1962 Vancouver, Lower Mainland, Fraser Valley
1962 BC Interior
1962 Vancouver Island
OKANAGAN MAINLINE LEAGUE
(April 15) The defending champion Kelowna Labatts kicked off the new season Sunday splitting a double-header with the visiting Merritt Metros. Merritt took the first game 6-4, in 12 innings, with Kelowna battling back for a 6-5 win in the second game, called after five innings because of darkness. Metros scored their first run of the season with a bases loaded walk to Bruno Ceccon in the second inning. Labatts tied it in the fourth on an error then took the lead with three runs in the fifth on five hits and three errors. As reliever Larry Webster blanked Kelowna after relieving in the seventh, Merritt fought back to tie at 4-4 then in the 12th, Bill Martino reached second on an error and scampered home on John Kotchin's drive for a tie-breaking run and Frank Bredick followed with a liner to centre to bring in an insurance marker. Bud Englesby was the hard-luck loser going all 12 innings.
Kim Elliott, Larry Webster (W) (7) and Radies
Englesby (L) and xxx
Kelowna broke loose for four runs in the first inning of the second game but Metros got one of their own as Russ Graff drove in John Kotchin. In the fifth, Kotchin's three-run homer put Merritt in the lead 5-4 but Labatts bounced back with with two in the bottom of the fifth to claim the triumph.
xxx and xxx
Bill Martino (L) and xxx
(April 15) Showing mid-season form, the Kamloops Okonots demolished the Penticton Red Sox 25-7 in their opening game of the new season. The Okonots combined 14 hits with eight Sox errors to romp to the victory. Penticton threatened in the fifth inning with a six-run outburst to pull to within a run but Kamloops followed with five of their own in their next at bat to put the game on ice. Buddy Schollen was the winning hurler with relief by Bill Cliff. Jim Alton cracked a homer for Kamloops while Grant replied for the losers.
Schollen (W), Cliff (5) and Anderson
Dagneau (L), Bush (2), McNeil (5), Preen (7), Grant (8), Christiansen (8) and Specht
(April 22) Merritt Metros were successful in their home opener Sunday crushing Trail Smoke Eaters 13-1 and 9-3 at Voght Park. In the first game, Merritt put the game out of reach scoring seven times in the sixth inning in sending 12 batters to the plate. Larry Webster held the visitors to four hits.
J. Ferguson (L), McIntyre (6) and Miele
Larry Webster (W) and Radies
Lefty Carl Sheeley held the Smokies to six hits in the second game as Merritt came from behind with five runs in the fourth inning. Catcher Bob Radies scored five times for the winners.
Johnson (L) and McIntyre
Carl Sheeley (W). Martino (3), Sheeley (3) and Radies
(April 22) Oliver OBCs opened their 1962 campaign on a winning note blanking Penticton Red Sox 5-0 as Gary Driessen fired a four-hitter for the shutout besting Howie McNeil of the Sox, who also yielded just four hits. The game was played at Summerland as the OBCs await the end of construction of their new diamond at Oliver.
McNeil (L) and Specht
Driessen (W) and Hocksteiner
(April 22) Vernon Luckies pounded out 17 hits but needed an extra inning to shade Kamloops 7-6. Luckies took the lead in the fifth on a three-run homer by Alex Kashuba. Okonots rallied in the bottom of the sixth to tie at 3-3 and then went ahead 6-3 in the seventh. Vernon hurler Gary Barnes smacked a homer in the eighth and Kashuba cracked a two-run homer in the ninth to tie the game at 6-6. Barnes won his own game in the tenth when he smacked a lead-off single, advanced on a sacrifice and romped home on a single by third baseman Ray Adams. 17-year-old Bob Davoren was the mound loser but knocked in a pair of runs with two singles for Kamloops.
Barnes (W) and Kashuba
Davoren (L) and Kato
(April 29) Merritt Metros thrilled the home crowd at Voght Park Sunday with a sensational comeback to down Kelowna Labatts 10-9 in the second game of a twin bill after winning the opener 5-1. Bill Martino's two-run homer in the eighth inning of the second game was the winning blow. In the fourth inning Kelowna had an 8-0 advantage and they added a run in the sixth to go ahead 9-4, Merritt charged back with four markers in the seventh on hits by Harry Kimura, Martino, Russ Graff and Keith Cousins to set the stage for Martino's heroics in the eighth. Larry Webster, who tossed a five-hitter for the win in the first game, blanked Kelowna for three innings to pick up the win in the nightcap. Bruno Ceccon drove in four runs for the winners.
xxx and xxx
Larry Webster (W) and Radies
xxx and xxx
Carl Sheeley, Bill Martino, Webster (W) (7) and Radies
(April 29) In a twin-bill at Oliver the OBCs came from behind in both games to notch 6-5 and 10-9 one-run victories over the Kamloops Okonots. In the opener, Oliver trailed 5-1 after one frame but gradually pulled ahead while three Kamloops hurlers issued seven straight walks. In the second game, Oliver capitalized on three hits and two walks in the final inning to escape with the victory.
(April 29) Vernon notched a win in its home opener downing Penticton 13-3 behind the hurling of Stan Dagneau.
xxx and xxx
Dagneau (W) and xxx
(May ?) A late offensive explosion piloted the hosting Kelowna Labatts to a 5 to 3 OMBL victory over the pesky Penticton Red Sox at Elks’ Stadium. The visitors led 3 – 2 as the Labatts prepared to take their swings against ultimate losing heaver Bob Elliott in the eighth episode. The tying run crossed the plate after singles by Jack Burton, Nick Bulach, Wayne Leonard and winning reliever Les Schaeffer. Then, a safety squeeze bunt by Les Brice sent Bulach across the pan with the tie-breaker. Leonard added an insurance tally shortly thereafter. Schaeffer belted a solo round-tripper for the victors in the third inning.
Elliott (L) and Richards
Englesby, Schaeffer (W) (6) and Leonard
(May 6) At Polson Park, Vernon, Merritt Metros ran their winning streak to six games with a sweep of a twin-bill, 4-3 and 3-2. Again, Larry Webster was a star for the winners, picking up pitching wins in both games and driving in the deciding marker in the ninth inning of the second game. In the opener, Vernon took the lead with three runs in the fifth frame but Merritt quickly rebounded to tie with three in the sixth on a walk to Bruno Ceccon, a double by John Kotchin and single by Bill Martino. In the ninth, a single by Russ Graff brought in Ceccon with the winner.
Larry Webster (W) and Radies
Kashuba (L) and Kornitsky
In the second game, again Merritt won it in the final frame. With the score tied at 2-2, Webster who relieved starter Bill Martino in the seventh, came up with two runners aboard and launched a single to score Keith Cousins to hand the win to the Metros.
Bill Martino, Webster (W) (7) and Radies
Barnes (L) and Schmidt
(May 6) Kamloops Okonots swept a double-header from Trail 6-0 and 1-0 as Derek McGillivray and Bob Davoren tossed the shutouts, McGillivray with a three-hitter and Davoren with a nine-hit second game. Morey "Mickey" Johnston hurled both games for Trail. The 19-year-old sophomore right-hander allowed just six hits in the opener and four in the second game. First sacker Buck Buchanan led the winners in the opener with a two-run homer while Stan Kato knocked in a pair with two singles. In the one-run second game, rookie right fielder Bernie McSherry doubled and scored on a sac fly in the eighth inning for the game's lone marker.
Johnston (L) and McIntyre
McGillivray (W) and Anderson
Johnston (L) and McIntyre
Davoren (W) and Anderson
(May 6) In spite of being out-hit 10-7, Kelowna Labatts topped Oliver 5-2 behind the home run wallops by Gerry Robertson, Frank Fritz and Wayne Leonard. Bud Englesby managed to go the distance for the win besting Gary Driessen.
Englesby (W) and Burton
Driessen (L) and Hocksteiner
(May 13) Merritt, now called the Luckies, extended their winning streak to eight games Sunday at Voght Park shading Oliver 4-3 in the first of two before running wild in a 21-10 victory in the second game. The visitors, determined to take home at least one triumph, had brought in Tom Sisul, a semi-pro hurler from Tacoma, Washington, but he lasted less than an inning as Merritt smacked five consecutive hits in the first inning to take a 3-0 lead. Larry Webster went seven innings for the pitching win, his sixth without a loss.
Tom Sisul, Gary Driessen (L) (1) and xxx
Larry Webster, Bill Martino (W) (6) and xxx
The second contest developed into a slugfest in which Merritt galloped off to a 10-1 lead before the visitors narrowed the gap with five in the third and three in the fifth. An eight-run explosion by the Luckies in the sixth put the game out of reach. Russ Graff had two hits in the big inning and Alex Hunchak poked a two-run triple. Gary Driessen smacked a homer for Oliver in the seventh and last frame.
Sisul (L) Driessen, Al Hooker and xxx
Webster, Martino (W) and xxx
(May 13) Kamloops shortstop Stan Kato scored six times Sunday as the Okonots took advantage of a rash of early errors and free passes to whip Penticton 16-3. It was the fourth straight defeat for the Red Sox. Okonots pushed across seven runs in the first two innings. Howie McNeil managed to go the distance for the losers racking up nine strikeouts but walking ten.
xxx (W) and xxx
McNeil (L) and xxx
(May 13) Vernon Luckies exploded for four runs in the eighth inning to dump Kelowna Labatts 8-2 Sunday. The teams wasted little time putting on a power display with each smacking two homers in the first inning. Lee Day and Frank Fritz cracked the four-baggers for Kelowna while Russ Keckalo and Johnny Kashuba had the round-trippers for Vernon. Luckies took the lead in the fourth as Jim Moro slammed a triple. Kashuba highlighted the Vernon tally in the eighth with his second homer of the day. Kelowna's Gerry Goyer was robbed of a home run in the ninth when right-fielder John Kashuba went to the fence and reached over the barrier to nab Goyer's drive.
Schaefer, Englesby (3) and xxx
Barnes (W) and xxx
(May 20) Elroy Jacobs of Oliver is the batting leader in the early going in the Okanagan Mainline League with a .533 average in 15 at bats. Russ Keckalo of Vernon is the runner-up with a .473 mark and Russ Graff of Merritt is third, hitting .437. Bill Martino of Merritt leads in runs, 12, and hits, 13. Larry Webster of Merritt is the winningest hurler with six wins and no losses. Gary Driessen of Oliver has three wins and one loss. Webster is tops in ERA with a 1.18 mark.
(May 22) Merritt vs Penticton
(May 26-27) Trail Smoke Eaters notched a weekend double-header victory over Vernon, 9-8 and 6-3. The first game, on Saturday, was called at midnight due to a city bylaw, with the count tied 8-8. They finished up on Sunday going 14 innings before notching the winning run. They didn't wait long in the Sunday game to run up the score pushing across five markers in the first inning.
xxx and xxx
xxx and xxx
D.Armstrong (W) and xxx
xxx and xxx
(May 27) With a double-header sweep of the winless Penticton Red Sox, Merritt consolidated its hold on first place, jumping four games up on second place Oliver. Luckies whipped the Sox 7-0 and 10-4 at Voght Park Sunday. The victories ran Merritt's winning streak to ten games. Kim Elliott was a pitching and hitting star in the first game. He fired a third-hit shutout, fanning ten, and provided the key hit in the second inning driving in three runs with a two-bagger.
xxx and xxx
Kim Elliott (W) and xxx
Penticton, now 0-6 on the season, broke quickly in the second game with a pair in the first inning, but Bill Martino and Bruno Ceccon scored for the Luckies to knot the count. Red Sox again took the lead with a run in the third, but Ceccon again came home to tie the score. In the fourth, Merritt broke loose for five runs on a triple by Russ Graff, singles by Ceccon and Keith Cousins and a double-error. Graff had three doubles, a triple and single in the twin-bill. Harry Kimura drew five walks. Carl Sheeley yielded eight hits in going the route for the win for the Luckies.
xxx and xxx
Carl Sheeley (W) and xxx
(May 27) Oliver OBCs defeated Kamloops Okonots 22-7 and 8-4 Sunady banging out a total of 19 hits, including three home runs, while taking advantage of 22 walks given up by the Okonots hurlers. OBCs struck early in the opener scoring 14 runs in the second inning as they sent 18 batters to the plate. The big blow was a grand slam homer by Gary Driessen, the winning pitcher. Second baseman Elroy Jacobs and shortstop Al Hooker also poked homers for the winners. Driessen added a two-run single in that big second inning to give him six rbi in one inning. Jack Fowles and Buck Buchanan cracked circuit clouts for the losers. Oliver's Hall had a spectacular start in the second game hurling no-hit ball for five and two-thirds innings before Kamloops shortstop Stan Kato and second sacker Jim Alton produced consecutive singles. However, Hall also had control trouble walking eight batters before Driessen took over in the seventh. The second game was called after seven innings because of a curfew.
Schollen (L), Cliff (2), Beecroft, Fraser and xxx
Driessen (W) and xxx
Davoren (L), Buchanan, Schollen and xxx
Hall (W), Driessen (7) and xxx
(May 26-27) Kelowna Labatts split a weekend series at the Fairchild Air Force Base in Washington losing on Saturday 5-4 before coming on strong to cop the Sunday contest 9-4.
(June 2-3) Bud Englesby allowed just two hits and fanned ten Saturday as Kelowna Labatts downed Fairchild Air Force 4-2 in the first game of a weekend double-bill. Kelowna also took the Sunday contest 13-4. Les Schaefer struck out seven in going the route for the win in the Sunday game. Dave Turkington cracked a double and two singles for the winners with Gerry Robertson and Lee Day each with a pair. Dan Pinske slugged a two-run triple. Barnett had three hits for Fairchild.
xxx and Mafocha
Englesby (W) and xxx
Schaefer (W) and xxx
Maxwell (L), xxx (5) and xxx
(June 2-3) Kamloops split with Trail, winning 9-4 in the Saturday game with Al Collier leading the hit parade. Okonots scored three in the fourth and never looked back. Trail bounced back Sunday winning 8-4 as George McIntyre blasted a long triple and two singles to pace the offense. Owen Mailey added three singles and Tony DeRosa belted a triple and double. Morey Johnston was the winning hurler for Trail.
xxx and xxx
J.Ferguson (L) and xxx
Davoren (L) and xxx
M.Johnston (W) and xxx
Kim Elliott (W), Carl Sheeley (7) and Radies
McGinnis (L), J.Bush (4) and xxx
Luckies won the second game with a run in the fifth inning as Fred Bredick scored on a sacrifice fly by Doug Weeks. Earlier, Merritt twice had the bases loaded but couldn't score. Larry Webster got the win with relief help by Elliott. The game was called after five innings.
Larry Webster (W), Elliott (5) and xxx
J. Bush, (L). S.Dagneau (5) and xxx
(June 3) Vernon took a pair from Oliver 13-3 and 5-4. In the opener Vernon scored three in the first inning and coasted to the win behind the solid hurling of Gary Barnes who also picked up the win in the second game which went ten innings.
Barnes (W) and xxx
Driessen (L), xxx and xxx
xxx, Barnes (W) and xxx
Driessen (L) and xxx
Merritt 13 - 1
Vernon 5 - 4 5.5
Oliver 5 - 5 6.0
Kamloops 5 - 6 6.5
Trail 3 - 4 6.5
Kelowna 2 - 4 7.0
Penticton 0 - 8
10.0
(June 6) Minnesota Twins announced the signing of Allan Richards a left-handed hitting catcher from Penticton, BC. The 19-year-old attended Yakima, Washington, College. He's been assigned to Wytheville, Va. of the Class D Appalachian League.
[Richards ended up playing for just two seasons, hitting .210 with Wytheville and then .230 the following season in Class A ball with Bismarck-Mandan.]
(June 10) Trail Smoke Eaters upended the league-leading Merritt Luckies 6-5 in 13 innings and 14-5 in a weekend series to halt the Luckies 12 game winning streak. On Saturday, Merritt roared from behind to tie the game 5-5 with a three-run rally in the ninth inning. However, in the 13th, Trail pushed across the winner on an error. Smokies handed Larry Webster his first loss of the season. Jack Ferguson got the win in relief of Morey Johnston.
Kim Elliott, Bill Martino, John Brkich, Larry Webster (L) (10) and xxx
M.Johnston, J.Ferguson (W) and xxx
In the Sunday game, Trail clobbered Merritt's moundsmen for three homers, two doubles and six singles in the 14-5 victory. Again, Webster took the loss and Jack Ferguson was the winner. Don Holmes and Keith Healey smacked three-run shots to power the Trail attack.
Bill Martino suffered a serious injury in the eighth inning when knocked out of the game when hit by a knee. He was rushed to Trail General Hospital with a bruised kidney.
Larry Webster (L), John Brkich, Bob Radies and xxx
J.Ferguson (W) and xxx
In other weekend action, Oliver OBCs crushed the winless Penticton Red Sox 18-2 and Kamloops topped Vernon 11-3. Three Red Sox hurlers failed to stop the Oliver offensive and the OBCs had a 17-0 lead after four innings. Shortstop Chuck Preen finally took over the mound work and allowed just one run the rest of the game. Gary Driessen fired a two-hitter for the win.
McNeil (L), xxx, xxx, Preen and xxx
Driessen (W) and xxx
(June 14) Alex Kashuba cracked three consecutive home runs to power Vernon Luckies to a 9-5 win over Kelowna Labatts. Luckies also had circuit clouts from Russ Keckalo and Ray Adams while Wayne Leonard and Dan Pinske slugged four-baggers for Labatts.
Englesby (L), Schaefer and xxx
Barnes (W) and xxx
(June 17) After winning 13 of their first 14 games the Merritt Luckies suffered their second straight double-header defeat, losing to Oliver 10-0 and 4-1. Playing at Oliver, the home club jumped on previously unbeaten Kim Elliott for six runs on six hits, four for extra bases, in the first three innings. Gary Driessen hurled a gem for the winners allowing just two hits. Elroy Jacobs led the winners with a homer and double. Larry Webster pitched well for the Luckies in the second game, a seven hitter, but still got tagged with the loss as the Luckies left 11 men stranded. Their only run came in the fifth inning when Bob Radies scored on a sac fly. The team announced that Bill Martino would probably be lost to the club for the rest of the season. He remained in hospital in Trail Sunday after suffering a kidney displacement in a game last week. He has been cautioned to avoid physical exertion for at least two months.
Kim Elliott (L), Carl Sheeley and xxx
Gary Driessen (W) and xxx
Larry Webster (L) and xxx
xxx, Driessen and xxx
(June 17) At Vernon, the Luckies downed Kelowna 8-3 as lefty Gary Barnes recorded his sixth win of the season with a nine-hit effort. He fanned 13. Jack Wheelhouse cracked a homer for the Luckies. Les Schaefer took the loss.
Schaefer (L) and xxx
Barnes (W) and xxx
(June 21) Kelowna Labatts got home runs from left-fielder Rich Wickenheiser and shortstop Dan Pinske in a 7-4 victory over Oliver OBCs. Les Schaefer, with relief help by Bud Englesby, picked up the pitching win. Elroy Jacobs and Al Hooker poked homers for Oliver.
Schaefer (W), Englesby (6) and xxx
Driessen (L) and xxx
(June 21) Penticton went down to its 11th straight loss Thursday dropping a 10-6 verdict to Vernon. Red Sox had one more hit than the Luckies, nine to eight, but five errors made the difference. John Kashuba was credited with the win with relief help from Gary Barnes. Jack Wheelhouse cracked a homer for the winners.
Kashuba (W), Barnes (4) and Kornitski
McNeil (L), Bush (3), Preen (6) and Specht
(June 23-24) The surging Trail Smoke Eaters downed Oliver 3-2 Sunday after dropping a 2-0 decision to the OBCs on Saturday. Emery Johnson, with a superb, two hit, effort - both singles - recorded the win in Trail to best Dale Orr. Wayne Kew had three hits for Trail. Gary Driessen was the Saturday winner with a four-hitter while Jack Ferguson took the loss.
Driessen (W) and xxx
J.Ferguson (L) and xxx
D.Orr (L) and xxx
Emery Johnson (W) and xxx
(June 24) Elroy Jacobs, the league's leading hitter, is to report to the Vancouver Mounties for a tryout with the Pacific Coast League club.
(June 24) Kelowna Labatts scored a pair in the ninth to edge Kamloops Okonots 10-9. Okonots, playing at home had overcome a three-run deficit with a six run outburst in the sixth. But, Labatts tied it in the eighth when Frank Fritz, Lee Day and Rich Wickenheiser all belted homers. It was the second of the day for Wickenheiser who belted a three-run shot in the second inning. Buck Buchanan rapped a three-run homer for the Okonots. Bud Englesby went the distance for Kelowna, fanning ten, for the win.
Englesby (W) and xxx
Davoren, Cliff, J.Fowles (L) and xxx
(June 24) Vernon's ace moundsman, Gary Barnes, pitched and won both games of Sunday's double-header sweep of the Merritt Luckies. Barnes allowed just two hits in the first game as Vernon notched a 3-1 triumph. In the second game, first baseman Russ Keckalo cracked a pair of triples and a single as Vernon racked up ten runs to again top Merritt and take over first place in the league standings. Merritt's Larry Webster was saddled with the loss in the first game in spite of an outstanding four-hit effort.
Gary Barnes (W) and xxx
Larry Webster (L) and xxx
Gary Barnes (W) and xxx
Kim Elliott (L), Larry Webster, Carl Sheeley and xxx
(June 26) Alex Kashuba of Vernon is the top swatter in the Okanagan Mainline League carrying a .508 average in 57 at bats. He leads the loop in home runs, 9, runs batted in, 25, and hits, 29. Elroy Jacobs of Oliver is the runner-up with a .450 mark. Russ Keckalo of Vernon is third hitting .431. Gary Driessen of Oliver has posted the most wins, 8, but Gary Barnes of Vernon has the best percentage with a 7-1 record and a 1.88 earned run average.
Merritt 13 - 7
Vernon 10 - 5 0.5
Oliver 10 - 7 1.5
Trail 6 - 6 3.0
Kamloops 6 - 7 3.5
Kelowna 4 - 6 4.0
Penticton 0 - 11 8.5
(June 27) Three Kelowna hurlers combined on a four-hit shutout Wednesday as the Labatts downed winless Penticton Red Sox 4-0. Kelowna got a run in the fourth on a walk, an error, fielder's choice and single by centre fielder Lee Day. They added three in the fifth on a bases-loaded double by Wayne Leonard who had three hits. Vince Jarvis made the start for Labatts, his first appearance for Kelowna. Jarvis, Les Schaefer and Bud Englesby combined for 15 strikeouts. Schaefer got the win.
Preen (L) and xxx
Jarvis, Schaefer (W) (4), Englesby (7) and xxx
(July 1-2) Kelowna Dominion Day Tournament
(July 2) The New York Mets announced the signing of 21-year-old right-hander Harold Haddock of Merritt. Haddock, will receive $5,000 for signing and is due to report to Santa Barbara, California in the Class C League.
[Haddock pitched for three seasons in the Mets farm system starting with a 6-3, 3.32 rookie season in Class C ball at Santa Barbara. He had a huge workload in 1963 in Class A ball throwing 198 innings with 171 strikeouts and 122 walks with Salinas of the California League. He had a record of 10-21 for the last place team. He went 8-8 for Salinas and Auburn, New York in 1964, his final season.]
(July 4) After going down to defeat in 12 straight games the Penticton Red Sox finally captured their first win of the season Wednesday shading Kelowna Labatts 6-5. Chuck Preen, in relief of starter Terry Wilson, picked up the pitching win.
Englesby (L) and xxx
Wilson, Preen (W) and xxx
(July 6) The New York Yankees have signed Okanagan pitcher Reg Main to a contract. The 18-year-old right-hander will finish the season with Vernon of the Mainline League before working out next spring at Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Eddie Taylor, who lined up the deal for the Yankees, described the Okanagan as "untapped, virgin baseball territory."
[Main played for two seasons in the Yankee system, moving up to Class A in 1964 where he finished with a 6-5 record and 3.32 ERA]
(July 7) 18-year-old pitcher Derek McGillivray of Kamloops has been signed by the New York Yankees for an undisclosed bonus. It's the second time in a week the Yankees have reached into the BC Interior to sign a young hurler. McGillivray is a 6-2 right-hander.
[McGillivray played for just one summer in the Yankee system at Shelby in the Western Carolinas League and Harlan of the Appalachian League. Overall he was 5-7 with a 6.72 ERA]
(July 7) In a wild offensive display at Kelowna, Vernon, which earlier blew a 7-0 lead, exploded for six runs in the top of the ninth to take a 17-14 lead only to have Kelowna respond with four in the bottom of the ninth for an 18-17 victory. Lee Day rapped a two-run homer to make it 17-16 and Frank Fritz followed cracking the first pitch from Gary Barnes over the left field fence to tie the game. Jack Burton, who reached on a walk, scored the winner on a sacrifice fly by Gerry Goyer. The teams combined for 35 hits and 15 errors, nine by the winners. Hard hitting outfielder Alex Kashuba had powered Vernon into the early lead with a three-run homer in the first inning and a two-run blast in the third. Back to back homers by Jack Wheelhouse and Russ Keckalo highlighted Vernon's six-run ninth.
xxx, Barnes (L) and xxx
xxx, Englesby (W) and xxx
(July 12) Catcher Wayne Leonard rapped a two-run homer in the eighth inning Thursday to lead Kelowna Labatts to a 3-1 triumph over Oliver. The blow broke up a tight pitching duel between Bud Englesby of the winners and Gary Driessen of the OBCs. Englesby allowed just three hits and fanned 11.
Driessen (L) and xxx
Englesby (W) and xxx
(July 14) Trail Smoke Eaters took different routes to a double-header weekend sweep at home at Butler Park. On Saturday, the home squad rapped out 24 hits and capitalized on 11 Penticton errors in a 31-4 slaughter. Trail had a 14-0 lead after three innings, then added five in the fourth, three more in the fifth and nine in the seventh. Skip Ferguson led the winners with five hits and Owen Mailey added four. Tony DeRosa cracked a single, double and triple. Ferguson knocked in five runs. Larry Hale had a pair of doubles for the Red Sox.
On Sunday, Trail needed to come from behind to shade the Red Sox 3-2 while managing just four hits. The Sox played errorless ball in the Sunday game. Skip Ferguson went six innings for the pitching win in the opener. Morey Johnston allowed eight hits in getting the win in the Sunday game. Bob Caton took the loss in spite of a solid four-hitter.
Preen (L), McNeil (4), Kozak (5) and Specht
Ferguson (W), Guimont (7) and McIntyre
Caton (L) and Specht
Johnston (W) and McIntyre
(July 14-15) Kelowna Labatts swept a weekend series from the Mount Vernon, Washington, Pioneers. In the Saturday opener former Tacoma Giant Mike Carnahan fashioned a five-hitter in a 9-0 shutout over the Americans. An eight-run outburst in the fourth inning put the game away early. Two big homers highlighted the inning, Rich Wickenheiser's three-run homer and Dave Turkington's two-run shot.
The Sunday game went down to the wire with Kelowna prevailing 8-7 behind a 15-hit attack. Labatts won it in the bottom of the ninth as John Culos cracked a sizzler past the mound to bring in Lee Day with the winning marker. Les Schaefer scattered seven hits in posting the win.
Steve Gimble, Dick Moore (4) and xxx
Carnahan (W) and xxx
M. Frederickson (L) and xxx
Schaefer (W) and xxx
(July 18) Kelowna blasted three early homers Wednesday and coasted to an easy 10-3 victory over Penticton. Les Schaefer went the distance for the pitching win.
Schaefer (W) and xxx
H.McNeil (L) and xxx
(July 19) After a shaky first inning, right-hander Bud Englesby settled down to toss a four-hitter with 12 strikeouts to lead Kelowna to an 11-2 shelling of the Kamloops Okonots. Second sacker Gerry Goyer salted away the contest for the host squad by blasting a three-run homer in the sixth inning after Lee Day and Gerry Robertson rapped four-baggers in the fourth. Gordon Beecroft had a home run for the losers in the third.
Schollen (L), McGillivray (5), Ray Scott (8) and xxx
Englesby (W) and xxx
(July 21) Behind the solid pitching of Jim Bush Saturday the Penticton Red Sox topped Trail Smoke Eaters 7-2.
Ferguson (L) and xxx
J.Bush (W) and xxx
(July 22) At Vernon Sunday, Trail rallied for three runs in the ninth inning to down the Luckies 9-7. Jack Ferguson, who was saddled with the loss on Saturday, was the winner in relief Sunday.
M.Johnston, Ferguson (W) (7) and xxx
xxx, xxx, Moro (L) and xxx
(July 22) Kelowna whipped Oliver 12-8 Sunday with Mike Carnahan notching the win.
Carnahan (W) and xxx
Driessen (L) and xxx
(July 22) Merritt Luckies have regained the top rung in the Okanagan Mainline League standings with a 4-0 victory over Kamloops Okonots at Voght Park. Larry Webster fanned 15 in fashioning the shutout for his eighth win of the season. Derek McGillivray, just signed by the New York Yankees, was outstanding for Kamloops pitching no-hit ball until running into trouble in the seventh inning as errors helped Merritt to all four runs. With the bases loaded on an infield throwing error, a walk and a bunt single, Doug Weeks rapped a ground ball to shortstop but the throw home was well wide of the target and all three runners manged to cross the plate. Weeks, who had advanced to second, scored on another error. Vernon's loss to Trail allowed Merritt to slip into first place.
Derek McGillvray (L) and Cassell
Larry Webster (W) and xxx
(July 26) The red hot Kelowna Labatts collected their ninth win in their last ten games Thursday as they routed Kamloops Okonots 13-3. The Okonots took the early lead on a two-run homer by veteran Gordie Beecroft but Kelowna responded quickly with a two-run circuit shot by Frank Fritz in the second followed by a two-run triple by Wayne Leonard. Lee Day and Rich Wickenheiser later cracked homers for the winners. Bud Englesby gave up ten hits in going the distance for the win. He had eight strikeouts.
Schollen, R.Scott (L) (3), McGillivray and xxx
Englesby (W) and xxx
(July 26) Oliver OBCs cashed in on six Penticton errors to down the Red Sox 12-8. Elroy Jacobs was the winner.
Jacobs (W) and xxx
H.McNeil (L) and xxx
(July 28) Kelowna broke a 3-3 tie with a four-run fifth inning en route to a 7-4 victory over Trail Saturday. The Labatts rapped 13 hits as Mike Carnahan held the Smoke Eaters to just three. He fanned nine.
Guimont (L) and xxx
Carnahan (W) and xxx
(July 29) Kamloops picked up a pair of wins without throwing a pitch. Penticton failed the show for a scheduled double-bill and the Okonots were handed the two victories by default.
(July 29) Vernon crushed Kamloops 10-2 Sunday as John Kashuba scattered five hits. Derek McGillivray, who recently signed a professional contract with the New York Yankees, took the loss.
McGillivray (L) and xxx
J.Kashuba (W) and xxx
(July 29) Elroy Jacobs fired the shutout as Oliver ran up the score in crushing Trail 17-0 Sunday.
J.Ferguson (L) and xxx
E.Jacobs (W) and xxx
(July 31) With a new lighting system installed at Riverside Park at Kamloops and a capacity crowd on hand Merritt spoiled the day for the Okonots, notching a 6-2 victory. The official opening ceremony for the new lights saw the mayors of Kamloops, North Kamloops, the Okanagan League president and other officials in attendance. Nearly a hundred fans from Merritt made the trip to see the Luckies keep alive their pennant hopes. Merritt opened quickly with three runs in the first inning by Harry Kimura, Ken Jorgenson and Bruno Ceccon. Bob Radies drove in two runs with a third inning single and Ceccon added the final marker in the eighth. Kamloops pushed across a run in the fourth and got a solo homer in the sixth. Al Mayervich racked up 17 strikeouts in hurling a six-hitter for the win.
Al Mayervich (W) and Bob Radies
Jack Fowles (L) and Cassell
(August 5) After battling to a 3-0 win in the first game of a double-header at Trail, Kelowna Labatts broke out the heavy lumber in the second to clobber the Smokes 19-2 in the second game. Bud Englesby tossed a four-hit shutout in the first game while Kelowna rapped 25 hits in the evening affair. Les Schaefer the mound winner in the second game helped his own cause with a home run. Jack Ferguson was the first game loser although he pitched well giving up just seven hits.
Englesby (W) and Burton
J.Ferguson (L) and McIntyre
Schaefer (W) and Culos
Guimont (L) and McIntyre
(August 4) Larry Webster settled down after a rough first inning to pitch Merritt to a 7-4 win over the Okonots under the lights Saturday at Kamloops. Webster allowed six hits and fanned 15 in posting his ninth win of the season. The left-hander gave up three runs on four hits in the first inning but was solid for the remainder of the contest. Merritt scored in the first inning on a double by Harry Kimura and singles by Ken Jorgenson and Harold Schrieber. They went ahead to stay with three in the second as Al Mayervich and Keith Cousins drew free passes, Webster doubled and Jorgenson smacked a two-run single. In the seventh, Cousins knocked in a pair with a single and Kimura plated a run with a sac fly. Luckies had 15 hits off Derek McGillvray.
Larry Webster (W) and xxx
Derek McGillvray (L) and xxx
(August 5) Kamloops broke a five-game losing streak downing Penticton 8-3 Sunday in spite of trailing the Red Sox in hits, 11 to 7. Ray Scott, who helped his cause with a two-run double, was the winning hurler. Okonots also picked up a win by default as the Red Sox didn't arrive in time for the scheduled first game.
Bush (L) and Specht
Scott (W) and Cassell
(August 5) Vernon and Oliver split a pair at Vernon. The Luckies scored in the top of the seventh and final inning of the first game to pull out a 3-2 victory. The winner came on a bases-loaded walk by Oliver right-hander Elroy Jackobs. In a wild finish in the second game, Oliver scored four times in the bottom of the ninth, after Vernon had plated five runs in the top of the frame, to escape with a 9-7 victory. OBCs cracked 14 hits to ten for the Luckies.
Jacobs (L) and xxx
xxx and xxx
xxx and xxx
xxx and xxx
(August 8) Al Mayervich had a no-hitter into the ninth inning Wednesday before Gordon Beecroft broke the spell with a two-out single as Merritt Luckies blanked Kamloops 4-0. Mayervich fanned 11 and walked two. The game was a home game for Merritt although played under the new lights at Kamloops.
Cliff (L) Fowles (8) and Kato, Cassell (2)
Mayervich (W) and Radies
(August 9) Lee Day and Gerry Goyer belted homers to pace Kelowna to a 10-4 win over Penticton.
Schaefer (W) and xxx
xxx and xxx
(August 9) Gary Barnes racked up 15 strikeouts in hurling Vernon to an easy 9-1 triumph over Kamloops. Alex Kashuba and Jack Wheelhouse led the offense with homers.
Barnes (W) and xxx
xxx and xxx
(August 10) Kelowna dumped Kamloops Okonots 7-3 Friday at Kamloops. Bud Englesby went five innings for the win. Labatts rapped 11 hits off lossing hurler Gordie Beecroft.
Englesby (W), Carnahan (6) and Burton, Leonard (5)
Beecroft (L) and Cassell
(August 11-12) Quesnel Tournament
Kelowna Labatts 17 - 7
Merritt Luckies 17 - 7
Vernon Luckies 16 - 8 1.0
Oliver OBCs 14 - 10 3.0
Trail Smoke Eaters 9 - 15 8.0
Kamloops Okonots 8 - 16 9.0
Penticton Red Sox 3 - 21 14.0
(August 11) Kelowna notched its 12th straight victory Saturday beating Trail 14-3 to move into a tie for first place with Merritt on the final day of the regular schedule. Labatts rapped 17 hits of three Trail hurlers with Nick Bulach leading the offense with three doubles, a single and a walk. Frank Fritz collected a double and three singles. Mike Carnahan, the winning hurler, slammed a homer in the fourth inning.
xxx, xxx, xxx and xxx
Carnahan (W), Englesby and xxx
(August 11) 17-year-old lefty Danny Miscisco put on a pitching clinic Saturday night at Riverside Park as the Vancouver Dufferins stopped Kamloops 4-1 in an exhibition game. The youngster had a no-hitter into the eighth inning when catcher Dale Cassell and centre fielder Gordie Beecrfot rapped out hits to score the lone run for the Okonots. He fanned 18 and walked four. Right-hander Ray Scott took the tough loss allowing just eight hits with all the runs against him unearned. The visitors got on the scoreboard in the second inning as shortstop John Haar reached on a fielder's choice and came around to score on an error. They added three more in the eighth on three hits and a pair of errors.
Miscisco (W) and xxx
Scott (L) and xxx
(August 12) Lefty Gary Barnes twirled a five-hit shutout Sunday as Vernon blanked Trail 10-0. It was his 13th win of the season.
M.Johnston (L) and xxx
Barnes (W) and xxx
(August 15) Mike Carnahan allowed just four hits, all singles, to lead Kelowna Labatts to a 6-0 win over Merritt in a sudden-death playoff to decide first place in the Okanagan Mainline League. The teams finished the regular season tied with records of 17-7 in the regular season. Kelowna built an early 4-0 lead on five hits and a pair of Merritt errors. Lee Day's lead-off homer in the eighth made it 5-0 and later in the inning Gerry Robertson hit reliever Al Mayervich's first offering for a run-producing single. Kelowna not only takes first place but represents the league in the Senior "A" finals in Victoria over the Labour Day weekend.
Mike Carnahan (W) and Leonard
Larry Webster (L), Al Mayervich (8) and Radies
(August 18) Vernon topped Kelowna 9-3 in the opening game of their semi-final Saturday at Kelowna. The contest was shortened to five innings because of dangerous playing conditions. Jack Wheelhouse and John Kashuba poked homers for the winners. Nick Bulach and Wayne Leonard had four-baggers for Labatts. Gary Barnes allowed just three hits to post the win.
Barnes (W) and Kashuba
Englesby (L), Schaefer (2) and Culos
(August 19) Playing at Vernon, Kelowna squared the series with a 3-0 victory as Mike Carnahan blanked the Luckies on five hits for his second consecutive shutout. He was in trouble in the ninth, loading the bases on walks before pinch-hitter Tom Stecyk smacked a long drive which Jack Burton hauled in to end the game.
Carnahan (W) and Leonard
Barnes (L) and Kashuba
(August 19) In a battle of home runs, Harry Schrieber blasted one over the left-centrefield wall in the eighth inning to break a 2-2 tie and give Merritt a 3-2 victory over fourth-place Oliver in the opening game of their semi-final series. Luckies jumped into an early lead on Frank Bredick's two-run single in the first frame. Bob Parker tied the game with a two-run homer in the third. Al Mayervich scattered six hits in going the distance for the winners. Gary Driessen took the loss.
Gary Driessen (L) and xxx
Al Mayervich (W) and xxx
(August 19) Proving to be inhospitable hosts, the Kamloops Okonots swept a Sunday double-header from the Vancouver Boilermakers 7-3 and 10-9. Okies exploded for seven runs in the first two innings of the first game and coasted to the win. Jack Fowles, with sharp relief help from Ray Scott, picked up the win.
B.Fraser (L), S.Neilson (7) and xxx
Fowles (W), Scott and xxx
Okonots broke a 9-9 tie in the bottom of the seventh for the win in the second game. Jack Fowles singled to chase in Gordie Beecroft with the deciding run. Fowles led the winners with three hits. Deke McGillivray picked up the win ijn relief of starter Bill Cliff and Matt Yanchuk while Bob Fraser took his second loss of the day in relief of Don Adams.
D.Adams, B.Fraser (L) and xxx
Cliff, Yanchuk, Mcgillivrary (W) and xxx
(August 23) A grand slam homer in the first inning and six Kelowna errors combined to hand Vernon Luckies a 10-8 victory over Labatts and a berth in the Okanagan Mainline League finals. Russ Keckalo started the ball rolling for the winners with his homer over the right field fence after Jim Moro and Jack Wheelhouse had walked and John Kashuba reached on an error. Losing pitcher Mike Carnahan and Wayne Leonard clubbed homers for Kelowna and John Kashuba belted one for the Luckies in the eighth.
Barnes (W) and Kashuba
Carnahan (L) and Leonard
(August 26) Merritt Luckies slipped by Oliver OBCs 2-1 Sunday at Voght Park to advance to the final of the Okanagan Mainline Baseball League. They took the best-of-three series in two straight games. In spite of adverse weather, both teams produced some sparkling baseball. Luckies scored both their runs in the fourth inning combining hits by Bruno Ceccon, Frank Bredick and Russ Graff with an Oliver error. Oliver got its lone marker in the ninth on an error, Richie Schnider's single and a long fly ball by Gary Driessen. Larry Webster pitched six-hit ball in going the route for the winners. Elroy Jacobs allowed just five hits in taking the loss.
Elroy Jacobs (L) and xxx
Larry Webster (W) and xxx
(September 2-3) Kamloops Labour Day Tournament
(September 2-3) BC SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP
Victoria Eagles, lightly regarded in pre-tournament ratings, upset defending champion Kelowna for two wins Monday to capture the British Columbia Senior Baseball championship. Eagles, with superb pitching, downed Kelowna 2-0 and 8-3 to emerge as BC's best. Art Worth fired a four-hit shutout in the morning game to best Bud Englesby who also fashioned a four-hitter. Eagles got a run in the first and another in the third for all the scoring.
Worth (W) and Cunningham
Englesby (L) and Burton
In the afternoon encounter George Brice scattered ten hits as Victoria rebounded from a 3-0 deficit for an 8-3 triumph. Kelowna's only runs came in the fourth inning, snapping Victoria's streak of 22 consecutive scoreless innings. They had earlier blanked Cumberland 2-0 as Des Mosley crafted a four-hitter. Eagles got on the scoreboard in the fourth as Curran belted a two-run homer, the only four-bagger of the tournament. Eagles went ahead with three in the sixth and put the championship on ice with Art Binks' bases-loaded double in the seventh.
Schaefer, Englesby (L) (4), Carnahan (8) and Culos
Brice (W) and Cunningham
Victoria had just nine hits in downing Cumberland but were helped by four Cumberland errors.
Mosley (W) and Cunningham
Mosdel (L) and Pirozzini
Kelowna had advanced by defeating Terrace 7-6. The winners ran up a 7-2 lead and held off a late charge by Terrace for the win. Les Schaefer was the winning hurler.
Enmark, Smith (3), Orr (L) (4) and O'Neill
Schaefer, Englesby (9) and Culas
(September 9) In a thrilling opening game of the Okanagan Mainline finals, Vernon Luckies edged Merritt Luckies 6-5 in a tense, 13-inning battle. Russ Keckalo doubled in Jack Wheelhouse with the game's winning run. Wheelhouse had reached with a walk. Vernon had taken the lead against Al Mayervich with a pair in the first inning as Russ Keckalo drove in one marker and Alex Kashuba knocked in the other. In the fourth, Tom Stecyk doubled to bring in Ray Adams and Gary Barnes singled to give Vernon a 4-0 lead. Merritt roared back in the fifth to go ahead 5-4 as Bruno Ceccon's three-run homer was the highlight of a five-run explosion. John Kashuba's two-bagger knotted the count at 5-5 in the sixth. Gary Barnes was outstanding for the winners going the full 13 innings allowing just five hits while fanning 17.
Al Mayervich, Larry Webster (L) (6) and Radies
Gary Barnes (W) and Kashuba
(September 16) In a story-book finish, Merritt Luckies rallied for three runs in the bottom of the ninth inning Sunday at Voght Park to shade Vernon 5-4 to even the final series at a game apiece. Luckies trailed 4-2 facing Vernon ace Gary Barnes in their final at bats. Harry Schrieber and Ken Jorgenson singled to open the ninth and Barnes misplayed Bruno Ceccon's bunt to load the bases. Barnes, however, stabbed Frank Bredick's slow roller and forced an out at the plate. Merritt got a run on an infield hit by Keith Cousins and tied the game 4-4 on Bob Radies' clutch single. With the bases again loaded, pinch-hitter John Brkich, the Merritt manager, took a lusty swing on the first pitch for a strike and then laid down a bunt on a suicide squeeze for the winning marker. Vernon had taken the early lead when Alex Kashuba singled home brother Johnny Kashuba in the initial stanza. An error helped Vernon go ahead 2-1 in the fifth only to have Merritt tie in the seventh on Bob Radies' single. Russ Keckalo put Vernon up 3-2 in the eight when he scored after belting a triple. In the top of the ninth, John Kashuba swatted a three-bagger to bring in Jack Wheelhouse for a 4-2 advantage. Larry Webster went the distance for Merritt yielding seven hits and whiffing ten. Gary Barnes took the loss allowing eight hits.
Gary Barnes (L) and xxx
Larry Webster (W) and Radies
(September 23) With the season's largest crowd looking on, Merritt Luckies defeated Vernon 5-2 Sunday before 700 fans at Voght Park to capture the 1962 Okanagan Mainline Baseball championship. Merritt won the series two games to one after dropping the opener. The winners were presented with the CKOK Radio Penticton Cup. Merritt took the lead with three runs in the first inning capitalizing on a single by Doug Weeks and a two-bagger from Bruno Ceccon. They extended the margin in the fifth when Weeks scored after smacking a double. Harry Schrieber tallied the final Merritt marker. Vernon scored their runs in the sixth as a Jack Wheelhouse smacked a triple. In the ninth, Vernon had two aboard with two out but Al Mayervich fanned a pinch-hitter to end the game.
Barnes (L) and xxx
Al Mayervich (W) and xxx
SHUSWAP-OKANAGAN-MONASHEE LEAGUE
This seven-team circuit consisted of junior-aged players playing primarily at a Senior B level as a feeder league for the OMBL. Each team was scheduled to play 12 games in this short-season association. The league played seven inning games.
Enderby, Lumby, Rutland Redcaps, Salmon Arm, Sicamous, Vernon Timberwolves, Winfield
(April 18) In an exhibition encounter, Rutland Redcaps defeated Winfield 4-2. Verne Kroschinsky put on a strong mound performance for the winners.
August (L) and xxx
Kroschinsky (W) and xxx
(April 22) In the opening game of the regular season, Gary Czespil showed mid-season form in tossing a two-hit shutout as Enderby topped Rutland 5-0. Czespil racked up 15 strikeouts. Enderby got a run in the first and added four in the third. Reliever Ken Hokazono blanked the winners over the last five innings. Almas, the Enderby second sacker had the game's longest blow, a triple in the opening frame.
Czespil (W) and xxx
Kroschinsky (L), Hokazono (3) and xxx
Lumby defeated Salmon Arm 12-2 and Vernon came away with a 9-6 victory.
(May 3) Rutland Redcaps jumped into a 7-2 lead and held off a late charge by Winfield to post a 7-5 victory Thursday, the Redcaps first win of the season. Making his debut on the mound, Terry Sakamoto was the winning hurler.
Williams (L), Hall (3), August and xxx
Sakamoto (W), Kroschinsky (6) and xxx
(May 9) In a game played at Oyama, Rutland got one-hit shutout pitching by Ken Hokazono as the Redcaps trounced Winfield 8-0. He fanned 12 in the six-inning contest. Verne Kroschinsky, Bob Fugger and Jerry Runzer each had two hits for the winners.
Hokazono (W) and Bulock
August (L), Williams, Reddecop and Dehnky
(May 13) Rutland exploded for ten runs in the fifth inning Sunday to crush Vernon Timberwolves 13-1 at Centennial Park. Redcaps combined five walks, five singles, a wild pitch and doubles by Richard Bulock and Gordy Runzer. Terry Sakamoto was the winning hurler.
Stephen (L) and Pirnak
Sakamoto (W), Hokazono and Bulick
(May 17) Rutland came from behind with three runs in the top of the final frame to edge Vernon 4-2. Verne Kroschinsky led off the stanza with a double and following singles by F. Fugger, Don Kroschinsky and Don Schneider drove in the runs. Ken Hokazono went the distance for the winners allowing just seven hits.
Hokazono (W) and Bulock
Hale (L) and Pirnak
(May 27) In SOK'M League play at Enderby, the Northerners scored three in the first inning and coasted to a 5-1 triumph over Rutland. Gary Czespil held the Redcaps to just three hits and no walks while fanning eight. Terry Sakamoto took the loss giving up five hits and fanning eight.
Sakamoto (L) and xxx
Czespil
(W) and xxx
(May 31) Charest and Dickson of Lumby combined on a one-hitter Thursday but came away with a loss as Rutland took advantage of walks and errors to notch a 3-2, extra inning victory. Ken Hokazono was the winning hurler with a five-hitter.
Hokazono (W) and Bulock
Charest, Dickson (8) and Dickson, Charest
(8)
(June 10) Terry Sakamoto had a no-hitter into the seventh and final inning before Sicamous broke out for two hits and their only runs of the game as Rutland romped 11-2. The game was close until the sixth when the Redcaps erupted for seven runs. A triple by Don Kroschinsky highlighted the rally. Rocky Wostradowski led the winners with three hits. Sakamoto racked up 12 strikeouts.
Sakamoto (W) and xxx
Williamson (L), Parkstrom (6) and xxx
Enderby 12 - 0
Rutland 10 - 2 2.0
Lumby 6 - 4 5.0
Vernon 5 - 5 6.0
Salmon Arm 4 - 8 8.0
Winfield 2 - 10 10.0
Sicamous 1 - 11 11.0
(June 17) Rutland whipped Vernon Timberwolves 13-4 in the opening game of their semi-final series. The game was tight until the sixth when a succession of walks, wild pitches and passed balls, along with three Rutland hits saw the Redcaps score ten runs. Verne Kroschinsky with a bases-loaded triple and a single led the winners. Ken Hokazono went the distance for the win holding Vernon to five hits.
Hokazono (W) and xxx
Stephen (L), Dubetz and xxx
(June 21) The Redcaps of Rutland advanced to the league final against Enderby by sneaking past Vernon 2-1 in a thriller at Rutland. Trailing 1-0 going into the seventh and final inning, Redcaps rallied to score two. With two out Don Schneider was safe on an error, stole second and went to third on a passed ball. Richard Bulock's single brought him home to tie the game. Vernon brought in reliever Hale to try and stop the rally but he was wild and gave up two free passes and the Redcaps scored the tie-breaking run on a passed ball. Ken Hokazono put down the Timberwolves in order in the bottom of the frame to sent Rutland to the league final. Hokazono allowed just four hits and fanned 10 for the winners.
Hokazono (W) and Bulock
Hale (L), Stephen (7) and Haberstock
(June 24) Rutland handed Enderby Merchants their first loss of the season downing the league-leaders 9-7 Sunday in the opening game of the league final series. Enderby had gone through the regular season with 12 straight wins.
xxx and xxx
xxx and xxx
(June 28) Rutland Redcaps are champions of the Shuswap-Okanagan-Monashee Baseball League, the SKO'M. The Redcaps downed Enderby 6-1 Thursday to take the final series in two straight games. Redcaps took the lead in the opening frame as Don Kroschinsky smacked a double and came home on an error. Verne Kroschinsky, who reached on the error, romped around the bags on two more miscues to put Rutland ahead 2-0. Enderby replied with a run in the second with Robinson driving in Abel. Rutland added singletons in the third and fifth and a pair in the sixth. First baseman Don Kroschinsky led the offense with a triple, double and single. Paul Czespil fanned 14 in a losing cause while winning hurler Ken Hokazono racked up 12 strikeouts.
Czespil (L) and xxx
Hokazono (W) and xxx
WEST KOOTENAY JUNIOR BASEBALL LEAGUE
East Trail Pirates
Fruitvale
Nelson Texans
Rossland Capilanos
Salmo
(June 28)
STANDINGS W L Pct. GBL
Rossland 10 3 .769 ----
Nelson 5 5 .500 3.5
East Trail 5 6 .455 4.0
Fruitvale 5 7 .417 4.5
Salmo 4 8 .333 5.5
PLAYOFFS
FINALS Nelson vs Rossland (best-of-five series)
(August 19) The Rossland junior Capilanos overcame a pair of four-run deficits to nose out the Nelson Texans 11 to 10 and take a one-game lead in the WKJBL finals. Starting pitcher Barry McGillivray, a Babe Ruth League call-up, smashed the winning blow for the Caps, driving in Ross Saundry with the deciding run with a seventh-spasm single. McGillivray hurled the first six stanzas of the battle before winning chucker Gerry Zanussi took over. Doug Florio, who came on for Nelson starting heaver Fred Jmaeff in the seventh round, was tagged with the defeat.
(August 26) Last-inning clutch hitting sparked the Rossland junior Capilanos to their third consecutive WKJBL title. The Caps swept two games from the Nelson Texans by scores of 3 to 2 and 6 to 5 to wrap up the 1962 championship in three hard-fought games. Southpaw Barry McGillivray tossed a two-hitter for the Mountain City club in the opener and had the game-winning RBI when he drove in Gerry Zanussi with a seventh-inning single. Rossland catcher Robbie Robertson broke up a 5 – 5 tie in the second skirmish with a seventh-stanza one-base hit, driving in Bill Martin with the walkoff winner. Martin had seven hits in the twin-bill, including a triple and two doubles in the late fracas. Earl "Butch" Dawson, in relief of Zanussi, was credited with the mound win while the Texans’ Dave Grant was nailed with the setback.
EAST KOOTENAY SENIOR BASEBALL LEAGUE
Coleman Cubs
Fernie Falcons
Kimberley Dynamos
Kimberley Hobos
(May 20) Creston Apple Blossom baseball tournament
(June 3) The hosting Coleman Cubs and the Fernie Falcons locked horns in EKSBL twin-bill action with neither team coming out with a victory. The opening joust ended in a 6 – 6 tie while a scoreless draw was the result of the sunset skirmish.
(June 6) In a loosely-played opener to the 1962 Kimberley baseball season, the defending champion Dynamos were doubled by their arch-rivals, the Hobos, 6 to 3. Colin Patterson pitched the entire game for the Tramps, allowing 11 hits and three earned runs. Bob Cox, who took over from starter “Ike” Bodin in the seventh stanza, absorbed the defeat. The Dynamo duo yielded seven Hobo safeties. John Kosiancic and “Moose” Ronquist each stroked a brace of bingles for the winners, a feat matched by Bodin, Sam Calles and Mike Russell of the vanquished nine. Wally Tymchyna cranked a four-bagger for the Generators.
(June 7) The Kimberley Dynamos picked up their first win of the young EKSBL season with an 8 to 4 come-from-behind victory over the arch-rival Kimberley Hobos at Coronation Park. The Hobos were out in front 4 – 0 after five innings but, in the sixth, the Generators managed to pick up a deuce off starter Mel Johnson to narrow the deficit. After Johnson was pulled for a pinch-hitter, losing slabster Ron Brown took over twirling chores for the Bums in the seventh spasm. The Dynamos immediately took the lead, pouncing on Brown for a three-spot when Wally Tymchyna came through with a bases-loaded triple. They added three more in the eighth off Colin Patterson to sew up the victory. Playing-skipper “Ike” Bodin went all the way to notch the twirling decision. Mike Russell delivered three singles for the victors while Elmer Garinger belted a brace of two-baggers.
(June 10) The Kimberley Hobos took over first place in the EKSBL standings with twin triumphs over the Coleman Cubs under chilly weather conditions at Coronation Park on Sunday. The Hobos clipped the visitors 13 to 7 to begin the day’s proceedings and then hung a 5 to 3 defeat on the Cubs in the late fracas.
Jim Nelson, the winning heaver, and Colin Patterson shared hillock duties for the Tramps in the matinée portion of the double-dip, yielding a total of nine base raps. Losing twirler Teasdale was lit up for 14 safeties by the Kimberley swatsmiths.
The second scuffle was, by far, the best game of the two and saw the Hobos take an early 4 – 0 lead. Coleman got back in the game in the-top-of-the-fifth frame on a three-run homer by flychaser Fred Churla but that was as close as the Cubs would get as the homesters added an insurance tally to put a bow on things. Colin Patterson and Ron Brown heaved for the Kimberley diamondeers with Brown getting credit for the mound decision. Perrosino, toeing the rubber for the Coleman Crew, was dinged with the loss.
STANDINGS * W L T Pts.
Kimberley Hobos 3 1 0 5
Fernie Falcons 1 1 2 4
Kimberley Dynamos 2 2 0 3
Coleman Cubs 0 2 2 2
* Dynamos vs Hobos games worth only one point
(June 10) The Kimberley Dynamos travelled to Fernie where they split a doubleheader with the hosting Falcons. Fernie captured the opener 8 to 7 while the visitors rebounded to take the late tilt 1 to 0. The lead changed hands four times in the first skirmish before the Falcons bunched three hits and an error, good for two runs, for an exciting bottom-of-the-ninth walkoff victory. Jack Morasco went all the way on the knoll for the Hawks while Wally Tymchyna, in relief of starter Bobby Cox, suffered the loss. The Dynies had a 12 to 8 advantage in base hits as rookie John Davis went yard for a two-run dinger, his first circuit-clout in senior company. Elmer Garinger tripled and singled while catcher Al Fabro stroked a double and single. Pat Cavaretta had a brace of one-baggers for the winners.
The second scuffle developed into a vintage pitching duel with Kimberley playing-manager Eric “Ike” Bodin emerging as the mound victor over Bill Ingram. The only run of the game came in the Generators’ half of the third chapter when Del Renso led off with a walk and moved to second on a bunt single by Davis. After one had been retired, Ingram dropped a popped-up bunt in which Sam Calles was called out because of the infield fly rule while both runners were taking off and, before Davis was being tagged out at the keystone sack for the third out, Renso had continued motoring and had crossed the pan with what turned out to be the winning tally. Bodin retired the first 19 batters to face him in the seven-stanza nightcap and was nicked for just two singles, one by each of the Morasco brothers, Jack and Vic.
(June ?) With right-hander Mel Johnson fashioning a five-hitter for his first pitching win of the campaign, the Hobos pounded out an 8 to 0 triumph over the Dynamos in an all-Kimberley affair at Coronation Park. The Hobos teed off on the offerings of Carlo Johansen for three runs on four hits in the top-of-the-first inning and never looked back. Johansen settled down and held the winners scoreless for the next five frames before relinquishing pitching duties to Bobby Cox, who got by in the seventh but completely unravelled in the eighth when two errors, in tandem with five walks that he gave up, resulted in two more Hobo tallies. Eric Bodin ascended the knoll at this point but gave up another brace of markers before fanning a pair to end the scoring. Art King, Elgin Smith, Ed Johnson and “Moose” Ronquist each banged out two hits for the victors.
STANDINGS * W L T Pts.
Kimberley Hobos 4 3 0 6
Coleman Cubs 2 2 2 6
Fernie Falcons 2 2 2 6
Kimberley Dynamos 3 4 0 5
* Dynamos vs Hobos games worth only one point
(June 17) The slow-starting Kimberley Dynamos divided the spoils with the invading Fernie Falcons when the Feathered Tribe visited Coronation Park for an EKSBL twin-bill. The Elk Valley nine annexed the matinee joust 1 to 0 before the Dynies came back to take the abbreviated nightcap 7 to 0, terminated after 4-1/2 innings because of rain.
Fernie’s Bill Ingram and Eric “Ike” Bodin of the Generators began the afternoon proceedings by hooking up in another classic pitching battle, as was the case a week previous, but this time Ingram came out on top. Ingram had the Kimberley aggregation eating out of his hand as he handcuffed them on two scattered hits while ringing up nine punchouts. Bodin was touched for just three base raps and swished six. The lone runner to successfully perambulate around the paths in this hard-fought clash was Gary Polomark of the Falcons. In the fourth frame, Polomak wound up on second base as a result of an overthrow to first base on a slow infield grounder. Moving to the hot corner station on Patsy Cavaretta’s single, Polomark crossed the pan with an unearned marker on another infield fumble that had double play written all over it.
The Feathered Flock unraveled defensively the second encounter and the Dynamos were quick to take advantage, grabbing a 3 – 0 lead after three innings. They plated four more in the fourth on four hits, an error, a wild pitch and a passed ball. Wally Tymchyna had a no-hitter going until rival slabster Miles Descharnais bounced a single over shortstop with two out in the fifth. That was the extent of the Fernie offense as Tymchyna fanned Polomark to end the inning. The rains came with the Kimberley nine batting in the last half of the fifth and the game was called. Sam Calles had two solid singles for the winners.
(June 19) With a defensive meltdown by the Dynamos fatally hindering their chances, the Hobos coasted to an easy 7 to 3 victory over their Kimberley cousins in EKSBL play. Elgin Smith, making his first start of the season on the knoll for the front-running Hobos, picked up the win. Smith allowed only four hits in the six innings that he toiled. Mel Johnson assumed the pitching role in the seventh and, when he ran into some trouble in the eighth, relinquished heaving chores to Colin Patterson who finished the game. Dynamo starter Bobby Cox, experiencing control issues, was saddled with the loss. Six errors by his mates didn’t help. Carlo Johansen and Eric Bodin followed Cox to the hill.
(June 23-24) Kimberley annual baseball tournament
(June 26) Sporting a revamped infield, the Kimberly Dynamos came up with a close 6 to 5 win over the arch-rival Kimberley Hobos at Coronation Park. The Tramps started off quickly, scoring a deuce in the first inning, one of the tallies coming on a solo home run by third baseman Ed Johnson but the Dynies retaliated in their half of the panel by also running across a brace on three hits and two walks issued by Hobo starter Jim Nelson. The lead see-sawed back and forth over the next six stanzas but, in the top-of-the eighth episode, the Generators wrapped up the game by scoring twice on three walks and a double by Elmer Garinger to assume a one-run lead from which they never looked back. Colin Patterson, the last of three hurlers used by the Bums, suffered the loss while Eric “Ike” Bodin, slabster-deluxe as well as skipper of the crew, copped the complete-game victory for the Dynamos. Leading the winners at the platter was infielder Gord Turlik who stung the spheroid for aa triad of safe swats. Also registering three base raps was “Moose” Ronquist of the vanquished Hobos.
(July 1) A Sunday road trip to Coleman proved disastrous for the travelling Kimberley Dynamos who dropped two games to the hosting Cubs by humiliating scores of 15 to 3 and 12 to 4. In the opener, the Cubs started early when a three-run four-bagger by Howie Gilbert helped stake them to a 4 – 0 lead. The onslaught continued in the middle innings as Kimberley starter and loser Eric “Ike” Bodin was driven from the hill. Harvey Nash and Elmer Garinger hurled the remaining three rounds but could not curb the Coleman Crew who plated aa additional flock of runs. George Taloti pitched for the Baby Bears and, although touched for ten hits, kept them well scattered. Ed Chala and “Sparky” Bubniak both ripped a triple and a two-bagger for the victors. The only bright spot for the Dynies was a home run by Del Renso.
In the twilight tilt, the Dynamos put up a good fight for four innings, holding the Cubs to a 2 – 2 tie but Wally Tymchyna weakened in the fifth and gave up three hits, good for a pair of counters. Bob Carter took over mound chores in the sixth after Tymchyna was lit up for a circuit-clout by Roger Teasdale. Five hits, one walk and six runs later, Carter was out and Tymchyna was back in but without any more success in his encore performance. In addition to Teasdale, Vic Anderson and Fred Churla went yard with dingers for the winners in this tilt while Elmer Garinger dialed long distance for a Kimberley tater. Anderson also had a triple.
(July 1) The Kimberley Hobos kept pace with the Coleman Cubs for leadership in the EKBL by sweeping both ends of a doubleheader from the Fernie Falcons by scores of 5 to 2 and 9 to 0 at Coronation Park. The Cubs, meanwhile, were taking their two-game set against the invading Kimberley Dynamos.
The Hobos rode to victory in the matinée encounter of the strength of shortstop John Kosiancic’s heavy swatting and the combined pitching effort of Elgin Smith and Ron Brown. Kosiancic drove in a pair of counters with his third round-tipper of the season to go along with a triple and double. Winning tosser Smith kept the Fernie batters well in check for six spasms, yielding just three hits and no runs. Brown, with a brief spell of wildness, gave up a pair of seventh-inning tallies but settled down and blanked the Falcons thereafter. The winners had seven hits off Fernie pitching ace, Bill Ingram.
In the wind-up joust, Hobo slab artist Melvyn Johnson was in fine form as he allowed just four Falcon hits in copping the blanking the Falcons. The triumph was Johnson’s second shutout of the season, having blanked the cross-town rival Kimberley Dynamos earlier in the campaign. Keystone sacker Al Patterson connected nailed a triple and a pair of doubles for the conquering nine. Fernie starting twirler Jack Morasco, who was combed for nine hits and nine runs in the five frames that he toed the rubber, took the loss.
(July 8)
STANDINGS * W L T Pts.
Kimberley Hobos 9 5 0 14
Coleman Cubs 6 4 2 12
Kimberley Dynamos 6 8 0 10
Fernie Falcons 4 6 2 10
* Dynamos vs Hobos games worth only one point
(July 8) The Kimberley Dynamos regained their winning ways as they swept both ends of a doubleheader from the visiting Coleman Cubs by scores of 13 to 1 and 5 to 1. Eric “Ike” Bodin went all the way on the mound for Kimberley in the early clash, stifling the hard-hitting Coleman nine on four hits, all singles, while his mates roughed up three Cub twirlers, including losing chucker George Talotti, for 11 base blows. The contest was virtually over after three sessions when the Dynies went in front 8 – 0. Flychaser Sam Calles was the top willow wielder for the Generators, clubbing a triple in addition to a pair of singles. Gord Turlik also had a three-hit performance, stroking a trio of one-baggers.
In the sunset skirmish, the teams battled on even terms until the sixth inning when the Dynamos snapped a 1 – 1 tie and put away the win with a four-run uprising sparked by “Buzz” Mellor’s three-run round-tripper. Mike Russell gave up seven hits in copping the complete game mound verdict. Roger Teasdale, nicked for six safeties, was tagged with the defeat. Ed Chala and “Sparky” Bubniak collected two hits each for the Cubbies.
(July 10) Outfielder Les Lilley’s booming home run in the sixth inning with “Buzz” Mellor on base was instrumental in piloting the Kimberley Dynamos a close 7 to 6 win over the league-leading Kimberley Hobos. The Tramps seized control of things in the fourth frame when they put together six hits and a free pass to score four times and move out in front 5 to 1. The first tally within that four-run outburst came on a vintage suicide squeeze executed to perfection by Hobo catcher Jim Ratcliffe. The Dynamos came right back in the fifth when three hits and a walk resulted in a trey and kayoed starter Mel Johnson from the hill as Ron Brown took over and temporarily doused the fire. However, Brown hit Mellor with a pitch with one out in the sixth, setting the stage for Lilley’s circuit-clout and a permanent Dynamo lead. The teams traded singletons in the ninth, with the Generators going ahead 7 to 5 with an insurance counter which, as it turned out they needed, before a last-gasp rally by the Bums ended one tally short . Eric Bodin, in relief of Wally Tymchyna was credited with win while Brown suffered the defeat. Al Fabro was the top dog at the dish for the victors, collecting three safeties. Elmer Garinger had a brace of hits while Lilley added a one-bagger to his dinger. Johnson, Al Patterson and “Moose” Ronquist all delivered a couple of safe swats for the vanquished nine.
(July 12) An unearned run in the eighth episode was enough for the Hobos to annex a 5 to 4 decision from their Kimberley cousins, the Dynamos. The win gave the Tramps a 4 to 2 edge in six head-to-head meetings between the foes. Fireman Colin Patterson, relieving Ron Brown, picked up the heaving triumph. Dynie starter Carlo Johansen departed in the second spasm with arm trouble as Bobby Cox came on to finish the contest and absorb the setback. John Kosiancic belted a two-run homer for the winners.
(July 15) The Kimberley Dynamos came up with twin wins in their double-dip against the visiting Fernie Falcons at Coronation Park, spanking the Hawks 16 to 3 and 6 to 4. The Dynies mercilessly pounded loser Jack Morasco and two relievers for 17 base blows in the initial encounter. Kimberley first sacker Harvey Nash clouted two home runs and a double while catcher Al Fabro pounded out three doubles in support of winning chucker Eric “Ike” Bodin who fashioned a six-hitter with four punchouts in the six frames that he toiled. Carl Johansen mopped up over the final three rounds. Jim Polomark was the only Fernie batter to collect more than one hit, singling twice.
The wrap-up event found the Generators still on the rampage as they pounded Falcons’ ace slabster Bill Ingram for eleven base knocks. Les Lilley started things off for the winners with a two-run tater in the opening canto. By the end of the fourth frame, the homesters had a 6 to 0 margin. Rookie heaver Mike Russell of the Dynies began tiring in the middle innings and was rocked for a four-spot in the sixth spasm, the big blow being a two-RBI single by “Bim” Brehm which ended the scoring. Bobby Cox came on to relieve Russell in the seventh and preserved the victory. Aside from his early four-bagger, Lilley also picked up a double and single while Sam Calles came through with a two-bagger and one-base hit..
(July 17) The Hobos scored a come-from-behind 4 to 2 victory over the Dynamos on Tuesday in another all-Kimberley EKSBL clash. Neither team could score until the bottom-of-the-fourth when Gord Turlik poled a two-run tater for the Dynamos. The score held up until the top-of-the-eighth when the Hobos came to life and scored four runs on three hits and two errors. Mel Johnson drilled a hard single over third base to drive in the tying counter. A botched force out Johnson at second base on an infield ground ball allowed “Moose” Ronquist to touch home with the ultimate winning tally and, later in the frame, Johnson scored the insurance counter The winning hurler was Jim Nelson while Wally Tymchyna, who was derricked in the eighth as “Ike” Bodin took over, was tagged with the defeat. John Kosiancic, Ronquist and Johnson all stroked two hits for the victors while first baseman Mike Russell doubled twice for the Dynamos.
(July 19) Thursday, the Dynamos turned the tables on the arch-rival Hobos, chalking up a 7 to 5 win. The Dynies held a 7 to 1 lead until Mel Johnson of the Hobos, who had come on in relief of starter and loser Elgin Smith in the fourth, banged out a three-run homer in the eighth to give the Tramps some life. They scored again in the ninth on back-to-back doubles by John Kosiancic and “Moose” Ronquist but that was as close as they would come in their futile comeback attempt. Eric “Ike” Bodin, the workhorse of the Dynamos pitching corps, although touched for 11 hits, racked up his seventh win of the season against two losses. The Generators had 12 hits including home runs by Les Lilley and Harvey Nash. Al Fabro rapped out three sharp singles.
(July 24) The Kimberley Hobos eked out a close 5 to 4 win over the Kimberly Dynamos at in EKSBL action at Coronation Park. The game was called in the top-of-the-ninth inning because of darkness. Jim Nelson went the distance for the win while Dynamo starting heaver, Bob Cox, was saddled with the loss.
(July 26) A ninth-inning rhubarb, sparked by an umpire’s call, quelled a possible Kimberley Hobo rally as the Kimberley Dynamos slipped by their town rivals 7 to 6. The victory put the Dynamos two points ahead of the Hobos in the EKSBL pennant race. The controversy killed valuable time with darkness looming overhead, resulting in the game being called for a lack of sufficient illumination. Dynamo chucker “Ike” Bodin made a questionable shoestring snag of Mel Johnson’s sacrifice bunt and fired the pill to the initial sack for an apparent double play but the Hobos steamed onto the diamond to protest that Bodin had trapped the horsehide. The original call stuck but, by the time order was restored, the arbiter decided that it was too dark to continue. The Generators, sparked by Gord Turlik’s three-run dinger, took a 4 – 0 lead in the fourth frame. They added three more in the fifth on RBI-doubles by Sam Calles and Al Fabro. The Tramps scored twice in the fourth on a four-ply clout by John Kosiancic with one runner aboard and then rallied for a four-spot in the sixth stanza to reduce the deficit to a singleton. Wally Tymchyna was the winning hurler, receiving relief help from Bodin in the sixth. Elgin Smith, replaced by Arvin Thomas in the sixth, was tagged with the loss.
(July 29) Playing in the coal mining city, the travelling Kimberley Dynamos struck gold, winning twice from the host Fernie Falcons by scores of 7 to 2 and 5 to 1 to move closer to the arch-rival Kimberley Hobos for top spot in the EKSBL standings. Eric Ike” Bodin won his eighth game of the season in the opener, allowing five hits and striking out 12 along the way. Bill Ingram pitched a steady game for the Elk Valley nine, yielding seven safeties while fanning ten. Al Fabro, the starry Dynamo backstop, put his team out in front in the opening panel with a long triple that drove in a pair of counters. Les Lilley kept up his hitting spree of late with three safe swats. Ingramhelped his own cause with a double in the fifth frame when the Falcons scored both their runs.
In the follow-up tilt, youthful Mike Russell won his third game in as many starts as he set the cellar-dwelling Fernie crew down on five hits while whiffing seven. Jim Polomark, relieved by Jack Morasco in the fourth session, was stung with the setback. “Buzz” Mellor led the Dynies offensively, picking up a pair of hits.
(July 31) The Kimberley Dynamos took over sole possession of first place in the EKSBL with a late 7 to 3 comeback win over the Kimberley Hobos. With Jim Nelson yielding but one hit after seven stanzas, things looked bleak for the Dynies as they trailed 3 to 1 entering the eighth episode. The Hobo lead featured solo circuit-clouts by Nelson and Ed Johnson. In the fateful eighth, however, the offense of the Generators came to life as they scored a pair to knot the count at 3 – 3 when Nelson was derricked for Colin Patterson with the bases loaded. Patterson walked Sam Calles on four straight pitches to force in the winning run. Al Fabro followed with a two-run single and the final insurance tally crossed the pan on a passed ball. Bob Cox was credited with the hurling triumph for the Dynamos although he allowed eight hits and walked six.
(August 2) Kimberley Hobo shortstop John Kosiancic powered his ball club to a 6 to 2 win over the Kimberley Dynamos at Coronation Park as he creamed the horsehide for three home runs, driving in five runs. Kosiancic’s offensive outburst overshadowed a great pitching performance by southpaw Jim Nelson who held the Dynamo squad to five hits. Other than being lit up consistently by Kosiancic, losing chucker Bob Cox wasn’t all that bad on the knoll for the Generators as he allowed only three other base hits. After Elmer Garinger, better known as “Hound Dog”, staked the Dynies to a 2 – 0 opening-canto lead with a two-run tater, Kosiancic took over and dominated things.
(August 5) Standings in the East Kootenay Senior Baseball League remained unchanged over the weekend as the four clubs split doubleheaders. At Coronation Park, the homestanding Kimberley Hobos took the first game of their twin-bill with the Fernie Falcons 8 to 2 only to see the Feathered Flock come back to capture the sunset skirmish 6 to 2.
The Hobos continued their hex over Falcon star pitcher Bill Ingram in the matinee clash, getting to the Fernie slabster for six hits. However, five free passes and seven errors committed by his teammates sealed his doom. Merv “Moose” Ronquist lit up Ingram for a two-run dinger in the sixth spasm, his third tater of the campaign, in support of winning heaver Colin Patterson.
The Falcons got their revenge in the late encounter as winning tosser Jack Morasco kept seven Hobo safeties well scattered. The Tramps were held off the scoreboard until the seventh stanza when Ed Wallis went yard with one runner aboard. The Hawks spread their scoring over four different frames and were continually pecking away at losing chucker Mel Johnson and two relievers. “Bim” Brehm had a home run and double for the winners while Jim Harrington and Patsy Cavaretta each singled twice.
Meanwhile, at Coleman, the Kimberley Dynamos bounced back for a 4 to 0 triumph in their twilight tilt with the hosting Cubs after dropping the first encounter 8 to 4.
The Cubbies steamrolled to an 8 – 0 lead after two innings of the opener were in the books, leaving the Generators with a hole too deep to climb out of. George Talotti picked up the complete-game mound win and also contributed a pair of base raps. Bobby Cox, battered from the bump after the second stanza, was nailed with the loss. Dynie reliever Carl Johansen came on like gangbusters in the third round and held the Baby Bears hitless and scoreless the rest of the way. Catcher Al Fabro had a pair of safe blows for the Kimberley squad.
Playing-skipper Eric “Ike” Bodin came back to give the Dynamos an even split of the day’s proceedings as he won his ninth game of the season with a six-hit shutout in the finale. Only Vic Anderson, who had three of the six hits garnered by Coleman, proved to be a thorn in Bodin’s side. Starter Roger Teasdale, kayoed in the fifth frame and replaced by Talotti, absorbed the loss. Gord Turlik, who came up with a great display at shortstop in both games, drilled a triple and single for the visitors while Sam Calles contributed a two-bagger and single.
STANDINGS * W L T Pts.
Kimberley Dynamos 16 10 0 25
Kimberley Hobos 14 12 0 23
Coleman Cubs 9 9 2 20
Fernie Falcons 5 13 2 12
*Dynamos vs Hobos games worth only one point
(August 7) The Kimberley Dynamos, behind the strong right-armed heaving of Eric “Ike” Bodin, thumped their inter-city rivals, the Kimberley Hobos 8 to 1 at Coronation Park. The win was the tenth of the season for Bodin against two defeats and boosted the Dynies two points in front of the Bums in the EKSBL standings. Al Fabro, Les Lilley and Gord Turlik each had a pair of safeties for the victorious Generators. Hobo starter Elgin Smith suffered the knoll defeat.
(August 9) The Kimberley Dynamos clipped their city cousins, the second-place Kimberley Hobos, 5 to 3, to move into the driver’s seat in their quest for the EKSBL pennant. The game featured stellar pitching by Elgin Smith of the Tramps and the Generators’ Wally Tymchyna. Most of the runs plated by both teams were unearned as errors were prominent. John Kosiancic clouted his eighth home run of the season for the Dynies. Smith was nicked for six hits in taking the tough loss while Eric “Ike” Bodin, who relieved Tymchyna in the eighth episode with the score tied, received credit for the win, his eleventh of the season.
(August 12) By splitting a doubleheader at Coronation Park with the Coleman Cubs, the Kimberley Dynamos copped their sixth straight EKSBL pennant. The claim to the title was given an assist when the Kimberley Hobos dropped both ends of a twin-bill to the last-place Falcons at Fernie. The Dynies captured the opener 6 to 5, plating the unearned winner in the bottom-of-the-seventh spasm. Reliever Carlo Johansen picked up the pitching win while another relief tosser, Vic Anderson, was tagged with the defeat. Les Lilley belted his fifth homer of the season, a solo blast, for the pennant-winners.
Coleman took the nightcap 7 to 4, breaking a 3 – 3 tie by running across four ninth-inning counters against losing chucker Eric “Ike” Bodin. The Cubs had Bodin’s number in this one, plastering his slants for 15 base raps. George Talotti earned the compete-game win. Final scores and details of the Fernie sweep against the Hobos were not published.
FINAL STANDINGS * W L T Pts.
Kimberley Dynamos 19 13 0 29
Coleman Cubs 13 10 2 26
Kimberley Hobos 16 16 0 25
Fernie Falcons 7 15 2 16
*Dynamos vs Hobos games worth only one point
FINAL BATTING STATISTICS
TOP SIX BATTERS AB R H Aver.
John Kosiancic (Hobos) 126 36 49 .389
Fred Churla (Coleman) 96 22 35 .365
Al Fabro (Dynamos) 113 24 39 .345
Merv Ronquist (Hobos) 113 16 39 .345
Howie Gilbert (Coleman) 84 29 27 .321
Gord Turlik (Dynamos) 107 19 32 .299
RBI – Kosiancic 31
Home runs – Kosiancic 8
Triples – Konsiacic 4
Doubles – Fabro 9
1962 E.K.S.B.L. FIRST ALL-STAR TEAM
Manager – Dave McLay (Kimberley Hobos)
Catcher - Al Fabro (Kimberley Dynamos)
Pitcher – Eric “Ike” Bodin (Kimberley Dynamos
First Base – John Stone (Kimberley Hobos)
Second Base – Ed Chala (Coleman Cubs)
Third Base – “Buzz” Melloe (Kimberley Dynamos)
Shortstop – John Konsiacic (Kimberley Hobos)
Left Field – Les Lilley (Kimberley Dynamos)
Centre Field – Howie Gilbert (Coleman Cubs)
Right Field – “Moose” Ronquist (Kimberley Hobos)
RESERVES
Pitchers – Jim Nelson (Hobos), Mike Russell (Dynamos), Bill Ingram (Fernie), George Talotti (Coleman)
Position players – Jim Ratcliffe and Elgin Smith (Hobos), Jack Morasco (Fernie), Fred Churla, Vic Anderson and “Sparky” Bubniak (Coleman), Elmer Garinger, Wally Tymchyna and Gord Turlik (Dynamos)
PLAYOFFS
SEMI-FINALS Kimberley Hobos vs Coleman Cubs (best-of-three series)
(August 18-19) The Kimberley Hobos advanced to the EKSBL finals against the Kimberley Dynamos after capturing two out of three semi-final games from the Coleman Cubs over the weekend. On Saturday at Coronation Park, the Hobos came from behind to defeat the Coal City Crew 8 to 5. Sunday, in the Alberta town, the Cubs took a 9 to 7 decision to stay alive, forcing a third and deciding game. The rubber match was a thriller in which the Kimberley nine eked out a 7 to 6 win.
In the Saturday skirmish at Coronation Park, neither starting pitcher, Jim Nelson of the Hobos nor Coleman’s George Talotti, was very effective in the early stages as the lead bounced back-and-forth. “Sparky” Bubniak of the Cubs connected for a solo dinger in the fourth to propel the Cubs in front 4 – 3 but Ed Johnson of the Tramps nailed a two-run tater off Talotti in the fifth to change the game’s momentum. Roger Teasdale replaced Talotti on the hill at that point and, before the inning ended, his team was in arrears by a 7 to 5 count. Kimberley added another insurance run in the seventh when Ed Johnson, with his second base rap, doubled home winning pitcher Nelson.
The Cubs took charge of the first game in Coleman on Sunday when they cashed in on three Hobo fielding miscues in the opening panel to plate a brace of unearned tallies. A four-ply clout by Vic Anderson with one aboard in the second stanza made it 4 – 0. Mel Johnson’s three-run circuit jack in the third and a deep bases-empty blast by John Kosiancic suddenly wiped out the deficit and evened thing up. A singleton in the bottom-of-the third plus Howie Gilbert’s solo goner in the fourth reinstated Coleman’s lead to a deuce. With an additional brace in the sixth, the Cubs were able to put a bow on it although the Kimberley nine went down fighting with a last-ditch effort in the ninth which netted them one additional tally.
In the clincher which followed, the Hobos picked up a run in the first and added three more in the second when Elgin Smith dialed long distance for a round-tripper with two mates aboard. Coleman got one back in the third and knotted the count in the seventh when they ran across a three-spot. With the teams deadlocked at 4 – 4, Kimberly made a second pitching change, sending southpaw Jim Nelson to the knoll to replace Joe Postnikoff who had earlier stepped in to provide relief for starting heaver Mel Johnson. Nelson retired the Cubbies in the eighth and, in the top-of-the-ninth, drove in the tying and lead runs with a clutch base blow, later scoring himself with the counter that turned out to be the winning tally. The Coal-dust boys hung in their with a fierce attempt to stay alive when they plated a brace in their half of the final panel and had runners at the corners before their last-ditch comeback attempt fizzled away with a groundout.
FINALS Kimberley Hobos vs Kimberley Dynamos (best-of-five series)
(August 22) The Kimberley Hobos took advantage of a shorthanded Kimberley Dynamos nine to throttle their arch-rivals 13 to 3 as the EKSBL finals got underway. The game was called after eight innings when darkness prevented further play. The Generators, with just a bare minimum nine players available, were no match for winning heaver Elgin Smith and his teammates. In addition to hurling the pitching victory, Smith dialed long distance for a brace of four-ply clouts, accounting for five RBI’s. Fellow Hobo “Moose” Ronquist also went yard with dingers on two occasions to drive in three tallies. Playing-manager Eric “Ike” Bodin, with no one to call on for relief from the empty Dynamo dugout, was shelled for thirteen hits.
(August 23) With all of their regulars back in the lineup and plenty of other reinforcements available for duty, the pennant-winning Kimberley Dynamos rebounded from a humiliating opening-game defeat and evened up the EKSBL finals at a game apiece with a 6 to 4 win over the Kimberley Hobos. Playing errorless afield, the rejuvenated Dynies reeled off a pair of double plays. Each team registered eight hits as Gord Turlik led the victors with three safeties. Teammate “Buzz” Mellor clipped the horsehide for a brace of base raps as did “Moose” Ronquist and Al Patterson of the Tramps. Wally Tymchyna, in relief of starter Bob Cox, earned the heaving win while southpaw Jim Nelson was the complete-game loser.
(August 29) A four-run outburst in the bottom-of-the-seventh and final inning gave the Kimberley Dynamos an 8 to 6 come-from-behind victory over the Kimberley Hobos and vaulted the Dynies into a 2 – 1 lead in the EKSBL finals. The darkness-shortened affair saw the Generators capitalize on four hits, a walk and a pair of Hobo errors in their final turn at bat to pull the contest out of the fire. Eric “Ike” Bodin copped the hurling triumph in relief after coming to the aid of Mike Russell in the fifth frame with two on and none out. The big right-hander closed the door, holding the Hobos scoreless and hitless for the remainder of the fracas. In addition, he drove in the run that turned out to be the winner. Joe Postnikoff was nicked with the setback after ascending the knoll to relieve Arvin Thomas in the fourth.
(September 2-3) Fernie Labor Day weekend tournament
(September 7) The Kimberley Dynamos captured their third straight EKSBL championship when they stung their city rivals, the Kimberley Hobos, with an 11 to 8 defeat to win the final series in four games. The Dynies sent Hobo starter Jim Nelson to the showers in the second stanza after jumping out to a 7 to 3 lead. The Bums narrowed the deficit to a singleton in the third but that was a close as they would get. The Generators lit into reliever Elgin Smith for a trey in the fifth and a four-run cushion. John Kosiancic went yard for a two-run tater off winning chucker “Ike” Bodin in the seventh to restore some hope for the Hobos but, with darkness enveloping the skies, the Dynamos tacked on another counter in their portion of the chapter just before the hostilities terminated for lack of illumination.
EAST KOOTENAY JUNIOR BASEBALL
(August 31) Cranbrook Pacers downed Kimberley B.P.O.E. Angels 3-2 Friday to capture the East Kootenay Junior Baseball championship. The game was the last half of a postponed match from last Tuesday called after just four innings as darkness set in. When play resumed Friday, Pacers held a 3-1 lead. The Angels managed to score in the sixth as Sam Calles opened with a sharp single and advanced on an error. Alan Fabro's liner into centre field brought in the run. The Pacers now meet Rossland, the West Kootenay champions for district honours.
Colin Patterson (W) and xxx
Sam Calles (L), Alan Fabro (5) and Fabro, Del Renso (5)
CARIBOO LEAGUE
(There appears to have been no formal name for the Cariboo area league other than Senior Baseball League).
After a four-year lapse, organized senior baseball is to return to North Central BC this summer. Two teams from Prince George and one each from Williams Lake and Quesnel will begin a 48-game schedule July 1st. The last senior loop in the area folded in 1958.
(July 1) Quesnel Lumbermen kicked off the season in fine fashion with a sweep of a double-header over Prince George Legion 5-4 and 11-7. Quesnel got a run on a walk and three hits in the 8th inning for the winning counter in the opener. Veteran George Dye pitched seven innings for the win. Prince George pulled to within a run in the 9th as Gaal tripled in Keith Cline with none out but reliever Jack Charlesworth got the next three hitters to end the game.
Neukomn (L), Carretti (8) and xxx
Dye (W), Charlesworth (8) and xxx
In the first inning of the second game, Irv Follack led off with a double, Les Johannsen drew a walk and Jack Charlesworth singled to load the bases. On the second pitch, Oscar Festerling smacked one out of the park for a grand slam homer to give Quesnel a lead they'd hold throughout. Kelly belted a three-run triple for the Legion.
Keith Cline (L), Pete Neukomn (4) and xxx
Festerling (W), Charlesworth (4) and
xxx
(July 8) It was another twin-bill success for Quesnel on the second weekend of the league schedule, 10- to 2 and 13 to 3 over Williams Lake. Jack Charlesworth allowed 11 hits but went the route for the win in the first game striking out 12 and giving up just one walk. Quesnel took a 5-0 lead in the first inning helped by triples from Oscar Festerling and Bob Boyd. Williams Lake got a homer by Jack Moores.
Jim Rolston (L) , Don Ballard (2) and xxx
Charlesworth (W) and xxx
George Dye threw no-hit ball into the 5th inning in Quesnel's 13-3 win in the second game. Again, the Lumbermen jumped into a quick lead with six runs in the first inning.
xxx and xxx
Dye (W) and xxx
(July 15) The scheduled game between Quesnel and Prince George Tire was cancelled because the Tire club failed to field enough players. It appears Prince George Tire will drop out of the circuit leaving three teams to carry on.
(July 21-22) Smithers Tournament
(July 29) Prince George Legion took a pair from Billy Barker of Quesnel Sunday 6-5 in the first game and 11-7 in the evening encounter. (Billy Barker Hotel took over sponsorship of the Quesnel nine.) Bob Elliott, 20-year-old ace of Vanderhoof, who was selected as the most valuable player in the Smithers Tournament went the route for the winners holding Quesnel to three hits. He walked six and struck out 11. Bill McLeod gave up nine hits in taking the loss. he walked 10 with seven strike outs.
McLeod (L) and xxx
Elliott (W) and xxx
Quesnel took a 6-1 lead after two innings in the second game but Prince George roared back to take the lead with six runs on two singles, two doubles and triple and a series of errors in the fourth inning. Pete Neukomn went the route for Prince George allowing five hits.
Dye (L), Friesen (6) and xxx
Neukomn (W) and xxx
(August 11-12) Quesnel Tournament
The Quesnel Tournament proved to be the final senior baseball action for the summer.
KASLO-SLOCAN-ARROW LAKES SENIOR BASEBALL LEAGUE
(August 12) At Vimy Park Sunday, Winlaw edged Kaslo 3-2 in an exhibition contest. Red Bevington knocked in two for Kasko with a well-placed single in the second inning. Walt Malakoff for Winlaw and George Nelson for Kaslo each had 11 strikeouts in the pitchers' duel.
Malakoff (W) and Shukin
Nelson (L) and Bavington
(August 25) Winlaw, playing at home, dumped New Denver-Silverton 12-8 Saturday in the opening game of the best-of-three series for the league championship. Pete Kabatoff was the winning hurler.
E.Elsmore (L) and xxx
P.Kabatoff (W) and xxx
(August 26) On Sunday, New Denver-Silverton edged Winlaw 14-13 to tie their final series at a game apiece. Jack Kelly was credited with the pitching win.
P.Kabatoff (L) and xxx
J.Kelly (W) and xxx
(September) At New Denver, Winlaw captured the league trophy after dropping New Denver 7-1 in the season's final game.
(September 3) Slocan City trounced Winlaw 10-3 to take top prize money ot $75 at the Kaslo Invitational Tournament. Slocan advanced to the final crushing Kalso 18-7. Winlaw had topped New Denver 10-9 in a crowd-pleasing game.
(September 9) Pete Kabatoff scattered eight hits Sunday, setting down 16 by strikeouts without a free pass, as Winlaw topped New Denver-Silverton 7-1 to win the league championship.. Jack Kelly, who fanned eight and walked five, took the loss. Five errors by New Denver-Silverton paved the way for the Winlaw triumph.
J.Kelly (L) and xxx
P.Kabatoff (W) and xxx