1927 Vancouver, Lower Mainland, Fraser Valley
1927 BC Interior
1927 Vancouver Island
WEST KOOTENAY BASEBALL LEAGUE
Teams in the 1927 West Kootenay Baseball League
Nelson Kokanees
Rossland Miners
Trail Camels
(May 29) The Trail Camels squeezed out a 4 to 3 exhibition win over the visiting Spokane Palace team. The teams were evenly-matched with the Humpbacks holding a slight 9 to 8 advantage in base hits. With the score tied 3 – 3 in the bottom of the eighth frame, hot corner custodian Bill “Mystery” DiPasquale of the Camels ripped the first pitched ball for a double, advanced to third on a fielder’s choice and scored the game-winner on pinch-hitter Gardiner’s single. DiPasquale and keystone sacker “Porky” Dallas both had a two-bagger and a single for the winners.
Woods (L) and Dahlen
Cockle (W) and McTeer
(May 29) The Rossland Miners defeated hosting Nelson Kokaneess 8 to 3 in the opening game of the West Kootenay Baseball League.
(June 4) With Nelson chucker Leo Walsh ringing up 13 strikeouts, the Kokanees disposed of the Senior B Trail Sheiks 10 to 7 in an exhibition contest. An eighth-inning offensive outburst by the Lakesiders was the difference in the final result.
Walsh (W) and Luce
Beevor (L), Ross (8) and Marshall
(June 5) The Rossland Miners defeated the Trail Camels 3 to 2 in a West Kootenay League fracas in the Golden City which took 13 innings to decide a winner.
(June 12) The Nelson senior A Kokanees defeated the Trail Camels 5 to 2 in the Silver City. Leo Walsh struck out 11 while surrendering five hits in earning the mound decision. Second baseman “Chief” Griffin and third sacker Paul Teeters both had two safe raps for the winners with a double included in Griffin’s total. Middle pasture flychaser “Puggy” Hunton homered and singled for the Camels.
Walsh (W) and Luce
Darden (L), Cockle (3) and McTeer
(June 19) The Rossland Miners piled up 18 base blows in disposing of the homestanding Trail Camels 15 to 5. The Trail swatters nicked winning pitcher Harry Cobain for eight safeties in the free-hitting event. Shortstop Herb Rotchford had a home run and single for the Miners while his keystone combo sidekick, Palfrey, chipped in with a double and one-bagger. Leading swatter for the Humpbacks was third baseman “Puggy” Hunton who tripled and doubled. Not far behind was playing-manager Crerar who drilled a triple and one-bagger.
Cobain (W) and Joe Ferko
Chukaluk (L) and McTeer
(June 26) The Trail senior baseball nine forfeited their West Kootenay League game against Nelson by refusing to continue in the sixth inning when a dispute arose over the umpire’s decision not to send a Nelson runner, Leo Walsh, back to third base following an overthrow to first base. Walsh had plated the tying counter in a 2 – 2 game when the dispute arose.
(July 1) Clouting out enough hits in the opening stanza to score three times, the Nelson Kokanees went on to trim the Colville WA aggregation 5 to 0 in an exhibition contest at the Recreation grounds. Leo Walsh, twirling for Nelson, allowed but three hits and struck out 14 of the Colville batters. The Lakesiders nicked losing flinger Hanson for nine base blows with “Slim” Kraft accounting for two of them.
Hanson (L) and Speer
Walsh (W) and Luce
(July 10) Rossland Miners suffered their first setback of the season, tasting defeat on their home diamond 10 to 5 by the Nelson Kokanees. A five-run outburst by the Lakesiders in the seventh inning proved to be the difference in the ball game. Both squads registered 11 base knocks but Nelson’s swats were often more timely.
Walsh (W) and Luce
Cobain (L), Marsters (7) and Pratt
Standings W L Pct.
Rossland Miners 4 1 .800
Nelson Kokanees 3 1 .750
Trail Camels 0 5 .000
(July 13) Trail Camels managed just four hits Wednesday but turned them into three runs in edging the Washington-Idaho Baseball League All-Stars 3 to 2 in the Silver City. Down 2-0 and no-hit by the All-Stars Johnny Powers through seven innings, Trail tied the game with a pair in the eighth, one on Jimmy Morris' blast over the fence in centre field. With two out in the bottom of the ninth Carmody was hit by a pitch and Leo Burke smacked a two-bagger to send him to third and winning pitcher Danny O'Leary won his own game with a single to left. Hatch slugged a homer for the Washington-Idaho All-Stars.
Powers (L) and Hatch, Aubrey
O’Leary (W) and Hunton
(July 17) Fighting an uphill battle, the Nelson Kokanees, playing on their home turf, defeated the Rossland Miners 4 to 3 to take over the leadership in the West Kootenay Baseball League. Playing-manager Ray Flaherty’s two-run homer in the eighth inning capped a great comeback by the Lakesiders who trailed 3 to 0 after four frames. The Miners had a slight 6 to 5 margin in base hits during the fracas in which many disputes arose. Winning pitcher Leo Walsh fanned ten Rosslanders. Don McKenzie and Herb Rotchford of the vanquished nine were the only swatters in the skirmish to register two safeties with one of Rotchford’s raps going for three bases.
Cobain, Marsters (L) (5) and Joe Ferko
Walsh (W) and Luce
Standings W L Pct.
Nelson Kokanees 4 1 .800
Rossland Miners 4 2 .667
Trail Camels 0 5 .000
(July 17) The Trail Camels recorded a 5 to 3 exhibition-game win over the visiting nine from Sandpoint ID. A four-run surge in the third inning by the Smeltermen defined the final result. The two pitchers of record, losing chucker Hall of the Americans and winning hurler Morris of the Humpbacks were the only two batters to record two safeties with one of Hall’s raps being a triple.
Hall (L) and Campbell
Morris (W) and Marshall
(July 24) The Trail Camels put a stop to the onward march of the Nelson Kokanees, capturing their first victory in the West Kootenay Baseball League this season, a 5 to 2 triumph over the Lakesiders. The loss for the Kokanees drops them into a tie with the Rossland Miners for the leadership of the circuit. Pitching was dominant in the contest with both clubs registering just four safeties. Trail went ahead early in the game and was always in control. The Camels had the only two earned runs of the fracas. Winning pitcher Danny O’Leary whiffed six Nelson batters while losing flinger Leo Walsh fanned ten.
Walsh (L) and Luce
O’Leary (W) and Marshall
(July 31) A bevy of arguments, umpire baiting, atrocious defensive play and a total of 21 runs defined the West Kootenay Baseball League battle between two bitter rivals in which the Rossland Miners prevailed 13 to 8 over the hosting Trail Camels. The teams were deadlocked 8 – 8 after eight innings were in the books but, in the top of the ninth panel, the wheels came off for the Camels and a conglomeration of Rossland hits, stolen bases and defensive miscues sent five Golden City counters over the platter. Outfielder Leo Burke paced the Miners with the hickory, slugging a double plus a pair of one-baggers. His outer pasture mate, F. Cosgriff, followed with a two-bagger and a single. Shortpatcher Carmody of the Humpbacks launched a home run to go along with a one-bagger while Fred Lauriente singled twice.
Cobain, McKenzie (W) and Joe Ferko
O’Leary (L) and H. Lauriente, DiPasquale
(August 7) Rossland Miners, defending Senior A champions of British Columbia, assured themselves of the 1927 West Kootenay Baseball League title when they defeated the Nelson Kokanees 9 to 5 in the Golden City. The Nelson diamondeers, who had a chance to tie for first-place and the pennant, cannot make up the ground lost in their remaining game with last-place Trail. The Miners never trailed after plating three counters in the opening chapter. Errors were numerous on both sides. Don McKenzie and Herb Rotchford of the victors were the lone players in the tussle with plural hit totals, each singling twice.
Kraft (L) and Brennan
Marsters (W), Cobain (3), McKenzie (7) and John Ferko, Molisky
Standings W L Pct.
Rossland Miners 6 2 .750
Nelson Kokanees 4 3 .571
Trail Camels 1 6 .143
(August 14) Showing remarkable fight and pluck, the youthful Trail Sheiks, a senior B aggregation, handed the Rossland Miners, winners of the West Kootenay senior A circuit in consecutive years and present holders of the provincial championship, a 10 to 9 exhibition game setback.The game produced 30 base blows, 16 of which were rang up by the Mining Towners. Trailing 9 to 6 after six innings, the Sheiks put a four-spot on the scoreboard in the seventh canto to take the lead for good. Third baseman Dick Drew homered twice for Trail while fellow infielder “Tick” Hall had a pair of doubles and a single. Catcher J. Pratt starred for the Golden City Gang with the baton, stinging the horsehide for a triple and three singles.
Cobain, Marsters (L) (4), McKenzie (8) and Pratt
Beevor, Pradolini (W) (3) and Marshall
(August 21) With vengeance in their hearts and performing at top form, the Rossland Miners won a decisive 14 to 5 victory over the Trail senior B Sheiks in an exhibition game rematch. Winning pitcher Don McKenzie tossed perfect ball for the first five innings, not a lone Trail player reaching base, before he handed the heaving reigns over to Harry “Lefty” Cobain with a healthy lead. Playing the remainder of the contest in the outfield, McKenzie ripped three doubles over the course of the fracas. Fellow Miner swatters H. Palfrey and Joe Ferko also clipped the orb for a triad of safeties with a two-bagger included in Ferko’s total. First baseman W. Ross led the Sheiks offensively with a three-bagger and two singles.
Scott (L) and A. Hall
McKenzie (W), Cobain (6) and Joe Ferko
Rossland Miners (West Kootenay League)
vs
Fraser Mills (New Westminster & District League) (
Best-of-five series)
(September 5) The Fraser Mills pastimers, who have shown a faculty of doing most of their stuff in one frame, picked on the lucky seventh to score four runs after being held scoreless for six rounds. The outburst was more than sufficient to claim a 4 to 1 victory over the Rossland Miners, defending Senior A baseball champions, in the first clash of their best-three-out-of-five showdown at Athletic Park. Fate was rather kind to the Mainlanders as they plated their quartette of counters just prior to a heavy rain storm breaking which prevented further hostilities. Batters, for the most part, were held in check as both contingents were limited to five safeties. Husky portsider “Blackie” Nevins, who went the route on the knoll for the Millmen, broke up the game in the seventh with a slashing bases-loaded single, his second base knock of the contest, which drove in a pair. Fortunately for the Westminster champions, on the same play the Rossland fielders, fighting the precipitation, tossed the ball around on relay pegs so ineptly that the bases were cleared and Nevins wound up tallying.
Cobain (L), McKenzie (7) and Joe Ferko
Nevins (W) and Brannon
(September 7) A brutal defensive performance by the Fraser Mills nine contributed to their 6 to 5 defeat by the Rossland Miners in the second game of the provincial finals. The West Kootenay champions hit the ball hard, accumulating ten safeties off the slants of losing flinger Doug Muscutt, but were aided in tying up the series with a half dozen infield miscues by the Sawmillers. Highly-touted twister Don McKenzie was nicked for eight safeties in grabbing the hillock triumph. Outfielder F. Cosgriff slashed three one-baggers for the victors while teammates Leo Burke and Bill Molisky each creamed the apple for a brace of knocks. Included in Burke’s total as a three-bagger while Molisky was credited with a double in his sum of swats. Keystone sacker “Frenchy” Duplin tripled and singled for the vanquished nine. Burke was spectacular in the middle garden for the Kootenayites, spearing no less than six flies of which two or three were of the outstanding variety.
Muscutt (L) and Brannon
McKenzie (W) and Joe Ferko
(September 9) Shortstop Herb Rotchford, cleanup hitter for the Rossland Miners, greeted reliever Doug Muscutt with a two-run bases-loaded single in the eighth canto, a blow which tied the contest and paved the way for the Golden City nine to complete a 5 to 4 comeback victory over Fraser Mills. Muscutt then surrendered a second one-bagger, allowing another inherited runner to plate the winner. In arrears 4 to 0 after three innings were in the books, the Miners stayed the course and cut the deficit to a pair after starting tosser “Blackie” Nevins of the Lumbermen began to noticeably weaken in the seventh. The Rosslanders with eight safeties, doubled the total acquired by the Millmen. Catcher Joe Ferko and first sacker Don McKenzie led the West Kootenay invaders with the baton, each cracking out a trio of base swats. McKenzie’s third bingle of the contest drove in the winning counter. The Miners committed six errors but were able to ride the storm behind winning flinger “Skid” Marsters who limited the Fraser Mills squad to four safeties. The narrow win puts the Mining Towners on the cusp of repeating as B. C. champions.
Marsters (W), Laird (9) and Joe Ferko
Nevins (L), Muscutt (8) and Brannon
(September 10) Cleaning up the baseball pastimers from Fraser Mills in artistic style, the Rossland Miners romped off with the Senior A baseball championship of the province for the second year in succession when they took the fourth game of the series 8 to 4 before a large crowd at Vancouver’s Athletic Park. The clean-cut victory gave the Rossland crew three out of four games and proved beyond all doubt that they were the superior team. They showed more power with the bat and were better fortified with pitchers. Portsider Harry Cobain did the hurling for the champions in the finale, surrendering eight safeties. He found himself in a jam from time to time but was able to pitch his way out in every round except for the seventh when the Westminster champs showed their last fight and scored three times. Short on pitching, Fraser Mills was forced to use regular outfielder Ray Hawkes on the hill after starter “Blackie” Nevins was derricked to the showers during a five-run Rossland uprising in the second panel. Herb Rotchford of the winners and Abe Cross of the Sawmillers both registered three hits for their respective squads. Cobain and Leo Burke of the Mountainmen delivered solid three-base blows to go along with a one-bagger.
Nevins (L), Hawkes (2) and Brannon
Cobain (W) and Pratt, Joe Ferko