1950 Game Reports, Vancouver, Lower Mainland, Fraser Valley     

1950 Vancouver, Lower Mainland, Fraser Valley 
1950 BC Interior 
1950 Vancouver Island

Map

Kingsway League

(July 31)  Westerns shaded Grandview Chiefs 2-1 in a Kingsway League game at Central Park.  Kanik picked up the win with a six-hitter and helped at the plate with two hits.

Kanik (W) and McDonald
Craig (L), Bogdanovich (7) and Robinson

(August 2)  Grandview Chiefs downed Steveston 5-2 Wednesday behind a five-hit pitching performance by Ross Arnold.

Matheson (L) and Bellamy
Arnold (W) and Robinson

(August 3)   Collingwood edged Steveston 7-6 Thursday night at Central Park. Centre fielder Blackhall slugged a homer for the winners. Jenkinson was credited with the win in relief of McGuire. Gainor took the loss.

McGuire, Jenkinson (2) and Paialunga
Gainor (L) and Bellamy

(August 6)   Westerns rallied for two runs in the bottom of the 9th to edge Grandview 9-8 Sunday at Central Park.

McDonovitch, Connell (6), Brews (6), Scambler (9) and Robertson
Liskis, Surphlis (2) and McDonald, Massey (2)

(August 8)   Hec McDonald of Westerns is the leader in the batting race in the latest statistics released by publicity director James W. Kennedy.  McDonald has a .419 mark in 31 at bats.  Doug Adams of Grandview is the runner-up with a .401 average.

   Hec McDonald WES         31  13    .419
   Adams Doug GRV           70  28    .401
   Lamont Dale SBA          44  17    .387
   Thirsk Bruce WES         56  20    .357
   Bertram Harvey GRV       69  24    .348
   Bud Lennox SBA           38  13    .342
   Bellamy Vince HS         65  22    .339
   Robinson Wendell LGY     85  28    .330
   Greaves Tommy GRV        71  22    .324
   Biggan Jim HS            70  22    .314
   Robinson Harry GRV       85  26    .306

(August 9)  Winning pitcher Gary Zailo slugged a pair of home runs to lead the Westerns to a 12-8 victory over Collingwood Wednesday night. Westerns, who trailed 4-0 after the first inning, erupted for eight runs in the 5th to come from behind for the triumph. Collies out-hit the winners 12 to 7 with Ken Paialunga leading the way with three hits, including a triple and double, and three runs scored.

Maguire, Alton (5), Jenkinson (5) and Paialunga
Donaldson, Zailo (W) (3) and Massey

(August 11)   South Burnaby widened its lead in the Kingsway League with an 8-5 decision over Grandview Chiefs. Catcher Dale Lamont had two hits, one a triple, and drove in a pair for the winners. Jerry Ricketts belted a homer and knocked in three runs for the Chiefs. Lorne Drummond, in relief of starter Al Booth, blanked Grandview over the last five innings for the win.

Booth, Drummond (W) (3) and Lamont
Craig (L) and Robinson

(August 13)  Grandview defeated Langley 12-9 Sunday to clinch second place in the standings. The Chiefs ran up a 12-3 lead before a furious 9th inning rally by the home squad.  Langley scored six in the 9th but still fell short although out-hitting the winners 13 to 10.  Ross Arnold was the winning pitcher.

Drew, Arnold (W) (1), Bogdanovich (9) and Robinson
Hantor (L), Hoodekoff (6) Gillies (9) and Larkin

(August 13)  At Central Park, South Burnaby kept rolling defeating Collingwood 7-1.The Athletics broke a 1-1 tie with three in the 5th and coasted to the victory.  Grant Lapthorne, the first of three Burnaby hurlers, picked up the win.

Lapthorne (W), Ruckbrough (6), Forbes (8) and Mulhern, Hallgren (8)
Hlady (L), Jenkinson (8) and Paialunga

(August 15)   Steveston Hotel rapped out 11 hits in downing Grandview 7-1 at Central Park.  Jim Biggan, Vince Bellamy, Daniels and Matheson each had two safeties for the winners. Matheson went the distance with a five-hitter for the win.

Connell (L), Scambler (4) and Robinson
Matheson (W) and Bellamy

(August 16)   Westerns' Kanik fired a two-hitter Wednesday night, with ten strikeouts, to shutout Langley 4-0.  Kanik also had one of four hits for the winners and scored two runs.

Hunter (L) and Larkin
Kanik (W) and J. Massey

(August 17)   Westerns slugged four homers to trounce Steveston 10-5 at Oak Park.  Kanik, with a homer, triple and single, drove in five runs for the winners. Taylor, Bruce Thirsk, and Palek also had four-baggers. Thirsk added two singles.

Zailo, Surphlis (4) and J. Massey
Davis (L) and Bellamy

(August 18)   Langley's Hoodekoff tossed a neat two-hitter to hang a 7-1 defeat on Collingwood. Larkin and Grant each had two hits for the Prairie.

Hlady (L) and Larkin
Hoodekoff (W) and Paialunga

(August 19)   Frank Kozak had a homer and knocked in four runs as South Burnaby beat Westerns 6-2 on the weekend.  Lorne Drummond went the route for the pitching win.

Kanik (L) and J. Massey
Drummond (W) and Mulhern

(August 21)   Langley Prairie moved closer to the finals of the Kingsway Baseball League last night nosing out Steveston 10-9 in a thrilling contest at Central Park.  Langley used three hurlers to secure the victory.

(August 25)  Doug Adams of Grandview won the individual batting championship for the 1950 season, finishing at a .414 clip.  Dale Lamont of South Burnaby was his closest challenger with a .396 mark. Bruce Thirsk of Westerns was third with a .388 average.

Final Standings
South Burnaby A`s    23 -  6 
Grandview Chiefs     17 - 12  6.0
Langley Prairie      16 - 15  8.0
Steveston Hotel      15 - 16  9.0
Westerns             13 - 16 10.0
Collingwood           5 - 24 18.0

Playoffs : 

(August 27)  Langley downed Burnaby 6-3 Sunday to knot their semi-final series at one game apiece. Hunter tossed a four-hitter for the win.

Drummond (L) and Mulhern
Hunter (W) and Larkin

(August 27)  Grandview Chiefs took the lead in their semi-final taking an 11-10 decision over Steveston in a slugfest at Central Park. Chiefs blew an 8-1 lead before rallying with a run in the bottom of the 9th for the win. Tommy Greaves led a 15-hit offensive with three safeties and three runs scored. Jim Biggan had three hits for the losers. George Bogdanovich, who put down a Steveston rally in the 7th received credit for the win.

Crosato, Mathewson (7) and Bellamy
Arnold, Scambler (7), Bogdanovich (W) (7) and Robinson

(August 28)   Grandview dumped Steveston 9-1 Monday to win a berth in the league final. Led by the heavy hitting of Jerry Ricketts and Freddy Hole, the Chiefs breezed to the victory. George Bogdanovich held Steveston to seven hits in hurling the win.  Russ Richardson took the loss.

Bogdanovich (W) and Robinson
Richardson (L), Matheson (6) and Bellamy

(August 30)   Burnaby, the runaway pennant-winners, moved on to the final of the Kingsway League downing Langley 5-2. The A`s scored two in the first and another three in the second to build up enough for the win. Frank Kozak`s two-run double was the big blow of the 2nd frame.

Booth (W) and Larkin
xxx and Lamont

(September 4)   Grandview emerged as the champions of the Haney Labour Day Tournament. Chiefs defeated South Burnaby 3-0, the Steveston-Collingwood combine 4-2and Haney 11-8 in the playoff final.

(September 6)   The opening game of the final between South Burnaby and Grandviewended in a 6-6 draw.

Drummond, Mathews (4), Forbes (5) and Mulhern
Craig, Drew (4), Connell (5) and Robinson

(September 8)   Brian Philley provided a story book finish to the Kingsway League final series playoff last night clouting a pinch-hit, bases-loaded homer in the 5th and final inning to give South Burnaby an 8-6 triumph over Grandview in the abbreviated contest. Burnaby was on the short end of a 6-2 count in the final frame when shortstop Bill Kinder belted a two-run homer to bring the A`s to within two, at 6-4.  With the bases full, and two out, Philley was sent to hit for pitcher Don Forbes. He drove the second pitch past the left fielder all the way to the other side of the road.

Booth, Forbes, Drummond and Lamont
Bogdanovich, Scambler and Robinson

(September 10)    South Burnaby has taken a 2-0 game lead in the Kingsway final series after downing Grandview Chiefs 2-1 Sunday at Central Park.  Some 2,000 fans witnessed a pitching duel between two former Collingwood hurlers, Jack Connell of the Chiefs and Eldy Mathews of Burnaby.  Mathews went seven innings allowing just two hits before being replaced by Lorne Drummond. Connell gave up six hits and struck out 11. Burnaby got the winning run in the 7th inning in unusual fashion. With the bases loaded, coach Ed Henry called for a triple steal and it worked as Jim Kelly came in from third to plate the run. 

Burnaby broke a scoreless tie in the 5th when Bill Kinder tripled and Jerry Hallgren`s infield grounder took a bad hop to get past Chiefs`second sacker Doug Adams. Grandview got its only run in the 9th as Adams doubled and came around on Don MacKay`s single.  Athletics rang up eight stolen bases.

Connell (L) and Robinson
Mathews, Drummond (W) (7) and Mulhern

(September 11)    Grandview edged Burnaby 3-2 for the Chiefs first win in the final series. Each team had just fives hits.  Tommy Greaves and Jerry Ricketts each had a pair for the winners. Jerry Hallgren had two for the Athletics. Veteran left-hander Ross Arnold tossed four shutout innings for the Chiefs before Burnaby got two in the 5th on Ed Henry`s pinch hit single to pull to within a run. But, reliever George Bogdanovich pitched shutout ball the rest of the way.

Forbes (L), Booth (4) and Lamont
Arnold (W), Bogdanovich and Robinson

(September 17)   Grandview and Burnaby split a double-header Sunday forcing a seventh and deciding game of the Kingsway playoff final.  Some 4,000 fans crowded into suburban Central Park for the two games. Burnaby took the first game 8-7 with a five-run uprising in the 5th inning. The A`s overcame a 5-0 Chiefs`lead after two innings. Bill Kinder, Tommy Greaves and Jimmy Russell belted homers. Reliever Lorne Drummond was credited with the win.

Mathews, Drummond (W) (2), Forbes (7) and Mulhern
Bogdanivich, Connell (5) and Robinson

Jerry Ricketts drove in the only run of the second game with a 7th inning single to score Don MacKay as the Chiefs evened the series with the 1-0 victory.  MacKay had reached on a fielder`s choice and advanced on a walk to pitcher Ross Arnold. Arnold was superb on the hill for Grandview holding the Burnaby to three hits.  He walked two and struck out four. Loser Al Booth was almost as good with a five-hitter, one of them a triple by catcher Harry Robinson

Booth (L) and Lamont
Arnold (W) and Robinson

(No report found yet on the final game)


Industrial Union League (7 Innings games)

(July 27)   The Vancouver Nisei received a warm welcome as they warmed up for the first league game on the familiar Powell Stree Grounds since the fameed Asahis cavorted on the same diamond nearly a decade ago. Nisei dropped a 10-8 decision to Western Bridge in their first venture in the Senior "B" Industrial Baseball League. Western took advantage of some early jitters by the Japanese nine to notch five runs in the first inning.  Nisei roared back to take a 6-5 lead in the fourth as Danny Okana cracked a bases-loaded homer. But, Western added five more in the late innings to rack up the triumph.  Min Koyanagi led the losers with four hits.  Tumpy Hinada, from Oyama, handled the mound work for the Nisei.

(August 3)   Western Bridge rapped out 11 hits to dump Machinists 8-5.  Mauro with pair of doubles and Gutenberg with a triple and single led the attack. Ernie Thrower picked up the win.

Thrower (W) and Mauro
Makarenko, Clark and Gunnlaugson

(August 5)   Rondpre fired a one-hit shutout Saturday as Longshoremen notched a 1-0 win over Western Bridge. Jerry Blitch allowed just three hits in taking the loss.

Rondpre (W) and Smith
Blitch (L) and Mauro

(August 6)   Sunday, Boilermakers scored the only in the bottom of the 8th to blank Machinists 1-0. Vickers, who gave up four hits, got the win. Dick Phipps, who pitched a two-hitter, took the loss.

Phipps (L) and Gunnlaugson
Vickers (W) and Peters

(August 8)   Boilermakers made it a three-way tie for first place, with the Longshoremen and Western Bridge, following a 12-3 thumping of the Machinists Tuesday night.  Right fielder Strat led the offense with three hits, one a double, and two runs batted in.  Patrick tossed a four-hitter for the pitching win. However, he walked six.

Keil (L), Phipps (3) and Phillips, Gunnlaugson (3)
Patrick (W) and Peters

(August 10)  With all five runs in the 7th and final inning, Boilermakers, with just five hits overall, downed Western Bridge 5-1. Vickers pitched into the 7th for the win. First baseman Mauro of the Westerns led the hitters with a triple and double.

Vickers (W), Patrick (7) and Peters
Western (L) and Caswell

(August 12)   With a three-run 7th inning, Boilermakers nosed out Longshoremen 6-5 Saturday.  Patrick with a four-hitter was the winning pitcher.

Patrick (W) and Peters
Rondpre, Litzen and Smith

(August 13)  Machinists combined seven hits, ten walks and five errors to thrash the Boilermakers 12-0 Sunday. Catcher Ray Gunnlaugson led the offense with three hits.  He knocked in a pair and scored two. Elgin Keil had two hits and two runs. Willie Makarenko went the distance for the Machinists with a four-hitter. He fanned five and walked two.

W. Makarenko (W) and Gunnlaugson
Ron Hemmerling (L), Beaulieu (2), Patrick (5) and Hume

(August 15)   Longshoremen opened with three runs in the first inning to set the stage for an easy 9-4 victory over Western Bridge.  Bailey had three hits to lead the winners. S. Makarenko held Westerns to three hits to post the mound decision.

Roxborough (L) and Caswell
S. Makarenko (W) and Smith

Playoffs : 

(August 17)  Machinists dumped Boilermakers 6-2 to win their semi-final series in two straight.  Willie Makarenko was the winning hurler besting Patrick of the the Boilermakers. 

Patrick (L) and Peters
W. Makarenko (W) and Gunnlaugson

(August 20)    Longshoremen advanced to the Industrial League final series Sunday by down Western Bridge 17-10 to take the semi-final set in two straight. The winners rapped 15 hits, three by centre fielder Dean. Dale, Smith, J. Hemmerling and V. Rondpre each had two. Bailey had just one but it was the longest of the night, a homer. Mauro led Western Bridge with three safeties, a triple and double included.

Bailey, R. Rondpre (3) and V. Rondpre
Blitch (W), Western (6) and Mauro

(August 22)   Machinists took the opening game of the final series 4-0 over the Longshoremen.  Catcher Ray Gunnlaugson led the winners with two hits and two runs scored.  Dick Phipps held the Longshoremen to six hits in hurling the shutout.

Litzen (L), S. Makarenko (2) and Smith
Phipps (W) and Gunnlaugson

(August 24)    Longshoremen rallied for five runs in the final inning to notch a 7-5 win over Machinists to even the final series at one game apiece.  Foster had two hits, one a double, two runs scored and two runs batted in to lead the winners.

W. Makarenko (L) and Gunnlaugson
S. Makarenko, Litzen (W) (6) and Smith, R. Rondpre

(August 26)   Longshoremen and Machinists fought to a 5-5 draw Saturday in a game called after five innings because of darkness.

Litzen and V. Rondpre
Phipps and Gunnlaugson

(August 27)    The Industrial League final is tied at two games each as the Longshoremen and Machinists split a Sunday double-header. R. Rondpre hurled a one-hitter for Longshoremen in the first game in an 8-0 victory. Longshoremen scored all eight runs in the third inning.

W. Makarenko, Phipps and Gunnlaugson
R. Rondpre and V. Rondpre

Machinists took an early 5-0 lead in the second game and held on for a 5-3 triumph.

S. Makarenko (L), R. Rondpre and V. Rondpre
Clark (W) and Gunnlaugson

(August 29)     The Industrial League final series remains deadlocked at two games as darkness forced a halt to last night`s contest.  After trailing 4-1, Machinists went ahead 6-4 in the top of the 7th but the game was then called with the score reverting to the last full inning.  Machinists protested and Longshoremen agreed to replay the game.

(September 3)  Longshoremen moved to within a game of the title with a 6-3 win over Machinists on Sunday.

Clark, W. Makarenko and Gunnlaugson
R. Rondpre (W) and V. Rondpre

(September 4)   Machinists captured the Industrial League championship Monday, taking both games of a double-header to win the best-of-seven series four games to three. In the first game a three-run 4th inning proved to be the difference. 

R. Rondpre, S. Makarenko (2), Litzen (4) and V. Rondpre
W. Makarenko (W) and Gunnlaugson

In the deciding game of the best-of-seven series, the teams were tied 6-6 after six innings before the Machinists broke loose for five runs in the 7th to take the title with an 11-6 triumph. Ray Gunnlaugson had two hits, one a double and scored twice for the winners. Marsh added a triple and double and Evans had a triple and single. Willie Makarenko, winner in the first game, picked up the mound decision in the second contest as well in relief of starter Barrillaro.

Barrillaro, W. Makarenko (W) (3) and Gunnlaugson
Litzen (L) and R. Rondpre


(Dec 15)  The St. Louis Browns announced the signing of four promising Vancouver area youngsters -- Jerry Hallgren, Frank Kozak, Ivan Spees and Frank Vaselenak.  The foursome will report to the Browns' training camp this spring at Redding, California. Kozak will then push on to Aberdeen, South Dakota of the class "C" Northwest League. Hallgren will play for Redding of the class "D" Far West lop. Spees and Valelenak will be posted after training.