1934 Vancouver, Lower Mainland, Fraser Valley
1934 BC Interior
1934 Vancouver Island
SOUTH OKANAGAN INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE
The circuit expanded from four to six teams in 1934. Joining the existing four franchises from Penticton, Oliver, Summerland and Oroville WA were the Kelowna entry, formerly of the B.C. Interior League, and a team from Peachland.
(April 22) The new entry from Kelowna was put to the test in their opener and they responded with an 11 to 10 win against Peachland in an eleven-inning tussle. The game was marked by heavy hitting on both sides with two home runs being hit, one by Christie of Kelowna and the other by Dan Cousins of Peachland. The Orchard City nine plated the winner in the bottom of the second extra-frame when Cowan singled and was doubled home by Rudy Kitsch. Although snakebit with a tough loss, pitcher Hal Cousins of the Peaches had his fastball blazing, recording a total of 21 strikeouts. The Peachland aggregation launched a protest over an apparent catch in the outer garden that was held then dropped during the first overtime session in which they would have scored a run.
H. Cousins (L) and xxx
Morrow, Dalton (W) (10) and xxx
(April 22) Penticton opened the campaign with a 3 to 0 shutout over Summerland. Both winning tosser Dick Hammond and Summerland’s Les Gould were stingy with the hits, each surrendering five. A squeeze bunt by Wally Moore and a grass-cutting single by Casey Phipps allowed the hosts to chalk up a pair of fourth-inning tallies. An unearned run in the sixth added to their total and ended the scoring. Hammond whiffed a dozen while Gould struck out ten. Not a single player on either club was able to muster up more than a lone base hit.
Gould (L) and Pohlman
Hammond (W) and Kincaid
(April 22) Oroville defeated Oliver. No final score or game details were published.
(April 29) The invading Kelowna nine won their second straight, drubbing Oliver 14 to 8 in a free-hitting match.
Gilliam (W) and Cowan
Rossiter, Metzgar, Berg and Smith
(April 29) Oroville’s hefty-hitting baseball crew walloped Summerland 15 to 4. North Carolinan Mendel Ramsey was the top slugger for the Washington Staters, poling out two home runs, one with the bases loaded, and a two-bagger. The powerful Yanks raked 15 hits off a brace of Summerland heavers with Andy LeMay, Ike Ramsey and Perry Bunch also piling up three-hit totals.
Kernan, Bunch, M. Ramsey and LeMay
Gould (L), Wilson (4) and Pohlman, Gartrell
(April 29) Spotting Penticton four runs in the initial frame was too costly to overcome for the homestanding Peachland ball tossers who eventually bowed 6 to 4. Except for the seventh frame when the Peaches scored all their runs, Penticton southpaw Dick Hammond was in cruise control and finished with a four-hitter. He also led his team with the lumber, singling on three occasions.
Hammond (W) and Kincaid
Clements (L), H. Cousins and V. Cousins
(May 6) Oliver broke into the win column by taking Summerland into camp 7 to 4. Joe Lewis struck out 13 in earning the mound win for the Cantaloupe Towners. Outfielder Foster singled three times in support of Lewis’ hillock effort. The game’s top hitter was Dunsdon of Summerland who accumulated four one-baggers.
Lewis (W) and Smith
Gould (L) and Pohlman
(May 6) Penticton sluggers flexed their muscles in a 15 to 5 rout of Kelowna. Bob Phinney, Alymer Cousins, Graham Kincaid and Wally Moore each belted round-trippers for the winning nine. Phinney also picked up a triple and a double.
Hammond (W) and Kincaid
Gilliam (L), Boklage (6) and Cowan, Neid
(May 6) Peachland was decidedly outclassed by an Oroville team that reportedly had five imports in their line-up. No final score was published but the Penticton Herald mentioned that the Washingtonians shut-out the Peaches. Hal and Verne Cousins, the battery for the vanquished nine, gave a good account of themselves and kept the visiting Canadians in the game until the eighth frame.
H. Cousins (L) and V. Cousins
xxx (W) and xxx
(May 13) Before crowd of 1,500, Penticton managed to take a 10 to 9 decision over the visiting Oroville aggregation when reliever Perry Bunch of the Amerks walked the last two batters he faced to force in the tying and winning tallies. A close eighth-inning play at the plate which went against them so irritated the visitors that a formal protest was lodged. Penticton entered the bottom of the ninth panel trailing 9 to 7 and, with two out and the sacks full, narrowed the gap to a single run when catcher Andy LeMay of the Yanks missed holding on to a third strike. That set the stage for the pair of bases on balls which ended the tussle. Both teams racked up nine base blows. Outfielder Baker of Penticton with a double and a single had the best performance at the platter.
Kernan, Bunch (L) and LeMay
Hammond (W) and Kincaid
(May 13) The league’s two new entries, Kelowna and Peachland, met in another hard and long battle when they played 13 innings with Kelowna scoring four runs in the top of the fourth extra-stanza to win by a score of 10 to 6. Winning flinger Gilliam pitched the entire game allowing just seven hits, all of them singles. Tied 6 – 6 after seven innings were in the books, the two combatants then played scoreless ball for the next five cantos before the Orchard City gang broke through for the victory. “Doc” Newby drove in the winning tally and the first insurance run.
Gilliam (W) and Cowan
H. Cousins (L), Clements (13) and V. Cousins
(May 20) Summerland’s baseball squad had a field day against the hosting Kelowna nine, scoring fifteen times in two frames to win easily 17 to 7. The triumph for the Summerlanders was their first of the campaign. Three home runs were cracked out in this one-sided contest. Bill Benway and Jim Spencer connected for winners while “Doc” Newby slammed one for the Orchard City diamondeers. Benway also accumulated a double and single to pace the victors’ 18-hit offense. First sacker Sanders of the Kelownans stroked four singles.
Gould (W) and Spencer
Gilliam (L), Morrow and Cowan
(May 20) Undefeated Penticton took an early lead and waltzed to a 7 to 4 verdict over the invading nine from Oliver. Dick “Lefty” Hammond went the distance, spinning a nine-hitter, to earn his fifth triumph of the season. Outfielder Alymer Cousins had three safeties for the winners, a double and a pair of singles. Edmontonian Joe Berg was saddled with the mound defeat.
Berg (L), Metzgar (7) and Smith
Hammond (W) and Kincaid
(May 24) An improved Summerland team captured the three-team Oliver Victoria Day tournament, scoring a 5 to 3 ten-inning win over Penticton in their first match and then, with the aid of a few Penticton players, following up with a narrow 3 to 2 triumph over the hosting Cantaloupe Towners in the tourney final.
Gould (W) and Spencer
Bergeron, Hammond (L) (3) and Kincaid
Lewis (L) and Smith
A. Cousins (W) and Spencer, Kincaid
(May 24) Out hit by an 8 to 5 margin, the Kelowna baseball club just managed to defeat Peachland 8 to 7, primarily due to losing heaver Hal Cousins’ implosion in the eighth stanza. Up until the final turn at bat for the Orchard City diamondeers, Cousins, who struck out 15, had been dominant but, in the fateful eighth, without surrendering a base hit, he fumed as an infield error opened the frame and followed with a base on balls and four hit batters which resulted in a triad of counters.
H. Cousins (L) and V. Cousins
Gilliam, Morrow (W) (6) and Sinclair
(May 27) Summerland’s up-and-coming group of baseballers registered their second league victory at the expense of the fast-moving Oroville nine when they tripped up the hosting Yanks 6 to 3. Les Gould held the Oroville clouters to five hits, including a solo homer by Mendel Ramsey, while his mates hammered a trio of Oroville chuckers for 14 base knocks. Shortstop Bill Gartrell had a brace of triples plus a one-bagger in leading the Summerlanders at the dish.
Gould (W) and Spencer
M. Ramsey (L), Kernan (1), Bunch (7) and LeMay
(May 31) Resplendent in new uniforms, Penticton’s supposedly star aggregation of baseball players turned in their worst performance of the campaign when they were throttled by a peppy squad of Oroville horsehide chasers 15 to 5. The game was a replay of the protested contest held on May 13 when Penticton won 10 to 9. The Washingtonians looked sharp while the homesters were lackadaisical afield, committing 11 errors. Outfielder Hartz led the invaders’ 12-hit offensive thrust with a triple, double and a pair on singles.
Bunch (W) and LeMay
A. Cousins (L), Hammond (2) and Kincaid
(June 4) Penticton won the four-team Summerland Experimental Station baseball tournament by defeating Oliver 6 to 3 in their preliminary game and turning back Peachland 3 to 1 in the final. Peachland, in the morning contest, defeated Summerland in a sloppy contest 10 to 4. A wild heave to first base by losing flinger Hal Cousins allowed Penticton to score the winning and insurance counters in the deciding game.
H. Cousins (L) and V. Cousins
Hammond (W) and Watkins
In the morning game, Summerland’s nine errors cost them the game.
Gould (L) and Spencer
H. Cousins (W) and V. Cousins
A four-run fourth inning was instrumental in Penticton’s first game win over Oliver. Jack Cole homered and doubled for the winners while first baseman Cooper had a four-bagger for the Cantaloupe Gang.
Hammond (W) and Watkins
Rossiter (L) and McNeil
(June 10) Kelowna travelled to Summerland and came out on the short end of a 6 to 3 score. After six innings of play, Kelowna held a slim 3 to 2 lead but, in the seventh stanza, the hosts gathered in three counters and added another pair in the eighth. Les Gould of the Summerlanders tossed the entire game, winning on a four-hitter. The only thorn in his side was infielder “Doc” Newby who raked him for a pair of doubles and a one-bagger. Bill Benway and Bill Gartrell each stroked a brace of safeties for the victors with one of Benway’s bingles going for two bases.
Morrow (L) and Sinclair
Gould (W) and Spencer
(June 10) Oroville WA hung another setback on Peachland’s baseball squad, drubbing the Peaches 20 to 10 in a free-hitting contest. The Washingtonians got off to a fast start, plating five counters in the initial frame and adding six more in the second stanza. Oroville catcher Andy LeMay had a circuit clout while opposing backstop, Verne Cousins, rapped a brace of three-baggers. Losing chucker Harold Cousins had a triple, double and a brace of one-baggers while Swegle of the Yanks singled on four occasions.
Kernan (W), M. Ramsey (7), Bunch (9) and LeMay
H. Cousins (L), Clements (1) and V. Cousins
(June 10) The Penticton ball tossers walloped the offerings of Oliver heavers for six opening-frame counters and added eight additional tallies in the fifth canto to pulverize their hosts 14 to 1. Portsider Dick Hammond kept his league win streak in tact with a four-hitter. Alymer Cousins had four hits, all singles, for the Pentictonites. Catcher Wes Watkins doubled twice and singled while Bob Phinney chipped in with a two-bagger and a pair of singles.
Hammond (W) and Watkins
Lindsay (L), Metzgar (5) and Smith
(June 17) Kelowna entertained the Oliver nine in a SOIBL match and had little trouble in taking the verdict 13 to 1. The visiting nine were short of pitching depth due to the loss of their primary chucker, Joe Berg of Edmonton, who met his death by drowning recently. After the Regatta Towners broke into a huge lead, they willingly loaned Gilliam, one of their hurlers, to Oliver to pitch the remainder of the contest. He did well, limiting his regular mates to three hits in six innings. Winning tosser Morrow struck out ten and allowed just five hits. Shortstop Christie and outfielder A. Kitsch belted home runs for the winners. Kitsch also singled twice to bring his base hit production to three. Not to be outdone, Kelowna catcher Sinclair chipped in with three singles.
Storch (L), Hopkins (3), Gilliam (3) and Smith
Morrow (W) and Sinclair
(June 17) In a game where some of the best baseball of the season was displayed, frayed tempers dampened things as the invading Penticton nine were victorious 8 to 2 over the hosting Oroville team. Dick “Lefty” Hammond remained undefeated on the hill for the 1934 SOIBL season. The Canucks had a slight 10 to 9 advantage over the Yanks in the base hit department. Penticton’s Bob Phinney emerged as the contest’s top swatter, spanking the horsehide for a double and a brace of one-baggers.
Hammond (W) and Watkins
Bunch (L). M. Ramsey (9) and LeMay
(June 24) Summerland moved into a third-place tie with idle Kelowna by virtue of an 8 to 5 victory over Oliver. The game featured plenty of base hits and many a fielding miscue. Bill Gartrell was the big noise for the victors, waving the bat for four hits including a three-bagger. Initial sacker Cooper tripled and singled for the Cantaloupers.
Gould (W) and Spencer
Rossiter (L) and McNeil
(June 24) Undefeated “Lefty” Hammond won for the umpteenth time, a narrow 2 to 0 victory over Peachland, although he was hard-pressed for the triumph as opposing moundsman Harold Cousins of the Peaches and his mates failed only by a small margin of upsetting first-place Penticton. The winners plucked single tallies in each of the fourth and six cantos to narrowly escape victorious. Cousins recorded ten strikeouts while Hammond registered six. Third baseman Ted Clements of the Peachlanders came out best in the batting department, smacking a triple, double and single.
H. Cousins (L) and V. Cousins
Hammond (W) and Kincaid
(July 1) Dick Hammond, portside heaver for the Penticton baseball club, pitched and slugged his way to victory against Wenatchee on Dominion Day in the first of a two-game exhibition series between the Washington town and the Canadian club, practically winning his own ball game 6 to 2. Aside from tossing a four-hitter and whiffing nine, “Lefty” accounted for three runs, one he scored himself and two he batted in with hard liners, one of which was a double. Keystone sacker Blacklock of Penticton also did well with the lumber, tripling and singling.
Spurgeon (L) and Clark
Hammond (W) and Watkins
(July 2) Outfielder Lorraine’s two-out, eighth-inning home run, high over the parked cars in left field, gave Wenatchee WA a 4 to 3 win and a split of their two-game series with Penticton. Les Gould of the Summerland team was seconded to hurl for the Pentictonites in this exhibition tussle and both he and Wenatchee tosser Gabroit did a credible job on the hillock. Penticton had a slight 6 to 5 edge in hits acquired. Hot corner custodian Norlin of the Washingtonians was the only player who was able to garner more than one hit, singling twice.
Gould (L) and Watkins
Gabroit (W) and Clark
(July 8) In an eleven-inning joust, Peachland tallied a pair of runs in their final turn at bat to manage a 5 to 3 win over Summerland. An overthrow to home plate on an attempted fielder’s choice allowed both the lead and insurance counters to cross the plate in the second extra-canto. The Peaches had to battle back from a two-run ninth-inning deficit to force overtime. Both chuckers, winner Harold Cousins and Summerland’s Les Gould, compiled 21 strikeouts. Peachland catcher Verne Cousins and shortstop Bill Gartrell of Summerland each stroked three hits. One of Cousins’ blows was a two-bagger.
H. Cousins (W) and V. Cousins
Gould (L) and Spence
(July 8) The baseballers from Oroville visited Kelowna and came away with an 8 to 4 victory. The Yanks piled on four counters in their initial turn at bat and never trailed in the contest. Mendel Ramsey went the route to get the hurling decision. Perry Bunch had a brace of doubles for the winners.
M. Ramsey (W) and xxx
Morrow (L), Gilliam (6) and xxx
(July 8) The first-place Penticton contingent of the South Okanagan International Baseball League paid a visit to Vernon’s Polson Park and came out second-best, losing to the hosting nine of the Interior League 10 to 8 in exhibition action. The Interior Leaguers accumulated 14 base raps off Penticton’s “Lefty” Hammond with catcher Elmer Crawford and outfielder Frank Netzel leading the way with a trio each.
Hammond (L) and Watkins
Urquhart (W), Sparrow (7) and Crawford
(July 15) Still smarting from their defeat at the hands of Vernon last week, the Penticton senior nine went to do battle with the Kelowna team, taking vengeance on the Orchard City nine by a 16 to 3 margin. Dick Hammond, lanky left handed hurler for Penticton, picked up ten strikeouts in fashioning an eight-hitter. Penticton first baseman Bob Phinney lashed out four hits, one of which was a double. “Doc” Newby, husky third sacker for Kelowna, did considerable clowning yet was the most formidable player for the Fruit Pickers, making several difficult defensive plays.
Gilliam (L), Morrow (7) and Sinclair, F. Kitsch
Hammond (W) and Watkins
(July 15) Playing on home turf, Peachland continued its spectacular drive from the cellar position in the South Okanagan International loop by turning back the third-place Summerland nine 5 to 0. Hal Cousins fanned eleven in taking the win with a five-hitter. A four-run sixth inning sewed up the game for the Peaches. Dan and Eddie Cousins each singled twice for the victors.
Gould (L) and Spencer
H. Cousins (W) and V. Cousins
(July 22) Southpaw Dick Hammond had the Indian sign on Summerland batters as he led the invading Penticton nine to a 5 to 0 whitewashing of their hosts. Hammond struck out 16 batters in posting the five-hit shutout win. He also laced a two-run triple in the fifth panel. Teammates Bob Phinney and Jack Cole both singled twice in support of their southpaw chucker. Summerland catcher Jim Spencer injured his ankle badly when sliding into second base and had to be hospitalized.
Hammond (W) and Watkins
Gould (L) and Spencer, Gartrell
(July 22) Kelowna travelled to Oroville and returned on a losing note, dropping a 7 to 1 decision to the Yanks.
(July 22) Oliver defaulted to Peachland.
(July 22) Peachland was the beneficiary of both protests lodged after games of May 24 against Kelowna and July 8 with Summerland. The Kelowna match will be replayed July 29 while the result of the Summerland game will stand.
(July 29) Peachland erased a previous defeat and replaced it with a victory by squeezing past Kelowna 4 to 2 in an eleven-inning re-played protest game. The overtime victory, however, was marred by a serious accident to one of their better players. In a stolen base attempt, Orville Williamson of the Peaches fractured his leg while sliding. Workhorse Harold Cousins again carried the major load for the winners, chalking up an unbelievable 25 strikeouts of Kelowna batters over the eleven frames. Batterymate and brother, Verne Cousins, had the game’s only homer, a solo shot in the third frame. In the top of the second extra-inning with the score knotted at 2 – 2 and with two out, Verne Cousins doubled and scored Peachland’s third run following a single by G. Garlinge. Ted Clements then drilled a two-bagger to drive in Garlinge with an insurance tally.
H. Cousins (W) and V. Cousins
Gilliam (L) and Leier
Final standings W L Pct .
Penticton 9 1 .900
Oroville 8 2 .800
Peachland 5 5 .500
Summerland 4 6 .400
Kelowna 3 7 .300
Oliver 1 9 .100
(July 29) Playing with several substitutes in their lineup, the Penticton seniors were no match for the visiting Omak WA squad and were whitewashed 6 to 0 by the American visitors in an exhibition encounter.
Russell (W) and M. Ramsay
Hammond (L) and Kincaid, Watkins
Sudden-death semi-final game (third-place finisher vs second-place finisher)
(August 5) An intense pitcher’s duel featured the sudden-elimination SOIBL playoff game, a contest in which hosting Oroville WA defeated Peachland 2 to 0. The Yanks had a 6 to 4 edge in base hits as chucker Harold Cousins of the Peaches whiffed 15 Oroville batters while winning tosser Perry Bunch fanned eleven.
H. Cousins (L) and V. Cousins
Bunch (W) and LeMay
(August 19) Kelowna of the Okanagan International Baseball League, borrowing pitcher Harold Cousins from the Peachland squad, hosted Vernon of the Interior League in an exhibition match and came out on top by a 4 to 1 score.
SOIBL finals (best-of-three)
(August 12) In thirteen innings of thrilling and intense baseball, interspersed freely with arguments, Penticton went down to defeat 11 to 6 in the opening game of a best-of-three series for supremacy of the SOIBL. Deadlocked with six runs apiece at the end of nine frames, after Penticton had failed to capitalize on excellent opportunities for victory, the teams battled through the tenth, eleventh and twelfth innings with neither of them able to break the tie, although Penticton came close to it on several occasions. Without their mound ace “Lefty” Hammond, who is unavailable for the playoffs, Penticton drew upon one of the many members of the Cousins clan, outfielder Alymer, to toil on the hill. He did an admirable job but tired in the thirteenth canto and Oroville took full advantage of the situation. Reliever and eventual winning pitcher Mendel Ramsey of Oroville had a clutch two-out run-scoring triple late in regulation time which allowed the Washingtonians to tie the score. He also collected three singles for a four-hit afternoon. Catcher Wes Watkins of the losing nine also had four safeties, all singles.
Bunch, M. Ramsey (W) (10) and LeMay
A. Cousins (L) and Watkins
(August 19) Sparked by the mound performance of seldom used Norman “Porky” Parkins, Penticton tied the best-of-three series with Oroville WA, dumping the Americans 9 to 1 in their own ball yard. Oroville was only able to connect for three hits off Parkins’ deliveries. Bob Phinney and Wes Watkins provided the heavy artillery for Penticton. Phinney garnered a double and two singles while Watkins connected for a triple and a two-bagger.
Parkins (W) and Watkins
Bunch (L), Kernan (8) and LeMay
(August 26) Before one of the largest crowds of the season, Penticton defeated Oroville WA 4 to 2 to capture the 1934 South Okanagan International Baseball League championship. Oroville’s decision to start a borrowed pitcher, Omak’s “Red” Russell, on the mound precipitated a long pre-game argument as to his eligibility and a lodged protest as to this contentious issue was withdrawn following the Penticton victory. Alymer Cousins, Penticton’s hurler, held the Washingtonians to five hits and rang up ten strikeouts while the imported chucker, Russell, had more difficulty with the eight left-handed batters in the winners’ batting order and was nicked for seven base raps. Second baseman Blacklock of Penticton had two hits, the only batter on either side to do so.
Russell (L) and LeMay
A. Cousins (W) and Watkins
Post-playoff exhibition game and tournament
(September 2) Brewster WA, unbeaten champions of the North Central Washington League and winners of 21 straight games engaged in an exhibition match against an all-star aggregation from the SOIBL. The game, played in Oroville, ended in a 6 – 6 tie. The Stars had a wide margin in hits, 13 to 6, but had to battle back to score three times in the bottom of the ninth to salvage the draw. Penticton’s Jack Cole plated the tying counter with a headfirst dive into home plate in a cloud of dust with the game on the line. Cole wound up as the game’s top swatter with three base blows. The SOIBL gang pulled off a first-inning triple play.
Springer and Cleveland
H. Cousins and Watkins
(September 3) The Summerland baseball club captured the three-team Penticton Labor Day tournament sponsored by the Knights of Pythias. In the morning game, Penticton played in a haphazard manner and went down to an eager group of Peachland players 6 to 3. The final produced a classic pitching duel in which the Summerlanders prevailed 2 to 1 over Peachland. In the two games that the Peaches played, seven brothers from the Cousins family suited up for the team with Alymer joining his six siblings after Penticton had been eliminated.
Triples by Dan and Verne Cousins spearheaded a four-run fourth inning which led to Peachland’s first-game win.
Parkins (L), A. Cousins (4) and Kincaid
Clements (W) and V. Cousins
Mound opponents Ted Clements of the Peaches and Summerland’s Les Gould battled tooth-and-nail in the finale which saw Gould, spinning a four-hitter with thirteen strikeouts, and the Summerlanders emerging as victors.
Clements (L), A. Cousins and V. Cousins
Gould (W) and Spencer
CENTRAL OKANAGAN LEAGUE
Game results/scores
(May 18) Kelowna Simpsons – 12 Kelowna Capilanos – 3
Winfield – 6 Rutland Rangers – 2
Oyama – 8 Rutland Maroons – 0
(May 21) Kelowna Simpsons – 5 Rutland Rangers – 0
Rutland Maroons – 9 Kelowna Capilanos – 1
Winfield – 1 Oyama – 0
(May 24) Oyama – 4 Kelowna Capilanos – 1
Kelowna Simpsons – 8 Winfield – 5
Rutland Rangers – 14 Rutland Maroons – 3
(May 28) Winfield – 11 Kelowna Capilanos – 0
Rutland Rangers – 6 Oyama – 3
Kelowna Simpsons – 13 Rutland Maroons – 5
(May 31) Winfield – 10 Rutland Maroons – 5
Kelowna Capilanos – 9 Rutland Rangers – 6
Kelowna Simpsons vs Oyama – rained out
(June 7) Rutland Rangers – 3 Kelowna Simpsons – 3 (tie game)
Rutland Maroons – 3 Kelowna Capilanos – 1
Oyama – 6 Winfield – 3
Standings W L T Pct.
Kelowna Simpsons 4 0 1 1.000
Winfield 4 2 0 .667
Oyama 3 2 0 .600
Rutland Rangers 2 3 1 .400
Rutland Maroons 2 4 0 .333
Kelowna Capilanos 1 5 0 .167
(June 11) Kelowna Simpsons – 17 Kelowna Capilanos – 1
Oyama – 17 Rutland Maroons – 6
Winfield – 7 Rutland Rangers - 3
(June 14) Winfield – 5 Kelowna Simpsons – 5 (tie game)
Rutland Maroons – 4 Rutland Rangers – 3
Kelowna Capilanos – 6 Oyama – 3
(June 18) Rutland Maroons – 9 Kelowna Simpsons – 6
Kelowna Capilanos – 6 Winfield – 3
Rutland Rangers – 10 Oyama - 9
(June 21) Oyama – 10 Kelowna Simpsons – 6
Rutland Rangers – 12 Kelowna Capilanos – 2
Winfield – 4 Rutland Maroons – 1
(June 28) Kelowna Simpsons – 8 Rutland Rangers - 7
(July 1) Kelowna Simpsons – 6 Winfield – 3
Final Standings W L Pct.
Kelowna Simpsons 7 3 .700
Winfield 6 4 .600
Oyama 6 4 .600
Rutland Rangers 4 6 .400
Rutland Maroons 4 6 .400
Kelowna Capilanos 3 7 .300
A second-place tie-breaker between Winfield and Oyama will be necessary to determine a finalist to play against the Kelowna Simpsons.
Second-place tie-breaker
(July 5) Oyama – 7 Winfield – 2
Finals (best-of-three)
(July 9) Kelowna Simpsons – 5 Oyama – 2 (game #1)
(July 12) Oyama – 9 Kelowna Simpsons – 2 (game #2)
(July 16) Oyama – 8 Kelowna Simpsons – 7 (game #3)
BC INTERIOR LEAGUE
The five-team circuit of 1933 shrank to three clubs in 1934 as Salmon Arm withdrew from the loop but did maintain a team for exhibition games only while the Kelowna entry of a year previous opted to join the Okanagan International Baseball League. No playoffs took place following completion of the regular B.C.I.L. schedule.
Pre-season Exhibition Games
(May 6) Catcher Gordon Kenward’s solo home run in the bottom of the fifth inning broke up a scoreless tie and ignited a four-run Kamloops batting rally which led to an eventual 8 to 0 whitewashing of the Salmon Arm squad in an exhibition game. Winning pitcher George Roberts stymied the visitors to Riverside Park on four hits and didn’t issue any walks. Along the way, he rang up an impressive total of 12 strikeouts. Kamloops infielders Jimmie Henderson and Bob Potter both singled twice in pacing the winners’ nine-hit offense. Losing twirler J. Calvert also had a brace of one-baggers.
J. Calvert (L) and Jones
Roberts (W) and Kenward
(May 13) Sloppy fielding in the form of 14 errors cooked the goose of Vernon’s senior baseballers as they dropped a 12 to 2 pre-season exhibition tilt to the hosting Vernon nine. Outfielder Bert Kipp had three base raps for the victors.
Antilla (L), Sparrow (5) and Crawford
Williams (W) and Kenward
(May 20) Kamloops repeated as the winner in second game of a home-and-home exhibition pre-season series with Vernon as they edged their hosts 7 to 6. Kamloops out hit Vernon 11 to 9 with Todd, Bert Kipp and Tud Williams all singling twice for the winners and losing chucker George Sparrow reciprocating for the Vernonites.
Roberts (W) and Kenward
Sparrow (L) and Crawford
(May 24) Before 2,000 spectators, the Kamloops diamonderers defeated their nemesis from Revelstoke 4 to 1 in a snappy exhibition tilt at Riverside Park. Winning tosser Tud Williams whiffed seven and yielded six base blows by the Railroaders, including a home run to outfielder McKenzie. Alan Milton of the winning nine as well as McKenzie and D’Arcangelo of the Revelstokians each had two hits.
Lonzo (L) and Beruschi
Williams (W) and Kenward
(May 24) George Sparrow, on loan from Vernon, pitched the Enderby nine to a 6 to 4 win over his regular teammates in an exhibition tilt. Both teams registered eight hits. R. Howard collected a home run for the Vernonites.
Sparrow (W) and Jones
Urquhart (L) and Crawford
1934 B.C. Interior League Game Reports
(May 3) Scoring twice in the top of the seventh inning to break a 2 – 2 deadlock, the invaders from Kamloops successfully opened the 1934 Interior League campaign with a 4 to 2 victory over the hosting Vernon nine. Losing flinger George Sparrow’s errant throw to the keystone sack allowed two Kamloops runners to scamper home with the lead and insurance counters. Winning tosser Geordie Roberts then did the rest, blanking the Vernonites during their last three turns at bat. Overall, Roberts wound up hurling a six-hitter with 13 strikeouts. Joe Beruschi led the Kamloops willow wielders with a double plus a pair of singles.
Roberts (W) and Kenward
Sparrow (L) and Crawford
(May 4) A seventh-inning scoring spree was the difference as the Revelstoke baseballers opened the 1934 Interior League season on a winning note, defeating the visitors from Kamloops 8 to 4. Up until the unlucky seventh, Kamloops starter Tud Williams had been sailing along with a 3 to 0 lead. The homesters had a 9 to 6 margin in base hits with winning pitcher Zeb Lonzo heading the list of offensive contributors with a double and single. Teammates J. Henderson and Burridge both singled twice as did outfielder Alan Milton of Kamloops.
Williams, Roberts (L) (7) and Beruschi
Lonzo (W) and Gallicano, Pulley (7)
(June 10) Erasing a one-run deficit during their final turn at bat, Kamloops scored a pair of tallies to edge Vernon 4 to 3 in a tightly-contested BCIL game. The Vernonites had forged ahead in the top of the ninth, plating a single counter, only to see the lead evaporate when Kamloops shortstop George Wyse drove in the tying marker, followed by Joe Beruschi’s single which plated the winner. First baseman Todd and shortstop Gordon Cochrane led the winners at the dish, both drilling three one-baggers.
Urquhart (L) and Crawford
Williams (W) and Beruschi
(June 17) With a four-run eighth inning outburst, Vernon won their first Interior League game convincingly, taking down Revelstoke 7 to 3 at Polson Park. Catcher Elmer Crawford led the Vernonites at the plate smacking a pair of triples as well as a single. Infielder D’Arcangelo of the Railroaders was their main offensive threat, collecting four safeties.
Lonzo (L) and Gallicano
Sparrow (W) and Crawford
(June 24) The Vernon baseball team moved into second spot in the Interior League when they took the crack Revelstoke nine into camp by a 3 to 0 count on the Revelstoke diamond. Vernon chucker Howard Urquhart shutout the Mainliners on two hits while whiffing nine. Mighty mite Earl Fallow of the winners singled twice.
Urquhart (W) and Cross
Lonzo (L) and Pulley
Interior League standings W L Pct.
Kamloops 3 1 .750
Vernon 2 2 .500
Revelstoke 1 3 .250
(July 1) Piling up eight tallies in the final three innings, Vernon won the three-team Vernon Gyro Club’s Dominion Day tournament, knocking off Kamloops 10 to 3. Kamloops won second money by virtue of their 8 to 5 victory over Revelstoke in the early game.
Williams (L) and Kenward
Urquhart (W), Sparrow (7) and Cross, Crawford
The tourney’s opening game, in which both teams racked up eight base hits, was also considered a regular Interior League fixture and counted in the standings. Second baseman Henderson of the Revelstokians was the game’s top swatter, singling three times.
Lonzo (L) and Gallicano
Roberts (W), Williams (8) and Beruschi
(July 8) In a wild, free-hitting contest, Kamloops added another to their string of Interior League victories by defeating Revelstoke 10 to 6 at the Railroad City. Kamloops batters laced the ball for 14 safeties while the Revelstokians manufactured 13 base blows. P. Dean, in the Revelstoke outfield, had a busy day, snaring five putouts including two long drives off the bat of Joe Beruschi. The Kamloops catcher finally got his revenge in the ninth inning by launching a home run. Dean led all hitters for the day with a double and two singles. George Wyse and Gordon Kenward of the winning nine both had a triple plus a two-bagger.
Roberts (W), C. Henderson (8) and Beruschi
Lonzo (L) and Gallicano
(July 8) The first-place Penticton contingent of the Okanagan International Baseball League paid a visit to Polson Park and came out second-best, losing to the Vernon nine of the Interior League 10 to 8 in exhibition action. The Interior Leaguers accumulated 14 base raps with catcher Elmer Crawford and outfielder Frank Netzel leading the way with a trio each.
Hammond (L) and Watkins
Urquhart (W), Sparrow (7) and Crawford
(July 15) Kamloops clinched first place in the 1934 Interior League by downing Vernon 5 to 2 before another packed house at Polson Park. The visitors started strongly, touching losing twirler Howard Urquhart for a pair of first-inning tallies plus single counters in both the second and third frames. Batting honours for the game were shared by shortstop Gord Cochrane of the victors as well as first sacker George Jones and outfielder Ward of the Vernonites who each collected three safeties.
Roberts (W), Williams (9) and Beruschi
Urquhart (L) and Crawford
(July 22) Vernon’s Howard Urquhart duplicated his earlier two-hit, shutout mound work against Revelstoke as he led his team to a 4 to 0 whitewashing of the Mainliners at Polson Park. Urquhart was in top form, ringing up 15 strikeouts while issuing only one walk. Outfielder Frank Netzel of the Vernonites was the only player on either squad to register two base hits.
Lonzo (L) and D’Arcangelo
Urquhart (W) and Crawford
Interior League standings W L Pct.
Kamloops 6 1 .857
Vernon 3 3 .500
Revelstoke 1 6 .143
(July 29) Howard Urquhart maintained his sensational form in pitching his third two-hit victory of the season when he propelled his Vernon squad to a 6 to 1 taming of the league-leading Kamloops team. Urquhart struck out eleven and walloped a double to drive in Vernon’s fourth and final tally. Catcher Joe Beruschi had the only two safeties off Urquhart and accounted for the lone Kamloops run with a third inning solo circuit-clout. Meanwhile, the Vernonites were accumulating nine base blows off a tandem of Kamloops chuckers. Leading the way with the stick were outfielder Jackie Jones and shortstop Earl Fallow who both singled twice.
Urquhart (W) and Crawford
Roberts (L), Williams (7), C. Henderson (9) and Beruschi
(August 9) The Vernon News on this date published an article indicating that the Interior League had decided against holding any playoffs and that the Kamloops team, as regular schedule leaders, were also considered as overall league champions for 1934. As a result, players and fans from Vernon appeared indignant about there being no playoffs since it was felt that the Vernon squad was just hitting its stride and was playing as good or superior to any club in the circuit.
(August 12) Still peeved about the lack of playoffs, the Vernon nine failed to appear for their final league game at Revelstoke’s Recreation Park.
(August 19) Kelowna of the Okanagan International Baseball League, borrowing pitcher Harold Cousins from the Peachland squad, hosted Vernon of the Interior League in an exhibition match and came out on top by a 4 to 1 score.
Post-season exhibition game
(September 3) The Revelstoke Indians made a gallant attempt to avenge themselves of their dismal season in Interior League play but ended up one run short, losing to the Kamloops nine 7 to 6 in a post-season exhibition joust. The hosts from Kamloops grabbed a sizeable early lead but just held on to nip the charging Revelstokians at the finish line. Leading the victors’ ten-hit offense was outfielder George Wyse who had three singles in four at bats.
Lonzo (L) and Pulley, D’Arcangelo (7)
Roberts (W) and Beruschi
WEST KOOTENAY
(May 13) Scoring twice in the bottom of the ninth inning, the Trail Seniors nipped the visiting Newport WA All-Nations squad 11 to 10 in a free-swinging exhibition tilt at Butler Park. Three home runs were hit over the course of the contest, one each by Day and Hayes of the visitors plus an inside-the-park clout by Trail’s Hank Lauriente. A feature of the game was the three-inning mound performance of Cliff Bogstie, Trail’s new southpaw chucker from Alberta, who showed plenty of zip despite the fact that he had not had a practice workout. Trailing by a single counter as they began their last turn at bat, the Smelter City nine started on the comeback trail. With one batter retired, Harry Rothery and “Wish” Milburn both singled, Rothery moving to third on Milburn’s blow while Milburn was able to reach second base on an outfield relay to third. Bogstie then laid down a perfect squeeze bunt as Rothery scored easily to knot the count with Bogstie being safe at first. After a second out was recorded, Lauriente ended matters with a Texas Leaguer that plated Milburn with the winner.
Luther, Hayes (L) (6) and Fitzgerald, Fritts (5)
Ross, Bogstie (5), DeMore (W) (8) and McTeer, Decembrini (7)
(May 20) The Trail senior baseball team opened the 1934 West Kootenay League schedule with a narrow 2 to 1 win over the Nelson Seniors in an exciting encounter hosted by the Lake City nine. Only five hits were garnered between the two combatants, with Nelson holding a 3 to 2 edge. Cliff Bogstie of Trail and Nelson’s Al Isaacson set the fans on their ears with their fine exhibition of pitching although Bogstie, still lacking in practice time and conditioning, was a little wild. The Silver City baseballers went ahead 1 to 0 in the fourth frame on catcher Gord McTeer’s solo home run. Chick Gillett’s two-bagger in the fifth drove in Tommy Harrison to deadlock the game. In the top of the ninth canto with runners at the corners and no one out, Trail’s Hank Lauriente, running hard from third base, was a dead duck at the plate when McTeer failed to make contact on a suicide squeeze play. During the proceedings, Louis DeMore was able to scamper all the way from first to third. McTeer then flied out to deep left field for the second out, allowing DeMore to tag up and plate the winner.
Bogstie (W) and McTeer
Isaacson (L) and Richardson
(May 24) In a pre-season exhibition match, Rossland Seniors defeated the Trail Intermediate Indians 7 to 4.
(May 24) Through a misunderstanding, the Trail senior ball nine had to play two Victoria Day exhibition games and the juggling around of players to compete in both battles resulted in a double loss, first to the Hap Freeman team of Spokane 7 to 5 and then to Chewelah WA 5 to 2. St. Denis of the Spokane squad and Rico Martin of Trail both hit round-trippers in the first game with St. Denis’ clout being a three-run shot and Martin’s a two-run blow.
Johnson (W), Wheeler (9) and St. Denis
Ross (L) and McTeer
The second tilt was tied 1 – 1 up to the fifth inning. Trail went ahead 2 to 1 in the sixth but, in the seventh after Chewelah had scored the tying marker, a bases-loaded fielding miscue on a potential double-play ball allowed the Washingtonians to cash in three unearned counters, enough to capture the game. Trail’s Harry Rothery was the heavy hitter in this game, producing four base raps in four attempts.
Christeson (W) and Walbeser
Bogstie (L), DeMore (6) and McTeer, Decembrini (6)
(May 24) Metaline Falls WA and the Nelson Seniors divided a Victoria day exhibition twin-bill, the visitors taking the opener 5 to 1 while Nelson captured the late game 3 to 2. Winning heaver Chaffee stymied Nelson on four hits in the first tilt of the day, retiring 16 of the Lake City Gang by strikeout. The only thorn in his side was the three-hit production, including a double, of outfielder “Slim” Horswill. Chaffee was one of five players on the Metaline Falls squad to light up loser Steve Smith for a pair of singles, the others being Mueller, Repp, L. Rohif and Barnhart.
Chaffee (W) and Repp
Smith (L) and Richardson
Nelson’s Tommy Harrison slammed a first-inning homer to propel his team to an early lead in the second encounter. Metaline evened the count in the fourth and catcher Repp put the visitors ahead with a fifth-frame bases-empty circuit-clout. A pair of sacrifice flies in the bottom half of the same stanza brought home the tying and winning runs for the homesters. Nelson had a 9 to 7 edge in base hits acquired in this contest outfielder “Lefty” Schumaker leading the way with a triple and single. Harrison had a one-bagger to go along with his round-tripper while teammate Charlie Jeffs and Metaline shortstop C. Rohif both singled twice.
Hooper (L), Chaffee (5) and Repp
Isaacson (W) and Richardson
(May 27) Amidst a plethora of arguments, the Trail Seniors defeated Rossland 5 to 4 in an exciting West Kootenay Baseball League game played in the Monashee Mountain city. Both winning tosser Cliff Bogstie and losing twirler Jones of the Rosslanders yielded seven hits. Bogstie rang up 16 strikeouts and was credited with eight walks, one of the many bones of contention, while Jones didn’t issue a single base on balls while fanning nine. Harry Rothery picked up three hits for the victors.
Bogstie (W) and McTeer
Jones (L) and Johnson
(May 27) Taking a commanding 8 to 0 lead in the first two innings and adding nine more runs in the eighth, the Nelson senior baseball club won a free-swinging exhibition game 17 to 5 from the visiting Newport All-Nations nine. Leadoff hitter Tommy Harrison of the Nelsonites put his team on the board with an opening-frame four-bagger. He wound up collecting two doubles and a single as well for a four-hit game. Outfielder “Slim” Horswill also homered for the winners while Charlie Jeffs clouted a pair of doubles. C. Allen led the invaders at the dish, collecting a triple and single.
Wyatt (L), M. McDonald (2) and Fritts
Isaacson (W), Smith (6) and Richardson
(June 3) Trail pulled out a narrow 7 to 6 victory over Chewelah WA in exhibition action at Butler Park. Trail won in the seventh when “Slivers” Decembrini poled out a triple and scored on Harry Rothery’s Texas Leaguer.
Adams (L) and xxx
Mazelow, Bogstie (W) (6) and xxx
(June 3) With Al Isaacson giving a first class display on the mound, the Nelson seniors bunched their hits in the third, fifth and seventh innings to take a 7 to 3 decision over visiting Rossland. Isaacson limited the Golden City Gang to nine hits and struck out eleven. Nelson touched two Rossland chuckers for ten hits including a home run and triple by catcher Gord Richardson. His teammate, first baseman Chick “Lefty” Gillett, chipped in with a double and single. For the Golden City crew, outfielder Bobby Marshall connected for a two-run homer while second sacker Jack Hanson singled twice.
Ackerman (L), M. Purcello and Johnson
Isaacson (W) and Richardson
WKBL standings
Trail 2 – 0
Nelson 1 – 1
Rossland 0 – 2
(June 7) Rossland Seniors went down 4 to 3 to the Trail Intermediate Indians in an exhibition match at Butler Park. The Indians were bolstered by having two of the Trail senior baseballers, “Lefty” Fairbairn and “Slivers” Decembrini, in their lineup. Losing flinger, newcomer Bernie Neis, went the distance, fanning eight, but appeared to have trouble getting on the same page with his receiver. Outfielder West of the Tribe lit up Neis for a two-run circuit-clout in the third stanza.
Neis (L) and Johnson
Fairbairn (W), Broadhurst (5) and Buckna, Hopkins (2), Decembrini
(June 10) Nelson jumped on Rossland flinger Bernie Neis for four first-inning runs and went on to whitewash their hosts 8 to 0. The Lake City gang amassed 11 hits of Neis who was able to fan seven batters in going the route. Winner Al Isaacson tossed a five-hitter and racked up 11 whiffs. Nelson outfielder “Lefty” Schumaker did the most damage offensively for the winners, pounding Neis for four safeties. Shortstop Tommy Harrison and outfielder Bell both contributed two hits.
Isaacson (W) and Richardson
Neis (L) and Johnson
(June 10) After ten innings of highly competitive baseball, the Trail Intermediate Indians and Spokane United Railways played to a 1 – 1 draw. The visitors would have liked to play longer but did not want to be pressed for time in reaching the border customs and immigration check point before closing. Spokane hurler Lang pitched the entire ten innings, allowing just four hits while whiffing eleven. Celli of the Indians doubled and singled off Lang.
Lang and Pattan
Kelly, Broadhurst (3) and Celli
(June 17) With Cliff Bogstie sending 14 Nelson batters back to the bench by the strikeout route, the Trail senior baseball club, taking full advantage of ten hits and five Nelson errors, took a 5 to 1 decision from the visiting Lakesiders. With their win, the Trail club increased their lead atop the West Kootenay League. Bogstie had things in control right from the start, fanning the first five Nelson batters to face him. He finished with a four-hitter. Losing flinger Al Isaacson was able to light him up with a solo dinger and outfielder “Slim” Horswill checked in with two singles. For the Smelter City Gang, Harry Rothery doubled and singled while leadoff batter Fairbairn singled twice.
Isaacson (L) and Richardson
Bogstie (W) and McTeer
(June 23-24) Coming back Sunday afternoon to take a 4 to 0 decision, Sam Slim Smith’s Rainbow Oilers of Spokane won the weekend two-game, total-run tournament with the Nelson Senior baseballers by a two-run margin. The victory, following a 13 to 11 loss on Saturday evening, allowed the Oilers to cop the purse of $250. Home runs by Chick Gillett, Gord Richardson and Dick Drew sparked the Nelsonites to the win in the first game. Catcher Aue of the Spokaners was the game’s most productive hitter, tripling plus singling three times.
Noble (L) and Aue
Smith (W) and Richardson
Rainbow Oiler pitcher Rosand held the upper hand in the finale, limiting the hosts to just three hits while fanning ten. Catcher Warrick led the invaders at the dish with a solo homer and a double.
Rosand (W) and Warrick
Isaacson (L) and Richardson
(June 24) Rossland’s baseball nine won their first league game of the 1934 season by hanging a 6 to 5 defeat on the Trail Seniors in a ten-inning thriller at Butler Park. Three double plays by the Golden City team kept them afloat and sparked them to their victory. Rossland held an 10 to 9 advantage in base hits with Trail’s Louis DeMore hitting the game’s only home run, a solo blast. Both pitchers of record fanned seven batters. In the tenth frame with the bases loaded, Trail pitcher Jimmie Morris fielded a one-out comebacker and, instead of throwing home for the force out at the plate, opted to try for a double play beginning at the keystone sack, a tactic which was unsuccessful, allowing the Rosslanders to score the go-ahead, and ultimate winning, counter.
Anderson (W) and Genest
Morris (L) and McTeer
(June 24) Trail Intermediate Indians hung another scalp on their belts when they went on the warpath to Slocan City and trimmed their hosts 16 to 6. Slocan City had plated all six of their counters in the opening frame off Tribe starter “Brick” Balfour before Eric Broadhurst took over and blanked the Slocaners for the balance of the game.
Balfour, Broadhurst (W) (2) and xxx
xxx (L), xxx and xxx
(July 1) Metaline Falls WA edged past Nelson 3 to 2 in an exhibition tussle played in the Washington town. The hosts scored the winning run in the bottom of the eighth on a pair of base hits and a Nelson error.
Gillett (L) and Richardson
Chaffee (W) and Repp
(July 1) Rossland defeated the Trail Intermediate Indians 3 to 2 in 13 innings during the opening day of Trail’s six-team 1934 Dominion Day tournament. The other game saw the Trail Seniors easily dispose of the Newport WA All-Nations nine 15 to 2. Chick Gillett, Nelson southpaw, fanned 11 Indian batters in the opener. His lone mistake occurred when he served up a two-run homer to “Bunty” Sommen in the fourth canto. “Speedy” Bell of the Lakesiders drilled one of loser Hal Jones’ offerings for a round-tripper.
Jones (L) and Kelly
C. Gillett (W) and Richardson
A shorthanded Newport squad was no match for the Trail Seniors in the second match of the day. Unfortunately for the Washingtonians, one of the vehicles transporting key members of their team broke down in transit, leaving them depleted and unable to stay competitive. Curtis’ two-run homer accounted for both All-Nations’ runs.
Curtis (L), Karle (1), Hydorn (4) and Fritt
xxx (W), DeMore (6) and xxx
(July 2) The Nelson Seniors won a spot in the semi-finals of the Trail Dominion Day tournament by defeating Chewelah WA 6 to 1 in the the third tourney game. Chewelah’s early fielding lapses gave Nelson the jump needed for victory. “Lefty” Schumaker and Tommy O’Shea both collected two hits for the Lakesiders.
Isaacson (W), Gillett (7) and Richardson
Brown (L), Schmidtkofler (7) and Walbeser
With the Trail Seniors drawing a bye to the tournament final, Nelson then faced Rossland for the other final position, defeating the Golden City Gang 9 to 1 with Al Isaacson going the route for the mound win. The portsider yielded six hits and whiffed nine Rosslanders. Lakesiders Tommy Harrison and “Speedy” Bell connected for a triple and single apiece while Isaacson laced a double and single. Losing flinger Bernie Neis singled twice for the Golden City Gang.
Neis (L) and Genest
Isaacson (W) and Richardson
Playing their third game of the day against a rested Trail Senior team proved to be too much for the Nelsonites as they finally succumbed after eleven innings of scoreless baseball, dropping the finale 1 to 0 in a 12-inning thriller. Cliff Bogstie went the route for the Trailites, fielding his position flawlessly, assisting in nine putouts. He struck out ten, walked three and allowed seven hits. Al Isaacson’s outfield error in the twelfth frame, the game’s only miscue, allowed “Slivers” Decembrini to cross the plate with the winner. Top hitter of the game was Trail’s Jimmie Morris who had a double and single.
Smith, O’Shea (L) (12) and Richardson
Bogstie (W) and McTeer
(July 3) The touring Kansas City Monarchs took care of the Nelson senior baseball nine in short order, throttling the hosts 12 to 1 in exhibition action. The tired group of Nelsonites, spent after three tournament games just 24 hours previous, used a couple of Trail players in their line-up as well as chucker Rosand from the Spokane Rainbow Oiler diamondeers. Carroll "Dink" Mothell and Newton Joseph of the Monarchs bagged homers for the tourists while shortstop Newt Allen had a double and two singles. Losing twirler Rosand singled three times.
Cooper (W) and Young
Rosand (L) and Richardson
(July 8) Upsetting the jinx that usually dogs them in their games with Trail, the Nelson senior ball club clouted the offerings of Cliff Bogstie for 12 hits and pummelled the Smelter City visitors 7 to 1 at the Nelson Recreation Grounds. With the win, the Lakesiders earned a share of first place in the WKBL with the Trailites. The game was close for the first seven frames but, in the eighth, the homesters got to Bogstie for five counters to take command. Winning heaver Al Isaacson tossed a six-hitter and struck out nine. Supporting his efforts with offensive production were “Slim” Horswill with three hits including a double, Roy Anderson with two doubles, third baseman Tommy O’Shea with a home run and single as well as Tommy Harrison with a brace of one-baggers. Bogstie accounted for his team’s lone counter with a seventh-inning round-tripper. He also had a single earlier in the game. Trail leadoff hitter "Lefty" Fairbairn singled twice.
Bogstie (L) and Decembrini
Isaacson (W) and Richardson
WKBL standings
Nelson 3 – 2
Trail 3 – 2
Rossland 1 – 3
(July 11) With Chick “Lefty” Gillette fanning eleven would-be hitters and issuing no free passes, the Nelson Seniors won a close 3 to 2 game against the Trail Intermediate Indians 3 to 2. First baseman “Speedy” Bell had a bases-empty homer and single for the winners. “Bunty” Sommen’s two-run circuit-clout in the fourth canto delivered both of the Indians’ counters.
Jones (L) and Kelly
Gillette (W) and Richardson
(July 15) William Blair’s double in the tenth frame drove in the winning run as Rossland defeated the Trail Intermediate Indians 4 to 3 in exhibition play. Rossland had erased a two-run deficit in the bottom of the ninth when winning hurler Bernie Neis hit a full-count pitch for a two-run homer to tie things up. Neis rang up 12 strikeouts in tossing a six-hitter. Losing twirler Hal Jones gave up seven hits while whiffing five.
Jones (L) and xxx
Neis (W) and xxx
(July 21) In an exhibition game, the Trail Seniors pasted the offerings of Nelson’s Steve Smith and Tommy O’Shea all over the lot and won a lopsided 10 to 2 game over their Lakeside hosts. “Slivers” Decembrini’s three-run homer in the visitors’ first turn at bat set the tone for the game. Decembrini and Jack Kelly, called up from the Intermediate Indians, both slammed three hits for the winners. Nelson had only four base hits in the contest, all of them off reliever “Scotty” Ross who replaced winning tosser Cliff Bogstie in the fifth stanza.
Bogstie (W), Ross (5) and xxx
Smith (L), O’Shea and xxx
(July 22) The Rossland senior ball team defeated Trail 13 to 5 at Recreation Park in one of the liveliest league fixtures of the entire season. Rossland picked up 17 hits off Trail pitchers Cliff Bogstie and Jones. Trail held a 5 to 4 lead entering the bottom of the eighth stanza when losing chucker Bogstie got completely rattled and unwound as the Golden City crew scored nine times.
Bogstie (L), Jones (8) and xxx
Neis (W) and xxx
(July 29) Nelson’s ball crew took Rossland to task, emerging on the best end of a 6 to 2 score. The Lakesiders took an early lead and never looked back, out hitting Rossland by a 12 to 6 margin. Winning flinger Al Isaacson whiffed eight while loser Bernie Neis fanned nine.
Neis (L) and xxx
Isaacson (W) and xxx
WKBL standings
Nelson 4 – 2
Trail 3 – 3
Rossland 2 – 4
(July 30) With the grandstand full and the perimeter of the outfield lined with spectators, the House of David team blasted the Rossland nine 15 to 2 in exhibition action. Winning pitcher Dick Wykoff allowed the Rosslanders six hits and belted a homer as well as a bases-loaded triple off loser Bernie Neis who was lit up for 18 hits. Neis relinquished mound chores to “Pills” Purcello after seven innings of battering. Purcello went on to pitch two perfect innings of relief.
Wykoff (W) and xxx
Neis (L). Purcello (8) and xxx
(August 1) Although out hitting the House of David 16 to 15, the Nelson Seniors went down to defeat 13 to 8 against the touring Israelite team. Nelson led until the fifth when the bearded barnstormers went on a batting rampage, plating seven counters. Second baseman Hansen led the way with the stick for the invaders, hitting for the cycle: a first-inning triple, a two-bagger during the middle innings plus a homer and single in the seventh-inning uprising which blew the game open. Initial sack custodian H. Chick "Lefty” Gillett of the Lakesiders also picked up four hits, all singles.
Nusser (W) and Fleming
Isaacson (L), O’Shea (5) and O’Shea, Richardson (5)
(August 4-5-6) Heavy hitting by the Rossland seniors resulted in their 13 to 2 win over the Sad Slim Smith’s Rainbow Oilers of Spokane in the final of the First Annual Nelson baseball tournament. Winning pitcher Dave Jamme as well as position players McCammon, Leo Burke and Striker all hit home runs for Rossland against a trio of Oiler chuckers. Aside from his round-tripper, McCammon also singled twice. Leo Couture added a triple, double and single for the winners.
Jamme (W) and Genest
Noble (L), Skaaden (3), Woods (5) and Aue
A day earlier, the Golden City nine had qualified for the tourney final when Bernie Neis, tossing a two-hitter and aided by Leo Burke’s two-run homer in the ninth inning, pitched the Rosslanders to a 2 to 0 victory over Chewelah WA. The Oilers punched their ticket to the tourney final by blasting four homers and three triples in eliminating the Nelson Seniors 11 to 1.
First day action in the three-day event saw Nelson, behind the two-hit pitching of Tommy O’Shea, shutout the Trail Intermediate Indians 5 to 0 while the Trail Seniors were sent to the sidelines after dropping a 7 to 3 decision to the Rainbow Oilers.
PLAYOFFS
(August 12) With a make-shift lineup, the Nelson senior baseball team won the first game of the best-of-five West Kootenay League playoffs at Butler Park, upending the hosting Trail Seniors 5 to 3. The Silver City nine was also without one of their key players as ace chucker Cliff Bogstie was vacationing at Christina Lake. Trail led 3 – 0 until the eighth inning when the visitors connected for five runs on six hits. Al Isaacson went the route for the Nelsonites and won on an eight-hitter in which he struck out six. Reliever “Scotty” Ross dropped the mound decision, failing to hold the lead given to him by starter Hal Jones.
Isaacson (W) and O’Shea
Jones, Ross (L) (7) and McTeer
(August 19) Trail evened their playoff series with Nelson at a game apiece by blanking the visitors 6 to 0 at Butler Park. The winners were able to bunch five of their seven hits in the second and third innings which, combined with two walks and some loose fielding on the part of the Lakesiders, netted them five runs. Cliff Bogstie, supported with a flawless defensive performance by his mates, held the Nelson nine to seven hits while fanning an equal number. “Wish” Milburn and Louis DeMore with a double and single each took the game’s batting honours.
Smith (L) and O’Shea
Bogstie (W) and McTeer
(August 26) Al Isaacson was in top-notch form, spinning a two-hitter and whiffing 13, as he led the Nelson Seniors to a 6 to 2 triumph over the Trail senior nine in the third game of the West Kootenay finals. Nelson now sports a two games to one advantage in the series. From the game’s outset, the Nelsonites took kindly to Cliff Bogstie’s southpaw offerings and wound up with ten clean-cut blows including home runs by “Chick” Gillett and “Slim” Horswill. Gillette and Horswill also added singles to their offensive production. Not to be overshadowed, Isaacson cut a mean swath with the bat as well, slamming a triple and single. For the Smelter City Gang, Hal Jones, promoted permanently from the Intermediate Indians, lit Isaacson up for a two-run circuit-clout in the second frame.
Bogstie (L) and Decembrini
Isaacson (W) and O’Shea
(August 29) Trail and Nelson are again tied in their series for the WKBL crown after Trail’s 4 to 2 win at Nelson. Winning pitcher Cliff Bogstie gave up five hits, did not issue a walk and struck out 15 Nelson batters in taking the mound decision. Trail’s lead came in the opening canto and was never overcome by Nelson. Both Nelson runs were the result of bases-empty home runs, one each by Tommy O’Shea and “Speedy” Bell. Losing flinger Steve Smith gave up just four hits while fanning six but his lack of command in issuing seven base on balls cost him in the long run.
Bogstie (W) and xxx
Smith (L) and xxx
(September 4) A report in the Nelson Daily News of this date sheds doubt on the probability of a fifth and final game in the WKBL championship series ever being played. Insinuations that the Trail team was stalling with repeated postponements, hoping that ace Nelson pitcher Al Isaacson would have departed the Lakeside city and returned to Alberta, were the theme of the article. With the possibility of bad weather spoiling the showdown game or forcing it to be called off entirely, league officials have been requested to straighten the matter out.
(September 6) With team finances sadly depleted, the Trail Senior diamondeers continue to practice for a showdown match with their Nelson counterparts as reported by the Trail Times published on this date. Financial negotiations have apparently been the sole stumbling block for the delay of the final game according to a spokesman from the executive. Seeking a definitive financial guarantee from the Lakeside organization is their priority and the suggestion that the Trail nine wants to duck Nelson’s star pitcher, Al Isaacson, was dismissed as being ludicrous.
(September 8) Hope of a settlement of the deadlock in the West Kootenay finals is fading fast according to the Trail Times. Nelson refuses to meet Trail’s financial terms for the final game.
(September 12) At a meeting of the executive of the Trail senior ball club, another offer was made to the Nelson club to play the sawoff match in Trail and that the Nelson club would receive a guarantee plus a generous cut of the net gate receipts after all expenses had been deducted.
(September 23) Playing with a depleted line up due to the absence of a number of regulars, the remaining Trail Senior players, having abandoned all hope of playing a fifth and deciding game against Nelson, partook in a friendly wind-up exhibition match with their city brethren, the Intermediate Indians. Although the Seniors garnered ten hits to six for the Tribe, the Intermediates took the game 5 to 4 when winning chucker Eric Broadhurst hit a two-out single to drive in the winning run in the bottom of the final inning. “Slivers” Decembrini of the Seniors poled the game’s only homer.
DeMore (L) and xxx
Broadhurst (W) and xxx
ARROW LAKES / SLOCAN VALLEY
(May 24) Sporting a comfortable lead after seven innings had been played, the Kaslo baseball team imploded and lost the contest 18 to 10 to Slocan City.
Bey, E. Hicks (W) and xxx
xxx (L), Allen and Mathews, Robinson
(June 10) Burton – 4 Nakusp – 0 home run – Millar (Burton)
(June 17) Nakusp – 9 Burton – 5 home run – Harding (Burton)
Johnson (L), McCormack and xxx
Picard (W) and xxx
(July 2) three-team doubleheader - Nakusp – 4 Kaslo – 3 winning pitcher – C. Picard in relief of Jordan
Nakusp – 3 Slocan City – 0 winning pitcher – C. Picard (two-hitter)
(July 8) Kaslo – 6 Nakusp – 5
Matthews (W) and McGillvray
Picard (L) and Harris
(July 22) three-team doubleheader – New Denver – 8 Nakusp – 2
Jordan (L), Picard (4) and Harris
A. Sanderson (W) and J. Sanderson
Nakusp – 13 Silverton – 9 (ten innings) Harris (Nakusp) – two-run triple in tenth inning to drive in winning and insurance runs
Jordan, White (8), Picard (W) (9) and Harris
xxx, xxx (L) and xxx
(August 5) Silverton – 26 Slocan City – 6
Nakusp – 4 New Denver – 3
Lowe (L) and J. Sanderson
Jordan (W) and Harris
(August 9) Nakusp – 16 Slocan City – 12 (ten innings)
(August 12) Nakusp – 6 Silverton – 0
Emerson (L), Harding and H. Stanton
Picard (W) and Harris
(August 17) doubleheader at Nakusp – Trail Intermediate Indians – 6 Slocan All-Stars – 5
Trail Intermediate Indians – 8 Slocan All-Stars – 0
(August 26) Nakusp – 7 Burton – 2
McCormack (L) and Allard
Picard (W) and Harris
(September 3) three-team doubleheader - Slocan City – 3 Nakusp – 1
Picard (L) and Harris
Long (W) and Hufty
Slocan City – 4 Burton – 2 winning pitcher - H. Bey
BOUNDARY AREA
(May 24) Curlew WA scored all their runs in the first inning and went on to defeat Grand Forks 4 to 2 in the final game of the 1934 Grand Forks Victoria Day tournament.
Brown, Hooker (W) (4) and Brown
Cooper (L), Skuratoff (2) and Bailey
(June 17) Grand Forks travelled to Greenwood and hammered the newly-formed mining-camp team 19 to 1.
EAST KOOTENAY
(June 6) A good sized crowd turned out to watch the first baseball game of the season when the visiting Kimberley team came from behind to defeat Michel 8 to 5. Doug Keiver picked up the mound victory over Tom Krall.
Keiver (W) and xxx
T. Krall (L) and xxx
(July 15) Playing before a large crowd at Natal Park, the hosting Natal and visiting Fernie nines split a twin-bill. The homesters captured the initial match while the invaders prevailed 13 to 7 in the late encounter. Winning tosser Lou Krall rang up 12 strikeouts in the opener.
Bossio (L) and Costanzo
Krall (W) and Zeith
Fernie walloped youthful chucker John Halko all over the lot in taking the twilight tilt.
Price (W) and Tymchuk
Halko (L) and Zeith
(July 18) The Elk Valley Senators upset the Natal seniors 8 to 5 in an exhibition game. Elk Valley’s W. Rothel slammed a circuit-clout with two aboard to give his team the victory.
M. Halko (W) and xxx
xxx (L) and xxx
VALLEY LEAGUE
Playoff Game Reports
(July 29) Canyon opened the best-of-three Valley League finals with a 7 to 3 win over the Creston Intermediates. Outfielder Ray Humble led the winners at the dish, smacking a pair of doubles.
G. Niblow (W) and J. Hale
Miller (L), Fillinger (6) and Scott
(August 11) By winning two straight games in their playoff series, the 1934 Valley Baseball League championship has been annexed by the Canyon City club which trimmed the Creston Intermediates in their second meeting 5 to 4. The game had a hair-raising finish, Creston having all the sacks occupied with two men out in the ninth only to have MacDonald fan for the final out.
Fillinger, Couling (L) (6) and Scott
G. Niblow (W) and J. Hale