1968 Vancouver, Lower Mainland, Fraser Valley
1968 BC Interior
1968 Vancouver Island
OKANAGAN MAINLINE LEAGUE
Kamloops Lelands
Kelowna Labatts
Penticton Molsons
Vernon Luckies
(April 28) The defending champion Penticton Molsons pushed across four runs in the eighth inning for a come-from-behind 6 to 4 win over the visiting Kamloops Lelands in one of the two 1968 OMBL openers. Sixth-inning reliever Jim Terbasket took the hurling decision while Dan Defries, the second of three Kamloops chuckers, was tagged with the defeat. Jim Alton and George Makortoff drove in two runs each for the vanquished Hotelmen.
Haywood, Defries (L) (5), Smith (8) and Begg
Neuls, Terbasket (W) (6) and Lindhe
(April 28) Erupting for eight runs in the second inning, the Kelowna Labatts went on to hammer the homestanding Vernon Luckies 15 to 1 behind the five-hit pitching of Pat McMahon.
McMahon (W) and Leonard
Keckalo (L), Pollon (2), Main (6), Malinoski (9) and Nuyens
(May 5) Solid relief pitching by Bob Haywood and Randy Rota’s three-run homer piloted the Kamloops Lelands to their first win of the new OMBL season, an 8 to 5 conquest of the hosting Kelowna Labatts. Haywood earned the win after ascending the bump in the fifth frame in relief of starter Dan Defries. Rota wound up with four RBI’s while teammate Lynn Bylund registered three. Pat McMahon, the first of three chuckers used by the Regatta City nine, was charged with the setback.
Defries, Haywood (W) (5) and McAvoy
McMahon (L), Nelson (8), Moore (8) and Leonard
(May 9) Reg Main’s seven-hitter carried the Vernon Luckies to a 6 to 4 win over the Kamloops Lelands at Riverside Park. Vernon collected 11 hits, including a third-inning home run by Gord Nuyens, off two Leland chuckers. Main helped his own cause by pounding out two doubles and a single. Lynn Bylund and Steve Yarno each had two of the seven hits yielded by Main. One of Yarno’s blows was a double. Jim Alton went yard with a ninth-inning four-bagger for the losers.
Main (W) and Malinosky
Haywood (L), Smith (4) and McAvoy
(May 12) The Kamloops Lelands avenged their setback at the hands of Vernon just three days previous by squeezing out a slim 3 to 2 Polson Park victory over the hosting Vernonites. Dave Murphy, who needed relief help from Dan Defries in the eighth, fanned six in earning the mound verdict.
Murphy (W), Defries (8) and Marchuk, Begg (4)
Nuyens (L) and Malinosky
(May 12) At Kings Park in Penticton, the Kelowna Labatts jumped into an early 7 – 2 lead and then watched as the Peach City Boys chipped away and finally scored a 9 to 8 victory in 11 innings. The winners sent the contest into overtime with a last gasp bottom-of-the-ninth tally. Tight relief pitching over the final nine sessions of the contest by winning heaver Bill Neuls kept Penticton in the game and allowed his batterymate, catcher Jim Heighton, to win the fracas with a solo dinger in the bottom-of-the second round of bonus time. Neuls allowed just one Kelowna marker during his tenure on the knoll and belted a homer as well. Gerry Roberston had a four-ply jack for the losing Regatta Towners.
Terbasket, Neuls (W) (2) and Heighton
Vetter, McMahon (L) (5) and Leonard
(May 16) The Kamloops Lelands jumped to an early 5 – 0 lead and then hung on to defeat the rampaging Kelowna Labatts 5 to 4 at Riverside Park. Starter Don Clovechok went six innings to pick up the win. The Hoteliers collected all their runs off loser Pat McMahon as Clovechok drove in two of them. Carl Nelson took over twirling chores for the Labatts in the fourth and limited the Lelands to one hit the rest of the way.
McMahon (L), Nelson (4) and Leonard
Clovechok (W), Defries (7), Smith (7) and Begg
(May 18) The Kelowna Labatts lost a 4 to 3 squeaker to the Penticton Molsons.
(May 19) The Vernon Luckies blanked Kelowna 7 to 0 behind the five-hit twirling of Reg Main.
Main (W) and Malinosky
Zinio (L) and Baird
(May 19) The Kamloops Okonots did everything they could to throw the game away but still upset league-leading Penticton 10 to 8 in OMBL action at Kings Park. The Hotelmen committed ten errors in the ten-inning fracas and fell behind 7 – 2 at one stage. However, they forced the game into extra innings with two runs in the ninth and then plated the winning counter in the overtime session when Steve Yarno doubled off losing heaver Bill Neuls to drive in Randy Rota. Yarno then tallied the insurance marker on a Penticton error. Three round-trippers were launched during the game, one each by Yarno of the victors as well as Coutts and Jim Heighton of the Peach City nine. Southpaw Don Clovechok, the fourth chucker used by Kamloops, was credited with the win.
Haywood, Smith (1), Defries (2), Clovechok (10) and Begg
Neuls (L), Terbasket (10) and Coy
(May 31) Craig Christensen hurled one-hit ball for seven innings as the hosting Penticton Molsons dumped the Kelowna Labatts 7 to 2 at Kings Park. Christensen bowed out with a healthy 7 – 0 lead as Ken MacDermott pitched the final two rounds for the Peach City gang, giving up both Kelowna counters on one hit.
Vetter (L) and Bird
Christensen (W), MacDermott (8) and Heighton
(June 4) Dan Defries and Vince Smith combined to hold visiting Vernon to just four hits as the Kamloops Lelands scored in the bottom-of-the-ninth to take a 3 to 2 verdict from the Luckies at Riverside Park. Reliever Smith picked up the mound victory, allowing no hits while recording two strikeouts in the 1-1/3 innings that he toiled. Starter Defries fanned five during his tenure on the knoll. The Hotelmen held a 2 – 1 edge entering the eighth episode but that lead was wiped out when the Luckies’ Cliff Loring blasted a solo circuit-clout off Defies. In the ninth, Dave Murphy drilled a one-out double off complete-game loser Gord Nuyens and scored the deciding marker seconds later on Eric Shishido’s game-ending single. Nuyens breezed three and was nicked for seven Kamloops’ base raps.
Nuyens (L) and Malinoski
Defries, Smith (W) (8) and Begg
(June 8-9) The Kamloops Lelands pulled away from the pack in the OMBL during the weekend by taking two games from the Penticton Molsons at Riverside Park. Saturday night, the Hotelmen trimmed the visitors 5 to 2 as Vince Smith went the route, tossing an eight-hitter. Sunday afternoon, Smith upped his won-loss record to 3 – 0 when he won in relief as the Lelands triumphed 8 to 6. The twin wins extended the Lelands’ undefeated streak to six games and increased the club’s first-place margin to 1-1/2 games over the Vernon Luckies. Smith had 11 punchouts in the Saturday affair as he rang up his second knoll win of the campaign.
Terbasket (L), Neuls (5) and Lindhe
Smith (W) and Begg
Entering the final frame of the Sunday encounter, the combatants were locked in a 5 – 5 tie, compliments of Randy Rota’s run-scoring single in the bottom-of-the-eighth. Penticton regained the lead when Ed Folk dialed long distance with a bases-empty tater to open the ninth. In the bottom half of the round, after Lynn Bylund had singled and Ed Begg walked, playing-manager Gord Beecroft of the Lelands inserted himself in the lineup as a pinch-hitter and, on the first pitch from import Craig Christensen, went yard for a three-run dinger and the walkoff win.
Christensen (L) and Lindhe
Haywood, Defries (2), Smith (W) (8) and Begg
(June 15) The Kelowna Labatts whipped the Vernon Luckies 6 to 1 behind the six-hit pitching of 19-year old Don Favell who was making his first pitching start in four years.
(June 15) In spite of holding a 6 to 4 advantage in base hits, the Kamloops Lelands had their six-game win streak snapped when they were doubled 4 to 2 by the hometown Penticton Molsons. Penticton did all their damage in the first three innings when they got to losing chucker Dan Defries for their quartet of tallies. Jim Terbasket needed some relief assistance but was credited with his third win of the season.
Defries (L), Smith (3) and Begg
Terbasket (W), Atcheson (7), Neuls (9) and Heighton
(June 16) The Vernon Luckies consolidated their hold on second-place in the OMBL by taking both ends of a double-dip from Penticton by scores of 4 to 0 and 5 to 3. In the matinée portion of the twin-bill, Vernon’s Reg Main fashioned a no-hitter to earn his sixth straight win.
(June 20) The Vernon Luckies pinned a third straight loss on the baseballers from Kamloops, doubling the Lelands 6 to 3 at Riverside Park. Gord Nuyens went the distance on the hill for the Luckies, yielding seven hits and recording nine strikeouts. Vince Smith started for the Hotelmen but left after the fourth with the score tied 3 – 3. Nuyens helped his cause with a solo dinger and a pair of singles. Teammate Russ Keckalo also slugged a bases-empty tater as well as delivering a two-run single.
Nuyens (W) and Malinoski
Smith, Murphy (L) (5) and Begg
(June 23) The Kamloops Lelands dropped their fourth consecutive OMBL contest when they were humbled 13 to 7 by the Vernon Luckies at Polson Park. The Hotelmen used four hurlers. Vince Smith started and then, in rapid succession, it was “Bud" Aikens, Bob Haywood and Eric Shishido. Smith was nicked with the loss. Gordie Nuyens started for the homesters and picked up the win although he needed relief help from Reg Main.
(June 27) Rain halted an OMBL game between Kamloops and Kelowna at Riverside Park with the score tied 3 – 3 in the top of the eighth inning. Kelowna had the bases loaded when the game was called. Ron Harcus belted a solo circuit-jack for the Regatta Towners while clubmate Renny Rantucci had a pair of safeties.
Vetter and Favell
Smith and Begg
STANDINGS W L Pct. GBL
Vernon 10 4 .714 ----
Kamloops 8 5 .615 1.5
Penticton 6 9 .400 4.5
Kelowna 5 9 .357 5.0
(June 29 - July 1) Penticton Dominion Day baseball tournament
(July 3) League-leading Vernon pounded out 17 base hits and coasted to an easy 11 to 0 Okanagan-Mainline League victory over Kelowna behind the five-hit pitching of Reg Main. It was the sixth consecutive win for Vernon and broke a four-game winning streak for Kelowna. Rick Sugden went yard with a tater for the winners.
Main (W) and Nuyens, Inglis (3)
Vetter (L), Kappenman (5) and Favell
(July 6) The Penticton Molsons committed six errors and blew a 7 – 1 lead in handing the Kamloops Lelands an 8 to 7 gift-wrapped OMBL win at Riverside Park. Nursing a six-run edge, thanks in large part to Herb Moore’s three-run homer in the seventh spasm, the Peach City aggregation experienced a late meltdown as the Hotelmen plated four counters in the seventh and followed that up with a three-spot in the eighth to snatch victory from the hands of defeat. Fittingly, the ultimate winning tally resulted from a fielding miscue. Hard-luck Jim Terbasket gave up only five hits in absorbing the complete-game setback. Moore had a single to go along with his round-tripper to lead the losers’ nine-hit offensive thrust.
Terbasket (L) and Grover, Coates (7)
Smith, Defries (W) (7), Clovechok (9) and Lidster
(July 10) A ninth-inning rally by the Penticton Molsons fell just short as the visiting Kelowna Labatts hung on for a 9 to 8 OMBL win at Kings Park. Kelowna hurler Al Vetter went 8-2/3 innings on the hill to record the win. Gerry Robertson sparked the offense for the victors with a brace of taters while Penticton catcher Elroy Jacobs, not to be undone, also launched a duo of dingers.
(July 11) Winning pitcher Reg Main nailed a two-out double in the top-of-the-eighth inning to break a 2 – 2 tie and drive in Cliff Loring with the ultimate winning run as the front-running Vernon Luckies beat the Kamloops Lelands 4 to 2 to increase their lead atop the OMBL to 2-1/2 games over the Hoteliers. Clark Inglis followed with an RBI-single to plate Main with the insurance tally. Main recorded eight punchouts and allowed six hits, only two coming after the second stanza. Russ Keckalo had a double and sing to top Vernon’s seven-hit attack. Ed Begg singled twice for the losers.
Main (W) and Inglis
Clovechok, Smith (L) (7) and Lidster, Begg (3)
(July 18) The Kamloops Lelands split two OMBL games with the Kelowna Labatts at Riverside Park, taking the first 9 to 8 and losing the second 11 to 2. The first game was a two-inning affair, the completion of a June 27 game that was halted by rain in the eighth inning with the score tied at 3 – 3. Plenty of scoring occurred once action was resumed with the Labatts jumping ahead 8 to 3 in the top-of-the-round before the Lelands responded with four counters in their half of the eighth, the first coming on a leadoff home run by “Bud” Atkins and the final two crossing the dish as a result of Eric Shishido’s two-run single. Winning heaver Vince Smith retired the side in the Kelowna ninth while, in the bottom-half of the panel, George Makortoff delivered a two-RBI single off losing twirler Les Schaeffer to cap the comeback.
In the regularly-scheduled clash, a seven-inning affair, Schaeffer redeemed himself by limiting the Hoteliers to four hits in going the route. Smith, relieved by Dan Defries in the fourth inning, was the loser. Gerry Robertson contributed two hits and three RBI’s to the Regatta City 14-hit attack as every player in the Labatts’ lineup had at least one safety.
(July 20) The Kelowna Labatts kept on the heels of Kamloops for the runner-up spot in the OMBL when they thumped the Penticton Molsons 12 to 6. The Labatts collected 16 hits off four Molson tossers and took advantage of six errors by the losers. Ray Kappenman, the second of a trio of chuckers used by the Regatta Towners, won his first decision of the season. Wayne Leonard was a standout at the plate for Kelowna, hitting the game’s only home run and driving in five runs.
Neuls (L), Koroluk (4), Moore (8), Coutts (8) and Heighton
Lazzerotto, Kappenman (W) (3), Zinio (9) and Favell
(July 21) The second-place Kamloops Lelands forfeited their scheduled clash at Vernon to the league-leading Luckies when an insufficient number of players were available for the road trip.
(July 23) A 4 to 2 victory over the hosting Kelowna Labatts earned the Kamloops Lelands at least a tie for second place in the OMBL final standings. Winning heaver Vince Smith held the Kelownans scoreless over the final six innings after taking over mound duties from starter Don Clovechok in the fourth frame. Allan Vetter went the distance in taking the loss. Randy Rota led the Hotelmen offensively by stroking four singles. Steve Yarno and Eric Shishido followed with two safeties each.
Clovechok, Smith (W) (4) and Begg
Vetter (L) and Favell
(July 24) Reg Main racked up his 12th consecutive OMBL victory as the pennant-winning Vernon Luckies beat the fourth-place Penticton Molsons 3 to 1. Main allowed just two hits and whiffed ten in his tenure on the bump before turning the horsehide over to Gord Nuyens for the final four chapters. Nuyens added seven more punchouts while yielding the final two Penticton base raps. Losing twirler Jim Terbasket pitched well in defeat, giving up just five hits. Ken MacDermott homered for the lone Kelowna counter while the Luckies’ Russ Keckalo also delivered a four-ply clout. Main finished a stellar regular season with a 10 – 0 record and a 1.06 earned run average, surrendering 12 earned runs over 102 innings.
Main (W), Nuyens (6) and Nuyens, Inglis (6)
Terbasket (L) and Heighton
(July 27) The Kamloops Lelands overcame a five-run deficit to defeat the Penticton Molsons 9 to 8 at Riverside Stadium to clinch second place in the OMBL standings. Vince Smith went the distance for the Hoteliers, striking out 11 while yielding ten hits. Ed Folk, the second of three hurlers used by the Molsons, was tagged with the defeat. Eric Shishido had three hits, including a fifth-frame round-tripper, for the victors. Dan Coates homered for the Peach City nine in the opening canto.
Terbasket, Folk (L) (6), MacDermott (7) and Heighton
Smith (W) and Lidster
PLAYOFFS
SEMI-FINALS Kelowna vs Vernon & Penticton vs Kamloops (best-of-five series)
(August 3) Jim Terbasket’s two-hit pitching carried the Penticton Molsons to a 2 to 1 OMBL semi-final victory over the Kamloops Lelands at Riverside Park. Both Terbasket and losing chucker Vince Smith went the distance in the hard-fought series’ opener. Smith allowed five hits and struck out 12 while Terbasket recorded nine punchouts. Penticton’s runs came in the second inning and were both unearned. Gord Beecroft scored the Lelands’ only run in the seventh when Terbasket gave up four walks. Elroy Jacobs had three hits for the winners including a double.
Terbasket (W) and Jacobs
Smith (L) and Begg
(August 4) The pennant-winning Vernon Luckies whipped the Kelowna Labatts 7 to 2 in the opener of their best-of-five semi-final series. The Luckies scored five runs in the first two innings and coasted to their victory behind the five-hit twirling of Reg Main. Kelowna’s Gerry Robertson hit the game’s only home run, a solo shot in the second stanza.
Vetter (L) and Favell
Main (W) and Inglis
(August 10) Vince Smith pitched a four-hitter and hit a home run in pacing the Kamloops Lelands to a 4 to 2 trimming of the Penticton Molsons, squaring their semi-final set-to at a game apiece. The Hotelmen collected eight hits off losing chucker Jim Terbasket, including three singles by Randy Rota. The game was scoreless until the bottom-of-the-fifth when Smith launched a moonshot, with George Makortoff aboard, for a no-doubter and a 2 – 0 lead. The Molsons tied the game in the top-of-the-sixth but the Lelands quickly regained the lead in their half of the chapter when Terbasket was nicked for three base raps. Randy Rota scored what proved to be the winner from third base when Makortoff poked a bingle through the infield. A passed ball in the ninth provided Kamloops with an insurance tally. Smith had a one-bagger to go along with his goner while Ed Begg chipped in with a brace of singles.
Terbasket (L) and Heighton
Smith (W) and Lidster
(August 13) Vernon forced a fifth and deciding game in their semi-final series with Kelowna by defeating the hometown Labatts 6 to 2. Reg Main struck out 16 and tossed a four-hitter for the winners to annex the hillock verdict. He also drove in the tie-breaking run with a perfectly-executed squeeze bunt in the seventh stanza. Kelowna’s Allan Vetter, raked for 11 safeties, was charged with the loss.
Main (W) and Nuyens
Vetter (L) and Favell
(August 15) The list of seven OMBL hitters exceeding the .300 or better batting mark for the 1968 regular season was released on this date, appearing in the Kamloops Sentinel:
AB R H HR Aver.
Gerry Robertson (Kelowna) 80 19 33 7 .413
Clark Inglis (Vernon) 59 15 21 0 .356
Randy Rota (Kamloops) 65 15 23 1 .354
Don Archer (Vernon) 55 13 18 1 .327
Russ Keckalo (Vernon) 64 15 20 5 .313
Gord Nuyens (Vernon) 71 16 22 3 .310
Wayne Leonard (Kelowna) 88 14 27 1 .307
(August 17 –18) Kamloops spotted Penticton a 9 to 5 victory Saturday before winning a Sunday encounter 8 to 3 to force a fifth and final game in their OMBL semi-final showdown. Winning pitcher Jim Terbasket allowed only five hits in the Saturday clash while the Kamloops’ duo of Vince Smith and “Bud” Atkins were nicked for 11. The Peach City nine were never headed after pushing across six counters in their first turn at bat. Jim Heighton of the victors and Gord Beecroft of the Hoteliers both belted home runs.
Smith (L), Atkins (1) and Lidster
Terbasket (W) and Jacobs
Following his early departure in the Saturday affair, Vince Smith was once again given the starting assignment in the Sunday tilt and, on this occasion, he was far more effective. Smith and the Molson’s Dan Coutts both went the route and both surrendered ten safeties but Smith was better able to space the safeties garnered off his slants. Penticton’s four errors also contributed to their undoing.
Smith (W) and Begg
Coutts (L) and Jacobs
(August 18) Homestanding Vernon nosed out a surprisingly stubborn Kelowna nine 4 to 3 in ten innings to capture their semi-final series three-games-to-two. Russ Keckalo proved to be the hero for the Luckies in this elimination match, drilling a single in the bottom-of-the bonus round of play to drive in Don Archer with the winning run. Keckalo had homered earlier in the game. Les Schaeffer had a four-bagger for the vanquished nine. Both teams had eight base raps as Reg Main decisioned southpaw Dennis Zinio.
Zinio (L) and Leonard
Main (W) and Nuyens
(August 24) Jim Terbasket struck out 14 and scored the winning run as the Penticton Molsons eliminated the Kamloops Lelands from the playoffs with a 2 to 1, ten-inning victory. Terbasket doubled with two out in the top-of-the-extra frame and scored the deciding counter of Ed Folk’s single. The Penticton right-hander then set the Lelands down in order in the last-of-the-tenth to complete a brilliant pitching performance. He gave up just two hits, one of which was Ed Begg’s solo tater in the fifth frame that tied the score. The Molsons took a 1 – 0 lead in the second spasm when Herb Moore raced home from third when losing heaver Vince Smith had difficulty in fielding Jim Altimore’s bunt which went for a base hit. Smith allowed seven hits and racked up 17 punchouts.
Terbasket (W) and Heighton
Smith (L) and Begg
(August 30 – September 1-2) Kamloops Labor Day weekend tournament
FINALS Penticton vs Vernon (best-of-five series)
(September 8) The Vernon Luckies took a one-game lead in the OMBL finals by blanking the Penticton Molsons 5 to 0. Assisted by a bevy of Penticton errors, Vernon scored all five of their runs in the sixth stanza off losing chucker Jim Terbasket. The Peach City right-hander was nicked for six hits while walking two in going the distance. Winning heaver Reg Main gave up three hits and had seven punchouts.
Terbasket (L) and Heighton
Main (W) and Nuyens
(September 14-15) Vernon swept two weekend contests against Penticton to capture the 1968 OMBL championship. Saturday at Kings Park in Penticton, the Luckies prevailed 6 to 0 as winning slab artist Reg Main throttled the Molsons on just one hit. Back on their home turf at Polson Park for a Sunday skirmish, the Vernonites ended the series and the season with another whitewashing, this one by a 2 to 0 margin as Gord Nuyens, who was behind the plate for the Saturday scuffle, ascended the knoll and proceeded to stifle the visitors on two hits.
Vernon jumped into a three-run lead off losing hurler Jim Terbasket after two innings of the Saturday clash and rode the wave of Main’s shutout pitching to go two games up in the series.
Main (W) and Nuyens
Terbasket (L) and Jacobs
Nuyens rang up 13 punchouts in the clincher on Sunday. The winning run came in the eighth episode when Perry Romeo lined a single off losing twirler Ed Folk to drive home Chuck Bella.
Folk (L) and Heighton
Nuyens (W) and Inglis
WEST KOOTENAY BASEBALL
WEST KOOTENAY SENIOR BASEBALL LEAGUE
Although the circuit added two new teams in 1968, including a second entry from Trail, the net gain in clubs was just one as the Fruitvale Beavers of the previous campaign dropped out. Another noticeable difference between the 1967 and 1968 West Kootenay senior loops was the drastically reduced schedule set out for 1968, from 20 games for each team in 1967 to 12 or fewer in 1968. While the holdover teams, Trail Smoke Eaters and the defending champion Rossland Capilanos, were assigned 12 games apiece, the unbalanced schedule had the neophyte Trail Junior Blazers and the Slocan City Silver Kings participating in only six. In total, just 18 regular-season games were part of the compressed agenda which was to wind up in early July. Even with that modest playing agenda, however, the league fell short in completing all scheduled games as a lengthy delay in July preceded the start of playoff activity.
The Junior Blazers did not participate in the league playoffs, opting instead to pursue the provincial junior crown.
Once again, Nelson was conspicuous by its absence.
Rossland Capilanos
Slocan City Silver Kings
Trail Junior Blazers
Trail Smoke Eaters
PRE-SEASON
(May 8) Four Slocan pitchers combined for a five-hitter as the Silver Kings downed Crescent Valley 3 to 1 in pre-season exhibition action before a large, enthusiastic crowd that braved the cold weather. The quartet of winning flinger Jim Doi and relievers Win Storgard, Flem Bjerg and Vic Osis recorded 15 strikeouts in the seven-inning affair. Losing slabman Art Scully and fireman Bob Podmore were tagged for eleven hits while recording 14 punchouts. The Silver Kings took a 3 to 0 lead early in the game and kept the Valleymen at bay throughout the clash. Osis led the way at the dish for the Kings with a home run, double and single. Storgard collected three hits while Bjerg and Grant Brons each had two safeties. The visitors scored their only run in the sixth inning when Jack Kinakin slapped a two-out triple and crossed the plate when Barry Obara singled.
(May 12) The Trail Junior Blazers showed a balance of hitting and base-running as they jumped into a six-run first-inning lead and never looked back in taking an 11 to 2 victory over the New Denver-Silverton Combines of the Slocan-Arrow Lakes Baseball league in an exhibition tilt at Butler Park. Sixteen-year old Don Mainland started on the mound for the defending B.C. Junior champions, hurling seven innings while striking out 13 and allowing two hits. Jazz Rosa replaced him on the hill in the eighth, allowing one run and whiffing four in the final two innings. Ed Elsmore was the losing tosser, giving way to Dougal Greenan in the fifth and Johnny Nesbitt in the seventh. Shortstop Al Doherty led the Blazer attack with two hits. The Combines failed to hit a ball out of the infield and, of the three safeties they collected, two were off the bat of Nobby Hayashi.
(May 15) Newcomers to the West Kootenay Senior Baseball league, the Slocan City Silver Kings, drubbed a former foe from the Slocan-Arrow Lakes circuit, the Winlaw All-Stars, 13 to 2 in an exhibition inter-league affair. The Slocan City swatters got to Winlaw starting pitcher Steve Towgood for just one run in his three innings of toil on the bump but increased the lead to 4 to 0 against his replacement Alex Pereversoff once the latter began toeing the slab. In the middle innings, the roof fell in on succeeding relievers Walt Picton and Joe Katasonoff as the Silver Kings blasted across nine more runs. Veteran Vic Osis hurled three hitless innings for the victors, striking out seven of the nine batters he faced. In the fourth canto, strikeout artist Flem Bjerg took over hillock chores and continued to set down Winlaw, allowing only one hit while punching out seven. Right hander Win Storgard pitched the eighth and ninth panels and surrendered the two runs plated by the vanquished nine on two hits and a pair of errors. Big Gordie Jeffs and Wayne Kew combined to drive in six runs for Slocan. Jeffs also accounted for the only extra-base hit of the game.
REGULAR-SEASON
(May 26) The Rossland senior Capilanos picked up their winning ways of last year by greeting the new entry into the West Kootenay Senior League, the Slocan City Silver Kings, with an 8 to 3 setback in Slocan City. Veteran slab artist Al DeCecco limited the Kings to eight scattered hits, breezed seven and walked just one. Right hander Flem Bjerg hurled a six-hitter for Slocan, striking out four. Keystone sacker Barry Seal was the big gun with the lumber for the Caps, going three-for-three with a home run and five runs-batted-in. With the sacks full in the seventh canto, the Mountainmen pulled off a perfectly executed suicide squeeze with Dennis Ferrey laying down the bunt. Wayne Kew and Jim Doi led the hosts with two hits each. First sacker Ed Legare had an outstanding defensive game for the winners.
DeCecco (W) and Holmes
Bjerg (L) and V. Osis
(June 4) The Trail Smoke Eaters clipped the West Kootenay champion Rossland Capilanos 5 to 2 behind the four-hit pitching of right hander “Whitey” Paugh to move to the top of the standings. Bryan Dubasov, on the hill for the Golden City nine, was touched for seven hits including doubles by Bob Cox and Lou DeRosa. “Rocky” Cull collected the only extra-base blow for the Caps, a double. Cox led all swatters with a triad of safeties with four RBI’s while DeRosa and Cull wound up with two base raps each.
Dubasov (L) and Field
Paugh (W) and Cox
(June 5) The Trail Junior Blazers made their senior baseball debut a winning one, clipping the defending West Kootenay Senior champion Rossland Capilanos in convincing style, 9 to 2. The Blazers combined strong hitting with the brilliant pitching of Jazz Rosa for the lopsided score. Rosa had a no-hitter going until the final inning and, with one out, had the spell broken by a sharp single off the bat of Ed Legare which just narrowly evaded shortstop Al Doherty. The Caps followed quickly with singles by Barry Seal and Rocky Cull before Rosa regained his composure and struck out Joe Rosse and then threw out Pat Murray to end the game. Rossland used three chuckers with starter Al DeCecco taking the loss. Mike Ward had three base hits for the winners, one of which was a run-scoring three-bagger.
(June 9) The Trail Smoke Eaters unleashed a 20-hit attack in swamping the hosting Slocan City Silver Kings 15 to 8 in a West Kootenay Senior Baseball league contest. Slocan took a 5 to 3 lead into the third inning but the Smokies, unbeaten in their two league games to date, came back with three runs in the fourth and three more in the fifth for a 9 to 5 cushion which they never relinquished. Dennis Zinio started on the hill for the Trailites, leaving in the sixth panel for Tim Cody who went the rest of the way. The Silver Kings used three chuckers, starter Vic Osis, losing twirler Flem Bjerg and last inning mop-up chucker Jim Doi. On the hitting ledger, Keith Healey banged out four hits for the winners while Lou DeRosa and Zinio had three. Healey’s total included two doubles while Zinio’s sum encompassed a solo tater. Wayne Kew had two hits for Slocan while Gordie Jeffs blasted a bases-loaded triple.
(June 13) Southpaw Dennis Zinio won his second straight WKSBL game without a loss as he fired a three-hitter in pitching the Trail Smoke Eaters to a 12 to 3 conquest of the Rossland Capilanos. Zinio also sparkled with the baton, spanking the sphere for a triple and two singles. Rossland starter Bryan Dubasov, who was followed on the slab by Barry Seal and Don Holmes, was nicked with the loss. John Drysdale of the victors had the only extra-base hit, a double, of the ten safeties recorded by his team. Holmes also claimed a two-bagger for the Golden City nine.
Zinio (W) and Cox
Dubasov (L), Seal (5), Holmes (6) and Field
(June 14) The hosting Trail Junior Blazers edged the Slocan Silver Kings 4 to 2 in a well-played West Kootenay Senior Baseball League match at Butler Park.
(June 15) In a clash of unbeaten Silver City squads, the Trail Smoke Eaters blanked their city cousins, the Trail Junior Blazers, 5 to 0 at Butler Park. Whitey Paugh pitched a three-hitter against the Blazers, striking out seven and walking two while losing flinger, 16-year old Don Mainland, gave up ten hits, walked two and fanned ten. The game was scoreless through the first three frames but the Smokies broke things open with three runs in the fourth, adding their final deuce on Keith Healey’s two-run tater in the fifth.
Standings W L Pts. *
Trail Smoke Eaters 4 0 8
Trail Junior Blazers 2 1 8
Rossland Capilanos 1 3 2
Slocan City Silver Kings 0 3 0
* Blazers and Slocan get four points for a win while Smokies and Capilanos receive two points for each victory because of the unbalanced schedule.
(June 16) The hosting Trail Smoke Eaters swept a pair of exhibition games from the Kimberley Angels by 9 to 2 and 7 to 4 scores. In the opening game, 17-year old Jim Cody of the Smokies pitched no-hit baseball for five innings, gave up a single in the fifth and finished with a two-hitter to go along with six punchouts. Starter John Davis of the Angels was clipped with the loss.
Trail’s Tom Volpatti, a 16-year old right hander, pitching in his first senior start, hurled a five-hitter in the wind-up contest, fanning seven. Dan Sullivan was the loser, surrendering nine hits including a second-inning solo homer to Glen Babcock.
(June 18) The Trail Smoke Eaters extended their early-season West Kootenay Senior League winning streak at Butler Park, nipping the Trail Junior Blazers 9 to 8. Trailing 9 to 4 in the bottom-of-the-final inning, the youthful Blazers scored four times and had the bases loaded, a full count on hard-hitting Norm Larmour when southpaw Gary Duthie got Larmour on a third swinging strike to end the rally and the game. Duthie had relieved starter Dennis Zinio at the end of the fourth inning. Losing chucker Al Doherty was sent packing in the second spasm, being replaced on the rubber by Jazz Rosa who finished the game. The Blazer duo gave up ten hits while Zinio and Duthie were nicked for four safeties.
Zinio (W), Duthie (5) and DeBruyn
Doherty (L), Rosa (2) and Sanders
(June 19) The Rossland Capilanos built up an early lead and coasted to a 10 to 0 trouncing of the Trail Smoke Eaters. Al DeCecco, with his strong right flipper in sync, went all the way on the bump for the Caps, stymying the Smokies on just two hits. Losing flinger Len “Whitey” Paugh was driven to the showers in the third stanza after he had been lit up for six counters. Rossland had extra-base blows from Bryan Dubasov, Ray Picco and Barry Seal, each connecting for a two-bagger with Picco’s coming with the sacks fully occupied.
Paugh (L), Babcock (3) and Mervyn
DeCecco (W) and Field
Standings W L Pts. *
Trail Smoke Eaters 5 1 10
Trail Junior Blazers 2 2 8
Rossland Capilanos 2 3 4
Slocan City Silver Kings 0 3 0
* Blazers and Slocan get four points for a win while Smokies and Capilanos receive two points for each victory because of the unbalanced schedule.
(June 22) With a 3 to 1 conquest of the winless Slocan City Silver Kings, the Trail Smoke Eaters improved their WKSBL record to six wins against one loss. The Smokies scored the game’s opening run in the second inning when Larry Lenarduzzi’s double drove in Lou DeRosa. The Kings tied things up in the third episode when Grant Brons singled, stole second and reached home on Wayne Kew’s base hit. Flem Bjerg of Slocan and Trail’s Tom Volpatti were locked in a pitcher’s duel through the sixth when the Smokies pushed across the winner and an insurance tally. John Drysdale singled, stole second and scored on Jack Briggs’ double. With two retired, Lenarduzzi walked and a pick-off attempt by Bjerg was wild, allowing Briggs to scamper in, all the way from second base, with a third tally. Briggs picked up the save in relief of Volpatti, finishing the last three frames on the hillock for the Silver City nine while fanning the first three batters he faced. Smoke Eater playing-manager DeRosa used 14-year old southpaw catcher Gary Picone, a call-up from Trail’s Babe Ruth ranks, behind the plate for the entire game. The precocious Picone, who still has another season of Babe Ruth eligibility beyond this campaign, looked right at home in senior-level company, handling the offerings of Volpatti and Briggs just like a veteran.
Bjerg (L) and V. Osis
Volpatti (W), Briggs (7) and Picone
(June 23) Rallying for four ninth-inning counters, the Trail Smoke Eaters handed the Kimberley Angels a 9 to 6 setback in an exhibition clash played in the East Kootenay mining town. Jack Briggs, the third Trail moundsman, secured the winning mound verdict. He also smashed a two-run circuit-clout in the opening stanza. Bob Neal/Neale of the Angels also blasted a first-inning home run, a bases empty shot.
Zinio, Cody (4), Briggs (W) (7) and DeBruyn
Cupples (L) , Fabro (9) and Fabro, James (9)
(June 23) The invading Trail Junior Blazers struck for 15 markers off 19 bingles as they swamped the Slocan Silver Kings 15 to 4 in a West Kootenay Senior League tussle. Right hander Jazz Rosa picked up the mound win for the Blazers, allowing only two hits while striking out twelve. Win Storgaard was charged with the loss. Leadoff hitter Ernie Brown of the defending B. C. Junior champions had six RBI’s in the contest, going four-for-six at the plate. The win provided the Juniors with a share of first place in the Senior loop.
Rosa (W) and Schleppe
V. Osis, Storgaard (L) and Nash
(June 25) Once again, veteran moundsman Al DeCecco showed all that he needs are a few runs and that he can make things awful tough on the opposition. In the latest joust between the Rossland Capilanos and the Trail Smoke Eaters, played in the Golden City, DeCecco’s mates gave him plenty of run support and he showed his appreciation by limiting the visiting Smeltermen to just four hits as the Caps prevailed 13 to 3. The Rosslanders put the game on ice by scoring five times in each of the first and second cantos, pinning the hillock defeat on Smokie starter Wayne Magee. Capilano catcher Don Holmes clipped the horsehide for a bases-loaded double and a run-scoring single during the contest, driving in four runs. Teammate Bryan Dubasov drove in a pair with a two-bagger to go along with a single.
Magee (L), Lenarduzzi (2), DeRosa (5) and Cotnoir, DeBruyn (5)
DeCecco (W) and Holmes
Standings W L Pts. *
Trail Smoke Eaters 6 2 12
Trail Junior Blazers 3 2 12
Rossland Capilanos 3 3 6
Slocan City Silver Kings 0 5 0
* Blazers and Slocan get four points for a win while Smokies and Capilanos receive two points for each victory because of the unbalanced schedule.
(June 26) Rebounding from a 13 to 3 whipping the previous evening, the Trail Smoke Eaters knocked off the Rossland Capilanos 9 to 6 at Butler Park. 17-year old Jim Cody went the route on the bump for the Smokies, yielding nine hits, all but one being singles, in earning the win while his mates were busy raking a dozen base blows, four of the extra-base variety, off a trio of Cap twirlers. Flychaser Gary Duthie led the Smelter City nine with the baton, hammering a sixth-inning two-run four-ply clout as well as a brace of singles, one of which also drove in a pair. Initial sacker John Drysdale unloaded a run-scoring double and an RBI triple while keystone guardian Larry Lenarduzzi chipped in with a three-bagger that plated a counter as well as a one-bagger.
Brandt, Dubasov (L) (3), Bourchier (6) and Holmes
Cody (W) and DeBruyn
(June 27) Behind the four-hit pitching of Reg Cherenko, a pickup for the B.C. – Alberta junior playoffs, the Trail junior Blazers walloped the Trail Smoke Eaters 14 to 0 in an exhibition tune-up tussle at Butler Park. The Blazers opened the first inning with a brace of counters and never looked back.
Cherenko (W) and xxx
Volpatti (L), Duthie (4), DeRosa (4) and xxx
(July 1) In an exhibition tilt played on Dominion Day, the Slocan City Silver Kings of the West Kootenay Senior loop blasted hosting Winlaw of the Slocan-Arrow Lakes circuit 14 to 8. The game was a slugging match with the Silver Kings accumulating 20 base blows to 17 for Winlaw. Vic Osis and Gordie Jeffs blasted home runs for the winners. John Nesteroff of Winlaw went five-for-five from the batter’s box while Jeffs and teammate J. Heinke of the Kings, both had four-for-five offensive performances.
(July 6-7) Alberta-BC Junior Championship
(July 21 & 28) BC Junior Championship
PLAYOFFS Pennant-winning Trail Smoke Eaters received a bye into the finals
SEMI-FINALS Slocan City vs Rossland Capilanos (best-of-three series)
(July 27 - 28) The Rossland Capilanos defeated Slocan City twice over the weekend by 9 to 7 and 8 to 4 scores to advance to the finals of the West Kootenay Senior Baseball League. In the first game of the series played in Slocan, the Caps pounded out 18 hits. Big Don Holmes, in relief of starter Bryan Dubasov, picked up the pitching victory. Wayne Kew went all the way for the hosts and absorbed the loss. Holmes played a significant role offensively as well as on the bump, slugging a solo tater in the sixth and a two-run dinger in the seventh.
In the return match played in the Golden City, Al DeCecco survived a shaky four-run first-inning and went on the blank the visitors the rest of the way while his mates were pounding out 11 hits off losing twirler Winston Stogaard. DeCecco aided his comeback victory by slugging a three-run homer in the second episode. The Caps now move on to face the Trail Smoke Eaters in the league finals.
FINALS Trail Smoke Eaters vs Rossland Capilanos (best-of-five series)
(July 30) The Rossland Capilanos and winning pitcher Larry Brandt made short work of the extremely short-handed Trail Smoke Eaters at Butler Park with a big 9 to 2 win as the West Kootenay Senior Baseball League finals got underway. The undermanned Smokies were forced to use three players from the Babe Ruth League ranks as well as a pair of reinforcements from the GROW softball league to fill out their line-up. The Caps broke open a 1 – 1 tie after two frames by raking losing twirler “Whitey” Paugh for two in the third, four in the fifth and two in the sixth. Bryan Dubasov set the pace for the victors with two hits and four RBI’s. Catcher Len Cederholm also had two hits and drove in a pair of tallies as did Barry Seal. Paugh drove in the first Trail run and scored the second himself.
(July 31) Al DeCecco pitched five innings of no-hit ball and wound up with a three-hitter as the Rossland Capilanos whipped the Trail Smoke Eaters 11 to 3 in Rossland to grab a commanding two-game lead in the West Kootenay senior finals. Plating deuces in the second and third cantos, the Caps got off to a rousing start. Then, in the fourth, they tied a bow in it with a seven-run outburst highlighted by run-producing doubles from Ron Cull and Don Holmes. Junior call-up Norm Larmour broke the hitless string for DeCecco with a sixth-inning single. Another junior recruit, Jazz Rosa, started on the knoll for Trail before giving way to Tom Volpatti in the fourth. The duo gave up ten free passes between them. DeCecco fanned six in a complete-game effort. Cull drove in three runs for the Golden City Gang with a two-for-three performance from the batter’s box.
(August 6) Larry Brandt pitched a one-hit shutout in leading the Rossland Capilanos to a 5 to 0 blanking of the Trail Smoke Eaters and a sweep of the 1968 West Kootenay Senior Baseball League finals. The lone safety Brandt surrendered was a line-drive single by Bob Mohs in the seventh stanza. The Caps were gifted a pair of tallies in the second episode with some mental errors by the Smokies after Bryan Dubasov had driven in Ed Legare with the first run of the game. A solo homer by Barry Seal in the third widened the the Rossland lead to 4 – 0. Legare counted the winners’ final counter in the sixth when he singled, advanced to third on a one-bagger by Art Field and raced home on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Dubasov. Brandt whiffed nine batters while losing flinger Dennis Zinio rang up eight punchouts. Legare had two hits in the tries for the Mountainmen
SLOCAN-ARROW LAKES SENIOR BASEBALL LEAGUE
The 1968 Slocan-Arrow Lakes Senior Baseball League was comprised of four teams, two less than the 1967 circuit. Slocan Park and Slocan City withdrew from the 1968 loop, the former because of a lack of a playing facility and the latter to join the West Kootenay Senior Baseball League.
Kaslo
Nakusp
New Denver-Silverton Combines
Winlaw
(May 26) The Hosting New Denver-Silverton Combines took a convincing 6 to 0 triumph over the Nakusp club at Centennial Park as the 1968 season got underway. The winning pitcher was southpaw Dougal Greenan who shared mound duties with Eddie Elsmore and Johnny Nesbitt. The trio of slab artists were nicked for a measly two Nakusp safeties, both singles coming off the bats of Sam Phillipoff and Fred Desrochers, walked only two while ringing up nine punchouts. Losing tosser was Tad Kiyono who fanned six Combines, issued eight free passes, hit one batter and surrendered just three safeties. A four-run second frame put the homesters on the road to victory. Elsmore’s double for the winners was the lone extra-base knock of the contest. Lacing singles for the victors were Doug Thring and Nobby Hayashi.
(May 26) Winlaw @ Kaslo – rained out
(June 2) A capacity crowd watched the invading New Denver-Silverton Combines trounce Winlaw 12 to 1. The Combines left no doubt as to the ultimate winner when they exploded for a six-spot in their first turn at bat. Doubles by Harold Mori, Eddie Elsmore and Jack Kelly along with singletons by A. Abraham, Terry Minnis and Al Wright sparked the early outburst. Winlaw tallied their lone run in the second stanza when F. Towgood singled, went to second on Jim Doi’s bunt, advanced to third on a base on balls and scored on a sacrifice fly by F. Malakoff. The winning flinger was Dougal Greenan who went five innings was was relieved by Johnny Nesbitt. Saddled with the defeat was Towgood who lasted seven frames before hitting the showers in favor of J. Nesteroff.
(June 2) Kaslo @ Nakusp – rained out
(June 9) Playing with a number of out-of-retirement veterans in their lineup, the Nakusp diamondeers blasted Winlaw 11 to 3. A sparkling, around-the-horn triple play by the aging returnees, consisting of Jack James on third, Fred Desrochers at the keystone sack and Buster Patterson at the initial station, was the highlight of the contest. The hurling victory was credited to Tad Kiyono who was nicked for 13 base knocks while fanning four. The winners scored twice in the opening panel and were never headed. Top swatter for Nakusp was Sam Fillipoff who ripped a brace of two-baggers to go along with a single. Gord Yolland, Len Folkman and Patterson all chipped in with a pair of safeties.
(June 9) Defending playoff champion Kaslo dropped their home opener 6 to 3 to the New Denver-Silverton Combines. Ed Elsmore was credited with the pitching victory although he needed relief help from Johnny Nesbitt in the fifth. The two combined for 18 strikeouts, gave up just three hits and issued five walks. Mike Linn took the loss for Kaslo, getting the hook in the seventh panel in favor of Ernie Moisey. Nobby Hayashi led the winners at the plate with three hits in five attempts. The only extra-base rap in the clash came in the opening episode off the bat of the Combines’ Dougal Greenan. Rocky Stubbington picked up two of the three Kaslo hits.
(June 16) The hosting Nakusp senior baseball club squeaked out an 8 to 7 victory over Kaslo in weekend action. Nakusp scored early and built up a 6 to 0 lead after five innings were in the books. Kaslo gained momentum in the sixth inning when three hits produced a three-spot. Another trey in the top-of-the-eighth deadlocked the score but the homesters responded with a singleton in their half of the stanza to move ahead 7 to 6. In the ninth, the pesky visitors once again tied the game with a single counter. Not to be outdone, the Kuskanax Valley Boys strode to the dish in the bottom-of-the-ninth with fire in their eyes. Buster Patterson started things off with a one-bagger off losing chucker Mike Linn. Al Weir followed with a single, then Gordon Yolland ripped a third-consecutive safety to bring Patterson home with the deciding counter. Tad Kiyono, in relief of starter Derek McQuair, notched the mound decision. The pair of Nakusp slabsters allowed seven hits, gave up six free passes and breezed a half dozen. Linn was touched for eleven bingles, issued seven walks and fanned five. Sam Fillipoff/Phillipoff was the top swatsmith in the contest for the victors, creaming the orb for two doubles and a single.
(June 23) In a Slocan-Arrow Lakes joust played in Winlaw, Kaslo jumped all over the hosts for seven first-inning counters and cruised to a 9 to 4 thumping. Singles by Peters and Ringo, two-baggers by George Benwell, Norm Command and Dave Thompson, and a booming triple by Smith did the early damage for the visitors. Winlaw picked up their only tally in the third when Steve Towgood hit a double, stole third and scored on a hit by J. Nesteroff. Grabbing the complete-game mound win was slabster Tomo who whiffed eight while walking two. Towgood, who breezed ten, was nailed with the setback.
(June 23) The New Denver-Silverton Combines remained undefeated in Slocan-Arrow Lakes League play after registering a 7 to 4 victory over Nakusp. The winning pitcher was Ed Elsmore who had relief help from Jack Kelly. The tandem of moundsmen allowed seven hits, fanned 11 and walked six. Taking the loss was Derek McQuair who toed the slab until the ninth when he was replaced by Glen Rounce. The Nakusp duo gave up 10 hits, whiffed eight and walked a pair. Powering the hit parade for the winners was Dougal Greenan who hammered a home run, Harold Mori with three singles, Nobby Hayashi with a double and two singles and Kelly with a two-bagger. McQuair laced three singles for Nakusp.
(July 7) The visiting Nakusp nine blanked Winlaw 5 to 0 in a game which was scoreless until the eighth stanza. A walk to Len Folkman, followed by Fred Desrocher’s double and a long circuit-clout by Lino Zanier produced a triad of Nakusp tallies in the eighth. They added another pair in the ninth on singles by Gord Yolland, Jack James and Desrochers. The winners played errorless ball and collected 11 base knocks. Zanier had a double and single in addition to his four-bagger. Hurling a complete game three-hitter for the hillock verdict was Glen Rounce who fanned 13 and walked just one while yielding one-baggers to Barry Sutherland, Cecil Samsonoff and Joe Katasonoff. The vanquished nine used four chuckers with Steve Towgood surrendering three runs in taking the loss. J. Nesteroff, Joe Katasonoff and Popoff succeeded him on the bump.
(July 14) Nakusp came up with three runs in the top-of-the-ninth inning to take an 8 to 7 verdict from homestanding Kaslo. Tad Kiyono was credited with the hillock victory, relieving Derek McQuair in the third. The two Nakusp moundsmen surrendered 12 hits, struck out 11 and issued two walks. Paul Peters was nicked with the loss after taking over from starting twirler Bill Pomponio in the second panel. The Kaslo duo gave up seven hits, breezed a dozen batters and gave up one free pass. In the hitting department, Lloyd Waterer and Carlson of the winners banged out a brace of safeties each while Lino Zanier smashed a triple. For Kaslo, Peters belted the horsehide for three hits, one a triple. George Benwell, Smith and Pomponio followed with a pair of safe swats with a four-ply dinger included in Benwell’s total.
(July 14) The powerful New Denver-Silverton Combines remained undefeated as they clobbered the Winlaw diamond troopers 12 to 1 in a game shortened to six innings because of rain. The final outcome of the skirmish was never in any doubt for the home club as right hander Eddie Elsmore chalked up another mound triumph. Steve Towgood, with relief assistance from J. Nesteroff, was clipped with the loss. Big batsmen for the winners were Nobby Hayashi and Dougal Greenan. By clinching first place, the Combines receive a bye into the league finals.
(July 21) An 8 to 7 conquest of the Kaslo All-Stars clinched second place in the Slocan-Arrow Lakes Baseball League for Nakusp. Derek McQuair, who tossed the first four frames for Nakusp before handing the ball over to Tad Kiyono, collected the win. Bill Pomponio started on the hill for the Stars but was given the hook while Paul Peters, who replaced him, was tagged with the mound defeat. Nakusp took an early 4 to 0 lead, primarily on the strength of a bases-loaded triple by Leno Zanier, but had to stage a three-run comeback rally in the ninth to pull off the victory. The same two clubs will square off in a best-of-three semi-final playoff series with the winner advancing to face the pennant-winning New Denver-Silverton nine in the finals.
Final Standings W L T Pts.
New Denver-Silverton 5 0 1 11
Nakusp 4 2 0 8
Kaslo 2 3 1 5
Winlaw 1 5 0 2
PLAYOFFS
SEMI-FINALS Kaslo vs Nakusp (best-of-three series)
(July 28) The invading band of Nakusp diamond troopers humiliated two-time playoff champion Kaslo right on their home turf, clobbering the All-Stars 16 to 1 as the Slocan-Arrow Lakes semi-final playoff round got underway. The visitors roared out of the gate, taking a 4 to 0 first-inning lead on a grand slam home run by Lino Zanier. The second inning saw Nakusp add five more to their total as Zanier drove in a pair of them with a single. In the eighth, back-to-back doubles by Buster Patterson and Willie Carlson and a single by Art Maxwell brought across another brace of counters. Four more tallies touched the pan in the ninth on a triple by Gord Yolland, a two-bagger by catcher Len Folkman, Jack James’ single and Buster Patterson’s double. Every player in the Nakusp lineup, with the exception of Fred Desrochers, had at least one base knock. Patterson and Yolland accumulated the most safe swats, four each. Young Glen Rounce, on the bump for the victors, could have had a shutout but backstop Folkman, in an attempt to catch a runner pilfering third, missed his mark and threw the pill into the outfield, allowing the lone Kaslo tally to reach the platter. Rounce allowed eight safeties, walked not a single batter and punched out three. Wayne Kew, Kaslo starting flinger, was nailed with the loss.
(August 4) Nakusp swept Kaslo in two straight games to advance to the league finals against first-place New Denver-Silverton. No final score or game details of the second game were found in print.
(August 4) Playing at New Denver’s Centennial Park, the pennant-winning New Denver-Silverton Combines tripped up the Trail Junior Blazers of the West Kootenay Senior League 6 to 2 in an exhibition scuffle. Southpaw Johnny Nesbitt pitched into the sixth frame for the Combines to earn the victory. Another portsider, Dougal Greenan, came to his rescue in that stanza and quelled a bases-loaded situation by retiring three in a row without any damage. Terry Minnis had two hits for the the victors while starting pitcher Al Doherty nailed a triple and single for the Blazers. Glen Babcock, the second of three twirlers used by the Juniors, took the loss.
FINALS Nakusp vs New Denver-Silverton (best-of-three series)
(August 11) The New Denver-Silverton senior baseball club took a one-game lead in the Slocan-Arrow Lakes Baseball League championship series by doubling the Nakusp balltossers 14 to 7 in a high-scoring affair at Centennial Park. Johnny Nesbitt started on the rubber for the home club but faced only four batters in the opening salvo before being replaced by winning pitcher, right hander Eddie Elsmore. Dougal Greenan followed Elsmore on the bump, coming to his aid in the seventh. The trio of Combine tossers allowed Nakusp swatters six hits. The winners raked losing flinger Tad Kiyono and eighth-inning replacement Derek McQuair for 13 safeties. Elsmore picked up four hits for the winners while teammate Lorne Wright had three. Lino Zanier was the big noise with the baton for Nakusp, blasting a two-run four-bagger into deep right field.
(August 18) A come-from-behind 11 to 8 conquest of the determined Nakusp nine vaulted the New-Denver-Silverton Combines into championship mode, taking the best-of-three series in straight games. Nakusp had a one-run lead entering the ninth inning but the Combines came charging back to push across four runs to take the lead and clinch the victory. Starter Johnny Nesbitt was driven from the hill in the third panel as reliever Eddie Elsmore held Nakusp in check until the seventh. With Nakusp threatening in the seventh, young Dougal Greenan was summoned from his post in the middle pasture to snuff out a potential rally with his blazing heater and pinpoint control. Leading the Combine swatsmiths were Jack Kelly with three hits, Nobby Hayashi and Greenan with a brace and Terry Minnis with a triple. Doug Thring and Elsmore each rapped out a two-bagger. Nakusp was led at the plate and in the field by the sparkling play of shortstop Gordie Yolland. He played flawless defensively and collected two key hits. Veteran Buster Patterson also shone at the platter with three singles.