-14 season.
   “I wish Brennan all the success possible,” said Dragons head coach Brian Curran. “To watch his growth as a player and also as a leader was a pleasure. I believe he will be an outstanding collegiate player and with his potential and growth curve who knows where he might end up.”
   Baxandall, the 20 year old defenseman from Calgary, has played three seasons with the Dragons and was captain in his final season. In 49 games he tallied 11 goals and 23 assists for a total of 34 points and 131 penalty minutes.
   In his career as a Dragon, Brennan has 159 games played, with 21 goals, 48 assists for a total of 69 points and 350 penalty minutes.
   “I am thrilled to be joining the UMass Amherst Minutemen next season making the jump to the next level and beginning school,” said Baxandall. I would like to thank my family, friends and teammates for believing in me and helping get me here. I would also like to thank the Drumheller Dragons organization for a great three years and all of my coaches for helping me develop. Thanks again to my outstanding billets and the fans in the town.”
   The Dragons organization would like to congratulate Brennan and his family and wish him all the best in his future athletic and academic endeavours.

Canadian baseball pro to teach Drumheller players

    Children throughout the Valley are stepping up to the plate for another exciting season of the quintessential summer pastime; minor baseball.
   To help kids prepare, the Drumheller Minor Baseball Association is bringing in professional player Geoff Freeborn for a baseball camp.
   “He came up with the idea of smaller communities doing these camps, so he’s coming out here for the very first one,” said Lyle Cawiezel, president of Drumheller Minor Baseball.
   Freeborn was a pitcher for the Canadian Junior national team in 1999 and Team Canada in the 2011 World Baseball Challenge. Freeborn also played with Britain several times in European Championships.
   He will be joined by other professional players Tony Wyllie, Ryan Kennedy, and Garrett Regan.
   The camp is scheduled for May 11 at the Newcastle Ball Diamonds.
   So far this year, the baseball association is looking at two teams. Registration was good, with a tee ball team and rookie team both filled.
   This year also marks a change of direction for Drumheller Minor Baseball. At their most recent annual general meeting, which was held in March, a brand new board was elected.
   “Hopefully we can continue on and make a go of it,” said Cawiezel.
   For more information about minor baseball or the baseball camp, those interested are encouraged to contact Cawiezel at 403-823-9487.

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