Sports

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Top show jumpers from throughout the region are gearing up for the 21st annual KeyBank Country Classic, which will take place July 12-16 at Hunter Creek Farm near Wilsonville.

Baseball fits kids to a tee

By Tom Morlan
of the Herald

Scott Neuberger knows what it's like to show up expecting to play ball, only to wind up sitting on the bench.

"If you don't play when you're younger, it seems like coaches have their favorites," said Neuberger, whose experience in high school athletics was far from satisfying.

Now, as coordinator of the Canby Kids T-Ball program, Neuberger is giving children a chance to play to their heart's content.

"I feel like I kind of got ripped off, and I want kids to have their time," said Neuberger, coach of the Campbell Automotive squad. "I don't care if someone is better - I'll bench 'em."

Neuberger, 35, coaches one of 14 teams in the city's T-Ball league. Each club has 15 players - and in Neuberger's case, each player wound up with a game ball by season's end.

"The kids think they're great - they're so proud," Neuberger said. "They run home and tell their grandpa and grandma about it, and they can't wait to tell their friends.

"Last year, one kid took it to show- and-tell. That's the ultimate thank you."

Most T-Ball players are 6 or 7 years of age, but a few older kids are sprinkled into the mix. Some youths need an extra year to develop, Neuberger said.

"Sometimes parents hold 8-year-olds back, and they turn into real good ballplayers," he said.

The way Neuberger looks at it, he's there to help kids learn the game in a positive atmosphere.

"It's up to the coaches of T-Ball to get kids interested in baseball," he said. "We don't keep score. The absolute focus is having a great time."

Naturally, the minds of young players wander from time to time.

"It's a real struggle keeping them focused when the ball is hit," Neuberger said. "A lot of kids like playing in the dirt."

But as the season progresses, children learn why they're occupying certain places on the diamond. And Neuberger hopes the experience will find a place in their memory book.

"When kids get into high school, I want them to remember their T-Ball years," he said.

Canby Legion A squad
powers to 14-2 record

By David Howell
of the Herald

The Canby Legion A baseball team of 15- and 16-year-old boys is halfway through a highly successful summer season.

The team won all of the first 10 games it played and went 2-0 in the Centennial Tournament before the championship game against St. Helens was rained out.

A first loss last week was quickly made up for with a 4-3 victory Friday night over The Dalles and weekend tournament wins over three teams at Sherwood High School.

The team beat Central Catholic 12-11, Lake Oswego 9-1 and Glencoe 12-4 before losing to Sherwood 14-11. The team has now compiled an impressive 14-2 record, its best summer season start in years.

Team coach Tom Scott credited good pitching by Jeff Coyl and Scott Sweet, and solid hitting by Tyler Christler and Matt Oss as individual highlights of a successful, but busy, schedule for the team.

Canby Legion A plays in a six-team league against talented young high school ball players from North Marion, Oregon City, Rex Putnam, and Gladstone.

Among the team's win so far this season was a recent come-from-behind 7-6 defeat of North Marion in the bottom of the game-ending seventh inning. "It was a good comeback from 6-5 down to tie it, and then win the game in our last inning," Scott said.

The 13 members of Canby Legion A are Jason McCall, Scott Sweet, John Pete, Blake Holmes, Grant Kruft, Garrett Gregory, Tyler Christler, Jeff Coyl, Matt Oss, Pat Burke, Cale Henderson, Derek Devine and Joe Smith.

Scott said he's pleased with his team's consistency and focus so far this year.

Solid hitting throughout the batting order, accurate pitching and hustle in the outfield have been the cornerstones of the team's success on the diamonds, he said.

Scott, a 1991 Canby High graduate and lifelong resident, has been coaching locally for four years.

A former Linfield College outfielder, he played minor league baseball in the Cincinnati Reds' farm system in such places as Billings, Mont., Charleston, W.V., and Burlington, Iowa.

"It was a great experience," he said. "It was fun, and you got to see a lot of the country."

Naturally, he hopes one or more of his young charges gets to experience top-level baseball.

And maybe, just maybe, they could even emulate Oregon natives Scott Brosius of the New York Yankees, or John Jaha of the Oakland Athletics.

The team plays its home games at Canby High School, and there are about 15 games left in the season. For more information on the team and its remaining games, call Scott at 266-6806.

Country Classic leaps to new
location at Hunter Creek Farm

Adults and children will compete in hunter and jumping events July 12-16 at the prestigious KeyBank Country Classic horse show at Hunter Creek Farm near Wilsonville.

In show jumping, the horse must navigate a course of approximately 18 obstacles up to 5 feet by 6 feet within the limited time period. The height and width of the course's fences depends upon the type of class being offered. Penalties or faults are incurred if a horse knocks down, refuses to jump or falls at an obstacle or jump.

The hunter competitions are much more subjective than show jumping. The judges in this category look for style, beauty and quality. Winners are those with horses that best approximate the ideal mount for a ride to the hounds, or fox hunt.

Aside from watching the top participants in equestrian sports, fans at the Key Bank Country Classic will enjoy the Jack Russell terrier races.

Originating from the British fox hunting tradition, the races began as a way to train the dogs for a real hunt. Today, the races have evolved into more of a spectator sport for people to view the dogs' amusing antics.

Friday, July 14, is Kid's Day, in which admission for a group with a child is $1 per person, including the child. Pony rides, a petting zoo, face painting and a photo on a pony will be available for $1. Also, food vendors offer food or beverages for $1.

The Key Bank Classic benefits the Assistance League of Portland, a nonprofit organization that services children and adults in need. The Assistance League provides free dental care for more than 30,000 children of low-income families. New jackets and other basic clothing items are also given to children in need. Through its Human Outreach Program, volunteers make a difference in the lives of abuse victims and their children.

Having galloped away once before with the Key Bank grand prize, Jeff Campf of Wilsonville is returning to the Grand Prix ring for yet another challenge.

An international competitor, Campf is a crowd favorite and a dominant competitor at shows throughout North America and Canada. Winning more than 20 grand prix during his career, he is equally successful in hunter competition.

He is a three-time Canadian Show Jumping Champion and represented the Northwest region at the World Hunter Rider Championship in 1996. Though he has been an avid sports enthusiast, competing in hockey, football and rugby at elite levels, Campf says horses are his true love.

Along with his competitive skills, Campf is a successful trainer. He and his wife, Shelley, run Oz Inc., a Wilsonville training center with about 35 students. He has coached the Canadian Young Riders team to a gold medal victory in the Continental Young Riders Championships Show Jumping competition, and also coached members of the 1998 Canadian Equestrian Show Jumping and Three-day Event teams before they headed to the Seoul Olympic Games.

"I've had the opportunity to play a lot of sports, and I've gone to school to get an education," said Campf. "The absolute honest truth is there is nothing else I've ever done that I could continue to get up at 5:30 every morning to do."

The Key Bank Country Classic is open to the public from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. Admission is $5 per person, excluding Kid's Day at $1 per person. For more information, call 625-7818.

Father's Day is a
big hit for golfer

Fred Quintero didn't think Father's Day could get any better. After all, he was with his 15-year-old son Marcos. They were enjoying a day on the links at the Oregon City Golf Club. And the weather wasn't too shabby for mid-June in Oregon.

Then Quintero stepped to the tee of the par-4 seventh hole and hit the shot of his life. The ball sailed 266 yards and rolled right into the cup.

Even though he was using a driver, Quintero never imagined his tee shot would carry that far.

"There were three girls on the green," Quintero said. "I figured they were safe - and then the ball went in."

As coach of the Senior Federal baseball team in Canby, Quintero has seen a lot of memorable moments in sports. But he'll never forget the day the ball went in the hole.

"It was my first hole-in-one," said Quintero, who began golfing 18 years ago. "I thought it was neat that I did it on Father's Day, and my kid was with me."