1942 Vancouver, Lower Mainland, Fraser Valley
1942 BC Interior
1942 Vancouver Island
OKANAGAN
(May 1) At a meeting Friday night at the Golden Pheasant Cafe, baseball fans of Kelowna and district met to discuss the possibility of a baseball league for this summer. Bob Phinney of the 1941 team, chairing the meeting, said he hoped to keep the game alive so that at the end of the war there would be a fragment of a team to offer to the returning men. Vernon has written to Kelowna to enquire about a game. There was talk about a three-team local league if enough players are available. Secretary F.W. Keevil reported that the club still had fifty cents in the treasury as well as some baseball equipment.
(June 21) Kelowna journeyed to Penticton Sunday and came away with a hard fought 9-8 victory. Henry Tostenson, the Kelowna ace, had the home club baffled for seven innings as the visitors had a 9-3 lead but Penticton rallied for four runs to trail by just two into the final frame. Elmer Cousins smacked a double to bring in Benway in the ninth but Sandy Dagg fanned to end the game. Irvine Cousins made the defensive play of the game at third for Penticton nabbing a hot liner in the top of the ninth. Harold Cousins, Penticton's star hurler, did not arrive in time from Beaverdell to do mound duty but played in left field and made some nice running catches.
Before the game players and fans oberved a minute in silence in tribute to Angus Roberts, a Penticton player, who was killed overseas serving with the R.C.A.F.
Tostenson (W) and xxx
E.Cousins (L) and xxx
(June 28) Playing their first home game of the season, Kelowna scored the winning run on a wild pitch in the ninth inning to edge Penticton 7-6 in baseball action Sunday at Kelowna Athletic Park. The visitors jumped into a four run lead in the first inning and held a 6-2 advantage into the seventh. But Kelowna rallied for three in the seventh with Art Erickson starting the fireworks with a single. Bud Gourlie moved him along with another one-bagger. Catcher Wes Watkins drove in both runners and Rudy Kitsch batted in Watkins. In the eighth, Kelowna got the tying run when Bob Phinney drew a walk, stole second, got to third on an error and came home on a wild pitch. In the ninth, Gourlie, with his third hit of the game, reached and stole second, advanced on an infield out and romped home when Harold Cousins threw one wide that catcher Campbell couldn't hold. Paul Bach went the distance for the winners allowing nine hits. Kelowna managed 11 off Alymer Cousins and brother Harold Cousins who relieved in the eighth.
A.Cousins, H.Cousins (L) (8) and Campbell
Bach (W) and Watkins
(July 12) A six-run fourth inning helped carry Vernon Military Camp to a 10-8 victory at Kelowna Sunday. Young Henry Tostenson started on the mound for the home nine and had control troubles in the fourth walking five batters, forcing in a pair of runs. Reliever Paul Bach hit a batter to bring in another run before Bickerton, the Vernon pitcher, smacked a double to plate two more. Bickerton had three hits and pitched the full game giving up ten hits while whiffing nine with no walks. C. Erickson, the Kelowna third baseman produced a triple, two singles and scored three times.
Bickerton (W) and Dumont
Tostenson (L), Bach (4) and Watkins
(July 19) Playing at Vernon Sunday, Kelowna exacted some revenge for their loss the previous weekend by downing the Vernon Army nine 13 to 6. Kelowna broke a 4-4 tie with five runs in the fifth inning and coasted to the win behind the hurling of Paul Bach. Bud Gourlie and Bob Phinney led the winners each with three hits. Phinney also drew a pair of free passes.
Bach (W) and Gourlie
Thompson (L), Locatelli (5) and xxx
(July 26) Kelowna crushed the Prince Albert Volunteers of the Vernon camp 11-3 Sunday in baseball action on the home field. Bud Gourlie tossed a three-hitter and fanned a dozen in a route going performance. He walked just one. Kelowna jumped out to a 7-0 lead before the visitors got on the scoreboard.
Jacobson (L), Limmerich (5) and Leachman
Gourlie (W) and Watkins
(August 2) Kelowna broke up a tight game with a six-run outburst in the sixth inning to down Penticton 11-7 Sunday at the southern city. Rudy Kitsch led a 12-hit attack with three safeties and pitcher Paul Bach and catcher Wes Watkins each added a pair. Watkins scored three times. Moore, the Penticton second baseman cracked a home run and added two singles. Sandy Dagg also had three hits for the losers. Harold Cousins fanned 17 and walked four in taking the loss. Bach yielded 11 hits, had eight strikeouts and three free passes.
Bach (W) and Watkins
H.Cousins (L) and Kincaid
(August 9) For the first time this season Kelowna lost to Penticton when the host club scored in the ninth for a 6-5 victory. Harold Cousins went the distance for the winners firing to brother Verne Cousins behind the plate. He allowed just five hits and struck out seven.
H.Cousins (W) and V.Cousins
Gourlie, Bach (L) (8) and Watkins
(August 23)
(August 30) Vernon Army scored two in the first inning and coasted to a 9-3 victory over Kelowna in Sunday baseball at Vernon. Bickerton provided steady hurling for Camp 110 while Harrington, the new Kelowna pitcher ran into early control troubles and was replaced by Bud Gourlie in the fifth.
Harrington (L), Gourlie (5) and xxx
Bickerton (W) and Mauro
(September 6) A two-run double by Locatelli in the eighth inning brought in the winning run Sunday at Kelowna as Army Camp 110 Vernon topped the locals 7-5. Kelowna had taken a 5-4 lead in the seventh plating three runs, a pair scoring on Paul Bach's two-bagger and the other on a single by Andy Kitsch. Bickerton, who picked up the win in a relief appearance, led the winners with three hits and three runs scored. Andy Kitsch cracked three hits for Kelowna.
Mydansky, Bickerton (W) (7) and Mauro
Gourlie (L) and Watkins
(September 20 ) Vernon Army's Camp 110 again took the measure of Kelowna on Sunday downing the visitors 11-6. The home nine broke loose for six runs in the second inning on four hits and a pair of walks to put the game on ice early. Nuyens went the distance on the mound for the winners as did Paul Bach for Kelowna. Kelowna was missing catcher Wes Watkins and playing manager Bob Phinney. After a long absence, Eddie Witt suited up for Kelowna and played a good game in the right garden. Bud Gourlie smacked a homer for Kelowna and Rudy Kitsch had a three-bagger.
Bach (L) and Gourlie
Nuyens (W) and xxx
WEST KOOTENAYS
With the European conflict in full swing, senior-level baseball within the West Kootenays came to a halt in 1942.
PRINCE GEORGE / QUESNEL (CARIBOO)
1942 Baseball diamonds in Prince George and Quesnel remained vacant as the war effort reached its halfway point.
CROW'S NEST PASS
(July 10) The Natal-Michel Buffaloes strengthened their hold on first place in the Crow’s Nest Pass baseball loop when they defeated the bottom-place Blairmore nine 3 to 2. L. Schlasseur hurled a three-hitter for the winners.
(August 9) Three regulars on the Natal-Michel Buffaloes, Michael White, Lefty Katrichak and John "Tosin" Krall, joined the armed forces last week. The team had its league-lead sheared, losing two games to Coleman and Blairmore by identical 4 to 3 scores.