1938 Vancouver, Lower Mainland, Fraser Valley
1938 BC Interior
1938 Vancouver Island

OKANOGAN VALLEY BASEBALL LEAGUE

Brewster WA
Bridgeport WA
Okanogan WA
Omak WA
Oroville WA
Penticton

PRE-SEASON EXHIBITION GAME

(May 1) Kelowna’s band of diamondeers from the Southern Okanagan circuit knocked off the Penticton nine of the Okanogan Valley loop 11 to 4 in a pre-season exhibition tilt on the home turf of the Pentictonites. A recruit by the Orchard City nine from Trail of the W.K.B.L., pitcher Cliff “Lefty” Bogstie did not disappoint. He whiffed 14 in going the route on a seven-hitter. Kelowna catcher Crawford stung the sphere for five of his team’s 15 safeties while playing-manager Clint Hodges contributed a trio of base knocks, two of which were doubles. First baseman Bob Phinney was the only consistent hitter for the hosts, ripping two singles to go along with a brace of walks and another free ticket to first after being hit on the leg by one of Bogstie’s pitches.

Bogstie (W) and Crawford
Wilson (L), Corrigan (3) and Watkins, Kincaid

REGULAR-SEASON GAMES (including in-season exhibition matches)

(May 8) The invading Penticton pastimers trimmed the always-tough Oroville WA squad 7 to 3 in the OVBL opener for both contingents. The visitors took control of the contest by scoring four times in the fourth round and adding three additional tallies in the fifth panel for a 7 to 0 cushion. The Washingtonians plated their trio of counters in the sixth stanza. Penticton accumulated 13 base knocks, four by outfielder Baker, to ten for Oroville. One of Baker’s blows was a triple. Oroville second baseman Barnes had three safeties off the slants of winning pitcher Les Gould. Losing flinger Warden recorded 11 strikeouts to 8 for Gould.

Gould (W) and Watkins
Warden (L) and LeMay

(May 8) Omak cracked out 16 hits Sunday in crushing Okanogan 9-3. Settle, the Omak third sacker, led the assault with a triple, double and two singles. Galler, playing second, had three safeties.

xxx and xxx
Hampson (L) and xxx

(May 8) Blanked for six innings, Brewster broke out for three runs in the seventh and added two in the eighth for a 5-2 victory over Bridgeport Sunday. Third baseman Bob Springer led the attack with a double and a pair of singles. Bernie Federmeyer held the host club scoreless until the eighth, allowing just five hits. Brewster made eight hits off losing chucker Jimmy Spurgeon. Federmeyer fanned six and walked one.

Federmeyer (W) and Cleveland
Spurgeon (L) and Galbraith

(May 15) In a sloppily-played home opener, the Penticton Seniors committed ten fielding miscues in dropping a 12 to 5 decision to the visiting Okanogan WA nine. Five big runs by the invaders in the fifth inning spelled the difference in the game. Winning tosser Dyer Hampson rang up 12 strikeouts after taking over mound duties in the second stanza. Second baseman Easley led the 15-hit Okanogan attack with four singles while first baseman Wagner and shortstop Griffiths stroked three safeties apiece. One of Wagner’s blows was a double while a three-bagger was included in Griffiths’ sum of swats. For Penticton, initial sacker Bob Phinney laced three one-baggers.

Summerville, Hampson (W) (2) and Kelner
Wilson (L), Parkins (7) and Watkins

(May 15) Playing at Omak, Bridgeport upset the home squad 9-8 with five players -- McAroy, F. Bowers, "Salty" Galbraith, Allen and Peterson -- each collecting two hits. Allen went eight innings for the winners with Jimmy Spurgeon finishing up. Watkins produced three of the eight hits for the losers. Wayne Johnson took the loss.

Allen, Spurgeon (9) and xxx
Johnson (L) and xxx

(May 15) Brewster pounded out 15 hits Sunday, seven more than Oroville, but still dropped a 9-8 decision to the visitors. Warden, hurling for Oroville managed to strand 12 base runners. The three hitters at the top of the Oroville lineup - Neller, Barnes and Weeks - each had two hits and two runs. Chet Gilden and Driessen each had three for the losers. Boden cracked a triple and double for Brewster.

Warden (W) and LeMay
Driessen (L), Federmeyer and Cleveland

(May 19) The Summerland diamondeers of the South Okanagan circuit snatched a decisive 7 to 0 verdict from Penticton of the Okanogan Valley loop in an exhibition clash in Summerland. Neither team was at full strength for the joust. Despite the lopsided score, the Summerlanders held only a 6 to 4 advantage in base hits. Nary an earned run was credited in the contest as all of the winners’ markers were initiated by Penticton errors. Winning hurler Les Gould racked up seven strikeouts. Hot corner custodian Dunham of the victorious nine and Penticton first sacker Bob Phinney, with two safeties each, were the only two batters to achieve plural hit totals.

Webster (L), Corrigan and Watkins
Gould (W) and Thompson

(May 22) Playing with only one regular chucker, who had a lame shoulder, and a substitute who had no opportunity to warm up properly, the Penticton senior baseball nine were repulsed in an invasion on the Bridgeport diamond, falling 8 to 1 to their Washington hosts. The final score was somewhat deceptive in that both teams stung the pill for ten safeties. Bridgeport, starting with a four-run uprising in the second inning, was the superior team in taking advantage of the opportunities afforded them. Third sacker McAroy of the homesters led all swatters with a four-hit output at the dish. Teammate McCord followed with a home run and a double. Alymer Cousins was best with the stick for the visitors, drilling a triple and single while catcher Graham Kincaid ripped a double and one-bagger.

Gould (L), Webster (6) and Kincaid
Spurgeon (W) and Galbraith

(May 22) Oroville connected for 12 hits Sunday at Oroville to whip the home club 11-3. "Buckshot" Johnson scattered nine hits in going the distance for the winners.

Johnson (W) and xxx
Weeks, Warden and xxx

(May 22) Dyer Hampson was too much for Brewster Sunday hurling a five-hitter with 12 strikeouts as Okanogan notched a 3-1 victory. Brewster got the early lead scoring in the first on singles by Joe Wick and Chet Gilden. But Okanogan came right back in their half of the stanza to tie the count and Griffith cracked a bases loaded double to plate a pair in the second. Catcher Kelner led the winners with three hits, one of them a triple, and second sacker Easley added a pair.

Federmeyer (L) and Cleveland
Hampson (W) and Kelner

(May 24) Oliver Victoria Day tournament

(May 29) A four-run sixth inning aided by three costly Penticton errors allowed the visiting Oroville WA nine to escape with a narrow 4 to 3 victory over their hosts. Singles by Hemphill and Perry Bunch, Hemphill’s safety driving in a run, were also instrumental in keeping the Oroville rally alive in the fateful sixth. Walters drove in the first two Penticton counters in the second frame and Graham Kincaid singled home Wally Moore in the eighth for the third and final run posted by the vanquished nine.

xxx (W) and LeMay
Wilson (L) and Watkins

(May 29) Strong hurling and shaky fielding featured Sunday's 3-2, ten inning, victory by Brewster over Omak. Eli Driessen and Bernie Federmeyer teamed up on a four-hitter for the winners while Wayne Johnson allowed just seven hits and fanned ten in a losing cause. Both team made six errors. None of the runs were earned. Federmeyer was the only player with two hits.

Driessen, Federmeyer (W) (8) and Cleveland
Johnson (L) and Nelson

(May 29) Bridgeport crushed Okanogan 17-10 in a game which produced 35 hits, 18 by the losers. Ham and Quimby led Bridgeport each with three hits and three scores. Lees and R. Michel had three hits apiece for Okanogan.

Hansen (W) and Galbraith
Hampson, D.Michel and Potvin

(June 5) Slim, red-haired southpaw Elmer McGahan, a recent recruit from the lower mainland, rang up 14 strikeouts and had three assists as well as three put-outs in his mound debut in the Okanogan Valley Baseball League as he pitched the Penticton baseballers to a 2 to 1 ten-inning victory over the Omak WA squad. McGahan, just 18, yielded just four hits to the Southerners over the ten-frame battle, one of which was a solo home run to infielder Galler in the seventh panel which knotted the count at 1 – 1 and led to the eventual round of overtime. The homesters had taken a 1 to 0 lead in the opening stanza when an unearned run resulted following a pair of two-out errors by the Washingtonians. Losing hurler, Robinson, although not nearly as dominant as McGahan in the strikeout department, also tossed effectively and had a five-hitter after nine innings were in the books. In the extra round, however, he began to weaken and was met with back-to-back singles by Chuck Blacklock and Bob Harwood to begin things. Bill Benway then bunted, reaching first base on a fielder’s choice that eliminated Blacklock. Wes Watkins then forced out Benway at the keystone sack on another fielder’s choice while Harwood moved to the hot corner. This set the stage for outfielder Alymer Cousins who lined one of Robinson’s slants over second base to drive in Harwood with the winning counter.

Robinson (L) and xxx
McGahan (W) and xxx

(June 5) Dyer Hampson racked up 14 strikeouts as Okanogan dumped Oroville 7 to 2.

Hampson (W) and xxx
xxx and xxx

(June 5) 19-year-old Bernie Federmeyer blanked Bridgeport on four hits Sunday while Brewster punched out ten safeties in a 3-0 decision. Brewster broke a scoreless tie in the fifth when Steve Cleveland opened with a sharp single, advanced on Bob Springer's safety and romped home as Federmeyer laid down a bunt on the first base line. They added a pair of unearned runs. Cleveland led the winners with three hits and Springer added a double and single.

Spurgeon (L) and Sollick
Federmeyer (W) and Cleveland

Standings          W      L       Pct.
Bridgeport         3      2      .600
Brewster           3      2      .600
Okanogan           3      2      .600
Penticton          2      3      .400
Omak               2      3      .400
Oroville           2      3      .400

(June 9) Summerland King’s Birthday tournament

(June 12) A continuation of the airtight ball of a week previous enveloped the diamond at Omak WA as the visiting Penticton senior diamondeers fell to the hosting Washingtonians 1 to 0 in another superb pitching duel. The same two moundsmen that went toe-to-toe in Penticton once again locked horns in this rematch with Robinson of the homesters capturing the hillock decision on this occasion with a four-hit shutout. The lone run of the game was a seventh-inning four-bagger by fly chaser Richardson who, with the count of no balls and two strikes, swung at a waste pitch well out of the strike zone and was fortunate enough to drive it over the fence. Elmer “Red” McGahan, on the bump for the invaders was nicked for five safeties, while equaling his punchout total of 14 from the previous scuffle, in absorbing the tough loss. The British Columbia nine threatened to score on more than one occasion but were unable to connect for a timely bingle. Penticton catcher Wes Watkins, with a brace of singles, was the only hitter from either team to amass more than one safety.

McGahan (L) and Watkins
Robinson (W) and Reyes

(June 12) Okanogan shutout Brewster 4-0 Sunday behind the two-hit pitching of Dyer Hampson, who needed to be sharp in the clutch as he stranded 11 base runners. He walked six. Second baseman Easley led the winners with three hits and a pair of scores. Joe Wick had one of the two hits for Brewster to raise his average to .297 to tie him with Federmeyer for the team lead.

Hampson (W) and Kelner
Federmeyer (L), Driessen (7) and Cleveland

(June 12) Jimmy Spurgeon also tossed a two-hit shutout Sunday as Bridgeport downed Oroville 5-0. Warden gave up a pair of homers in taking the loss.

Spurgeon (W) and xxx
Warden (L) and xxx

(June 19) Playing error less ball behind the three-hit pitching of “Lefty” McGahan, the teenager from Long Beach, California, the Penticton senior baseball club defeated Okanogan WA 3 to 2 on the latter’s diamond. McGahan sent 11 of the Omak batters back to the dugout still looking for the last one that whistled by them, raising his total of whiffs to 39 in three league games. Losing tosser Dyer Hampson also fanned 11 and nicked McGahan for two of his team’s three bingles. With the score tied at 1 – 1, the Canadian contingent plated the winning tally in the sixth chapter when three Omak fielding miscues and a base hit allowed third baseman Fred Moebes to reach the platter. Wes Watkins and fly chaser Marshall smacked two hits each for the winners. Marshall also swiped three bases.

McGahan (W) and Watkins
Hampson (L) and Kelner

(June 19) With a six-run eruption in the first inning Brewster coasted to a 6-1 victory over Oroville. Eli Driessen allowed just five hits in going the distance for the win. He only run against him was unearned. Second baseman Joe Wick produced three hits for the winners. Bernie Federmeyer, playing first, collected a pair. Steve Cleveland and Boden punched out doubles.

Weeks (L), Warden (1) and LeMay
Driessen (W) and Cleveland

(June 19) In a thrilling contest at Bridgeport, the home squad squeezed out a 2 to 1 triumph as Jimmy Spurgeon held Omak to five hits. Omak's run came in the fifth on a infield grounder with the bases loaded. Bridgeport got on the scoreboard in the sixth when McAroy singled with two out and came home on McCord's safety. They got the winner in the seventh as Howard Woodbury, who had three hits, led off with a double and scored on Tom Hanford's single. Spurgeon fanned six and walked one. Brewster had ten hits off Robertson.

Robertson (L) and Reyes
Spurgeon (W) and Sollick

(June 26) For the second weekend in succession, the Penticton senior pastimers failed to hit in the clutch and suffered a tough 1 to 0 loss, this time at the hands of the visiting Brewster WA nine. Elmer “Red” McGahan was the hard-luck loser in spite of another solid performance in toeing the rubber. McGahan gave up just four hits, all singles, and rang up another 11 strikeouts to add to his already impressive accumulation of whiffs. Winning flinger Bernie Federmeyer yielded six safeties while fanning eight. Brewster scored the game’s only run in the top of the eighth round when Federmeyer was awarded first base after being hit by a pitch and eventually rounded the circuit compliments of two passed balls and a wild pitch. Second sacker Joe Wick of the Americans and Penticton first baseman Bob Phinney both collected three base raps. Outfielder Clair Baker of the vanquished nine followed with a double and single.

Federmeyer (W) and Cleveland
McGahan (L) and Watkins

(June 26) Lowly Oroville, tied for last place, took it out on the Bridgeport nine Sunday crushing the home club 14-8 behind a barrage of hits off Jimmy Spurgeon and Allen. Warden, also hit freely, managed to go the distance for the win.

Warden (W) and xxx
Spurgeon (L), Allen and xxx

(June 26) Omak thrilled the home crowd Sunday pulling out a tense 1-0 win over Okanogan as Wayne Johnson topped Dyer Hampson in the mound duel.

Hampson (L) and xxx
Johnson (W) and xxx

(July 1) Penticton Dominion Day tournament

(July 10) Elmer “Lefty” McGahan dazzled the southern invaders from Bridgeport WA as he pitched the Penticton baseballers to an 11 to 0 whitewashing of the Washingtonians. The five-hit shutout was made all the more impressive by McGahan’s torrid strikeout pace. The red-headed southpaw reeled off 15 more whiffs and, for a change, got some unusual offensive support from his mates. The rout began with a four-run third frame. By the end of the sixth panel, the Canadians held a 9 to 0 lead. Fly chaser Clair Baker lit up losing hurler Jimmy Spurgeon for three base blows, a triple, double and single in leading the winners at the dish. McGahan also did himself proud with the hickory, slamming a triple and one-bagger while first baseman Bob Phinney singled twice, an output equalled by infielder Howard Woodbury of the Americans.

Spurgeon (L), Allen (7) and Sollick, Galbraith (7)
McGahan (W) and Watkins

(July 10) Wayne Johnson, with a shutout in his last start, allowed just four hits Sunday to help Omak to a 7-2 win over Brewster and into a three-way tie for first place with Brewster and Bridgeport. Johnson fanned eight and walked just one. Omak third baseman Galler topped the hitters with a home run and two doubles. Bob Springer smashed a four-bagger for Brewster.

Johnson (W) and Nelson
Driessen, Federmeyer and Cleveland

(July 10) Oroville defeated Okanogan – no final score published

(July 17) Penticton said goodbye to its final chance at earning an OVBL playoff spot by losing 6 to 0 to Brewster on the latter’s diamond. The Brewster nine struck for three runs in the opening stanza on a throwing error to the plate by losing pitcher “Lefty” McGahan and a two-run double by shortstop Driessen. They doubled their output in the sixth with another triad of counters, with winning tosser Bernie Federmeyer and fly chaser Boden driving in runs which were sandwiched around a passed-ball marker. The Washingtonians outhit the invaders by a 9 to 6 count as Federmeyer fanned 8 and McGahan 13. Federmeyer, Boden and outfielder Ernie Linder all cracked out two hits for the victorious nine while shortstop Wally Moore and outer pasture guardian Marshall each checked in with a brace of safeties for the British Columbians. Both of Moore’s base knocks were doubles.

McGahan (L) and Watkins
Federmeyer (W) and Cleveland

(July 17) Omak ran into a surprisingly strong Oroville nine Sunday but managed to squeak out a 7-6 victory and a tie for first place. Oroville showed offensive strength as they knocked Omak ace "Buckshot" Johnson from the box forcing Robinson to come in to save the day for the home club.

xxx and xxx
Johnson, Robinson and xxx

(July 17) Dyer Hampson held Bridgeport to just three hits Sunday in hurling Okanogan to a 4-0 victory. The winners rapped out ten hits off Jimmy Spurgeon.

Hampson (W) and xxx
Spurgeon (L) and xxx

The league schedule a double-header at Omak for next Sunday to break the ties for first and third.

End of Schedule
Standings          W      L       Pct.
Brewster           6      4      .600
Omak               6      4      .600
Bridgeport         5      5      .500
Okanogan           5      5      .500
Penticton          4      6      .400
Oroville           4      6      .400

FIRST-PLACE TIE-BREAKER (Omak vs Brewster)

(July 24) In an offensive struggle, the teams produced 31 hits Sunday as Omak shaded Brewster 11-10 in an 11-inning thriller to capture first place in the league standings. Sloppy fieldwork also marked the game as the teams made a total of 12 errors. Omak scored two in the bottom of the 11th after Brewster had plated a run in the top of the frame. They would have had another, but a hard hit ball over the pitcher's head struck the umpire and Omak got an out at first as the ball bounced into the hands of the second baseman. Omak blew an 8-2 lead when Brewster roared back with seven runs in the firth inning to go ahead 9-8. They scored in the sixth to tie at 9-9. Third baseman Settle was the hitting hero for the winners with four hits. Richardson, the winning pitcher, had three and Bushman cracked a home run. Boden and Chet Gilden each collected three hits for Brewster.

Federmeyer, Driessen (L) (2) and Cleveland
Johnson, Robinson (W) (5) and Nelson, Reyes (5)

THIRD-PLACE TIE-BREAKER (Bridgeport vs Okanogan)

(July 24) Dyer Hampson hurled two-hit ball, with 13 strikeouts, Sunday to lead Okanogan to an 8-2 triumph over Bridgeport and third place in the league standings. Infielders Wagner and Lewis led the winners. Wagner, the first sacker cracked a homer and single while third baseman Lewis had a triple and single. Both scored twice.

Hampson (W) and Kelner
Bower/Bowers (L) and Sollick

SEMI-FINALS (sudden-death)

(July 31) Omak roared back with three runs in the bottom of the ninth inning Sunday to edge Okanogan 8-7 and win a spot in the league final against Brewster. Okanogan has scored two runs in the top of the ninth off Wayne "Buckshot" Johnson to take a 7-5 lead. But Dyer Hampson couldn't hold the lead as Omak cracked two triples and a pair of singles to move on to the league final.

Hampson (L) and xxx
Robinson, Johnson (W) (7) and xxx

(July 31) Brewster scored four early runs and held on to win a spot in the league final by downing Bridgeport 6-2. Federmeyer and Driessen combined on a five-hitter while Brewster smacked ten hits, two each by Joe Wick, Peck and Steve Cleveland.

Federmeyer (W), Driessen and Cleveland
Spurgeon (L), Bowman (5) and Sollick, Hanford

FINALS (best-of-three series) Brewster vs Omak

(August 7) In an 11-inning hitter’s battle, Brewster prevailed over Omak 10 to 9 in the first game of the OVBL finals. The winners amassed 17 base blows to 13 for the Omak nine. Kaye of Omak had the game’s lone homer. Federmeyer, the winning pitcher, Driessen, the starter, and third sacker Bob Springer each had three hits. Reyes responded with three for Omak.

Driessen, Federmeyer (W) (3), Driessen (11) and Cleveland
Johnson, Robinson (L) (6) and Reyes, Nelson (4)

(August 21) Brewster captured the 1938 OVBL championship by defeating pennant-winning, and defending league titlists, Omak 4 to 2. Winning tosser Bernie Federmeyer limited the vanquished nine to four safeties, two of which, a home run and single, were garnered by losing flinger Wayne “Buckshot” Johnson. Steve Cleveland led the winners with a double and a three-bagger.

Johnson (L) and Nelson
Federmeyer (W) and Cleveland

POST-SEASON EXHIBITION GAMES

(July 24) Penticton’s senior ball nine, out of the OVBL playoff picture and playing without several of their regulars, had no difficulty in squashing Summerland of the South Okanagan circuit 10 to 1 in an exhibition encounter. The hosting Pentictonites outhit the Summerlanders by an 11 to 3 count. Winning chucker “Lefty” McGahan punched out an amazing total of 20 batters while Les Gould of the vanquished nine whiffed ten.

Gould (L) and Clarke, Kincaid (1)
McGahan (W) and xxx

(July 31) In exhibition action, the Kelowna nine of the SOBL proved too effective with the hickory, bunching their hits effectively for a 4 to 1 favorable decision over the OVBL’s Penticton aggregation of diamondeers. A run-scoring hit by Val Leier in the fourth panel and a bases-loaded hit batsman in the fifth got the Orchard City nine off to a 2 to 0 lead. The game remained that way until the ninth when Kelowna added a pair on an opportune hit by Eddie Kielbiski. A two-bagger by Wes Watkins and a singleton by Bob Phinney brought in Penticton’s lone run in the final spasm. The victors had ten safeties to five for the Pentictonites. Gordon Sortome fanned 11 in grabbing the hillock win while losing twirler “Lefty” McGahan whiffed 16.

Sortome (W) and Yorko
McGahan (L) and Watkins, Kincaid

(August 4) Avenging the stiff defeat administered by the Orchard City nine just four days ago, the Penticton Seniors invaded Kelowna and came away with a narrow 3 to 2 exhibition game triumph. The two combatants stayed on even terms at 2 – 2 until the top of the fourth canto when two hit batsmen and a pair of walks by losing pitcher Wostradowski forced in what turned out to be the winning counter. The Penticton squad had a 5 to 2 advantage in base hits in this pitcher’s duel. Both winning tosser Elmer “Lefty” McGahan and Wostradowski fanned eleven opposing batters. Bill Benway and Fred Moebes of the winners had two hits apiece and both drove in a tally.

McGahan (W) and Dagg
Wostradowski (L) and Yorko, Crawford

(August 7) The touring Colored House of David contingent took a 5 to 3 verdict from the hosting Penticton nine in a highly-contested exhibition skirmish. The closeness of the game kept the barnstormers from putting on much of their usual comedy routine. Penticton outhit the visitors by a 9 to 5 margin and kept the pressure on throughout. Chuck Blacklock blasted a towering four-bagger for the homesters and losing pitcher “Lefty” McGahan fanned nine.

Sampson (W) and Stockard
McGahan (L) and Jones

1938 SOUTHERN OKANAGAN CHALLENGE SERIES

Kelowna, champions of the 1938 South Okanagan League and Penticton, a non-playoff squad from the very competitive Okanogan Valley circuit centered in Washington state, locked horns in a best-of-three series for South Okanagan bragging rights.

(August 28) Penticton’s senior baseball nine breezed to an easy 11 to 3 victory over Kelowna in the first match of the South Valley best-of-three titular series staged at Penticton’s Queen’s Park. The SOBL champion Kelowna baseballers, expected to formidable opponents, disappointed everyone with their lacklustre performance, especially on a defensive level as they were charged with a dozen fielding miscues. Without the services of scheduled mound starter Gordon Sortome, who didn’t make the trip because of the flu, the Orchard City aggregation dipped into a pool of non-pitchers which proved to be disastrous. Three position players toiled on the rubber for Kelowna but none were effective. Meanwhile, Elmer “Lefty” McGahan was ringing up 13 strikeouts and quashing the opposition on four hits. Bob Harwood poled out a home run for the winners.

R. Kielbiski (L), F. Chapman (7), Boklage (7) and Crawford, Yorko
McGahan (W) and Watkins

(September 5) Penticton Labour Day tournament

(September 11) It took a dozen hot, torrid innings for the Kelowna diamond pastimers to emerge with a 9 to 8 victory over the visiting Penticton Seniors at Athletic Park in the Orchard City. The nerve-racking win tied their Southern Okanagan Valley challenge series at a game apiece and prevented a Penticton sweep. Kelowna had the see-saw game won twice over, then threw away its chances, went two runs behind, caught up again and finally came through with the winning ticket. The heart-breaking loss for the Pentictonites came in a peculiar and painful manner. Dandy portside heaver, “Lefty” McGahan had kept his team in contention, hitting a double in the eighth and a triple in the ninth to bring the score even at 6 – 6. After the two clubs traded deuces in the eleventh round, Penticton was blanked in the top of the third extra-frame and a visibly tired McGahan took the hill in the bottom half in an attempt to keep things even and force a fourth round of overtime. Such was not to be, however, as he loaded the bases on two Kelowna singles and a hit batsman and, with two out, plunked a second batter, catcher Yorko, as base runner Martin Leier pranced in from third with the winning counter. The nail-biter produced a slew of base hits over the 12 chapters which saw Jack Bedford of the victors claiming four base knocks. McGahan paced the vanquished nine with two doubles and a three-bagger off winning flinger Gordon Sortome.

McGahan (L) and Jones
Sortome (W) and Yorko

(September 18) Much like the series’ opener, the third and deciding contest for South Interior Valley laurels turned out to be a massacre. Penticton, a team which did not qualify for the playoffs in the Okanogan Valley League, a Washington state-based loop in which five of the six entrants have pro pitchers, handily whitewashed Kelowna, 1938 champions of the South Okanagan circuit, 12 to 0 to lay claim as the best team in their shared territory. The game was scoreless for the initial four panels but, beginning in the fifth, the rout began as the winners plated at least one counter in every inning thereafter. Elmer McGahan, Penticton’s redheaded portsider, had ten punchouts to augment his one-hit pitching chore. Bob Benway lit up loser Gordon Sortome for two triples and a single in leading the hit parade.

McGahan (W) and Watkins
Sortome (L) and Yorko

B. C. INTERIOR BASEBALL LEAGUE

Kamloops
Revelstoke
Salmon Arm
Vernon

(May 15) The Vernon diamondeers of the Interior Baseball circuit plated six counters in the sixth canto in polishing off the Kelowna nine of the South Okanagan loop 9 to 4 in a pre-season exhibition tilt in the Regatta City. The hosts were atrocious defensively, committing several errors in crucial situations. Larry Antilla earned the hillock decision over Kelowna playing-manager Clint Hodges. Catcher Frank Netzel doubled and singled twice for the Vernonites. Rudy Kitsch belted a solo homer for the vanquished nine.

Antilla (W) and Netzel
Hodges (L), F. Kitsch (7) and V. Leier

(May 22) Portsider Jack Morton, pitching ace of the 1937 Salmon Arm club, made his debut toeing the rubber for Kamloops in this new season and did not disappoint, firing a three-hitter while punching out 17 in leading the hosts to a 4 to 2 opening game win over Revelstoke. On the offensive side of the coin, Morton also sparkled, slamming the pill for three of the five Kamloops’ safeties. The winners bunched three runs in the fourth inning to take control of the game. Losing hurler Salter allowed nine hits, most of them of the scattered variety. He also lit up Morton for a solo homer in the fifth stanza.

Salter (L) and J. D’Arcangelo
Morton (W) and Sparks

(May 22) Vernon polished off Salmon Arm 14 to 4 at Polson Park in the 1938 Interior League opener for both clubs.The victors amassed a dozen tallies in the seventh and eighth rounds as the Butter Towners seemed to fold after holding their own for most of the game. Larry Antilla secured nine strikeouts in going the route for the triumph. George Sparrow, manning the outer pasture, had three safeties for the winners. Salmon Arm shortstop D. Sladen led all willow wielders, connecting for a home run, double and single.

J. Calvert (L) and R. Morton
Antilla (W) and Netzel

(May 24) Kamloops trampled all over Vernon 11 to 5 in a Victoria Day exhibition game at Riverside Park. Burt Horne went the distance for Kamloops, earning the mound win with a six-hitter. Shortstop Bill Cooke picked up three base raps for the winners including a double. Catcher Frank Netzel nailed a two-run homer for the Vernonites.

Sortole (L), G. Nuyens (4) and Netzel
Horne (W) and Sparks

(May 29) The Salmon Arm baseballers captured their first win of the campaign, polishing off invading Kamloops 9 to 5. Trailing 1 to 0 after five innings had been played, the Butter Towners ripped into the offerings of former teammate Jack Morton, who had assumed mound duties in the sixth panel, for all nine of their runs over the course of their final three turns at bat. Slamming out a trio of safeties apiece were Jack Farmer and A. Sladen of the winners as well as Kamloops’ Gord Cochrane.

Roberts, J. Morton (L) (6) and Beruschi
Jamieson (W), J. Calvert (9) and R. Morton

(June 5) Kamloops got their revenge for a loss suffered a week previous when they dumped the visiting Salmon Arm nine 8 to 1. Both teams had six base hits in the contest but the big difference in the game was the shoddy infield play of the Butter Towners who fumbled the pill on six occasions while the Kamloops nine fielded flawlessly. Keystone sacker Harry Smith of the victors ripped a double and two singles to lead the hickory hackers.

J. Calvert (L) and R. Morton, Farmer
MacKenzie (W) and Beruschi

(June 5) Revelstoke climbed into a first-place tie with Kamloops after doubling Vernon 4 to 2 at Polson Park. The Mainliners had a decided 14 to 5 margin in base knocks. Four of that sum of swats were amassed by shortstop Rico Ditomassi who finished the fracas with a home run, two doubles and a single. Teammate DeBlass chipped in with three one-baggers. Zeb Lonzo earned the complete-game mound triumph over veteran Vernon flinger George Sparrow who distinguished himself by ringing up ten strikeouts. Cecil Ward topped the Vernonites at the dish, drilling a a solo four-bagger and a single.

Lonzo (W) and Salter
Sparrow (L) and Netzel

(June 12) Taking care of business, the hosting Salmon Arm diamondeers edged past a hard-hitting Vernon squad 4 to 3 in Interior League play. Salmon Arm outfielders had a busy time in this affair, snaring ten fly balls, many of them well hit. The homesters broke a 3 – 3 tie in the seventh panel when a Vernon error and a base hit brought the winning run across. George Kennedy of the victorious nine had the game’s longest blow, a triple.

xxx (L) and xxx
xxx (W) and xxx

(June 12) Kamloops eked out a narrow 4 to 3 victory over arch-rival Revelstoke at the Railway Town. Fly chaser Howard Portman had three hits for the victors, a triple, double and single. Revelstoke outfielder DeBlass countered with thee singles.

J. Morton (W). Mackenzie (5) and Beruschi
Lonzo (L) and Salter

(June 19) A three-run ninth-inning rally fell short as the hosting Salmon Arm nine fell 5 to 3 to Revelstoke. Rico Dittomassi had a two-run base hit for the winners while outfielder Hodgson of Salmon Arm drilled a two-run double.

Lonzo (W) and xxx
J. Calvert (L) and xxx

(June 19) In a game that produced a fair quota of thrills for the fans, the Vernon baseball squad met and defeated the visiting Kamloops team 8 to 6 in an Interior Baseball League fixture at Polson Park. The teams produced 22 base hits with Vernon acquiring 12 of them. Roy Sparks of Kamloops had the most productive offensive showing, thumping the apple for two doubles and two singles. Vernon’s Hank Scherle ripped three singles while teammate Nick Fedorek came through with a brace of two-baggers.

Horne (L), MacKenzie (4) and Beruschi
Sparrow (W) and Netzel

(June 26) Revelstoke withstood a late Salmon Arm outburst but hung on to down the visitors 6 to 5 on a slippery diamond in the Railroad Town. A five-run fourth inning gave the Mainliners a comfortable lead which they almost blew in the eighth when, playing in a constant drizzle, winning chucker Zeb Lonzo began to look shaky as the Butter Towners piled up four counters.

J. Calvert (L), Jamieson (4) and xxx
Lonzo (W) and xxx

(June 26) For the second meeting in a row, the Vernon baseballers showed top form in disposing of the Kamloops nine, this time in an 11 to 2 shellacking at Riverside Park. George Sparrow, perennial Vernon tosser, chalked up his second consecutive mound triumph over the Thompson River nine, limiting the hosts to seven safeties. His mates, with everyone in the lineup registering at least one safety, lit up a pair of Kamloops’ chuckers for 14 safe swats. Leading the charge with the baton for the victors were infielders Henry Scherle who picked up three one-baggers, Pete Korenko who slammed a two-run circuit-clout as well as singling and Nick Fedorek who tripled and singled.

Sparrow (W) and Netzel
J. Morton (L), MacKenzie (7) and Beruschi, Sparkes, Beruschi

(July 1) Top-notch hurling by lanky Hector MacKenzie sparked the Kamloops entry to a 7 to 0 victory over visiting Revelstoke in the first game of a Dominion Day twin-bill. Kamloops also copped a six-inning second encounter, that of an exhibition game variety, 11 to 10.

The matinee tussle, the more important of the two jousts as it was a scheduled league encounter, was a one-sided affair with the hosts taking the lead in the opening canto and gradually extending that margin. MacKenzie limited the Railroad Boys to just five hits, two by Harley Dean, and fanned nine in his impressive mound outing. Gord Cochrane had three of the 13 Kamloops base hits with Harry Smith, Roy Sparks and George Wyse each accounting for a pair. Joe McKinnon belted a solo homer for the winners in the second frame.

Lonzo (L) and Salter
MacKenzie (W) and Beruschi

Coming to the aid of starter Burt Horne in the fourth round of the abbreviated second skirmish, MacKenzie was also credited with the knoll triumph. George Wyse had three hits, including a round-tripper, for the Kamloops nine in the heavy-hitting exhibition affair.

Salter (L) and J. D’Arcangelo
Horne, MacKenzie (W) (4) and Beruschi

(July 3) Veteran moundsman George Sparrow whiffed five in pitching the Vernon baseballers to a 4 to 1 decision over the invading Salmon Arm nine. Only catcher Bob Morton, with a brace of safeties, was able to show any consistency at the plate for the Butter Towners when facing Sparrow. Best with the stick for the winners were Sparrow, his batterymate Frank Netzel and Hank Scherle.

J. Calvert (L) and R. Morton
Sparrow (W) and Netzel

(July 10) In a slam-bang first-inning outburst, the hosting Vernon nine crashed eight runs home en route to a decisive 12 to 1 thrashing of the Kamloops squad. The aging arm of veteran George Sparrow was sufficient to whiff ten Kamloops batters in the rout. Batterymate Frank Netzel provided plenty of offensive punch for Sparrow as he accumulated three, one being a double, of the winners’ 12 base knocks.

MacKenzie (L), J. Morton (1) and Sparks, Beruschi (1)
Sparrow (W) and Netzel

(July 10) Salmon Arm vs Revelstoke – postponed

(July 17) Unable to solve the slants of veteran flinger Zeb Lonzo, the Salmon Arm baseball club went further into the cellar of the B. C. Interior League after dropping a 5 to 1 decision to Revelstoke. The Butter Towners took a 1 to 0 first-inning lead which they held until the fifth panel when the visitors forged ahead to stay.

Lonzo (W) and xxx
J. Calvert (L) and xxx

(July 17) With six errors contributing to their downfall, Kamloops dropped a 5 to 2 verdict to first-place Vernon at Riverside Park. Ageless George Sparrow, on the Vernon mound, turned in another well-thrown game. The strain on his aging arm was relieved by the effective fielding of his teammates. The Vernonites racked up a dozen base blows off loser Burt Horne and reliever Hec MacKenzie . A four-run second inning, in which two hits aided by four Kamloops errors, spelled the difference in the final result. Collecting two hits apiece were Vernon’s Hank Scherle, Frank Netzel, Nick Fedorek and John Nuyens as well as Bill Cooke of the Kamloops squad.

Sparrow (W) and Netzel
Horne (L), MacKenzie (2) and Beruschi

Standings          W     L      Pct.
Vernon             6     3     .667
Revelstoke         5     3     .625
Kamloops           4     5     .444
Salmon Arm         2     6     .250

(July 24) With their playoff hopes virtuously non-existent, the Salmon Arm nine fell further behind the pack after absorbing a 6 to 3 loss at the hands of the hosting Vernon contingent. The win was Vernon’s sixth in succession against Interior League opponents. Vernon had a slim 8 to 7 margin in base knocks. George Sparrow earned the mound decision over Jack Morton who was back with his former team after spending the majority of the season as a member of the Kamloops contingent. Sparrow and his batterymate, Frank Netzel, stroked two hits each for the winners while a pair of Jacks, Calvert and Morton, reciprocated for the ButterTowners.

J. Morton (L) and R. Morton
Sparrow (W) and Netzel

(July 24) The Kamloops nine continued their mastery over Revelstoke, taking advantage of ninth-inning fumbles and overthrows by their hosts, to plate a pair of tallies and emerge with a 4 to 3 Interior League victory. Winning pitcher Hec MacKenzie allowed but three safeties while ringing up five strikeouts. Sixteen year-old “Plug” Venutti, in his mound debut for the Railroaders, was nailed with the loss. Kamloops second baseman Harry Smith, with a brace of one-baggers, was the only player on either side to gather more than one hit.

MacKenzie (W) and Beruschi
Venutti (L) and J. D’Arcangelo

(July 31) Lanky Hec MacKenzie tossed a two-hitter and fanned a dozen batters in pitching the Kamloops baseballers to a 5 to 1 verdict over cellar-dwelling Salmon Arm. The art of bunting had a prominent role in the Kamloops victory. Four of their tallies came as a result of perfectly-placed bunts. The winners racked up eight hits, with Roy Sparks and Jack McKinnon accounting for two each.

MacKenzie (W) and Beruschi
J. Calvert (L) and R. Morton

(July 31) Revelstoke climbed closer to the top of the Interior Baseball League after inflicting a lop-sided 23 to 1 loss on the Vernon baseballers. The Mountain City diamondeers piled up 18 base blows in decimating the Vernonites, right on their home turf. Catcher J. D’Arcangelo clipped the orb for four safe blows in leading the winners at the dish. Third baseman Harley Dean followed with a triad of safe swats including a home run. Outfielder Hank Scherle stroked three singles for the vanquished nine.

Lonzo (W), Mapes (9) and J. D’Archangelo
Sparrow (L), G. Nuyens (5), Sparrow (5), Rutten (8), G. Nuyens (9), Rutten (9) and G. Nuyens, Sparrow (5), G. Nuyens (5), Sparrow (8)

(August 7) Long before a downpour at Kamloops’ Riverside Park made the diamond unplayable, the Salmon Arm baseball club had notified Kamloops team officials of their intention to default their scheduled Interior League game because of difficulties in fielding a team.

(August 7) Revelstoke went to the top of the Interior Baseball League after defeating Vernon 10 to 9 in a game replete with both slugging and sloppy defensive play. Revelstoke infielder Rico Ditomassi was the most prominent swatter in the contest, stinging the apple for a triple and two singles. Reliever “Plug” Venutti was credited with the mound verdict, allowing three hits during his four plus innings toeing the rubber.

Sparrow (L) and G. Nuyens
Lonzo, Venutti (W) (5) and J. D’Arcangelo

Final Standings *         W     L      Pct.
Revelstoke                7     4     .636
Vernon                    7     5     .583
Kamloops                  7     5     .583
Salmon Arm                2     9     .182

* with one postponed game (Revelstoke vs Salmon Arm) having no chance of taking place as per the breakup of the Salmon Arm team, Revelstoke was awarded first place in the 1938 standings.

PLAYOFFS
Sudden-death Semi-final) Vernon vs Kamloops

(August 14) Steady hurling by Hec Mackenzie, a former Regina junior star, and a hitting barrage in the sixth and seventh innings gave Kamloops a 5 to 2 victory over Vernon and an opportunity to battle Revelstoke in the Interior League finals. Mackenzie allowed just six hits. He also aided the offense with the longest blow of the game, a triple. The game was played in an atmosphere cracking with hostility, fuelled by the differing choices for an umpire. Once the game got going, the combatants played on even terms for four innings, locked in a 1 – 1 stalemate. Kamloops moved into a 2 to 1 lead in the fifth when MacKenzie drove one into the middle pasture for a three-bagger and scored on Burt Horne’s sacrifice. In the sixth, Kamloops went to town, slamming into losing flinger George Sparrow’s offerings for four long safeties that netted a third counter. Then, a two-out Kamloops’ rally in the seventh panel, highlighted by Harry Smith’s two-run single, upped the count to 5 to 1. Vernon made a last-ditch effort in the eighth canto, plating a second counter on Pete Korenko’s RBI single. The winners were superior at the dish throughout the skirmish, creaming the orb for 11 safeties to six for Vernon. Every batter in the victors’ lineup registered at least one safe swat. Both MacKenzie and Sparrow punched out 11 opposition batters. Fly chaser Cecil Ward of Vernon nailed the horsehide for three base knocks while Roy Sparks and Joe Beruschi of the Kamloops nine produced two bingles apiece.

Sparrow (L) and G. Nuyens
MacKenzie (W) and Beruschi

Finals (best-of–three series)
Kamloops vs Revelstoke

(August 21) Two Revelstoke errors, right off the bat, and each good for a run, gave the Kamloops squad a 2 to 0 first-inning edge which they parlayed into a 3 to 2 victory over their hosts in the opening game of the Interior Baseball League finals. The winners plated their third marker in the second round when George Wyse successfully bunted in Joe McKinnon from third after the Kamloops outfielder had reached the hot corner with a three-bagger. The homesters got on the scoreboard in the fifth, registering a solo tally when Larry Maunders singled and was driven across the plate following a triple by “Shorts” Henderson. They narrowed the margin to a single run in the seventh when shortstop Rico Ditomassi belted a bases-empty four-bagger. Winning tosser Hec MacKenzie survived a ninth-inning leadoff walk and finished the contest with five whiffs while four batters fell before losing twirler Zeb Lonzo. The Revelstoke chucker allowed five safeties while MacKenzie was nicked for just three.

MacKenzie (W) and Beruschi
Lonzo (L) and Pulley

(August 28) The Kamloops senior baseball club laid claim to yet another Interior Baseball League crown when they crushed the Revelstoke squad 12 to 1 to capture the final series in two straight games. Their supercharged bats lit into the offerings of three Revelstoke twirlers for 14 base blows as every player in their lineup registered at least one hit. An oddity of the Revelstoke pitching-catching combinations occurred in the seventh inning when teenager “Plug” Venutti had as his batterymate, 51-year old playing-manager Harry Pulley. The Railroaders touched winning hurler Hec MacKenzie for only six hits including a double and single by Harley Dean. Collecting two safeties apiece for the winners were Harry Smith, Howard Portman, George Wyse, Joe McKinnon and MacKenzie.

Lonzo (L), Mapes (7), Venutti (7) and Pulley, J. D’Arcangelo (8)
MacKenzie (W) and Beruschi

POST-PLAYOFF EXHIBITION GAME

(September 5) A strong contingent of Lower Mainland baseballers representing the Pioneer Gold Mine, located north of Pemberton and Whistler, duked it out with the Kamloops nine of the Interior League in an exhibition Labor Day skirmish at Riverside Park. Led by veteran pitcher Bill Richardson, late of the United Distillers Limited team in the Vancouver City League, the Gold Miners blanked the Interior League champions 5 to 0 in a classic encounter. Richardson had his sinkerball working to perfection, ringing up 20 strikeouts and walking none while limiting the Kamloops squad to just one hit, a single by second baseman Harry Smith. Richardson’s outstanding performance overshadowed the fine mound effort of lanky Hec MacKenzie who whiffed eight Pioneer batsmen and allowed just five safeties including a brace of two-baggers by third sacker Dan McGeachy. Until the ninth frame, Kamloops was within striking distance of the Pioneer diamondeers, trailing by just a 2 to 0 count. Those tallies were recorded in the third panel on a ground out by shortstop J. Nicola which plated McGeachy from third while Nicola touched the dish shortly thereafter on Eddie Davies’ long safety to the middle pasture. The Gold Miners pushed their advantage to five with a batting splurge and a couple of lucky breaks in the final canto. Richardson, who reached first after being plunked by MacKenzie, moved around to third as pinch-hitter J. Neilson whiffed but gained a life when the third strike was muffed by Kamloops’ catcher Joe Beruschi. Both runners ultimately scored when a second pinch-hitter, W. “Red” Boyce, delivered a crisp bingle. McGeachy’s second double of the game then allowed Boyce to plate the fifth tally.

Richardson (W) and McNaughton
MacKenzie (L) and Beruschi

CENTRAL OKANAGAN BASEBALL LEAGUE

Rutland Adanacs
Rutland Maroons
Kelowna Red Sox
Kelowna Transfers
Oyama
Winfield

Known game results

(May 19) Winfield 6, Oyama 3
Kelowna Transfers 5, Rutland Maroons 3
Rutland Adanacs 5, Kelowna Red Sox 0

(May 23) Kelowna Red Sox 7, Oyama 6
Kelowna Transfers 9, Winfield 3
Rutland Adanacs 11, Rutland Maroons 7

(May 26) Kelowna Transfers 7, Oyama 1
Rutland Adanacs 10, Winfield 1
Kelowna Red Sox 8 , Rutland Maroons 3

(May 30) Kelowna Red Sox 9, Kelowna Transfers 8
Rutland Adanacs 9, Oyama 7

(June 2) Oyama 2, Rutland Maroons 2
Kelowna Red Sox 12, Winfield 9

(June 6) Winfield 4, Oyama 4
Kelowna Transfers 14, Rutland Maroons 2
Rutland Adanacs 4, Kelowna Red Sox 2

(June 9) Rutland Adanacs 6, Rutland Maroons 0
Kelowna Transfers 4, Winfield 4

(June 13) Rutland Adanacs 5, Winfield 1
Kelowna Red Sox 9, Rutland Maroons 4
Kelowna Transfers 13, Oyama 3

(June 16) Winfield 4, Rutland Maroons 3
Kelowna Transfers 10, Kelowna Red Sox 6
Rutland Adanacs 9, Oyama 1

Final Standings       W     L     T      Pct.
Rutland Adanacs       9     0     0    1.000
Kelowna Red Sox       7     3     0     .700
Kelowna Transfers     6     2     1     .667
Winfield              2     6     2     .200
Oyama                 1     7     2     .100
Rutland Maroons       1     8     1     .100

PLAYOFFS
Semi-final (sudden-death)
Kelowna Red Sox vs Kelowna Transfers

(June 23) In a battle of Regatta City combatants, the Kelowna Red Sox eliminated the Kelowna Transfers 10 to 4 to earn the right to meet the Rutland Adanacs in the Central Okanagan League finals. The Transfers lost their captain, Rudy Kitsch, when he had the misfortune to break his ankle sliding into third base in the first inning.

xxx (L) and xxx
xxx (W) and xxx

Finals (best-of-three series) Rutland Adanacs vs Kelowna Red Sox

(June 27) The Rutland Adanacs won the initial counter of the Central League playoff finals when they came from behind to defeat the Kelowna Red Sox 8 to 5. Winning pitcher Paul Bach surrendered four safeties while his battery mate, catcher John Holitzki, poked three base raps.

James (L) and V. Leier
Bach (W) and J. Holitzki

(July 4) The Central Okanagan Baseball League concluded its play for 1938 when the Rutland Adanacs defeated the Kelowna Red Sox 7 to 6 to take the final series in two straight games. The victory for the Ads was their eleventh in succession. The teams were tied 5 – 5 heading into the fifth inning when the Ads went ahead by two following a double by John Holitzki, Henry Wostradowski’s single, a sacrifice fly and a two-bagger by Welter. in the bottom of the final frame, the Red Sox reduced the deficit to a lone run when Shantz was driven home on Martin Leier’s two-base hit. They threatened to tie it when Val Leier reached base on an error while his brother, who had reached third on the miscue, made a dash for home as outfielder Paul Bach, backing up the infield blunder, fired a perfect strike to the dish to nip the runner and save the day for Rutland.

F. Wostradowski (W) and J. Holitzki
L. Boklage, James (L) (4) and V. Leier

SOUTH OKANAGAN BASEBALL LEAGUE

Beaverdell
Kelowna
Peachland
Rutland
Summerland

PRE-SEASON EXHIBITION GAMES

Bogstie (W) and Crawford
Wilson (L), Corrigan (3) and Watkins, Kincaid

(May 8) Peachland plated a brace of markers in the bottom of the eighth frame to break a 4 – 4 tie and emerge with a 6 to 4 triumph over visiting Rutland in a pre-season exhibition tilt. Catcher Norm Ekins paced the winners at the dish with a pair of two-baggers while Rutland’s Frank Wostradowski clipped the horsehide for three safeties.

H. Wostradowski, Bach (L) (5) and J. Holitzki
G. Ekins, Clements (W) (7) and N. Ekins

REGULAR-SEASON GAMES (including in-season exhibition tilts)

(May 15) A one-sided opener in Rutland saw the homesters avenge, in a big way, their exhibition loss of a week previous, creaming the Peachland nine 15 to 0. Andy Kitsch was the top dog with the stick for Rutland, belting the horsehide for four safeties. Dan Cousins and the Millers brothers, Archie and Don, were best with the baton for the visitors, each acquiring a pair of safe blows. The Wostradowski siblings split the pitching chores for the victors. Henry, the starter and winner, fanned nine while allowing three hits. Brother Frank yielded five safeties while whiffing six.

G. Ekins (L) and N. Ekins, Howard (2), D. Miller
H. Wostradowski (W), F. Wostradowski (6) and J. Holitzki

(May 15) Summerland sprung a surprise in their SOBL opener by taking down the 1937 championship outfit, the Highland-Bell Miners from Beaverdell, 5 to 4 in an exciting 16-inning contest.

xxx (L) and xxx
xxx (W) and xxx

(May 15) The Vernon diamondeers of the Interior Baseball circuit plated six counters in the sixth canto in polishing off the Kelowna nine of the South Okanagan loop 9 to 4 in an exhibition tilt in the Regatta City. The hosts were atrocious defensively, committing several errors in crucial situations. Larry Antilla earned the hillock decision over Kelowna playing-manager Clint Hodges. Catcher Frank Netzel doubled and singled twice for the Vernonites. Rudy Kitsch belted a solo homer for the vanquished nine who had a weekend bye in the SOBL schedule.

Antilla (W) and Netzel
Hodges (L), F. Kitsch (7) and V. Leier

Webster (L), Corrigan and Watkins
Gould (W) and Thompson

(May 22) Rutland’s baseball nine captured a ten-inning road victory, taking down the hosting Kelowna squad 9 to 7. Henry Wostradowski earned the hillock victory over portly George Morrow, recalled from the archives after four seasons of being on the shelf. Wostradowski also had a brace of doubles in support of his work on the bump. Rudy Kitsch poled out an inside-the-park four-bagger for Kelowna while teammate Valentine Leier clipped the apple for four safe swats. Tied 7 – 7 going into overtime, the Orchard City nine let Morrow down by committing a pair of crucial errors in the tenth which allowed the Rutlanders to score two unearned tallies and walk away with the win.

H. Wostradowski (W) and J. Holitzki
Morrow (L) and Crawford

(May 22) Peachland came out on top of a loosely played skirmish on their home turf, dropping their guests from Summerland 14 to 10. After the Summerlanders failed to score in the top of the initial stanza, Peachland catcher Don Miller, batting in the leadoff slot, blasted a solo home run to begin the bottom half of the inning. Both squads nailed the horsehide with authority in this joust, each side registering 11 base knocks. Summerland’s hot corner custodian, Dunham, and backstop Miller of the victorious nine, led their respective nines with a quartet of base knocks apiece. Dunham’s total included a pair of three-baggers. Peachland’s Archie Miller checked in with a trio of safe swats.

Clements, G. Ekins (W) (3) and D. Miller
W. Evans (L), Holmes (7) and Clarke

(May 24) Winning pitcher Harold Cousins fanned opposing hurler Cliff Bogstie with the potential tying run reposing at third base in the bottom of the ninth inning to preserve a 3 to 2 victory for the Beaverdell Miners over the visiting nine from Kelowna. Both flingers went the duration with Cousins tossing a seven-hitter while whiffing nine while southpaw Bogstie was nicked for eight safeties to go along with 11 punchouts. The Silver Diggers from the Highland-Bell Mine got to Bogstie in the third panel to plate all three of their counters. A single by third sacker McKinnon got things underway. He was erased on a fielder’s choice as “Lefty” Hammond wound up at first on the play. Dick Murray then singled, moving Hammond into scoring position. Earl Christie was safe on an error as Murray moved to second and Hammond to third, loading the sacks. One-baggers by chucker Cousins and first baseman Bakke then produced the trio of tallies. Kelowna picked up both of their markers in the fifth round during a two-out rally. With brother Val Leier on the paths, Martin Leier banged out a triple and scampered home on a wild relay throw to the hot corner. Only two swatters, R. Bakke of the winners and fly chaser Boklage of the Orchard City gang, managed to accumulate plural hit totals, each acquiring a pair of bingles. One of Boklage’s base raps was a two-bagger.

H. Cousins (W) and V. Cousins
Bogstie (L) and Crawford

(May 29) Rutland maintained their hold on first place in the South Okanagan League by defeating the visiting Summerland nine 9 to 3. Henry Wostradowski went the route on the hill for the winners, chalking up 16 strikeouts while mound opponent Les Gould rang up 14 whiffs. The invading Summerlanders outhit their hosts by a narrow 8 to 7 margin. Dunham of the Apple Towners was the offensive star of the contest, connecting for three safeties including a two-bagger. John Holitzki and Fred Kitsch both had a brace of base knocks for the winners.

Gould (L) and Gregory
H. Wostradowski (W) and J. Holitzki

(May 29) Kelowna broke into the win column when they avenged their May 24 loss to Beaverdell by trimming the Miners 7 to 3. The Orchard City nine, with playing-manager Clint Hodges starting things off, went on the offensive in the fourth canto and racked up four counters. They were never headed from that point and backed up winning flinger Rudy Kielbiski with effective defensive support. Both aggregations stung the pill for nine safe blows. Hodges had a double and a single for the winners, an output equalled by losing chucker “Lefty” Hammond and Beaverdell teammate Dick Murray.

R. Kielbiski (W) and Crawford
Hammond (L), H. Cousins (5) and V. Cousins

Standings         W      L       Pct.
Rutland           3      0      1.000
Peachland         1      1       .500
Beaverdell        1      2       .333
Summerland        1      2       .333
Kelowna           1      2       .333

(June 1) Displaying an absolutely airtight infield and a fast shifting outfield, the touring Washington Browns outshone the Kelowna nine in exhibition action, clobbering their hosts 10 to 0. Shortstop Easterling was the classiest of the visitors, knocking out four base hits, including two doubles, and stealing a pair of bases.

Cook (W), Gesters and Caston
Sortome (L) and Crawford

(June 2) A second exhibition tilt between the barnstorming Washington Browns and Kelowna produced a similar result with the invaders prevailing 16 to 9. Outfielder Gray and winning pitcher Wodsome of the Browns as well as Kelowna’s Rudy Kielbiski all collected three base hits. One of Gray’s blows was a home run while Wodsome’s total included two doubles.

Gesters, Wodsome (W) (2) and Caston
F. Chapman (L), Sortome and Crawford

(June 5) Summerland’s diamond pastimers administered a 9 to 3 licking to Kelowna in a loosely-played SOBL contest in the Apple Town. The win for the Summerlanders moved them into second place in the circuit. The match, from a defensive standpoint, was forgettable, especially for the Orchard City nine who committed ten fielding miscues. Winning hurler Les Gould rang up 15 strikeouts in chalking up the six-hit hillock triumph. The winners banged out ten hits, a triple and double of which came off the bat of shortstop Poltratz/Pottraz. Teammate Bennest and losing pitcher Rudy Kielbiski of Kelowna followed with a double and single each.

R. Kielbiski (L), F. Chapman (6) and Crawford
Gould (W) and Gregory

(June 5) Homestanding Beaverdell got to starting pitcher George Ekins for eleven first-inning counters en route to a 16 to 7 thrashing of invading Peachland. Verne Cousins and Earl Christie hammered home runs for the winners.

G. Ekins (L), Clements (3) and xxx
xxx (W) and V. Cousins

(June 9) Summerland King’s Birthday tournament

(June 12) The Beaverdell Miners inflicted top dog Rutland with their first loss of the season, a 9 to 7 setback in the Mining Town. An anticipated pitching duel did not materialize as winning tosser Harold Cousins, who went the route on the knoll, was touched for eleven safeties while the Wostradowski bothers of Rutland were nicked for a dozen base knocks. Earl Christie of the Beaverdell nine and Rutland’s Paul Bach had the game’s longest blows, both bagging triples. Bach also pounded the apple for a double and two singles to top the game’s hit parade while Christie has a single in addition to his three-bagger.

H. Wostradowski (L), F. Wostradowski (6) and J. Holitzki
H. Cousins (W) and V. Cousins

(June 12) Kelowna knocked off the invading Peachland ball-tossers 7 to 1. The Orchard City nine chalked up five first-inning counters, creating a margin that the Peachlanders were unable to overcome. Kelowna southpaw Gordon Sortome, in registering the win, was threatened by the Peachland nine throughout as they nicked him for eleven safeties. The portsider was up to the task, however, and was able to bail himself out of any serious jams by relying upon his heater which he used to ring up 15 strikeouts. Keystone sacker Ted Clements was the main thorn in Sortome’s side, lighting the left-handed tosser up for a triple and three singles. Kelowna’s Val Leier, with three singles, topped the 12-hit offensive output of the winners.

Fulks (L), G. Ekins (2) and D. Miller
Sortome (W) and Crawford

Standings      W     L      Pct.
Rutland        3     1     .750
Kelowna        2     2     .500
Summerland     2     2     .500
Beaverdell     2     2     .500
Peachland      1     3     .250

(June 19) One fatal frame, in an otherwise tight ballgame, led to a rout in which the first-place Rutland contingent clobbered the Peachland nine 12 to 2.. The winners had only a 3 to 1 lead until the top of the seventh stanza when, aided by a flock of Peachland errors, they tallied nine runs on five hits. Winning pitcher Henry Wostradowski rang up 15 strikeouts while twirling a three-hitter. The Rutlanders lit into loser George Ekins and reliever Ted Clements for 16 base knocks. Third baseman Adolph Kitsch racked up four safe swats, all singles, to pace his team with the baton. His brother, Fred Kitsch, checked in with a double and two singles while another teammate, flychaser Ritchey, drilled three one-baggers.

H. Wostradowski (W) and J. Holitzki
G. Ekins (L), Clements (7) and D. Miller

(June 26) The Peachland ball club remained in the cellar of the SOBL following a 15 to 6 pasting at the hands of the visiting Kelowna nine. The Orchard City swatters nailed the sphere for 19 safeties while the homesters garnered nine safeties. Kelowna’s Eddie Kielbiski and catcher Yorko fattened their batting averages, collecting four safeties each, while teammates Jack Bedford and outfielder Boklage cracked out two-run homers for the invaders.

F. Chapman, Hodges (W) (2) and Yorko
G. Ekins (L), D. Cousins (5), Williamson (7) and D. Miller

(June 26) The ever-improving Summerland baseballers took care of business by slapping down the top-dog Rutland diamondeers 4 to 1 in a crisply played SOBL battle. The victory for the Apple Towners moved them into a first-place tie with the Rutlanders. Winning flinger Les Gould allowed six hits, two safeties less than surrendered by losing chucker Henry Wostradowski. Outfielder Borton and third baseman Evans picked up a pair of hits each for Summerland while three Rutlanders, Paul Bach, Fred Kitsch and infielder Gerein, equally split their team’s six safeties. Included in Kitsch’s total was a double which was the game’s only extra-base knock.

H. Wostradowski (L) and J. Holitzki
Gould (W) and Clarke

Standings      W     L      Pct.
Rutland        4     2     .667
Summerland     4     2     .667
Kelowna        3     2     .600
Beaverdell     2     3     .400
Peachland      1     5     .167

(July 1) Penticton Dominion Day tournament

(July 3) The Beaverdell Miners continued their winning streak, roaring out of the gate with a six-run outburst in their first turn at bat, by swamping the hosting Peachland ball-tossers 9 to 5. Losing pitcher Dan Cousins was the victim of the opening canto explosion and was given the hook after failing to retire a single Miner batter.

H. Cousins (W) and xxx
D. Cousins (L), G. Ekins (1) and xxx

(July 3) Slumping Rutland suffered an embarrassing 15 to 0 shellacking at the hands of the visiting Kelowna nine to drop out of first-place in the SOBL. Everything seemed to go right for the Orchard City nine who pounded out 15 base blows. On the other hand, the Rutlanders played lackadaisically and were only able to muster up four safeties off a brace of Kelowna twirlers. Backstop Yorko paced the victors at the plate by registering four base raps, one of which was a double. Winning pitcher Frank Chapman, who was forced to move to the outfield in the fourth canto because of a hand injury, belted a solo home run to go along with a one-bagger. Conspicuous by his absence from the Kelowna dugout was Clint Hodges who was relieved of his managerial duties as well as his roster spot on the team as a player. For the remainder of the season, Jack Bedford and Larry Carscadden were named as co-pilots.

F. Chapman (W), Sortome (4) and Yorko
H. Wostradowski (L), Bach (6) and J. Holitzki

(July 10) The free-falling Rutland nine suffered their second humiliating shutout loss in succession when, on their own diamond, they were annihilated 18 to 0 by the visiting Beaverdell Miners. Pushing five runs across the platter in the top of the second round, the Miners began the rout. They went on to comb the offerings of three Rutland chuckers for 19 base blows while Beaverdell twirler, Hal Cousins, was merrily coasting along in fashioning a two-hitter. Cousins punched out eleven Rutlanders along the way as well as enjoying his time in the batter’s box where he creamed the horsehide for four safe blows including a double. Contributing three safeties each to the winner’s offensive thrust were shortstop Earl Christie, outfielder Art Day and first baseman R. Bakke.

H. Cousins (W) and V. Cousins
H. Wostradowski (L), F. Wostradowski (4), Alexander (5) and J. Holitzki, F. Kitsch

(July 10) Eleven torrid and hectic innings were needed at Kelowna’s Athletic Park where the hosting Orchard City nine eked out a 10 to 9 win over Summerland to move into top spot in the SOBL standings. When Summerland moved into an 8 to 0 lead after five-and-a-half innings were in the books, it appeared as though the homesters were toast. In the bottom of the sixth, however, they began their valiant comeback by posting a six-spot on the scoreboard. Then, in the eighth, they added a pair to knot the count at 8 – 8. A scoreless ninth sent the contest into overtime and, in the top of the eleventh canto, the Apple Towners forged ahead 9 to 8 but Kelowna was not to be denied. Frank Chapman led off the bottom half of the frame with a double and, seizing an opportunity, pilfered third. Catcher-turned-infielder Yorko then skied one to Keith MacDougall, manning the keystone sack, who muffed the comparatively easy catch, allowing Chapman to score and Yorko to advance to second. After Jack Bedford whiffed, Eddie Kielbiski came through with a base knock which delivered Yorko home with the winning tally. Winning pitcher Rudy Kielbiski did an outstanding job after taking the hill in the sixth panel in a relief role.

Gould (L) and xxx
Sortome, R. Kielbiski (W) (6) and Yorko, Crawford (6)

Standings      W     L      Pct.
Kelowna        5     2     .714
Summerland     4     3     .571
Beaverdell     4     3     .571
Rutland        4     4     .500
Peachland      1     6     .143

(July 17) Les Gould allowed just two hits and fanned 18 batters in pitching the Summerland baseballers to a 5 to 0 victory over lowly Peachland. The victory for Summerland earned them a spot in the league playoffs.

G. Ekins (L) and N. Ekins
Gould (W) and Clarke

(July 17) Kelowna defeated Beaverdell 3 to 1 in a snappy contest at Athletic Park as the South Okanagan circuit ended its regular schedule. The highly-contested joust, which saw the Miners out swatting the hosts by a 9 to 6 margin, could have gone either way. Winning pitcher Gordon “Lefty” Sortome, given solid defensive support by his infield, had only two strikeouts during the fracas but those two whiffs came during the most vital moments of the contest and enabled the Orchard City nine to triumph. Losing pitcher, Harold Cousins, while ringing up nine strikeouts, did not display his usual sparking aura on the hill. Leading hitter in the skirmish was fly chaser Dalton of the Miners who singled on three occasions. The loss for Beaverdell dropped them into a third-place tie with the downward-trending Rutland nine. As a result, the two deadlocked squads will face off in an elimination contest.

H. Cousins (L) and V. Cousins
Sortome (W) and Yorko

Final Standings       W     L     Pct.
Kelowna               6     2    .750
Summerland            5     3    .625
Rutland               4     4    .500
Beaverdell            4     4    .500
Peachland             1     7    .125

Third-place tie-breaker (sudden-death) Rutland vs Beaverdell

(July 24) The Beaverdell Miners collected 15 safeties in eliminating Rutland 11 to 10 in a hard-fought third-place tie-breaker. The Rutlanders held the lead up until the seventh canto when the Miners scored four times to erase a 10 to 7 deficit. Coming on in relief, winning tosser Harold Cousins toed the rubber for the Silver Diggers over the final 6 innings of play. He also sparkled at the dish, cranking out three safe swats including a pair of three-base clouts. Teammate Earl Christie contributed a triple and double while John Holitzki was best with the baton for the Rutlanders, nailing the apple for a double and single.

Hammond, H. Cousins (W) (5) and V. Cousins
H. Wostradowski (L) and F. Kitsch

POST-SEASON EXHIBITION GAMES

Gould (L) and Clarke, Kincaid (1)
McGahan (W) and xxx

(July 31) In exhibition action, the Kelowna nine of the SOBL proved too effective with the hickory, bunching their hits effectively for a 4 to 1 favorable decision over the OVBL’s Penticton aggregation of diamondeers. A run-scoring hit by Val Leier in the fourth panel and a bases-loaded hit batsman in the fifth got the Orchard City nine off to a 2 to 0 lead. The game remained that way until the ninth when Kelowna added a pair on an opportune hit by Eddie Kielbiski. A two-bagger by Wes Watkins and a singleton by Bob Phinney brought in Penticton’s lone run in the final spasm. The victors had ten safeties to five for the Pentictonites. Gordon Sortome fanned 11 in grabbing the hillock win while losing twirler “Lefty” McGahan whiffed 16.

Sortome (W) and Yorko
McGahan (L) and Watkins, Kincaid

(August 4) Avenging the stiff defeat administered by the Orchard City nine just four days ago, the Penticton Seniors invaded Kelowna and came away with a narrow 3 to 2 exhibition game triumph. The two combatants stayed on even terms at 2 – 2 until the top of the fourth canto when two hit batsmen and a pair of walks by losing pitcher Henry Wostradowski forced in what turned out to be the winning counter. The Penticton squad had a 5 to 2 advantage in base hits in this pitcher’s duel. Both winning tosser Elmer “Lefty” McGahan and Wostradowski fanned eleven opposing batters. Bill Benway and Fred Moebes of the winners had two hits apiece and both drove in a tally.

McGahan (W) and Dagg
Wostradowski (L) and Yorko, Crawford

PLAYOFFS
SEMI-FINAL (sudden-death)
Summerland vs Beaverdell

(July 31) The Beaverdell baseballers doubled second-place Summerland 4 to 2 to advance to the 1938 SOBL finals against first-place Kelowna. The Miners nicked losing twirler Les Gould for nine hits while winning tosser Harold Cousins gave up seven safeties. Cousins helped his own cause at the dish, cuffing the pill for a double and two singles.

H. Cousins (W) and V. Cousins
Gould (L) and Clarke

FINALS (best-of-three) Kelowna vs Beaverdell

(August 14) Still in shock over the tragic death of their peppery shortstop Earl Christie, killed in a mine cave-in on August 4th, the Beaverdell Miners persevered but still took a 6 to 2 licking from Kelowna in the first of a three-game series for the championship of the South Okanagan Baseball League. Kelowna’s timely hitting with ducks on the pond and their ability to make both routine and difficult defensive plays staked them to the victory. The visiting Orchard City nine took control of the game by posting a four-spot in the second panel with a bases-laded triple by outfielder Boklage doing the major damage. The Kelowna fly chaser also ripped a double to emerge as the winners’ top swatter in the skirmish. Portsider Gordon Sortome, with a five-hitter, bested the always-tough Hal Cousins in their joust for hillock supremacy.

Sortome (W) and Yorko
H. Cousins (L) and V. Cousins

(August 21) Not up to his usual standard, Beaverdell’s Harold Cousins was wild and moody which spelled doom for the Miners as they were clobbered 12 to 4 by the hosting Kelowna diamondeers in their latest round of combat. The one-sided victory allowed the Orchard City squad to claim the 1938 South Okanagan Baseball League championship in straight games. Winning heaver, “Lefty” Sortome, tossed a six-hitter and fanned five in going the route. Topping the willow wielders for the new champions was middle pasture guardian Frank Chapman who stung the pill for a double and two singles. Not far behind was shortpatcher Rudy Kielbiski who tripled and doubled.

H. Cousins (L), Hammond (6) and V. Cousins
Sortome (W) and Yorko

1938 SOUTHERN OKANAGAN CHALLENGE SERIES
See bottom of Okanogan Valley Baseball League game reports for details of best-of-three series.

WEST KOOTENAY

WEST KOOTENAY BASEBALL LEAGUE

After four seasons in mothballs when competition within international circuits involving Washington State clubs was in vogue, the West Kootenay Baseball League was reorganized in 1938 as a three-team loop comprising the hotbeds of baseball within the mountainous south-eastern region of British Columbia: Trail, Nelson and Rossland.

With plenty of exhibition games on tap to begin the campaign, the regular-season schedule didn’t get underway until June 12th. Over the course of the season, exhibition encounters were just as frequent as league tussles.

Trail went undefeated in league play while the other two clubs had sub .500 records. Further exhibition contests around the Labor Day weekend pushed back the start of the playoffs until September 11th and, playing only on Sunday afternoons to maximize gate receipts as well as the diminishing sunlight, the surviving finalists, the Trail Cardinals and the steadily-improving Rossland Miners, each won twice in the first four games of the best-of-five final series which was extended into late October. Just two days before the month of November began, the underdog Golden City baseballers soundly whipped the Trailites in the fifth and final game to capture the 1938 WKBL crown.

PRE-SEASON EXHIBITION GAMES

(May 15) Trail’s augmented pitching force, supported by its strong nucleus from last season’s squad, permitted the Nelson nine only five hits while the homestanding Cardinals clumped theirs at advantageous times to romp off with a 6 to 0 win in an exhibition fixture at Butler Park. Alex Uffelman, former pro chucker with the Winnipeg Maroons, made his debut on the local diamond and was impressive in doing so. Between Uffelman and portsider Cliff Bogstie, the Redbird pitching duo chalked up 15 strikeouts. Uffelman allowed three hits to the Lakesiders and Bogstie a pair. Catcher “Slivers” Decembrini of the victors was the only swatter from either squad to register two safeties while Bogstie launched a home run.

Smith (L),Cyr (7) and Brennan
Uffelman (W), Bogstie (6) and Decembrini

(May 22) Held to just three safeties by winning tosser Aberton, the Nelson seniors dropped a 4 to 2 decision to the visiting Metaline Falls WA nine in pre-season exhibition action at the Recreation Grounds. The Washingtonians plated all four of their counters in the third panel while the Lakesiders were held scoreless until the ninth. Losing flinger Steve Smith surrendered nine base blows in going the route on the bump.

Aberton (W) and Steel
Smith (L) and Richardson

(May 22) The hosting Trail Cardinals swept an exhibition doubleheader from the National Pole squad of Spokane WA, blanking the Nationals 4 to 0 in the opener and squeaking past the visitors 2 to 1 in the nightcap. Cliff “Lefty” Bogstie fanned eight while tossing a two-hitter in capturing the matinée mound decision. Losing flinger, Johnny Newsham, dished out just four safeties but that sum included two-run four-baggers to Trail outfielder Jack Bennett and second sacker Bill Fisher.

Newsham (L) and Hinkle
Bogstie (W) and Decembrini

Big Alex Uffelman stymied the Polemen on three base hits in taking the after-piece knoll victory while Johnny Newsham was once more the losing chucker. Louis “Rube” DeMore and Tommy “Smokey” Harrison each stroked a pair of singles for the winners.

Newsham (L) and Hinkle
Uffelman (W) and Decembrini

(May 29) Nelson’s senior ball club chalked up an exhibition double victory over Trail at the Recreation Grounds, capturing the opener of the twin-bill 8 to 2 and the twilight game 2 to 1. The hosts pounded losing hurler “Lefty” Bogstie for 12 base knocks in the easily taking the matinée fracas. Playing-manager Jake Alles’ second-inning homer started the Nelsonites on their way to victory. Outfielder Walt Gelling ripped the orb for three safeties, all of them two-baggers, in support of winning pitcher Steve Smith’s four-hit mound effort.

Bogstie (L) and xxx
Smith (W) and xxx

The Lakesiders outhit the Smelter Towners by a 7 to 4 margin in the late encounter as “Lefty” Mydanski took the knoll verdict from Alex Uffelman. Infielder Lude Palm and Mydanski both clipped the horsehide for a brace of safe swats in the finale.

Uffelman (L) and xxx
Mydanski (W) and xxx

(June 5) Despite plating a triad of counters in the bottom of the ninth canto, the Nelson senior baseballers fell just short and were nosed out 7 to 6 by the invading Western Pine squad of Spokane WA in an exhibition tilt at the Recreation Grounds. Spokane’s George Medved got credit for the knoll victory but needed ninth-inning help from reliever Phil Miller to sew up the triumph. Southpaw Steve Smith of the Lakesiders was nailed with the hillock defeat although he was able to punch out a total of 15 Western Pine batters.

Medved (W), Miller (9) and Uprichard
Smith (L) and Richardson

(June 5) While his mates were combing the offerings of a trio of Omaha Woodmen for 15 base blows, Alex Uffelman twirled a three-hitter as the hosting Cardinals from Trail blasted the visiting Spokane WA nine 12 to 0 in a on-sided exhibition tilt at Butler Park. The big right hander punched out 14 of the Washingtonians by the strikeout route while issuing 3 walks. Fly chaser Jack Bennett stroked a triple and two singles for the Cards while teammates “Tick” Hall, Casey Jones, Jim Toole and Rube DeMore each checked in with two-hit performances.

Covich (L), Johnson (2), Duchene (8) and Rudolph
Uffelman (W) and Decembrini

REGULAR SEASON (including early, mid and late-season exhibition games)

(June 12) The Trail Cardinals doubled the hosting Rossland Miners 12 to 6 as the WKBL opened the regular season in the Golden City. In spite of the overwhelming 17 to 5 advantage in hits that the Redbirds enjoyed over the nine innings of play, the score remained close until the final three frames when the Smelter City gang pulled away. Winning tosser Cliff Bogstie recorded 13 whiffs until giving way to Alex Uffelman to begin the eighth canto. Trail infielders Jim Toole and Bill Fisher both creamed the orb for a triad of safe swats while first baseman Casey Jones belted a home run to go along with a single.

Bogstie (W), Uffelman (8) and Decembrini
Tulloch (L) and Petrunia

(June 19) It took eleven innings for the invading Rossland Miners to emerge as 9 to 8 victors over the Nelson senior baseballers in a bitterly-fought battle at the Recreation Grounds. The emotionally-charged joust produced 37 base hits, 21 by the Lakesiders, several arguments and a pair of fights. The Miners fought back from a four-run deficit, scoring twice in each of the eighth and ninth stanzas, to force overtime. In the second extra session, with Rossland base runner George Petrunia camped on third, outfielder “Slim” Horswill of the Golden City squad hit a dribbler and was tossed out at the initial sack on the ensuing throw by losing chucker Steve Smith. In the process, however, Horswill and Nelson first sacker Al Euerby brushed against each other, the hosts claiming interference, as Petrunia seized the opportunity to streak for home. Euerby’s relay to the dish was wide and hit a sliding Petrunia who touched the platter with the go-ahead and winning tally. A general melee followed but, once order was restored, the homesters were unable to knot the count. Joe “Red” Tulloch, who picked up the knoll decision in a relief role, also shone with the baton, spanking the sphere for four two-baggers. Walt “Lefty” Mydanski of the vanquished Nelsonites emerged as the elite swatter in the contest, pounding the pill for a triple, double and three singles.

Wynn, Tulloch (W) (5) and Petrunia
Smith (L) and Richardson

(June 19) A big fifth inning that produced six runs ignited the Trail Cardinals to a 13 to 7 win over the Spokane WA Foley Brothers nine in an exhibition baseball encounter at Butler Park. Both clubs stung the pill with authority, Trail batters reaching three Foley moundsmen for 17 safeties while winning flinger Alex Uffelman was roughed up for 13 base blows. Casey Jones, Redbird first baseman, clipped the orb for four safe swats; a homer, triple, double and one-bagger to complete the cycle. Jones’ four-bagger, a sixth-frame blast, was sandwiched between round-trippers by teammates Eddie Crellin and Tommy Harrison. Trail’s flashy shortstop, “Tick” Hall, had three base knocks including two doubles.

Rasmussen (L), D. Foley (8), Duchene (8) and Proper
Uffelman (W) and Decembrini

(June 24) A touring group of comedic baseballers, formerly known as the Detroit Colored Giants but now calling themselves the African Zulu Cannibal Giants, appeared at Butler Park for an exhibition contest. Wearing grass skirts and playing barefoot, the barnstormers were blanked 4 to 0 by the Trail Cardinals. The hosts took control of the game in their half of the opening round when they plated three of their four markers. Both aggregations hacked the pellet for seven bingles. Cliff Bogstie fanned eleven in earning the shutout win.

Rosto Beefo (L) and Maccam
Bogstie (W) and Decembrini

(June 26) Trail keystone sacker Bill Fisher pounded two home runs while teammates “Tick” Hall and Jim Toole added one each in leading the Cardinals to a one-sided 10 to 1 thrashing of the visiting Rossland Miners. Big Al Uffelman went the distance on the hill for the Cards, restricting the Miners to six hits. Fisher had a single in addition to his brace of dingers. Rossland’s only run came in the top of the opening canto when leadoff batter Si/Cy Cohen launched a solo circuit-clout.

Tulloch (L), Wynne (7) and Petrunia
Uffelman (W) and Decembrini

Standings            W     L      Pct.
Trail Cardinals      2     0    1.000
Rossland Miners      1     2     .333
Nelson               0     1     .000

(July 1) In arrears by eight runs in the fourth inning, the Trail Cardinals persevered, fighting back for an eventual 11 to 10 conquest of the Nelson senior diamondeers in a ten-inning struggle at Butler Park. Jesse Seaby, Nelson’s second baseman, had given the invaders a seemingly shatterproof lead with a grand-slam homer and a 10 to 2 lead in the fourth canto. That would be the final time that a Lakesider base runner would cross the plate. Redbird catcher “Slivers” Decembrini came through with a sixth-panel solo tater for Trail’s third counter. Then, in the eighth, the Cards continued the assault against losing flinger Steve Smith by plating five more tallies to inch within two of the Nelson lead. It was “Rube” DeMore’s two-run round-tripper in the bottom of the ninth round that evened up things. In the overtime session, winning pitcher Alex Uffelman singled to drive in Jim Toole with the tie-breaking run. Uffelman had three other one-baggers as well to pace the victors’ 15 base blow offensive output. “Tick” Hall and DeMore followed with three bingles each. .

Smith (L) and Richardson
Uffelman (W) and Decembrini

(July 4) A three-run seventh-inning outburst allowed the Nelson senior ball club to snag a 7 to 6 exhibition game win from Western Pine, league-leaders in Spokane’s Commercial baseball circuit. The Washingtonians outhit their hosts by a 12 to 10 margin. Top swatter for the winners was Walt Gelling who drilled a pair of two-run doubles, one in the third and another in the seventh. “Lefty” Mydanski whiffed ten in grabbing the knoll verdict.

Medved, Carter (L) (5) and xxx
Mydanski (W) and xxx

(July 4) Merle Stoddard, University of Idaho baseball and football star, came within an arm’s length of a no-hit mound performance in pitching the hosting Coeur d’Alene ID diamondeers to a one-hit 6 to 0 exhibition game shutout over the visiting Trail Cardinals. The lone Trail safety caromed off Stoddard’s glove for a lucky single in the second inning. In the same frame, Stoddard struck out three consecutive batters after loading the bases with none out.

Uffelman (L) and Decembrini
Stoddard (W) and H. Naslund

(July 5) In the wrap-up of a two-game exhibition set, the Spokane WA Western Pine aggregation walked off with a relatively easy 10 to 4 decision over the Nelson seniors. The invaders took control of the game in the middle innings after the Lakesiders had taken an early lead. Moberly and West were the leading swatsmiths for the Washingtonians, both mustering a triple and double. Tom McInnes, with two doubles, was Nelson’s top hitter.

xxx (W) and xxx
Smith (L) and xxx

(July 10) Two big innings, the fourth and seventh, staked Rossland’s hustling diamond men to a 7 to 1 conquest of the Nelson nine in a WKBL clash in the Golden City. Togged out in their new grey and red uniforms, the Miners had ten safeties which, aided by some shoddy defensive play and inopportune bases on balls given up by the Lakesiders, allowed them to cash in on several opportunities afforded them with ducks on the pond. “Rusty” Wynn’s two-run single in the fourth canto was the game-changing hit that sent the Mining Towners on their way to victory. Winning pitcher “Red” Tulloch effectively spaced nine base raps and whiffed eight Nelsonites along the way in going the route. Catcher George Petrunia singled on three occasions for the Miners while playing-manager Jake Alles of the vanquished nine emerged as Nelson’s most productive baton swinger in the contest, connecting for a triple in the opening round and a double in the eighth.

Smith (L), Mydanski (4) and Richardson
Tulloch (W) and Petrunia

(July 10) Winning pitcher Ken Aichele tripled home two runners in leading the Spokane Foley Brothers contingent to a narrow 2 to 1 triumph over the hosting Trail Cardinals in exhibition action at Butler Park. Aichele also limited the Cards to six hits in out-duelling Cliff Bogstie for the mound victory. Aichele’s battery mate, catcher Holland, ripped a double and single as did Redbirds’ first sacker Casey Jones.

Aichele (W) and Holland
Bogstie (L) and Decembrini

(July 17) With Alex Uffelman tossing three-hit ball, the Trail Cardinals were able to get past the Rossland Miners 2 to 0 in a WKBL contest played on the Miners’ home turf. Both Trail counters crossed the dish in the fifth frame on a run-scoring double by Harry Rothery and an RBI single by “Rube” DeMore. Losing pitcher “Red” Tulloch was nicked for nine Trail safeties, three of which came off the bat of catcher “Slivers” Decembrini.

Uffelman (W) and Decembrini
Tulloch (L) and Petrunia

Standings            W     L      Pct.
Trail Cardinals      4     0    1.000
Rossland Miners      2     3     .400
Nelson               0     3     .000

(July 27) The talented Washington Browns, a snappy Negro diamond crew from Yakima WA, rode the big guns of their bombing batsmen and the five-hit pitching of their moundsman, Gene Bremmer, to an impressive 9 to 1 triumph over the WKBL’s Trail Cardinals in an exhibition match staged at Butler Park. The Brownies lit into the offerings of Trail portsider Cliff Bogstie for 15 base blows in registering their impressive triumph. It was the big bat of fly chaser Gray, husky left fielder, that did most of the damage. He smashed a two-run homer, a triple and two doubles, crossing the plate with four of his team’s counters. Teammate Lorenzo Davis also lit up Bogstie with a four-ply clout. The Cardinals’ lone run came on a solo round-tripper by infielder Bill Fisher in the seventh panel.

Bremmer (W) and Caston
Bogstie (L) and Decembrini

(August 4) Nelson’s senior nine buried the touring Colored House of David contingent under a barrage of hits at Recreation Park to take their exhibition encounter by a comfortable 12 to 3 margin. The green and white shirted Lakesiders were hot from the start, running up a 6 to 0 cushion after three innings. Lude Palm’s two-run single in the opening round started things on a positive note for the hosts. The barnstormers notched all of their tallies in the fourth stanza when winning pitcher Steve Smith had his usual temporary lapse. He finished with an eight-hitter while punching out ten. Teammates Al Euerby and Jake Alles provided offensive support for the youthful southpaw by clubbing four-baggers.

Rogers (L) and McCray
Smith (W) and Richardson

(August 5) Three double-plays and two home runs were only part of the many highlights of a first-class ball game at Butler Park where Trail’s hard-hitting Cardinals blanked the trekking Colored House of David nine 4 to 0. The Cards amassed 13 base blows in whitewashing the Travelers, including a brace of circuit-clouts by outfielder Eddie Crellin. Portsider Cliff Bogstie earned the shutout knoll win, fanning ten while twirling a seven-hitter.

Samson (L) and McCray
Bogstie (W) and Decembrini

(August 7) Bombing a pair of Rossland hurlers for 18 base blows, the Nelson senior baseballers earned their initial WKBL victory, blasting the second-place Miners 14 to 3 at Recreation Park. The Greenshirts drove big Alex Uffelman, late of the Trail Cardinals, to the showers in the third frame after piling up a 13 to 1 lead. “Lefty” Mydanski went the route for the Lakesiders, setting the Mining Towners down on five safeties and ringing up eight strikeouts along the way. Mydanski and his battery mate, Gordon Richardson, both nailed the apple for a quad of base raps with a two-bagger included in the burly catcher’s sum of swats. Nelson third sacker Tom McInnes stung the sphere for a home run and single while opposite corner-infielder “Speed” Bell ripped a double and triple. Joe “Red” Tulloch pitched well in relief for the Golden City squad, recording 12 strikeouts in his five frames of toeing the rubber. He also nailed a brace of three-baggers off the slants of Mydanski.

Uffelman (L), Tulloch (3) and Petrunia
Mydanski (W) and Richardson

(August 14) Outfielder Joe Benoit’s eighth-inning two-bagger drove in winning flinger “Red” Tulloch with the tying run and set the stage for the speedy Benoit to race home with the lead counter when Nelson catcher Gordon Richardson overthrew pitcher Steve Smith as the Rossland Miners squeezed out a narrow 6 to 5 win over the hard-luck Lakesiders in WKBL action in the Golden City. Catcher George Petrunia poled a four-master over the left field fence for the winners in the opening inning. Benoit added a single to emerge as the heavy swatter for the Mining Towners but the game’s top hickory hacker was Nelson’s Hughie Wilson who poled out a triple and three singles.

Mydanski (L), Smith (2) and Richardson
Tulloch (W) and Petrunia

(August 21) Heavy hitting by both teams defined the highly entertaining WKBL game at Butler Park in which the first-place Trail Cardinals widened their margin atop the circuit by downing runner-up Rossland 7 to 5. Returning to the mound after a two-season absence, veteran Carl Loblick of the Redbirds yielded ten Miner hits in going the route for the hillock triumph. Trail’s five-run outburst in the second inning proved to be the difference in the game. Playing in just his second home game of the campaign, Cardinal second baseman Harry Rothery had three of Trail’s 14 hits, including a double, figured in three double plays and made seven putouts. Backstop Corado Decembrini of the Cards, affectionately known as “Slivers”, matched teammate Rothery’s production at the platter, also claiming a two-bagger and a brace of singles. For the Mining Towners, hockey star Joe Benoit, manning the middle pasture position, snagged seven drives in centre field as well as clouting a triple and two one-baggers. His fly chasing sidekick, “Lefty” Fairbairn, also collected three safe swats, all being singles.

Wynn (L) and Petrunia
Loblick (W) and Decembrini

Standings            W     L      Pct.
Trail Cardinals      5     0    1.000
Rossland Miners      3     5     .375
Nelson               1     4     .200

(August 28) Nelson’s hope of a second-place finish in the WKBL went up in smoke at the Recreation Grounds when the Trail Cardinals snuck by the Lakesiders 5 to 4 in the opening game of a double-bill and then hammered their hosts 19 to 3 in the follow-up match. The Nelsonites held a two-run lead heading into the eighth frame of the matinée tilt but a single off the bat of Trail catcher “Slivers” Decembrini, followed by three successive doubles by Eddie Crellin, Casey Jones and Tommy Harrison, produced three counters which put the visitors ahead by a single tally. The home towners responded in their half of the canto with a tying marker driven home by Jake Alles. The Smelter Towners then forged ahead to stay in the top of the ninth when Decembrini delivered a two-bagger which plated Bill Fisher. Decembrini led the Redbird willow wielders, collecting three hits in total while outfielder Hughie Wilson singled on three occasions for the vanquished nine. Winning pitcher Louis DeMore whiffed 11 while losing heaver Steve Smith fanned 10.

DeMore (W) and Decembrini
Smith (L) and Richardson

The Trailites fattened their batting averages in the twilight encounter, pounding 24 hits off loser “Lefty” Mydanski and a pair of mop-up relievers. Carl Loblick, Cardinal chucker, tossed a six-hitter for the one-sided win. Catcher Corado Decembrini led the victors offensively, pasting the horsehide for three singles and a brace of two-baggers. Ripping the apple for three safeties apiece were third baseman Pat Thomas, a recent recruit from the Vancouver Senior City League, middle-infielder Bill Fisher and outfielder Kennedy.

Loblick (W) and Decembrini
Mydanski (L), McInnes, Euerby, Mydanski and Richardson

(August 28) Taking a liking to the offerings of starting and losing chucker Les Mally of the Chewelah WA nine, the Rossland Miners went on an offensive surge that saw them accumulate 16 hits including seven doubles and a home run by “Rusty” Wynn. A 13 to 1 drubbing of the invading Washingtonians was the ensuing result in the exhibition tilt staged in the Golden City. Winning pitcher “Red” Tulloch cruised to the easy mound decision by limiting the Chewelah batters to six hits, two of which were registered by keystone sacker Ben Mertes, while fanning eight. Wynn had a double in addition to his round-tripper. Other Miner swatters picking up a brace of safeties were Joe Benoit with two doubles, “Lefty” Fairbairn and John Cameron with a two-bagger and single apiece as well as Tulloch, Johnny Gidinski and Rico Martin, each with a pair of singles.

L. Mally (L), Duncan (6) and Rickers
Tulloch (W) and Petrunia

(September 4) Jackie Hanson’s wild dash and colorful slide at home plate just an instant before the ball spelled defeat for the Spokane Rainbos in the 13th inning as the Rossland Miners eked out a 6 to 5 decision over the invading Americans in the first of two exhibition games in the Golden City. “Red” Tulloch pitched all 13 frames for the victors, surrendering eleven hits while ringing up 16 strikeouts.

Molitor, Carter (L) and B. Goodwin
Tulloch (W) and Petrunia

(September 5) Penticton Labor Day tournament

(September 5) Establishing a four-run lead in the opening frame, the Rossland Miners led all the way in their exhibition skirmish with the Spokane Rainbos which culminated in a 9 to 7 victory. Outswatted by an 11 to 10 margin, the Miners pulled off a pair of slick double plays to thwart potential Spokane rallies. Outfielder “Lefty” Fairbairn stroked a three-bagger and double for the victors while shortstop Les Edge of the Washingtonians banged out a pair of triples.

Carter (L), Molitor (2), Edge (7) and B. Goodwin
Uffelman (W), Tulloch (6) and Petrunia

(September 11) Trail’s league-leading Cardinals made it eight WKBL wins in a row by blasting the visiting Nelson senior nine 12 to 8 at Butler Park. Both pitchers of record, winner Carl Loblick of the Cards and Nelson’s Steve Smith were lit up for a dozen base knocks. Smith’s mates, however, let him down time after time with shoddy defensive work. The lowly Lakesiders staged a five-run ninth-inning rally against Loblick but the surge was snuffed out by reliever Louis “Rube” DeMore, old faithful of the mound, who retired the remaining Nelsonites without incident. Swatsmith honors of the day went to Trail centre fielder Tommy Harrison. A homer, two-bagger and single came from his bat and he touched home plate on each occasion. Nelson playing-manager Jake Alles and second sacker Walt Gelling each pounded Loblick for a homer, Alles’ blast coming with one mate aboard while Gelling’s clout was a three-run shot. New hot corner custodian Pat Thomas, late of the Vancouver Arrows, punched out a brace of doubles for the Redbirds.

Smith (L) and Richardson
Loblick (W), DeMore (9) and Decembrini

Final Standings      W     L      Pct.
Trail Cardinals      8     0    1.000
Rossland Miners      3     5     .375
Nelson               1     7     .125

PLAYOFFS
SEMI-FINALS Nelson vs Rossland Miners (best-of-three series)

(September 18) After battling through 5-1/2 innings of scoreless baseball, the hosting Rossland Miners got to sore-armed southpaw Steve Smith of the Nelson nine in the bottom of the sixth inning for a pair of counters and went on to blank the Lakesiders 7 to 0 in the opener of the best-of-three WKBL semi-finals. The Miners broke the game wide open with a three-run seventh canto, highlighted by catcher George Petrunia’s home run, and then completed the whitewash with a deuce in the bottom of the eighth. Winning chucker “Red” Tulloch stymied the Nelsonites on four safeties, whiffing ten along the way.

Smith (L) and Richardson
Tulloch (W) and Petrunia

(September 25) Overcoming a 5 to 0 Nelson lead, the Rossland Miners battled back to defeat the hosting Lakesiders 7 to 5 to capture their semi-final series in two straight games. The comeback began with a lone tally in the sixth panel, a huge five-run outburst in the seventh and another singleton in the ninth. It was fly chaser Joe Benoit who turned the tables for the Miners in the eventful seventh frame. Benoit, who had driven in the visitors’ opening tally in the sixth with a double, whacked one of losing flinger Steve Smith’s curveballs into deep right field for a three-run triple and the Mining Towners were on their way. Playing-manager Jake Alles had staked the Nelsonites to an early lead with a two-run double. Alles came through with another duplex in the third frame and was sent home on a two-base hit by “Lefty” Mydanski for Nelson’s third counter. The Nelson contingent certainly had a grasp on this game, outhitting the Golden City squad 10 to 8, but loose defensive play was once again a factor in their downfall.

Tulloch (W) and Petrunia
Smith (L) and Richardson

FINALS Rossland Miners vs Trail Cardinals (best-of-five series)

(October 2) The rapidly-improving Rossland Miners grabbed a head start in their best-of-five WKBL showdown against the pennant-winning Trail Cardinals. The Golden City baseballers, a hard-working bunch, hung a 5 to 4 defeat upon the Smeltermen at Butler Park in the final series’ opener. Second-inning doubles by Rico Martin and “Rusty” Wynn produced the Miners’ first counter. Losing pitcher Carl Loblick touched home with the tying marker on an overthrow in the third chapter. The fifth and sixth were Rossland’s big innings when “Lefty” Fairbairn, Johnny Gidinski, George Petrunia and Jackie Hanson all scored to lift their total to five runs. “Rube” DeMore’s RBI one-bagger in the bottom of the sixth garnered the Cards a second tally. The Redbirds staged a ninth-inning rally which netted them a brace of counters and brought them to within one of the Rosslanders but it was a case of too little, too late. Winning tosser “Red” Tulloch was touched for 11 safeties, four of which were belted by hard-hitting Trail first sacker Casey Jones. Catcher George Petrunia ripped a triple and single for the winners before he was forced to the bench in the seventh with a broken thumb.

Tulloch (W) and Petrunia, Gidinski (7)
Loblick (L), DeMore (6) and Decembrini

(October 9) A 14 to 2 crushing of the Rossland Miners by the invading Trail Cardinals in game two placed the two WKBL squads on even terms in their best-of-five final series. The opening two frames were scoreless but, in the third, the Silver City nine began to flex their muscles by putting up a four spot. From then on, they widened their lead and coasted in with the one-sided victory. Southpaw Louis DeMore struck out seven in recording the hillock triumph. First baseman Casey Jones swatted a pair of three-baggers and a single for the Redbirds. Trail fly chaser Bob Marshall nailed the horsehide for three safeties, one of which was a two-bagger. Rico Martin doubled and singled for the Miners while teammate Russ Wynn slammed a solo four-bagger.

DeMore (W) and Decembrini
Uffelman (L), Fairbairn (8) and McTeer

(October 16) Louis “Rube” DeMore, veteran portsider, who has pitched only sparingly over the past few seasons, demonstrated for the second playoff game in succession that his invigorated flipper still has life as he went the route on the bump in a high-scoring game in which the Trail Cardinals prevailed 11 to 9 over the Rossland Miners. The win for the Cards moved them ahead two games to one in the WKBL finals. The Redbirds grabbed a 3 to 0 lead in the second stanza and, after the Miners narrowed the margin to 3 to 2 in the third, piled on seven counters in their half of that canto to pretty well put the game on ice. The Golden City nine pecked away at the deficit but the hill was just too steep to climb. DeMore was nicked for eight safeties while losing twirler “Red” Tulloch yielded 14. DeMore’s offerings were no problem for Tulloch who lit the Trail southpaw up for a brace of home runs. For the second game in a row, Casey Jones of the Silver City nine checked in with four base hits. Two of Jones’ swats were two-ply raps.

Tulloch (L) and Petrunia
DeMore (W) and Decembrini

(October 23) Losing their grip in the sixth inning when the hosting Miners scored four times, the Trail Cardinals bowed 9 to 4 to the Rossland nine in the fourth skirmish of the WKBL finals. Each squad has now won twice, forcing a fifth and deciding fracas. The Redbirds took a 1 to 0 lead on Casey Jones’ solo circuit-clout in the second frame. The Miners responded with a brace of counters in the fifth as “Lefty” Fairbairn and winning hurler “Red” Tulloch crossed the platter. Pushing the power gauge a little higher in the sixth, Rossland nicked losing twirler Louis DeMore for five safe swats and a 6 to 1 lead. Continuing the hot pace into the seventh, the Mining Towners added another pair of tallies to take a commanding lead. The Cards reduced the deficit to six runs in the eighth and added one more in the ninth on an RBI single by Jones who was then caught on an attempted steal of second to wind up the ball game. Overall, the Rosslanders lit DeMore up for 15 base knocks while the Redbirds collected 11 off the slants of Tulloch.

DeMore (L) and Decembrini
Tulloch (W) and Petrunia

(October 30) After 24 hours of rain came to a halt, the fifth and deciding game for the 1938 WKBL championship got underway on a soggy diamond at Butler Park. The Cinderella Rossland Miners, playing stellar baseball, took command of the game early and registered a convincing 7 to 1 triumph over the pennant-winning Trail Cardinals to claim the playoff tiara. It was the first championship for the Miners in more than a decade. The visiting Rosslanders were strong defensively, playing error less ball, while depriving batters on the hosting Redbirds seemingly labeled base hits on many occasions with their superb glove work. “Red” Tulloch went the route on the bump for the Mountain Men, limiting the Cards to seven safeties while whiffing six. He also starred at the plate, collecting three of Rossland’s 11 base knocks. Teammate “Lefty” Fairbairn backed him up with a brace of safe swats. Carl Loblick, relieved by southpaw “Rube” DeMore, absorbed the mound setback. The Miners grabbed a three-run margin in the second panel, their outburst being highlighted by a two-run inside-the-park four-bagger by John Cameron. They added another in the sixth on “Dutch” Singer’s RBI single. An infield error by the Smelter City diamondeers allowed Fairbairn to romp home from the hot corner with a sixth counter. The invaders then plated their final tally in the last round on a sacrifice fly launched by Tulloch. The Cardinals scored their lone marker in the sixth when Pat Thomas’ sacrifice fly brought in Harry Rothery from third.

Tulloch (W) and Petrunia
Loblick (L), DeMore (9) and Decembrini

(June 12) The Blewett Shamrocks ran wild for ten runs in the first inning, sending 14 batters to the plate, in crushing the Harrop Outlaws 13-5 Sunday morning. Blewett scored again in the fifth and added their final two markers in the seventh. Shamrocks held the Outlaws scoreless until the eighth when they plated a pair and then added two more in the ninth. Earl Richard was the winning hurler.

E. Richard (W) and C.Nemrava
T.Holmes (L) and S.Howard

ARROW LAKES / SLOCAN

(May 15) In the season opener at Nakusp, New Denver notched a 6-1 victory.

xxx and xxx
Ehl (L) and Gensick

(May 24) The ball game was the main event at the Victoria Day Sports Day at Burton and the home club eked out a 3-2 win over Nakusp. Lawrence Johnson went the distance on the mound for the winners. Sandy Marshall scored two of the markers for Burton.

C.Picard, C.Campe (8) and Harris
Lawrence Johnson (W) and R.Rees

(June 9) At New Denver's Sports Day, postponed from May 24th, New Denver defeated Silverton 5-4 in one of two games.

H.Norberg (L) and J.Fairhurst
T.Shannon, C.Thring (6) and W.Thring

New Denver then shutout Nakusp 5-0 behind the combined hurling of C.Thring and Ted Shannon. New Denver scored three in the first and two more in the second and coasted to the win.

Shannon, C.Thring (4) and W.Thring
A.Ehl (L) and F.Green

(June 26) At New Denver Sunday, Silverton scored an 8-7 victory.

(June 26) Maybe it was the practice. Burton defeated the late arriving Nakusp team 4-1 Sunday after holding a practice before the game after being told Nakusp would not be coming.

(July 3) Silverton shaded New Denver 8-7.

EAST KOOTENAY

(July 1) Kimberley Tournament

(August 28) Dick Guzzi, Fernie's young moundsman, was on his game Sunday racking up 13 strikeouts in a 10-3 victory over Elk Valley Senators.

J.Halko (L) and Turlik
D.Guzzi (W) and Steinert