1966 Vancouver, Lower Mainland, Fraser Valley
1966 BC Interior
1966 Vancouver Island
VANCOUVER INDUSTRIAL LEAGUE
A six-team loop of the year previous was reduced to four as the Athletics, Boilermakers and North Vancouver all exited the 1966 circuit while a club known as the Regents, sponsored by the Regent Hotel, joined the fray.
Astorias
C.Y.O.
Longshoremen
Regents
(May 8) Pitcher Bob Elliott won his own Industrial League baseball game at the Powell Street grounds when he slammed a fifth-inning double which brought home batterymate Don Schick with the winning counter as the Longshoremen edged the Astorias 4 to 3. Rab McNeil clouted a four-bagger for the Astorias.
McNeil, Beasley (L) (4) and Peterson
Elliott (W) and Schick
(May 9) Graham Frezell tossed a one-hitter and rang up 16 punchouts as the Regents blanked C.Y.O. 9 to 0 in an Industrial League skirmish. John Wilson and Al Gossman helped out with homers. Gord Lowery tagged the only hit for C.Y.O.
(May 10) Larry Webster whiffed 17, walked five and pitched a no-hitter in leading the Longshoremen to an 8 to 0 six-inning victory over the C.Y.O. baseballers in an Industrial League match
Webster (W) and Schick
Grant (L), Omelchuk (2), Daganais (6) and Lowery
(May 12) Bob Fraser and Ted McClatchey came through with clutch performances as the Regents trimmed the Astorias 3 to 1 in an Industrial League contest at the Powell Street grounds. Winning pitcher Fraser entered the game as a second-inning fireman with the bases loaded and only one out and proceeded to fan both batters he faced to stifle the Astorias’ threat. He went on to fan ten during the remainder of the game. McClatchey delivered the game’s key blow, doubling home a pair of runs in the fourth canto.
Nicol (L) and Fernie
McClewan, Fraser (W) (2) and Ross
(May 16) Tall right-hander Paul Beasley struck out eight and scattered five hits as the Astorias blanked the Longshoremen 3 to 0 in Industrial Baseball League action at the Powell Street grounds. Astoria playing-manager Ron Peterson contributed a two-run fourth-inning double.
Kirk (L) and Schick
Beasley (W) and Fernie
(May 17) A brilliant relief pitching job by Sandy McLellan sparked the Regents to a 2 to 1 Industrial League over C.Y.O. at the Powell Street grounds. McClellan came to the aid of Regent starter John Wilson with the bases loaded and nobody out in the fourth inning and promptly struck out a pair then enticed a third out on a ground ball to stifle the C.Y.O. threat.
Wilson (W), McLellan (4) and Rogers
Mayervich (L) and Lowery
(May 19) Darryl Fenton’s two-run double in the fourth frame was the decisive blow that propelled the Astorias to a 5 to 2 Industrial League victory over C.Y.O.
Rodway, Nichol (L) (3) and Solecki
Bayne (L), Chubb (4) and Phillips
(May 20) Steve Cohen’s fine relief twirling allowed the Longshoremen to squeak out a narrow 6 to 5 conquest of the Regents at the Powell Street grounds, a result which tied the two foes for first-place in the standings. The Stevedores had an 8 to 5 edge in base hits.
Elliott (W), Cohen (5) and Schick
Archer (L), McLellan (1) and Ross
(May 22) The Wilson boys, Don and John, combined their pitching talents to lead the Regents to a 2 to 0 blanking of the Astorias. The tandem allowed just three base hits.
Don Wilson, John Wilson (W) (3) and Rogers
Beasley (L) and Fernie
(May 23) Dave Witherley returned to the Industrial Baseball League wars after an absence of three years, but not in triumph. Pitching for the C.Y.O. crew, the tall right hander had control issues and gave up nine hits in losing to the Longshoremen 7 to 2. Diminutive curveballer Steve Cohen went the route on the bump for the Dock Workers, surrendering six safeties while punching out eight. Outfielder Rich McPhee stroked a brace of one-baggers for the winners.
Witherley (L) and Lowery
Cohen (W) and Schick
(May 23) Ted McClatchey knocked in the only runs in the game as the Regents beat the Astorias 2 to 0 in Industrial League action and moved into a first-place tie with the Longshoremen. John Wilson earned the shutout win at the expense of Paul Beasley.
(May 24) Young left-hander Larry Webster hurled his second straight Industrial League no-hitter as he pitched the Longshoremen to a 7 to 0 victory over the Astorias in a seven-inning tilt. Webster fanned ten and walked four in his gem at the Powell Street grounds, receiving plenty of offensive support from Rich McPhee who drove in four runs with a homer and double.
McNeil (L), Nichol (5) and Bryant
Webster (W) and Schick
(May 27) Graham Frezell spun a two-hitter as the Regents prevailed 6 to 3 over the Longshoremen at the Powell Street grounds. The lanky right-hander was backed up by the hitting of John Wilson who clouted a two-run homer in the first inning. Teammate Roy Archer followed by tagging the horsehide for a pair of doubles.
Frezell (W) and Ross
Elliott (L), Kirk (4) and Schick
(May 28) Burly third baseman Barry Moscovich stole home in the eleventh inning as C.Y.O. edged past the Astorias 2 to 1 in Industrial League action at the Powell Street grounds. Right-hander Ray Crosato went the distance on the slab to earn the win, striking out 14 along the way while giving up six hits and walking just one. Astorias’ playing-manager Ron Peterson sent the game into overtime by going yard with a seventh-panel dinger.
Crosato (W) and Doyle
Beasley, McNeil (L) (6) and Peterson
(May 30) A three-run homer by playing-manager Ron Peterson in the opening stanza stood up for the duration of the Industrial League game at the Powell Street grounds in which the Astorias claimed a 3 to 1 victory over the Regents. Pitcher Bert Nichol went the route on the bump for the winners, scattering six hits.
Nichol (W) and Bryant, Solecki (6)
Fraser (L), Fiddes (1) and Ross, Rogers (7)
(May 31) The Longshoremen bunched their hits effectively and blanked the C.Y.O. pastimers 7 to 0 in an Industrial Baseball League game called after five innings. The winners scored four times in the opening stanza and three in the fifth.
(June 5) Larry Webster, the Longshoremen s’ Mr. Zero, pitched his third successive shutout as the Dock Workers blanked the Regents 5 to 0 at the Powell Street grounds. Webster, whose previous two wins were no-hitters, breezed a dozen while allowing two hits. Dan Pansky’s bases-loaded double in the fourth inning put the Stevedores in front 3 to 0. Larry Shannon drove in a pair of counters in the final inning to end the scoring.
Webster (W) and Schick
Frezell (L) and Rogers
(June 7) The Longshoremen collected only five hits but made them timely in disposing of the C.Y.O diamond troopers 6 to 2 at the Powell Street grounds. Two of the five safeties were supplied by Gordie Webb, one of the Industrial League’s most consistent hitters. Barry Moscovich nailed a two-run tater for the losers.
Bayne (L), Mayervich (4) and Phillips
Cohen (W), Webster (5) and Pettovello
(June 9) Gord Nishi smacked a two-run second inning homer as the Longshoremen edged the Astorias 4 to 3 in Industrial Baseball League action at the Powell Street grounds. Hard-throwing right-hander Bob Elliott and curveballing southpaw Dave Kirk combined to allow the Astorias just four hits, including a double and triple by Ken Bathgate.
Elliott (W), Kirk (5) and Schick
Rodway (L), McNeil (5) and Solecki
(June 12) Pitcher Graham Frezell scattered four hits in leading the Regents to a 5 to 2 victory over the Longshoremen at the Powell Street grounds. Al Gossman carried the big stick for the winners, drilling a two-run double and a single in three trips.
Kirk (L) and Schick
Frezell (W) and Fraser, Ross (2)
(June 16) Rick Mosher doubled home two runs in the bottom-of-the-sixth inning to give C.Y.O. a 2 to 0 win over the Regents in an Industrial League clash. Both runners had reached base on errors and the game was called at the end of the inning because of darkness. Winning pitcher Dave Witherley gave up only one hit in the abbreviated contest.
Wilson, McLellan (L) (3) and Ross
Witherley (W) and Lowery
(June 17) A trio of well-experienced swatsmiths and a young hurler led the Longshoremen to an 11 to 2 pasting of C.Y.O at the Powell Street grounds. The three veteran Stevedore batters drove in nine runs. Consistent Gordie Webb started it with a three-run homer in the first inning. Outfielder Gord Nishi blasted a two-run double in the second frame and a solo four-bagger in the fifth while fellow flychaser Rich McPhee cleaned the bases with a fourth-inning three-run two-bagger. Southpaw Dave Kirk, in his second full year in senior baseball, tossed a three-hitter and rang up nine punchouts in the contest that ended after five frames because of darkness.
Kirk (W) and Schick
Mayervich (L), Bayne (2), Dagenais (5) and Lowery
(June 19) Rangy infielder Ken Bathgate blasted two singles and a double to lead the Astorias to a 6 to 4 win over the Regents at the Powell Street grounds. A running catch by left fielder Larry Hale in the bottom-of-the-final spasm, which robbed Dave Skilnik of an extra-base blow with a mate aboard, saved the game for the Astorias.
Beasley (W), Nichol (5) and Kozak, Bryant (5)
Frezell (L), McLellan (5) and Rogers
(June 21) A home run and single by Ken Bathgate combined with Darryl Fenton’s two-run double in the fourth inning lifted the Astorias to a 7 to 1 thrashing of the Regents in Industrial League play. Right-hander Rab McNeil scattered five hits, including a double and single by the Regents’ Graham Frezell, to cop the mound victory.
Phidus (L), Wilson (5), Frezell (6) and Rogers
McNeil (W) and Kozak
(June 22) The Longshoremen cashed in on seven fielding miscues by their foe and were handed a 7 to 2 victory over the fumble-fingered Regents at the Powell Street grounds. The losers grabbed an early 2 to 0 lead in the opening inning but it didn’t last long as their defense began to crumble. The most crucial bobble occurred in the second chapter when the Dock Workers’ John Stellick nailed a line drive that went off the glove of shortstop Dan Webster of the Hotelmen into left field, allowing three unearned runs to score. Larry Webster earned his fourth victory on the bump while Sandy McLellan was nailed with his initial setback of the campaign.
McLellan (L) and Ross
Webster (W) and Schick
(June 26) Pitcher Sandy McLellan threw a two-hitter in leading the Regents to a 3 to 0 shutout of the C.Y.O. nine at the Powell Street grounds. The strong right-hander got plenty of offensive support from Al Gossman who drove in a pair of counters with a second-inning double. Dave Skilnick brought home the winning run in the first inning with the first of two singles.
McLellan (W) and Ross
Witherley (L), Bayne (2), Lehen (6) and Phillips
(June 28) Capitalizing on seven C.Y.O. errors, the Longshoremen scored three unearned runs to take their match against the Catholics 5 to 0 at the Powell Street grounds. Three slab artists from the Stevedores, right-hander Bob Elliott and southpaws Dave Kirk and Larry Webster, held C.Y.O. to only two safeties.
Elliott (W), Kirk (6), Webster (7) and Schick
Omelchuk (L) and Phillips
Standings W L Pct. GBL
Longshoremen 8 4 .667 ---
Regents 8 6 .571 1
Astorias 7 7 .500 2
C.Y.O. 2 8 .200 5
(June 30) The Regents exploded with four runs in the third inning and went on to defeat cellar-dwelling C.Y.O. 6 to 2 in Industrial League play at the Powell Street grounds.
Mayervich (L) and Phillips
Frezell (W), McLellan (4) and Rogers
(July 4) A two-run single by Larry Shannon in the fourth inning sparked the Longshoremen to a narrow 3 to 2 win over the Astorias in Industrial League play. Undefeated Steve Cohen took advantage of Shannon’s key blow to record his third straight victory of the season. Gordie Webb of the winners chipped in with a pair of singles to aid in the triumph.
Beasley (L) and Kozak
Cohen (W) and Nishi
(July 6) A two-man demolition squad from the Astorias were front-and-centre in the conquest of the C.Y.O. baseballers at the Powell Street grounds. Rab McNeil pitched a three-hitter and John Solecki drove in two runs with a homer and double to lead the Hotelmen to a 4 to 0 shutout win.
McNeil (W) and Kozak
Thom (L) and Slater
(July 7) The Astorias blasted C.Y.O. 11 to 1 in an Industrial League fracas at the Powell Street grounds. Ken Bathgate, the circuit’s leading batter with a .545 average, drove in five runs with a double and single. Duke Fairbrother drove in three more with a similar display. Lou DeRosa claimed the mound triumph with a complete-game three-hitter.
Lehen (L), Bayne and Dagenais
DeRosa (W) and Kozak, Fernie (4)
(July 8) A clutch two-out double by Rich McPhee in the final panel plated Larry Shannon with the winning run as the Longshoremen grabbed a 2 to 1 walkoff win over the Regents in a hard-fought Industrial League clash. Gordie Webb’s first of two doubles scored Shannon with the other Stevedore counter in the opening stanza. John Rodenheiser scored the lone marker for the Hastings Street Innkeepers on a throwing error by third sacker Shannon.
McLellan (L) and Ross
Elliott (W) and Schick
(July 18) The Regents nosed out the Astorias 2 to 1 in an Industrial League battle at the Powell Street grounds. Both teams plated single runs in the first inning and the score remained deadlocked until the sixth episode when Ken McKenzie singled home Al Gossman with what turned out to be the winning run.
DeRosa, Peterson (L) (2) and Field
Cassidy (W) and Rogers
(July 19) Graham Frezell spun a two-hitter and fanned a half dozen to lead the Regent Hoteliers to a 5 to 0 victory over the Longshoremen at the Powell Street grounds. Teammate Dave Skilnick was the big man with the stick, slapping out a triad of one-baggers in three tries.
Frezell (W) and Ross
Elliott (L) and Webb, Schick (4)
(July 20) Big First baseman “Duke” Fairbrother cracked a fourth-inning grand-slam home run and that was the ball game as the Astorias dumped C.Y.O 5 to 0 in an Industrial League joust at the Powell Street grounds. Right-hander Paul Beasley threw a three-hitter and breezed four in taking the hillock win.
Thom (L), Bayne (5) and Doyle
Beasley (W) and Solecki
(July 21) The Astorias pummelled C.Y.O. 10 to 0 in an Industrial League contest at the Powell Street grounds. Bert Nichol earned the shutout win, twirling a four-hitter. Leading the offensive thrust for the winners was Ken Bathgate who doubled twice to drive in two runs. Catcher John Solecki also pounded a brace of two-baggers resulting in one counter while Darryl Fenton and Ron Peterson both spanked the horsehide for a two-for-three output.
Lehan (L), Bayne (2) Mayervich (4) and Doyle
Nichol (W) and Solecki
(July 22) A first-inning Texas Leaguer by Lorne Reese that fell in for a single plated a pair of runs for the Longshoremen as they went on to defeat the Astorias 3 to 1 at the Powell Street grounds. Steve Cohen fired a five-hitter for the win.
McNeil (L), Beasley (4) and Peterson
Cohen (W) and Webb
(July 24) Lefthander Larry Webster struck out eight in pitching the Longshoremen to a 3 to 1 conquest of the C.Y.O. diamondeers at the Powell Street grounds. Webster received ample hitting support from his catcher, Gordie Webb, who singled to drive in a run in the third and tripled home another tally in the seventh.
Webster (W) and Webb
Omelchuk (L) and Doyle
(July 26) Roy Archer and John Rodenheiser hit back-to-back doubles to drive home two runs and give the Regents a 3 to 2 victory over the Astorias in an Industrial League skirmish. The uprising came in the fifth inning when the Regents were trailing 2 to 1. Ted McClatchey had reached base on an error, Archer followed with his two-bagger and then Rodenheiser delivered the blow that sent both runners across the dish.
McLellan (W), Cassidy (6) and Ross
Nichol (L) and Kozak
(July 27) Although outswatted by an 11 to 6 margin, the cellar-dwelling C.Y.O. nine took advantage of some sloppy fielding by the Longshoremen at the Powell Street grounds to post a 6 to 5 Industrial League victory over the Dock Workers. The winners scored three times in the seventh and final frame to pull out the come-from-behind win. Six errors were charged against the Stevedores during the contest.
Thom (W) and Doyle
Elliott, Webb (L) (7) and Webb, Schick (7)
(July 28) Gord Nishi’s two-run circuit-clout in the fifth inning gave the Longshoremen a 2 to 1 victory over C.Y.O. in an Industrial League fracas at the Powell Street diamond. Pitcher Steve Cohen went the distance for the winners, ringing up eight punchouts.
(July 29) The Astorias’ battery was fully charged at the Powell Street grounds in an Industrial League tussle that saw the Hotelmen polish off the Longshoremen by a 6 to 1 count. Winning tosser Paul Beasley whiffed nine and notched a two-hitter while backstop Frank Kozak delivered a brace of doubles. Teammate Brian Leask was also instrumental in the victory with two RBI’s.
Webster (L) and Schick
Beasley (W) and Kozak
(July 31) A ninth-inning double by Ernie Zuccolin drove in Brian Leask with the winning tally as the Astorias edged C.Y.O. 3 to 2 at the Powell Street grounds. The C.Y.O. pastimers went ahead early in the contest when Mike Dagenais clubbed a two-run dinger in the second frame. The lead stood up until the seventh when pinch-hitter Lou DeRosa nailed a two-bagger to plate Frank Kozak and Ben Webster with the tying markers. Playing-manager Ron Peterson of the Hoteliers picked up the hurling victory in a relief role while Ralph Thom was stung with the loss.
McNeil, Peterson (W) (7) and Kozak
Bayne, Thom (L) (7) and Doyle
(August 1) Ken McKenzie singled in the bottom-of-the-seventh inning to drive in the winning run as the Regents defeated the Longshoremen 1 to 0 in a hard-fought Industrial League scuffle at the Powell Street grounds. Winning pitcher Graham Frezell twirled a masterful two-hitter for the Hotelmen. The victory moved the Hastings Street Innkeepers to within a half-game of the league-leading Stevedores.
Elliott (L) and Schick
Frezell (W) and Ross
(August 2) Brian Cassidy and Ed Rogers tamed C.Y.O. in an Industrial League match at the Powell Street grounds. Cassidy pitched a one-hitter and Rogers, his batterymate, drove in three runs with a fourth-inning double to lead the Regents to a 4 to 0 victory. The only hit off Cassidy was a single by Rick Slater in the second frame. The win move the Hoteliers into first place, a half-game in front of the idle Longshoremen.
Cassidy (W) and Rogers
Lehan (L) and Doyle
(August 3) The Longshoremen plated three third-inning tallies which carried them to a 4 to 1 triumph over the Astorias at the Powell Street grounds. Rich McPhee’s two-run single was the key blow in the scoring spree. Pitcher Dave Kirk scattered five hits and breezed nine in recording the victory.
Kirk (W) and Schick
Nichol (L), McNeil (4) and Kozak
(August 4) Sandy McLellan struck out 15 batters over the seven-inning course of the Regents’ Industrial League clash with the Astorias at the Powell Street grounds but it wasn’t good enough for a win as his mates managed only four hits and failed to score as the Astorias prevailed 1 to 0. The lone run of the game came in the top-of-the-opening episode when Ernie Zuccolin singled off McLellan and Rick Gruhn followed with an RBI double. Winning tosser Ron Peterson was consistent throughout the affair, scattering just four bingles.
Peterson (W) and Bellamy
McLellan (L) and Ross, Rogers (3)
(August 5) Rick Mosher’s fifth-inning homer carried C.Y.O. to a 5 to 4 Industrial League victory over the Regents. The winners capitalized on two walks and a pair of errors, coupled with Denny Doyle’s double which accounted for three RBI’s, to push across four runs in their first turn at bat.
Bayne (W) and Doyle
Moens (L), Cassidy and Ross
(August 7) Steve Cohen saved his best for the last in tuning up for the Industrial Baseball League semi-final playoffs. The ace chucker of the Longshoremen fashioned a one-hitter as the Dock Workers completed their final league contest with a 4 to 0 whitewashing of the C.Y.O. contingent. The win was Cohen’s seventh straight. Gordie Webb powered the Stevedores to victory with a pair of doubles.
Thom (L) and Doyle
Cohen (W) and Nishi
(August 8) C.Y.O. and the Regents played an extra inning but failed to break a 2 – 2 deadlock in the final game of the Industrial Baseball League’s regular schedule. Both teams clipped the orb for seven safeties in the stalemate.
Lehan, Baines/Bayne (6) and Doyle
Wilson and Rogers
PLAYOFFS
SEMI-FINALS best-of-five series
(first-place Longshoremen vs third-place Astorias and runner-up Regents vs last-place C.Y.O)
(August 9) Gordie Webb’s two-out double in the final frame salvaged a 3 – 3 tie for the pennant-winning Longshoreman with the Astorias in the opening match of their semi-final series.
(August 10) The underdog C.Y.O. squad upset the Regents 5 to 1 as the two Industrial League teams began their best-of-five playoff series. C.Y.O. exploded four four runs in the first inning on a double by Mike Dagenais, singles by Don Brazay and Gord Lowery, a hit batter and a walk. Ralph Thom went the route on the bump to record the win.
Thom (W) and Doyle.
McLellan (L), Cassidy (5) and Ross
(August 11) Gordie Webb and Brent Carpenter provided the hitting punch as the Longshoremen doubled the Astorias 4 to 2 to take a two-game lead in their Industrial League semi-final showdown. Webb blasted a two-run homer in the first inning at the Powell Street grounds while Carpenter was instrumental in the winning and insurance runs when he singled in the third spasm, driving in Larry Shannon, then came around to score on a bases-loaded walk. Darryl Fenton of the vanquished nine replicated Webb’s feat by slamming a two-run four-bagger in the bottom-of the same panel.
(August 14) The Longshoremen advanced to the Industrial League finals by blanking the Astorias 6 to 0 at the Powell Street grounds, taking the best-of-five series in straight games. Winning pitcher Bob Elliott went the distance, allowing only two hits. The Stevedores slapped out six safeties with Larry Shannon collecting two of them. They took the lead for good in the opening inning when Brent Carpenter singled home Shannon.
Peterson (L), McNeil (6) and Fairbrother
Elliott (W) and Schick
[Editorial note : The announcement in the Sun that the Longshoremen had swept their series in three games is mystifying since they also had published the opening game result as being a tie. The Province never reported results of any of the games. The only explanation I can think of is that the first team to forge ahead after at least a full inning of play in the second game, which would have been considered an extra-innings’ extension of the opening stalemate, would be declared the first match victor. Hence, the third-inning uprising which resulted in a deuce for the Dock Workers nullified the pair of first-inning two-run dingers and settled the issue. ]
(August 15) Last-place C.Y.O., which won only five of 25 games during the regular season, once again defied the odds by edging the runner-up Regents 1 to 0 to grab a two-game lead in their playoff series. The Hotelmen had a 5 to 3 edge in hits but were never able to string any safeties together after C.Y.O. plated the game’s lone counter in the opening panel after Rick Slater doubled and raced home on Jake Mayervich’s single.
Frezell (L) and Ross
Lehan (W) and Doyle
(August 16) The Regents bounced back in their semi-final series to shutout C.Y.O. 6 to 0 behind the pitching of strong-armed right-hander Sandy McLellan who fanned seven while scattering eight C.Y.O. hits. The Hastings Street Hotelmen chased losing hurler Ken Chubb to the showers in the opening stanza after singles by Al Gossman, Ken Ross and Ed Rogers and a two-run double by John Wilson. Ray Crosato singled in another tally in the fifth while Wilson wrapped up the scoring with a solo homer in the sixth.
Chubb (L), Bayne (1) and Doyle
McLellan (W) and Ross
(August 17) The Regent Hoteliers tied up their best-of-five semi final series with the C.Y.O. contingent by winning game four. No final score or game details found.
(August 18) C.Y.O. and the Regents fought to a scoreless draw at the Powell Street grounds. The two teams will not resume the game where it left off but will begin afresh.
(August 19) After trailing in the series two games to none, the Regents pulled off a 6 to 3 win over C.Y.O. in the deciding game of their semi-final series. C.Y.O. took an earlier lead in the finale when Jake Mayervich clubbed a three-run round-tripper in the opening panel. The Regents struck back with a pair of markers in the fourth, on a two-run double by Ed Rogers, and tied things up in the sixth when Ken Ross singles and relief pitcher Sandy McLellan doubled. The winners exploded for a three-spot in the seventh off C.Y.O.’s third pitcher Ralph Thom. John Wilson singled, John Rodenheiser walked, Ken McKenzie singled and Thom threw Rogers’ bunt into left field as two runs scored. A single by Ross then wrapped it up.
Cassidy, Wilson (3), McLellan (W) (6) and Ross
Omelchuk, Bayne (6) Thom (L) (6), Lehan (7) and Doyle
FINALS best-of-seven series (Longshoremen vs Regents)
(August 21) Diminutive right hander Steve Cohen threw a five-hitter and staked the Longshoremen to a one-game lead in the Industrial Baseball League finals as he blanked the Regents 2 to 0 at the Powell Street grounds. Doubles by Gordie Webb and Brent Carpenter and a one-bagger off the bat of Gord Nishi gave the Dock Workers their brace of tallies in the fourth episode.
Frezell (L) and Ross
Cohen (W) and Schick
(August 22) The Regent Hotel baseballers and the Longshoremen failed to produce a winner in game two of the final series. Final score of the tie game, batteries and game details not found in print.
(August 23) Behind the two-hit pitching of Larry Webster, the Longshoremen shutout the Regents 2 to 0 to take a two-game lead in their best-of-seven Industrial League finals. The Stevedores plated both of their counters in the fourth spasm when Gordie Webb doubled home Larry Shannon and then scored himself on Ray Marshall’s two-bagger.
Cassidy (L) and Ross
Webster (W) and Schick
(August 24) The Regents exploded for four runs in the fifth frame to defeat the Longshoremen 7 to 5 and record their first win in the Industrial League finals. The Regents’ rally was fueled by two doubles, two singles and a pair of errors by the Dock Workers. The most decisive blow was John Wilson’s double which drove in Ray Crosato and Ken McKenzie with the tying and lead runs. Sandy McLellan went the distance on the slab for the victors, earning the decision with a four-hitter over the course of the clash which ended after six stanzas because of darkness.
Kirk, Elliott (5), Webster (L) (5) and Schick
McLellan (W) and Rogers
(August 25) Pitcher Steve Cohen dropped his first decision of the season as the Regents squared the best-of-seven Industrial League finals at two games apiece and a tie by squeezing past the Longshoremen 1 to 0 at the Powell Street grounds. Cohen had reeled off eight straight hillock wins, including one playoff victory, prior to the game four setback. Graham Frezell, with the four-hit shutout, took this verdict. Back-to-back doubles by Sandy McLellan and Al Gossman in the second inning produced the tussle’s only marker.
Frezell (W) and Ross
Cohen (L) and Schick
(August 26) The Longshoremen took advantage of some early-inning jitters to defeat the Regents 4 to 1 and take a three-games- to-two lead with one draw in the final series for the Industrial League championship. The Stevedores scored all their runs in the first inning on two walks, two errors and a double by Gord Nishi. Southpaw Larry Webster went the distance on the bump for the Dock Workers, allowing only three hits while ringing up ten punchouts.
Webster (W) and Schick
Wilson (L), Cassidy (1) and Ross
(August 28) The Longshoremen and Regents tied 1 – 1 at the Powell Street grounds but it was enough for the Stevedores to capture the 1966 Industrial Baseball League championship. The Longshoremen took the series with three victories and two ties in seven games for a maximum eight points. They opened the scoring in the first inning when Brent Carpenter walked with the bases loaded, forcing in Rich McPhee who had led off the inning with a double. The Regents pulled the same trick two innings later when Ray Crosato walked home after a sacks-full free pass to pitcher Sandy McLellan. Bob Elliott went the route on the bump for the Dock Workers, whiffing ten over nine innings.
McLellan and Ross
Elliott and Schick
PACIFIC INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE
An alliance of five Lower Mainland squads plus the defending champions from Bellingham WA took part in the 1966 Pacific International Baseball League. Game results within the Vancouver daily newspapers was fairly regular starting in early May but became less frequent during July and disappeared altogether in the latter part of that month, only to suddenly reappear in mid-August with the announcement of a five-team, double-knockout playoff format which excluded the Bellingham entry.
Bellingham WA
Coquitlam Labatts
Haney Luckies
New Westminster Molsons
South Burnaby Athletics
Vancouver Ramadas
(May 8) The Vancouver Ramadas exploded for six runs in the first inning and went on to defeat Coquitlam 7 to 1 in a Pacific International League game at Central Park. Four Vancouver pitchers allowed only two hits with starter Barry Elson getting credit for the win.
Brenner (L), Romeniuk (1) and Docker
Elson (W), Meglaughlin (3), Warkentin (5), McCarrell (7) and Osadczuk, Haar (5)
(May 10) Pitchers Barry Elson and Gary Meglaughlin allowed only two hits as the Vancouver Ramadas blanked Haney 2 to 0 in a Pacific International game at Haney Park. Bill Green drove had three of the twelve hits stroked by the winners.
Elson (W), Meglaughlin (4) and Osadczuk
Tanner (L), Jorgenson (5) and King
(May 11) Backed by the four-hit pitching of Dave Blight, the New Westminster Molsons blanked the Coquitlam Labatts 3 to 0 in a Pacific International League tussle at Blue Mountain Park.
Blight (W) and Wallace
Wightman (L), McLean (5) and Docker
(May 13) Don Cowan’s fifth-inning double brought home Bruce Lofting as the Vancouver Ramadas blanked Burnaby 1 to 0 in a Pacific International League contest at Central Park. Three Vancouver chuckers shared the mound chores yielding just two safeties as Barry Elson, the second of the trio, got credit for the win. Southpaw Dan Miscisco was nailed with the loss.
Miscisco (L), Weinrauch (7) and Keller
McCarrell, Elson (W) (4), MacRae (7) and Osadczuk
(May 16) South Burnaby and the Vancouver Ramadas played six innings of Pacific International League baseball without reaching a decision. The game, called because of darkness, goes into the books as a 1 – 1 tie. Outfielder Terry Schuss drove in the Athletics’ run with a fifth-inning one-bagger. Vancouver first baseman Don Cowan singled home John Haar in the sixth canto with the tying tally.
Meglaughlin , Warkentin (6) and Osadczuk
Wilson and Keller
(May 20) Darkness was the only winner as New Westminster Molsons and Vancouver Ramadas failed to produce a victor in their Pacific International League clash which ended in a scoreless tie.
(May 24) The South Burnaby Athletics held on to defeat the hosting Haney Luckies 9 to 8 as winning pitcher Keith Wilson, the starter, saved the game for Keith Wilson, the reliever. Wilson was coasting along with a 9 to 2 lead when the bottom fell out in the sixth and final inning. After giving up three runs, Wilson was replaced on the slab by Larry Weinrauch but remained in the Burnaby lineup as an outfielder. Haney continued to hit, sustaining their comeback rally, and Wilson was recalled to the bump with the score 9 to 8, the bases loaded and two out. He then retired Jack Tippe to finally douse the flames.
Wilson (W), Weinrauch (6), Wilson (6) and McLean
Trinder (L), Tanner (6) and Schich/Schieh
(May 27) Four Vancouver pitchers combined to hold Haney to one hit as the Ramadas clobbered the Luckies 11 to 1 at Queen’s Park. A ninth-inning single by Haney’s Ken Jorgenson off reliever Gary Meglaughlin was the lone safety garnered by the vanquished nine. Don Cowan drove in three runs for the victors with a double and triple while teammate John Kochan picked up a pair of RBI’s.
Bell (L), Ken Jorgenson (5) and Scherck, Jensen (7)
Smith (W), Elson (5), Gillespie (7), Meglaughlin (9) and Osadczuk
(May 28) New Westminster Molsons defeated Coquitlam 1 to 0 in a tight tussle at Queen’s Park which took ten innings to decide a winner. Don Carter copped the overtime mound decision, spinning a three-hitter.
Ramada, Michaud (L) (9) and Docker
Carter (W) and Wallace
(May 29) John Haar and Gary Meglaughlin played prominent roles as Vancouver silenced the Bellingham Bells at Queen’s Park Stadium in a curfew-shortened eight-inning clash. Haar’s three-run homer and triple produced four runs as the Ramadas doubled the Washingtonians 6 to 3. Meglaughlin pitched 5-2/3 innings of perfect relief to earn the win.
Haddock (L), Buitenvald/Buttenvald (6) and Galley/Gallie
Elson, Meglaughlin (W) (3) and Osadczuk
(June 1) 19-year old right-handed pitcher Eric Guthrie, a signee of the Pittsburgh Pirates, rang up 14 punchouts in twirling a five-hitter as the New Westminster Molsons edged the Vancouver Ramadas 2 to 1 at Queen’s Park. His batterymate, lofty Wyatt Dreger, a former New York Yankee farmhand, drove in both New Westminster runs with a sixth-inning double.
Guthrie (W) and Dreger
Elson, Gillespie (L) (6), Warkentin (6) and Osadczuk
(June 3) A throwing error by Haney catcher Larry Scherck allowed the Vancouver Ramadas to escape with a 2 to 1 Pacific International League victory over the Luckies at Central Park. Scherck’s attempted pickoff to the hot corner sailed into left field and allowed Bill Sinclair, in the process of a theft of third, to scamper home with the unearned winner. Winning pitcher Dan McCarrell scattered three hits and fanned nine in going the route. Sinclair picked up three of the Ramadas’ five safeties.
Bell (L) and Scherck
McCarrell (W) and Osadczuk
(June 5) Coquitlam and South Burnaby exploded at the plate for big wins in Pacific International League doubleheader action at Central Park. Pitcher Ron Romanda did most of the damage as the Labatts thumped the Vancouver Ramadas 9 to 3 in the opener while the A’s stopped the Bellingham Bells 7 to 2 in the finale.
Romanda picked up three of Coquitlam’s 13 hits including a double and a bases-loaded triple that climaxed a seven-run fifth inning.
Romanda (W) and Docker
Warkentin (L), Meglaughlin (5), Gillespie (5), Walton (6) and Haar
Keith Commons, Bruce Hill and Ron Frederick, with a brace of safe swats each, paced South Burnaby’s ten-hit attack against the Bells.
Butenvald (L) and Galley
Miscisco (W), Weinrauch (6) and McLean
(June 14) Haney’s Jorgenson brothers flashed their swatting attributes against Vancouver’s Pacific International Baseball League team. Gary Jorgenson contributed three hits, Ken a pair and Dave one more as the Luckies scored eight runs in the first two frames and then hung on to edge the visiting Ramadas 8 to 6. A fourth Jorgenson brother, Bill, was the black sheep of the family in this affair, going hitless.
McCarrell (L), Warkentin (1), Meglaughlin (2), Gillespie (4) and Aiken
Mitzel (W), Tanner (4) and xxx
(June 14) At Queen’s Park, catcher Terry Docker of the invading Coquitlam aggregation drove in four runs with a pair of doubles as the Labatts defeated the New Westminster Molsons 6 to 2.
Romanda (W), Michaud (7) and Docker
Strayski (L) and Wallace
(June 17) A sophomore from Cal Poly Pomona made a successful pitching debut in the Pacific International Baseball League at Central Park. Alberta native Dale Braumberger, toeing the slab for the Vancouver Ramadas, allowed only two hits while fanning eleven in blanking the South Burnaby squad 2 to 0. John Haar provided Vancouver with the winning run in the opening inning when he doubled home Bill Green who had reached base on a two-out single.
Miscisco (L), Weinrauch (7) and Keller
Braumberger (W) and Aiken
(June 19) Versatile Larry Walker was instrumental in pacing the homestanding Haney Luckies to a 4 to 1 and 4 to 2 sweep of their twin-bill with the Bellingham Bells. Walker, the burly slugger, took to the hillock in the first game at Maple Ridge Park and handcuffed the Bells on a two-hitter. Haney’s Bill Jorgenson went two-for-four at the dish while pinch-hitter Fred Sabatine drove in a pair of counters with a sixth-inning one-bagger.
Calvert (L), Morris (7) and Hanna
Walker (W) and Jensen
Roaming the outer pasture in the wind-up match, Walker blasted a solo homer and two singles as teammate Bob Trinder went the route on the bump to earn the mound verdict.
Bidenveld (L), Randall (6) and Nitschke
Trinder (W) and Scherck
(June 19) The Vancouver Ramadas stared a mid-game 7 to 0 deficit in the eye then came to life, rolling to an 8 to 7 triumph over the New Westminster Molsons at Queen’s Park. A pinch hit double by University of Washington catcher Bob Aiken drove in Bill Green and John Haar to cap a five-run sixth inning that put the Ramadas ahead to stay. Mike Stipes, a recruit from Cal Poly, singled and doubled for Vancouver while manning the outer pasture, then came in to throw two shutout innings as a relief hurler. Lanky first baseman Wyatt Dreger had given New Westminster a comfortable lead with a fourth-inning grand-slam circuit-clout.
Carter, Strayski (6), Adamson (6), Blight (L) (6) and Wallace
Ewing, Elson (W) (5), Stipes (7) and Osadczuk, Aiken (7)
(June 22) Tim Chapman and Jim Marshall drove in two runs each with back-to-back singles in the sixth inning as the Vancouver Ramadas took a 6 to 1 decision from the South Burnaby Athletics. The game ended prematurely after eight innings of play because of a curfew.
Meglaughlin (W), Elson (5), Ewing (7)and Aiken
Lea (L), Grenda (6), Weinrauch (6) and Keller
(June 25-26) New Westminster and South Burnaby split a brace of weekend games at Queen’s Park Stadium.
Although outhit by a 7 to 4 margin, the Labatts doubled the A’s 6 to 3 in the Saturday affair behind the steady hurling of Dave Blight.
Clark/Clarke (L), Weinrauch (5) and Smith, Keller (7)
Blight (W) and Dreger
South Burnaby’s Dan Miscisco surrendered just three hits in the Sunday clash as the Athletics blanked the Westminster nine 6 to 0.
Carter (L) and Dreger
Miscisco (W) and Keller
(June 26) Bill Gillespie pitched and batted the Vancouver Ramadas to the top of the Pacific International Baseball League in a game against the hosting Haney aggregation. Although not around at the finish, Gillespie was credited with the win in Vancouver’s 2 to 0 conquest of the Luckies. He also singled in the first tally in a two-run second-inning uprising.
Gillespie (W), Elson (6), Stipes (8) and Haar
Trinder (L) and Jensen
(June 28) Playing-manager Ron Kirby of the South Burnaby Athletics hit a three-run first-inning round-tripper as the A’s hung on to edge the hosting Haney Luckies 6 to 5 in a hard-fought Pacific International League tussle. The Luckies scored four times in the seventh panel, including a three-run double by Denny Hollis, before Larry Weinrauch ascended the bump in relief of Dave Lea to end the rally.
Lea (W), Weinrauch (7) and Smith
W. Jorgenson (L), Schwartz (4) and Scherck
(June 29) The Coquitlam Labatts exploded for four runs in the seventh spasm to take a 9 to 5 verdict from the Vancouver Ramadas at Blue Mountain Park.
Elson, Ewing (4), Stipes (L) (6) and Osadczuk
Hall (W) and Docker
(June 29) The South Burnaby Athletics doubled the league-leading Bellingham Bells 6 to 3 at Queen’s Park. A four-run outburst in the seventh chapter clinched the victory for the A’s.
Knutson (L) and Nitschke
Grenda (W), Miscisco (8), Weinrauch (9) and Smith
(July 6) The Vancouver Ramadas exploded with five runs in the fourth inning and coasted to a 9 to 1 victory over the hosting Coquitlam Labatts at Blue Mountain Park. Four Vancouver pitchers joined forces in limiting the Labatts to only three hits as starter Ray Ewing gained the mound victory.
Ewing (W), Braumberger (6), Elson (8), Meglaughlin (9) and Kissock, Osadczuk (7)
Romanda (L), Michaud (4), McLean (6) and Docker
(July 8) Ted Baxter drove in three runs with a brace of one-baggers and Wayne Wallace had a pair of RBI’s with a single and double as the New Westminster Molsons outlasted the Coquitlam Labatts 7 to 4 in a battle of Beermen at Queen’s Park.
Adamson (W) and Wallace
Hall (L), Michaud (5), Wightman (8) and Blanchard
(July 8) John Haar’s three-run homer in the first inning started the Vancouver Ramadas on the way to an 8 to 0 shellacking of the Haney Luckies at Central Park. Bob Elson earned the hillock triumph.
Trinder (L), Mitzel (7) and Jensen
Elson (W), Stipes (8) and Kissock, Osadszuk
(July 12) The Vancouver Ramadas defeated Haney 6 to 4 in a Pacific International League contest on the Haney Park diamond. Don Cowan and Terry Murphy paved the way offensively for the winners. Cowan drove in two runs with a first-inning triple while Murphy laced a pair of singles, scored twice and drove in another counter. The game was terminated after eight frames because of darkness.
Meglaughlin (W), Elson (7) and Kissock
Mitzel (L), Schwartz (5) and Jensen
(July 13) An impressive 9 to 0 whitewashing of the New Westminster Molsons at Queen’s Park Stadium strengthened the hold of the Vancouver Ramadas on first place in the Pacific International League. The winners now hold a five-point edge over the second-place Bellingham Bells although the Washingtonians still have four games in hand. Jim Marshall and Terry Murphy accounted for most of the offensive damage piled up by the Vancouverites against the Mols. Marshall drove in two runs while Murphy had a single and double, scored two runs and stolen a pair of bases.
Blight (L), Smith (6) and Wallace, Dreger (6)
Ewing (W), Braumberger (4), Stipes (7) and Kissock
(July 15) Two walks, an error and a double steal plated the Vancouver Ramadas a pair of first-inning counters which proved to be sufficient in their 3 to 1 conquest of the South Burnaby Athletics. The Ramadas managed only two hits in the affair while complete-game winner Barry Elson was nicked for six safeties by the A’s.
Grenda (L), Weinrauch (5), Clark/Clarke (7) and Smith, Keller (6)
Elson (W) and Osadczuk
(July 16-17) The New Westminster Molsons lost two games to the South Burnaby Athletics in a Pacific International League home-and-home weekend series. Saturday at Queen’s Park, the visiting Athletics waxed the Mols 6 to 1 behind pitcher Dave Lea’s one-hitter. Lea also did some clutch hitting, slapping out two singles in three trips to drive in two runs. Teammate Ron Kirby also drove in a pair with a brace of one-baggers in four-at-bats.
Lea (W) and Smith, Keller (7)
Guthrie (L), Blight (7) and Wallace
At Central Park on Sunday, Ron Frederick’s ninth-inning single scored Keith Wilson with the winning run in a 4 to 3 victory. Wilson had led off the inning with a triple. Dan Miscisco, who had allowed only one hit in the first eight innings, gave up two singles in the ninth and ended up with a three-hitter for his seventh win against five defeats.
Adamson (L) and Wallace
Miscisco (W) and Wilson
(July 20) Ron Frederick drove in a pair of runs with a sixth-inning single as South Burnaby edged Coquitlam 4 to 3 at Queen’s Park. Dave Lea of the Athletics earned the mound decision, besting the Molsons’ Brian Hall.
Hall (L), Michaud (6) and Docker
Lea (W), Weinrauch (7) and Smith, Keller (7)
(July 27) The booming bat of right fielder Terry Schuss provided enough inspiration to lift the South Burnaby Athletics into third place in the Pacific International Baseball League. Schuss slapped a double and triple, driving in three runs, to spark the A’s to an 8 to 4 win over the Haney Luckies at Central Park. The loss for the Lagermen dropped them into fourth spot in the loop.
Mitzel (L), Schwartz (4) and Scherk
Miscisco (W) and Smith
DOUBLE-KNOCKOUT PLAYOFF RESULTS
(only B.C. teams involved – Vancouver Ramadas received a first-round bye)
(August 14) Haney nosed out Coquitlam 2 to 1.
(August 15) An error by New Westminster centre fielder Bob Cameron allowed the South Burnaby Athletics to take a 4 to 3 playoff verdict from the Royal City nine at Queen’s Park. In arrears by a run but with runners at first and second base, the A’s tied the score when Terry Schuss singled to the middle pasture in the eighth inning, bringing home Howie Hughes. When Cameron let the horsehide evade him, Dave Lea scooted all the way home from first with what turned out to be the winning tally.
Carter (L) and Wallace
Miscisco (W) and Keller
(August 17) Four costly Vancouver errors gave the Haney Luckies a 7 to 3 win over the Ramadas in a Pacific International League playoff clash of undefeated teams at Queen’s Park Stadium. The Ramada Inn nine outswatted the Beermen 8 hits to 4 but were unable to come through when bingles meant bacon and are now relegated to the loser’s bracket in the double-knockout playoff event.
Meglaughlin, Gillespie (L) (5) and Osadczuk
Walker, Trinder (W) (2), Mitzel (8) and Jensen
(August 21) John Kochan’s three-run four-bagger in the fifth inning propelled the Vancouver Ramadas to a 4 to 3 victory over Coquitlam at Central Park and a semi-final berth in the Pacific International double-knockout playoffs. The loss for the Labatts eliminated them from further competition.
Wightman (L) and Docker
Meglaughlin, McCarrell (W) (5) and Kissock
(August 21) In a second game, two of the five Jorgenson brothers on the roster, Bill and Ken, sparked the hosting Haney Luckies to a 6 to 2 win over the South Burnaby Athletics. Bill had two triples and a single, good for a brace of RBI’s, while Ken chipped in with a pair of singles. The win was Haney’s second straight in the double-knockout event and vaulted them into the finals.
Lea (L) and Smith, Keller (5)
Trinder (W) and Scherck
(August 23) The Vancouver Ramadas eliminated the South Burnaby Athletics from the Pacific International Baseball League playoff picture. Final score, game details and batteries not found in print.
(August 24) Undefeated Haney won the 1966 Pacific International Baseball League championship by knocking off the Vancouver Ramadas 8 to 5 at Queen’s Park Stadium. Although outhit by a 10 to 7 margin, the Luckies rode the hot bats of Jack Tippe and Larry Walker to subdue the Innkeepers. Tippe spanked the sphere for three safeties, including two doubles, which drove in four runs while Walker had a brace of base raps, one of which was a second-inning circuit-clout. Mike Mitzell was the winning pitcher but needed relief help from Bob Trinder in the seventh inning. Southpaw Dan McCarrell, the losing twirler, has three hits to pace the vanquished nine at the dish. Teammates Larry Kissock and John Kochan followed with a pair of bingles each.
Mitzel (W), Trinder (7) and Jensen
Meglaughlin (L), McCarrell (3) and Osadczuk