1943 Vancouver, Lower Mainland, Fraser Valley
1943 BC Interior
1943 Vancouver Island
Victoria Senior Amateur Baseball League
A five-team circuit under the umbrella of the Victoria Baseball Association, the 1943 senior league in the Capital City had clubs from all three branches of the service, a team sponsored by a shipbuilding contractor plus a service club entry - Army, Navy, Royal Canadian Air Force, Victoria Machinery Depot and the Eagles.
(May 9) The Victoria Senior loop kicked off the new schedule with a pair of games Sunday. The R.C.A.F. whipped Army 14-9 and Victoria Machinery Depot downed Navy 8 to 6.
In the matinee attraction, Royal Canadian Air Force hammered out a 14 to 9 verdict over the Army nine at the Caledonia Avenue ball lot. A total of 22 base knocks were recorded with ten of them for extra bases. Third sacker Jimmy Lowe had three hits for the winners while shortstop Bernard Parent picked up a pair, a triple and double, and scored four times. Playing manager Bryan Forster clubbed a homer and double. Ray Casey, Army's third baseman smacked a pair of homers and added a single.
Ray, Peters (W) (3), Martin (8) and Switch
Curry (L), Prior (7) and Reigner, Milliken
(May 9) A six-run sixth inning carried Victoria Machinery Depot to an 8 to 6 win over Navy in spite of being held to just four hits. V.M.D. capitalized on 14 walks, seven in the fatal fifth stanza. The big hit in the frame was a two-run single by Maurice Duffy. Navy held a 6-2 lead as Harland Berringer allowed just three safeties over the first five innings. But Berringer, who gave up ten free passes, couldn't find the plate in the sixth and V.M.D. walked away with the victory. Navy had seven hits, two apiece by Wally Thompson and Gil Bruce. One of Thompson's went for three bases.
Berringer (L), Pawluk (6), Dumeah (6) and Effnert, Campbell (6)
Shillito (W), Musgrave (6) and Harney
(May 10) Centre fielder Carlo punched out four hits, scored a pair and added two stolen bases to lead Army to an easy 14-6 triumph over the Eagles. Playing manager Doug Peden added a pair of safeties and scored three times. Clint Hodges collected three hits for the losers. Eagles hurt their chances making seven errors.
Whitney (W), Nichol (5), Prior (7) and Milliken
Jamieson (L), Arts (8) and Bridgewood
(May 12) Defending champion V.M.D. crushed R.C.A.F. 11-5 Wednesday at Royal Athletic Park. The shipyard workers punched out thirteen safeties including Ian Lowe's triple and doubles by Al Euerby and Charlie Restell. First sacker Babe Work smacked three successive singles. Manager Jimmy Lyons of Victoria Machinery Depot trotted out a new right-hander, Jack Coughlin, formerly of Saskatoon. Coughlin tossed five shutout innings before running into trouble in the latter frames. He allowed eight hits and two walks in going the distance for the win.
Coughlin (W) and Harney
Ray (L), Martin (8) and Switch
(May 14) Navy raced out to an early lead then held off a belated Eagles' rally to post a 10-9 decision Friday in a McGavin Cup fixture at Royal Athletic Park. With a 7-1 advantage after three innings, Navy let the Eagles back into the game with a five-run eighth inning to make the count 10-9. Jimmy "Hi" Jinks pitched into the eighth to pick up the win. Barber and Bobby Weigand had two hits apiece for the winners and Wally Thompson managed to score three times without getting a hit. Harris led the Eagles with three hits and two runs. Reg Clarkson added a triple and single and two scores.
Bailey (L), Arts (3), Ricketts (6) and Bridgewood
Jinks (W), Diamond (8), Dumeah (8) and Campbell
(May 15) Manager Bob Dewhirst's Royal Canadian Navy squad took a 2-1 lead in the first inning and were never headed in shading the Royal Canadian Air Force 5-4 in the afternoon game of a double-bill. Gil Bruce, the former Up-Islander, poked out three hits, a double and two singles, in three trips to the plate to pace the winners. Right-hander Jimmy Dumeah was nicked for seven hits in going the route for Navy.
Dumeah (W) and Campbell
Peters (L), Martin (6) and Switch
(May 15) Tommy Musgrave, the former Vancouver Capilano pro, posted the first shutout of the season Saturday at Royal Athletic Park when he twirled Victoria Machinery Depot, the 1942 champions, to an 8-0 triumph over Army. Playing in the evening attraction of a double-header, Musgrave fired a five-hitter while whiffing nine and walking just one. Shortstop Ian Lowe provided an offensive highlight with an inside-the-park homer. Second sacker Barney Barnswell had two hits and three runs for the winners and Babe Work and Al Euerby each chipped in with a pair of safeties.
Musgrave (W) and Harney
Whitney (L), Curry (6) and Milliken
(May 17) Battery mates Reg Patterson and Cy Shillito combined for nine hits and six runs Monday to lead a 15 hit V.M.D. offensive in a 17 to 4 trouncing of the Eagles. Catcher Patterson smacked a pair of home runs and three singles while winning hurler Shillito cracked a double and three one-baggers and added a pair of stolen bases. The right-hander who relieved with just one out in the first inning went the rest of the way yielding seven hits with five strikeouts and no walks. Jack Stratton pounded a homer, double and single for the Eagles and Noel Morgan smacked a circuit drive in the third inning.
Ricketts (L), Jamieson (4), Bayley (7) and Bridgewood
Dixon, Shillito (W) (1) and Patterson
(May 19) Four sharp singles and Doug Peden's two-bagger resulted in three fifth inning runs for Army Wednesday enough for a 5-2 win over Navy. Gerry Whitney, who hurled good ball for the soldiers during the 1942 flag chase, worked seven innings on the hill for the winners allowing just a single run.
Whitney (W), Prior (8) and Kouri
Berringer (L), Sears (5) and Effnert, Campbell
(May 21) With a 19-hit assault, the Royal Canadian Air Force handed the Eagles an 18-3 shellacking at Royal Athletic Park Friday. The airmen opened with three runs in the top of the first inning and kept piling on scoring in every inning but the fourth. Third sacker Jimmy Lowe had a field day with four hits and four runs scored. Shortstop Bernard Parent and catcher Percy Switch each collected three safeties. Right-hander Gerry Ray held the Eagles to five hits and fanned nine.
Ray (W) and Switch
Stoltz (L), Arts (2) and Bridgewood
(May 24) Bellingham Bells, leaders of the Vancouver-Bellingham Baseball League, had a huge win and a narrow loss in Monday's exhibition double-header at Victoria. The visitors crushed Army 17-3 in the first game and dropped a 4-1 decision to V.M.D. in the nightcap.
Tommy Musgrave twirled three-hit ball for V.M.D. in the second game and provided the winning blow with a two-run homer in the second inning. The teams drew applause from the crowd of about 1,700 on a number of occasions with their hustling play. The only run against Musgrave was unearned. Bob Luckitt worked for the Bells and held hard-hitting V.M.D. to eight safeties, two apiece by Ian Lowe, Babe Work and Charlie Restell.
Luckitt (L) and Padovan
Musgrave (W) and Harney
In the first game, Bellingham ran up a 15-0 lead before Victoria Army managed to get on the scoreboard. The visitors capitalized on a shaky Army defense to notch nine unearned runs in the first three innings and coasted to the easy triumph. Pitcher Clarence Marshall fanned 13 in firing four-hit ball for the winners and helped the offense with a two-run homer in the sixth inning. Catcher Andy Padovan also had a circuit clout and left fielder VanSinderin added a triple, double and single and scored four times. Shortstop Faller also crossed the plate on four occasions.
Marshall (W) and Padovan
Curry (L), Prior (2) and Milliken
(May 26) In the first overtime game of the season, right fielder Hennenfent doubled in the winning run in the tenth inning to give Air Force a 6-5 victory over Army at Royal Athletic Park Wednesday. With runners on first and third and two out, Hennenfent hit a high fly to right centre field just out of the reach of centre fielder Carlo. Gerry Ray worked on the slab for the winners giving up six hits and issuing six free passes.
Whitney (L) and Kouri
Ray (W) and Switch
(May 28) In storybook fashion, Gil Bruce came through with the bases loaded and two out in the bottom of the ninth inning to give Navy a 5 to 4 victory over Victoria Machinery Depot. Bruce's single to centre field scored Bobby Weigand and winning pitcher Jimmy Dumeah to hand V.M.D. its first loss of the season. V.M.D. had jumped into a 4-0 lead in the top of the first inning with Ian Lowe's three-run homer providing the highlight. After five scoreless sessions the sailors rallied with three runs in the sixth inning on two walks, a fielder's choice, two errors and Whitey Menard's two-bagger. After his first-inning trouble, Dumeah allowed just two hits the rest of the way.
Coughlin (L) and Harney
Dumeah (W) and Berringer
(May 29) Army and Navy both notched come-from-behind victories in double-header action in Victoria Senior ball Saturday. In the opener, Navy rallied with two runs in the seventh stanza to nip R.C.A.F. 6-4. Friday's hero, centre fielder Gil Bruce led an 11-hit attack for the winners with three safeties. Ray Moretti had just one hit but it was a four-bagger. Jimmy Jinks went the distance on the mound for Navy giving up 11 hits. Bernard Parent punched out four hits for the airmen.
Switch (L) and Chalmers
Jinks (W) and Effnert
(May 29) After falling behind 6-2, Army bounced back with two big, four-run innings - the fifth and sixth - to down the winless Eagles 10 to 7. Bill Prior picked up the win in relief of starter Stan Curry who gave way after four innings with a sore arm. Ray Casey of the winners and losing hurler Bob Ricketts were the only players with two hits.
Ricketts (L) and Bridgewood
Curry, Prior (W) (5) and Kouri
VMD 4 - 1
Navy 4 - 2
RCAF 3 - 3
Army 3 - 3
Eagles 0 - 5
(May 31) It was no contest when first place V.M.D. met the cellar-dwelling Eagles Monday. V.M.D. rapped out 14 hits and took advantage of eight Eagles' errors, six walks and four wild pitches to post a 12-2 victory. First sacker Babe Work led the hit parade with three while Laurel Harney, Maurice Duffy, Barney Barnswell and winning hurler Cy Shillito each contributed a pair. Shillito yielded eight hits in going the distance for the league leaders.
Shillito (W) and Harney
Davies, Diamond, Bowes and Garnet
(June 2) Victoria Machinery Depot, the Victoria Senior League leaders, gathered in their sixth win in seven games Wednesday at Royal Athletic Park whipping Army 9 to 2 as first baseman Babe Work led the way with three hits, a homer, double and single, and scored three times. Shortstop Ian Lowe added a four-bagger and single and winning chucker Tommy Musgrave helped his own cause with two hits and two runs. Nick Metz had three safeties for the losers and Elmer Kreller poked a home run.
Whitney (L) and Sawchuk
Musgrave (W) and Harney
(June 4) After the Eagles had pushed across a pair of runs to tie the game at 10-10 in the top of the ninth, R.C.A.F. playing manager Bryan Forster laced the ball over the Pembroke Street fence in the bottom of the ninth to give the airmen an 11-10 triumph. Forster had earlier rapped a pair of doubles. Shortstop Bernard Parent collected a double and two singles for the winners. scoring twice. Noel Morgan did likewise for the Eagles. Jack Martin picked up the pitching win after relieving in the fifth inning.
Stoltz, Diamond (1), Arts (L) (9) and Bacon
Rogers, Ray (4), Martin (W) (5) and Chalmers
VMD 6 - 1
Navy 4 - 2
RCAF 4 - 3
Army 3 - 4
Eagles 0 - 7
(June 5) Shortstop Nick Metz rapped four hits and winning pitcher Bill Prior added three as Army topped Navy 5-3 in the first game of a Saturday double-header. Prior needed help to get the final out in the ninth as the bluejackets threatened in the final stanza. He allowed eight hits and eight walks. Newcomer Johnny Sears took the loss.
Pawluk, Sears (L) (5) and Berringer
Prior (W), Whitney (9) and Sawchuk
(June 5) A freak, grand-slam homer by Babe Work in the sixth inning broke a 4-4 draw and gave V.M.D. a 10-5 verdict over R.C.A.F. in the second game of the double dip. Work's long drive to left field turned into a home run when the ball was lost in the tall grass close to the Vancouver Street fence. The airmen were nearly out of the inning with two down and a runner on second when R.C.A.F. hurler Jerry Ray hit two successive batters to load the sacks bringing Work, who scored three times, to the plate. Work, Reg Patterson and Ian Lowe each contributed two hits. McDonald clouted a homer and single for the losers and Jimmy Lowe added a triple and single.
Ray (L) and Switch
Coughlin (W) and Harney
(June 7) Navy moved into sole possession of second place, two games back of V.M.D., by clobbering the hapless Eagles 20-5 Monday. The sailors nine-run first inning set the stage for the shellacking. The wild contest produced 25 hits, 9 errors (eight by the Eagles), 14 stolen bases, 14 walks, and six wild pitches. Wally Thompson smacked a homer and single for the winners and scored four times. Lorne Dietrick went three for three with three runs, Gil Bruce also had three hits and three runs as did Bobby Weigand who rapped three doubles. Reg Clarkson led the Eagles with a home run and two one-baggers. Outfielder Noel Morgan finished up on the mound for the birdmen.
Jinks (W), Dumeah (8) and Effnert
Bayley (L), Stoltz (1), Arts (1). Morgan (6) and Garnet
VMD 7 - 1
Navy 5 - 3
RCAF 4 - 3
Army 4 - 4
Eagles 0 - 8
(June 9) Timely two-baggers by Reg Patterson and Ian Lowe in the bottom of the ninth inning broke up a 5-5 tie and brought defending champion V.M.D. a thrilling 6-5 victory over second place Navy. The win extended V.M.D.'s lead to three full games over the sailors. The clubs combined for 25 hits, 14 by the winners, three by Lowe. Navy had both homers, by Whitey Menard and Jack Walker. Tommy Musgrave survived 11 hits to go the distance for the pitching win, his fourth straight.
Dumeah (L) and Berringer
Musgrave (W) and Harney
(June 11) Out-hit by a wide margin, 15 to 7, Army got a gift run in the ninth to tie 4-4 then scored a pair in the tenth to pull out a 6-4 victory over the luckless Eagles Friday. The soldiers did capitalize on nine walks and five errors by the Eagles. Lefty Walter Medansky with his first pitching effort in three years gradually hit his stride and managed to go the distance. Jack Bacon of the Eagles led all hitters with four safeties while teammate Jack Stratton bagged three.
Medansky (W) and Sawchuk
Ray Maitland (L) and Bacon
(June 13) Blanked for six innings, Navy rallied for three runs in the seventh inning and held on to down Royal Canadian Air Force 3-1 Saturday in the opening game of a double-header at Royal Athletic Park. A pair of southpaws hooked up in a rare pitchers' duel as Bert Appleby and Paul "Lefty" Pawluk each limited the opposition to five hits. Pawluk left in the ninth with a sore wrist. Navy got its runs from the bottom of the order as Ray Moretti, Harold Effnert and Pawluk notched the markers.
Pawluk (W), Dumeah (9) and Effnert
Appleby (L), BeckwIll (9) and Switch
(June 13) Army moved into a second place tie with Navy by upending league leading V.M.D. 4-3. They got the winner in the seventh inning as Elmer Kreller reached third on successive boots by the V.M.D. infield and scored on Ray Casey's long fly to centre field. The defending champs threatened in the top of the ninth but a smart double killing by Army ended the game. Ian Lowe the V.M.D. shortstop led the hitters with a circuit blow and two singles in three official times at bat. Gerry Whitney tossed a seven-hitter for the win.
Shillito (L) and Harney
Whitney (W) and Sawchuk
(June 14) R.C.A.F. scored three in the top of the initial stanza and coasted to a 13 to 6 victory of the Eagles, the tenth straight loss for the birdmen. The airmen collected just eight hits, one more than the Eagles, but capitalized on 11 errors, three each by shortstop Harper and third baseman Reg Clarkson. Bernard Parent had a double and triple for the winners.
Ray (W) and Chalmers, Switch
Diamond (L) and Bacon
VMD 8 - 2
Navy 6 - 4
Army 6 - 4
RCAF 4 - 5
Eagles 0 - 9
(June 16) First baseman Doug Peden drove in five runs with a bases-loaded double and a two-run homer in leading Army to an 8-6 come-from-behind victory over Navy. Trailing 5-0, Army rang up six runs in the sixth inning to take the lead. Stan Curry went seven innings for the pitching win but needed help from Bill Prior with the bases loaded and none out in the eighth. One run scored on an error but Prior then retired three in a row to get out of trouble.
Curry (W), Prior (8) and Sawchuk
Dumeah (L) and Effnert
(June 18) The R.C.A.F. pounded out 15 hits Friday while holding first place V.M.D. to just nine but still came away with a loss, 9 to 7. A major factor in the decision was the lack of control by the three Air Force hurlers who issued a total of 12 free passes. V.M.D.'s Jack Coughlin pitched into the eighth inning for the win but was battered by 13 hits including a homer by Bernard Parent and three doubles from Jerry Ray. R.C.A.F. starter Walter Beckwill took the loss although yielding just one hit in his 2 2-3s innings of work. He walked seven.
Coughlin (W), Shillito (8) and Harney
Beckwill (L), Martin (3), Rogers (6) and Switch
(June 19) An eighth inning uprising which netted them seven runs paved the way for the Army's 11-7 victory over the Royal Canadian Air Force in a loosely played matinee attraction. The win, combined with the Eagles' upset of V.M.D., moved Army to within one game of the league-leaders. Shortstop Nick Metz punched out three hits for the winners and first sacker Doug Peden added a double, a pair of singles and scored three times. Winning pitcher Gerry Whitney contributed two safeties.The Flyers, who out-hit the Army 13 to 9, were led by shortstop Bernard Parent with a home run and a single and Hal McBride who rapped a triple and a double. The teams combined for 12 errors.
Whitney (W), Prior (9) and Sawchuk
Appleby (L) and Switch
(June 19) In the upset of the season, the Eagles, without a win in ten games, took an early lead and hung on to top league-leading V.M.D. 9 to 6. A three-run first inning gave the cellar-dwellers an advantage they held throughout. Every batter in the Eagles' lineup collected at least one hit as the winners rapped 15 safeties off a pair of V.M.D. hurlers. Shortstop Clint Hodges led the assault with three hits, two of them doubles, Noel Morgan, at first base, had a double, single and two runs while teen-aged centre fielder Reg Clarkson was outstanding in the field and added a two-bagger and single leading off for the Eagles. Ray Maitland surrendered 11 hits in the complete game victory. Machinery Depot shortstop Ian Lowe had four of those 11 safeties.
R.Maitland (W) and Bacon
Dunc (L), Shillito (1) and Harney
VMD 9 - 3
Army 8 - 4
Navy 6 - 5
RCAF 5 - 7
Eagles 1 - 10
(June 21) Navy overcame 13 walks, five hits and a hit batter to down the Eagles 9-7 in Monday's action in the Victoria Senior League at the Caledonia Avenue facility. Tall Jimmy Jinks had trouble with control all evening and was pulled in the last frame when he gave up four free passes. Eagles went on to score four times in the ninth but fell just short. Lorne Dietrick was the only sailor with more than one hit. He was two for four with a pair of runs.
Diamond (L), Bowes (8) and Bacon
Jinks (W), Dumeah (9) and Effnert
(June 23) Just one game separates the top three teams in the Victoria Senior League following Wednesday's 10-1 victory by the Navy over Victoria Machinery Depot. Husky Jimmy Dumeah, pitching star of last year's final series between the shipbuilders and the bluejackets, came up with his best effort of the season. The big right-hander fired a four-hitter and allowed just one free pass in setting down the league-leaders. Tommy Musgrave, shooting for his fifth win, was driven to the showers in the fifth inning, his first early exit of the summer. Ken VanHatten, top hitter in the Vancouver Baseball League prior to joining the Navy squad, laced out a double and two singles to lead the sailor's attack. Wally Thompson had a pair of hits and scored four times.
Musgrave (L), Burke (5) and Harney
Dumeah (W) and Effnert
VMD 9 - 4
Army 8 - 4
Navy 8 - 5
RCAF 5 - 7
Eagles 1 - 11
(June 25) With an 8-6 triumph over the Eagles, Army has moved into a first place tie with V.M.D. in the Victoria Senior League, each with nine wins in thirteen games. Nick Metz, with three hits, including a two-run homer over the Pembroke Street fence in the third frame, paced a ten-hit attack. The winners built up an 8-2 lead before the Eagles rallied in the ninth with four counters. Lefty Medansky pitched into the ninth to pick up the win. For the Eagles, shortstop Clint Hodges went four-for-four and newcomer Dunc McGeachy picked up a double and two singles.
Bowes (L), Diamond and Bacon
Medansky (W), Curry (9), Prior (9) and Sawchuk
(June 26) Navy scored three times in the opening frame and held on to edge the Royal Canadian Air Force 4-2 in the opening game of a Saturday double-header. Harley Berringer, the most versatile member of the bluejackets' squad - he pitches, catches, plays infield and outfield - twirled four-hit ball for the winners but needed relief in the final frame when the flyers threatened. He fanned ten. Jimmy Dumeah took over with the bases loaded and one down and allowed one run on an error but got a strikeout and a ground out to end the game. Jack Walker had three hits to top the winners.
Ray (L), Appleby (7) and Switch
Berringer (W), Dumeah (9) and Effnert
(June 26) Victoria Machinery Depot, the 1942 champions, climbed back onto the top rung in the Victoria Senior League Saturday evening downing Army 10-8 for a one-game margin over Army and Navy, tied for second place. With 1,600 enthusiastic fans looking on, the contest was one of the heaviest-hitting exhibitions of the season. The clubs laced out 25 hits, including a pair of home runs and six doubles. But, it was the no-hit pitching of Tommy Musgrave which highlighted the affair. Relieving starter Cy Shillito in the fifth inning with Army having taken an 8-7 lead, Musgrave blanked the soldiers the rest of the way with no hits, no walks and six strikeouts. Shortstop Ian Lowe led the winners with four hits, including a pair of doubles. First baseman Babe Work had three hits and two runs and catcher Laurel Harney scored twice and produced two safeties. Doug Peden and Bill Prior each smacked a homer and double for the Eagles.
Prior, Whitney (L) (4) and Sawchuk
Shillito, Musgrave (W) (5) and Harney
(June 28) Navy newcomer Don Coy led off a 17-hit assault Monday as the sailors crushed the Eagles 18 to 5 at Royal Athletic Park. Coy, at second base, collected three hits and registered four runs from atop the batting order.. Gil Bruce smacked four hits and Ken VanHatten produced three hits and three runs. Ace right-hander Jimmy Dumeah picked up the easy win yielding six hits in his six innings of work. The Eagles shortstop Dunc McGeachy poked out three hits in five trips to the plate.
Dumeah (W), Pawluk (7) and Berringer
R.Maitland (L), E.Curtis (6), T.Maitland (7) and Bacon
VMD 10 - 4
Navy
10 - 5
Army
9 - 5
RCAF 5 - 8
Eagles 1 - 13
(June 30) Army plated three runs in the initial stanza and cruised to a 7 to 2 victory over the Air Force Wednesday to regain a share of second place in the league standings. Doug Peden and Nick Metz had two hits and two runs each to pace the winners. One of Peden's blows was a four-bagger. Jerry Ray produced both R.C.A.F. markers with a two-run homer in the seventh frame. Jerry Whitney scattered seven hits to registered the mound triumph.
Appleby (L) , Beckwill (7) and Chalmers
Whitney (W) and Sawchuk
(July 1) Victoria All-Stars swept an exhibition double-header with Vancouver St. Regis Dominion Day to regain possession of the Dominion Day Challenge Trophy. In the opener, Ken VanHatten crushed two circuit blows over the Pembroke Street fence and Gil Bruce rapped four hits as Victoria rang up a 19-5 victory. The All-Stars collected 24 hits. In the second game, Victoria had four hits and four runs in the first inning en route to a 5-2 win. Coley Hall of St. Regis had a homer in the fifth inning for Vancouver's first counter. Lefty Medansky held Vancouver to nine hits in going the distance for the All-Stars.
Condon (L), Holden (6) and Laycock
Ray (W), Dumeah (7) and Sawchuk
Robertson (L) and Anselmo
Medansky (W) and Harney
(July 2) Victoria Machinery Depot managed just eight hits but ran wild on the bases, with 16 steals, and capitalized on nine walks and seven Eagles' errors to whip the cellar-dwellers 12 to 1. Ian Lowe was the main man for the winners with a homer and single, two runs and four stolen bases. Jack Coughlin went the route with an eight-hitter for the pitching win. "Red" McDonald was the victim of the V.M.D. offensive going all the way on the hill for the Eagles in his debut for the team.
Coughlin (W) and Harney
McDonald (L) and Bacon
(July 3) Coach Whitey Menard's Royal Canadian Navy shook off the Army jinx Saturday at the Caledonia Avenue ball yard when they defeated the soldiers 7-5 in the matinee attraction of Saturday's twin-bill. It was the first win for the bluejackets over the Army this season. The sailors got away to a three-run lead in the first frame and stayed in front all the way although threatened in the ninth as Army put together five hits to score three in the last frame and had the tying runs on base when Jimmy Dumeah got the final out. Jack Walker punched out four hits to lead the winners' attack. Nick Metz smacked three doubles in a losing cause.
Prior (L), Medansky (6) and Sawchuk
Dumeah (W) and Effnert
(July 3) Ian Lowe's seventh inning homer carried Victoria Machinery Depot to a 3-2 triumph over the R.C.A.F. Trailing 2-1, with Reg Patterson on the initial sack with a walk, Lowe lifted one over the Pembroke Street fence for the tying and winning runs. The Flyers surprised V.M.D. when they send flashy shortstop Bernard Parent out to the mound to handle the hurling. He held V.M.D. to just eight hits but issued seven free passes. Tommy Musgrave went all the way with a six-hitter for the pitching win, his sixth of the season against just one loss.
Parent (L) and Chalmers
Musgrave (W) and Harney
(July 5) Hal McBride knocked in four runs with a homer and triple to pace R.C.A.F. to a 9-3 win over the Eagles. Bernard Parent added three singles and scored twice. Jerry Ray went five innings to pick up the win.
Ray (W), Williams (6) , Bain (8) and Chalmers
R.Maitland (L), McDonald (5) and Bridgewood
VMD 12 - 4
Navy
11 - 5
Army
10 - 6
RCAF 5 - 10
Eagles 1 - 14
(July 7) Cy Shillito tossed a neat five-hitter for Victoria Machinery Depot Wednesday in an easy 9-1 triumph over Navy. Reg Patterson and Charlie Restell each had three of V.M.D.'s 13 hits. Sparkplug Ian Lowe added two hits and two runs. Harold Effnert cracked a homer to account for the only Navy counter.
Pawluk (L), Berringer (5) and Effnert
Shillito (W) and Harney
(July 9) The Eagles went down to another loss Wednesday, their 16th in 17 games, but gave Army all they could handle before going down 7 to 6. The soldiers needed a run in the ninth to chalk up the triumph. Lefty Medansky rang up 14 strikeouts with no walks in pitching the win. Red McDonald, who relieved in the third inning for the Eagles, allowed just two hits. He fanned eight but issued ten free passes. The result moved Army into a second place tie with Navy, two games back of V.M.D.
Medansky (W) and Sawchuk
Diamond, McDonald (L) (3) and Bacon
(July 10) The hard-hitting Victoria All-Stars crushed visiting Port Orchard 26-4 and 14 -5 in a Hart Cup double-header Saturday at Royal Athletic Park. After one inning in the first game, Port Orchard had a 2-0 lead. Then Victoria got rolling scoring in all the remaining innings, seven times in the fourth, with a 21-hit attack. Eight errors further hurt the visitors. Doug Peden crushed two homers, a triple and single and scored four times. Jack Walker also had four hits, two of them doubles, and Gil Bruce chipped in with three hits and three runs. Catcher Julian Sawchuk added a homer and double. Whitey Menard had a triple, double and single and four runs scored. Jimmy Dumeah held Port Orchard to six hits in handling the pitching chores.
Dailey (L), Burrell (4), Boyd (8) and Shattuck
Dumeah (W) and Sawchuk
Victoria rapped out another 12 hits in winning the second game 14 to 5. Ian Lowe was the top swatsmith for the winners with a homer and two singles. Reg Patterson and Babe Work each contributed two hits. Tommy Musgrave went six innings for the pitching win. Jack Burrell had three hits for Port Orchard.
E.Moran, Boyd (8) and Shattuck
Musgrave (W), Whitney (7) and Harney
(July 12) Navy plated all eight of their runs in the first three innings and held off a late charge by the Royal Canadian Air Force to post an 8-5 triumph Monday. Second baseman Lorne Dietrick rapped four hits and scored three times to pace the winners. Harland Berringer tossed a seven-hitter and struck out six in registering the win although he walked nine.
Berringer (W) and Effnert
Williams (L), Appleby (1), Ray (4) and Chalmers
(July 14) In a game which produced 31 hits, including two homers, two triples and eight doubles, Army held off a bases-loaded threat in the eighth and a ninth inning rally by V.M.D. to notch a 10-8 victory and tie Navy just a game back of the league-leaders. The soldiers pounded out 16 of the safeties with Bill Prior, Elmer Kreller and Carlo each with three. Carlo rapped a triple and double, Kreller had a pair of two-baggers as did Prior. Julian Sawchuk and Doug Peden smacked homers.
Coughlin (L), Shillito (2), Musgrave (6) and Harney
Whitney (W), Medansky (8) and Sawchuk
(July 17) Navy took sole possession of second place in the Victoria Senior League standings Saturday downing Army 11-6 in the first game of a twin-bill. The sailors notched a pair in the first inning and stayed in front all the way cementing the victory with five runs in the eighth frame. Eight errors, three by losing hurler Lefty Medansky, hurt Army's chances. Centre fielder Gil Bruce had a three-hit day for the winners while Ray Casey pounded a homer and double in a losing cause. Winning pitcher Jimmy Dumeah collected two doubles and scored twice.
Dumeah (W) and Effnert
Medansky (L), Curry (8) and Sawchuk
(July 17) The lost season for the Eagles now totals 18 losses in 19 games. V.M.D. did the deed Saturday evening notching a 6-1 victory in which each team had seven hits. A porous Eagles defense, which made eight errors, was a key factor in the decision. Charlie Stroulger of V.M.D. and Clint Hodges and Jack Stratton of the Eagles were the only batters with two hits. Jack Coughlin went the distance for the pitching win.
Diamond (L) and Garnet
Coughlin (W) and Harney
VMD 14 - 5
Navy
13 - 6
Army
12 - 7
RCAF 7 - 11
Eagles 1 - 18
(July 19) R.C.A.F. held off an Army rally in the ninth inning to shade the soldiers 7-6 Monday. Jerry Ray gave up ten hits and seven walks but managed to go the distance for the pitching win. The right-hander fanned six. With two runs already in and the tying run at first, Ray struck out Elmer Kreller to end the game. Percy Switch, the Flyers' catcher, was beaned in the sixth by Bill Prior, Army's relief hurler. He was taken to Jubilee Hospital where he is to be detained for the next twenty-four hours for observation. Bernard Parent led the winners with a double and single and three runs scored.
Curry (L), Prior (5) and Sawchuk
Ray (W) and Switch
(July 21) Navy spotted the Eagles a two run advantage in the early innings before taking the lead in the fifth and piling it on for a 9 to 2 victory on Wednesday to climb to within a half a game of the pace-setting V.M.D. nine. Harley Berringer, the winning hurler was stingy with the hits, allowing but five, although he issued seven walks. Right fielder Jack Walker and second baseman Lorne Dietrick led the offense each with three hits. The loss for the Eagles was their 19th in 20 games.
McDonald (L), Diamond (8) and Harper
Berringer (W) and Effnert
VMD 14 - 5
Navy
14 - 6
Army
12 - 8
RCAF 8 - 11
Eagles 1 - 19
(July 23) In another Victoria Senior League hit fest, there were 28 hits Friday as Army shaded V.M.D. 8-7 in ten innings. Tied 5-5, Army pushed across three in the top of the tenth on three hits and an error then held off a V.M.D. rally in the bottom of the frame for the victory. Ian Lowe cracked a homer, his second of the day, with Reg Patterson aboard with none out but Jerry Whitney got the next three batters to end the game. Everyone in the Army lineup had at least one hit as the soldiers rapped out 15 including a homer by catcher Julian Sawchuk, a triple and double by Cousins and two-baggers by Elmer Kreller, Saundry and Ray Casey. Charlie Restell poked three safeties for the losers.
Whitney (W) and Sawchuk
Musgrave (L) and Patterson
(July 24) A two-run homer by Ken VanHatten in the bottom of the eighth inning powered Navy to a 5-3 win over R.C.A.F. in the first game of Saturday's double-header. The sailors had taken a 3-0 lead in the first inning and held it until the top of the eighth when the flyers knotted the count. Navy trotted out newcomers pitcher Hugh Cuddie and catcher George McDowall from Toronto who worked well together. Cuddie allowed just six hits and whiffed ten and with better support might have had a shutout. Navy made five errors. Gil Bruce of Navy was the only batter with two hits. Jerry Ray, who hurled shutout ball in a relief role until VanHatten's blast, was tagged with the loss.
Beckwill, Ray (L) (1) and Switch
Cuddie (W) and McDowall
(July 24) Victoria Machinery Depot combined 25 hits, 14 walks, 16 stolen bases and eight Eagles' errors Saturday evening to demolish the Eagles 28 to 4. V.M.D. had a 16-0 lead after two innings. Shortstop Ian Lowe and third sacker Al Euerby had huge games, each with four hits and four runs scored. Babe Work and winning hurler Cy Shillito had three hits and three runs apiece. Charlie Restell, the V.M.D. centre fielder, added three runs and six stolen bases. Right fielder Laurel Harney had just two hits but scored six times and pilfered three bags. Jack Couglin, who relieved in the seventh inning, was the only player in the V.M.D. lineup not to get a hit and score a run. The Eagles managed 11 hits, bringing the game's total to 36, only three which went for extra bases. Euerby and Work had doubles for V.M.D. and Reg Clarkson smacked a two-bagger for the Eagles.
Shillito (W), Coughlin (7) and Patterson
Diamond (L), McDonald (2), Syrotuck (3) and
Harper, Clarkson
(July 26) Navy had two, six-run innings Monday as they whipped the Eagles 15 to 8 to climb into first place in the Victoria Senior League, a half game up on V.M.D. Centre fielder Gil Bruce led a 12-hit assault with four hits and three scores while shortstop Don Coy had the big blow, a grand slam homer in the third inning. Mike Genthon went six solid innings for the winners yielding just six hits and one run. The left-hander fanned eight. The fiasco included the entry of the bat boys into the game as Johnny Marshall the Navy bat boy, walked Berlyn Hodges, the Eagles' bat boy. George Syrotuck the Eagles' manager put in Hodges to bat for "Major" Bowes with the bases loaded, and Navy retaliated by having their boy boy do the pitching.
Diamond (L), Curtis (4), Coutts (6), Marshall, Weigand, Menard and Given
Genthon (W), Berringer (7) and McDowall, Hyslop
Navy
16 - 6
VMD 15 - 6
Army
13 - 8
RCAF 8 - 12
Eagles 1 - 21
(July 28) A four-run first inning carried Army to a 5-3 victory over Navy Wednesday, knocking the sailors out of sole possession of top spot in the league standings. Jerry Whitney pitched shutout ball for five innings for the mound triumph before being forced from the game with a sore arm. Lefty Medansky finished for the winners getting out of a bases-loaded, none-out situation in the eighth inning to secure the win. Catcher Julian Sawchuk picked a runner off at first base for the first out and Medansky whiffed Bobby Weigand and Don Coy to end the threat. Centre fielder Cousins paced a 13-hit attack for Army with three hits. Nick Metz, Ray Casey and Sammy Kennedy each had a pair.
Whitney (W), Medansky (6) and Sawchuk
Dumeah (L) and McDowall
(July 30) The R.C.A.F. Flyers from Patricia Bay scored early and often to send V.M.D. to a 10-4 defeat Friday as the clubs prepared for the post-season playoffs set to open Monday, August 9th. V.M.D. actually took the lead with three runs in the top of the first inning, but R.C.A.F. responded with six runs of their own in the bottom of the initial frame. They added one in the second and three more in the third. McDonald, Bernard Parent, Percy Switch and Gunn each rapped two hits for the winners. Southpaw Bert Appleby, hurt by shoddy fielding in the first frame, settled in nicely to hurl a three-hitter for the winners.
T.Naylor (L), Musgrave (1), Shillito (5) and Harney
Appleby (W) and Switch
(July 31) In a high-scoring exhibition double-header Saturday, the United States Army squad from Fort Worden came away with a win and a loss. They defeated the Victoria Navy 15 to 13 in the first game then dropped a 14-10 decision to the Victoria Army nine.
First baseman Tony Sarausky, who also had a double, smacked a three-run homer in the seventh inning to break an 11-11 tie and give the Americans the first game victory. Eviosic, for Fort Worden, and Jack Walker, for the Canadians, also rapped circuit blows. Navy out-hit the visitors 15 to 8 with Gil Bruce and Walker each with three. The visitors were also sloppy in the field, making eight errors. Navy left 16 runners on base to just 7 for Fort Worden. Pitchers on both sides had control troubles with a total of 21 walks, 12 by Victoria.
Pemberton, Happy (W) (7) and Watts
Berringer, Chomin (5), Dumeah (L) (5) and Effnert
In another heavy hitting affair, Victoria broke a 3-3 tie in the second inning with a four-run outburst en route to the 14-10 triumph. Again the losing team had the most hits as the Americans produced 13 safeties, four by catcher Watt and three from losing pitcher Vic Happy and second baseman Aronson. Elmer Kreller cracked a homer and single for the winners, scoring twice. McDonald added three hits. Stan Curry was credited with the pitching win although going just three and two-thirds innings. He allowed six runs on five hits and nine walks.
Happy (L) and Watts
Curry (W), Prior (4) and Sawchuk, reigner
(August 2) Victoria Machinery Depot climbed back into a tie for first place Monday with an 8-2 victory over R.C.A.F. V.M.D. exploded for six runs in the eighth inning to break a 2-2 draw. Shipbuilders combined a triple, double, two singles and three errors in the big inning. Cy Shillito tossed a seven hitter for the win while Babe Work and Laurel Harney paced the offense, Work with three hits and Harney with a pair.
Ray (L) and Switch
Shillito (W) and Harney
Navy
16 - 7
VMD 16 - 7
Army
14 - 8
RCAF 9 - 12
Eagles 1 - 21
(August 4) With a crowd of more than 2,500 looking on at the Caledonia Avenue ball yard, Navy whipped the defending champion V.M.D. 7 to 1 Wednesday evening to capture the league title and the McGavin Cup. The large main grandstand and bleacher accommodation was crowded to capacity and hundreds more over-flowed onto the field. Mayor Andrew McGavin, donor of the trophy bearing his name, presented the silverware to Petty Officer Bob Dewhirst, manager of the Navy club. Lefty Mike Genthon, from Winnipeg, fired a five-hitter for the win and poked a double and single to help the Navy attack. Bobby Weigand slammed a homer for the winners and losing pitcher Tommy Musgrave had a four-bagger to account for the lone V.M.D. marker. Navy scored three times in the first inning on three hits and a pair of errors and were never threatened.
Musgrave (L), Coughlin (7) and Harney
Genthon (W) and xxx
(August 6) Hal McBride's towering two-run homer over the left centre field fence brought the Royal Canadian Air Force a 5-3 victory over the lowly Eagles Friday at Royal Athletic Park. The timely wallop broke a 3-3 deadlock in the eighth inning. Newcomer Emil Hangs twirled six-hit ball and fanned ten in going the route for the winners. Playing-manager Bryan Forster added a double and single and two stolen bases for the airmen.
Hangs (W0 and Savariat, Forster
McDonald (L) and Garnet
(August 7) Army took both games of Saturday's double-header, 12 to 6 over R.C.A.F. and 7-6 over the Eagles, to jump into a second place tie with V.M.D. and force a sudden-death playoff to decide second and third spots in the standings. Home runs by Nick Metz, Doug Peden and Elmer Kreller accounted for six of the twelve markers the troops scored in the afternoon battle. Jerry Whitney held the airmen to seven hits while whiffing ten and issuing no free passes.
Whitney (W) and xxx
Appleby (L) and xxx
The last-place Eagles gave the soldiers plenty of trouble in the nightcap before dropping a 7-6 verdict for their 23rd setback in 24 starts. "Red" McDonald, who hurled a complete game last evening, walked in the winning run with two out in the last of the ninth. Ray Casey had given the Army the lead in the first inning with a three-run homer. Lefty Medansky was the winner in relief of starter Bill Prior.
McDonald (L) and xxx
Bill Prior, Medansky (W) (8) and xxx
Navy
17 - 7
VMD 16 - 8
Army
15 - 8
RCAF 10 - 14
Eagles 1 - 23
PLAYOFFS
(August 9) V.M.D., the defending Victoria champions, came back from a 4-1 deficit with two runs in the 8th and two more in the bottom of the ninth to shade Army 5-4 in sudden-death playoff to break a tie for second place in the standings. Reg Patterson laced a single to score Barney Barnswell from second base with the winning marker. Ian Lowe slugged a two-run homer in the 8th and then tied the game in the ninth with run-scoring single, his third hit of the game. Barnswell and catcher Laurel Harney each had two hits and two runs for V.M.D. Shortstop Nick Metz and left fielder Elmer Kreller each cracked a triple and double for the losers.
Medansky, Whitney (L) (8) and Sawchuk
Shillito, Coughlin (W) (7) and Harney
Semi-finals (best-of-five)
(August 11) Maurice Duffy singled in Reg Patterson in the fourth inning for the only run V.M.D. would need Wednesday in the opening game of their best-of-five semi-final series with R.C.A.F. The defending Victoria champions shaded the airmen 2-0 behind the shutout hurling of Tommy Musgrave who allowed eight hits. Loser Jerry Ray pitched five-hit ball giving up two hits in each of the 4th and 5th innings when V.M.D. notched their runs.
Ray (L) and Parent
Musgrave (W) and Harney
(August 13) Army and Navy battled to a 2-2 12-inning draw in the opening game of a best-of-five semi-final series. Approaching darkness forced the thrilling contest to be called. Jimmy Dumeah the Navy right-hander and Jerry Whitney hooked up in a dandy pitching duel that kept the 1,800 fans on their toes throughout the twelve innings of smart ball. Each hurler gave up nine hits and Dumeah fanned 14, while Whitney had 10 strikeouts. The soldiers bunched three hits in the third frame to score both their markers and the bluejackets, given a break on an Army miscue in the sixth, knotted the count.
Whitney and Sawchuk
Dumeah and Effnert, Berringer
(August 14) Army and Victoria Machinery Depot came up with victories Saturday in Rithet Cup semi-finals scoring triumphs over the Navy and Royal Canadian Air Force. In the matinee contest, troops beat the bluejackets 7-3 while the shipbuilders checked in with a 10-3 verdict over the flyers in the nightcap.
Trailing 3-1 going into the bottom of the seventh, Army took advantage of Navy miscues to plate six runs to safely tuck away the game. All ten runs in the contest were unearned as the Navy made eight errors and the Army had five. Lefty Medansky hurled a four-hitter and fanned ten without a walk to post the win. Mike Genthon, another southpaw, yielded just five hits and compiled eight strikeouts.
Genthon (L) and Effnert
Medansky (W) and Sawchuk
(August 14) V.M.D. broke open a tight ball game with four runs in the seventh and three more in the eighth for their 10-3 triumph over R.C.A.F. Catcher Laurel Harney, right fielder Reg Patterson and left fielder Maurice Duffy each had three hits to pace the winners. Jimmy Lowe had three for the airmen. Cy Shillito gave up 11 hits but managed to go the distance for the pitching win.
Shillito (W) and Harney
Ray (L), Appleby (8) and Parent
(August 16) Al Euerby laid down a bunt with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning to score Maurice Duffy with the winning run as V.M.D. edged R.C.A.F. 3-2 Monday to take the best-of-five semi-final in three straight games. V.M.D. had taken a 2-1 lead in the first inning and the teams then played scoreless ball until the top of the ninth when the flyers tied the count as McDonald doubled in Bryan Forster who reached on an error. Tommy Musgrave picked up the pitching win in a relief role.
Parent (L) and Switch
Coughlin, Musgrave (W) (8) and Harney
(August 18) Navy came from behind with three runs in the fourth inning and coasted to a 7-3 victory over Army to tie the semi-final series at a game apiece. Leadoff batter Lorne Dietrick belted a homer and double for the winners and centre fielder Gil Bruce rapped a double and three singles. Doug Peden collected three hits and two runs for the Army. Mike Genthon, who took over for the ailing Jimmy Dumeah in the second, scattered eight hits the rest of the way for the win.
Whitney (L) and Sawchuk
Dumeah, Genthon (W) (2) and Berringer
(August 21) Victoria teams came away with victories in both games of Saturday's exhibition double-header with the Port Angeles, Washington, All-Stars. Army took the opener 8-1 and V.M.D. captured the evening contest 10-3.
The afternoon game featured the power of Army shortstop Jimmy Lowe who clouted a two-run homer, triple and single. Sammy Kennedy also rapped three hits and scored twice. Bill Prior, who pitched five innings of shutout ball in a relief role, was the winning hurler. Leo Davis, who went all the way for the visitors, surrendered ten hits in taking the loss.
Davis (L) and Staeger
Medansky, Prior (W) (3), Curry (8), Whitney (9) and Carlo
V.M.D. smacked 15 hits, four by Laurel Harney and three by Reg Patterson, in the 10-3 triumph over Port Angeles. Charlie Bregal rapped four hits for the visitors.
Barr (L), Bregal (8) and Robinson
Shillito, Coughlin (W) (4), Musgrave (6) and Harney
(August 23) Aided by sloppy field work by Army, Navy broke loose for four runs in the 8th inning to break a 2-2 tie then added a pair in the ninth to post an 8-2 victory and a 2-1 game lead in the semi-final series. Navy had just two hits in the big stanza, but two wild pitches and numerous miscues allowed the Navy to put the game on ice. Mike Genthon held Army to seven hits, one a homer by Doug Peden. Catcher Harold Effnert poked a circuit shot for the winners.
Genthon (W) and Effnert
Medansky (L) and Sawchuk
(August 25) In a wild one, Navy, once down 10-3, scored a pair in the bottom of the 8th and final inning to edge Army 12-11 to win a berth in the league final against V.M.D. Sailors took the semi-final series three games to one with one tie. First baseman Bobby Weigand singled with two out to plate Ken VanHatten with the winning run for the sailors. Army opened the game with four runs in the top of the initial frame. Navy responded with a run in the first and two in the second before falling behind 10-3 as Army rang up five runs in the third and added another in the fourth. But Navy had a five-run inning of their own in the fourth and added two more in the fifth to pull into a 10-10 tie. Army took the lead with a singleton in the top of the 8th before Navy tallied the tying and winning runs in the bottom of the 8th. Jack Walker pounded a homer and two triples for the winners and Lorne Dietrick poked out four singles. Nick Metz wielded the power stick for the Army with a homer and three singles, scoring three times.
Whitney, Prior (L) (4) and Sawchuk
Berringer, Dumeah (W) (3) and Effnert, Berringer
Finals (best-of-seven)
(August 27) Tommy Musgrave used his arm and bat to give V.M.D. the lead in the Victoria Senior baseball final series. The right-hander fired a six-hit shutout and belted a two-run homer to account for all the scoring as the defending champions downed the sailors 2-0 in the first game of a best-of-seven series. In the top of the seventh inning, after six scoreless frames, and with Al Euerby on second by virtue of a single and a sacrifice, Musgrave stepped to the plate and lifted one out of the park. In his mound duties, Musgrave fanned seven and walked a pair. There was excitement in the bottom of the ninth when Navy's Gil Bruce led off with a double and advanced to third before the side was retired and the game ended. But not before a rhubarb at home plate as Navy players and fans jawed with umpire Tommy Watson after he called Harley Berringer, Navy pinch-hitter, out on strikes. One fan took a swing at Watson and police came onto the field to offer protection for Watson and escort the fan from the ball park.
Musgrave (W) and Harney
Genthon (L) and Effnert
(August 28) Navy rallied with five runs with two out in the ninth inning Saturday to salvage a 7-7 draw with V.M.D. in the abbreviated second game of the final series. Supporters of the Navy nine were so pleased when their favourites knotted the scored they started dancing on the grass at the Caledonia Avenue facility. The shipbuilders did all their scoring in two frames, the third and the fourth when they bunched six of their twelve hits. Ian Lowe, V.M.D.'s hard-hitting shortstop, drove in four of their markers with a two-run homer in the third and a stinging triple in the fourth. Five hits and a couple of costly V.M.D. bobbles in the final frame resulted in the five Navy counters.
Dumeah and Effnert
Shillito and Harney
(August 30) V.M.D. unleashed a 15-hit attack, three by catcher Laurel Harney, in whipping Navy 11-3 to take a 2-0 game lead in the best-of-seven Victoria Senior baseball final. Every batter in the V.M.D. lineup collected at least one safety. Jack Coughlin, the slim former Prairie hurler, was nicked for 11 hits but kept them well scattered. Both squads were sloppy afield with the sailors having a particularly bad night charged with nine miscues. V.M.D. made five boots. Jack Walker rapped a triple, double and single for the losers. For the first time this season, Mike Genthon failed to go the distance.
Couglin (W) and Harney
Genthon (L), Dumeah (6), Berringer (7) and Effnert
September 3) V.M.D. rapped three doubles and three singles in the fifth inning to plate five runs on the way to a 6-2 win over Navy and a commanding three-to-one game lead in their best-of-seven final series. Tommy Musgrave posted his fourth playoff victory scattering eight hits in a complete game effort. Ian Lowe had a double and single to lead the winners. Harold Effnert had three hits in a losing cause.
Dumeah (L) and Effnert
Musgrave (W) and Harney
(September 5) The historic Rithet Cup, symbolic of the Victoria Senior baseball championship is going back to the Victoria Machinery Depot Sports and Social Club silverware cabinet for another year. Shipbuilders won the coveted trophy for the second straight season Saturday night at Royal Athletic Park when they crushed the Navy, the 1943 McGavin Cup winners, 15-4 in the fifth game of the best-of-seven series. V.M.D. opened with a five run outburst in the first inning and cruised to the win, scoring two more in the third and eight in the final frame. Every batter in the V.M.D. lineup collected at least one hit. First sacker Babe Work paced the winners with a homer and two singles. Centre fielder Barney Barnswell added three singles. Ian Lowe and Reg Patterson each had two hits and two runs scored. Cy Shillito yielded eight base knocks in going the distance in pitching V.M.D. to the title. Mike Genthon, who didn't get out of the first inning, was saddled with the loss.
Genthon (L), Pawluk (1), Weigand (9) and Effnert
Shillito (W) and Harney
(September 6) Climaxing the most successful season in the history of the six-year-old Victoria Baseball Association, manager Joe Casey's All-Stars turned back the star-studded Fort Lewis Warriors 3-1 in the second game of the Labour Day double-header at Royal Athletic Park. Locals dropped the morning fixture 11-3.
Tommy Musgrave finished off one of his best seasons at the Caledonia Avenue ball lot setting down the visitors much to the delight of the record-setting crowd of more than 3,200 spectators. The right-hander allowed ten hits but kept them well spaced as he allowed a run in the first inning then fired shutout ball the rest of the way. Aldon Wilkie, who played in Saskatoon, Courtenay, Vancouver and Seattle, before joining the Pittsburgh Pirates of the National League, hurled for the visitors. The left-hander gave up seven hits, fanned four and issued one base on balls. Victoria did all of their damage in the sixth inning. After Reg Patterson drove in the tying marker, Ken VanHatten singled with the bases loaded to push across two more tallies.
Wilkie (L) and Kubicek
Musgrave (W) and Harney
The Fort Lewis Warriors exploded for eight runs in the second inning, helped by wobbly fielding by the locals, to easily capture the first game 11-3. Eddie Erautt, formerly with Hollywood of the Pacific Coast League, went the route for the visitors. The 18-year-old was nicked for nine hits and compiled six strikeouts. The Warriors collected ten hits of Jerry Ray who fanned seven and walked two. Nine of the eleven runs against Ray were unearned.
Erautt (W) and Kubicek
Ray (L) and Harney
Nanaimo
With several service branches stationed in and around Nanaimo during 1943, senior level baseball in that mid-Island community had an active season, albeit somewhat chaotic. A civilian senior team from the Hub City was also organized for 1943 but abruptly suspended operations in late May after engaging in just two exhibition games. Resurrected less than a week later, the Nanaimo civilian club, now referred to as the Bombers, was accepted into the six-team Nanaimo Army League. The Bombers stacked up quite well against the Army opposition during the brief life of that circuit, capturing all three of their scheduled games. For some unknown reason, the teams did not engage in any league commitments from mid to late June, a sign of impending trouble for the circuit. A scheduled league game set for June 30 was called off within two hours of game time, raising serious questions about the stability of the loop. Diamonds remained vacant for another eighteen days before the Nanaimo Bombers again took the field to play an exhibition game against a Victoria military team. Nothing was heard about the Army League again although some of the service teams did play exhibition games against one another as well as the Bombers for the duration of the summer.
Teams in the short-lived 1944 Nanaimo Army League
Artillery (R.C.A.)
Engineers (R.C.E.)
Nanaimo Bombers (civilian)
Ordnance (R.C.O.C.)
Rangers (R.M.R.)
Scottish (C.S.R.)
(May 2) Nanaimo baseball fans got their first look at Armed Services ball Sunday when the Royal Canadian Artillery exploded for six runs in the tenth inning to down the touted Prince of Wales Rangers 14-8 before a crowd of more than 1,000 at the Central Sports Grounds. In the extra frame, left-fielder Paul Calvert misjudged Granich's high fly allowing two runs to score to break the 8-8 deadlock. Slota led the winners with two doubles and a single and three runs scored. Granich smacked a pair of two-baggers and scored four times. Young, the winning hurler in relief, helped his own cause with a double and single. Young allowed just three hits in eight innings of work but walked 11. Jack Calvert, who relieved in the fourth inning for the Rangers, rang up 14 strikeouts.
Mason, Young (W) (3) and Poulin
Crozier, J.Calvert (L) (4) and Sammartino
(May 5) Local baseball enthusiasts will have another season of ball in Nanaimo if present plans work out. Following a meeting last night, it was learned the Nanaimo club had been granted the use of the Central Sports Grounds for the summer. Plans call for intercity games with Victoria and Vancouver teams on Sundays. It's also possible the civilian team will enter into league competition with the Armed Services, with games on Wednesdays.
(May 9) Nanaimo City took a loss in its 1943 debut Sunday dropping a 7-3 decision to Royal Canadian Artillery. Five costly errors in the second and third innings spelled defeat for the civilian squad. Toss Naylor allowed six hits and six walks while fanning 15 in taking the loss for Nanaimo. Pearson, a right-hander from Eastern Canada, yielded nine hits in going the distance for the win. Granich, the visitors playing manager, had the game's big blow, a third inning triple. Centre fielder Ed Davis of Nanaimo had three safeties to lead all hitters.
Pearson (W) and Poulin
Naylor (L) and Edmunds
(May 16) Nanaimo's civilian nine came from behind in the ninth inning to shade the Royal Canadian Ordnance Corp of Camp Nanaimo 5-3 Sunday at the Central Sports Grounds. Trailing 3-2, Fat Edmunds got aboard on a dropped fly in the outfield and Lefty Biggs followed with a single. Edmunds scored on a wild pitch to tie the count and Joe Zaccarelli singled to right to plate the winning marker. Biggs held the visitors to six hits and rang up 11 strikeouts in going the route for the winners. None of the runs against him were earned as Nanaimo booted the ball six times.
Biggs (W) and Edmunds
Sumner, Soulie (L) (5) and Emard
(May 26) Civilian baseball activities came to an abrupt end as team executives announced a suspension of operations following a special meeting at the Globe Hotel. "Onerous conditions" imposed upon the club was cited as a reason for the decision.
(May 26) Shortstop O'Toole smacked a double to plate Soulier with the winning run in the bottom of the seventh and final inning Wednesday as Royal Canadian Ordnance Corp edged the Royal Canadian Engineers 3-2. Soulier had led off the inning with a double. Behind the hurling of Merk, Engineers took a 2-0 lead in the third when Meecke laced a two-bagger to drive in Asbell and Squire but then committed a pair of errors in the bottom of the frame which allowed Ordnance to tie the count.
Merk (L) and Asbell
Miscisco (W) and Epifano
(May 30) Royal Canadian Ordnance overwhelmed a Canadian Scottish unit with 17 hits for 20 runs in a 20-1 trouncing on Sunday at Nanaimo. Southpaw Miscisco, formerly with the Trail Cards, went eight innings for Ordnance to pick up the win, his second. Catcher Epifano was the big stickman for the winners with a pair of triples before he was forced from the game with a thumb injury which required a trip to hospital.
Miscisco (W), O'Toole (9) and Epifano, Kletzel
Neil (L), Vandal (2),
Cann (7) and Clayton
(May 30) Nanaimo's civilian club is back in play, slated to face the Rangers tomorrow after team officials announced Nanaimo would field a team in the Armed Services Senior League.
(June 1) In their opening game in league action, Nanaimo Bombers nosed out the league-leading Ordnance nine 4-3 in a thriller at the Sports Grounds. Both pitchers, Toss Naylor for the winners, and Souliere for Ordnance rang up 13 strikeouts and no walks. Naylor was also Nanaimo's major offensive force with a two-run homer, a pair of singles and three runs scored. The civilians got the winner in the top of the ninth as Naylor beat out a bunt and was chased home on a smash by Hank Gailus, marking his return to baseball. The soldiers made a strong bid to knot the score in the last of the ninth as Sumner poked a double and went to third on a fielder's choice. Naylor got back-to-back strikeouts to end the game.
Naylor (W) and Edmunds
Souliere (L) and O'Toole
(June 5) Registering their first win in three starts the Royal Canadian Engineers capitalized of eleven errors by the wobbly Canadian Scottish to notch an easy 11-1 victory. Munson held the losers to six hits in going all the way for the pitching win.
Lingor (L), Ray (5) and Bilesky, Clayton
Munson (W) and Merk
(June 6) In Sunday action, Leo Poulin tossed an eight-hit shutout as Royal Canadian Artillery blanked the Rangers 8-0. Poulin whiffed 13 and walked two in the oustanding effort. Artillery won it with three runs in the first inning. Smith tripled and scored on a bad relay to the plate. Granich, who later had a double, cracked a homer and Slota walked and later scored on an error. Poulin helped his own cause with a triple.
Willanen (L) and Orlando
Poulin (W) and Gefucia
(June 9) Nanaimo's civilian entry into the Armed Services loop exploded for 13 runs in the first three innings Wednesday and crushed the Prince of Wales Rangers 14-0 as Toss Naylor fired a three-hit shutout and paced a 15-hit attack with a double, two singles and scored three times. Third baseman Joe Zaccarelli and first sacker Tom Garner also had three hits apiece. Naylor walked three and fanned 13.
Crozier (L), Thornton (2), Willanen (7) and Sammartino
Naylor (W) and Edmunds
(June 12) The last-place Rangers suffered another spanking Saturday as Ordnance rang up an 11-2 victory. A three-run homer by Brunatti in the third inning sparked the Ordnance triumph after the Rangers had taken an early 2-1 lead. Schilling pitched a five-hitter and struck out seven in going the distance for the pitching win. Ordnance pounded out 14 hits, three by centre fielder Fedorick.
Schilling (W) and Kletzel
Willanen (L) and Sammartino
(June 13) Nanaimo Bombers scored three in the first inning and it proved enough for victory Sunday as the civilians downed Artillery 3-1 behind the five-hit pitching of Lefty Biggs. Bombers combined three hits, a walk, a fielder's choice and an error in their big inning. They had eight hits overall off loser Leo Poulin with Jack Naylor and Jackie Mann each with a pair. Bregani had two for the soldiers.
Poulin (L) and Gefucia
Biggs (W) and T.Naylor
(June 16) In a thrilling 12-inning contest Wednesday, Ordnance and Artillery battled to a 9-9 draw, the first tie of the season. After Artillery had come from behind with two runs in the bottom of the ninth to tie 5-5, Ordnance had reason to celebrate after erupting for four runs in the top of the 12th. However the resilient Artillery squad came right back with four of their own. The Artillery boys might have decided the issue in regulation time if Slota, who drove in Smith with the tying run, hadn't tried to stretch his double to three bases. Ordnance mounted its rally in the 12th after two were out. Fedorick singled and O'Toole broke the tie with a two-bagger, his second of the game, and came home to score on an error. Another bobble put Kletzel aboard and Alsdorf smacked Young's first pitch over the right-field fence for a 9-5 advantage. In the bottom of the frame, Smith led off with a double and Slota reached on an error. Granich, batting after going 0-5, connected for a triple to plate both runners. With O'Toole taking over for Schilling on the mound, Leo Poulin singled to bring in Granich to slice the lead to 9-8. Predoti was hit by a pitch and Gugliotta made first on a fielder's choice when Poulin was thrown out at third. Nantau's sharp single scored Predoti with the tying counter but O'Toole managed to escape further trouble and the game was called because of darkness.
Schilling, O'Toole (12) and Kletzel
Young and Poulin
(June 29) After a two-week break in league play, league officials announced a resumption of the schedule now that exigencies which have held up play have apparently been ironed out.
(July 2) The scheduled game between the Nanaimo Bombers and Royal Canadian Ordnance Corp was cancelled less than two hours before game time. No detailed explanation was offered. League Secretary Cliff Leslie said he was calling off all games for the next three weeks. In the interim it is expected the civilian club may make arrangements to meet Victoria or Vancouver teams in exhibition contests.
(July 18) Nanaimo Bombers, rusty after a five-week layoff, gave up 35 hits and 22 runs Sunday in an exhibition doubleheader against the Victoria R.C.A.F. but managed to escape with a split winning the afternoon contest 14-12 before falling 10-1 in the second game. McDonald led the visitors pounding out three triples and a pair of doubles on the day. Jerry Ray, Bernard Parent and Bryan Forster each collected six hits for the visitors.
In the opener, the Bombers jumped into a big lead with six runs in the first inning but fell behind and needed a three-run rally in the seventh to pull out the 14-12 victory. The Victoria airmen lost despite a 19-hit attack, four by McDonald and three each by Percy Switch, Parent and Ray. For the Bombers, Joe Zaccarelli, Lefty Biggs and Jack Naylor each rapped three hits. Naylor had the big blow, a three-run homer, in the first inning explosion. With two aboard, Naylor lined one into deep right-field and the ball got lost in the tall grass against the fence as the fiery-thatched junior rounded the sacks. Toss Naylor managed to go the distance for the pitching win in spite of the 19-hit offensive against him. He fanned nine and walked one.
Appleby (L), Williams (8) and Chalmers
T.Naylor (W) and Edmunds
Bernard "Nerts" Parent fired a three-hitter in the second game as the visitors ran away with the 10-1 triumph. The Airmen scored four times in their first at bat to put the game on ice early. Bryan Forster, at shortstop, led a 16-hit offensive with four safeties, three runs and a pair of stolen bases. Parent helped his own cause with three hits, one a double.
Parent (W) and Switch
Biggs (L) and
T.Naylor
(July 25) Taking to the diamond for the first time since the Armed Services League folded, Royal Canadian Ordnance absorbed an 11-2 licking at the hands of the Nanaimo Bombers. A four-run first inning put the Bombers on the path to the victory. Catcher Toss Naylor led a 13-hit attack with a pair of doubles and a single. He scored three times. Lefty Biggs, who held Ordnance to six hits and fanned ten, helped his cause with four singles. Newcomer Preston "Sonny" Bruce, at second base, had a pair of hits and two runs, as did shortstop Jimmy Neilson.
Miscisco (L), Sumner (2) and Kletzel
Biggs (W) and T.Naylor
(August 8) Bob Dewhirst's hustling Royal Canadian Navy nine, winners of the Victoria Senior League schedule, swept both games of a double-header at Nanaimo, topping the Bombers 5-3 and 6-3 at the Central Sports Grounds. In the matinee tilt, Jimmy Dumeah, with a seven-hitter and 11 strikeouts, bested the Bombers' Toss Naylor who gave up eight hits with six strikeouts. A pair of costly errors, one in the sixth and another in the ninth provided the sailors with their margin of victory. A two-base knock by centre fielder Gil Bruce and a circuit clout by right-fielder Jack Walker accounted for the other counters. The Bombers' two runs came in the seventh inning when Naylor smacked a double to bring in Tom Garner and Sonny Bruce, Gil's brother. Garner had four hits for the Bombers.
Dumeah (W) and Effnert
T.Naylor and Edmunds
In the evening contest, Victoria produced five successive hits in the sixth inning to grab a 5-0 lead then held off a Nanaimo rally to post the 6-3 triumph. Harland Berringer went six innings for the win. Jack Walker, who had a homer and single in the first game, led the winners with a double and two singles in the second. Lorne Dietrick punched out three singles and scored twice.
Berringer (W), Weigand (7), Genthon (8) and Johnson, Hyslop
Biggs (L) and T.Naylor
(August 11) Red Naylor's bases-loaded double in the sixth inning brought in three runs to carry Nanaimo Bombers to a 4-2 win over the Prince of Wales Rangers Wednesday. Naylor's poke to centre field cleared the sacks after Rangers' second baseman Muelli's error had robbed the Rangers of an inning ending double play. Ritchie Nichol, who allowed just one hit and fanned 13, was forced to leave the game in the final frame after sustaining a thumb injury when hit by the ball. Mel "Lefty" Biggs allowed one more hit before getting the final two outs. Without their ace hurler, who is on furlough, Rangers went with first baseman Minarsky who gave a creditable performance, allowing nine hits.
Minarsky (L) and Jaskari
Nichol (W), Biggs (7) and T.Naylor
(August 15) In a wild one Sunday, Nanaimo Bombers took a 5-1 lead in the first inning then fell behind 9 to 7 before exploding for 12 runs in the seventh inning to notch a 19-11 victory over Camp Nanaimo Magedomas. The game produced 26 hits, 14 by the Bombers, and eight errors, four apiece. On a day when his pitching was well off the mark, Ritchie Nichol was an offensive star with a homer, two singles and three runs. Right fielder Avis and first baseman Thompson each contributed a triple and two singles. Schmitz, the Magedomas first sacker slugged a triple, two doubles and a single. Tommy "Toss" Naylor had two doubles and three runs for the winners.
Morton (L), Charostcie (7), Morton (7) and Maud
Nichol, T.Naylor (W) (2) and T.Naylor, Thompson
(August 18) McKenzie lashed a bases-loaded triple in the third inning to provide the Rangers with a 6-5 victory over Ordnance in a five-inning affair Wednesday which saw the Ordnance starter, Sumner, forced from the game with a broken arm suffered in pitching to the second batter of the game. The contest was abbreviated because of darkness. Toss Naylor, on loan from the Bombers, had a run-scoring triple for Ordnance.
Sumner, Miscisco (L) (1) and Naylor
McKenzie, Minarsky (W) (2) and Jaskari
(August 21) Nanaimo Bombers powered their way to an 8-5 victory over the Prince of Wales Rangers. Of their 15 hits, Bombers slugged a homer, a triple and seven doubles off lefty Minarsky of the visitors. Tommy Naylor got the homer, an unusual one. He drove the ball to deep left field and it went through an opening in the double gates and Naylor scampered home before the ball was retrieved and heaved back to the infield. Third sacker Joe Zaccarelli rapped a double and two singles for the winners while "Fat" Edmunds and Hank Galius each produced a pair of two baggers. For the Rangers, centre fielder Matts and shortstop Maynard each had three hits. Lefty Biggs was the winning hurler with ninth inning relief from Naylor.
Minarsky (L) and Jaskari
Biggs (W), T.Naylor (8) and
T.Naylor, Edmunds (8)
(September 1) Nanaimo Bombers hammered a short-handed Ordnance squad 22-1 on Wednesday rapping 20 hits off three army hurlers. The civilians took a 6-0 lead in the first inning and breezed to the lopsided win, called after six innings.
Miscisco (L), Fedorick, Emard and xxx
Biggs (W) and xxx
(September 15) In a six inning affair, shortened by darkness, the Oxford-Ordnance Combines held Nanaimo Bombers to a 1-1 draw Wednesday at the Sports Grounds. A two-bagger by Toss Naylor, which cleared the rock bluff, gave the Bombers the game's first run in the second inning. Combines tied it in the fifth as Pisdonsdy clouted a double to score Inglis who had reached on a misjudged pop fly. Each team had five hits. Naylor fanned ten and walked one for the Bombers while St. Pierre had eight strikeouts for the visitors.
St.Pierre and Bothen
T.Naylor and Thompson, Emard
(September 19) In the final action of the 1943 season, the Oxford-Ordnance Combines shaded the Nanaimo Bombers 5-4 in the matinee of a scheduled double-header. The evening affair was called off because of rain. Trailing 3-2 after six innings, the Combines tied the count in the seventh as Rossignol beat out an infield hit to bring Miscisco, who had singled, home. Baldy Bothen followed with a two-bagger and, with two out, a double by third basemen Inglis gave the Combines a 5-3 advantage. Bombers sliced the margin to 5-4 in the eighth when Aitken singled, stole second and scored on Bennie's safety. Rossignol and Inglis topped the Army hitters each clicking for a trio of safeties. Toss Naylor led the Bombers with two hits. Hank Gailus of Nanaimo got credit for a home run when he lined one to deep left and circled the bases when the ball carried under a pile of wood planking up against the fence. Bombers clipped right-hander St. Pierre for 13 hits while Mel Briggs, the Bombers' southpaw ace, gave up a dozen hits and walked one. Both hurlers rang up 12 strikeouts.
St.Pierre (W) and Bothen
Briggs (L) and T.Naylor
Comox Valley
1943 Comox Valley baseball was limited to a few games between and among military teams and a couple of civilian clubs from Union Bay and Cumberland.
(June 2) Courtenay's Combined Ops baseball squad eked out an 8-7 win over the Canadian Fusiliers Wednesday with Carriere gaining credit for the pitching victory.
xxx and xxx
Carriere (W) and W.E. Seeley
(June 6) The Canadian Fusiliers clobbered the Courtenay Combined Ops 22-7 Sunday after losing a one-run game to the Ops last Wednesday.
xxx and xxx
Carriere (L) and Hopkins
(June 13) Union Bay blanked Courtenay Combined Ops 1-0.
(June 20) Combined Ops of Courtenay gained revenge for a 1-0 loss to Union Bay last Sunday by hammering out 14 hits at Lewis Park to notch a 7-6 victory. First baseman Giavedoni led the winners with three hits and a pair of runs. Junior Chalmers, the hustling keystone clouter for Union Bay had a huge day at the plate with five hits in five trips. Anderson gave up 13 hits but managed to go the distance for Courtenay.
Anderson (W) and Colgani
McKay (L) and James
(August 15) Joe Damonte's Cumberland Cubs shaded Courtenay's smart C.O.S. Navy club 6-5 Sunday. 17-year-old Charlie Damonte held Courtenay to three hits over five innings to register the win. Bud Combs, the Cumberland veteran, thrilled the crowd with spectacular play at shortstop. In the second inning he made a remarkable diving catch of a hot line drive.
Damonte (W), Baird (6) and xxx
Young, Wigle (7) and McFarlane
(August 19) Charlie Damonte, the manager's son, and Doug Baird combined to pitch Cumberland Cubs to a 6-2 victory over Courtenay's C.O.S. Navy nine Sunday. Damonte allowed four hits in five innings of work and Baird faced just six batters in two innings, fanning three of them.
Hopkins (L),
C.Damonte (W), Baird (6) and C.Bono
(August 22) In a thrilling ten-inning contest Sunday, Courtenay Cubs fought to a 5-5 draw with an all-star C.O.S. team. Bud Combs had a double and single for the Cubs and Hopkins had two hits for C.O.S. Young Richie James, came through with a timely single as a pinch-hitter in the ninth and scored the tying run sending the game into overtime.
Baird, Damonte (4) and xxx
Young, Colontino (5) and xxx
Cowichan Valley
What little senior level baseball that was played on Cowichan Valley diamonds in 1943 involved military teams and took place very early in the season. The Cowichan Leader reported that a late season game was being planned involving civilian players from Duncan against a team from Shawnigan Lake but no evidence appeared in that publication that the match ever took place.
(May 9) An eighth inning homer by Conti gave Victoria Army a 3-1 victory over the Army team from Duncan. Conti's blast broke a 1-1 draw. Carlan scored an insurance run for the visitors.
Prior, Nichol and Lindsay
J.Colontino (L) and Calgoni
(May 16) Duncan Army notched a 6-3 victory over the Combined Operations School Sunday. it was Duncan's second win in the series having won 4-3 three weeks ago. Johnny Colontino picked up the win with a complete game effort.
xxx and xxx
J.Colontino (W) and Calgoni
(May 23) Duncan's Army nine blew a five-run lead in dropping an 11-10 decision to the Army squad out of Nanaimo. The up-Island team took the lead in the eighth inning and held off a ninth inning threat to post the win. With two out, Duncan's Gottselig reached and stole second and third but Soulier fanned Korman to end the game.
Sumner, Soulier (W) and Epifano
Gottselig, Dendys (3), Giavedoni and Calgoni