Saunders seems destined for sixth national title

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Jennifer Sanders (JOHN WOODS)

JENNIFER SAUNDERS is on the cusp of another national racquetball title.

The Winnipegger advanced to the final of the women's singles event at the Racquetball Canada Senior Canadian Championships in Brossard, Que., after beating Quebec's Brandi Jacobson Prentice 2-0 (15-4, 15-7) Friday afternoon.

Saunders, the three-time defending champion and top seed in the bracket, takes on the No. 2-ranked Frederique Lambert in the championship final today (1 p.m.).

Lambert, a Montreal native, advanced to the title game after Josée Grand'Maitre -- Saunders' longtime women's doubles partner -- retired in the first set of their semifinal match with an injury.

Saunders, 35, steamrolled her way through the competition at the nationals this week.

Not only did she pick up another women's doubles crown with Grand'Maitre (their eighth title in 10 years), the defending champ has made short work of the competition in the singles draw.

In three games (six sets total), she has surrendered just 21 points against; a third of those coming in the final set against Jacobson Prentice in Friday's semi.

Saunders is trying to become the first woman to win four straight national championships since Heather Strupp won six in a row in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Saunders also won the Canadian women's title in 2002 and 2005.

Scholarships for Terriers

TWO members of the MJHL champion Portage Terriers have accepted scholarships south of the border, the league announced Friday.

Defenceman Yvan Pattyn is headed to the University of Vermont Catamounts for the 2012-13 season.

Vermont is a NCAA Division 1 program that plays out of the Hockey East Conference.

"Despite still being 18 years of age, he was one of the top defencemen in the league the two years he played in Portage," Terriers head coach and general manager Blake Spiller said in a statement.

"Yvan was a huge part of the success the hockey club has had during his time here."

Pattyn's older brother Stephane -- himself a former Terrier -- currently plays with the University of North Dakota.

The MJHL also announced that former Portage forward Shaq Merasty has accepted a scholarship to play at Adrian College, Michigan-based Division III school.

Senior Bowl goes today

THE graduating class of the 2012 Winnipeg High School Football League is getting together for one more game.

The annual Senior Bowl takes place at East Side Eagles Field at noon today, with players from different schools around Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario filling the rosters for two teams.

Former Manitoba Bisons quarterback and current Football Manitoba director John Makie will coach Team Potter, while current Winnipeg Rifles offensive line coach Chris Bochen will handle the sideline duties for Team Novak.

-- Adam Wazny

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition May 26, 2012 C6