1954 Vancouver, Lower Mainland, Fraser Valley
1954 BC Interior
1954 Vancouver Island

VICTORIA / SOUTHERN VANCOUVER ISLAND

Victoria’s Senior Amateur Baseball League did not operate in 1954. Instead, the defending league champion Farmer’s Construction team augmented their lineup with other elite players from the 1953 Capital City circuit and set their sights on capturing the Vancouver Island championship. They formed a two-team association with the Parksville Loggers, formerly of the Mid-Island Baseball League, which featured a 12-game, head-to-head, schedule. As well, a number of exhibition games and tournament appearances were part of the agenda in preparation for the playoffs.

(May 22) Charlie Boyd had a huge day with a home run, two doubles and six singles to lead Farmer Construction to 19-1 and 18-5 victories over Duncan Athletics in the up-Island centre Saturday. Don Donahue, who hurled a five-hitter for the winners, also smacked a four-bagger in the opener. Stu Mitchell, Lyle Cornett and Bernie Anderson clouted circuit blows in the second game. Anderson also had three singles and Ronnie Martin had four hits. Lowell Hodges allowed just eight safeties in hurling the win in the second game. He allowed four runs in the first inning before settling down to pitch solid ball. Both games went seven innings. Farmer's had 20 hits in the first game and 21 in the second.

Don Donahue (W) and Harford
Rogers, Williams (3), Tony Folk (5) and Branting

Lowell Hodges (W) and Jack Shields
Rogers (L) and Branting

(June 5) Victoria's Farmer Construction swept a double-header from the Parksville Loggers at Royal Athletic Park Saturday to make it five wins in six games against the up-Island team this season. In the afternoon contest, Farmers scored seven runs in the second inning and breezed to a 17-3 victory. Charlie Boyd provided the highlight with a long blast which cleared the centerfield flag pole. Catcher Rocky Harford added a double and triple, Ron Karadimas had two doubles and Lyle Cornett punched out three singles. Don Donahue fashioned a three-hitter for the win.

Osada (L), Bob Prior (5), Ron Wilgress (8) and Phil Haslam
Don Donahue (W) and Jim Harford

The Loggers out-hit the locals 7-5 in the second game but still wound up on the short end of a 5-2 score. A single by Bernie Anderson drove in a run in the fourth inning and Lyle Cornett later followed with a two-run single that proved to be the winning blow. Lowell Hodges added two insurance runs with a single in the sixth. Hodges gave up both Parksville runs in the first inning then pitched shutout ball the rest of the way. George Wilgress delivered a double and single for the losers.

Mosdell, J.Atkin (5), Prior (6) and Caljouw
Lowell Hodges (W) and Jack Shields

(June 6) Out-hit 11 to 9, Farmer Construction effectively bunched their hits in the second and third innings Sunday to come away with a 6-3 victory over the Loggers. They plated three in the second and another in the third. Don Donahue, who pitched a complete game in the first game Saturday came back Sunday to pitch into the ninth but got into a jam with the bases loaded and just one out. Lowell Hodges relieved and got a strike out and a fly ball to end the game.

Jack Charlesworth (L) and Pete Caljouw
Donahue (W), Hodges (9) and Harford

(June 20) Parksville fans were treated to a fine exhibition of baseball Sunday when the Loggers took on Collingwood Athletics of the Vancouver and District League in a double-header. The teams tied 6-6 in a ten-inning affair in the first game. Jack Mosdell went the full ten for the Loggers. Parksville took the evening game 4-3 behind the hurling of Bob Prior.

Brundridge, Parson, Davies and xxx
Jack Mosdell and xxx

Kim Ellott, George Brundridge and xxx
Bob Prior (W) and xxx

(June 27) Farmer Construction moved to within one game of clinching the Victoria-Parksville championship Sunday by splitting a double-header with the Loggers at the up-Island centre. The crack Victoria squad trimmed Parksville 13-1 in the opener. But the Loggers came back in the second contest routing Bill Garner in the first inning and going on to a 14-7 triumph. Paul Beck and Don Donahue combined on a six-hitter in the opener. Charlie Boyd paced the winners with a pair of homers and a single. Donahue and Bernie Anderson added circuit clouts.

Paul Beck, Donahue (W) (4) and Harford
Mosdell, Wilgress (5) Bob Prior and Haslam

Garner, making his first start of the season, was treated roughly as he was touched for six runs before being relieved by Lowell Hodges. Loggers slugged 17 hits, including a homer and single by Pete Caljouw and a double and two singles by Ron Gray. Jack Charlesworth and Ed Osada held Farmers to seven hits. Rocky Harford smashed a homer for Farmers.

Bill Garner, Lowell Hodges (1) and Jack Shields, Harford (6)
Charlesworth, Ed Osada (6) and Caljouw

(July 1-4) Courtenay Legion downed Victoria's Farmer Construction 4-2 Sunday to win the annual Courtenay Dominion Day baseball tournament and take $600 first prize money. With the scored tied 2-2 after eight frames, Legion won it in the top of the ninth as Junior Chalmers singled and was brought home on Lyle McKenzie's game-winning blow. Legion added an insurance run on two errors. In the last of the ninth Jim Harford delivered his fifth hit of the game but was stranded. Southpaw Bob McIvor scattered ten hits in going the distance for the Legion. Norm Forbes gave up eight hits and six walks in his first start for Victoria. Only one of the runs was earned.

McIvor (W) and xxx
Forbes (L) and xxx

In semi-final action Sunday, Farmers whipped Campbell River 11-4 and Courtenay blanked the Comox Tigers 4-0. The Legion and the Tigers battled through six scoreless innings before Legion capitalized on an error and Dorohoy's single to score Jackie Younger with the first run. Going into the eighth, Tigers brought in Gordon Pratt to relieve brother Ron Pratt, who had pitched outstanding ball, allowing just three hits and the lone run. Legion got to Pro Pratt for three runs in the eighth to put the game on ice. Dick Downey's triple was the highlight of the big inning. Earl Woods hurled the shutout, holding the Tigers to three hits. The entertaining contest featured a humorous moment when Bill Moore successfully pulled of the hidden ball trick on his brother Roy Moore of the Tigers.

Woods (W) and xxx
R.Pratt (L), G.Pratt (8), Schilling and xxx

Farmers gathered 12 solid safeties off a pair of Campbell River hurlers to take an 11-4 decision in their semi-final. The game produced five triples, Charlie Boyd had a pair and singletons went to Ronnie Martin, Lyle Cornett and Ron Karademis. Cornett also had a double and single. Bill Garner, who relieved starter Lowell Hodges in the third, pitched shutout ball the rest of the way.

D.Marshall, R.Lund and xxx
L.Hodges (W), Garner (3) and Harford

In opening round action, Farmers won a semi-final berth drubbing Powell River 15-6 Saturday before a crowd of about 2,000. Southpaw Don Donahue started for Farmers but needed help from Bill Garner in the fourth when the Mainland team scored five times. Jim Harford led a 15 hit attack with a pair of two-baggers.

Donahue, Garner (W) (4) and Harford
Martin, Courtenay (4), Sommerville (8) and McDermott

Courtenay Legion snuck past the powerful Parksville Loggers 5-4 in a thrilling 10-inning affair beating their old nemesis, Baz Nagle. Earl Woods had the game winning single scoring Bill Moore Shorty McIvor, who took over in the second inning, pitched seven and two-thirds innings of brilliant relief. He allowed just three hits. Freddie Orr was the top swatter with four hits for the Loggers.

Woods, McIvor (W) (2) and xxx
Nagle (L) and xxx

The Tigers advanced into the money round with a 5-2 win over Nanaimo behind the hurling of Pro Pratt. Down 1-0 in the first, Tigers had runs handed them on a silver platter, drawing three consecutive walks before Adrian Smith, who had four hits, cracked a single to score two of the three runs in the stanza. They added singletons in the fourth and fifth.

G.Pro Pratt (W) and xxx
Earl Robinson (L) and xxx

The Campbell River Cougars blanked Chemainus 8-0 as Ron Lund played the hero, pitching the shutout and gaining a pair of hits.

R.Lund (W) and xxx
English (L), Wolfe, Williams and xxx

Victoria catcher Jim Harford was the individual batting star of the four-day tournament slamming 11 hits in 15 at bats. Charlie Boyd of Farmers cracked three triples for the most extra base hits and teammate Lyle Cornett drove in the most runs, seven.

(July 11) Farmer Construction got two solid pitching performances Sunday and took both ends of a double-header from Campbell River Cougars of the Comox District League, 4-1 and 6-3. Bill Garner and Don Donahue, both southpaws, tossed six-hitters. Ron Martin and Pete Ash led the winners in the opener each with a pair of singles. Charlie Boyd was best in the second game with a double and two singles.

Garner (W) and Shields
Fiscus (L) and McDonald

Donahue (W) and Anderson, Shields (5)
Enns, Ross (6) and Conti

(July 18) It took extra innings in each game but Farmer Construction took both in Sunday's twin-bill against Alberni, of the Mid-Island League, at Royal Athletic Park. Backed by the five-hit pitching of Norm Forbes, Farmers edged Alberni 3-2 in the 10-inning opener and went on to take an 11-inning 5-4 decision in the nightcap after tying it up with a run in the bottom of the ninth.

Forbes, in his first local start since returning from the University of Oregon, hooked up in a pitching duel with Denny Grisdale. He fanned 15, walked four and added an inside-the-park homer in the first inning. Big first baseman Charlie Boyd provided the fireworks. He singled home Ronnie Martin from third with the winning run in the opener and slammed a double off the fence in the 11th inning of the second game to chase home Martin. Bill Garner pitched ten innings in the second game but was relieved by Don Donahue in the 11th. Donahue struck out the side.

Denny Grisdale (L) and Pat Phillips
Norm Forbes (W) and Jack Shields, Bernie Anderson (8)

Mel Nesbitt (L) and Alf Crowder
Bill Garner, Don Donahue (W) (11) and Jack Shields, Jim Harford (11)

(July 25) Farmer Construction roared back from a 5-0 deficit Sunday to edge the professional Victoria Tyees, of the Western International League, 6-5 before 3,000 spectators in a game which raised $600 for minor baseball in Victoria. It was a fun-filled game and the second win for the amateurs in three years. Catcher Rocky Harford singled in Doug Stewart from second base in the bottom of the ninth for the winning run. Tyees used three non-pitchers -- Don Lundberg, Tom Perez and manager Don Pries -- on the mound.

Don Lundberg, Tom Perez (4), Don Pries (7) and Milt Martin
Norm Forbes, Don Donahue (7) and Jim Harford

(July 30 - August 1) The old hidden ball trick helped the Parksville Loggers bring home top honours in their own tournament Sunday. Loggers edged Chemainus Red Sox 2-1 in the thrilling final of the Parksville Kinsmen $1,500 baseball tournament. The Loggers got two early runs and held on for the win. The Red Sox had the bases loaded and none out in the ninth. Lyel Rodgers, of Duncan, imported by Parksville for the tourney, bore down and fanned the next batter. Then the most outrageous ending to the event. Rodgers picked off a runner at third base for the second out and then second baseman Ron Gray, with the hidden ball trick, tagged Neil Kelly off second to end the game.

Loggers won a berth in the finals ousting Alberni Athletics 5-2 behind lefty Jack Charlesworth. They mastered Campbell River Cougars 8-3 behind 19-year-old import Bob Reimer, from the Bellingham Bells. Cougars had topped the Vancouver Nisei nine 15-8.

Chemainus made the final by downing the Legion 7-4 and whipping the powerful Farmer Construction nine 11-8 in a contest that had everything including the finest catch of the series, made by Farmers Bernie Anderson. The bases were loaded when Anderson raced across centre field to make a leaping catch of Brooks' drive. Farmers blew a five-run lead as Charlie Boyd led the early Farmer's attack with a bases-clearing double. Neil Kelly started the Red Sox on the comeback trail with a two-run homer. Ron Gray, the Loggers shortstop was voted the most valuable player of the tournament.

(August 7) Farmer Construction began its drive for the BC championship Saturday swamping Parksville twice, 14-3 and 12-5 in the first games of the best-of-five series. Farmers jumped into big leads in the early going of both games. They clubbed 18 hits in the opener and 16 more in the second game.

Second baseman Ron Martin and catcher Jim Harford each knocked in three runs with three singles in the first game. Don Donahue slugged a triple, double and single and Bernie Anderson added a double and two singles. In the second game, Charlie Boyd led the way with a home run and four singles.

Charlesworth, Wilgress (3), Prior (6) and Caljouw
Donahue (W) and Harford

Aitken, Charlesworth (5) and Mosdell, Caljouw (7)
Beck, Garner (7) and Harford

(August 14-15) Farmer Construction captured the first stage of the Vancouver Island senior amateur baseball championship Sunday at Parksville by crushing the Loggers 26-1 to take the best-of-five series three games to one. Parksville had extended the series Saturday night by stopping the Farmers 4-3 on the strength of a three-run rally in the bottom of the eighth inning.

In the fourth game, Farmers pounded out 25 hits in the 26-1 romp. Farmers erupted for 11 runs in the second inning and eight runs in the eighth. Norm Forbes, Bernie Anderson, Charlie Boyd and Lyle Cornett each picked up four hits with Forbes and Anderson cracking out home runs.

On Saturday, Don Donahue had a no-hitter going into the seventh inning but was forced to retire from the game when he was hit on the leg by a liner. On Sunday, Farmers downed the Loggers 6-3 in an exhibition game.

Donahue, Garner (L) (8) and Harford
Charlesworth (W) and Haslam

Garner (W) and Harford
Bob Prior (L), Ron Aiken (2), Mosdell (2), Jack Messmer (8), Ron Wilgress (8), Pete Caljouw (8) and Haslam

Lowell Hodges (W) and Jack Shields
Charlesworth (L) and Caljouw

(August 22) Victoria's Farmer Construction broke even at Powell River Sunday in the first two games of a best-of-five series to name a finalist in the Vancouver Island senior amateur baseball championship playoff. Rodmays, winners of the up-Island Amateur Baseball League title, blanked the Victorians 2-0 behind the six-hit pitching of Art Sommerville in the first game. Farmers came back to win the second, 5-3, with an 11-hit attack, as Don Donahue and Bill Garner combined to hold Powell River to three hits.

Garner (L) and Harford
Art Somerville (W) and Willy McDermott

Donahue, Garner (8) and Harford
Holly Martin (L) and Willy McDermott

(August 28) Farmer Construction moved into the final round of the Vancouver Island senior amateur baseball playoffs Sunday by sweeping a double-header from Powell River Rodmays at Royal Athletic Park. Farmers won the series three games to one by thumping the Rodmays 11-3 in the second game Saturday after taking a 7-1 decision in the afternoon contest.

Norm Forbes scattered seven hits in a route-going performance in the opener. He fanned 11. Bill Garner held the visitors to six hits in the second game. Ron Karadimas paced the winners with two hits in the first game and three more in the second.

Art Sommerville (L), G. Getz (8) and McDermott
Forbes (W) and Harford

George Courtnay (L), G.Getz (2), Holly Martin (5) and McDermid/McDermott
Garner (W) and Harford

(September 5-6) Parksville Loggers erupted for six runs in the ninth inning to break a 6-6 draw and notch a 12-6 victory over Chemainus for top money of $500 at the Courtenay Labour Day Tournament.

In the first inning, Loggers took the lead on Jack Mosdell's two-run single. After Chemainus got one back in their half of the first, Parksville took a 5-1 lead with three in the second highlighted by Ron Gray's triple with two aboard. The Red Sox battled back, helped by two Logger errors, to plate four runners for a 5-5 draw. The clubs ended the eighth tied 6-6. After the Loggers got three hits in the top of the ninth, Chemainus manager Jim Webster decided to replace reliever Doug Webb with Allan Goldie, who was hammered by the Loggers.

Reimer, L.Rodgers (W) (7) and xxx
Webb (L), Goldie (9) and xxx

Parksville reached the final with an 8-5 victory over Maillardville. Fans barely had time to get settled when the Loggers got rolling with three runs in the first inning, two coming home on Bob Prior's single. Maillardville quickly responded to tie on solid base hits by Ribbsey Bowyer and Bedard. Loggers went up 5-3 in the third but it was 5-5 in the fifth as Bowyer single plated a pair of runners. Parksville capitalized on two errors in the fifth to take the lead for good.

Charlesworth, L.Rodgers (W) and Caljouw
U'ren (L) and xxx

Chemainus downed Campbell River 5-1 to advance to the final. A four-run eighth inning was the difference. Allan Goldie held the Cougars to six hits in handling the mound work for the Red Sox.

Goldie (W) and xxx
Fiscus (L), Lund (8) and xxx

In first round action, Campbell River dumped Farmer Construction 4-2, Loggers beat Courtenay 8-2, Chemainus bested Comox Valley Tigers 5-0 and Maillardville ousted Powell River 3-2.

The opening game ended in controversy as Umpire Len "Gummy" Leach called the game on account of darkness in the ninth inning as Courtenay, down 8-2 launched a comeback. With one out, Earl Woods, Dick Downey and Dorohoy all singled to fill the bases. After a strikeout, Ray Downey drew a walk to bring in a run and Bill Moore was safe on an error delivering two more markers. Junior Chalmers smacked a single and the Legion had cut the lead to 8-6 with two runners on base and the potential winning run at the plate. At that point, Leach called the game as fans voiced their disapproval.

Reimer (W) and xxx
xxx and xxx

Doug Webb had a six-hit shutout to lead Chemainus into the money round with a 5-0 win over the Comox Tigers. Lefty Brooks provided the game's highlight with a two-run homer in the ninth inning.

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

Maillardville took advantage of Powell River errors to notch a 3-2 win to eliminate the Rodmays from further play. The Athletics took a 2-0 lead in the fourth inning on three errors and a pair of walks. Rodmays, led by veteran Andy Telosky, got one marker in the fifth and tied the count 2-2 in the sixth on three straight singles. Maillardville plated the winner in the sixth as Bannerman's safety brought in the runner from second. Mike Bakaway held the Rodmays to five hits and fanned seven.

Bakaway (W) and xxx
H.Martin (L) and xxx

The Campbell River Cougars pulled an upset Sunday evening, downing Victoria's Farmer Construction 4-2 in a thriller. Cougars jumped into a 4-0 lead in the fifth loading the bases with none out as Don Marshall singled, Ty Conti drew a free pass and Jimmy Garrett crossed up the Farmers infield with a beautiful bunt single. Skip McDonald's long fly brought in the first run and after Ron Cameron reached on an error, Harry Thulin brought in the second run with a one-bagger. With Bill Prior replacing Bill Garner on the hill for Victoria, Vern Ferguson lashed one up the middle to bring in two more. The Farmers got one back in their half of the fifth when a balk was called against Ron Lund with the bases loaded. Then, in the ninth, Farmers loaded the bases with one out and got one run on a wild throw to the plate. But Lund got out of trouble when Lyle Cornett hit into a game-ending double play. Farmers left 14 runners on base. Victoria's Norm Forbes led the hitters with a three-for-four effort. Lund and Thulin each had a pair for the Cougars.

R.Lund (W) and xxx
Garner (L), Prior (5) and xxx

(September 12) Chemainus Red Sox and Farmer Construction divided a playoff double-header Sunday at Chemainus. Right-hander Norm Forbes pitched a sparkling four-hitter in the first game as Farmers blanked the Sox 5-0. Red Sox came back to take a 5-4 decision in the nightcap. In the opener, Allan Goldie had Farmers scoreless into the seventh when he walked Forbes and Charlie Boyd reached on an error. Bernie Anderson loaded the bases on another free pass and the first run came home on a sacrifice fly. Ed Ash and Ronnie Mitchell had run-scoring singles. Anderson smacked a two-run homer in the eighth to end the scoring.

In the second game, Red Sox got a run on an error in the first inning and went ahead 4-0 on Doug Brinham's three run homer in the fourth. Farmers responded with a pair in the fifth and tied it in the eighth on hits by Bill Garner and Rocky Harford. Chemainus plated the winner in the bottom of the eighth as Gibbons was hit by a pitch and Ken Williams followed with a single. Both advanced on a sacrifice. On Thompson's squeeze bunt, the throw from pitcher Garner was off the mark and Gibbons had the winning counter.

Forbes (W) and Harford
Al Goldie (L) and Neil Kelly

Paul Beck, Garner (4) and Harford
Wolf, Joe Copp (1) and Neil Kelly

(September 19) Farmer Construction defeated Chemainus 6-1 Sunday to win the Vancouver Island amateur baseball championship.. Bill Garner hurled a six-hitter for the win and had a shutout until the ninth when, with two away, Doug Brinham singled and Ken Williams bounced one off the centre field fence to bring in the run.

Garner (W) and xxx
Goldie (L), Copp (6) and xxx

The two mainstays on the mound for the Farmers, Norm Forbes and Bill Garner, returned to their studies (and baseball) at the University of Oregon.

MID-ISLAND SENIOR AMATEUR BASEBALL

Alberni Athletics
Chemainus Red Sox
Duncan Athletics
Nanaimo Sport Centres
Port Alberni Super-Valu Cubs (dropped out in early June)

(April 25) In a pre-season warm-up, the Sport Centres emerged with a 6-2 win over Chemainus as Earle Robinson, Bert Webb and Don Smith each worked three innings combining on a six-hitter. Ed Senini clouted a double and single for the winners.

Robinson, Webb, Smith and xxx
Wolfe, Goldie, xxx and xxx

(May) The Sport Centres of Nanaimo exhibited mid-season form Sunday in sweeping a double-header from Port Alberni, 17-2 and 9-7. In the first game, Bert Webb had a no-hitter going into the seventh inning, easing up to allow four hits over the last three frames.

Webb (W) and Hindmarch
xxx, xxx and Peterson

Playing coach Mel Biggs was the hero in the second game coming up as an injury replacement in the ninth inning and smacking a two-run double to clinch the game for Nanaimo. Don Smith gave up seven hits for the pitching win. Ed Senini led the hitters with a three-for-five effort.

Smith (W) and Gilchrist
Olsen, Peterson (L) (7) and Spall

(May 2) A no-hitter and home runs highlighted the Duncan Athletics double-header sweep of Port Alberni in the league opener. Lyel Rodger and Bob Biskupovitch combined on the no-hitter in the afternoon as Duncan smothered the Port 24-4. Rodgers and Terry Lavasser smacked homers. Duncan collected 13 hits and took advantage of seven Port errors.

Carter, Helm and Tuttle
L.Rodger (W), Biskupovitch and W.Thorne

In the second game, Ralph Branting slugged a pair of triples and a single to led the Athletics to a 21-3 runaway. Branting scored four times. Ken Williams got the start for Duncan allowing just two hits before giving way to Tony Folk after six innings.

Cartier, Sutherland and Tuttle, Lloyd
K.Williams (W), Folk (7) and Branting

(May 5) Nanaimo and Chemainus fought to a 5-5 tie in a Mid-Island Senior Amateur Baseball League fixture Wednesday at Chemainus. Neil Kelly, catcher for the home squad, poked a three-bagger in the seventh inning and scored on an outfield fly to plate the tying run.

Robinson, Webb (4) and Naylor
English and Kelly

(May 8) In an 11-inning thriller Saturday afternoon, Alberni topped Duncan 5-4, then went on to take the second game of the twin-bill 7-4.

L.Rodger, K.Williams and xxx
xxx and xxx

xxx and xxx
xxx and xxx

(May 9) Chemainus Red Sox took a pair from the Port Alberni Cubs, 6-2 and 12-2. Cub Wolfe held the visitors to just four hits in the first game. The Sox jumped into the lead with three runs in the first inning on an error, a single by Neil Kelly and a two-bagger by Joe Copp.

Conn (L), Shick and xxx
Wolfe (W) and xxx

Doug English hurled a three-hitter in the second game as the Red Sox coasted to the 12-2 win. Doug Brinham led an 11-hit attack with a homer, double and single. Ronnie Gibbons also had three hits.

xxx and xxx
English (W) and xxx

(May 9) Travelling to Port Alberni Sunday, Nanaimo Sport Centres easily took both games of the double-header, 13-3 and 16-0 as Bert Webb and Pat Shephard hurled outstanding games. Shephard's was a one-hitter. Webb worked the opener, holding the Cubs to eight hits while Gilchrist sparked the offense with four hits, one a four-bagger.

Webb (W) and Gilchrist
Carter (L), Pighin and Tuttle

In the evening, Shephard had a no-hitter through six innings, allowing just a seventh inning single and a walk in his spectacular effort. Catcher Bob Hindmarch topped the hitters with a three-for-five day.

Shephard (W) and Hindmarch
Carter (L) and Tuttle

(May 16) Duncan Athletics were a study on contrast Sunday romping to a 14-3 victory over Nanaimo in the first game of a double-header, then giving up a run in the ninth inning in losing the second game 4-3. Duncan exploded for four runs in the first inning of the opener, adding five in the third and cruised to the victory behind Lyel Rodger's six hitter. Ralph Branting and Ralph Thorne led the winners each with three hits. Jerry Lavasser clouted a homer for the Athletics as did Don Smith for Nanaimo. Duncan had 18 hits.

Smith (L), Shephard (W), Biggs (6) and Patterson
L.Rodger (W) and Branting

After Duncan had tied the evening game with three runs in the third inning, Earl Robinson took over mound duties for Nanaimo and blanked the Athletics on one hit the rest of the way, fanning 13 in his seven innings of work. In the ninth, Vic Bortolotto led off with a single and after advancing on a sacrifice, Don Smith cracked a two-bagger to bring in the winning marker. Eric Rodger took the loss.

Smith, Robinson (W) (3) and Hindmarch
E.Rodger (L) and Branting

(May 16) At Alberni Sunday, Chemainus and the locals divided a twin-bill. The Athletics took the opener 8-7 and the Red Sox captured the evening affair 8 to 6. In the first game, a five-run fifth inning provided the margin of victory for Alberni which almost blew an 8-1 advantage as the Red Sox got six markers in the eighth on a hit and six walks.

xxx and xxx
xxx and xxx

Chemainus got 14 hits in the second game, to win 8 to 6. Doug Brinham, Jerry Brooks and Ronnie Gibbons led the winners each with three hits. Doug English survived 11 hits to post the win.

English (W) and xxx
Nesbitt, Crowder, Grisdale and xxx

(May 19) Chemainus Red Sox tripped up Duncan 7-5 in a 10-inning thriller Wednesday notching the winner on two hits and an error. Chemainus went ahead 5-3 in the fourth on a home run by Neil Kelly. Lyel Rodgers cracked a pinch-hit two-run homer in the eighth to bring the teams even again. A highlight of the game was a big rhubarb over a hidden ball trick at third base.

xxx and xxx
xxx and xxx

(May 22) Duncan Athletics felt the sting of the swats from Victoria's Farmer Construction Saturday as the visitors pounded the locals 19-1 and 18-5 collecting five homers on the day. Charlie Boyd had a huge day with a home run, two doubles and six singles. Don Donahue, who hurled a five-hitter for the winners, also smacked a four-bagger in the opener. Stu Mitchell, Lyle Cornett and Bernie Anderson clouted circuit blows in the second game. Anderson also had three singles and Ronnie Martin had four hits. Lowell Hodges allowed just eight safeties in hurling the win in the second game. He allowed four runs in the first inning before settling down to pitch solid ball. Both games went seven innings. Farmer's had 20 hits in the first game and 21 in the second.

Don Donahue (W) and Harford
Rogers, Williams (3), Tony Folk (5) and Branting

Lowell Hodges (W) and Jack Shields
Rogers (L) and Branting

(May 23) In Sunday ball, Duncan rebounded from the embarrassing losses to Victoria to down Port Alberni 6-4 in the first game of a twin-bill. But the Cubs came back to win the second game 6-4.

xxx and xxx
Biskupovitch, T.Folk (W) (1) and xxx

I.Pederson (W) and xxx
Miskiman (L), K.Cessford (2) and xxx

(May 23) The Alberni Athletics captured a one-run thriller then got a runaway triumph in a double-header with Nanaimo Sunday, winning 5-4 and 18-1. Des Grisdale bested Bert Webb in the opener tossing a seven-hitter for the win. A three-run third inning set the A's on the way to the triumph.

Webb (L) and Hindmarch
Grisdale (W) and Patterson

In the second game, Alberni scored four in the first stanza and coasted to the easy triumph battering four Nanaimo hurlers for 14 hits.

Robinson (L), Smith (4), Shephard (6), Bdinka (9) and Hindmarch
Crowder (W), Patterson (7) and Nesbitt

(May 24) On Monday, Duncan journeyed to Chemainus for an exhibition that ended 7-4 for the milltown nine.

(May 30) Alberni Athletics continued their winning ways with a double-header sweep Sunday at Nanaimo, 6-4 and 9-4. In the opener, Des Grisdale allowed Nanaimo four runs in the first inning but then pitched shutout ball as the A's got singletons in the second, third, fourth and seventh to tie then two in the eighth for the win. Alberni punched out 13 hits off Bert Webb.

Grisdale (W) and xxx
Webb (L) and xxx

Alberni led all the way in the second game, collecting ten hits in the 9-4 victory.

xxx (W) and xxx
Shephard (L), Robinson (8) and xxx

(May 30) Doug English fanned 13 in hurling the shutout as Chemainus dumped Duncan 6-0 in the opening game of a twin-bill. Red Sox won the second game 9-3 with a 16-hit attack off a pair of Duncan hurlers. Alan Goldie allowed eight hits for the winners. Ronnie Gibbons led the Sox with five hits, a pair of doubles and three singles. Neil Kelly went three-for-three and Bob Jansch poked a triple and single.

English (W) and xxx
xxx and xxx

Goldie (W) and xxx
Rodgers (L), Folk and xxx

(June 2) In a well-pitched game at Nanaimo, Duncan notched a 3-2 victory as Lyel Rodgers fired a six-hitter and fanned eight. Earl Robinson was even better in defeat holding the winners to five hits while whiffing 17, a new personal high. Rodgers had a shutout until the ninth when a triple by Ed Senini, and doubles by Don Smith and Patterson produced two runs.

Rodgers (W) and Branting
Robinson (L) and Gilchrist

(June 6) Alberni and Duncan split Sunday's double-bill at Duncan. Alberni took the opener 4-3 holding off a Duncan rally in the bottom of the ninth. Third baseman Elmer Speidel led the winners with three hits. Williamson and Kimmel each had a pair. Des Grisdale held Duncan to seven hits, three by Ralph Thorne.

Grisdale (W) and Andrews
Cessford (L) and Branting

In the evening contest, Duncan fell behind 4-0 in the second but quickly rallied with five runs in the bottom of the second and added four in the third en route to an 11-9 victory. Don Hughes poked out three hits and scored a pair for the victors. Ralph Thorne added two more hits to his three of the first game.

Nesbitt (L), Sweeney and Crowder
L.Rodgers (W) and Branting

(June 6) Playing their first games on their home park, Caledonia Grounds, Nanaimo Sport Centres beat Port Alberni in both games on Sunday's double-bill, 6-4 and 6-3, to break a five game losing string. Pat Shephard scattered nine hits in the first game triumph. Ed Senini cracked a pair of hits for Nanaimo.

xxx and xxx
Shephard (W) and xxx

Bert Webb limited Alberni to nine hits in the second game, fanning ten. The visitors had a 3-2 lead going into the sixth, but Nanaimo plated three runs to sew up the contest. Senini poked another two hits for the Sport Centres.

xxx and xxx
Webb (W) and xxx

(June 13) Victoria Skylark Cafe got a surprise in Duncan Sunday as the home squad gave the visitors a twin trimming, 10-2 and 11-2 behind outstanding pitcher of Tony Folk and Lyall Cornett. Folk twirled a four-hitter with 11 strikeouts in the first game while Corbett nearly duplicated the feat in the second, yielding just three hits and whiffing ten. Jim Peterson put on a hitting show in the nightcap pounding out four hits in five trips to the plate. The Skylarks were filling in for Port Alberni Cubs who dropped out of the league.

Mosell (L), Brice and Heath
Folk (W) and Branting

Wakelyn (L) and Pollin
Cornett (W) and Branting

(June 16) Earle Robinson checked Duncan on three hits Wednesday as Nanaimo went wild in the fifth inning to trounce the Athletics 9-2. Trailing 2-1, the Sport Centres exploded for eight runs in the fifth frame. Don Smith's homer over the left centre field fence sparked the outburst. Robinson fanned 12, giving him 43 strikeouts for the season to lead the league. Don Smith paced the winners with four hits and two runs. Gene Klymchuk added two hits and two runs.

Robinson (W) and Naylor
Rodgers (L), Folk (5) and Branting

               W   L   T
Chemainus     10 - 1 - 1
Alberni       10 - 4 - 0
Nanaimo       10 - 4 - 1
Duncan         8 - 9 - 0
Port Alberni   5 - 8 - 0

(June 20) League-leading Chemainus consolidated its hold on first place with twin victories over Duncan Sunday. In the first game, Ken Cessford of Duncan had a no-hitter and a 1-0 lead for six innings before the Red Sox rallied for three runs in the 3-2 victory. Doug English was the winning hurler with a six-hit effort.

English (W) and Kelly
Cessford (L) and Branting

Chemainus cracked out 11 hits to romp to a 10-1 win in the second game. Cub Wolfe tossed a five-hitter for the Sox who got three hits and three runs by Bob Jansch.

Wolfe (W) and Kelly, Jackson
L.Rodger (L) and Branting

(June 20) Nanaimo Sports Centres took a double-header from the Victoria Skylarks on Sunday at Caledonia Sports Ground winning the afternoon game 10-7 and crushing the visitors 13-2 in the night cap. Bill Easterbrook, making his first start of the season, yielded just one hit in his five innings. Red Naylor led the offense with two doubles and a single. Jimmy Fraser cracked out a three-bagger.

Brice (L), McKenzie (8) and Heath
Easterbrook (W), Smith (W) (5), Shepard (7) and Naylor

In the evening encounter, Earle Robinson led the attack with four hits and three Nanaimo hurlers held Victoria to seven hits.

Wakelyn (L), McKenzie (6) and Heath, Curran
Shephard, Hemstead (W) (3), Bdinka (8) and Gilchrist

(June 27) Tony Folk picked up the pitching victories in both games Sunday as Duncan swept Nanaimo 4-3 and 8 to 6. Duncan rallied with two runs in the seventh inning to win the first game. Duncan jumped into a big lead in the second game scoring three runs in the first and another three in the second. But, Nanaimo rallied for five in fourth before Duncan put the game away with a pair in the sixth. Duncan won with just five hits, Nanaimo had nine.

Folk (W) and Branting
Webb (L) and Gilchrist

Rodgers, Folk (W) (3) and Branting
Easterbrook (L), Hemstead (2) and Gilchrist

(July 11) Duncan Athletics stretched their winning streak to four games downing Central Garage of Victoria 9-1 and 7-0 as Ralph Branting led the way with five hits, one a towering homer. The A's used four players up from the local Pony League and the kids showed up well. Barry Furneaux hurled a six-hut shutout in the second game, Jack Armand played both games at shortstop and Mike and Bob Willets played in the outfield. Don Hughes took the mound in the afternoon game and slow-balled his way to a four-hit victory. He had a shutout until the ninth. Tony Folk clouted three hits and Hughes had two safeties and two runs scored.

Todd (L) and Kubicek
Hughes (W) and Branting

Corbett, Stout and Patterson
Furneaux (W) and Branting

(July 11) League-leading Chemainus added two more wins downing Nanaimo 9-5 and 6-1. The Red Sox capitalized on Sport Centre errors in the first two innings, scoring seven times, to coast to the victory. Cub Wolfe was the beneficiary of the big opening tossing a six-hitter for the pitching win.

Webb (L) and Gilchrist
Wolf (W) and Kelly

Doug English gave up a run in the first inning but blanked Nanaimo the rest of the way, giving up just four hits as Chemainus won the second game 6-1. A five-run third inning and Thompson's homer in the fourth marked the scoring for the winners.

Hemstead (L) and Gilchrist, Hindmarch
English (W) and Jackson

(July 14) Alan Goldie pitched a shutout as his teammates broke out for ten runs in the big 10-0 win over Nanaimo. Earl Robinson, on the hill for the Sport Centres, took the loss.

Goldie (W) and xxx
Robinson (L) and xxx

(July 18) Capitalizing on sloppy defensive play by Duncan, Port Alberni rallied for four runs in the bottom of the ninth to dump Duncan 9-8 in the first game of a double-header. The Athletics rebounded to win the second, 12-8 as rookie pitcher Barry Furneaux, up from the Pony League, won his second game for the senior club.

xxx (L) and Branting, Willets, Panzer
xxx (W) and xxx

Jerry Lavasser powered the Athletics in the second game clouting three long triples in six trips to the plate.

Furneaux (W) and Branting
xxx (L) and xxx

(July 18) Chemainus ran its record to 21-1 Sunday in taking a double-dip from Nanaimo 9-7 and 5-1. Neil Kelly and Doug Brinham each slammed three hits for the winners. Ken Williams fired a two-hitter for the Red Sox in the second game while Chemainus touched Hemstead for ten hits and five walks.

Wolfe (W) and Kelly
Easterbrook (L), Webb and Naylor

K.Williams (W) and xxx
Hemstead (L) and xxx

(July 22) The Cowichan Leader printed what it believed to be the final standings, which included Port Alberni which had, at one point, quit the league. However, the standings show 70 wins and just 46 loses. Previous standings showed Chemainus and Nanaimo with a tie, this seems to indicate Chemainus and Duncan had a tie. Nonetheless, the semi-final games were set with Chemainus and Nanaimo facing off and Alberni taking on Duncan.

Chemainus     23 - 21 - 1
Alberni       24 - 20 - 4
Duncan        23 - 11 - 12
Nanaimo       24 - 10 - 13
Port Alberni 24 - 8 - 16

PLAYOFFS

(July 25) In the upset of the season, Nanaimo Sport Centres downed Chemainus 9-6 and 12-9 in the first two games of the best-of-five semi-final series. The Red Sox had lost just one game during the regular season. Nanaimo pounded out 14 hits in the first game with Earle Adrian punching out three. Sport Centres broke out with four runs in the first inning but by the sixth, the Red Sox had fought back to tie 6-6. Three runs in the top of the ninth provided the margin of victory. Bert Webb survived nine hits for the pitching win.

Webb (W) and Gilchrist
Williams (L), English (3) and Kelly

Nanaimo kept hitting in the second game with 16 safeties, three apiece by Hemstead and Bob Hindmarch. Trailing 3-2, Nanaimo exploded with seven runs in the fifth inning on seven consecutive hits and a pair of Chemainus errors.

Hemstead (W), Robinson (7) and Gilchrist, Hindmarch (7)
Goldie (L), Wolfe (5), English (6) and Jackson

(July 30 - August 1) Parksville Tournament

(August 1) Alberni took a two game lead in the best-of-five semi-final dumping Duncan in both games of a playoff double-header.

(August 8) With a 10-1 pasting, Alberni sent Duncan packing from the Mid-Island playoffs taking the series in three straight games. Duncan made ten errors to throw away any chances of bouncing back in the series. Patterson and Crowder each clouted three hits for the winners. Patterson also scored three times. Mel Nesbitt scattered nine Duncan hits for the pitching win. In an exhibition game, Alberni clubbed 16 hits as the Sport Centres won 14-9. Elmer Speidel led the attack with three hits and four runs. Spence, Patterson and Sweeney also had three safeties. Doug Miles and Des Grisdale held Duncan to six hits. The Athletics played even worst in the field in the second game booting the ball 12 times.

Nesbitt (W) and Crowder
L.Rodger (L), Folk and Branting

Miles, Grisdale and Phillips, Andrews
Furneaux, L.Rodger and W.Thorne, Branting

(August 8) Chemainus Red Sox got even in their semi-final series Sunday in a thriller and a runaway downing Nanaimo 6-5 in 11 innings and 15-2. In the opener, Nanaimo scored in the bottom of the ninth to force extra innings. Don Smith poled a long triple and came home on Ed Senini's single. Sox got a run in the top of the 11th for the win in spite of being out-hit 12 to 9.

Webb (W) and Gilchrist
English (L) and Kelly

Chemainus rapped 15 hits to coast to the second game victory.

Hemstead, Robinson (W) (4) and Gilchrist
Goldie (L) and Kelly

(August 15) After dropping the first two games of the best-of-five series, Chemainus roared back with three straight wins to win a berth in the league final against Alberni. Steady pitching by Doug English helped the Red Sox to a 4-2 victory in the deciding game Sunday. Sox got two runs in the seventh inning for the win.

Webb (L) and xxx
English (W) and xxx

(August 29) Alberni Athletics exploded for six runs in the first inning of the opening game of the Mid-Island final Sunday but that's all they would put on the scoreboard as Chemainus Red Sox rebounded to score a thrilling 7-6 triumph. Red Sox picked up one run in their half of the first on singles by Don Brooks, Bob Jansch and Neil Kelly. They added four runs in the sixth, highlighted by Ken Williams' two-run double and a run-scoring single by Doug English. Sox got the tying and winning runs in the seventh. Kelly reached with his fourth hit of the game and advanced on Ronnie Gibbons' single. Kelly romped home on an infield error. Thompson's two-bagger brought in the winner. The scheduled second game was postponed by rain.

English (W) and Kelly
Nesbitt (L) and Crowder

(September 4) Chemainus wrapped up the Mid-Island crown Saturday defeating Alberni Athletics 8-3 and 10-5 to take the series in three straight games.

Goldie (W) and xxx
xxx and xxx

English, Goldie and xxx
xxx and xxx

Forbes (W) and Harford
Al Goldie (L) and Neil Kelly

Paul Beck, Garner (4) and Harford
Wolf, Joe Copp (1) and Neil Kelly

Garner (W) and xxx
Goldie (L), Copp (6) and xxx

COMOX DISTRICT BASEBALL

1954 Comox District League teams

Campbell River Cougars
Comox RCAF
Comox Valley Tigers
Courtenay Legion
Powell River Rodmays
Union Bay Braves

(May 2) In the opening of the Comox District League, Courtenay Legion and the Comox Valley Tigers shared the spoils each taking a game in the kickoff double-header. Tigers won the first game 8-2 and Legion reversed the result winning the second 11-4. Tigers rapped a dozen safeties off Bob "Shorty" McIvor as they took an early lead and cruised to the win. Gordon "Pro" Pratt held the Legion to five bingles for the win.

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

Dick Downey punched out four hits to lead a steady Courtenay attack in the evening game as the Legionnaires took an 8-0 lead in the third inning en route to the 11-4 victory. . Fred Clifford, with late relief from Earl Woods, picked up the pitching win.

Schilling (L), Bosomworth (7) and xxx
Clifford (W), Woods and xxx

(May 8-9) Over the weekend, Comox Valley Tigers downed Comox RCAF 9-7 and Courtenay Legion clobbered Union Bay 15-2. The Braves also went down to Comox RCAF 9-1. Powell River blasted the Cougars 10-1 and 11-1 before Campbell River rebounded to take the third game of the series. In the highest scoring affair, Comox RCAF embarrassed Courtnay Legion 28-2.

(May 9) Ricky Richardson, the regular second sacker and playing coach of the Union Bay Braves made his turn on the hill a memorable one as he tossed a two-hit shutout as Union Bay won the first game of Sunday's twin bill 3-0. In a thrilling second game, Comox Valley Tigers walked away with a 1-0 victory in a pitching duel between the Pratt brothers.

xxx and xxx
Richardson (W) and xxx

The evening contest was scoreless for seven innings as Ron Pratt for the Braves and Gordon "Pro" Pratt for the Tigers put on quite the pitching clinic. In the top of the eighth, the Tigers' Roy Moore cracked one over the right field wall for the game's only run. Pro Pratt allowed just three hits and fanned eight to register the win. Ron yielded four hits and racked up 12 strikeouts in taking the tough loss.

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

(May 15-16) In weekend games, Comox Valley Tigers and Comox RCAF battled to an 11-inning 4-4 tie and the Campbell River Cougars shaded the Tigers 7-6, also in 11 innings.

(May 16) Campbell River Cougars took both games of Sunday's double-header with the Tigers at Comox, both by 7-6 margins, the latter an 11-inning heartbreaker. Ron Lund paced the winners in the first game punching out four hits. Lefty Bud Fiscus, bothered by control troubles, spaced out seven hits for the pitching win. Cougars erased an early 3-0 Tigers' lead with two runs in the second, three in the third and another pair in the seventh.

Fiscus (W) and xxx
Schilling (L) and xxx

The Cougars look the lead in the fourth inning of the evening game. With two runs already aboard, Don Marshall loaded the bases with a drive off the head of pitcher Ennis Bosomworth, who stayed in the game. The next hitter, Ty Conti smoked a triple to score three. Ron Lund singled in Conti and Joe Korsa's drive plated the fifth run. The Tigers battled back to score three, but the Cougars got one back in the fifth to make it 6-3. In the sixth, the Tiger uprising featured a home run clout by John Hawkins to deep left field with Skip Montgomery on base. It was the first homer of the season at Lewis Park. Lund came in to relieve starter Hank Enns but by the time the dust had settled Tigers had a 6-6 tie. Then in the 11th inning, Bob Thulin of the Cougars blooped one over the infield and was sacrificed to second. Ron Cameron did the honours for Campbell River rapping a single to bring in the winner.

Enns, Lund (W) and xxx
Bosomworth (L) and

(May 29) Joe Korsa started the Campbell River Cougars on the way to Saturday's easy 12-1 victory over Comox RCAF with a bases loaded single in the third inning. Ron Lund had a three-hitter for the Cougars and held the Flyers off the scoreboard until the eighth inning when Bill Kolybaba drove in the lone RCAF run with a triple.

Lund (W) and xxx
Kolybaba (L), Zaleschuck (8), Kolybaba (8) and xxx

(May 30) At Union Bay, Campbell River racked up another victory crushing the Braves 15-6. A four-run third inning featured Vern Ferguson's bases loaded triple. In the sixth, Ron Cameron smacked his first Comox Valley League homer. Alex Ross was the winning pitcher.

A.Ross (W) and xxx
Murdoch (L) , R.Pratt and Gillis, Moncrief

(May 30) In Sunday' evening game, the Cougars shaded Courtenay Legion 8-7 for their third down-Island win of the weekend. Ron Lund went three-for-five to lead the offense. Bud Fiscus, the third hurler for the Cougars, picked up the win.

B.Thulin, xxx, Fiscus (W) and xxx
Schmidt (L) and xxx

Powell River 10 - 3
Cougars        9 - 4
RCAF           5 - 4
Tigers         4 - 7
Union Bay      4 - 10
Legion         2 - 6

(June 2) Benny Bezanson of the Comox RCAF tops the hitters in the Comox District League, at least for those four teams which have filed scoresheets with the league statistician. In 27 at bats, Bezanson has compiled a .592 average. Teammate Ian McHardy is second, at .458. However, the figures do not include players on Powell River or Campbell River, the top two teams in the circuit.

(June 2) In a splendid contest at Lewis Park Wednesday, Comox Tigers edged Comox RCAF 1-0 scoring the lone run in the sixth inning on John Hawkins' three bagger and a single by Pro Pratt. In the eighth, the Tigers wiggled out of a one-out, bases-loaded jam getting the final out on a play at the plate. Pratt scattered eight hits for the pitching win besting Jim Cass who allowed seven hits.

Cass (L) and xxx
Pro Pratt (W) and xxx

(June 5-6) Powell River Rodmays continued their charge toward the Comox District baseball title over the weekend taking two of three games from Courtenay Legion. Rodmays won 10-4 and 3-0, dropping the middle game 8-7. In the series opener, the teams were tied 3-3 through six innings but Rodmays erupted for seven runs in the seventh for the big win. Howie Martin survived 12 hits to gain the pitching win while the Rodmays pounded out 15 hits off Schmidt.

Martin (W) and xxx
Schmidt (L) and xxx

Old war horse Lyle McKenzie sent the Legion fans home happy in the second game as he hit the game winning blow in the bottom of the ninth inning to sent Ray Downey across the plate in an 8-7 victory. Earl Woods was nicked for 11 hits, including triples by Teterenko and Johnson but survived to pick up the win. Bill Martino, the losing hurler, had control troubles issuing ten walks, five going to Freddie Orr. Martino also hit Ray Downey twice, the second one setting up the winning run in the final frame.

Martino (L) and McDermott
Woods (W) and xxx

George Getz twirled a four-hit shutout as Powell River took the rubber game 3-0. An error, a fielder's choice and two singles by Biasutti and Johnson gave the Rodmays two early runs and it proved enough for the win. They added an insurance run in the eighth.

Getz (W) and xxx
Clifford (L) and xxx

Powell River 12 - 4
Cougars       10 - 4
RCAF           5 - 5
Tigers         5 - 8
Union Bay      5 - 10
Legion         3 - 8

(June 6) In other weekend games, Union Bay edged RCAF 7-6 and the Cougars topped the Tigers 8-7.

(June 12-13) The tail-end Courtenay Legion upset the league-leaders two out of three in a weekend series at Powell River. Rodmays took the opener 5-4 but the Legion roared back with 3-0 and 8-5 triumphs. The result dropped the Rodmays into second place behind the Campbell River Cougars who won by default at Union Bay.

Saturday evening, Courtenay blew a 3-0 lead in losing 5-4.

Clifford (L) and xxx
xxx (W) and xxx

Legion, bolstered by the addition of Bill Moore and Ray Downey, flown over for the Sunday games, swept the twin bill 3-0 and 8-5. Earl Woods tossed the shutout for the afternoon win and Shorty McIvor was the winning hurler in the evening game in which the Legion out-hit the Rodmays 13 to 8.

Woods (W) and xxx
xxx and xxx

McIvor (W) and xxx
xxx and xxx

(June 13) Fans at Lewis Park saw two evenly matched nines split an exhibition double-header Sunday. The visiting Alberni Athletics of the Mid-Valley League took on the Tigers of the Comox District League. In the first game, Jack Smith smacked a long triple to score Pro Pratt with the winning run in the eighth inning as the Tigers won 5-4. The Athletics had tied the scored in the seventh with Doug Miles driving in Duke Stolthe. Elmer Speidel, perhaps better known as the playing coach of Alberni's national basketball finalists, cracked a two-run homer for the Athletics in the third. Pro Pratt gave up 11 hits in posting the win while Des Grisdale allowed just six in taking the loss.

Grisdale (L) and Phillips
Pro Pratt (W) and xxx

Alberni took an early lead in the second game as Speidel drove in the marker with a single. Two more tallies came in the sixth as Duke Stolthe and Doug Miles poled three-baggers. Mel Nesbitt singled in the final run in the eighth as Alberni won, 4-0. Nesbitt twirled a four-hitter for the shutout.

Nesbitt (W) and xxx
Bosomworth (L) and xxx

(June 20) Comox Valley Tigers handed the once league-leading Rodmays of Powell River their third and fourth defeats in their last five games Sunday handing the visitors 5-2 and 14-2 setbacks. Gordon "Pro" Pratt won his own ball game slugging a bases-loaded triple in the seventh inning to break a 3-3 tie. Pratt threw a five-hitter for his seventh win of the season. He fanned nine and walked a pair. Howie Martin suffered his first loss of the season allowing just four hits while racking up ten strikeouts. Three Rodmays' errors played a decisive role in the outcome.

Martin (L) and xxx
Pro Pratt (W) and xxx

The Tigers walked to the win in the second game. George Getz, the Rodmays hurler walked seven in one inning as Comox plated six runs with just one hit. Getz, Somerville and Hildebrand issued a total of 14 free passes. Gerry Montgomery smacked a two-run double in the third as the Tigers went ahead 10-1. Roy Moore poked a double for two more runs in the fourth. Jergen Schilling's three-hit effort was good for the pitching win. The three Rodmays moundsmen gave up just four hits.

Getz (L), Somerville (2), Hildebrand and xxx
Schilling (W) and xxx

(June 20)   Campbell River Cougars maintained their first place position splitting a pair with Courtenay. The Legionnaires took the first game 9-1 and Cougars bounced back to capture the second game 5-4.

Cougars       13 - 5
Powell River 13 - 8
RCAF           6 - 5
Tigers         8 - 9
Legion         6 - 11
Union Bay      5 - 12

(June ) Comox Valley Tigers edged Courtenay Legion 4-3.

(June 27) Comox Valley Tigers split a three-team double-header Sunday defeating last place Union Bay 7-4 then losing to Courtenay Legion 5-4. In the opener, the Tigers rallied from an early 3-0 deficit to take the win behind the hurling of Jergen Schilling. Pro Pratt and John Hawkins led the offense.

Murdoch (L) and xxx
Schilling (W) and xxx

In the evening game, Courtenay got the winner in the last of the ninth. With two out, the score 4-4, Earl Woods launched a three-bagger and Lyle McKenzie blooped one back of second base for the 5-4 triumph.

xxx (L) and xxx
xxx (W) and xxx

(June 27) Powell River Rodmays swept the twin bill with the Campbell River Cougars winning 3-2 and 3-2.

(June 30) Benny Bezanson, who has been reassigned by the RCAF, remains the leading hitter in the Comox Valley League with a.556 average, well ahead of the runner-up Vern Ferguson of the Cougars. Bill Kolybaba is a .407 and Johnny Hawkins of the Tigers and Ron Cameron of the Cougars are tied at .393. .The figures were released by league scorer Ed Johnson and include games up to June 13th.

	AB	H	PCT
Benny Bezanson, RCAF	36	20	.556
Vern Ferguson, Cougars	48	21	.438
Bill Kolybaba, RCAF	27	11	.407
Johnny Hawkins, Tigers	56	22	.393
Ron Cameron, Cougars	56	22	.393
Joe L'Osieau, RCAF	31	12	.387
Ron Lund, Cougars	52	20	.385
Ian McHardy, RCAF	33	12	.364
Jack Murdoch, Braves	36	13	.361
Ray Downey, Legion	25	9	.360
Willy McDermott, Rodmays	85	30	.353

(July 1-4 ) Courtenay Dominion Day Tournament

(July 11) Powell River made the most of their trip to Courtenay Sunday drubbing the RCAF in a double-header, winning 5-0 and 12-6. At Union Bay, Courtenay Legion notched a 5-3 victory over the Braves.

(July 17) Jergen Schilling had a shutout for eight innings and racked up 15 strikeouts Saturday evening as Comox Tigers trounced Comox RCAF 11-2. John Hawkins started the Tigers on the way to the victory with a triple off Bill Kolybaba's first pitch in the second inning. Roy Moore drove Hawkins in with the first run and Alex Urquhart, Schilling and Skip Montgomery all rapped out singles to bring in three more runs. Tigers rapped 12 hits while Schilling held the Flyers to four.

Schilling (W) and Moore
Kolybaba (L) and McHardy

Powell River 17 - 8
Cougars       15 - 7
Tigers        12 - 11
Legion        10 - 12
RCAF           6 - 11
Union Bay      6 - 16

(July 21) Campbell River Cougars wiped out a 4-2 deficit with a big seventh inning en route to an 8-5 triumph over Courtenay Legion. Four hits, including Bill Paleks two-bagger, an error, three walks and a hit batter highlighted the big inning.

xxx and xxx
xxx and xxx

(July 21) Powell River downed RCAF 6-2.

(July 24) Campbell River Cougars walloped Comox RCAF 21-4.

(July 25) Rubber-armed Bill Kolybaba was an RCAF hero over the weekend as he was the catcher Saturday evening at Lewis Park then took to the mound Sunday and pitched both games of the double-header sweep of Union Bay, 8-7 and 7-2. In the evening game, Garnie Currie slammed a three-run homer.

Kolybaba (W) and xxx
Murdoch (L) and xxx

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

(July 25) Comox Tigers resumed their winning ways Sunday at Lewis Park taking a pair of fixtures in a three-team double-bill. They thumped the Campbell River Cougars 7-2 in the first game then squeaked by the Courtenay Legion 8-7 in the evening. Jergen Schilling held the Cougars to just five hits in winning the opening game. He also went two for four at the plate.

R.Lund (L) and xxx
Schilling (W) and xxx

The evening contest was a see-saw affair with the Tigers pulling out the win in the bottom of the ninth. Trailing 7-5, Comox loaded the bases on an error and singles by Harrison and John Hawkins. Pro Pratt delighted the home crowd with a single to drive in a pair and tie the game. Roy Moore drew an intentional pass but the strategy backfired as Alex Urquhart's long fly scored the winner.

Woods (L) and xxx
Pro Pratt (W) and xxx

(July 30 - August 1) Parksville Tournament

(August 4) Comox Tigers beat Comox RCAF 3-1 on the field Wednesday but because the Tigers were unable to field a full team and had to borrow a player from the Airmen, the game was handed to the RCAF.

(August 7) Comox RCAF won another game by forfeit Saturday when the Campbell River Cougars were not able to find nine men for the contest. Cougars had won the game 11-1.

(August 8) Sunday's game between the Legion and Union Bay was handed to Courtenay Legion after the Braves, a man short, put the bat boy in to play right field. Union Bay won on the scoreboard 8-7, but lost in the boardroom.

(August 11) The battle for the league championship in upper Island ball is scheduled to begin Saturday with the first games of the playoffs with the Comox Tigers meeting Courtenay Legion and Campbell River Cougars up against the Comox RCAF. Powell River will take on the survivor of these four teams for the league crown.

Final Standings

Powell River 18 - 8
Cougars       17 - 10
Tigers        15 - 12
RCAF          11 - 13
Legion        11 - 16
Union Bay      7 - 18

PLAYOFFS

(August 14) Comox Valley Tigers downed Courtenay Legion 5-3 Saturday to take the opening game of their semi-final series. Jergen Schilling blanked the Legion until the ninth when Courtenay, trailing 5-0, rallied to plate three runs. Tigers started quickly with Adrian Smith and Johnny Hawkins scoring in the first inning. In the fifth, four walks by Shorty McIvor helped the Tigers increase their lead to 4-0 and they added another in the eighth as Alex Urquhart singled in Jake Smith. In their ninth inning rally, Legion were helped by three walks from Schilling.

McIvor (L) and xxx
Schilling (W), Bosomworth (9) and xxx

(August 15) Adrian Smith drove in brother Jake Smith with a single in the eighth inning for the winning run in a comeback 4-3 victory for Comox Tigers over Courtenay Legion to take the semi-final series in two straight games. Down 3-1 in the eighth, with Blinston and Jergen Schilling aboard with singles, Jake Smith socked a two-bagger to tie at 3-3. Then Adrian followed with the game winner. It was a tough loss for the Legion's Earl Woods who had a no-hitter going into the seventh. Courtenay had taken the lead in the first inning when Skip Montgomery drew a walk, stole second and romped all the way home on a wild pitch. Ray Downey and Freddy Orr scored in the third to provide a 3-0 advantage. Bill Moore singled in the sixth to plate Woods with the initial marker for Comox.

Woods (L) and xxx
Pro Pratt (W) and xxx

(August 15) Comox RCAF upset the Campbell River Cougars 6-4 Sunday in the first game of their semi-final series. The Airmen got a pair in the sixth to break a 4-4 tie. Winning hurler Jim Cass scored on Ian McHardy's two-bagger and Summon followed with a triple to bring in McHardy.

Cass (W) and Kolybaba
B.Thulin, Ross (6) and S.McDonald

(Details missing on the rest of the Cougars - RCAF series.)

(August 22) Playing at home, the Campbell River Cougars topped Comox Valley Tigers 11-8 in the first game of a playoff double-header at Lane Field. Tigers came back to claim an 8-3 victory in the second game of the best-of-five series. In the opener, the Cougars erased a 2-1 Tigers' lead with a three-run stanza in the third and led the rest of the way in the 11-8 victory. Ron Cameron was in the middle of the action for the winners with three hits and four runs.

Ross (W) and Conti
Schilling (L) and R.Moore

Tigers broke a 1-1 tie with a huge seventh inning en route to the 8-3 triumph in the second game. Skip Montgomery started the uprising with a single and Jake Smith drove him home with a two-bagger. Adrian Smith drew a free pass and Johnny Hawkins followed with a single plating another marker. Pro Pratt received an intentional walk to load the bases, hoping for a double play, but Harrison singled to chase in a run and Roy Moore got a free pass to bring in Hawkins. Already ahead 5-1, Alex Urquhart cracked a three-bagger to clear the sacks and increase the margin to 8-1. Cougars got a pair of runs in the eighth.

Enns (L) .Thulin (7), Fiscus (7) and xxx
Pro Pratt (W) and R.Moore

Garner (L) and Harford
Art Somerville (W) and Willy McDermott

Donahue, Garner (8) and Harford
Holly Martin (L) and Willy McDermott

(August 25) Ron Lund was the story Wednesday at Lewis Park as Campbell River blanked Comox Valley Tigers 3-0 to take a 2-1 game lead in their semi-final series. Lund fired a two-hitter with 11 strikeouts for the shutout and sparked the offense with a pair of run-scoring doubles. Pro Pratt yielded seven hits in taking the loss.

Lund (W) and xxx
Pro Pratt (L) and xxx

(August 28) Farmer Construction moved into the final round of the Vancouver Island senior amateur baseball playoffs Sunday by sweeping a double-header from Powell River Rodmays at Royal Athletic Park with its University of Oregon hurlers in top form. Farmers won the series three games to one by thumping the Rodmays 11-3 in the second game Saturday after taking a 7-1 decision in the afternoon contest.

Art Sommerville (L), G. Getz (8) and McDermott
Forbes (W) and Harford

George Courtnay (L), G.Getz (2), Holly Martin (5) and McDermott/McDermid
Garner (W) and Harford

(August 29) Alex Ross pitched and batted the Campbell River Cougars over Comox Tigers and a berth in the Comox District League finals against Powell River. Ross spaced out nine hits in his mound duties while cracking a bases-loaded double in the third to put the Cougars ahead to stay. Tigers had taken a two-run lead in the third frame as Johnny Hawkins singled in Skip Montgomery and Adrian Smith. Then Ross did his damage after Vern Ferguson had led off with a triple and Ron Lund reached on an error to plate the first run. Then Joe Kanik and Jimmy Garrett singled to load the sacks setting the stage for Ross' game-winning blow. After the Tigers scored in the fourth the Cougars made it 5-3 in the fifth as Ferguson laced his second three-bagger to bring in Ron Cameron. They added another in the sixth and Ty Conti tripled in the eighth to score two more.

Schilling (L) and xxx
Ross (W) and xxx

(September 1) Campbell River's veteran shortstop Vern Ferguson is the batting king of the Comox District Baseball League for 1954 finishing with an impressive .391 average according to figures released by official league scorer Eddie Johnson. The RCAF's Ian McHardy pounded the ball at an even better clip - .440 - but he failed to qualify for the title, having fewer than 60 at bats. Johnny Hawkins of the Comox Tigers was the runner-up with a .352 average in a league-leading 108 at bats. Ron Lund and Ron Cameron of the Cougars tied with Biasutti of Powell River for third, each finishing at .326.

(September 4-6) Courtenay Labour Day Tournament

(So far we've been unable to find any information on whether the final series between Campbell River and Powell River ever took place.)