1926 Vancouver, Lower Mainland, Fraser Valley
1926 BC Interior
1926 Vancouver Island
VICTORIA SENIOR AMATEUR LEAGUE
(May 15) A three-run rally in the bottom-of-the-ninth inning lifted the Sons of Canada to an exciting 5 to 4 win over the United Commercial Travelers in the opening game of the 1926 season. The Travelers went ahead 3 to 0 in the fourth chapter and, in spite of being out hit throughout the fracas by a decisive 11 to 4 margin, remained in front for the remainder of the contest until the final canto. Ray Parfitt stymied the Uniteds on four safeties, one of which was a solo homer by Jack Noble, and whiffed 11 in earning the hurling triumph. Trailing by a deuce in their last turn at the dish, the Canadians responded with a three-spot on a run-scoring double by third baseman Thomas, an infield bobble and an RBI one-bagger by Bill Holman who wound up as the game’s leading swatter with three singles..
R. Copas (L) and Bowden
Parfitt (W) and McGinnis
(May 17) Rebounding from an opening day loss, the U. C. T. diamondeers overwhelmed the Eagles 9 to 1 in a six-inning shortened contest. The Travelers annexed 13 safeties in evening their record at a win and a loss. Winning moundsman Jack Noble tossed a four-hitter and whiffed eight. Shortstop W. Turpel led the victors with the hickory, stroking a triad of one-baggers. Teammate Bill More poled a homer, one of two bingles that he registered. Not to be outdone, Noble slammed a triple and a single.
Noble (W) and Bowden
P. Ross (L) and R. Ross
(May 22) Roche Harbor’s heavy-hitting bunch of balltossers clipped the U. C. T. contingent 9 to 7 in an exhibition encounter. The Washingtonians had 13 hits to 10 for the Victorians. Outfielder Paul and backstop Fraser belted four-baggers for the San Juan Islanders.
Rossman (W) and Fraser
Lidstone (L) and Bowden
(May 24) U. C. T. came out on top of visiting Port Angeles WA 19 to 10 in an exhibition slugfest at Royal Athletic Park. Colin Campbell of the Travelers and second baseman Shore of the Invaders pounded out home runs. Campbell’s poke was with the sacks full.
Vincent, Fackler (L) (3) and S. Saari
Lewis (W) and Bowden
(May 26) The United Commercial Travelers got past the Eagles 8 to 4 in a mediocre contest at Royal Athletic Park. Jack Noble tossed a four-hitter and whiffed seven in going the route for the knoll triumph. He also led the Samplemen with the stick, belting a three-run circuit-clout to go along with a one-bagger. First baseman Harold Fetherstone also picked up a brace of base swats for the victors, both singles.
Storch (L), P. Ross (4) and R. Ross
Noble (W) and Bowden
(May 27) The United Commercial Travelers took revenge on the Sons of Canada for their initial defeat of the season by knocking off the Sons 7 to 4 at Royal Athletic Park. Winning moundsman Dan Lidstone held the Canadians to five safeties while whiffing ten. The Samplemen garnered eight base raps with fly chaser M. Cottet leading the way with a double and single, a level of production replicated by Bill Holman of the Canucks.
Lidstone (W) and Bowden
Parfitt (L) and McGinnis
(May 30) In exhibition play Sunday at Chemainus, the locals won an exciting 5-4 decision from the Travelers. A large crowd took in the action.
Nobel, Lewis (6) and xxx
Johns, Rice (7) and xxx
(May 31) The Sons of Canada jumped onto an even footing with U. C. T. for leadership in the Senior Amateur loop when they administered a 7 to 4 lacing to the Eagles. The fifth frame proved to be disastrous for the Birdmen as three base hits by the Canadians plus four fielding miscues by the Feathered Tribe translated into all seven of the winners’ counters. The Eagles had a 9 to 6 edge in base hits but weren’t able to bunch them as effectively as the Sons. Third baseman Thomas drilled a double and two one-baggers for the victors.
McLean (W), Curtis (5) and McGinnis
Hall (L), Todd (5) and R. Ross
Standings W L Pct.
U. C. T. 3 1 .750
Sons of Canada 3 1 .750
Eagles 0 4 .000
(June 3) In a skirmish that was interrupted numerous times with needless arguments, the Sons of Canada came out on top of the U. C. T. gang 6 to 3. Ray Parfitt pitched superbly in a relief role for the Sons, toeing the rubber after starter Jack Curtis had been derricked after 1/3 inning. Parfitt took the hill with his team in arrears by a 3 to 0 score and issued only one hit the remainder of the game while breezing seven batters. Second baseman Murty Dunn led the Canadians at the platter, rapping out three singles.
Curtis, Parfitt (W) (1) and McGinnis
Lidstone, Noble (4) and Bowden
(June 10) The defensively-challenged Eagles remained winless early in the campaign, falling 13 to 7 to the Sons of Canada. The Feathered Tribe produced plenty of offense, accumulating 13 base hits, but surrendered far too many unearned counters to the Canadians because of fielding mistakes. Six tallies in the sixth canto sealed the deal for the Sons. Top swatsmiths in the contest, with three base knocks apiece, were infielder Ross Miller and fly chaser Steve Nex of the Birdmen as well as Murty Dunn of the winners. Two of Miller’s safeties were doubles.
Kerr, P. Ross (L) (5) and R. Ross
Mosher, Parfitt (W) (6) and McGinnis
(June 12) The United Commercial Travelers avenged their exhibition loss to Chemainus two weeks ago by squeezing past the Up-Islanders 9 to 8 at Royal Athletic Park. Both teams used two hurlers during the game which was a heavy-hitting affair. Roy Robertson/Robinson had a great day with the lumber for the Uniteds, ripping five base blows including two doubles.
Johns, Rice (L) (3) and Worthington
Wood, Lidstone (W) (5) and Miller
(June 14) The Eagles soared down at Royal Athletic Park and sunk their talons deeply into the United Commercial Travelers, flying away with an 18 to 4 victory, their initial triumph of the campaign. Scoring in every inning except fifth and eighth, the Birdmen led from start to finish. It was a ragged, free-scoring affair, replete with a bevy of errors. Johnny Kerr pitched a six-hitter for the win, surrendering a solo home run to losing flinger “Lefty” Lewis along the way. Third baseman “Hap” Gandy and fly chaser Ross Miller delivered three hits apiece for the Feathered Tribe with Gandy’s sum of swats including a two-bagger. Catcher Bobby Ross cranked out a bases-empty four-ply clout for the winners.
Kerr (W) and R. Ross
Lewis (L), Lidstone (9) and More, Bowden
(June 17) The Sons of Canada secured their position atop the Victoria Senior Amateur Baseball League when they defeated the U. C. T. contingent 8 to 6 before a record crowd at Royal Athletic Park. A four-run seventh inning broke a 4 – 4 tie and entrenched the Canadians in front to stay. Star hurler Jack Noble of the Travelers was ejected from the contest in the bottom of the third frame for disputing called pitches by plate umpire McGregor. Winning tosser Ray Parfitt was roughed up for 11 hits but persevered to go the route. Third baseman Colin Campbell of the Samplemen led all swatters with three safeties, all singles. Sons’ outfielders Bill Holman and “Pete” Sallaway both managed a brace of base knocks with one of Holman’s raps being a home run and both of Sallaway’s falling in for doubles.
Noble, Lidstone (L) (3) and Bowden
Parfitt (W) and McGinnis
Standings W L Pct.
Sons of Canada 6 1 .857
U. C. T. 4 4 .500
Eagles 1 6 .143
(June 21) Coming from behind with a last-inning spurt, the Eagles copped their second successive victory by edging the Sons of Canada 4 to 3. Veteran first baseman Alex Potts led off the bottom-of-the-ninth for the Birdmen and, with his team trailing by a 3 to 2 score, hammered the first pitch thrown by losing flinger Jack Curtis over the centre field fence to knot the count. Outfielder Tommy Wachler followed with a single, his fourth safety of the skirmish, advanced into scoring position on a theft of the keystone sack and later touched home with the winning counter on a daring gamble in which he was dead-on-arrival at the dish on a fielders choice throw from shortstop Lex Johnson, except for the fact that catcher McGinnis muffed the perfect peg. Wachter doubled and nailed three one-baggers to pace all willow wielders by a wide margin. Johnny Kerr pitched with excellence, demonstrating pinpoint control, in garnering the knoll triumph.
Curtis (L) and McGinnis
Kerr (W) and R. Ross
(June 23) Errors mounted up and cost the U. C. T. baseballers dearly as they dropped a 13 to 7 decision to the Sons of Canada, a loss which sunk the Travelers three full games behind the Sons. The Samplemen out hit the Canadians by a 10 to 6 margin but were way off colour defensively, committing eight miscues. The fourth canto, in which the United crew made four fielding boners, was pivotal in this fracas as a half-dozen tallies crossed the dish for the Canucks. Third baseman Thomas went yard with a fifth-frame dinger for the winners. Fly chaser Bill More of the Travelers drilled three singles to pace all participants offensively.
Mosher, Parfitt (W) (1) and McGinnis
Noble (L) and Bowden
(June 26) Seattle’s crack aggregation of ball players wearing the livery of the Alki Merchants were too much for Victoria’s two leading senior teams at Royal Athletic Park. In the first encounter of the exhibition doubleheader, they walloped the Sons of Canada 13 to 5 and, in the second game, took the measure of the United Commercial Travelers 8 to 2. The Merchants hammered out 19 base blows in the matinee fracas with batterymates Dewey Smith and Sam Burnsed collecting four apiece. Outfielder Cuppage homered for the Sons.
Smith (W) and Burnsed
Curtis (L) and McGinnis
A triple play by the U. C. T. aggregation was a feature of the late contest. Outfielder Len O’Neill collected four base knocks for the winners. Teammate Ray Jury blasted a home run. Colin Campbell, with three safeties, was the top baton swinger for the Victorians.
Olson (W) and Burnsed
Lidstone (L) and Hilton, Miller
(June 28) Bunching base hits together in the third canto, which accounted for six runs, the United Commercial Travelers clipped the Eagles 8 to 3 at Royal Athletic Park. Four safeties, including two doubles, a walk and an error did the trick for the U. C. T. nine in the pivotal third. Art Minnis led the Samplemen by poling out three bingles, one of which was a two-bagger. Harold Fetherstone followed with a double and single. George Gandy and Alex Potts hit safely twice for the Feathered Tribe and outfielder Tommy Wachter added a two-run round-tripper.
R. Copas (W) and C. Campbell
P. Ross (L) and R. Ross
(July 1) Victoria U. C. T. defeated Bellingham City 8 to 0 in an exhibition contest played in the Tulip Town. Jack Noble blanked the Washingtonians on three scattered hits while ringing up seven strikeouts.
Noble (W) and xxx
xxx (L) and xxx
(July 2) George Gandy’s three-run four-ply clout in the eighth round put the final nail in the coffin of the Sons of Canada as the Eagles dropped the Canucks 13 to 9. Entering the fateful eighth, the clubs were deadlocked 9 – 9 and the Birdmen edged ahead 10 to 9 before Gandy wrote finis to the outcome with his tater. Teammate Ross Miller had connected for a circuit-clout in the opening inning. Gandy wound up leading all swatters with a four-hit production, nailing three singles in addition to his dinger. His brother “Hap” Gandy as well as Murty Dunn of the Sons each connected for three safeties.
Kerr (W) and R. Ross
Curtis (L) and McGinnis
Standings W L Pct.
Sons of Canada 7 3 .700
U. C. T. 5 5 .500
Eagles 3 7 .300
(July 5) The United Commercial Travelers climbed a notch closer to the league-leading Sons of Canada when they won a free-hitting contest 11 to 8 from the Eagles. The Samplemen raked a tandem of Birdmen chuckers for 15 hits with Art Webster leading the way with a quartet of bingles, one of which was a three-bagger. Colin Campbell chipped in with a trio of swats, all singles, and winning tosser Jack Noble ripped a two-run homer and a single. Tommy Wachter nailed a triple and single for the Feathered Tribe.
Noble (W), Webster (7) and C. Campbell
Todd, P.Ross (L) (2) and R. Ross
(July 8) With the score deadlocked at 4 – 4, U. C. T. staged a slashing rally to begin the tenth round and emerged as 9 to 4 victors over the Sons of Canada. An error by Bill More, making his first appearance in a Sons’ uniform, opened the door for his former mates to pile it on in the overtime session. Following the two-out bobble, the Travelers banged out five clean safeties in succession, including three two-baggers and, once the dust had settled, a five-spot was on the scoreboard. Winning pitcher Norm Forbes helped his cause on the rubber by slashing out three singles. Roy Copas, Colin Campbell, Harold Fetherstone and Harry Copas each contributed a brace of bingles to the 16-hit U. C. T. assault. Bill Holman led the Canadians at the platter with a bases-empty four-bagger and a single.
Forbes (W) and C. Campbell
Parfitt (L) and McGinnis
(July 12) The Sons of Canada maintained their position as leaders of the Senior Amateur ball loop at Royal Athletic Park when they humbled the Eagles 8 to 1. Percy Chambers made his first appearance of the season on the mound for the Sons and toiled in fine style, whiffing ten of the Birdmen while only five were able to connect for safeties. Shortpatcher Cuppage led the Canadians with the willow by annexing three safeties including a home run and triple. His teammate, catcher McGinnis, as well as George Gandy and Alex Potts of the Feathered Tribe all hit safely twice.
Chambers (W) and McGinnis
Hall (L), Kerr (5) and Potts
Standings W L Pct.
Sons of Canada 8 4 .667
U. C. T. 7 5 .583
Eagles 3 9 .250
(July 15) A masterful one-hit pitching performance by Norm Forbes gave the U. C. T. baseballers a 4 to 0 victory over the Sons of Canada at Royal Athletic Park. The victory for the Travelers puts them on even terms with with the Canadians in the quest for leadership of the league. Forbes struck out seven and walked one in completely dominating the Canuck batters. Facing the usual fine hurling of Ray Parfitt, the Samplemen were only able to muster up five safeties but clustered them in bunches for valuable runs. Outfielder Turpel’s two-bagger drove in the first counter in the second canto. In the third panel, the Uniteds added their other three tallies, the first two on a two-run double by Art Minnis and the final one on Colin Campbell’s sacrifice fly.
Parfitt (L) and McGinnis
Forbes (W) and C. Campbell
(July 19) The United Commercial Travelers jumped into the premier position in the Victoria senior circuit by trouncing the Eagles 16 to 7 in a fixture at Royal Athletic Park. Before the Eagles could secure even one run to their credit, the Travelers had piled up 14 markers, including four in the opening turn at bat. Roy Copas had three hits for the winners, all singles, while Harold Fetherstone clubbed two doubles. Winning pitcher Jack Noble singled twice as did his sidekick Art Minnis.
Noble (W) and C. Campbell
Kerr (L), P. Ross (4) and Miller
(July 22) Five-hit performances by outfielders Bill Holman and Bill More powered the Sons of Canada to an 11 to 4 thrashing of the Eagles at Royal Athletic Park. Holman cranked out a three-run homer, a two-bagger and three singles while More had three doubles and two singles. A seven-run outburst in the fifth inning lifted the Sons to their one-sided victory and boosted them into a first-place deadlock with the United Commercial Travelers. First baseman Jimmy Cummins also shared decisively in the winners’ 19-hit assault, stroking three singles. Ray Parfitt struck out seven and surrendered an equal number of hits in copping the mound win.
P. Ross (L), Kerr (5) and R. Ross
Parfitt (W) and McGinnis
Standings W L Pct.
U. C. T. 9 5 .643
Sons of Canada 9 5 .643
Eagles 3 11 .214
(July 26) The United Commercial Travelers regained sole possession of top spot in the Victoria Senior Amateur League when they hammered the lowly Eagles 9 to 1. The game was of mediocre quality and plenty of holes were evident in the defense shown by the Birdmen. Jack Noble fanned ten Eagles and pitched a five-hitter for the Travelers in taking the hillock decision. He also figured prominently in the offensive production of the Samplemen, poling out a two-run homer, his fourth dinger of the campaign, to go along with a pair of singles while teammate Roy Copas contributed a double and one-bagger.
Kerr (L) and R. Ross
Noble (W) and C. Campbell
(July 29) Norm Forbes’ superb mound performance sparked U. C. T. to a 6 to 4 trimming of the Sons of Canada, a win which gave the Travelers a game-and-a-half lead over the Sons in the circuit standings. Forbes was master of the situation all the way and struck out 15 opposing batters while yielding just six hits. It was his third mound win in three starts. The Canadians made a late ninth-inning rally which netted them a pair of counters but, throughout the course of the contest, they were outclassed in most facets. Initial sacker Harold Fetherstone paced the winners with the lumber, slapping out a double and single, an offensive production equalled by hot corner guardian Murty Dunn of the Sons. Outfielder W. Turpel of the Uniteds as well as Bill Holman of the Canadians, both singled twice.
Forbes (W) and C. Campbell
Chambers (L), Parfitt (8) and McGinnis
(August 2) Keystone sacker Cal Richards of the Eagles crashed out a two-out, solo home run off the slants of Ray Parfitt in the bottom of the seventh frame which stood up as the winning marker in a 4 to 3 victory for the Big Birds over the Sons of Canada. The Eagles raked Parfitt and starting hurler Curtis for eleven base blows with Richards, “Hap” Gandy and utility player Moore all collecting a brace. Johnny Kerr held the Canadians to just six hits, including a pair of singles by Bill Holman, in going the distance for the hillock victory.
Curtis, Parfitt (L) (6) and McGinnis
Kerr (W) and R. Ross
(August 4) There is still a chance for the Sons of Canada to come up the home stretch and nose out U. C. T. for the 1926 pennant in the Victoria Senior Amateur loop. This is a result of two important events which occurred, the most outstanding of which was a 6 to 4 defeat laid on the Travelers by the Sons at Royal Athletic Park. The other was the allowing of a Sons’ protest in their game of August 2 against the Eagles which will necessitate a replay. After scoring a singleton in the top of the second round against the Uniteds, the Canadians led all the way even though the Samplemen held a decisive 12 to 7 edge in base hits acquired. Jimmy Cummins was the top willow wielder for the victors, stroking a triad of timely one-baggers. Jack Noble doubled and singled for the vanquished nine.
Parfitt (W) and McGinnis
Forbes (L) and C. Campbell
Standings W L Pct.
U. C. T. 11 6 .647
Sons of Canada 10 6 .625
Eagles 3 12 .250
(August 9) Showing consistency at the plate and balance throughout the lineup, the U. C. T. band of baseballers hammered the hapless Eagles 10 to 0. Winning pitcher Jack Noble handcuffed the Birdmen on two safeties and rang up five punchouts in going the route. He was more than amply supported by his mates who lit up losing twirler Johnny Kerr for 18 base knocks. Every member of the Travelers’ picked up at least one base rap as first baseman A. Webster led the way with a double and four singles. Keystone sacker F. “Kim” Campbell was next in line with a two-bagger and a brace of singles.
Noble (W) and Bowden
Kerr (L) and R. Ross
(August 12) The Sons of Canada were awarded a 9 to 0 default victory when the Eagles were unable to field a full lineup. With Bill Holman of the Canadians switching sides, the players who were available played an exhibition game.
(August 13) The Eagles upset the dope by taking a surprising 5 to 3 verdict from the Sons of Canada, thereby guaranteeing the United Commercial Travellers’ nine the 1926 Victoria Senior League pennant. Spotty defensive play on both sides discounted excellent pitching by winner Johnny Kerr and loser Ray Parfitt. The Birdmen scored all five of their counters in the fourth canto aided by three fielding miscues. Third baseman Nex and fly chaser Hall of the Big Birds as well as the Sons’ Parfitt and teammate shortpatcher Cuppage all rang up a brace of safeties.
Parfitt (L) and McGinnis
Kerr (W) and R. Ross
Final Standings W L Pct.
U. C. T. 12 6 .667
Sons of Canada 11 7 .611
Eagles 4 14 .222
(August 16) U. C. T. took a 6 to 4 decision from the Sons of Canada in an exhibition encounter. Shortpatcher Cuppage of the Canadians annexed four safeties, including a a homer and two doubles.
Kerr (L) and xxx
Forbes, Noble (2) and xxx
(August 23) A group of select players from the Eagles and Sons of Canada dropped an 8 to 3 decision to the U. C. T. aggregation in an exhibition game for the benefit of Travelers’ teammate Roy Robinson who was injured a few weeks ago. Norm Forbes of the Samplemen and the Stars’ Bill Holman creamed the apple for home runs. The pennant-winning U. C. T. squad is preparing to meet the Fraser Mills aggregation, winners of the New Westminster & District Baseball League, in a provincial senior A playoff round.
Kerr (L), Parfitt (2) and McGinnis
Noble (W), Forbes (5) and Bowden, C. Campbell
Post-provincial playoff exhibition games
(September 2) Duncan’s far-famed baseball aggregation was out-classed 8 to 1 by the Victoria U. C. T. nine in an exhibition fixture at Royal Athletic Park. Outfielder Bill Holman had a double and two singles for the winners while teammate Colin Campbell drilled a brace of two-ply clouts.
Robinson (L) and Brown
Forbes (W), Noble (5) and McGinnis
(September 6) A bolstered Eagles squad fell twice to the visiting Washington Pulp & Paper nine from Port Angeles WA in exhibition doubleheader action, dropping the matinee game 9 to 3 and taking in on the chin 10 to 5 in the late fracas. The Birdmen out hit the visitors 15 to 9 in the opener but the punch with the lumber was not there when needed the most and the defense was porous. Alex Potts registered three hits for the Feathered Tribe.
Adams (W) and Cable
Moore (L), Copas (3) and xxx
The Pulpmen smashed out 17 safeties in the late encounter, most of them coming late in the contest when Victoria starter Sund, a recruit from the University of Idaho, began wilting. For the first five innings, the Eagles appeared to be in control with a 5 to 1 lead. Classy backstop Cable of the visitors annexed two doubles and two singles. Infielder Ross Miller stroked three safeties for the Big Birds.
Swanson (W) and Cable
Sund (L) and McGinnis
(September 12) Sidney, champions of the Victoria Commercial Baseball League, upset the champion U. C. T. nine of the Senior Amateur circuit 7 to 3 in an exhibition tilt at Royal Athletic Park. Both squads registered eleven base blows in this challenge game with catcher Lines of Sidney and pickup Murty Dunn of the Samplemen each collecting three. Outfielder Paul cranked a bases-empty dinger for the winners.
Williams (W) and Lines
Webster (L) and Hilton
NANAIMO / PORT ALBERNI
(July 11) Wilson, the Nanaimo pitcher, won his own game Sunday knocking in the winning run in the last of the ninth inning as the Tar Flats edged Ladysmith 7-5.
xxx and xxx
Wilson (W) and xxx
(July 18) At Port Alberni Sunday, Chemainus and the locals engaged in a slugfest with the home squad prevailing 16 to 15. R. McBride of Chemainus had the only home run.
(July 20) A four run seventh inning provided Nanaimo with a come-from-behind 6 to 5 victory over Timberlands in Tuesday's game at the Central Sports Grounds. The visitors got one run in the ninth and had the bases loaded with two out when Ernie "Fat" Edmunds ended their chances with a strikeout to end the game.
xxx and xxx
Edmunds (W) and xxx
(August 8) The hometown Tar Flats put on their hitting shoes and clobbered Ladysmith 19-4 Sunday as Fat Edmunds won his fourth game in a week. Edmunds nearly had a homer as well but was tagged out trying to stretch a three-bagger into a circuit clout.
xxx and xxx
Edmunds (W) and xxx
(August 11) Again, Ernie "Fat" Edmunds was in the spotlight as Nanaimo shaded Ladysmith 7 to 6 Wednesday. Edmunds laid down a perfect bunt with two out in the bottom of the ninth to plate Wilson with the winning marker. Ladysmith had taken a 6-3 lead with three runs in the seventh frame. Nanaimo rebounded to tie with three in their half of the seventh.
Lowe (L) and Lauderbach
Edmunds (W) and Wilson