1966 Vancouver, Lower Mainland, Fraser Valley
1966 BC Interior
1966 Vancouver Island
OKANAGAN MAINLINE LEAGUE
Kamloops Lelands
Kelowna Labatts
North Kamloops Stars
Penticton Molsons
Vernon Mets
(April 30) In the 1966 OMBL opener at Kings Park, the Penticton Molsons handed the Kamloops Lelands their worst-ever beating in league history, annihilating the Hoteliers 19 to 0. The massacre began with four counters in the opening panel, seven in the second spasm, highlighted by catcher Lee Day’s grand-slam homer, and another five-spot in the third. Jim Terbasket, who was forced out of the game in the fourth frame after being struck in the head by a pitched ball, and Steve Yarno combined to pitch a three-hit shutout for the Molsons. Youthful Bob Haywood, kayoed from the knoll after 1-2/3 innings, suffered the loss.
(May 1) Last season’s doormats, the North Kamloops Stars, got off on the right foot, holding off a late Vernon comeback attempt to edge the Mets 7 to 6 at Polson Park. Although outhit by a seven to five margin, the Stars were able to bunch many of their safeties to put up a five-spot on the scoreboard in the fifth frame. George McIntyre copped the pitching verdict over Vernon’s John Paul.
(May 4) Homestanding Penticton scored four runs in the eighth episode to double Kelowna 6 to 3 in OMBL action. Jim Terbasket, in relief of Ken MacDermott, picked up the pitching win while Kelowna starter Al Vetter suffered the loss.
Vetter (L), Hadine (8) and Bailey
MacDermott, Terbasket (W) (8) and Day
(May 5) Playing in their home opener, the Kamloops Lelands experienced little difficulty in demolishing the visiting Vernon Luckies 14 to 5. The Hotelers got off the a flying start, plating four-spots in each of the first two frames before adding a deuce in the third panel. Bob Haywood evened his pitching record at 1 – 1 with a six-hitter but still had some control issues,walking four. Bob Peachy, yanked from the knoll in the second stanza, was tagged with the loss. The Lelands’ “Tex” Anderson was the top batter in the game, connecting for four hits in five times at bat.
Peachy (L), Keckalo (2), Bulwer (6) and Munk
Haywood (W) and Begg
(May 14) Penticton generated a dozen runs off 14 hits and nine Kelowna errors to dump the Regatta City nine 12 to 4. Kelowna pitchers Al Vetter and Alf Davey walked 12 batters in the one-sided game. Ed Folk, Elroy Jacobs and “Butch” Shulli each had two hits for the Molsons. Jack Burton ripped a pair of doubles for the losers.
(May 15) Randy Murphy, who had reached base on a single, scampered home from third base on a wild pitch with the deciding counter as the Kamloops Lelands edged the hosting Vernon Mets 4 to 3 in ten innings. The Lelands had to battle back from a 3 – 1 deficit with a pair of ninth-canto tallies to force the game into overtime. Derek McGillivray, who ascended the bump in the fourth frame in relief of starting heaver Frank Kozak, earned the hurling decision. “Tex” Anderson and Ed Begg had two singles apiece for the Hoteliers.
(May 17) Bruce Cousins doubled home Mas Tahara in the bottom-of-the-ninth inning to give the North Kamloops Stars a 5 to 4 victory over Kelowna at Riverside Park. Kelowna, railing 4 – 2 after eight innings of play, tied it in the ninth on Wayne Leonard’s two-run homer. Complete-game winner Larry Roberge gave up eight hits and whiffed 15. Dan Hadine, who assumed knoll duties for starter Ken Ross of the Regatta City nine in the sixth stanza, took the loss. Al Gulliford had two hits for the winning Stars.
(May 18) The undefeated Penticton Molsons racked up their fifth straight OMBL victory when they defeated the Vernon Luckies 19 to 7 at Kings Park. Jim Terbasket scattered ten hits and struck out 18 in a route-going performance. Vernon starter Bob Peachy was kayoed from the slab in the second stanza and absorbed the loss. Molsons’ catcher Lee Day went yard with a three-run tater while Terbasket launched a solo dinger.
Peachy (L), Keckalo (2), Dickson (6) and Nuyens
Terbasket (W) and Day
(May 19) Veteran Stan Kato, known for his hustle and versatility, came to the aid of slabsters Bob Haywood and Derek McGillivray in the sixth spasm and, although not a regular pitcher, completed the game on the hillock, getting credit for the win as the Kamloops Lelands triumphed 10 to 3 over the North Kamloops Stars. North Kamloops’ starting heaver Stan Denetiuk was clipped with the setback. Eddie Begg slapped out a double and single for the winners.
(May 24) The Kamloops Lelands cashed in on seven North Kamloops errors to take an 11 to 8 OMBL decision over the Stars in a sloppily-played tilt at Riverside Park. The Stars led 8 to 5 after six innings but the Hoteliers registered three runs on three hits in the seventh to knot the count. A defensive letdown in the eighth cost the Stars big time as they fell behind and never recovered. Relievers Dave Murphy of Kamloops and the Luminaries’ George McIntyre were the pitchers of record. Larry Roberge and Al Gulliford, with a home run and single each, were best with the baton for the losers. Roberge’s blows drove in three counters while Gulliford had two RBI’s.
Haywood, D. Murphy (W) (4) and Kato
Roberge, McIntyre (L) (7) and McIntyre. Shishido (7)
(May 28) Invading Vernon whipped Kelowna 12 to 5 at Elks Stadium in OMBL play. With the score tied at 5 – 5, the Mets capitalized three hits, three walks and four Kelowna errors to score seven runs in the seventh inning and run away with the decision. Reg Main struck out 14 and gave up nine hits in annexing the pitching win.
Main (W) and Nuyens
Vetter, Ross (L) (5), Hadine (7) and Favell, Leonard (9)
(May 29) Kamloops clipped Vernon 6 to 1.
(June 2) With Jim Terbasket, Lee Day and Bruno Ceccon all connecting for home runs, the Penticton Molsons put together a 16-hit attack and powered their way past Kelowna 16 to 9 in OMBL action. Ken MacDermott, in relief of Terbasket, picked up the win while Allan Vetter, who ascended the bump in the second stanza during an eight-run Penticton spree, suffered the loss.
Hadine, Vetter (L) (2), Davy (2) and Leonard, Favell
Terbasket, MacDermott (W) (4) and Day
(June 2) The Vernon Luckies, with Reg Main spinning a three-hitter, needed a three-spot in the ninth inning to pull out a 7 to 4 win over the Kamloops Lelands 7 to 4 at Riverside Park. Russ Keckalo drilled a two-run single to drive in the tie-breaker and insurance tallies, then later scored another add-on marker on a wild pitch. The Hotelmen used three chuckers, two of whom have been plagued by nagging injuries, with Frank Kozak absorbing the setback. Main struck of 11 Leland batters while improving his won-loss mark to 3 – 0. Only “Tex” Anderson, with a double and single, had any sustained success against Main. Gord Nuyens blasted a bases-empty four-bagger for the victors in the opening panel.
Main (W) and Nuyens, Dickson (7)
McGillivray, Kozak (L) (6), Beecroft (9) and Begg
(June 4) Allan Vetter struck out 14 and limited North Kamloops batters to four hits in pitching Kelowna to a 10 to 1 trouncing of the visiting Stars. The hosting Regatta City nine accumulated 11 base blows off a brace of North Kamloops chuckers as Jack Burton socked a four-ply clout.
Denetiuk (L), Shishido (5) and Harrison, Cousins (5)
Vetter (W) and Leonard
(June 5) Penticton shaded Kamloops 3 to 1 on the strength of a pair of eighth-inning counters. Jim Terbasket and Ken MacDermott combined to hold the Lelands in check on three hits as seventh-inning reliever MacDermott registered the win.
Feroglia (L) and McGraw
Terbasket, MacDermott (W) (7) and Day
(June 5) Hank Tillberg hurled eight innings of winning ball as the pace-setting Penticton Molsons downed the hometown Vernon Luckies 7 to 4. Tillberg was nicked for seven hits and issued eight free passes while punching out four.
STANDINGS W L Pct. GBL
Penticton 8 1 .889 ----
Kamloops 6 4 .600 2.5
Vernon 4 6 .400 4.5
North Kamloops 2 5 .286 5.0
Kelowna 2 6 .250 5.5
(June 9) An unearned run in the bottom-of-the-eighth inning helped the Kamloops Lelands to a 5 to 4 win over cellar-dwelling Kelowna at Riverside Park. The visitors had a slight 8 to 7 edge in base hits. Eddie Begg had a brace of safeties for the Hotelmen while Gerry Robertson doubled twice for the Regatta City squad. Frank Kozak, who gave up six of Kelowna’s eight base raps, secured the mound verdict over Les Schaeffer.
Schaeffer (L) and Leonard
Kozak (W), McGillivray (8) and Begg
(June 12) The Vernon Luckies took a close 6 to 5 OMBL decision from the visiting North Kamloops Stars. Reg Main hurled a three-hitter in earning the complete-game win. Russ Keckalo hit a two-run homer in the third inning in support of Main who improved his record to 4 – 0. Losing twirler Mike Kellogg gave up just one earned run but was let down by his mates who committed five errors. Tony Dille came on in relief in the seventh inning. Bruce Cousins of the Stars had two of the three hits, both doubles, yielded by Main.
(June 15) The Penticton Molsons scored seven runs in their final three turns at bat to defeat the Vernon Luckies 9 to 5 in OMBL action in the Peach City. Second-inning reliever Jim Terbasket secured the win while Vernon starter Gary Dickson was nicked with the loss. Luckies’ third baseman Dennis Feser slugged a solo home run in the ninth.
Dickson (L), Main (6) and Wilson
MacDermott, Terbasket (W) (2) and Day
(June 18-19) The Kamloops Lelands and North Kamloops Stars were ungracious hosts when the Penticton Molsons visited over the weekend, taking the league-leaders into camp on both occasions that the Peach City nine appeared on the diamond at Riverside Park. Both Penticton losses were inflicted upon pitcher Cary Kiem, who started on the hill in each contest. On Saturday evening, the Lelands scored single runs in each of the first six innings and then coasted to a 6 to 1 triumph. Right-hander Al Simmons, making his first start of the season, put on a one-man show, striking out 17 Pentictonites as well as connecting for a sixth-inning round-tripper. Sunday afternoon, the Stars came from behind to turn a tight game into a 7 to 2 rout.
Simmons added a single to his home run in the Saturday encounter, tying teammate “Tex” Anderson for hitting honors with a brace of bingles each. Bruno Ceccon and Ed Falk had two safeties apiece for the Molsons
Kiem (L), Terbasket (3), MacDermott (7) and Jacobs
Simmons (W) and McGraw
A pair of late home runs sparked the Stars to their triumph in the Sunday engagement. Bruce Cousins dialed long distance in the sixth spasm while winning pitcher Tony Dille went yard in the eighth episode. Cousins and Eric Shishido led the North Kamloops’ offensive attack with two hits each.
Kiem (L), MacDermott (8) and Jacobs
Kellogg, Dille (W) (7) and Shishido
(June 19) The Vernon Luckies edged the Kelowna Labatts 5 to 4.
(June 21) Randy Rota batted in three runs and scored two himself to spark the Kamloops Lelands to a 6 to 3 win over the North Kamloops Stars at Riverside Park. The win for the Hotelmen moved them to within a half-game of front-running Penticton. Portsider Casey Feroglia pitched 8-2/3 innings to cop the win while Tony Dille suffered the defeat.
(June 23) The Kamloops Lelands moved into a tie for first place with the Penticton Molsons by trimming the hosting Kelowna aggregation 6 to 4. Right-hander Al Simmons, nicked for ten Kelowna safeties, struck out 16 in going all the way for the mound victory. The Hoteliers picked up eight base raps off loser Les Schaeffer and ninth-inning reliever Al Vetter. Hitting stars for the Lelands were Ray Fujikawa who powered a home run and Randy Rota who picked up two singles. Wayne Leonard and Jack Burton belted home runs for Kelowna.
Simmons (W) and McGraw
Schaeffer, Vetter (9) and Leonard
(June 25) The Penticton Molsons opened up a half-game lead atop the OMBL standings by trimming the visiting North Kamloops Stars 7 to 1. The Molsons, who plated all their tallies in the seventh and eight chapters, got a two-hit pitching effort from winner Jim Terbasket. Seventh-inning reliever Tony Dille, who took over from starter Mike Kellogg, was the loser.
(June 26) The Kamloops Lelands kept pace with Penticton by whipping the homestanding Vernon Luckies 15 to 1. Casey Feroglia won his second straight mound verdict, tossing a two-hitter. The Luckies used three pitchers. Randy Rota, Derek McGillivray and Randy Murphy rapped three hits apiece for the Hotelmen who collected a total of 16. One of McGillivray’s blows was a four-bagger.
(June 28) Cashing in on a dozen base blows and nine North Kamloops errors, the Kamloops Lelands blew out the Stars 15 to 1 at Riverside Park. The win for the Hotelmen moved them a half-game in front of the Penticton Molsons in the race for the OMBL pennant. Lelands’ right-hander Al Simmons, who toed the rubber for the first five frames, left with a substantial lead and garnered the easy win. Dave Murphy had a double and two singles for the victors while clubmate Randy Rota delivered three one-baggers.
Strayski (L), Dille (6), Kellogg (8) and Kazakoff, Shishido (7)
Simmons (W), Feroglia (6) and McGraw, Begg (4)
(June 29) Bottom-feeding Kelowna surprised Penticton by blanking the hosting Molsons 3 to 0. Les Schaeffer went the distance on the hill for the Regatta Towners, hurling a four-hitter while Ed Folk, in his first start of the season on the slab, was charged with the loss.
Schaeffer (W) and Leonard
Folk(L) and Day
(July 1) Penticton Jackpot Tournament
(July 6) The North Kamloops Stars emerged as 5 to 4 winners of a 12-inning marathon against the Vernon Luckies. Winning heaver Mike Kellogg singled in the bottom-of the third overtime session to drive in Jim Harrison, who had singled to begin the inning, with the walkoff winner. Al Gulliford cranked out a two-run circuit-clout for the Stars while teammate Mas Tahara stroked a pair of base raps. Gord Nuyens had three safe swats for the Vernon baseballers.
STANDINGS W L Pct. GBL
Kamloops 12 4 .750 ----
Penticton 11 4 .733 0.5
Vernon 6 10 .375 6.0
North Kamloops 5 9 .357 6.0
Kelowna 4 9 .308 6.5
(July 7) Kelowna exploded for seven runs in the top-of-the-ninth inning to topple the hosting Kamloops Lelands 14 to 11. “Skip” Ivie, pitching the last seven innings for the Labatts, took the win while Frank Kozak, the second of three Kamloops’ heavers, suffered the loss. Alf Davy was the top swatsmith for the Regatta Towners, with a double and two singles, a brace of RBI’s and three runs scored.
Schaeffer, Ivie (W) (3) and Leonard
Simmons, Kozak (L) (9), Beecroft (9) and Begg
(July 9) Penticton blanked hosting Kelowna 4 to 0, denying the Regatta Towners a chance to grab third place in the OMBL standings. Jim Terbasket tossed a five hitter for the shutout win and had home run support from Lee Day and Hank Tillberg who both went yard with solo dingers.
Terbasket (W) and Day
Ivie (L) and Leonard
((July 10) The homestanding Vernon Luckies had no trouble in defeating the North Kamloops Stars 9 to 1. The Luckies’ regular catcher, Gord Nuyens, traded in his mask and shin guards for a resin bag and pitched the complete-game win. He only made one bad pitch, a meatball right down Broadway that the Stars’ Al Gulliford slammed for a second-stanza dinger. Mike Kellogg was stung with the loss.
(July 12) A six-run explosion in the fourth frame boosted Kelowna to a 10 to 2 thrashing of the hosting North Kamloops Stars. Al Vetter went all the way in recording the four-hit pitching win, fanning six along the way. Gerry Robertson,”Skip” Ivie and Wayne Leonard had a pair of hits each for the victors with a triple included in Leonard’s blows. Al Gulliford singled twice for North Kamloops.
Vetter (W) and Leonard
Opp (L), Kellogg (4) and Gulliford
(July 13) Lee Day’s sacrifice fly in the bottom-of-the-tenth inning pushed across Doug Weeks with the winning run as the Penticton Molsons shaded the Vernon Luckies 4 to 3. The win jetted the Peach City nine into a half-game lead in front of the idle Kamloops Lelands. Jim Terbasket, with a six-hitter, got the pitching win over Reg Main. Don Archer blasted a solo home run in the sixth spasm for the losers.
Main (L) and Nuyens
Terbasket (W) and Day
(July 14) Utility player George Makortoff, getting some regular playing time, responded with a booming bat in leading the Kamloops Lelands to an 11 to 3 conquest of the North Kamloops Stars. Makortoff slugged a grand-slam homer, stroked two singles and walked once as the Hotelmen moved into a first-place tie with the Penticton Molsons. Dave Murphy, pitching his first game in over a month, copped the pitching win while Stars’ starting heaver, Eric Shishido, was dinged with the defeat. Ray Fujikawa shared some of the offensive glory with Makortoff, driving in three runs with a triple and two singles. Catcher Al Gulliford singled twice for the losers.
Shishido (L), Kellogg (5), Cousins (7) and Gulliford
D. Murphy (W), Beecroft (9) and McGraw
(July 16) The Kamloops Lelands moved into top spot in the OMBL with a 6 to 1 victory over the Penticton Molsons at Riverside Park. All the scoring in this clash occurred during the first three innings. The Lelands opened with a deuce in the first and added a four-spot in the second round. The Molsons’ lone counter came in the third session. Ray Fujikawa with a triple, and Dale Cassell with a two-bagger, each drove in two runs for the victorious Hotelmen. Al Simmons tossed a five-hitter for the win. Loser Jim Terbasket was raked for nine base raps.
Terbasket (L) and Day
Simmons (W) and Kato
(July 16) The North Kamloops folded for the balance of the season. A recent loss of six players led to the decision to disband. With the North Kamloops’ withdrawal, the other four entrants were awarded victories for the each of the remaining game they had scheduled with the Stars. Penticton benefited the most, picking up three in the win column, altering the standings as such.
STANDINGS W L Pct. GBL
Kamloops 15 5 .750 ----
Penticton 16 6 .727 ----
Kelowna 9 11 .450 6.0
Vernon 8 12 .400 7.0
(July 19) The Kamloops Lelands slipped a half-game out of first place by dropping a 5 to 2 decision to the Vernon Luckies at Riverside Park. Russ Keckalo’s bat was the big difference for Vernon as he went yard with a three-run tater in the opening canto off losing heaver Al Simmons. A flawless defensive performance by his mates helped propel Vernon starter Gary Dickson to the win. Sparkling double plays in the fourth and fifth sessions lifted Dickson out of jams. Reg Main took over hurling chores in the sixth, permitting just one hit in four innings of relief. Simmons was nearly untouchable after the fifth frame, retiring 12 batters in a row, He finished with 17 punchouts.
Dickson (W), Main (6) and Nuyens
Simmons (L) and Kato
(July 21) Dave Murphy’s line single to the middle pasture in the bottom-of-the thirteenth inning drove in Ray Fujikawa with the winning run as the Kamloops Lelands shaded the hosting Kelowna Labatts 5 to 4. The win for the Lelands moved them back into a first-place deadlock with the idle Penticton Molsons. Winning heaver Al Simmons took over pitching chores at the beginning on the second round of overtime from starter Casey Feroglia and didn’t allow a hit in the three innings he hurled. Losing tosser “Skip” Ivie went all the way. Frank Kozak led the winners with the hickory, stroking a double and two singles. Catcher Wayne Leonard cracked a solo circuit-jack for the Regatta City squad in the sixth stanza.
Feroglia, Simmons (W) (11) and Kato
Ivie (L) and Leonard
(July 24) Penticton nosed out hometown Vernon 3 to 2 in OMBL action. Don Waldhauer went the distance for the Molsons in racking up the pitching win. Gord Nuyens, relieved by Reg Main in the eighth episode, was tagged with the loss.
(July 28) The Vernon Luckies moved into third place in the OMBL standings with a narrow 2 to 1 win over Kelowna. Errors were again the downfall of the Regatta Towners, miscues accounting for both runs by the Luckies. Reg Main went all the way for the pitching victory.
Main (W) and Nuyens
Ivie (L) and Leonard
(July 30) The Kamloops Lelands took over first place in the OMBL with a 13 to 3 rout of the hosting Penticton Molsons. The Lelands put together a 16-hit batting attack that included five home runs. Derek McGillivray went yard for a brace of taters while Gord Beecroft, Dave Murphy and “Tex” Anderson each poled out one dinger. “Casey” Feroglia scattered nine hits to pick up the win.
Feroglia (W) and Begg
Terbasket (L), MacDermott (5) and Jacobs
(August 2) With a 5 to 1 triumph over the visiting Kelowna Labatts in the final league contest, the Kamloops Lelands clinched the 1966 OMBL regular-season pennant. Second-place Penticton finished a full game behind the Hoteliers. In spite of a blister on his pitching hand, Leland right-hander Al Simmons went the full nine-inning stretch allowing four hits, walking three and ringing up 18 punchouts. Losing twirler Wayne Leonard had better luck at the plate than on the mound, registering a double and single.
Leonard (L), Vetter (5), Ivie (7) and Favell
Simmons (W) and Begg
PLAYOFFS
SEMI-FINALS Vernon vs Kamloops & Kelowna vs Penticton (best-of-five series)
(August 9) Outfielder Ray Fujikawa had eight RBI’s, with a home run, two singles and a sacrifice fly, in pacing the Kamloops Lelands to a 16 to 5 conquest of the invading Vernon Luckies in the opener of their semi-final series. With ace slab artist Al Simmons unable to pitch because of an injury, Kamloops’ playing-manager Gord Beecroft nominated himself for the starting mound role. With his charges piling up a substantial lead, the left handed skipper pitched into the seventh stanza before handing the horsehide over to Frank Kozak to finish things off. Despite the lopsided score, the visitors had a 12 to 9 edge in base hits. Reg Main, the first of three twirlers sent to the knoll by the Vernonites, was tagged with the setback.
Main (L), Dickson (5), Keckalo (7) and Nuyens, Inglis (6), Dickson (8)
Beecroft (W), Kozak (7) and Begg
(August 14) The homestanding Vernon Luckies upset the favored Kamloops Lelands 2 to 1 to tie the best-of-five OMBL semi-final at a game apiece. Reg Main went the distance for Vernon, striking out 15. The lone run scored by the visitors was unearned. Derek McGillivray pitched the full game for Kamloops.
(August 17) Kelowna defeated hosting Penticton 5 to 2 to take a 2 – 0 lead in their portion of the OMBL semi-finals. “Skip” Ivie hurled a six-hitter, striking out 15, to record the win while Jim Terbasket suffered the loss. The winners scored four times in the ninth inning to salt the game away.
Ivie (W) and Leonard
Terbasket (L) and Day
(August 18) Second baseman Jim Alton collected three hits,including a home run, and had three RBI’s as he sparked the Kamloops Lelands to a 7 to 2 romp over the Vernon Luckies and a 2 – 1 edge in their semi-final set. Returning to his old form after an injury prevented him from pitching earlier in the series, Al Simmons struck out 14 and yielded just five hits in snatching the mound victory. Vernon’s catcher-turned-pitcher Gord Nuyens was tagged with the loss.
Nuyens (L) and Dickson
Simmons (W) and Begg
(August 20) Kelowna collected 18 base knocks and clobbered Penticton 18 to 9 to advance to the OMBL finals with a three-game sweep of the Molsons. “Skip” Ivie, in relief of starter Allan Vetter, recorded hid third playoff win while the loss was pinned on Penticton starter Ed Folk. Herb Moore had a two-run homer for the losers.
Vetter, Ivie (W) (4) and Leonard
Folk (L), Tillberg (5), MacDermott (9) and Day
(August 21) It took 11 innings but the Vernon Luckies snatched a 5 to 4 come-from-behind victory from the Kamloops Lelands to square their playoff series at two games apiece. A clutch single by John Paul in the second bonus round of play sent Dick Latta racing home with the winning tally. The Luckies, who had a decided 11 to 3 advantage in base hit yet trailed from the opening canto on, were forced to come up with two counters in the bottom-of-the-ninth chapter to send the game into overtime. Reg Main copped the complete-game hillock verdict. One of the three hits Main surrendered was a sixth-panel, four-ply goner off the bat of Dave Murphy.
Simmons, Kozak (L) (9) and Begg
Main (W) and Nuyens
(August 25) Third-place Vernon Luckies ended the four-year OMBL reign of the Kamloops Lelands at Riverside Park when they eliminated the pennant winners and defending champions with a 3 to 2 come-from-behind victory in the deciding game of the beat-of-five semi-final series. Dennis Feser’s single to centre field in the top-of-the-ninth inning knocked in two runs for the Vernon victory which will send them into the OMBL finals against Kelowna. Losing pitcher Al Simmons, who had 14 punchouts, had a one-hitter going for him until the ninth when he suddenly became vulnerable, giving up hits to Gord Nuyens and Russ Keckalo before Feser’s decisive blow. Complete-game winner Reg Main yielded six hits and fanned seven batters.
Main (W) and Nuyens
Simmons, Kozak (9) and Kato
FINALS Kelowna vs Vernon (best-of-five series)
(August 28) Kelowna downed Vernon 8 to 2 in the first game of the OMBL finals.
(September 1) Vernon banged out nine base hits and jumped on eight Kelowna errors to defeat the Labatts 10 to 4 and even the OMBL finals at a game apiece. The hosting losers were only able to garner two hits off winning heaver Reg Main, one of which was a three-run homer by Gerry Robertson.
Main (W) and Nuyens
Ivie (L) and Leonard
(September 3-5) Kamloops Labor Day weekend tournament
(September 8) Kelowna defeated Vernon 6 to 2 to take a 2 – 1 lead in the OMBL finals. “Skip” Ivie pitched a masterful game for Kelowna, giving up only three hits and striking out 11. Loser Reg Main gave up just six but experienced control problems and was the victim of poor fielding by his teammates.
Main (L) and Nuyens
Ivie (W) and Leonard
(September 15) Game four of finals scheduled for this date – no result found in print.
(September 18) Reg Main pitched a four-hit shutout while his batterymate, Gord Nuyens, slugged two home runs as the Vernon Luckies blanked Kelowna 4 to 0 to take the 1966 OMBL championship series three-games-to-two.
Ivie (L) and Favell
Main (W) and Nuyens
SLOCAN-ARROW LAKES BASEBALL LEAGUE
A six-team loop, alternately known as the Slocan Valley League and the Kaslo-Slocan-Arrow Lakes League was formed in 1966.
Kaslo
Nakusp
New Denver-Silverton Combines
Slocan City Silver Kings
Slocan Park
Winlaw All-Stars
(June 5) Hosting Nakusp scored a one-sided 22 to 6 decision over the Slocan City Silver Kings in the league opener for both squads. Pitching-challenged Slocan left starter and loser J. Cattanacci on the bump for five tortuous frames as the homesters bombarded him for 17 runs before he was given the hook in favor of infielders Jim Doi and Vic Osis. The winners used three chuckers, Derek McQuair, Reg Bunt and Holland. The trio was nicked for ten Silver King base raps while Nakusp had a dozen safe swats. Shortstop M. Hoshizaki drew four walks and also singled to account for four runs. Rookie Ed Osis had two solid base knocks for the vanquished nine.
(June 5) The New Denver-Silverton Combines started off league play in fine fashion as they blanked the Kaslo diamond troopers 12 to 0. The Combines scored their dozen counters on nine hits while committing one error while Kaslo came through with only two hits and made three miscues. The major difference accounting for the lopsided score was the huge number of bases on balls issued by losing moundsman George Nelson. Two junior-aged southpaws, Johnny Nesbitt and Dougal Greenan, shared the hillock chores for the winners. Nesbitt fanned ten in six frames and Greenan whiffed eight in the final three stanzas. Nelson recorded nine punchouts. Top willow wielders for New Denver-Silverton were Doug Thring with three safeties and Lorne Wright with a pair.
(June 12) Ed Mesenchuk fired a two-hitter and struck out 16 batters as Kaslo blanked invading Winlaw 2 to 0 in an exciting Slocan Valley League contest. Losing pitcher Peter Kabatoff was also firing peas, equaling Mesenchuck’s punchout total. The Kaslo swatters were only able to comb him for four safeties but were able to bunch them with ducks on the pond late in the affair. Pinch-hitter Bill Pomponio had the game’s crucial blow, an eighth-inning single that drove in George Benwell and Mesenchuk, both of whom had nailed one-baggers, with the only runs of the clash. George Nelson had the first Kaslo base knock, a single, earlier in the contest but was left stranded at the hot corner station after swiping second and third. Harry Zarchikoff and Kabatoff collected the two Winlaw hits.
(June 12) The Slocan City Silver Kings dropped their return match with the Nakusp nine 10 to 2. Pitchers Bruce Thornton and Derek McQuair divided the mound duties for the Nakusp aggregation, currently holding down top spot in the six-team circuit, limiting the Silver Kings to just two hits, both by Jim Doi, while striking out 12. Slocan City twirlers whiffed 19 but were the victims of six unearned runs. M. Hoshizaki had a pair of doubles to lead the victors’ seven-hit offense. .
(June 19) A 15-strikeout performance by slab artist Eddie Mesenchuk highlighted Kaslo’s 4 to 2 conquest of New Denver-Silverton. The loss was the first of the campaign for the Combines. Losing tosser Jack Kelly rang up ten punchouts but was plagued by the porous defense of his mates who booted the ball seven times. The vanquished nine had a serious threat cut short by an unassisted double play by Kaslo first baseman Jerry Dell.
(June 19) Behind the seven-hit pitching of Win Storgaard, Slocan Park topped the New Denver-Silverton Combines 8 to 3. Walter Wishlow’s three-run four-bagger in the third spasm was instrumental in a four-run outburst in that inning which sent the victors on their way to their triumph. Bill Markin ripped a two-run circuit-clout for the Combines. The Parkmen got to loser John Nesbitt and reliever Dougal Greenan for 13 base hits. Storgaard whiffed five while the Combines’ duo fanned nine.
(June 26) Playing under anything but ideal weather conditions, the Slocan City Silver Kings ended their losing streak at three games by dumping Kaslo 9 to 6 before a large home crowd. Right hander Vic Osis scattered nine hits and punched out five in his first starting assignment. Fireballing George Nelson of Kaslo and Osis were locked in a 2 – 2 deadlock until the sixth episode when the Kings erupted for a half-dozen counters to put the game on ice. Nelson and his replacement Mike Linn rang up a dozen whiffs. The Kings reeled off three double plays to end potential threats. Kaslo put on a late rally for four ninth-inning tallies which featured doubles by Larry Shuto and Al Swantz but it was a case of too little, too late.
(June 26) Playing on their home turf at Centennial Park, the New Denver-Silverton Combines put another feather in their cap by downing the Winlaw All-Stars 8 to 5. Big Jack Kelly gave up eight safeties and struck out seven in going the distance for the mound win. Losing twirler Alex Pereversoff lasted two innings before southpaw Pete Kabatoff took over on the hill for Winlaw. Gus Stankoven ripped two doubles and a single for the winners. Teammate Jim Hicks also had three safe swats. Jim Olynyk chipped in with a triple and single. For the Stars, John Koochin and Barry Sutherland went two-for-four while Malakoff nailed a two-run triple.
Standings W L Pts.
Nakusp 3 1 6
Kaslo 2 2 4
New Denver-Silverton 2 2 4
Winlaw 2 2 4
Slocan Park 2 2 4
Slocan City 1 3 2
(July 3) Mike Linn, 16-year old hurler, limited the homestanding Nakusp baseballers to five hits in pitching Kaslo to a 5 to 2 victory. It was the second pitching win of the season for the young right hander. B. Thornton suffered the hillock loss, giving way to Derek McQuair in the ninth. Nakusp committed six fielding miscues which helped sink them. With the score tied 2 – 2 entering the final stanza, Kaslo plated three tallies on an error and a double by Linn. The winners accumulated seven hits.
(July 10) In spite of heavy winds and threatening rain, Kaslo outs-lugged Slocan Park 9 to 6 in a Slocan Valley senior tussle. Winning hurler Ed Mesenchuk relieved Mike Linn in the third inning while Slocan Park’s Fred Jmaeff took over for losing twirler Mike Esovoloff also in the third panel. Kaslo’s Mesenchuk and Linn both went yard with dingers while Rocky Stubbington tripled and George Nelson ran wild on the bases as the victors jumped into a second-inning lead which they never relinquished.
(July 10) The New Denver-Silverton Combines walloped Nakusp 15 to 1 in a one-sided Slocan-Arrow Lakes fracas. Johnny Nesbitt went the route on the hill for the winners, giving up five hits and four walks while striking out 15. Twice, with the bases loaded and none out, he retired the next three Nakusp batters in order to prevent a run from scoring. Derek McQuair took the loss, giving way to Lloyd Waterer. The Nakusp tandem were raked for 18 base blows while their mates blew a tire defensively, committing nine errors behind them.
(July 10) The Winlaw All-Stars defeated Slocan Park 11 to 7 in a highly-emotional Slocan-Arrow Lake League scuffle to move a full-game ahead of the Parkmen in the standings. Alex Pereversoff, the Winlaw starting flinger, was the winner although he needed relief help from Pete Kabatoff. The duo fanned eight Silver Kings. Reg Cherenko, the second Slocan City tosser, took the loss after coming to the aid of starter Bob Fitchner. They breezed a dozen Stars between them. With Winlaw leading 9 to 4 in the fourth inning, a fight broke out between two players from each club with all four being ejected from the game.
(July 17) Playing at Silverton’s Memorial Park, the New Denver-Silverton Combines continued their upsurge in the Slocan-Arrow Lakes Baseball League by defeating the Slocan City Silver Kings 8 to 3. The winning pitcher was junior-aged southpaw Dougal Greenan who punched out nine, allowing eight hits. He had some control issues along the way, walking three and hitting an equal number of Slocan City batters. Flem Bjerg started on the bump for the Silver Kings and lasted six innings before giving way to Reg Cherenko. Together, they struck out seven, yielded 13 hits and walked three. Both teams committed four errors. Nobby Hayashi with three base knocks, Billy Markin with a pair and Jack Kelly with a home run were the big batters for the winners. Ron Nash, Cherenko and Al Fitchner each collected a brace of safeties for the Kings.
(July 17) The Winlaw All-Stars moved into a second-place tie with Slocan Park by defeating Kaslo 7 to 4. A two-run tater by Pete Kabatoff highlighted a four-fun fourth inning for Winlaw. Not to be outdone, Kaslo roared back with a four-spot in the fifth canto with Paul Peters blasting a solo dinger. The winners added a pair in the seventh and one in the eighth to round out the scoring. The winning twirler was Kabatoff who rang up ten punchouts. Kaslo started with Mike Linn on the rubber with losing moundsman George Nelson taking over in the fifth. Together they fanned nine Winlaw batters.
(July 24) The red-hot New Denver-Silverton Combines took a one-game lead atop the Slocan-Arrow Lakes circuit over Winlaw and Kaslo by defeating fourth-place Nakusp 11 to 5. Southpaw Johnny Nesbitt took the mound victory after relieving starter Jack Kelly in the fourth. Nakusp’s Lloyd Waterer, coming to the assistance of starter Derek McQuair in the fifth, was tarnished with the hillock defeat. The game was fought tooth and nail until the sixth and seventh panels when the Combines broke through for back-to-back four-spots to put the game on ice. For New Denver-Silverton, Andy Avison, Jim Hicks and Billy Markin each collected a pair of hits with one of Markin’s blows being a triple. Maxwell and Field had two safeties apiece for the vanquished nine while teammate Len Folkman blasted a three-bagger.
(July 24) A Sunday three-team twin-bill saw the hosting Slocan City Silver Kings thump Slocan Park 10 to 4 to begin proceedings only to take it on the chin from invading Winlaw 15 to 9 in the second encounter. Right hander Flem Bjerg, displaying a blazing fastball, fanned eight and limited the Parkmen to seven safeties in the opener while his teammates were thumping the offerings of three Slocan Park slabsters for eleven base blows. Fred Jmaeff, who started on the bump and returned late in the contest after stints by Mike Zsovoloff and Win Storgaard, was nailed with the loss. Vic Osis and Dennis Ferrey had two-baggers for the victors while Slocan Park’s Jeffry Planiden reciprocated with a double.
Winlaw was the beneficiary of seven bases on balls to go along with 14 base raps in the late affair. Pete Kabatoff, coming to the aid of starter Alex Pereversoff and follow-up chucker Harry Zarchikoff, halted any Silver King threats. Slocan City starter, Pat McMahon, was derricked for Vic Osis late in the contest. Despite matching Winlaw’s 14-hit field day at the dish in this clash, the homesters weren’t as efficient in driving in runs, leaving eleven base-runners stranded. The only extra-base blows in the plethora of swats were a triple by Flem Bjerg and a two-bagger off the bat of Vic Osis. Over the course of the double-dip, Kings’ third baseman Bruce Ferguson accumulated four singles to go along with three walks while teammate Jim Doi ripped five one-baggers.
(July 31) The Nakusp senior baseballers knocked Winlaw out of contention for the runner-up spot in the Slocan-Arrow Lakes loop by trouncing the visitors 8 to 4. The game was tied until the fifth inning when Nakusp scored four runs to forge ahead for good. Bruce Thornton, who relieved starting tosser Lloyd Waterer in the third inning, was credited with the win while Winlaw starter Harry Zarchikoff was tagged with the defeat. Catcher Len Folkman creamed the orb for four safeties, including a double, to lead Nakusp at the platter.
(July 31) Kaslo avenged a previous loss to the Slocan City Silver Kings by shellacking the Kings 9 to 0 in Slocan-Arrow Lakes action. Eddie Mesenchuk allowed three hits and struck out 14 in breezing to the complete-game win. Jim Doi assumed mound duties for the Kings to begin things but was given the hook for Flem Bjerg in the fifth. Kaslo batters picked up eight base knocks off the pair. George Benwell rapped a bases-loaded double to drive in three runs and added two singles while Mesenchuk delivered a triad of one-baggers.
(July 31) The sizzling New Denver-Silverton Combines travelled to Slocan Park with only nine players but managed to clobber the home team by a score of 16 to 5. Southpaw Johnny Nesbitt toiled on the hill for the full nine cantos in recording the triumph. He was nicked for nine scattered safeties while striking out eight and walking six. Of the five runs Slocan Park garnered off his slants, only two were earned. The hosts played sloppily afield, committing eight miscues to four for the Combines. Losing tosser Mike Esovoloff lasted 3-1/3 innings on the bump before heading to the showers as Win Storgaard took over. Esovoloff gave up eight counters on four hits while Storgaard was raked for eight runs on eight safeties. Nobby Hayashi and Andy Avison were the big guns with the lumber for the victors, coming through with three and two hits respectively. For the Parkmen, Padowinikoff, Savinkoff and Markoff each picked up a brace of safe swats.
(August 7) The powerful Kaslo team of diamond troopers captured second place in the Slocan-Arrow Lakes Baseball League’s final standings by laying a resounding 17 to 4 beating on Nakusp. Mike Linn went all the way on the hill for the winners, yielding nine hits while fanning six. Losing flinger Derek McQuair was clipped for 13 base raps and saw his mates commit seven bobbles behind him. The most significant blow from the vanquished nine was an eighth-inning, three-run round-tripper by Len Folkman.
(August 7) The New Denver-Silverton Combines annexed the 1966 regular-season pennant by trouncing the Winlaw All-Stars 12 to 2 in the final league affair for both nines. Southpaw Johnny Nesbitt spun an eight-hitter with four punchouts in grabbing the slab verdict. Losing moundsman J. Malakoff started on the bump for the Stars and lasted three frames before Johnny Koochin took over for the next five. Alex Pereversoff hurled the final spasm. Together, they were raked for a dozen base blows by the Combines. Nobby Hayashi was the top dog with the stick for the pennant-winners, clubbing a pair of triples while Dave Groenhousen drilled two doubles. Andy Avison followed with a double and single, good for a brace of RBI’s. Coming in with two one-baggers were Dougal Greenan of the victors as well as P. Osachoff and Pete Kabatoff of the Winlaw squad..
Final Standings W L Pts.
New Denver-Silverton 8 2 16
Kaslo 7 3 14
Winlaw 5 5 10
Nakusp 5 5 10
Slocan Park 3 7 6
Slocan City 2 8 4
PLAYOFFS
Semi-Finals (best-of-three series)
Nakusp vs Kaslo and Winlaw vs New Denver
(August 14) Fourth-place Nakusp upset runner-up Kaslo 5 to 3 in a closely-fought battle that got their semi-final playoff series underway. The Nakusp win came off eight big hits while Kaslo managed only two safeties off winning pitcher Bruce Thornton. Ed Mesenchuk went the full distance for the vanquished nine, whiffing seven and walking five while Thornton also punched out seven while walking six. Kaslo opened the scoring with a single run in their first crack at bat and the score see-sawed back and forth starting in the second panel and continuing into the third canto when Nakusp put up a deuce on run-producing hits by Alan Hoshizaki and Thornton to move in front 3 to 2. Kaslo tied things up in the fourth episode but failed to make the scoreboard again as the Kuskanax Valley nine went ahead to stay with a pair in the sixth.
(August 14) The New Denver-Silverton Combines and Winlaw All-Stars split the first two games in their semi-final playoff showdown. The Combines rallied to defeat the Stars 8 to 7 in the second game of their doubleheader after Winlaw had upset the pennant-winners 8 to 0 in the matinée affair. Pete Kabatoff made it a one-man show in the opening clash as he faced only 30 Combine batters in the nine-inning match, shutting out New Denver-Silverton on four scattered hits. Displaying superb command, Kabatoff whiffed five and didn’t issue a walk. Within the batter’s box, Kabatoff also excelled, collecting three safeties in four trips to the plate. Johnny Nesbitt suffered he loss, giving way to Dougal Greenan in the sixth. The brace of Combine tossers were nicked for seven Winlaw safe swats.
Kabatoff attempted to make it a clean sweep in the finale but tired and lasted only 3-2/3 innings, allowing five runs on six hits, after his mates had staked him to a 7 to 0 second-inning lead. Johnny Koochin relieved him and gave up only one more run until the eighth when he ran into trouble, as Kabatoff was recalled to the bump to finish things. Two hits and two runs later, his effort fell one-run short. Dougal Greenan toiled for 7-2/3 innings on the hill for the Combines, allowing all seven Winlaw tallies, in picking up the win. Johnny Nesbitt finished the tilt, slamming the door on the invaders and was credited with the save. Dave Groenhousen and Jim Hicks paced the New Denver-Silverton baton swingers, each lighting up the Winlaw duo of slabmen for a trio of hits while Alex Pereversoff and Harry Zarchikoff of the Stars ripped two safeties apiece.
(August 21) The Winlaw All-Stars upset the heavily-favored New Denver-Silverton Combines 13 to 10 to wrap up their semi-final series and move on to the league finals. Pete Kabatoff, working in relief of starter Alex Pereversoff, got credit for the mound decision for the Stars while Combines’ starting flinger Johnny Nesbitt was nailed with the loss. Nesbitt was given the hook in the second panel only to return to the bump in the eighth following mound stints by Dougal Greenan and Mike Kelly in the high-scoring affair. A six-run second frame put the Winlaw nine on the winning track.
(August 21) Kaslo came from one game behind to sweep a semi-final playoff doubleheader and earn a berth in the finals of the Slocan-Arrow Lakes Baseball League. They whipped the short-handed Nakusp crew 10 to 5 and 9 to 8 on their home turf to move on to a showdown against Winlaw for league playoff supremacy. Youthful Mike Linn was credited with both pitching wins, each at the expense of another junior-aged twirler, Nakusp’s Dougal Greenan.
The two squads played on even terms in the opener until the fourth inning when Kaslo moved ahead 3 to 1 on base hits by George Benwell, Al Swantz and Norm Command. The winners, assisted by a pair of crucial Nakusp errors, added four more in the sixth on two-baggers by Benwell and Jerry Dell. The visitors put on a late rally in the eighth when they put up a trey on a series of walks and a double by Fred Desrochers but it wasn’t sufficient to overcome the large deficit.
The rubber match of the series was a much closer affair than game two as the two combatants traded leads throughout the early and mid-innings. Heading into the seventh episode, Nakusp had a single-run edge which disappeared when the Kaslo aggregation broke loose for a five-spot on three hits, two errors and a wild pitch. Nakusp responded with three tallies in the eighth but the homesters held off their attempt to knot the count and quickly retired the side in the ninth to take the series.
Finals (best-of-three series) Winlaw vs Kaslo
(September 4) Eddie Mesenchuk struck out 16 and smashed a solo home run in the bottom-of-the-tenth inning as hosting Kaslo blanked the Winlaw All-Stars 1 to 0 in a bitterly-fought opening game of the Slocan-Arrow Lake League finals. The overtime game was marred by several controversies which resulted in an unsuccessful Winlaw protest. The Stars got to Mesenchuk for six hits while losing twirler Pete Kabatoff was nicked for five. Three spectacular catches by Kaslo’s Mike Linn in the left garden cost potential runs for Winlaw.
(September 11) Kaslo topped the Winlaw All-Stars 2 to 1 to capture the 1966 Slocan-Arrow Lakes Baseball championship. Ed Mesenchuk and Al Swantz led Kaslo to the title, smashing out five of their seven hits while Mesenchuk was punching out nine while allowing four Winlaw safeties in taking the mound verdict. Swantz’ total of safe swats included a triple, double and single. In addition, he plated the winning run in the third inning. Pete Kabatoff struck out nine and gave up seven hits in taking the hillock defeat. The beginnings of a Winlaw rally in the bottom-of-the-ninth frame, when they had two runners aboard with no one out, were snuffed out when Mesenchuck fanned the next batter and forced the next two to ground out to end the game and the series.
KOOTENAY SENIOR BASEBALL LEAGUE
With American participation no longer a factor, the Can-Am International League that endured for three seasons evolved into a Kootenays-only circuit in 1966 which was appropriately tagged as the Kootenay Senior Baseball League.
Cranbrook Canucks
Nelson Braves
Rossland Capilanos
Trail Smoke Eaters
(May 25) The invading Nelson Braves scored four runs in the ninth inning to upend the Trail Smoke Eaters 12 to 10 in the 1966 Kootenay Senior Baseball League opener at Butler Park. Roy Christensen, Larry Kissock and Tom Bird belted home runs for the Smokies in a losing cause.
(May 26) Capilano slab artist Barry McGillivray had a stellar start to the 1966 season as he rang up 14 punchouts in pitching Rossland to a narrow 2 to 1 victory over the visiting Trail Smoke Eaters. McGillivray was touched for just four hits, including a double by Keith Healey, but found himself in a couple of jams when he was having difficulty finding the strike zone. With help from a tight defense, he was able to escape any serious peril. The lone run scored against him was an unearned tally. Trail twirler Gary Duthie hurled a fine game in defeat, yielding only five safeties, one of which was a bases-empty dinger to Caps’ second sacker Billy Martin. A sharp single by Ed Legare in the bottom-of-the-sixth spasm broke a 1 – 1 stalemate, sending teammate Denny Larson across the platter with what turned out to be the deciding counter. Trail catcher Larry Kissock went four-for-five at the dish while Martin and Smokies’ keystone sacker “Butch” Simpson both had a pair of safeties in this well-played opener.
Duthie (L) and Kissock
McGillivray (W) and Major
(May 28) The Trail Smoke Eaters, winless in their first two starts of the young season, came to life at Butler Park and whipped the Cranbrook Canucks 16 to 1. Larry McKay scattered seven hits, walked just one and rang up ten punchouts in earning the complete-game mound victory. Tom Bird picked up three safeties for the winners while teammate Lou DeRosa smashed a brace of two-baggers. Bob Salanski was saddled with the loss. Don McDougall had two hits for the Canucks.
(May 29) Cranbrook vs Nelson DH
(May 31) Infielder Bill Martin slugged a homer in the final inning, his second tater in two games, to help the Rossland Capilanos salvage a 2 – 2 tie with the hosting Nelson Braves. Capilano twirler Denny Larson and Miles Desharnais of the Braves locked horns in a tight pitching battle that resulted in just seven hits, four of those by the Caps. The two heavers combined for 11 strikeouts and five walks.
(June 5) Behind the masterful pitching of Barry McGillivray and Al Hebert, the Rossland Capilanos kept their win streak in tact by beating the Cranbrook Canucks 4 to 0 and 5 to 4 in doubleheader action at the East Kootenay city. The homesters were only able to get to McGillivray for three scattered singles in the opener. The Rossland portsider struck out 11 and walked four in posting the shutout win. Catcher John Major drove in the first two tallies for the victors with a sixth-inning two-bagger. RBI-doubles in the seventh stanza by Ed Legare and Don Holmes off losing pitcher Jack Mitchell completed the scoring.
McGillivray (W) and Major
Mitchell (L) and Cloutier
The twilight tilt needed 11 innings to complete. The foes were locked in a 4 – 4 deadlock from the fifth frame on until the top-of-the-second round of overtime. With two away, Major drew a walk and advanced to third base on a double by Rocky Cull. Winning heaver Hebert then strode to the dish and drove in both runners with a screaming single to put the Caps in front 6 to 4. In the bottom-half of the panel, the hosts scored once and Hebert was pulled after 10-1/3 innings of splendid mound work as McGillivray was called in to stop any bleeding and procure the triumph. Rossland’s Billy Martin slammed a two-run dinger in the fourth frame, his third tater in four games.
Hebert (W), McGillivray (11) and Robertson, Major (4)
Demers, Neil (L) (4) and Cloutier
(June 7) A long four-bagger off the bat of Don McLeod in the sixth spasm allowed the visiting Trail Smoke Eaters to garner a 3 – 3 tie with the undefeated Nelson Braves. The blast came following a fifth-frame inside-the-park circuit-jack by Mike Laughton which had put the Lakesiders in front 3 – 2. Trail heaver Morey Johnston was nicked for seven safeties wile Miles Desharnais of the Braves held the Smokies to five hits. Desharnais aided his own cause by stroking two hits. The game was terminated after seven innings because of darkness.
(June 8) Right-hander Gary Duthie fanned eight and tossed a four-hit shutout as the Trail Smoke Eaters handed the Nelson Braves their initial setback of the campaign, a 2 to 0 blanking at Butler Park. Loser Dave Nichol/Nicol was tagged for five hits while whiffing ten. Catcher Larry Kissock, who had two hits, singled home Roy Christensen with Trail’s first tally in the second inning. Howie Brost laid down a bunt along the first-base line to plate Kissock, who had doubled and swiped third, with an insurance run in the seventh stanza.
(June 9) The Nelson Braves snapped Rossland’s five-game win streak with a 9 to 3 win over the Capilanos in a brief five-inning encounter at Jubilee Park. Nelson’s newest import, Larry McLenney, gave up four hits in taking the mound verdict over the Caps’ Barry McGillivray. It was the first loss for the Golden City portsider who was plagued with control issues, walking ten batters in 4-1/3 innings. Ken Stacy and Mel Dorey both had a brace of bingles for the winners while Rossland’s Ed Legare also checked in with a pair of safeties.
McLenney (W) and xxx
McGillivray (L), Hebert (5) and xxx
(June 12) Hosting Cranbrook and the Trail Smoke Eaters split the proceeds of a Kootenay Senior League twin bill with the Canucks grabbing the opener 9 to 2 while the Smokies rebounded for a 8 to 3 triumph in the nightcap. Jack Mitchell who earned the matinée pitching win for Cranbrook, their first win in six starts, was also the top dog at the dish for the east Kootenay nine, banging out three base blows including two triples. Larry McKay, bounced from the bump in the third, was nailed with the loss. The winners collected eight hits while Mitchell limited the Smokies to three safeties, including a two-run homer by Tom Bird.
After a shaky start, Trail’s Gary Duthie held the Canucks in check during the late encounter. Cranbrook starter Hoyt Demers, derricked from the hill in the fifth frame, was saddled with the defeat. Howie Brost and Roy Christensen both belted a home run and single for the visitors while Bird contributed a triple and double. Howie Gilbert and Brian Cloutier each had a double and one-bagger for the Canucks.
(June 15) The invading Rossland Capilanos came from behind to post a 9 to 5 Butler Park win over the Trail Smoke Eaters. The win for the Caps moved them into top spot in the Kootenay Senior circuit, slightly ahead of the Nelson Braves. The Smokies led for most of the game but a bevy of fielding miscues, mostly in the later innings, killed their chances of pulling out a win.
Larson, Dubasov (1), McGillivray (W) (4) and Major
Johnston, Drysdale (L) (6) and Kissock
(June 16) The Trail Smoke Eaters’ heavy artillery, dormant for most of the season, erupted violently at Jubilee Park as they laid a 15 to 5 thumping on the hometown Rossland Capilanos. Keith Healy led the 13-hit offensive attack of the Smelter Towners, smashing a pair of four-ply clouts to drive in six runs. Roy Christensen also went yard with a four-bagger and added a single as well. Second-inning reliever Gary Duthie picked up the pitching win while Bryan Dubasov was nicked with the defeat. The Caps registered six hits which included round-trippers by Bill Martin and Ed Legare.
Fisher, Duthie (W) (2) and Bird
McMahon, Dubasov (L) (2), Hebert (3), Bourchier (6) and Major
(June 19) The Cranbrook Canucks, who have been patsies for their opposition during the early part of the season, turned tiger on their home turf in copping twin triumphs from the Rossland Capilanos by scores of 4 to 0 and 5 to 1. In the matinée joust, Gary Barnes pitched brilliantly for the Canucks, setting the Caps down on four hits, all singles, and had great support defensively. Barry McGillivray, who gave up eight hits, was tagged with the loss.
Hal Demers, with a five-hitter, outpointed Al Hebert for the mound verdict in the nightcap. John Major homered for Rossland’s only run.
(June 21) The hometown Nelson Braves had things all their way in running roughshod over the Trail Smoke Eaters to the tune of 14 to 4. Miles Desharnais hurled the Tribe to the win and a takeover of first-place in the four-team circuit. Newcomer Vince Jarvis was tagged with the defeat. The Lakesiders put the game out of reach in the third inning when Brian Dorey dialed long distance with a grand-slam tater. Mike Laughton of the winning nine and Trail’s Don McLeod each racked up three hits for their respective clubs.
(June 22) On the basis of their 10 to 8 conquest of the front-running Nelson Braves at Butler Park, the Trail Smoke Eaters moved into a second-place tie with the Rossland Capilanos in the Kootenay Senior League standings. Gary Duthie, who went all the way on the knoll for Trail, was the winning pitcher while Nelson’s starting heaver, Larry McLenney, was tagged with the setback. Roy Christensen slugged a two-run dinger for the Smokies.
STANDINGS W L T Pct.
Nelson 4 1 2 .800
Rossland 5 4 2 .556
Trail 4 5 0 .444
Cranbrook 3 6 0 .333
(June 23) Behind the two-hit pitching of portsider Barry McGillivray, the Rossland Capilanos turned back the invading Nelson Braves 6 to 1 at Jubilee Park to move into undisputed possession of first place in the Kootenay Senior League. McGillivray struck out 11 batters but gave up eight walks before finally losing his shutout bid in the sixth inning. The Caps turned on the heat in the initial canto by racking up a three-spot and then put the game in the freezer with a deuce in the third. Ed Legare had a triple and single for the victors.
Tucker (L), Hufty (3) and M. Dorey
McGillivray (W) and Major
(June 25) The understaffed Cranbrook Canucks managed to silence the bats of the hosting Trail Smoke Eaters with ducks on the pond and came away with a 4 to 2 victory over the third-place Smokies. Time and time again, the Smelter City nine left runners on the bases. The east Kootenay invaders had only two hits off loser Morey Johnston but were far superior in parlaying their opportunities into runs. Winning chucker Jack Mitchell allowed eight hits and went all the way. Trail’s “Butch” Simpson picked up three hits while clubmate Tom Bird delivered a two-bagger and single.
(June 26) Travelling Cranbrook completed their three-game weekend road trip by paying a visit to Jubilee Park in Rossland for a twin-bill with the homestanding Capilanos but came away empty-handed after absorbing a pair of setbacks.
The Canucks extended the hosting Mountainmen all the way in the lid-lifter before falling 2 to 1 on an unearned tally. Rossland’s Al Hebert held the east Kootenay nine to eight scattered hits in picking up his third win of the campaign. Hard-luck losing twirler Loveless yielded just two Capilano safeties. A dropped fly ball on a long drive by Al Holm in the eighth episode allowed the Caps’ John Major to touch home plate with the winning run. Loveless and shortstop Norm Harding each had two hits in a losing cause.
Loveless (L) and Cloutier
Hebert (W) and Major
In the windup clash, the Canucks were crushed 16 to 4 by the Caps who lit up a quintet of Cranbrook twirlers for 14 base raps. Denny Larson, going the distance on the knoll for the Golden City nine, allowed seven hits and whiffed six in collecting an easy win. Bob Profili delivered four safe swats for the winners while Terry Minnis checked in with three.
Harder (L), Harding (2), Loveless (3), Mitchell (5), Mountain (5) and Cloutier
Larson (W) and Major
(June 28) Denny Larson was at his best as the Rossland Capilanos visited Nelson and came away with a 4 to 1 conquest of the Braves. The Golden City southpaw stifled the Lakesiders on one hit, a first-inning single by Mike Laughton, while his mates were getting to import Larry McLenney for seven safeties. Don Holmes drove in the first two runs for the winners with a fifth-inning single. Rossland’s Bryan Dubasov, with a triple and single, was the only batter in the game to achieve plural hit totals.
Larson (W) and Major
McLenney (L) and M. Dorey
(June 29) A bases-loaded base-on-balls by reliever Barry McGillivray forced in the winning run in a 9 to 8 conquest of the visiting Rossland Capilanos by the Trail Smoke Eaters. The Caps had an 8 to 2 lead after batting in the fourth frame but saw their margin whittled away as the game progressed. Winning slabster John Drysdale, who ascended the hillock in the fourth frame as a reliever, smashed a fifth-inning solo four-bagger.
Hebert, McMahon (L) (4), McGillivray (9) and Major
McKay, Drysdale (W) (4) and Kissock
(July 2-4) Nelson $1600 baseball tournament
(July 6) The invading Nelson Braves jumped on Trail starting pitcher Gary Duthie for four hits and three runs in the top-of-the-first inning and hung on for a 3 to 2 victory to move past the Smoke Eaters into second-spot in the Kootenay Senior Baseball League. RBI-hits by Paul Joyce and Les Bergman accounted for the damage done by the Lakesiders during their uprising. Relievers Terry McGruder and Bob Ashcroft, newly-arrived imports, were impressive in blanking the Braves after succeeding Duthie on the hill. Dave Nicol picked up the slab victory for the Braves in a complete-game effort. Don McLeod blasted a solo homer for the Smokies first tally in the second stanza. Teammate Roy Christensen drove in Keith Healey with a sixth-inning single to account for their second marker. Christensen had a brace of safeties in a losing cause.
(July 12) The hosting Nelson Braves had only four hits but made the most from their bingles as they went on to dump the Rossland Capilanos 9 to 1 and, in the process, run their win streak to five. Walks were the undoing of the Caps. Losing tosser Dennis Larson had major control issues and walked six Nelson batters in succession.
Larson (L), Hebert (3) and Major
Nicol (W) and M. Dorey
(July 14) Outhit by a significant 15 to 8 margin, the Trail Smoke Eaters still managed to come away with a 14 to 10 triumph when they visited Jubilee Park for a meeting with the Rossland Capilanos. The Smokies benefited from the wildness of Caps’ starter Barry McGillivray, who walked 11, and the inept defensive play of their hosts, who committed seven fielding miscues, in picking up the triumph. The game zig-zagged into a 6 – 6 tie after five frames but, in the sixth stanza, the Silver City boys erupted for a huge eight-spot to wrap things up. Top swatsmith in the contest was Rossland’s Al Holm who went five-for-five at the dish. Pete Bourchier cracked out two doubles and a triple while Terry Minnis lit up complete-game winner Gary Duthie for a round-tripper.
Duthie (W) and Bird
McGillivray, Hebert (L) (4), McMahon (6) and Major
(July 19) Right handed slabster Miles Desharnais continued his mastery over the Trail Smoke Eaters as he spun a two-hitter in leading the Nelson Braves to a 14 to 1 trouncing of the visiting Smokies. The Smelter Towners enjoyed a brief 1 – 0 lead when outfielder Keith Healey went yard against Desharnais with a solo dinger in the top-of-the opening canto. After that, however, it was all Nelson. The Lakesiders responded in their half of the round by jumping all over losing chucker Gary Duthie for a seven-spot, highlighted by Brian Dorey’s three-run circuit-jack, and stretched their lead to 11 – 1 with four more counters in the second stanza.
Duthie (L), Johnston (2) and Bird
Desharnais (W) and xxx
(July 24) Nelson vs Cranbrook DH
(July 27) The Rossland Capilanos shaded the hosting Trail Smoke Eaters 2 to 1 in a tense, 11-inning Kootenay Senior League fixture at Butler Park to take a stranglehold on top spot in the league standings. Al Hebert went the full eleven innings on the knoll for the Caps, giving up five hits while walking four and fanning six. Ninth-inning reliever, Gary Duthie, suffered the loss. The Smokies, with Larry McKay on the hill, led 1 – 0 from the first inning on until the visitors tied the game in the top-of-the-ninth when Terry Minnis delivered a clutch one-bagger to plate Bob Profili. Rossland’s “Rocky” Cull took one for the team in the eleventh when, with the bases loaded, he received credit for the winning RBI after being plunked by a pitch from Duthie which forced Al Holm across the pan with the winner.
Hebert (W) and Holmes
McKay, Duthie (L) (9) and Bird
(July 30) Gary Duthie and Don McLeod combined to lead the third-place Trail Smoke Eaters to a 5 to 2 triumph over the travelling Cranbrook Canucks at Butler Park. Winning slabster Duthie performed well on the knoll for the victors, holding the east Kootenay invaders to just two hits while striking out nine and walking three. McLeod, the other half of Trail’s winning combination, sent the Smokies on the way to victory with a three-run circuit-clout in the opening panel off losing chucker Bob Shanski. Also playing prominent roles in the eight-hit attack by the winners were catcher Tom Bird with three singles and flychaser Keith Healey who stroked a couple of one-baggers.
(July 31) The Nelson Braves, hot on the trail of the Rossland Capilanos for the lead in the Kootenay Senior Baseball League, had to be satisfied with a split when they met the visiting Cranbrook Canucks in a Kootenay Senior League doubleheader. The Tribe walked all over the Canucks in the opening game by a 9 to 2 count but the Lakesiders saw a good lead go out the window in the second contest and came out as 8 to 7 losers.
The Braves ran across seven runs in the fifth frame of the lid-lifter to put the game out of reach. Miles Desharnais held the Canucks to four hits in copping the hillock decision over Cranbrook’s Ken Pollon. Mel Dorey was credited with an inside-the-park home run for the winners while Bob Lantz dialed long distance with a tater for Cranbrook.
The homesters blew a 7 to 4 lead in the seventh stanza of the nightcap, as the east Kootenay squad got to fourth-inning reliever Desharnais for three markers on an RBI-triple by Lantz and a two-run single off the bat of Larry Bedard which tied the score at 7 – 7. Then, in the eighth episode, Dennis Daniels raced home from third base with the deciding tally when the Nelson infield elected to go for an inning-ending twin-killing which didn’t pan out. Mel Dorey picked up his second round-tripper of the day for the Nelsonites in a losing cause.
(August 2) Dave Nicol struck out 14, walked three, hit one batter and gave up just four hits during a darkness-shortened six-inning tilt but it wasn’t enough as his Nelson teammates made a ton of fielding miscues and fell 7 to 5 to the visiting Trail Smoke Eaters. All seven of the tallies garnered by the Smokies were unearned. In picking up the mound win, Trail’s Larry McKay yielded six hits, including a bases-empty round-tripper to Paul Joyce, walked four and fanned five.
McKay (W) and Bird
Nicol (L) and M. Dorey
STANDINGS W L T Pct.
Rossland 13 6 1 .684
Nelson 11 7 2 .611
Trail 10 11 1 .476
Cranbrook 6 16 0 .273
PLAYOFFS
SEMI-FINALS Cranbrook vs Nelson & Trail vs Rossland (best-of-three series)
(August 11) No winner emerged in the opening tilt of the Kootenay Senior league semi-finals as Trail and Rossland fought to a 4 - 4 tie. Relief pitchers Larry McKay and Barry McGillivray, who both entered the game in the third session, hurled most of the Jubilee Park contest which was called after nine innings because of darkness. The Smoke Eaters, who held a 10 to 9 advantage in base hits, did all their scoring in the third round while the Caps plated a trey in the third and a singleton in the fourth. “Butch” Simpson and Tom Bird had three hits apiece for the Smelter Towners while teammate Keith Healey picked up a pair. “Rocky” Cull and Pete Bourchier both stroked two base raps for the Caps with Cull’s blows delivering two RBI’s.
Duthie, McKay (3) and Bird
Hebert, McGillivray (3) and DeBruyn
(August 17) The Trail Smoke Eaters blanked the Rossland Capilanos 6 to 0 to take a one-game lead in their semi-final series. The Smokies took advantage of four Capilano errors to score five unearned runs and salt the game away. Three Silver City chuckers combined to shutout the visitors with starter Gary Duthie getting credit for the hillock victory. The trio surrendered just two base raps, both to Pete Bourchier, while recording a dozen strikeouts. Losing slabster Pat McMahon fanned eight and was nicked for just four safeties before exiting in the eighth episode.
McMahon (L), Hebert (8) and xxx
Duthie (W), McGruder (5), Ashcroft (7) and xxx
(August 18) The Rossland Capilanos exploded for seven runs in the sixth inning to break a 5 – 5 deadlock en route to a 22 to 7 scalping of the Trail Smoke Eaters at Jubilee Park. In tying the semi-final series at a game each, the Caps poled out 17 base blows with big Don Holmes accounting for six of the safeties, a triple, a double and four singles. Rossland’s Al Hebert went all the way on the mound, giving up seven hits including circuit-blows to Don McLeod and Morey Johnston. Hebert helped his own cause with a three-run tater while clubmate Al Holm also connected for a dinger with two aboard.
McKay (L), Duthie (5), Johnston (7), McLeod (8) and Bird
Hebert (W) and DeBruyn
(August 21) A four-run uprising in the ninth inning by the Rossland Capilanos snapped a 1 – 1 tie, giving the Mountainmen a 5 to 1 decision over the hometown Trail Smoke Eaters and a ticket into the Kootenay Senior League finals. The Smokies outhit the Caps 9 – 8 but the Rossland base raps were timely. A three-run double by Don Holmes was the impactful blow that broke the back of the Smeltermen. Trail’s Roy Christensen had three safeties off the slants of winning tosser Barry McGillivray.
McGillivray (W) and DeBruyn
Duthie (L) and Bird
FINALS Nelson vs Rossland (best-of-five series)
(September 7) Rossland and Nelson both came away with a win and a loss as the Kootenay Senior Baseball League finals got underway with a twin-bill at Butler Park in Trail. In the first game, the Capilanos were victorious 5 to 2 while the Braves prevailed 3 to 2 in the follow-up encounter. The opening joust featured a fight between Rossland’s Don Holmes and Al Roemer of the Braves. Both were ejected from the game. Al Holm of the Caps blasted the lone home run of the doubleheader, a massive launch in the second contest.
(September 10) Billy Martin hit two home runs and Ed Legare collected five RBI’s as the Rossland Capilanos blasted the Nelson Braves 13 to 7 in the Lakeside City to grab a two-games-to-one lead in the Kootenay Senior Baseball League finals. Winning heaver Al DeCecco relieved starter Pat McMahon in the opening canto after the Lakesiders had erupted for four markers. The Caps knotted the count by lighting up Nelson starter Gerry Tucker for a four-spot in the third round and then jumped on reliever Les Hufty for four more in the fifth to take the lead for good.
(September 18) The Rossland Capilanos came through with a decisive 9 to 1 victory over the Nelson Braves at Jubilee Park to capture the 1966 Kootenay Senior Baseball League championship in four games. The Caps registered ten hits off a trio of Nelson twirlers. Outfielder Pete Bourchier was the big man at the plate for the winners, driving in four runs with a pair of homers. Teammate Don Holmes followed with three safeties including a bases-empty four-bagger. Al Hebert went the distance on the bump for the Golden City baseballers, tossing a two-hitter. One of the base knocks he surrendered was a solo home run to Art Field.
Tucker (L), Cherenko (4), Hufty (8) and xxx
Hebert (W) and xxx
WEST KOOTENAY JUNIOR BASEBALL LEAGUE
The 1966 circuit expanded to eight teams with the addition of Castlegar and a team from the border town of Northport WA.
Castlegar Cubs
Fruitvale Athletics
Grand Forks
Nelson Texans
Northport WA Colts
Rossland Capilanos
Trail Conacher News
Trail Smoke Eaters
FINAL STANDINGS W L T Pct. GBL
Trail Conacher News 10 3 1 .769 ----
Nelson Texans 9 5 0 .643 1.5
Grand Forks 8 6 0 .571 2.5
Trail Smoke Eaters 7 6 1 .538 3.0
Fruitvale Athletics 7 6 0 .538 3.0
Rossland Capilanos 6 8 0 .429 4.5
Northport Colts 5 8 0 .385 5.0
Castlegar Cubs 2 12 0 .143 8.5
PLAYOFFS
QUARTER-FINALS (best-of-three series)
(August 5) Pennant winning Conacher News of Trail shaded the Castlegar Cubs 5 to 4 in the opener of their playoff series. Mike Ward, who sported a 5 – 0 won-loss record during the regular season, earned the pitching victory while Gene Stutek was tagged with the loss. Castlegar led in hits 5 to 4 while the reverse was true in runs scored with the Connies coming out on top 5 to 4
(August 6) Homestanding Grand Forks annexed the opening game of their quarter-final WKJBL series with a convincing 12 to 3 win over the Rossland Junior Capilanos. John Relkov, touched for four hits including a homer by Jim Bielli, went the distance for the pitching win.
McLellan (L), Seal (3) and Cederholm
Relkov (W) and Fofonoff
(August 6) Fruitvale nosed out the Trail Junior Smoke Eaters 4 to 3 to take a one-game lead in their quarter-final series. Al Dorey, with seventh-spasm relief help from Al Doherty, earned the knoll triumph for the Athletics. The Beaver Valley duo surrendered just two hits to the hosting Smokies. Larry Brandt was tagged with the setback. Ernie Brown, Les McInnis, Don John and Doherty each stroked a brace of safeties for the winners.
(August 6) The runner-up Nelson Texans dropped the Northport Colts 6 to 1 as their quarter-final series got underway.
(August 7) Catcher Neil Sanders banged out five hits as the Trail Conacher News aggregation ousted hosting Castlegar from the playoffs with a 22 to 1 rout of the Cubs. Chris Buccini fired a strong two-hitter for the Silver City nine, whiffing a dozen along the way, to rack up the easy win. Dave Limacher accumulated six RBIs for the winners.
C. Buccini (W) and Sanders
Fullerton (L), D. Cherenoff (3), Chernikoff (5), Kinakin ()7), Pelligrin (8) and Little, Cherenoff #2 (3)
(August 7) A bases-loaded single by Terry Minnis drove in the tying and winning counters as the Rossland Junior Capilanos fought back to edge the visiting Grand Forks nine 10 to 9 to square their quarter-final series at a game apiece. Farrell McLellan blasted a three-run homer for the Caps.
J. Semenoff (L) and Chahley
Dawson (W) and Cederholm
(August 8) “Bud” Raisio fashioned a fine five-hitter to lead the Northport Colts past the Nelson Texans 2 to 1, squaring their playoff series at a game apiece.
(August 8) The Fruitvale Athletics bounced the Trail Junior Smoke Eaters from the playoff picture.
(August 11) Grand Forks eliminated the Rossland Junior Capilanos from the WKJBL playoffs, taking the third and deciding game of their quarter-final series 7 to 5. John Relkov tossed a five-hitter and rang up ten punchouts in registering the complete-game knoll triumph.
McLellan (L), Dawson (3) and Cederholm
Relkov (W) and Chahley
SEMI-FINALS Fruitvale vs Trail Conacher News & Grand Forks vs Nelson (best-of-three series)
(August 14) “Jazz” Rosa outduelled Al Doherty as the Trail Conacher News Juniors jumped out to a one-game lead in the WKJBL semi-finals with a narrow 2 to 1 conquest of the Fruitvale Athletics. Rosa surrendered four hits, walked an equal number and rang up eight punchouts while Doherty was nicked for five safeties, issued four free passes and breezed nine Newsmen. Harvey Jones of the victors and Doherty of the A’s led their respective clubs with two base raps each.
(August 14) Grand Forks pulverized Nelson 12 to 0 in the first match of their WKJBL semi-final series.
(August 15) The Fruitvale Athletics squared their semi-final series with the Trail Conacher News contingent by blanking the Connies 1 o 0 in a classic pitcher’s duel. Winning heaver Paul Troseth and sixth-stanza reliever Al Doherty paired up to blank the Newsmen on three hits while Mike Ward, who was nicked for just two hits, suffered the heartbreaking loss. Doherty’s sacrifice fly in the first inning plated the game’s lone run.
(August 15) The Nelson Texans, badly beaten in their opening tilt, rebounded with a convincing 7 to 1 win over Grand Forks to even their semi-final series at a game apiece.
(August 19) The Trail Conacher Newsmen advanced to the WKJBL finals with a 6 to 5 victory over Fruitvale in the third and deciding game of their hard-fought semi-final series. It was a come-from-behind victory for the Connies who finally got untracked offensively by banging out 11 base blows. Mike Ward allowed eight hits in going the distance for the knoll decision. The A’s Al Doherty also went the route in absorbing the loss. Gerry Buccini led the Conacher attack with three hits and three RBI’s. Doherty was best with the baton for the losers with three safeties and a pair of RBI’s. Buccini’s third hit drove in a brace of fifth-frame tallies to wipe out a 5 to 3 Fruitvale lead. Ward’s seventh-inning triple broke the 5 – 5 tie and drove home the winning tally.
(August 22) An 8 to 5 victory over Grand Forks gave the Nelson Texans a berth in the WKJBL finals.
FINALS Trail Conacher News vs Nelson (best-of-five series)
(August 24) The Trail Conacher News Juniors jumped out to a one-game lead in the WKJBL finals when they defeated the Nelson Texans 4 to 1. “Jazz” Rosa and Mike Ward combined to fire a three-hitter for the Trailites while losing chucker Bob Phillips and reliever Bob Jeffs of the Lakesiders also limited opposition batters to just three safeties. The victorious Newsmen did all their scoring in the fourth frame. The first two tallies were a result of three consecutive Nelson errors, the third coming on Rob Paterson’s triple and the fourth during a fielder’s choice. The lone Texans’ tally also crossed the dish on a fielder’s choice during the sixth spasm.
(August 26) With ace slabster Reg Cherenko on the bump, the Nelson Texans bounced back to take the second game of the WKJBL finals, dumping the visiting Trail Conacher Newsmen 14 to 6. Trail used a total of four heavers in the tilt which was terminated after five innings because of darkness. The Lakesiders erupted for 15 hits in tagging Silver City starter Rob Paterson with the loss. Dennis Cherenko led the Texans at the plate by collecting three hits including a bases-loaded double.
(August 29) The Trail Conacher Newsman took a 2 – 1 lead in the WKJBL finals when they clipped the Nelson Texans 5 to 3 in a six-inning, darkness-shortened event. Winning twirler Mike Ward fashioned a four-hitter and was his prime support with the lumber, banging out four hits in as many plate appearances. Ward fanned eight while losing tosser Don Johnston and fifth-inning reliever Reg Cherenko combined for four punchouts while giving up nine base raps. Bill Mainland of the Smelter City crew and the Lakesiders’ Dennis Cherenko both drove in two runs.
(September 1) The Nelson Texans squared the WKJBL finals at two games apiece when they defeated Trail Conacher News 5 to 2. Bob Jeffs threw a four-hitter, walked none and whiffed nine as the Texans extended the series to a fifth and deciding game. Nelson raked losing chucker “Jazz” Rosa for eight base knocks. The short but stockily-built Trail right-hander walked three and fanned eight. Don Johnston and Dennis Cherenko each drove in two runs for the winners.
(September 6) The Nelson Texans annexed the 1966 WKJBL championship when they downed the Trail Conacher Newsmen 5 to 3 in the deciding game of the best-of-five finals. Ace left-hander Reg Cherenko came on in relief of Nelson starter Bob Phillips in the second inning and went the rest of the way to garner the knoll victory. Mike Ward, who was touched for only four hits, was saddled with the setback. Catcher Ted Allen of the Texans and Trail’s Jack Wilson had two base hits each to pace their respective squads. The Lakesiders now meet the east Kootenay titlists from Creston for the junior championship of the Kootenays.