1942 Vancouver, Lower Mainland, Fraser Valley
1942 BC Interior
1942 Vancouver Island

Victoria Senior Amateur Baseball League

The 1942 senior amateur circuit in the Capital City was a hybrid of military and civilian entries. The six-team loop featured a service club team, the defending champion Eagles, a second civilian entry sponsored by Pitzer & Nex, a metalwork and shipyard builder for the war effort, Victoria Machinery Depot, plus three service nines, one for each of the three branches of the military.

Teams in the 1942 Victoria Senior Amateur Baseball League
Army
Eagles
Navy
Pitzer & Nex
R.C.A.F.
Victoria Machinery Depot (V.M.D.)

(May 9) The R.C.A.F. Flyers and Victoria Machinery Depot notched wins as the Victoria Senior Amateur Baseball League kicked off the new season with a pair of games Saturday in much less than ideal weather conditions. The cold temperatures seemed to affect the pitchers in particular as the teams ran up a total of 38 runs with the hurlers giving up 33 walks, 18 in the afternoon game and 15 more in the evening contest. Flyers beat the Eagles 9 to 8 in the opener and V.M.D. topped Pitzer & Nex 12 to 9.

Shortstop Jimmy Lowe, well known for his hockey exploits with the Bapcos, highlighted the R.C.A.F. triumph smashing four hits, including a three-bagger and two doubles.

A nine-run second inning provided VMD with the edge in its battle with Pitzer& Nex. Cy Shillito was battered for 12 hits but survived the assault to go the full six innings for the win.

Lewonchuck, Laine and Julian
Currie (L) and Bridgewood, Miles

Shillito (W) and Harney
Maitland (L), Prior (2) and Garnet

(May 10) Second sacker Vic Dovey had three hits and knocked in the winning run in the sixth inning as Navy shaded Army 4-3 Monday. Stan Davies hurled the win holding the soldiers to eight hits while his teammates smacked out a dozen off Lloyd Cann. Ray Casey, the Army third baseman, rapped a pair of doubles.

Cann (L) and Bailey
Davies (W) and Yaroslawski

(May 15) Newcomer Ralph Morgan, a VMD recruit from Edmonton, fired a five-hit shutout in his debut as the shipyarders topped the Royal Canadian Air Force 3-0. VMD nicked Percy Switch, on the hill for the Flyers, for nine hits. They got the only run they needed in fourth inning when playing manager Laurel Harney drove in Steve Dunc with a single. Harney led the hitters with three safeties.

Morgan (W) and Harney
Switch (L) and Julian

(May 15) The defending champion Eagles chalked up their first win of the season Friday downing Army 5-1. Frank Scroggs twirled a six-hitter for the win. Chuck Burnett, the Eagles first baseman, led a 10-hit attack with three for four.

Scroggs (W) and Miles
Whitney (L) and Bailey

(May 16) VMD made it three in a row blasting the Eagles 10-1 Saturday. Lefty Phil Houbregs went five innings to receive credit for the pitching win. Cy Shillito hurled no-hit ball for three innings in relief of Houbregs.

Curry (L), Bilsky (7), Scroggs (7) and Miles
Houbregs (W), Shillito (6)and Harney

(May 18) In a dandy pitching duel Monday, Army and Pitzer & Nex fought to a 1-1, 10-inning draw. Tommy Musgrave, with a five-hitter, and Lloyd Cann, who yielded six, both went the full 10 frames. Musgrave, in his first action of the season, fanned 15.

Cann and Harder
Musgrave and Garnet

(May 20) A three-run 8th inning gave Navy a 5-2 win over RCAF Wednesday. After Flyers’ starter Bert Appleby was forced to leave the game in the 8th, Navy took advantage of reliever Ronnie Kernighan to take the lead. Gordon McGregor gave up nine hits in going the distance for the winners. Navy left fielder McElroy made the defensive play of the game scampering far back to pick off a long smash from Frank Julian with his bare hand.

Appleby, Kernighan (L) (8) and Julian
McGregor (W) and Whitney

(May 22) Navy stayed in a tie for first place by downing the Eagles 12 to 8. Sailors did it the hard way, blowing a 6-0 lead to trail 8-7 after four frames before rebounding with three in the 8th and two more in the ninth. Vic Dovey who doubled to right centre to knock in two runs in the 8th, scored the winning marker on ground out. The Eagles Trevor Harvey had the day’s highlight with a bases-loaded homer in the third inning.

Jinks, Woodward (W) (2) and Whitney
Scroggs, Curry (L) (2) and Miles

(May 25) Nanaimo and Victoria Machine Depot split a double-header Monday. V.M.D. took the opener 8-4 while the Nanaimo City bounded back to grab an 8 to 5 win in the second game. In the lid lifter, Nanaimo blew a 4-1 lead as the visitors roared back in the late innings taking advantage of sloppy defensive play to score seven late markers. After a rough first inning, highlighted by a three-run homer by Sonny Bruce, Ralph Morgan settled down to hurl solid ball allowing just one more run, a solo homer by Bruce in the third, in going the distance for the pitching win. Charlie Restell paced V.M.D. with three hits.

Naylor (L) and Edmunds
Morgan (W) and Harney

After scoring a pair in the third inning, Nanaimo fell behind 4-2 in the fifth before ringing up three runs innings in the fifth and sixth for the 8-5 win. With the score at 5-5, winning pitcher Lefty Biggs led off the sixth for Nanaimo with a single and Toss Naylor reached on a free pass. McMillan drove in Biggs with a fly to left. Ray Morretti, the former Nanaimo star now with the crack Navy club in Victoria and back home for the holiday, singled to plate Naylor and came home on an error. Gil Bruce led the winners with a pair of doubles. Catcher Patterson rapped three safe blows for Victoria.

Arts (L) and Patterson
Biggs (W) and Naylor

(May 25) The Victoria All-Stars split an exhibition double-header with Vancouver Diethers Monday, dropping the afternoon match 9-5 before edging the mainlanders 3-2 in 10 innings in the nightcap. Tommy Musgrave pitched and batted Victoria to the evening victory. In the 10th inning with the score deadlocked 2-2, Musgrave laced a two-bagger and O’Donoghue, running for him, advanced on a wild pitch and scored on a passed ball for the triumph. The right-hander held Diethers to six hits and fanned ten. George Boston, who also yielded six hits, took the complete game loss for Vancouver.

A muddy field led to sloppy field work in the first game as the teams combined for ten errors. Bob Montador scattered ten hits in pitching the win.

Montador (W) and Henry
Davies, Cann (2) and Menard

Boston (L) and Henry
Musgrave (W) and Whitney

(May 27) In a battle for first place, Victoria Machinery Depot turned back the Royal Canadian Navy 9-2 Wednesday for its fourth straight victory. It was the first loss of the season for Navy. Cy Shillito fired a six-hitter for the mound win. He fanned six and allowed just one free pass. After giving up two runs in the first inning, the former Chemainus hurler, pitched shutout ball the rest of the way. Catcher Laurel Harney, the playing manager, led a 13-hit VMD attack with three safe blows.

Shillito (W) and Harney
Davies (L), Jinks (7) and Whitney

(May 29) Rookie hurlers Stan Curry and Bill Prior put on a pitching display Friday as the Eagles edged Pitzer & Nex 2-1. Southpaw Curry tossed a four-hitter and rang up 12 strikeouts with the only run against him unearned. Prior gave up eight hits and registered six strikeouts and six walks. Eagles got the winner in the sixth when Red Dougan cracked a hit to centre field to plate George Syrotuck.

Prior (L) and Garnet
Curry (W) and Bridgewood

(May 30) Ritchie Nichol survived 11 free passes to go the distance for the win as Pitzer & Nex handed Navy a 7-3 defeat Saturday. Nichol allowed just four hits and fanned nine. Losing hurler Gordon McGregor was his own worst enemy making three errors in the six innings he worked. In the second, when Navy scored five times, McGregor, who had the bases loaded, threw wildly to the plate on a perfect double play ball.

Nichol (W) and Garnet
McGregor, Byers (7) and Menard

(June 1) Each team had 11 hits, but VMD crushed Army 11-1 Monday to remain undefeated after five games. The league leaders took advantage of nine walks and five Army errors. Ralph Morgan, enjoying first-class support from his teammates, went the route for the win. In the 8th, Morgan gave up three straight hits to load the bases but a double play and a ground out retired the side without a score. Morgan also led the hitters with a pair of two-baggers and a single. Duff Waddell, making his first start for the Army, took the loss.

Waddell (L) and Bailey
Morgan (W) and Harney

(June 3) In a thrilling finish, Pitzer & Nex scored in the top of the ninth to tie 3-3, then VMD pushed home a run in the bottom of the final frame to escape with a 4-3 victory. Reg Patterson led off with a double to left-centre and after an intentional walk to Laurel Harney, pinch hitter Ralph Morgan lifted a high fly that the right fielder couldn’t hold and Patterson scampered home with the winner. Cy Shillito surrendered just four hits to chalk up the win besting Tommy Musgrave.

Musgrave (L) and Barnes
Shillito (W) and Harney

(June 5) The RCAF Flyers played errorless ball behind Ronnie Kernighan’s seven-hit pitching and downed the Eagles 7-1 Friday. The defending league champion Eagles made it easy for the airmen making six errors. Two runs in the first inning proved enough for the win. Moose Savariat knocked in a run with a double and scored on Frank Julian’s infield hit.

Scroggs (L), Curry (4) and Bridgewood
Kernighan (W) and Julian

(June 6) Navy broke a 3-3 tie with three late runs to dump Army 6-3. Jimmy Junks twirled a five-hitter for the win, fanning nine and yielding six walks. Lloyd Cann took the loss allowing nine hits. He had 10 strikeouts and five free passes.

Jinks (W) and Whitney
Cann (L) and Bailey

(June 6) In a wild one Saturday evening the RCAF Flyers, trailing 6-1 after three innings, roared back to hand VMD its first defeat of the season 13-11 in a game which produced 30 hits. The setback ended the shipyarders’ winning streak at six games. Flyers secured the win with six runs in the last two innings as they unloaded two triples, a double and four singles in the two frames. Stewart smacked a circuit blow for the winners in the fifth while Reg Patterson had a three-run, inside-the-park, homer for VMD in the initial frame.

Switch, Kernighan (W) (6) , Switch (9) and Julian
Arts, Morgan (L) (6) and Harney

(June 10) 19-year-old Bill Prior collected his first senior ball win Wednesday as he limited the Navy to three hits as Pitzer & Nex posted a 4-3 victory. The right-hander whiffed seven and walked four. Stan Davies was saddled with the loss giving up just four hits with 11 strikeouts and four walks. Pitzer & Nex scored all of its counters in the bottom of the sixth after Navy had plated an unearned run in the top of the frame. Lorne Harper led off with a walk and Roy Barnes followed with a single to left centre. On Toad Garnet’s bunt down the first base line, Davies’ throw to first was way off the mark and both baserunners scampered home. Barney Barnswell laced a single to score Garnet and a wild pitch brought Barnswell home with the fourth counter. Navy came back with a pair in the seventh with Thompson scoring on the front end of a double steal and Woodward coming home on a passed ball.

Davies (L) and Yaroslawski
Prior (W) and Barnes, Nex

(June 12) Chunky right-hander Cy Shillito chalked up his fourth straight pitching victory Friday night in hurling VMD to a 4-1 win over the Eagles. Shillito allowed just three hits. Reg Patterson got the winners on the scoreboard in the second inning reaching on a free pass and scoring on Al Euerby’s single over shortstop. They made it 3-0 in the fourth as Patterson led off with a two-bagger and Laurel Harney followed with a single, stole second, got to third on a throwing error and scooted home on Euerby’s sacrifice fly. An unearned run put Eagles on the scorecard in the fourth before VMD wrapped up the scoring in the ninth as Patterson walked and later crossed the plate when Euerby again singled into left field.

Shillito (W) and Harney
Curry (L) and Bridgewood

(June 13) Gerry Whitney held Pitzer & Nex for five hits and fanned 12 as Army notched a 6-5 triumph thanks to a lack of control by pitcher Jack Mottishaw and sloppy defensive play. Mottishaw walked ten, three of them with the bases loaded and two more Army runs came home on a bad throw from the outfield.

Whitney (W) and Bailey
Mottishaw (L) and Nex

(June 13) Navy bunched three hits in the seventh inning to bring in the winning run in a 9-8 victory over RCAF. Jimmy Jinks, the six-foot-four Navy hurler had trouble finding the plate for the first half of the game but settled down to go the distance for the win, in spite of allowing ten hits and six walks. He fanned eight. The sailors had blown a big lead after pounding Flyers’ starter Langbord for seven runs in the second inning. RCAF chipped way, taking the lead 8-7 in the fourth before Navy tied it in the fifth and plated the winner in the seventh.

Jinks (W) and Whitney
Langbord, Kernighan (L) (2) and McNicholl

(June 15) For a half inning it appeared the Eagles might soar, but there was a quick awakening after the Eagles three-run outburst in the top of the first inning. Navy got one run back in their half of the opening frame, added another in the second, then broke loose for seven in the fourth as they crushed the Eagles 21-6 pounding out 15 hits and capitalizing on 10 errors. Navy got all seven markers in the fourth with two out. They combined a double, three singles, two walks and three errors in the big inning. Stan Davies surrendered six hits in going the route for the pitching win.

Davies (W) and Whitney
Curry (L), Maitland (4), Holness (8), Burnett (8) and Bridgewood, Regnier (5)

(June 17) Cy Shillito wiggled out of bases loaded jams in both the eighth and ninth innings to pitch VMD to a 5-4 win over Army Wednesday. In the 8th, Army had the sacks full with none out but Shillito got a ground out, a force at home and Charlie Restell made a shoestring catch in right to end the inning. In the ninth, with two out and the bases jammed, Red Palmer broke from third in an attempt to steal home but catcher Laurel Harney tagged him out on a close call at the plate.

Shillito (W) and Harney
Cann (L) and Bailey

(June 19) Pitzer & Nex scored five runs in their last at bats to down the Eagles 10-8. After the Eagles plated three in the top of the seventh to tie 5-5, Jack Stratton smacked one through shortstop to score Barney Barnswell and Noel Morgan to take the lead for good. They added three more in the eighth as Toad Garnet drove in Lorne Harper, winning pitcher Tommy Musgrave scored on Barnswell’s sacrifice fly and Garnet came home on a wild pitch. Trailing 10-5, the Eagles rallied for three in the ninth as Bill Bridgewood knocked in a pair with a triple and scored on a wild pitch.

Curry (L), Ritson (8) and xxx
Musgrave (W) and Garnet

(June 20) Larry Sherman poked a two-run homer in the 10th inning to give RCAF a 4-2 win over Army in the opening game of Saturday’s double-header. The Flyers had taken a two run lead in the second inning and held it until the fifth when the troops got on the scoreboard. They tied the count in the ninth as pinch-hitter French Janitos singled to right. Percy Switch fashioned a five-hitter and fanned six for the win to best Gerry Whitney who allowed six hits and whiffed eleven.

Whitney (L) and Bailey
Switch (W) and Julian

(June 20) In Saturday’s evening game, Navy climbed to within a game of league-leading VMD with a 5-2 win over the shipyard workers. Lefty Jack McIntyre held VMD to just three hits and had full control of the game except the eighth when VMD scored both of their runs.

McIntyre (W) and Whitney
France (L), Smythe (5) and Harney

(June 22) Teenager Bill Prior tossed a six-hitter at Athletic Park Monday to lead Pitzer & Nex to a 4-2 win over the RCAF. Prior, a graduate from junior ball, was wild, walking 11 men, but was tough in the clutch. Ronnie Kernighan hurled steady eight-hit ball but allowed the gasmen to bunch three bingles in the sixth frame for two runs. The winners got their first score in the opening frame on outfield errors and their final marker in the fourth as Prior scored on a throwing error.

Prior (W) and Garnet
Kernighan (L) and Julian

(June 24) VMD capitalized on a rough start by Ritchie Nichol, who arrived late and had only a hurried warm-up, to post a 5-3 decision over Pitzer & Nex. Winning hurler Cy Shillito made his third start against the gasmen this season and came away with his third win. Nichol walked home a run in the first inning then allowed a pair in the second on a walk, single, fielder’s choice and error. Reg Patterson singled in a run in the fifth and Babe Work knocked in the final VMD tally in the ninth.

Shillito (W) and Harney, Patterson (4)
Nichol (L) and Garnet

(June 26) Eagles’ manager George Syrotuck revamped his lineup again Friday and this time came away with success, a 5-4 victory over the RCAF Flyers at Athletic Park. Much of the credit goes to former first baseman and American Army sergeant, Charles Burnett. Two weeks ago, when the Eagles were being clobbered 21-6 Syrotuck called in Burnett to try and stem the flood. The lanky American struck out the next three batters. That earned Burnett the start Friday evening. He was steady throughout giving up nine hits, fanning 12 and walking just two. Three bobbles by his teammates allowed a pair of unearned runs. Percy Switch, on the mound for the airmen, surrendered just seven hits but five errors behind him hurt his cause. Burnett also starred with the bat, clouting a triple to the right field fence in the sixth inning to break a 2-2 deadlock and put the Eagles in the lead for good.

Burnett (W) and Regnier
Switch (L) and Julian, Davis

(June 27) It was announced by VMD that Jimmy Rattlesnake, a full-blooded Cree Indian chief from Hobbema, Alberta, and former chucker for the Edmonton Dodgers would join the league-leaders. The left-hander who stands six-feet two-inches, has been pitching ball for 11 years and at the age of 30 is still going strong. In his last appearance in Edmonton he tossed a three-hitter.

(June 27) The tail-end Army crew whipped Navy 14-7 in the afternoon tilt in Saturday’s twin-bill. Gerry Whitney, was off his usual form allowing nine hits, but was good enough to go the route for the pitching win. Army went in front in the first inning and were never headed.

Whitney (W) and xxx
Jinks (L), Davies (5) and xxx

(June 27) Chief Jimmy Rattlesnake drew more than 1,000 spectators to Athletic Park Saturday night to watch the lefty and VMD bounce the RCAF Flyers 10-2. Rattlesnake held the airmen to five hits and five walks. Southpaw Bert Appleby yielded just six hits in taking the loss as the airmen booted the ball numerous times to run up the count of unearned runs.

Appleby (L) and xxx
Rattlesnake (W) and xxx

(June 29) Army ball tossers have finally moved out of the league cellar sending the Eagles to the basement after a 10-3 win over the birdmen Monday evening. Newcomer Bert Ferguson, from the east, had a solid debut pitching a complete game six-hitter and ringing up 13 strikeouts. Better support from his teammates in the field would have afforded Ferguson a chance for a shutout. The teams combined for 11 errors, six by the Eagles. Stan Curry was touched for eight hits and seven walks.

Curry (L) and Reigner
Ferguson (W) and Wareheim

(July 1) After resting for two years in Victoria, the smart Dominion Day challenge trophy will now occupy a spot in the lobby of the St. Regis Hotel in Vancouver. In a holiday twin-bill Wednesday, Coley Hall’s forces turned back the Victoria All-Stars 4-2 and 10-6 in a day of sweltering heat and large crowds.

In the opener, Victoria jumped into an early 2-0 lead but the visitors plated a pair in the sixth and another two in the seventh for the win. Veteran Jimmy Condon pitched shutout ball after giving up singletons in the first and second innings. Frank Ambler led the winners with three hits.

St. Regis used two big innings, a four run first and a five-run eighth to take the second game 10-6. Vancouver out-hit Victoria 12 to 10 but also made seven errors to just one for Victoria. Roy Brown started for the winners with relief help from Jimmy Condon.

Condon (W) and Trasolini, Stong
Whitney (L), Switch (7) and Harney

Rattlesnake (L), Shillito (1) and Harney
Brown (W), Condon (6) and Stong

(July 3) Navy fell behind 3-0 in the second inning but bounced back Friday to dump Pitzer & Nex 7-5 to bolster their hold on second place in the league standings. Lefty Jack McIntyre survived a bases-loaded jam in the ninth inning to escape with the pitching win. He walked three, forcing in one run before Toad Garnet was thrown out trying to steal third base to end the game. Two seventh inning runs proved to be the difference. Whitey Menard singled through third, stole second and scored on a infield hit. Ray Moretti, who got the single, came home on Gordon McGregor’s one-bagger to left.

Mottishaw, Musgrave (L) (2) and Harris, Nex
McIntyre (W) and Menard

(July 4) Home runs highlighted Saturday’s double-header in the Victoria Senior League. In the afternoon, circuit blows accounted for all the runs as Army edged RCAF 2-1. Elmer Kreller smacked a long hit to deep right field in the sixth inning with Red Palmer on second base to give Army its winning runs. The Flyers had moved into a 1-0 lead in the third frame when Jack McDonald lifted one over the centre field fence. Lloyd Cann, with a six-hitter, was the winning hurler besting Bert Appleby who surrendered only four safeties.

Appleby (L) and Davis
Cann (W) and Webb

Ronnie France held the Eagles to two hits as VMD posted a 6-0 shutout. The 17-year-old fanned just one but received sterling support from his defense which turned in an errorless game. Ian Lowe paced the winners with a home run and a triple.

Berkey (L), Burnett, Maitland and Regnier
France (W) and Harney

(July 6) Army continued its ascent in the local circuit handing Pitzer & Nex a 3-1 defeat Monday to take over third place in the standings. Gerry Whitney held the losers to five hits and was robbed of a shutout when an error gave Pitzer & Nex its only run in the seventh inning. He struck out eight without a free pass. Ritchie Nichol gave up seven hits in taking the loss. He fanned 11 and walked two.

Whitney (W) and Milliken
Nichol (L), Nicol and Harris, Nex

(July 8) Noel Morgan went five for six to lead a 16-hit attack as Pitzer & Nex clobbered RCAF 14 to 3 Wednesday to regain third place in the standings a half game up on Navy. Playing manager Bert Nex and winning pitcher Tommy Musgrave each had three hits. Musgrave tossed a seven-hitter, with eight strikeouts.

Musgrave (W) and Nex
Appleby (L), Switch (5) and Davis

(July 10) Cy Shillito hurled his seventh straight victory Friday as VMD ended Army’s winning streak at five games with a 6 to 2 triumph. Shillito tossed an eight-hitter for his seventh complete game win in seven starts. The shipyarders did all their damage in the fifth inning. After falling behind 2-0, VMD roared back with six markers in the fifth with Ian Lowe’s two-run double the big blow of the outburst.

Cann (L) and McMillan
Shillito (W) and Harney

(July 11) In the opening game of Saturday’s double-header, Navy topped RCAF 8 to 5 while Pitzer & Nex doubled up on the Eagles 12 to 6 in the evening game. A five-run splurge in the 8th inning rescued Navy in their game with the Flyers. Ken Van Hatten, formerly of Vancouver Diethers, had a big day in his first game with Navy going four for four. Gordon McGregor twirled a seven hitter for the win.

Switch (L) and Davis
McGregor (W) and Whitney

(July 11) In the evening contest, a seven-run rally in the fourth inning featured the Pitzer & Nex 12-6 victory over the last place Eagles. The gasmen pounded out 14 hits including a ninth inning, three-run homer by winning hurler Ritchie Nichol. Nichol gave up seven hits in his route going performance and struck out 16.

Nichol (W) and Garnet
Maitland (L), Curry and Regnier, Bridgewood

(July 13) Winning hurler Stan Davies was better at bat than on the mound but still came away with a victory as Navy pounded out 17 hits to crush the Eagles 14-5 Monday. Davies gave up six hits, walked seven and threw three wild pitches. But, at the plate, he went a perfect three for three. Abercrombie also had three safeties for the winners. Every man in the Navy lineup had at least one hit.

Davies (W) and Van Hatten
Burnett (L), Maitland (6) and Bridgewood

VMD          12 – 2
Navy         10 – 4
Pitzer & Nex 7 – 7
Army          5 – 7
RCAF          4 – 10
Eagles        3 - 11

(July 17) The Victoria Eagles got some company in the basement of the league standings Friday when the Eagles dumped RCAF 9-5 to give both teams records of 4-11 to tie for the cellar. Ray Maitland finally pitched a complete game although touched for ten hits and six walks. Lefty Bert Appleby took the loss allowing nine hits and five walks.

Maitland (W) and Regnier
Appleby (L) and Davis

(July 18) In double-header action Saturday, Navy moved to a single game out of first place downing Army 5-2 while top ranked VMD dropped a 3-2, 10-inning decision to Pitzer & Nex. Navy did all its scoring in the eighth inning turning five hits and an error into five runs. Four of the runs were unearned. Southpaw Jack McIntyre posted the pitching win with an eight-hit effort.

McIntyre (W) and Whitney
Whitney (L), Cann (8) and Milliken

Tommy Musgrave hurled seven-hit ball in the victory by Pitzer & Nex. Harry Barber and Barney Barnswell shared the spotlight. Barber cracked a homer in the ninth to tie the count at 2-2 and Barnswell singled in the 10th to drive in the winner to hand Cy Shillito his first loss of the season. Musgrave struck out 12 and gave up two bases on balls. The winners nicked Shillito for 14 hits.

Musgrave (W) and Garnet
Shillito (L) and Harney

(July 20) The Eagles pulled themselves out of the league cellar Monday downing the Army nine 5 to 2 and pushing the Patricia Bay airmen into the basement. Stan Curry did some of his best hurling of the season in pitching the Eagles to the win. He gave up seven hits to best Lloyd Cann, moundsman for the Army. The Eagles Danny Green and Army’s French Janitos each batted two for three and knocked in a run.

Curry (W) and Regnier
Cann (L) and Milliken

(July 22) In one of the longest games of the season at Athletic Park the RCAF Flyers took a 6-0 lead over VMD in the first inning and then proceeded to make nine errors to allow 10 unearned runs and finally lose the game 12 to 9. Flyers battered three VMD hurlers for those six markers and threatened again in the third before playing manager Laurel Harney ditched his catching gear to take over on the hill, the fourth pitcher for the league leaders. VMD started the long climb back with a pair in the third as Bill Arts scored on a Texas Leaguer by Harney and then Harney came home as Reg Patterson poke a double to the left field fence. In the fifth VMD added two more thanks to a couple of bad throws to first base. Patterson again drove in Harney and Ian Lowe smacked a double to drive in the fourth run. The Flyers increased their margin in the sixth when Frank O’Donohue sent Jimmy Lowe home with a two-base blow and got another with a bases loaded walk. Flyers 8, VMD 4. But in the bottom of the frame, Flyers made three of their nine errors and VMD plated four to tie the contest. In the seventh VMD took the lead on two wild throws in the infield. The airmen moved back into a tie, at 9-9, in the eighth with Moose Savariat scoring on Tuppling’s single into short right field. The last of the 8th proved to be the clincher for VMD as they took advantage of four more errors to knock home three runs. Harney was the winning pitcher.

Appleby (L), Switch (8) and McNicholl
France, Smythe (1) , Arts (1), Harney (W) (3) and Harney, Patterson (3)

(July 24) Navy and Pitzer & Nex battled to a 4-4 draw in an 11-inning contest called because of darkness. Navy missed a golden opportunity in the 10th, loading the bases with one out but managed just one run when Ray Moretti scored on a late throw to the plate. Pitzer & Nex responded in the bottom of the 10th as Barney Barnswell drew a life when his fly ball dropped between Whitey Menard and Ken Van Hatten in the outfield. He was sacrificed to second and came home on Noel Morgan’s single through the box. In the 11th, Navy again loaded the bases with one out on two errors and a hit batsman, but a pop up and a force play got Pitzer & Nex out of trouble. Gordon McGregor and Bill Prior both went the full 11-innings, each giving up nine hits.

McGregor and Whitney
Prior and Garnet

(July 25) The Victoria All-Stars knocked over the high-touted Bellingham Bells twice on Saturday to retain possession of the Hon. John Hart Trophy. The locals copped the afternoon contest 8 to 3 and squeezed out a 3 to 2 decision in the nightcap. The hurling of Tommy Musgrave and the cleanup hitting of Reg Patterson highlighted the opening game. Musgrave scattered seven hits, struck out ten and walked three. Patterson had a big game with a double and three singles. Victoria scored six times in the fifth inning to put the game away.

McGhie (L) and Padovan
Musgrave (W) and Whitney, Patterson

In the evening affair, Victoria was held scoreless for seven innings before notching a pair in the eighth and the winner in the ninth to take the second engagement. Jack Stratton, the Victoria left fielder, who went five for five, produced the winning hit off 16-year-old Clarence Marshall.

Martinolich, Marshall (L) (8) and Padovan
McIntyre, Cann (W) (4) and Patterson

(July 27) Pitzer & Nex smacked 16 hits, five for extra bases Monday in a 9 to 5 triumph over the Army. A six-run rally in the seventh inning secured the victory for the gasmen. Harry Barber paced the attack with four hits and Jack Stratton added two doubles and a single. Ritchie Nichol was the winning hurler with a nine-hit performance. Gerry Whitney took the loss.

Nichol (W) and Nex
Whitney (L), Cann (8) and Brown

(July 29) Pitzer & Nex out hit the RCAF Flyers 20 to 5 Wednesday and still couldn’t win, losing 12-11 as RCAF second sacker Alex McDonald swatted a grand slam homer in the second inning after he had clouted a three-run circuit blow in the first. Jimmy Lowe added a bases clearing triple for the winners. Down by 11 runs after four innings Pitzer & Nex battled back and nearly pulled off a win. They scored four in the ninth and had the potential tying and winning runs on base when Percy Switch got a strike out to end the game.

Appleby (W), Switch (6) and McNicholl
Prior (L), Nichol (2) and Garnet

(July 31) The Army nine got back into the playoff picture Friday by downing the league-leading Victoria Machinery Depot 9-5. Leading a 14-hit assault was left fielder French Janitos who poled out five hits, including a home run and a double. After taking the lead with five runs in the fourth inning, the Army stayed in front. Gerry Whitney was the winning hurler giving up nine hits with nine strikeouts. Cy Shillito was the loser, his second straight defeat after seven consecutive victories.

Shillito (L), France (7) and Harney
Whitney (W) and Milliken

(August 1) Navy crept closer to the top rung in the league standings Saturday with a 3-1 victory over RCAF. The sailors are now just a half-game back of VMD with a chance to take the lead when they meet the league leaders on Wednesday. Navy grabbed a two-run lead in the third inning. Whitey Menard reached with a walk, stole second and came home on Ken Van Hatten’s two-bagger. Ray Moretti then drove in Van Hatten with a single. Navy added an insurance run in the ninth as Vic Dovey was safe on an error, moved up on a fielder’s choice and passed ball and scored when Moretti cracked a double. Flyers avoided a shutout in the bottom of the ninth as Percy Switch doubled and came home on a pair of errors. Stan Davies fired a five-hitter with 11 strikeouts for the win.

Davies (W) and Menard
Appleby (L) and McNicholl

(August 3) With a 6-5 win over the Eagles, Navy has gained a share of first place in the Victoria Senior Baseball League. The sailors were out hit 7 to 6, but took advantage of seven errors by the Eagles. Percy Dahl, newly arrived from Prince Albert, started for the Navy but gave way to Gordon McGregor in the fourth. Stan Curry allowed just six hits but was saddled with the loss.

Curry (L) and Regnier, Bridgewood
Dahl, McGregor (W) (4) and Whitney

(August 5) In a thrilling battle for first place, Ian Lowe cracked a two-run homer in the first inning and it proved enough as VMD edged Navy 2-1 to regain sole possession of first place and end Navy’s winning streak at six games. Ronnie “Lefty” Gervais, imported from Vancouver, held Navy to just three hits and three walks while fanning eight. With two out in the last of the first inning, Reg Patterson worked Jack McIntyre for a walk. On the first pitch to Lowe, the stocky shortstop cracked it high over the wall. Navy got its lone run in the fifth when McElroy laced one through shortstop, stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Whitey Menard laid down a successful squeeze bunt to bring in the run.

McIntyre (L) and Whitney
Gervais (W) and Harney

(August 7) The Eagles got a quick start with four runs in the first inning and coasted to an 8-2 victory over Pitzer & Nex. They added four more in the fourth, all off lefty Ritchie Nichol who had an all-around off-day giving up five hits and three walks in three and one-third innings while making four costly errors. Catcher Bill Bridgewood led the winners with three hits.

Curry (W) and Bridgewood
Nichol (L), Prior (4) and Garnet

(August 8) In an exhibition game to lead off the Saturday double-header, Navy defeated Army 13 to 10 in a game which produced 27 hits, 15 by the winners.

Dumeah, Halloran, Davies and Whitney
Rivet, Bradshaw and Ollinger, Milliken

(August 8) Army rode the four-hit hurling of Gerry Whitney to a 5-1 triumph over Pitzer & Nex in the evening game. Whitney, who fanned seven, would have had a shutout but for an error and Tommy Musgrave’s double in the fifth.

Whitney (W) and Milliken
Musgrave (L) and Nex

(August 10) A seven-run seventh inning carried VMD to a 12 to 4 victory over the Eagles Monday. Cy Shillito, returning to the mound for the first time since injuring his arm, received credit for the win. Young Ronnie France started for the shipyarders but failed to last the first inning, being yanked after giving up three runs. Shillito held the Eagles to five hits the rest of the way. With the win, VMD needs just one more triumph to cinch the pennant and the McGavin Cup. Ian Lowe led the hitters with a pair of doubles and a single.

France, Shillito (W) (1) and Harney
Curry (L) and Bridgewood

(August 12) Led by sparkling shortstop Ian Lowe who smashed three hits, including a towering home run, Victoria Machinery Depot whitewashed Navy 7-0 Wednesday to cinch the league pennant and take possession of the McGavin Cup. The game attracted 1,500, the largest crowd of the season. Lowe, who cracked a two-run homer to down Navy in their last meeting, knocked in four of VMD’s seven runs. Lefty Gervais, the smooth working southpaw, held Navy to just four hits and received errorless support from his teammates.

McIntyre (L), Dumeah (4) and xxx
Gervais (W) and xxx

(August 12) RCAF turned back Army 3 to 2.

(August 14) Taking advantage of a porous Eagles defense, one which made 11 errors, Army cinched a playoff berth with a 10-3 victory over the defending champions, who have gone from first to worst. Gerry Whitney yielded seven hits in going the route for the pitching win.

Whitney (W) and Milliken
Maitland (L), Curry (3) and Bridgewood

(August 15) Teams wrapped up the regular schedule with a pair of games on Saturday to set the playoff matchups. RCAF took the first game 5-1 over Army, pushing the soldiers to fourth place in the standings behind Pitzer & Nex which shaded Navy 7-6 to claim third place.

Percy Switch gave up eight hits as the Flyers topped the Army.

Nisbet, Bradshaw and Webb
Switch (W) and McNicholl

Pitzer & Nex had ten hits in downing Navy to finish the season at .500 with ten wins and ten losses.

Davies, Dumeah and Menard
Murray (L) and Naylor

FINAL STANDINGS

VMD            16 – 4
Navy           13 – 7
Pitzer & Nex   10 – 10
Army            8 – 12
RCAF            7 – 13
Eagles          6 - 14

PLAYOFFS
Semi-finals (best-of-three series)

(August 19) Tommy Naylor, a recent addition to the team, was the toast of Pitzer & Nex Wednesday. It was Naylor’s bases-loaded triple in the ninth inning that earned the gasmen a 6-6 draw with the Victoria Machinery Depot as the senior league playoffs kicked off. VMD entered the ninth with a 6-2 lead. Tommy Musgrave led off the frame with a single to centre and advanced on an error and scored on Dunc McGeachy’s liner to right. With two out and Lorne Murray on bases, Noel Morgan and Jack Stratton singled to fill the sacks. Naylor lifted the ball high over Reg Patterson’s head in right field and the game was tied. The contest was called as darkness set in. Both pitchers were hit hard. Lefty Gervais, for VMD, gave up 11 hits, fanned ten, walked two, and was charged with five wild pitches, one costing a run. Musgrave was nicked for ten hits, struck out four, walked three, and let in two runs on wild pitches. Charlie Restell of the pennant winners was the big sticker with four hits in five trips.

Musgrave and Naylor
Gervais and Harney

(August 21) Navy took the lead in its best-of-three semi-final shading Army 5 to 4. After two scoreless frames, Army plated a pair in the fourth. Eddie Kielbiski blooped a single back of second base and on Granick’s bunt the throw from third was wide and both runners were safe. With Elmer Kreller reaching on a fielder’s choice, Milliken singled to load the bases. One run scored on a balk by Jack McIntyre and another came home on a sac fly. Navy got one back in the fourth as catcher Gordon Whitney walked and eventually came home on an error. They made it 2-2 in the fifth as Whitey Menard scooted home on a groundout. Three hits and an error in the sixth produced a pair of counters for Army. The bottom of the sixth saw Navy put the game away. Wally Thompson and McElroy both hit safely and Thompson came home on McIntyre’s fumbled bunt. Menard’s bunt down the first base line brought in McElroy and Ray Moretti drove one to right field to plate the final run of the game. McIntrye, the winning pitcher, and Gerry Whitney each gave up ten hits.

Whitney (L) and Milliken
McIntyre (W) and Whitney

(August 22) Navy has reached the final and Pitzer & Nex have the lead in their semi-final series after two playoff contests on Saturday. Bluejackets made it two straight in their playdown with the Army, capturing a 4-3 decision while the gasmen took a thrilling 3-2 encounter from Victoria Machinery Depot.

Navy came back from a 2-0 deficit to down Army. The soldiers plated a pair in the third and the sailors replied with three in the fourth. Army deadlocked the count with a run in the sixth. The deciding counter came in the ninth. Jimmy Dumeah tossed a five-hitter for the win. He struck out 13. Lee, a second division pitcher, worked for Army giving up 14 hits.

Dumeah (W) and Whitney
Lee (L) and Milliken

Pitzer & Nex shoved across the winning run in the bottom of the ninth with two away. With the score deadlocked at 2-2, third sacker Lorne Harper lifted a Texas Leaguer behind second base. Harper advanced to second as right fielder Reg Patterson and McMillan collided and fell to the ground. Centre fielder Charlie Restell retrieved the ball and threw to second but Harper was called safe on a close play. Dunc McGeachy followed with a long single to right to plate the winner. Both managers had surprise starters. Bert Nex elected to have his shortstop Lorne Murray handled the mound duties while VMD put Ian Lowe, also a shortstop, on the hill for the pennant winners. Both pitched well. Murray gave up seven hits and struck out four. In seven innings Lowe was nicked for just four hits and two runs, both unearned.

Lowe, Gervais (L) (8) and Harney
Murray (W) and Naylor

(August 24) In another thrilling playoff contest, Victoria Machinery Depot nosed out Pitzer & Nex 6-5 to deadlock their best-of-three semi-final at a game apiece. Two towering home runs, by shortstop Ian Lowe and left fielder Maurice Duffy proved to be the difference. The gasmen again had the fans on their feet with another of their ninth inning rallies. Trailing 6-3, they pushed across two runs and had the tying run on second base when VMD managed to stop the uprising. VMD surprised with starter Jimmy Rattlesnake, from Edmonton, who was with the team earlier in the season but left for home after appearing in just one league game. Rattlesnake lasted just three innings, however, giving up two runs on two hits and five walks.

Rattlesnake (W), Gervais (4) and Harney
Musgrave (L) and Naylor

(August 26) A bases-loaded home run by Ian Lowe was the highlight as VMD crushed Pitzer & Nex 10-4 to win a berth in the league final series against Navy. It was a tight contest, a 2-2 tie going into the bottom of the seventh. VMD had taken the lead in the second inning as Lowe was walked, advanced on an error and ground out and scored on a sac fly by Charlie Stroulger. In the fourth, Noel Morgan beat out a bunt for the gasmen and, after a sacrifice and a single, scored on a fielder’s choice. Pitzer & Nex took the lead in the top of the fifth as Lorne Harper beat out a high bouncer over the pitcher’s head, made second on a sacrifice, and came home on a single by Barney Barnswell. VMD got four hits in the bottom of the fifth but managed just one run. They made up for it with a three-run outburst in the seventh. Charlie Restell, who singled, scored on a ground out and Reg Patterson had a two-run single. The real fireworks came in the 8th as VMD loaded the bases and Lowe, who had been intentionally walked twice previous in the game, smacked the pill high over the wall. He was picked up by his teammates and carried to the bench. VMD added a fifth run in the inning as Patterson tripled to bring in Maurice Duffy, who received a free pass. The ever scrappy Pitzer & Nex gamely tried to repair the damage in the ninth but managed just two runs.

In his best effort, Jimmy Rattlesnake went the distance on a seven-hitter for the mound triumph. Lorne Murray was nicked for 11 hits and gave up nine walks.

Murray (L) and Naylor
Rattlesnake (W) and Harney

PLAYOFF FINAL

(August 28) The masterful four-hit shutout pitching of Cy Shillito, back after a two and a half week layoff with a sore arm, led VMD their first game victory in the Victoria Senior League final series, a 3-0 triumph before an enthusiastic crowd of 1,300. Shillito fanned five and walked three. Husky Jimmy Dumeah was solid on the hill for the losers, yielding just seven hits with 10 strikeouts and two free passes. VMD got to Dumeah for a pair in the first inning and never looked back. Two two out, catcher Laurel Harney lined a single over first base and Ian Lowe was given a walk. Reg Patterson produced a towering two-bagger to plate both runners. The third marker came in the sixth after Charlie Stroulger smacked a single and second baseman McMillan cracked a triple to centre field.

Dumeah (L) and Whitney
Shillito (W) and Harney

(August 29) VMD slugged 12 hits Saturday to whip Navy 11-3 to take a 2-0 game lead in the best-of-five final. Lefty Gervais held the sailors to five hits in going the route for the pitching win. Ian Lowe paced the offense with three hits.

Gervais (W) and Harney
McIntyre (L), Davies, Jinks (8) and Whitney

(August 31) Navy staved off elimination Monday with a big hitting display in downing VMD 8-5 in the third game of the final series. Sailors pounded out 14 hits, including four-baggers by Bobby Weigand and Jim Naughton. Jimmy Dumeah held VMD to eight hits in registering the win for Navy. Ken Van Hatten led the winners with three hits. Charlie Stroulger had three for VMD.

Dumeah (W) and Whitney
Rattlesnake (L), Shillito (2) and Harney

(September 2) Before more than 1,700 paid spectators at Athletic Park Wednesday evening, Pat Steele’s VMD nine fell apart at the seams as Navy blasted three shipyard hurlers and took advantage of seven errors to win 11-4 and force a fifth and deciding game in the series. VMD had a short-lived lead with two runs in the top of the first inning as Charlie Restell and Ian Lowe singled and eventually scored on an error. But Navy erased that lead with three in the bottom of the first and led the rest of the way. With the bases loaded on two walks and a crazy hop single, Gordon Whitney sent a cannon shot through the legs of second baseman Skipper McMillan. Right fielder Reg Patterson also made an error on the play and all three runners came home. Leading 3-2 after four innings, Navy put the game away with a four run outburst in the fifth, two runs coming home on a single by winning pitcher Jimmy Dumeah who proceeded to drive in two more in the sixth.

Gervais (L), Rattlesnake (5), Arts (6) and Harney
Dumeah (W), Jinks (7) and Whitney

(September 4) Pushing across the winning run on an error in the last of the ninth inning, Victoria Machinery Depot nosed out Navy 6-5 Friday to capture the Victoria baseball championship and close out one of the greatest series in the history of sports in the city. As expected, the park was jammed as never before with more than 2,500 paid admissions. It was a heartbreaker for the bluejackets who came from behind three times to tie the score. The finish came with dramatic suddenness. With the light fading quickly, VMD went for their final turn at bat after seeing Navy tie the count at 5-5 in the top of the ninth. Charlie Restell walked on four pitches and Ian Lowe then punched a sharp grounder at third baseman Wally Thompson for what looked like a sure double play. However, Thompson's throw soared way above second base and Restell raced around third base to easily plate the winning run.

Restell was the hero of the piece. After giving VMD A 1-0 lead with a single in the first inning, he duplicated the feat in the third with another sharp one-bagger and scored in the seventh when he walked before Lowe smacked a triple. He also had an outstanding defensive play. In the fifth, the centre fielder cut loose with a superb throw to catch Thompson at the plate by a good six feet.

After trailing 2-0, Navy came through with two runs in the fifth for a 2-2 tie. Ray Moretti knocked in one run and Whitey Menard scored on an error. VMD regained the advantage in the sixth scoring twice. Lefty Gervais singled to drive in Reg Patterson, who had singled, and Al Euerby, on base on a fielder’s choice, came home on Laurel Harney’s Texas Leaguer. VMD added another in the seventh on Lowe’s three-bagger. But, Navy wasn’t through yet. Doubles by Jimmy Dumeah and Bobby Weigand brought in two runs in the eighth to make it 5-4 and they tied it again in the top of the ninth. Wally Thompson dropped in a short fly to left for two bases, advanced on a passed ball and scored on Ken Van Hatten’s double down the right field line. Van Hatten tried to stretch it into a triple and was run down between second and third and set the stage for VMD’s winning effort in the bottom of the final frame. Lefty Gervais, in relief of Cy Shillito, picked up the win giving up six hits while fanning seven. Jimmy Dumeah, trying for his third win of the week, gave up eight hits in taking the loss. Harney, the VMD catcher, was the game’s leading hitter with three for four.

Dumeah (L) and Whitney
Shillito, Gervais (W) (5) and Harney

(September 7) Victoria Machinery Depot, the recently crowned Victoria senior champions, swept Monday’s holiday twin-bill from Bellingham Bells 3-2 and 9-0 before large crowds. After nosing out the visitors by pushing across a run in the ninth, the shipyarders put on their hitting shoes in the second game and pounded out 15 hits behind the two-hit pitching of Tommy Musgrave to hand the Americans the whitewashing. Ian Lowe provided some fireworks with two towering home runs over the centre field wall. Musgrave turned in one of his best efforts of the season striking out 10 and walking three. VMD turned in 18 innings of errorless ball.

The morning game was a thrilling pitching duel between Cy Shillito the the VMD ace and Clarence Marshall, a Bellingham high school star. It was a tough loss for Marshall as he held Victoria to just four hits while the Bells collected 13. VMD got the winner with a perfect squeeze play. Lowe opened the frame with a triple to left field. Babe Work laid down a well-placed bunt and Lowe came home with the winner.

Marshall (L) and Padovan
Shillito (W) and Harney

Martinolich (L), Marshall (5) and Padovan
Musgrave (W) and Harney

(September 9) VMD wrapped up a successful season beating the league All-Stars 5-1. Ronnie Gervais fired four-hit ball in the six inning contest.

Gervais (W) and Patterson
Curry (L), Jinks (5) and Menard

Nanaimo

The Nanaimo senior baseball team, usually referred to as Nanaimo City but occasionally as the Nanaimo Merchants, engaged in regular exhibition games over the spring and summer of 1942 with an Army team from Hull PQ. Weekly exhibition matches also occurred with teams from both the Vancouver and Victoria senior calibre circuits.

(May 10) Nanaimo Merchants managed just two hits in Sundays rain-shortened encounter at the Central Sports Grounds but came away with a 2-1 victory over Le Regiment de Hull. First baseman Hoppy Hoppus singled to drive in Nanaimo's first run in the initial frame and Mel "Lefty" Biggs knocked in the winner in the fourth. Losing pitcher Benoit had two of the three hits collected by Hull and scored the lone run. He tripled in the second inning and scored on an error.

Benoit (L) and Champagne
T.Naylor (W) and Kilburn

(May 14) Staving off a Hull rally in the 8th and final frame, Nanaimo eked out an 8-7 victory Thursday over Quebec's Le Regiment de Hull. The game was called after eight innings on account of darkness. The home club ran up an 8-4 lead going into the final frame when the solider's brought in three runs Hull out hit Nanaimo 13 to 12 as Benoit had three safeties and scored four times. Villeneuve had a homer for the losers and Massicote slugged a triple. Hoppy Hoppus and Cook smacked three-baggers for the Merchants.

Benoit (L) and Champagne
Biggs (W), Hoppus (5), Biggs (8) and Naylor

(May 17) In a thrilling 11-inning battle Sunday, Nanaimo Merchants battled to a 3-3 draw with Coley Hall's Vancouver St. Regis. After grabbing the early lead with two runs in the first inning, Nanaimo needed a marker in the bottom of the ninth to tie at 3-3. Sonny Bruce knocked in the first Nanaimo run with a triple and came around to score on a single by Hoppy Hoppus. St. Regis got one back in their half of the first when Jimmy Tough walked, stole second and scored on a deep fly by Billy Adshead. St. Regis took the lead with a pair in the fifth on two errors and a double by Tough. Gil Bruce singled in the ninth to knock in the tying run. Toss Naylor and Greg Kabat both went the full 11 innings for their respective clubs.,

Kabat and Adshead
T.Naylor and Edmunds

(May 24) Nanaimo exploded for 12 runs in the first three innings to whip Le Regiment de Hull 12-2. Shortstop Sonny Bruce smacked a grand slam homer and a double to pace the winners. Nanaimo had just two more hits than Hull, 10 to 8, but six errors hurt the Army nine.

Benoit (L), LePage (3) and Blakeney
Edmunds (W), Adrian (5) and Naylor

(May 25) Nanaimo and Victoria Machine Depot split a double-header Monday. V.M.D. took the opener 8-4 while the Nanaimo City bounded back to grab an 8 to 5 win in the second game. In the lid lifter, Nanaimo blew a 4-1 lead as the visitors roared back in the late innings taking advantage of sloppy defensive play to score seven late markers. After a rough first inning, highlighted by a three-run homer by Sonny Bruce, Ralph Morgan settled down to hurl solid ball allowing just one more run, a solo homer by Bruce in the third, in going the distance for the pitching win. Charlie Restell paced V.M.D. with three hits.

Naylor (L) and Edmunds
Morgan (W) and Harney

After scoring a pair in the third inning, Nanaimo fell behind 4-2 in the fifth before ringing up three runs innings in the fifth and sixth for the 8-5 win. With the score at 5-5, winning pitcher Lefty Biggs led off the sixth for Nanaimo with a single and Toss Naylor reached on a free pass. McMillan drove in Biggs with a fly to left. Ray Morretti, the former Nanaimo star now with the crack Navy club in Victoria and back home for the holiday, singled to plate Naylor and came home on an error. Gil Bruce led the winners with a pair of doubles. Catcher Patterson rapped three safe blows for Victoria.

Arts (L) and Patterson
Biggs (W) and Naylor

(June 7) Nanaimo posted a win and a loss in a three-team double-header Sunday at the Central Sports Grounds taking the first game 3-2 over the Vancouver Patricias before dropping a 4-2 decision to Le Regiment de Hull in the second contest. In the first game, Nanaimo survived five errors, four of them in the infield, and five walks by hurler Toss Naylor to subdue the Patricias. Naylor yielded just five hits and fanned seven. Jimmy Reid gave up six hits and a walk while whiffing six in a losing cause. Ray Moretti was the lone Merchant with more than one hit smacking a double and single. Joe Naples rapped a homer and single for Vancouver.

Reid (L) and Lamoine
|Naylor (W) and Edmunds

LePage fired a four-hitter in the second game as Hull notched the 4-2 victory behind a ten hit attack, two each by Simard and Chritien.

LePage (W) and Blakeney
Biggs (L) and Kilburn

(June 21) One of the largest crowds in recent years in Nanaimo - an estimated 1,000 - were well entertained as Norm Trasolini brought his Vancouver Westcoast Shipyarders to town to face the Merchants in game one of a Sunday double-header. On back-to-back, 10th inning doubles by Jimmy Neilson and Fat Edmunds, the home squad pulled out a 3-2 victory in the opener and continued the winning ways with a 7-1 decision over Le Regiment de Hull in the second contest.

In spite of the loss, Trasolini was a big hit with the crowd as the clowning catcher had the fans roaring with laughter at his antics, particularly when he ousted Umpire Carroll from behind the plate to give the calls when Nanaimo was at bat. Starting the game he worked on the receiving end but before the contest was over, Trasolini had pitched, heckled the umpire, peddled ice cream up among the fans dressed in a ludicrous outfit and made merry with both teammates and opposition. He had begun his clowning in Nanaimo some 12 years ago when Lefty Kaye and Peaches Piper were the ranking local hurlers and later turned down an offer to team up with the famous Al Schacht.

Vancouver out hit the locals 11 to 5, but booted the ball five times. The highlight play of the contest came when centre fielder Gil Bruce shagged Gibson's long fly ball and turned and threw home to nip Trasolini coming in from third base.

D.Holden, Gervais (4), Trasolini (7), R.Hunt (L) (7) and Trasolini, Naples (7)
Naylor (W) and Edmunds

In the evening game, Gil Bruce smacked four hits and Jimmy Neilson had three to pace Nanaimo to its 7-1 triumph. Lefty Biggs held Hull to eight safeties, three by Bouchard.

LePage (L) and Blakeney
Biggs (W) and Kilburn

(June 28) With two out in the bottom of the ninth inning, playing manager Fat Edmunds rapped a double to score Jackie Mann with the winning run as Nanaimo City shaded the Vancouver Patricias 2-1 in an exciting fixture at the Central Sports Grounds. Last Sunday, Edmunds had ripped a two-bagger in the 10th inning to plate the winning marker. Mann had reached on a free pass, his fifth consecutive walk in the game. Toss Naylor, who hurled a five-hitter for the win, blasted a homer in the fourth for Nanaimo's first run. Jimmy Clark, who allowed just seven hits in taking the loss, walked eight.

Clark (L) and Anselmo
Naylor (W) and Edmunds

(July 1) The Burrard League All-Stars plated five unearned runs in the fourth inning en route to a 9-7 victory over Nanaimo, the first loss for Nanaimo to a mainland team this season. With two out and two on, a costly error at shortstop accounted for a pair of runs and set the stage for three more. The All-Stars pounded out 14 hits, three each by Walker and Casey Jones. Gil Bruce was best for the locals with a home run, double and single. Dean Ballam went six innings to pick up the win.

Ballam (W), Leach (7) and Plaxton
Naylor (L), Biggs (4) and Edmunds

(July 5) Taking on the snappy Royal Canadian Navy squad from Victoria, Nanaimo came away with a win and a loss in Sunday's double-header before more than 14-hundred fans at the Central Sport Grounds. Toss Naylor tossed a five-hitter for his fifth win of the season as the home team won the afternoon contest 4-1. Sonny Bruce blasted a homer and single for the winners. Ray Moretti, back with the Navy nine, collected three of the team's five hits. Stan Davies surrendered just five hits in taking the loss.

Davies (L) and Whitney
Naylor (W) and Edmunds

In the evening game, a misjudged high fly ball to right field in the seventh inning turned into the winning run. The Sailors added an insurance run in the eighth when Bobby Weigand's two-bagger drove in Dovey. Southpaw Ernie Woodward was touched for seven hits in going the distance for the pitching win.

Woodward (W) and Whitney
Biggs (L) and Naylor

(July 12) Gil Bruce and Tommy Garner each ripped out three hits Sunday as part of a 16-hit attack as Nanaimo demolished Vancouver Diethers 14-3. Merchants had a 4-0 lead after three innings and poured it on with three in the fourth, two in the seventh and five more in the eighth. Toss Naylor picked up his sixth win holding the visitors to six hits. The right hander chipped in with two hits to aid his own cause. Sonny Bruce, Fat Edmunds and Jim Neilson also had two hits apiece. Diethers was unable to field its regular squad given the current staggered days of work prevailing at Vancouver and were minus the services of ace lefty, George Boston.

Pawluk (L), Grahame (3), Henderson (4) and Henry
Naylor (W) and Edmunds

(July 19) Nanaimo rocked three Vancouver Patricias' hurlers for 17 hits Sunday as the home club trounced the visitors 18-2. Brothers Gil and Sonny Bruce led the attack each with three hits, two of Gil Bruce's safeties were two-baggers. He scored three times while Sonny had four scores. Jimmy Neilson added three hits and two runs. Toss Naylor posted another pitching win holding the Vancouver club to seven hits while fanning seven and walking just one.

Naylor (W) and Edmunds, Neilson (7)
Francis (L), Patton (5), Lawn (7) and Plaxin, Laycock

(July 29) Former National Hockey League star Marcel Bouchard limited Nanaimo to six hits Wednesday as the Merchants and Regiment de Hull battled to a 4-4 draw. Making his first start of the season, Bouchard fanned eight and allowed just a pair of free passes.

Bouchard and Blakeney
Biggs and Kilburn

(August 2) Nanaimo and Pitzer & Nex of Victoria split a double-header Sunday with the visitors taking the first game 5-4 and the Merchants rebounding for a 14-9 triumph in the evening encounter. Two errors paved the way for the winning run for Victoria in the seventh inning of the opener as Tommy Musgrave bested Toss Naylor in the mound effort.

Musgrave (W) and Garnet
Naylor (L) and Edmunds

The Bruce brothers powered a 18 hit attack as Nanaimo had a huge, eight run, first inning and dumped Pitzer & Nex 14-9 in the second game. Gil Bruce cracked four doubles and a single in five at bats while Sonny Bruce had a two-bagger and three singles. Jackie Mann contributed three hits and four runs. The game produced 17 errors, nine by Victoria. Lefty Biggs, who allowed just three earned runs, went the distance for the pitching win.

Nichol (L), Prior (1) and Menard, Nex (4)
Biggs (W) and Edmunds, Naylor (4)

(August 16) After a two-week layoff, Nanaimo City looked far from sharp as they dropped both games of a double-header Sunday. Vancouver Norvans clobbered the home club 12-1 in the first game and Le Regiment de Hull dumped the locals 6-2 in the second. Norvans, the Burrard League champions, crushed the Merchants with a 17-hit assault. Shortstop Vern Kendrick and left fielder Jimmy Robertson led the way with four hits apiece. Third sacker Bryan Forster rapped two doubles and a single and scored three times. Casey Jones cracked a homer. Dean Ballam spaced out eight hits in going all the way for the win.

Ballam (W) and Petrunia
Naylor (L), Biggs (4) and Edmunds

The Merchants collected 14 hits in the evening game but booted the ball five times to give up five unearned runs in the 6-2 defeat. First sacker Parker paced the winners with a homer and double. Marcel Bouchard went the route for the pitching win. Ray Moretti handled the mound work for Nanaimo giving up 10 hits and whiffing ten.

Bouchard (W) and Champagne
Moretti (L) and Kilburn

(August 23) Rebounding nicely from a disappointing showing the previous week, Nanaimo punched out 18 hits, four by Sonny Bruce, in trouncing Le Regiment de Hull 11-1. Bruce had two doubles and two one-baggers and scored three times. Brother Gil Bruce rapped three doubles and plated three runs. Kilburn added a double and two singles. Lefty Biggs tossed a three-hitter for the winners. In the ninth inning a fire broke out under the grandstand, apparently from a carelessly dropped lighted cigarette. Prompt work on the part of park officials in rushing a fire hose to the blaze averted what could have been a serious situation.

Bouchard (L) and Champagne
Biggs (W) and Edmunds

(August 30) Nanaimo and the Army All-Stars from Victoria divided a twin-bill Sunday at the Central Sports Grounds. The Merchants whipped the visitors 8-1 in the opener before Lt. Warburton's All-Stars bounced back to take the evening game 8-2 before 11-hundred spectators. Toss Naylor held Victoria to four hits and fanned seven in twirling the first game victory. Tommy Garner smacked a pair of three-baggers and a single for the winners and Gil Bruce added three hits and three runs.

Lee (L), MacDonald (3) and Webb
Naylor (W) and Edmunds.

Victoria rapped 13 hits in winning the second game 8-2 as Ray Casey, Eddie Kielbiski, Cousins and Goudey each had a double and single. Gerry Whitney yielded just five hits in going the distance for the pitching victory.

Whitney (W) and Hardy
Biggs (L) and Naylor

(September 6) A spectacular pitching duel featured the Sunday action in Nanaimo as the Merchants and Vancouver Norvans battled to a 13-inning scoreless tie. Toss Naylor turned in his best performance of the season firing a five-hitter with 13 strikeouts and two free passes. Southpaw Gunnerson for Vancouver allowed just six hits and whiffed eight, walking one.

Gunnerson and Petrunia
Naylor and Edmunds

(September 13) Nanaimo's ball tossers pounded out 14 hits to take an 11-5 victory over Victoria Machinery Depot, the pennant winners of the Victoria Senior League. Toss Naylor scattered nine hits in going the route for the triumph. Ronnie Gervais, recruited by V.M.D. to bolster their staff in the playoffs, started for the shipyarders but gave way to Cy Shillito in the fourth after Nanaimo erupted for four runs. Shillito fared little better giving up three safeties and a walk in the fifth, which coupled with an error, produced four more runs for the Merchants. The locals added their final two runs in the ninth when Jimmy Neilson and Jackie Mann laced back-to-back triples and Sonny Bruce followed with a two-bagger. V.M.D. plated three of their five runs in the opening frame when Nanaimo made three miscues and Ian Lowe, the top slugger in the Victoria loop, cracked a double and Steve Dunc poked a single.

Gervais (L), Shillito (4) and Patterson
Naylor (W) and Edmunds

Comox Valley

Reduced from five to three teams to begin the 1942 season, the Comox Valley Twilight Baseball League began in late May and came to a sudden halt just past the mid-point of July. No explanation for the termination was found in the Comox District Free Press but within the edition featuring the last game report published, it was reported that a heavy military recruitment campaign was underway at that time at that the local response had been brisk.

Teams in the 1942 Comox Valley Twilight Baseball League
Courtenay Native Sons
Cumberland Cubs
Union Bay

(May 24) The defending champion Courtenay Native Sons opened the new season with an easy 7-1 victory over the Cumberland Cubs. Johnny Haramboure had a shutout until the ninth inning when the Cubs notched their only marker. Haramboure allowed seven hits and fanned 22. Shortstop Andy Telosky led the winners with three base blows. Toss Naylor, who replaced catcher Fat Edmunds in the fourth,

Haramboure (W) and Mitchell
Baird (L) and Bono

(May 31) Union Bay made an impressive debut in local baseball Sunday topping the Native Sons 9 to 0 behind the three-hit pitching of Lefty Pratt. Shortstop Gump Magnone paced the attack with four hits and scored four times. Centre fielder Robby McKay added three safeties.

Haramboure (L), Quinn (7) and Mitchell
Pratt (W) and James

(June 7) With its second straight lopsided victory, Union Bay has taken the lead in the Comox Valley League. Ron Pratt, who fired a three-hitter in his first game, was even better this time holding the Cumberland Cubs to one hit in an 11-2 triumph. Pratt set down 16 by strikeouts. The winners rapped 14 hits, three each by Gump Magnone and Bill McKay. Pratt helped with two hits and two runs.

Pratt (W) and James
Els (L), Baird (7) and Bono

(June 14) Courtenay Native Sons opened quickly with five runs in the first two innings and took an easy 8-2 win from the Cumberland-Bevan Cubs Sunday. In his first start of the young season, Spit Quinn yielded six hits in going the distance for the winners. First sacker Moore and shortstop Andy Telosky each smacked three hits to lead the Sons 11-hit attack.

Quinn (W) and Mitchell
Baird (L) and Harvie

(July 12) Union Bay won it's third straight Sunday blanking Courtenay 6-0 as Robbie McKay and Ron Pratt combined on a three-hitter. Robbie McKay and Bill McKay each rapped three hits for the winners.

Chalmers (L), Quinn (3) and J.McKay
R.McKay (W), R.Pratt and James

(July 19) Southpaw Ron Pratt tossed a three-hitter Sunday as Union Bay maintained its undefeated record with a 9-2 win over Courtenay Native Sons. Pratt fanned 13. The winners had 12 hits with Sam Shillito, Bill McKay, Gump Magnone and Jim McKay dividing the dozen, each with three.

Baird (L), Bono (4) and Harvie
Pratt (W) and J.McKay

Cowichan Valley