1967 Vancouver, Lower Mainland, Fraser Valley
1967 BC Interior
1967 Vancouver Island
OKANAGAN MAINLINE LEAGUE
Kamloops Lelands
Kelowna Labatts
Penticton Molsons
Vernon Luckies
(May 13) The Kamloops Lelands opened the new campaign with gusto, blasting three circuit-clouts during a 12 to 1 thrashing of the Penticton Molsons 12 to 1. Jack Fowles stung the horsehide for a grand-slam goner, Dale Cassell drilled a three-run dinger and Ray Fujikawa went yard with a solo tater.
(May 14) Ivan Malinosky and Russ Keckalo both homered as the Vernon Luckies opened the 1967 campaign by pounding the Penticton Molsons 19 to 4. Bert Asay was credited with the win while Hank Tilberg was tagged with the loss.
(May 17) Penticton was awarded a win by forfeiture when Kelowna manager Hank Tostenson pulled his team from the diamond following an altercation with plate arbiter Paul Blais in which Labatt player “Butch” Deadmarsh was ejected from the game. The dispute began when base umpire “Tubby” Moore moved into the outfield to chase some spectators from the playing field. The Kelowna players maintained that Moore failed to call time while Moore insisted that he had.
(May 18) In spite of pinch-hitter George Makortoff’s three-run homer in the bottom-of-the-ninth inning, the Kamloops Lelands came up one run short in dropping an 8 to 7 verdict to the visiting Vernon Luckies. Right-hander Reg Main collected the pitching win for the Luckies, striking out 11, walking two and giving up seven hits. The Hoteliers used three tossers with starter “Bud” Atkins absorbing the loss.
(May 20-21) It was a good weekend for the Kamloops Lelands who went on the road and came away with two wins. In their first game Saturday night in Kelowna, Ray Fujikawa drove in seven runs as the Lelands dumped the Labatts 16 to 3. Then, on Sunday afternoon, they broke loose for five runs in the first inning en route to a 7 to 2 victory over the Vernon Luckies. Fujikawa headed up Saturday’s 11-hit Kamloops assault in the Regatta City with a pair of three-run homers while playing-manager Gord Beecroft, who pitched the first five innings to collect the win, stroked four base hits. Allan Vetter started on the hill for Kelowna but was replaced in the third inning by Bill Niles after allowing six runs. Bernie Monteleone had two of the three hits acquired by the losers.
At Vernon, Sunday, the Lelands battered rookie heaver Brian Stephen for the quintet of tallies in the opening canto and cruised from there. Derek McGillivray, who relieved starter Bob Haywood, was the winning chucker.
(May 25) With slabster “Bud” Atkins fashioning a two-hitter, the hosting Kamloops Lelands reeled of a 4 to 2 conquest of the Kelowna Labatts at Riverside Park. Both hits off the slants of Atkins, who struck out 11 and walked four, came in the ninth inning. The Hotelmen got to losing flinger Bill Niles for six safeties. Al McKee poked an infield single and a double for the victors.
(May 27) The hosting Kamloops Lelands bounced the Penticton Molsons 5 to 2 at Riverside Park. Don Clovechok, with seventh-inning relief assistance from Bob Haywood, annexed the pitching win. Losing slabster Gary Fox whiffed a dozen Kamloops batters. Penticton’s Fox bounced a blast off the top of the outfield fence that hesitated, then flopped over and out of the park for a ninth-inning dinger.
(June 3) Stocky slabster Gary Fox struck out 19 batters and gave up just three hits as he led the Penticton Molsons to a 7 to 2 win over the hosting Kelowna Labatts. Fox helped his own cause by creaming the orb for three safe swats, including a four-ply clout. His batterymate, Al Richards, also clobbered the spheroid for a circuit-jack.
Fox (W) and Richards
Morrow (L), Vetter (5) and Lindhe
(June 4) Hometown Vernon edged the Penticton Molsons 5 to 4. Reg Main went the distance on the hill for the Luckies, ringing up 13 punchouts. He had some offensive help from first sacker Russ Keckalo who went yard with a round-tripper.
(June 8) Outfielder Ray Fujikawa’s timely single in the bottom-of-the-thirteenth inning drove in playing-manager Gord Beecroft from second base with the deciding tally as the Kamloops Lelands won their third straight OMBL tussle, a 3 to 2 victory over the Vernon Luckies at Riverside Park. Kamloops led 2 – 1 going into the ninth but Vernon catcher Gord Nuyens sent the game into overtime with a solo four-ply smash. “Bud” Atkins started on the mound for the Lelands and was a steady presence. After 11 rounds of hurling wherein he was touched for seven hits, he was replaced by Bob Haywood who toiled the final two sessions for the win. Right-hander Reg Main went the distance for Vernon, giving up five safeties.
(June 10) Homestanding Penticton took advantage of eight Kamloops errors to swamp the Lelands 8 to 2. Gary Fox went the route on the knoll for the Molsons, yielding five hits and striking out 11. Ray Picco of Penticton and Kamloops’ Steve Dane both connected for home runs.
Fowles (L), Atkins (6), Cassell (7) and Begg
G. Fox (W) and Richards
(June 11) The Vernon Luckies, behind the five-hit pitching of Reg Main, subdued the visiting Kelowna Labatts 6 to 1.
Morrow (L), Vetter (6), Schaeffer (7) and Lindhe
Main (W) and Nuyens
(June 14) The Vernon Luckies took over sole possession of second place in the OMBL with an 11 to 1 pasting of the Penticton Molsons. Reg Main went the distance on the hillock for the victors, tossing a two-hitter and striking out 11. Penticton starter, Jim Terbasket, who was derricked in favor of Ed Folk in the seventh stanza, took the loss.
Main (W) and Nuyens, Inglis (7)
Terbasket (L), Folk (7) and Williams
(June 15) A two-out double in the bottom-of-the-ninth canto by Kamloops’ catcher Ed Begg drove in the winning counter, giving the Lelands a narrow 3 to 2 triumph over the visiting Kelowna Labatts. The game had been tied 2 – 2 since the fourth inning as winning heaver Derek McGillivray and Al Vetter of the Regatta City nine battled for mound supremacy. McGillivray accumulated 13 punchouts while Vetter had six. Al McKee drove in the first two runs for the Hoteliers.
(June 17-18) The Kamloops Lelands came up with two wins in OMBL action during the weekend in extending their first-place margin to three games over the Vernon Luckies. Saturday, in Kelowna, the Hotelmen throttled the Labatts 19 to 4 and Sunday, in Vernon, the Lelands came out on top 12 to 7.
Kamloops bombed Kelowna starter Bill Niles for six runs in the first inning of the Saturday blowout and coasted the rest of the way to victory. Dale Cassell had a pair of long-distance four-baggers for the winners.
Kellogg (W) and Begg
Niles (L), Schaeffer (1), LaBounty (3) and Lindhe
Sunday’s encounter featured a bevy of circuit-clouts with Randy Rota, Steve Dane and Al McKee going yard with taters for the Lelands while Gord Nuyens and Ivan Malinosky of the Luckies replied with dingers in a losing cause.
Smith (W), Atkins (8) and Shishido
Main (L), Stephen (5) and Inglis
(June 24) Backed by the four-hit pitching of Gary Fox, the Penticton Molsons played errorless ball and defeated the Kamloops Lelands 8 to 5 at Riverside Park. Fox struck out 11 Leland batters but gave up seven walks. No slouch at the plate, Fox clouted a three-run homer off losing chucker “Bud” Atkins in the fourth frame. The combination of Atkins and reliever Mike Kellogg, who came on to hurl in the fifth round, allowed 11 hits and seven free passes while swishing 13.
(June 25) Kelowna struck for 12 hits en route to a 6 to 1 victory over the Vernon Luckies. Al Vetter garnered the pitching win, improving his record to 3 – 2. Reg Main, who recorded 15 strikeouts, was the loser.
(July 9) Hometown Vernon defeated Penticton 9 to 5 on an OMBL tussle. Winning chucker Reg Main of the Luckies went all the way on the knoll, striking out 11 and walking only one. Don Archer had four base raps for the winners and teammate Dennis Feser connected for three. Al Richards paced the Molson’s attack with a quartet of safe swats while Ted Lorento checked in with three.
(July 13) An eight-run outburst in the fifth frame, sparked by Ray Fujikawa’s three-run homer and a solo four-ply-blast off the bat of Al McKee, lifted the hosting Kamloops Lelands past the Vernon Luckies by a score of 11 to 8.
(July 15) The Penticton Molsons held onto second place in the OMBL by doubling the front-running Kamloops Lelands 8 to 4. Gary Fox spun a six-hitter and struck out 15 batters in earning the complete-game mound verdict. With the conquest, the Peach City nine moved to within 2-1/2 games of the Okonots.
(July 15) The Vernon Luckies downed Kelowna 11 to 10 in a close contest at the Regatta City. Don Archer led Vernon at the dish with three hits.
(July 16) Kamloops took their second beating of the weekend, this time a 9 to 4 thumping at the hands of the Vernon Luckies. A grand-slam home run by Luckies’ catcher Gord Nuyens was the difference-maker in this joust and made a winner out of complete-game tosser Reg Main who whiffed 16 Okonots. The victory for the Vernon nine moved them to within a half-game of second-place Penticton in the circuit.
(July 19) A line-drive base hit by Dan Coates in the bottom-of-the-ninth inning drove in the winning run as the Penticton Molsons eked out a 2 to 1 triumph over the Vernon Luckies. The win for the Peach City nine assured them of no worse than a second-place finish in the OMBL.
(July 22) A seven-run explosion in the seventh inning provided the Kamloops Lelands with more than sufficient ammunition to dispose of the visiting Kelowna Labatts by an 11 to 1 count. The win assured the Hotelmen of at least a tie for top spot in the OMBL final standings. “Bud” Atkins tossed a three-hitter for the easy mound victory. Atkins fanned nine and walked seven. The duo of Les Schaeffer and Carl Nelson hurled for Kelowna. Third baseman Steve Dane was the Lelands’ top batter, connecting for four singles.
(July 29) Invading Penticton scored two runs in the top-of-the-eighth inning and then staved off a drive by the Kamloops Lelands in the bottom-half of the session to nip their hosts 4 to 3 at Riverside Park. Ken MacDermott singled home Al Richards with the winning run. Right-hander Jim Altomar, in relief of Hank Tillberg, was the winning pitcher. The Molson tandem of chuckers gave up six hits and walked nine. For the Lelands, Dale Cassell, who took over for “Bud” Atkins in the second stanza, was the losing hurler. Shortstop Al McKee launched a solo home run for the vanquished Hotelmen.
PLAYOFFS
Semi-finals Vernon vs Kamloops and Kelowna vs Penticton (best-of-five series)
(August 3) The Vernon Luckies ran across a lone counter in the fourth inning and hung on for a 1 to 0 conquest of the pennant-winning Kamloops Lelands in the opener of their OMBL semi-final. Winning twirler Reg Main and “Bud” Atkins of the Hoteliers staged a first-class pitching matchup that went down to the wire. Both chuckers whiffed 11 and both gave up just four hits. Dennis Feser drove in Gord Nuyens with the only tally of the contest, an unearned one, after the Luckies’ catcher had reached base on an error. Feser later clubbed a three-bagger and was the only player in the clash with two safeties.
(August 6) The Kamloops Lelands evened up the OMBL semi-finals at one game each by dumping the hosting Vernon Luckies 9 to 5. The Lelands took control of the game with four runs in the third inning and were never behind. Wayne McKee hurled seven innings to acquire the hillock decision for Kamloops. Vernon’s Russ Keckalo belted a home run in the sixth panel
(August 10) An 8 to 5 win over the Kamloops Lelands at Riverside Park boosted the underdog Vernon Luckies into a 2 – 1 series lead. The Vernonites started in high gear, scoring three times in both the first inning and second stanzas. Reg Main yielded six hits and three walks in posting the win. Loser Vince Smith issued two free passes and gave up 13 base raps.
(August 13) The Vernon Luckies bounced the pennant-winning Kamloops Lelands from the playoffs with a fourth-game 4 to 1 triumph to annex the series three-games-to-one. Reg Main copped the pitching win over Jack Fowles.
Finals Vernon vs Penticton (best-of-five series)
(August )
(August 27) Vernon edged Penticton 4 to 3 to square the best-of-five OMBL finals at a game apiece. The game was called in the top-of-the-seventh stanza and awarded to the Luckies after Molson players’ Al Richards and Chuck Preen had been ejected for swearing at the umpire. Winning heaver Reg Main scattered three hits in the abbreviated contest while losing slabster Ken MacDermott was touched for four safeties.
(August 31) Vernon crushed Penticton 11-3 Thursday to take a 2-1 game lead in their best-of-five Okanagan Mainline Baseball League final. Gordie Nuyens tossed a three-hitter for the win. Don Archer sparked the offense with a two-run homer in the first inning.
(September 2-4) Kamloops Labor Day weekend tournament
(September 10) Gary Fox pitched a four-hitter and struck out 12 as the Penticton Molsons evened the OMBL finals at two games each with a 2 to 0 blanking of the hometown Vernon Luckies. Losing twirler Reg Main matched Fox in punchouts and hits allowed but had one shaky inning, the seventh, when the Peach City squad plated both of their counters. Singles by Penticton catcher Al Richards and first sacker Doug Moore, assisted by a pair of Vernon errors, made the difference as the Luckies scored their deuce.
(September 14) Charlie Preen’s home run in the bottom-of-the-tenth inning gave the Penticton Molsons a 4 to 3 win over the Vernon Luckies and the 1967 OMBL championship. Right-hander Gary Fox scattered eight hits and struck out 14 to annex the mound win.
Main (L) and Nuyens
Fox (W) and Richards
SLOCAN VALLEY SENIOR BASEBALL LEAGUE
Kaslo KapsNakusp
New Denver-Silverton
Slocan City Silver Kings
Slocan Park
Winlaw All-Stars
PRE-SEASON
(May 7) Under threatening skies, the invading Slocan City Silver Kings drubbed hosting Slocan Park 10 to 3 in pre-season exhibition tilt. A fine Silver King pitching trio stymied the Parkmen on three hits while breezing 15. Flem Bjerg, the second of the threesome, fanned five consecutive batters and was credited with the triumph. Youthful starter Kay Savinkoff of the Slocan Park nine was replaced on the hill in the fourth by Fred Jmaeff who was saddled with the loss. The Kings accumulated ten safeties with Bob Jeffs hammering a triple and Vic Osis a two-bagger. Tony Markoff and George Kooznetsoff of the losers both swatted doubles.
(May 14) It took an extra inning for the Slocan City Silver Kings to annex a 5 to 4 exhibition game verdict from the Kaslo Kaps. The brother combination of Gordie and Bob Jeffs was instrumental in the victory. In the bottom-of-the tenth frame with the score knotted at 4 – 4, Gordie Jeffs drew a walk and was sacrificed to the keystone sack by Flem Bjerg. A theft of third followed. With two out, winning slab artist Bob Jeffs tagged one of losing pitcher Mike Linn’s fastballs for a sharp single into the middle pasture scoring Gordie Jeffs easily with the winner. Bob Jeffs was the big gun for the winners offensively, swatting four safeties including a double.
(May 21) An all-round strong performance gave the Kaslo Kaps an 8 to 4 victory over the Slocan City Silver Kings in a pre-season exhibition tilt. The Kaps hammered five extra-base hits, including a two-run homer by Norm Command. George Benwell led the winners offensively with three hits and three RBI’s. Winning tosser Bill Pomponio went six frames on the rubber, allowing three hits and three runs, before bowing out to Ed Mesenchuk. Win Storgaard, the losing twirler, was blasted off the hill in the sixth panel, giving way to Reg Cherenko who, in turn, was derricked for Flem Bjerg in the seventh. Berg was the most effective of the three, allowing no hits or runs. In addition, he smashed out two of the four Slocan hits, both doubles.
REGULAR-SEASON
(May 28) The Kaslo Kaps came from behind in the final inning to edge the hosting New Denver-Silverton Combines 5 to 4 at Centennial Park in one of three season openers in the Slocan-Arrow Lakes Baseball League. The thrilling match was played under cloudy skies and intermittent showers but the weather did not dampen the spirits of the players and enthusiastic fans. It was a see-saw battle as the teams entered the ninth inning with the homesters holding a 4 to 3 lead. in their final turn at bat, Kaslo came through with two big runs. Mike Linn walked, Paul Peters singled and catcher Al Swantz belted a booming triple to drive in the tying and go-ahead tallies. Leadoff batter Doug Nelson kept the Combines’ hopes alive when he doubled to start the bottom-of-the-ninth. Dougal Greenan reached first on a base on balls. Following a pop-up out by Doug Thring, Eddie Elsmore hit a sharp grounder between second and third which, unfortunately for the home squad, struck Nelson for the second out. Meanwhile, Greenan who was at the keystone sack, attempted to pilfer third and was caught in the attempted act of larceny for the final out. Greenan and Terry Minnis shared mound chores for the Combines and racked up 11 strikeouts while surrendering nine base blows and four bases on balls. Bill Pomponio went the distance on the hill for Kaslo, yielding 11 hits, fanning eight and walking a pair. Top swatters for New Denver-Silverton were Nelson and Nobby Hayashi, each with a brace of safeties. The big bats for Kaslo were Norm Command, Dave Thompson and backstop Al Swantz, with two safe swats apiece. The Kaslo receiver drove in a run with a third-inning single in addition to the pair of counters his ninth-inning three-bagger produced.
(May 28) Hosting Winlaw was drubbed 11 to 4 by Slocan Park as both squads played their season opener. The game had its exciting moments but multiple errors cost Winlaw any chance of staying competitive. Mike Esovoloff was the winning pitcher, having help from Kay Savinkoff once the winner’s had built up a cushion. F. Towgood, Danny Thompson and P. Chutskoff twirled for the vanquished nine with Towgood absorbing the loss.
(May 28) An ineffective Nakusp pitching staff combined with a Silver King hitting spree saw the hometown club humiliated 16 to 1 by the invaders from Slocan City in opening game action for both clubs. The visitors hammered 16 base blows off the trio of losing chucker T. Shimizu and relievers Derek McQuair and Pat Savage. The victors, sporting a big lead, used a foursome of tossers with starter Jim Doi receiving credit for the mound triumph.
(June 4) Playing before a large Sunday crowd, the visiting New Denver-Silverton Combines upset the Slocan City Silver Kings 9 to 4. Errors proved costly for the Silver Kings and allowed the Combines to jump in front 8 to 0 in the first two frames. The hosts fought back but left 14 base-runners stranded in a futile attempt to come through in the clutch. Jim Doi, Bob Jeffs, Bruce Ferguson and Win Storgaard all saw action on the hill for the Kings. The quartet registered six strikeouts, issued nine hits and walked eight. Terry Minnis, Ed Elsmore and Dougal Greenan handled the pitching chores for the victors, surrendering seven safeties including a triple by Gordie Jeffs and a double by Doi. Nobby Hayashi singled twice for the Combines while Al Roemer and Gordie Jeffs each swatted a brace of raps for the Kings.
(June 4) The Kaslo Kaps won their second game in two tries, defeating the youthful Winlaw nine 17 to 1. Mike Linn went the route on the rubber for Kaslo, fanning 13 Winlaw batters and walking only one. Dan Thompson started on the hill for the visitors and was stung with the loss. Norm Command, Al Swantz and George Benwell led the 15-hit Kaslo offense with three safeties each.
(June 4) The invading Slocan Park baseballers, on the strength of three late-inning tallies, dropped Nakusp 4 to 1 in a Slocan-Arrow Lakes tilt. Both teams had four base hits. Opposing twirlers Mike Esovoloff of the Parkmen and Nakusp’s Tad Kiyono each surrendered an early run. A double by first baseman Walt Wishlow drove in the visitors’ first counter in the opening canto. The homesters immediately replied with a singleton to tie the game when Dave Walker doubled and scored on a fielder’s choice. From the second inning until the end of the seventh, both chuckers settled down in a duel that failed to produce any additional tallies. Neither team threatened until Slocan Park picked up two runs on two hits in the eighth. They added another insurance marker in the ninth when Nakusp committed a pair or errors. Esovoloff fanned seven while Kiyono whiffed eight.
(June 11) The New Denver-Silverton Combines snapped the early Kaslo winning streak by dropping the Kaps 13 to 10 at Kaslo. Each club used four hurlers in the sloppily-played contest which saw 23 errors committed. John Nesbitt got credit for the pitching win at the expense of George Benwell. The Combines lit up the Kaslo tossers for 11 base knocks while whiffing four. New Denver-Silverton chuckers gave up eight hits and recorded an equal number of breezes. Combines’ Terry Minnis stung the sphere for three base raps including a triple while Mike Linn led the Stars at the dish with a three-bagger and single.
(June 11) Slocan Park shaded winless Winlaw 3 to 2 to move into sole possession of first place in the Slocan-Arrow Lakes Baseball League. Mike Evosoloff tossed a two-hitter and rang up 12 punchouts in earning the hillock verdict over Winlaw reliever Alex Pereversoff who followed starter P. Christoff on the bump. The duo gave up six hits while their teammates committed five errors. The Parkmen won the game in the ninth canto when J. Podd reached first on an error and moved around to the hot corner on a second Winlaw miscue. G. Kooznetsoff then nailed a high bouncer down the third base line that was fumbled for a third blunder, allowing Podd to cross the pan with the tie-breaker.
(June 11) A triple by Dave Walker in the 11th inning led to an 8 to 6 triumph by Nakusp over the hosting Slocan City Silver Kings. The teams were tied 5 – 5 at the end of nine innings and failed to break the deadlock in the tenth. In the top of the second overtime session, Nakusp’s Gordon Yolland singled, was sacrificed to second by Ken Aalten and scored a sixth run on Walker’s three-bagger. Len Folkman followed with a walk and Al Weir doubled to score Walker and Folkman with Nakusp’s seventh and eighth counters. The Silver Kings picked up a run in their half of the eleventh on two hits to end the scoring. Tad Kiyono bested Win Storgaard to take the mound verdict. Kiyono was nicked for five safeties, struck out an equal number but struggled in the control department, walking nine. Storgaard gave up nine hits, fanned 17 and issued six bases on balls.
(June 18) The Slocan City Silver Kings nipped the Kaslo Kaps 7 to 6 in a Slocan-Arrow Lakes League tussle and then bombed the Fruitvale Beavers of the West Kootenay Senior circuit 6 to 1 in a follow-up exhibition joust before a large Sunday afternoon crowd. Win Storgaard and Flem Bjerg were on the hill for the Kings in the opener with Bjerg taking the win. Mike Linn and Bill Pomponio shared hillock duties for the Stars. Both squads connected for eleven safeties. Gordie Jeffs’ pinch-hit homer in the eighth chapter pulled Slocan out of a 6 to 5 deficit and gave them the margin of victory. Kaslo’s Jim Moro, with a trio of base knocks, was the game’s leading willow wielder.
Bjerg went the route in the second affair, surrendering seven safeties while fanning an equal number of Beavers. Losing flinger Lorne Ekstrom was also touched for seven bingles, whiffing eight along the way.
(June 18) Exploding for nine big runs in the first inning as they brought a dozen batters to the plate, the New Denver-Silverton Combines coasted to an easy 17 to 4 conquest of the previously undefeated Slocan Park nine. Youthful southpaw Dougal Greenan toed the rubber for the Combines, yielding nine hits and whiffing six in a route-going performance. Slocan Park used three chuckers with starting tosser Mike Esovoloff being tagged with the loss. The trio were nicked for 11 hits and fanned just one. However, their inability to hit the strike zone with pitches resulted in eleven bases on balls. Best with the baton for the winners were Terry Minnis and Lorne Wright who came through with three hits apiece. Greenan helped his own cause by blasting a four-bagger and a triple. Slocan Park’s top swatsmith were L. Pagan and M. Podd, each with two hits.
(June 18) A high-scoring ball game saw homestanding Winlaw fall 19 to 11 at the hands of Nakusp in a Slocan-Arrow Lakes fracas. The visitors opened the scoring in their first turn at bat on a single by Len Folkman and a run-scoring triple off the bat of Pat Savage. They continued their offensive assault, upping their margin to 6 to 0 in the fourth when Savage creamed the orb for his second three-bagger. Winlaw, with several of their veteran players back in the lineup, began reducing the deficit in the late innings and finished the scoring in the bottom-of-the-ninth when Alex Pereversoff hit a long triple and later stole home. Derek McQuair and Tad Kiyono both pitched for Nakusp, combining their skills for seven punchouts. Winlaw used four chuckers who were blasted for 22 Nakusp safeties while combining for nine whiffs. Folkman and Savage both lit up the Winlaw foursome for five base knocks apiece while Winlaw’s offensive thrust came from P. Chutskoff and Danny Thompson who each picked up three hits.
(June 25) The Slocan City Silver Kings scored three times in their first time at bat but failed to hold the lead as Slocan Park rallied for a 5 to 4 victory. A number of costly errors by the Silver Kings opened the door for the quick and alert Slocan Park diamondeers. Mike Esovoloff started on the rubber for the Parkmen, giving way to winning flinger Fred Jmaeff in the second spasm. Jmaeff rang up ten punchouts while loser Flem Bjerg fanned seven. The victory leaves Slocan Park in a first-place tie with New Denver-Silverton, both clubs sporting four wins, one loss records.
(June 25) The Kaslo Kaps squeezed out a narrow 2 to 1 decision over invading Nakusp in Slocan-Arrow Lakes action. Right hander Mike Linn was credited with the hillock victory although he needed the assistance of fireman Ed Mesenchuk in the bottom-of-the-sixth frame. The duo were tagged for ten hits while breezing eleven. Tad Kiyono, who went the distance for Nakusp, was nailed with the tough loss. He was nicked for just five safeties while fanning seven. Kaslo scored both of their counters in the opening chapter on and RBI single by Paul Peters and a passed ball which allowed Al Swartz to reach home. Fred Desrochers plated Nakusp’s lone tally in the fourth on Maxwell’s one-bagger. The visitors had a pair of scoring opportunities snuffed out when Ken Aalten and Dave Walker were tagged out sliding into home plate in the fifth and seventh stanzas respectively.
(June 25) Strong hitting and defensive performances by the New Denver-Silverton Combines highlighted their game at Centennial Park where they topped the winless Winlaw All-Stars 6 to 1 to remain atop the standings along with Slocan Park. Right hander Eddie Elsmore of the Combines pitched a solid two-hitter with seven punchouts in tossing a complete game. Loser Steve Towgood blanked the winners for the first five innings but ran into trouble in the sixth when he got the hook. His successor Alex Pereversoff didn’t last long and was derricked in favor of T. Chutskoff who finished the game. The trio were nicked for eight safeties while fanning four. Harold Mori smashed a grand-slam circuit-clout for New Denver-Silverton and had a single in addition to his tater while teammate Vener Mengler laced a brace of one-baggers. Both of Winlaw’s bingles were rapped by Chutskoff.
Standings W L Pts.
New Denver-Silverton 4 1 8
Slocan Park 4 1 8
Kaslo 3 2 6
Slocan City 2 3 4
Nakusp 2 3 4
Winlaw 0 5 0
(July 9) The visiting Slocan City Silver Kings had a field day with the lumber, crushing the hapless Winlaw nine 24 to 2. A five-run opening-inning explosion by the Kings set the tone for things to come. The youthful Stars used a foursome of chuckers, none of whom were particularly successful. Starter B. Sutherland was tagged with the bump defeat while Flem Bjerg, who split mound duties for the victors with Win Storgaard, copped the triumph. Top swatsmiths for the Silver Kings were Vic Osis with four safeties, Bjerg with three, including a triple, and Al Roemer who pulverized the pill for a home run and three-bagger. For the vanquished nine, F. Towgood singled twice.
(July 9) The New Denver-Silverton Combines held onto first place in the Slocan-Arrow Lakes Baseball league when they travelled to Nakusp and took their fifth game in a row, dispensing of the homesters 10 to 3 in convincing fashion. Southpaw Dougal Greenan pitched a four-hitter, struck out six and walked eight in taking the hillock win. Derek McQuair and Tad Kiyono were the moundsmen for the hosts with McQuair being stung with the loss. The game was close until the seventh panel when the Combines struck for seven big counters to leave no doubt as to a final result. Lorne Wright had two safeties for the winners while Terry Minnis and Doug Nelson ripped two-baggers resulting in a trio and pair of RBI’s respectively. Nakusp’s top batter was McQuair with two hits.
(July 9) The Kaslo Kaps earned themselves a share of second place in the Slocan-Arrow Lakes Baseball League, shutting out Slocan Park 5 to 0. New Denver-Silverton Combines hold down top spot. Third baseman George Benwell, currently batting .467, led the way for Kaslo with a double and single, driving in four runs and scoring once himself. In the opening stanza, Rocky Stubbington reached first on a fielder’s choice, Ed Mesenchuk drew a walk and Benwell slammed out a two-bagger, scoring both runners. In the eighth canto, Benwell banged out his second hit, again driving in a brace of counters. Mike Linn then singled and Norm Command walked, loading the bases. Pinch-hitter Bill Pomponio drew another base on balls, forcing in Benwell with Kaslo’s fifth and final tally. Starter Mesenchuk took the pithing victory but needed relief help from southpaw Al Jones in the fourth. The two chuckers gave up five hits, one walk and whiffed nine. Mike Esovoloff was tagged with the loss, pitching the entire game for Slocan Park while being touched for four safeties. He issued six free passes and fanned four. For the Parkmen, Kay Savinkoff had a double and single while Alex Voykin clipped the horsehide for a pair of singles.
(July 16) The hosting New Denver-Silverton Combines reeled off their sixth consecutive league win with a convincing 11 to 4 subjugation of the Slocan City Silver Kings at Centennial Park. Right hander Eddie Elsmore tied down the big bats of the Silver Kings as he tossed a strong five-hitter. To date, the Combines’ chucker has amassed five victories in as many Slocan-Arrow Lakes League mound assignments. Big Win Storgaard went the route on the bump for the Kings in taking the loss. Top swatters for New Denver-Silverton were Elsmore with two doubles and a single, Doug Thring with three singles and Nobby Hayashi with a couple of one-baggers. Gordie Jeffs ripped a two-run triple for the Kings.
(July 16) In Slocan-Arrow Lakes Baseball League action, the visiting Kaslo Kaps held on to squeeze out a 7 to 6 win over luckless Winlaw. A four-run ninth-inning by the Winlaw nine fell just short of sending the game into overtime. Mike Linn picked up the hurling triumph but needed relief assistance from portsider Al Jones in the final canto when Winlaw was staging their last-ditch rally. Linn and Jones both stroked a pair of safeties for the victors with a triple included as part of Linn’s sum of swats. Winlaw’s starting heaver, F. Towgood, was nailed with the pitching setback. Leading the hit parade for the vanquished nine was Alex Pereversoff who had a brace of bingles.
(July 23) The Slocan Park band of diamond pastimers plated a crucial ninth-inning tally to edge the Kaslo Kaps 5 to 4, securing a win which gave them sole possession of second place in the Slocan-Arrow Lakes Baseball League. With the score knotted at 4 – 4 as they came to bat in the bottom-of-the-ninth, Jack Voykin started things off for the Parkmen by reaching base on an error. Kay Savinkoff sacrificed him to second on a bunt and Voykin reached the hot corner on a passed ball. Playing-skipper F. Podel then settled matters by lofting a sacrifice fly which allowed the winning counter to score. Reliever Mike Esovoloff captured the mound verdict, decisioned Mike Linn who went all the way on the bump for Kaslo. Esovoloff and Slocan Park starter Fred Jmaeff were nicked for four hits while whiffing eight. Linn allowed eight safeties and fanned 13. Esovoloff, Savinkoff and M. Podd/Poss of the victors each collected two base raps.
(July 23) Flem Bjerg fanned 14 while yielding six hits as the fourth-place Slocan City Silver Kings overwhelmed the winless Winlaw All-Stars 11 to 5. Bjerg also helped himself with the lumber, collecting three hits and scoring three runs. Alex Pereversoff started on the rubber for Winlaw but gave way to relievers Steve Towgood and Danny Thompson. The trio issued 13 hits, struck out six and gave up five walks. Jerry Osis of the Kings had a perfect day at the dish, ripping a double, two singles and walking twice. Left fielder Jim Doi clouted a two-run triple for the victors while Danny Thompson of the cellar-dwellers also ripped a three-bagger.
(July 29-30) The New Denver-Silverton Combines showed their overall strength over the weekend as they clinched the Slocan-Arrow Lakes Baseball League regular-season pennant for the second year in a row. They did it with a 10 to 5 doubling of Nakusp on Saturday and followed up with a 3 to 0 blanking of Slocan Park on Sunday. The double triumph ran their won-loss record for the campaign to eight and one. The Saturday match at Centennial Park featured the strong, right handed twirling of Eddie Elsmore who won his sixth decision without a loss. The Combines’ slab artist was touched for five safeties while ringing up seven punchouts in his route-going performance. Losing moundsman Tad Kiyono was nicked for 14 base blows while breezing five. Big batsmen for the Combines were Dougal Greenan with two big homers and five RBI’s as well as Terry Minnis who went four-for-four with a triple. Not far behind was teammate Gus Stankoven who came through with three safe swats including two doubles and three RBI’s. Nakusp’s leading baton swingers were Neff who went three-for-five and Gord Yolland who connected for a triple.
The fine one-hit pitching of southpaw Dougal Greenan was the story of the Sunday joust played at Slocan Park. The youthful portsider struck out five and issued two walks in besting Mike Esovoloff. The game was scoreless until the fifth panel when Harold Mori came through with a clean single to plate Doug Nelson with the Combines’ first run. They added insurance markers in the eighth and ninth to sew things up.
(July 30) Mike Linn scattered four hits, struck out 12 and walked four in pitching the Kaslo Kaps to a 6 to 0 whitewashing of the Slocan City Silver Kings. It was the third shutout win of the campaign for the Kaps. Kaslo struck for a singleton in the opening stanza when Linn smashed out a triple and scored on a wild pitch. They added three in the fourth and two more in the fifth. Flem Bjerg, clipped for eight safeties, was tagged with the loss. Bjerg whiffed ten while issuing just one free ticket. The Kings’ biggest threat came in the ninth spasm with the bases loaded and two out but first baseman Gordie Jeffs went down swinging to end the game. Top swatters for Kaslo were George Benwell, currently batting .474, Ed Mesenchuk and Rocky Stubbington, each with two hits.
(August 6) A bid for second-place in the Slocan-Arrow Lakes loop by the visiting Slocan Park nine came to an end as they dropped an exciting 4 to 2 decision to the Slocan City Silver Kings. Vic Osis of the Silver Kings proved to be the spoiler as far as Slocan Park was concerned. Osis had a perfect evening at the platter, stoking a triple and single to go along with two walks. The rangy right hander also shared mound chores for the winners with Winston Storgaard and Flem Bjerg, with Storgaard getting credit for the hillock victory. Kay Savinkoff went the route in a losing cause for the Parkmen. The victors snuffed out rallies by Slocan Park in the fifth and eighth stanzas by reeling off twin-killings.
(August 6) In the final league game for both clubs, the Kaslo Kaps edged invading Nakusp 3 to 1 behind the masterful three-hit pitching of southpaw Al Jones. The Stars’ portsider struck out seven and gave up just one walk in going the distance. In classic mound duel fashion, losing flinger Tad Kiyono also sparkled on the bump, surrendering but three safeties, walking an equal number and sending a dozen Kaslo batters back to the dugout as strikeout victims. Two errors and a single in the opening episode proved costly to the Hot Spring nine as Kaslo plated a pair which gave them the needed cushion for the victory. The visitors scored their lone counter in the seventh panel when Hoshizaki singled, swiped second, went to third on a fielder’s choice and scored on a sacrifice fly to the right garden. Catcher Al Swantz of the victors, with two safeties, was the only player in the fracas to achieve plural hit totals.
(August 6) The scheduled game between New Denver-Silverton and Winlaw had to cancelled as the majority of the Winlaw players were involved in fire-fighting. The game will not be rescheduled as the result will have no bearing on the final league standings.
Final Standings P W L Pts.
New Denver-Silverton 9 8 1 16
Kaslo 10 7 3 14
Slocan Park 10 6 4 12
Slocan City 10 5 5 10
Nakusp 10 2 8 4
Winlaw 9 1 8 2
PLAYOFFS
SEMI-FINALS (best-of-three series) Slocan Park vs New Denver-Silverton and Kaslo vs Slocan City
(August 12-13) Semi-final playoff action had to be postponed due to the number of players on each team involved in fighting forest fires.
(August 20) The pennant-winning New Denver-Silverton Combines and the Slocan Park squad each took one victory in their semi-final series which got underway at New Denver. The first game of the twin-bill saw the home club, behind the steady twirling of right hander Eddie Elsmore, come out on top by a 7 to 2 score while Slocan Park rebounded to double the Combines 4 to 2 in the wrap-up affair. Elsmore limited the Parkmen to four hits and one walk in the opener, punching out five along the way. The mound triumph was his seventh without a loss over the course of the season. Getting hit with the setback was Mike Esovoloff who allowed nine hits, struck out three and issued two bases on balls. The Combines took the lead in the opening stanza when leadoff batter Harold Mori tripled on the first pitch and scored on Doug Thring’s single. Mori was again the table-setter in the third, as the winners plated three more, when he led off with a single which was followed by Dougal Greenan’s double and back-to-back one-baggers by Thring and Nobby Hayashi. Their fifth tally came in the fifth inning after Elsmore tripled and scored on a sacrifice fly. Runs number six and seven were produced on an RBI triple by Thring in the seventh and Vener Mengler’s run-producing single in the eighth.
Fred Jmaeff’s fine mound effort in the finale allowed the Parkmen to gain a split. Although touched for nine hits, Jmaeff did not issue a base on balls and kept the Combines’ hits reasonably well-spaced for minimal damage. He whiffed four while losing tosser Dougal Greenan fanned five, gave up two walks and was nicked for six safeties.
(August 20) Once again, raging forest fires in the rugged Kaslo district have made it necessary to postpone the semi-finals between the defending playoff champion Kaslo All-Stars and the Slocan City Silver Kings.
(August 27) In their third and final semi-final playoff clash, the New Denver-Silverton Combines eliminated Slocan Park in a game played on the Winlaw diamond. Final score and game details not found in print.
(August 27) The Kaslo All-Stars travelled to Slocan City and trounced the Silver Kings 12 to 2 in the long-delayed opener of their best-of-three semi-final series. Mike Linn was the winning pitcher. No other game details were published. The second game of a scheduled doubleheader was not played when Slocan City conceded the series, allowing the Stars to enter the league finals against the New Denver-Silverton Combines.
POST REGULAR-SEASON EXHIBITION GAME
(September 4) Before a large Labor Day gathering in Slocan, the Winlaw senior baseball club dumped the Slocan Silver Kings 6 to 3 in an exhibition encounter. Hard-luck pitcher Steve Towgood finally lived up to his name for, as far as the Silver Kings were concerned, he was too good on the mound to beat. Towgood held the Kings to five hits, whiffed an equal number and issued seven walks. Win Storgaard started on the hill for the hosts but needed relief help from right hander Vic Osis. The Tandem combined to issue five hits, walked six and fanned five Winlaw batters. Ron Nash of the Kings led all swatsmiths with three safeties in four at bats.
FINALS (best-of-three series) Kaslo vs New Denver-Silverton
(September 3) The kind of senior calibre baseball that can only be witnessed in the final playoffs was exhibited at Kaslo before a capacity crowd when the defending playoff champion Kaslo All-Stars edged the 1967 regular-season pennant-winning New Denver-Silverton Combines 8 to 7. Both teams got off to a rousing start, trading three-spots in their first turn at bat. The Combines went ahead 4 to 3 in the top-of-the-third canto when Dougal Greenan crossed the pan with an unearned counter. They struck for another pair in the sixth panel when Terry Minnis tripled to send home Nobby Hayashi who had reached base on a fielder’s choice. Lorne Wright’s perfectly executed bunt single then scored Minnis from the hot corner. In the bottom-of-the-sixth, Kaslo replied with four runs to forge ahead 7 to 6 as Larry Shuto, Norm Command, Jim Moro and Al Jones all scored with Ed Mesenchuk’s double being the most crucial blow of the frame. The Combines drew even at 7 – 7 in the top-of-the-eighth after Eddie Elsmore tripled and raced home on Wright’s second well-placed bunt. Right hander Mesenchuk, twirling for the Stars in relief of starter Mike Linn, set down the Combines in order to begin the ninth. Larry Shuto, leading off for Kaslo in their half of the frame, singled off Minnis who had taken over mound chores from Greenan in the eighth. While the next two batters were being retired, Shuto moved into scoring position and plated the winner when Linn came through in dramatic fashion with a clutch single, his third hit of the game.
(September 10) The Kaslo All-Stars captured the Slocan-Arrow Lakes Baseball League playoff championship for the second consecutive year when they defeated the 1967 pennant-winning New Denver-Silverton Combines 4 to 1 at Centennial Park in New Denver. Big, strong right hander Ed Mesenchuk was the winning pitcher for the Stars, yielding seven hits while fanning an equal number. He also gave up three walks and hit one batter. Despite being outhit by a 7 to 5 margin, the Kaslo nine were able thwart many a Combine rally as Mesenchuk seemed to be at his best with enemy ducks on the pond, stranding 13 New Denver-Silverton base-runners. The tandem of Eddie Elsmore and Dougal Greenan shared hillock duties for the Stars. Kaslo opened the scoring in the top-of-the-opening episode when Rocky Stubbington nailed a one-bagger and eventually reached home on a single by Al Swantz. The Combines tied it up in the bottom-of-the-fourth when Terry Minnis blasted a triple and scored after Kaslo first sacker Norm Command had difficulty in cleanly fielding Elsmore’s hard grounder. The West Shoremen came right back in the top-of-the-fifth to go ahead 2 to 1 on a three-bagger by Mesenchuk followed by a sacrifice fly. Another Kaslo triple, this one by George Benwell in the sixth chapter, drove in Paul Peters, who had walked, with a third tally for the winners. A further insurance counter was added in the eighth when Stubbington reached first on an error, Peters singled and a wild infield throw allowed Stubbington to cross the dish. Benwell had two safeties for the victors while Harold Mori and Minnis of the vanquished nine also had a brace of safeties.
WEST KOOTDENAY SENIOR BASEBALL
In 1967, Nelson was not involved with the other major players in the West Kootenay area when it came for being part of an established senior-level baseball league. The Lakeside City, however, was well represented in junior play by the defending B. C. champion Nelson Texans.
WEST KOOTENAY SENIOR LEAGUE
This three-team senior circuit had representation from Trail and Fruitvale as well as the repeat defending champions from Rossland.
Fruitvale Beavers
Rossland Capilanos
Trail Smoke Eaters
(May 30) The Rossland Capilanos, 1966 champions, kept their show going from last September with a 5 to 1 triumph over the Fruitvale Beavers in the opening game of the 1967 West Kootenay Senior Baseball League. Right hander Pat McMahon went the route on the bump for the Caps, setting the Beavers down on six hits while breezing five. Ex-Cap Denny Larson took the loss, surrendering seven hits while fanning five. Timely hitting by Bill Martin and Ernie Sever was instrumental in the Golden City victory. Sever blasted a home run in the fourth while Martin drove in the Caps’ initial run in the third with a one-bagger and then tripled in the fifth to drive in two more. Shortstop Bob Cox of the Beavers tripled and singled while Rossland’s Bob Profili had a pair of singles.
Larson (L) and DeBruyn
McMahon (W) and Holmes
(May 31) The Trail Smoke Eaters pushed across two runs in the seventh inning to nip the Rossland Capilanos 4 to 3 in West Kootenay Senior League action. Al Richards singled home Roy Christiansen with the winning counter after John Drysdale had delivered a one-bagger to plate Keith Healey with the tying marker. Gary Duthie took the pitching victory, surrendering eight hits in a route-going performance. Al DeCecco, on the mound for Rossland, also went the distance while yielding 12 safeties. Drysdale picked up three base knocks for the Smokies, driving in a trio of tallies, while Healey, Tom Bird and Richards all collected a brace of safe swats. Barry Seal had a double and single for the Caps.
DeCecco (L) and Holmes
Duthie (W) and Richards
(June 1) Banging out a dozen bingles, the Trail Smoke Eaters won their second of the early season, a 12 to 1 cleansing of the hosting Fruitvale Beavers. Seven Trail counters in the fifth inning put the game out of reach for the Beavers. Left-hander Dennis Zinio had little trouble in taking the hillock decision, handcuffing the Valleymen on three hits, all singles. Losing flinger Lorne Ekstrom and reliever Paul Troseth shared the mound duties for Fruitvale. Howie Brost, John Drysdale and Keith Healey all had two base raps for the winners with Healey’s total including a three-run tater and Brost’s a two-run shot.
Zinio (W) and Richards
Ekstrom (L), Troseth (5) and DeBruyn
(June 6) Exploding for six runs in the sixth inning, the Trail Smoke Eaters doubled the Rossland Capilanos 8 to 4 at Jubilee Park. The game saw a total of 14 base raps but only two extra-base blows, a double by Trail’s Al Berno in the second and a two-bagger by the Caps’ Ed Legare in the sixth. Top hitter in the clash was catcher Tom Bird of the Smoke Eaters who went three-for-four. Portsider Dennis Zinio got the bump decision, tossing a five-hitter while fanning an equal number of Rosslanders. The Smeltermen racked up nine safeties off a trio of Cap chuckers.
Zinio (W) and Bird
McMahon (L), Brandt (6), Fisher (6) and Holmes
(June 7) Fruitvale’s Denny Larson had the hosting Trail squad eating out of his hand for six full innings but, in the seventh, the Smoke Eaters pushed across two runs, the second on a bases-loaded walk to catcher Al Richards as the Smeltermen nipped the invading Beavers 2 to 1 in West Kootenay Senior circuit action at Butler Park. Gary Duthie, toeing the rubber for the Silver City nine, gave up an early run to the visitors on two hits but slammed the door the remainder of the way. Fruitvale plated their lone counter in the opening stanza when Rocky Cull walked, the lone base on balls issued by Duthie, moved around to third on a one-bagger by Danny Williams and an infield out, then romped to the pan on Gordie McDonald’s single. Wayne Kew’s RBI single in the seventh knotted the count, scoring Tom Bird who had opened the frame with a single and moved to the hot corner sack on Duthie’s timely two-bagger, the only extra-base hit of the contest. At this point, the Fruitvale brain trust decided to issue an intentional walk to Keith Healey, loading the bases. The move backfired as Richards worked the count to three-and-two before Larson was off target with ball four. Duthie finished with a five-hitter while ringing up 11 punchouts. Larson was nicked for eight hits, two each by Duthie and Kew, while fanning nine.
Larson (L) and DeBruyn
Duthie (W) and Richards
(June 8) Veteran Al DeCecco scattered four Fruitvale hits effectively in pitching the Rossland Capilanos to a 4 to 0 shutout of the homestanding Beavers. Losing tosser Lorne Ekstrom also surrendered just a quartet of bingles, all one-baggers, but wasn’t as successful as DeCecco in keeping them spaced. The Caps took a 1 to 0 lead in the second stanza and erupted for their final three tallies in the fifth panel. Catcher Don Holmes started the fifth-inning scoring parade, singling home the first run. Al Holm followed with a two-run single that closed out the scoring. Fruitvale’s Danny Williams had the game’s only extra-base blow, a double.
DeCecco (W) and Holmes
Ekstrom (L), Dubasov (6) and DeBruyn
(June 11) Keith Healey and Lou DeRosa blasted grand-slam home runs as the Trail Smoke Eaters of the West Kootenay Senior League crushed the hosting Penticton Molsons of the Okanagan-Mainline League 10 to 2 in an exhibition tussle. Healey had a solo homer as well, an opening-inning shot, in addition to his grand salami. DeRosa’s bases-jammed clout came in the eighth canto with Tom Bird, Roy Christiansen and Al Berno aboard, putting the game well out of reach of the Peach City nine. Gary Duthie gave up six hits as he went the route to earn the twirling decision.
Duthie (W) and Bird
Folk (L), Terbasket (8), McDermott (8) and Richards
(June 13) Coasting along with a 4 to 0 lead as the game progressed, the Rossland Capilanos had to hang on for a close 4 to 3 win over the Fruitvale Beavers. Plating a three-spot in the sixth, the Beavers made things tense for the Caps in the late stages of the battle. After taking over mound chores from a wild Larry Brandt, rookie chucker Barry Seal saved the day for the homesters by punching out two of the three batters he faced to preserve the win for starter Dave Fisher. Dan Williams and Rocky Cull had two hits each for Fruitvale while Bob Profili laced a brace of safeties for the Capilanos. Both of Cull’s base raps were doubles. Golden City second baseman Bill Martin slugged the game’s longest hit, a three-bagger that drove in Don Holmes with the Caps’ second counter.
Ryder (L), Troseth (3) and DeBruyn
Fisher (W), Brandt (7), Seal (7) and Holmes
(June 14) Pat McMahon struck out six and was nicked for an equal number of hits as he pitched the Rossland Capilanos to a 10 to 3 win over the Trail Smoke Eaters, running his record to two wins and one loss. The defeat for the Smokies was their first setback of the young campaign. The Golden City diamondeers lit into losing slabman Gary Duthie for ten safeties including two doubles by infielder Bill Martin, both coming in the second inning. Duthie had seven whiffs in matching McMahon’s complete-game effort. Howie Brost had the only extra-base hit for the Smeltermen, a solo homer in the opening stanza.
McMahon (W) and Holmes
Duthie (L) and Bird
(June 15) Errors broke up a tight pitching duel between a pair of left-handers, Fruitvale’s Denny Larson and Dennis Zinio of Trail, and gave the Beavers a 1 to 0 victory over the visiting Smoke Eaters. Larson, displaying pinpoint control, earned his first victory of the campaign. He hurled a four-hitter, struck out three and did not issue a walk. Zinio was touched for just two hits while fanning nine and walking none. The game was scoreless until the sixth inning when Bryan Dubasov reach first on an error by Trail shortstop Howie Brost. Larson’s sacrifice bunt moved him to the keystone sack. After Rocky Cull had flied out, Fruitvale’s Bob Cox grounded to second base but Roy Chritiansen bobbled the ball and then overthrew first base in haste, allowing Dubasov to score. Wayne Kew of the Smoke Eaters, with a pair of singles, was the lone player in the contest to record two hits.
Zinio (L) and Richards
Larson(W) and DeBruyn
(June 20) Trailing 8 to 5 as they came to bat for the final time, the Rossland Capilanos staged a sensational uprising to mark up a 9 to 8 walkoff win against the Trail Smoke Eaters at Jubilee Park. Outfielder Ernie Sever’s second hit of the game, a two-run double, drove in the tying and winning markers for the Caps. Pat McMahon was credited with the mound decision over reliever Gary Duthie of the Smokies. The Rossland right hander was nicked for eight bingles while the Trail tandem of starter Dennis Zinio and Duthie gave up nine hits. McMahon led all swatsmiths with three safeties while teammates Bill Martin and Ed Legare, along with Sever, picked up two base raps. First baseman John Drysdale, with a brace of base knocks and three RBI’s, was the lone Trail batter to achieve a plural hit total.
Zinio, Duthie (L) (5) and Richards
McMahon (W) and Holmes
(June 21) After suffering three straight losses, the Trail Smoke Eaters got back on the winning track by posting a 7 to 6 triumph over the Fruitvale Beavers at Butler Park. The game was shortened to six innings because of rain. Trailing 2 to 1, the Smokies erupted for five runs in the second inning to take control of things. Jazz Rosa, called up from the Conacher News Juniors, was on the bump for the Smeltermen. He was touched for six hits, issuing four free passes, while whiffing seven. The Beavers used three chuckers with starter Denny Larson absorbing the loss. John Drysdale of the Silver City nine as well as Bryan Dubasov and Lorne Ekstom of the Valleymen, each drilled a brace of safe swats.
Larson (L), Troseth (2), Ekstrom (6) and DeBruyn
Rosa (W) and Richards
(June 27) The hosting Fruitvale Beavers copped their second in of the season, both over Trail, defeating the Smoke Eaters 4 to 3. The Beavers racked up nine hits off losing chucker Gary Duthie who went the route. Winning flinger Bryan Dubasov, Paul Troseth and Whitey Paugh, who earned the save, all twirled for the Valleymen.
Duthie (L) and Bird
Dubasov (W), Troseth (7), Paugh (7) and DeBruyn
(June 28) The Trail Smoke Eaters moved back into first place in the West Kootenay Senior Baseball League, leap-frogging over Rossland, with a 6 to 4 win over the Capilanos. Junior pitcher Jazz Rosa, up from Conacher News, took his second straight mound victory, surrendering six hits while fanning an equal number. Larry Brandt suffered the loss, being tagged for nine hits while recording four punchouts. John Drysdale, Roy Christiansen and Wayne Kew led the Smokies’ hit parade with two safeties each. For Rossland, Bill Martin slammed a double and a sixth-inning solo home run.
Brandt (L) and Holmes
Rosa (W) and Bird
(June 29) A 7 to 5 conquest of the Fruitvale Beavers vaulted the hosting Rossland Capilanos back into top spot in the West Kootenay Senior circuit. Ernie Sever’s double in the sixth inning drove in a pair of runs to break a 5 – 5 tie and give Rossland the win. The Caps had taken a third-inning 5 to 0 lead before the Valleymen soared back with two in the fifth and three in the sixth to tie the game. Al DeCecco picked up the hillock triumph in relief of starter Barry Seal. Leander Denny Larson was nicked with the loss after taking over for Lorne Ekstom in the third inning. Al Holm collected three hits for the winners while Sever and Seal each slammed out a pair. Ekstrom nailed a brace of safe swats for the Beavers.
Ekstrom, Larson (L) (3) and DeBruyn
Seal, DeCecco (W) (6) and Holmes
Standings W L Pts
Rossland 6 3 12
Trail 6 4 12
Fruitvale 2 7 4
(July 1) The Trail Smoke Eaters of the West Kootenay Senior Baseball League were shelled out of the first annual Swift Current Shrine invitational baseball tournament when they went down 10 to 2 to the Central Alberta All-Stars in their first game of the single knockout event. Winning pitcher Bob Troutman fanned eight Trail batters, surrendered an equal number of hits and walked three. Trail moundsman Terry McGruder, added to the tournament roster from Spokane, whiffed six and walked four. Second baseman Wayne Kew and Ed Legare, a pickup from Rossland, had two hits each for the Smokies.
Troutman (W) and xxx
McGruder (L), Duthie (9) and Bird
(July 4) Continuing their mastery of the Fruitvale nine, the Rossland Capilanos hammered the Beavers 12 to 3 right on their home turf. A big third-inning eruption, which featured a three-run homer by Ed Legare, netted the Caps six runs and set the tone for the remainder of the contest. Larry Brandt took the bump decision from Paul Troseth who required aid from a pair of relievers. Ernie Sever ripped three bingles for the victors while teammate Al Holm checked in with a brace of raps. For the Beavers, Lorne Ekstrom, Denny Larson and Gordie McDonald all racked up two safe swats.
Brandt (W) and Holmes
Troseth (L), Ekstrom (3), Paugh (6) and DeBruyn
(July 6) The Trail Smoke Eaters edged closer to the top rung on the West Kootenay Senior Baseball League ladder when they blanked the Fruitvale Beavers 2 to 0 in a well-pitched battle between rival portsiders Dennis Zinio of Trail and Fruitvale’s Denny Larson. Both chuckers limited the opposition to just four hits. Catcher Tom Bird’s standup double in the third panel drove in Trail’s first run which ultimately made Zinio the winner. The Smokies added an insurance counter in the sixth to seal the deal. Third baseman Len “Whitey” Paugh of the Beavers was the lone player from either squad to register two hits.
Larson (L) and DeBruyn
Zinio (W) and Bird
Standings W L Pts
Rossland 7 3 14
Trail 7 4 14
Fruitvale 2 9 4
(July 11) The Rossland Capilanos defeated the Fruitvale Beavers 1 to 0 to extend their slight lead in the West Kootenay Senior circuit. Barry Seal of the Caps and “Whitey” Paugh of the Beavers were locked in a tight pitching duel at Jubilee Park until the hometown Rosslanders pushed across the game’s only run in the top of the sixth inning. A walk to Bill Martin followed by junior call-up Don Martin’s two-bagger produced the winning tally. Both teams had six hits with Don Martin’s two doubles topping the class of swatsmiths.
Paugh (L) and DeBruyn
Seal (W) and Holmes
(July 12) It took two extra innings for the Trail Smoke Eaters to break a 3 – 3 deadlock and prevail 4 to 3 in a walkoff win over the league-leading Rossland Capilanos. A clutch single off the bat of outfielder William “Butch” Simpson drove in Glen Babcock with the decisive tally. Import tosser Bob Ashcroft from Spokane bested Larry Brandt on the hill in taking the victory. Ashcroft was touched for five hits while the Smokies nicked Brandt for seven. Top batters for the Caps were Barry Seal and Ed Legare with two hits each. Simpson, Tom Bird and Roy Christiansen duplicated the feat for the Smeltermen.
Brandt (L) and Holmes
Ashcroft (W) and Bird
(July 13) The Fruitvale Beavers came to life in their own park and fired down the Trail Smoke Eaters 5 to 4 in a game that was marked by Trail errors and a squabble at third base. The victory for the Beavers climaxed a season of near wins. They now have three conquests to their credit and it is noteworthy that most of their setbacks have been by one or two runs meaning that they are by no means the weak sister of the league. The disputed call at the hot corner in the sixth spasm involved Trail outfielder Keith Healey and could have evened the score. Healey tagged up and scored following a snagged outfield fly out but, upon appeal, the base umpire called him out for leaving the sack too soon. Both squads hit well, each manufacturing ten base blows. Jim DeBruyn and Lorne Ekstrom, with two-for-three batting performances, were the leading hitters for the winners. Chatterbox infielder Wayne Kew of the Trailites also swatted the pill for a two-for-three output but it was his teammate, one-eyed wonder Roy Christiansen, whose four-for-four achievement at the dish including a home run, that merited the number one spot on the hit parade.
Duthie (L), Rosa (5) and Bird
Larson (W) and DeBruyn
At his point in the season, the West Kootenay Senior Baseball League suspended play for approximately two weeks duration to tie in with the shutdown of the Cominco smelter. The rationale for the decision lay with the fact that many, if not most, of the players in the three-team circuit were employees of that company and would be taking appropriate vacation time, making it difficult for member clubs to round up a sufficient number of eligible participants for any scheduled games. In the interim, teams were free to participate in exhibition and tournament play by bringing in reinforcements who would otherwise be ineligible for league play.
(July 22) An augmented Trail Smoke Eaters squad suffered a 6 to 4 defeat at the hands of the Penticton Molsons of the Okanagan-Mainline Baseball League in an exhibition tussle played in the Peach City. Both teams clicked for seven hits but the Pentictonites got to left-hander Dennis Zinio for all three of the game’s extra-base blows as catcher Al Richards led the way, registering a triple and single with three RBI’s. Roy Christiansen and Brian Dorey, the latter added to the roster from the Fruitvale Beavers for this skirmish, both singled twice and drove in a run for Trail.
Zinio (L) and Bird
McDermott (W), Fox (7) and Richards
(July 29-30) The reinforced Trail Smoke Eaters swept a brace of exhibition games against the Kimberley Tempests, edging the East Kootenay visitors 7 to 6 on Saturday to begin the weekend series and then following up with a 12-inning 11 to 10 decision in the Sunday finale. In the Saturday fracas, outfielder Roy Christiansen donned the hero’s mantle when his three-run, inside-the-park homer overcame a 6 to 4 Kimberley lead and gave the Smokies the victory.
Neale (L) and xxx
Duthie, M. Dorey (W) (8) and xxx
In Sunday’s free-hitting game which saw each club collect 13 hits, Smokie centre fielder “Butch” Simpson drove home Rob Patterson with the game-winning run in the bottom of the 12th following Patterson’s inning-opening double and an intentional free pass to Roy Christiansen.
Kinrade, James (L) (4) and xxx
Zinio, Brandt (W) (6) and xxx
(August 1) A shorthanded Rossland Capilanos nine showed the adverse effects of a two-week layoff when they returned to action on their home turf and were manhandled 19 to 10 by the Trail Smoke Eaters. The Caps sent four pitchers to the hill, two of them position players, in an unsuccessful attempt to halt the Trail offense which netted 17 base blows. Catcher Tom Bird had a career evening at the platter for the Silver City gang, smacking the horsehide for six hits in six attempts. His half-dozen safeties included four singles, a double and a three-run homer. Jazz Rosa, a rookie in senior company, gave up nine hits in going the route on the bump for the Smeltermen.
Rosa (W) and Bird
Brandt (L), B. Martin, Seal, Holmes and Robertson
(August 2) In a three-team doubleheader played at Butler Park, the hosting Trail Smoke Eaters fell 14 to 6 to the Fruitvale Beavers in the opening match but rebounded to take down the Rossland Capilanos 7 to 5 in the second event. A pair of 15-year old chuckers, just elevated from Babe Ruth League action, figured in both pitching decisions. Trail’s Don Mainland was tagged with the loss in the matinée encounter while Pat Murray, starting on the bump for Rossland against seasoned import Bob Ashcroft from Spokane, was nailed with the defeat in the finale. The Smokies blew a 6 to 0 lead in dropping the first tussle as Fruitvale’s Bryan Dubasov went the route to earn the mound win.
Dubasov (W) and xxx
Mainland (L) and xxx
Veteran tosser Al DeCecco took over for youthful right hander Murray in the second inning of the nightcap and pitched shutout ball the rest of the way against winning import Ashcroft.
Murray (L), DeCecco (2) and xxx
Ashcroft (W) and xxx
(August 3) The Rossland Capilanos powered their way to an 11 to 0 shellacking of the Fruitvale Beavers. Rossland batters managed 12 hits with Bill Martin driving in six runs. Al DeCecco earned the bump decision for the Caps.
Brandt, DeCecco (W) (3) and xxx
Dubasov, Larson (L) (4) and xxx
(August 5-6) The Trail Smoke Eaters, using a number of pickups from most parts of the province as well as a few recruits from Spokane, placed third in the six-team 30th annual Washington state National Baseball Congress tournament held in Bellingham. Trail won their first game 2 to 1 over Richland WA in a 12-inning thriller but were blanked 4 to 0 by the Yakima Indians in their second contest as ex-pro Jack Briggs got the pitching decision over Bob Ashcroft. An 8 to 0 whitewashing at the hands of Bellingham Bells eliminated the West Kootenay club from the finals. Al Roemer of the Trailites went 6-for-12 in the tournament, a torrid .500 pace, but Bellingham’s Dana Halvorson was awarded the batting crown on his 7-for-15 (.467) because he hit for more bases and drove in more runs.
The Smokies held an 8 to 4 advantage in base hits in their opening clash with Richland and won the contest in walk-off style in the bottom-of-the-third-overtime session after Mel Dorey and Al Roemer had one-out singles, moved up 90 feet when winning pitcher Murray Gage-Cole was plunked by a pitch to load the sacks. Richland right hander Russ Smith, who came on in relief in the 11th, then jammed a fastball against the ribs of Keith Wilson to force in the winning run.
Fowler, Smith (L) (11) and Wyrick
Gage-Cole (W) and Keller
The leading hitter for Yakima, the ultimate tournament winner, in the Smokies’ second game was Trail native Larry Kissock who went 2-for-4 at the dish. Kissock was voted as having the best throwing arm amongst the catching brigade in the tourney.
Ashcroft (L) and Keller
Briggs (W) and Kissock
The Bells ran away with the semi-final game, scoring a four-spot in the opening panel. The Smokies managed just four hits, the longest of which was a double by infielder Bill Martin.
Monger (W) and Randall
Webster (L), Gage-Cole (1) and Dorey, Keller
(August 8) Homestanding Rossland retained their hold on first place in the West Kootenay Senior Baseball league by dropping the Fruitvale Beavers 12 to 2. The Capilanos have accrued 11 wins against six loses while runner-up Trail has a 10 and 7 record. Fruitvale has a firm hold on the cellar position with 4 victories and 12 setbacks.
(August 9) For the seventh time this season, a one-run differential separated the Trail Smoke Eaters and the Fruitvale Beavers in their head-to-head jousts. On this occasion, the Smeltermen took a close 1 to 0 verdict as southpaw Dennis Zinio pitched all but the fifth inning to grab the shutout win. The Beavers had a narrow 6 to 5 margin in base hits. A two-out single by outfielder Lou DeRosa in the opening canto drove in fellow flychaser Rob Patterson with the game’s only run.
Larson (L) and Dorey
Zinio (W), Ashcroft (5), Zinio (6) and Bird
(August 11) Despite being outhit by a 10 to 7 margin, the Rossland Capilanos utilized their defensive talent to knock off the Fruitvale Beavers 5 to 3. The Caps provided solid backup for winner Pat Murray and reliever Barry Seal by reeling off three double plays. In addition, the Rossland tandem of mound artists helped their own cause by picking off a pair of Beaver baserunners. Len “Whitey” Paugh was nailed with the hillock loss as his mates stranded 12 baserunners.
Murray (W), Seal (4) and xxx
Paugh (L), Dubasov (4) and xxx
(August 13) A three-run home run in the bottom-of-the-ninth inning allowed the Kimberley Tempests to escape with an 15 to 13 triumph over the Trail Smoke Eaters in the curtain-raiser of an exhibition twin-bill hosted by the East Kootenay aggregation. Jazz Rosa was stung with the first game defeat. The Silver City contingent came back in the second fracas and bombarded Kimberley 15 to 1 as import Bob Ashcroft spun the mound win.
(August 15) The Rossland Capilanos sewed up first place in the West Kootenay Senior Baseball League with an 8 to 1 win over the Trail Smoke Eaters. Larry Brandt tossed a four-hitter, all singles, in the pennant-clinching victory. Losing portsider Dennis Zinio registered 13 punchouts while yielding seven safeties but had control issues, walking seven. Outfielder Ernie Sever had a two-run home run and a double for the Caps. Fellow outer pasture patroller Al Holm also was credited with a two-run four-bagger when Silver City flychasers Keith Healey and Gary Duthie collided while pursuing his outfield drive.
Zinio (L) and Bird
Brandt (W) and Holmes
Standings W L Pts
Rossland 13 6 26
Trail 11 8 22
Fruitvale 4 14 8
(August 16) Outfielder Rocky Cull’s two-run single in the fifth inning lifted the Fruitvale Beavers to a 4 to 3 squeaker over the Trail Smoke Eaters in another hard-fought battle between these two foes. Denny Larson pitched a five-hitter in securing he win. The Beavers had ten base hits including a two-run homer and single by third baseman Mel Dorey and a triple plus a one-bagger by Dan Williams.
Shutek (L) and Simpson
Larson (W) and DeBruyn
(August 17) After dropping nine in a row to the pennant-winning Rossland Capilanos, the Fruitvale Beavers finally were able to hang a loss on the front-runners, dropping the Caps 14 to 9 in the final game of the regular season. “Whitey” Paugh, in a relief role, got credit for the hurling triumph while Golden City starter Al DeCecco was saddled with the loss. Infielder Dan Williams led the Beavers with the baton, spanking the sphere for four safe swats with two doubles included. Al Holm launched a two-run four-ply tater for the Caps.
DeCecco (L), Murray (5) and Holmes
Dubasov, Paugh (W) (5) and DeBruyn
FINAL STANDINGS W L Pct.
Rossland Capilanos 13 7 .650
Trail Smoke Eaters 11 9 .550
Fruitvale Beavers 6 14 .300
(August 19) The East Kootenay All-Stars, paced by an outstanding performance on the mound and at the plate by Terry Carter, belted the short-handed West Kootenay All-Stars 8 to 2 in Kimberley. Carter took the pitching victory, yielding four hits in the three innings he toiled after relieving starter Jim Federick in the fourth. Federick had surrendered six hits. Bob Cuppies hurled the final three frames, issuing three hits. Carter was the deadliest at the plate. He struck out the first time at bat but came back the next three times and dialed long distance with home runs on each occasion to lead the East Kootenay hit parade. Mike Russell also slammed a tater for the winners. Jazz Rosa, a junior-aged rookie with the Trail Smoke Eaters, went the route for the West Kootenay club, giving up ten hits, striking out seven and walking four. The trio of East Kootenay chuckers struck out five and walked just two. Mel Dorey was the top batter for the losers with three singles and a walk. Although outhit 13 to 10, the East Kootenay club sparkled in the field, coming up with four double plays.
(August 22) Final batting averages for the 1967 Trail Smoke Eaters in league play were published in the Trail Daily Times of this date. Tom Bird led in hits, RBI’s and average.
AB H RBI AVR.
Bird 65 25 18 .385
Kew 62 22 12 .355
Simpson 25 8 1 .320
Christiansen 60 19 12 .317
Servatius 14 4 3 .286
Duthie 30 8 5 .267
DeRosa 28 7 5 .250
Roemer 8 2 2 .250
Healey 49 12 13 .245
Zinio 28 6 3 .214
Brost 58 10 5 .172
Rosa 14 2 1 .143
Babcock 14 2 1 .143
Berno 15 2 3 .133
Ashcroft 9 1 0 .111
Jones 12 1 0 .083
PLAYOFFS
SEMI-FINALS Fruitvale vs Trail (best-of-three series)
(August 22) Behind the four-hit pitching of import Bob Ashcroft, the Trail Smoke Eaters crushed the Fruitvale Beavers 15 to 1 in the opener of their semi-final series. The Smokies raked in ten base knocks in the one-sided triumph including two each by Ashcroft, catcher Roy Christiansen and outfielder Keith Healey. Manager “Mushy” Anselmo had to use Christiansen as catcher when regular backstop Tom Bird was forced out of action for an indefinite period with a cut foot.
Larson (L), Dubasov (3) and DeBruyn
Ashcroft (W) and Christiansen
(August 23) The West Kootenay Senior Baseball League semi-finals started anew with the Trail Smoke Eaters and Fruitvale Beavers battling to a 2 – 2 tie in a game shortened to seven innings because of darkness. Trail’s apparent win in the first game was thrown out by league president Roy Hendrickson on the basis of import pitcher Bob Ashcroft’s ineligibility for the playoffs. Ashcroft had not participated in the mandatory eight league games to qualify. In the repeat opener played at Fruitvale, Art Field’s bases-loaded single staked the Beavers to a 2 to 0 first-inning lead. Trail responded with singletons in the third and fourth while the final three frames were scoreless. The Smokies collected 11 hits to just four for the Beavers. Raking in two hits apiece were Howie Brost, Roy Christiansen, Rob Patterson, Al Roemer and pitcher Dennis Zinio of the Smeltermen as well as Mel Dorey of the Beavers.
Zinio and Christiansen
Paugh, Larson (2), M. Dorey (7) and DeBruyn
(August 23) Awaiting the outcome of the league semi-finals, the Rossland Capilanos staged a three-run sixth-inning uprising to edge out the Slocan Silver Kings of the Slocan Valley Senior Baseball League 7 to 5 in an exhibition encounter played at Jubilee Park in the Golden City. In spite of plating five runs, the visitors had only three hits, one off the slants of each Rossland pitcher. Keystone combo partners Bill Martin and Rich Miller each had two hits and a pair of RBI’s for the Caps.
Storgaard (L), Bjerg (6) and Nash
Murray, Fisher (4), Seal (W) (5) and Holmes
(August 24) The Trail Smoke Eaters once again took a one-game lead in the best-of-three semi-final series by trouncing the Fruitvale Beavers 10 to 4. Diminutive right hander Jazz Rosa held the Beavers in check as he scattered eight hits, gave up two walks and fanned seven. The Smokies were not overpowering at the plate in their triumph, mustering just four hits, but Fruitvale chuckers, loser Bryan Dubasov and reliever “Whitey” Paugh, issued ten walks and the Silver City nine were able to come through with key hits at the most opportune times. Trail centre fielder Keith Healey was especially receptive to the Beaver pitchers’ generosity as he drew four free passes. Fruitvale leadoff hitter Rocky Cull led all willow wielders with a three-hit performance.
Dubasov (L), Paugh (2) and DeBruyn
Rosa (W) and Bird
(August 28) The Fruitvale Beavers deadlocked their semi-final series with the Trail Smoke Eaters at a game apiece by taking down the Smokies 7 to 2 in a contest that was halted after 5-1/2 innings of play because of darkness. Denny Larson yielded seven safeties and fanned an equal number in gaining the nod over Trail moundsman Dennis Zinio who was the victim of poor defensive support. Brian Dorey led the Beavers at the plate with a triple, double and two RBI’s. Second sacker Ernie Brown also had a brace of bingles, one of which was a three-bagger. For the Trailites, Zinio and Gary Duthie both picked up a pair of hits.
Zinio (L), Duthie (5) and Bird
Larson (W) and DeBruyn
(August 29) It’s onto the West Kootenay Senior Baseball League finals for the Fruitvale Beavers and curtains for the Trail Smoke Eaters as playing-manager Jim DeBruyn’s youthful squad got a fine pitching performance from Bryan Dubasov, who three-hit “Mushy” Anselmo’s Smokies, and shut them out 1 to 0 in the rubber match of their series. The victory for the Beavers was achieved in an extra inning as both clubs failed to score in regulation play. Fruitvale picked up four hits off the slants of losing flinger Jazz Rosa who was also outstanding on the bump. Beaver third baseman Mel Dorey opened the top of the overtime session with a walk then pilfered the keystone pillow. Ernie Brown followed with a double to plate Dorey before Rosa was able to retire the next three batters. The Smokies threatened in their half of the stanza when John Drysdale and Dennis Zinio reached third and second base respectively on a walk and a hit batsman. With two out, Trail shortstop Howie Brost smashed one of Dubasov’s fastballs squarely on the nose but almost directly at right fielder Bill Thompson who had to take only a few steps to make the game-ending catch.
Dubasov (W) and DeBruyn
Rosa (L) and Bird
FINALS Fruitvale vs Rossland (best-of-five series)
(August 30) Three runs in the fifth chapter, two of which touched home as the result of a circuit-clout by Bill Martin, opened the door for the Rossland Capilanos who went on to down the Fruitvale Beavers 7 to 2 in the first game of the 1967 West Kootenay Senior League finals. Ed Legare was responsible for Rossland’s final pair of markers when he also connected for a two-run round-tripper, this one coming in the sixth.
Ekstrom (L) and DeBruyn
Murray, Brandt (W) (1) and Holmes
(September 1-2-3-4) A beefed-up Trail Smoke Eaters nine won three games and first prize money of $400 in the annual Penticton Labor Day weekend tournament. In their first match, the Smokies defeated host Penticton Molsons 3 to 1 with Bob Ashcroft taking the hillock win. Keith Healey and Bob Cox had homers in this game. In Trail’s second encounter, they faced Vancouver CYO and won 6 to 1. Dennis Zinio was the winning pitcher and received offensive help from John Drysdale who belted a round-tripper.
Sunday, Trail won a close 2 to 1 decision over St. John’s WA. Jazz Rosa went the distance for the Smokies with Mel Dorey nailing a four-bagger.
The Silver City squad lost one game, 9 to 7 against the Vernon Luckies in the finals on Monday but since the tournament was a double-knockout affair, Trail was still in contention for the top prize. Vernon had lost their first game of the tourney to St. John’s.
In the final game of the event, the Trailites swamped the Okanagan-Mainline League club 14 to 4 behind the four-hit pitching of John Drysdale. Of the ten homers hit in the tournament, Trail batters collected eight of them.
(September 5) The Rossland Capilanos made it two straight wins in the West Kootenay Senior finals by edging the Fruitvale Beavers 1 to 0 in a rain and darkness abbreviated game of five innings in Fruitvale. Winning pitcher Larry Brandt allowed four hits, all singles, and issued two bases on balls. The Caps collected five hits off southpaw Denny Larson with shortstop Rich Miller picking up two of them. Rival shortpatcher Bob Cox also had a brace of safeties. Rossland’s lone run came in the fifth session when Miller singled and moved to second on Bob Profili’s sacrifice bunt. Don Holmes then reached first after being plunked by Larson. When Bill Martin lined a hard drive in the direction of the keystone sack, second baseman Art Field fielded the bouncer, stepped on the pillow to force an incoming Holmes and inadvertently nailed the big Capilano catcher with the ball while attempting to throw to first to complete a double play. A mild rhubarb developed over the play but Miller was allowed to cross the plate.
Brandt (W) and Holmes
Larson (L) and DeBruyn
(September 6) The Fruitvale Beavers moved back into contention for the West Kootenay Senior Baseball title by doubling the Rossland Capilanos 8 to 4 at Jubilee Park. The Beavers exploded for a six-spot in the sixth panel, highlighted by shortstop Bob Cox’s three-run homer, which provided them with more than enough to maintain a margin for victory. Three chuckers were used by the winners in their do-or-die triumph with starter “Whitey” Paugh gaining the nod for the win. Cox was the lone swatter from either side to amass a plural hit total, lacing a single in addition to his dinger. Cap backstop Don Holmes was given the heave-ho in the fourth spasm when a king-sized melee developed.
Paugh (W), Dubasov (6), Larson (6) and DeBruyn
DeCecco and Holmes, Robertson (4)
(September 7) The Rossland Capilanos retained the West Kootenay Senior Baseball crown by registering a convincing 12 to 2 victory over the Fruitvale Beavers. Larry Brandt, ace Cap hurler, racked up his third win of the series with a four-hitter. After the Beavers took a second-inning 2 to 0 lead, the Golden City nine bunched their thunder into the fifth panel to knock starter and loser Denny Larson from the hill by plating five tallies. Seven more in the sixth put the game out of reach. From then on, it was duck soup. Brandt and his batterymate, catcher Don Holmes, both had a pair of hits for the repeat champions.
Brandt (W) and Holmes
Larson (L), Ekstrom (5), Paugh (6) and DeBruyn
1967 KOOTENAY CHALLENGE SERIES
Kimberley Tempests (East Kootenay titlist) vs Rossland Capilanos (West Kootenay winner)
(September 10) With Bill Johnson hammering out two three-run homers, the Kimberley Tempests hung an 8 to 3 loss on the visiting Rossland Capilanos.
(September 17) The Rossland Capilanos, down one game in their best-of-three series for the Kootenay championship, swept both ends of a doubleheader in Rossland to retain the title for another year. The Caps bombed the Kimberley Tempests 10 to 1 in the opening game and shaded them 7 to 4 in the final contest.
Capilano chucker Al DeCecco went all the way in the curtain-raiser to get the decision, giving up six scattered hits. Rossland hammered losing pitcher Jim Seredick for 13 base knocks including a two-run circuit-blast by Bill Martin. Al Holm collected three hits while Ed Legare, Ernie Sever and Don Holmes picked up two apiece. The Caps broke the game open in the sixth canto with a six-run outburst.
Seredick (L) and Cupples
DeCecco (W) and Holmes
In the second game, Denny Larson, picked up from Fruitvale for the finals, earned the mound victory in relief of starter Larry Brandt. Slabman Sullivan, the first of three Kimberley hurlers, was saddled with the defeat. Trailing 3 to 1 as the sixth inning began, the Caps came alive offensively and pushed a half dozen counters across the dish. The Tempests had a 10 to 8 edge in base knocks but the Golden City nine were better opportunists when bingles meant bacon. Larson and Al Holm of the winners clipped the orb for two safe swats apiece while Kimberley’s Sullivan and flychaser Russell duplicated the feat.
Sullivan (L), Neale (6), xxx (6) and James
Brandt, Larson (W) and Holmes
WEST KOOTENAY JUNIOR BASEBALL LEAGUE
Castlegar
Cranbrook
Grand Forks
Nelson Texans
Rossland junior Capilanos
Trail Conacher News
FINAL STANDINGS W L Pct. GBL
Nelson Texans 15 5 .750 ----
Trail Conacher News 14 6 .700 1.0
Cranbrook 11 9 .550 4.0
Rossland Jr. Capilanos 11 9 .550 4.0
Grand Forks 6 14 .300 9.0
Castlegar 3 17 .150 12.0
SEMI-FINALS Rossland junior Capilanos vs Trail Conacher News (best-of-three series)
(August 12-13) The Trail Conacher News defeated the Rossland Junior Capilanos by scores of 8 to 5 and 7 to 1 to win their section of the WKJBL semi-finals in two straight games. In the first game played Saturday in Rossland, the Newsmen, with a five-run outburst in the seventh inning gained the come-from-behind victory. Al Doherty and Rob Paterson had a big game for the winners. Doherty stroked three hits and drove in three runs while Paterson had a pair of safeties and two-RBI’s. Mike Ward went the route for the mound victory, allowing 11 hits. Farrell McLellan suffered the defeat, bowing to reliever Rich Miller in the seventh stanza. Together, they gave up nine hits.
Ward (W) and Sanders
McLellan (L), Miller (7) and Cederholm
In the second fracas played Sunday at Butler Park, it was Doherty who gained the knoll triumph, firing a magnificent two-hitter in the seven-inning contest. The Trail right-hander fanned nine, walked only three and helped his own cause with the lumber by driving in a brace of tallies. Paterson and Babe Ruth call-up Norm Larmour led the ten-hit assault by the Newsmen with a pair of base raps each.
Cederholm (L) and McFarland
Doherty (W) and Schleppe
FINALS Nelson Texans vs Trail Conacher News (best-of-five series)
(August 27) The Trail Conacher News and the Nelson Texans opened the WKJBL finals by splitting their doubleheader. In the first encounter, the pennant-winning Texans came out on top 5 to 3, scoring the winning and insurance markers in the bottom-of the fifth and sixth innings. Bob Jeffs was the winning hurler for the hosts, yielding nine hits, walking two and fanning six in a complete-game mound effort. Mike Ward was tagged with the setback, allowing seven hits, walking three and whiffing six. Jeffs helped his own cause with a pair of hits, driving in two runs, while teammate Reg Cherenko also hit safely twice. For the Newsmen, Babe Ruther Norm Larmour collected two hits and drove in a brace of counters. Neil Sanders and Al Doherty also drilled two base raps for the Smelter City visitors.
A nine-run second spasm by the Newsmen was the difference in the late encounter. Altogether the Trailites banged out 14 hits to seven for the Texans. Rob Paterson, the third of three Conacher heavers, was credited with the victory while Nelson starter Cherenko was saddled with the defeat. Neil Sanders was the hitting leader for the winners with three hits while Ward provided key blows in driving in four runs. Ward and catcher Ernie Schleppe had two hits apiece while Nelson’s Terry Hughes stroked three hits.
(August 31) The Trail Conacher Newsmen of Fred and Gerry Bucchini won the West Kootenay Junior Baseball League championship for 1967 by defeating the defending British Columbia champion Nelson Texans 7 to 3 and 6 to 1 to take the best-of-five final series three games to one. Mike Ward fired a five-hitter at the Texans in the matinée contest, whiffing 14 along the way. He walked just one and was never in any serious trouble. The Newsmen knocked Nelson starter and loser Reg Cherenko from the rubber in the opening panel when Cherenko failed to retire any of the first five swatters he faced. Les McInnis and Rick Brown drove in two runs each for the winners while Armando Porco stroked two safeties for the Texans.
Cherenko (L), Fitchener and Allen
Ward (W) and xxx
A strong relief performance by Don Mainland sparked the Newsmen in the follow-up joust. After coming to the aid of starter Chris Buccini, who was forced to leave the contest with a sore arm, Mainland allowed no hits and rang up ten of a possible twelve punchouts during the time he toiled on the bump. Rick Brown and Rob Paterson had two hits apiece for the new champions while Ted Allen had two of the four Nelson hits.
Jeffs (L) and Allen
Bucchini (W), D. Mainland (4) and xxx
EAST KOOTENAY BASEBALL LEAGUE
Golden Kicking Horse Selects
Kimberley Angels
Kimberley Tempests
(June 4) Kimberley Angels and Golden-Kicking Horse split a double-header Sunday at Golden Community Park. The visitors took the opener when they scored four unearned runs to top the Selects 4-1. Bill Dahlberg, relieved by Jim Nelson in the fifth, took the loss. The Selects rebounded to win the second game 2-1 behind the hurling of Nelson.
(June 14) Kimberley Angels notched their second straight win over local rivals the Tempests by a 7-6 count at Coronation Park. The win hoisted the Angels into first place with three wins against a single loss. Mike Russell was the winning hurler, besting Jerry Carter. Jim Seredick cracked a homer for the Tempests but the key blow was a bases-loaded double by Gary Bock they gave the Angles the lead in the late going.
(June 18) Golden-Kicking Horse Selects divided Sunday's twin bill with Kimberley Tempests in East Kootenay League action winning 7-6 and losing 7-3. In the first game, winning pitcher Bill Dahlberg was the victim of six unearned runs but managed to hang on for the victory giving up just four hits. Jim Nelson sparked the attack with four hits. Lenny Knight provided the margin of victory with a two-run triple in the seventh inning. In the second game, Tempests broke loose for four runs in the first inning off starter Ed Stewart and coasted to the win.
Kimberley Angels 3 – 1
Golden Selects 2 – 2
Kimberley Tempests 1 – 3