1945 Vancouver, Lower Mainland, Fraser Valley
1945 BC Interior
1945 Vancouver Island
Victoria
Similar to the previous season, 1945 baseball in Victoria had a distinct armed services component. Four of the five teams in the Victoria senior amateur league were made up of military personnel. The Eagles were the lone civilian entry.
Teams in the 1945 Victoria Senior Amateur Baseball League
Army
Eagles
Navy
R.C.A.F.
Victoria Machinery Depot (normally called V.M.D.)
(May 14) Blowing his fast ball past the youthful Victoria Eagles, Tommy Musgrave came up with a one-hitter Monday as Victoria Machinery Depot walloped the Eagles 16 to 1 in the opening game of the 1945 season. The right-hander fanned 18 and walked five. He was within two outs of a no-hitter getting the first batter in the ninth before Pat Lamone, the Eagles' catcher, blooped one back of second base for a single. The lone run, an unearned marker, against Musgrave came in the third inning on a passed ball. VMD pounded a pair of Eagles' hurlers for 17 hits and took advantage of 12 errors. Charlie Stroulger led the VMD attack with five hits in six trips to the plate. Barney Barnswell and Gar Taylor each added three hits.
Musgrave (W) and Patterson
Ellis (L), McLellan (2) and Lamone
(May 16) RCAF jumped into a huge eight run lead in the first inning but had to fend off a big offensive night from the Army Wednesday to post an 18 to 12 victory. The game produced just about everything, 30 runs, 30 hits, 15 errors, the season's first homer and a triple play. Cliff Kilburn led the winners with a triple, double and two singles. Ray Casey paced the Army with a three-run homer and two singles. Vince Hancock managed to go the distance on the mound for RCAF. George Boston took the loss contributing to his own defeat by making three errors. His catcher, Buck Buchanan, was charged with three passed balls. RCAF pulled off a triple play in the second inning. With the bases loaded, Buchanan flied out to left field and Casey scored after the catch. Schurko, who was on first, was cut down as he tried to advance to second and Sutherland was thrown out trying to go from second to third.
Hancock (W) and Kilburn
Boston (L) and Buchanan
(May 18) Featuring Dick Latiff's towering home run over the centre field fence in the seventh inning and the smart, clutch hurling of Don Johnson, Navy turned back VMD 7 to 3 Friday night. Johnson held VMD without a hit into the sixth inning until Reg Patterson smacked a double to deep left field. Johnson, who had control troubles walking seven, allowed eight hits and fanned seven. Art Amon had three hits, one a triple, to lead a 12-hit attack for the winners.
Johnson (W) and Bartko
Shouldice (L) and Patterson
(May 19) In a wild one Saturday afternoon, Army shaded Navy 12 to 11 in a game which produced 30 hits, 16 by the winners. Al Edwards, the first of two Army hurlers, was credited with the win. Navy sent four men to the mound in an unsuccessful attempt to stem the tide.
Edwards (W), Martin and Buchanan
Carpenter, King, McCarthy, Wiegand and Bartko
Saturday evening, Bill McDonald fired a six-hit shutout as RCAF blanked the Eagles 4-0. Veteran Stan Douglas yielded just seven hits in taking the loss. Three of the four runs against him were unearned. McDonald struck out 12 and Douglas fanned nine.
Douglas (L) and Lamone, Hayden
McDonald (W) and Kilburn
(May 21) Victoria Army held off a spirited Eagles' rally in the ninth inning to post a 10-8 victory Monday night. Leading 10-4, Johnny Rosedale suddenly lost control and walked three straight batters. Rosy McLellan followed with his second consecutive double and Carson got a life when catcher Buck Buchanan couldn't hold on to the pitch. Stan Douglas clouted a single and the Eagles had four runs. Army coach Ray Casey brought in George Boston to relieve Rosedale and with one pitch he got a double play to end the game. Rosedale fanned 17 in posting the pitching win. Bud Werstine led the winners with three hits while Eddie Cross smacked a two-run homer for Army.
Ellis (L) and Hayden
Rosedale (W), Boston (9) and Buchanan
(May 24) Bellingham Bells, of the Vancouver City League, crushed the Victoria All-Stars 13 to 1 and 6 to 1 Thursday in the first intercity games of the season before big holiday crowds. Shortstop Verne Hill, on loan from the San Francisco Seals of the Coast League, led the winners with six hits in nine trips for the day including a homer, triple and double. A pair of right-handers, Hugh Sooter and Bill Whitsell, held the hosts to a run in each game. Sooter allowed seven hits and Whitsell just three in complete game efforts. Whitsell helped his own cause in the evening game with four hits, one of them a two-bagger.
Sooter (W) and Padovan
Musgrave (L) and Patterson
Whitsell (W) and Padovan
Douglas (L), Carpenter )7) and Patterson
(May 26) VMD and RCAF remained neck and neck in their bids for the top spot in the Victoria baseball circuit following a pair of games Saturday. The shipyard crew blanked the Army 5-0 behind the six-hit pitching of Tommy Musgrave while the Flyers from Pat Bay defeated the Navy 8 to 3 in the afternoon engagement. It was the third win in four starts for both VMD and RCAF. Bill McDonald rang up 15 strikeouts in tossing a nine-hitter for the Flyers in the opener. First sacker Pop Pay drove in five runs with a single in the third and a three-run homer in the ninth.
McDonald (W) and Kilburn
Carpenter (L) and Bartko
Musgrave, who had gone nine innings Thursday against Bellingham, was in top form in firing a six-hit shutout in the second game as VMD topped Army 5-0. The right-hander fanned ten without allowing a free pass.
Boston (L), Dolpker (7) and Holness
Musgrave (W) and Patterson
(May 28) Reliever Bobby Wiegand got out of a 7th inning jam to help Victoria Navy to an 11 to 8 victory over the Eagles Monday night. Wiegand ended up with eight strikeouts in the last three innings. He took over with two on and nobody out in the seventh and the Navy clinging to a 9 to 8 lead. He fanned the side and did the same in the 8th. Navy added two runs in the top of the ninth before Wiegand added two more strikeouts in the final frame. First baseman Frank McArdle paced a 17-hit Navy attack with three doubles and a single. Shortstop Hal Yardley had four hits for the Eagles. Navy jumped into an 8 to 1 lead in the first two innings before the Eagles began their comeback with three runs in the sixth and four in the seventh.
Johnson (W), King (6), Wiegand (7) and Bartko
McLellan (L), Ellis (1) and Hayden
(May 30) Ossie DeGrow singled in pitcher Doug Sutton with the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning Wednesday to hand RCAF a 6-5 win over the Army. The Flyers had come from behind with two runs in the 8th to tie the score at 5-5. Ray Sortome doubled to bring in DeGrow and scored himself when Army catcher Harry Holness made a wild throw to third on an attempted pick off. Each team had 11 hits. Bud Werstine smacked a homer for Army.
Rosedale (L) and Holness
Sutton (W) and Kilburn
(June 1) Noel Morgan's 8th inning single brought in Reg Patterson with the winning run Friday as Victoria Machinery Depot eked out a 5-4 victory over the last place Victoria Eagles. VMD was forced to bring in ace Tommy Musgrave in the ninth to end an Eagles' two on, two out threat. He fanned Bill Rafferty to end the game. Eagles out-hit VMD 10 to seven.
Douglas (L) and Carson
Shouldice (W), Musgrave (9) and Patterson
(June 2) Navy rallied for three runs in the ninth inning and downed Army 5-4 Saturday afternoon. Behind 3 to 2, Bobby Wiegand started the uprising with a single and Gil Bruce followed with a two-bagger. Both runners scored when pinch-hitter Al Duz dropped a single back of first base. Helped by a wild throw to the plate, Duz advanced all the way to third and came home on an infield hit by Frank McArdle. Gordon Carpenter tossed a six-hitter for the win.
Carpenter (W) and Bartko
Edwards (L), Boston and Holness
(June 2) Tommy Musgrave won his third straight league contest in the Saturday evening affair holding RCAF to six hits, fanning eight with just one base on balls in an 9-2 triumph for VMD over RCAF.
McDonald (L) and Kilburn, Forster
Musgrave (W) and Patterson
(June 8) Johnny Rosedale fired a four-hitter Friday to lead Army to a 5 to 1 victory over the Eagles. The left-hander rang up eight strikeouts and walked three. Rosedale helped the offense with a four-for-four night including a two-bagger. Army plated what proved to be the winner in the eighth inning without getting a hit. Bud Werstine walked, stole second and went to third on a wild throw by the catcher. On a squeeze play, Ray Casey laid down the bunt as Werstine crossed the rubber.
Rosedale (W) and Holness
Douglas (L) and Carson
(June 9) Navy took a 2-1 lead in the first inning and were never headed in downing RCAF 6-4. Gordon Carpenter chalked up the win with a seven-hitter. Doug Darrah, in his first start for the airmen, was handed the loss.
Carpenter (W) and Bartko
Darrah (L) and Kilburn
(June 9) Victoria Machinery Depot notched their sixth win in seven starts Saturday as Tommy Musgrave fired a six-hit shutout as VMD trounced Army 12 to 0. Reg Patterson, Charlie Stroulger and Toad Garnet each had three hits to pace the winners. Jean Paul David, a recent arrival from Montreal, took the loss.
Musgrave (W) and Patterson
David (L), Edwards (7) and Holness
(June 11) Doug Sutton put on a one-man show as RCAF clobbered the Victoria Eagles 16-0. The southpaw fired a one-hitter and fanned 15. The only hit against him was a fourth inning single by Bill Rafferty. Sutton also led the winners' 19-hit attack driving in five runs with five hits in six trips to the plate. He was robbed of a two-bagger in the fourth when left fielder Rosy McLellan made a sensational one-handed spear of a line drive.
Sutton (W) and Kilburn
Ellis (L), Belcher (7), Loveall (8) and Carson
(June 13) With three runs in the 13th inning, Victoria Machinery Depot downed the Navy 5-2 Wednesday behind the solid hurling of Cy Shillito. The right-hander allowed just six hits in picking up his second win of the season. It was a tough loss for reliever Bobby Wiegand who took over in the second inning and pitched shutout ball for nine frames before the VMD outburst in the 13th. Navy had tied the count in the last of the ninth, scoring on a fielder's choice with the bases loaded. In the 13th, VMD loaded the bases with one out on two singles and a walk. Noel Morgan scored the winner on a wild throw home on a infield grounder. Wiegand then hit a batter and gave up a walk to send home two insurance runs.
Shillito (W) and Patterson
DeCosta, Wiegand (L) (2) and Bartko
(June 15) Victoria Eagles picked up a win, by default, Friday when Army refused to continue play when their catcher, Harry Holness was tossed from the game in the third inning. Eagles were leading 3-1 when the game was called. It was the first win for the Eagles in nine starts. Holness was protesting the umpire's call on a close play at first base.
(June 16) The US Coast Guard squad out of Seattle crushed Victoria 13 to 1 and 16-5 in an exhibition doubleheader Saturday before 5,000 fans at the BC capital. The powerful American nine included Sibby Sisti, former shortstop with the Boston Braves, and Marvin Rickert, former first sacker with the Chicago Cubs. Rickert slugged a pair of homers and third baseman Ray Orteig clouted a grand slam to lead a 13-hit attack in the 13 to 1 afternoon victory over Victoria Machinery Depot. Bob Chesnes pitched shutout ball for five innings for the Coast Guard before handing over the mound work to Red Brixner.
Chesnes (W), Brixner (6) and Leovich
Musgrave (L) and Patterson
In the evening game against the Navy, the visitors started the fireworks in the third with five runs and added five more in the fourth. The Victoria team was out-hit 12 to 10 and was hurt by six errors. Lefty Bob Rivera worked the first six innings for the Coast Guard for the win. In the ninth, the Navy sent up bat boy Johnny Crystal to the plate as a pinch hitter and he received a big hand as the Americans allowed him to hit safely and circle the bags.
Rivera (W), Lorman (6), Rickert and Leovich, Volk
Sutton (L), Wright, Wiegand, Johnson and Bartko
(June 18) The Navy pushed across the winning run in the eighth inning in downing the Eagles 4-3 Monday night. Art Amon doubled off the fence in right centre and went to third on a single by Jack Walker. Bernie Strongman's long fly to right allowed Amon to scamper home. Gordon Carpenter picked up the pitching win in relief of starter Don Johnson. Stan Douglas was handed another tough luck loss.
Douglas (L) and Carson
Johnson, Carpenter (W) (7) and Bartko
(June 20) In a high-scoring affair Wednesday Victoria Machinery Depot topped Army 17 to 10 for their eighth win in nine games. Wilf Shouldice was the starter for VMD but gave way to Tommy Musgrave after working just two innings. He was lifted for a pinch-runner in the third as VMD broke loose for six runs. Shouldice was given credit for the pitching win. VMD had another six-run explosion in the sixth inning highlighted by Toad Garnet's bases loaded double.
Shouldice (W), Musgrave (3) and xxx
Edwards (L), Rosedale (3), Edwards and xxx
(June 20) Gil Bruce, Navy outfielder, is the batting leader in the Victoria city circuit, carrying a .467 average through eight games to hold a nine point lead over Gar Taylor, the VMD second sacker, at .458. Army third baseman Bud Werstine is at .438 and leads the league in doubles, with 3, and runs, 11. He's tied with four others for the lead in home runs, with one. Jack Walker, of Navy, last year's batting champ, is fourth with an even .400 mark. Navy's Art Amon, a .333 hitter, is tops with 3 triples and 10 runs batted in. Tommy Musgrave of VMD leads the pitchers with a 4-0 won-lost mark.
| G | AB | R | H | RBI | PCT | |
| Bruce, Navy | 8 | 30 | 10 | 14 | 9 | .467 |
| Taylor, WMD | 6 | 24 | 5 | 11 | 0 | .458 |
| Werstine, Army | 8 | 32 | 11 | 14 | 6 | .438 |
| Walker, Navy | 5 | 20 | 3 | 8 | 5 | .400 |
| Fairhurst, RCAF | 5 | 24 | 5 | 9 | 1 | .375 |
| Patterson, VMD | 8 | 31 | 8 | 11 | 3 | .355 |
| Stroulger, VMD | 7 | 29 | 6 | 10 | 5 | .345 |
| Van Hatten, Navy | 9 | 41 | 9 | 14 | 2 | .341 |
| Amon, Navy | 9 | 36 | 6 | 12 | 10 | .333 |
| Couling, RCAF | 7 | 30 | 6 | 10 | 9 | .333 |
| Cross, Army | 7 | 30 | 8 | 10 | 6 | .333 |
(June 22) RCAF walked to a win Friday downing the Eagles 13 to 6 in a game which produced a total of 25 bases on balls, 16 going to the airmen. The Flyers sewed up the contest in the sixth inning when they put up 11 runs on the scoreboard. Doug Darrah worked on the mound for the Flyers and also experienced control troubles walking nine while yielding nine hits. He did help out the offense driving in three runs with four hits. Art Worth had held the RCAF to just one run through six innings but fell apart in the seventh when a crucial error extended the inning. Worth gave up seven runs overall on seven hits and seven walks.
Worth (L), Loveall (7), Ellis (7), McLellan (8) and Lamone
Darrah (W) and Kilburn
(June 23) VMD's Cy Shillito posted his third straight victory Saturday overcoming 14 hits and six walks in a 7-6 win over RCAF. The winners had ten hits and were helped by sloppy work on the bath paths by the airmen. On three separate occasions the Flyers had runners picked off. VMD plated what proved to be the winning marker in the seventh inning when Barney Barnswell singled, advanced on a sacrifice and came home on Chuck Restell's safety.
Shillito (W) and Patterson
Sutton (L), McDonald (3) and Kilburn
(June 23) Army put up a good fight for six innings Saturday, trailing 2-1, but Navy scored a pair in the seventh and added three in the eight to put the game out of reach. A two-run double by Al Duz in the seventh and a two-bagger by Wally Thompson in the eighth were the key blows. Thompson led the winners with three hits. Gordon Carpenter, who allowed eight hits and seven walks, managed to go the distance to pick up the pitching win.
Boston (L) and Sutherland
Carpenter (W) and Van Hatten
(June 25) Tommy Musgrave had a no-hitter through six innings but eased up in the latter frames as VMD defeated the Eagles 8 to 2 Monday night. The left-hander finished with a seven-hit effort. He walked four and fanned 11. Brian Forster, formerly with the RCAF, turned up at third base for VMD and punched out three hits, the same as Charlie Stroulger. Ronnie Benn had two hits, one a double, for the Eagles.
Musgrave (W) and Patterson
Loveall (L) and Carson
(June 27) In a game which featured two towering home runs over the centre field wall, Navy defeated RCAF 8 to 3 Wednesday. Art Amon the Navy left field smacked one out of the lot in fifth inning while Jimmy Morrison, the Flyers' shortstop duplicated the trick in the ninth. Navy scored three runs in the first and four in the fifth and coasted to the win. Don Johnson tossed a six-hitter for the win. He did, however, walk seven. Jack Walker led the winners with four hits.
McDonald (L) and Kilburn
Johnson (W) and Van Hatten
(June 29) The Eagles finally managed to win one on the field. With a 13-hit attack, Eagles trounced the Army 12 to 5 Friday. Trailing 2-0, Eagles broke loose in the sixth inning for seven runs to take the lead for good. Veteran Stan Douglas was nicked for 11 hits in gaining credit for his first win of the season. Douglas helped his own cause with three hits in five trips. Eagles had earlier been handed a victory by default.
Douglas (W) and Carson
David (L), Boston (7) and Sutherland
(July 2) The Victoria All-Stars gained a split of Monday's double-header with Bremerton Navy Yard winning the afternoon contest 6 to 5 and dropping the nightcap 5 to 4. A big third inning, when Victoria pushed across five runs on seven hits, proved to be the difference in the first game. Roberts, a veteran pro hurler from Seattle, started for Victoria but retired after three innings giving up two runs on three hits and five walks. Wilf Shouldice relieved and hurled steady ball for the final six frames.
Price (L), Kulick (3) and Wood, Gawenka
Roberts, Shouldice and Harney
Bremerton rallied with three runs in the seventh inning to take the night game 5 to 4. Bases loaded singles by Skaden and Hendricks and Cliff Yohey's sacrifice fly accounted for the three markers. Hendricks, who relieved starter Eddie Sirovy in the third inning, pitched shutout ball the rest of the way to claim the pitching victory. The left-hander allowed just one hit, retiring the side in order in four of the innings he worked.
Sirovy, Hendricks (W) (3) and Gawenka
Darrah, Boston (L) (7) and Kilburn
(July 4) Navy out-hit Army 19 to 9 but needed three runs in the 8th inning to defeat Army 8 to 6. The win gave Lefty Pawluk a pitching triumph in his first showing for the bluejackets this season. Gil Bruce and Frank McArdle paced the offense. Centre fielder Bruce went four for five and McArdle, the first sacker, had three hits in four trips. Outfielders Jack Walker and Al Duz each picked up three safeties in five at bats. Eddie Cross slugged a two-run homer for Army.
Pawluk (W) and Van Hatten
Boston (L) and Sutherland
(July 6) RCAF dumped the Eagles 9 to 2 Friday behind Bill McDonald's five-hitter. Big Ralph (Pop) Pay, Jack Richardson and Bob Barlow each collected three hits for the winners.
McDonald (W) and Geddes, Kilburn
Worth (L), Loveall (6) and Lamone
(July 7) In another walk-fest, RCAF crushed Navy 12 to 2 in the Saturday afternoon encounter in the Victoria city league. A six-run outburst in the third inning carried the Flyers to the win. Usually steady Gordon Carpenter started on the mound for the Navy but ran into a streak of wildness, giving up six walks, six hits and nine runs in three innings when he was replaced by Don Johnson. Southpaw Doug Sutton went the distance for the winners and although charged with only six hits had to pitch out of some tough spots as a result of ten free passes.
Carpenter (L), Johnson (4) and Van Hatten, Bartko
Sutton (W) and Kilburn
(July 7) Tommy Musgrave kept his league winning streak going Saturday pitching VMD to a 7-2 victory over Army. The left-hander, now with seven consecutive victories without a loss, allowed nine hits and racked up ten strikeouts.
Rosedale (L) and Sutherland
Musgrave (W) and Patterson
(July 9) In the biggest upset of the season, the last place Victoria Eagles defeated league-leading VMD Monday 5 to 1. Stan Douglas was solid in his best effort of the season. After his mates had given him a 1 - 0 lead in the first inning, Douglas blanked VMD for eight frames while the Eagles collected four more markers. Down 5-0, VMD managed to score in the ninth on Bryan Forster's smash up the middle. Douglas knocked in the Eagles first run with a single. Ronnie Benn drove in a pair in the third and two singles, an error and a sac fly resulted in two more for the Eagles in the fourth.
Douglas (W) and Kokran
Shouldice (L) and Patterson
(July 11) Tommy Musgrave had his worst league game of the season Wednesday night, giving up 12 hits, but managed to go the distance for his eighth straight victory as VMD slipped by RCAF 9 to 7. Forced to take the mound with a badly bruised finger on his pitching hand, the right-hander lacked his usual control and speed. VMD took the lead in the first inning scoring four times, three coming home on Babe Work's bases-clearing double. Work stole home for the fourth marker. Trailing 8 to 3, the Flyers made it close in the seventh as Jimmy Morrison rapped a three-run homer.
Darrah (L) and Kilburn
Musgrave (W) and Patterson
(July 12) Gil Bruce, the speedy centre fielder of the Navy nine, continues to lead the batting race in the Victoria Baseball Association hitting at a .468 clip just ahead of runner-up Gar Taylor, the VMD second sacker, at .465. Bud Werstine, Army third baseman, is third with a .435 average, ten points up on Jimmy Morrison, RCAF shortstop, who sits at .425. Art Amon of Navy leads the league in runs batted in, with 14, and Bruce has scored the most runs, 12.
(July 13) Tommy Musgrave of VMD is, by far, the top hurler in the loop having compiled a perfect 8 - 0 won-lost record in ten games. Don Johnson of Navy is second with a 4-0 mark.
(July 13) Don Johnson held the Eagles to four hits Friday as Navy walloped the Eagles 14 to 1, combining an 11-hit attack with seven Eagles' errors. Bobby Prior, in his first pitching appearance for the Eagles, failed to get out of the first inning being yanked after giving up two hits and six runs. Frank McArdle provided a highlight for the winners with a seventh inning inside-the-park homer, the first of the season.
Johnson (W) and Van Hatten
Prior (L), Loveall (1) and Kokran
(July 14) Bobby Wiegand pitched and batted Navy to an exciting 6 to 5 victory over league-leading VMD Saturday afternoon in the first game of a double-header. Trailing 5-4, VMD managed to tie the count in the top of the ninth as Reg Patterson led off the frame with a double and Charlie Stroulger and Babe Work both beat out bunts to load the bases. Wiegand then relieved starter Gordon Carpenter with none out and got Gar Taylor to bounce into a double play, by way of home. After pinch-hitter Robinson had walked to re-load the bases, Stroulger stole home to tie the score and Cy Shillito was given a free pass before Wiegand struck out Travis to end the inning. Navy responded in the bottom of the ninth getting Frank McArdle aboard on an error and advancing him on a sacrifice. Wiegand then came through with a single to right field to score the winning run. Shillito belted a two-run homer for the losers. The game was marred by an unfortunate accident to Chuck Restell the VMD centre fielder. Sliding into second base in the fourth, Restell suffered a broken right leg.
Shillito (L) and Patterson
Pawluk, Carpenter, Wiegand (W) (9) and Van Hatten
(July 14) In the evening game, Jean Paul David scattered eight hits as Army turned back the RCAF 4-1. While the winners out-hit the Flyers 12 to 8, five Army errors forced David to pitch out of several tough situations. He fanned nine. Doug Darrah and Jimmy Morrison were making their final appearances with the Flyers having received their discharges.
McDonald (L), Darrah (7) and Kilburn
David (W) and Petrucci, Sutherland
(July 16) With Toad Garnet hurling an eight-hitter in his first game on the mound, VMD trounced the Eagles 17 to 4 Monday night combining 11 hits, 11 walks, 11 steals and 8 Eagles' errors in the big offensive showing. Garnet, using a sweeping curve ball, racked up seven strikeouts while issuing five free passes. Reg Patterson slugged a four-bagger for the winners and Ronnie Benn had an inside-the-park homer for the Eagles.
Loveall (L), Prior and Kokran
Garnet (W) and Patterson
(July 18) Taking advantage of 12 RCAF errors, Navy handed the Flyers a 16 to 3 drubbing in Wednesday's City League action. Herb Couling, who turned in a first-class exhibition for the airmen early in the season, was the worst offender as he made five errors at third base. Bobby Wiegand, who injured an ankle in the fifth inning and was forced to leave the game, received credit for the pitching win giving up just one hit and a run in his four and one-third innings. Bernie Strongman led the winners with an inside-the-park homer and two singles.
Sutton (L), McDonald (2) and Kilburn
Wiegand (W), Johnson (5) and Van Hatten
(July 20) Out-hit 9 to 7, Army came through in the clutch Friday night to down the Eagles 5 to 1 and give veteran George Boston his first win of the season. Army got away to a two-run lead in the first inning as McKenzie singled, advanced on a sacrifice and scored on a single to left by Granich who came home on a safety by Bud Werstine. A triple by Red Sutherland and an infleld out added a run in the fourth while Granich ended the Army's scoring in the sixth with a homer over the centre field fence.
Boston (W) and Sutherland
Douglas (L) and Kokran
(July 21) Two scheduled games for Saturday were cancelled because of the wet condition of the grounds. The games are to be played at a later date.
(July 22) VMD traveled to Port Angeles, Washington, Sunday and ended up on the losing side in the first two games of the international series for the Hart Trophy. Port Angeles notched 7 to 4 and 8 to 6 victories. The Angeles All-Stars are to visit Victoria Saturday for the next two games. Despite the fact VMD made the trip without its top two hurlers, Tommy Musgrave and Cy Shillito, the club put on a smart effort. The individual star for Victoria in both games was hard-hitting Jimmy Morrison. In the afternoon he smacked a pair of singles to drive in three runs and in the evening worked nine innings on the mound and clouted a homer, triple and single. With the exception of the sixth inning when he ran into a streak of wildness to walk three and throw a pair of run-producing wild pitches, Morrison pitched well. In the seventh inning, Morrison's towering homer to deep centre tied the score at 5-5, but in the bottom of the frame, the home squad pushed across another marker and in the eighth, Millsop cracked a two-run homer to seal the victory. 19-year-old Anderson fanned 12 for Port Angeles in winning the second game.
Garnet (L), Shouldice and Patterson
Brown (W), Newsham and Staeger
Morrison (L) and Patterson
Anderson (W) and Pontrelli
(July 23) Pinch-hitter Marty Kokran clouted a long double in the ninth inning to drive in two runs to give the Eagles an 8 to 6 win over the RCAF. In the bottom of the ninth, the Flyers got the first two batters on base only to have McIntyre hit into a double play. Making his third appearance for the Eagles, Bobby Prior gave up ten hits with nine strikeouts and just one walk in posting the win. Vic Burtt led the winners with four hits. Prior added three.
Prior (W) and Carson, Kokran
Appleby (L) and Kilburn
(July 25) Navy's Gil Bruce continues to lead the hitting parade, topping the league with a .443 average in 61 at bats. Bud Werstine, of Army, is right on his heels with a .442 mark and Gar Taylor is third, at .431. Bruce tops the Victoria league in runs, 10, hits, 27, doubles, 7, and is tied with teammate Art Amon and Jimmy Morrison of RCAF in runs batted in, each with 16. VMD's Noel Morgan has 17 stolen bases to lead the circuit. Tommy Musgrave, with an 8-0 record, continues to top the hurlers.
(July 26) Tommy Musgrave racked up his 9th straight win with a six-hitter and 13 strikeouts as VMD topped the Army 5 to 3. After giving up a run in the second inning, Musgrave pitched shutout ball until the ninth when Army put together hits by Granich, Bud Werstine and Red Sutherland for a pair of runs. Jean Paul David gave up 13 hits in taking the loss. First baseman Babe Work led the winners with three hits.
Musgrave (W) and Patterson
David (L) and Sutherland
(July 27) Making a late determined bid for a playoff berth, the Eagles came up with one of their best games of the season Friday in defeating the Navy 6 to 2. Imported hurler Emerald Johnson, from the Port Orchard club in the Olympic League, fired an eight-hitter for the Eagles. Outfielder Vic Burtt paced the winners knocking in three runs with four hits in four trips to the plate. The Eagles took the lead in the third frame when three hits, a wild pitch and two walks gave them three runs.
E.Johnson (W) and Carson
D.Johnson (L), Carpenter (3), Wiegand (6) and Van Hatten
(July 28) VMD took both games of Saturday's double-header from Port Angeles, Washington, 10-3 and 5-3 to tie their international series at two games apiece. Tommy Musgrave survived 12 hits in the opener to go the distance for the win. VMD pushed across nine runs in the first four innings to give Musgrave a huge cushion. The shipbuilders picked up 15 hits off Buck Newsham, six for extra bases. First baseman Babe Work led the winners with three hits, including a pair of two-baggers. Shortstop Charlie Stroulger belted a bases loaded triple. In the second game, Cy Shillito of VMD gave up a two-run homer to Pontrelli in the first inning but settled down to allow just one more run the rest of the way. Shillito yielded nine hits in going the route.
Newsham (L) and Staeger
Musgrave (W) and Patterson, Harney
Anderson, Loughrey and Pontrelli
Shillito (W) and Harney
(July 30) Slugger Jimmy Morrison made his first mound appearance a winning one Monday in hurling a seven-hitter as VMD topped the Eagles 7 to 1. Morrison also slammed a homer to help the offense. Noel Morgan knocked in three runs with four hits in five trips.
Morrison (W) and Patterson
Douglas (L) and Carson
(August 1) Lefty Doug Sutton allowed just four hits and fanned 11 Wednesday to pitch the RCAF Flyers to a 4 to 3 victory over the Navy. The win, which cinched a playoff berth for the Flyers, should have been a shutout as all three runs against Sutton were unearned. The Flyers made six errors. The winning run came in the eighth inning as McIntyre singled and came all the way home on Cliff Kilburn's double to left centre. Lefty Pawluk yielded just six hits in taking the loss.
Pawluk (L) and Van Hatten
Sutton (W) and Kilburn
(August 3) Marking his return to local ball for the first time in two years, Stan Curry hurled the Eagles to an 8 to 3 victory over the Army. The left-hander, home on Pacific leave, held Army to just four hits and struck out ten. Eagles scored four runs in the first inning and cruised to the win behind a 12-hit attack against three Army moundsmen. Bud Werstine belted a homer for the losers.
Curry (W) and Carson, Kokran
Amero (L), Boston (1), David (4) and Sutherland
(August 4) Outfielder Ray Sortome drove in a pair of runs with an eighth inning single to give RCAF Flyers a 3-1 victory over the Army. Bill McDonald scattered nine hits to register the win. The only run against him came on Dufault's homer in the fourth inning.
McDonald (W) and Kilburn
David (L) and Sutherland
(August 4) VMD captured its second straight league pennant Saturday defeating Navy 7 to 3 for the club's 17th win in 20 starts. They won the game in the first three innings scoring six times when Bobby Wiegand the Navy hurler issued three walks, threw two wild pitches, and committed a balk to go along with two errors. Tommy Musgrave remained unbeaten pitching around ten hits to post the win. He stranded 11 runners.
Wiegand (L), Pawluk (3) and Van Hatten
Musgrave (W) and Patterson
(August 6) Pushing across a run in the 10th inning, RCAF edged the Eagles 3 to 2 in one of the best played games of the season. Old Stan Douglas again was the victim of bad breaks. The veteran hurled four-hit ball and should have emerged as a 2-1 winner in regulation as a passed ball allowed the Flyers to score their first run and an errant throw resulted in the winning marker. Douglas and Doug Sutton battled through six scoreless innings before the Eagles broke through for a pair in the bottom of the seventh and the Flyers replied with two in the eighth. In the 10th, Dean worked Douglas for a walk and went to second on a wild pitch. An infield out advanced him to third and when shortstop Hal Yardley threw high to first on a grounder, Dean crossed the plate with the winning run. In the bottom of the 10th, the Eagles' Ronnie Benn smacked his third hit of the game but was left stranded as Bill McDonald retired the side with no further damage.
Sutton, McDonald (W) (8) and Kilburn
Douglas (L) and Kokran
(August 8) Red Sutherland knocked in Davies with the winning run in the ninth inning as Army upset VMD 7-6 in a thriller Wednesday. The win assured Army of at least a tie with the Eagles for fourth place. VMD appeared to have the game in hand when it scored three in the seventh inning to take a 6 to 5 advantage. But in the ninth, Dufault opened with a single, Granich was hit by a pitch and Bud Werstine walked to load the bases. Davies singled to right to score the tying marker but Granich was cut down at the plate. VMD third sacker Bryan Forster pulled the hidden ball trick on Werstine for the second out but Sutherland punched a single to bring in the winner.
David (W) and Sutherland
Shouldice, Garnet (L) (1) and Patterson
(August 10) With a two-run rally in the final frame, Navy shaded the Eagles 5-4 Friday night to quash the Eagles hopes for a playoff slot. Navy loaded the bases in the ninth with Dick Latiff knocking in the tying run with a liner over first base and Parkins bouncing a hit through the right side to score Jack Walker with the winning marker. Gordon Carpenter went the full nine innings for the winners holding the Eagles to six hits, although he walked six as well. Stan Davies, a recent discharge by the Navy, started for the Eagles giving way to Stan Curry in the seventh.
Davies, Curry (L) (7) and Kokran
Carpenter (W) and Van Hatten
(August 11) Behind Cy Shillito's five-hit shutout, VMD whipped RCAF 11-0 Saturday on the first of two city league games. The league-leaders were paced by Gar Taylor, Charlie Stroulger and Toad Garnet each with three hits.
Sutton (L), McDonald (4), Gormick (8) and Kilburn
Shillito (W) and Patterson
(August 11) The evening game between Army and Navy produced 30 runs, 29 hits and 8 errors ending in a 15-15 draw. The heavy hitting included home runs by Bayduck, the new Navy catcher, and Red Sutherland the Army receiver. Parkins of the Navy squad added a triple and double. and teammate Dick Latiff smacked a pair of two-baggers. Ironically, the Navy had to work a squeeze play in the 8th to get the tying run.
Pawluk, Johnson and Bayduck
Harding, Edwards, David and Sutherland
(August 13) Diminutive Harry Holness of the Army make his pitching debut a success Monday holding RCAF to five hits as Army notched an 8 to 1 triumph. A seven-run fifth inning put the game out of reach. Doug Peden's two-run homer highlighted the big inning. Holness contributed a double and single to the Army's 16-hit attack. Almas had three hits.
Holness (W) and Sutherland
McDonald (L), Sutton (5) and Richardson
(August 15) Behind the four-hit pitching of newcomer Stan Scallion Navy handed Tommy Musgrave of VMD his first league loss of the season Wednesday notching a 4 to 1 victory. Played as a benefit for Navy outfielder Art Amon, who suffered an ankle injury weeks ago, the fixture attracted a large holiday crowd. Scallion had a shutout for eight innings before Toad Garnet tripled in the ninth to drive in VMD's sole marker. Musgrave was nicked for six hits and all four runs in his six innings of work. It was his first loss after ten straight league victories. Dick Latiff provided the Navy with all the offense it would need with a two-run homer in the sixth frame.
Musgrave (L), Curry (7) and Patterson
Scallion (W) and Bayduck
(August 17) VMD scored the winning run on a balk in the top of the ninth inning to shade RCAF 2 to 1 Friday. As umpire Tommy Restell waved Bryan Forster across the plate, the entire RCAF squad stormed around the umpire in protest. Some even walked off the field refusing to continue. Manager Bill Sprinkle finally got his players back into position with the exception of catcher Cliff Kilburn who remained in the dressing room. Flyers missed a golden opportunity to tie in the bottom of the final frame getting runners on second and third with none out. But, on Doug Sutton's fly ball to right, Bill McDonald was caught off third for a double play and a few pitches later Jerry Geddes was trapped off third and tagged out to end the game. In the sixth inning, Babe Work and Kilburn engaged in a wrestling match when Work was knocked over in a play at first base.
Davies, Curry (W) (7) and Patterson, Harney
Sutton (L) and Kilburn, Geddes (9)
PLAYOFFS
(August 20) VMD downed the RCAF 7-2 Monday night in the opening game of their best-of-five semi-final series. It was a sloppy affair as the teams combined for 13 errors. Tommy Musgrave allowed just five hits in stopping the Flyers. The right-hander fanned seven and walked just one. VMD punched out 13 hits off Bill McDonald, three by shortstop Charlie Stroulger who made three of VMD's six errors in the field. Musgrave helped his own cause with a pair of hits.
McDonald (L) and Kilburn
Musgrave (W) and Patterson
(August 22) In a game which featured 30 hits, Navy beat the Army 7 to 4 in the first game of their semi-final series. Jack Walker's three-run homer in the sixth inning was the winning blow. Veteran Stan Douglas survived 14 hits to go the distance for the pitching win. During the seventh inning, Douglas, voted the league's most popular player in a poll of fans was presented with a $50 War Bond.
David (L), Minauldi and Sutherland
Douglas (W) and Bayduck
(August 24) After spotting VMD three unearned runs in the first inning, RCAF Flyers roared back to gain a 5-5 draw Friday in the second game of their semi-final series. The game was called after eight innings because of darkness. Flyers missed a golden opportunity to tuck it away in the 8th when a squeeze play backfired and the runner was tagged out.
Shillito, Curry (6) and Patterson
Sutton and Kilburn
(August 27) Navy moved to within a game of advancing to the city baseball final downing Army 8 to 3 Monday to take a 2-0 game lead in their best-of-five series. Big Stan Scallion gave up ten hits and walked six but was tough when needed, stranding 15 base runners, to go the distance for the win. Joe Minauldi allowed just six hits but issued eight free passes in taking the loss. Army gave up four unearned runs. After spotting Army a run in the second inning, Navy took the lead for good in the third as Jack Walker drove in three runs with a bases-loaded double. Lorne Deitrich led the winners with three hits while Red Sutherland duplicated the feat for the Army.
Scallion (W) and Bayduck
Minauldi (L) and Sutherland
(August 29) Official batting statistics show Gil Bruce as the batting champion of the Victoria city league. The Navy outfielder finished the regular season with a .408 average to edge out Gar Taylor of VMD who finished just six points back at .402. Army third baseman Bud Werstine was third at .388 and led the loop in runs with 24. Jimmy Morrison of VMD was tops in runs batted in, 24, one more than teammate Charlie Stroulger. Noel Morgan, also of VMD, was the leading base stealer with 25.
(August 29) Tommy Musgrave blanked the RCAF on four hits Saturday as VMD clobbered the Flyers 10-0 to take a 2-0 game lead in their semi-final series. The right-hander, the top hurler in the league during the regular season, fanned eight in winning his second playoff victory. Toad Garnet led VMD with three hits and Charlie Stroulger had the offensive highlight with a second inning homer.
McDonald (L), Sutton (4) and Kilburn, Richardson
Musgrave (W) and Patterson
(August 31) Army staved off elimination in their semi-final series downing Navy 7-4 Friday for their first win in the best-of-five affair. After Army had taken a 3-0 lead in the third inning, with Bud Werstine's double the key blow, Navy rebounded to tie the score in the fourth. However, Army plated another three in the fifth as Doug Peden highlighted the rally with a three-bagger. Jean Paul David tossed a six-hitter for the win.
David (W) and Sutherland
Pawluk (L), Scallion (5) and Bayduck
(September 1) VMD defeated RCAF to taken the best-of-five series in three straight games.
xxx and xxx
xxx and xxx
(September 3) Army defeated Navy to tie their best-of-five series at two games apiece.
xxx and xxx
xxx and xxx
(September 4) Playing in adverse weather conditions, Navy defeated Army 11 to 6 to advance to the city baseball final against Victoria Machinery Depot. Opening under cloudy skies, umpire Tommy Restell was forced to suspend play in the middle of the sixth inning after the Army had staged a thrilling comeback to bring in six runs on home runs by Doug Peden and George Boston to pull to within a run of the Navy. After a half-hour delay, the game resumed. Navy sewed up the contest in the seventh when hits by Gil Bruce, Parkins, Bobby Wiegand and Don Johnson, along with a hit batter, were good for three runs. They added another in the eighth. Wiegand was the top Navy hitter with three for four.
David (L), Boston (5), Minauldi (8) and Sutherland
Scallion (W), Johnson (6) and Van Hatten
(September 5) Tommy Musgrave fired another shutout for Victoria Machinery Depot, a two-hitter, as VMD took the opening game of the final series 4 to 0 before a crowd of 2,400. Musgrave was in control all the way retiring the side, one-two-three, in six of the nine innings. He whiffed seven and did not allow a free pass. Gar Taylor had three hits to lead an 11-hit VMD attack.
Douglas (L) and Bayduck
Musgrave (W) and Patterson
(September 7) Blanking Navy for the second straight game, VMD took a 2-0 lead in the final series Friday with another 4-0 victory. Cy Shillito held the Navy to four hits in going the route for VMD. Gar Taylor again led the offense, this time with four hits, one of them a two-bagger. Bayduck had a triple and single for Navy.
Shillito (W) and Patterson
Scallion (L) and Bayduck
(September 8) Victoria Machinery Depot is just a game away from capturing the city baseball championship after splitting a double-header with Navy Saturday. Navy took the opener 8 to 4, while Tommy Musgrave fired his third shutout of the playoffs in the second game, a three-hitter, as VMD won 5 to 0.
Navy jumped into a four-run lead in the first inning of the first game against Stan Curry who then blanked Navy until the seventh when a pair of errors led to four unearned runs. Don Johnson held the pennant winners to seven hits in going the route for the pitching win.
Johnson (W) and Bayduck
Currie (L) and Harney
Lefty Pawluk, the starter for Navy, hurled shutout ball until the sixth inning in the night game when he made two errors to help VMD to three runs.. Reg Patterson led off the frame with a single and Jimmy Morrison followed with a walk. Charlie Stroulger bunted to Pawluk who made a wild throw over first as both runners came home. Another wild toss by Pawluk, on Gar Taylor's grounder, allowed Stroulger to score. VMD added runs against reliever Stan Douglas in the 8th and 9th.
Musgrave (W) and Patterson
Pawluk (L), Douglas (7) and Bayduck
(September 10) Victoria Machinery Depot spotted Navy a pair in the top of the first inning then replied with four in the last half of the initial fame en route to a 6 to 3 victory to win the Victoria city baseball championship. VMD took the best-of-seven final in five games. Jimmy Morrison provided the key blow, a three-run homer in the first. Cy Shillito, who tossed an eight-hitter for the winners, helped the offense with a pair of hits. Jack Walker bashed a two-run homer for Navy.
Johnson (L) and Bayduck
Shillito (W) and Patterson
Nanaimo
Although wars on both fronts were winding down in 1945, no senior baseball existed on the diamonds of Nanaimo. What available baseballers there were in the Hub City of the Island tended to drift toward involvement in an intra-city softball/fastball league.
Duncan
The late stages of World War II didn’t have the same impact upon baseball in the Cowichan Valley during 1945 as it had on most other parts of the country. A five-team senior amateur league encompassing four teams from Duncan and a single entry from Chemainus played a full intra-circuit schedule and also participated with three Victoria clubs from the Lower Island Senior Amateur Baseball League in regular exhibition matches. One of the Duncan entries, the I.W.A. team, struggled mightily to stay competitive and finally withdrew in late July.
Teams in the 1945 Duncan Senior Baseball League
Chemainus
Duncan City Service
Duncan Concos
Duncan I.W.A.
Duncan Olympics
(May 27) The new season kicked off Sunday at Athletic Park with Mayor George H. Savage throwing out the first ball to H.Moore, the Indian Agent with Lt.-Col. A.C.Sutton, Government Agent, standing at bat. In the double-header, Concos trounced City Service 23-6 in a wild one. The Concos won with just nine hits, three by Lou DeMore who scored five times. Red Naylor and Tom Garner each scored four times. The losers committed nine errors. William Artz and DeMore combined on a six hitter.
Arts, DeMore and Stroulger
Lundquist (L) and Maripodi
(May 27) In another high scoring affair IWA defeated Olympics 14-10. In the third inning IWA pitcher Mike Chester smacked one over the centre field fence for the first home run of the season. Olympics' Preston Bruce was tagged out at the plate attempting an inside-the-park homer. Chester paced a 15-hit attack with a trio for IWA. Second baseman R.White led the losers with two hits and three runs.
(May 29) Olympics upset Concos 10-5 Tuesday as R.Pollock, who relieved in the first inning, hurled a strong game for the winners. A four-run fourth inning, highlighted by a bases-loaded safety by Rodger put the Olympics in the lead for good. Second sacker Rodger and catcher Doug Cleough each had two hits for the winners
(June 1) Chemainus clobbered IWA 14-4 Friday behind the three-hit pitching of Larry Tucker.
(June 3) In an exhibition double-header at Athletic Park, Duncan, Sunday the locals split with the Victoria Eagles. Eagles took the opener 14 to 5 as rain made conditions difficult. In the evening, under better weather conditions, the Duncan All-Stars came away with a 4 to 2 victory as William Artz, a former Eagles pitcher, hurled a strong game. Lou DeMore led the hitters with three hits in four trips.
(June 3) At Chemainus, the home squad divided a double-bill defeating City Service 6-1 in the opener behind the strong pitching of Dave Murray and dropping an 11-3 decision to the Olympics in the second game.
(June 8) Olympics pounded out 13 hits in defeating City Service 10-5. W.White held the losers to three hits. A six-run fifth inning put the Olympics on top for good.
(June 10) Sunday afternoon, Concos whipped City Service 16 to 3 after taking a 10-0 lead before City Service managed to score. Concos out-hit the losers 14 to 3. William Artz and F.Kraft handled the hurling for the winners.
(June 10) There was tragedy Sunday evening as William Braes, the IWA pitcher, collapsed after pitching seven innings with 11 strikeouts. He left the diamond and collapsed in the back seat of his car. He was rushed to hospital but just a few minutes after admission he died. In was learned that he had been released from hospital three weeks previously after a bout with pneumonia. Unaware of the seriousness of the incident, the game continued. Olympics won the game 8-0 with Rodger tossing the shutout.
(June 10) At Chemainus Sunday, the home squad took both games of a double-header from Victoria Eagles 10-4 and 11-10. Haley Jackson went seven innings in the opener to pick up the win with relief help from Larry Tucker. Al Copp slugged a four-bagger for the winners. A cold rain hampered the teams in the night game. Eagles had a big six run inning and looked like winners going into the seventh and final frame but the locals rallied for the win.
(June 14) After falling behind 5-0 in the third inning, Concos rebounded to top Chemainus 13-10 Thursday at Athletic Park. The winners used three hurlers, F.Kraft, L.Biggs and Lou DeMore to nail down the win. Dave Murray's three-run homer was the highlight for Chemainus.
(June 17) Victoria Navy notched a sweep of Sunday's double-header with the Duncan All-Stars, 15 to 5 and 4 - 1. Gil Bruce, the leading hitter in the Victoria Senior League, smacked a homer in each game while Art Amon added a singleton. Gil's brother, Preston "Sunny" Bruce clouted a four-bagger for the locals. Don Johnson and Gordon Carpenter shared mound duties for the winners in the afternoon contest and Carpenter and Earl King worked the nightcap. William Artz was solid for Duncan in the second game.
(June 17) Playing at home, Chemainus, the home squad took both games of Sunday's double-header downing IWA 15 to 3 and 11-4. Chemainus collected 16 hits off a pair of IWA hurlers. Dave Murray not only handled the pitching for the winners in the first game he belted one over the left field wall for his second homer of the season. Bill Syme fanned 19 to highlight the second game as Chemainus again punched out 16 hits in the 11-4 victory. Larry Tucker and Max Brooks each had three hits.
(June 21) In a senior league tussle Thursday evening, IWA blew a three-run lead in the first inning but rallied to down City Service 8-4.
(June 22) Chemainus came from behind a 5-0 deficit to dump Olympics 11 to 6.
(June 24) Large crowds were on hand Sunday as the Duncan All-Stars dropped a double-header to Victoria Machinery Depot, 9 to 6 and 5 to 1 at Athletic Park. Down 6-0 in the opener, Duncan tied the count with a six-run outburst in the fifth inning before Victoria rallied with three in the eighth for the win. Wilf Shouldice hurled for the winners. Toad Garnet gave up a run to Duncan in the first inning then pitched shutout ball for seven frames as VMD took the nightcap. Reg Patterson belted a homer for VMD.
(June 25) Before a large crowd swelled by carnival day visitors, Concos whipped Chemainus 11 to 2 as William Artz twirled a strong game for the winners who wrapped up the game with a six-run outburst in the fifth inning.
(June 26) Olympics rang up three runs in the first inning and cruised to a 12-3 victory over City Service Tuesday at Athletic Park. Preston Bruce had the big blow for the winners, a triple, while Earthy took care of the mound work.
(June 29) In yet another high-scoring affair, City Service swamped IWA 16 to 4, taking a four-run advantage in the top of the first inning.
(July 1) In an exhibition game Sunday, Concos slammed the Duncan All-Stars 15 to 6. The game featured clown "Si Perkins" (aka Frank Merryfield) entertaining the crowd. Concos had a 7-1 lead by the end of the second inning.
(July 6) F.Earthy was outstanding Friday hurling a three-hitter as Olympics trounced City Service 12-1.
(July 8) In the first game of Sunday's twin-bill, City Service scored five times in the late innings to erase a three-run deficit and post a 12-10 win over IWA. Concos won the second game 9 to 5 over the Olympics. Lou DeMore hurled for the winners.
(July 10) Trailing 5-0 through seven innings, Chemainus rallied for four runs in the 8th and another four in the 9th to edge Concos 8 to 7.
(July 13) Al Copp and Bob Jansch smacked home runs Friday to lead Chemainus to a 10-3 win over the Olympics. Haley Jackson was solid on the hill for the winners racking up 14 strikeouts.
(July 13) With a five-run first inning, Concos went on to crush IWA 18 to 7 Friday.
(July 15) Chemainus defeated IWA 6-3 Sunday in the first game of a scheduled double-header. The second game was called off as many of the players were out fighting fires. IWA was short two players and borrowed J.Kernachan and A.McEwan from Chemainus. Max Brooks, who went just two innings because of a sore arm, and Bill Syme combined to hold IWA to three hits.
(July 15) Olympics dropped both ends of Sunday's double-header losing 12-4 to Concos in the afternoon and 8-0 in the evening to City Service. Stan Abercrombie fired the shutout for City Service allowing just five hits. G.Cosgrove pitched the win for Concos in the opener.
Concos 10 - 2
Chemainus 9 - 4 1.5
Olympics 7 - 6 3.5
City Service 4 - 7 5.5
IWA 1 - 12
9.5
(July 17) Winners of their opening game of the season, IWA have been on the losing end ever since and dropped another Tuesday, 11-6 to City Service for their 13th consecutive defeat.
(July 20) Rain washed out Friday's game between Chemainus and City Service after four innings of play with Chemainus ahead 9-2.
(July 20) Preston "Sonny" Bruce of the Olympics tops the hitters in the Duncan Senior League with a .542 average in 48 at bats well ahead of Lou DeMore of Concos who sits at .456. Tom Garner and Joe Garner of Concos are in third and fourth place with marks of .383 and .380. W.Hagg of Chemainus rounds out the top five, at .375.
(July 22) In Sunday's double-bill Concos and the Olympics added to IWA's misery sending the cellar dwellers to their 14th and 15th straight losses. Concos took the afternoon game 16-5 while the Olympics handed IWA an even worse beating in the second game, 23-7. Olympics had a 19-0 lead before IWA managed to score in the fifth inning.
(July 22) Behind the pitching of Bill Syme and the hitting of Marchol Proteau, Chemainus trounced Duncan City Service 10-1 Sunday, riding an eight-run third inning for the victory. Proteau led Chemainus with three hits in four trips.
(July 24) Chemainus took a 7-4 decision from the Olympics Tuesday with Dave Murray providing a highlight for the winners with a second inning homer.
(July 27) Concos whipped City Service 14 to 2 as L.Biggs handled the mound work for the winners. George Syrotuck, the Concos' second baseman was thrown out of the game for fighting with a spectator.
(July 29) On Sunday afternoon, Concos, the league leaders downed the Olympics 12-4 as Lou DeMore provided solid work on the hill. In the evening, City Service exploded for 13 hits and 17 runs in the second inning alone in crushing IWA 22-3. The IWA manager, Bob McQuarrie, announced IWA's withdrawal from the league citing the difficulty in fielding a team and the lack of competent players.
(July 29) In an exhibition game Sunday at Chemainus, the Concos downed the locals 11-10. A five-run rally in the ninth brought victory for the Concos. With out out, Cosgrove drew a walk and Piggot reached on an error before Kraft knocked in the first run with a single. Another error allowed Stroulger to load the bases and consecutive hits by William Artz and Wilson gave Concos the lead, 11-8. Chemainus squeezed in a pair of runs in the bottom of the ninth but left the tying run stranded at third.
With the IWA withdrawal, the revised standings :
Concos 9 - 2
Chemainus 6 - 4 2.5
Olympics 5 - 7 4.5
City Service 1 - 8 7.0
(July 31) In an abbreviated contest Tuesday, Olympics scored three in the sixth and final frame to down Concos 9 to 6.
(August 3) City Services got a solid pitching effort from Stan Abercrombie Friday in a 5-3 win over Chemainus.
(August 5) In an exhibition twin-bill Sunday, Victoria Navy walked away with a pair of victories downing the Duncan All-Stars 13-2 in the first game and whipping Concos 12-3 in the second. Gil Bruce slammed a pair of home runs in the afternoon tilt. In the first inning his blast cleared the left field fence just inside the base line for one of the longest blows ever at Athletic Park. He also banged one over the Bruce Bros. sign on the centre field fence. Tom Garner provided a highlight for the locals with a homer in the second game. Don Johnson hurled the first game win and Bobby Wiegand took care of the mound work in the second. Navy fell behind 3-1 in the nightcap before rebounding with 11 unanswered markers to cruise to the win.
Concos 9 - 3
Chemainus 6 - 5 2.5
Olympics 6 - 7 4.5
City Service 2 - 8 5.0
(August 7) City Service erased a 2-1 deficit with a three-run sixth inning and added two in the seventh to dump Concos 6-2 Tuesday. Stan Abercrombie was the winning pitcher.
(August 10) Chemainus doubled up City Service 10-5 in Friday's action.
(August 12) Trailing 4-0 after three innings, Concos tied it with a four-run fourth inning then scored eight times in the last three innings to defeat City Service 12 to 7 Sunday afternoon.
(August 12) The Olympics clobbered City Service 14-1 behind an outstanding pitching performance by Lyell Rodger who gave up an early run then hurled shutout ball for seven frames.
(August 12) Billy Syme fired a shutout Sunday evening as Chemainus blanked Concos 8-0. The winners started the assault early as the first pitch to leadoff hitter Marchol Proteau went right over the fence for a home run.
(August 14) Chemainus topped Olympics 6-3 in a seven inning contest at Duncan. Haley Jackson hurled for the winners.
(August 17) The last place City Service nine notched a 5-4 win over the Olympics after falling behind 4-0. They rallied for the triumph with a run in the top of the seventh and final inning. Pete Williams rapped a single to score Paul Williams with the winning marker. Stan Abercrombie settled down after a rough start to blank the Olympics over the last five innings for the pitching win.
(August 19) In a Sunday double-bill, the Olympics took a 5-0 lead in the first inning, helped by Doug Cleough's triple, then held off a late Concos rally to notch a 10-8 victory in the first game. Concos squeaked through with an 8-7 victory in the second game, an exhibition match, highlighted by Pete Hawryluk's four-bagger.
(August 19) At Chemainus, the home club brought cheers from the local fans scoring a pair of one-sided victories over City Service, 25-5 and 14-4. In the opener, Chemainus went wild collecting 24 hits, four each by Max Brooks and Ronnie Gibbons. Billy Syme cracked a homer, his first of two on the day.. The evening game was called in the top half of the 8th when Donnie Johns the Chemainus first sacker suffered a broken nose when hit by a pitch. Dave Murray tossed a five-hitter for the win, fanning seven.
(August 21) Tom Garner and G.Cosgrove smacked homers Tuesday to lead Concos to an 11-3 triumph over City Service. George Syrotuck and F.Kraft combined to twirl the victory for Concos.
(August 24) With Lou DeMore hurling standout ball, Concos downed Chemainus 8-2 Friday to capture first place in the league standings. Pete Hawryluk had a circuit clout for the winners.
Concos 12 - 6
Chemainus 11 - 7 1.0
Olympics 9 - 9 3.0
City Service 4 - 14 8.0
PLAYOFFS
(August 26) The Duncan Olympics pulled off a surprise 5-2 win over league-leading Concos in the opening game of their semi-final series. Lyell Rodger allowed just single runs in the fourth and ninth stanzas in hurling the victory. Concos were handicapped by the absence of star hitter Lou DeMore, the second-best hitter in the league. Concos also had first baseman Tom Garner suffer a torn shoulder muscle and fractured rib in a collision with Olympic's centre fielder Jim Cain. In spite of the injuries, Garner hopes to play in the rest of the series. Brother Joe Garner, the Conco's shortstop won't be playing. In an accident at work Monday, he lost two fingers of his left hand while helping with a skill-saw at Cowichan Bay.
(September 2) Duncan Olympics slaughtered pennant-winning Concos 23-0 Sunday to advance to the league final taking the semi-final series in two straight games. Olympics ran wild in the first inning scoring ten times while the Concos, short two key players and with another playing hurt, just couldn't compete. They tried four hurlers with little success. Lyell Rodger allowed just four hits in six innings of work before turning over the mound to K.Evans for the final frame. Concos' ineptitude was readily apparent in the sixth inning when the Olympics added another seven runs thanks to a series of errors, to the left fielder, third baseman, catcher, first baseman and shortstop.
(September 2) Chemainus wiped out a 4-1 City Service lead after two innings with a seven run outburst in the third and went on to a 13 to 9 triumph to win the semi-final in two straight games. Bill Syme again provided the power for the winners with a four-bagger.
(September 4) Before a home crowd, Chemainus crushed the Olympics 12-1 in the first game of the best-of-five final for the Duncan Senior League title.
(September 6) Preston Bruce of the Olympics has been crowned the top hitter of the 1945 season finishing with a .492 average in 63 at bats. He's to be awarded the Eddie Evans Cup. Preston's brother Gil Bruce has won the batting title in the Victoria Senior League. Lou DeMore of the pennant-winning Concos was second at .463 and Tom Garner, also of the Concos, was third with a .441 mark. Bill Syme of league champion Chemainus hit an even .400 for fourth spot ahead of catcher Doug Cleough of the Olympics at .385
(September 9) At Athletic Park in Duncan, the Olympics evened the final series at a game apiece with an 11-7 come-from-behind triumph in the first game of a playoff double-header. Chemainus rebounded to take the second game 13-8. In the first game, Chemainus jumped into a 6-0 lead in the sixth inning before the Olympics began to rally. Hits by Doug Cleough, Preston Bruce and Jim Cain and a walk to Pollock led to four runs in the bottom of the sixth to narrow the deficit to 6-4. A six-run seventh inning put the game on ice.
Two walks, a hit and an error led to two runs for Chemainus in the first inning of the second game and they were never headed racking up 13 runs to 8 for the locals. In the last of the ninth, Olympics collected three runs but the rally was cut short as Cain was called out trying to steal home.
(September 16) Chemainus downed the Olympics 10-7 Sunday to win the Duncan Senior Baseball championship taking the best-of-five final series in four games. A five-run Chemainus scoring spree in the ninth inning proved too much of a hurdle to overcome for the Olympics who rallied for three in the bottom of the ninth but fell short. Marchol Proteau with a five-for-five day was the star for the winners.
Olympic hurler Lyell Rodger, winner of 10 games out of 13 starts during the regular season, lost control in the third inning when Proteau doubled, for his second hit, and scored on Ronnie Gibbons' base hit. Gibbons advanced all the way to third on an error on the throw-in and was waved home by umpire McDonald when catcher Doug Cleough threw his mitt at the ball. In the fourth, with two out, Chemainus added two more runs on a walk to J.Copp and singles by Bill Syme, Proteau and Gibbons. Olympics got on the scoreboard in their half of the fourth when Cleough hit safely, stole second and came home on Pollock's base knock. Preston Bruce sacrificed Pollock home. "Smiling Bill" Jackson relieved starter Syme for Chemainus and retired the side. Olympics drew to within a run as Douglas opened with a long fly ball into the rough in centre and Clarence Mayea followed with a single. Each team scored in the seventh. Chemainus got its marker on successive singles by J.Copp, Proteau and Gibbons. Olympics had a golden opportunity in their half of the seventh when, with two out, Syme - who returned to the mound - walked the bases full. Coach Morris Dayman pulled Syme to send the veteran Jackson back to the hill. He walked Bruce to force in one run before getting a pop up to end the inning.
In the ninth, Chemainus loaded the bases and got a pair of runs on an outfield error. And, with the sacks again loaded, singles by C.Syme and Donnie Johns and a sacrifice by Bill Syme brought in three more. The Olympics stormed back in the bottom of the ninth loading the bases and getting a run on what appeared to be a force play when Pombert evaded a tag at home. With two out, Lyell Rodger singled to plate two more runs but Mayea flied out to end the game. The winners pounded out 14 hits to 10 for the Olympics. Doug Cleough stole five bases.
Courtenay / Comox / Cumberland
With wars on both the European and Pacific fronts nearing an end as the spring of 1945 approached, baseball was still on the back burner in many parts of the country including the city of Courtenay, the town of Comox, the village of Cumberland and the unincorporated settlement of Union Bay. Within this expanse of the Comox Valley, only Cumberland had any semblance of senior amateur baseball activity during the 1945 season, a four-team city league.
Teams in the 1945 Cumberland City Baseball League
Firemen
Owls
Robins
Squirrels