Blue Jays Instructor John Hashimoto teaches a group of young players proper baserunning technique Saturday morning at Connaught Park. The Jays went over the basics with more than 90 area ball players Saturday. For the full story, see this week’s print edition. (Josh Howald photo)

By Josh Howald

The Bruce County Barbarians are getting closer and closer to a Niagara Rugby Union A Division championship. Bruce County now controls its own destiny after dismantling the St. Catharines Tigers 50-0 in Kincardine Saturday afternoon.

Paul Smith of the Bruce County Barbarians reaches for a loose ball on a St. Catharine’s line-out during first half action Saturday afternoon at KDSS. (Josh Howald photo)

Elisabeth McDonald of the Tim Hortons under-4 white team smothers the ball after a fantastic save Saturday at the KMSA's year-end tournament Saturday morning. For more photos from the tournament, see this week's print edition. (Josh Howald photo)

By Josh Howald

It’s hockey time once again in the dog pound.

The Kincardine Bulldogs were back on Davidson Centre ice Sunday afternoon as the team’s main training camp opened. The ‘Dogs have previously been on the ice once, three weeks ago for an early skate in Goderich.

Sunday, about 30 players were skating under the watchful eye of the ‘Dogs coaching staff. It’s a little bit smaller camp than usual this season, as General Manager Doug Kennedy has already signed 14 players to cards.

“There are a few other players we are close to signing,” said Kennedy Sunday. “But we have to work on getting a few releases (from other teams) and wait for some cuts from Junior A and B camps.”

A surprise out of Windsor and a forfeit in Port Elgin has moved the Bruce County Barbarians into first place overall in the Niagara Rugby Union A Division.

The Cambridge Pirates, who were sitting one point ahead of Bruce County in the standings, were upset 38-5 by the Windsor Rogues, while the Grimsby Gentlemen were forced to forfeit a 28-0 decision to the Barbs after arriving in Port Elgin with just 10 players. After the weekend developments, Bruce County (10-1) now sits three points ahead of the Pirates in first place.

In Port, though the Gentlemen were forced to forfeit as 12 players are needed for a game, the teams still played an exhibition contest with Bruce County loaning five players to Grimsby for the game.

Tainnen Stone, left, has a heavy kick blocked by Bailey Meyer during under-8 soccer action Saturday morning. Stone's New Orleans team from Tiverton downed Meyer's McDonald's squad 5-2 in this contest. (Josh Howald photo)

By Josh Howald

Backside5, an action sports clothing company, was officially launched in Houston, Texas over the weekend. The man behind the clothes is Kincardine native Darren Smegal.

The name, backside5, is a nod to a backside 540, a trick that features a rotation and a half on a skateboard, wakeboard or snowboard. Therefore, “it’s a name that resonates with all the action athletes,” said Smegal from Texas Wednesday afternoon.

“I’m huge into wakeboarding now,” he said. “And I’ve always been a snowboarder. We’re aiming this at the younger cats that live that kind of lifestyle.”

The Bruce County Barbarians will not play in Kincardine tomorrow (Saturday) as originally scheduled.

Saturday's game will now be played at the CAW Field in Port Elgin at 3 p.m. The Grimsby Gentlemen will travel to Port to face the 9-1 Barbarians.

Head coach Martin O'Connor said Friday morning the club has been doing improvements to the surface of the KDSS field. It was recently top-dressed and fertilized, and it will need another week of growth.

Nest Saturday's game will take place at Kincardine Distrcit Secondary School in Kincardine.