1953 Vancouver, Lower Mainland, Fraser Valley
1953 BC Interior
1953 Vancouver Island
OKANAGAN MAINLINE LEAGUE
All six OMBL cities which were part of the 1952 circuit returned for another round of wars in 1953 with one minor tweak occurring, that being from the camp of the Kamloops franchise. Prior to the start of the 1953 season, both the Elks of the Okanagan Mainline Baseball League and the Okonots of the B.C. Interior League were brought together under the umbrella of what was known as the Kamloops Baseball Club. The rationale for the merger was to keep both clubs functional in a manner in which they would not always be at odds with each other when it came to player personnel. The OMBL team and the Interior League club swapped monikers so that the Okanagan Mainline representative was now called the Okonots. The Interior League crew, now referred to as the Elks at the beginning of the season and later as the Monarchs, was to be stocked with more of the up-and-coming talent, augmented by a few of the older veterans, and would act in the capacity of a feeder system for the more experienced group of Okonot players, although both teams would retain the designation of being at the senior level of play.
1953 would be the last complete season that whiz kid portsider Ted Bowsfield would be displaying his talent in the OMBL (he would leave early in the 1954 season to begin his pro career). The St. Louis Browns, having established a prominent presence in the B.C. interior, came close to signing Bowsfield but, with an impending move of the team to Baltimore, they put everything on hold and could not commit to signing the Penticton phenom. That’s when the Boston Red Sox moved in and inked the young lefty to a deal.
(Access to OMBL material is quite limited. We feel fortunate in being able to present the few games we could find.)
(April 19) The Kamloops Baseball Club entry in the OMBL, now known as the Okonots, made an auspicious debut in Penticton, coming through with an errorless performance to whip the homestanding Athletics 8 to 5. Kamloops third baseman Bob Saklofsky was the first batter up in the new season and he got things off on the right foot with a clean single. Saklofsky would later score the visitors lone run of the stanza but they stretched their lead to 6 – 0 after 4 1/2 innings were in the books. The Athletics managed to light up winning tosser Len Gatin for ten hits but were never able to string many of them together. First baseman “Buck” Buchanan had two of the seven hits that the Okonots were able to gather off the slants of three Penticton chuckers. Ross McDonald and losing hurler Les Edwards led the batting parade for the A’s with two hits each.
Gatin (W) and Stewart
Edwards (L), Bowsfield (2), Dye (7) and O’Connell, Powell (7)
(April 19) Oliver Elks opened the new season with a win defeating Kelowna Orioles 9-4 at Oliver. Hal Cousins, in relief of starter Zeke Dergous, went 7 1/3 innings to register the win. He surrendered seven hits while getting ten strikeouts. Kelowna out-hit the winners 10 to 9 but made six errors to pave the way for the Oliver triumph.
Koga (L), Hickson and Campbell
Dergous, H.Cousins (W) (2) and Coulter
(April 19) Vernon Canadians made their debut in the Okanagan-Mainline League a winning one Sunday with a 6-2 decision over the Macs in Summerland. Ray Adams pounded a homer, double and single and scored three times to lead an 11 hit attack. Ike Jackson held the home squad to six hits to register the pitching win.
Jackson (W) and Brummet
xxx and xxx
(April 26) Len Gatin, Kamloops’ ace mound artist, came through with the goods in an exciting pitching matchup with the Penticton Athletics’ Ted Bowsfield as the Okonots won their second straight in OMBL play with a 7 to 2 win over the Peach City crew. After six innings, the combatants were deadlocked with one run apiece. Bowsfield’s shaky sixth inning on the hill resulted in his getting the hook and the Oks were delighted with his departure as they added six more markers on the scoreboard complements of his two replacements. Richard Getz, who toiled off the rubber in the seventh for the Athletics, was saddled with the loss. Second baseman Ron Evensen and Gatin each picked up a brace of base knocks for the winners while Hebenton and Nieves reciprocated for the visitors.
Bowsfield, Getz (L) (7), Jordan (8) and O’Connell
Gatin (W) and Anderson
(April 26) All six runs came in the 6th inning as Kelowna Orioles scored a 6-0 victory over Summerland in their home opener. A three-run homer by Johnny Lingor highlighted the big inning.
(April 26) Wally Lesmeister, former Kelowna hurler, had a successful debut with Vernon Sunday pitching the Canadians to a 3-1 victory over Oliver Elks. Shortstop Tony Spelay doubled in Vernon's first run in the third inning and Lesmeister came home with the second on Tommy Stecyk's single to right. Spelay later scored the Canadians' final counter. Bobby Martino, the Elks' moundsman belted a homer for Oliver's lone marker.
B.Martino (L) and Coulter
Leismeister (W) and Pawluk
(May 3) The Summerland Macs made their first visit of the season to Kamloops’ Riverside Park and left with their tails between their legs after absorbing a 16 to 3 thrashing at the hands of the homestanding Okonots. Lean Len Gatin of the Oks came up with an easy eight-hitter for his third complete game victory in as many starts. The tussle was strictly duck soup for the Kamloops nine as they pushed runs across in every inning except the third and seventh, climbing aboard three Summerland chuckers for 15 hits. Their task was made easier as the Apples booted the ball seven times. Len Fowles led the winners offensively with three singles. Buck Buchanan belted a home run to go along with a one-bagger while Gord Beecroft, Jack Fowles, Bob Anderson and Gatin connected for two base hits each.
xxx (L), xxx, xxx and xxx
Gatin (W) and xxx
(May 3) Ted Bowsfield, the young Penticton southpaw, had a no-hitter for eight innings, finishing with a two-hit performance as the Athletics whipped Kelowna Orioles 9-3 in a ten-inning contest Sunday. Kelowna had a 3-0 lead going into the ninth but the Orchard City nine rallied to knot the count. But in the 10th, Penticton rookie Sholto Hebenton drove in two runs with his second hit of the day and several errors and a walk led to four more runs as the Athletics sewed up the victory. Bowsfield whiffed 16 and walked four.
Bowsfield (W) and O'Connell
Hickson (L) and Campbell
(May 3) Oliver Elks scoring all their runs in the second inning gained their second home victory Sunday downing Vernon Canadians 5-2 behind Hal Cousins in his first start of the season. The right-hander scattered seven hits and set down nine by strike outs in besting Ike Jackson hurling for the Canadians. The Elks sent nine men to the plate in their big inning and combined four hits, two errors, a ball lost in the sun, three fielder's choices and a stolen base to plate five markers. Cousins had two hits and scored two runs.
Jackson (L) and Brummet
Cousins (W) and Coulter
(May 10) Nabbing complete game win number four for Len Gatin didn’t appear to be an overwhelming challenge for him and he responded accordingly in piloting the Kamloops Okonots to another OMBL win, their fourth in a row, as they downed the Summerland Macs 6 to 3 at Summerland. The Okonot moundsman struck out 12 Mac batters and walked only two while yielding five hits. His mates provided him with all six runs in the first two frames, leaving him plenty of breathing room. Kamloops first baseman Buck Buchanan got the show rolling, cracking out a towering two-run circuit-blast in the opening stanza off losing pitcher Ed Eyre. Jack Fowles led off the second with another round-tripper for the visitors. With a 6 to 2 lead in his hip pocket, Gatin handcuffed the Apples until the fifth when they plated a single counter but from there until the end, he retired the Summerland batters one-two-three. Fowles had another two safeties to go along with his four-bagger. His brother, Len, and Buck Buchanan both collected a brace of base raps. The Macs’ Allan Hooker and Fred Kato gave Gatin the most trouble with two singles each.
Gatin (W) and Anderson
Eyre (L) and Metcalfe
(May 10) Ted Bowsfield, the Penticton Phenom, who had a no-hitter for eight innings a week ago, again carried a no-hitter into the ninth as the Athletics notched a 4-1 victory over Oliver Elks. Eddie Kielbiski singled with one out in the 9th to break the spell. Bill Sibson added a run-scoring single to ruin the shutout bid. Bowsfield aided his cause with a two-run double. Bill Martino took the loss giving up seven hits. Bowsfield fanned ten without issuing a free pass.
Bowsfield (W) and O'Connell
Bill Martino (L) and Bay
(May 10) Wally Leismeister provided the heroics on the mound, at bat and on the base paths Sunday in leading Vernon to a 4-3 victory over Kelowna. With the Canadians down 3-1 in the last of the ninth, Leismeister doubled to bring in two runs to tie at 3-3 and then stole home with the winning counter. Tommy Stecyk and Steve Pawluk both singled to lead off the final frame and Leismeister's drive and an error allowed both runners to score. After the next two batters fanned, Leismeister, on third, took off with the pitch and Kelowna catcher Bob Campbell stepped in front of the batter to try and stop the run but was called for interference. Leismeister, Ken Crandlemeier, and Russell Graff each had two hits for the winners.
Leismeister (W) and Brummet
Koga (L) and Campbell
(May 13) A line drive along the third base line by second baseman Ron Evensen, aided by the left fielder’s lackadaisical response, allowed the winning run to score all the way from first base as the Kamloops Okonots slipped by the Vernon Canadians 6 to 5 at Riverside Park. Kamloops baserunner Bill MacDonald, who had reached first base on a walk, took advantage of Canadians’ flychaser Al Munk’s faulty assumption that the line drive had landed foul and scurried around the bags to touch home plate while the outer-pasture man nonchalantly took his time retrieving the horsehide and returning it to the infield. Kamloops hurler, Len Gatin, gave up eight hits including two home runs, in going the route for his fifth straight pitching triumph of the season. The Canucks collected all their runs in a big fifth inning that was highlighted by the pair of boomers off the bats of Ray Adams and Tony Brummet. A bright spot for the Okonots was catcher Bob Anderson who had a perfect night at the plate with a double and two singles. Outfielder Gord Beecroft was next in line for hitting honours with two singles.
xxx (L) and Brummet
Gatin (W) and Anderson
(May 24) The Kamloops Okonots stretched their Okanagan Mainline Baseball League win streak to six straight games at Riverside Park Sunday as they walloped the Oliver Elks 9 to 2 behind the five-hit pitching of slender moundsman Len Gatin. Jack Fowles’ bases-loaded double in the fourth frame off losing chucker Richie Schnider cleared the bases and set the wheels in motion for the Okonot victory. The Oks wound up with nine base knocks in backing Gatin to the hilt. Gord Beecroft was the top swatter for the Kamloops nine as he laced a trio of one-baggers. Oliver’s five hits were spread throughout the team with no batter getting to Gatin more than once.
Snyder (L) and xxx
Gatin (W) and xxx
(May 24) Wally Lesmeister fired a neat four-hitter Sunday to lead Vernon to a 3-2 win over Penticton, ending the A's modest two-game winning streak. Tom Steyck's two-run single in the sixth inning provided the margin of victory. Les Edwards allowed just six hits in taking the loss.
Edwards (L) and O'Connell
Lesmeister (W) and Brummet
(May 24) Kelowna Orioles trimmed the Summerland Macs 10-5 Sunday to move into a fourth-place tie with Penticton. Orioles rapped 13 hits in the victory. Macs had 11 hits.
OMBL standings including games of May 24 as reported in the Kamloops Sentinel
W L Pct.
Kamloops Okonots 6 0 1.000
Vernon Canadians 4 2 .667
Oliver Elks 3 3 .500
Kelowna Orioles 2 3 .400
Penticton Athletics 2 3 .400
Summerland Macs 0 6 .000
Statistical data released by the OMBL show that members of the Kamloops Okonots have a prominent place among current leaders. Gordie Beecroft and Jack Fowles have connected for three two-baggers apiece to lead in that category. Buck Buchanan leads the runs-batted-in department with eight while Ron Evenson has scored nine runs in league play to lead all players. In field play, the Okonots have shown their superiority by successfully completing five double plays while Kelowna has been good for three. Len Gatin, the Okonots iron-armed hurler, is tops in every pitching stat. He has won six games, lost none, pitched 54 innings, surrendered 43 hits, allowed only 20 runs against him and has struck out 51 opposing batters.
AB H Aver.
Hal Cousins (Oliver Elks) 12 6 .500
Gord Beecroft (Kamloops Okonots) 25 12 .480
Bob Anderson (Kamloops Okonots) 17 8 .472
Russell Graff (Vernon Canadians) 22 10 .454
Ed Kielbiski (Kelowna Orioles) 9 4 .444
Len Fowles (Kamloops Okonots) 23 9 .388
B. Neives (Penticton Athletics) 8 3 .375
Buck Buchanan (Kamloops Okonots) 22 8 .373
Tony Brummet (Vernon Canadians) 25 9 .360
Mickey Martino (Oliver Elks) 23 8 .345
In the pitching department, Len Gatin of Kamloops is the leader with a perfect 6-0 won/lost record. He also leads in strikeouts with 51, followed by Penticton southpaw Ted Bowsfield with 41.
IP H R BB SO
Len Gatin (Kamloops) 54 43 20 6 51
Hal Cousins (Oliver) 28 15 13 3 28
Wally Lesmeister (Vernon) 26 16 8 3 27
Ted Bowsfield (Penticton) 30 12 7 2 41
Hickson (Kelowna) 15 11 12 0 9
Mits Koga (Kelowna) 22 17 10 1 9
Bill Martino (Oliver) 17 16 7 0 15
Ike Jackson (Vernon) 26 19 9 1 17
(May 27) Penticton's sensational young Ted Bowsfield fired a three-hitter Wednesday night to blank Summerland Macs 11-0. Bowsfield, who carried no-hitters into the ninth in his last two starts, had a no-hitter for five innings before giving up three successive singles in the sixth. The lefthander engineered a double play and got a strikeout to get out of the 6th and hurled hitless ball the rest of the way. He fanned 19 and walked two. Mac Collins led a 13-hit attack with three safeties while Lloyd Burgart and Bud Russell each had a pair and Elmer Mori slugged a homer and scored three times. It was Mori's first ever homer in senior ball.
Gould (L), Eyre (8) and Taylor
Bowsfield (W) and O'Connell
(May 31) The Kamloops Okonots registered their seventh straight OMBL victory against no defeats by ousting the Oliver Elks 7 to 3 in a game played in Oliver. In the process, Len Gatin, the Okonots’ strong-armed hurler, increased his season’s pitching record to seven triumphs against no losses. Oliver out hit Kamloops 10 to 9 but they committed four errors with two of them coming in the second inning when the Oks pushed across four runs to take control of the game.
Gatin (W) and Anderson
Cousins (L) and Martino
(May 31) Kelowna Orioles turned the tables on the Vernon Canadians Sunday when they brought home two runs in the ninth inning to edge Vernon 3-2. In their last meeting at Vernon, the Canadians came through in the final frame to upend the Orioles. With Vernon up 2-1, Kelowna got back-to-back home runs from Hank Tostenson and Joe Welder off Ike Jackson for the tying and winning runs. Bo Carlson held Vernon to seven hits in gaining the pitching win.
Jackson (L) and Brummet
Carlson (W) and Campbell
(May 31) The Summerland Macs won for the first time this season when they blanked the Penticton Athletics 4 to 0 as Bill Eyre fired a four-hitter for the shutout. Macs ripped ten hits off two Penticton hurlers and got the only run they needed in the opening frame on an error and sacrifice fly. Larry Jordan, the Athletics' starter was tagged with the loss.
Jordan (L), Getz (5) and O'Connell
Eyre (W) and Taylor
Kamloops Okonots 7 - 0
Vernon Canadians 4 - 3 3.0
Kelowna Orioles 3 - 3 3.5
Penticton Athletics 3 - 4 4.0
Oliver Elks 3 - 4 4.0
Summerland Macs 1 - 7
6.5
(June 2) The Trail All-Stars and Penticton Athletics split a holiday exhibition twin-bill Tuesday in the Peach City. All-Stars took the afternoon contest 6-1 with the A's rebounding with a vengence to whip Trail 12-2 in the second game. Trail got a pair of homers in the opener as catcher Kelly Campbell and third sacker Dan Geronazzo displayed their power strokes. Sholto Hebenton was Penticton's big gun with three for four. Both Geronazzo and Ray Hamilton had three hits for the winners. Les Edwards scattered ten hits for the win
McKinnon (L) and xxx
Edwards (W) and xxx
Young lefty Ted Bowsfield held the All-Stars to four hits and rang up 21 strikeouts as Penticton won easily in the second game. Bowsfield also led the winners with four hits in five trips to the plate. Les Edwards collected two hits and three walks.
Boisvert (L), Wilerp (2), xxx and xxx
Bowsfield (W) and xxx
(June 7) The Kamloops Okonots tasted defeat for the first time this season when the heavy bats of the Kelowna Orioles struck for a 7 to 4 pasting of the Riverside Park hosts. The Orchard City visitors scored all seven of their runs as a result of home runs. The Kamloops club grabbed a 1 to 0 opening inning lead on Buck Buchanan’s RBI double. Kelowna moved ahead 2 to 1 on Cec Favell’s two-run dinger in the third. Left fielder John Linger of the Orioles increased the lead to 5 – 1 by smashing one of loser Bill MacDonald’s offerings over the right field wall for a three-run circuit-clout. The Birds’ next batter, Bob Campbell then launched a MacDonald offering somewhere in the direction of the Thompson River to give Kelowna a comfortable working edge of 6 to 1. The Okonots picked up a couple of eighth inning counters as the visitors’ defense crumbled, committing three fielding miscues. The teams traded bases-empty, ninth-inning home runs with Bill Solloway connecting for the O’s and Harry Maralia reciprocating by clipping winning flinger Ed Kielbiski for the other. Mits Koga, Lingor and Campbell all had two base blows for the winners. None of the Oks could manage more than one hit.
Kielbiski (W) and Campbell
MacDonald (L) and Anderson
(June 7) Vernon's iron man, Ike Jackson, pitched Vernon Canadians to a 3-1 win over Summerland Macs in a contest halted in the sixth inning by rain. Jackson had strong support from a defense that turned three double plays in the six frames. Canadians scored in the first inning as Ray Adams singled, stole second and scored on a double by Russ Graff. They added a run in the fourth as Graff walked, advanced on a sacrifice and scampered home on Tommy Stecyk's single. Stecyk scored the third run when he made second on en error, stole third and eventually came home when Ray Pawluk was hit with a pitch. Jackson allowed eight hits but was threatened in just one inning, the sixth, when Francis Gould drew a free pass, stole second and scored on Don Cristane's single.
Eyre (L) and Taylor
Jackson (W) and Brummet
(June 14) The Kamloops Okonots got back on the winning side of the ledger in Okanagan Mainline League action at Summerland when they whipped the Macs 6 to 2. Len Gatin was back on the mound for the Okonots and he fashioned a neat six-hit effort to record his eighth triumph against no defeats. Seven Summerland errors contributed to their demise. Gatin tossed eight innings of shutout ball but weakened in the bottom of the ninth when the Macs scored their only two markers. Kamloops collected seven well-timed hits off two Summerland twirlers, loser Ed Eyre and reliever Coffey. Second baseman Ron Evensen topped the Oks batting parade with a triple and two singles. Del Weitzel of the Apples gave Gatin the most trouble as he touched the Oks’ right-hander for two singles.
Gatin (W) and xxx
Eyre (L), Coffey and xxx
(June 14) Kelowna Orioles moved into second place with a 5-4 win over Oliver.
(June 14) Penticton's southpaw ace Ted Bowsfield turned in another outstanding performance Sunday holding Vernon to one hit in blanking the Canadians 7-0. Tom Stecyk's sharp single into left field in the eighth inning broke up the no-hit bid. Bowsfield whiffed 15 while walking only one. The Athletics smacked 11 hits off a pair of Vernon hurlers with Bud Russell knocking in four runs with a homer and triple.
Lesmeister (L), Jackson and Brummet
Bowsfield (W) and O'Connell
(June 17) The Vernon Canadians picked up an OMBL win on their home turf when the Kamloops Okonots were forced to forfeit the game in the fourth inning of their game by being one player short of the regulation nine after two of their starters were thumbed to the showers. Only ten Kamloops players made the trip to Vernon and Okonot first baseman Keith “Buck” Buchanan was booted from the game early for talking back to the umpire. A few minutes later, Nick “Zeke” Brkich joined Buchanan in the showers for the same offense and the Oks had to forfeit with only eight men available.
(June 21) Summerland Macs defeated Kelowna.
(June 21) The Kamloops Okonots were handed their third setback of the OMBL season at Riverside Park as the Penticton Athletics climbed all over them for a 12 to 6 shellacking. For seven innings, the game was the expected pitcher’s duel with the Athletics’ young mound master Ted Bowsfield holding a slight 4 to 2 advantage over Len Gatin and the Okonots. In the eighth frame, however, the Kamloops defense fell apart and the Peach City visitors pushed across five runs to pretty well wrap up the match. Bowsfield gave up eight hits and fanned 12 Kamloops batters to record the mound win. Gatin was nicked for 12 base blows. The Penticton offensive thrust was led by Bill “Bud” Raptis who clicked in for a trio of singles. Hustling catcher Bob Anderson was the shining light offensively for the Oks as he picked Bowsfield apart with a triple, double and single. Teammate Buck Buchanan singled twice.
Bowsfield (W) and xxx
Gatin (L) and Anderson
(June 21) The big bats of Mickey Martino and Doug Weeks led Oliver Elks to a 10-5 win over Vernon Sunday. The pair, both hitting from the left side, connected for seven of Oliver's thirteen hits and scored five of the ten runs. Martino smacked a triple and two doubles as the Elks came back from a 4-2 deficit for the victory. Bill Sibson had just one hit but scored four times.
Jackson (L) and Brummet
Cousins, Snyder (4) and xxx
(June 22) The latest OMBL statistics covering league action up to June 16 were published in the Kamloops Sentinel of this date. Leading the batting race at this point in the campaign is Russell Graff of the Vernon Canadians who sports a .433 batting mark. Kamloops’ pitcher Len Gatin tops the circuit with eight mound victories while Penticton’s young Ted Bowsfield has fashioned a pair of two-hit games, a one-hitter and a three-hitter in the four games that he has completed. The Athletics’ whiz kid has averaged three strikeouts for every two innings he has chucked (75 in 48 innings). Kamloops’ Buck Buchanan still leads the mighty by swatting three homers while Okonots’ teammate Gord Beecroft has poled out five doubles to head that department. Defensively, Kamloops has been by far the best club as they have turned seven double plays and committed only 12 errors afield.
OMBL batting averages as of June 16
AB H Aver.
Russell Graff (Vernon Canadians) 30 13 .433
Gord Beecroft (Kamloops Okonots) 34 14 .412
Loren Bay (Oliver Elks) 20 8 .400
Len Fowles (Kamloops Okonots) 31 12 .387
Keith “Buck” Buchanan (Kamloops Okonots) 30 11 .367
Bob Anderson (Kamloops Okonots) 25 9 .360
Eddie Kielbiski (Kelowna Orioles) 17 6 .353
Allan Hooker (Summerland Macs) 34 12 .353
Hank Tostenson (Kelowna Orioles) 26 9 .346
Bud Russell (Penticton Athletics) 33 11 .333
Mickey Martino (Oliver Elks) 30 10 .333
F. Fritz (Oliver Elks) 27 9 .333
Tony Brummet (Vernon Canadians) 33 10 .303
Gord Taylor (Summerland Macs) 34 10 .294
Johnny Lingor (Kelowna Orioles) 28 8 .286
Cec Favell (Kelowna Orioles) 33 9 .273
Ron Evensen (Kamloops Okonots) 27 7 .259
D. Moore (Penticton Athletics) 28 7 .250
B. Nieves (Penticton Athletics) 12 3 .250
Ted Bowsfield (Penticton Athletics) 20 5 .250
Aubrey Powell (Penticton Athletics) 8 2 .250
(June 24) Playing-manager Les Edwards pitched Penticton into second place in the Okanagan Mainline League Wednesday when the A's defeated Kelowna Orioles 6-4. Edwards came into the contest in the fourth inning to relieve starteer George Getz and held the Orioles off the scoreboard the rest of the way. He helped the offense with an eighth inning homer. A three-run third inning was the key for the Athletics. A walk and singles by Aub Powell, Elmer Mori and Bill Raptis plus an error by Kelowna shortstop Mits Koga produced the winning margin. Hank Tostenson had the big blow for the Orioles, a three-run homer in the fourth inning. Bo Carlson took the loss.
Getz, Edwards (W) (4) and Powell
Carlson (L) and Campbell
(June 27) An expected pitcher's duel turned into a high-scoring affair as Penticton Athletics dumped the league-leading Kamloops Okonots 12-6. Okonots starter Len Gatin suffered his first loss in nine starts giving up 12 hits while phenom Ted Bowsfield allowed eight while walking six and whiffing 13. Bill Raptis, back in the Penticton lineup after a stint in the Industrial League in Vancouver, led the winners with three hits and three runs scored. Bud Russell had a pair of hits and scored three times.
Bowsfield (W) and Powell
Gatin (L) and Anderson
(June 28) Vernon Canadians climbed into second place in the league standings Sunday virtue of a 10-5 victory over Summerland. Catcher Tony Brummet knocked in five runs with a homer and two singles to pace the Canadians assault. Wally Leismeister pitched out of several jams, especially in the 7th and 9th innings to go the distance for the win.
Eyre (L), Wakabayashi (4) and Egely
Leismeister (W) and Brummet
(June 28) The Kamloops Okonots came though with another one of their last-inning rallies at Penticton to eke out a narrow 5 to 4 victory over the Athletics in an exciting OMBL fixture. It was the ninth win of the 1953 season for the Okonots and kept them entrenched in top spot in the loop. Penticton’s hurler Les Edwards and the Okonots’ dependable Len Gatin mixed it up in a scoreless mound tussle for six innings before the A’s forged ahead by pushing across a pair of seventh-inning tallies, thanks to Bill Raptis’ two-run moonshot. The OKs countered with a brace of unearned counters in the top of the eighth only to fall behind again in the bottom of that frame when the Athletics produced a pair. The ninth-inning magic began with consecutive singles by ex-Asahi Kaye Kaminishi and Len Fowles. Kaminishi rounded third and touched home on a five-hole boot by the A’s shortstop on a ball hit by Ron Evensen. Following a line-drive double play which erased Fowles from the basepaths, a base on balls to Harry Maralia reinstated the potential tying and lead run scenario. Jack Fowles then drilled a single to bring home Evenson with the tying marker. Pinch-hitter Ken Stewart then laced a ground ball to Penticton shortstop Karrar who fired the horsehide to second for an attempted force out but inadvertently tossed the missile wide of the bag, allowing Maralia to score and give the visitors a one-run lead. Edwards finally retired the side and Gatin bore down on the Athletic batters in the bottom of the ninth, striking out the first two and later inducing a fly out, sandwiched between a scratch single, which ended the game. In picking up his ninth win of the campaign against one loss, Gatin whiffed ten and surrendered 11 well-spaced hits. Kamloops got to Edwards for eight hits with Maralia and Jack Fowles collecting two bingles each. Raptis was the major thorn in Gatin’s side with a brace of one-baggers to go along with his wild blue yonder clout. The A's protested the match on the basis of an eighth inning call by umpire Charlie Maisoneuve.
Gatin (W) and Anderson
Edwards (L) and O'Connell
Kamloops Okonots 9 - 3
Penticton Athletics 5 - 5 3.0
Kelowna Orioles 5 - 5 3.0
Oliver Elks 5 - 5 3.0
Vernon Canadians 6 - 6 3.0
Summerland Macs 3 - 10 6.5
(July 1) Mickey Martino of Oliver tops the OMBL batting race in the latest statistics as of July first. The Elks outfielder, with a .405 average, is just ahead of Vernon's Russ Graff who sits at an even .400. Doug Weeks of Oliver is third, at .385. Bill Raptis of Penticton has a .500 percentage but has just 10 at bats and not yet qualified for the batting title.
(July 1) Vernon Canadians and Kamloops Okonots split a Dominion Day double-dip at Riverside Park Wednesday. Vernon took the opener 9-7, running up an 8-1 lead in the first three innings, while the Okonots replied with a 12-6 victory in the second game.
A two-run homer by Tony Brummet highlighted a three-run first inning by the Canadians who had 12 hits to 11 for Kamloops. Brummet went 3-for-4 and scored three times. Ike Jackson went the route for the win. Gordie Beecroft, who had four hits, belted a two-run homer for the Okonots in the fifth.
MacDonald (L), Beecroft (4) and Anderson
Jackson (W) and Brummet
Former pro Johnny Brkich fired a seven-hitter and fanned 17 in the second encounter as Kamloops rang up a 12-6 triumph. Right fielder Bob Saklofsky led a 13-hit attack with four safeties.
Brkich (W) and Stewart
Brummet (L), Jackson and Keckalo
(July 1) The Oliver Elks took top money at Penticton's Dominion Day Tournament clipping the host Athletics 9-2 in the final as manager Richie Schnider threw a five-hitter in coasting to the win. The only damage against him was Lloyd Burgart's two-run homer. The A's had a 2-1 lead after six frames but extra base power from the Elks, including a homer by Bill Sibson put the Elks in front to stay.
Snyder (W) and xxx
Getz (L) and Neeves (9), Edwards (9) and xxx
Oliver had earlier whipped the Okanogan, Washington, entry 9-3 with Bill Martino going the route for the victory in spite of 11 hits for the visitors. The Elks put the game away early with four runs in the first inning and another two in the second against starter Jim Lightly. Elmer Bay slugged a homer in the fifth.
Martino (W) and xxx
xxx and xxx
Penticton advanced with a 9-5 triumph over Summerland Macs. Les Edwards picked up the win with relief help from Larry Jordan. Bill Raptis led the attack with three hits.
xxx and xxx
Edwards (W), Jordan and xxx
(July 4) In an exhibition tilt at Riverside Park Saturday, the Seattle Hi-Stars topped the Okonots 11-8. A four-run 7th inning won it for the visitors. Mike Rosoto had a homer for the winners. Bill Duff and Rosoto split the pitching chores for Seattle. Gordie Beecroft went the distance for Kamloops.
Bill Duff, Mike Rosoto and xxx
Beecroft (L) and xxx
(July 5) Penticton Athletics, with a win on the field and another in the boardroom, are just a half-game back oif first place Kamloops in the Okanagan Mainline standings. A's downed the Macs 8-4 at Summerland Sunday while gaining another victory in winning their protest of the game with Kamloops on June 28th. Young Larry Jordan hurled a strong game for the A's in replacing injured starter Ted Bowsfield. Jordan held the Macs to eight hits while setting down seven via the strikeout route. Doug Moore was the big gun for the Athletics with three hits, one a homer, while Les Edwards added a homer and single.
Jordan (W) and Powell
Eyre (L), Wakabayashi (7) and Egley
(July 5) Kelowna Orioles embarrassed the Oliver Elks before the home fans Sunday afternoon with a 16-3 victory. Orioles pounded out 14 hits and were aided by 11 Oliver errors. Cec Favell paced the winners knocking in five runs and scoring a pair with a three-hit afternoon. Catcher Roy Campbell and shortstop Amundrud each add three hits. Second sacker Morio Koga scored four times. Eddie Kielbiski took over from a faltering Mits Koga in the first inning and pitched three-hit ball the rest of the way.
Koga, Kielbiski (W) and Campbell
Cousins (L), B.Martino (6), Snyder (6), M.Martino (9) and Loren Bay
(July 5) Kamloops Okonots salvaged a victory Sunday in their three-game weekend series with Seattle Hi-Stars but it took an unusual acquisition to do so. The Okonots recruited a five-foot hurler from the grandstand to take the mound for the locals. Hayashi went the distance as Kamloops notched a 10-8 triumph in the second game of the Sunday twin-bill. The winners nicked Seattle moundsmen Bill Duff, Joe Budnick and Mike Rosoto for 13 hits while the Stars had an equal number of safeties off Hayashi. Buck Buchanan carried the heavy lumber for the Okonots belting a three-run homer.
Hayashi (W) and xxx
Duff, Budnick, Rosoto and xxx
In the Sunday opener, Seattle walloped 19 hits to take an 18-11 decision in a slugfest which saw each team go through four pitchers. Herb Anderson, who finished on the hill for the visitors, led the offensive with two home runs and a pair of singles. Rosoto and Jerry Jones each had two hits. Bob Saklofsky and Bill MacDonald each had two hits for Kamloops.
Beecroft, Stewart, MacDonald, Cliff and xxx
Rosoto, Simmons (4), Duff, Anderson and xxx
Kamloops Okonots 9 - 4
Penticton Athletics 7 - 4 1.0
Kelowna Orioles 6 - 5 2.0
Vernon Canadians 7 - 7 2.5
Oliver Elks 5 - 6 3.0
Summerland Macs 3 - 11 6.5
(July 8) Skipper Richie Schnider again handled the mound work for Oliver Wednesday and the Elks notched a big 11-5 win over Penticton. Snyder was nicked for ten hits but managed to go the distance for the winners. Elks won the game in the second frame when they got to starter George Getz for four hits and five runs. Don Coy drove in five runs for the Elks with a three hit effort. Paul Eisenhut and Mickey Martino each had a pair. Bill Raptis banged out two doubles and a single for the A's.
Getz, Jordan (3), Beale (6) and Powell
Snyder (W) and Sibson
(July 8) The Kamloops Okonots are the top fielding team in the Okanagan-Mainline circuit. Statistics released by league secretary Wally Janicki show Kamloops with an average of two errors per game and nine double plays. Penticton is next with an average of 2.5 errors per contest and three double plays.
(July 11-12) Nelson Tournament
(July 12) The home town Oliver Elks beat the lowly Summerland Macs 7-4 clouting five extra base hits while Hal Cousins managed to go hold the Macs to seven hits, three of them doubles. Summerland scored first getting two runs in the third as Fred Kato singled in Lefty Gould and Daryl Weitzel came home on a passed ball Oliver got one of those back in the bottom half with Paul Eisenhut, who had reached on an error, scoring on two infield outs and a passed ball. Elks knotted the count in the fourth as Elmer Bay tripled and trotted home on Bob Radies sacrifice. Oliver added two more in the seventh. Winning pitcher Hal Cousins and Eisenhut drew free passes before Doug Weeks brought them in with a triple to right. Elks added some insurance in the eighth. Bill Sibson singled to score Don Coy who had tripled and a single by Loren Bay and an error plated the final rund.
Wakabayshi (L), Eyre and Egely
Cousins (W) and L.Bay
(July 13) The OMBL executive has taken a win away from the Kamloops Okonots. The Penticton Athletics won their protest of a June 28th game they lost 5-4 to Kamloops. Manager Les Edwards had challenged the umpire's decision of a ground rule regarding the number of bases a runner can take on an overthrow. The executive decided the game will be replayed at the end of the season if its outcome could alter the league standings.
(July 19) The last place Summerland Macs upset Vernon 7-6 in a 12-inning thriller Sunday when little Fred Kato circled the bases with the game winner when his drive to left field bounded over Al Munk's head and out of the park for a homer. The Macs broke a 2-2 tie in the sixth as Roy Wakabayashi smacked a homer with a runner on base. The Macs added two more in the seventh. The Canadians came roaring back with four runs in the eighth inning to knot the count. Russ Graff opened with a free pass and Tom Stecyk doubled and Tony Brummet and Al Munk followed with three baggers to plate three markers and the fourth came home on an error. Vernon threatened again in the ninth when they loaded the bases with two away but a ground out ended regulation play.
Leismeister (L) and Brummet
Eyre (W) and xxx
(July 19) With their star hurler Len Gatin moving to Prince George, the Kamloops Okonots got a glimpse of life without an ace on the hill. Kelowna Orioles clobbered the Okonots 16-3 Sunday at Riverside Park. The visitors ran up a 9-0 lead before the home club got on the board with a run in the 7th. Kelowna took an early lead with a pair in the 1st and made in 5-0 on Johnny Lingor's three-run homer in the second. Eddie Kielbiski went the distance for the win holding the Okonots to six hits. Paul Prehara took the loss.
Kielbiski (W) and xxx
Prehara (L), Beecroft (5) and xxx
Kamloops Okonots 9 - 5
Penticton Athletics 8 - 5 0.5
Vernon Canadians 8 - 7 1.5
Kelowna Orioles 7 - 6 1.5
Oliver Elks 7 - 7 2.0
Summerland Macs 3 - 12 6.5
(July 22) 21-year-old Wendell Clifton, just back from a two-year stint in pro ball, made a strong debut with Penticton Wednesday pitching a three-hitter as the A's clobbered Summerland 13-2. The Keremeos native fanned 16 and walked 5. Doug Moore led a 16 hit attack for the A's with three hits. Right fielder Frank Kuroda was the offense for the Macs with a homer.
Clifton (W) and Powell
Eyre (L), Wakabayashi (7) and Egely, Stevenson
(July 23) Playing manager Les Edwards fired a four-hitter Thursday to blank Oliver 3-0 to strengthen Penticton's hold on second place in the league standings. Bill Raptis smacked a two-run homer in the seventh inning to break a scoreless tie. Sholto Hebenton scored the clincher in the ninth scampering home from third on an error.
Snyder (L) and Sibson, L.Bay
Edwards (W) and Powell
(July 26) With hurler Len Gatin back in tow after a brief absence the league-leading Kamloops Okonots downed Kelowna Orioles 9-4 in an Okanagan Mainline Baseball League encounter. After falling behind 2-0 in the first inning, Kamloops scored five runs in the second inning for a lead they never relinquished. Third baseman Kay Kaminishi led an 11-hit attack with a double and two singles. Centre fielder Gord Beecroft added two hits and scored a pair. Left fielder Johnny Lingor had a two-run homer for the Orioles.
Gatin (W) and Anderson
Hackler (L) and Campbell
(July 26) With an 11-5 victory over Vernon, the Penticton Athletics have moved into a first place tie with Kamloops Okonots, each with 10 victories in 15 games. Les Edwards broke open a tight game in the sixth inning with a three-run homer. The winners smacked 16 hits, three by second baseman Sam Drossos. George Getz picked up the win in a relief role.
Clifton, Getz (5) and Powell
Lesmeister, Dye and Brummet
(July 29) Kelowna Orioles moved into a three-way tie for first place downing Penticton 10-3 Wednesday. Orioles rocked the Athletics with three runs in the first inning and were never headed. Kelowna iced the contest in the seventh with a six run outburst highlited by a three-run homer by right-fielder Thompson. Bill Raptis continued his hot hitting for the A's with four more hits. Roy Campell scattered nine hits for the pitching win.
Clifton (L), Getz and Powell
Campbell (W) and Kielbiski
Kamloops Okonots 10 - 6
Penticton Athletics 10 - 6
Kelowna Orioles 10 - 6
Oliver Elks 9 - 7 1.0
Vernon Canadians
8 - 8 2.0
Summerland Macs 3 - 15 8.0
(August 2) Oliver Elks rapped 13 hits and took advantage of 10 bases on balls to dump the Okonots 13-9 at Riverside Park in Kamloops Sunday. A three-run homer by Weeks in the 2nd inning had given Oliver a 4-1 lead before Kamloops roared back with five runs, highlighted by Buck Buchanan's three-run blast, in the bottom of the frame. The Elks went ahead 7-5 in the top of the 4th adding three more runs. The Okonots matched it with three of their own in their half of the inning to take an 8-7 lead as third sacker Bob Saklofsky, who had four hits, had a homer. The visitors put three on the board in the 7th and three more in the 9th to put the game out of reach.
R.Snider, Rades (2), Cousins (W)(4) and xxx
Gatin (L) and xxx
(August 9) Summerland Macs erased a 4-1 Kamloops advantage with nine runs in the last three innings to notch a 10-4 win Sunday at Riverside Park. A 1-1 nail-biter into the bottom of the 6th, Kamloops jumped into the lead on Ken Stewart's three-run homer. The Macs picked up one in the 7th and then erupted for six in the 8th against three Okonots hurlers and added a pair in the 9th. Roy Wakabayashi held Kamloops to four hits in going the distance for the win.
Roy Wakabayashi and xxx
Younie (L), Prehara (8), Gatin (8) and xxx
(August 9) George Getz shutout Kelowna on five hits Wednesday as Penticton claimed an 8-0 victory and moved into sole possession of first place in the Okanagan Mainline standings a game up on Kamloops Okonots. Getz was in firm control all the way compiling eight strikeouts with no bases on balls. Centre fielder Bud Russell highlighted a 13-hit Athletics assault with a triple, double, two singles, a walk and three runs scored.
Kielbiski (L) and Campbell
Getz (W) and Powell
(August 9) Wally Leismeister had a shutout until the ninth inning in hurling Vernon to a 4-2 win over Oliver. With two out in the ninth, the Elks got to Leismeister for three hits and their two markers. Catcher Tony Brummet powered the Vernon attack with a two-run homer in the third inning.
W.Martino, Cousins (5) and Sibson
Leismeister (W) and Brummet
(August 12) Bill Raptis of Penticton continues to set a torrid pace in the Okanagan-Mainline batting race. The "Rapper", with a .455 average, tops Tony Brummet of Vernon who sits at .421. Russell Graff of Vernon is third at an even .400 with Len Fowles of Kamloops, .359, and Bob Anderson of the Okonots, at .347, rounding out the top five.
(August 12) Oliver Elks have jumped into second place, just a half-game back of Penticton, beating the Athletics 6-2 Wednesday as playing-manager Richie Schnider pitched a seven-hitter for the win. A four-run first inning proved enough for the Elks. They combined three hits and three Penticton errors to put the Athletics in a hole from which they never escaped. Wendell Clifton was strong in relief for the A's going eight innings and whiffing a dozen. He also led the losing side with three hits. But it was too little, too late as the Elks held on for the victory.
Snyder (W) and Sibson
Getz (L), Clifton (2) and Powell
(August 12) Kelowna Orioles took a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning then fell apart on the bottom of the frame as Vernon combined four hits, two walks and three errors to plate nine runs en route to walloping the Orioles 16-7. Red Graff drove in five runs with three hits and Tom Stecyk added a two-run homer and single. Tony Brummet kicked in with three hits while Ike Jackson, who relieved in the second inning to get the win, aided his own cause with two hits.
Carlson (L), Kielbiski (1), Duggan (6) and Campbell
Dye, Jackson (W) (2) and Brummet
Penticton Athletics 11 - 7
Oliver Elks 11 - 8 0.5
Kamloops Okonots 10 - 8 1.0
Kelowna Orioles 10 - 9 1.5
Vernon Canadians
10 - 9 1.5
Summerland Macs 4 - 15 7.5
(August 16) In a wild one at Oliver, the hometown Elks managed to squeak out a 20-19 win over Kamloops Okonots in a game in which each team had 18 hits and bunched all the scoring in the first six innings. Neither team scored in the last three frames. Doug Weeks and Richie Schnider paced the winners each with four hits and five runs scored. Snyder, who was the winning pitcher, smacked a homer, two doubles, two singles, drew two walks and had five runs batted in. Both Jack Fowles and Buck Buchanan punched out four hits for the Okonots who exploded for 11 runs in the 4th inning to take a 17-9 lead. The Elks responded with five runs in their half of the 4th and added four in the 5th and two in the sixth for the win. Buchanan scored five times and punched out three doubles while Fowles knocked in six runs.
Gatin, Beecroft (L) (4) and Anderson
xxx, xxx, xxx and xxx
Radies, Cousins (4), W.Martino (4), Snyder (W) (4) and Sibson
(August 16) Vernon blew a 3-0 lead in dropping a 7-4 decision at Kelowna. The Canadians opened with a pair in the first and added another in the top of the third before Johnny Lingor smacked a two-run homer in the bottom of the third and Kelowna tied the count with a run in the fourth as Canadians' hurler Wally Leismeister was given the heave-ho after an exchange with umpire Larry Schlosser. Southpaw George Dye relieved with the bases loaded and none out and managed to get a double play and a ground out to end the inning. Bob Johnson slugged a homer in the fifth to put Vernon back on top 4-3, but Kelowna responded with three runs in the bottom of the fifth, helped by Vernon errors, to take the lead for good. Bobby Campbell, normally the Kelowna catcher, made it two straight wins as a pitcher in setting down the Canadians on seven hits.
Leismeister, Dye (L) (4) and Brummet
Campbell (W) and Kielbiski, M.Koga (7)
(August 19) At King's Park Wednesday, Penticton looked every bit a championship club in a 10-1 thrashing of Vernon Canadians as Wendell Clifton led the way both on the mound and at the plate. The former St.Louis Browns farmhand handcuffed Vernon on five hits and fanned 14 while leading the hitters with a triple and two singles. Only Tony Brummet, the Vernon catcher, did damage against Clifton, poking a homer in the seventh inning. Mac Collins and Bud Russell each swiped three bases.
Lesmeister (L) and Brummet
Clifton (W) and Powell
(August 23) A week after giving up 18 hits and 20 runs in a loss to Oliver, the Kamloops Elks blanked Kelowna 2-0 behind a one-hitter by Paul Prehara and Gordie Beecroft's two-run homer in the 6th inning. Bob Campbell allowed just four hits in taking the loss. 18-year-old Campbell, the clever all-around athlete from Rutland, has been named Most Valuable Player of the Kelowna senior baseball team. Annoucement of the winner of the Frank Keevil trophy was made after Sunday's game at Elks Stadium.
Prehara (W) and xxx
Campbell (L) and xxx
(August 23) Summerland topped Oliver 4-2.
League officials have set Sunday for the replay of the protest game between Penticton and Kamloops. The contest will decide the pennant winner of the six-team circuit. If Penticton wins, they take the pennant. Kamloops would then be tied with Oliver and those two clubs would meet in the second game of a double-header. If Penticton loses the first game, the Athletics and Kamloops would play again to break the tie. A sudden-death playoff is to be scheduled between Vernon and Kelowna to break the tie for fourth place.
Penticton Athletics 12 - 7
Kamloops Okonots 11 - 8 1.0
Oliver Elks 11 - 9 1.5
Vernon Canadians
10 - 10 2.5
Kelowna Orioles 10 - 10 2.5
Summerland Macs 5 - 15 7.5
(August 30) Penticton playing-manager Les Edwards did with his bat in the second game what he couldn't do with his arm in the first game as the Athletics defeated Kamloops 6-1 to capture the Okanagan Mainline Baseball League pennant for the third straight year. Kamloops had tied for the lead with a 7-5 victory in the first game. Edwards was the losing pitcher in the opener before knocking in four runs in the second game with a homer, double and single to provide the margin of victory. Sam Drossos also smacked a homer for the winners. Wendell Clifton held Kamloops to four hits and the only run against him came home on a wild pitch.
Brkich (L) and Stewart
Clifton (W) and Powell
Okonots pounded out 16 hits in the first game to back Len Gatin's hurling to take a 7-5 victory. Gatin scattered 11 hits in posting the win. Jack Fowles led the offense with four hits and Len Fowles had three. Doug Moore clouted a three-run homer for Penticton and Bill Raptis had a solo shot.
Gatin (W) and Anderson
Edwards (L), Getz (5) and Powell
(August 30) Kelowna Orioles shaded Vernon 7-6 to secure the fourth playoff spot.
Penticton 13 8 --
Kamloops 12 9 1.0
Oliver 11 9 1.5
Kelowna 11 10 2.0
Vernon 10 11 3.0
Summerland 5 15 7.5
(September 6-7) Kamloops Labour Day Tournament
(September 6-7) Penticton Labour Day Tournament
(September 7) Oliver Labour Day Tournament
(September 13) In one of the best-played games of the season, Oliver Elks evened the OMBL semi-final series at a game apiece downing Penticton 2-1 at Oliver. Athletics took the lead in the third with Sam Drossos knocking in Bud Russell who had reached with a free pass. The Elks won it in the fourth as starter Hal Cousins singled to drive in Loren Bay and Richie Schnider. Bay had reached with a single and Snyder with a walk and both advanced on a double steal. Cousins and Snyder combined to hold Penticton to five hits. Elks got seven hits off Les Edwards.
Clifton (L) and Powell
Cousins, Snyder (W) (5) and Sibson
(September 13) Kelowna Orioles fell behind 4-0 in the first inning but rallied with six runs in the third on a double, two singles and four walks and went on to a 12-8 victory over Kamloops in the opening game of their semi-final series. Johnny Lingor, who had three hits and scored three times, put the game away with a three-run homer in the 8th. Bob Campbell survived 13 hits to go the distance for the win.
Campbell (W) and Kielbiski
Preharra (L), Beecroft (3) and Garay
(September 16) The Okanagan-Mainline League has announced Tony Brummet, not Bill Raptis, as the batting champion for 1953. The league's executive reversed an earlier ruling which had decided the tie-breaker games would not count in the final batting statistics. Now, with the extra games included Brummet climbed to .400 while Raptis fell to .383. Les Edwards, the playing-manager of the Penticton Athletics announced he will protest the decision.
(September 20) It will be Kamloops against Penticton in the final of the Okangan Mainline Baseball League. Okonots swept a twin-bill from Kelowna 14-1 and 9-7 Sunday to win the best-of-three series while Penticton captured their set with Oliver with an 8-3 decision with homers by Bud Russell, Bill Raptis and Willard Burgart.
Gordie Beecroft, centre fielder turned pitcher, turned in an iron-man feat for the Okonots hurling both games. He tossed a sparkling three-hitter in the opener and scattered ten hits in the second game while his teammates collected a total of 25 hits on the day, including six home runs. In the first game, Kamloops gave up a run in the initial frame then blanked the Oroles the rest of the way while ripping three hurlers for 12 hits and 14 runs. In the third inning, with the Okonots already ahead 4-1, Buck Buchanan belted one of the longest homers ever hit at Riverside Park. With Ed Garay aboard, Buchanan crushed the ball into the treetops over the right centre field fence. In the same inning, with Jack Fowles and Bob Saklofsky on base, Bill MacDonald, who had three hits, walloped one over the left field wall to make the count 9-1. Garay led off the 4th with another four-bagger. Fowles had three hits and scored three times to pace the attack.
Beecroft was a leader at the plate in the second game with three hits and three runs scored and he knocked in the winning run with an 8th inning single. Jack Fowles got his 4th and 5th hits of the day, one a homer in the 7th inning, and scored another three markers, including the winner. Buchanan clouted his second homer of the day and Saklofsky also had a circuit shot. Losing pitcher Bob Campbell had a two-run homer for Kelowna.
Beecroft (W) and Garay
Duggan (L), Kielbiski, Amundrud and Campbell
Beecroft (W) and Garay
Campbell (L), Mits Koga (8) and Kielbiski
(September 27) Penticton trounced Kamloops 13-5 Sunday in the opening game of the OMBL final series. The contest featured seven home runs. Athletics took an early 5-1 lead and cruised to the victory. Wendell Clifton, allowed four long balls, but went the distance for the win. Bill Raptis led the Athletics' 14-hit assault with two homers and a single. Penticton playing-manager Les Edwards had two hits, one a homer and scored three runs. Ed Garay, Buck Buchanan, Ron Evensen and Gordie Beecroft bashed circuit blows for Kamloops. Beecroft's homer in the bottom of the 9th marked his final home appearance for the Okonots as he leaves for Seattle University on a baseball scholarship.
Clifton (W) and Powell
Prehara (L), Beecroft (2) and Garay
(October 4) Playing at home, the Penticton Athletics exploded for seven runs in the 7th inning to shade Kamloops 7-6 to capture the best-of-three Okanagan Mainline championship final in two straight games. Playing-manager Les Edwards clouted a two-run homer to highlight the outburst against Okonots' hurdler Gordie Beecroft. Wendell Clifton pitched into the 8th inning for the win. George Getz relieved and faced only two batters before Ted Bowsfield, sidelined most of the season with a sore arm, took over to nail down the win.
Beecroft (L) and Garay
Clifton (W), Getz (8), Bowsfield (8) and Powell
BC INTERIOR LEAGUE
After shrinking to just four member teams midway through the 1952 campaign, the B.C. Interior Baseball League experienced modest growth entering the new year. Returning to the fold for the 1953 season were the Revelstoke Spikes and the Rutland Adanacs of last year. Gone from the circuit was the team from Winfield, the Aces. Kamloops continued to maintain its presence but under the banner of the Elks at the start as the Okanagan Mainline League team of baseballers and the Interior League diamondeers traded names when they came together under one roof. Early in the campaign, however, the Elks decided upon a name change and christened themselves as the Monarchs. Newcomers to the 1953 circuit were the North Kamloops Merchants, Kelowna Chiefs and Princeton Royals which brought the total number of teams vying for the league title to six.
(Again, BC baseball material is not easy to come by. Here we've managed to dig out game reports from early May to the end of June as reported in the Kamloops Sentinel.)
(May 3) The Kamloops Baseball Club’s entry in the B.C. Interior League, the Elks, opened their 1953 season on the road and were edged 4 to 3 by the Princeton Royals. The game in Princeton proved to be a real crowd-pleaser with the Royals pushing across the winning marker in the bottom of the ninth to take the close struggle. Despite being nailed with the pitching loss, southpaw chucker Doug Hayes of the Elks was impressive in his debut. He went the route for the visitors, striking out 12 Princeton batters while allowing only six hits.
Hayes (L) and Prehara
xxx (W) and xxx
(May 3) The North Kamloops Merchants staged their opening game in the Interior Baseball League at MacDonald Park and the visiting club, the Kelowna Chiefs, took advantage of a shaky beginning to fashion a 4 to 1 victory. The key to the game was the effective four-hit pitching of Kelowna’s Steve Melnichuk.
Melnichuk (W) and xxx
Varanai (L), Jefferies(5) and Harowatari
(May 10) The Elks of Kamloops found out the hard way that it’s tough to commit errors and win ball games at the same time. Losing twirler Stan Kato of the Antlered Herd gave up only four hits but his mates committed no less than seven errors that accounted for a 4 to 0 victory for the Revelstoke Spikes. On top of the fumbleitis, the Kamloops batsmen just couldn’t find the range on Spikes’ chucker, Jim Tasko, who wrapped up a neat five-hitter. All five of the Elk hits were accounted for by George Hertz and Barry Mayhew, the former having three and the latter two.
Kato (L) and xxx
Tasko (W) and Harding
(May 10) The Kelowna Chiefs inflicted the second defeat in as many weeks upon the North Kamloops Merchants when they blanked the Merchants 8 to 0 in an Interior League match played in Kelowna. The Chiefs had speedball artist Don Hickson working on the mound for them and he came within a single of tossing a perfect game. Allan Collier collected the Merchants’ only hit of the struggle in the fourth inning. The booming bat of Len Malanchuk also proved nothing but trouble for North Kamloops pitchers Jack Olson and Art Jefferies. Malanchuk rammed out two home runs, one off each Merchant hurler.
Olson (L), Jefferies and xxx
Hickson (W) and xxx
(May 17) Sporting a new look with three fresh faces in the lineup, the Kamloops Elks still couldn’t get on the winning trail as they dropped a tight 6 to 5 decision to the Rutland Adanacs. Losing hurler Al Swaine started on the mound for Kamloops and was relieved by Stan Kato in the seventh inning. Over the nine inning stretch, the duo allowed only four Rutland hits but 10 errors gave the Adanacs the edge they needed to win. Centre fielder Tony Senger of the Ads smashed a pair of singles for half of the Rutland club’s hits. Outfielder Jim Pratt paced the losers with three hits while Ash Mayson collected two more of the seven hits off the Adanac pitchers. One of Mayson’s blows was a bases-empty home run in the fourth frame.
xxx (W), xxx and xxx
Swaine (L), Kato (7) and xxx
(May 17) The North Kamloops Merchants journeyed into Princeton for an Interior League tussle and were handed their third consecutive loss as they fell victim to a seven-run sixth inning in losing 12 to 4 to the homestanding Royals. The Merchants led 4 to 0 and were playing errorless ball up until that point but then losing twirler Steve Varanai weakened and the Royals jumped all over his offerings. Jack Olson’s relief appearance didn’t quell the storm as Princeton added three more in the seventh and another two in the eighth. Allan Collier’s three-run, bases-loaded double in the second inning was the highlight of the North Kamloops scoring.
Varanai (L), Olson (7) and xxx
xxx (W) and xxx
(May 24) The Kamloops Baseball Club’s entry in the B.C. Interior Baseball League, previously known as the Elks, had a recent change of name and it seemed to be just what the doctor ordered as they made a trip to Revelstoke and emerged with their first win of the season, a 6 to 3 triumph over the Spikes. Now known as the Kamloops Monarchs, the majestic nine were led to their initial victory by the stellar seven-hit pitching of 18-year old Doug Hayes who rifled his southpaw slants at the Revelstoke batters, sending 12 of them back to the dugout as strikeout victims. For the first time this young campaign, the team from Kamloops did not shoot themselves in the foot by committing costly defensive mistakes.
Hayes (W) and Prehara
xxx (L) and xxx
(May 24) A three-run ninth inning by the Rutland Adanacs broke up a 7 – 7 ball game at MacDonald Park as the North Kamloops Merchants were edged 10 to 8 for their fourth straight setback in Interior Baseball League play. The Merchants got off on the wrong foot and fell behind 5 to 0 after one inning was in the books. They clawed their way back in the game and eventually tied the score after plating three big counters in the bottom of the eighth. In the fatal ninth, two bases on balls and a couple of errors allowed the visitors to push in three runs off loser Steve Varanai who, up until then, had done a sterling mound job after coming to the aid of starter Art Jefferies in the first. Archie Gaber and Rudy Morelli had four of the five Merchant hits with a pair of bingles each.
xxx (W) and xxx
Jefferies, Varanai (L) (1) and xxx
(May 31) The fifth time out proved lucky for the North Kamloops Merchants as they chalked up their first victory in B.C. Interior League play by downing the Rutland Adanacs 9 to 4 in Rutland. Steve Varanai went all the way on the hill to register the pitching win. Although he was touched for 11 Rutland hits, he had excellent defensive support behind him all the way and, except for the fourth inning, was able to avoid any multi-run damage. Allan Collier, Rudy Morelli and Ken Pratt were especially hot in the field for the NoKams and it was such classy defensive work that saved the game many times over. The winners collected ten hits off three Rutland flingers. Varanai helped his own cause considerably with three base blows while Collier and Morelli each added a pair.
Varanai (W) and xxx
xxx (L), xxx, xxx and xxx
(June 7) Playing in a constant light drizzle, the homestanding Kelowna Chiefs drubbed the Kamloops Monarchs 9 to 1 in B.C. Interior League play. Steve Melnichuk, who normally patrols the outfield for the Chiefs, toed the rubber as the starting flinger and came away with a six-hit complete game win. Melnichuk surrendered a lone run in the initial frame then blanked the Monarchs for the balance of the contest. Three Kamloops pitchers, Jim Marshall, Bob Gale and Doug Hayes gave up a combined five hits but five walks, three errors and well-timed hits for the Ogopogo-landers accounted for the nine runs. Melnichuk paced the Chiefs’ hitters with two big bingles while Pete Duck singled twice for the losers.
Marshall (L), Gale (4), Hayes (6) and xxx
Melnichuk (W) and xxx
(June 14) The North Kamloops Merchants just couldn’t come up with base hits with runners on base at MacDonald Park as they went down to a 12 to 4 Interior League defeat at the hands of the visiting Princeton Royals. Although they drilled 11 base hits off Princeton chucker B. Gerein, they left 20 of their baserunners stranded. The big gun for the Royals offensively was shortstop J. Markin who had three hits off Merchant hurlers Bill Cliff and Steve Varanai. P. Markin and Gerein both picked up a couple of base blows. For North Kamloops, Art Jefferies drilled three hits while Archie Gaber and Rudy Morelli grabbed two apiece.
Gerein (W) and xxx
Cliff (L), Varanai and xxx
(June 14) The Kamloops Monarchs got back in the winning groove in the B.C. Interior Baseball League at Riverside Park by ousting the Kelowna Chiefs 7 to 1 behind the stellar two-hit pitching of ace moundsman Doug Hayes. The 18 year old portsider had his southpaw slants sizzling and his control was near perfect as he struck out 11 Chief batters and gave up only three walks. The Monarchs raked Kelowna hurler, Steve Melnichuk, for ten well-placed hits over the course of the game. George Hertz, the Monarchs’ third baseman, smashed a two-run homer in the eighth and also collected a single for a two-hit game. Ash Mayson and Jim Booth also rapped a brace of bingles for the winners. Walter Kaye and Lorne Gauley divided the two Kelowna base blows.
Melnichuk (L) and xxx
Hayes (W) and xxx
(June 21) The Kamloops Monarchs inched a bit closer to the .500 mark in B.C. Interior Baseball League play when they trimmed the North Kamloops Merchants 14 to 8 at MacDonald Park. In registering their third win in seven starts, the Majestic nine were better able to cash in their opportunities than their Northside cousins. The game was closer than the score might indicate as the Monarchs only held an 8 to 7 edge in base hits. Ed Fuoco and Bill Lennox paced the winners with a brace of bingles apiece while there was no Merchant batter able to collect more than one hit.
Marshall (W), Hayes and xxx
Varanai (L), Cliff and xxx
(June 28) The North Kamloops Merchants came through with the goods at Riverside Park when they picked up their second B.C. Interior League triumph by edging the Kamloops Monarchs 12 to 11 in a high-scoring, yet thrilling, diamond joust. The Merchants were down six runs at one point in the game but rallied to overcome the deficit and go on to victory. Four run outbursts in both the fifth and seventh frames sent the Enterprisers ahead to stay. Heading into the bottom of the ninth, they had a 12 to 10 lead but allowed the homesters to edge to within a single counter and, then on a thrilling relay from centre fielder Ron Pilling to chucker Steve Varanai to catcher Stoney Oishi, caught the potential tying run at the plate to end the game. The gutsy Varanai toed the rubber all the way for the winners and pulled himself out of major trouble many times. In persevering through the mine field, he gave up 12 hits and whiffed nine of the Majestics. Of the nine hits the Merchants collected off three Monarch hurlers, Varanai, Archie Gaber and Tom Sugden contributed two each. George Hertz topped the Regal nine at the dish with four singles while Gunnar Carlson laced a trio of bingles.
Varanai (W) and Oishi
Hayes, Gale (L) (3), Marshall (7) and xxx
(July 1) The last-place North Kamloops Merchants scored five runs in the final frame Wednesday to come from behind to notch a 6-4 win over Revelstoke to supply the highlight to the July 1st Sports Day in Revelstoke. For six innings, a 1-1 tie was a pitchers' duel between Merchants' right-hander Steve Varanai and the Spikes' Lefty Pratico. Varanai weakened in the 7th as Revelstoke broke through with two runs on two hits, a walk and an error. They added another in the 8th to go up 4-1. Tom Sugden led off the Merchants' 9th with a single. With one out Varanai singled and Ken Pratt drew a walk. With the sacks full, Archie Gaber's two-run double brought the Merchants to within a run. A squeeze play, with Ron Pilling putting down the bunt, tied the score and A long fly ball by Rudy Morelli put North Kamloops in the lead. A single by Bill Marriot proved an insurance run. It was the third, complete game, pitching victory for Varanai.
Varanai (W) and xxx
Pratico (L) and xxx
Princeton 5 2 --
Rutland 5 2 --
Revelstoke 4 4 1.5
Kelowna 4 5 2.0
Kamloops 3 5 2.5
North Kamloops 3 6 3.0
(July 5) Revelstoke Spikes took an early 3-0 lead and hung on for a 4-3 victory over North Kamloops Sunday afternoon. Olynks fired a three-hitter for the winners. After each team scored in the first inning, the Spikes plated a pair in the second. Onynks singled in the 6th to score Mucha with the winning run.
Onynks (W) and xxx
Varanai (L) and xxx
(July 5) Kamloops Monarchs doubled up Rutland Adanacs 10-5 Sunday in an Interior League contest. Jim Marshall led the Kamloops offense with four hits while Bill Lennon and Eddy Fuoco each had a pair. Doug Hay held Rutland to seven hits in registering the pitching win.
Hay (W) and xxx
xxx and xxx
(July 12) Princeton Royals captured the Interior League pennant Sunday outlasting Kamloops Monarchs 13-12 in a wild one at Riverside Park. Royals were down 11-5 after seven innings but notched eight runs in the last two frames for the victory. Royals out-hit the Monarchs 19 to 9 but also led in errors, 7 to 5.
Monarchs scored five times in the 7th to grab an 11-5 lead but Princeton rallied with four in the 8th to cut the margin to 11-9. Kamloops added another in the bottom of the 8th to take a comfortable 12-9 margin. In the 9th, a double and four singles resulted in the four markers to put the Royals ahead 13-12. Gerein set Kamloops down one-two-three in the bottom of the 9th to protect the lead. Bruno Ceccon led the attack with four hits.
Whitehouse, Gerein and xxx
Hay, Mason and xxx
(July 12) Revelstoke clinched second place with a 7-6 win over the Adanacs at Rutland.
Final Standings
Princeton 7 3 --
Revelstoke 6 4 1.0
Rutland 5 5
2.0
Kelowna 5 5 2.0
Kamloops Monarchs 4 6 3.0
N.Kamloops Merchants 3 7
4.0
(July 19) A pair of shutouts highlighted the BC Interior League playoffs Sunday. Lefty Al Whitehouse held Kelowna to one hit as Princeton Royals hammered the Chiefs 22-0. Steve Melnichuk was the loser in the wild offensive show that saw every Princeton player bat around twice in the 12-run 6th inning.
Whitehouse (W) and xxx
Melnichuk (L), xxx and xxx
(July 19) Steve Tasko blanked Rutland on four hits as Revelstoke ran up a 7-0 win. Claire Sproule gave up 11 hits in taking the loss.
Tasko (W) and xxx
Sproule (L) and xxx
(August 9) Revelstoke knotted the final series at a game apiece with a 5-3 victory over Princeton Royals. Royals won the opener of the best-of-three series last week.
(August) Revelstoke captured the BC Interior League championship defeating Princeton in the best of three final series.
WEST KOOTENAY BASEBALL
(May 9) Trail's 1953 lid-lifter was one for the record book. Pete Boisvert and reliever Bobby McKinnon combined on a no-hitter as the Smokies downed the Geiger Field Airmen 5-1 in an exhibition game at Butler Field in Trail. The American's lone run came on an error in the third inning. Trail had taken the lead in the first when Julie Bilesky came home on a sacrifice fly and scored the winning marker in the 7th during a three-run outburst. Jack Haynes gave up six hits in taking the loss.
Haynes (L) and Novveo
Boisvert, McKinnon (W) (6) and Campbell, Hackett (6)
(May 10) 11 errors, all in the infield, cost the Geiger Field Airmen Sunday as the Washington squad dropped a 10-7 contest to Trail Smoke Eaters. The home club clinched the game in the fourth inning when catcher Bob Weitzel rapped a two-run triple and outfielder Louis Corrado banged a two-run homer. Three Trail hurlers held the visitors to five hits.
Olson (L), Orick (4) and Eckert
Lavorato (W), McIntyre (5), McKinnon (8) and Weitzel, Hackett (7)
(May 17) A slugfest at Nelson produced 32 hits and 31 runs with Trail coming out on top 16-15. The Smoke Eaters, thought to be out of the game when Nelson scored ten runs in the 5th inning for a 14-5 lead, came roaring back with 11 runs in the last three innings for the victory. The hero for Trail was right-fielder Jimmy MacDonald who blasted a three-run homer in the 8th inning and came back with another three-run blast in the ninth Ken Nicol had four hits for the winners and Sonny Hackett ripped three. Al "Swede" Larsen slammed a bases-loaded homer for Nelson.
McIntyre, Lavarato (5), Boisvert (5), B.McKinnon (5) and xxx
D.McKinnon, xxx, Severyn and xxx
(May 21) Ernie Gare drove in Carl Locatelli with an infield hit in the bottom of the 9th inning to give Nelson Maple Leafs a 6-5 win over Trail. Locatelli had reached when his high fly ball dropped between the three Trail outfielders. Les Hufty held Trail to four hits in gaining credit for the win. Nelson had taken a lead in the first inning as coach Bob McNabb hit the first pitch from Busher McIntyre over the centre field wall.
McIntyre, Pidball (L) (6) and xxx
L.Hufty (W) and xxx
(May 24) Nelson Maple Leafs came from behind with late rallies in both games to sweep a double-header from Fruitvale 6-5 and 9-3. Leafs trailed 5-2 in the 8th inning of the opener before scoring four times, two on Frank Hufty's Texas leaguer to centre and two on Swede Larsen's single through short.
Crantz and xxx
Severyn (W) and xxx
Fruitvale held at 3-2 lead midway through the 7th inning of the second game when Nelson exploded for seven runs. Frank Hufty, Les Hufty and Swede Larsen opened with successive singles to load the bases and a walk, a balk, an error, and a triple brought in the markers. Don McKinnon gave up six hits and whiffed ten for the win.
Fergsuon (L), Catalano (7) and xxx
D.McKinnon (W) and xxx
(May 31) New Denver topped the Nelson Outlaws 9-8 squeezing across the winning run in the bottom of the 9th inning. Nelson had scored four in the top of the 9th to tie at 8-8. Upon arriving in New Denver the Outlaws found themselves without a pitcher so shortstop Alex Abrosimo filled the gap. Tom Pearson picked up the win in relief of starter Ken Gordon.
Abrosimo (L) ane xxx
K.Gordon, Pearson (W) (7) and xxx
(June 2) At Kaslo, Nelson Outlaws played to an 8-8 10-inning draw with the home team. With the Outlaws up 8-5, Kaslo came up with three runs in the last of the ninth for the tie. Kalso had a runner on third in the tenth, but Ray Driver got Shants to pop up to end the game. Ken White the centre fielder for the Outlaws drew a big hand from the crowd when he ran a country mile to haul in a towering fly ball off the bat of Joe Millars. Drivers went the distance for Nelson giving up ten hits while whiffing 13. Brothers Arnold and Ray Norberg shared the hurling for Kaslo allowing ten hits and setting down ten by strikeouts.
R.Driver and xxx
A.Norbeg, R.Norberg (5) and xxx
(June 2) The Trail All-Stars and Penticton Athletics split a holiday exhibition twin-bill Tuesday in the Peach City. All-Stars took the afternoon contest 6-1 with the A's rebounding with a vengence to whip Trail 12-2 in the second game. Trail got a pair of homers in the opener as catcher Kelly Campbell and third sacker Dan Geronazzo displayed their power strokes. Sholto Hebenton was Penticton's big gun with three for four. Both Geronazzo and Ray Hamilton had three hits for the winners. Les Edwards scattered ten hits for the win
McKinnon (L) and xxx
Edwards (W) and xxx
Young lefty Ted Bowsfield held the All-Stars to four hits and rang up 21 strikeouts as Penticton won easily in the second game. Bowsfield also led the winners with four hits in five trips to the plate. Les Edwards collected two hits and three walks.
Boisvert (L), Wilerp (2), xxx and xxx
Bowsfield (W) and xxx
(June 6) Big Joe Dunlop put on a pitching and hitting clinic Saturday night as the Fairchild Air Base Flyers blanked Trail Smoke Eaters 8-0 at Butler Park. Dunlop had three hits in four times at bat while hurling a three-hit shutout in his mound duties. Centre fielder Gil Kuhn smacked a triple and two doubles for the winners. Ken Nicol led Trail with a triple and single.
Dunlop (W) and xxx
McKinnon (L) and xxx
(June 10) Nelson Maple Leafs and Fruitvale battled to a 2-2, 11-inning, draw Wednesday in a game which featured a sixth inning rhubarb and punches thrown. Fruitvale took the early lead with Andy Bilesky smacking a third inning homer with Penner on base on an error. Nelson evened the score in the 6th as Bob McNabb reached on an error and advanced to third on Frank Hufty's double. Marshall Severyn bunted down the first base line and McNabb scored easily and Hufty streaked all the way home before a surprised first sacker Ferguson could relay the ball home. In the 6th, during an argument over a balk call, Ferguson began to push umpire Herb Lovett. Nelson's Ernie Gare left the bench to race to second base where the players were milling around the umpire. Fuzzy Grieve stepped into the fracas just in time to get popped on the nose by a straight right thrown by Gare. Severyn grabbed Gare and packed him off the field. Grieve, with a bloody nose, retired to the dressing room and Gare did not re-appear in the contest.
Grieve, Crantz and xxx
L.Hufty, D.McKinnon (4), R.Brown (7) and xxx
(June 16) Frank Hufty broke a 5-5 tie with a two-run triple in the eighth inning as Nelson topped Trail Smoke Eaters 8-5 Tuesday night in Nelson. With the exception of a four-run rally in the sixth, brother Les Hufty pitched a solid game allowing nine hits overall. Dan Geronazzo had three hits.
Boisvert (L) and xxx
L.Hufty (W) and xxx
D.McKinnon (L), Severyn (7) and xxx
B.McKinnon (W) and xxx
(June 20-21) Hotelmen crushed Nelson Maple Leafs 9-3 and 6-0 in a weekend exhibition set. Eric Bodin hurled a six-hitter Saturday as playing coach Walt Gelling, the third baseman, slugged the first homer over the 360-foot fence of the new Coronation Park. Les Hufty was tagged for 12 hits in taking the loss.
L.Hufty (L) and xxx
E.Bodin (W) and xxx
Les Lilley threw a sparkling four-hitter, all singles, in blanking the visitors on Sunday. Kimberley had six hits off two Nelson pitchers.
D.McKinnon, Severyn (4) and xxx
Lilley (W) and xxx
(June 21) Kaslo and Nelson Outlaws had more trouble with the weather than each other. The first game of a scheduled double-header was halted in the third frame with neither team chalking up a run. Then play was halted in the nightcap after six innings with the teams deadlocked at 3-3. Kaslo opened the scoring in the first inning as Gilbert Lind singled and later scored on another single by McHardy. Outlaws took the lead with two in their half of the inning. Clarke Bowker's long single in the fourth scored Sonny Norberg to knot the count at 2-2 and an inning later Kaslo went in front as Gilchrist knocked in LInd, who had doubled to right. Outlaws squared the game in the 6th as Ed Isakson, on first on an error, came home on a fielder's choice. Garth Clarke allowed just three hits in his mound work for Kaslo while Nelson's Stan Grill gave up eight.
Clarke and xxx
Grill and xxx
(June 24) Fruitvale topped Nelson Outlaws 3-1 Wednesday night handing the Outlaws a run in the first frame before blanking them the rest of the way. John Bridge went the first five innings for the win with Jack Ferguson turning in a sparkling effort in hurling the last four frames. Nelson got its run without a hit. Yo Hamakawa and Ken White drew walks and Homakawa came home on a double steal attempt. Fruitvale jumped ahead in the third scoring a pair on hits by Penner and Handley aided by two costly errors.
R.Driver (L) and xxx
Bridge (W), J.Ferguson and xxx
(June 27-28) In direct contrast to the fine exhibition of pitching of the previous weekend, the two-game exhibition set-to between the invading Fruitvale Beavers and their Kimberley hosts was anything but classic baseball. When the dust had settled, it transpired that the two teams had split the series, scoring 42 runs in 18 innings on 39 hits, 32 bases-on-balls, 18 errors and six hit batters. The Hotelmen captured the Saturday night opener 9 to 8 and Fruitvale eked out a 13 to 12 victory in the Sunday clash.
Righthander Johnny Bayley of the Innkeepers, yanked from the bump in the fourth frame of the Saturday joust after giving up seven runs, gave way to Eric Bodin who, before he found his stride, saw inherited baserunner Andy Bilesky steal home on him for the visitors’ eighth and final counter. From then on, Bodin allowed only three scratch singles and struck out eight as his mates started a comeback against southpaw starting twirler Gordon “Fuzzy” Grieve of the Beavers that made Bodin a winner. The big inning for the Kimberleyites was the seventh when they sent 13 batters to the plate and ran across seven tallies, the final two touching the pan on bases-loaded walks by reliever Bilesky.
Sunday afternoon’s game was a repetition of the loose play and inadequate pitching that plagued most of the Saturday scuffle. Les Lilley heaved the first eight episodes for Kimberley and was nicked for nine runs on six hits and nine free passes. On the offensive side of the coin, Lilley belted a towering circuit-clout and a two-bagger before Bodin, making a second relief appearance in the series, took over mound chores in the ninth. Not up to his Saturday showing on the knoll, Bodin was unsuccessful in keeping the Beaver Valley Boys in check. The Hotelmen raked Fruitvale twirlers Danny Crantz and Grieve freely, amassing 14 base knocks, but were unable to complete all their scoring opportunities.
(June 27) Gene Shortlidge held Trail to five hits on Saturday as Spokane's Fairchild Air Base Flyers downed the Smoke Eaters 6-1. The Americans had nine hits with second baseman Skeets Lindsay leading the attack with a triple and single.
Shortlidge and xxx
B.McKinnon (L) and xxx
(June 28) In Sunday's contest, Fairchild scored four runs in the top of the first inning on three hits and five Trail errors but that's all they got as Trail scored seven unanswered runs in a 7-4 victory. Bob Weilep got over the rough first inning to blank the visitors the rest of the way. Ken Stanton led the winners with three hits and catcher Sonny Hackett blasted a homer in the fifth.
Dunlop (L) and xxx
Weilep (W) and xxx
A scheduled second game was called off in the first inning as a driving rain hit the ball field.
(June 28) The heavy-hitting George Builders of Spokane blasted their way to two wins over the Nelson Maple Leafs Sunday before large crowds at Nelson. After squeezing out a 6-5 win in the afternoon game, Builders crushed five home runs in the nightcap in a 16-3 verdict. VanHoff belted a three-run homer in the 7th inning of the opener to bring the Spokane club from a 5-3 deficit to a 6-5 victory. Earlier, Buck Weaver clouted a pinch-hit homer for the winners, his seventh pinch-hit homer this season.
Hankins, Pyne (6) and xxx
Severyn, Brown (9) and xxx
In the second game trouncing, the George Builders got a pair of homers from Viro and one each by Green, Kuehle and Weaver. Bill Haldane cleared the fence for Nelson.
Hearn, Pyne (7), Viro (9) and xxx
D.McKinnon, Brown (4), L.Hufty (8) and xxx
(June 28) Passmore's Pete Stooshnoff and B.Konkin combined on a no-hitter Sunday afternoon as Passmore, in their new red and white uniforms, whipped Salmo 10-0. Stooshnoff went five innings and struck out seven and walked none. Konklin went four innnings with four strike outs and one free pass.
K.St.Dennis (L) and xxx
Stooshnoff, B.Konkin (6) and xxx
(June 28) At Vimy Park in Kaslo, the home team delighted the local fans with a double-header sweep over Nelson Outlaws. A four-run 7th inning brought Kaslo a 4-3 victory in the first game. In the seven-inning second game, Kaslo again came from behind for the win. Down 11-10 in the bottom of the final frame, Kaslo scored three times to take a 13-11 triumph. Gilbert Lind belted a homer for the winners.
(July 1) Riondel and Lister split a twin-bill. Lister took the first game 7-5 paced by Craig's bases-loaded homer. In the second game, Riondel's Gerry Bishop had a no-hitter for six innings before Lister scored three runs off him to tie the game and sent it into extra innings.
(July 1) Nelson Maple Leafs broke out of a batting slump Dominion Day to post a pair of wins over Fruitvale, 8-3 and 7-6. In the opener, a grand-slam homer by Bill Haldane in the second inning powered the Leafs to a 7-0 lead.
L.Hufty (W) and xxx
Crantz (L), Ferguson (2) and xxx
In the second game, the Leafs came from behind to score two runs in the 7th inning to down Fruitvale 7-6. Again, Haldane turned the tide for the Leafs banging out a triple to lead off the inning.
McKinnon (W), Todd (8) and xxx
Bridges, A.Bilesky (L) and xxx
(July 2) Trail Smoke Eaters played poor hosts to the barnstroming Sioux City Colored Ghosts dropping the visitors 13-2. The Ghosts, essentailly a fastball club, were thoroughly beaten as Pete Boisvert handled the hurling for the Smokies. Red Berry took the mound beating for the Ghosts.
(July 4-5) Invading Trail and Kimberley divided a brace of weekend tussles at Coronation Park. The Smoke Eaters annexed the Saturday affair with a 10 to 4 victory while on Sunday afternoon, the Hotelmen rallied for eight big runs in the seventh stanza to cop a 10 to 8 victory over the Smelter Towners. The Smokies’ Bob McKinnon gave up 11 hits and was in trouble throughout the Saturday clash but managed to persevere to the end for the hillock triumph. The Silver City nine collected ten hits and were aided immensely by eight free passes. Danny Geronazzo paced the Smoke Eaters offensively with a three-run homer and a single. “Buzz” Mellor was the big gun for the Hotelmen with three hits, including a triple.
McKinnon (W) and Hackett
Lilley (L), Dixon (7), Bayley (9) and xxx
On Sunday afternoon, Trail portsider Pete Boisvert was sailing along with a shutout and 15 strikeouts until the Hoteliers broke loose in the seventh stanza for eight huge counters which propelled them to a come-from-behind win. Eric Bodin went the distance for the Innkeepers, allowing ten hits and fanning eight. Les Lilley sparked the winners with the lumber, stroking a double and single. Kelly Campbell had a home run and two singles for Trail while teammate Jim McDonald came through with a triple, double and single.
Boisvert, Price (L) (7), Geronazzo (7) and Hackett
Bodin (W) and xxx
(July 4) Joe Dunlop fired a no-hitter Satuday to blank Nelson Maple Leafs 6-0 as Spokane's Fairchild Air Base took the first of a three game exhibition series.
xxx and xxx
Dunlop (W) and xxx
(July 5) Fairchild and Nelson each took a game of Sunday's double-bill. Leafs won the first game 5-4 as Les Hufty's pinch-hit single in the 9th knocked in Posnifkoff with the winning run. Ron Brown fanned 12 in a seven-hitter to win for Nelson. Joe Dunlop, fresh from his Saturday no-hitter, relieved in the 9th inning and took the loss.
Shortlidge, Dunlop (L) (9) and xxx
Brown (W) and xxx
A three-run 9th inning gave the Airmen the second game 10-8 with a 14-hit attack, including a homer by right-fielder Bob Barrett.
Dunlop, Kern (W) and xxx
McKinnon, L.Hufty (L) and Christenson, Larsen
Bill Haldane led Nelson for the series with a triple, double and two singles in nine trips to the plate. Hank Kibota, Flyer centre-fielder got five singles in eight trips. Johns and Barrett had four-baggers for Fairchild.
(July 7) Trail Smoke Eaters downed Fruitvale Beavers 5-1 at Butler Park breaking open a tight game with two runs in the 6th and another two in the 7th.
Crantz (L) and xxx
Stanton (W) and xxx
(July 10-12) Bonspiel Tournament at Nelson
(July 14) Nelson trounced the Smoke Eaters 13-4 at Trail.
xxx and xxx
Lavorato, McKinnon, Boisvert and xxx
(July 16) At Fruitvale, Trail Smoke Eaters beat the home club 10-9 as Ken Nichol led a 15-hit attack with three hits and three runs scored. Sonny Hackett, Bob Weitzel, Bob McKinnon and winning pitcher Price all had three safeties. Right-fielder Johnson smacker three hits for Fruitvale.
Price (W) and Hackett
Bridge, Ferguson and A.Bilesky
(July 17) A clean-shaven 17-year-old import hurler from Northport, Washington, Bob Weilep, took on the bearded veterans of the House of David Saturday night and held the visitors to a 5-5 tie through nine innings before the Davids managed to plate the winning run on a steal of home in the 10th frame. The Smokies had chalked up three in the ninth for a 5-5 draw. Lou Sanders, the lead off batter for the House of David in the tenth, walked, went to third on a single by Bob Mitchell and surprised the Smokies with a steal of home for the win.
Liska (W) and Gatts
Weilep, Boisvert (10) and Hackett
(July 18-19) The Nelson Outlaws split a weekend double-header with Bonners Ferry Braves walking off with a 12-4 verdict Saturday but dropping a five-inning Sunday contest 5-3. The game was cut short by rain. Alex Abrosimo led the Outlaws in the Saturday game with a triple and two singles and Outlaws got a seven-hit pitching effort by Roy Driver. Ed Tolman belted a homer for Nelson.
B.Davis (L), Sullivan (5) and xxx
R.Driver (W) and xxx
The Braves got off to a good start in the second game as Hoagland crushed a two-run homer in the first inning. After the Outlaws tied the match in the second, Bonners Ferry sent Stan Grill to the showers with three runs on a walk, a hit batter, a single, a fielder's choice and an error. Nick Zaitsoff came in to relieve Grill and held the Braves scoreless the rest of the way.
McLaughlin (W) and xxx
Grill, Zaitsoff (2) and xxx
(July 21) Trail Smoke Eaters demolished Fruitvale 12-0 at Butler Park in a game in which each team had 12 hits. Jim MacDonald, the Trail left-fielder, belted a homer and two doubles to lead the Smokies offense. Louis Corrado also had three hits. Bobby McKinnon relied on a steady defense in going the distance for the win.
McKinnon (W) and Hackett
Ferguson, Bridge (5) and A.Bilesky
(July 26) Kimberley Tournament
(July 28) Trail took a 3-0 lead in the first inning and carried through to a 6-2 win over Nelson Maple Leafs. Julie Bilesky and Jimmy MacDonald each had two hits for the winners who were out-hit 9 to 6 by Nelson. Ernie Gare led the Leafs with three. Bobby McKinnon went the distance for the win besting Marsh Severyn.
McKinnon (W) and Weitzel
Severyn (L) and Larsen
(August 2) Trail Smoke Eaters handed Spokane's Geiger Field nine a double defeat Sunday, 8-6 and 12-3 at Butler Park. Behind 6-4 after five innings, Trail scored a pair on an error to knot the count then the Smokes took the lead in the seventh as Howie Palmer singled to drive in Ken Nichol and Danny Geronazzo. Bob Weilep, after being given a rough ride in the first few innings, settled down to pitch a solid game. Mushy Anselmo and Louis Corrado each had two hits for the winners. Catcher Gene O'Malley led Geiger with three singles in four trips.
Hanes (L) and xxx
Weilep (W) and xxx
In the nightcap, Smokies spotted Geiger two runs before deadlocking the score in the second and exploding for ten runs to crush the visitors with an 18-hit attack. A two-run homer by Louis Corrado highlighted the offense. Geiger shortstop Ed Causley also belted a homer.
Kroph (L) and xxx
McKinnon (W) and xxx
(August 4) Pete Boisvert hurled a four-hitter and whiffed 14 as Trail dumped Fruitvale 8-3. Louis Corrado smacked a three-run homer in the third inning to highlight the Smokies' offense.
xxx and xxx
Boisvert (W) and xxx
(August 6) At Fruitvale, Trail took an early 3-0 lead and held on as the Beavers rallied in the ninth to notch a 3-2 victory. Bob McKinnon had a shutout until the 9th when Fruitvale scored its only runs. Bob Weitzel reached base four times for the winners.
xxx and xxx
McKinnon (W) and B.Weitzel
(August 8) Dunc Kennedy's grand slam homer in the second inning highlighted Nelson Maple Leafs 9-5 win over Spokane's Parson Tile nine Saturday. Herb Lovett also had a four-bagger for the winners. Brodie had a homer for Spokane. Les Hufty allowed just six hits in going the distance for the win while Luedtke gave up seven hits in taking the loss.
Luedtke (L) and xxx
L.Hufty (W) and xxx
(August 9) Nelson Maple Leafs and Parson Tile of Spokane divided Sunday's double-header as the American visitors took a 6-4 victory in the first game and Nelson came back with a 6-2 win in the second. Ron Brown pitched a solid game for Nelson in the lid-lifter, whiffing 12, but shoddy defensive play handed the contest to Spokane. Parson Tile got three runs in the fourth inning on a walk, fielder's choice, and three errors. In the sixth, Nelson evened the count with three runs on two hits, a walk and four errors but Spokane again took the lead in the seventh when Brodie hit an inside-the-park homer. Nelson tied it up again in the seventh only to have Parsons move in front as Luedtke tripled and scored on a passed ball. They added an insurance run in the 9th. In the 9th Nelson delighted the crowd with the hidden ball trick. Riggins, on first on an error, was tagged out as Les Hufty performed the slight of hand. B.Brodie gave up eight hits in registering the pitching win.
B..Brodie (W) and xxx
Brown (L) and xxx
The Spokane club got to Nelson starter Don McKinnon for two runs in the first inning but McKinnon shut them down after that as the Leafs posted a 6-2 win. Nelson scored all six runs in the 8th inning aided by four costly errors. Up to the 8th, Don Benham had fired a three-hitter for Parsons.
Benham (L) and xxx
McKinnon (W) and xxx
(August 11) Trail held off a 9th inning rally by Nelson Maple Leafs to edge the visitors 6-5 at Butler Park. Trail had taken a 3-0 lead into the seventh when Nelson scored a pair to draw within a run. The Smokies replied with a run in the 7th and another two in the 8th to go ahead 6-2. The Leafs rallied with three in the 9th to make it close. Julie Bilesky belted a homer for the winners.
xxx and xxx
Boisvert (W) and xxx
(August 13) Nelson Maple Leafs got a little revenge on Trail Smoke Eaters with a 7-4 win at the Nelson civic recreation grounds. Joe Postnikoff led the attack with two homers and Dunc Jamieson slugged a singleton. Mushy Anselmo was the big gun for Trail with three hits. Leafs got 13 hits off Danny Geronazzo.
Geronazzo (L) and xxx
xxx and xxx
(August 15) Fairchild Airbase whipped Trail 8-1 Saturday scoring three in the first inning and coasting to the triumph.
xxx and xxx
Boisvert (L) and xxx
(August 16) On Sunday, Trail took it on the chin for a second straight day losing 11-6 to Fairchild Airbase of Spokane as Bob Barrett clouted three homers to highlight a 16-hit attack.
Dunlap (W) and xxx
McKinnon (L), Weilep (2) and xxx
(August 16) Nelson Maple Leafs pounded out 15 hits Sunday evening to whip Fruitvale 11-4 before a large turnout in Nelson. Les Hufty, Jimmy Todd and Ernie Gare each contributed three hits. The biggest cheer of the night went to Nelson's third baseman Joe Postnikoff who engineered a triple play, the first seen in Nelson in many a year. In the third inning, Fruitvale had runners on first and third with none out when Harvey Handley smacked a line drive right at Postnikoff who snared the ball, tagged third for the second out and fired a strike to Les Hufty at first to end the inning. Marsh Severyn held the Beavers to five hits in gaining the pitching win.
Ferguson (L), Crantz (8) and xxx
Severyn (W) and xxx
(August 20) Nelson Maple Leafs made it two in a row over Trail Smoke Eaters on Nelson's home grounds Thursday taking an 8-5 decision behind Marsh Severyn's pitching and his two-run homer. Kenny Nichol, the Leafs shortstop, produced two doubles and a homer in four tries. Bob McKinnon also launched a four-bagger. Al Vogt took the loss for the Smokies.
Vogt (L) and xxx
Severyn (W), L.Hufty (8) and Hackett
(August 22) At Sandpoint, Idaho, Hawkins clouted a three-run homer in the seventh inning to give Sagle a 6-3 win over Nelson Outlaws. Turnbull was the winning pitcher, Ron Brown took the loss.
Brown (L) and xxx
Turnbull (W) and xxx
(August 23) In contrast to the low-scoring affair on Saturday, Spokane brought out the heavy lumber Sunday to pound out 15 hits, including home runs by Viro, VanHoff and Pyne to crush Kimberley 14-2. Bud Swann held the home club to two hits in his seven innings of work. Pyne hurled the last two frames. Eric Bodin took the loss.
Swann (W), Pyne (8) and xxx
E.Bodin (L) and xxx
(August 23) Nelson Outlaws found their southern neighbours none too hospitable Sunday dropping both games of a double-bill to Colville, Washington, 3-2 and 9-0. Nelson thought they had something going in the 9th inning as Nick Zaitsoff slammed a double but the base umpire had called time. Zaitsoff promptly struck out while Alex Abrosimo and McNabb followed with singles. Colville got out of the jam leaving two runners in scoring position. Yo Hamakawa, who went to left field in the 8th inning, crashed through the wall chasing a fly ball and had to leave the game with a bleeding nose and bruised shoulder. The runner came all the way home as Hamakawa was stunned from the impact that tore out two of the fence planks. Davis was the winning pitcher for Colville, allowing seven hits while whiffing 11. Zaitsoff gave up just six hits in taking the defeat.
Zaitsolff (L) and xxx
Davis (W) and xxx
Gerry Larson spun a three-hit shutout in the second game as Colville won easily, 9-0. It was a tight game until the 7th when the American squad erupted for seven runs.
R.Driver (L) and xxx
Larson (W) and xxx
(August 23) Fruitvale Beavers dropped a short-handed Nelson Maple Leafs nine 5-3 Sunday at Fruitvale. To fill their roster, the Leafs picked up Herb Pitts, just back from Korea, along with junior player Pickles Eckstrom and Johnny Bachynski, just back home on holidays. Both pitchers, Les Hufty for Nelson and Danny Crantz hurled fine ball, each giving up just five hits.
Hufty (L) and xxx
Crantz (W) and xxx
(August 30) A five-run seventh inning carried the Fernie Falcons to a 7-5 exhibition win over Eureka, Montana Sunday at Fernie. The visitors made it a close finish with a rally in the 9th highlighted by Grob's three-run homer.
(August 30) Kaslo and Waneta split a twin-bill at Kaslo Sunday. The home team took the first game 4-2 but dropped the second 7-1. Bob Weilep completed both games for Waneta while Ray Norberg, who fanned 11, was the winner in the opener and shared mound duties with brother Sonny in the second. Weilep rang up 11 strikeouts in his win in the second contest.
Weilep (L) and xxx
R.Norberg (W) and xxx
Weilep (W) and xxx
R.Norberg, S.Norberg and xxx
(September 2) The Fairchild Flyers blanked Trail 2-0 Wednesday night in their farewell appearance in Trail this season. Three pitchers -- Bob Saglarini, Gene Shortlidge and Joe Dunlop -- combined to hold the Smokies to two hits while Bob Barrett accounted for all the scoring with a two-run homer in the fourth inning. The home team had a chance in the 9th as Dunlop walked the bases full with just one out but he fanned catcher Sonny Hackett and retired first baseman Ray Hamilton on an infield grounder. Pete Boisvert allowed four hits in being tagged with the loss.
Saglarini, Shortlidge (4), Dunlop (7) and xxx
Boisvert (L), Jankola (8) and Hackett
(September 6-7) Trail Labour Day Tournament
(September 10) Fresh from a victory in the Trail Tournament, the Smoke Eaters fumbled their way to a 10-7 loss to Fruitvale in the opening game of the West Kootenay semi-finals. The Beavers, who had just three hits off lefty Pete Boisvert, rang up seven runs in the third inning, helped by four errors. Newcomer Gordie Tench held Trail to seven safeties in registering the win.
Boisvert (L) and Anselmo
Tench (W) and A.Bilesky
(September 13) Nelson Maple Leafs won a spot in the West Kootenay playoff finals Sunday with a sweep of a double-bill with the Slocan All-Stars, 6-2 and 10-2. Leafs won with a 13-hit attack, including a Swede Larsen homer, in the first game. Marsh Severyn tossed a seven-hitter in besting Roy Driver on the hill.
Severyn (W) and Larsen
R.Driver (L) and xxx
Larsen had another four-bagger in the second game as Nelson crushed the All-Stars 10-2. Both Les Hufty and Carl Locatelli had three hits. Lind had a homer for Slocan. Jimmy Todd started for the Leafs but after a shaky start gave way to Les Hufty who was solid the rest of the way allowing just three hits while whiffing 13.
Todd, Hufty (W) and xxx
R.Norberg, R.Driver and xxx
(September 13) Trail Smoke Eaters evened their semi-final series with Fruitvale with a 5-3 victory Sunday sending the series to a third and deciding game. Pitcher Bob McKinnon held Fruitvale to five hits while collecting two of Trail's seven safeties. Fuzzy Grieve took the loss.
F.Grieve (L) and xxx
B.McKinnon (W) and xxx
(September 14) A steller hurling performance by Pete Boisvert has sent Trail Smoke Eaters into the finals of the West Kootenay baseball playoffs. The left-hander fired a four-hitter Monday and fanned 19 as the Smokes downed Fruitvale 6-2 in the deciding game of their semi-final. Gordie Tench gave up just six hits in getting tagged with the loss.
Boisvert (W) and Hackett
Tench (L) and Handley
(September 16) Held to one hit through seven innings, the Trail Smoke Eaters broke loose to score five times in the 8th to defeat Nelson Maple Leafs 5-2 in the first game of the West Kootenay baseball finals. Don McKinnon had his knuckle ball working for seven frames before loading the bases in the eighth and turning over the mound duties to Les Hufty who proceeded to walk Ray Hamilton for the Smokies first run. Sonny Hackett drove in two more with a drive to centre field and Howie Palmer singled to score Hackett and Hamilton. Bob McKinnon held the Leafs to seven hits in posting the win. Shortstop Herb Lovett had three.
D.McKinnon (L), L.Hufty (8) and Larsen
B.McKinnon (W) and Hackett
(September 20) Sunday at Fruitvale, the Nelson Outlaws split a double-header with Waneta Hydros. Nelson took the first game 10-3 but dropped the nightcap 8-6. Johnny Misuraca started the opener for Nelson but twice needed help from Ron Brown, the day's shortstop, to get out of trouble. Outlaws put the game out of reach with a five-run outburst in the fourth inning against import hurler Matt Slavich from Lethbridge. Mel Sadler finished for Waneta.
Slavich, Sadler (4) and xxx
Misuraca, Brown, Misuraca, Brown, Misuraca and xxx
Dave Ewing of the Hydros overcame a rough first inning in which he gave up four runs to pitch solid ball as Waneta took the second game 8-6. Ken White started for the Outlaws giving way to Lloyd Swenson for the last two frames.
Erwing (W) and xxx
K.White (L), Swenson and xxx
(September 20) Nelson Maple Leafs evened the West Kootenay final series at a game apiece Sunday upending Trail 5-1 in a battle between a pair of Slocan born and raised hurlers, Les Hufty for Nelson and Pete Boisvert for the Smokies. The Leafs chalked up three runs in the fourth frame on two hits and a pair of errors to provide the margin of victory. Sonny Hackett clouted a homer for the Smoke Eaters. Hufty got the win with a seven-hitter, Boisvert, who allowed five hits, was the loser.
Boisvert (L) and Hackett
Hufty (W) and xxx
(September 24) Trail and Nelson executives have decided to switch the West Kootenay final series to a sudden-death affair given the inclement weather in the region.
(September 27) Nelson Maple Leafs captured the West Kootenay championship Sunday downing Trail Smoke Eaters 7-2 in the third game of what became a best-of-three series. Nelson's four-run second inning proved enough for the win. Joe Postnikoff's run-scoring triple in the second inning ignited the Leafs' offense. Les Hufty followed with a single to score Postnikoff and an error, a walk and a passed ball led to two more. Trail got a run in their half of the second on Al Cronie's sac fly to centre and a run in the fourth on an outfield miscue. Leafs ended the scoring with three in the fifth. Ernie Gare, who made two spectacular catches in the outfield, led Nelson with two hits while Howie Palmer had three for the Smokies. Les Hufty gave up 11 hits but won his 13th of the season. Pete Boisvert allowed just six hits in being saddled with the loss. Smokies played without two of their stars, Ken Nicol broke an ankle in a recent game at Fruitvale and Dan Geronazzo suffered a broken thumb in tournament action. Cronie, a 15-year-old, was called up to play third base.
Hufty (W) and Larsen
Boisvert (L) and Hackett
ARROW LAKES / SLOCAN VALLEY
(May 17) In Slocan Valley ball, Winlaw trounced Perry Siding 29-11.
(May 17) At New Denver, pinch-hitter Dixon singled to knock in the winning run as Kalso topped the host squad 4-3. Fans were treated to a pitcher's duel between lefty Norberg for Kalso, who allowed just five hits and fanned 14, and right-hander Ken Gordon who tossed a three-hitter and set down 16 by strikeouts. New Denver's Allan Lind was the day's top hitter with four safeties. Tamo Takenaka had the only extra base hit, a double.
Norberg (W) and xxx
Gordon (L) and xxx
(May 18) Young Tommy Pearson fired a no-hitter Monday afternoon as New Denver defeated Nelson Outlaws 6-0. It was Pearson's second no-hit effort having pitched a dream game against Winlaw two years ago. The right-hander fanned 20. Tamo Takenaka saved the day for Pearson with a circus catch of Alex Abrosimo's towering fly ball. New Denver banged out seven hits against Roy Driver and Stan Grill.
R.Driver, Grill and Isakson
Pearson (W) and xxx
(May 24) Slocan City clobbered Winlaw 19-3 to move into first place in the Slocan Valley Baseball League.
J.Hicks, W.Storgaard and xxx
W.Avis, P.Kabatoff, V.Berekoff and xxx
(May 24) At Vimy Park, New Denver won its return match with Kaslo registering a 6-4 10-inning victory. New Denver took a 2-0 lead in the first inning but fell behind 4-2 before rebounding with a pair in the 8th
(May 31) New Denver topped the Nelson Outlaws 9-8 squeezing across the winning run in the bottom of the 9th inning. Nelson had scored four in the top of the 9th to tie at 8-8. Upon arriving in New Denver the Outlaws found themselves without a pitcher so shortstop Alex Abrosimo filled the gap. Tom Pearson picked up the win in relief of starter Ken Gordon.
Abrosimo (L) and xxx
K.Gordon, Pearson (W) (7) and xxx
(May 31) In an action-packed game at Nakusp, the home squad got a quick start and defeated Burton 9-6 Nakusp scored five runs in the second inning highlighted by Robert Hale's four-bagger. After Burton pulled to within a run with three in the fifth on two hits, two errors, and two walks, Nakusp rebounded with three more in their half of the fifth to two hits, three errors and a wild pitch. Otto Yanagisawa belted a double and single for the winners and Jackie James and Neil Shaw also had extra base blows for Nakusp.
xxx and xxx
Hale (W) and xxx
(May 31) Perry Siding travelled to Winlaw where they shutout the hapless Winlaw nine 8-0 behind the hurling of K.Gustafson who compiled 11 strikeouts.
K.Gustafson (W) and xxx
W.Avis (L) and xxx
(June 7) Slocan City maintained their hold on first place with an 8-4 win over second place Perry Siding.
(June 7) The veterans of Nakusp gave a young New Denver team some baseball lessons in gaining a 12-5 victory at Silverton. Tommy Pearson pitched well in the opening innings for New Denver but a barrage of well-placed bunts combined with fielding errors enabled Nakusp to move in front to stay. First baseman Gavin Harris, who had four hits in five trips to the plate, belted a three-run homer for the winners. Robert Hale went six innings allowing five hits and two walks to register the pitching win.
Hale (W), E.Desrochers (7) and xxx
Pearson (L), Gordon (7) and xxx
(June 14) It was a day for the offenses at Nakusp as Kaslo came to town with their bats blazing. In the end the visitors piled up 17 runs to the home teams's 12. It was an exciting, see-saw contest until Kaslo broke a 12-12 tie with a big five run explosion in the eighth. Ray and Sonny Norberg combined to give up ten hits, three walks and four hit batsmen in winning the contest. Nakusp starter Ed Desrochers was tagged with 13 hits while reliever Robert Hale gave up eight. B.Shunter of Kaslo had the longest blow of the day, a triple.
R.Norberg, S.Norberg (W) (4) and xxx
E.Desrochers, Hale (L) (7) and xxx
(June 14) Host New Denver squeezed out a 9-8 victory over Nelson Outlaws Sunday. Ken Gordon held the visitors to four hits in his five innings of work on the hill for New Denver before giving way to Tommy Pearson who kept the Outlaws at bay until the 9th when they connected for three hits and took advantage of sloppy fielding to score four times and tie the score at 8-8. In the bottom of the ninth, Pearson reached on an infield error and advanced to third on throwing errors before Johnny Oyama's infield out brought him home. Ken Gordon led the winners with a pair of doubles.
Abrosimo (L) and xxx
Gordon, Pearson (W) (5) and xxx
(July 1) At Silverton, New Denver topped Nelson Outlaws 3-2 behind Tommy Pearson's 12-strikeout, five-hit performance. A revamped infield played steady ball for New Denver with Ken Gordon, in his first game at shortstop, playing a starry role. Allan Lind's two-run triple in the 6th inning proved to be the decisive blow.
Grill (L) and xxx
Pearson (W) and xxx
(July 12) Kaslo won twice from Nakusp on Sunday, 10-5 and 6-2. It marked Kaslo's 12th win in 13 games. Kaslo took an early lead in the first encounter as both Gilbert Lind and Dave Shunter belted home runs. Fred Desrochers also poled a homer for Nakusp. Ray Norberg handled the hurling for the winners in the first game. Garth Clark was the winner in the second game.
Hale and Faulkner
R.Norberg (W) and D.Shunter
Faulkner, E.Desrochers and Hempseed
Clark (W) and D.Shunter
(July 19) Nakusp carted off the Wildfire Cup Sunday after winning a three-team tournament at Nakusp. The home club scored an easy 11-1 victory over Edgewood in the first game. Robert Hale hurled shutout ball for five innings giving up just two hits before turning over the mount work to R.Faulkner who gave up two hits in his stint. Nakusp racked up 14 hits with Al Henderson pacing the winners with a double and two singles.
Hale (W), Faulkner and xxx
Klein (L), J.Olds, K.Adshead and xxx
In the second and final game Burton, which drew the bye, had a 6-3 lead going into the final inning but Neil Shaw smacked a long triple to knock in one run and two more hits and an error led to the eventual Burton defeat. Starter Hale fired three-hit ball until relieved by Ed Desrochers who picked up the win. Joe Robazza went the route for Burton. Kaz Hoshizaki, Fred Desrochers and Al Short each had two hits for Nakusp. Dick Roberts smacked a double and two singles for Burton while A.Johnson had a pair of two-baggers.
Hale, E.Desrochers (W) and xxx
J.Robazza (L) and xxx
(July 26) Spectators in Silverton witnessed a sparkling pitching duel as Kaslo's Sonny Norberg and New Denver's Tommy Pearson put on a show won by Kaslo 2-0. Norberg allowed four hits and fanned seven and Pearson gave up five hits and whiffed 12. Kaslo got its two runs on two hits, an infield out and a passed ball.
Norberg (W) and xxx
Pearson (L) and xxx
(July 26) At Edgewood, Nakusp brought its hitting shoes and put on quite a display in crushing the home team 24-5 with a 22-hit attack. Nakusp took a six-run lead in the first three innings but Edgewood replied with a five-run rally in the bottom of the third. However Nakusp began spraying hits all over the lot to pile on 18 more runs while holding Edgewood scoreless. Otto Yanagisawa led Nakusp with a four for four day. Fred Desrochers banged out a double and three singles, Kaz Hoshizaki two doubles and a single, and Al Henderson offered a double and two singles. Losing hurler H. Klein pounded four hits for Edgewood and C.Lummerding had a pair of doubles.
Hale, E.Desrochers (W) (4) and xxx
H.Klein (L), J.Olds (6), K.Adshead and xxx
(August 2) New Denver and Silverton combined their squads over the weekend to down Nakusp, sporting their new uniforms, 9-3 with three runs in each of the second, fifth and eighth innings. Ken Gordon went the route for the winners with a seven-hitter, striking out six and walking two. He also help the offense with a pair of hits. R.Kynock led New Denver with three safeties while Kaz Hoshizaki had a double and single for Nakusp.
K.Gordon (W) and xxx
Hale (L), Desrochers (3) and xxx
(August 9) Nakusp took both games of a double-bill from Nelson Outlaws 8-4 and 3-2. Jack James pitched the first game win with a nine-hitter and six strikeouts.
Grill (L), R.Driver (1) and xxx
James (W) and xxx
Robert Hale fired a five-hitter in the second game for the win to best John Misuraca for Nelson who allowed eight hits. Hoshizaki, Otto Yanagisawa and Jack James each had two hits for Nakusp.
Misuraca (L) and xxx
R.Hale (W) and xxx
(August 16) Before a cheering home crowd, Kaslo downed Nakusp 5-3 in the final to take top money of $150 in the Jubilee Tournament. Ray Norberg held Nakusp to six hits in going the route for the win. Gilbert Lind led the attack with three hits while Sonny Norberg added a triple and single. Ed Desrochers managed a pair of singles for Nakusp.
R.Norberg (W) and xxx
Pearson (L), Gordon (6) and xxx
Nakusp scored six times in the first inning in a 9-5 win over Nelson Outlaws.
R.Driver, Zeitskoff (1) and xxx
xxx and xxx
In the tournament opener, Gib Lind cracked a two-run homer in the 9th inning to give Kalso a 6-5 win over Nakusp.
xxx and xxx
xxx and xxx
(September 7) At the Labour Day Celebration at Edgewood, Burton took the first game of the baseball action with a 10-7 win from Nakusp. Edgewood won the afternoon contest 7-3 over Burton.
(September 13) Nelson Maple Leafs won a spot in the West Kootenay playoff finals Sunday with a sweep of a double-bill with the Slocan All-Stars, 6-2 and 10-2. Leafs won with a 13-hit attack, including a Swede Larsen homer, in the first game. Marsh Severyn tossed a seven-hitter in besting Roy Driver on the hill.
Severyn (W) and Larsen
R.Driver (L) and xxx
Larsen had another four-bagger in the second game as Nelson crushed the All-Stars 10-2. Both Les Hufty and Carl Locatelli had three hits. Lind had a homer for Slocan. Jimmy Todd started for the Leafs but after a shaky start gave way to Les Hufty who was solid the rest of the way allowing just three hits while whiffing 13.
Todd, Hufty (W) and xxx
R.Norberg, R.Driver and xxx
EAST KOOTENAYS
Still without membership in an established league, the Kimberley senior-level baseball team stepped up the pace in 1953 and played several more exhibition encounters than in 1952 as well as engaging in frequent tournament play. Sponsorship of the 1953 team shifted from the Elks Club to that of the Kimberley Hotel.
(May 30-31) The Nelson Maple Leafs hustled into Kimberley for a brace of weekend exhibition encounters with the Hotelmen but left without a win as the Mining Towners inflicted double defeats on the Lakesiders, drubbing the Leafs 9 to 3 on Saturday and 6 to 0 on Sunday. In Saturday’s fracas, Kimberley’s Eric Bodin pitched a complete-game six-hitter, skirting in and out of trouble during the last two stanzas of the contest. He had solid team support, especially from third baseman Walt Gelling who went yard for the first-ever tater at the new Coronation Park facility. Righthander Les Hufty toed the rubber for Nelson and was touched for eleven safe swats.
L.Hufty (L) and xxx
E.Bodin (W) and xxx
Southpaw Don McKinnon, who started on the hill for the Maple Leafs on Sunday, throttled the Hotelmen for three innings but was forced to leave the game with a sore flipper. Playing-manager Marsh Severyn, charged with the loss, replaced him on the bump but had nowhere near the success of his predecessor and yanked himself in the seventh as Hufty finished the contest. Kimberley’s scoring was derived from six hits and was aided by four Nelson errors. Les Lilley, meanwhile, was busy racking up the whitewash win in yielding just three hits, all singles.
D.McKinnon, Severyn (4) and xxx
Lilley (W) and xxx
(June 6-7) Approximately 2,000 fans braved uncertain weather to witness two excellent weekend baseball fixtures in which the Kimberley Hotelmen and the Spokane Builders divided the honours, the Kimberley nine prevailing 5 to 2 Saturday night and the visiting Builders, with a sprinkling of ex-pro players in their lineup, winning the Sunday afternoon tilt 3 to 0. Both games were noteworthy for the good work of the opposing pitchers.
Big Les Lilley fashioned a solid six-hitter with eight punchouts in subduing the Lilac City squad in the Saturday scuffle. He had a shutout in the works until the ninth chapter when Harold Van Hoff, a onetime farmhand in the Chicago White Sox organization, lit him up for a two-run dinger as Jack Mathers was summoned from the bullpen to record the final two outs. The Hotelmen managed only four hits but got them when it counted. Former Spokane Indian Ray Miller started on the hill for the Builders but exited the knoll in the seventh in favor of “Buck” Weaver, another ex-pro. Not a single walk was issued by any of the four hurlers.
Miller (L), Weaver (7) and Viro
Lilley (W), Mathers (9) and McCarthy
Spokane’s Curt Bloomquist had the Hotelmen eating out of his hand in the Sunday encounter, repeatedly stifling the Kimberley batters with a blazing fastball and tricky bender. Eric Bodin pitched well in defeat but, without any sustainable offensive support, was doomed.
Bloomquist (W) and Wertz
Bodin (L) and McCarthy
(July 4-5) Invading Trail and Kimberley divided a brace of weekend tussles at Coronation Park. The Smoke Eaters annexed the Saturday affair with a 10 to 4 victory while on Sunday afternoon, the Hotelmen rallied for eight big runs in the seventh stanza to cop a 10 to 8 victory over the Smelter Towners. The Smokies’ Bob McKinnon gave up 11 hits and was in trouble throughout the Saturday clash but managed to persevere to the end for the hillock triumph. The Silver City nine collected ten hits and were aided immensely by eight free passes. Danny Geronazzo paced the Smoke Eaters offensively with a three-run homer and a single. “Buzz” Mellor was the big gun for the Hotelmen with three hits, including a triple.
McKinnon (W) and Hackett
Lilley (L), Dixon (7), Bayley (9) and xxx
On Sunday afternoon, Trail portsider Pete Boisvert was sailing along with a shutout and 15 strikeouts until the Hoteliers broke loose in the seventh stanza for eight huge counters which propelled them to a come-from-behind win. Eric Bodin went the distance for the Innkeepers, allowing ten hits and fanning eight. Les Lilley sparked the winners with the lumber, stroking a double and single. Kelly Campbell had a home run and two singles for Trail while teammate Jim McDonald came through with a triple, double and single.
Boisvert, Price (L) (7), Geronazzo (7) and Hackett
Bodin (W) and xxx
(July 10-12) Nelson Bonspiel baseball tournament
(July 17) The touring House of David baseballers clowned their way to a 9 to 5 win over the Kimberley Hotelmen at Coronation Park. Eric Bodin went the route for the Mining Towners, surrendering eleven hits, He recorded five strikeouts and walked three. For the Bearded Boys, “Boom Boom” Nickerson handled the mound chores and, between giving the fans lots of laughs, gave up eight hits including two each to Howie Becker, “Red” Matthews and “Buzz” Mellor.
(July 25-26) Kimberley annual baseball tournament
(August 2) The Kimberley Hotelmen defeated the homestanding Fernie Falcons 19 to 9 in an exhibition game played in the Elk Valley centre. “Red” Mellor went to town against the Fernie pitching, slugging three home runs and a single for the victors. Eric Bodin went all the way on the slab for the visitors, allowing eleven hits while breezing ten. Fernie’s Eddie Rushcall got to Bodin for a four-ply clout.
(August 9) The Kimberley Hotel nine had things all their way when they walked all over the visiting Michel-Natal Red Sox 13 to 1 and 13 to 0 in a lazy exhibition double-dip. Kimberley’s Eric Bodin found the hot sun to his liking as he rationed the Red Sox to three scattered safeties in the matinee affair. Bodin punched out 14 and held the Coal Miners off the scoreboard until the ninth. The Innkeepers pounded 11 hits off losing chucker Wally Krall as Les Lilley and Ted Robb led the way with three safe raps apiece.
A newcomer to the pitching corps of the Hotelmen, Elgin Smith, fashioned a no-hit, no-run game in the seven-inning nightcap. Smith swished a dozen and gave up just one free ticket to first base. The Crow’s Nest Pass Clan went through a parade of pitchers as starter Green was stung with the setback.
(August 22-23) The travelling Spokane Builders got past the hosting Kimberley Hotelmen twice over the weekend, nosing out the Mining Towners 2 to 1 in a Saturday evening pitching duel and then snowing under the locals 14 to 2 Sunday afternoon. Elgin Smith of the Hoteliers and Builders’ southpaw Bob Hankins locked horns in the Saturday mound joust in which the Washingtonians had a 7 to 4 margin in base hits. Hankins had nine punchouts while Smith posted seven. The visitors scored the deciding run in the sixth stanza on a well-executed squeeze play in which Bob Kuehl romped home from third base. Len Pyne and Kuehl registered two hits apiece for the Spokane aggregation while “Red” Mellor picked up a double and single for Kimberley.
Hankins (W) and xxx
Smith (L) and xxx
“Bud” Swann had a comparatively easy time on the knoll for Lilac City squad in the sunset skirmish, holding the hosts to just two hits in the seven spasms that he toiled. Pyne pitched the final two innings for the victors and yielded another two safeties. Eric Bodin hurled for the listless Hotelmen and bowed out in the ninth in favor of Les Lilley. Pounding out three safe swats apiece as part of the 15-hit Spokane attack were Frank Viro and Curt Bloomquist. One of Viro’s bingles was a four-bagger. Pyne and Harold Van Hoff also spanked the spheroid for round-trippers with Pyne’s homer coming from inside-the-park in deep right field.
Sqann (W), Pyne (8) and xxx
Bodin (L), Lilley (9) and xxx
(August 29-30) Golden baseball tournament
(September 5-7) Trail Labor Day weekend tournament
(June 21) 17-year-old Gerry Bishop pitched and batted Riondel to a 4-3, extra inning, win over Creston Kiwanis. For 11 scoreless innings Pic Piccini engaged in a tense pitching duel. In the top of the 12th, three infield hits loaded the bases for Riondel and set the stage for the club's youthful hurler. Bishop promptly knocked one far over the right fielder's head for a dramatic grand slam home run. But, it wasn't over. Kiwanis got three runs home and had runners on second and third but Bishop got Roy Allen to fly out to end the game. It was Bishop's third extra inning win.
Bishop (W) and xxx
Piccini (L) and xxx
CENTRAL INTERIOR / PRINCE GEORGE & DISTRICT LEAGUE
The circuit shrank from eight teams in 1952 to six in 1953. Failing to register for another season of action were the Giscome Dodgers and the West Lake Loggers.
Teams in the 1953 Central Interior Baseball League
Prince George Athletic Club
Prince George Merchants
Quesnel Clippers
Quesnel Lumbermen
Vanderhoof Cubs
Willow River Red Sox
(May 24) With frequent high winds swirling clouds of dust across the diamond, the Prince George Athletics and Quesnel Lumbermen shared honours as the 1953 Central Interior Baseball League season opened. After Don Young had hurled the Athletics to a 7 to 2 triumph in the opening tilt, the Lumbermen proceeded to batter two Prince George moundsmen as they swept to a 12 to 7 win in the sunset encounter.
Young kept six hits well scattered while fanning seven in the curtain-raiser. The A’s struck for two counters in the opening stanza when Ritchie Foster singled to score Spicer who had reached base on an error. Another Lumbermen miscue allowed Foster to cross the plate. They added another run in the third on Al Franklin’s two-base hit and Foster’s sacrifice. Foster picked up two more RBI’s in the fifth frame, driving home Franklin who had singled as well as Al Bigelow who was the benefactor of another Quesnel fielding miscue. A three-bagger by Mazarak, a walk to Reg McEachnie and Young’s two-bagger to right field accounted for the other two Athletic tallies. The Lumbermen picked up their brace of counters in the sixth when outfielder Al Harris tripled and crossed the plate on Johnson’s perfectly executed bunt down the third base line. Johnson later galloped in from second base when the A’s first sacker froze with the ball in his hand.
Friesen (L), Comish (5) and xxx
Young (W) and xxx
Thirteen hits by the Quesnelites and five costly Prince George errors pretty well sums up the story of the twilight match. The Athletics actually held a 7 to 3 lead after three frames were in the books but Quesnel reliever Lloyd Comish shut the door on their offensive skills after taking over for starter Phil Punt. Centre fielder Al Harris of Quesnel was a defensive standout, hauling in six fly balls, two of them with spectacular running catches. The Lumbermen went ahead to stay in the fourth when they plated four runs and added a pair of insurance tallies in both the fifth and sixth cantos.
Punt, Comish (W) (3) and xxx
Bigelow, McEachnie (L) (2) and xxx
(May 24) Vanderhoof Cubs 13 vs Willow River Red Sox 19 (game 1), Vanderhoof Cubs 4 vs Willow River Red Sox 7 (game 2)
(May 24) The Quesnel Clippers got off to a good start in the 1953 campaign by grabbing a pair of games from the visiting Prince George Merchants by scores of 12 to 3 and 9 to 5. Clarence Dion did the hurling for the Clippers in the curtain-raiser and limited the invaders to only three hits, one of which was a round-tripper by Dick Dickson, while his mates pounded a pair of Merchant hurlers for 14 base blows.
Bent (L), Wilejto and xxx
Dion (W) and xxx
Earl Newson, formerly of New Westminster, stopped the Merchants on five hits in the follow-up match. Fred Follack of the Clippers boomed out the big hit of the nightcap, a triple. Over the course of the two games, Quesnel’s George Oliver amassed five hits while teammate Follack followed with four.
Larsen (L), Wilejto (5) and xxx
Newson (W) and xxx
(May 31) The Prince George Merchants snatched dual victories from two near-defeats when they evened the score with the Quesnel Clippers for the two losses they suffered in the southern rivertown seven days previous. Late-inning rallies allowed the Merchandisers to grab 5 to 4 and 12 to 11 doubleheader wins. The foes were knotted at a 3 – 3 stalemate when the invaders took the lead with a single tally in their final turn at bat. Frank Stevenson led off with a single and moved around the sacks on a passed ball, infield out and sacrifice fly. Not to be outdone on their home turf, the Retailers secured a walkoff victory when Herman Zloklikovits singled to drive in Charlie Garbriele and Bill Fleming with the tying and winning markers.
xxx (L) and xxx
Lyell Rodger (W) and xxxx
The late event was a high-scoring affair which took an extra-inning to produce a winner. The Merchants were again able to pull off a walkoff triumph after Dick Dickson led off the bottom of the overtime stanza by slamming a double off losing hurler Kane. After swiping third, Dickson scampered home with the difference-maker when Quesnel catcher Gil Dagneau made an errant throw to third base while chasing him in a hot-box rundown.
Kane (L) and Dagneau
Wilejto, Bent (W) (3) and xxx
(May 31) The Willow River Red Sox handed the Quesnel Lumbermen a double trimming, taking the opening game of a doubleheader 8 to 6 and the second game 10 to 4. After Otto Munk’s three-run homer in the sixth frame of the initial game allowed the Lumbermen to knot the count at 6 – 6, the Sox went ahead again to stay when “Bo” McIvor walloped a two-run circuit-jack in the top of the seventh.
xxx (W), xxx and xxx
Dolman, xxx (L) (2) and xxx
The Crimson Hose broke open a close second game with a four-run splurge in the fourth frame. Left-hander Sid Delano set the Lumbermen down on three hits in taking the hill decision. Willow River collected ten hits off the offerings of loser Frank Friesen and reliever Eddie Gage.
Delano (W) and xxx
Friesen (L), Gage and xxx
(May 31) Prince George Athletics vs Vanderhoof Cubs (doubleheader)
Standings after games of May 31
W L Pct.
Willow River Red Sox 4 0 1.000
Vanderhoof Cubs 2 2 .500
Prince George Merchants 2 2 .500
Quesnel Clippers 2 2 .500
Prince George Athletics 1 3 .250
Quesnel Lumbermen 1 3 .250
(June 7) The Prince George Merchants came up with some brash and brainy baseball at Connaught Park to sweep a doubleheader with the Vanderhoof Cubs and vault into undisputed possession of second place in the CIBL. The first game was a tight pitching duel between Eddie Bent and “Bud” Lord with Bent and the Merchants prevailing 3 to 1. Manager Fernie Olinger masterminded a brilliant eighth-inning squeeze play to give Prince George a 5 to 4 verdict in the second encounter. Although Vanderhoof’s Lord limited the Merchants to three hits in the lid-lifter, they all came in the fourth inning which allowed the winners to score two of their three runs. In earning the mound win, Bent scattered seven hits and sent five batters down swinging.
Lord (L) and Fehr
Wilejto, Bent (W) and Zloklikovits
The nightcap provided a sensational finish to it. With the score tied 4 – 4 at the end of the regularly scheduled seven-inning set-to, the Cubs threatened in the top half of the extra frame when catcher Ike Fehr doubled after two had been retired. Prince George pitcher Ed Bent then whiffed Gale Reinke for his third strikeout of the inning. Charlie Gabriele walked to open the Merchants’ half of the overtime canto. Bill Fleming followed with a single and both advanced on McQuarrie’s fly out. As Vanderhoof pitcher Dave Wall went into his windup, Gabriele broke for the plate and Herman Zloklikovits dropped a perfectly placed bunt between Wall and first base to end the game, giving Bent his second pitching victory of the day.
D. Wall (L) and Fehr
Bent (W) and Zloklikovits
(June 7) At Willow River, the Red Sox remained undefeated as they clipped the Quesnel Clippers twice, 11 to 0 and 4 to 3. Howie Martin hurled shutout ball in the opening game.
(June 7) Down at Quesnel, the Lumbermen split a double-bill with the Prince George Athletics, dropping the opening tilt 6 to 3 and winning the second 11 to 2. Starting pitcher in the first game, young Russ Punt of the Lumbermen, never got past the fourth frame as a Prince George barrage in the first and fourth innings netted a total of six runs. Included in the opening frame outburst was a two-run homer by Paul Poirier and a triple by Ron Backman. Outfielder Roy Blair of the Lumbermen brought the fans to their feet three times with outstanding catches. He did a nice job with the willow as well, slamming a run-scoring three-bagger in the sixth.
xxx (W) and xxx
R. Punt (L), Comish (4) and xxx
The Quesnel brigade took charge of things from the start of the second game, plating a five-spot in the opening frame. Al Harris had a four-bagger for the winners and finished the game with a three-for-four output. Frank Friesen allowed just four Prince George hits in taking the mound triumph.
Jensen (L), McEachnie (1) and xxx
Friesen (W) and xxx
(June (9) The Prince George Merchants took a firmer grip on second rung of the CIBL ladder when they staggered to a 9 to 7 verdict over their city cousins, the Prince George Athletics, in a loosely played game at Connaught Park. Both pitchers, Vic Wilejto of the winners and Don Young of the A’s went the route although neither was very effective in front of wobbly support. Fumbles, wild throws, walks and passed balls were liberally sprinkled throughout the game. Ritchie Foster staked the Athletics to an early lead with a towering solo four-bagger in the second inning. The Merchandisers essentially salted the game away in the fifth stanza with a four-run uprising.
Young (L) and Franklin
Wilejto (W) and Zloklikovits
(June 11) Exploding for six runs in the opening frame, the Prince George Athletics bounced their intra-city brethren, the Prince George Merchants, 11 to 8. Lyell Rodger, starting pitcher for the Storemen, faced only four batters before given his walking papers. Pete Skalicky and Paul Poirier of the A’s tagged circuit clouts in this contest.
Yeldon (W), Young (7) and xxx
Lyell Rodger (L), Bent (1), Wilejto (7) and xxx
(June 14) In exhibition play, the visiting Dawson Creek nine emerged with an extra-inning 4 to 3 win over the Prince George Athletics in the curtain-raiser of a twin-bill. The A’s came back strong in the twilight contest to smother the invaders 8 to 0.
Roy Heaton (W) and Dutka
Young (L) and Spicer, Stettner
Jack Heaton (L), Borosh and Dutka
McEachnie (W) and Stettner
(June 14) The sixty-four dollar question facing foes of the Willow River Red Sox is “who is going to stop them”? The defending CIBL champions won their seventh and eighth straight in the young campaign at Vanderhoof when they humbled the Cubs 20 to 4 and 9 to 3. Vanderhoof’s “Bud” Lord was the victim of the Sox in the first game, grooving home run balls to Sid Delano, Ted Church, Leo Robinson, Ken McDermid and Andy Kuchurian. Mike Church was the winning pitcher.
M. Church (W) and xxx
Lord (L) and xxx
The second game was a little closer as Willow River chucker Howie Martin had things under control in spite of serving up a round-tripper to the Cubs’ Jim Silver. Mike Church and Willie McDermid homered for the winners off the slants of losing twirler “Slim” Graham.
Martin (W) and xxx
Graham (L) and xxx
(June 14) At Quesnel, the two local teams split the spoils in their first official meetings of the season. The Clippers came out on top of the first game 5 to 4 while the Lumbermen thrashed the Clips 23 to 8 in the final game.
Earl Newson of the Clippers and the Lumbermen’s Lloyd Comish locked horns in the matinee match pitching duel with Newson emerging as the mound winner.
Newson (W) and xxx
Comish (L) and xxx
It was a different story in the final game as the Lumbermen, with Eddie Gage on the hill, decimated the Clips. Losing hurler was Jim Swain. The Lumbermen pushed across 12 runs in the fourth inning as Otto Munk, batting twice in this frame, connected for a home run and a triple.
Swain (L), Newson, Clancy, Oliver and xxx
Gage (W), Johnston and xxx
Standings after games of June 14
W L Pct.
Willow River Red Sox 8 0 1.000
Prince George Merchants 5 3 .625
Prince George Athletics 3 5 .375
Quesnel Clippers 3 5 .375
Quesnel Lumbermen 3 5 .375
Vanderhoof Cubs 2 6 .250
(June 16) The Willow River Red Sox racked up their ninth consecutive triumph, outscoring the Prince George Merchants 7 to 2 in a six-inning contest interrupted twice as heavy showers drenched both players and spectators. The Sox held a 6 to 4 advantage in base hits. Bill Fleming’s fourth-inning single drove in both of the Prince George runs.
Delano (W), Martin (5) and W. McDermid
Bent (L), Wilejto (4) and Zloklikovits
(June 21) The Quesnel Clippers and Vanderhoof Cubs divided honours in a CIBL doubleheader played in Quesnel. Vanderhoof took the opening tilt 9 to 4 but the Clippers’ Johnny Koppa came up with a masterful one-hitter in the second game as the Fraser River gang posted a 10 to 1 win.
(June 21) A heavy rain drenched the diamond at Willow River, forcing cancellation of the Red Sox – Quesnel Lumbermen doubleheader.
(June 25) A neat two-hit pitching job by Mike Church and a 13-hit attack on the offerings of a pair of Prince George hurlers combined to give the unbeaten Willow River Red Sox a 10 to 2 win over the Merchants. Church had ten strikeouts and was working on a no-hitter until the final stanza when Bill Fleming singled and Jim McQuarrie followed with a home run over the left field fence. Andy Kuchurian, Pete Robinson and Ken McDermid all had triples for the winners.
Wilejto (L), Bent (5) and xxx
M. Church (W) and xxx
(June 30 & July 1) Heavy downpours on Dominion Day washed out all the final games scheduled in the Prince George Athletic Club’s baseball tournament. The tourney’s opener saw the Prince George Athletics defeat Roine’s Lumberjacks 4 to 0. Reg McEachnie’s shutout pitching and a towering home run by Al Franklin were the highlights of this game. The Prince George Merchants copped the second game of the tournament with a come-from-behind 5 to 4 win over the Vanderhoof Cubs. After the Nechako Valley entry had built up a three-run lead, spearheaded by Dave Wall’s circuit-clout, big Bill Fleming, Merchants’ first baseman, took personal charge of the game by banging out a homer and a double to drive in four tallies and score the winning run. After steady showers turned the diamond into a quagmire following one inning of the Willow River Red Sox – Quesnel All-Stars contest, this third tournament game was postponed and resumed in the evening with the teams moving from Connaught Park to Duchess Park where the Sox splashed and slithered their way to a 6 to 1 triumph.
The remaining games among the three surviving teams were never started and an attempt will be made at a later time to complete them with the Prince George Athletics getting the bye through a draw.
(July 4) In the semi-final game of the postponed PGAC Dominion Day tournament, the Willow River Red Sox were threatened right down to the final putout before surviving with a 2 to 0 win over the Prince George Merchants. Sid Delano got the hurling win over Vic Wilejto. Willie McDermid blasted a solo four-bagger for the Sox.
(July 5) The Prince George Athletics evened their record at .500 and moved into a three-way tie for second place in the CIBL when they captured both ends of a doubleheader from the Quesnel Clippers. Both games were squeakers, 4 to 3 in the matinee tussle and 8 to 7 in the finale. With the score knotted at 3 – 3 entering the bottom of the fifth inning of the early match, Ron Backman of the A’s singled and came around to score the lead run after a fielder’s choice and an infield error.
Dion, Koppa (L) (3) and Dagneau
Young (W) and Stettner
The Athletics thought they had the second game in the bag after they piled in six runs in their first turn at bat off four walks, a bevy of wild pitches, passed balls and errors plus a double by “Bud” Olson. Following a five-run fifth frame, however, the Clips forged into a 7 – 7 tie. With one batter retired in the bottom half of an extra-inning, Prince George catcher Steve Spicer singled, moved to third on an infield miscue and passed ball, then trotted home with the winning marker when Al Franklin drilled a base hit. Olson wound up with a pair of two-baggers to lead both clubs with the stick.
Glazier, McEachnie (W) (5) and Spicer
Swain, Oliver (1), Amos (L) (6) and Dagneau
(July 5) The Quesnel Lumbermen captured both ends of a CIBL doubleheader from the hosting Vanderhoof Cubs, the scores being 7 to 6 and 5 to 4. The Quesnelites were trailing 6 to 4 entering the final canto of the early game when they hammered across three tallies to gain the verdict. They repeated the trick in the second encounter by breaking a 4 – 4 tie in their last trip to the plate. Albert Watson’s solid double drove in the winner for Quesnel in the lid-lifter.
Coglin (L) and xxx
Comish, Friesen (W) (1) and xxx
Quesnel second sacker Billy Keen singled to open the bottom of the final canto of the sunset game. He advanced to second base on an error and was sacrificed to third. He then galloped home with the winning marker, beating the throw to the plate on McNish’s infield ground ball.
Coglin (L) and xxx
Comish, Johnston (W) (6) and xxx
(July 5) The Prince George Athletics grabbed top money of $300 in the final game of the delayed Dominion Day tournament. With ex-Kamloops mound artist Len Gatin on the hill, the Prince George outfit shutout the powerful Willow River Red Sox 4 to 0. Playing their third game of the day after a regularly-scheduled CIBL doubleheader, the A’s were led by Gatin who struck out 17 while allowing just four well-spaced hits. The game marked the first loss for the Red Sox in exhibition or league games this season.
(July 9) Howie Martin, a big right-hander with a blazing fast ball, sharp-breaking curve and masterly control, spun a seven-inning perfect game as the Willow River Red Sox rolled to a 7 – 0 victory over the Prince George Athletics. Martin struck out 13 of the 21 batters he faced as the Crimson Hose breezed to their eleventh straight CIBL win. Martin’s batterymate, slugging Willie McDermid, blasted a three-run homer.
Martin (W) and W. McDermid
McEachnie (L) and Franklin
(July 12) By splitting a doubleheader, the Prince George Merchants and Quesnel Lumbermen remain deadlocked for second place in the CIBL. The Merchants blew hot and cold in the double-dip as they managed to win the nightcap by a 3 to 1 score after being guilty of seven errors in the first game which ended with the Quesnelites on the heavy end of an 11 to 5 score. In the sloppily-played matinee tussle, the teams were tied 5 – 5 going into the fifth inning when singles by Quesnel’s Billy Keen and Ronnie Trites, combined with a pair of Merchant miscues, sent the visitors in front to stay. Al Johnston picked up the win with a five-hitter in spite of shaky support. Catcher Herman Zloklikovits of the Retailers emerged as the game’s top swatter with a double and single.
Johnston (W) and Noble
Larsen (L) and Zloklikovits
Teenage southpaw Marty Johnson took the hill for Prince George in the late game and, in his first CIBL start, set the Lumbermen down on five hits to chalk up the mound win. The Merchants scored all of their runs in the first two innings. Makarenko’s single drove home the first two counters while Murray Dickson’s second-inning one-bagger sent in the third.
Comish (L) and Whitaker
Johnson (W) and Zloklikovits
(July 12) The Quesnel Clippers replaced the Vanderhoof Cubs in the CIBL cellar by dropping both ends of a twin-bill in the Nechako Valley town. The Baby Bears took the initial encounter 12 to 6 and followed suit in the sunset event with a 12 to 2 pasting of the Clippers.
Standings after games of July 12
W L Pct.
Willow River Red Sox 11 0 1.000
Prince George Merchants 6 6 .500
Quesnel Lumbermen 6 6 .500
Prince George Athletics 5 6 .454
Vanderhoof Cubs 4 8 .333
Quesnel Clippers 3 9 .250
(July 14) Despite turning in one of their best performances of the season, the Prince George Athletics fell to the undefeated Willow River Red Sox by a 4 to 2 count. Trailing 3 to 0 in the seventh inning, the Athletics bombarded Willow River southpaw Sid Delano for five hits and a pair of runs before Howie Martin was called upon to douse the fire. During this Prince George comeback attempt, “Bud” Olson was thrown out at home plate while trying to score the tying run. Losing flinger Don Young was nicked for ten safeties by the Sox while Delano and Martin gave up six safeties.
Young (L) and xxx
Delano (W), Martin (7) and xxx
(July 19) The Quesnel Clippers bounced the Prince George Athletics out of sole possession of third place in the CIBL by taking both ends of a doubleheader played in Quesnel. The Clippers handed the A’s a 7 to 0 whitewashing in the opener and capped it off with a 9 to 5 win in the twilight tilt. Johnny Koppa had the A’s eating out of his hand in the opener as he hurled a classy one-hitter. The Clips backed Koppa up with a trio of sparkling double plays.
Young (L) and xxx
Koppa (W) and G. Swain
Winning pitcher Earl Newson and teammate George Oliver both hit circuit clouts for the winners in the second contest.
McEachnie (L), Yelden (3), Gatin (4) and xxx
Newson (W), Amos (7) and xxx
(July 19) In Vanderhoof, the Quesnel Lumbermen racked up a marathon 11 to 0 score against the Cubs in the opener of a pair of games and nosed out their hosts 3 to 2 in the late matchup. Albert Johnston hurled a seven-inning no-run, no-hit game for the Lumbermen in the early set-to. Prince George batters roughed up three Cubbie twirlers for 14 hits in the one-sided contest. Bill Noble blasted a two-run homer for the winners.
Johnston (W) and xxx
Graham (L), Lord (6), A. Wall (7) and xxx
Frank Friesen pitched a one-hitter against Vanderhoof in the sunset game to top off teammate Johnson’s earlier performance. The Lumbermen solved loser Dave Wall’s slants for nine safeties.
Friesen (W), Johnston (7) and xxx
D. Wall (L) and xxx
(July 21) The Prince George Athletics dropped another notch in the CIBL standings when they became the thirteenth consecutive victim of the unbeaten Willow River Red Sox, the final outcome favouring the Scarlet Stockings 6 to 1. Willow River’s Sid Delano handcuffed the Prince George nine on two hits while striking out seven.
Glazier (L), Young (6) and xxx
Delano (W) and xxx
(July 22) Prospects of the Quesnel Clippers gaining a berth in the CIBL playoffs grew brighter as they defeated their crosstown rivals, the Quesnel Lumbermen, 4 to 2. Both pitchers, winner Johnny Koppa of the Clips and tough-luck loser Lloyd Comish were in top form. The winners touched Comish for only four safeties while Koppa was nicked for six base raps. Tight defensive play displayed by the Clippers when the game was on the line proved to be the major component of their victory.
Comish (L) and xxx
Koppa (W) and xxx
(July 26) Playing at home, the Quesnel Lumbermen took two games from the invading Prince George Merchants. Final scores were 13 to 5 and 10 to 8.
xxx (L) and xxx
Friesen (W), Comish and xxx
xxx (L) and xxx
Johnston, Friesen and xxx
(July 26) The Prince George Athletics continued to sink into the lowest of depths in the CIBL when they were manhandled twice in Vanderhoof by the hosting Cubs. The Bruins took the first meeting 8 to 2 then continued their momentum with an 11 to 6 drubbing of the A’s in the late encounter.
“Bud” Lord tossed a complete game five-hitter to earn the opening game mound victory for the Cubbies.
Young (L), Glazier (5) and Franklin
Lord (W) and Graham
The Vanderhoovers were in arrears by three runs as they came to bat in the fourth frame of the follow-up joust. Howie Sugden lit up losing pitcher Reg McEachnie for a solo round-tripper to lead off the frame. After one had been retired, the Baby Bears then strung together three consecutive singles. With the sacks full, winning tosser Dave Wall stepped to the plate and launched a grand-slam circuit clout to put the homesters ahead by two. “Bud” Lord slammed a third home run for Vanderhoof in the next inning and the rout was on.
McEachnie (L), Young and Stettner
D. Wall (W) and Graham
(July 27) The hot streak for the Willow River Red Sox continued as they carved out their fifteenth straight victory in CIBL play in slipping past the Prince George Merchants 4 to 3. The Sox fell behind 2 to 0 early in the game but the consistent pitching of winning flinger Howie Martin and the timely hitting of their sluggers proved to be too much for the Merchandisers. Steve Makarenko hurled his first game of the year for the Merchants and allowed seven hits.
Makarenko (L) and xxx
Martin (W) and xxx
Standings after game of July 27
W L Pct.
Willow River Red Sox 15 0 1.000
Quesnel Lumbermen 10 6 .625
Prince George Merchants 6 10 .375
Vanderhoof Cubs 6 10 .375
Quesnel Clippers 5 9 .357
Prince George Athletics 5 12 .294
(August 2) The Willow River Red Sox greatly stymied the playoff hopes of the Quesnel Clippers when they steamrolled over the Clips 7 to 0 and 9 to 3 in a CIBL doubleheader. The Sox rode the left arm of their ace pitcher, Sid Delano, in the first game and he set the Quesnelites down on two hits in the whitewash win. Losing twirler Johnny Koppa was nicked for 11 Willow River hits.
Delano (W) and xxx
Koppa (L) and xxx
The Redlegs’ Howie Martin effectively scattered five hits in the second encounter as his mates gave him an early cushion ignited by Mike Church’s solo homer and a two-run triple off the bat of Frank Bruder.
Martin (W) and xxx
Oliver (L), Wilejto (4) and xxx
(August 2) The invading Vanderhoof Cubs split a twin-bill with the hosting Prince George Merchants.
(August 4) The Prince George Athletics came out of their funk and defeated their city rivals, the Prince George Merchants, in a dull game by the score of 10 to 7.
(August 5) CIBL officials upheld protests lodged by the Prince George Athletics and Prince George Merchants over games recently won by the Vanderhoof Cubs. The two games in question are scheduled to be re-played on August 9.
(August 7) Frank Bueckert’s big bat provided the payoff blows as the Prince George Merchants nosed out the Prince George Athletics 6 to 5 in an exciting CIBL fixture at Connaught Park. The Storemen’s left fielder blasted a two-run homer in the second frame and then came up with a timely double in the eighth canto to drive in another pair of runs. Bueckert’s blows were nearly wasted as the A’s staged a last-inning three-run rally on the strength of Pete Skalicky’s two-bagger which cleared the bases. Steve Makarenko picked up the mound decision with a four-hitter.
Makarenko (W) and Stettner
McEachnie (L) and Zloklikovits
(August 9) The Vanderhoof Cubs decided to forfeit the two games which the CIBL had ordered re-played, virtually killing their chances of securing a playoff spot.
(August 9) Playing steady baseball behind the slow curves of pitcher Albert Johnston, the Quesnel Lumbermen humbled the Willow River Red Sox 7 to 5 in the opening game of a doubleheader at Willow River. Big Howie Martin turned the tables on the Lumbermen in the second contest, however, as the husky right-hander tamed the Quesnelites with the Sox prevailing 3 to 1. Quesnel surprised their hosts by jumping out to a 7 to 1 lead after 4 1/2 innings of play in the matinee game. Johnson whiffed six, walked two and gave up eight hits in grabbing the mound decision from Sid Delano and, in the process, halting the Red Stockings for the first time this season. Delano had eleven strikeouts. Shortstop Otto Munk led the victors at the dish with two singles and a triple while Willie McDermid paced the Sox with three singles.
Johnston (W) and Noble
Delano (L) and W. McDermid
In the twilight contest, Martin tossed a four-hitter and fanned nine, three of them in the final stanza, to best Frank Friesen in the mound tussle. Singles by Mike Church and Willie McDermid sent the Red Sox away to a 1 to 0 lead in the opening frame and they added two more in the third on Leo Robinson’s single, Ken McDermid’s two-bagger and a wild pitch. Quesnel scored their lone run in the sixth on Roy Blair’s two-base blow followed by Al Watson’s single. Watson had three of the four hits given up by Martin.
Friesen (L) and Noble
Martin (W) and W. McDermid
Standings after games of August 9
W L Pct.
Willow River Red Sox 18 1 .947
Quesnel Lumbermen 11 8 .578
Prince George Merchants 8 12 .400
Prince George Athletics 7 12 .368
Quesnel Clippers 7 12 .368
Vanderhoof Cubs 7 13 .350
(August 11) Turning in one of the classiest displays of the season, the Willow River Red Sox won their nineteenth start in a 20-game schedule by blanking the Prince George Athletics 3 to 0. The A’s were limited to just a pair of hits by winning tosser Howie Martin. The game was scoreless until the top of the fourth when Willie McDermid hammered one of losing pitcher Don Young’s offerings for a mammoth round-tripper. The Willow River crew wrapped up the game by scoring twice in the sixth when Young, who had 11 strikeouts, walked Ken McDermid and yielded singles to Wiilie McDermid and “Bo” McIvor.
Martin (W) and W. McDermid
Young (L) and Franklin
(August 11) The final game of the 1953 CIBL schedule was played at Quesnel and saw the second-place Lumbermen lambaste their town rivals, the Clippers, by a 21 to 2 score. The result left three teams tied for the fourth and final playoff spot. Lloyd Comish limited the Clippers to four hits in cruising to the mound victory over losing twirler Johnny Koppa.
Comish (W) and xxx
Koppa (L) and xxx
Final Standings
W L Pct.
Willow River Red Sox 19 1 .950
Quesnel Lumbermen 12 8 .600
Prince George Merchants 8 12 .400
Prince George Athletics 7 13 .350
Quesnel Clippers 7 13 .350
Vanderhoof Cubs 7 13 .350
(August 15) The Willow River Red Sox won the $500 first prize at the Dawson Creek tournament, defeating a team from Donnelly AB 7 to 3 in the tourney finale. Sid Delano hurled a three-hitter in registering the mound win. The Sox had earlier sidelined the host Dawson Creek squad 15 to 2 in the semi-finals behind the chucking of Howie Martin. The CIBL squad was handed their opening match on a platter when the Rycroft AB team failed to put in a scheduled appearance.
Fourth-place tie-breaker
(August 16) Hammering out 17 hits off the slants of three Vanderhoof pitchers, the Prince George Athletics coasted to a 16 to 6 win over the Cubs to secure the final playoff berth in the CIBL. Vanderhoof had garnered a bye into an anticipated three-team showdown but with the Quesnel Clippers, who like the A’s and the Vanderhoovers had finished the season with a 7 – 13 record, defaulting to the Athletics due to a player shortage, the A’s went directly into the tie-breaker final against the Cubbies. “Bud” Olson had seven safeties in seven at-bats for the winners while Pete Skalicky went three-for-five. Howie Sugden of the Cubs also had a three-for-five output at the platter. Jimmy Silver drilled a home run for the Nechako Valley club in the fifth frame.
Glazier (W) and Franklin, Spicer
D. Wall (L), A. Wall, Graham and Graham, I. Fehr
(August 20) Willie McDermid of the Willow River Red Sox is the 1953 batting champion of the Central Interior Baseball League according to figures released on this date. The peppery Red Sox backstop finished the regular season with a .433 batting average, seven percentage points ahead of Ken Koyami of the Quesnel Lumbermen. McDermid also led the circuit in home runs, connecting for four.
Top Ten 1953 CIBL batters
Willie McDermid (Willow River Red Sox) .433
Kadi “Ken” Koyami (Quesnel Lumbermen) .426
Leo Robinson (Willow River Red Sox) .420
George Oliver (Quesnel Clippers) .389
Mike Church (Willow River Red Sox) .377
Roy Blair (Quesnel Lumbermen) .370
Billy Keen (Quesnel Lumbermen) .368
F. Silverson (Quesnel Clippers) .365
Dick Dickson (Prince George Merchants) .341
Otto Munk (Quesnel Lumbermen) .333
PLAYOFFS
Semi-finals (best-of-three series)
(August 23) At Willow River, the largest crowd of home fans of the season watched the Red Sox blot out the championship hopes of the Prince George Merchants by taking both ends of a playoff double-bill 6 to 3 and 14 to 0.
The Merchants took a 3 to 0 lead in the initial inning of the opener when the homesters uncharacteristically committed three fielding miscues. Winning tosser Howie Martin wasn’t as sharp as usual but did have a great deal of success with runners in scoring position. He wound up with a total of ten strikeouts for the day. Prince George’s Steve Makarenko limited the Sox to seven hits but several of these were extra-base blows in the first three innings which allowed Willow River to overcome the three-run deficit and forge ahead 5 to 3.
Makarenko (L) and Zloklikovits
Martin (W) and W. McDermid
The late game was a blowout as slim southpaw Sid Delano of the Sox handcuffed the Retailers with a six-hit pitching job which included seven strikeouts. The roof fell in on the Merchandisers in the fifth inning when the Redlegs sent eight runners scampering across home plate.
Larsen (L), Sims, Prest and Zloklikovits
Delano (W) and W. McDermid
(August 23) The Quesnel Lumbermen moved into the CIBL finals by ousting the Prince George Athletics in a twin-bill, the scores being 9 to 2 and 3 to 2. With Al Johnston of Quesnel and Prince George’s Hugh Glazier on the hill, the combatants were locked in a pitcher’s duel until the sixth stanza when the Plywood Crew counted six runs on three hits and an orgy of four errors by the Athletics. Otto Munk collected three base hits for the winners.
Glazier (L) and xxx
Johnston (W) and xxx
The nightcap featured tight defensive play by both teams and steady hurling by eventual winning tosser Frank Friesen as well as by Reg McEachnie of the A’s. The Lumbermen pulled off a triple play in the second inning to snuff out a potential big inning for the losers. Otto Munk’s two-run double tied the score in the sixth inning and he then crossed the plate with the lead run, and eventual winner, on an infield error later in the same frame.
McEachnie (L) and xxx
Friesen (W) and xxx
Finals (best-of-five series)
(August 30) Games 1 and 2 were rained out.
(September 6) Unleashing a mighty batting attack which included ten home runs, the Willow River Red Sox battered the Quesnel Lumbermen into submission at Connaught Park to easily capture the first two games of the 1953 CIBL final series. The scores were 10 to 5 and 19 to 7. The Sox threw their potent one-two pitching punch of Howie Martin and Sid Delano at the Quesnel crew and both were able to coast behind the booming bats of their mates. Both Andy Kuchurian and Mike Church blasted three homers in the double-dip for the Willow River squad while Willie McDermid, the league’s home run king, slammed two round-trippers. Ted Church and Howie Martin got the other circuit clouts. The Quesnel team came up with several sparkling defensive plays during the two games but their hurling staff had no formula for silencing the booming bats of the Crimson Hose.
Comish (L), Friesen (5) and xxx
Martin (W) and xxx
Johnston (L) and xxx
Delano (W) and xxx
(September 13) After dropping the third game of the final series 8 to 7, the Willow River Red Sox came from behind to nose out the stubborn Quesnel Lumbermen 10 to 9 in an extra inning of game four to annex the 1953 Central Interior Baseball League championship.
Howie Martin suffered his first loss of the season as the Quesnelites took the opener. Veteran Frank Friesen came to the rescue of starter Albert Johnston in the eighth frame to preserve the win. Quesnel outfielder Roy Blair made a sensational shoe-string catch in the ninth to halt a Willow River threat. Albert Watson homered for the Lumbermen while shortstop Otto Munk belted a two-run triple.
Martin (L) and xxx
Johnston (W), Friesen (8) and xxx
With the momentum of the first game win pushing them onward, the Lumberman jumped into an early 5 to 0 lead in the follow-up contest but the Sox kept whittling away at this cushion and evened the score at 9 – 9 in the ninth, setting the stage for the McDermid brothers’ tenth-inning act. A tense moment came in the eighth inning when Quesnel loaded the bases with no one out and Howie Martin was summoned to the hill to replace starter Sid Delano. An infield fly and a fast double play got the winners out of trouble. The extra frame began with a walk to Ken McDermid. Willie McDermid then slammed the ball past first base and into the right field corner, allowing his brother to round the bases and plate the tenth run for the champions. Besides driving in the winning marker, Willie McDermid poled out a tremendous home runs for the Sox. Al Harris had a four-bagger for Quesnel.
Delano, Martin (W) (8) and xxx
Comish, Friesen, Johnston (L) (6) and xxx
CROW'S NEST PASS LEAGUE
(May 24) Fernie Falcons kicked off the new Crow's Nest Pass League season with a 4-2 win over Coleman Cubs in a seven-inning contest at Fernie. The game was shortened to allow Coleman to travel to Michel for another game. Both teams scored in the first inning. For Coleman, Dave Pow singled to knock in Timchina. Fernie got its run as Frank Pearce walked, stole second and third and scored on a passed ball. Coleman went ahead in third scoring on an error before the Falcons brought out the heavy lumber in their half of the third. Pat Caravetta smacked a towering home run over the left field fence to score Pearce, who had walked, and Onysko singled in Caulfield. Bill Cole pitched a five-hitter for the win. Sandy Sandulak allowed just four htis but walked six.
Sandulak (L) and xxx
Cole (W) and xxx
(May 24) At Natal, the Red Sox handed Coleman their second loss of the day, this time 6-4. Whalley Krall and Ben Serafini combined to hold the visitors to four hits. The Sox got seven hits off Fats Nakama. Serafini and Sandy Tombosso each had two hits to lead the winners with Tombosso's triple the longest blow of the game.
Nakama (L) and xxx
W.Krall, Serafini and xxx
(May 31) In a wild game at Natal, Blairmore Canucks remained unbeaten downing Natal-Michel Red Sox 14-12 in 10 innings. Walter Trentini led a 15-hit attack for the Canucks with three hits and Roy Vejprava chipped in with a homer. For the Sox, Red Querrin connected with four safeties, including a four-bagger while Dino Depaoli, the Canucks' 20-year-old playing manager, added three hits and Tilio Fabbro had a homer.
Vangotisoven, Blas (W) and xxx
Salahub, Serafini, Scott and xxx
(June 7) Winning pitcher Bill Komarevich smacked a bases-loaded homer in the sixth inning to top off a six-run rally as Fernie Falcons dumped Pincher Creek Dominoes 11-9 Sunday. Komarevich also knocked in two runs in the fourth with a double to centre field. For the visitors, Ed Wiens had a two-run homer in the fourth and Bob Toney a three-run shot in the eighth. Both teams had ten hits.
P.Budy (L) and xxx
Komarevich (W) and xxx
(June 7) Natal-Michel sported Pincher Creek three runs in the first inning but quickly struck back to down the Dominoes 9-3. Whalley Krall pitched shutout ball after the shaky first inning and got all the offense needed on Ben Serafini's grand-slam homer in the fourth inning.
xxx and xxx
W.Krall (W) and xxx
(June 14) At Pincher Creek, the Natal-Michel Red Sox outlasted the Dominoes in a 15-14 in a slugfest. The Sox, who trailed for much of the game, came through with four runs in the last inning to take the verdict. Whally Krall and Lefty Scott shared the pitching duties with Scott getting credit for the win.
xxx and xxx
W.Krall, Scott and xxx
In an evening exhibition game, Pincher Creek scored an 11-2 victory.
(June 14) The visiting Fernie Falcons crushed Coleman Cubs 14-4 Sunday in Crow's Nest Pass baseball action. Wilf Ashmore was credited with the win allowing eight hits, with 10 strikeouts, in going the distance. Flashy first sacker Frank Pearce led the winners with two triples and a single. Dick Horlick and Rollie Crissafio each added a pair of safeties. Stumpo Kimoto had three hits, one a three-bagger for the Cubs. Coleman hurt its chances making nine errors.
Ashmore (W) and xxx
Andy Siska (L), Sandy Sandolak (7) and xxx
(June 21) With a three-run rally in the ninth inning, Fernie Falcons pulled out a 7-6 victory over Natal-Michel Red Sox Sunday. Wilf Ashmore scattered 11 hits in going the distance for the win. Steve Scott took the loss.
W.Krall, Scott (L) (8) and xxx
Ashmore (W) and xxx
(June 21) Ben Serafini and Cliff Salahub combined on a one-hitter as Natal-Michel Red Sox trounced Fernie Falcons 15-2 with a 17-hit attack. Wilf Ashmore got the lone hit for the Falcons, a single in the second off Serafini who worked four innings. Salahub struck out eight in his relief stint. Bill Komarevich went the distance to take the loss for Fernie.
Komarevich (L) and xxx
Serafini, Salahub and xxx
(June 29) Blairmore Canucks whipped Coleman Cubs 14-7 Monday. Larry West held the Cubs to seven hits in registering his third win of the season in league play. He fanned ten but walked six. Sandy Sandulak was tagged with the loss. Pasquell Lucent and Moose Giaccamuzzi paced a 15-hit Canucks' attack with homers, Lucent's came with the bases loaded. The win brought the Canucks into a three-way tie for first place with Natal-Michel and Fernie.
West (W) and Stewart
Sandulak (L), Nakama and Rypin, Fields
(July 5) Natal-Michel took both games of doubleheader at Fernie Sunday, 14-4 and 11-4, in the first games of a best-of-five series for the Crow's Nest Pass League title. The winners pounded out 18 hits in the first game including home runs by Tilio Fabbro and Sandy Tombosso. Veteran Steve Scott and rookie Ben Serafini teamed up to hold Fernie to seven hits.
Scott (W), Serafini and xxx
Ashmore, Guzzi and xxx
Fernie took a 4-0 lead in the first inning but that was the extent of their offense as Natal-Michel bunched their nine hits to score three runs in each of the third, sixth and ninth innings along with two in the fifth to notch the easy win. Cliff Salahub settled down after a rocky first inning to pitch shutout ball the rest of the way.
Salahub (W) and xxx
Komarevich (L) and xxx
(July 12) Natal-Michel split a pair with Fernie to take the best-of-five series in four games. Fernie took the first game 2-0 notching both runs in the fifth inning combining two hits with two errors. Lefty Ashmore held the Red Sox to five hits while striking out 13.
Ashmore (W) and xxx
xxx and xxx
The Red Sox rebounded to take the second game 8-6 and move on to the league final against the Alberta winners.
(September 7) Natal-Michel copped top prize of $400 in the Fernie Tournament defeating the host club 5-4 in a 10-inning final. In the first round, Windermere defaulted to the Red Sox who eliminated Eureka, Montana, 6-4 in a semi-final encounter.