THE GAZETTE
Latest News


Team inspired by disabled coach
Secret of their success: 'We always listen to our coach and try to do
what he says'

JOHN MEAGHER
The Gazette


Friday, August 06, 2004


1 | 2 | NEXT >>

CREDIT: MARCOS TOWNSEND, THE GAZETTE
Making It Big in Little Leagues N.D.G. Major Lynx Aiming for World
Series: Head coach Carey Ashton watches as (from left) Timothy Maag, 12,
Carlo Frederico, 11, and Jonathan Pendenza, 12, go through drills at
Girouard Park yesterday.






The N.D.G. Major Lynx won't have to look far for inspiration at the
Canadian Little League Baseball Championships, which begin tomorrow in
Brossard.

It's sitting in their dugout in the form of head coach Carey Ashton, a
44-year-old Little Burgundy resident and father of three who has
muscular dystrophy, a hereditary disease which progressively wastes
muscle.

Despite being confined to a wheelchair, he tactfully manages his team
from the dugout. Instead of using hand signals to direct his players on
the diamond, Ashton communicates through a series of verbal code words.

"I manage verbally and let my assistants, David Goldberg and Yan
Sauve-Frankel, coach the bases," Ashton said. "Once in a while, I'll go
on the field to argue a call, but not often. The umps know I'm serious
if I come out."

The Lynx, a mix of 11- and 12-year-old players from the west end of
Montreal, hope to extend their dream season tomorrow when they meet the
Ontario representatives from Nepean in a 4:30 p.m. start at Parc Marie
Victorin. The Prairies take on the Maritimes in the opener of the
six-team tournament at 9:30 a.m., followed by the host Brossard team
against British Columbia at 1:30 p.m.

The round-robin event continues daily until Aug. 14.

The Lynx are aiming to become the first Montreal-based team in memory to
advance to the Little League World Series, to be held later this month
in Williamsport, Pa.

The championship game there is broadcast on network television in the
United States.

"Our guys have proven they're the best team in Quebec. Now they'll try
to become best in the country," said Ashton, who has been coaching
Little League baseball for seven years, as well as at the university
level for the McGill Redbirds.

His powerhouse Lynx have enjoyed a banner season thus far, compiling a
13-0 record in Quebec and an overall mark of 32-3, including a pair of
tournament titles in Ontario. Their only losses were to a couple of New
York teams and a squad from Cornwall, Ont., whom the Lynx had "mercied"
by lopsided scores on three previous occasions.

The season's high point, though, was beating the perennial favourites
from Valleyfield 4-1 in last month's provincial final, which earned the
Lynx a berth at the nationals.

Right-hander Michael (Eddie) Fitzsimmons pitched a two-hitter in the
clincher and will likely be called upon again at the nationals.

"Valleyfield wins practically every year, so it was a huge confidence
boost to get past them this year," Ashton said. "It's history-making for
us. This is the first time an N.D.G. team has gone to nationals in 25
years."

Catcher Daniel Baslyk and his teammates would love to earn a trip to the
Little League World Series.

"Our games would be on TV and we'd get to stay in hotel rooms for free,"
he said.

What must the Lynx do to get there?

"Keep playing as a team and support each other," Baslyk said.

Immediately following games, the Lynx players gather in centre field and
salute their head coach with a rousing cheer.

"We always listen to our coach and try to do what he says," Baslyk said.

Ashton has led the bulk of his Little League squad since they were
playing at the grasshopper level as 9- and 10- year-olds. He is
undecided about coaching again next year, but says he is leaning toward
a return.

"Every year it gets a little harder for me to move about," he said of
his disability. "Spending a day in the sun is physically draining.

"But my players are a fantastic group of kids," he added."They're not
only terrific ball players, they're also very respectful on the field.
I'm proud of them, win or lose."

Eris Salvatori, a right fielder and pitcher, says the Lynx players are
equally proud of Ashton.

"Even if he doesn't come back next year, he'll always be our best
coach," the 12-year-old said. "He's already taught us a lot."

[log in to unmask]

- - -

N.D.G. Squad Gets Ready to Play Ball

What: Canadian Little League Championship

When: Aug. 7-14

Where: Parc Marie Victorin in Brossard (Provencher Blvd., near Champlain
Mall)

Who: Teams from Ontario, B.C., Prairies, the Maritimes and two from
Quebec, the provincial-champion N.D.G. Major Lynx and host Brossard.

What they're playing for:

National crown and a trip to Little League World Series in Williamsport,
Pa.

N.D.G. Major Lynx roster: Michael (Eddie) Fitzsimmons, Danilo (El Torro)
Cardoza,

Carlo (Sunshine) Frederico, Jeremi (J Rock) Roch, Daniel (Tex) Baslyk,
Jonah (L'il Mac) Blaichman, Kadeem (K-Man) Campbell, Justin (Alfalfa)

Filteau, Timothy (C.B.) Maag, Sebastian (C-Bass) Meltzer, Jonathan
(J-Stix) Pendenza, Eris (Big E) Salvatori. Head coach: Carey Ashton;
assistant coaches: David Goldberg and Yan Sauve-Frankel; practice coach:
Daniel Kost-Stephenson; general managers: Sharon Ashton and Lois
Pendenza.

Tournament Web site: www.brossard2004.com

C The Gazette (Montreal) 2004