1951 Vancouver, Lower Mainland, Fraser Valley
1951 BC Interior
1951 Vancouver Island
VICTORIA SENIOR BASEBALL
Having no intra-city competition nor a district league within which to establish a regular playing pattern, the 1951 Victoria Eagles, the B.C. capital city’s only senior amateur baseball team, endured prolonged periods of inactivity. Intermittent weekend exhibition play, along with the occasional tournament, provided some irregular action in which the Eagles earned a reputation as being one of the best Vancouver Island aggregations during the summer of 1951. Eagles’ ace left handed pitcher, Bill Prior, was used late in the season by the professional Victoria Athletics of the Western International League and performed admirably.
(May 20) The league-less Victoria Eagles swept a double-header at Duncan Sunday, downing the Athletics 7-2 and 10-2. Norm Forbes held the Athletics to seven hits in the opening game victory while Bill Prior pitched and batted Victoria to a 10-2 triumph in the second game. Prior tossed a five-hitter and had the game's big blow, a grand slam homer. Rookie Wright also had a four-bagger for the visitors who smacked 14 hits off Ken Cessford. It was the first game for Cessford, one of a number of junior players given an opportunity in the second contest. Fifteen-year-old Ralph Grant of Lake Cowichan High School came in as catcher, Lefty Jansen played first base and Bobby Lawson manned right field.
Forbes (W) and xxx
Folk (L) and xxx
Prior (W) and xxx
Cessford (L) and xxx
(June 23) Victoria Eagles, the team without a league, are proving they have one of the best, if not the best, senior amateur team on the island. Eagles racked up their five straight exhibition in Saturday at Nanaimo blanking the Clippers 7-0. Bill Prior was the star of the show hurling a four-hit shutout. He walked six and fanned 14. Victoria managed just eight hits off a pair of Nanaimo twirlers including doubles by Ken Higgs, Prior and Vern Evans. Clippers' shortstop Earl Robinson cracked a triple.
Collins (L), Rowledge (6) and Bob Hindmarch
Prior (W) and Kubicek, Woolcock (7)
(July 28) Victoria and Port Angeles split the opening games of the best-of-five series for the John Hart Trophy. Eagles took the opener 6-2 behind the seven-hit pitching of Don McKinnon while the Americans bounded back to win the second contest 10-7, beating Bill Prior. McKinnon whiffed 11 and walked just one in his tour on the mound. The game was tied 2-2 going into the eighth when McKinnon and Rookie Wright smacked singles, Ed Shepherd cracked a double and Ken Higgs tripled to bring in four runs. In the second tilt, Port Angles ran up nine runs in the first three innings as sloppy defensive play by Victoria and eight Prior walks made it easy for the visitors. Prior allowed just eight hits and fanned 14 but issued 11 free passes in all.
Abbott (L) and Rossiter
McKinnon (W) and Kubicek
McLellan (W) and Thornell
Prior (L) and Woolcock
(July 29) The visiting Victoria Eagles trampled the Nanaimo Clippers 23-8 and 9-3 as the Clippers booted the ball 21 times in the two games. Eagles had a ten-run inning in the opener as they pounded out five hits, one a homer, and drew five free passes in the big inning.
Hume (W) and Woolcock, Carson (8)
Robinson (L), Rowledge (6) and Hindmarch
Worrell (W), Prior (7) and Kubicek
Webb (L) and Hindmarch
(August 5) For the second straight year, Victoria Eagles captured the John Hart Trophy defeating Port Angeles, Washington, three games to one in a best-of-five series. Eagles swept both games of Saturday's double-header in the American city, 2 to 1 and 6 to 3. Norm Forbes hurled a two-hitter for the win in the first game and Don McKinnon followed with a five-hitter in the second game. A four-run first inning set the Eagles on the way to victory in the nightcap.
Forbes (W) and Kubicek
McLellan (L) and Rossiter
McKinnon (W) and Woolcock
Abbott (L) and Thornell
(August 18) Courtenay Legion upset Victoria Eagles notching wins in both games of Saturday's double-header, 5-4 and 5-3. Legion came from behind with three runs in the ninth inning of the opener to get the win. The series was marred by an injury to Eagles' catcher Ron Woolcock who suffered a fractured jawbone. Courtenay stacks up as the best club the Eagles have met this summer. In their first meeting, Courtenay won 3-2 in 10 innings in one game and the teams battled to a 2-2 tie in the other.
xxx and xxx
Hume (L) and xxx
xxx and xxx
MacKinnon (L) and xxx
(August 25) The Victoria Eagles showed little respect for the "Amateur champions of the State of Washington" as Bremerton was advertised for its exhibition tilt in Victoria. The Eagles crushed the visitors 10-2 with Ed Sheppard pacing a 15-hit attack with a triple and three singles. Rookie Wright had three hits and Ab Wiebe added a pair. Jeff Worrell had a no-hitter going into the seventh but had to be satisfied with a four-hit performance. He struck out nine and walked none.
xxx and xxx
J.Worrell (W) and xxx
MID-ISLAND SENIOR AMATEUR LEAGUE
1951 witnessed the genesis of the Mid-Island Senior Amateur Baseball League, a five-team circuit with Nanaimo as its geographic core and stretching from Port Alberni and Parksville on its northern perimeter to Duncan and Chemainus in the southern end.
Teams in the 1951 Mid-Island Senior Baseball League
Alberni/Port Alberni Athletics
Chemainus Community Centre
Duncan Athletics
Nanaimo Clippers
Parksville Loggers
(May 13) Duncan Athletics and Port Alberni faced off in a double-header to kick off the 1951 season of the Mid-Island Senior Amateur Baseball League. Mayor J.C. Wragg threw out the ceremonial first pitch and then the A's went to work taking the first game 4-0 behind the shutout pitching of Tony Folk. Duncan also captured the second game, this time 6-4.
xxx and xxx
Folk (W) and xxx
xxx and xxx
Jansen, Folk (7) and xxx
(May 16) Nanaimo won its first start in the Mid-Island loop Wednesday turning back the highly-rated Duncan squad 3-1 at Caledonia Grounds. Clippers broke through with a run in the first inning on a hit, two walks and a sacrifice fly. Duncan evened the count in the second on a walk and a two-bagger. Nanaimo went ahead in their half of the frame picking up two runs on three singles, a walk and a hit batsman. Bill Bracewell scored the winner. Bert Webb surrendered nine hits in going the distance for the win. He had nine strike outs and one walk.
Lawson (L), Stroulger (2) and Webb
Webb (W) and Hindmarch
(May 17) Roy Schappert, proprietor of the Footwear Centre, Lake Cowichan, left by air last week for Sceptre, Saskatchewan where he'll play baseball this summer. Well known locally, Schappert has played ball with teams from Duncan and Trail, BC and from Regina and Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. "I began playing ball at Broadview, Sask.," Mr. Schappert said, "that's my home town, where I got my start." Playing tournament ball with Sceptre, he expects to meet other clubs from Saskatchewan as well from Manitoba, Alberta and the United States.
(May 20) In a double-header against Parksville Loggers Sunday, Nanaimo Clippers managed to split the spoils taking a 9-6 decision in the nightcap after dropping a 7-5 thriller in the afternoon. The day also featured season opening ceremonies and an uproar which saw the umpire walk away from the diamond. The fireworks erupted in the eighth inning of the opening game. Umpire Ernie Kelly got into a heated argument with Nanaimo manager Ernest "Fat" Edmunds on an overthrow. Kelly left the game and Toss Naylor took over behind the plate and Semple went to work the basepaths. Loggers ran up a 7-2 lead before Clippers rallied in the final frame. Each team had eight hits. Jack Charlesworth pitched into the ninth for the win.
Charlesworth (W), McKay (9), Aitken (9) and T.Powell
Robinson (L) and Webb
Clippers ran up a 9-1 lead after four innings and held off a late charge by the Loggers to win 9-6 in the second game. A rhubarb broke out in the sixth inning as Red Naylor tried to steal second. The ball and Naylor arrived at the keystone sack at the same time. Shortstop Grey tried to make the tag and fists started flying. It was quickly subdued. Bert Webb yielded 11 hits in going the route for the pitching triumph.
Aiken (L), G.Powell (4) and D.Kendrick
Webb (W) and Hindmarch
(May 20) The league-less Victoria Eagles swept a double-header at Duncan Sunday, downing the Athletics 7-2 and 10-2. Norm Forbes held the Athletics to seven hits in the opening game victory while Bill Prior pitched and batted Victoria to a 10-2 triumph in the second game. Prior tossed a five-hitter and had the game's big blow, a grand slam homer. Rookie Wright also had a four-bagger for the visitors who smacked 14 hits off Ken Cessford. It was the first game for Cessford, one of a number of junior players given an opportunity in the second contest. Fifteen-year-old Ralph Grant of Lake Cowichan High School came in as catcher, Lefty Jansen played first base and Bobby Lawson manned right field.
Forbes (W) and xxx
Folk (L) and xxx
Prior (W) and xxx
Cessford (L) and xxx
(May 23) Chemainus and Duncan battled to a 2-2 tie. Doug English hurled for Chemainus.
English and xxx
xxx and xxx
(May 24) Veteran hurler Spit Quinn fashioned a two-hit shutout Thursday as the Courtenay Legionnaires blanked Nanaimo Clippers 6-0 at Caledonia Park. Bill Moore paced the winners knocking in three runs with a pair of booming two-baggers. Roy Moore and Bill Snider also cracked doubles.
Quinn (W) and xxx
xxx and xxx
(May 27) In a powerful offensive display Sunday, Duncan Athletics twice whipped Nanaimo Clippers, 10-2 and 17-7. A's rapped 16 hits in the first game to make it easy for Ken Cessford who held the visitors to four safeties, three by Red Naylor. Right fielder Wally Thorne led the attack with four hits. In the evening game, Duncan broke open a close contest with a nine run outburst in the fourth frame on three hits, six walks and three hit batsmen. Tony Folk, Bobby Lawson, Ole Panzer and Charlie Stroulger each collect a pair of hits for the winners. Naylor and Doug Kerley each had two for the Clippers who out-hit the A's 12-11 in the second game. ,
Webb (L) and Hindmarch
Cessford (W) and Branting
Robinson, Naylor (4), Easterbrook (4) and Hindmarch
Williams, Folk (3), Lukoni (9) and Thorne
(May 27) Chemainus maintained its unbeaten record in a double-header sweep at Alberni Sunday taking an easy 8-0 win in the matinee event and a thrilling 2-1, 11-inning, triumph in the second. Dave Murray and his baffling knuckle ball got the shutout in the opener. Alberni handed Chemainus the win making eight errors in the sixth and seventh innings. Allan Goldie pitched all 11 innings for the win in the evening game.
Murray (W) and xxx
xxx and xxx
Goldie (W) and xxx
xxx and xxx
(May 30) With three runs in the ninth inning, Chemainus Community Centre topped the Clippers 10-7 at Nanaimo. Chemainus blew an early 4-0 lead and Nanaimo battled back to tie 7-7 by the end of the sixth. Jackson's two-bagger scored Bobby Jansch with the winning run. They added two more on Patterson's single following a pair of walks. Doug English tossed eight-hit ball and fanned twelve for the win.
English (W) and Jackson
Rowledge, Fontana (L) and Hindmarch
(June 3) At Parksville Sunday, Duncan and the Loggers each came away with a victory. Duncan took the afternoon affair 12 to 6 as Tony Folk was the winning hurler. In the evening, the Loggers punched out 14 hits off a pair of Athletics' moundsmen to take the slugfest 12 to 11.
Folk (W) and Wyllie
Powell, Aiken and xxx
K.Williams, Folk (8) and xxx
xxx and xxx
(June 3) After four straight losses, Nanaimo Clippers are again in the win column - twice - with a sweep of Sunday's twin bill with Alberni, 7-1 and 15-2 in play at the Caledonia Grounds. Alberni's Osada yielded just five hits in the first game but his mates made five errors. Bert Webb tossed a seven-hitter with eight strikeouts for his third win of the season. Clippers rapped 14 hits in the second game to coast to the victory behind Bill Easterbrook's five hitter. Joe Collins led the Nanaimo hit parade with three safeties. Bert Yesowick collected three for Alberni.
Osada (L) and Phillips
Webb (W) and Hindmarch
Berry (L), Stolth (5) and Phillips
Easterbrook (W) and xxx
Chemainus 7 - 0 - 1 15
Duncan 5 - 2 - 1 11
Nanaimo 4 - 4 - 0 8
Parksville 3 - 4 - 1 7
Alberni 0 - 7 - 1 1
(Won-Lost-Tied-Points, Hockey style)
(June 6) Capitalizing on seven Parksville errors, Nanaimo Clippers posted a 13-9 decision to move to within a point of second place Duncan in the league standings. The Loggers had the early lead with three runs in the first inning, two scoring on Walt Yeo's sizzling three-bagger. The advantage was short lived. In the bottom of the initial stanza, Earl Robinson smashed Ulmer's second pitch for a four-master over Mill Street and into the adjacent auto court. A double and two singles followed to tie the game at 3-3. Loggers came right back with two in the second frame on a double, walk and an error to take a 5-3 margin. Clippers took the lead for good with three runs in the fourth and another three in the sixth. Jack Naylor led the winners with a three-for-three night. Umpire Tom "Toss" Naylor called the game after eight innings because of darkness.
Ulmer (L) and D.Kendrick
R.Rowledge (W) and Hindmarch
(June 10) Before near capacity crowds at Chemainus, the home club delighted the fans with wins in both games of the Sunday twin-bill, 4-1 and 3-2 in 11 innings. In the opener, Chemainus took the lead with a pair in the third inning and there was no more scoring until Nanaimo closed the gap with a singleton in the top of the eighth. Bert Webb had a one-hitter for Nanaimo until the home club broke loose for four hits in the bottom of the eighth for two runs and the ball game. Cub Woolf held the Clippers to six hits, four by third baseman Don Smith, in going the route for the winners.
The evening affair was a pitchers' duel between Bill Easterbrook of the Clippers and Allan Goldie for the Community Centre nine. Nanaimo got three hits and scored in the first inning. Chemainus evened the count in the third on a pair of hits and two errors. It stayed that way until the top of the 11th when Collins and Don Smith each singled to put Nanaimo into a 2-1 lead. In the bottom of the frame, Chemainus loaded the bases on two walks and a fielder's choice. With two out, Doug English laced a routine grounder to Smith at third who overthrew first to allow the tying run to score. Bob Jansch followed with the game-winning drive.
Webb (L) and Hindmarch
Woolf (W) and Jackson
Easterbrook, Rowledge (11) and Pausche, Hindmarch (9)
Goldie (W) and Jackson
Chemainus 9 - 1 - 1 19
Duncan 7 - 3 - 1 15
Nanaimo 5 - 6 - 0 10
Parksville 3 - 7 - 1 7
Alberni 0 - 9 - 1 1
(Won-Lost-Tied-Points, Hockey style)
(June 10) Duncan Athletics whipped Parksville 8-0 and 16-4 in Sunday's double-header action. Ken Cessford tossed a seven-hit shutout, with five strikeouts, in the first game while the A's rapped 11 hits in the victory. Duncan erupted for 16 hits in the second game to crush the Loggers.
xxx and xxx
Cessford (W) and Wyllie
xxx and xxx
K.Williams, Folk (W) (4) and Branting
(June 13) Chemainus went down to its first defeat Wednesday when Duncan topped the Community Centre crew 7-4 before a large crowd of local and out-of-town spectators. Former Duncan hurler Doug English, now living in Chemainus, was on the mound for the visitors, but did not fare as well as former teammate Tony Folk who rang up 11 strikeouts. Pete Hawryluk cracked a homer for the Athletics.
English (L) and xxx
Folk (W) and xxxx
(June 13) Nanaimo Clippers and Duncan Athletics battled to a 4-4 10-inning draw Wednesday evening at Caledonia Park. A's out-hit the home club 10 to 4 with Rudy Richardson leading the attack with three hits. In the 10th, Don Smith, tagged with an error that led to the Clippers' loss at Chemainus, pulled off a spectacular one-handed catch to end a Duncan scoring threat.
Cessford, Folk (8) and Branting, Wyllie
Webb, Rowledge (5) and Hindmarch
(June 17) Tony Folk celebrated his birthday in style Sunday by shutting out Alberni 14-0 in the first game of a double-header. Alberni squeezed out a 13-12 10-inning win in the evening game. Folk fired a five-hitter and his defense played errorless ball in the opener. For the second game, the Athletics inserted some younger players into the lineup for a game which produced 31 hits, 16 by Alberni.
Folk (W) and Wyllie
xxx and xxx
Williams, Cessford (3) and Branting, Wyllie (7)
xxx and xxx
(June 17) Courtenay Legion combined an 18-hit attack with seven Nanaimo errors Sunday to crush the Clippers 21-3 in the first game of a double-header. Nanaimo rebounded to take the second, 6-5. A six-run first inning by Courtenay pretty well put the opening game out of reach. Bob Gunter went six innings to post the pitching win. Clippers took a 4-0 lead in the nightcap but had to hold off a seventh inning rally by the Legion to escape with the 6-5 win. Courtenay lost a chance to tie when Bill Moore tried to stretch a triple into a four-baggere and was thrown out at home. Bert Woods held the A's to six hits for the mound victory.
Easterbrook (L), Bracewell (1) and Pausche, Hindmarch (8)
Gunter (W), Moore (7) and McKenzie
Webb (W) and Hindmarch
Woods (L) and McKenzie
(June 20) Chemainus Community Centre battled back from a 3-0 deficit with two runs in the sixsth and two in the seventh to edge Nanaimo 4-3 Wednesday at Chemainus. Trailing 3-2 in the seventh, Ron Gibbons reached on an error and Zip Jackson followed with a triple to knot the count. Then in a highly disputed call, umpire Don Johnson called a balk on Russ Rowledge's second pitch to Dave Murray and Jackson trotted home with the winning marker. Jackson led Chemainus with a three-for-three game and Bob Jansch went three-for-four. Earl Robinson and Red Naylor each had two hits for Nanaimo.
Rowledge, Webb (7) and Adamson, Hindmarch
English (W) and Jackson
(June 23) Victoria Eagles, the team without a league, are proving they have one of the best, if not the best, senior amateur team on the island. Eagles racked up their five straight exhibition in Saturday at Nanaimo blanking the Clippers 7-0. Bill Prior was the star of the show hurling a four-hit shutout. He walked six and fanned 14. Victoria managed just eight hits off a pair of Nanaimo twirlers including doubles by Ken Higgs, Prior and Vern Evans. Clippers' shortstop Earl Robinson cracked a triple.
Collins (L), Rowledge (6) and Bob Hindmarch
Prior (W) and Kubicek, Woolcock (7)
(June 24) Vancouver's Clifford's Grill came to town Sunday and downed Duncan in both ends of a double-header, both by 5-3 scores. Tony Folk pitched shutout ball until the eighth inning of the opener when the mainland team broke through with runs by Rose, Bus Campbell and Ray Gunnlaugson. They added two more in the ninth. For Duncan, Dan Wyllie smashed a triple and scored in the first and Folk and Bobby Lawson crossed the plate in the second. Eddy Leopold was the winning hurler in the second game besting Ken Cessford.
xxx and xxx
Folk (L) and xxx
Leopold (W) and xxx
Cessford (L) and Wyllie
(June 24) In a double-bill at Chemainus, Parksville took the first game 11 to 8 before the home club bounced back for a 5-1 victory in the second game. The visitors scored three in the first inning on hits by Katrichak and Vern Kendrick but Chemainus roared back to take the lead with four in the bottom of the first frame helped by a single by Bertrand and Joe Copp's two bagger. Two singles and a walk brought the Loggers into a 4-4 tie in the second. Bobby Jansch gave Chemainus the lead in the fourth with a two-run smash. The see-saw battle continued in the fifth as Parksville added four markers on a walk, two errors, a single and a triple. Chemainus got one back in the bottom of the fifth as Bertrand knocked in Gibbons who had doubled. That gave Parksville an 8-7 advantage. The Loggers wrapped it up with a pair in the sixth and one in the seventh.
In the second game, a two-run first inning proved enough for Chemainus. They loaded the bases on singles by Joe Copp and Bobby Jansch and a walk to Ferguson. One run came home on Ron Gibbons' long fly to centre field and the second on Bertrand's single to left. Katrichak of the winners and Ron Gibbons of Chemainus each went three-for-five in the opener while Bertrand of Chemainus led the hitters in the second with a three-for-four effort.
xxx and xxx
xxx and xxx
xxx and xxx
xxx and xxx
(June 24) Nanaimo's Collister-Evans Clippers came from behind in their final at bats in both games of Sunday's double-header with Alberni to notch a pair of one-run victories. In the first game, the Clippers were down 5-1 going into the bottom of the ninth when they rallied for five runs and the triumph. Bill Bracewell started the rally with a single and Hindmarch was hit by a pitch before Ernie Patterson advanced the runners with a ground out. Bert Webb loaded the bases by reaching on an error and then Red Naylor cleared the sacks with a double. A drive by Collins chased Naylor home with the tying run and Ed Herman followed with another hit to scored the winner.
In the second game, Clippers ran out to a 7-4 lead but Alberni stormed back to tie in the ninth on three walks and a pair of errors. In the tenth, Alberni went ahead, 8-7, on a walk and Spencer's two-bagger but couldn't hold off Nanaimo in the bottom of the tenth. Webb singled, Hindmarch got a life on a bobble and both moved up on an infield out. Ernie "Rush" Patterson won it with a two-run double.
Olson, Berry (L) (5) and Phillips
Webb (W) and Hindmarch
Nesbitt, Osada (L) (8) and McWatters, Phillips
Easterbrook, Gilmour (W) (7) and Collins
Chemainus 12 - 3 - 1 25
Duncan 8 - 4 - 2 18
Nanaimo 8 - 7 - 1 17
Parksville 8 - 8 - 1 17
Alberni 2 -13 - 1 5
(June 27) Former Duncan pitching star Doug English, now with Chemainus, came back to haunt his former mates Wednesday firing a one-hit shutout in a 3-0 win over the Athletics. English fanned 13. Ken Cessford matched English for seven innings before Chemainus broke the scoreless tie with two runs in the eighth and another in the ninth.
Cessford (L) and Branting
English (W) and xxx
(June 27) Parksville plated two runs in the first inning and were never headed in a 9-5 win over Nanaimo at the Community Park in Parksville. Jack Charlesworth went six solid frame to pick up the win.
Rowledge (L) and Hindmarch
Charlesworth (W), Powell (7), Ulmer (7) and Kendrick
(July 1) Duncan Dominion Day Tournament cour
(July 4) Playing at Alberni, the Nanaimo Clippers scored their first road victory of the summer Wednesday riding Bert Webb's outstanding pitching for a 6-1 victory. Webb had a shutout until the ninth when the Athletics scored their only run, an unearned marker courtesy of a pair of Clippers' errors. Webb allowed six hits and one walk while fanning seven. Berry pitched well for Alberni but couldn't overcome seven errors by the A's defense.
Webb (W) and Hindmarch
Berry (L) and Phillips
(July 4) Back by a tight defense, Joe Copp pitched Chemainus Community Centre to a 3-1 triumph over Duncan Athletics. Syme, in centre field, made two outstanding catches and helped at the plate with a pair of hits.
J.Copp (W) and xxx
xxx and xxx
(July 8) The Athletics won both games. That is, the Duncan Athletics and the Port Alberni Athletics each came away with a victory Sunday in Mid-Island action at Duncan. In the afternoon, Port Alberni won 7-3 while Duncan turned the tables in the second game winning 7-0 as Ken Cessford got the shutout with a five-hit effort and nine strikeouts. In the first game, Alberni knocked out 11 hits against newcomer John Koppa, visiting from Maidstone, Saskatchewan, and Ken Williams who took over in the seventh when Alberni scored five times to put the game on ice.
xxx and xxx
Koppa (L), K.Williams (7) and Branting
xxx and xxx
Cessford (W) and Richardson
(July 8) Playing away from home still presents a huge problem for the Nanaimo Clippers who dropped both games of Sunday's double-dip at Parksville, 12-3 and 6-3. Errors, eight in the first game and five more in the second, played a large part in the Clippers' defeats. After the games, Nanaimo suffered another loss when manager "Fat" Edmunds threw in the towel. The genial boss handed in his resignation with the comment "when I tell the team to do one thing, they do exactly the opposite! Twice, I've ordered our catcher to give intentional walks. He signals his battery mate to pitch to the batter. While I'm the boss, I expect the boys to follow orders." Bob Prior held the Clippers to four hits in the first game while the Loggers punched out a dozen. Down 3-2 in the seventh inning of the evening game, Parksville rallied for four runs for the victory. G.Powell held the Clippers to seven hits in going the distance on the mound for the winners.
Rowledge (L) and Hindmarch
Prior (W) and D.Kendrick
Webb (L) and Hindmarch
G.Powell (W) and T.Powell
(July 11) The Collister-Evans Clippers rapped out 14 hits Wednesday to dump Chemainus 11-4 in a Mid-Island League contest at Nanaimo. Bert Webb scattered eight hits in going the route on the hill for the winners.
Woolf (L), H.Jackson (4) and E.Jackson
Webb (W) and Hindmarch
(July 11) Nanaimo defeated Chemainus Community Centre 6-4.
(July 15) The onrushing Parksville Loggers, helped by 11 Chemainus errors, took both games of Sunday's twin bill, 5-3 and 5-1. Jack Charlesworth and Bob Prior provided steady hurling for the winners.
Charlesworth (W) and xxx
xxx and xxx
Prior (W) and xxx
xxx and xxx
(July 15) Winning pitcher Earl Robinson laid down a squeeze bunt to score Bill Bracewell in the bottom of the tenth inning Sunday to give Nanaimo a 4-3 win over Duncan in the first game of a double-header at Nanaimo. The Clippers had blown a 2-0 first inning lead as Duncan scored in the eighth to tie at 3-3. Ed Herman played a scintillating game in centre for the winners and helped at the plate with three hits. Bob Hindmarch's first inning triple accounted for the team's first two counters. In the second game, Nanaimo made nine errors to make it easy for the Athletics who ran up a 4-0 lead before the Clippers got on the scoreboard. Ken Cessford fashioned an eight-hitter for the pitching win.
Folk (L) and Richardson
Robinson (W) and Hindmarch
Cessford (W) and Richardson
Rowledge (L), Gilmour (6), Bracewell )7) and Hindmarch
Chemainus 14 - 5 - 1 29
Parksville 13 - 8 - 1 27
Duncan 10 - 8 - 2 22
Nanaimo 9 -11 - 1 19
Alberni 3 -15 - 1 7
(July 18) Parksville Loggers won their sixth consecutive game Wednesday and moved into a tie for first place when they rapped out 13 hits to trim Nanaimo 9 to 2. A four-run fifth inning, highlighted by Walt Yeo's circuit clout, put the game on ice. Ulner and Whyte combined on a five-hitter for the Loggers.
Webb (L) and Hindmarch
Ulner, Whyte (7) and T.Powell
(July 22) Doug English blanked Duncan on three hits Sunday as Chemainus won the afternoon contest of a double-header 1-0. Ron Gibbons scored the only run off Ken Cessford who suffered the loss while giving up just six hits. Chemainus also took the second game, 6-3, with English picking up the win in relief.
English (W) and xxx
Cessford (L) and Branting
Goldie, English (W) (3) and xxx
Koppa, Folk (6), Cessford (8) and Wyllie
(July 22) The Alberni Athletics are overjoyed with the last of their games with Nanaimo. The teams have played seven times in the 1951 campaign and Alberni has yet to post a victory over the Collister-Evans boys. In Sunday's double-header Clippers notched 11-6 and 8-7 victories. Nanaimo combined 12 hits and eight Alberni errors to take the first game behind Bert Webb's nine-hitter. In the second game, the Clippers rapped 15 hits as they grabbed an 8-2 lead after six innings and held off a late charge by the Athletics. Russ Rowledge picked up the win.
Webb (W) and Hindmarch
Mosdell (L) and Phillips
Rowledge (W), Webb (8) and Collins, Hindmarch (8)
Nesbitt, Stolth (L) (4), Mosdell (6) and Miles, Phillips (7)
(July 29) Sunday's double-header between Duncan and Chemainus was marred by a painful injury suffered by Athletics' centre fielder Jimmy Cain who broke his leg as he ran for a fly ball and had to be taken to hospital. Supporters wasted no time in setting up a benefit match. It is scheduled for tonight at Chemainus.
Cub Woolf scored three times in the first game as Chemainus won, 7-2. The teams fought to a 2-2 draw in the second game. Doug English was the winning hurler in the opener besting John Koppa.
Koppa (L) and Wyllie
English (W) and xxx
Folk and Wyllie
xxx and xxx
(July 29) Victoria Eagles embarrassed the Nanaimo Clippers in both games of an exhibition double-bill at Nanaimo winning 23-8 and 9-3 as the Clippers made 21 errors over the two games. In the matinee, the visitors, already with eight runs on the scoreboard, erupted for ten in the sixth inning combining five hits, one a homer, and five walks. The evening affair was a tad closer as the Eagles scored four runs in each of the third and sixth innings to salt away the victory.
Hume (W) and Woolcock, Carson (8)
Robinson, Rowledge (6) and Hindmarch
Worrell (W), Prior (7) and Kubicek
Webb (L) and Hindmarch
(August 1) The Community Centre nine of Chemainus defeated Nanaimo Clippers 4-2 Wednesday at Chemainus as Doug English again provided the winners with steady hurling tossing a six-hitter for the win.
Webb (L) and Hindmarch
English (W) and Jackson
(August 2) Duncan downed Chemainus 8-2.
(August 5) Duncan Athletics moved into second place in the league standings Sunday following a double victory at Alberni, 13-3 and 14-10. Doug Williams and Pete Hawryluk led the 13-hit assault in the afternoon with three apiece. Charlie Stroulger rapped a homer in the six-run fourth inning. Hawryluk continued his hot hitting in the second game blasting a home run, double and single. Lyle Cornett and Joe Gergel each added three safeties. Gergel, Pete Williams and Tony Folk rapped three-baggers. The A's had 18 hits off a pair of Alberni hurlers.
Folk (W), K.Williams (8) and Wyllie
Biggs, Nesbitt, Mosdell and Phillips
Koppa, K.Williams (5), Folk (6) and xxx
Stoltz, Nesbitt and xxx
(August 5) League-leading Chemainus added two more to their win column Sunday trouncing Nanaimo 7-1 and 14-7 in games at Caledonia Grounds. Doug English held the Clippers to four hits in another outstanding pitching turn while Chemainus punched out ten hits off two Nanaimo moundsmen. In the nightcap, the Community Centre crew took advantage of eleven walks and ten hits to overwhelm the home club. English came back to relieve starter Cub Woolf to finish up the second game.
English (W) and Jackson
Webb (L), Rowledge (5) and Hindmarch
Woolf (W), English (7) and Bertrand, Jackson (7)
Robinson (L) Rowledge (3) and Hindmarch
(August 8) Duncan Athletics knocked in three runs in the first inning on a walk, two errors and a double and led all the way in downing Nanaimo 7-2. Red Naylor doubled in a run for the Clippers in the third but Duncan posted another three-spot in the seventh on a pair of walks and triples by Joey Gergel and Doug Williams. John Koppa got the win with a six-hit effort. Rip Collins took the loss giving up just five hits.
Rip Collins (L) and Hindmarch
Koppa (W) and Branting
(August 12) After suffering a tough 6-5, 13-inning loss in the first game, Duncan Athletics rebounded to dump Parksville 8-3 in the second game of Sunday's twin-bill at Duncan. In the opener, the A's had taken a 2-0 lead in the third inning with Ole Panzer and Lyle Cornett scoring on a walk and two errors. Loggers got one back in the fifth and took the lead with three in the seventh on a hit, a walk and two errors. Trailing 4-2, Duncan evened the count in the eighth as hits by Dan Wyllie, Pete Williams and Panzer, a walk and an error resulted in a pair of runs. The see-saw battle continued in the bottom of the frame when Parksville pushed across a run on Dude Kendrick's hit to go up 5-4. But, in the ninth it was Duncan's turn and Charlie Stroulger's liner brought in Joe Gergel with the tying marker. A's held the Loggers off the scoreboard in the bottom of the ninth to send the game to extra innings. After three scoreless frames, Loggers got the winner when Murray hit safely, advanced to third and scampered home on Grigoletto's bunt. Bob Prior, for the Loggers, and the A's Tony Folk both went the distance. Each had 12 strikeouts.
Prior (W) and Kendrick
Folk (L) and Wyllie
In the evening contest, the Athletics took an early 2-0 lead then wrapped up the victory with a five-run eighth inning. Ken Cessford was in good form on the hill for the winners.
G.Powell (L ), Charlesworth and T.Powell
Cessford (W) and Branting
(August 15) A five-run explosion in the fourth inning carried Duncan to a 6-1 win over Nanaimo Wednesday. A's used three hurlers, who combined to hold the Clippers to three hits.
Webb (L), Rowledge (8) and Hindmarch
Koppa , Cessford (4) , Folk (8) and Branting
(August 17) Duncan A's whipped Nanaimo 10-1 in a six inning contest originally scheduled for June 13th. It was the eighth straight defeat for the Clippers. The Athletics pounded a pair of Clippers' hurlers for 14 hits while John Koppa and Ken Cessford combined on a one-hitter for Duncan.
Koppa (W), Cessford (4) and Branting
Collins (L) and Hindmarch
(August 19) In a preview of their semi-final playoff series, Duncan and Parksville split a double-header at Athletic Park ending their regular schedule . A's had the upper hand in the first game winning 14-3 while the Loggers trounced Duncan 15-2 in the second. In the opener, Dan Wyllie banged a homer with Joe Gergel and Doug Williams aboard in the first inning to set the A's on the way to the easy win. Duncan unleashed a 16-hit attack, further bolstered by 10 Parksville errors. Wyllie later added a double and two singles and scored four of the team's 14 runs. Ivezich cracked a four-bagger for the Loggers. Tony Folk survived 12-hits to go all the way for the pitching win. It was the Loggers' turn in the evening game as they punched out 11 hits and capitalized on ten Duncan errors. A seven-run second inning put the game on ice early. Jack Charlesworth fired a six-hitter for the win.
Prior (L), G.Powell and P.Kendrick
Folk (W) and Hawryluk
Charlesworth (W) and T.Powell
Koppa (L), K.Williams and Branting
(August 19) Chemainus Community Centre nine rounded out the league schedule crushing Alberni Athletics 15-4 and 16-0 to capture the pennant in the Mid-Island loop. Cub Woolf fired the shutout in the second game after Doug English had thrown steady ball in the opener. Del Bertrand, normally a catcher, was the defensive star of the day making several sparkling catches in right field. Joe Copp scored four times in the second game and Ron Gibbons had three scores.
Stoltz (L) Berry and Phillips
English (W) and Jackson
xxx and xxx
Woolf (W) and xxx
PLAYOFFS
(August 26) Duncan has advanced to the Mid-Island League final having beaten Parksville 11-3 and 6-5 in Sunday's playoff twin-bill to take the best-of-three series in two straight games. Trailing 5-4 going into the bottom of the ninth in the second game, Athletics rallied with two out to take the win. Joe Gergel worked a free pass and stole second. Pete Williams reached with his fifth hit of the day and Dan Wyllie tied the game with a single. Pete Hawryluk then nicked Bob Prior for a single down the third base line and Williams raced home to beat the throw by a half stride for the victory. Tony Folk allowed just four hits for the win in the evening game after tossing six shutout innings, and batting in three runs, for the victory in the first encounter. Ivezich had a homer for the Loggers.
Charlesworth, G.Powell and T.Powell
Folk (W), Koppa (7) and Wyllie
Prior (L) and xxx
Folk (W) and xxx
(August 26) Nanaimo has a one game lead in their semi-final with Chemainus. Clippers edged the Community Centre nine 8-7 in the first game of a double-header. The second was suspended in the seventh inning with Chemainus leading 7-3. The game will be completed next Sunday. Chemainus opened the scoring in the opener with a singleton in the third but the Clippers came right back with a pair in the fifth as Collins and Bill Bracewell singled, advanced and scored on a drive by Ed Herman. The lead was short lived as Chemainus tied the count in their half of the fifth on a double, two walks and an infield out. Clippers went one up in the next frame and then counted two more in the seventh to make it 5-2. Chemainus fought back with one in the seventh and four in the eighth to take a 7-5 advantage setting the stage for Nanaimo's big ninth inning three-run rally on hits by Bill Bracewell, Ed Herman, Earl Robinson, Bob Hindmarch, his fourth hit, and Don Smith. In the second game, Chemainus plated two runs in each of the third, fifth and sixth en route to a 7-3 lead before the game was called because of darkness.
Webb, Easterbrook (W) (8) and Hindmarch
English, Woolf (9) and Jackson
Rowledge, Collins (5), Easterbrook (7) and Hindmarch
Woolf and Jackson
(August 29) The Nanaimo Clippers have been ordered to play out the last three innings of last Sunday's game tonight at Chemainus. The edict came as a surprise to Clippers manager Red Naylor who had previously been informed that the game would be played on Sunday at Nanaimo.
(August 29) Chemainus squared their semi-final series with Nanaimo holding the Clippers scoreless in the three remaining innings of the second game which had been suspended because of darkness on Sunday. Chemainus held a 7-3 lead when play resumed. They added one more to make the final 8-3. Cub Woolf tossed a five-hitter for the win.
Rowledge (L), Collins (5), Easterbrook (7) and Hindmarch, PauscheWoolf (W) and Jackson
(September 1-2) Courtenay Labour Day Tournament
(September 2) Mac Collins broke a 4-4 tie with a sizzling triple with the bases loaded in the eighth inning to give Nanaimo Clippers a 7-4 decision over Chemainus in the deciding game of the best-of-three semi-final series. Bill Easterbrook limited Chemainus to six hits in going the route for the winners. Doug English pitched well until the eighth when Cub Woolf took over mound duties.
English (L), Woolf and xxx
Easterbrook (W) and xxx
(September 9) Duncan Athletics are just a win away from the Mid-Island baseball championship after a double win 12-8 and 15-4 over Nanaimo Clippers Sunday at Athletic Park. The third game in the best-of-five series is set for Sunday at Nanaimo. Tony Folk was breezing along with an 8-1 lead going into the sixth inning when the Clippers got to the right-hander for five hits which resulted in five runs. John Koppa and Ken Cessford came on in relief to halt the Clippers' comeback. Athletics had an easy time in the second game rapping 12 hits, including a triple and five doubles, and capitalizing on seven walks. Pete Hawryluk led the winners with a two-bagger and three singles. Lyle Cornett added a pair of doubles and two walks. Red Naylor of Nanaimo had the only homer. Ken Cessford held the Clippers to nine hits.
Easterbrook (L), Rowledge and Hindmarch
Folk (W), Koppa (6), Cessford (7) and Wyllie
Webb (L) and xxx
Cessford (W) and xxx
(September 16) Duncan Athletics captured the Mid-Island Senior Amateur baseball championship defeating Nanaimo Clippers 4-1 in the third game of the final series. Tony Folk twirled a three-hitter in pitching the A's to the triumph. Folk fanned 11 and walked only one and batted in one of the Duncan markers. Bert Webb allowed four hits in taking the loss. A's were presented with the two-foot high H.R. MacMillan Trophy. E.G. Shorter, Chemainus division manager of H.R. MacMillan Company made the presentation of Duncan manager Charlie Stroulger.
Folk (W) and Wyllie
Webb (L) and Hindmarch
The teams finished up with an exhibition game, won by Duncan 10-6 under the direction of "OK Chicago" the colourful Chinese official of the club. Johnny Koppa allowed only one hit in four innings of work. "Chicago" gave a couple of veterans, Pete Hawryluk and Charlie Stroulger, a chance to show off their pitching prowess but after the Clippers scored four off Hawryluk in one-third of an inning and two off Stroulger in two-thirds of a frame, the call went out to Folk to finish up.
xxx and xxx
Koppa (W), Hawryluk (5), Stroulger (5), Folk (6) and xxx
(September 23) The Mid-Island Duncan Athletics topped Campbell River the Northern Vancouver Island leaders 6-5 and 3-0 in a thrilling exhibition double-header at Duncan Sunday. In the afternoon game, Duncan overcame a two-run deficit in the bottom of the ninth inning. With two down, the bases loaded and two strikes against him, Ken Cessford cracked a hit to the centre field fence to hand Duncan the 6-5 victory. It was a climactic end to a series of exciting moments which kept the well-filled bleachers humming. Duncan had taken a 2-0 lead but Don Cameron of the Rivermen smacked a two-run homer to tie it up. The score was later tied again at 3-3 before the visitors drove in another two to go ahead 5-3, a wild pitch by Tony Folk responsible for the 5th run. Joe Gergel started the final inning comeback and was followed to the sacks by Roy Schappert, just back from his summer playing in Saskatchewan. Dan Wyllie knocked in Gergel to make it 5-4 and Charlie Stroulger received a walk to load the bases. After two batters made outs, Cessford stepped to the plate and, with two strikes, crushed one to the outer garden as Schappert and Ole Panzer, running for Wyllie, tallied the tying and winning runs. Folk was battered for 14 safeties but managed to go the route for the win. The A's got ten hits off Pratt, three by Stroulger
Pratt (L) and Telosky
Folk (W) and Wyllie
Doug English of Chemainus, formerly of the Athletics, allowed just two hits in hurling the 3-0 shutout for Duncan. Bob McIvor gave up seven hits in taking the loss.
McIvor (L) and xxx
English (W) and xxx
(September 27) Rudy Richardson led the Duncan Athletics in batting for the 1951 season compiling a .326 average to nip Pete Hawryluk, .323, for the title. Ken Cessford, who starred both on the mound and at the plate,. was third on the team, hitting .300.
COMOX DISTRICT BASEBALL LEAGUE
Replacing the Cumberland Robins in the 1951 Comox District loop was a team representing Bevan, a satellite community some four miles to the north of Cumberland. The remaining five entries from 1950 all returned for another campaign.
Teams in the 1951 Comox District Baseball League
Bevan
Campbell River Athletics
Comox Valley Tigers
Courtenay Legion
Cumberland Cubs
Union Bay
(May 6) Courtenay Legion jumped into a 4-0 lead and held off a ninth inning rally by Comox to edge the Tigers 4-3 Sunday afternoon in an opening game of the 1951 season at Lewis Park. Legion got on the scoreboard in the second inning when Roy Moore blasted a triple to left field and came home on Lyle McKenzie's single. They added two more in the fourth and added the winner in the fifth. Tigers came to life in the ninth loading the sacks on a walk, single and wild pitch. Gus Vesterback cleared the bases with a triple but was stranded at third. Spit Quinn pitched into the seventh inning for the win.
F.Marshall (L), F.Clifford (5) and xxx
Quinn (W), McIvor (7) and xxx
(May 6) Cumberland Cubs plated a pair in the first inning and coasted to a 5-1, 6-inning, victory over newly-organized Bevan bedecked in their "suits of red". The win marked a joyous return for manager "Chalky" Bates back in the fold after many years of retirement from the game. Artie Somerville went three innings in starting for the Cubs. The lefty allowed just one hit before handing over the mound work to LeRoy Bond and Charlie Boyd. The trio combined on a two-hitter before rain shortened the contest.
Maxmick (L), Neimi (5) and VanDamme
Somerville (W), Bond, Boyd and McMillan
(May 12) First sacker Billy Rallison smacked four hits to pace a ten-hit attack as Cumberland Cubs shaded Campbell River 6-5 Saturday. Cubs got an outstanding relief effort by Charlie Boyd in the ninth to escape with the win. Boyd relieved Artie Somerville with two on and none out and proceed to get a strikeout and a fly out before loading the bases by hitting a batter. Smoothie Marshall then popped up to end the game.
Murdock, Somerville (W) (5) , Boyd (9) and Pearce
Thulin, Enns, Marshall (7) and Conti
(May 13) At Campbell River Sunday, the Athletics downed Courtenay Legion 3-1 behind the hurling of Joe Kanik.
McIvor, Quinn and xxx
Kanik (W) and xxx
(May 13) Comox Valley Tigers trounced Bevan 14-5 in a game at Lewis Park. Bevan led 5-3 going into the sixth inning when the Tiger bats came to life. Gus Vesterback touched off the explosion coming in as a pinch hitter and blasting a triple to start his mates on an eight-run rally. James, with three hits, led the winners. Gordon Pratt picked up the pitching win.
xxx and xxx
Pratt (W) and xxx
(May 16) Union Bay upset the powerful Courtenay Legion 3-0 Wednesday as Ron Pratt fired the shutout. The Bay boys scored all three runs in the second inning.
R.Pratt (W) and xxx
Quinn (L) and xxx
(May 19) Courtenay Legion spotted Cumberland Cubs a three run lead in the top of the first inning then quickly recovered with two in the first and another in the second on the way to an easy 8-3 win in game in which the Cubs made ten errors. Spit Quinn surrendered eight hits in going the distance for the win. Legion got the winning run in the fifth stanza as Bill Moore reached with a free pass, advanced on a passed ball and scored on Downey's single to left.
Murdock (L), Somerville (5), Boyd (9), Bon (9) and Boyd, Pezel (7 )
Quinn (W) and McKenzie
(May 24) As a highlight of the Empire Day celebration at Cumberland, the Cubs and Bevan faced off in chilly weather for a $50 prize. Cubs romped home with an 11-6 victory. Johnny Langlois took over the reins of the team and trotted out a revised lineup with much success. Artie Somerville went five innings to post the win with relief help from Pickle Murdock. Bumbo Weir smacked three hits for the Cubs while Leland Bannerman had a single, double and triple for Bevan.
Somerville (W), Murdock (6) and Pearse
Webber (L), Mitchell (5) and VanDamme
(May 26) After blowing an early 4-0 lead, the Cumberland Cubs fought back to down the Comox Valley Tigers 12 to 9 in 10 innings. With two out in the top of the tenth, Billy Rallison started the rally with a single and Charlie Boyd followed with another one-bagger. The winning marker came home as Bumbo Weir connected for a single, his third hit of the day. Boyd reached third on the play and scored on a wild throw from the outfield. Pezel's single knocked in the third run of the inning. In the bottom of the frame, Boyd, the Cubs' big right-hander fanned a pair and got an infield out to end the game.
Somerville, Murdock (4), Boyd (W) (5) and xxx
Biff Ingram, Pratt (L) (2) and xxx
(May 30) A two-run smash by Kennedy in the ninth gave Union Bay a 6-4 triumph over Comox Valley Tigers Wednesday at Lewis Park. All the action came in the last four stanzas. Tigers went ahead 1-0 in the seventh on a walk to Matthews and a hit by Johnny Hawkins. Union Bay came right back in their half to nick Fred Clifford for two singles, a sacrifice and two runs. They added two more in the eighth and two in the ninth. Tigers had their big inning in the eighth when they pushed three runs across on two walks, a hit and five Union Bay errors.
xxx and xxx
F.Clifford (L) and xxx
(June 2) Johnny Hawkins scored the winning run in the ninth inning Saturday giving Comox Valley Tigers a 5-4 decision over Campbell River Athletics. Errors played a large part in the scoring as the Up-Island team committed five and the Tigers four. Freddie Clifford allowed eight hits in posting the pitching win. Joe Kanik took the loss.
F.Clifford (W) and xxx
Kanik (L) and xxx
(June 2) In a wild ninth inning Saturday, Courtenay Legion dumped the Cubs 10-4. Cumberland held a 4-3 lead going into the final frame when sloppy play in the field helped the Legionnaires explode for seven runs, all unearned. With one out, Moore's fly ball was dropped in right centre field and Downey struck out but reached when catcher Charlie Boyd let the ball get away. Pinch hitter Earl Woods drove out a single to bring in the tying run and, after LeRoy Bond relieved Artie Somerville, Spit Quinn smacked another bingle to drive in what proved to be the winner. Legion continued the rally against Bond and another reliever, Marvin Watson.
Gunter, Doc Gordon (W) (7), Quinn (9) and xxx
Somerville, Bond (9), Watson (9) and xxx
(June 3) On Sunday, Cumberland Cubs rebounded from their Saturday loss to top Bevan 7-3, with their own late surge. Tied 3-3 after seven frames, Cubs blasted out five safeties in the eighth to score four times. Charlie Boyd led the winners with a single, double and triple, raising his batting average to an even .500. Artie Somerville picked up the pitching win in a relief role.
O.Hoffman (L) , Stockand (9) and xxx
Watson, Somerville (W) (6), Murdock (8) and xxx
(June 3) Two large boats, with about 75 Campbell River fans aboard, travelled to Powell River Sunday where the Athletics took both games of the double-header, 7-2 and 5-0.
(June 10) Campbell River swept another pair, this time at Port Alberni, 12-3 and 6-3. The game was marred by a freak accident which sent A's left fielder Joe Korsa to hospital. During the afternoon game, Korsa and centre fielder Don Cameron both made a beeline for a fly ball and smacked into one another. Both were knocked out by the impact. Cameron received two black eyes and a bloody nose but was able to play in the evening game. Korsa, however, was taken to hospital were he is believed to have suffered possible internal injuries.
(June 10) Gordon "Pro" Pratt fashioned a neat four-hitter Sunday to help Comox Valley Tigers to a 3-2 win over Courtenay Legion in the first game of a split venue twin-bill. Watkinson doubled in Johnny Hawkins with the winning marker in the sixth inning.
G.Pratt (W) and xxx
Gordon, Quinn (L) 3) and xxx
In the evening, at Cumberland, the Cubs ran wild for eight runs in the first inning in a 9-1 decision over the Tigers. Fred Clifford had a tough start for Comox giving up four walks and a hit while his teammates booted the ball a couple of times before Pratt, who hurled the first game, came on in relief. Charlie Boyd went the distance for the win giving up nine hits and five walks.
Clifford (L), Pratt (1) and James
Boyd (W) and Pearse
(June 14) Charlie Boyd, the Cumberland Cubs slugger, is the leading batter in the Comox District League with a .500 average in games up to June 3rd. Boyd had 11 hits in 22 at bats. Sam Shillito of Union Bay topped the loop in hits, with 12, for a .413 mark and Jack Younger, also of Union Bay, was third, with a .391 average. Ray Marshall of the Comox Valley Tigers followed with a .387 percentage.
(June 16) Charlie Boyd hurled a gem, a two-hitter, as the Cumberland Cubs squeezed by Union Bay 2-1. The right-hander issued just one walk and fanned nine. Two costly errors in the fifth inning robbed him of a shutout. Ed Shillito, who had both hits for Union Bay, opened the inning with a long fly to left centre which Murphy and Brown let drop between them for a two-bagger. A wild throw in a pick-off attempt at second allowed Shillito to advance to third and he came home on an over throw to first on an infield grounder. The Cubs had tallied in the initial stanza when Murphy led off with a single, stole second and third and scored on Boyd's single. The winning marker came in the fifth when Bumbo Weir connected for a safety, stole second and came racing home on Billy Rallison's hit over shortstop. Geary was nicked for nine hits, allowed a walk and whiffed nine in his effort on the hill for Union Bay.
Boyd (W) and Pezel
Geary (L) and Kennedy
(June 16) Smith, Marshall and Don Janes paced a 14-hit Comox attack, each with three safeties, as the Tigers whipped Bevan 11-4 Saturday at Cumberland. Tigers jumped into a 4-0 lead but Bevan made it close with three runs in the fourth. The Cats pulled away in the sixth scoring four times. Fred Clifford got the pitching win with help from reliever Dave Reid.
Hoffman, Stockand, Mitchell and xxx
F.Clifford (W), D.Reid (5) and xxx
(June 17) Ron Pratt was in top form Sunday firing a three-hit shutout to lead Union Bay to a 4-0 win over Comox Valley Tigers. He fanned six and issued no free passes. The down-island team grabbed a 2-0 lead in the second inning on hits by Shillito, Pratt and Richardson and a walk to Lund. Shillito and Lund added runs in the sixth. Gordon Pratt took the loss.
R.Pratt (W) and xxx
G.Pratt (L), Reid (8) and xxx
(June 17) Campbell River Athletics had little trouble with the Cubs at Cumberland scoring a pair in the first inning and coasting to an 8-1 verdict Sunday. Enns tossed a five-hitter for the A's. He issued three walks and struck out seven. The lone run against him came home on an error. Don Cameron smacked a homer for the winners in the third frame.
Enns (W) and Telosky, Calnan
Somerville (L), Watson (8) and Pezel, Boyd, Tobacco
(June 17) Courtenay Legion had its ups and downs Sunday in an exhibition double-header at Lewis Park. The Vets overwhelmed Nanaimo 21-3 in the first game but succumbed 6-5 in the second. In the opener, Courtenay peppered a pair of Nanaimo hurlers for 19 hits, five by Dick Downey, four by Earl Woods and three apiece by Roy Moore and Freddie Orr. It was all over in the first inning as the Vets scored six times. Bob Gunter, on the hill for the Legion, was the beneficiary of the offensive explosion.
xxx, xxx and xxx
Gunter (W) and xxx
In the second game it was Nanaimo getting out to the quick start taking an early 4-0 lead. Courtenay fought back in the fourth on Lyle McKenzie's two-run homer. But, the Hub City crew made it 5-2 in the fifth and added another in the seventh. That set the stage for a Legion rally that just missed tying the score. Orr led off with a single, stole second and third and romped home on Bill Moore's smash. After McKenzie reached on an error, Earl Woods drove in both runners but Courtenay fell just short.
xxx (W) and xxx
Woods (L) and xxx
(June 20) Doc Gordon dumped one into short right field in the eighth inning to score two mates to give Courtenay Legion a 4-3 decision over the Comox Valley Tigers Wednesday at Lewis Park. Dick Downey knocked in the first run for Courtenay in the initial stanza when he sent Freddie Orr across the plate with a sharp safety. Tigers came steaming back in the second with pitcher Freddie Clifford driving in two runs. Comox got another marker in the sixth on a hit by Johnny Hawkins and sacrifice by Janes. Legion crept a little closer in the seventh when Spit Quinn belted one over third base and walked around the sacks with a boost from Tigers' errors. After Gordon had put Legion ahead, Comox threatened in the bottom of the ninth when Gus Vesterback smoked a clean hit but his mates were unable to bring him home. Bob Gunter was the winning hurler with a four-hitter. Clifford, who also allowed just four hits, but walked five, took the tough loss.
F.Clifford (L) and xxx
Gunter (W) and xxx
Athletics 10 - 2
Union Bay 7 - 3 2.0
Cubs 6 - 3 2.5
Legion 5 - 5 4.0
Tigers 4 - 8 6.0
Bevan 0 - 10 9.0
(June 23) Campbell River Athletics consolidated their hold on first place in the Comox District Baseball League Saturday at Lewis Park when they trounced the Comox Valley Tigers 10-3 behind the four-hit pitching of Leroy Spiers. A's grabbed a lead in the first inning when Joe Kanik blasted a double to right centre field and came home on Don Cameron's single to the same spot. Two hits, a walk and three errors gave them another five runs in the third. Comox got on the scoreboard in the sixth when Marshall reached on an error and eventually scored on another miscue. The Rivermen went ahead 8-1 in the seventh when Don Marshall drew a walk and romped home on Cameron's triple. Cameron scored on a wild pitch. Each team added a run in the eighth, the Tigers' run coming on a four-bagger by Eddie Jackson. Ty Conti made it 10-2 for the A's in the ninth when he singled, advanced on a hit and an error and crossed the plate on a wild pitch. Adrian Smith hit a triple for the Tigers in the last of the ninth and scored the final run on Johnny Hawkins' long fly to centre field.
Spiers (W) and xxx
xxx and xxx
(June 24) In a game which featured a number of rhubarbs and resulted in a protest by Cumberland Cubs, Courtenay Legion capitalized on 9 hits and 13 walks to dump the Cubs 9-4 Sunday afternoon in the first game of a twin-bill for the Vets. Legion broke a 3-3 tie with five runs in the bottom of the fifth. Spit Quinn, who relieved starter Bob Gunter in the third, went the rest of the way for the win.
Somerville (L), Aitken (5) , Ellis (9) and Pezel, Boyd
Gunter, Quinn (W) (3) and McKenzie, Moore
Sunday evening Bevan's cellar-dwelling nine again took it on the chain when Courtenay Legion steamrolled to a 12-2 victory. Junior Chalmers paced a 14-hit attack with four hits and Bob Gunter and Freddie Orr each produced three. Lyle McKenzie got the show underway in the opening frame with a two-run smash. Gunter started off the second with a single and successive hits by Freddie Orr, Moore, Junior Chalmers and Earl Woods accounted for four more tallies to put the game on ice. Woods was the winning hurler.
xxx and xxx
Woods (W) and xxx
(June 27) In a thrill-packed game at Lewis Park Wednesday Courtenay Legion came through in the 11th inning to edge Union Bay 7-6. After Union Bay took the lead with a run in the top of the 11th, Dick Downey led off the Vets' half of the second extra frame with a single and stole both second and third. An error on Ray Moore's grounder brought in the tying run. Lyle McKenzie followed with a swat to short right field to plate Moore with the winner. Bob Gunter was the winning hurler, in spite of giving up 15 hits.
Gunter (W) and xxx
R.Pratt (L) and xxx
(July 1) The hapless Bevan nine dropped their 12th straight Sunday a 15-4 trouncing by Cumberland. The Cubs collected 12 hits, including a homer by Charlie Boyd. LeRoy Bond drove in three runs with a single, double and triple. Moncrief knocked in a pair with two bingles. Ronnie Aitken, a young lefty, started his first game for the Cubs and went six innings for the win.
W.Webber, Mitchell and xxx
Aitken (W), Somerville (7) and xxx
(July 2) Courtenay Dominion Day Tournament
(July 7) Comox Valley Tigers downed Bevan 6-4 Saturday. Fred Clifford and Eddie Jackson combined to hold the visitors to four hits. Adrian Smith punched out three hits for the winners. Bevan tied the game at 4-4 in the seventh and seemed headed for their first league win but Tigers pulled away in the eighth when they scored a pair.
W.Webber (L) and xxx
Clifford, Jackson and xxx
(July 8) Dave Reid allowed just four hits Sunday as Comox topped Cumberland 7-3 as the Cubs made seven errors. Tigers had just six hits with Don Janes and Adrian Smith each with a pair.
Reid (W) and xxx
xxx and xxx
(July 11) An early eight-run inning set Comox Valley on the way to an easy win over Union Bay at Lewis Park Wednesday. Gordon Pratt went all the way for the pitching win.
Renwick (L), R.Pratt and xxx
G.Pratt (W) and xxx
(July 15) A ninth inning rally provided Courtenay Legion with a 7-6 win over Bevan as the tail-enders went down to their 15th straight defeat, Bill Snyder knocked in the winning marker.
xxx and xxx
xxx and xxx
(July 18) With a 4-1 triumph over Comox Valley Tigers, Courtenay Legion took over sole possession of second place in the league standings behind the front-running Campbell River Athletics. Legion's Spit Quinn tossed a six-hitter for the win. A highlight of the game was a spectacular catch by outfielder Woody Janes on a hard hit ball off the bat of Lyle McKenzie. The ball was hit into foul territory and Janes scampered to make the catch just this side of the cable fence along the road around the park.
Quinn (W) and xxx
G.Pratt (L), Reid (3) and xxx
Campbell River 11 - 3
Courtenay Legion 10 - 5 1.5
Union Bay 9 - 5 2.0
Cumberland Cubs 7 - 6 3.5
Comox Valley Tigers 7 - 10 5.5
Bevan 0 - 15 11.5
(July 22) Campbell River Athletics strengthened their hold on first place downing the runner-up Courtenay Legion 8-7 Sunday at Lewis Park. The win moved the A's 2 1/2 games ahead of the Vets. The visitors got to Legion starter Earl Woods for three hits and three runs in the third inning as Thulin, Johnny Haramboure and Marshall poked out successive singles. Enns scattered ten hits to post the pitching win. In an exhibition game played in the evening, Legion pulled out a 5-3 victory. Freddie Orr led the offense with three hits.
Enns (W) and xxx
Woods (L), Gunter (5) and xxx
Fiscus (L) and xxx
Woods (W) and xxx
(July 25) Union Bay got the home runs, but Courtenay Legion got the victory Wednesday, 5-3, in a game which featured the hitting of pitcher Spit Quinn. Quinn drove in two runs with a pair of doubles to redeem himself for home run balls given up to Sam Shillito, on the first pitch of the game, and brother Ed Shillito, in the fourth. Quinn led the winners with three hits in three trips to the plate.
Quinn (W) and xxx
xxx and xxx
(July 25) Bevan again came away without a victory, its 16th straight setback, in losing to Comox Valley Tigers.
(July 29) It was Spit Quinn in the spotlight for Courtenay Legion again Sunday in an exhibition double-header against Powell River. Quinn relieved in the ninth inning of the opener with the game tied 9-9 and hurled flawless ball for four innings as his mates scored in the 13th to win 10-9. In the evening, he went the full nine frames in Legion's 3-2 victory. In the wild first game, Courtenay pounded out 21 hits off Gary Zailo with Junior Chalmers having a field day with six hits in seven trips. Powell River collected 12 safeties off Bob Gunter, who proved pretty handy with the hickory himself, knocking out three singles. Losing hurler Zailo cracked the only homer, a blast into centre field in the third inning. Legion got the winner when Lyle McKenzie led off the 13th with a single, advanced on a sacrifice and scored on Chalmers' sixth hit of the day.
Powell River out-hit the Legion 7-4 in the second game but were unable to capitalize. Courtenay notched what proved to be the winning run in the third inning when Bill Moore and Freddie Orr scored unearned runs on a Powell River error and a fielder's choice. They got their first run in the second frame when Quinn reached on an error, advanced on hits by Gunter and McKenzie and scored on a wild pitch. The visitors had taken the early lead with a run in the second inning when Adamson's hit scored Biasutti who had single. They added one in the fourth. Powell River catcher Norm Hill, a former Cumberland player, kept the fans laughing with his steady patter behind the plate.
Zailo (L) and xxx
Gunter (W) and McKenzie
Barber (L) and Hill
Quinn (W) and McKenzie
(August 8) Courtenay Legion and Comox Valley Tigers played a benefit game for injured players Wednesday night and, luckily, the teams escaped even more injuries to justify another benefit contest. Tigers won, 10-4, against an off-form Legion nine. Doc Gordon twisted his ankle sliding into second and Roy Moore was beaned by one of Gordon Pratt's wild pitches. However, both were able to continue play. Tigers jumped on Legion starter Earl Woods for three runs in the first inning and added three more in the sixth and four in the eighth. Tigers were shorthanded as the game began and drafted Cy Stevenson to play first base and Lyle McKenzie to catch.
G.Pratt (W) and McKenzie
Woods (L) and xxx
PLAYOFFS
(August 26) The top two clubs in the Comox District League, Campbell River Athletics and Courtenay Legion, will battle it out in the finals of the league playoffs for the Upper Island championship. A's gained a berth in the final over the weekend when they slugged out two victories over Union Bay after losing the opener 3-0. Ron Pratt fired the shutout for Union Bay which got on the scoreboard early then added a pair in the sixth when Ed Shillito's drive eluded Joe Korsa in the A's outfield and went all the way for a home run with a mate aboard. Joe Kanik took the loss.
R.Pratt (W) and xxx
Kanik (L) and xxx
Athletics rebounded strongly in the second game with a 15-3 victory to tie the series. Joe Korsa, Andy Telosky and John Haramboure led a potent attack. Smoothie Marshall was the winning hurler.
Walker (L), Geary, Younger and xxx
D.Marshall (W) and xxx
With a 7-2 victory in the deciding game, Campbell River won the right to face Courtenay in the final. A's erupted for five runs in the sixth inning to put the game on ice. Bud Fiscus was the winning pitcher.
R.Pratt (L) and xxx
Fiscus (W) and xxx
(Reports on the Courtenay semi-final have not been located)
(September 8) In a tense struggle Saturday at Lewis Park, Campbell River Athletics shaded Courtenay Legion 2-1 in the opening game of their best-of-five final series. A's capitalized on two errors in the second inning to plate both their runs. Legion loaded the bases in the seventh on singles by Earl Woods and Roy Moore and a walk to Shorty McIvor but could bring in just one run, on a single by Junior Chalmers. Smoothie Marshall was the winning hurler besting McIvor.
Marshall (W) and xxx
McIvor (L) and xxx
(September 9) Sunday, at Campbell River, the Legionnaires started well, with a pair in the top of the first inning, but the Athletics roared back with five of their own in the bottom of the frame and led all the way in a 12-8 triumph and a 2-0 game lead in the series. The teams fought to a tie in the second game of the twin bill. Smoothie Marshall and Johnson combined to hold Legion to nine hits in the first game while the A's pounded 13 off Earl Woods and Spit Quinn.
Woods (L), Quinn (1) and xxx
Marshall, Johnson and xxx
The teams played to a 3-3 tie Sunday night in a game called after seven innings because of darkness. The draw forces another game, to be played Sunday at Lewis Park.
McIvor, Woods and xxx
Kanik and xxx
(September 16) Campbell River Athletics captured the Comox District Baseball League championship Sunday when they trounced Courtenay Legion 9-5 to take the best-of-five series in four games, one of them a tie. A's ripped Spit Quinn for 18 hits, including a two-run circuit clout by Johnny Haramboure. Legion took a 2-1 lead after one inning but that was the highlight of their day. A's scored first when Turcotte reached on an error and romped home on Joe Kanik's single. Legion came back in their half of the first as Freddie Orr was hit by a pitch and Junior Chalmers got a single. Quinn drove in both with a solid bingle. Campbell River went ahead in the second and coasted to the title.
xxx (W) and xxx
Quinn (L) and xxx