1950 Vancouver, Lower Mainland, Fraser Valley
1950 BC Interior
1950 Vancouver Island
OKANAGAN INTERNATIONAL BASEBALL LEAGUE
The year was 1950 and the Okanagan-Mainline baseball League had yet to be formed. In the south-central portion of British Columbia, the B.C. Interior Baseball League was the strongest senior amateur circuit operating. Penticton was not a member of the 1950 B.C.I.B.L. but had representation in another association, this one with an 
international flavour. Fifteen year old rookie sensation Ted Bowsfield (left), playing in his first year of senior men’s competition, suited up with the Penticton Canucks of the Okanagan International Baseball League, an eight-team loop with three teams from the south Okanagan: Penticton, Summerland and Oliver, plus five entries from Washington state: Brewster, Coulee Dam, Mansfield, Omak and Tonasket.
Bowsfield was used sparingly, appearing initially as a reliever in an exhibition game on June 5 in which he stopped the opposition in their tracks. His first start was a complete game 2 to 1 victory over Brewster, Washington on June 18 in which he fanned 5 while surrendering an equal number of hits. On July 9, he tossed another route-going five-hitter as the Canucks prevailed 4 to 2 over Mansfield, Washington. Facing Tonasket, Washington on July 16, he opened strongly, pitching hitless ball for the first four innings. In the fifth, holding a 3 to 0 lead, he faced adversity for the first time after fielding a dribbler and throwing wide of first base to begin the inning. A walk and a single followed and young Bowsfield then showed his inexperience by failing to cover first on a ball fielded by the first baseman in the hole between first and second. He survived for 4 2/3 frames before getting the hook as three runs crossed the plate. Penticton eventually won the game although he was not credited with the victory.
The Canucks went on to clinch the OIBL pennant in a 13-inning game on July 23. In a sub-par outing by his standards, Bowsfield pitched the first seven innings and was not involved in the decision. Although he was charged with a balk in the third inning when he caught a Summerland runner off first in a fast move, he redeemed himself in the fourth with a home run.
In the first week of August, the Canucks announced that Bowsfield would be out of action for the remainder of the season owing to an injury to his pitching arm. As it turned out, the Penticton nine really didn’t need his services as they had locked up the pennant and knocked off Omak, Washington in a sudden-death semi-final match. They then went on to take the first game of what had originally been slated to be a best two-of-three final playoff series from Coulee Dam, Washington but the remainder of the scheduled showdown was never completed for whatever reason so, in effect, the Canucks were considered as de facto champions of the 1950 OIBL circuit.
Penticton completed the season with a couple of tournament appearances, including capturing top money at Oliver over the Labour Day weekend, and then finished things off by taking two out of three games from their arch-rivals, the Oliver Elks, in a challenge series described in the media as the south Okanagan senior baseball championship. The core players from the 1950 Canucks of the OIBL went to to join the 1951 Penticton Athletics in the inaugural OMBL season of 1951.
(April 30) In the opening game of the Okanagan International League, Brewster topped Penticton 7-3, securing the win with a four-run outburst in the 5th inning. The American squad got to losing pitcher Len Gatin for four hits in the inning while the Canucks defense made a pair of errors. Brewster outhit Penticton 12 to 6. First baseman Beaudion led the winners with a pair of hits and knocked in three runs. Corky Taber fanned 15 in picking up the pitching win.
Gatin (L), Edwards and Drossos
Taber (W) and Cleveland
In other games, Mansfield shaded Coulee Dam 4-3 taking advantage of five errors.
Mansfield : Hannan, Bowers and Glessner
Coulee Dam : Verbel (L) and Milliken
Tonasket topped Omak 13-10 in a game which featured 29 hits, 15 by the losers. Tonasket survived seven errors to notch the victory.
Omak : Thorpe, Marchand and Beaser
Tonasket : Compton, Friels and Osborne
Oliver got by Summerland 5-4 behind a five-hitter by Hal Cousins. Wally Day took the loss.
Day (L) and Metcalfe
Cousins (W) and Coulter
(May 7) Len Gatin belted a three-run homer and a single while holding Oliver without an earned run as Penticton downed Oliver 8-5. Catcher Red Coulter accounted for most of the Elks scoring with a grand slam homer in the 5th. Centre fielder Bud Russell belted a single, double and triple for the winners.
Norton, Steffen, Cousins and Coulter
Gatin (W) and Drossos
In other games, Summerland collected just three hits but managed to eek out a 4-3 win over Brewster. Wally Day pitched a six-hitter and belted a homer for the winners. Frank Metcalfe also had a four-bagger for Summerland and Bohringer had one for Brewster.
Day (W) and Metcalfe
Taber and Cleveland, Morris
Coulee Dam had just three hits but trounced Omak 10-0 as the losers kicked the ball ten times. Swan fired a two-hitter for the win.
Thorpe (L), Maple, Visser and Shattuck
Swan (W) and Milliken
Mansfield notched a 9-8 win over Tonasket.
Mansfield : Hannan, Bowers and Glessner
Tonasket : Kronschnabel, Compton and Osborne
(May 14) Penticton came from behind to knot the count in the 8th then exploded for five runs in the 10th to down Mansfield Sportsmen 12-7. Canucks used a 17-hit attack with Sam Drossos and Bill Raptis leading the way each with three hits. Raptis, who had a pair of doubles, knocked in four runs. Playing manager Les Edwards, who survived 13 hits to gain the pitching win, helped at the plate with two triples. Catcher Glessner had three safeties for Mansfield.
Bowers, Hannan (L) and Glessner
Edwards (W) and Drossos
(May 21) Penticton Canucks whacked Tonasket Indians 11-5 Sunday as Len Gatin held the Americans to nine hits and fanned 12 in a route-going performance. Gatin again helped the offense driving in two runs with a pair of singles. Gunn led the winners with three hits, one a triple, good for three runs batted in. Shortstop Kronschnabel belted a homer for Tonasket.
Gatin (W) and Drossos
Friels (L), Compton and Osborne, Friels
In other games, Hal Cousins blanked Mansfield on five hits as Oliver won, 6-0.
Hannan (L) and Glessner
Cousins (W) and Coulter
Coulee Dam beat Summerland 7-2 with Verhie picking up the win with a five-hitter.
Verhie (W) and Milliken
Evans, Coffee, Weitzel and Schwab
Omak whipped Brewster 11-8.
Penticton 3 - 1
Coulee Dam 3 - 1
Oliver 2 - 2 1.0
Mansfield 2 - 2 1.0
Tonasket 2 - 2 1.0
Omak 2 - 2 1.0
Brewster 1 - 3 2.0
Summerland 1 - 3
2.0
(May 28) Second baseman Bill Nicholson had three hits and knocked in the only two runs as Penticton shutout Summerland 2-0. Les Edwards held the Merchants to five hits. Walsh took the loss.
Walsh (L) and Schwab
Edwards (W) and Drossos
In other games, Red Coulter pitched Oliver to a 2-0 win over Brewster. He allowed just five hits in going the distance.
Coulter (W) and McIvor
Kiefer (L), Morris and Cleveland
In another low-scoring affair, Tonasket edged Coulee Dam 2-1. Compton went the distance for the win with a six-hitter while Swan took the loss while giving up just three hits.
Compton (W) and Hardenburgh
Swan (L) and Milliken
Omak defeated Mansfield 7-6 with Joe Marchand getting credit for the pitching win.
Bowers (L) and Glessner
Marchand (W) and Shattuck
(June 4) Coulee Dam Athletics trounced Oliver Elks 11-3 with a 13-hit attack. Swan and Verhei combined on a four-hitter for the win. Walker was the big gun for the winners with four hits, a triple, two doubles and a single, knocking in four runs. Thompson of Oliver had the only homer.
Cousins (L), Norton (7), Coulter (8) and Coulter, McIvor
Swan, Verhei and Milliken
(June 4) Penticton blew an early 3-0 lead but rebounded to maintain its hold on first place downing Omak Orphans 6-5. Each team had ten hits. Les Edwards went the distance for the win besting Joe "Lefty" Marchand. Edwards, Gunn and Ivezich each had two hits for the winners.
Marchand (L) and Shattuck
Edwards (W) and Drossos
In other games, Tonasket Indians got by Summerland 6-5.
Compton (W) and Hardenburgh
Coffee, Jacobs and Schwab
Brewster rang up 19 hits against three Mansfield hurlers and dumped the error-prone Sportsmen 18-8. Mansfield made ten errors. L. Hanford of the Athletics had the lone four-bagger.
Bowers, Tupling, G. Nelson and Glessner
Taber, Kiefer, Morris and Cleveland.
(June 5) Penticton Canucks relied on pair of young hurlers to top Kelowna Red Sox of the BC Interior League 9-6 in an exhibition match at King's Park. Nick Drossos held the Sox to two runs over the first five innings before weakening in the 6th to allow another four. 15-year-old Ted Bowsfield relieved and shut down Kelowna the rest of the way. Drossos helped at the plate with two hits and three runs batted in. Catcher Don Peters clouted a homer, triple and single and scored three runs for Kelowna. Kelowna won the first exhibition contest with Penticton, 6-3.
Bakaway (L) and Peters
N. Drossos (W), Bowsfield (6) and T. Drossos
(June 11) Penticton scored twice in the top of the 7th to take a 4-0 lead then held on to top Coulee Dam 4-2. Les Edwards held the Athletics scoreless until the 8th when second baseman Dyer broke the spell with a homer.
Edwards (W) and Drossos
Verhei (L) and Milliken
Summerland squeezed out a 1-0 win over Mansfield as Walsh fired a three-hitter.
Walsh (W) and Schwab
Bowers (L) and Nelson
Tonasket blanked Brewster 4-0 behind Compton's five-hitter.
Compton (W) and Hardenburgh
Bohringer, Cleveland and Morris
Oliver beat Omak 4-1 in 11 innings banging out 11 hits. Red Coulter held Omak to six hits in hurling the victory.
Coulter (W) and McIvor
Marchand (L) and Shattuck
(June 18) Penticton Canucks gained revenge for a season opening loss to Brewster downing the American squad 2-1 Sunday behind the outstanding pitching of 15-year-old Ted Bowsfield. The left-hander fired a five-hitter in going the route for the win. He fanned five and walked a pair. The run against him was unearned. Canucks, with their 7th straight win, took the lead in the first inning as Bill Nicholson singled, stole second and came home as Bill Raptis crushed a double off the left field fence. Brewster tied it in the 3rd with the run scoring on a double steal. The winning run came in the 9th as Raptis singled and moved to third as Sam Drossos doubled to right centre. Brewster elected to fill the bases and try for a double play. After Gunn drew the intentional pass, Ivezich sent a fly ball back of third which dropped in between the shortstop and left fielder but Raptis was out at home on the throw. Then shortstop Bill Eshleman worked Kiefer for a walk and Drossos strolled in the winning marker.
Kiefer (L) and Morris
Bowsfield (W) and Drossos
Oliver dumped Summerland 7-2.
Walsh, Coffee and Schwab
Cousins (W) and McIvor
Omak whipped Tonasket 9-3. Joe "Lefty" Marchand pitched a five-hitter for the win.
Marchand (W) and Shattuck
Rounds (L) and Hardenburgh
Shaw hurled a three-hit shutout to lead Coulee Dam by Mansfield 5-0.
Bowers (L) and Glessner
Shaw (W) and Scallan
(June 25) Oliver Elks ended Penticton's seven game winning streak Sunday with a thrilling 8-7, 10-inning, victory. Down 6-3, Canucks rallied with three runs in the 7th inning to knot the count. Bill Raptis reached on an error and advanced on Gunn's single. Both scored on a double by Ivezich. Les Edwards' single knocked in Ivezich. Canucks took the lead in the top of the 10th when Bill Eshleman scored on Edward's safety to left. But, the Elks tied it in the bottom of the frame as Bray doubled and scored as Thompson's grounder hopped over the head of second baseman Bill Nicholson. Thompson, who went to second on the bad hop single, scored the winner as McIvor singled for his third hit of the game. Elks pounded out 14 hits in the victory with Thompson's homer the big blow.
Edwards (L) and Drossos
Coulter (W) and McIvor
Penticton 7 - 2 ---
Tonasket 6 - 3 1.0
Oliver 6 - 3 1.0
Coulee Dam 5 - 4 2.0
Omak 5 - 4 2.0
Brewster 3 - 6 4.0
Summerland 2 - 7 5.0
Mansfield 2 - 7
5.0
(June 26) Umpire J. Nolan of Oliver has been suspended by the Okanagan International League for betting on the outcome of Sunday's contest between Oliver and Penticton. Elks won the game 8-7 but the Canucks have protested the result. A decision is expected later this week.
(July 1) Penticton Gyro Tournament
(July 9) Young Ted Bowsfield had a big day in his second start for Penticton as the Canucks downed Mansfield Sportsmen 4-2. The 15-year-old lefty allowed just five hits in going the distance for the victory and he was a hit at the plate knocking in two runs with a sharp single to right in the 2nd inning. Bill Raptis led the winners with three hits, one a run-scoring triple in the first inning. Bowers was the losing pitcher allowing eight hits while compiling ten strikeouts. The visitors scored both their runs in the 3rd after the Canucks had built up a 4-0 lead. With two runners on base, on a fielder's choice and an error, Hanford tripled to deep right centre.
Bowers (L) and Glessner
Bowsfield (W) and Drossos
In other games, Omak defeated Summerland 9-4 as Joe Marchand went the distance for the pitching victory. Maliat of the winners and Wally Day of the Merchants poked home runs.
Walsh (L) and Metcalfe
Marchand (W) and Shattuck
Tonasket got by Oliver Elks 7-6. Compton was the winning hurler with home run help from Robinson.
Steffen, Coulter and McIvor
Compton (W) and Hardenburgh
Brewster shaded Coulee Dam 5-4, using three pitchers to nail down the win.
Kiefer, Bohringer, Taber and Morris
Verhie, Johnson and Milliken
(July 16) In an exciting affair at King's Park Sunday, Penticton Canucks blew a 3-0 lead, falling behind 4-3 in the 6th inning, before rallying in the bottom of the 9th to tie and scoring with two out in the 10th for a 5-4 win over Tonasket Indians. Les Edwards blasted a double off the tall poplar trees at the wall in left to score Val Eshleman, who had singled, with the deciding marker. It not for the trees, Edwards would have had a homer. The Penticton playing manager had entered the game in the 5th after Ted Bowsfield had given up three runs on three hits, two errors and a walk, in the 5th. Edwards allowed a solo homer by second sacker Kronschnabel in the 6th the blanked the Indians the rest of the way. Canucks drew even in the 9th as Bill Nicholson reached on an error, stole second, and scored on Gunn's single to right field. Catcher Sam Drossos led a 12-hit Penticton attack with three safeties.
Compton (L) and Hardenburgh
Bowsfield, Edwards (W) (5) and Drossos
In other action, Omak blanked Brewster 1-0 although out-hit 6-3. Joe Marchand hurled the win, Corky Taber took the loss.
Marchand (W) and Shattuck
Taber (L) and Morris
Coulee Dam crushed Summerland 10-0 with a 15-hit attack on two Merchants' hurlers.
Day (L), Walsh and Metcalfe
Swan (W), Kliefgen and Milliken
Mansfield got a five-hit pitching effort from Hannan to top Oliver 5-2.
Hannan (W) and Glessner
Coulter (L), Cousins and McIvor
(July 22) Penticton Canucks added strength to their lineup this week with the addition of Bill Clovinski, a 27-year-old centre fielder who played in the Big Four League with Edmonton and Calgary last year and earlier this season. "Slim" hit .344 with the Edmonton Cubs last season, finishing third in the batting race, and was near the .300 mark this summer. Les Edwards, the Canucks playing manager, handled the Cubs last season when they won the pennant.
(July 23) Newcomer Slim Clovinski, who had three hits, rapped a two-run single in the 13th inning to give Penticton a 13-11 victory over the last-place Summerland Merchants. The win clinched the pennant for the Canucks. Les Edwards picked up the win in relief of starter Ted Bowsfield. Walsh had three hits for Summerland. Bowsfield had the game's only homer.
Bowsfield, Edwards (W) (8) and Drossos
Day (L) and Metcalfe
(July 23) Brewster also posted a 10-2 victory in whipping Oliver Elks. An eight-run, 5th inning put the game out of reach. With two out and Sparks on base with a double and Hanford with a walk, the fireworks began. Leonard Williams knocked in both runners with a single and scored himself as Smith's single rolled into centre field. Hal Cousins, on the hill for the Elks, beaned catcher Randy Morris who lay motionless for several minutes. He was replaced by S. Cleveland. Red Coulter came in from left field to take over pitching duties and was greeted by Kiefer who hit his first pitch for a double and two more runs. After Jack Cleveland drew a walk, Beaudoin drove in a pair with a sharp single. Sparks, who scored the first run of the inning, plated the 8th marker of the frame when he reached on an error on a grounder to short and Beaudoin came home.
Kiefer (W) and Morris, Cleveland
Cousins (L), Coulter and McIvor
In other Sunday action, Coulee Dam crushed Tonasket 10-2.
Rounds (L) and Hardenburgh
Swan (W) and Milliken
Mansfield topped Omak 9-5 although out-hit by the losers 10-9. Collins had a homer for the Sportsmen.
Bowers (W), Hannan and Glessner
Marchand (L), J. Lightly and Shattuck
Penticton 10 - 2
Coulee Dam 7 - 5
Tonasket 7 - 5
Omak 7 - 5
Oliver 6 - 6
Brewster 5 - 7
Mansfield 4 - 8
Summerland 2 - 10
(July 30) A three-run sixth inning carried Penticton to a 4-2 victory over Omak Orphans. Backed by a 14 hit attack, newcomer Brian Shaw pitched into the 9th inning to post the win. The 19-year-old right-hander from Nelson scattered nine hits before Johnny Apolzer relieved to get the final two outs. Left fielder Bud Russell led the offensive with a triple and two singles. Shortstop Eshleman had three hits and drove in three. Nick Drossos connected for a pair of two-baggers.
Shaw (W), Apolzer (9) and T. Drossos
Marchand (L) and Shattuck
Brewster blanked Mansfield 6-0 as Corky Taber fired a three-hitter for the shutout.
Hannan (L) and Glessner
Taber (W) and Morris
Oliver Elks defeated Coulee Dam 7-5 backed by homers from Red Coulter and Coy. Swan belted one for the losers.
Verhie (L) and Milliken
Coulter, Steffen and McIvor
Summerland topped Tonasket 5-2 as Walsh scattered eight hits to post the mound victory.
Walsh (W) and Metcalfe
Visser, Rounds and Hardenburgh
(August 3) Pentcton's 15-year-old Ted Bowsfield has been shutdown for the rest of the season because of an arm injury. A Vancouver specialist advised Bowsfield to stay off the diamond until the arm heals. Cartiledge was splintered in the arm some time over the past few weeks and the left-hander felt pain in a recent appearance. Manager Les Edwards says he was not aware of the injury and "would not have been on the mound if I had known." Edwards had been testing the youngster to "see if he was ready for Senior A company."
(August 6) Right fielder Bud Russell had three hits, two of them doubles, and knocked in three runs to lead Penticton to a 5-2 triumph over Coulee Dam in the final game of the regular season. Canucks finished atop the standings four games up on second place Oliver Elks. Veteran playing manager Les Edwards allowed 11 hits but went the distance for the pitching victory compiling 11 strikeouts.
Verhie (L) and Helm
Edwards (W) and Drossos
Brewster downed Tonasket 7-3.
Taber (W), Bohringer, Morris and Cleveland
Rounds (L), R. Visser and Hardenrugh
Manager Johnny Dinsmore delivered a pinch-hit single in the 10th inning to score Red Coulter with the winning run as Oliver Elks edged Omak Orphans 2-1. In addition to setting up the winning marker, Coulter pitched a solid game allowing just four hits. Joe Marchand gave up six hits in taking the loss.
Coulter (W) and McIvor
Marchand (L) and Shattuck
Mansfield pounded out 13 hits in defeating Summerland Merchants 9-6. Taylor, of Summerland, had the game's only four-bagger.
Bowers (W) and Glessner
Day (L), Walsh and Weitzel
Penticton 12 - 2
Oliver 8 - 6
Coulee Dam 7 - 7
Omak 7 - 7
Brewster 7 - 7
Tonasket 7 - 7
Mansfield 5 - 9
Summerland 3 - 11
(August 13) Weekend play in the OIBL saw Omak take over third place in the standings and Coulee Dam claim the fourth slot. A four-way tie for third was broken when Omak downed Brewster 8-4 and Coulee Dam topped Tonasket 7-1. Third spot was decided by the number of runs scored.Omak now meets Penticton and Coulee Dam is up against Oliver.
Final Standings
Penticton 12 - 2
Oliver 8 - 6
Omak 8 - 7
Coulee Dam 8 - 7
Brewster 7 - 8
Tonasket 7 - 8
Mansfield 5 - 9
Summerland 3 - 11
(August 20) Coulee Dam Athletics upset Oliver Elks 4-3 Sunday in a sudden-death playoff to advance to the championship final of the Okanagan International League. Coulee took the lead in the first inning and went ahead 3-0 in the 4th as winning pitcher Swan belted a two-run double. Elks broke through in their half of the 4th. Successive singles by Thompson, Becker and Cousins scored one run and Coutler knocked in another with an infield out. Athletics went up 4-2 in the 6th as Verhei drove in Bost who had doubled. After the Elks scored in the 7th to reduce the margin to 4-3, they blew a golden opportunity in the bottom of the 9th. Thompson singled to open the frame and was sacrificed to second. Cousins, who relieved Coulter on the mound in the 6th, lined a single to short centre. Manager Johnny Dinsmore, coaching at third, had Thompson try to score on the play but he was easily thrown out at home for the second out. Dinsmore, pinch-hitting for Eisenhut, grounded out to end the game. Swan pitched a solid game for the visitors allowing seven hits.
Swan (W) and xxx
Coulter, Cousins (6) and xxx
(August 20) Penticton Canucks won a berth in the OIBL final downing Omak 6-2. Playing manager Les Edwards scattered 11 hits to go the distance for the pitching win. Bill Raptis paced a ten-hit Canuck's attack with a homer and a single. Edwards had two hits and drove in a pair. Penticton broke loose for three in the second inning and never looked back.
Marchand (L) and Shattuck
Edwards (W) and Drossos
(August 27) The penannt-winning Penticton Canucks downed Coulee Dam 6-5 in the opening game of the best-of-three Okanagan International League final series. Left fielder Bill Gunn was the hero of the day for the Canucks. His bases-loaded double in the 4th brought in what proved to be the winning run. Gunn had two hits and knocked in four runs. Bill Raptis added two hits and scored a pair for the winners. Les Edwards gave up 13 hits, four by Walker, but survived to go the distance.
Games two and three of the final were never played and Penticton became the de facto champions.
Swan (L) and Carlston
Edwards (W) and Drossos
(September 3-4) Oliver Tournament
(September 3-4) Kelowna Labour Day Tournament
(September 10) In the opening game of a best-of-three series for the South Okanagan baseball crown, Penticton demolished Oliver Elks 14-3. Nicholson drove in four runs with a homer and double and catcher Sam Drossos had four hits for the Canucks. Les Edwards, who pitched the first seven innings, chipped in with two hits. Coy had two hits for the Elks.
Cousins, Coulter (4), Cousins (5) and McIvor
Edwards, N. Drossos (8) and T. Drossos
(September 17) In a thrilling playoff contest at Oliver the hometown Elks pulled out a 3-2, 12-inning, victory over Penticton to even their final series at a game apiece. Coy drew a walk to open the inning and Coulter beat out a bunt. Both runners advanced on a bad throw to second and Bray was given an intentional pass to load the bases. Paul Eisenhut's bunt easily scored Coy with the winner. Al Treichel, who won 15 games in the Western International League this summer, allowed just six hits in going the route for the Elks but remained in trouble as Oliver made eight errors. Young Ted Bowsfield returned to the diamond for Penticton after sitting out most of the summer with an arm injury. He went four innings giving up just an unearned run. Reliever Nick Drossos was charged with the loss.
Bowsfield, Drossos (L) and Powell
Treichel (W) and Coulter
(September 24) Penticton Canucks overcame an early two-run deficit with two big innings to down Oliver 7-2 to claim the Southern Okanagan baseball title. Coy and Coutler had base hits in the 3rd to drive in runs for the Elks. The lead held until the 5th when the Canucks erupted for three runs, two coming home on Les Edwards' double. The winning run scored on an error. Canucks added four more in the 6th. Edwards picked up the pitching win in relief of starter Ted Bowsfield. Each team had seven hits.
Treichel (L) and Coulter
Bowsfield, Edwards (W) (3) and Neave
BC INTERIOR LEAGUE
(April 30) All the scoring came in the second inning as Vernon Canadians downed Revelstoke 4-2 on opening day of the BC Interior League. The Spikes took a 2-0 lead in the top of the frame but Vernon combined three hits, a walk and two errors in the last of the inning to take the lead and end the scoring. John Ingram held the visitors to three hits to register the win. George Couston allowed eight hits in taking the loss. The Spikes had a chance to overcome the Canadians in the 7th as they loaded the bases with two out only to have Bill Inglis make a nice catch off Gordon Fleming to end the threat.
Couston (L) and Rota
Ingram (W) and McFarlane
(April 30) Out-hit 10 to 6, Kelowna (known as the Elks Red Sox) jumped into a 5-0 then held off the Rutland Adanacs for a 5-4 victory before a crowd of 1,000 at Kelowna. Sox found the range in the 4th inning pounding out four doubles, by Jimmy Lowe, Eddie Kielbiski, Ken Stewart and Dave Newton for a 4-0 lead. They added another in the 5th as the Adanacs booted the ball four times. Rutland got on the scoreboard in the 6th when John Lingor with a double scored on Johnny Holitzki's single. Rutland added three in the 7th and had two runners aboard before Mike Bakaway fanned pinch-hitter Don Gillard to end the inning. A sterling defensive play in the 8th saved the lead for Kelowna. Mits Koga, who had doubled, was thrown out at home trying to score on a two-bagger by Hank Wostradowski. Johnny Lingor had three hits, two of them doubles, to lead all the hitters.
Wostradowski (L) and Brummet
Bakaway (W) and Stewart
(April 30) Kamloops CYO marked the season opening with a victory Sunday afternoon defeating Kamloops Elks 9-2 behind an eight-hitter by southpaw Pete Prehara. Johnny Haywood led the attack with a home run and two singles and scored three times. Ollie Egely also belted a four-bagger for the winners and Art Thompson knocked one out of the park for the Elks. Johnny Garay had three hits for CYO and Harry Maralia collected three for the Elks.
Plastiras (L), MacDonald (5) and R.Ottem
Perhara (W) and Egely
(April 30) Ed Garay's homer in the tenth inning gave North Kamloops as 5-4 victory over the Royals in a game at Princeton Sunday. Princeton had tied the game in the bottom of the 9th as Kovich drove in Anderson who had reached with a single. Anderson was the day's top slugger with three hits, two of them home runs. Johnny Brkich went all the way for the winners giving up eight hits and fanning ten. He didn't walk a batter.
J.Brkich (W) and Garay
D.Currie (L) and Liberator
(May 7) Revelstoke Spikes ran up a 12-0 lead and in spite of a little scare in the 9th dumped Kelowa Elks Red Sox 12-6. George Fleming had a shutout until the 9th when roof caved in and he needed relief. Don Segur led an 11-hit Spikes' attack with a triple and two singles. Shortstop Vince Pratico had a triple, double, two stolen bases and scored three times. George Garrow rapped three hits for the losers.
J. Middleton (L), Bakaway (2) and Stewart, Peters
Fleming (W), L. Pratico (9) and Harding
(May 7) A four-run 3rd inning proved to be enough as Kamloops CYO notched a 7-3 victory over Rutland. Sherban, a left-hander, held the Adanacs to eight hits in going the distance for the win. He struck out seven and walked four. Leadoff hitter Johnny Garay, the second baseman, had two hits and scored three times for Kamloops. Catcher Tony Brummet had three hits, including a pair of doubles, to lead Rutland.
Sherban (W) and McDonald
Lingor (L), Wostradowski (3), Mits Koga (9) and Brummet
(May 7) Kamloops Elks fought back from a 6-2 deficit to overcome Princeton Royals 8-7. Casey Jones' two-run homer in the 7th inning proved to be the winning blow. It was one of three hits for Jones who also knocked in a run in the first inning. Art Thomson also had a four-bagger for the winners. Paul Plastiras picked up the win in relief of starter Bill MacDonald allowing just one hit in his three inning stint.
Gerein, Currie (L) (6) and Liberatore
MacDonald, Plastiras (W) (7) and R.Ottem
(May 7) For the second straight game, catcher Eddie Garay came up with a late-inning home run to give North Kamloops a victory, this time 6-5 over Vernon Canadians. At Riverside Park Sunday, Garay, leading off the 7th inning, pounded one into the trees in deep right centre to break a 5-5 tie. Garay's blast took the spotlight away from Vernon's Lorne Vanetta who knocked in four of the five Vernon runs with a pair of homers. John Brkich was outstanding in taking over for starter George Fowles in the 4th inning. He allowed just three hits the rest of the way and fanned the first five men to face him. John Ingram took the loss.
Ingram (L) and McFarlane
G.Fowles, J.Brkich (W) (3) and Garay
(May 14) The Red Sox and North Kamloops saved the best for last in their BC Interior League game Sunday at Kelowna. North Kamloops broke a 3-3 tie with five runs in the top of the 9th inning. Then, in their last turn at the plate, the Sox erupted for six runs to walk way with a thrilling 9-8 victory. Cec Favell, who had drawn a walk, scored the winner. Mike Bakaway struggled through 13 hits to limp to the finish line for the win. He led the winners with three hits. Ed Garay had two hits and three runs batted in for North Kamloops.
T.Takanaka, J.Brkich (L) (8), G.Fowles (9) and Garay
Bakaway (W) and Stewart
(May 14) Mits Koga shutout Princeton on six hits to give Rutland its first victory of the season, 5-0. Koga fanned eight and walked just one. Maurice Truitt led an 11-hit attack with three safeties. Johnny Lingor had a triple and single and scored twice.
Koga (W) and Brummet
Gray (L), Nishihara (4) and Gee
(May 14) A big five-run inning carried Kamloops CYO to a 7-2 triumph over Revelstoke Sunday at Riverside Park. Nursing a 1-0 lead in the 5th, CYO combined three hits, four walks and a hit batsman to take a 6-0 lead. Bill Schall and Johnny Garay each had two hits and two runs batted in for the winners. Johnny Hawyood punched out a pair of safeties and scored three times. Ken Terry held the visitors to five hits in posting the victory. He had a no-hitter until the 6th inning and had six strikeouts without issuing a base on balls.
Pradolini, Fleming (5) and Harding
Terry (W) and Egely
(May 14) Ike Jackson held Kamloops Elks to four hits Sunday and Vernon Canadian rang up a 6-2 victory as Lorne Vanetta again led the offense with three hits and two runs batted in. Elks rapped 12 hits off loser Wilf Johnston.
W.Johnston (L) and R.Ottem
Jackson (W) and McFarlane.
(May 21) For the Kelowna Red Sox Sunday it was a good first inning. But, after taking a 1-0 lead, the Kamloops Elks evened the count with a run in the second then ran roughshod over the visitors to finish with a 17-4 trouncing. Elks rapped 13 hits, including homers by Mel Ottem, Ray Ottem and Art Thomson. Ray Ottem also had a pair of singles and knocked in five runs. Bill Hryciuk collected three hits and scored four times. Kamloops also took advantage of seven walks and nine Kelowna errors.
Kielbiski (L), Bakaway (4) and Stewart
MacDonald (W) and R. Ottem
(May 21) Rutland edged Vernon 6-5 as four Vernon errors figured prominently in the Adanacs victory. Left fielder Aubrey Wanless paced an 11-hit afternoon for the winners with a double and single and two runs scored. Otto Munk led the Canadians scoring twice and rapping a triple and double.
Jackson (L) and Petruk
Wostradowski, Koga and Brummet
(May 21) Second baseman Johnny Garay led the hit parade with two triples and three singles, scoring four times, as Kamloops CYO blasted Princeton Royals 17-3 in an Interior League game Sunday at Princeton. Royals carried a 3-2 lead into the 5th inning when Kamloops erupted for five runs to take the lead for good. They had an eight-run outburst in the 7th. Bill Schall and Bill Portman each had three hits and drove in two. Johnny Haywood knocked in four with a pair of doubles. Lefty Paul Prehara gave up six hits in picking up his second win of the season.
Prehara (W) and McDonald
Nishihara, D.Currie (7) and Liberatore
(May 21) Revelstoke Spikes thumped North Kamloops 13-7 Sunday in an Interior League game at Revelstoke. Phil Harding and Lefty Pratico clouted homers to lead an 11-hit attack for the Spikes. Eddie Garay had a four-bagger for the losers. Pratico scattered nine hits in pitching all nine innings for the win.
Kato (L), J.Brich (6) and Garay
Pratico (W) and Harding
(May 28) Winnng pitcher Pete Scott knocked in the winning run in the 8th inning as Kelowna topped Vernon 4-3. Second sacker George Garrow singled and stole second before Scott came through with a long single to right field. Al Munk drove in all three Canadians' runs with a homer and double.
Scott (W) and Stewart
Ingram (L) and McFarlane, Petruk
(May 28) Kamloops Elks took advantage of ten walks in three plus innings by Rutland starter Mits Koga and whipped the Adanacs 8-1. Marshall pitched a seven-hitter for the victory. Art Thomson belted a homer and single for the Elks.
Marshall (W) and R. Ottem
Koga (L), Bach (4) and Brummet
(May 28) Kamloops CYO ran up a 6-0 margin after four innings and held off North Kamloops for a 6-3 win at Riverside Park Sunday. Big Ken Terry held North Kamloops to seven hits, struck out seven and didn't issue a walk. The winners collected 11 hits including two apiece by Bill Schall and Lefty Marriott who each scored a pair.
G.Fowles (L) and E.Garay
Terry (W) and Egeley
(June 4) Out-hit 8 to 5, Kelowna Elks Red Sox took advantage of five Princeton errors to notch a 6-3 victory Sunday at Elks Stadium. Otto Gerein was the hard luck loser with a five-hitter and nine strikeouts. He also was Princeton's top hitter with two safeties and a pair of runs batted in. Winning pitcher Mike Bakaway also had two hits and two RBI. Bakaway had 10 strikeouts in his route-going performance.
Gerein (L) and Gee
Bakaway (W) and Stewart
(June 4) On a wind-swept day in Kamloops, the offenses had a field day rapping out 34 hits, including four homers, as North Kamlooops beat Rutland 11-10. Adanacs drew first blood scoring three in the initial frame as Johnny Lingor clubbed a three-run homer. North Kamloops, aided by a double steal, plated a pair in the bottom of the first. Rutland went ahead 4-2 with a singleton in the 2nd inning before Kamloops knotted the count with two in the 3rd. Kamloops appeared to put the game on ice with a six-run explosion in the 5th only to see Rutland respond with their own six-run inning in the 6th getting four-baggers from Jim Kitaura and Tony Brummet. Eddie Garay belted a homer in the 8th for the deciding marker. Garay had three hits to lead the winners. Maurice Truitt collected three hits and scored three runs for Rutland
Wostradowski, Koga (4) and Brummet
G.Fowles, Kato (6) and Garay
(June 5) Harry Francis singled to left field in the bottom of the eighth inning to score Lefty Marriott and give Kamloops CYO its sixth straight victory, 3-2 over Vernon Canadians. Two errors helped setup the winning run. Marriott went all the way to second as Otto Munk booted the ball and threw wide of first. On the next play, Bill Portman was safe on an error. With one out, Francis poked a single to bring in the deciding marker. Ken Terry fired a three-hitter for the win to best Al Byman who allowed six hits.
Terry (W) and Egely
Byman (L) and McFarlane
Kamloops CYO 6 - 0 ---
Kelowna 4 - 2 2.0
Kamloops Elks 3 - 2 2.5
Revelstoke 3 - 2 2.5
North Kamloops 3 - 3 3.0
Rutland 2 - 4 4.0
Vernon 2 - 4 4.0
Princeton 0 - 6 6.0
The Garay brothers dominate the hitting statistics of the BC Interior Baseball League. Figures, up to June 5th, show Eddie leading in three categories, Johnny in two and in a tie in another. Eddie of North Kamloops has scored the most runs, 9, hit the most homers, 5, and leads in runs batted in, with 13. Johnny, of Kamloops CYO, is tops in hits, with 13, and has the best batting average, .570, and is in a tie with Tosh Takenada of North Kamloops for the lead in triples, with two. Johnny Lingor of Rutland has the lead in doubles, with three.
Ken Terry of CYO is the leading hurler with a perfect 4-0 won-lost record. In his four starts, Terry has walked a total of three batters. Lefty Mike Bakaway is at 3-1 and leads in strikeouts with 47. The batting statistics show those having played in two or more games :
AB R H AVEPetruk, Vernon 3 0 2 .667
Jones, Elks 7 4 4 .571
Garay J., CYO 23 8 13 .570
Haywood, CYO 18 8 9 .500
Kato, N.Kamloops 4 0 2 .500
Gerein, Princeton 6 0 3 .500
Bakaway, Kelowna 16 3 7 .437
Brummet, Rutland 23 3 10 .435
Sakofsky, N.Kamloops 23 1 10 .435
Schall, CYO 24 7 10 .417
(June 11) Harry Francis, who had earlier crushed a homer, scored from third on a wild throw on a pick-off attempt in the bottom of the 9th to give Kamloops CYO it's seventh straight victory, 4-3 over Kelowna. Ken Terry got the win in relief.
Bakaway (L) and Stewart
Schall, Terry (W) (5) and Egeley
(June 11) Rutland topped Revelstoke 10-7
(June 11) Al Byman, in his last game with Vernon, had a shutout until the ninth inning in setting down Princeton on six hits in a 5-1 Vernon victory. Third sacker Ike Jackson paced an 11-hit attack for the Canadians with a three-for-four effort. Frank Vaselenak had two hits, one of them a three-bagger whcih scored two runs. Byman and Vaselenak were dropped by the club with the resignation of manager Jimmy Moebbes.
Byman (W) and McFarlane
E.Gray (L) and Liberatore
(June 18) Kelowna Elks Red Sox rapped 15 hits and were helped by nine Rutland errors in downing the Adanacs 11-9. The Sox broke a 9-9 tie with a pair in the 9th for the victory. Hank Tostenson paced the Kelowna attack with a single, double and triple as he knocked in a pair and scored two. Richie Foster and Dave Newton had three hits apiece while Maurice Truitt had a big day for Rutland with four hits and a walk in five trips to the plate. He drove in three of the Adanacs markers.
Bakaway, Kielbiski (W) (3) and Stewart
Lesmeister, Koga (5), Wostradowski (L) (8), Bach (9) and Brummet
(June 18) North Kamloops used an 18-hit attack, including home runs by Buck Buchanan and Gordon Beecroft, to demolish Princeton 17-4, the Royals 8th straight defeat. Leadoff man Eddie Fuoco had a 3-3-3-3 line for the contest. He had three hits in three official times at bat, scored three runs and reached three times when hit by pitches. Beecroft's four-bagger was a grand slam in the 4th inning when North Kamloops scored ten times. Ed Garay drove in three runs with triple and single. For the Royals, centre fielder Pat Harmon belted a double and three singles. Al Byman allowed 11 hits but went the distance for the win.
O.Gerein (L), D.Currie (4) and Gee
Byman (W) and Garay
(June 18) Lefty Pratico and George Couston cracked back-to-back homers in the fifth inning to lead Revelstoke Spikes to a 3-1 victory over Vernon. The Canadians had grabbed the lead with a run in the third as Wally Janicki doubled and came home on a single by Ike Jackson. Spikes sealed the deal in the sixth when Lefty Pratico tripled and Couston followed with a double. Gordie Fleming held Vernon to six hits, three by Bill Inglis, to capture the mound victory.
Jackson (L) and McFarlane
Fleming (W) and Rota
(June 21) Kamloops CYO scored a run in the top of the first and never trailed in an easy 15-9 triumph over a short-handed band of Kamloops Elks Wednesday at Riverside Park. George (Lefty) Marriott led a 15-hit offensive with three hits, one of them a double, and scored four times. Johnny Hawyood also had three hits. Maury Hornsby rapped a homer and single. Paul Prehara gave up a dozen hits but managed to go all the way for the win. Bill Hryciuk and Mel Ottem each had three safeties for the Elks who were missing Casey Jones, Ash Mayson and Len Gatin. Hryciuk left the game in the 6th with an ankle injury.
Prehara (W) and Egely
MacDonald (L) and Maralia
(June 25) Kamloops CYO remained unbeaten Sunday notching their 9th straight win, 6-2 over Rutland. Paul Prehara fired a four-hitter allowing just one earned run. He had seven strikeouts and walked a pair. Kamloops got the winning run in the 7th when Adanacs' outfielders Johnny Lingor and Maurice Truitt collided while chasing a fly ball in centre and two runs scored. Truitt had to withdraw from the game. Third baseman Kaye Kaminishi had two of Kamloops' eight hits and scored twice.
Koga (L) and Brummet
Prehara (W) and McDonald
(June 25) In a dandy pitcher's duel at Elks Stadium Sunday, Kelowna Elks Red Sox notched a 1-0 victory over Revelstoke. The only run scored in the 4th inning as catcher Phil Harding's throw to second to try and nab base stealer Bobby Koenig sailed into centre field and Koenig came all the way home. Pete Scott fired a four-hitter in going the route for the win. He rang up nine strikeouts without walking a batter. Lefty Pratico allowed just five hits in taking the loss. Kelowna's Hank Tostenson, with a double and two singles, was the game's leading hitter.
L.Pratico (L) and Harding
Scott (W) and Stewart
(June 25) Princeton Royals finally broke into the win column Sunday defeating the Kamloops Elks 7-1 at Princeton. Otto Gerein had a shutout until the 9th inning when Billy MacDonald scored the only run for the Elks. Gerein fired a five-hitter. Mullen, the Royals first baseman led Princeton with three hits, one a double, three runs scored and twice stole home.
Johnson (L), MacDonald and Maralia
Gerein (W) and Schule
(June 25) In his farewell appearance, 17-year-old lefty Johnny Brkich fired a three-hitter as North Kamloops shaded Vernon 3-2. Brkish and his batterymate, Eddie Garay, are bound for pro ball with the Victoria Athletics. North Kamloops took the lead in the 2nd inning on singles by Buck Buchanan and Nick Brkich. Vernon tied it in the 3rd on a walk, sacrifice and a single and moved ahead in the 6th before North Kamloops plated a pair in the 7th for the win. It marked the fifth time Vernon has lost by one run.
J.Brkich (W) and Garay
Jackson (L), Wadsworth (9) and McFarlane
Kamloops CYO 9 - 0 ---
Kelowna 6 - 3 3.0
North Kamloops 5 - 3 3.5
Revelstoke 4 - 4 4.5
Kamloops Elks 3 - 4 5.0
Rutland 3 - 6 6.0
Vernon 3 - 6 6.0
Princeton 1 - 8 8.0
Although sidelined for four games with a torn muscle in his arm, Johnny Garay of Kamloops CYO continues to top the regular hitters in the Interior Baseball League. Garay's .570 average leads Pat Harmon of Princeton, at .538, and Johnny Hawyood, also of CYO, at .483. The statistics include all games played on or before June 25th with the exception of two games for which boxscores are not available. These figures from the Kamloops Sentinel were published on July 10th. (Garay while shown with a .570 mark, should have been at .565 with the numbers displayed. Saklofsky would have been at .571 with the hits and at bats shown and Foster at .273.)
AB R H AVE
Garay J. CYO 23 8 13 .570
Harman PRN 13 1 7 .538
Haywood CYO 29 12 14 .438
Hryciuk Kam Elks 17 6 8 .471
Brummet Rut-NK 37 6 16 .432
Saklofsky NK 28 6 16 .432
Tostenson KEL 31 9 13 .419
Truitt RUT 30 5 12 .400
Hornsby CYO 15 5 6 .400
Lingor RUT 34 9 13 .382
Newton KEL 24 4 9 .377
Jackson VER 16 1 6 .375
Gerein PRN
8 0 3 .375
Ottem R.KAM ELKS 22 4 8 .364
McDonald CYO 11 2 4 .364
Foster KEL 11 3 3 .364
Inglis VER 29 2 10 .345
Schisler PRN 15 1 5 .333
McAskill REV 9 0 3 .333
Portman CYO 31 5 10 .323
Hits - Brummet, RUT-NK, 16
Runs - Marriott G.,CYO - 13
RBI - Haywood, CYO -10
Home Runs - Thompson, KAM ELKS - 4
Triples - Several - 2
Doubles - Lingor RUT - 5
PITCHING
W L BB SO
Prehara CYO 4 - 0 12 12
Terry CYO 4 - 0 3 21
Scott KEL 2 - 0 3 15
Bakaway KEL 3 - 1 18 48
Byman VER-NK 2 - 1 4 13
Fleming REV 2 - 0 3 17
(July 9) Kelowna Elks Red Sox got a pitching gem from Pete Scott Sunday in a 7-0 win over Kamloops Elks. The right-hander gave up just two hits - one in the first and the other in the ninth - while facing just 29 batters. He compiled five strikeouts without a walk. Sox took the lead in the first inning on Hank Tostenson's two-run homer and coasted to the victory. Dave Newton pounded a homer, double and single for the winners. Sox had 14 hits off Bill MacDonald.
MacDonald (L) and McNaughton
Scott (W) and Stewart
(July 9) Rutland opened the game with three runs in the first inning and it proved enough as the Adanacs downed Vernon Canadians 5-2. With two out, Johnny Lingor and Hank Wostradowski singled and Wally Lesmeister followed with a two-bagger to plate the first marker. After a walk to Morio Koga to fill the bases, the Vernon backstop attempted to pick off Wostradowski at third but the throw was wide and two more runs came home. Mits Koga fired a six-hitter and set down 12 by strikeouts for the win.
Mits Koga (W) and Morio Koga
Fukuyama (L), Jackson (4) and N. Janicki
(July 9) in a thriller at Riverside Park, winning pitcher Stan Kato singled to drive in Bob Saklofsky with the winning run in the 11th inning as North Kamloops got by Revelstoke 10-9. Saklofsky had singled to left, stole second and advanced to third on Tosh Takanaka's hit. Kato relieved starter Al Byman in the 11th. The game produced 19 runs, 29 hits, 15 errors, 22 men left on base and 34 strikeouts! Byman had a big offensive day with four hits in five at bats. Takanaka had three hits for the winners while Frank Vaselenak knocked in four runs with a homer and double. George Couston and Al Pradolini clouted four-baggers for the Spikes. Couston, who went the distance for Revelstoke rang up 17 strikeouts. Bynam had 15 for North Kamloops and Kato added two more.
Byman, Kato (W) (11) and Brummet
Couston (L) and Rota
(July 9) Kamloops CYO squeezed out an 8-7 win over Princeton Sunday to rack up the squad's 10th straight win of the season. The unbeaten CYO plated a run in the bottom of the 5th and final inning to take the victory. Kaye Kaminishi drove a single to left field to score Bill Marriott with the deciding counter. The game, the first of a double-header, was late starting and had to be completed by three o'clock. It was an offensive show as CYO pounded out 14 hits, three by Bill Portman, and the Royals had ten, including a home run by second baseman Wally Paul.
Gray (L) and Gee
Prehara, Schall (W) (5) and McDonald
Kamloops CYO 10 - 0 ---
Kelowna 7 - 3 3.0
North Kamloops 6 - 3 3.5
Revelstoke 4 - 5 5.5
Kamloops Elks 3 - 5 6.0
Rutland 4 - 6 6.0
Vernon 3 - 7 7.0
Princeton 1 - 9 9.0
(July 16) For the second straight Sunday, Kelowna fans were treated to a pitcher's duel as the home club topped Vernon 2-1. Pete Scott, who fired a two-hitter last week, allowed just three hits and had a shutout until the 9th in getting the win while George Fukuyama had a three-hitter in taking the tough-luck loss. Vernon's playing coach, catcher Bill Petruk shouldered the blame for the loss. His wild throw in the 6th allowed the first Kelowna run to score and his passed ball in the 8th led to the second Red Sox marker. It just wasn't Petruk's day. In the 9th, after Vernon had finally plated a run, Petruk was on third when he tried a squeeze play and got caught in a hot box and was tagged for the second out. Kelowna had Max McNab, of Detroit Red Wings fame, in the lineup at second.
Fukuyama (L) and Petruk
Scott (W) and Stewart
(July 16) In a wild one at Kamloops Riverside Park, Rutland Adanacs blew a six-run lead and dropped an 11-10 decision to the Elks. Adanacs had a 9-3 advantage after seven innings but Mits Koga ran out of gas in the 8th as Mel Ottem singled and Art Thomson made it 9-5 with a four-bagger. Then, a hit batsman, single and walk loaded the bases setting the stage for pitcher Billy MacDonald's grand slam homer to tie the match a 9-9 with nobody out. Wally Lesmeister relieved but had his problems allowing a run to score on a wild pitch as Kamloops took the lead. Rutland rebounded with a run in the 9th as Hugh Stewart drove in Jim Kitaura with his fourth hit of the day. Elks tallied the winner in the bottom of the 10th.
Mits Koga, Lesmeister (8) and Morio Koga
MacDonald (W) and McNaughton
(July 19) Princeton Royals picked up their second win of the summer downing Kelowna Elks Red Sox 8-3 at Princeton.
(July 19) Kamloops CYO chalked up their 11th consecutive win Wednesday defeating North Kamloops 6-2 as Paul Prehara had a shutout into the 9th before giving up two late runs. Left fielder Bill Portman and catcher Norm MacDonald each smacked a double and two singles to lead the winners.
Fowles (L), Kato (7) and Brummet
Prehara (W) and MacDonald
(July 23) The game had 21 runs, 23 hits and 17 errors. North Kamloops, with an eight-run 2nd inning, emerged as the winner, 15-6 over Rutland dashing the Adanacs hopes of making the playoffs. Stan Kato allowed just three earned runs in going the distance for the win. Buck Buchanan had two hits and scored three times for the winners. Frank Vaselenak went 0 for 4, but scored four runs for North Kamloops. Rutland's Achio Mende had the only homer.
Kato (W) and Brummet
Lesmeister (L), Lingor (3) and Morio Koga
(July 23) Kamloops CYO won its 12th straight without a loss, 8-3 over Vernon and in the process clinched first place in the Interior League. Lefty Paul Prehara handled the mound work for CYO chalking up his 6th win of the season. Bill Schall knocked out 22 or Kamloops' 11 hits. The Marriott brothers, Bill and George, each had two safeties. Wally Janicki had a pair for Vernon.
Prehara (W) and Egely
Wadsworth (L) and Petruk
(July 23) Revelstoke Spikes had a quick start with four runs in the top of the first inning but gave up four in the bottom of the first and fell behind in the second before rebounding in a big way to down Kamloops Elks 12-8 Sunday at Riverside Park as winning pitcher George Couston rapped out six hits in six trips to the plate. Couston replaced starter Lefty Pratico in the first inning and rang up 12 strike outs the rest of the way. Harry Maralia led the Elks with a pair of doubles and a single.
Johnston, Thompson (2) and McNaughtonPratico, Couston (1) and Rota
Kamloops CYO 12 - 0 ---
Kelowna 8 - 4 4.0
North Kamloops 7 - 4 4.5
Revelstoke 6 - 5 5.5
Kamloops Elks 4 - 6 7.0
Rutland 4 - 8 8.0
Vernon 3 - 9 9.0
Princeton 2 -10 10.0
(July 30) Shortstop Tony Senger tripled in Ellergot with his only hit of the game to provide the winning run as Rutland downed Revelstoke 10-8 in a 13-inning marathon at Revelstoke Sunday. Morio Koga, already with three hits, singled to score Senger with an insurance run. Winning pitcher Mits Koga, who relieved in the 2nd inning, had a triple and two singles for the Adanacs who out-hit the Spikes 18 to 13. First sacker Al Pradolini led Revelstoke with a double and two singles.
Wostradowski, Koga (W) (2) and Morio Koga
Couston (L), Fleming (13) and Rota
(July 30) Again, Pete Scott was the talk of the town as Kelowna Elks Red Sox ended Kamloops CYO winning streak at twelve with a 2-1 victory at Kelowna Elks Stadium. Scott fired his second two-hitter of the season to go along with a three-hitter and a four-hitter. The right-hander was nicked for a single by the first batter, Kaye Kaminishi, and a following error gave Kamloops a 1-0 lead. Sox evened the count in the 5th and shortstop Bob Koenig knocked in the winner in the 7th. Kelowna had just five hits off losing hurler Paul Prehara.
Prehara (L) and McDonald
Scott (W) and Stewart
(July 30) Tony Brummet poked a pair of homers to lead North Kamloops to a 11-5 victory over the Kamloops Elks at Riverside Park. The winners smacked 17 hits, four by centre fielder Frank Vaselenak and three by third baseman Bob Saklofsky. Jugs McNaughton had three hits for the Elks. Al Byman allowed 11 hits but managed to go the distance for the win.
MacDonald (L) and Johnston
Byman (W) and Garay
Interior Baseball League
Kamloops CYO 12 - 1
Kelowna Red Sox 9 - 4 3.0
North Kamloops 8 - 4 3.5
Revelstoke Spikes 6 - 6 5.5
Rutland Adanacs 5 - 8 7.0
Kamloops Elks 4 - 7 7.0
Vernon Canadians 3 - 9 8.5
Princeton Royals 2 - 10 9.5
(August 2) Making a determined bid for a playoff spot, Kamloops Elks used the long ball to down North Kamloops 13-8. First sacker Casey Jones and right fielder Mel Ottem each had two homers in leading a 15-hit attack. Everyone in the Elks lineup had at least one hit. Frank Vaselenak and Nick Brkich topped the losers each with three hits.
Fowles, Kato (1), Byman (6) and Brummet
Mayson, MacDonald (4) and Johnston
(August 6) In their final regular season contest, North Kamloops crushed Pete Scott and the Kelowna Elks Red Sox 17-8. It was just a week after Scott had tossed his second two-hitter of the season in beating Kamloops CYO. North Kamloops ran roughshod over the Sox in the 2nd inning going right around the batting order to rack up nine runs and take an 11-3 lead. The 16-hit attack for North Kamloops included four-baggers by Frank Vaselenak, Ed Garay and Tony Brummet. Vaselenak and Gord Beecroft each had four hits for the winners. Vaselenak scored four runs and Beecroft come across the plate three times. Cec Favell belted a three-run homer for the Sox.
Scott (L), Kielbiski (6) and Stewart
Byman (W), Kato (8) and Garay
(August 6) Revelstoke upended league leading Kamloops CYO 11-4 in a game called after six innings because of rain. Lefty Pratico held CYO to four hits in pitching the win. The Spikes rapped out 14 hits, including a bases-clearing triple by Pratico.
Bregolisse (L), Hornsby, Schall, Prehara and Eagely
Pratico (W) and Harding
(August 6) Kamloops Elks wiped out a 2-0 deficit with a seven-run eruption in the bottom of the first inning and went on to demolish the Vernon Canadians 19-4. Shorstop Art Thomson led the hit parade with a grand slam homer and two singles, driving in six runs and scoring four times. Harry Maralia belted a homer and two singles, knocked in a pair and scored two and Jugs McNaughton smacked a double, two singles and scored twice. Len Gatin held Vernon to five hits to register the win.
Jackson (L) and Petruk
Gatin (W) and Johnson
(August 9) Kamloops Elks gained a tie for fourth place with a 4-1 victory over Revelstoke. The teams will now meet in a sudden-death playoff for the fourth slot. Len Gatin scattered six hits to go the distance for the win. Wilf Johnston the Elks catcher was the only batter with two hits. He had a triple and single.
Gatin (W) and Johnson
Fleming (L) and Rota
(August 13) Three Kamloops teams have advanced to the BC Interior Baseball League playoffs. The Kamloops Elks secured a spot troucing Revelstoke Spikes 10-3 to break a tie for fourth place. They'll meet Kamloops CYO in of the best-of-three semi-finals. Kelowna and North Kamloops meet in the other semi-final. Elks scored two in the first inning and were never headed. Wilf Johnston and Mel Ottem led a 12-hit attack each with three safeties. Len Gatin held the Spikes to five hits.
Pratico (L), Fleming (8) and Rota
Gatin (W) and Johnston
(August 13) Kelowna's veteran utility man Eddie Kielbiski was been named winner of the Frank Keevil Trophy awarded annually to the team's most valuable player. Kielbiski who catches, pitches and plays both the infield and outfield was presented with the award during Kelowna's game with North Kamloops. Eddie is the fourth to win the award. Fred Kitsch was the recipient in the inaugural season fo 1947. Harold Cousins won in 1948 and Cec Favell took home the trophy last year.
(August 13) North Kamloops exploded for ten runs in the fourth inning in a 15-1 shellacking of the Kelowna Elks Red Sox. The win ensured a second place finish for the club. Al Byman held the Sox to five hits while North Kamloops pounded out a dozen in a game called after seven innings because of a dust storm. The right-hander, who started the season with Vernon, walked just one. North Kamloops pounded Kelowna ace Pete Scott for the second straight weekend. Centre fielder Frank Vaselenak led the way with three hits and three runs scored.
Scott (L), Purcello (4) and Stewart
Byman (W) and Brummet
(August 20) Vernon Canadians downed Princeton Royals 6-2 Sunday in the final game of the regular season. It was a contest postponed from July 30th. Stocky Ike Jackson had a no-hitter for seven innings before giving up three successive singles for two runs in the 8th. Jackson has been the Canadians workhorse all season. Last week, while playing with Vernon Aces of the City Baseball League, he pitched two wins in one day to give the Aces top prize in the Winfield tournament. Don Grey allowed Vernon just seven hits, two each by Wally Janicki and Bill Petruk.
Jackson (W) and Petruk
D.Grey (L) and Gee
Johnny Garay of the Kamloops CYO ran away with the batting title in the Interior League according to unofficial statistics compiled by the Kamloops Sentinel. Garay had 15 hits in 30 at bats to finish with an even .500 average. Stan Kato of North Kamloops had a .429 mark, but in just 14 at bats. Nick Brkich of North Kamloops had a .424 mark. Eddie Garay of North Kamloops topped the league in RBI with 22 and tied Art Thomson of Kamloops Elks for the most homers, each with 6. Tony Brummet, also of North Kamloops, had 22 hits to lead in that category and he tied five others for the most triples. Brummet, Johnny Lingor of Rutland, George Couston of Revelstoke, Tosh Takenaka of North Kamloops and Johnny Garay each had two three-baggers. Frank Vaselenak of North Kamloops and George (Lefty) Marriott of CYO crossed the plate 18 times to lead in runs scored. With 7 doubles to his credit, Lingor copped that prize. Ken Terry of CYO was the best hurler with a 4-0 record. Couston fanned the most, 60 in 7 games.
AB R H AVE Garay Johnny CYO 30 10 15 .500 Kato Stan NKL 14 1 6 .429 Brkich Nick NKL 33 8 14 .424 Couston George REV 50 15 21 .420 Vaselenak Frank NKL 43 18 18 .419 Garay Ed NKL 53 17 21 .396 Haywood Johnny CYO 39 12 15 .385 Tostenson Hank KWE 50 12 19 .380 Byman Al NKL 29 5 11 .379 Saklofsky Bob NKL 53 7 20 .377 Truitt Maurice RUT 35 5 13 .371 Pradolini Al REB 54 9 20 .370 Lingor Johnny RUT 55 12 20 .364 Brummet Tony NKL 61 10 22 .361 Portman Bill CYO 50 8 18 .360 Harding Phil REV 23 7 8 .348 Petruk Bill VER 18 3 6 .333 Kovich PRN 43 6 14 .326 Thomas Ken PRN 28 3 9 .321 Harmon Pat PRN 33 4 10 .303
(August 20) Kamloops CYO shaded their inter-city rival Kamloops Elks 4-3 in the opening game of their best-of-three semi-final series. Bill Portman singled to left to drive in Ollie Egely, who had doubled, with the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning in what was described as "by far" the best game in Kamloops this season. Elks had taken a 2-0 lead in the fourth inning as Casey Jones singled with the bases loaded. CYO tied the match in the seventh as Egley walked and Ken Terry swatted one over the left-centre field wall. CYO took the lead in the eighth as Bill Portman cracked a double and came home on Johnny Haywood's single to left. Elks knotted the count in the top of the ninth when Mel Ottem scored as Len Gatin's slow grounder got past Terry and skipped between Johnny Garay's legs. Gatin was cut down at the plate on Ray Ottem's single to left. It was the second time in the game the Elks had a runner thrown out at the plate. Portman led the hitters with three safeties.
Prehara, Terry (W) (6) and Egely
Gatin (L) and Johnston
(August 20) Kelowna Elks Red Sox took an early lead and held off a late charge by North Kamloops to take the first game of their semi-final, 7-6. Pete Scott had a two-hitter until the 8th when he tired and the home team erupted for four runs. Scott allowed seven hits overall and was a force at the plate knocking in three runs for the Red Sox. The game was played under protest as North Kamloops claimed the home plate umpire was still a registered player with the Elks.
Scott (W) and Stewart
Byman (L) and Brummet
(August 27) Kamloops Elks fell behind 3-0 after the first two innings before getting untracked to defeat CYO 9-4 to tie their semi-final series at a game apiece. Elks came to life in the third stanza with two runs on Billy Hryciuk's double and an CYO error and added two runs in the fourth on a walk, error and singles by Mel Ottem and Bill MacDonald. With two out and two aboard in the fifth frame Art Thomson smacked one of Paul Prehara's slants over the right field wall to give the Elks a commanding 7-3 lead. Len Gatin scattered ten hits for the win.
Gatin (W) and R.Ottem
Prehara (L), Terry (7) and Egely
(August 27) Left fielder Don Peters blasted a home run over the centre field fence in the 6th inning to break a 1-1 tie and it proved to be the winning run as Kelowna downed North Kamloops 3-1 for their second win in the semi-final series. Sox added an insurance run in the 8th. First baseman Hank Tostenson doubled, stole third and scored on a squeeze play. Each team had eight hits as Pete Scott bested Al Byman. The series outcome remains in doubt, however, as the league executive is to meet to consider another appeal from North Kamloops. League President A.W. Gray turned down the team's protest of Kelowna's first game victory, but North Kamloops promptly launched another appeal.
Byman (L) and Garay
Scott (W) and Stewart
(September 10) Harry Maralia blasted a grand slam homer in the 8th inning to lead Kamloops Elks to a 12-5 win over CYO in the deciding game of their best-of-three semi-final series. Elks will now meet the Kelowna Elks Red Sox in a best-of-three set for the league championship. CYO had rallied to score three times in the seventh inning to come within a run of tying the game after the Elks had taken a 5-1 lead in the early innings. Mel Ottem, Casey Jones and Billy MacDonald were perched on base when Maralia crushed one over the top of the scoreboard in right centre field to send the Elks into what proved to be an insurmountable lead.
Gatin (W) and R.Ottem
Prehara (L), Bregolisse and Egely
(September 17) Kamloops Elks whipped Kelowna 10-2 in the first game of the best-of-three final series. Gordon McQuarrie, a recent import from Calgary, drove in five runs for the winners with a three-run homer and two singles in addition to pitching an eight-hitter for the win.
McQuarrie (W) and R.Ottem
Bakaway (L), Scott (5), Bakaway (9) and Stewart
(September 24) Kamloops Elks went ahead 2-0 in the first inning and coasted to a 7-1 victory over Kelowna Elks Red Sox to take the BC Interior League championship in two straight games. Kelowna out-hit the winners 6 to 4 but were undone by six errors. Len Gatin went the distance on the hill for Kamloops while Mike Bakaway tossed a four-hitter in taking the loss. Bill MacDonald belted a homer for Kamloops.
Bakaway (L) and Stewart
Gatin (W) and R. Ottem
WEST KOOTENAY BASEBALL
(May 14-15) Creston Tournament
(May 16) Nelson baseballers are to renew an old rivalry Sunday as they travel to Colville, Washington, for the first of a two-game exhibition series. The club will be led by veteran catcher Gordon "Fats" Richardson of pre-war days. Richardson, who began playing senior ball in 1928, said the club would be decked out in new uniforms for the series. Among those expected at Friday's workout are catcher Swede Larsen, pitchers Les Hufty, Ron Brown and Fred Townsend, first baseman Carl Locatelli, second baseman J. Cohen, third sacker Lloyd Swenson, shortstop Bill Dozzi, and outfielders Bill Haldane, Ron Collings, Bob Koehle, W. "Red" Wassick, Yo Hamakawa, Roy Anderson and Doug Winlaw.
(May 28) In the Western International League, Sagle, Idaho, defeated Cranbook 18-10.
J.Trumbull, Hawkins and Hawkins, B.Trumbull
Tex Stewart, Johnny Bayley (9) and Jack Leask
(May 28) Nelson opened its home schedule with a 14-0 pasting of the squad from Colville, Washington. The Americans had won the first game of the exhibition series 7-5. Catcher Swede Larsen led a 15-hit attack with a homer and two singles. Lloyd Swenson added a triple, double and single. Les Hufty handcuffed Colville on three hits through seven innings before Fred Townsend finished up.
Cherbonneau (L), Hal Davis (3), Beardsley and Harbolt
Hufty (W), Townsend (8) and Larsen
(June 4) Les Hufty pitched and batted Nelson Peerless-9 to a 13-4 win over Fruitvale Beavers. Hufty held the visitors to four hits in his mound performance while blasting a homer, double and single good for five runs. Shortstop Bill Dozzi led the attack with a home run and three singles while third sacker Lloyd Swenson had three of Nelson's 16 hits. For the Beavers, Dennis Frederick belted a two-run homer.
L.Hufty (W) and Koehle
F. Grieve (L), Fredericks (8) and McInnes
(June 11) A pair of 7th inning doubles helped Rossland Cubs to a 4-3 victory over Nelson Peerless-9 in West Kootenay Baseball League action. With the score tied 1-1, Dick Baril opened the Rossland 7th with a two-bagger and Roy Thomas moved him to third with a single. Winning pitcher Bobby McKinnon knocked in Baril with a two-base blow and set up Thomas to score on a following infield out. With two out in the bottom of the 7th, Nelson got three singles but scored just one run. Shortstop Lui Corrado had two hits and knocked in a pair for the winners.
McKinnon (W) and Campbell
Hufty (L) and Larsen
(June 18) Veteran Gordon (Fats) Richardson rapped three hits and drove in two to lead Nelson to a 6-2 victory over Rossland and first place in the West Kootenay Baseball League. Les Hufty held the Cubs to just six hits in posting the win. Both runs off him were unearned. Nelson collected 14 hits, including five two-baggers.
L.Hufty (W) and Richardson
McKinnon (L) and Crowder
(June 25) Nelson out-hit Fruitvale 10 to 8 Sunday but came away with just a single run as Fruitvale trounced the visitors 8-1. After the Peerless-9 had scored in the top of the first inning, the Beavers scored five unearned runs in their half of the initial frame to begin the rout. Julie Bilesky's triple highlighted a three-run second frame for the home club. Fuzzy Grieve went the distance for the win. Rookie starter Byron Shaw took the loss. Bill Haldane of Nelson led all hitters with four safeties.
Shaw (L), Hufty (2) and Larsen
Grieve (W) and Simpson
(June 27) Nelson and Trail fought to a 9-9 draw in an exhibition tilt at Nelson in a contest which featured 18 runs, 19 hits, 9 errors and 24 bases on balls. Nelson's Fritz Koehle led the offense with four hits, including a pair of three-baggers, which drove in five runs. Kenny Stanton of Trail belted a homer and triple, good for four runs. An error-filled first inning ended with Nelson ahead 4-2. The home club took a 6-2 lead in the second as Trail starter Irv Lavorato walked a pair before giving up Koehle's first triple. Trail got a couple in the 5th as Nelson starter Byron Shaw walked in one run and another scored on a wild pitch. In the 7th, Shaw gave up five free passes and two runs before giving way to reliever Les Hufty. Nelson responded with a run in the 7th and another pair in the 8th to take a 9-6 lead. But in the 9th, with playing-manager Eric Bishop aboard on a walk and Julie Bilesky with a single, Stanton bashed one over the centre field wall to knot the count.
Lavorato, Monaldi (3), McIntyre (9) and Bishop
Shaw, Hufty (7) and Larsen
(July 1) Nelson Peerless-9 exploded for five runs in the 8th inning to come from behind to shade the Spokane Brooks 7-6 in an exhibition match at Nelson. Pinch-hitter Argilio Dozzi laid down a perfect squeeze bunt to score Swede Larsen with the winner. Larsen led the Nelson attack with a triple and two doubles. Bob Koehle added three singles. Les Hufty held the visitors to eight hits. Curtis Bloomquist, who allowed 12 hits, took the loss.
Bloomquist (L) and O'Leary
L.Hufty (W) and Larsen
(July 2) Catcher Swede Larsen continued his torrid hitting streak driving in six runs with two homers, a triple and single as Nelson again stopped Spokane Brooks, this time 9-8. Shortstop Carl Locatelli had a homer, double and single for the winners. Carroll Dembowski belted two triples for Spokane. Losing hurler Curtis Bloomquist had a triple and two singles for the losers. Les Hufty, in relief of starter Byron Shaw, picked up the pitching victory.
McCrow, Bloomquist (L) (6) and O'Leary
Shaw, Hufty (W) (7) and Larsen
(July 5) Irv Lavorato and Joey Jankola combined on a seven-hitter and Rossland took advantage of seven Nelson errors to squeeze by the Peerless-9, 4-3 Wednesday. After loading the bases with none out in the first and failing to score, Rossland plated a run in the 3rd as Max Turyk's double scored Willie Scott. They added another in the 4th as Seth Martin, who had doubled, scored on an error. Nelson got on the board in the 5th. Argilio Dozzi belted a two-bagger and scored on a bunt single by Les Hufty. Cubs went up 4-1 in the 7th on a pair of Nelson bobbles. Fritz Koehle opened the bottom of the 8th with a solid blast to centre field, just short of the fence, but Turyk made a diving catch, crashing into the wall, to rob Koehle of an extra base hit. It was a game-saver as the sparkling defensive play was followed by a walk to Red Wassick and singles by Dozzi and Frank Hufty that brought in two runs. Nelson had another opportunity in the 9th as Bob Koehle's long drive was misjudged by Turyk and fell in for a triple. Bill Haldane then reached on an error and advanced to second with none out. Joey Jankola took over on the mound and retired the next three batsmen to put out the fire.
Lavorato (W), Jankola (9) and Crowder
L.Hufty (L) and Larsen
(July 10) In exhibition action at Nelson, the Peerless-9 were embarrassed to the tune of 11-2 by the Spokane East Misson Pharmacists. Hurler Andy Aoki held Nelson to 8 hits and helped at the dish with a bases-loaded double and a run-scoring single. Third baseman George Huffman clouted a pair of three-baggers and a single for Spokane who scored six runs in the second inning and coasted to the victory. Bob Huffman added a triple and single and two runs batted in.
Aoki (W) and Hinz
Shaw (L), Hufty (3) and Larsen
(July 14) Nelson Peerless fell behind 3-0 in the first inning but rebounded with three in the second and six more in the 3rd inning and went on to swamp the Trail All-Stars 14-5. Les Hufty scattered seven hits in his mound duties for the pitching win and knocked in four runs with a bases-loaded double and run-scoring single. Bill Haldane had two hits, one a homer, and scored three times. Carl Locatelli added three singles.
Boisvert (L), McIntyre (3), Monaldi (3) and Anselmo
Hufty (W) and Larsen
(July 23) In a split-venue double-header Sunday, Nelson scored wins over Fruitvale and Rossland to take over first place in the West Kootenay League.
With a run in the 8th to tie and one in the 9th to win, Nelson took a 9-8 decision from Fruitvale in the first game. Second baseman Bob Koehle crushed a homer in the 8th to knot the count 8-8. In the 9th, Gord Richardson, already with a triple and single, reached on his third hit and made it to third on Frank Hufty's safety. He scored the winner on Red Wassick's long fly to the outfield. Nelson collected 14 hits, four of them by Frank Hufty. Bob McNabb clouted a homer for the Peerless-9. Les Hufty, who relieved starter Roy Anderson in the 7th, picked up the win, his 9th of the season. Bob McKinnon and third baseman Mel Saddler each had three hits for the Beavers.
Anderson, L.Hufty (W) (7) and Richardson
McKinnon, Grieve (L) (4) and Simpson
Les Hufty tossed a seven-hit shutout as Nelson defeated Rossland 9-0 in the second game. Nelson broke the game wide open with a six-run outburst in the 9th. Nelson took the lead in the opening frame as Gord Richardson doubled in a pair. From there until the 9th, Hufty and Irv Lavorato for the Cubs hurled solid ball. With one out in the final frame, five consecutive Nelson batters got on base to send Lavorato to the showers. Red Wassick greeted reliever Rusty Wynn with a double, his third straight hit, and he came around to score to make the final, 9-0.
Hufty (W) and Richardson
Lavorato (L), Wynn (9) and Crowder
(July 25) Riondel made its debut in Kaslo Sunday dropping a 9-2 decision to the home town club. Kaslo, with runs by Ringheim and Carney took a 2-0 lead in the second inning. They added four more in the third to put the game on ice.
S.Norberg, J.Turner and R.MacPherson
Roy Driver, Ray Norberg and H.Matsuzaki
(July 26) Joey Jankola fired a three-hitter as Rossland blanked Fruitvale 12-0 at the Fruitvale Recreation Grounds. The Cubs pounded out 14 hits in cruising to the triumph.
Jankola (W) and xxx
Ewing, Grieve, McKinnon and xxx
(July 29) In exhibition action, Trail downed Kimberley 7-5 Saturday in a game played in a slight drizzle. Pete Boisvert was the main man for the winners hurling steady ball, allowing nine hits and whiffing eight, while knocking in the winning marker in the eighth inning. After Noro Pisacreta and Eric Bishop reached on singles in the 8th, Boisvert smacked a triple to score both runs and came home on a squeeze play by Julie Bilesky.
Boisvert (W) and xxx
xxx and xxx
(July 30) Kimberley Elks rallied for four runs in the eighth inning to notch a 6-5 verdict over Trail. Elks took a 2-0 lead as Doug Kilburn slugged a homer in the third and Smart knocked in a run with a triple in the fifth. Trail came roaring back in the eighth with five runs. Busher McIntyre led off with a single and Joe Jankola walked and both advanced on a sacrifice. Harold Jones scored both with a single and Pete Boisvert doubled to plate Jones. Danny Geronazzo drew a walk and Noro Pisacreta rapped in the other runs for a 5-2 margin. But the Elks pushed across four runs with two out in their half of the eighth for the victory.
Jankoka (L) and xxx
xxx and xxx
(July 30) First sacker Red Wassick singled with the bases loaded and two out in the bottom of the ninth inning to give Nelson Peerless-9 a thrilling 3-2 victory over Rossland Cubs. Les Hefty fired a three-hitter and allowed no earned runs in posting the triumph. During a wild ninth inning rhubarb umpire Pope Scanlon threw down his chest protector and refused to continue calling balls and strikes. Nelson loaded the bases as Bill Haldane and Fritz Koehle singled and Doug Winlaw drew a free pass. With one out, Irv Lavorato threw three straight balls to Bob McNabb and Rossland called for time. Lavorato's next pitch was called a strike - strike two - as Nelson players stormed out of the dugout to protest the count. Cooler heads prevailed and Scanlon returned to his position, but holding firm on a 3 and 2 count. McNabb bunted foul for the second out before Wassick swung at the first pitch and sent one sailing by shortstop to score Haldane with the deciding marker.
Lavorato (L) and Crowder
Hufty (W) and Larsen
(August 2) In a wild finish at Nelson Wednesday, Fruitvale Beavers scored five runs in the final inning then held off a Nelson rally to post an 11-10 victory. Third baseman Ray Gariepy's bases-loaded triple highlighted the uprising. The outburst put the Beavers in an 11-8 lead but Nelson stormed back in the bottom of the 7th and final frame as Jim Todd singled and, with two out, Bob Koehle banged his second double. Todd scored on a wild pitch and Koehle came home as Bill Haldane beat out an infield hit, his third safety of the game. Fuzzy Grieve fanned Red Koehle to end the game. Gariepy led the Beavers with three hits, four runs batted in and three runs scored. Second baseman Jim DeBiasio also had three hits for the winners. Haldane and losing pitcher Les Hufty clouted four-baggers for Nelson.
Grieve (W) and Simpson
Hufty (L) and Larsen
(August 5) The Nelson Daily News printed the statistics for the home town club showing Bill Haldane as the leading hitter among the regulars with a .429 average, well ahead of runner-up Swede Larsen. Ace hurler Les Hufty, with a 10-3 won-lost mark and 2.32 ERA, leads in runs batted in with 16, topping Larsen by four. Hufty's five doubles tied him with Bob Koehle for the team lead. Larsen leads in homers, with three, and triples, three.
G AB R H AVE
Townsend 1 1 1 1 1.000
Richardson 6 16 4 9 .563
Dozzi 8 24 7 12 .500
Todd 1 2 1 1 .500
Haldane 15 56 19 24 .429
Larsen 13 52 19 20 .385
Swenson 10 37 4 14 .378
Locatelli 11 40 8 15 .375
Koehle B. 16 68 19 22 .324
Wassick
14 51 8 16 .314
Hufty F. 13 42 4 12 .286
McNabb 4 14 4 4 .286
Winlaw 13 39 11 11 .282
Hamakawa 2 8 1 2 .250
Collings 3 13 5 3 .231
Hufty L. 17 62 7 13 .210
Koehle F. 13 58 5 12 .207
Koehle R. 3 5 1 1 .200
Madden 1 5 0 1 .200
Cone 7 20 3 3 .150
Monaldi 1 2 1 0 .000
Anderson 4 4 0 0 .000
Shaw 5 7 0 0 .000
(August 6) Lui Corrado drive in six runs with a homer and double as Rossland rapped out 17 hits in crushing Nelson 15-10 Sunday. Cubs ran up a 14-4 lead and coasted to the win. Shortstop Harold Jones provided some punch with two doubles and a single and four runs scored. Centre fielder Max Turyk also had three hits. Bill Haldane led Nelson with three hits and three runs scored. Joey Jankola pitched well until the 8th when he walked four batters and threw repeated wild pitches. He left the game after having faced seven batters in the inning when Red Koehle doubled to plate Nelson's fifth marker of the frame. They added one more when reliever Rusty Wynn threw one past catcher Ed Crowder. Jankola managed to register the win in spite of giving up 12 hits and 10 walks.
Whitehead (L), Shaw (3) and Larsen
Jankola (W), Wynn (8) and Crowder
(August 9) Lefty Irv Lavorato survived nine bases on balls to go the distance in Rossland's 10-2 victory over Fruitvale. The game was called after eight innings because of rain.
Lavorato (W) and Crowder
McKinnon (L), Boisvert (7) and xxx
(August 16) Les Hufty fired a four-hitter for his 11th win of the season as Nelson pummeled Rossland 11-2 at the Civic Centre grounds Wednesday. The winners scored early and often. Losing hurler Joey Jankola was troubled by wildness in the first inning walking two and committing an error before Swede Larsen rapped a double to give Nelson a 3-0 lead. With two on base in the second inning, Bill Haldane drove one off the centre field wall for a triple then scored Nelson's 6th run when Red Wassick's liner fell in for a two-bagger. Rossland got on the board in the third with two out as Lui Corrado singled and Kelly Campbell and Ed Crowder belted doubles to plate a pair of runs. Nelson added four in the third and another in the fourth.
Jankola (L), Wynn, Brown and Crowder
Hufty (W) and Larsen
(August 25) Fruitvale Beavers trounced Nelson Peerless-9 10-1 Friday to take over sole possession of first place in the West Kootenay Baseball League, a full game ahead of Nelson. Catcher Mush Anselmo cracked a double to start the game. Ray Gariepy was hit with a pitch and Jim Debiasio singled to score the first run. A line drive by Sandy McInnes proved too hot to handle and the visitors had a 3-0 lead and all the offense they would need. Anselmo and McInnes each had three hits to lead the Beavers' 15-hit assault. Fuzzy Grieve tossed a five-hitter for the win. Les Hufty lost his 4th after posting 11 wins.
Grieve (W) and Anselmo
L.Hufty (L) and Larsen
(August 27) The biggest crowd of the season in Creston saw the locals nudge Sagle 7-6 to end the International Baseball League's regular season. Creston finished in second place behind pennant-winning Sagle. The loop included teams from British Columbia, Montana, and Idaho.
(August 27) Fruitvale dumped Nelson 8-2 Sunday behind the pitching of young lefty Pete Boisvert to capture the WKBL pennant. Julie Bilesky belted a homer in the 2nd inning to begin the Beavers' offensive. Nelson tied the count in the 5th on base hits by Fritz Koehle and Ron Nash. Fruitvale took the lead for good in the bottom of the 5th with two runs on a walk and two hits. The Peerless-9 managed a single marker in the 6th as Koehle tripled to plate Carl Locatelli. Leading 3-2, Fruitvale added five runs in the last two innings, one of them on a steal of home by Rolly Gariepy. Boisvert fanned 11 in his route-going performance.
L.Hufty (L) and xxx
Boisvert (W) and xxx
(September 3) Nelson's ace hurler Les Hufty gave up 16 hits and 9 runs but managed to come away with his 12th win of the season Sunday as the Peerless-9 whipped Spokane Clippers 18-9. Hufty was a force at the plate with a homer and double, six runs batted in and three runs scored. Nelson had two, six-run innings, the 2nd and 8th, en route to the victory. Shortstop Bob McNabb drove in five runs with a homer and triple. Carl Locatelli went 4 for 6. Virg Duchow, Hanks and Wilbur Dupuis each had three hits for Spokane.
W.Firor (L), Dupuis (8) and Duchow
L.Hufty (W) and Larsen
(September 4) After giving up a run in the top of the first inning, Nelson's Peerless-9 roared back with nine runs in their half of the frame and went on to clobber the visiting Spokane Clippers 18-5 Monday in a Labour Day exhibition encounter. Four Spokane errors combined with three-baggers by Swede Larsen, Red Wassick and Jimmy Todd and Bill Haldane's double put the American squad in a deep hole. Haldane and Larsen fattened their batting marks, each with four hits. Larsen had two triples and scored three. Haldane belted a pair of doubles and crossed the plate four times. Southpaw Todd held Spokane to six hits.
B.Firor (L), Marshall (1) and Love
Todd (W) and Larsen
(September 10) In a thrilling sudden-death playoff, Nelson built up an early 4-1 lead then held off a late Rossland rally to notch a 7-6 victory and win a berth in the league final against Fruitvale. Nelson drew first blood scoring in the initial frame as Bob Koehle drew a base on balls and came around to score on an error. Harold Jones' sacrifice fly knotted the count in the bottom of the first before the Peerless-9 took the lead for good with three runs in the third. Bill Haldane broke the tie with a homer, an error led to another run and Irv Lavorato's balk resulted in the third counter. Rossland made in close in the 4th when, with runners on first and second, Les Hufty's pick-off throw sailed into centre field and both runners came home as the ball got away from Haldane in centre. A throwing error in the fifth gave Nelson two more counters before Don Davis knocked in Jones for the Cubs in the 6th to make the score 6-4. Nelson added a 7th run in the 7th as Fritz Koehle drove in Swede Larsen who had tripled. Rossland fought back in the 8th. Kelly Campbell singled before Rossland sent pinch-hitter Joey Jankola to the plate. The Rossland hurler pasted a 3-1 pitch over the centre field fence to reduce the margin to just one run. But, Lavorato flied out and Les Hufty fanned pinch-hitter Rusty Wynn to end the rally. Hufty needed just seven pitches in the last of the 9th to put down the Cubs but it wasn't easy. The Rossland crowd was brought to its feet as Haldane hauled in a long drive to deep centre by Max Turyk and Red Koehle, in right field, made a tumbling catch of Lui Corrado's long ball. Danny Geronazzo grounded to second to end the game.
L.Hufty (W) and Larsen
Lavorato (L) and Crowder
(September 17) Fruitvale Beavers took a one-game lead in the West Kootenay Baseball League final Sunday downing Nelson 9-6. The Peerless-9, which made seven errors, blew leads of 3-0 and 5-3. The Beavers three-run 7th inning proved to be the difference. Pete Boisvert started the rally reaching on an error and scoring on catcher Gerry Simpson's homer to right. A triple by winning pitcher Bobby McKinnon scored Mel Saddler with the third marker. Nelson wasted a pair of homers and four runs batted in from Fritz Koehle and a solo shot by Bill Haldane who led all batters with four hits. The second game of the best-of-three series is set for Nelson on Sunday.
L.Hufty (L) and Richardson
Grieve, McKinnon (W) (3) and Simpson
(September 24) Left fielder Rolly Gariepy's outstanding running catch of Carl Locatelli's short fly ball in the bottom of the 9th inning with Fritz Koehle steaming for home saved the game for Fruitvale as the Beavers won 8-7 to take the West Kootenay playoffs in two straight games. Gariepy, who led the Cubs at the plate with three hits and three runs scored, made a grab he "had no business making." Fruitvale had a comfortable 7-3 lead after seven innings behind the strong hurling of Dave Ewing. In the 8th, the first batter, Gord Richardson, crushed a pitch some 400 feet over the curling rink, but it was in foul territory. Consecutive singles by Bill Haldane, Fritz Koehle and Locatelli brought in two runs to make it 7-5. Beavers added a run in the 9th as Mel Saddler doubled to plate Jimmy DeBiasio. For Nelson, Les Hufty led off the 9th reaching on an error and advancing on Bob Koehle's single. With one out, Cubs first sacker Pete Boisvert threw wild to third on Haldane's grounder and Hufty headed home to score and Koehle moved to third. With two down, Fritz Koehle, who had four safeties and scored three times, beat out a broken-bat infield hit which scored Bob Koehle to make the count 8-7. After Fritz advanced to second on an overthrow, Locatelli sent a short fly to left and Gariepy made the play of the game to hand Fruitvale the championship. Fruitvale had 17 hits to 12 for the Peerless-9.
Ewing (W) and Simpson
Hufty (L) and B.Koehle
ARROW LAKES / SLOCAN VALLEY
(May 14) At Kaslo, Hubbo Matsuzaki and Shig Shinmoto scored in the ninth inning to give the home team a 4-3 win over New Denver. The visitors had taken a 3-2 lead in the eighth as Mas Yamada scored. Sonny Norberg fired a three-hitter for the mound victory. he fanned 12 and walked just two.
Pearson, K.Hayashi (L) (5) and Yamada
S.Norberg and Dickson, Matsuzaki
(May 21) Playing at home, New Denver topped Kaslo 9-4 to avenge their 4-3 loss at Kaslo a week ago. A four-run 7th inning sealed the deal for New Denver. Mas Yamada cracked a two-run single and on his second hit made it all the way home when his ball went through the shortstop into the grass in left field. J.Ringheim led Kaslo with a triple and single. Hubbo Matsuzaki added a double and single.
Pearson, N.Hayashi (4), N.Hayashi (7) and xxx
R.Norberg, S.Norberg and xxx
(May 22) A four-team baseball tournament will be among the highlights of the May Sports Day in New Denver. Silverton, New Denver, Slocan City and Winlaw will compete in this year's event. Among the hurlers expected to perform are Johnny Moran of Winlaw, Acko Matsubayashi the Slocan right-hander, Dutch Groenhuysen Silverton's top winner last year and New Denver's two right-handers Tommy Pearson and Cuts Hayashi.
(May 28) New Denver received a rude welcome in filling in for Slocan City who couldn't field a team for a game with Silverton. Dutch Groenhuysen fired a shutout as Silverton set down New Denver 3-0 in an exhibition game. He fanned ten and walked just one. The losers also lost catcher Mas Yamada who suffered a hand injury from a foul tip and had to leave the game in the first inning.
Groenhuysen (W) and xxx
Pearson (L), Kiyono (7) and xxx
(June 4) In Slocan-Arrow Lakes League play, New Denver took a 3-0 lead in the first inning on just one hit, three walks and two errors and went on to dump Nakusp 5-3 Sunday. Tommy Pearson pitched a five-hitter, with ten strikeouts, in going the route for the win. Kuts Hayashi took the loss giving up three hits and setting down eight via strikeouts in the seven innings he worked. Buster Patterson allowed just one hit in his two innings on the hill. Roy Yasui had a double and single for New Denver. Herb Couling went 3-for-4 for Nakusp. A pair of double plays featuring defensive work by Shig Kiyono and Walt Thring, cut short Nakusp rallies in the 6th and the 9th.
Hayashi (L), Patterson (8) and xxx
Pearson (W) and xxx
(June 11) Nobby Hayashi rapped a two-run double off brother Kuts Hayashi in the first inning and New Denver went on to crush Nakusp 8-2. Kuts Hayashi had taken over mound duties after starter Marshall had allowed one run and loaded the bases on two hits, a walk and an error. Tommy Pearson tossed a four-hitter with 11 strikeouts, for the win.
G.Marshall (L), K.Hayashi (1) and xxx
Pearson (W) and xxx
(June 18) A.Orr clubbed a three-run homer for Silverton in the first inning but New Denver came roaring back to take a 14-9 decision Sunday at Silverton. New Denver tied the score in the fourth as Shig Kiyono and Nobby Hayashi doubled and Roy Yasui followed with a one-bagger and scored himself on an overthrow which went into centre field. They added three runs in the 6th on two singles, two errors, a walk and Kiyono's double. In the 8th, New Denver put the game away with a seven-run outburst on three doubles, a single, four walks and an error. Silverton rallied for six in their half of the 8th but it was too little too late. The winners wrapped up the scoring in the 9th as Ray Tippie knocked in the final marker with a single. Tommy Pearson struck out 14 in going the route for the winners. He gave up just six hits and walked four.
Pearson (W) and xxx
Groenhuysen (L), W.Gordon (7), S.Clough (8), K.Gordon (8) and xxx
Slocan-Arrow Lakes League
New Denver 3 - 0
Winlaw 2 - 1 1.0
Silverton 2 - 1 1.0
Slocan 0 - 2 2.5
Nakusp 0 - 3 3.0
Batting Leaders
H. Couling, Nakusp 8 - 4 .500
R. Yasui, New Denver 11 - 5 .454
R. Hambly, Silverton 7 - 3 .429
T. Oikawa, Slocan 5 - 2 .400
I. Saruyama, New Denver 13 - 5 .385
(June 25) At the Slocan City diamond, New Denver whipped the home team 14-2 Sunday as Tommy Pearson scattered eight hits for the pitching win. He whiffed 12 and walked two. Nobby Hayashi led the offensive with a triple, double and single and Mas Yamada rapped a double and single.
Pearson (W) and xxx
Doi (L), Sakamoto (5), Matsubayashi (7) and xxx
(July 16) Tommy Pearson escaped a bases-loaded jam in the ninth inning to fire a three-hit shutout for New Denver in a 4-0 triumph over Winlaw which loaded the sacks on a walk, hit batter and an error before Pearson fanned one batter and got an infield out to end the game. Zoytsoff, starting hurler for Winlaw, held New Denver to only two hits until the 6th inning when, after an error, four straight batters hit safely to drive in four runs with the help of a wild pitch and two stolen bases.
Pearson (W) and xxx
Zoytsoff (L), Gustafson (6) and xxx
(July 23) New Denver dropped its first league game of the summer as the visiting Silverton nine walked off with a 9-5 decision in a contest which featured 15 errors and 13 stolen bases by New Denver. Stan Clough bleted a triple and two singles to lead an 11-hit attack for the winners. Shig Kiyono had three hits for New Denver. Losing hurler Tommy Pearson added a triple and single. Dutch Groenhuysen scattered ten hits and struck out ten in claiming the mound victory. Pearson fanned 16.
Groenhuysen (W) and xxx
Pearson (L) and xxx
(July 30) New Denver scored four times in the first inning on four hits and a pair of free passes and coasted to an 11-3 victory over Nelson at New Denver. Tommy Pearson had a shutout until the 7th inning when two errors, a hit and a walk accounted for the first Nelson run. They added two more in the 8th on a pair of doubles, a single and an error. Pearson went the distance yielding nine hits with two walks and 16 strikeouts. Walt Thring led the attack with three hits. Ron Nash had a double and single for Nelson.
Blackmore, Kraft (3), Nash (7) and xxx
Pearson (W) and xxx
(August 6) In the final regular season games in the Slocan-Arrow Lakes League, New Denver topped Winlaw 0-1 and Silverton defeated Nakusp. New Denver thus claimed the pennant with a 7 and 1 record. Silverton was 6-2, Winlaw 4-4, Nakusp 3-5. Slocan City dropped out of play after just two games. Shig Kiyono and Mas Yamada each had two hits for New Denver. Tamo Takenaka belted a homer and Saruyama and Jimmy Tateishi had two-baggers. For Winlaw, Adio and Jimmy Moran each had two safeties. Tommy Pearson fired an eight-hitter, with 11 strikeouts, for the mound win. E.Gustafson took the loss.
Pearson (W) and xxx
E.Gustafson (L), Adio (8) and xxx
xxx and xxx
xxx and xxx
(August 13) Scoring the winning run on a bases-loaded sacrifice fly in the 8th inning, Winlaw shaded Silverton 5-4 in a sudden-death playoff to determine a finalist to meet New Denver for the Big Bend Lumber Company Cup. Tied 3-3 after seven innings, Bert Avis reached on an error, Tad Nishimura was hit by a pitch and M. Zoytsoff singled to load the sacks. Johnny Moran drew a free pass to put Winlaw in the lead and E.Gustafson smacked a long fly to score what proved to be the winner as Silverton came back in a run in the bottom of the 8th. Zoytsoff fanned 11 and walked none in picking up the pitching victory. Kenny Gordon allowed just five hits and fanned 10 in a losing cause. Alan Lind of Silverton was the game's top offensive player with three doubles.
Zoytsoff (W) and xxx
K.Gordon (L) and xxx
(August 20) In the opening game of the Slocan-Arrow Lakes League playoff final, Tommy Pearson hurled New Denver to an 11-1 victory, scattering nine hits while setting down 14 by strikeouts. Winlaw scored the first run of the game in the first inning before New Denver roared back to demolish the visitors with a 14 hit attack which included 13 stolen bases. Everyone in the New Denver lineup had at least one hit. Johnny Moran led Winlaw with two hits. His double was the game's only extra base hit.
Zoytsoff (L), E.Gustafson (6), Zoytsoff (8) and xxx
Pearson (W) and xxx
(September 3) Tommy Pearson blanked Winlaw 6-0 Sunday to give New Denver the Slocan-Arrow Lakes baseball championship. W.Saruyama, Shig Kiyono, Walt Thring and D.Hope each had two hits to lead the New Denver attack. K.Gustafson belted a double and single for Winlaw. George Graham of Silverton presented New Denver with the Graham Cup. New Denver was the first winner in 1948 losing to Silverton in 1949.
xxx and xxx
Pearson (W) and xxx
(September 4) New Denver made it a clean sweep Labour Day winning the Slocan City Tournament after capturing the league title and taking the May 24th tourney in New Denver and the July 1st event in Silverton. Kuts Hayashi registered a no-hitter in the five-inning final as New Denver edged Silverton 2-1. Hayashi walked six. New Denver took a 2-0 lead in the fourth as Shig Kiyono singled to left with two out and raced to third as the ball got away from the left fielder. Nobby Hayashi singled to score the first marker, advanced on an error and scored the winner on his brother Kuts' single. Silverton got its run in the 5th as Randolph Harding reached when the catcher dropped the ball on a third strike. He promptly stole second, was safe at third when the catcher's throw to try and nab him went wide. W. Gordon's sacrifice fly brought him home.
K.Hayashi (W) and xxx
Groenhuysen (L) and xxx
(September 21) New Denver won 14 of 18 games played this season scoring 135 runs to just 51 for the opposition. They won the Graham Cup and the Big Bend Trophy, which goes to the champions of the Slocan-Arrow Lakes League and made a clean sweep of the tournaments winning May 24th at home, July 1st at Silverton and Labour Day at Slocan City. The excellent work of young hurler Tommy Pearson was a major reason for the team's success. Pearson rang up 13 wins against just 2 losses in 124 1/3 innings pitched. He fanned 170 and finished with a sparkling earned run average of 1.66. Shig Kiyono was the offensive star with a .344 average, 26 stolen bases and 12 RBI.
BC CENTRAL INTERIOR BASEBALL LEAGUE
The CIBL lost one team during the 1950 campaign as one of the two holdover Prince George teams from 1949, the Timbars, withdrew from the circuit very early in the season.
(May 10) In an exhibition battle between the Prince George nines, the Pollards thumped the Timbars 16 to 7. Norm Schnepf led the way at the platter for the victors with a home run, triple and single.
Zolli (W), Rhodes (7) and xxx
Gabriele (L), Senkpiel and xxx
(May 14) The Prince George Pollards took a nip-and-tuck 6 to 5 win over the West Lake Loggers in the first match of a three-team twin-bill which brought the curtain up on the 1950 Central Interior loop. The West Lakers responded well and shutout the Prince George Timbars 5 to 0 in the second tilt.
The Pollards broke a 5 – 5 tie in the seventh frame after singles by Don Berry and “Stoddy” Rhodes, followed by an error, produced the winning counter. Pollard rookie “Corky” Candell’s fourth-inning home run sparked a three-run scoring jag for the winners in the opening tilt in which the Lakers held a 7 to 5 advantage in base hits. Hot corner artist “Slim” Amos picked up two hits for the Tree Men.
Reg McEachnie (L), Glazier (4), Stewart (W) (6) and Pete Skalicky
Rhodes (W) and Muirhead
“Slim” Amos, new West Lake pitcher and third sacker of some repute, had the Timbars eating out of his hand in the late tussle as he limited the homesters to one base knock.
Amos (W) and xxx
xxx (L) and xxx
(May 14) Giscome Dodgers vs Quesnel Lumbermen (doubleheader)
(May 17) Prince George Pollards vs Willow River Red Sox
(May 19) Giscome Dodgers vs West Lake Loggers
(May 21) The West Lake Loggers came through as winners of the Elks Victoria Day tournament, defeating the Prince George Pollards 8 to 4 in the tourney final.
Amos (W) and Doyle
Bent (L) and Muirhead
(May 28) “Stoddy” Rhodes, Prince George Pollards’ playing-manager, worked the old soup-bone to a frazzle in the seven-inning opener of a doubleheader against the Quesnel Lumbermen as he tossed a no-hitter in which the hosts took a 4 to 0 decision. Still hot, the winners did it again in the evening contest, prevailing 7 to 3.
Rhodes fanned nine in his masterful matinee game mound effort. Losing chucker, Jim Proudlove, was nicked for seven Prince George safeties. Newcomer Harry Astoria, just picked up from the Timbars, drove in two of the Pollards’ four runs with a triple.
Proudlove (L) and McIntyre
Rhodes (W) and Muirhead
Young Ed Bent of the Pollards allowed Quesnel five singles in earning the second game mound victory. The winner held a 6 to 0 lead after just one inning of play.
Nichol (L) and McIntyre
Bent (W) and Muirhead, Candell
(May 30) Coming out of their rut of late, the Giscome Dodgers downed last season’s CIBL champions, the West Lake Loggers, 8 to 5.
(June 1) The Prince George Timbars officially threw in the towel after a very brief appearance as part of the 1950 Central Interior Baseball League. All games involving the Timbars have been thrown out of the league standings. Timbars ex-manager, William Fleming, has now signed up to cover first base for the Pollards. Also snapped up by the Pollards was diminutive shortstop, Harry Astoria while Keith Corrigan, lanky pitcher and third baseman, has transferred to the West Lake Loggers.
(June 4) The West Lake Loggers and Quesnel Lumbermen divided a CIBL double-bill in the Rivertown, the Lakers capturing the opener 13 to 6 while Quesnel came back to edge West Lake 8 to 7 in the finale.
Jack Stewart hurled the first game victory for the Loggers.
Stewart (W) and xxx
xxx (L) and xxx
West Lake’s “Slim” Amos was tagged with his initial pitching loss of the season in the follow-up match.
xxx (W) and xxx
Amos (L) and xxx
(June 4) Playing twice in a three-team doubleheader, the Vanderhoof Cubs came out of their inaugural 1950 CIBL battle with a split, taking their first tussle in impressive fashion, 10 to 2, over the Willow River Red Sox but running out of gas in the twilight game and dropping the contest 6 to 2 to the Giscome Dodgers. The Cubbies took charge early in their matinee performance and held an 8 to 0 lead after 5 1/2 innings were in the books.
D. Wall (W), Spencer (6) and John Smith
Anderson (L), Robinson(6) and Church
Giscome moved into second place in the CIBL with their triumph in the evening game. Both teams racked up four base hits. Vanderhoof’s young second baseman, Darrell Reinke, proved to be the backbone of his team, acquiring four hits in the two games.
Jim Smith, D. Wall and John Smith
Berndt (W) and Granley
(June 9) A shorthanded Prince George Pollards squad lost for the first time in the 1950 season when they were upset 11 to 9 by the Giscome Dodgers.
(June 11) The Vanderhoof Cubs took both game of a doubleheader from the Quesnel Lumbermen.
(June 14) The West Lake Loggers bolstered their sagging position in the CIBL with a double win over the Willow River Red Sox. The Tree Men stomped over the Sox for a 9 to 4 first-game decision and then continued their dominance with an 8 to 1 triumph in the second matchup. Winning tosser Jack Stewart and reliever Hugh Glazier of the Loggers held the Red Stockings scoreless until the seventh and final frame of the opener. Don McEachnie homered for the winners.
Valencourt (L) and Church
Stewart (W), Glazier (5) and Doyle
The second contest was much the same in that West Lake built up a big lead and didn’t allow a Willow River tally until the final frame. Keith Corrigan’s bases-loaded triple was the game’s most significant base blow.
Laidlaw (L), Valencourt (6) and T. Church
R. McEachnie (W), Amos (5) and Skalicky
Standings after games of June 11
W L Pct.
Prince George Pollards 4 1 .800
Vanderhoof Cubs 3 1 .750
Giscome Dodgers 4 2 .667
West Lake Loggers 5 3 .625
Quesnel Lumbermen 2 6 .250
Willow River Red Sox 0 5 .000
(June 14) Breaking a 3 – 3 tie with single runs in the seventh and eighth innings, the West Lake Loggers went on to defeat the Prince George Pollards 5 to 4.
xxx (W) and xxx
Bent, Rhodes (L) (5) and xxx
(June 18) The West Lake Loggers continued their victory march to the top of the Central Interior Baseball league with two convincing wins over the Vanderhoof Cubs. Scores were 11 to 3 and 13 to 5. Hugh Glazier had 13 strikeouts for the winners in the first game as his mates gave him plenty of cushion by scoring in every inning but the fifth. Dave Wall was the losing pitcher
D. Wall (L) and xxx
Glazier (W) and xxx
Keith Corrigan’s homer in the first frame of the second encounter got the Loggers off to a commanding start and they were never overhauled, clinching matters with a big eight-run outburst in the fifth.
xxx (L) and xxx
xxx (W) and xxx
(June 18) Amos Roos, ex- West Lake hurling star, was in rare form as he pitched his new teammates, the Willow River Red Sox, to a double win over the lowly Quesnel Lumbermen, the scores coming in at 12 to 3 and 8 to 6. Roos went the distance in both contests and had the Power Town nine subdued for most of the route.
(June 25) The red-hot Willow River Red Sox have suddenly become a threat to the upper level teams in the CIBL after moving up the ladder in the standings to fourth place following a pair of victories, 16 to 4 and 5 to 4 wins over the Vanderhoof Cubs right in the western town. Ace chucker, Amos Roos, of the Sox held the Bruins to five safeties in his opening game hurling win. He also wielded a mighty bat slamming a four-bagger, triple and single. Chuck Gabrielle also homered for the winners and added a pair of singles for good measure.
Roos (W) and T. Church
Spencer (L) and John Smith
With the score knotted at 3 – 3 in the late game, the Crimson Hose plated plated a pair of runs in their final turn at bat and held off the Cubs who scored one of their own.
Dalton (W), Southwick and Church
D. Wall (L) and John Smith
(June 25) The third-place Giscome Dodgers split a twin-bill with the last-place Quesnel Lumbermen on their home diamond to maintain their league position.
Standings after games of June 25
W L Pct.
Prince George Pollards 5 2 .714
West Lake Loggers 8 4 .667
Giscome Dodgers 6 4 .600
Willow River Red Sox 5 6 .454
Vanderhoof Cubs 3 5 .375
Quesnel Lumbermen 3 9 .250
(June 30, July 1 & July 2) Winners of top place and the $500 first prize, after vanquishing a trio of teams in the $1,000 Dominion Day Junior Chamber of Commerce weekend tournament, were the Kamloops CYO’s whose deft defensive play and heavy hitting proved more than a match for the north-central opposition. CYO clobbered the West Lake Loggers 18 to 1 in the tournament final. Winning chucker Al Byman of CYO limited the Loggers to six meagre hits. The Loggers picked up $300 second-place money for their effort while the Vanderhoof Cubs received $200 as a third-place reward. The Kamloops crew had earlier sidelined the Burns Lake Elks 15 to 0 and the Willow River Red Sox by an 11 to 2 count.
(July 5) The West Lake Loggers moved into top position in the CIBL when they came from behind to smother the former leaders, the Prince George Pollards, 6 to 1. Len Gatin was superb on the hill for the Loggers, tossing a two-hitter and ringing up 12 strikeout victims. The Pollards managed their only run in the the first inning off two errors, a walk and a wild pitch.
Bent (L), Zolli (6) and Muirhead
Gatin (W) and Doyle
(July 5) The Giscome Dodgers forged into the runner-up spot in the CIBL with an 11 to 3 decision over the Willow River Red Sox. Floyd Berndt out-dueled Fred Valencourt for the mound win.
Valencourt (L) and xxx
Berndt (W) and xxx
(July 9) The West Lake Loggers settled more firmly into top spot in the CIBL when they shutout the Giscome Dodgers 2 to 0 to earn their ninth victory of the season. Len Gatin, who started the game in the outfield, took over pitching chores from winning tosser Hugh Glazier in the sixth frame when the Dodgers were threatening and saved the whitewash win. Gatin also provided the offensive punch for the winners, driving in Roy Vickers and Doug Sims with a fifth-inning double for the game’s only runs.
Berndt (L) and Granley
Glazier (W), Gatin (6) and Doyle
(July 9) Ace hurler Amos Roos struck out 17 batters as the Willow River Red Sox edged past the Prince George Pollards 5 to 4 in CIBL action. The Sox grabbed a 4 to 0 first-inning lead, ignited by a two-run single off the bat of Kurchern, and the Pollards were never able to recover sufficiently to close the gap.
Rhodes (L), Bent and Muirhead
Roos (W) and Church
(July 12) The Prince George Pollards climbed back into second place in the CIBL standings with a 7 to 5 win over the Giscome Dodgers but the game cost them the services of one of their better players. William Fleming, Pollard first baseman, suffered a fractured leg in the first inning of the game played at Giscome when he collided with the Dodgers’ catcher sliding into home plate.
(July 16) The Giscome Dodgers, once red-hot contenders for the upper bracket of the CIBL, cooled off noticeably with a doubleheader loss to the Vanderhoof Cubs. Scores in the twin-bill were 5 to 4 and 5 to 1.
(July 16) The cellar-dwelling Quesnel Lumbermen split a double-dip with the first-place West Lake Loggers on the West Lakers’ home turf. The Lumbermen surprised the Loggers and their star chucker Len Gatin by taking the seven-inning opening match 4 to 2. West Lake came back with a vengeance to cop the late encounter 8 to 5.
Despite out hitting Quesnel by an 8 to 4 margin in the opener, the Loggers succumbed to the fine relief hurling of Frank Friezen who held the West Lakers to one hit during his stint on the mound.
Oliver, Friezen (W) (4) and McIntyre
Gatin (L) and Skalicky
Trailing 5 to 2 as they came to bat in the bottom of the sixth stanza of the second tilt, the Loggers exploded for six runs. Len Gatin evened his won-loss record for the day, coming to the assistance of West Lake starter Hugh Glazier. He also singled in the lead run in the during the Loggers’ sixth-frame outburst, his second one-bagger of the game.
Thomason, Friezen (6) and McIntyre
Glazier, Gatin (W) (5) and Skalicky
Standings after games of July 16
W L Pct.
West Lake Loggers 11 5 .688
Prince George Pollards 6 4 .600
Giscome Dodgers 7 8 .467
Willow River Red Sox 6 7 .462
Vanderhoof Cubs 5 7 .417
Quesnel Lumbermen 6 10 .375
(July 23) A three-team double-bill featuring the Vanderhoof Cubs saw the Cubbies lose twice, being edged 5 to 4 by the Giscome Dodgers in the matinee event and then taking it on the chin 11 to 5 by the Willow River Red Sox in the twilight encounter. Giscome stormed back from a 3 to 0 deficit to grab the initial fixture, scoring a pair of runs in the fifth frame after tying the contest in the fourth. Floyd Berndt got the mound decision over Dave Wall who came on in relief of brother Abe.
A. Wall, D. Wall (L) (4) and John Smith
Berndt (W) and Granley
The Red Sox victory in the second game allowed them to move past the Giscome Dodgers into third place in the CIBL. Both teams collected nine base blows as “Slim” Amos got the pitching decision over Vanderhoof’s Dave Wall who was tagged with his second loss of the day. The game was a 5 – 5 saw off until the bottom of the sixth when the Scarlet Stockings exploded for six big counters.
D. Wall (L) and John Smith
Amos (W) and Kaschunen
(July 23) The Prince George Pollards hung onto their second-place position in the CIBL when the halved a twin-bill with the Quesnel Lumbermen. The Car Men failed to get moving in the first of two games and went down to a 7 to 1 defeat but came back strong in the second game to stop the Lumbermen cold 13 to 1. Frank Friezen pitched the seven-inning opener for Quesnel, earning the win with a six strikeout, two-hitter. Both Prince George hits off Friezen were made by losing twirler Lud Zolli.
Zolli (L) and McQuarrie
Friezen (W) and McIntyre
The Pollards, behind the six-hit chucking of playing-manager “Stoddy” Rhodes, breezed to victory in the second contest, putting up a pair of five-run innings. Quesnel’s lone run came on a solo homer by Harris in the third canto.
Rhodes (W) and Muirhead
Wilkie (L), Thomason and McIntyre
(July 30) The Giscome Dodgers strengthened their hold on third place in the CIBL with a 7 to 4 win over the first-place West Lake Loggers. Dodger bat wielders caught onto losing flinger Len Gatin’s assortment of pitches for a total of eight hits. Floyd Berndt, who hurled for Giscome in their first significant win in weeks, allowed six hits. The loss for the Loggers cut their first-place margin slightly over the runner-up Prince George Pollards. The Dodgers started their victory march right from the opening frame when they scored two runs off a walk and a base hit by infielder Ekblad. They increased their lead to six runs in the fourth and coasted from there.
Gatin (L) and Skalicky
Berndt (W) and Adams
(July 30) The second-place Prince George Pollards split a twin-bill with the invading Vanderhoof Cubs, dropping the opening contest 8 to 3 and capturing the follow-up tussle 18 to 10.
The Cubs led all the way in the curtain-raiser starting with a three-run outburst in their initial turn at bat. Outfielder Russell of Vanderhoof and Lud Zolli of the Pollards both had three hits for their respective clubs. Home run hitters were third baseman R. Reinke of the Cubbies as well as Stoddy Rhodes and losing pitcher Norm Schnepf of Prince George.
D. Wall (W) and John Smith
Schnepf (L), Candell (4) and Muirhead
The second affair turned out to be a slugfest with a total of 28 base blows, 18 by the Pollards. “Stoddy” Rhodes earned the mound triumph in a relief role. Lud Zolli and shortstop Makarenko led the Pollards at the dish, stroking three base raps apiece. Vanderhoof second sacker Darrell Reinke also garnered three safeties, one of which was a two-run circuit-clout.
A. Wall (L) and John Smith
Zolli, Rhodes (W) (5) and Muirhead, McQuarrie
Standings after games of July 30
W L Pct.
West Lake Loggers 11 6 .647
Prince George Pollards 7 5 .583
Giscome Dodgers 8 8 .500
Willow River Red Sox 6 7 .462
Vanderhoof Cubs 6 8 .429
Quesnel Lumbermen 6 10 .375
(August 9) The Prince George Pollards strengthened their grip on second spot in the CIBL with a 5 to 3 win over the Giscome Dodgers. Back-to-back singles by infielders Klotz and McLean staked the Dodgers to a 2 to 0 first-inning lead. The Pollards counted a single tally in the second as Lud Zolli parlayed a single, wild pitch and error into a run. Prince George moved ahead in the sixth canto when an error, sandwiched between singles by Brady and Muirhead, and followed by a wild pitch produced a pair of tallies. Outfielder Sorochan’s two-run homer in the seventh sewed things up for the winners as the Dodgers’ bid in the eighth fell short after one run had been scored off three singles.
Berndt (L) and xxx
Rhodes (W) and xxx
(August 13) The Quesnel Lumbermen knocked the Willow River Red Sox out of fourth place in the CIBL after administering 4 to 0 and 6 to 2 defeats to the Scarlet Stockings. The double victory for Quesnel also allowed them to move percentage points ahead of the Sox into the fourth and final playoff spot.
(August 20) The bottom-feeding Vanderhoof Cubs made a last-ditch effort at contending for a playoff spot by upsetting the second-place Prince George Pollards twice, the scores being 5 to 2 and 9 to 7. The Vanderhoovers had only two hits off loser Ed Bent in their opening game triumph but took full advantage of fatal Pollard defensive mistakes to earn the victory.
D. Wall (W) and xxx
Bent (L) and xxx
The Cubs managed seven hits in the finale off the Pollards’ Ed Bent who toed the rubber for a second attempt at salvaging a win and his mates responded by staking him to a 3 to 0 lead in the second stanza. The ineptness in defensive play continued to plague Prince George, however, as the Cubs roared back with six counters of their own to take the lead for good. Darrell Reinke pasted a two-run round-tripper for the winners while shortstop Makarenko of the Pollards duplicated the feat.
xxx (W) and xxx
Bent (L) and xxx
Standings after games of August 20
W L Pct.
West Lake Loggers 12 6 .667
Prince George Pollards 10 10 .500
Giscome Dodgers 10 10 .500
Quesnel Lumbermen 9 11 .450
Willow River Red Sox 9 11 .450
Vanderhoof Cubs 8 10 .444
(August 27) The Vanderhoof Cubs pulled off an amazing repeat performance of their diamond effort of a week previous by taking a pair of upset victories over the league-leading West Lake Loggers in the final games of the 1950 CIBL regular schedule. The results, a narrow 1 to 0 win in the opener of a double-dip followed by a 13 to 6 shellacking of the shorthanded pennant winners in the late encounter, created a three-way tie for second place in the loop and sent the Quesnel Lumbermen and Willow River Red Sox to the sidelines. Dave Wall hurled the complete game whitewash victory for the Cubs in the first game.
xxx (L) and xxx
D. Wall (W) and xxx
Wall again took the hill for the second tilt but turned the ball over to his brother, Abe, after the Cubs had taken a comfortable lead.
D. Wall (W), A. Wall and xxx
McEachnie (L), Glazier and xxx
1950 Final Standings W L GBL
West Lake Loggers 12 8 ----
Giscome Dodgers 10 10 2
Prince George Pollards 10 10 2
Vanderhoof Cubs 10 10 2
Quesnel Lumbermen 9 11 3
Willow River Red Sox 9 11 3
Second, third and fourth place place positions determined by a post-season draw
SEMI-FINAL PLAYOFFS
(September 10) Hugh Glazier pulled the West Lake Loggers out of a bad hole when he took the mound for the pitching-depleted team in the first two games of the Central Interior League semi-finals against the Prince George Pollards. Big Hugh dropped the first game, despite 15 strikeouts, 7 to 2 but came back stronger than ever in the second fixture to put his team back in the running with a 5 to 1 victory. First game winning tosser “Stoddy” Rhodes matched Glazier in the strikeout department as he also whiffed 15. The Pollards built up an early five run lead and were never seriously threatened by the Loggers. Don Berry with a double and single and Harry Astoria with a pair of singles led the winners at the plate.
Rhodes (W) and Muirhead
Glazier (L) and Doyle
Glazier stopped the Pollards cold on two hits in the evening affair. The Loggers bunched four base blows in the fifth frame, good for four counters, to break open a close game. Loser Ed Bent was touched for seven safeties.
Glazier (W) and Doyle
Bent (L) and Muirhead
(September 10) The Giscome Dodgers and the Vanderhoof Cubs split their semi-final playoff double-bill in which the Dodgers triumphed 8 to 7 in the opener and the Cubbies took the late encounter 11 to 10. Giscome pounded out 13 hits in capturing the matinee game. Southpaw Floyd Berndt went the route for the winners, yielding eight hits.
Dave Wall (L) and John Smith
Berndt (W) and C. Adams
With the score knotted at 10 – 10 when they came to bat in the bottom of the ninth, Vanderhoof plated the winner when Darrell Reinke drew a walk and advanced around the bases on a pair of singles.
Struthers (L), Berndt (3) and C. Adams
Abe Wall (W) and John Smith
(September 17) The West Lake Loggers defeated their arch-rivals, the Prince George Pollards, 11 to 5 in the deciding game of their semi-final series. The Lakers pounded losing chucker “Stoddy” Rhodes for an even dozen base blows and were never behind in this elimination contest.
Rhodes (L) and Muirhead
Glazier (W), Reg McEachnie (8) and Doyle
(September 17) The Giscome Dodgers moved into the Central Interior finals after posting a resounding 11 to 3 victory over the Vanderhoof Cubs. The Dodgers’ tried-and-true southpaw hurler Floyd Berndt was credited with his second playoff win which saw him yield five spaced hits while grooving no less than 12 third strike pitches across the plate. The pitching Wall brothers, Dave and Abe, were victims of a 16-hit onslaught by Giscome.
Berndt (W) and Granley
Dave Wall (L), Abe Wall (5) and John Smith
LEAGUE FINALS
(September 24) Two ironmen pitchers, Hugh Glazier and Floyd Berndt, opposed each other on the Athletic Park mound when the West Lake Loggers and Giscome Dodgers divided the first two games of the Central Interior Baseball League finals. In their double-duty performance, Glazier and his West Lake mates edged past the Dodgers 3 to 2 in the curtain raiser while Berndt got his revenge in the late encounter in which Giscome triumphed 5 to 4. The two rival hurlers were each touched for nine base knocks in the early match. Glazier was responsible for all three of the Logger tallies as he hit a two-run three-bagger in the eighth and then crossed the plate on a wide throw.
Berndt (L) and Granley
Glazier (W) and Doyle
The Loggers out hit the Dodgers 9 to 6 in the second game but dug themselves an early hole from which they never fully recovered.
Berndt (W) and C. Adams
Glazier (L) and Doyle
(October 1) The Giscome Dodgers defeated the vaunted West lake Loggers two games straight to take the Central Interior Baseball League finals three games to one and, in doing so, annexing the coveted Pollard Cup. No less surprised by the two smashing victories, 8 to 4 and 16 to 3, were the favoured Loggers who had brought brightener Len Gatin back especially for these tilts played on the mill-town diamond. Gatin’s precision hurling kept the Loggers in the opening game until a disastrous seventh frame did him in. Gatin and winning twirler Lord were both lit up for ten safeties. Lord had a single and a two-run double in aiding his own cause.
Gatin (L) and Doyle
Lord (W) and Granley
The finale was a mismatch from start to finish. Giscome plated four counters in their first turn at bat, added five more in the fourth and an additional seven in the sixth frame. On the mound for the winners was ailing Floyd Berndt who went the distance after having arisen from a sick bed only the day before.
Glazier (L), Gatin (4) and Doyle
Berndt (W) and Granley
IDAHO – MONTANA - BRITISH COLUMBIA BASEBALL LEAGUE
This newly-formed eight-team circuit was sanctioned by the National Baseball Congress as its first international loop.
Bonners Ferry ID
Clark Fork ID
Cranbrook Legionnaires
Creston
Kimberley Elks
Sagle ID
Sandpoint ID Eagles
Troy MT Vets
(May 13-14) Creston Valley Blossom Festival Baseball tournament
(May 21) The Kimberley Elks opened the 1950 IMBCL campaign with a one-sided 8 to 2 home victory over the Clark Fork ID nine. Import Bill Jackson heaved the first eight panels for the Elks before retiring in the ninth to give the hometown fans a glimpse of 16-year-old rookie Eric Bodin. In garnering the knoll victory, Jackson yielded just three hits and fanned nine. Harold Harp, nicked for a dozen safeties, was tagged with the complete-game loss. Catcher Paddy Lanman led the Kimberley contingent at the plate, stroking three singles. Randy Lauer, Claude Bell and “Red” Matthews followed with two safeties each.
(May 28) Kimberley defeated Cranbrook.
(June 4) The Kimberley Elks stretched their winning streak in the new IMBCL to three consecutive games when they mauled the visiting Sandpoint ID Eagles 15 to 3. The Idahoans, overmatched defensively, nevertheless showed promise with the bat and were able to register 11 base hits off the slants of youthful winning slabster Eric Bodin. Both losing twirler Bert Sarff and Bodin went the route on the hill for their respective clubs. Bodin rang up nine punchouts while the Eagle flinger swished four but was roughed up for 14 base knocks while his mates were booting the ball on nine occasions. “Red” Matthews had seven RBI’s for the Wapiti, stinging Sarff for two booming triples and a one-base rap. Dayle Sarff of the Feathered Flock picked up a double and two singles.
(June 4) The Cranbrook Legionnaires got by Creston 11 to 10.
(June 10) The barnstorming California Mohawks had a 5 to 3 lead over the Kimberley Elks when rain terminated the exhibition game in the top-of-the-fourth frame.
(June 11) The homestanding Cranbrook Legionnaires turned the tables on the Kimberley Elks, upsetting the Mining Towners 5 to 4 in a hectic IMBC fixture. “Ace” Bayley went the distance on the hill for the winners, holding the Elks to eight hits. Losing chucker Bill Jackson was driven to the showers in the fourth frame after being rocked for ten base knocks and all five Cranbrook runs. Eric Bodin came on for the Antlered Herd to finish the game, blanking the Legionnaires the rest of the way while yielding just one hit. Walt Gelling, Hughes and Leask sparked the victors at the dish, delivering three safe swats apiece. Kimberley’s “Red” Mellor blasted a three-run homer and a one-bagger in a losing cause.
(June 18) Eric Bodin and the Kimberley Elks stopped the Creston diamond pastimers cold in IMBCL action, blanking the Orchardmen 7 to 0. The youthful right-hander allowed only four scattered hits while ringing up eight punchouts. “Babe” Adams went yard with a two-run dinger in support of Bodin’s knoll effort. Bert Tedford was combed for nine base raps in absorbing the setback. The win for the Kimberley squad allowed them to move into second place in the cross-border circuit, a full game behind league-leading Sagle ID.
(June 25) Creston doubled visiting Kimberley 4 to 2.
(July 2) It took ten innings for the pace-setting Sagle ID pastimers to nose out the visiting Kimberley Elks 5 to 4.
(July 9) The travelling Kimberley Elks crossed the border and laid a 5 to 0 whitewashing on the Clark Fork ID balltossers. Les Lilley, in his first game of the season for the Antlered Tribe, was the winning slabster.
(July 16) In an exciting 11-inning skirmish at Lindsay Park, the Kimberley Elks came from behind to prevail 6 to 5 over the visiting aggregation from Bonners Ferry ID. Rookie Eric Bodin pitched the entire contest for the Elks, registering his fifth victory of the season. He was nicked for nine hits in the marathon battle while his mates were raking losing heaver Neumey of the Idahoans for a dozen base knocks. Ken McAuley drove in the winning run in the second round of overtime. The Mining Towners reeled off three twin-killings in support of BodIn. “Buzz” Mellor piled up four hits for the Kimberley contingent while “Red” Matthews followed with a trio of safeties. Sid Guthrie picked up three base raps for the Steamboaters.
(July 22-23) On a weekend jaunt to Sandpoint ID, the Kimberley Elks divided a pair of games with two different clubs from the Pend Oreille Lakeside town. On Saturday night, the Horned Horde dropped a 7 to 3 verdict to the strong Sandpoint V.F.W. club in an exhibition match. In this affair, the Elks blew a 3 to 1 lead in the eighth episode when they unravelled and allowed the Vets to run across a half dozen counters against Les Lilley and reliever Bill Jackson.
Sunday afternoon, the invaders from the north shellacked the Sandpoint ID Eagles 22 to 1 in a regularly-scheduled IMBCL tilt. Kimberley blasted five Eagle pitchers for 18 hits while Eric Bodin, on the knoll for the visitors, spun a three-hitter and breezed seven while issuing no walks. Leading the Wapiti offensively were “Babe” Adams, who creamed the orb for five base hits, and flychaser Gordon Smart who cranked out three safe raps.
(July 29-30) The Trail Smoke Eaters ventured into East Kootenay country and divided the spoils of a weekend exhibition series with the hosting Kimberley Elks of the IMBCL. The Smelter Towners won 7 to 5 in a Saturday night engagement but were edged by the Antlered Tribe 6 to 5 on Sunday afternoon.
Portsider Pete Boisvert pitched the Smokies to the opening game win on Saturday night while smacking an ninth-inning triple to drive in what turned out to be the winning run. Les Lilley, kayoed from the bump in the ninth canto in favor of Eric Bodin, was tagged with the loss.
Rallying for a four-spot in the eighth episode of the Sunday afternoon clash, the Elks overcame a 5 to 2 deficit to pull out the win. A double by Claude Bell drove in the winning tally. Young Eric Bodin, the third of three twirlers used by Kimberley, notched the pitching win while Joe Jankola, who went the route for Trail, was saddled with the loss. Elks’ rookie Doug Kilburn dialed long distance for a solo four-bagger to go along with a brace of singles.
(August 12-13) The Kimberley Elks took a firmer grip on second place in the IMBCL by winning a pair of weekend games. Saturday evening, the Elks trimmed the Cranbrook Legionnaires 6 to 4 and then, on Sunday afternoon, they handed the first-place Sagle ID aggregation their first setback of the season, clipping the Idahoans 9 to 7.
Darkness shortened the Saturday game, a listless tilt replete with errors, to six innings. Eric BodIn held the Legionnaires to three hits, all singles, in the abbreviated event while the Antlered Herd got to loser “Ace” Bayley and reliever “Tex” Stewart for eight safeties, including doubles by Claude Bell and Sandy Sanderson. Bell rapped a single in addition to his two-bagger while teammate Bill Fergus singled twice.
A large Sunday afternoon crowd saw the Elks end Sagle’s eleven-game winning streak in a come-from-behind effort. The Americans appeared to have the game in the bag until the bottom-of-the-eighth episode when Kimberley struck for five runs on five hits. First baseman “Red” Matthews had a banner day at the plate for the victors, slamming a home run, double and two singles. Randy Lauer also did well with the hickory, stinging the pill for a double and two singles. Bill Jackson, who relieved starter Les Lilley in the eighth, was credited with the heaving triumph. Losing flinger Harp Turnbull, the Sagle playing-manager, went the distance on the rubber for his club, surrendering 14 hits during the outing.
(August 20) Front-running Sagle ID trounced Creston 10 to 3 in the Idaho town.
(August 20) The Kimberley Elks made their last jaunt of the season across the border a profitable one when they knocked off the homestanding Troy MT Vets 10 to 8 and, in doing so, clinched the runner-up spot in the Idaho-Montana-British Columbia League. Eric Bodin gained credit for the hurling victory, his sixth of the campaign without a defeat, but accepted relief help from Les Lilley and Bill Jackson. The Elks lit up losing twirler Dan Moore for 18 base knocks while the Montanans managed to acquire eleven hits off the trio of Kimberley chuckers. The Mellor brothers led the hit parade for the Horned Horde with “Red” slamming out four singles and “Buzz” delivering a triple, double and two one-baggers. Nick Winslow and Alan Anderson paced the Vets with three safe raps apiece.
(August 27) Kimberley was afforded a 9 to 0 forfeiture victory when the Troy MT team was unable to field a team for the final league game.
FINAL STANDINGS W L Pct.
Sagle 12 2 .857
Kimberley 11 3 .786
Creston 10 4 .714
Cranbrook 7 7 .500
Bonners Ferry 7 7 .500
Troy 5 9 .357
Clark Fork 2 12 .143
Sandpoint 1 13 .071
TOP SEVEN IMBCL BATTERS
“Red” Matthews (Kimberley) .470
Gerald Sarff (Sandpoint) .444
“Buzz” Mellor (Kimberley) .432
“Tex” Stewart (Cranbrook) .405
“Red” Mellor (Kimberley) .376
C. Crane (Cranbrook) .370
PITCHING LEADERS
Eric Bodin (Kimberley) 6 – 0 1.000
J. Turnbull (Sagle) 5 – 0 1.000
Ken Gilbertson (Creston) 4 – 0 1.000
Harp Turnbull (Sagle) 6 – 1 .857
NO PLAYOFFS WERE HELD
CROW'S NEST PASS LEAGUE
(May 28) The Crow's Nest Pass Senior League kicked off play at Blairmore and Hillcrest with the visiting Fernie squad twice tasting defeat, 10-9 and 7-6, with runs in the bottom of the final inning. In the afternoon tussle Hillcrest jumped into a 5-0 lead in the first inning but Fernie rebounded with four in the top of the second. Hillcrest then built up an 8-4 advantage before Fernie came storming back to tie, 9-9 in the top of the ninth. Catcher Frank Mayor led the winners' attack with a homer and double. Austin Urbach added a pair of two-baggers. John Elick, who came on in relief in the seventh, was the winning hurler. Jim Riley, tagged for 18 hits, took the loss.
Riley (L) and Caravetta
Unilowski , Elick (W) (7) and Mayor
In the second game, Fernie blew an early 5-1 lead and had a 6-5 margin going into the bottom of the ninth only to have Blairmore rally for a pair for the victory. Moose Giacamuzzi smacked a double, his second of the game, to knock in the winning run. Laddie Cerney was the best of the hitters with a double and two singles. Johnny Dobek, the third of three Blairmore chuckers, was the winning pitcher in a relief stint.
Cole (L) and Caravetta
Cerney, Chala (5), Dobek (W) (8) and Herman
(August 12-13) With a 14-hit attack and the steady hurling of "Lefty" Scott, the Natal-Michel Red Sox thumped the highly touted Hillcrest Miners 15-2 over the weekend at the Natal ball park. Serefini led the winners with four hits while Chala chipped in with three. J. Bianchini had three hits for Hillcrest.
Williams, Blick, J.Bianchini and Moyer
Scott (W) and Salahub