1948 Vancouver, Lower Mainland, Fraser Valley 
1948 BC Interior 
1948 Vancouver Island   

Victoria Senior Amateur City League

Last season’s VSABL champion Canadian Legion played the 1948 campaign under a new name, Ben’s Bombers. The Boosters, a new entry in the loop, swelled the membership to five teams from four.

Teams in the 1948 Victoria Senior Amateur Baseball League :

Ben’s Bombers
Boosters
Eagles
Navy
Pitzer & Nex

(May 8)   Victoria Eagles kicked off the new season with a victory Saturday downing Ben's Bombers 13-10 in spite of a porous defense which committed eight errors but also pulled off a triple play.  Stan Davies was the winning hurler allowing 11 hits. Bill Prior, who surrendered 15 hits, also gave up 11 free passes. In the seventh inning, with the bases loaded Roger Ross lined out to Verne Evans at shortstop and runners were caught off third and second for the triple killing.

Davies (W) and Cameron
Bill Prior (L) and Smith

(May 8)  Pitzer and Nex combined seven hits with eight Boosters' errors to notch a 12-7 win in Saturday's twilight contest. Centre fielder Johnny Furmeston powered the winners' attack with a pair of homers. Jack Fidler went the distance, with a seven-hitter for the win.

Fidler (W) and Bertrand
Moffat, M.Hodges, Worth and Harford

(May 16)   The strategy backfired on Pitzer & Nex Sunday as Roger Ross belted a bases-loaded homer in the last of the eighth inning to lead the Bombers to a thrilling 9-8 victory. With two on and two out, manager Rosy McLellan, on the mound for the gasmen, intentionally passed the dangerous Jack Walker to pitch to Ross, playing in just his second year of senior ball. Ross came through in grand style with a towering swat to deep centre.  Veteran Lloyd Cann started for the Bombers but gave way to Bill Prior in the seventh after giving up ten hits and eight runs. Prior pitched no-hit ball for the final three frames to pick up the win.

McLellan (L) and Bertrand
Cann, Bill Prior (W) (7) and Smith

(May 17)  Ivan Wood sparked the Navy nine with a double and single, three runs and three stolen bases Monday in an 11-4 victory over the Eagles.  Moe Tudor held the Eagles to just four hits and one earned run in the six-inning contest.

Tudor (W) and xxx
Bendall, xxx (3) and xxx

(May 19)  Frank Scroggs set down the Boosters with a neat six-hitter for the first shutout of the season Wednesday as the Bombers rang up an easy 8-0 triumph.  Art Worth gave up ten hits in taking the loss. Wally Thompson and Roger Ross each had two hits for the winners. Jim Harford had a pair for the Boosters.

Scroggs (W) and Smith, Phillips
Worth and Harford

(May 21)  Behind the five-hit pitching of Jeff Worrell, Navy defeated Pitzer & Nex 12-3 Friday. Murray Yankoski had a homer for the Navy as did Del Bertrand for the losers.

G.MacArthur, McLellan and xxx
J.Worrell (W) and xxx

(May 26)   Victoria Eagles handed Boosters their fourth straight defeat Wednesday, 11-5. Toad Garnet, Jim Morrison and winning pitcher Buddy Bendall paced the Eagles each collecting a pair of hits. Bendall held the Boosters to six scattered blows to register the win.

Bendall (W) and xxx
xxx and xxx

(May 30)   Len French smacked two doubles and two singles and Jimmy John had three hits to lead Pitzer & Nex to a 12-9 victory over the Eagles. Jack Fidler picked up the win but needed help in the ninth to put down an Eagles' rally. Jimmy Morrison was the big noise for the Eagles with four hits, one a bases-loaded triple in the last of the ninth.

Fidler (W), M.MacArthur (9) and xxx
B.Anderson, Davies (L) (3), Anderson (8) and xxx

(May 31)  Lefty Art Worth fired a two-hitter and fanned 17 Monday to pace Boosters to their first win of the season, 4-2 over the Navy nine.  Worth also put himself in considerable trouble through nine walks and three hit batsmen. Boosters scored all their runs in the first inning on Gerry Parker's single, a sacrifice, a double by Clint Hodges, an infield error, two walks and a hit batter. 

Worth (W) and xxx
Tudor (L) and xxx

(June 2)  Playing manager Bob Weigand came through with the game-winning hit in the eighth inning to give the Bombers a 7-6 win over Pitzer & Nex Wednesday evening.  The gasmen jumped on Bombers' starter Frank Scroggs for six runs in the first two frames, while holding the Bombers to a single tally.  Bill Prior relieved Scroggs and fired three-hit shutout ball the rest of the way. Bombers made it 6-2 with a singleton in the third and tied the contest with four unearned runs in the fifth.  In the eighth, catcher Earl Phillips drew a walk to open the frame and moved to second on an infield out. Weigand singled to right to plate the deciding marker for the Bombers third straight win after losing their season opener.

Scroggs, Bill Prior (W) (3) and Phillips
M.MacArthur (L) and Bertrand

(June 3)  Gar Taylor's Victoria Eagles pounded out 18 hits of Navy's Jeff Worrell Thursday to defeat the Tars 12 to 9.  Eagles jumped on Worrell in the first frame for six hits, including three-baggers by Vic Dale and Jim Morrison, which along with two Navy errors and a fielders' choice produced six runs. Navy pecked away finally chasing starter Bob Prior in the fifth inning when they rallied to within a run of the Eagles at 9-8, Taylor led the winners with four hits in five trips and Dale and Morrison each had three hits.

Bob Prior (W), Garnet (5) and Carson, Anderson (2)
Worrell (L) and Kubicek

(June 5)  Navy gained a second place tie with Eagles Saturday night by downing Pitzer & Nex 6-2 behind the five-hit flinging of ace right-hander Jeff Worrell. The scheduled afternoon game between Ben's Bombers and Eagles was postponed.

Worrell (W) and xxx
xxx and xxx

(June 6)  With Jack Walker tossing a four-hitter, Ben's Bombers strengthened their hold on first place in the senior loop scoring an easy 14 to 4 decision over Boosters. An eight-run outburst in the third inning on eight hits, two walks, and error and a fielders' choice, pretty well put the game out of reach.  Walker held the Boosters off the scoreboard until the sixth when Gerry Parker walked and scooted home on Jim Harford's double and an infield out. Already up 10-1, the league leaders added four more runs in the eighth to go ahead 14-1 before Walker ran into control problems in the ninth walking four straight batters before Art Worth knocked in a pair with a single.

Walker (W) and xxx
xxx and xxx

(June 7)  Stan Davies allowed just one hit, a scratch single down the third base line, in pitching the Eagles to a 14-3 victory over the Boosters Monday at MacDonald Park.  Davies again had control troubles and walks played a large role in the Boosters' three runs. Walks also helped the Eagles as Art Worth gave up eight free passes along with eight hits in his five innings of work. 

Davies (W) and Carson
Worth (L), Moffat (5) and Harford

(June 9)  Pitzer & Nex walked to a win  Wednesday scoring a 16 to 7 victory over Boosters in a game in which they were handed 14 bases on balls.  Both squads managed ten hits but the Boosters made seven errors in the field and along with the walks, their hurlers let loose with three wild pitches and hit a batter. Don Hall and Bernie Clarkson each had two hits for the winners. Rosy McLellan was the winning pitcher.

McLellan (W) and xxx
Worth (L), xxx, xxx and xxx

(June 12)  Toad Garnet was a one-man show for the Eagles Saturday as he pitched and batted the Eagles to a 6 to 2 triumph over Pitzer & Nex. On the mound, Garnet allowed but five hits and two unearned runs while whiffing eight. He drove in three runs with a single and double.

Garnet (W) and xxx
xxx and xxx

(June 14)  Bill Prior tossed a neat three-hitter and belted a three-run homer to lead Ben's Bombers to a 10-1 trouncing of Pitzer & Nex. The right-hander struck out 13 and lost his shutout in the sixth inning when Bill Reynolds scored an unearned run .Bombers managed just seven hits but seven errors by Pitzer & Nex played a large role in the result.

Bill Prior (W) and xxx
Fidler, McLellan and xxx

(June 18)   Ben's Bombers came from behind to trounce the cellar-dwelling Boosters 16 to 5 Friday. Bill Prior, who relieved starter Frank Scroggs in the fourth inning and went on to set down the losers on two hits the rest of the way received credit for the victory. Third sacker Rookie Wright paced the winners' 11-hit attack with a triple and two singles. Boosters jumped into a three-run lead in the first inning on a double by Lowell Hodges, walks to Berlyn Hodges and Marvin Hodges, a fielders' choice and a double by Gerry Parker.

Scroggs, Bill Prior (W) (4) and xxx
Worth (L) and xxx

(June 18)  The Navy and Eagles were rained out.

(June 19)  The Bombers' Jack Walker was too much for Navy Saturday twirling a three-hitter with 12 strikeouts while leading the hitters with three singles in four trips in the 7 to 1 victory. Navy got its only run in the third inning when Jeff Worrell singled, stole second and scored on Ivan Wood's base knock.

Walker (W) and xxx
xxx and xxx

(June 21)  A six-run rally in the seventh inning carried Pitzer & Nex to a 10 to 6 victory over Boosters. Murray MacArthur hurled the win for the gasmen pitching into the ninth before being ejected by umpire Tommy Restell. Manager Rosy McLellan finished up. Third sacker Bill Reynolds paced the winners with three hits and made the game's fielding highlight in robbing Jim Harford of a hit in the seventh inning.

xxx and xxx
M.MacArthur (W), McLellan (9) and xxx

(June 23)   Veteran Jack Walker, winner of numerous batting titles, is well in front in the batting race with a .444 average in 36 at bats. Bernie Anderson of the Eagles and Bill Prior of the Bombers are tied for second place more than 60 points back at .371. Del Bertrand of Pitzer & Nex has a .333 mark and Gar Taylor of the Eagles rounds out the top five with a .314 average. Bertrand leads in runs batted in, with, 13, and Walker in total bases, 21. Navy's Tommy Deakin has the most thefts, 8.

(June 24)  Ben's Bombers racked up their 10th straight victory Thursday downing Navy 15-7. Bombers went on a 10-run scoring spree in the second inning to wrap up the contest early for pitcher Lloyd Cann. Seven hits, four walks, a hit batter and a wild pitch contributed to the big inning. Cann held the sailors to seven hits and led the Bomber offense with four hits, one of them a double. Chester Padgett belted a two-run homer for Navy.

Cann (W) and xxx
Barwis (L), Worrell (2) and xxx

(June 25)  Eagles capitalized on 12 errors by Pitzer & Nex to trounce the gasmen 11 to 5 Friday at MacDonald Park. Buddy Bendall, with relief from Stan Davies, picked up the pitching win.

Bendall (W), Davies and xxx
M.MacArthur (L) and xxx

(June 26)  Navy committed nine errors and were out-hit by the Boosters but still came away with an 11-7 triumph Saturday.  Boosters got off to a good start jumping on Jeff Worrell for four runs, including a two-run homer by Art Worth, in the first inning. Navy responded quickly with six runs in the second and four more in the fourth. Alf Kubicek, the regular catcher for Navy, relieved Worrell in the first and went the rest of the way for the win. Hank Bella made his first start for Boosters but was chased in the second in favour of Worth.

Worrell, Kubicek (W) (1) and Kubicek, xxx
Bella (L), Worth (2) and xxx

(June 27)  Ben's Bombers notched their easiest win of the season Sunday, their 11th straight, with a default win over Pitzer & Nex.

(June 28)   Out-hit 15 to 9, including two triples and a homer by Toad Garnet, Navy scored in the bottom of the ninth to edge the Eagles 8-7 Monday.  Ken Bleich scampered to first on an error and stole second and third. After Stan Davies walked Ivan Wood and Tommy Deakin, Dick Barwis came through to a single to plate the winning run.  The Eagles had taken the early lead with a pair in the opening stanza on a single, Garnet's triple and an outfield fly. Navy came right back in the bottom of the first with three runs, mainly on four Eagles' errors. The bluejackets went ahead 4-2 in the second when Jeff Worrell tripled and scored on an outfield fly.  Eagles fought back with one in the fifth as Verne Evans doubled and Garnet followed with a three-bagger. The birdmen got an unearned run in the sixth to tie at 4-4 and each team scored in the seventh.  Eagles looked like winners in the eighth when Evans doubled and Garnet smacked the ball over the fence for a homer. But, thanks to three errors by the Eagles, Navy again knotted the count in the bottom of the eighth.

Davies (L) and Bertrand
Worrell (W) and Kubicek

(June 29)  Ben's Bombers stretched their winning streak to 12 games Tuesday edging the Boosters 4 to 3 as Bill Prior was outstanding in relief of starter Lloyd Cann.  Boosters opened the scoring in the second on a pair of walks and singles by Art Worth and Jim Harford but the lead was short-lived as the Bombers jumped on Worth for all their tallies in the last of the third. Doubles by Wally Thompson, Al Duz and Earl Phillips, singles by Denny Fawcett and Ron Castner and a walk did the damage.  Prior relieved Cann in the 8th and fanned all five batters he faced.

Worth (L) and Harford
Cann (W), Prior (8) and Phillips

(July 2)  Boosters rapped out 17 hits Friday to demolish the short-handed Eagles 15 to 5. A seven-run fourth inning proved to be decisive for the Boosters. Art Worth held the Eagles to five singles, fanned 11 and walked five. Jim Harford led the winners with two triples and two singles in four trips while Worth aided his own cause with four hits. The Eagles had just four regulars in the lineup.

Smith (L), Anderson (4) and Bertrand
Worth (W) and Harford

(July 4)  Ben's Bombers made it 13 straight with a 13-5 triumph over Navy as Jack Walker and Frank Scroggs combined on a five-hitter. Bill Prior, the Bomber's ace hurler and utility man, clouted a homer, triple and single as the team's catcher to led the Bombers.  Walker added three singles.

Walker, Scroggs (7) and Prior
Tudor, Worrell (5) and Kubicek

(July 6)  in one of the best games of the senior league season, Bombers shaded the Eagles 2-0 Tuesday as Frank Scroggs bested Toad Garnet in a pitcher's battle. Scroggs allowed just two hits while Bombers got four off Garnet. Both runs came in the eighth inning on an error, a single by Ray Moretti, and three consecutive walks.

Scroggs (W) and xxx
Garnet (L) and xxx

(July 7)  The last-place Boosters moved a step closer to vacating the basement on Wednesday with an 11-4 victory over fourth-place Pitzer & Nex. It was only the third win of the season for the Boosters who now trail the gasmen by a single game. Southpaw Art Worth was the whole show for the winners as he set down Pitzer & Nex on seven scattered blows and led the hitters with a homer, triple and single in four trips. Jim Harford had a double and two singles and Berlyn Hodges punched out three singles.

Worth (W) and xxx
xxx, xxx and xxx

(July 9)   With a six-run first inning, Pitzer & Nex upended the Eagles Friday at MacDonald Park notching a 10-5 victory. Eagles took a two-run lead in the top of the first on a single, a fielder's choice and two errors but Stan Davies couldn't hold the margin and the gasmen chased him from the hill with their big outburst. Five singles, a walk, a wild pitch and a passed ball did the damage. Murray MacArthur went the distance for the winners giving up eight hits. Eagles made eight errors.

Davies (L), Morrison (1) and xxx
M.MacArthur (W) and xxx

(July 11)   In error-filled contest, Boosters exploded for five runs in the 11th inning to top Navy 9 to 4. Five straight singles and a Navy error broke up a pitcher's battle between Art Worth of the Boosters and Don Evans of the Navy. The teams combined for 16 errors, nine by the Boosters. Gerry Parker led the Boosters' 13-hit attack with a triple and two singles. Mel Padgett of Navy rapped a double and three singles. Worth yielded just seven hits in his 11 innings of work.

Worth (W) and Harford
Evans (L) and Kubicek

(July 12)  Bill Prior tossed a three-hitter Monday night as the Bombers collected their 15th consecutive victory, 6-2 over Pitzer & Nex.  The club's only loss came in the first game of the season and since then they have proved unbeatable even taking on the American Navy for a lopsided 25-0 victory to make their unofficial total 16 straight. In stopping the gasmen, Prior racked up 18 strikeouts, a season's high.  In addition, he paced the winners at the plate with three hits, including a pair of doubles.

McLellan (L), M.MacArthur (3) and French
Bill Prior (W) and Phillips

(July 15)   In a wild one on Thursday night, Eagles escaped with a 12-11 victory over the Navy scoring five runs in the bottom of the 8th inning after giving up seven markers in the seventh.  Jim Morrison, with three for four, paced the Eagles stickers, while Padgett picked up three hits for the losers.

xxx and xxx
xxx, Garnet and xxx

(July 16)  Ben's Bombers made it 16 consecutive wins in senior ball Friday as they stopped a stubborn Boosters nine 7-2, behind the six-hit pitching of Frank Scroggs. Art Worth did the heavy work for the losers and matched Scroggs in the hit department but seven errors by his teammates, all of which figured in the scoring, contributed to his downfall.  Bombers scored three runs in the first inning on one hit, a triple by Al Duz. Two errors, a walk and a fielder's choice accounted for the rest of the scoring. Two unearned runs in the fifth and another gift pair in the eighth closed out the Bombers' offense.

Scroggs (W) and xxx
Worth (L) and xxx

(July 19)   Diminutive Jeff Worrell, ace of the Navy pitching staff, was a force on the mound and at the plate as Navy topped Pitzer & Nex 9 to 2 on Monday. Worrell allowed just one hit in the abbreviated game, called after six innings when umpire Bill Bridgewood felt that the losers were just playing to fill out time due to the lopsided score. Worrell fanned nine and allowed just one free pass. With the bat, he knocked in three runs with a triple and two singles.

Worrell (W) and St.Martin
M.MacArthur, G.MacArthur and French

(July 21)  Boosters lost a golden opportunity to move into a fourth place tie with Pitzer & Nex in senior ball Wednesday dropping a 12 to 3 decision to the Eagles. Bernie Anderson held the Boosters to seven hits in going the distance for the win. Rod Turner took the loss.

Turner (L), Moffatt (7) and Harford
Anderson (W) and Carson

(July 23)   Boosters, cellar-dwellers since the start of the season, finally vacated the basement by trouncing Pitzer & Nex 13 to 2 to pull into a tie with the gasmen.  John Moffatt chalked up his first triumph of the season scattering eight hits and fanning 13.  He went three for five at the plate. Dave Lowe and Clint Hodges also had three hits apiece.

Moffatt (W) and xxx
Mclellan (L), G.MacArthur (6), MacKinnon (7) and xxx

(July 24)  Saturday, Bombers ran their winning streak to 17 games with a 9 to 2 win over Navy. Al Leatham, Frank Scroggs and Wally Thompson clouted homers for the Bombers while Don Evans had a circuit shot for Navy.

xxx and xxx
xxx and xxx

(July 27)  With a 5-3 victory over Navy, Boosters moved into sole possession of fourth place in the senior league standings Tuesday a half-game up on Pitzer & Nex.  Lefty Art Worth held the Tars to just one hit, a triple by Ken Bleich in the third inning, while his mates collected only three off Moe Tudor. Tudor fanned 13, Worth whiffed 12. Both walked six. Jim Harford had the big blow for the Boosters, a two-run homer in the second inning.

Worth (W) and Harford
Tudor (L) and xxx

(July 28)   Pitzer & Nex moved back into a tie for fourth place by edging the Eagles 7-6, scoring all their runs in the first three innings off veteran Stan Davies. Grant MacArthur hurled a steady game for the gasmen scattering seven hits and surviving nine walks to post his first win of the season.

MacArthur (W) and xxx
Davies (L), Bendall (4), Taylor (6) and xxx

(July 29)  Ben's Bombers winning streak is now at 18. The league-leaders squeaked by Pitzer & Nex 3-2 in a pitchers' duel between veteran Jack Walker and young Don MacKinnon of the gasmen.  Walker yielded seven hits while MacKinnon allowed just five bingles and fanned ten in taking the loss. Walks to Wally Thompson and Mickey Smith and Ron Castner's base knock produced the first Bombers' run in the opening stanza. Pitzer & Nex tied it in the third on a walk, wild pitch and Rosy McLellan's safety. Bombers forged ahead in the third, only to have the gasmen tie it up again with an unearned run in the fourth. The winning marker came in the eighth frame when Rookie Wright led off with a double and went to third on a passed ball. Bill Prior's infield grounder scored Wright.

Walker (W) and xxx
MacKinnon (L) and xxx

(July 30)   Bill Prior dished up a two-hitter while blasting a three-run homer in the first inning as Ben's Bombers crushed the Eagles 13-1 for their 19th straight league victory.  The big right-hander racked up 17 strikeouts while giving up just one free pass.  He had a no-hitter until the eighth when Buddy Bendall poked a clean single to right field. Bill Bain followed with a safety down the third base line, but Prior settled down to fan Kit Carson and Murray MacArthur. Jack Walker paced the 13-hit attack with a four-for-four night.

Bill Prior (W) and Phillips
M.MacArthur (L), Anderson (4), Garnet (6) and Carson

(August 2)   Backing up Bill Prior with 11 big runs in the fifth inning, Ben's Bombers crushed the Boosters 16 to 3 Monday to post their 20th consecutive league victory. Lloyd Cann started for the Bombers but was sent to the showers in the first inning when the losers banged out four hits, good for a pair of runs. Prior took over and set the Hodges clan down on one hit in the five inning he worked. He also provided the offensive highlight of the game with a home run in the third inning. It was the longest ball ever hit at MacDonald Park and traveled well over 400 feet.

Cann, Prior (W) (1) , Scroggs (7) and Smith
Worth (L), Moffatt (5) and Harford

(August 4)  Navy and Eagles battled to an 8-8 draw in a game called after six innings due to darkness. Bernie Anderson of the Eagles led the hitters with three for four.

Hume, Anderson (5) and Carson
Evans and Elliott

(August 6)  Navy moved to just a game back of second place Eagles by downing Pitzer & Nex 8 to 4 Wednesday in an abbreviated contest. Sailors jumped on starter Don MacKinnon for a pair in the first putting together singles by Tommy Deakin and Chester Padgett and a double by Art Lockhead.  They continued the attack on Grant MacArthur with singletons in the second and third and another pair in each of the fourth and fifth frames. Moe Tudor started on the hill for Navy but gave way to Jeff Worrell in the second. Lockhead paced the hitters with two doubles and a single. Glen Charlton had three hits for the losers.

MacKinnon (L) , G.MacArthut (2) and French
Tudor, Worrell (W) (2) and Elliott

(August 7)   Scoring in the last of the ninth, Boosters topped the Eagles 5 to 4 Saturday.

xxx and xxx
xxx and xxx

(August 8)  Boosters moved two full games ahead of Pitzer & Nex in the league standings by edging the gasmen 4-3 in a 12-inning thriller Sunday.  Dave Lowe led off the 12th ripping a two-bagger and advancing to third on a wild pitch. Marvin Hodges followed with a single to bring him home with the winning run. Art Worth tossed a six-hitter for the win. 

Worth (W) and xxx
McLellan (L) and xxx

(August 11)  Chester Padgett drove in four runs with a triple, double and two singles to lead an 18-hit Navy attack in a 15-3 victory over Pitzer & Nex. The win moved Navy to within a half a game of the second place Eagles in the Victoria senior standings.  Tars blasted starter Grant MacArthur from the hill before he could get the first out of the game scoring five times. Don Evans set the gasmen down on seven hits to notch his first victory.

Evans (W) and Langlois, Elliott
G.MacArthur (L), McLellan (1), Sapala (4) and John

(August 16)  The Eagles consolidated their hold on second spot in the league standings Monday by defeating Navy 9 to 4 in a game called in the 8th inning after Navy had rallied to tie at 9-9. But, with darkness having settled in, the score reverted back to the last completed inning and the birdmen were awarded the game. The Eagles salted away the win with four runs in the sixth inning putting together five hits with three Navy errors, all by catcher Alf Kubicek. Toad Garnet hurled the win, giving up eight hits and whiffing seven. Don Evans allowed 12 hits and six walks to take the loss.

Evans (L) and Kubicek
Garnet (W) and Carson

(August 17)   In an abbreviated, six-inning affair, Bill Prior fired a one-hitter with 11 strikeouts but walked ten as Ben's Bombers crushed the Eagles 14-4 Tuesday. Bombers scored four runs off Stan Davies in as many innings and then ran wild when Bernie Anderson started in the fifth. Doubles by Al Duz, Wally Thompson, Rookie Wright and Prior, a single by Bob Weigand and an outfield error produced five runs. Murray MacArthur relieved and was nicked for five more runs in the sixth. Prior had a no-hitter into the fifth but five walks, a hit batter, an error and the Eagles' only hit resulted in four runs.  Duz and Weigand each had three hits for the Bombers.

Bill Prior (W) and Smith
Davies (L), Anderson (5), M.MacArthur (5) and Carson

(August 18)  Behind a sterling pitching effort by Moe Tudor and errorless ball in the field, Navy upset the league champion Ben"s Bombers 5 to 2 Wednesday.  Singles by Jeff Worrell, Alf Kubicek, Ed Langlois, a fielder's choice and a double by Ivan Wood gave the winners a 2-0 lead in the first frame. Bombers got one back in the second as Earl Phillips knocked in Jack Walker who had walked. Langlois provided the clinching blow with a three-run homer in the fifth. The losers got their final run in the seventh on a walk, Wally Thompson's single and two wild pitches. Tudor limited the Bombers to just four singles and set down nine on strikeouts in the seven inning contest.

Tudor (W) and Kubicek
Cann (L) and Smith

(August 24)   Navy climbed into a tie with the Eagles Tuesday when the Eagles defaulted the match. Eagles have completed their regular schedule but Navy has two tie games to replay.

(August 25)   With four unearned runs in the bottom of the seventh inning, Navy defeated Boosters 6 to 3 to take sole possession of second place in the league standings. Trailing 3-2, Navy combined two errors, two walks and Ed Langlois' two-run double for the winning margin.

Pearce (L), Moffatt (7) and Harford
Tudor (W) and Kubicek

(August 26)   With a 6-0 triumph over Pitzer & Nex, Navy finished the regular season a full game ahead of the third place Eagles. Jeff Worrell pitched a seven-hit shutout for the victory. Navy notched the only run they needed when Fred Frewer singled in the fourth, advanced on an error and Chester Padgett's single and came home on Ed Langlois' outfield fly.  Singles by Langlois and Al Shirley, a stolen base and a fielder's choice made in 2-0 in the sixth and Navy put the game away with a four-run rally in the seventh.

Sapala (L), McLellan (7) and Charlton
Worrell (W) and Kubicek

PLAYOFFS
Semi-finals (best of three series)

(August 27)   Ben's Bombers were awarded the opening game of their best-of-three semi-final with Eagles by default.

(August 28)   A seven-run outburst in the fourth inning, highlighted by Rookie Wright's grand slam homer, powered Ben's Bombers to an 8-2 victory over the Eagles and a berth in the league's playoff final.  Bill Prior fired a four-hitter in the six-inning affair and compiled 11 strikeouts.

xxx and xxx
Bill Prior (W) and xxx

(August 30)   Chester Padgett's ninth-inning single scored Fred Frewer to give Navy a 4-3 win over Boosters in the first game of their semi-final series. Frewer had been hit by a pitch and advanced on a wild pitch. Boosters went ahead in the second with two runs on singles by Gerry Parker and Jim Harford and a double by Mel Sillers. They added a run in the third when manager Clint Hodges smacked a double and Art Worth singled him home. Navy's big inning was the fifth when they tied the game on four singles and a pair of errors. Jeff Worrell surrendered ten hits in going the route for the sailors.

Moffatt (L) and Harford
Worrell (W) and Kubicek

(August 31)   Boosters roared back from a 9-0 deficit to notch a 10 to 9 victory over Navy to deadlock their best-of-three semi-final at a game apiece. Boosters took advantage of eight Navy errors Tuesday to post the win. Navy took an early lead with three runs in the third and six more in the fourth. Boosters fought back with one in the fourth and a pair in the fifth to make it 9 to 3 heading into the sixth, when just about everything happened. Jim Harford reached on an error and Mel Sillers walked before Lowell Hodges smacked a two-bagger to make in 9 to 5. Berlyn Hodges was safe on a wild throw as Lowell Hodges scored. 9 to 6.  Jeff Worrell relieved Navy starter Mike Rogers and dished up a triple to Marvin Hodges to bring the Boosters just two runs back. Clint Hodges drew a free pass and Art Worth was safe on a fielder's choice as shortstop Fred Frewer tried to nab Mervin Hodges at the plate, but the throw was off the mark, hitting umpire Bill Bridgewood and knocking him out. it brought the score to 9 to 8. As the game resumed after a few minutes, Gerry Parker rapped a long two-bagger to right field to bring in the tying and winning runs.

Rogers, Worrell (6) and xxxx
Worth, Moffatt (W) (4) and xxx

(September 1)   it was over early as Navy clobbered Boosters 15 to 2 to advance to the Rithet Cup final against Ben's Bombers.  Sailors sent 16 men to the plate in the first inning, scoring ten times on six hits, two errors, three walks and a pair of fielder's choices. Chester Padgett, who led the league in the regular season in runs batted in, drove in four runs with a double and single. Moe Tudor scattered six hits, fanned eight and walked five in chalking up the victory. Jeff Worrell added three singles for Navy.

Turner (L), Pearce (1), Worth (1) and Harford
Tudor (W) and Kubicek

(September 1)  Bill Prior was the man in the spotlight as the Victoria Baseball Association released the final statistics for the 1948 season. The ace right-hander not only topped the loop in pitching. with a 9-1 record and 2.40 ERA, he won the batting title, hitting .364, as he played every position except right field for pennant-winning Ben's Bombers. Prior also led the circuit with four home runs and 52 total bases. He tied with Len French of Pitzer & Nex for the most doubles, 8. Mel and Chester Padgett of the Navy nine, finished second and third in the batting race with marks of .361 and .357. Chester had the most runs batted in, 22, while Bernie Anderson of the Eagles had the most hits, 33, and led in stolen bases, with 25. Art Worth of the Boosters was the league's strikeout king with 131 in 119 innings of work. He also led in walks with 119.  Full stats.

(September 4-5-6)  Courtenay Labour Day Tournament (See Comox District League below)

Finals

(September 8)   Ben's Bombers rebounded from an early 4-0 deficit to down Navy 10-6 in the opening game of the best-of-five Victoria senior baseball final.  Earl Phillips started the comeback with a two-run homer in the second inning then the Bombers splurged for seven runs in the fourth on five hits, including Bill Prior's three-bagger, a pair of errors, a walk and two fielder's choices.  Doubles by Alf Kubicek and Chester Padgett gave Navy a run in the sixth and they added another in the seventh on Mike Rogers' triple and a two-bagger by Al Shirley. The Bombers' final tally came in the sixth when Wally Thompson singled and came home as Prior socked his second triple of the evening. Jack Walker started for the Bombers but control troubles sent him to the showers with only one out in the first, a run in and the bases loaded. Prior took over and after giving up a walk for the second run, retired the side. Frank Scroggs relieved in the second frame and went the rest of the way for the win.

Worrell (L) and Kubicek
Walker, Prior (1), Scroggs (W) (2) and Phillips

(September 10)  Bill Prior provided the highlights on the mound and at the dish Friday at Beacon Hill Park as Ben's Bombers crushed Navy 9-1 to take a stranglehold on the best-of-five series for the Rithet Cup.  Prior fashioned a neat four-hitter and fanned 11 on the hill while kick starting the Bombers' offense with a homer in the top of the third.  Rookie Wright had three hits for the winners while Al Duz and Earl Phillips each contributed a pair.

Prior (W) and Phillips
Tudor (L) and Kubicek

(September 12)  Down two games to none in the best-of-five series and tied 4-4 in the ninth inning of the third game, Navy rallied for three runs to beat Ben's Bombers 7 to 5 to stay alive in the playoff final.  Bombers fell apart defensively making three errors which combined with Chester Padgett's double and a stolen base resulted in three unearned runs against ace pitcher Bill Prior.  Bombers got one back in the bottom of the ninth. Jeff Worrell was nicked for 11 hits but walked just one and racked up eight strikeouts. Rookie Wright, the Bombers' shortstop, led the hitters with a triple, double and single in four trips. Navy had just eight hits,.

Worrell (W) and Kubicek
Cann, Prior (L) (8) and Phillips

(September 13)   Slugger Chester Padgett drove in four runs with three hits to lead Navy to a 7-5 win over Ben's Bombers in a seven-inning contest to knot the final series at two games apiece. Bombers erupted for three runs in the top of the 8th to lead 8-7, but umpires called the game with the score reverting back to the last completed frame as the teams were already playing under moonlight.  Navy ran up a 6-0 lead before the Bombers got on the scoreboard when Bill Prior ripped a double in the sixth and scored on an error. After Ron Zwicker closed out Navy's scoring with a homer in the sixth, Bombers broke loose for four runs in the seventh. Moe Tudor held the usually heavy-hitting Bombers to just six hits while racking up eight strikeouts and five walks.

Prior (L) and Smith
Tudor (W) and Kubicek

(September 19)  Victoria's Navy nine completed an incredible comeback Sunday at Beacon Hill Park when they upset Ben's Bombers 6 to 3 to win the Rithet Cup emblematic of senior baseball supremacy in the city.  Navy won three straight after losing the first two games of the best-of-five series.  Again, Chester Padgett was the big gun for the winners driving in four more runs to bring his playoff total to 19.  Little Jeff Worrell scattered eight hits in going the distance for the pitching win.  Sailors opened their attack on Bill Prior in the first inning when Worrell drew a free pass and successive singles by Alf Kubicek, Mel Padgett and Chester Padgett produced three runs. They added another in the fourth on Worrell's single.  Rookie Wright doubled in a run for the Bombers in the fifth. Another single by Kubicek and back-to-back two-baggers by Mel and Chester Padgett gave the winners their final runs in the seventh.  Bombers responded with singletons in the 8th and 9th. Prior, the league's top hurler during the regular season, took his third straight loss allowing 11 hits. He fanned 14 and walked five. Mel Padgett led the hitters with four for five and brother Chester had three hits.

Worrell (W) and Kubicek
Prior (L) and Smith

---

Comox District Baseball League

Campbell River Athletics
Comox Valley Tigers
Courtenay Young Liberals
Cumberland Cubs
Cumberland Hawks
Cumberland Robins

(May 9)  The Comox District League got off to a flying start Sunday with games in Courtenay, Campbell River and Cumberland.  The Courtenay Young Liberals had their offense in fine shape in trouncing Cumberland Cubs 15-1. An 11-run outburst in the third inning put the game away early.  Bill Moore smacked a pair of four-baggers for the winners and Ray Downey chipped in with three hits. Angus Strachan held the Cubs to five hits and the only run against him was unearned.  Ronnie Pratt took the loss.

Strachan (W) and xxx
Pratt (L), Boyd (6) and xxx

At Campbell River, the hometown Athletics took both games of a double-header from the Cumberland Hawks, 6-2 and 15-5.  Johnny Haramboure tossed a two-hitter for the win in the first game. Stinson, an import from Haney, had a pair of safeties for the Athletics.

N.Mitchell (L) and xxx
Haramboure (W) and xxx

The Hawks, playing the second game as the home team, got off to a quick start with five runs in the second inning only to see the Athletics storm back in the 6th and 7th innings for 11 runs to trounce the Hawks 15 to 5. 

xxx and xxx
xxx and xxx

The Comox Valley Tigers gave up three runs in the top of the first inning then took the lead with four runs in their half of the frame and went on to down the Cumberland Robins 10-7 at Lewis Park. Gordon Pratt held the Robins to nine hits in going the distance for the winners. He fanned eight. 

Ellis (L), Baird (7) and James
Pratt (W) and Metcalfe

(May 12)   Courtenay Young Liberals at Cumberland Hawks rained out.

(May 15)   Courtenay Young Liberals at Cumberland Hawks rained out.

(May 16)   Dave Pollock used his arm and his bat to lead the Comox Valley Tigers to a 6-5 victory over the Courtenay Young Liberals Sunday at Lewis Park. Pollock, who went six innings on the mound, belted a fourth inning triple to knock in what proved to be the winning run.  The Tigers had taken a 3-0 lead in the first inning as John Hawkins smacked a long triple. The Liberals quickly responded with two runs in the first and another pair in the second to take a 4-3 advantage. Cats tied the count in the third and scored twice in the fourth for the triumph. Spit Quinn, who relieved Liberals starter Angus Strachan in the fourth, proceeded to hurl one-hit ball the rest of the way striking out eleven of the seventeen men to face him.

Pollock (W), Pratt (7) and Metcalfe
Strachan (L), Quinn (4) and Moore

Johnny Haramboure rapped out four of the Athletics 17 hits Sunday as Campbell River whipped the Cumberland Robins 14-8. Ian Morrison held the Robins to six hits in posting the pitching win.

Morrison (W) and xxx
xxx and xxx

(May 19)  In an error-filled contest that featured 23 miscues, the Cumberland Cubs whipped Courtenay Young Liberals 13 to 8 in a game called in the seventh inning because of darkness.  Liberals started off in fine fashion with a pair in the first inning on hits by Fred Orr, Downey and Spit Quinn but Cumberland came right back with three runs in their half of the stanza to take a 3-2 lead. Two more runs put the Liberals back in the lead in the third before the Cubs tied it up when Rawlinson scored on a drive by pitcher Alex Skiba.  Courtenay looked to be on the road to victory with a four-run barrage in the fourth but the Cubs matched that in the bottom of the inning. Cubs added a run in the fifth and four in the sixth for the triumph.

Strachan, Muskett (4) (L), McIvor and xxx
Skiba, Boyd (W) (4) and xxx

(May 21)   Ronnie Pratt threw a no-hitter Friday for the Cumberland Cubs but came away a loser when two errors and a passed ball in the ninth-inning led to the game's only run as the Robins went home with a 1-0 victory. In the ninth, Pratt struck out the first batter but the ball got away from catcher Paul Pezel and Skipper McMillan made it safely to first. He stole second advanced to third on an error and scored on a wild throw.  Pratt, who allowed no free passes, was perfect for the first four innings before loading the bases in the fifth, with none out, on an error and two hit batsmen. He fanned the side to get out of trouble. Doug Baird was full value for the win allowing but three hits.

Pratt (L) and Pezel
Baird (W) and xxx

(May 23)   Campbell River Athletics chalked up their fourth straight win Sunday downing the Courtenay Young Liberals 14-11 at Lewis Park. The teams combined for 19 errors, 10 by the winners.  18-year-old right-hander Ian Morrison gave up ten hits but managed to go the distance for the win. Spit Quinn allowed nine hits in taking the loss. Thulin belted a homer for the Athletics and Bill Moore had a four-bagger for the Liberals.

Quinn (L) and xxx
Morrison (W) and xxx

(May 26)  Comox Valley Tigers notched their third win in three games, 7-2 over the Cumberland Cubs at Lewis Park.

xxx and xxx
xxx and xxx

Courtenay Young Liberals pounded out 17 hits to trounce Cumberland Robins 17-10. 

Quinn, Strachan, McIvor, Quinn and xxx
Baird, Ellis and xxx

(May 30)  Cumberland Robins finally broke into the win column Sunday with an 8-5 victory over the Tigers at Cumberland in the first game of a double-header. Charlie Scavard smacked a bases-loaded triple in the fourth inning for the winning markers.

xxx and xxx
xxx and xxx

In the second game, at Courtenay, the Tigers plated six runs in the third inning and went on to an 8-6 victory over the Robins.

xxx and xxx
xxx and xxx

Courtenay Young Liberals and the Cumberland Hawks split a pair Sunday with the Liberals taking the opener 10-9 at Lewis Park in eleven innings and Hawks the second contest 9-6 in Cumberland. The second game featured fisticuffs between Ty Conti and Fred Thatcher in the final inning. Both players were suspended for two games. Liberals mounted a four-run rally in the ninth inning of the first game to send the contest to extra innings. Hawks had scored three in the top of the ninth to take a 9-5 lead. A long double by second baseman Dick Downey scored Roy Moore with the winning counter in the bottom of the 11th.

Berghman, xxx (L) and xxx
Annand, Quinn (W) (9) and xxx

Hawks broke a 6-6 tie with a run in the fifth and added two more in the 8th to down the Liberals 9-6.  In the ninth, the Liberals' Fred Thatcher poled a long triple to left field but was later trapped while leading off third and tried to run for home. He ran smack into catcher Ty Conti waiting for him on the baseline. Conti recovered from the bump and lunged at Thatcher clipping him on the chin with a punch that laid him out for two or three minutes.

McIvor (L) and xxx
Mitchell (W) and T.Conti

Playing at home, the Campbell River Athletics extended their winning streak to six games by taking both ends of a double-header from the Cumberland Cubs, 7-6 and 1-0.  In the first game, the Athletics overcame a 6-2 deficit with five runs in the ninth inning. Cubs had the big blows as Ronnie Pratt led the hitters with a homer and Gordon Ellis clouted a triple.

xxx and xxx
xxx and xxx

Ian Morrison pitched a six-hit shutout and scored the only run as the Athletics notched a 1-0 win in the second game. Pavlik was the tough-luck loser for the Cubs allowing just seven hits.

Pavlik (L) and xxx
Morrison (W) and xxx

(June 2)   Spit Quinn fired a four-hit shutout Wednesday to lead Courtenay Young Liberals to a 5-0 win over Comox Valley Tigers.  A fair turnout of fans shelled out $62 which is to be contributed to flood relief. Liberals came up with their best performance of the season committing no errors and allowing but the four hitters to reach base. Quinn stuck out twelve and walked none.  Don Janes spoiled Quinn's no-hit bid with an infield single in the fourth inning. Gordon Pratt yielded just six hits in taking the loss.

Quinn (W) and xxx
G.Pratt (L) and xxx

(June 2)   Jimmy Brown's 11th inning single knocked in the winning run as Cumberland Cubs shaded the Hawks 7-6 Wednesday.  Earlier, Les Coe had twice come through with key hits to keep Cubs in the game. In the top of the seventh, Coe smacked a two-run double and in the ninth he lashed a single to score Leroy Richardson with the tying run. Charlie Boyd was credited with the win.

Boyd (W), Pratt (5) and xxx
J.Tobacco, Burghener and xxx

(June 4)  Ray Downey of the Liberals tops the hitters in the Comox District League with a .571 average going into Sunday's action. Catcher Paul Pezel of the Cubs and Les Coe of the Hawks are tied for second with even .500 marks. Bill Moore of the Liberals sits at .400 with Andy Telosky of the Athletics with a .333 average, the same as teammate John Haramboure.

(June 5)   Courtenay Young Liberals exploded for four runs in the third inning and another six in the fourth and coasted to a 10-2 triumph over the Cumberland Cubs Sunday at Lewis Park. Right-hander Alex Annand held the Cubs to seven hits and walked just one in going the distance for the winners. Bill Moore's bases-loaded homer in the third propelled the Liberals to victory.  Four hits and four errors led to the six runs in the fourth.  Corky Ellis had a single and triple for the Cubs.

Skiba (L), Pavlik and Bono, Pezel
Annand (W) and Moore

(June 5)   Cumberland Robins took two from the Cumberland Hawks, 12-8 and 13-6 Sunday. Robins were never headed in the opener after scoring six runs in the fourth inning. Henry Watson led the winners with three hits. R.James had three for the Hawks. Doug Baird allowed ten hits but managed to go the route to pick up the win over Nick Mitchell.

Baird (W) and xxx
Mitchell (L) and xxx

In the second game, the Robins pounded out 19 hits off three Hawks' hurlers to notch the 13-6 win. Jimmy Ellis, the winning pitcher, led the offense with four hits. Earl Woods collected a single, double and triple.

Ellis (W) and xxx
xxx, xxx, xxx and xxx

(June 5)   The Comox Valley Tigers ended the Campbell River Athletics six-game winning streak Sunday with a 7-4 victory in the afternoon game of a doubleheader. Athletics resumed winning in the second game taking a 10-4 decision. A small but generous crowd contributed $150 to the flood relief fund.  Dave Reid, regularly an outfielder, pitched a six-hitter for the pitching win in the first game. Danny Matthews' two-run triple in the third inning started the Tigers on the way to victory. Tigers smacked 11 hits.

Reid (W) and xxx
Morrison (L) and xxx

In the night contest, Athletics hit freely off three Tigers' hurlers en route to a 10-4 triumph. Smoothy Marshall had an easy time on the hill for the winners.

G.Pratt (L), Pollock (6), Snyder (9) and xxx
Marshall (W) and xxx

Athletics    7 - 1
Tigers       5 - 3
Liberals     5 - 4
Robins       4 - 4
Cubs         2 - 6
Hawks        1 - 6

(June 9)   Campbell River Athletics looked nothing like league leaders Wednesday when they dropped a seven-inning 12-3 decision to the Courtenay Young Liberals who pounded three Athletics' hurlers for 12 hits. Spit Quinn, on the mound for the Liberals twirled an eight-hitter for his third victory in four starts.  A's actually had the lead scoring in the first inning as Smoothy Marshall knocked in Andy Telosky who had singled.  But the Liberals sent three runs home in the third and six in the fourth to put the game on ice.  Quinn led the winners' attack with three hits in four trips.

Quinn (W) and xxx
Morrison (L), Benton (4), Montador (6) and xxx

(June 9)  Cumberland Cubs whipped the Robins 13-2 Wednesday as 15-year-old Charlie Boyd allowed just four hits and fanned eleven. Gordon Ellis paced a 13-hit attack with three safeties, one a bases-loaded triple. Cubs got an early advantage scoring five times in the first inning on two hits and four walks. They added five runs on five hits in the second inning. 

Scavarda (L), Ellis (2) and xxx
Boyd (W) and xxx

(June 13)  Campbell River Athletics collected 12 hits, including a homer by centre fielder Horace Calnan and triples by Andy Telosky and John Haramboure, in downing Cumberland Hawks 9-2. 

Haramboure (W) and xxx
xxx and xxx

(June 13)  Doug Baird threw a five-hitter Sunday night to lead Cumberland Robins to a 3-2 win over the Courtenay Young Liberals at Lewis Park.  Robins took the lead in the first frame when John Bannerman singled, stole second and third and came home on a safety by Henry Watson.  They ran the advantage to 3-0 before the Liberals rallied in the seventh and last inning for their two runs.  Baird, a right-hander, struck out four, and had no walks.  Alex Annand surrendered five hits in taking the loss.

Baird (W) and Davis
Annand (L) and Moore

(June 20)  Veteran right-hander Spit Quinn fashioned a two-hitter Sunday as the Courtenay Young Liberals downed the Tigers 6-2 in the opening game of a double-header. Liberals also took the evening game, an exhibition contest, by the same score, 6-2.  Quinn struck out 11 and walked one while helping the offense with two hits.  Roy McLoughlin, Fred Thatcher, Fred Orr and Bill Moore each had two hits.

G.Pratt (L) and Metcalfe
Quinn (W) and Moore

Alex Annand held the Tigers to six hits in the second game as Liberals won 6-2. Roy Moore led the winners with two hits and two runs. 

Pollock (L) and Matthews
Annand (W) and McKenzie

(June 20)   Les Coe, the Cumberland Hawks slugger, is likely out for the rest of the season after suffering a knee injury last week. 

(June 24)  Henry Watson, the Cumberland Robins' centre fielder, is the leading hitter in the Comox District League compiling a .555 average in 27 at bats.  Ray Downey of the Liberals, with a .463 average, is the runner up along with Les Coe of the Hawks, at .458.  Andy Telosky of the Athletics, with a league-leading 20 hits, is fourth, with a .454 batting mark.

(June 27)  The Comox Valley Tigers swept a twin-bill from the cellar-dwelling Hawks Sunday, 2-1 and 10-3.  Tigers got the winner in the opening game on an error in the bottom of the ninth inning. An attempt to throw out Don Janes at third base went wild and Janes plated the winning run. 

xxx and xxx
xxx and xxx

xxx and xxx
xxx and xxx

(June 27)   Fans at Campbell River witnessed shutout pitching in the opening game of a double-header and lots of offense in the second as the Athletics and Courtenay Young Liberals split the pair. Spit Quinn held the league-leaders to four hits in the opener to blank the Athletics 6-0. Liberals scored two in the first inning as Fred Orr singled, stole second and came home on Bill Moore's one-bagger. Moore came around to score on a safety by brother Roy.  Bill Moore drove in two runs with a single in the fifth.  Quinn rang up 11 strike outs with but one free pass.  Smoothy Marshall was nicked for 11 hits and five walks in taking the loss. He fanned 12.

Quinn (W) and xxx
Marshall (L) and xxx

The Liberals appeared to be headed for another easy win in the nightcap as they grabbed an 8-0 lead in the first two innings, but the Athletics fought back and plated four in the bottom of the ninth to prevail 15-13 in a game which produced 27 hits. The home squad rapped 15 hits off Alex Annand and Spit Quinn and took advantage of seven walks and seven errors by the Liberals.

Annand (L), Quinn (9) and xxx
Morrison (W), Haramboure (2), Morrison (3) and xxx

(June 30)  Charlie Scavarda recovered from a rough first inning as the Cumberland Robins offense bailed him out in a 16-10 victory over the Courtenay Young Liberals who opened the game with four runs in the first frame. Robins wiped out the lead with a six run splurge in the fourth and ran up a 16-7 margin before a late rally by the Liberals. Henry Watson led a potent attack for the Robins with four hits in five trips.

Annand (L), Quinn and xxx
Scavarda (W) and xxx

(July 1)  In a Dominion Day exhibition, the Cumberland All-Stars edged the Courtenay Young Liberals 5-3 in a thrilling, well-played game at Lewis Park.  A crowd of more than six hundred fans saw the Liberals fall just short in a late rally.  Stars got to Liberal ace Spit Quinn for two hits and a run in the second inning as M.Murlak singled and scored on B.Hunden's safety. Three Liberals' errors in the third contributed to three more runs for the All-Stars. In the fourth, Billy Rawlinson singled, stole second and scored on a double to right field by Stars' catcher Paul Pezel. The Liberals rallied in the eighth as Fred Thatcher led off with a single and Dick Downey walked. Fred Orr loaded the bases when he reached on an error. Ray Downey brought in two runs with a single and another counter came home on an error.  Ronnie Pratt gave up seven hits in going the distance for the pitching win. He walked two and struck out nine.

Quinn (L) and xxx
R.Pratt (W) and xxx

(July 4)  The Cumberland Hawks stunned the Courtenay Young Liberals Sunday with late scores in taking both games of a double-header, 14-8 and 7-6. In the opener, the Hawks plated three in the ninth to tie 6-6 then erupted for eight runs in the extra frame for a 14-8 advantage. The Liberals rallied with three triples in the bottom of the tenth for two runs but fell well short.  Nick Mitchell survived 11 hits to go the route for the win.

Mitchell (W) and xxx
Annand (L) and xxx

In the evening game, Ty Conti singled in the ninth to score E.Weir with the winning run in the 7-6 triumph. Peter "Double" Bono allowed seven hits in registering the win for the Hawks. He walked four and fanned nine.

Double Bono (W) and xxx
McIvor (L) and xxx

(July 4)   Behind Ron Pratt's two-hitter, the Cumberland Cubs dumped the Campbell River Athletics 8-2 Sunday afternoon at the northern town. Cubs opened the scoring in the third inning when they got to Turcotte for four straight hits and three walks to put four runs on the scoreboard. Pratt walked five but rang up 15 strikeouts. The evening game was called in the opening inning when rain began to fall.

R.Pratt (W) and xxx
Turcotte (L), Montador (3) and xxx

(July 7)   Comox Valley Tigers trounced Courtenay Young Liberals 10-2 Wednesday despite falling behind in the first inning.  Bill Moore cracked a long triple to knock in two runs in the initial frame for the Liberals but that was the end of their offense.  Tigers' hurler Dave Reid proceeded to blank the Libs for the rest of the game while his teammates pounded five Liberals' moundsmen.  Reid allowed just four hits, walked a pair and struck out six. Tigers capitalized on ten hits, eight walks and seven errors by the Liberals.

Annand (L), McIvor (3), B.Moore (5), Chalmers (7), R.Downey and xxx
Reid (W) and xxx

(July 11)  Courtenay's Spit Quinn was on his game Sunday firing a three-hit shutout to pace the Young Liberals to a 7-0 win over the Cumberland Cubs.  The right-hander gave up three walks and rang up 12 strikeouts. Quinn and Ron Pratt put on a pitchers' duel for six scoreless innings before the Liberals erupted for five runs in the seventh on four hits, a walk and three errors.  They added a pair in the eighth.  Cumberland's first baseman Fred "Sharky" Bono was sent to hospital after a seventh inning collision at first with Junior Chalmers. Bono was down reaching for a low throw when Chalmers ran to first and accidentally hit the first sacker in the neck with his knee.

Pratt (L) and Pezel
Quinn (W) and McKenzie

(July 11)  Campbell River Athletics consolidated their hold on first place with a 7-4 victory over the Comox Valley Tigers Sunday. The game was halted after five innings by rain. 

G.Pratt (L) and xxx
xxx and xxx

(July 16)   The Comox Valley Tigers upset the Athletics' strategy Friday notching the winning run in the ninth inning on a bases loaded walk in a 5-4 win over Campbell River.  With two out, the A's had given up two intentional passes to load the bases but Dan Matthews worked Smoothy Marshall for a free pass to end the game. Don Janes led off the ninth reaching on an error and advanced on a sacrifice by brother Woody Janes. Earl Woods was given an intentional pass before clean-up hitter John Hawkins fanned for the second out. The Athletics decided to walk Gus Vesterback to fill the sacks to bring up Matthews.  Gordon Pratt worked the last two innings, in relief of starter Dave Reid, for the win. 

Marshall (L) and Calnan, Telosky (9)
Reid, Pratt (W) (8) and Matthews

(July 18)   Henry Watson, the Robins' centre fielder, tops the Comox District League in hitting with a .539 average well ahead of Andy Telosky of the Athletics who sits at .442. Ray Downey, who recently switched from the Liberals to the Athletics, is third, with a .413 mark, followed by Spit Quinn of the Liberals, at .405, and Paul Pezel of the Cubs, at .400.

(July 18)  With all the scoring occurring in the fourth inning, the Courtenay Young Liberals topped the Cumberland Robins 3-1 Sunday afternoon at Lewis Park.  The grandstand was full and cars lined the field as Spit Quinn and Charlie Scavarda engaged in a pitching duel.  Robins went ahead in the top of the fourth as John Bannerman beat out a bunt down the third base line and brother Leland Bannerman followed with a single to right field to score John who was in the act of stealing second.  Liberals came to life in the bottom of the frame combining three hits with an error to collect three runs.  Quinn scattered eight hits to post the win while Scavarda yielded just six in taking the loss.

Scavarda (L) and Davis
Quinn (W) and McKenzie

Athletics    13 - 5
Tigers       12 - 7
Liberals     11 - 10
Robins        8 - 9
Cubs          7 - 9
Hawks         3 - 14

(July 25)   In a wild finish Sunday, Courtenay Young Liberals shaded the Comox Valley Tigers 6-5 to move to just a half-game back of the second place Cats. The Liberals had the game well in hand for eight innings with Spit Quinn working on a one-hit shutout. With the score 5-0, the Tigers took advantage of three hits and four errors in the top of the ninth to knot the count at 5-5. But in the bottom of the final frame, Fred Orr led off with a single and advanced on a fielder's choice. While attempting to steal third, catcher Red Metcalfe was wild with the throw and Orr continued home with the winning marker.

G.Pratt (L) and Metcalfe
Quinn (W) and xxx

In an exhibition match Sunday evening, the Tigers trounced the Liberals 10-3 as Bill Snyder held the Liberals at bay with a seven-hitter. 

Snyder (W) and xxx
McKenzie, Annand, McIvor, Moore and xxx

(August 1)   Courtenay Young Liberals wiped out an 8-3 deficit with a six-run fourth inning en route to a 16-9 victory over the first place Campbell River Athletics. The win moved the Liberals into a second place tie with the Tigers. First sacker Bill Moore led the winners with a bases-load triple, a double, two singles and a walk in six trips to the plate. Junior Chalmers added three hits while Spit Quinn allowed eleven safeties, walked none and struck out nine in pitching the win for Courtenay. 

Morrison (L) and Telosky
Quinn (W) and McKenzie

Athletics    16 - 8
Tigers       13 - 11
Liberals     13 - 11
Robins       10 - 11
Cubs          9 - 10
Hawks         5 - 15

One of the papers, believed to be the Comox Valley Free Press, made its picks for all-star honours. 

Manager - Andy Telosky, Campbell River
Catcher - Ty Conti, Cumberland Hawks
First base - Bill Moore, Courtenay Liberals
Second base - Smoothy Marshall, Campbell River
Third base - Ray Downey, Campbell River
Shortstop - John Earl Bannerman, Cumberland Robins
Left field - Don Janes, Comox Valley Tigers
Centre field - Henry Watson, Cumberland Robins
Right field - Jimmy Brown, Cumberland Cubs
Pitchers - Spit Quinn, Liberals; Jack Younger, Cumberland Cubs; Doug Baird, Cumberland Robins
Rookie - Ray Downey, Campbell River

(August 6)   15-year-old Charlie Boyd blanked the Comox Valley Tigers on six hits Friday as the Cumberland Cubs kept their playoff hopes alive with a 4-0 victory.  A sharp defence saved the day for Boyd in the second inning as John Hawkins singled, Earl Woods reached on an error and Jack Smith loaded the bases with none out when hit by a pitch.  Boyd then fanned Dan Matthews and catcher Paul Pezel  threw to third to catch Hawkins napping for a double play. Gordie Pratt then flied to centre to end the threat. Cubs got the only run they needed in the third inning as Fred Pisto was hit by a pitch, stole second and romped home on a single by Sam Stockand. 

Boyd (W) and Pezel
G.Pratt (L) and Matthews

(August 7)   Courtenay Young Liberals scored a pair in the first inning and were never headed in dumping the Cumberland Hawks 10-2 with a 12-hit attack, three by Freddie Orr. Spit Quinn held the Hawks to just five hits, walked none and fanned 12.

Quinn (W) and McKenzie
Mitchell (L), Bono (9) and Bono, Conti (9)

(August 8)  In an exhibition match at Lewis Park Sunday, the Courtenay Young Liberals edged Comox Valley Tigers 4-3 before a lively crowd.  The game saw Earl Woods, the regular Tiger shortstop, hurling against Lyle McKenzie the regular Liberals' catcher.  McKenzie allowed just six hits and walked one with three strikeouts. Woods also gave up six hits but walked five. He fanned seven.

McKenzie (W) and R.Moore
Woods (L) and Matthews

(August 8)  The Cumberland Cubs and Robins split a twin-bill Sunday as Ron Pratt fired a four-hitter for a 6-1 Cubs win in the opener while the Robins took the evening contest 6-5 behind the pitching of Yenna Davis. Billy Rawlinson was the big noise in the first game with four hits for the winners while Jimmy Brown chipped in three, including a pair of doubles.

R.Pratt (W) and Pezel
Baird (L), Scavarda, Ellis (9) and James

Winning pitcher Yenna Davis was an offensive force for the Robins in the second game knocking in a pair of runs with a triple in the fifth inning and a single in the bottom of the seventh and final inning to score the winning run.

Younger (L), Pratt (7) and Pezel
Y.Davis (W) and James

Athletics    16 - 8
Liberals     14 - 11
Tigers       13 - 12
Cubs         11 - 11
Robins       12 - 12
Hawks         5 - 17

(August 15)   In the final game of the regular schedule, Jack Younger hurled his fifth win in six starts to give Cumberland Cubs a 6-2 victory over Campbell River Athletics and a share of second place in the league standings with the Courtenay Liberals.  Two scores in the first inning put the Cubs on the road to the triumph. Billy Rawlinson smacked a double to score both Buck Galleazi, who reached on an error, and Sam Stockand, who singled. Cubs added two more in the second when Younger singled and Charlie Boyd drew a walk and the Athletics made two errors. Thulin drove in both Campbell River markers in the seventh inning. Cubs wrapped up the scoring in the bottom of the seventh as Corky Ellis tripled to plate Rawlinson and later came home on an error.

Morrison (L) and Telosky
Younger (W) and Bono

(August 15)   In an exhibition match at Lewis Park, the Young Liberals came from behind with runs in the 8th and 9th innings to shade the Comox Valley Tigers 4-3.  Alex Annand scattered eight hits to eke out the win while the Liberals collected eight from Tiger hurler Dave Reid. Liberals took an early lead when Bill Moore tripled to score Fred Orr and Annand followed with a sacrifice fly.  Biff Ingram's squad got on the scoreboard in the second inning as Gus Vesterback singled and scored on an error. Tiger went in front 3-2 in the fifth frame with Denny Hendra clouting a two-bagger to bring in Jack Smith and Woody Janes who had singled.  Liberals knotted the count in the 8th with Moore tallying the run after his second safety in four attempts and notched the winner in the top of the 9th. The Liberals 14-year-old right fielder, Alex Urquhart, picked up a hit and a walk in two trips.

Annand (W) and xxx
Reid (L) and xxx

Athletics    18 - 7
Cubs         14 - 11
Liberals     14 - 11
Tigers       13 - 12
Robins       13 - 12
Hawks         5 - 20

(August 22)  In a Sunday afternoon thriller at Lewis Park, the Comox Valley Tigers edged the Cumberland Robins 3-1 in a sudden-death playoff to break a tie for fourth place in the league standings.  With the victory, the Tigers go on to meet the Cumberland Cubs in semi-final play.  Robins took the lead in the first inning. John Bannerman singled, stole second, advanced on an infield grounder and scored on an error. Tigers quickly jumped ahead with two runs in the second inning.  Earl Woods led off with a three-bagger and Jack Smith and Biff Ingram loaded the sacks when hit by pitches. A single by Woody Janes brought in two counters. Tigers added an insurance run in the 8th inning when John Hawkins tripled to score Dan Matthews who had punched a single. Gordon Pratt held the Robins to five hits in posting the win. He walked one and fanned eight. Yenna Davis took the loss giving up nine hits with six strikeouts.

Davis (L) and James
G.Pratt (W) and Ingram

(August 22)   Campbell River Athletics blew a four-run lead in the ninth inning but fought back with a run in the tenth to eke out a 7-6 win over Courtenay Young Liberals to take the first game of the best of three semi-final series. Thulin and Johnny Haramboure were the extra inning heroes combining for two hits and two stolen bases to push across the winning marker. The Athletics pounded out four hits, by Horace Calnan, Andy Telosky, Haramboure and Ian Morrison, to plate three runs in the first inning. Liberals got one back in the bottom of the initial frame when Junior Chalmers clouted a triple and romped home on Lyle McKenzie's single. Three hits in the third brought in the Athletics' fourth run before Courtenay gained a tally in the fifth as Dick Downey tripled to bring in Spit Quinn.  A pair of runs in the sixth, put Campbell River ahead 6-2 setting the stage for a furious comeback by the Liberals in the bottom of the ninth.   Chalmers drove in two runs with a double to left and two errors led to two more runs and a 6-6 tie.  Smoothy Marshall dished out 11 hits in going the distance for the win. He walked one and struck out thirteen.

Marshall (W) and Calnan
Quinn (L) and McKenzie

(August 25)  The Comox Valley Tigers took the opening game of their semi-finals series with the Cumberland Cubs downing the miners 7 to 5 at Cumberland. Earl Woods was the winning pitcher besting Jack Younger.

Woods (W) and xxx
Younger (L) and xxx

(August 26)  Catcher Andy Telosky of the Campbell River Athletics captured the 1948 batting title in the Comox District Baseball League with a .420 average in 81 at bats. Cumberland Robins centre-fielder Henry Watson was the runner-up, hitting an even .400. Another catcher, Paul Pezel of the Cumberland Cubs was third, at .370, edging Alex Annand of the Courtenay Young Liberals by two points. Spit Quinn of the Liberals rounded out the top five with a .364 mark. Quinn was the league's top hurler winning eight while dropping just one. Gordon Pratt of the Comox Valley Tigers had the most decisions, 12, winning six and losing six.

(September 4-5-6)   Courtenay Labour Day Tournament

The Duncan Athletics crushed Campbell River 11-1 Monday night to take top money of $225 and the Corson Trophy at the third annual Labour Day Tournament in Courtenay.  Doug English fired a four-hitter for the win while his teammates pounded three hurlers for 15 hits, capitalized on nine errors, and ran up an 11-0 lead before Campbell River got on the scoreboard.  The tournament drew upwards of 5,000 spectators to the final games on Monday.

Marshall (L), Uni (2), Currie (6) and Calnan, Telosky
English (W) and Hawryluk

Duncan advanced to the final by squeezing by Victoria's Ben's Bombers 1-0 in a 12-inning thriller. Roy Schappert reached on an error, advanced to third on a single by Pete Hawryluk and romped home with the game's only run on a long fly ball to right by Roger Dame.  Eric Gard registered the win with an eight-hit performance. Bill Prior, who yielded just six hits, took the tough loss after having thrown a complete game on Sunday.

Bill Prior (L) and xxx
Gard (W) and xxx

In the other semi-final, Campbell River scored four times in the first inning and went on to top the Comox Valley Tigers 6-3 behind Pete Uni's four hitter.

Uni (W) and Calnan
R.Pratt, G.Pratt (1) and Conti

Victoria's Wally Thompson singled to centre in the eighth inning to knock in the only run as Ben's Bombers shaded the Courtenay Young Liberals 1-0 in a classic pitching duel between Bill Prior and Spit Quinn. Prior got the win with a four-hit effort while Quinn allowed just three hits in taking the loss.

Quinn (L) and McKenzie
Bill Prior (W) and Phillips

Comox Valley Tigers blew an early 3-0 lead but rallied with two runs in the ninth to edge Haney 6-4.  Ty Conti opened the final frame with a double and came home on a one-bagger by Earl Woods. Gus Vesterback singled to score Woods with an insurance run.

R.Pratt, G.Pratt (W) (4) and Conti
Rikely, Stevens and Stinson

Campbell River Athletics had an easy time in disposing of the Ioco Imperials taking an 8-1 decision.  A five-run fifth inning for the A's put the game away early. Smoothy Marshall had little trouble with the young team.

Marshall (W) and xxx
xxx and xxx

Duncan downed Vancouver Longshoremen 3-1 in the opening game of the tournament. The coast crew arrived with just nine players. Tony Folk held the mainlanders to five hits and fanned nine in gaining the win.

xxx and xxx
Folk (W) and xxx

(September)  Comox Tigers beat Campbell River in the first game of the playoff final.

(September 8)   Comox Valley Tigers dumped Campbell River 5-1 Wednesday to take a 2-0 game lead in the best-of-five series.  The game was called after six innings. Tigers busted out for four runs in the first inning and cruised to the triumph. Dave Reid surrendered just six hits in going the route for the pitching win. 

Haramboure (L), Marshall (1) and xxx
Reid (W) and xxx

(September 13)   Monday's scheduled playoff game between the Tigers and the Athletics was postponed due to the inability of the up-Island team to leave the woods in time to make the trip. 

(September 19) With a double-header sweep Sunday, Campbell River Athletics tied their series with Comox at two games apiece in the best of five series.  A's took the afternoon game 6-4 and followed with a 9-3 triumph in the evening contest. Officials suggested it was unlikely any further games would be played due to the lateness of the season. 

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Duncan & District Baseball League

As was the case in 1947, the 1948 Duncan & District Baseball League encompassed only three teams, two from Duncan and a lone entry from Chemainus.

Chemainus McBrides
Duncan Commercial Hotel
Duncan Garner Brothers’ Athletics

The Duncan teams joined forces as an all-star squad for exhibition and tournament games.

(April 25)   Blanked for six innings of the seven inning contest, Garner Brothers' Duncan Athletics rallied for six runs in the final frame to down Commercial Hotel 6-4 in an exhibition game at Athletic Park on Sunday. Doug English scattered nine hits in going the distance for the win. Mike Chester, the third of four Commercial hurlers, took the loss.

English (W) and Hawryluk
L.Rodger, Gard (4), Chester (L) (6) and P.Bruce (9) and S.Dame

(May 9)  Second baseman Roy Schappert crushed three home runs Sunday to lead the Garner Brothers' Athletics to a double-header sweep over Commercial Hotel, 10-3 and 7-1 in the opening games of the 1948 season.   Schappert belted one in the first game and two in the evening contest. Teammate Pete Hawryluk also had a four-bagger in the second game. Tony Folk tossed a five-hitter for the win in the afternoon and Doug English handled the hurled for the winners in the evening. Jim Neilson had three hits for the A's in the second game. Preston "Sonny" Bruce, manager of Commercial Hotel was dogged by tough luck when his first game starter Eric Gard was forced to retire in the fifth inning when he twisted an ankle and Doug Cleough, was removed as second sacker after injuring his hand while batting.

Folk (W) and
Gard (L), L.Rodger (5) and xxx

English (W) and xxx
Chester (L), E. Rodger (7) and xxx

(May 14)   The San Francisco Cubs, a touring Negro team, downed the Duncan All-Stars 10-8 Friday in the first of a three game series. Roy Schappert provided a highlight for the locals with a home run, his fourth of the season. After handing the visitors a 3-0 lead, the All-Stars surged ahead in the third with a six-run outburst, but the Cubs had their own six-run inning in the fifth to regain the lead. The visitors punched out 15 hits in securing the victory.

xxx and xxx
English, E. Rodger and xxx

(May 16)   Chemainus McBrides whipped Duncan Athletics 15-9 Tuesday.

English, McDonald (5), Folk (6), Gergel (7) and xxx
xxx (W) and xxx

(May 18)   Duncan All-Stars split Sunday's double-header with the barnstorming San Francisco Cubs, losing the afternoon game 11-8 before a convincing 13-3 victory in the evening contest.  The first game featured a triple play by the host squad.  With the bases loaded, the Cubs Wilbur Young bounced to Tony Folk on the mound who whipped the ball to Ken Nelson at second base for the first out. Nelson got the ball to Sonny Bruce at first to beat Young and Bruce rifled the ball home where Pete Hawryluk made the third out. Hawryluk had the offensive highlight for the All-Stars with a four-bagger.

xxx and xxx
Folk and xxx

In a soggy second game, delayed for half an hour during the second inning by rain, the All-Stars broke a 3-3 tie with a run in the sixth then poured it on with four in the seventh and five in the eighth to take a 13-3 decision. Duncan smacked 16 hits, to 12 for the visitors.

(May 30)  Chemainus McBrides exploded for three runs in the 11th inning Sunday afternoon to down the Duncan Athletics 7-4. 

xxx and xxx
Folk (L) and xxx

(June 1)  Sammy Dame clouted a three-run homer in the 8th inning Tuesday to score Jim Cain and Sonny Bruce ahead of him, to hand Commercial Hotel an 11-9 victory over Garner Brothers' Athletics.  It was Dame's third hit of the game.  $70.25 was collected for the Fraser Valley flood relief fund.

L.Rodger, E.Rodger (W) (7) and S.Dame
English (L) and C.Williams

(June 4)   Pete Hawryluk crushed a grand-slam homer to spark the Garner Brothers' Athletics to a 12-3 romp over the league-leading Chemainus McBrides.  Doug English twirled the victory for Duncan.

D.Murray, E.Jackson and P.Jackson
English (W) and Hawryluk

(June 6)   Duncan All-Stars scored two convincing wins over Victoria's Pitzer & Nex Sunday at Athletic Park, 11-7 and 20-7. Tony Folk held the visitors to seven hits in the opening game and survived six walks to go the distance for the win.  Mike Chester started the second game but an injury forced him from the mound in the third inning. The All-Stars pounded out 21 hits in the second game and Victoria made 12 errors, after booting the ball 14 times in the first game.

xxx and xxx
Folk (W) and xxx

xxx and xxx
Chester, English (W) (3) and xxx

(June 8)   Commercial Hotel topped Chemainus McBrides 13-8 Tuesday.

(June 20)  In a game shortened to five innings by rain, Chemainus McBrides crushed Garner Brothers' Athletics 11-0 Sunday at Athletic Park.  Bill Syme tossed the shutout.

W.Syme (W) and xxx
English (L) and xxx

(June 22)  Playing in clouds of dust at Chemainus, the McBrides notched a 9-8 10-inning victory over Commercial Hotel.

(June 27)   After losing the first game of Sunday's double-header 13-1, Garner Brothers' Athletics eked out a 6-5, 11-inning victory over Commercial Hotel in the second game as Chuck Williams laid down a bases-loaded single to bring in the winning run. The A's out-hit the home squad 16 to 8 with Jim Neilson collecting four of the safeties. Sonny Bruce had three hits for Commercial Hotel. Joe Gergel went the full 12-innings for the winners.

Gergel (W) and G.Syrotuck
Chester, E.Rodger (5), L.Rodger (10), Gard (11) and S.Dame

In the afternoon, Commercial Hotel broke the game wide open with five runs in the top of the first inning and coasted to the easy win. Eric Gard held the Athletics to six hits and pitched shutout ball after giving up a run in the first inning.

Gard (W) and xxx
D.Williams, R.Schappert (3) and xxx

Commercial Hotel     6 - 5
Chemainus McBrides   5 - 5
Garner's Athletics   5 - 6

(July 1)   In a Dominion Day exhibition contest at Athletic Park, the Duncan All-Stars shaded Ben's Bombers of Victoria 3-2 behind a three-hitter by Eric Gard. Bill Prior, formerly with the Vancouver Capilanos, allowed six hits, five walks and fanned 11. Gard had five walks and 10 strikeouts.

Bill Prior (L) and xxx
Gard (W) and xxx

(July 11)  Commercial Hotel exploded for four runs in each of first and second innings then needed five runs in the ninth to put down the Garner Brothers' Athletics 15-12 Sunday.  A's fought back with five in the fourth and four in the fifth to take a 12 to 8 lead before the visitors narrowed the count with a pair in the seventh and won with the big final frame.

(July 16)  Playing at home Friday, the Garner Brothers' Athletics produced an 11-hit attack to top McBrides 4-1. Doug English, who allowed just four hits, blanked Chemainus for eight innings after giving up a run in the first inning.

English (W) and xxx
xxx and xxx

(July 18)  At Chemainus Sunday, Garner Brothers' Athletics notched a 6-2 victory over the McBrides.

(July 20)  On Tuesday, the Athletics edged Commercial Hotel 9-8 to move into a tie for first place. The A's got the winning run in the bottom of the final stanza.  Doug English picked up the pitching win.

Gard (L) and xxx
English (W) and xxx

(July 23)   Commercial Hotel shaded the Athletics 5-4 Friday notching the winning marker in the ninth inning. Mike Chester twirled a six-hitter for the win.

Chester (W) and xxx
Saywell, Schappert and xxx

(July 25)   Garner Brothers' Athletics whipped Chemainus McBrides 11-5 Sunday evening at Athletic Park.  A's scored seven runs in the first three innings to put the game on ice early.  The lone highlight for the McBrides was a four-bagger with one aboard by M.Linnell, the Chemainus right fielder in the eighth inning. It was the longest homer of the season traveling far over the left field fence. It was one of only four hits surrendered by winning hurler Doug English.

English (W) and Hawryluk
Evans (L), Lefty Jackson (3) and Jansch

Commercial Hotel     9 - 7
Garner's Athletics   9 - 9
Chemainus McBrides   7 - 9

(July 30)   The Athletics moved to within a few percentage points of first place Friday with a 3-2 decision over the league leading Commercial Hotel. Down 2-1 after eight innings, A's rallied for two in the ninth for the win. Doug English registered the pitching win for the Athletics besting Eric Gard.

Gard (L) and xxx
English (W) and xxx

(August 6)  Commercial Hotel edged Chemainus McBrides 3-2 Friday.

(August 8)  Commercial Hotel, with one game left to play, moved a half-game up on second place Garner Brothers' Athletics Sunday with a 10-6 win over the McBrides. 

(August 13)   Chemainus McBrides forfeited their scheduled game with Commercial Hotel Friday to hand Commercials the top spot in the Duncan and District Baseball League with a 12-8 record, a game up on the Athletics. 

Commercial Hotel     12 - 8
Garner's Athletics   11 - 9
Chemainus McBrides   7 - 13

PLAYOFFS

(August 15,20)  Garner Brothers' Athletics and Chemainus McBrides split the first two games of the semi-final series and McBrides requested a postponement of the scheduled third game. The league refused the request and sent the Athletics into the league final against the pennant-winning Commercial Hotel.

(August 22)  Garners' Athletics rapped 14 hits and capitalized on 10 walks to whip Commercial Hotel 14-8 in the opening game of a best-of-seven series at Athletic Park Sunday.  Trailing 1-0 in the first inning, Garners' exploded for seven runs in the second frame and led the rest of the way. Commercial Hotel made it close with a seven-run rally in the fourth, but Garners' added five in the sixth to pad their advantage. A make-shift mound staff for the A's allowed seven hits and issued seven walks.

K.Williams (W), Nelson (4), Schappert (6) and xxx
Chester (L)L.Rodger (2) and xxx

(August)  Three Duncan district players were among a handful of successful enthusiasts chosen from several hundred attending the New York Yankees' baseball school in Victoria.  They were Eric Gard of Commercial Hotel and Ken Nelson and Ron Gibbons of the Athletics.  Gard was given an opportunity to go to the Yankees' training camp at Boyse Springs, California next spring.

(August 27)   In a thriller Friday, Eric Gard threw a five-hit shutout as Commercial Hotel squeezed by Garners' Athletics 1-0 to even the final series at a game apiece. Gard bested Tony Folk who allowed just four hits. Centre fielder Jim Cain made two outstanding running catches to preserve the shutout.

Gard (W) and xxx
Folk (L) and xxx

(August 29)  With a double-header sweep Sunday, Garner's Athletics moved to within a game of capturing the league championship. A's topped Commercial Hotel 9-4 and 6-1 to take a commanding 3-1 game lead in the best of seven final.

Garners' put the afternoon game away early with a seven-run third inning. The club pounded out 15 hits while Roy Schappert, the regular second sacker, took over mound duties and pitched a seven hitter. Joe Gergel paced the winners with three hits.

Schappert (W) and xxx
Chester (L), L.Rodger (3) and xxx

Athletics scored four times in the 8th and final frame to break open a tight game and down Commercial Hotel 6-1. Ken Nelson and Jim Neilson knocked in runs in the first inning for the A's and there was no more scoring until the 8th when Garners' got four in the top of the frame and Commercials plated their own run in the bottom of the inning. Each team had 11 hits.  Doug English went all the way for the winners compiling five strikeouts and three walks. Pete Hawryluk led the A's attack with three hits in four trips.

English (W) and xxx
Gard (L) and xxx

(August 31)  Garners' Athletics trounced Commercial Hotel 9-1 Tuesday to capture the league championship taking the final series four games to one.  Tony Folk went the route for the winners.

L.Rodger (L) and xxx
Folk (W) and xxx

(September 4-5-6)  Courtenay Labour Day Tournament (See Comox District League above)

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Nanaimo Intermediate Baseball League

Nanaimo, a member of the 1947 North Vancouver Island Senior Amateur Baseball League, was without representation in 1948 senior league baseball on Vancouver Island and, instead, opted for a three-team intermediate city circuit.

City Taxi Clippers *
Merchants (began the season known as the Knights of Pythias)
Southend

* won both the league pennant and the playoff finals

 

 

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