1965 Game Reports, BC Interior     

1965 Vancouver, Lower Mainland, Fraser Valley 
1965 BC Interior 
1965 Vancouver Island   

OKANAGAN MAINLINE LEAGUE

Kamloops Lelands
Kelowna Labatts
North Kamloops Stars
Penticton Red Sox
Vernon Luckies

(May 2)  Right-hander Reg Main threw a one-hitter and rang up 19 punchouts to lead the Vernon Luckies to an 8 to 0 whitewashing of the North Kamloops Stars in the OMBL opener. Main, a former farmhand in the New York Yankees’ organization, fanned seven in succession in the first three innings. First baseman Russ Keckalo led the way at the plate for the Luckies, driving in three runs with a double and two singles. Stars’ starter Robert Corbin, relieved in the eighth by Eric Shishido, was tagged with the loss. 

(May 6)  The Kamloops Lelands whipped the Kelowna Labatts 13 to 7 in their first game of the OMBL season at Riverside Park. The Lelands exploded for five runs in the bottom-of-the-opening-canto off Labatt starter Tom Martin after Kelowna had jumped ahead 2 – 0 in the top-of-the-first. Les Schaeffer took over hurling chores for the Regatta City squad in the second stanza but failed to stop the bleeding. Jack Fowles went all the way on the knoll for the Hotelmen, yielding a dozen hits while fanning seven. The homesters had a decided advantage when it came to the long ball. Dale Cassell, Jim Alton and Gord Beecroft all went yard with dingers for the victors while Gerry Robertson poled the lone tater for the vanquished Kelownans.

(May 8)  Two successive Penticton errors, a hit, two walks, a wild pitch and a passed ball gave Kelowna three runs in the sixth inning and a 4 to 2 victory over the visiting Peach City aggregation.

Webster, B. McGillivray (L) (5) and Hale
Atchison, Schaeffer (W) (4) and Leonard

(May 9)  The invading Kamloops Lelands used home run power to topple Vernon 11 to 6 at Polson Park. Shortstop Larry Roberge and outfielder Gord Beecroft supplied the four-bagger punch in the Kamloops’ attack. Roberge dialed long distance with a three-run tater while Beecroft went yard twice, smashing a brace of solo dingers. Right-hander Derek McGillivray scattered seven Vernon hits and struck out ten batters in recording his initial hurling victory of the campaign. 

D. McGillivray (W) and Kato
Barnes (L), J. Kashuba (7) and Nuyens

(May 11)  The Kelowna Labatts whipped the North Kamloops Stars 18 to 10 in OMBL action at Riverside Park. The Stars jumped out in front 6 – 0 in the opening panel and held a 10 – 8 lead going into the sixth inning but winning pitcher Les Schaeffer spoiled things for the hosts by blasting a three-run homer to but the Beermen in front 11- 10. After that, it was all gravy for the Regatta City nine. Schaeffer was deadly with the lumber, connecting for a second round-tripper as well as two singles and finished with five RBI’s. Also swatting taters for the victors were John Duzik and Bill Martino. Replying with four-baggers for the vanquished Luminaries were Jim Harrison and Cameron Moerike.

Ross, Martino (1), Schaeffer (W) (1) and xxx
Corbin, Shishido (L) (3) and xxx

(May 12)  Jumping on the offerings of former New York Yankee farmhand Reg Main for six first-inning runs, Penticton blasted out a 19 to 5 OMBL win over Vernon in a seven-inning tussle at Kings Park. The Peach City squad mustered 16 hits in all off Main and reliever Ron Miciuk. Larry Webster gave up four hits in copping the hurling verdict.

Main (L), Miciuk (4) and Nuyens, J. Kashuba
Webster (W) and Day

(May 13)  The Kamloops Lelands trounced the North Kamloops Stars 18 to 3 in a curfew-shortened, seven-inning tussle at Riverside Park for their third consecutive OMBL win. Five-run outbursts in both the third and fourth frames rendered the result inevitable. With an insurmountable lead, winning tosser Jack Fowles retired from the slab in the sixth spasm as Larry Roberge came on to mop up. The duo gave up only four hits. The Stars used three chuckers with starter Terry Haines being tagged with the loss. Ed Begg knocked out a home run for the winners while catcher Stan Kato and flychaser George Makortoff both knocked in three runs with bases-loaded doubles.  

(May 15)  The Kamloops Lelands preserved their unbeaten record in the OMBL by whipping the Penticton Red Sox 9 to 3 at Riverside Park. Junior call-up Bobby Haywood entered the game in the second spasm in relief of Jack Fowles and held the Peach City nine scoreless until the sixth stanza when catcher Lee Day lit him up for a bases-empty dinger. He allowed another tally in the seventh in copping his first OMBL heaving triumph. Red Sox starter Barry McGillivray, derricked from the hill in the fourth for Larry Webster, was nailed with the loss. Stan Kato of the Hotelmen was the contest’s top swatsmith, stinging the horsehide for two doubles and a single.

(May 16)  Hosting North Kamloops went down to a 12 to 4 defeat at the hands of the Penticton Red Sox. The Scarlet Stockings scored three runs in the second stanza off complete-game losing chucker Dave Murphy and never looked back. Jim Terbasket performed pitching duties for the visitors, surrendering five hits. George Uyeda picked up a brace of safeties for the losing Stars.

(May 18)  The Kelowna Labatts pushed across nine runs in the sixth inning to defeat Kamloops 17 to 10 in an OMBL contest at Elks Stadium. The victory moved the Brewers to within a half-game of the front-running Lelands. In spite of the one-sided loss, the Hotelmen still ruled in the power department, getting home runs from losing heaver Gord Beecroft, Jack Fowles, George Makortoff and Ed Begg while Bill Martino clouted a goner off winning twirler Les Schaeffer.

Beecroft (L), Fowles (4), Camp (5), Kato (6) and Kato, Begg (6)
Schaeffer (W), Armeneau (8) and Leonard, Bailey (8) 

(May 23)  The Kamloops Lelands won their fifth game of the season when they clipped the Vernon Luckies 5 to 1 at Polson Park. Stan Kato, regular catcher for the Hotelmen, pitched the win, striking out seven batters while allowing eight hits. Reg Main was nicked with the loss. Ed Cannon had a pair of safeties for the winners.

(May 24)  The Vernon Luckies lost their fourth straight OMBL tilt, dropping a lopsided 17 to 8 decision to the Penticton Red Sox. Each team had 13 hits but the Sox took advantage of nine Vernon errors, 14 walks and three wild pitches to coast to their victory. Barry McGillivray, with seventh-stanza relief assistance from Jim Terbasket, copped the heaving victory for Penticton while Darryl Douglas, the first of three Vernon twirlers, took the loss.

B. McGillivray (W), Terbasket (7) and and Hale
Douglas (L), Main (2), Yarno (2) and J. Kashuba

(May 27)  The Kamloops Lelands improved their season’s won-loss record to 6 – 1 by whitewashing the North Kamloops Stars 4 to 0 at Riverside Park. The loss for the hapless Stars was the sixth in succession. Winning pitcher Larry Roberge relieved starter “Bullet” Bob Davoren in the fourth inning although the Stars had not given Davoren much trouble. Southpaw Bill LaSage pitched only the first frame for North Kamloops and took the loss. Gord Beecroft belted a two-run round-tripper for the winners.

(June 3)  Significantly outhit by a 12 to 6 margin, the Kamloops Lelands still managed to get past the visiting Kelowna Labatts by a score of 12 to 10. Derek McGillivray and Jack Fowles shared the pitching chores for the Hotelmen with Fowles getting credit for the win. Bill Martino, who replaced starter Chuck Jungblom on the knoll for the Brewers in the opening canto, took the loss. Kelowna’s five errors played a significant role in their defeat. Third baseman Dale Cassell of the Lelands went yard with a three-run circuit-jack.

(June 5-6)  The Vernon Luckies swept a pair of OMBL tussles over the weekend, edging Kelowna 3 to 2 Saturday night in a 15-inning marathon before blanking Kamloops 5 to 0 on Sunday afternoon.

Extended into the sixth round of overtime in the Saturday joust, the Luckies came up with two consecutive singles, an intentional walk and another one-bagger to win in walkoff fashion at Polson Park.

Vernon’s Darryl Douglas stifled the Lelands on four hits in the Sunday affair, fanning eight and walking one along the way. Ron Miciuk had three safeties against losing chucker Stan Kato, driving in a pair of markers for the Luckies. Teammate Gord Nuyens nailed a solo home run.

(June 10) 

STANDINGS          W      L       Pct.
Kamloops           7      2      .778
Penticton          5      2      .714
Vernon             4      4      .500
Kelowna            3      4      .429
North Kamloops     1      8      .111 

(June 12)  Youthful right-hander Derek McGillivray and veteran Gord Beecroft combined their talents to lead the Kamloops Lelands to a 7 to 3 triumph over the hometown Penticton Red Sox. McGillivray came up with a two-hit, 13-strikeout mound performance while Beecroft slammed two homers and a single. Penticton southpaw Larry Webster, relieved in the sixth spasm by Barry McGillivray, was charged with the loss.

D. McGillivray (W) and Begg
Webster (L), B. McGillivray (6) and Day

(June 15)  The Kamloops Lelands scored five times in the third inning and went on to down the Kelowna Labatts 7 to 2 at Elks Stadium. The hosting Brewmen out hit the Hoteliers 8 to 7 but were unable to score until the ninth inning. Derek McGillivray went all the way to register the mound win, issuing four free passes, hitting a batter and punching out eight. Randy Doiven led Kamloops at the plate with four hits while Jack Burton was best with the baton for the Regatta City squad, stroking three safe swats.

D. McGillvray (W) and Begg
Hjeimvoll (L), Schaeffer (3) and Leonard, Culos (7) 

(June 16)  Taking full advantage of six Penticton fielding miscues in addition to a few mental lapses, invading Kelowna edged the Red Sox 4 to 3. Labatt chucker Dave Hjeimvoll spun a neat four-hitter but needed relief help from Les Schaeffer in the ninth to preserve the win. Schaeffer coolly whiffed pinch-hitter Joe Kozak with the bases loaded to end the game. Losing tosser Barry McGillivray fanned 15 and was also stingy when it came to giving up base hits, yielding but five.

Hjeimvoll (W), Schaeffer (9) and Leonard
B. McGillivray (L)and Day 

(June 17)  The Kamloops Lelands came on strong in the middle innings to steamroll past the visiting Vernon Luckies 10 to 1. Flexing their muscles for a deuce in the fourth and a five-spot during their next turn at bat, the Hotelmen cruised to the one-sided triumph. Making his first mound appearance of the season, Al Simmons was stellar in going the route for the Lelands, striking out 17 while surrendering just four hits. Losing chucker Reg Main was kayoed from the hill in the sixth stanza and replaced by southpaw Rich Marquardt. Stan Kato blasted a two-run dinger for the winners. 

(June 19)  Collecting their 11th win in 13 OMBL outings, the Kamloops Lelands mowed down the North Kamloops Stars 7 to 2 at Riverside Park. Derek McGillivray, going the full nine innings on the knoll for the Hotelmen, allowed just three hits and punched out seven. Robert Corbin, driven to the showers after falling behind 4 – 0 in the fourth, was saddled with the defeat. Mike Kellogg went the rest of the way for the fallen Stars. Randy Doiven doubled twice for the winners.

(June 20)  Lefthander Burt Asay tossed a two-hitter to help the Vernon Luckies to a 7 to 1 victory over Penticton. Asay collected eight strikeouts and issued only three walks in winning his second decision of the season. The Luckies tagged losing heaver Barry McGillivray and reliever Hank Tillberg for 11 base knocks. Gibb McGlothlin picked up two singles and a double for the Vernonites.

(June 21) 

STANDINGS          W      L       Pct.    GBL
Kamloops          11      2      .846     ----
Vernon             7      5      .583     3.5
Kelowna            5      7      .417     5.5
Penticton          5      7      .417     5.5
North Kamloops     1      8      .111     8.0 

(June 22)  The North Kamloops Stars, a first-year team in the OMBL, absorbed an 11 to 2 whipping at the hands of the Vernon Luckies at Riverside Park. The setback for the Stars was their tenth in eleven league outings. Right-hander Darryl Douglas of the Luckies tamed the North Kamloops nine on four hits while accumulating 16 strikeouts. Losing hurler Len Janikowski was nicked for five hits while his successor on the bump, Mike Kellogg, gave up four. 

(June 24)  The Kamloops Lelands padded their lead atop the OMBL standings by slapping down the North Kamloops Stars 11 to 3. Right-hander Al Simmons, coming off the sick list with a bout of flu, tossed the first five frames for the winners, surrendering nary a run nor a hit while breezing a dozen. All three North Kamloops runs came off the slants of Bobby Haywood who finished on the hill for the Hotelmen. Robert Corbin was saddled with the defeat. Outfielder Ray Fujikawa belted a three-run homer for the Lelands while clubmate Stan Kato delivered a solo tater. Big Al Gulliford of the Stars launched a bases-empty dinger for his squad. 

(June 26)  Al Simmons fashioned a three-hitter as the visiting Kamloops Lelands buried the error-prone Penticton Red Sox 13 to 3. Nine errors by the inept Red Sox defense made things easy for the Hotelmen.

Simmons (W) and Marshall, Begg (7)
Webster (L), B. McGillivray (3) and Day, Hale (6)

(June 26)  Paced by the four-hit pitching of Bill Martino, the Kelowna Labatts rolled over the visiting North Kamloops Stars 6 to 1 at Elks Stadium. Starter Mike Kellogg of the North Kamloops contingent, who hurled for 6-2/3 innings, was the loser. Flychaser Charlie Jungblom led the Beermen with the baton, drilling three safeties including a solo circuit-clout.

(June 30)  Despite a ninth-inning defensive lapse wherein four errors led to three North Kamloops tallies, the Penticton Red Sox had little difficulty in dumping the visitors 7 to 3. Jim Terbasket, with a five-hitter, picked up his third win of the season while Tony Dille, nicked for seven safeties, absorbed the loss.

Dille (L) and Gulliford
Terbasket (W) and Hale

(July 5) 

STANDINGS            W      L      Pct.   GBL
Kamloops            13      3     .813    ----
Vernon              11      5     .688    2.0
Penticton            7      8     .467    5.5
Kelowna              6     10     .375    7.0
North Kamloops       1     12     .077   10.5
 

(July 7)  Larry Hale’s tenth-inning single plated Lee Day, breaking up a 2 – 2 deadlock, as the Penticton Red Sox prevailed 3 to 2 over the visiting Vernon Luckies. Winning hurler Barry McGillivray hurled a three-hitter with 20 punchouts and had a no-hitter going until the sixth inning when Russ Keckalo lit him up for a towering two-run dinger. Darryl Douglas was nicked for nine hits in taking the loss.

Douglas (L) and Gill
B. McGillivray (W) and Day

(July 8)  The North Kamloops Stars won for just the second time this season, upending the high-fling Kamloops Lelands 8 to 6. Les Stith was the hitting hero for the Stars. In four plate appearances, he singled once, then doubled and, in the seventh inning, blasted a homer for what turned out to be the winning run. Terry Haines also went yard with a two-run dinger while Al Gulliford drove in a brace of tallies with a crucial one-bagger. Fourth-inning reliever Len Janikowski  was credited with the win while Derek McGillivray was dinged with the loss. Jim Alton ripped a solo four-bagger for the Hotelmen in the fourth.

(July 10)  The Kamloops Lelands broke up a 2 – 2 tie with three-spots in both the seventh and eighth stanzas to drop the travelling Penticton Red Sox 8 to 2. Penticton reliever Hank Tillberg gave up five of the six counters after inheriting a bases-loaded situation from losing chucker Larry Webster in the seventh. 

(July 10)  The Kelowna Labatts edged visiting Vernon 3 to 2, plating the winning counter in the bottom-of-the-ninth inning. Alf Davy launched a tater for the victors while Gibb McGlothlin and Garth Hill responded with dingers for the Luckies.

(July 11)  A three-run opening-inning, spearheaded by Larry Hale’s two-RBI double, was sufficient to carry the Penticton Red Sox to a 4 to 1 decision over the hosting North Kamloops Stars. Larry Webster, relieved by Hank Tillberg after five frames, copped the twirling decision over Mike Kellogg.

(July 13)  The front-running Kamloops Lelands dumped the hosting Kelowna Labatts 8 to 5. Kelowna opened the scoring in the first inning on a bases-empty homer by Chuck Jungblom but Kamloops came back in the third when they scored three runs with Bert Marshall driving in two of them on a timely single. The Lelands’ big inning was the sixth when they plated five counters, three of them on singles by Gord Beecroft and Randy Doiven.

(July 14)  Penticton left-hander Barry McGillivray rang up 18 punchouts and allowed only three hits in leading the Red Sox to a 10 to 2 victory over Kelowna. Spurred by home runs from Dan Pinske and Lee Day, the Crimson Hose put together a 12-hit attack. McGillivray retired the last 17 batters to face him, whiffing ten in a row in one stretch. 

(July 15)  A 12 to 8 thumping of the invading Vernon Luckies assured the victorious Kamloops Lelands no worse than a tie for the 1965 OMBL pennant. Both teams registered nine hits in the fracas but the Hoteliers were superior in bunching their blows. A seven-run eighth episode sealed the deal for the Lelands. Sixth-inning reliever Jack Fowles of the Kamloops squad earned the win. The Luckies used a trio of tossers with Darryl Douglas, the second of the three, getting stung with the loss.   

(July 17-18)  Penticton annexed two weekend victories to take over sole possession of second place in the OMBL standings. The Red Sox defeated the visiting North Kamloops Stars 6 to 0 Saturday evening and followed up with a 5 to 3 win on Sunday over the Luckies in Vernon. Jim Terbasket spun a three-hitter and whiffed 15 in the Saturday tilt. Losing twirler Len Zaichowsky was nicked for nine safeties including two each by Lee Day and Barry McGillivray.

Vernon committed six errors in the Sunday clash, dropping their fourth game in a row. Lefthander Larry Webster of the Peach City nine scattered five hits in copping the win over Darryl Douglas. 

(July 20)  The Vernon Luckies trounced the North Kamloops Stars 17 to 8 in OMBL action at Riverside Park. Winning chucker Burt Asay gave up five of the seven North Kamloops hits before turning the horsehide over to Reg Main in the sixth with a substantial lead. Starter Tony Dille of the Stars suffered the loss. Terry Haines socked a three-run four-bagger for the vanquished nine.

(July 22)  Scoring nine runs in their first turn at bat, the Kamloops Lelands went on to decimate the North Kamloops Stars 16 to 2 at Riverside Park. Al Simmons struck out ten and pitched a four-hitter for the win. The Stars’ Tony Dille, who was the losing twirler, lasted only a third-of-an-inning before being battered off the knoll. Len Zaichowsky went the rest of the way on the mound for the losers. Dale Cassell, Larry Roberge and Jim Alton each had three hits for the Hoteliers while Jack Fowles clouted a two-run tater.

(July 24)  The Kelowna Labatts got past a stubborn North Kamloops nine 6 to 4 in a tight game at Elks Stadium.

(July 24)  Hosting Penticton upset the Kamloops Lelands 9 to 7 at Kings Park.

(July 25)  Penticton defeated the North Kamloops Stars 3 to 0 and the Kamloops Lelands bombed the Red Sox 17 to 3 in a three-team OMBL doubleheader staged at Riverside Park. The visitors broke a scoreless draw by scoring all three of their runs in the seventh stanza of the opener. Larry Webster, in relief of Jim Terbasket got the win while North Kamloops reliever Mike Kellogg suffered the loss.

Payback in spades was the name of the game as the Lelands crushed the Red Sox in the finale, avenging their loss in Penticton less than 24 hours previous. The pennant-winning Hoteliers scored a half-dozen markers in the opening panel and never looked back. Al Simmons copped the hurling win while Larry Webster was saddled with the setback. Kamloops pounded out 16 hits during the onslaught, highlighted by Derek McGillivray’s two-run homer in the fifth frame.

(July 29)  The lowly North Kamloops Stars upset the applecart, taking both ends of a double-bill from the visiting Kelowna Labatts by scores of 5 to 1 and 2 to 1. Tony Dille recorded the heaving triumph in the matinée joust and started on the hill in the nightcap, pitching into the second spasm before giving way to right-hander Mike Kellogg who tossed a neat three-hitter the rest of the way to gain the knoll decision. A three-run output in the seventh inning, sparked by a two-run single off the bat of Les Stith, sewed up the victory for the Stars in the matinée joust.

Stith was the man-of-the-hour in the twilight tilt, driving in the winning counter with a fifth-frame one-base rap. Labatts’ Les Schaeffer was tagged with the setback in this encounter.

PLAYOFFS
SEMI-FINALS  Penticton vs Kamloops & Kelowna vs Vernon  (best-of-five series)

(August 8)  A 5 to 4 triumph over the Kelowna Labatts pushed the Vernon Luckies out in front in their semi-final series.

(August 10)  Kamloops grabbed a one-game lead in their semi-final showdown with Penticton. 

(August 15)  Penticton tied their semi-final series with Kamloops by upsetting the pennant-winners 3 to 1 at Riverside Park. With the score knotted at 1 – 1 in the seventh, the Red Sox plated the winning and insurance counters on two miscues by the Lelands. Larry Webster pitched the first seven stanzas for the Peach City contingent to grab the mound decision while Derek McGillivray took the loss. Doug Moore and Don Pinske of Penticton as well as Kamloops’ Stan Kato all had two base raps.

Webster (W), B. McGillivray (8) and Day
D. McGillivray (L) and Begg

(August 15)  Vernon advanced to the OMBL finals by defeating visiting Kelowna 7 to 5 to sweep their best-of-five series in three straight games. Catcher Gord Nuyens led the Labatts’ ten-hit offensive attack with two home runs and two singles, good for three RBI’s. Chuck Jungblom of the Labatts also drove in three tallies on the strength of a pair of singles and a double. Southpaw Burt Asay earned his second win of the series although he needed relief help from Darryl Douglas in the seventh spasm. Kelowna starter Dave Hjeimvoll, battered from the slab in the second stanza, absorbed the defeat. 

(August 18)  The underdog Penticton nine blanked the Kamloops Lelands 5 to 0 to take a two-games-to-one lead in their playoff series. Barry McGillivray shut down the powerful Leland swatsmiths on just two hits while fanning 15 in earning the shutout win. 

Simmons (L), Fowles (6) and Marshall
B. McGillivray (W) and Day  

(August 21)  The Kamloops Lelands squared their semi-final series with Penticton by taking a decisive 16 to 8 win over Penticton. Al Simmons, after suffering the game three defeat, came back to hold the hosting Red Sox to four hits with 13 strikeouts in the five innings that he toiled on the knoll. Randy Doiven had two of the seven hits acquired by the Hotelmen.

Simmons (W), D. McGillivray (6) and Marshall
B. McGillivray (L), Webster (1), Terbasket (3), Preen (7) and Day

(August 26)  A muffed fly ball in the bottom-of-the-seventh stanza allowed two Kamloops runners to cross the plate with the tying and ultimate winning counters as the Lelands hung on to squeak past the Penticton Red Sox 3 to 2 to capture their semi-final series in five hard-fought matches. None of the five runs scored in this deciding clash were of the earned variety, spoiling stellar pitching performances by winning tosser Al Simmons and defeated hurler Barry McGillivray. Each team had three errors, the majority of which seemed to impact the game. The Kamloops right-hander struck out 11 and gave up just three hits while southpaw McGillivray fanned eight and allowed seven safeties.

B. McGillivray (L) and Day
Simmons (W) and Kato 

FINALS  Vernon vs Kamloops  (best-of-five series)

(August 28-29)  The Kamloops Lelands and Vernon Luckies divided the spoils in the first two skirmishes of the OMBL finals. The Lelands took the opener Saturday night at Riverside Park 11 to 4 and Vernon came back to annex the Sunday afternoon tilt 6 to 5 in a 12-inning Polson Park marathon. 

The Hoteliers roared out of the gate with four tallies in their first turn at bat in the Saturday scuffle and had a 9 – 0 lead after three frames, virtually putting the game on ice. Derek McGillivray threw a seven-hitter and punched out 15 in recording the easy win. Gord Beecroft had a double and single for the winners while Dale Cassell contributed a brace of one-baggers. Burt Asay drove in three of the Vernon counters with a pair of singles.

Douglas (L), Marquardt (3) and Nuyens
D. McGillivray (W) and Marshall

Rich Shamanski drove in the winning run for the Luckies in the bottom-half of the third bonus round of play in the Sunday affair with a sacrifice fly, making a winner out of Darryl Douglas who was stung with the Saturday defeat. Vernon’s Gord Nuyens belted a three-run homer in the ninth to send the contest into overtime.

Simmons (L) and Kato
Asay, Douglas (W) (6) and Nuyens

(September 4-6)  Kamloops Labor Day weekend tournament 

(September 9)  The Kamloops Lelands doubled the Vernon Luckies 8 to 4 at Riverside Park to grab a two-games-to-one lead in the OMBL finals. With the loss of their one-two pitching punch of Al Simmons and Derek McGillvray to university, the Hotelman turned to Jack Fowles for the mound assignment. Fowles, a bit rusty after pitching for the first time in more than a month, had a shaky start on the knoll as the Luckies got to him for three runs in the first two innings. The veteran right-hander settled down, however, surrendering just one additional Vernon counter during the remainder of the contest while the Kamloops offense was getting untracked. Leading the charge at the plate, Fowles produced four RBI’s on the strength of two singles and a home run. Randy Doiven, the OMBL’s 1965 batting champion, followed with a pair of doubles and a triple while Jim Alton connected for a solo homer. Burt Asay, the starting hurler for the Luckies, took the loss, giving up six runs on six hits in the 2-1/3 innings that he toiled.

Asay, Douglas (3), Marquardt (8) and Nuyens
Fowles (W) and Marshall 

(September 12)  No result found in print for game four of the OMBL finals scheduled for this date.


CAN-AM INTERNATIONAL BASEBALL LEAGUE

Kimberley exited the Can-Am International League in 1965 but was replaced by a team from Rossland, a municipality re-entering senior-level baseball after a ten-year absence. With no Spokane involvement in the 1965 loop, the circuit began the season with only one American entry, the Couer d’Alene club. The Idahoans didn’t last long, however, dropping out after an early-season doubleheader loss, leaving the league with a rather meaningless title.

Coeur d’Alene ID (dropped out in early June)
Cranbrook Canucks
Nelson Braves
Rossland Capilanos
Trail Smoke Eaters

(May 26)  Overcoming a fifth-inning 3 – 0 deficit, the Trail Smoke Eaters bounced back to nose out the Nelson Braves 4 to 3 in the opening game for the west Kootenay adversaries in the five-team Can-Am International Baseball League. Clean-up hitter Don McLeod’s double in the bottom-of-the-ninth inning at Butler Park drove in leadoff batter “Butch” Simpson with the winning run. Winning tosser Bentley MacEwan, pitching a steady game, went all the way on the knoll for the Smelter Towners while Nelson’s Miles Desharnais took the loss. Simpson led the winners at the dish with two singles and a double.

(May 30)  With three imports in the lineup, the Cranbrook Canucks swept a Can-Am International League twin-bill from the travelling Trail Smoke Eaters by scores of 8 to 5 and 5 to 2. The Smokies had a 13 to 12 advantage in base hits over the Canucks in the matinée tilt and had the bases loaded in the ninth chapter before their comeback attempt was thwarted. Hoyt Demers copped the heaving victory over Dennis Zinio.

Cranbrook took a 2 – 0 lead in the opening canto of the nightcap and never lost their winning margin. Alf Sedran picked up the knoll win while Bentley MacEwan was nicked with the setback.  

(June 2)  The Trail Smoke Eaters exploded for nine runs in the first inning and went on to bomb the visiting Rossland Capilanos 18 to 6 in Can-Am League action at Butler Park. The game was the first in ten years at the senior-level for the Rossland aggregation. Winning hurler Gord Madge left in favor of Don McLeod in the seventh stanza when the Caps mounted their biggest threat of the contest by plating a three-spot. Starter Al DeCecco of the Golden City nine was tagged with the loss. Wayne Magee and Lou DeRosa followed DeCecco on the hill and only DeRosa was able to stop the bleeding. McLeod poked three singles for the winners while “Butch” Simpson added a triple and double and Tom Bird a solo homer. Larry Kissock delivered two singles and a run-scoring sacrifice fly. The Caps managed only four base hits.

(June 3)  Pushing across four counters in the fifth frame, the Trail Smoke Eaters wiped out a 3 – 2 deficit and went on to annex an 8 to 3 win over the hosting Rossland Capilanos. Bentley MacEwan got credit for the pitching win after taking over for Trail starter Dennis Zinio. Capilano starter Dennis Larson was nicked with the loss. Tom Bird continued his power hitting for the Silver City gang with an RBI-triple as well as his second four-bagger of the season. Teammate Don McLeod added a brace of one-baggers. 

(June 5)  Coming on strong in the late stages of each game, the invading Rossland Capilanos captured 4 to 3 and 13 to 6 triumphs over the Coeur d’Alene Can-Am baseballers. Pete Bourchier, ascending the knoll in the fifth frame to bail out Rossland starter Al DeCecco, earned the pitching win in the opener. With the score tied at 3 – 3 in the seventh spasm, Jack Ling slammed a long double to drive in Ron Fabbro, who had reached base on a single, with the deciding counter. John Thompson belted a bases-empty circuit-jack in the opening canto for the Caps who outhit their hosts by a 7 to 4 margin. Thompson also delivered a run-scoring single in the fifth.

In the late contest, the Mountainmen broke open a tight 4 – 2 game by exploding for nine runs in the seventh chapter. The outburst was sparked by Billy Martin’s run-scoring double and two-RBI triple. Winning heaver Bryan Dubasov also helped himself in the pivotal seventh session with a two-run double. Martin, Ron Fabbro and Dubasov each collected three hits for the Caps with Martin’s triad of swats producing five RBI’s.

(June 6)  Homestanding Nelson took a two-game set from the travelling Cranbrook contingent.

STANDINGS        W      L      Pct.
Nelson           2      1     .667
Trail            3      2     .600
Cranbrook        2      2     .500
Rossland         2      2     .500
Coeur d’Alene    0      2     .000
 

(June 9)  With newcomer Bentley MacEwan spinning a six-hitter, the Trail Smoke Eaters had little difficulty in upending the invading Nelson Braves 8 to 2 at Butler Park to take over top spot in the Can-Am International League. The Smokies picked up nine hits in the contest, four of those coming in the fourth frame when they scored a quartet of counters off losing chucker Miles Desharnais. Gary Morris was top dog with the lumber for the Silver City gang, drilling a run-scoring single and a bases-empty four-bagger. 

(June 15)  Led by the steady pitching of Denny Larson, the Rossland Capilanos outplayed the hosting Nelson Braves and came away with a convincing 8 to 1 win to move into second place in the Can-Am standings. The Caps played flawlessly afield on the way to their third straight victory. Larson limited the Lakesiders to four hits in a complete-game effort. Meanwhile, his mates were collecting 11 safe swats off losing heaver Les Hufty as well as  reeling off a pair of double plays. Bob Profili and Don Holmes both ripped a double and a single for the victors with Profili’s blows both driving in runs while Holmes’ two-bagger also resulted in an RBI. Billy Martin plated the Caps’ initial tally with a second-stanza solo round-tripper. The Braves’ lone counter also came in the second panel when Miles Desharnais laid down a perfect squeeze bunt to send Mike Laughton across the pan.  

(June 16)  With newly-arrived import Steve Gustafson toeing the rubber, the pace-setting Trail Smoke Eaters won their third of the campaign against the visiting Rossland Capilanos, clipping the Mountainmen 4 to 1 at Butler Park. Gustafson, a 20-year old right-hander from Seattle, struck out eight and baffled the Caps on only two hits. Losing hurler Bryan Dubasov yielded just five safeties but was hampered by inconsistent defensive work from his clubmates. Don McLeod and Larry Kissock each had run-scoring doubles for the Trailites. Billy Martin singled to drive in Rossland’s only marker.

(June 19)  The invading Cranbrook Canucks continued their mastery over the Trail Smoke Eaters by eking out a ten-inning, 5 to 4 win over their hosts in the opening half of a Butler Park double-dip. The Smokies got some payback in the second tilt with a 7 to 2 victory in a curfew-shortened five-inning affair. 

Trail committed seven of the game’s eight errors in the lid-lifter. Cranbrook’s winning run during bonus time resulted from a Keystone Kops’ defensive performance by the Smelter Towners. Van Pratt of the Canucks reached first base on an infield error, took off for the keystone sack on a theft attempt and reached his destination safely on a throwing error by the catcher and, as the ball sailed into the middle pasture, raced for third where he made it unharmed because of another errant throw, this one compliments of the centre-fielder. Pratt was then awarded home by the umpire when Smoke Eater third baseman Tom Bird was called for obstruction when he knocked the Cranbrook baserunner off his feet during the play at the hot corner station. Winning tosser John Drysdale was nicked for ten hits in a route-going effort. Bentley MacEwan, who came to the aid of Trail starter Dennis Zinio in the fifth frame, was the hard-luck loser. Zinio was raked for seven of the nine Canuck safeties. Trail’s Gary Morris topped all hitters in the tilt with three singles.

The homesters led all the way in the abbreviated second event, piling up a 7 – 0 cushion after four rounds. The East Kootenay nine made a concerted late effort to get back in the game but an 11 p.m. curfew thwarted their comeback attempt. Morey Johnston, with late help from MacEwan who made his second mound appearance of the night in relief, copped the win while Canuck starter Gerry Carter was tagged with the loss. Morris once again held the big bat for the Silver City squad, lighting up Carter for a triple and single.

(June 20)  Receiving stellar pitching performances from Denny Larson and Bryan Dubasov, the much-improved Rossland Capilanos took both ends of a doubleheader from the Nelson Braves by scores of 6 to 1 and 4 to 3 at Jubilee Park.  Larson limited the visitors to five hits in winning the first contest. Billy Martin cracked his third home run of the season in support of Larson. Terry Minnis added a brace of two-baggers while Ed Legare slammed a two-run double and a sharp single. Lonnie Sherick, an import from Spokane, absorbed the loss after being relieved by Les Hufty in the seventh.

In the sunset skirmish, Lou DeRosa of the Caps connected for a pinch-hit single in the bottom-of-the-sixth spasm to score Ed Legare and break a 3 – 3 deadlock. Dubasov tossed a complete-game six-hitter to take the mound verdict from Miles Desharnais. Legare had a triple and double for the winners, with both base raps droving in runs. Mike Laughton poled a two-run dinger for the Braves.

STANDINGS *     W      L      Pct.
Trail           6      3      .667
Rossland        5      3      .625
Cranbrook       3      3      .500
Nelson          2      5      .286

*  unbalanced won-loss totals reflect two losses by Coeur d’Alene entry before dropping out of league

(June 23)  With three new imports in their line-up, the Nelson Braves broke out of their recent slump and whipped the league-leading Trail Smoke Eaters 9 to 3 at Butler Park. The win was the Braves’ first over Trail this season. Winning pitcher Ron/Dave Benedict, one of the new faces, struck out 13 and limited the Smokies to five hits in going the distance. Benedict was also a hitting threat, connecting for a single and double. Bentley MacEwan, kayoed from the hillock in the sixth spasm as reliever Morey Johnston took over, was the loser. Mike Laughton went deep with a four-ply clout, his third of the campaign, for the Lakesiders. Three runs in the sixth round and another pair in the eighth episode broke open a close game and won it for the Nelsonites.  

(June 24)  The front-running Trail Smoke Eaters made it four in a row over the Rossland Capilanos with an 11 to 10 victory over the hosting Mountainmen. Don McLeod was credited with the hurling triumph while Bryan Dubasov was nicked with the setback.

(June 27)  The Cranbrook Canucks laid a double defeat on the travelling Rossland Capilanos in the east Kootenay centre, taking the measure of the Caps by scores of 8 to 5 to begin the proceedings and 9 to 8 in a late-game affair that required extra innings. Bob Garcia snatched the heaving win for the Canucks in the opener while Stan Stewardson of the Caps was nicked with the defeat. Kelly Knight and Howie Gilbert had three hits apiece for the winners while Billy Martin sparkled offensively for the Golden City nine, blasting a triad of safeties including a fifth-frame home run.

It took two rounds of overtime to declare a winner in the nightcap, After opening the second session of bonus play with a triple, Cranbrook’s Van Pratt came barreling into home with the winning counter on a daring two-out steal, bowling over burly catcher Don Holmes of the Caps in the process. John Drysdale picked up the pitching win while eighth-episode reliever Bryan Dubasov was tagged with the loss. The homesters trailed 6 to 0 at one point in the fracas but, on the strength of consecutive grand-slam taters by Howie Gilbert, took the lead until the visitors knotted the count with a deuce in the seventh.

(June 27)  Trail and Nelson divided the proceeds of a Can-Am twin-bill played on the home turf of the Lakesiders with the Smoke Eaters blasting the Braves 14 to 9 in the opener while the Tribe prevailed 4 to 1 in the nightcap. Steve Gustafson took the knoll victory in the opener after getting relief help from Don McLeod in the seventh. Starting hurler Ron Benedict of the Nelsonites was tagged with the defeat. Keith Healey and Larry Kissock slammed homers for the Smokies in this contest as Healey also connected for a pair of doubles. Teammate Gary Morris came through with a triple and single. 

The Braves’ Lonnie Sherick, an import from Spokane, annexed the triumph for the home team in the second encounter.

(June 30)  The Trail Smoke Eaters continued their dominance of the Rossland senior baseballers when they took a convincing 7 to 2 decision from the Capilanos at Butler Park. The win for the Smokies was their fifth in succession over the Caps and vaulted them back into top spot in the Can-Am circuit. Newcomer Ron Toews scattered five hits and fanned 11 Rossland batters in earning the complete-game hillock triumph. With the lumber, Toews displayed power, cranking out a solo dinger in the fourth frame. Trail first sacker Don McLeod socked a brace of four-ply clouts, the first one coming off losing twirler Bryan Dubasov, a three-run shot, and the second, a solo blast, off the slants of reliever Denny Larson

(July 4)  The Trail Smoke Eaters ran into some tough opposition at Nelson as the hometown Braves won both halves of a Can-Am twin-bill by scores of 9 to 5 and 3 to 2. The winning heavers in the sweep were Miles Desharnais and Lonnie Sherick. The Nelson wins were aided by the power hitting of Lenny Bousquet who took over the leadership in the league’s batting race.

Desharnais came to the aid of starter Dave/Ron Benedict in the fifth inning of the first game to get the nod over Smokie starter Steve Gustafson. Morey Johnston homered for Trail in this encounter.

The Braves, behind Sherick, took the lead in the fifth frame of the second scuffle and remained in front for the remainder of the game. Trail’s Ron Toews, bounced in the fifth for Don McLeod, was tagged with the loss 

(July 4)  The hosting Rossland Capilanos captured twin wins from the Cranbrook Canucks in double-dip Can-Am League play at Jubilee Park. With moundsman Bryan Dubasov limiting the Canucks to four hits, the Rosslanders annexed to opener 3 to 2. Losing chucker Bob Garcia was raked for ten safeties.

The Caps squeezed out a 5 to 4 verdict in the twilight tussle as Ken Kozlowski, in his first mound appearance of the season, emerged with the hurling triumph over Cranbrook starter Alf Sedran.  

(July 11)  The hometown Cranbrook Canucks captured both ends of a Can-Am League double-dip from the Nelson Braves by scores of 9 to 6 and 5 to 2. Import Bob Garcia copped the mound victory in the opening skirmish while Miles Desharnais, who came on in relief of Dave Benedict, was nicked with the setback.

Youthful Alf Sedran, with relief assistance from John Davis, gained the narrow hillock triumph in the nightcap at the expense of Les Hufty, who was combed for ten Canuck safeties.

(July 13)  In a classic pitching duel staged in Nelson, the hometown Braves edged the invading Rossland Capilanos 1 to 0. Braves’ tosser Ron/Dave Benedict allowed only three hits while whiffing 11 in capturing the win. Rossland’s Denny Larson fanned four and was nicked for four Nelson safeties. Mike Laughton doubled to drive in shortstop Bill Lennicka, who had singled and moved to second on a groundout, with the only run of the game. 

(July 15)  A misjudged fly ball off the bat of Lou DeRosa that fell in for a hit allowed Bill Robertson to scamper home with the winning run as the hometown Rossland Capilanos finally broke the jinx that Trail held over them by upending the Smoke Eaters 10 to 9. Fourth-inning reliever Denny Larson picked up the pitching win as the Caps produced a three-spot in their final turn at bat to pull off the victory. Ron Toews, the third of three Trail slabsters who pitched to only five batters, suffered the loss. Jack Ling blasted a two-run homer for the winners.

(July 17)  The Trail Smoke Eaters moved into undisputed possession of first place in the Can-Am League when they annexed a pair of wins from the visiting Cranbrook Canucks at Butler Park. The Smokies triumphed 4 to 1 in the opener before shading the East Kootenay nine 4 to 3 in the nightcap. Trail’s Keith Healey had four safe swats during the twin triumphs, slapping out a brace of one-baggers in the lid-lifter and a pair of doubles in the wind-up fixture.

Steve Gustafson struck out ten, walked three and limited the Canucks to only one-hit in the early fracas. Import Bob Garcia, nicked for five hits, all singles, was tagged with the defeat. Garcia walked two and breezed eight.

Healey’s ground-rule double, during an intentional walk attempt, broke a 2 – 2 tie and drove in two runs, including the ultimate winner, to give the Smelter Towners the victory in the second encounter. Winning tosser Ron Toews gave up six hits and two walks while Cranbrook’s Alf Sedran, who unsuccessfully tried to issue Healey a free pass, was stung with the setback. Besides Healey’s two doubles, “Butch” Simpson came through with a triple and single for the victors while Garcia matched that output for the Canucks. 

(July 18)  The homestanding Rossland Capilanos dropped a pair of hard-fought Can-Am contests to the Nelson Braves. The Tribe prevailed 6 to 4 in the initial encounter and 5 to 4 in the sunset skirmish at Jubilee Park. Ron/Dave Benedict limited the hosting Caps to five base raps in the opening clash while losing chucker Dennis Larson of the Golden City gang was nicked for eight hits, including two by flychaser Harry Clemens of the Lakesiders.

The Braves put a bow on the nightcap with a four-run splurge in the fourth panel. No extra-base blows were struck in the contest as winning heaver Miles Desharnais yielded six singles while Rossland’s Bryan Dubasov gave up five. No player from either team had plural hit totals.

(July 22)  Keith Healey’s three-run circuit-clout in the fifth frame was the difference-maker as the invading Trail Smoke Eaters doubled the Rossland Capilanos 4 to 2 in Can-Am action. Healey also drove in the other Trail counter with a booming two-bagger in the opening canto. In addition to Healey, “Butch” Simpson, with a pair of singles, also had a multi-hit offensive outing for the winners. Don McLeod effectively scattered seven hits in earning the pitching win. Losing twirler Bryan Dubasov surrendered six base raps. Ron Fabbro delivered a brace of safeties for the Caps, driving in one of their tallies.        

(July 24)  The Trail Smoke Eaters pulled off another one-run victory over the Rossland Capilanos, shading the visitors 2 to 1 at Butler Park. A run-scoring double by Gary Morris drove in winning tosser Bentley MacEwan with the deciding counter in the bottom-half of the final frame. The Caps had blown their attempt to break a 1 – 1 tie in the top-portion of the session when baserunner Lou DeRosa was dead on arrival at home plate on a close but unsuccessful suicide squeeze. Morris collected another two-bagger in addition to his game-winning blow and finished the game with three hits. MacEwan allowed seven hits and breezed 11 while losing slabster Denny Larson gave up six hits and rang up seven punchouts. Jack Ling led the vanquished nine at the platter with a triad of one-baggers. 

(July 28)  The Nelson Braves, led by the five hit pitching of Miles Desharnais, defeated a listless Trail Smoker Eater squad 9 to 2 in Can-Am League play at Butler Park. Trail starter Steve Gustafson, who encountered control problems, suffered the loss. Top hitter in the game was Ron Toews of the vanquished nine who laced the horsehide for a triple and double.

(August 1)  A 5 to 4 victory over the Rossland Capilanos in the second-half of a twin-bill allowed the Cranbrook Canucks to clinch the 1965 Can-Am International League regular-season pennant on the final day of play in the circuit. The Caps hammered the East Kootenay squad 11 to 4 in the opener as the teams divided the spoils for the day. Rossland’s Al DeCecco earned the heaving decision in the lid-lifter by successfully spacing seven Canuck hits. Bob Neal, combed for 16 base blows in the rout, was the loser. A solo dinger by John Thompson and a two-run tater off the bat of Dennis Larson put the Caps in front 3 – 0 after the first inning, a lead which they never relinquished. Thompson picked up a triple in addition to his four-ply clout.  

Timely hitting on the part of the Canucks, who were outswatted by a 10 to 6 margin, produced the second-game triumph and the pennant. The Caps, on the other hand, squandered many scoring opportunities and stranded numerous baserunners. Winning pitcher Kelly Knight went the distance while Bryan Dubasov, shelled from the hill in the fourth frame, was tagged with the setback. Rossland second sacker Bill Martin connected for a bases-empty round-tripper.  
  
FINAL
STANDINGS *     W      L     Pct.    GBL
Cranbrook      11      7    .611    ----
Nelson         12      9    .571    0.5
Trail          11     11    .500    2.0
Rossland        9     14    .371    4.5

*  unbalanced won-loss totals reflect two losses by Coeur d’Alene entry before dropping out of league

PLAYOFFS
SEMI-FINALS  Trail vs Cranbrook & Rossland vs Nelson  (best-of-three series)

(August 7-8)  The Cranbrook Canucks disposed of the Trail Smoke Eaters over the weekend by scores of 17 – 4 and 17 – 8 to win their Can-Am semi-final series in two straight games.  In the series opener at Trail’s Butler Park on Saturday, the Canucks generated a 14-hit attack and capitalized on 11 errors by the Silver City nine to run away with the contest. Hoyt Demers scattered seven hits and took a well-earned rest in the eighth episode of the rout as young right-hander Alf Sedran finished off the game on the hill for the Cranbrook squad. 

Back in the east Kootenay centre for the Sunday engagement, the Canucks never took their foot off the gas offensively, equaling their run output of the previous evening as Bob Garcia, in relief of Sedran, recorded the pitching win. Losing heaver Bentley MacEwan was battered from the knoll in the opening canto after the Canucks collected nine runs on three hits, three errors and numerous wild pitches. Sammy Calles and Demers each collected three hits for the winners in the lopsided contest. Import Tom Lane delivered a triad of safeties for the outclassed Smokies.  

(August 8)  Coming up with some sparkling defensive work, highlighted by four double plays, the Rossland Capilanos blanked the Nelson Braves 2 to 0 in the opening game of their semi-final series. Lefthander Denny Larson was the beneficiary of the strong defensive play by his clubmates as he effectively spaced eight hits, all singles, in going the route for the shutout victory. Losing chucker Miles Desharnais also yielded eight base raps. It was shortpatcher Ron Fabbro’s two-run dinger in the sixth that produced the only tallies in the game. Larson was only in trouble once, the sixth, when Nelson loaded the sacks with no one out. He fanned Bernie Monteleone for the first out and escaped further peril on a twin-killing initiated by keystone sacker Billy Martin. The Braves’ Charlie Burdette was the lone swatsmith in the clash to come up with two safeties.

Desharnais (L) and Dorey
Larson (W) and Vanness

(August 15)  A pair of perfectly-executed squeeze plays in the seventh inning allowed the underdog Rossland Capilanos to break a 5 – 5 tie and roll on to a narrow 7 to 6 conquest of the hosting Nelson Braves to wrap up their semi-final showdown in two consecutive tilts. Winning slabster Denny Larson laid down the first bunt to plate John Thompson while catcher Bill Robertson duplicated the play with another perfectly-placed slow roller that allowed a sprinting Ron Fabbro to cross the pan with the tally that would turn out to be the winning run. Larson, a nemesis to Nelson all season, needed relief help from Al DeCecco to preserve the victory. The Braves managed just six hits but two of those raps were homers by Bernie Monteleone and Mike Laughton. Fabbro paced the 13-hit Rossland attack with a double and single while clubmates Lou DeRosa, Wayne Cournoyer and Ed Legare each chipped in with two singles.

Larson (W), DeCecco (7) and Vanness, Robertson (7)
Desharnais, L. Hufty (3), Benedict (L) (7), L. Hufty (7) and Dorey

FINALS  Rossland vs Cranbrook  (best-of-five series)

(August 22)  Pennant-winning Cranbrook took a stranglehold on the Can-Am League title by sweeping both ends of a twin-bill on their home turf from the travelling Rossland Capilanos. The Canucks prevailed 9 to 6 and 6 to 0 to grab a commanding lead in the best-of-five final series.

In the first game, it looked like a win for the underdog Caps as Billy Martin connected for a dinger in the opening inning with two aboard for a 3 – 0 cushion. After three stanzas, the Golden City gang increased their margin to 5 – 1. Still in front 6 to 3 as they entered the bottom-of-the-seventh stanza, however, the Rosslanders had the roof fall in on them as the Canucks rallied for a big five-spot to take control of things. Hoyt Demers was nicked for nine hits and persevered on the knoll for the east Kootenay nine through early duress to cop the complete-game win. Every player in the Canucks’ line-up had at least one base rap. Martin, with a brace of singles in addition to his tater, led the visitors with offensively with three safeties. garnered by the visitors. Outfielder Mike Humjum had three of the 14 hits stroked by the winners.

DeCecco (L), Dubasov (7), Sever (8) and Vanness
Demers (W) and Patterson

Cranbrook’s Alf Sedran stymied the Mountainmen on five hits in the seven-inning finale to earn the shutout win. The Canucks went ahead 3 – 0 in the first, added two more in the third and ended the scoring with a singleton in the fourth frame. Infielders Kelly Knight and Demers, the latter playing second base in the nightcap following his mound victory in the matinée tussle, each had two of the seven base knocks earned by the victors while losing chucker Dennis Larson was the lone Capilano batter to acquire a brace of bingles off the slants of Sedran.

Larson (L) and Vanness
Sedran (W) and Patterson

(August 29)  By winning the second game of a Can-Am League playoff doubleheader 18 to 8 over the Rossland Capilanos at Jubilee Park, the invading Cranbrook Canucks captured the championship of the 1965 Can-Am Baseball League. The Golden City nine forced a fourth game in the league finals by taking a come-from-behind 6 to 5 victory in the opening half of the twin-bill. 

The Caps overcame a 5 – 1 deficit in the lid-lifter with a trey in the seventh and a deuce in the eighth episode to remain alive. Pat McMahon came through with two key hits for the Rosslanders. Seventh-inning reliever Al DeCecco picked up the pitching verdict over Canuck starter Alf Sedran.  Following the uplifting first-game triumph, the Mountainmen ran out of gas in the twilight tilt.


SLOCAN-ARROW LAKES SENIOR LEAGUE

(May 30)   Winlaw kicked off the new season in style Sunday with a 4-3 victory over Kaslo. Pete Kabatoff picked up the win in relief of starter Alex Pereversoff. The pair held Kaslo to four hits and fanned 13. Pereversoff smacked a pair of doubles to lead a seven-hit attack by the winners. D. Dawington had two doubles for Kaslo.

A.Pereversoff, Kabatoff (W) and xxx
Nelson (L) and xxx

(June 20)   The Nelson Texans split a double-header in New Denver taking the opener 6-3 before dropping a 2-1 decision in the second game. Bob Phillips went the route, with eight strikeouts, for Nelson in the first game to best Gary Wilson. Bob Jeffs drove in two runs for the winners with a pair of safeties. Jack Kelly slugged a homer for the Combines.

Phillips (W) and xxx
Wilson (L), Nesbitt (8) and xxx

Jack Kelly overpowered the Texans in the second game racking up 16 strikeouts in the 2-1 triumph. Phillips also twirled the second game for Nelson, giving up seven hits. Fujibayashi paced New Denver-Silverton with three hits, one a round tripper. Kelly added two hits.

Phillips (L) and xxx
Kelly (W) and xxx

(June 28)  Sunday at the Silverton Memorial Park, the Combines played their best game of the season trouncing the strong Winlaw nine 11-2 to move into a tie with Winlaw for first place in the league standings. Young Jack Kelly hurled another gem, allowing just four hits and fanning 12 with no free passes. The Combines punched out 11 hits with Gus Stankoven leading the hit parade with a triple and double to knock in four runs. Dave Groenhuysen, Steve Towgood and Dougal Greenan also had big days at the dish. Sam Fillipoff was best for Winlaw with two safeties in four trips.

Pereversoff (L), Kabatoff (4) and xxx
Kelly (W) and Groenhuysen

(July 4)  Slocan Park moved out of a three-way tie for first place into a two-way arrangement Sunday in defeating New Denver-Silverton 5-3. M. Esovoloff threw a two-hitter with 11 strikeouts, but walked nine, in going the route for the pitching win. Errors played a large role in the result, as the winners managed just four hits off a pair of Combines' hurlers. M. Halisoff was the lone batter to achieve two hits.

Esovoloff (W) and xxx
G.Wilson (L), Nesbitt (7) and xxx

(July 11)   Dennis Mori's bases-loaded triple provided the winning margin as New Denver-Silverton topped Kaslo 6-2 Sunday. Young southpaw Johnny Nesbitt went the distance on the hill for the Combines.

Nelson (L) and xxx
Nesbitt (W) and xxx

(July 11)   Slocan Park downed Winlaw 8 to 4 to move into first place with a 4-1 record. The game was marred by a near riot in the eighth inning when umpire P. Cheveldave ejected J. Koochin for abusive language and disorderly conduct which led to an uproar that involved players from both sides. Koochin received a game suspension. Fred Jmaeff survived 10 hits to go the route for the winners with 14 strikeouts and just one walk. M. Podd and Esovoloff each had two hits for Slocan Park and Sam Fillipoff connect for a pair for Winlaw.

Jmaeff (W) and xxx
Pereversoff, Kabatoff (L) (4) and xxx

(July 18)    In a 12-inning thriller at Slocan Park, the home squad, no-hit for seven innings, rallied late to edge Kaslo 4-3. Podd singled to bring in Andy Esovoloff with the winning marker after Slocan had exploded for three in the eighth to tie at 3-3. Kaslo had taken the early lead with a run in the first and two in the third. Fred Jmaeff, who relieved starter Esovoloff in the fifth, was credited with the win. The pair allowed nine hits, walked four and racked up 17 strikeouts. George Nelson went all the way for Kaslo, yielding nine hits and fanning 12. Wishlow and Halisheff each had a pair of hits for Slocan while Kaslo's George Dell led all hitters with four safeties in six trips.

Nelson (L) and xxx
Esovoloff, Jmaeff (W) (5) and xxx

(July 18)   Lefty John Nesbitt tossed a five-hitter Sunday to lead New Denver-Silverton to an 8-5 victory over Winlaw and second place in the league standings. Dave Groenhuysen and Dennis Mori each stroked a triple and single to lead the offense.

Nesbitt (W) and xxx
Kabatoff, Pereversoff and xxx

Slocan Park  5 - 1
New Denver   4 - 2
Winlaw       3 - 3
Kaslo        0 - 6

(August 1)  In the opening game of a best-of-three semi-final series, New Denver-Silverton defeated Kaslo 7-4. The Combines took the early lead with three runs in the first two innings then erupted for three in the eighth to seal the victory. Dougal Greenan, the Combines' starting hurler, led the winners with three hits. Greenan and Johnny Nesbitt combined to hold Kaslo to eight hits while fanning 12.

Dell, Nelson (2) and xxx
Greenan, Nesbitt (W) (4) and xxx

(August 8)  New Denver-Silverton, survived seven errors to advance to the league final Sunday with a 4-2 win over Kaslo behind the solid hurling of Johnny Nesbitt who held the home squad to four hits and fanned 12. Neither of the runs against him was earned. Doug Thring and Steve Towgood each cracked three hits for the winners. George Nelson had a pair for Kaslo.

Nesbitt (W) and xxx
Nelson (L) and xxx

(August 8)   Pete Kabatoff slugged a dramatic two-run homer in the ninth inning Sunday afternoon to give Winlaw an 8-6 victory over Slocan Park and the semi-final series two games to none. Alex Pereversoff and Fred Fillipoff each drove in two runs with key doubles for the winners.

Zarchikoff, Kabatoff (W) and xxx
Forgaard, F.Jmaeff (L) and xxx

(August 15)    It was no contest in the opening game of the Slocan-Arrow Lakes playoff final as Winlaw clobbered New Denver-Silverton 14-2.  Harry Zarchikoff slammed a homer run and a double to drive in six runs for Winlaw and Malakoff added three hits. Pete Kabatoff held the Combines to eight hits and fanned nine in going the route for the winners who pounded out 15 hits in the victory.

Kabatoff (W) and xxx
Nesbitt (L), G.Wilson, Greenan and xxx


WEST KOOTENAY JUNIOR LEAGUE

Fruitvale A’s
Grand Forks
Nelson Texans
Rossland junior Capilanos
Trail Conacher News
Trail junior Smoke Eaters

FINAL STANDINGS       W     L     Pct.   GBL
Rossland Capilanos   19     1    .950    ---- 
Grand Forks          11     9    .550    8.0
Trail Smokies        11    10    .524    8.5
Trail Conachers      10    11    .476    9.5
Nelson Texans         5    14    .263   13.5
Fruitvale             4    15    .211   14.5

PLAYOFFS
SEMI-FINALS  Trail Conachers vs Grand Forks & Trail Smoke Eaters vs Rossland  (best-of-three series)

(August 1)  Grand Forks took a one-game lead in their semi-final playoff series with a 7 to 1 conquest of the Trail Conacher News squad. Winning hurler Jim Dergousoff limited the visiting Newsmen to just one hit, a long triple by first sacker Bill Mainland in the seventh stanza. Mainland then scored Trail’s lone run on a groundout by teammate Rob Patterson. The Forkmen took advantage of four walks and two hits in the third inning to score five runs off losing heaver Dave Limacher to take control of the game. The key blow was a bases-loaded double by shortstop John Semenoff. 

Limacher (L), Buccini (3) and Mohs
J. Dergousoff (W) and Robbie

(August 3)  The Rossland junior Capilanos took a one-game lead in one bracket of the WKJBL semi-finals when they doubled the Trail junior Smoke Eaters 4 to 2. Both teams managed just five hits in a pitcher’s duel won by left-hander Joe Zanussi of the Caps over Trail’s “Jazz” Rosa. A two-run double by shortstop Joe Rosse in the opening panel sent the Golden City squad off to a rousing start. 

Rosa (L) and Benedet
Zanussi (W) and Emery

(August 5)  The Rossland Capilanos, runaway pennant-winners during the regular season, moved into the WKJBL finals by eliminating the Trail Junior Smoke Eaters from the playoffs with an 8 to 3 triumph. The Caps pretty well salted the game away with a six-run second stanza. The vanquished Smokies were only able to come up with three hits. Outfielders Jim Ling and Rich Miller each delivered a brace of bingles for the victors.

Brandt (L), Rosa (2), Christenson (2), R. Babcock (6) and Uzeloc
Legare (W), Bielli (6) and Emery 

(August 15)  Playing errorless afield,the Trail Conacher News juniors bounced the hosting Grand Forks nine from the playoff picture with a 7 to 5 victory over the hosting Forkmen. Mike Ward, who was also on the slab for the Newsmen in their series-tying second-game win, tossed the complete-game victory, scattering eight hits and striking out five. Ron Wilson stroked three singles for the victors.

Ward (W) and Sanders
A. Dergousoff (L), Jack Dergousoff (3) and S. Hancheroff

FINALS  Trail Conacher News vs Rossland  (best-of-five series)

(August 17)  The Rossland junior Capilanos went one game up by beating the Trail Conachers 5 to 0 in the opener of the WKJBL finals. Capilano southpaw heaver Joe Zanussi completely handcuffed the Newsmen, twirling a superb no-hit, no-run game while chalking up 14 punchouts. Four Trail batters managed to reach first base, one after being hit by a Zanussi bender and the other three after drawing walks. The Mountainmen collected seven base raps off losing chucker Mike Ward and fifth-inning reliever Rob Paterson.

Ward (L), Paterson (5) and xxx
Zanussi (W) and L. Cederholm

(August 18)  A bases-loaded double in the final inning by Bill Mainland drove in the tying and winning counters as the Trail Conacher News juniors prevailed 11 to 10 over the Rossland junior Capilanos in the second game of the WKJBL finals. The win for the Connies squared the series at a game apiece. Both starting heavers got away to shaky starts and were derricked early in the contest. Mike Ward, in a relief role, picked up the win. Mainland had three singles to go along with his game-deciding two-bagger. Losing tosser Jim Bielli stroked a triad of one-base raps.

McLellan, Legare (4), Bielli (L) (7), Zanussi (7) and Emery
Limacher, Ward (W) (2) and Sanders

(August 22)  The Rossland junior Capilanos hammered out ten hits to clobber the Trail Conacher News 11 to 4 in the third game of the WKJBL finals. The win at Jubilee Park gave the Caps a 2 – 1 lead in the best-of-five series. In his final appearance for the Caps this season, slab artist Joe Zanussi held the Connies to eight hits, struck out seven and, as a goodbye gift to his teammates, homered in the sixth with two runners aboard. Rossland stormed out of the gate with a deuce in the opening canto and put the game on ice in the fifth with a five-spot, driving losing heaver Rob Paterson from the hill. The Silver City baseballers plated all of their counters in the top-of-the-sixth when catcher Neil Sanders went deep with a grand-slam tater. 

Paterson (L), Limacher (5), Buccini (6) and Sanders
Zanussi (W) and Emery

(August 23)  Fireballing heaver “Butch” Dawson held Trail Conacher News to four hits in pitching the Rossland junior Capilanos to an 8 to 3 win and the 1965 WKJBL championship. The Caps took control of the game by pushing across four markers in the initial round. Another quartet of tallies in the sixth spasm sealed the deal. Leading the winners’ ten-hit offense were outfielder Cliff Emery and second baseman Bill Martin who garnered two safeties apiece.

Dawson (W) and L. Cederholm, Bielli (7)
Ward (L), Paterson (1), Buccini (6) and Sanders, Mohs (6)  

EAST-WEST KOOTENAY CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES 
Rossland vs Kimberley  (best-of-three series)

(August 29)  Homestanding Kimberley defeated the pitching-strapped Rossland junior Capilanos 8 to 0 and 11 to 5 to annex the Kootenay junior baseball championship in two straight games. Bob Neal,on the mound for the hosts, held the Caps to a total of five hits in the opener while the winners collected nine safeties off Rossland heaver Farrell McLellan.     

The East Kootenay squad had no difficulty in piling up runs in the second tilt off a pair of Rossland heavers, scoring three times in the second stanza off loser Joe Rosse, four in the fourth and four more in the fifth.