1971 Vancouver, Lower Mainland, Fraser Valley
1971 BC Interior
1971 Vancouver Island
VANCOUVER INDUSTRIAL LEAGUE
Reduced from six to four entries for the 1971 season, holdover clubs representing defending champion C.Y.O, North Vancouver and Vancouver East Merchants within the Industrial Baseball League were joined by a new franchise with the moniker, Stylers. Each team was scheduled 30 games. Non-reporting of game results within the two Vancouver dailies occurred with regularity, especially early in the season.
C.Y.O.
Merchants
North Vancouver (also referred to as the Norvans)
Stylers
(May 9) A three-run circuit-clout by Colin McKay in the bottom-of-the-seventh inning lifted the Stylers to a 10 to 7 win over the Merchants in the Industrial Baseball League’s season opener at the Powell Street grounds. The Merchants’ Mike White had tied the score in the top-of-the-seventh with a two-run tater but McKay’s launch with one out ended the game and pinned the loss on reliever Mike Mitzel. John Wilson, with a two-run shot, and Ron Peterson with a solo blast, also hit dingers for the Retailers who outswatted the winners by an 11 to 9 margin.
Bazaluk, Mitzel (L) (4) and White
Mazzarobba, Neilson (W) (4) and Schick
(May 11) Catcher Don Schick scored twice and Rod Akzaniak pitched five innings of scoreless relief as the Stylers beat North Vancouver 3 to 1 at the Powell Street grounds. Schick singled in the second inning and scored on a double by Denny Doyle. In the fourth frame, he stroked another one-bagger and eventually came around to cross the plate on an error. Akzaniak relieved starter Bert Mazzarobba in the second frame, after the Norvans had taken an early lead, and shut the door on them the rest of the game.
Nichol (L) and Burns
Mazzarobba, Akzaniak (W) (2) and Schick
(May 14) Dave Kirk and Tom Bird matched two-base hits to give C.Y.O. a 2 to 1 Industrial League victory over the Stylists at the Powell Street grounds. The win was C.Y.O.’s third straight and the Stylers’ first loss in three starts. With the score tied at 1 – 1 in the bottom-of-the-seventh and two out, Kirk lashed a two-bagger to left centre. Benny Webster drew a walk and Bird laced a ground-rule double to right field to drive in the game-winning run. Lefthander Dennis Zinio, making his debut on the hill with C.Y.O., displayed mid-season form in pitching a four-hitter, striking out nine and walking one.
Neilson, Mazzarobba (L) (5) and Schick
Zinio (W) and Bird
(May 16) Shortstop Paul Peterson had a two-run double and a grand-slam four-bagger, accounting for six RBI’s, in leading C.Y.O to a 10 to 1 rout of the Stylers at the Powell Street grounds. Larry Webster hurled his second win of the season, a three-hitter, while his C.Y.O. mates were banging out eight safeties.
L. Webster (W) and Bird
Akzaniak (L), Neilson (3), Glaswick (6) and Schick
(May 17) Pitcher Graham Frezell won his first start of the season as the Stylers held off the Norvans 6 to 2 at the Powell Street grounds. Frezell also provided much of the batting punch for the winners, stroking three singles which were sufficient to drive in three runs.
Frezell (W) and Schick
Nichol (L) and Scott
(May 20) A solo home run by Keith Wilson in the fifth frame stood up as the Merchants blanked the Stylers 1 to 0 in Industrial League action at the Powell Street grounds. Wilson also came up big on the mound, pitching five innings and allowing only one hit, a bad-bounce single by John Kochan in the fourth before retiring from the game with a sore arm. Ron Peterson held the Stylers hitless in the final two innings, preserving the victory for Wilson.
Akzaniak (L) and Schick
K. Wilson (W), Peterson (6) and White
(May 21) First baseman Rick Gruhn and centre fielder Rick Mosher each slammed three singles as C.Y.O. beat North Vancouver 6 to 3 at the Powell Street grounds. Portsider Dennis Zinio chalked up his second mound triumph of the campaign, with relief help from Larry Webster in the sixth. A double by North Vancouver’s Al Olmstead was the only extra-base hit of the contest.
Elson (L), Green (2) and Cannon
Zinio (W), L. Webster (6) and Bird
(May 25) Graham Frezell scattered five hits as the Stylers defeated the Merchants 5 to 1 at the Powell Street grounds. First baseman Brian Morgan of the Stylers slammed the only extra-base blow of the clash, a two-run double in the fourth frame which ended Merchant starter Bill Bazakuk’s time on the mound. Bazaluk, tagged with the loss, had started the game by fanning seven of the first nine batters he faced.
(May 27) Sandy Neilson pitched and batted the Stylists to a 3 to 1 Industrial League victory at the Powell Street grounds. The win was the Stylers’ fifth against three losses. Neilson singled sharply to left centre in the fourth, driving in Brook Ballam from second base to break a 1 – 1 deadlock. The winners added a third run in the sixth inning. Neilson was nicked for seven safeties, as was loser Bill Green, but was tougher in the pinches than his mound opponent
Green (L) and Jensen
Neilson (W) and Doyle
(May 28) A four-run first inning got C.Y.O. off and running to a 12 to 2 Industrial League triumph over the Merchants at the Powell Street grounds. Merchant starting pitcher Brent Wragg walked the first four batters he faced and was derricked quickly in the top-of-the-opening canto in favor of Ron Peterson who toiled on the hillock for the rest of the game, yielding a dozen base knocks. Winning tosser Larry Webster gave up only three hits, one of which was a two-run circuit-jack by Mike White in the final stanza. Bob Cox led C.Y.O. at the dish with three safeties including a home run.
L. Webster (W) and Bird
Wragg (L), Peterson (1) and Peterson, White (1)
(May 30) The C.Y.O. band of diamond troopers tasted defeat for the first time this season when they were upended 6 to 1 by the Stylers at the Powell Street grounds. C.Y.O., defending champions of the circuit, still lead the loop with an 8 – 1 record while the Stylers are next at 6 – 3. Winning chucker Graham Frezell allowed only four hits and teammate Brook Ballam drove in three runs in leading the Stylists to the win. It was Frezell’s third win in three decisions this season.
Frezell (W) and Schick
Zinio (L), Elliott (5) and Bird
(May 31) Darryl Fenton slapped a one-out, bases-loaded single in the seventh inning to give the Merchants a 3 to 2 triumph over North Vancouver. With the Retailers trailing 2 to 1 as they came to bat for the final time, Ron Frederick initiated the come-from-behind rally with a double, followed by consecutive walks to Mike White and Ron Peterson which set the table for Fenton’s clutch two-RBI hit. Fenton had also singled home the first Merchant tally in the sixth canto. Bill Bazaluk hurled a steady six-hitter for his first victory of the season.
Nichol, Green (L) (7) and Luniw
Bazaluk (W) and White
(June 3) The Merchants managed only two hits, both by John Wilson, but loose fielding by the Stylers enabled the Retailers to escape the Powell Street grounds with a 3 to 1 win in Industrial League baseball. The defensive meltdown in the second inning produced three unearned runs against Styler chucker Ros Akzaniak. Winning tosser Ron Peterson allowed five hits while breezing seven and walking one.
Akzaniak (L) and Doyle
Peterson (W) and K. Wilson, White (2)
(June 4) C.Y.O. scored five runs in the second inning on the way to an 8 to 0 trouncing of North Vancouver at the Powell Street grounds. Rick Mosher picked up his fourth straight mound victory, allowing but two hits and swishing eleven, in going the route. He also managed to drive in a pair of runs for his squad. Rick Gruhn went three-for-three for the winners who managed 11 hits off a brace of North Van chuckers. C.Y.O. remains in first place with a 9 – 2 record while the Norvans remain in the basement of the Industrial League at 1 – 8.
Green (L), Burns (6) and Luniw
Mosher (W) and Bird
(June 6) Styler pitcher Graham Frezell was two outs away from a shutout but three batters later he was a 2 to 1 loser to North Vancouver in Industrial League play at Mahon Park. John Kirk and Al Rogers hit back-to-back doubles in the last-of-the-seventh inning, then Ray Marshall slammed a triple and the game was over.
Frezell (L) and Schick
Nichol (W) and Burns
(June 6) Darryl Fenton socked a pair of two-run homers as the Merchants out-slugged C.Y.O. 11 to 8 at the Powell Street grounds in an Industrial League fixture called after six innings because of darkness.
Bazaluk (W), Peterson (4) and White
Zinio (L), Elliott (4), Kirk (6) and Bird
(June 8) John Kochan had a pair of singles and a double, good for three RBI’s , that helped the Stylers dump the Merchants 10 to 6 at the Powell Street grounds. Darryl Fenton of the Retailers had the game’s longest blow, a sixth-inning two-run round-tripper.
Bazaluk, Wragg (L) (4), Peterson (6) and White
Neilson (W), Mazzarobba (6) and Schick
(June 11) A two-out error by second baseman Benny Webster in the fifth inning paved the way for two unearned runs and a 3 to 1 win for the Merchants over C.Y.O. After Webster booted the ball on what would have been the third out, Al Forman responded with a single that drove in one counter and Ron Frederick followed with an RBI double which put the Retailers in front 2 to 1. A solo four-bagger by Ron Peterson in the sixth inning clinched it.
L. Webster (L) and Bird
Bazaluk (W) and Peterson, White (2)
(June 15) N.H.L. defenceman Barry Wilkins of the Vancouver Canucks made his debut as a pitcher in the Industrial Baseball League, helping the Stylers bounce the Norvans 7 to 3. Coming on in relief of ”Duke” Fairbrother who, in turn, had come to the aid of starter Brian Morgan, Wilkins took to the hillock in the second panel and stopped the Norvans on two hits the rest of the way, fanning five and walking an equal number. At the plate, Wilkins drove in a run with a second-inning double and laced a single in the fifth chapter for finish 2-for-2.
Nichol (L), Rentmeester (4) and Luniw
Morgan, Fairbrother (2), Wilkins (W) (2) and Schick
(June 17) Dick Hargreaves made a successful season debut for the Merchants by pitching a four-hitter to blank the Stylers 1 to 0 at the Powell Street grounds. The game’s lone run came in the opening inning when, with two retired, Ron Peterson reached the keystone sack on a two-base error and was driven home on a single by Darryl Fenton.
Fairbrother (L) and Schick
Hargreaves (W) and White
(June 18) One big inning was enough to carry North Vancouver to an upset 4 to 2 win over C.Y.O. in Industrial League action. An error, two singles and a pair of doubles plated all four Norvan counters in the third spasm. Al Rogers struck the most decisive blow, a two-run single. Bill Green struck out seven and walked six in picking up his first win of the season against three losses. C.Y.O. remains in first place in the circuit with a 10 – 5 record while North Van remains in the cellar with a 3 – 10 mark.
Green (W) and Jensen
Kirk (L), Zinio (3), L. Webster (7) and Bird, Stevens (6)
(June 20) The Stylers received three-hit pitching and clutch hitting from Graham Frezell in edging hosting North Vancouver 1 to 0 at Mahon Park. Frezell struck out nine and did not walk a batter in posting the win. He also singled in Barry Wilkins with two out in the fifth inning for the game’s only run. Wilkins had reached base on a double.
Frezell (W) and Doyle
Nichol (L) and Luniw
(June 21) “Duke” Fairbrother doubled in the winning run after losing pitcher Rick Mosher issued two ninth-inning walks, one of them intentional, as the Stylers defeated C.Y.O. 3 to 2 to move a game ahead of the defensing champions in the Industrial League standings. Barry Wilkins, who yielded only two hits, both singles to Paul Pederson in the first and Dave Kirk in the fourth, picked up the pitching win. The Stylers had four hits off a brace of C.Y.O. tossers who wound up issuing ten bases on balls.
L. Webster, Mosher (L) (7) and Stevens, Bird (7)
Wilkins (W) and Schick, Fairbrother (9)
(June 23) Dick Burns scored two runs and drove in another as North Vancouver shaded the Merchants 3 to 1 at the Powell Street grounds. Winning pitcher Barry Elson scattered six hits, including a first-inning solo home run by Ron Peterson, in going the distance.
Wragg (L), Bazaluk (6) and White
Elson (W) and Jensen
(June 28) Dennis Metcalfe drilled three safeties as North Vancouver upset the Stylers 5 to 2 at the Powell Street grounds. Bill Green scattered four hits and struck out seven en route to his second hillock triumph of the season. The Norvans collected ten hits over the course of the contest off a pair of Styler hurlers. They scored a single run in the second when Green and Ray Marshall singled, three in the third on a walk and singles by Metcalfe, Dick Burns and Al Rogers and one in the fourth when Metcalfe and Burns hit back-to-back doubles. The Styler tallies came in the third when Sammy Kobayashi doubled, John Kochan drew a walk and Derek Rustemeyer doubled.
Green (W) and Jensen
Neilson (L), Frezell (3) and Doyle
(June 29) Ron Fredericks doubled home two runs in the eighth inning to give the Merchants a 5 to 3 Industrial League victory over C.Y.O. at the Powell Street grounds. Dave Balmer also drove in a pair of markers for the winners with a doubles as Dick Hargreaves won his second straight game.
L. Webster (L) and Bird, Stevens (7)
Hargreaves (W) and K. Wilson, White (6)
(July 5) John Wilson powered the third-place Merchants to a 4 to 2 Industrial Baseball League victory over the league-leading Stylers at the Powell Street grounds. Wilson went yard with a two-run tater in the fourth frame to provide the Retailers with the winning margin. He also singled home the fourth counter in the fifth inning. Ron Peterson also nailed a dinger for the winners. Terry Dreger scattered seven Styler hits in making his route-going season debut a winning one.
Frezell (W) and Doyle
Dreger (W) and Peterson, White (5)
(July 6) Bob Elliott pitched the C.Y.O. baseballers back into first place in the Industrial Baseball League when he tossed a one-hitter in blanking North Vancouver 1 to 0. It was Elliott’s first start on the bump this season. In going the route, he fanned eight and walked only one. Paul Pederson’s two-out double drove in Dave Kirk, who had singled and stolen second base, with the only tally of the skirmish. C.Y.O, with an 11 – 8 record, now sit a half-game ahead of the Stylists atop the circuit.
Nichol (L) and Burns, Jensen (2)
Elliott (W) and Stevens
(July 7) The Merchants needed only two swings of the bat to subdue C.Y.O. 3 to 0 in Industrial League action at the Powell Street grounds. Ed Ems slammed a two-run homer in the sixth inning and Ron Peterson launched a solo circuit-jack in the seventh. Peterson has only seven hits this season, five of them home runs which is tops in the circuit. Bill Bazaluk fashioned a four-hitter and swished nine in going the route for the slab decision.
Bazaluk (W) and White
Mosher (L) and Stevens
(July 8) Larry Webster spun a no-hitter in Industrial League play in leading C.Y.O. to a 12 to 0 rout of the Merchants. Pitching at the Powell Street grounds, Webster rang up six punchouts, issued five walks and hit one batter. Stu Winrob opened the game for C.Y.O. with a home run and eventually finished with four RBI’s. Teammate Dennis Lefebvre also drove in four tallies, three of which came on a circuit-jack with two aboard. The win puts C.Y.O. in a first-place tie with the Stylists, both at 12 – 9. The Merchants fell to 10 – 9.
Hargreaves (L), Wragg (3) and White
L. Webster (W) and Bird
(July 9) The Merchants took advantage of two costly errors to beat North Vancouver 4 to 3 in a rain-shortened Industrial League game at the Powell Street grounds. The Norvans led 3 to 2 in the bottom-of-the-fifth, but an infield miscue, a dropped fly ball in the outer pasture and Ken MacKenzie’s one-out double vaulted the Retailers into the lead. Rain forced the game to be terminated at that point. Rod Akzaniak scattered six hits in copping the mound decision. Hard-luck loser Barry Elson allowed five Merchant safeties.
Elson (L) and Jensen
Akzaniak (W) and White
(July 12) Second baseman Ron Frederick drove in three runs with two hits as the Merchants defeated the Stylers 5 to 2 to move into first place in the Industrial Baseball League. Frederick’s had a two RBI single in the second inning and a run-producing one-bagger in the sixth when the Retailers jumped on losing flinger Graham Frezell for a three-spot. The Stylers collected nine hits of winning chucker Dick Hargreaves including doubles by Ken Jorgenson, Derek Rustemeyer and Bill Jorgenson. The win for the Merchants was their 13th of the season and moved them a half-game ahead of the Stylers and a full-game in front of C.Y.O. in the standings.
Hargreaves (W) and White
Morgan, Frezell (L) (2), K. Jorgenson (6) and Rustemeyer
(July 13) Barry Elson scattered four hits and his teammates came up with a flawless defensive performance as last-place North Vancouver blanked C.Y.O. 3 to 0 at the Powell Street grounds. Catcher Pete Jensen singled in two runs and losing pitcher Rick Mosher balked in another as the winners scored all their runs in the fifth inning. The Norvans now sport a 7 – 15 record, five games behind third-place C.Y.O.
Elson (W) and Jensen
Mosher (L) and Bird
(July 14) Ron Peterson and John Wilson slammed home runs as the Merchants dumped North Vancouver 7 to 2 at the Powell Street grounds to take a one-game lead in the Industrial League pennant race. Peterson’s two-run tater came after Al Forman singled in the first inning and was followed by Wilson’s solo blast. Forman had three hits and a walk and, once on base, was a constant threat. He wound up with four stolen thefts of the keystone sack.
Calli (L) and Jensen
Bazaluk (W) and White
STANDINGS W L GBL
Merchants 14 9 -----
Stylers 13 10 1.0
C.Y.O. 12 11 2.0
North Vancouver 7 16 7.0
(July 15) The Stylers spanked the sphere for 14 base blows including five doubles and a home run in a 12 to 1 blowout over North Vancouver. Second baseman Ken Jorgenson delivered the circuit-jack, a two-run shot, while two-baggers were registered by Bill Jorgenson, “Duke’'” Fairbrother, Graham Frezell, Don Schick and Sam Kobayashi. Winning pitcher Brian Morgan claimed his second victory in as many starts with a neat four-hitter. The victory moved the Stylists to within a half-game of the league-leading Merchants.
Green (L), Metcalfe (6) and Jensen
Morgan (W) and Schick
(July 16) Although Larry Webster fired a one-hitter, he didn’t come away as a winner as his C.Y.O. teammates and the Merchants battled to a 1 – 1, nine-inning tie at the Powell Street grounds. Darkness prevented further action. Webster fanned 16 Merchants, did not walk a batter and allowed only three baserunners during the course of the match. The only hit he surrendered was a sixth-inning single by Al Forman. Two errors and a sacrifice fly by the Retailers’ Ron Peterson tied the score in the fourth inning after C.Y.O. had taken a one-run lead in the top-of-the-opening canto.
L. Webster and Bird, Stevens
Dreger and White
(July 18) Brant Wragg pitched his first victory of the season in the Industrial League but he wasn’t around at the finish. Wragg was pulled from the bump in the fifth inning and was followed by three more pitchers as the league-leading Merchants defeated North Vancouver 7 to 4 at the Powell Street grounds. Ed Ems provided support with the lumber for the victors, slamming a two-run four-bagger.
Rogers (L), Metcalfe (4), Burns (6) and Scott
Wragg (W), MacKenzie (5), Frederick (6), Forman (7) and White
(July 19) The C.Y.O. swatsmiths lit up Barry Wilkins for six counters before driving him from the mound in their 8 to 1 conquest of the Stylers at the Powell Street grounds. Paul Pederson and Rick Gruhn led the C.Y.O. assault on the N.H.L. Canucks’ blueliner. Pederson slammed a three-run homer while Gruhn drove in three more runs by going three-for-three at the plate.
Wilkins (L), Mazzarobba (6) and Schick
Mosher (W) and Bird
(July 20) Darryl Fenton doubled home two runs in the opening inning and pitcher Dick Hargreaves took over from there as the first-place Merchants blanked C.Y.O. 3 to 0 at the Powell Street grounds. Hargreaves limited C. Y.O. to four hits, whiffed eight and did not issue a walk in earning his fourth win in five decisions. Ron Frederick gave Hargreaves an insurance marker in the seventh when he walked with the bases loaded. The win gives the Merchants 33 points, five more than the runner-up Stylers and six more than C.Y.O.
Hargreaves (W) and White
Zinio (L) and Bird
(July 21) Bill Bazaluk scattered six hits as the top-dog Merchants edged the cellar-dwelling North Vancouver contingent 2 to 1 at the Powell Street grounds. Bazaluk fanned a dozen and did not issue any free passes as he improved his pitching record to seven wins against two losses. Losing pitcher Dan Calli matched Bazaluk in surrendering just six safeties except that three of them were bunched in the fifth frame, resulting in the pair of tallies for the victors. Darryl Fenton started things off with a single, a double by Ken MacKenzie followed and a two-run one-bagger off the bat of Ed Ems produced the deuce. The lone Norvan counter came on a sixth-inning solo dinger by Al Embley.
Bazaluk (W) and White
Calli (L) and Zuelche
(July 22) Moundsman “Duke” Fairbrother struck out the first six batters he faced as he pitched the Stylers to a 6 to 0 conquest of North Vancouver in Industrial League action. Catcher Don Schick singled in two runs for the winners. Fairbrother helped his own cause by drilling an RBI single. The win leaves the Stylers five points behind the penthouse-dwelling Merchants.
Fairbrother (W) and Schick
Elson (L) and Scott
(July 23) The Stylists continued their late-season drive for first place when they clipped the C.Y.O. baseballers 6 to 1 at the Powell Street grounds. Don Schick got the Fashionaires off to a fast start with a two-run single in the first inning and Ken Jorgenson put the game away with a three-run homer in the third. The win leaves the Stylers three points behind the first-place Merchants with both clubs having three games to play, two against each other.
Elliott (L), Gruhn (3), Grant (6) and Stevens
Morgan, Mazzarobba (W) (2) and Doyle
(July 25) Steve Herbert made a spectacular Industrial League debut at the Powell Street grounds, pitching the Stylers to within one point of first place with a 3 to 1 win over the Merchants. Herbert was touched for only one hit, a fourth-inning double by Ken MacKenzie, as he fanned six and walked three. A sacrifice fly off the bat of Ken Lorenz in the sixth inning broke a 1 – 1 tie and sent Brian Morgan home with what turned out to be the winning run. Derek Rustemeyer launched a solo round-tripper for the victors.
Herbert (W) and Schick
Dreger (L) and White
(July 26) The Merchants scored three times in the seventh inning to defeat the Stylers 5 to 2 and clinch the 1971 Industrial League regular-season pennant. Bill Bazakuk claimed his seventh win of the season and Terry Dreger earned a save by striking out the final two Styler batters in the seventh inning after Bazaluk has issued a pair of free passes. The Retailers’ seventh-inning explosion came on a brace of walks, an error and singles by Terry Schuss, Al Forman and Ron Peterson.
Bazaluk (W), Dreger (7) and White
Anderson (L), Fairbrother (7) and Schick
(July 27) C.Y.O. and North Vancouver, doomed to finish third and fourth respectively, battled to a 3 – 3 tie in an Industrial League encounter called after eight innings because of darkness. Rich Gruhn drove in one run and scored another for C.Y.O. Norvan pitcher Bert Nichol struck out nine and walked six.
Zinio and Bird
Nichol and Luniw
(July 28) Stu Winrob drove in three runs as C.Y.O. bounced the Stylers 5 to 3 in an Industrial League contest at the Powell Street grounds. Winrob’s double in the second frame resulted in a brace of RBI’s while his second two-bagger, in the sixth, brought home another counter. Bill Grant struck out six and walked three in pitching a three-hitter for his first knoll triumph of the season.
Kobyashi, Kochan (L) (5) and McKay
Grant (W) and Bird
(July 29) The regular-season schedule of the Industrial Baseball League wound up with the pennant-winning Merchants thumping last-place North Vancouver at the Powell Street grounds. Winning pitcher Brant Wragg struck out ten in the six innings he toiled on the bump. Catcher Mike White slammed a two-run dinger for the Retailers in the second frame.
Gooch (L), Thompson (5) and Luniw
Wragg (W), White (7) and White, Peterson (7)
PLAYOFFS
SEMI-FINALS (best-of-five series) North Vancouver vs Merchants & C.Y.O. vs Stylers
(August 1) Dick Hargreaves fired a three-hitter as the Merchants blanked North Vancouver 3 to 0 in the opening game of their semi-final series.
(August 2) Barry Wilkins took his lumps at the Powell Street grounds as C.Y.O. thumped the Stylers 10 to 3 in the first game of their Industrial League playoff round. C.Y.O jumped on the N.H.L. rearguard for three tallies in the second stanza and chased him to the showers with four additional counters in the third. Gord Lowery and Stu Winrob both posted three RBI’s for the winners. John Kochan drove in two of the Stylers’ three runs.
Zinio (W) and Lowery
Wilkins (L), Frezell (3), Mazzarobba (6) and Schick
(August 3) The Merchants moved to within a game of clinching their semi-final series with North Vancouver by doubling the Norvans 8 to 4. The Retailers scored five runs in the fourth inning to put the game away. Terry Schuss had the big hit, a two-run double, as the Merchants sent 11 batters to the plate. Schuss finished the evening with three hits, four RBI’s and two runs scored.
Bazaluk (W) and White
Calli (L), Thompson (4), Calli (5), Thompson (5) and Luniw
(August 4) Ken Jorgenson’s hitting overcame loose fielding by his teammates as the Stylers edged C.Y.O. 7 to 6 at the Powell Street grounds to square their semi-final series at a game apiece. Jorgenson slammed a solo tater in the opening stanza first inning then boomed a grand-slam dinger in the fourth. His power was needed as the Stylers made five errors to help C.Y.O. score five first-inning runs on only two hits. Pete Blanchard accounted for the final C.Y.O. tally by launching a sixth-inning circuit-jack with the sacks empty.
Frezell (W), Fellerdeau (6) and Schick
Mosher (L), Elliott (5) and Lowery
(August 5) Brant Wragg had a no-hitter going until the fifth inning at the Powell Street grounds as the Merchants shutout North Vancouver 4 to 0 to advance to the Industrial Baseball League finals. Wragg and seventh-inning reliever Keith Wilson stymied the Norvans on two hits.
Bogue (L) and Luniw
Wragg (W), K. Wilson (7) and White
(August 6) Steve Herbert struck out 15 and allowed only three hits as the Stylers whitewashed C.Y.O. 6 to 0 to grab a two-games-to-one lead in their semi-final series. The Stylers went ahead 2 to 0 in the first inning, courtesy of four C.Y.O. errors. Derek Rustemeyer drove in two fifth-inning counters with a single and Bill Jorgenson closed out the scoring with a two-run homer in the sixth stanza.
Elliott (L), Grant (6) and Lowery
Herbert (W) and Schick
(August 6-8) B. C. Senior Amateur Baseball Championship tournament
(August 8) The Stylers managed to parlay eight hits into an 11 to 0 win over C.Y.O. at the Powell Street grounds, closing out their semi-final series with three wins against one loss. Half of the base raps collected by the Fashionaires were doubles including two by Ken Jorgenson who drove in three runs. Teammate Sam Kobayashi had a double, two singles, scored three runs and made ten assists from his shortstop position. Winning chucker Larry Fellerdeau limited the vanquished nine to just three hits.
Fellerdeau (W) and Schick, McKay (6)
Mosher (L), Kirk (6) and Lowery
FINALS (best-of-seven series) Stylists vs Merchants
(August 10) Ron Peterson slammed a three-run homer in the bottom-of-the-seventh inning at the Powell Street grounds which lifted the Merchants to a 4 to 2 walkoff win over the Stylers in the first game of the best-of-seven Industrial League finals. The Retailers managed only two hits, one in the scoreless fifth inning as well as Peterson’s blast, but two walks by losing pitcher Larry Fellerdeau in the fateful seventh set the stage for Peterson’s heroics. Graham Frezell’s solo round-tripper in the top-of-the-seventh was one of six Styler safeties and had given the losers a temporary 2 to 1 lead.
Morgan, Fellerdeau (L) (6) and Doyle
K. Wilson (W) and White
(August 11) Ed Ems accounted for three runs and Bill Bazaluk pitched a three-hitter as the Merchants blanked the Stylers 4 to 0 to take a 2 – 0 lead in the best-of-seven Industrial League final series. Ems doubled home Al Forman in the first inning then belted a solo circuit-clout in the third. He also scored in the sixth. Bazaluk struck out seven and walked four as he handcuffed the Fashionaires.
Bazaluk (W) and White
Frezell (L), Fairbrother (7) and Doyle
(August 12) Bill Jorgenson stayed in the game just long enough to pace the Stylers to a 2 to 1 win over the Merchants in the third game of the Industrial League finals. Jorgenson doubled home the Stylers’ two runs in the fourth inning and, in trying to stretch the two-bagger into a triple, he was called out by the umpire and thrown out of the game for arguing the call. But starting chucker Barry Wilkins of the Designers held the Merchants to one run, effectively scattering the seven bingles and six walks that the Retailers coaxed from him. He did, however, need relief help from Larry Fellerdeau to record the final out of the game. The Merchants still lead the best-of-seven series 2 to 1.
Wilkins (W), Fellerdeau (7) and Schick
Wragg (L) and White
(August 15) Sam Kobayashi led off the sixth inning with a home run to give the Stylers a 1 to 0 win over the Merchants at the Powell Street grounds, tying the best-of-seven Industrial League finals at two games apiece. Kobayashi’s four-bagger spoiled an excellent pitching performance by loser Dick Hargreaves who allowed only two other hits, both singles. The Merchants managed six safeties off winning flinger Larry Fellerdeau, but left nine baserunners stranded.
Hargreaves (L) and White
Fellerdeau (W) and Schick
(August 16) The Stylers exploded for nine runs in the second inning at the Powell Street grounds and went on to defeat the Merchants 10 to 3, a win which boosted them into a three-games-to-two lead in the Industrial League finals. The game was called after six innings because of darkness. Ken Jorgenson drove in two runs with a double during the second-inning uprising and added a third RBI in the third canto with a single. John Kochan paced the Stylers’ 10-hit offense with three hits including a double while Bill Jorgenson doubled and singled. The Merchants managed only two hits off winning pitcher Steve Herbert and fifth-inning reliever Ken Jorgenson.
Herbert (W), K. Jorgenson (5) and Schick
Dreger (L), Bazaluk (2), Wragg (4) and White
(August 17) Three second-inning tallies without the benefit of a hit provided the fuel that ignited the Merchants to a 5 to 2 conquest of the Stylers at the Powell Street grounds, squaring the final series for the Industrial League crown at three games each. Four walks and an error were the mix that deflated the Fashionaires in this crucial frame. The winners were actually held hitless until catcher Mike White doubled in the sixth stanza. White then scored the fourth Merchant tally on a dropped fly ball off the bat of Ron Peterson who later romped home with the fifth and final counter by the Retailers when Al Forman laced a single. The Designers had a 4 to 2 edge in base hits in the clash that was once again terminated after six innings because of darkness.
K. Wilson (W) and White
Morgan (L), Fellerdeau (2), Fairbrother (6) and Schick
(August 18) Pete Thiessen’s home run with two out in the bottom-of-the-seventh inning brought a sudden end to the Industrial Baseball League playoffs and gave the Merchants the league championship with a 5 to 4 win over the Stylers in the deciding game of the final series. The winners overcame a 3 to 0 lead with four straight doubles in the second inning for three runs. Ron Peterson’s sacrifice fly in the third inning gave the Merchants a 4 to 3 margin but “Duke” Fairbrother’s solo homer in the fourth deadlocked things at 4 – 4. Three innings later, Thiessen’s blast settled things and provided a walkoff win for the Retailers. John Kochan’s two-run dinger and Bill Jorgenson’s solo tater had given given the Stylers their three-run cushion in the opening panel. Winning tosser Terry Dreger scattered six hits and drove in a run during the Merchants’ big second inning.
Herbert, Fellerdeau (L) (2) and Schick
Dreger (W) and White
WESTERN INTERNATIONAL BASEBALL LEAGUE
Burnaby remained the lone British Columbia team in the short-season Western International Baseball League which increased its 1971 membership to eight teams. Except for the occasional snippet, press coverage in editions of the Vancouver Sun and Province was virtually non-existent.
Bellevue WA
Bellingham Bells
Burnaby Villas
Cheney WA
Everett WA
Seattle Central Area Youth Association
Seattle Door
Seattle University
(June 16) The Bellingham Bells took advantage of four errors and eight bases on balls, along with eight base hits, to coast to a 10 to 2 thumping of the Burnaby Villas in the Pacific International Baseball League’s season opener for both clubs at Vancouver’s Capilano Stadium. Don Archer drove in both Burnaby runs.
(June 20) Cheney WA swept both games from visiting Burnaby by scores of 1 to 0 and 6 to 2.
(June 21) The invading Burnaby Villas slammed 15 hits to defeat Seattle University 11 to 2 in a Western International League contest. Murray Gage-Cole picked up the pitching win in relief of starter Steve Elliott who ran into troubles in the first inning. Hitting stars for the winners were Don Archer with a triad of bingles, Ken Myette with a pair and Jim Kilner with a home run.
June 30-July 1) The difference was in an extra inning as the classy Burnaby Villas of the Western International Baseball League clipped the hosting Victoria Senior Amateur Baseball League All-Stars 3 to 2 to capture the rubber match in a three-game exhibition series at Royal Athletic Park. The Villas opened the Dominion Day holiday series with a convincing 12 to 1 victory but were checked 6 to 2 by Victoria portsider Les Brice in the second encounter.
Whyte (W), Noble (5) and Caig
Mabee (L), Miles (1) and McAvoy
Begg (L), Carp (5) and Caig
L. Brice (W) and Morgan
Elliott (W) and Caig
Mabee (L) and McAvoy
(July 17) Burnaby lost 5 to 4 to one of the Seattle teams in the Western International League despite John Haar’s two-run homer.
(July 18) Burnaby took a doubleheader from Everett WA on the home turf of the Snohomish County squad. Gordie White pitched Burnaby to a 5 to 1 win in the first game while Joe Karp turned on his former teammates in hurling the follow-up 11 to 3 victory.
(August 6-8) B. C. Senior Amateur Baseball Championship tournament
PACIFIC COAST JUNIOR BASEBALL LEAGUE
Bellingham
New Westminster
North Shore
Vancouver
(May 9) New Westminster kicked off the Pacific Coast Junior League season Sunday sweeping a double-header at Capilano Stadium. New Westminster dumped Vancouver 5-1 and edged North Shore 2-1 in an extra inning as the league opened with a triple header. In between, Vancouver beat North Shore 6-2. Bellingham was idle.
Les Babuin stood out in both New Westminster wins. He pitched a six-hitter in the first game then scored the winning run, on an error, in the game against North Shore. Vancouver was gifted its victory when, in the fifth inning two throwing errors on the same play led to three runs in a five-run stanza.
(May 11) Pete Thiessen drove in five runs with four hits Tuesday as Vancouver whipped New Westminster 9-1 in action at Capilano Stadium. Thiessen had a double and three singles and scored a pair. Ted Magnowski scattered six hits and fanned seven in going the distance for Vancouver. Ken Ferrari, the first of four pitchers for New Westminster, was tagged with the loss.
(May 16) In a wild one at Queen's Park Stadium, North Shore scored 10 runs in the third inning but then had to hold off a late charge by New Westminster to rack up an 11-9 victory. The winners sent 15 batters to the plate in the third and rapped out nine hits. The lone extra base hit of the frame was a lead-off double by pitcher Steve McKinley. Marty Carey with a double, and Bob Sharp, a triple, led an 11-hit effort by the losers.
(May 18) New Westminster and North Shore played to a 1-1 draw Tuesday night at Ambleside Park in a game halted after seven innings because of darkness. The dandy pitching match up saw Randall Gooch working on a one-hitter and John Anderson allow just three hits.
Maurice L'Heureux singled off Gooch in the seventh, went to third on a two-base error and scored on a wild pitch. North Shore scored in the first inning when Doug Scott singled to drive in Bill Jackson who had reached on an error.
(May 21) Larry Mann fired a four-hit shutout Friday and also provided the offense with two hits and two runs batted in as Vancouver defeated North Shore 3-0 at Capilano Stadium. Ron Turner had two of the five Vancouver hits. Steve McKinley, who gave way to Mike Robinson in the 8th, took the loss.
(May 28) New Westminster and North Shore battled to a 3-3 draw Friday when the game was called after six innings because of darkness. Marty Carey tripled and Bill Smail singled him home in the fifth to tie the contest for New Westminster. Earlier, Dennis Metcalfe belted a homer for North Shore and Bob Sharp clubbed a three-bagger for New Westminster.
(May 30) Leo Gauthier's two-out single in the 12th inning drove in the winning run Sunday in New Westminster's 3-2 win over league-leading Vancouver in Pacific Coast Junior ball at Queen"s Park Stadium. Bob Sharp singled off loser Larry Mann to start the bottom of the inning, was sacrificed to second and advanced on a ground out.
John Anderson, who relieved started Les Babuin in the 12th after Babuin had fanned 12, was credited with his second win of the season. Ted Magnowski, who started for Vancouver, drove in both runs for the losers. Jim Schwab had a triple and two singles.
(June 1) Third baseman Mark McDonald rapped four hits to lead Vancouver to an 8-3 win over North Shore Tuesday. McDonald's total included a double and three singles. He also scored twice and stole three bases. Vancouver pulled away with four runs in the fifth inning with Jim Schwab's bases-loaded single a key blow. Larry Fellerdeau hurled a five-hitter for his second win of the season. Al Watson had a double and single for the losers.
(June 2) Knuckleballer John Anderson tossed a no-hitter Wednesday as New Westminster blanked Bellingham 2-0 at Queen's Park Stadium to move into a tie for first place in the Pacific Coast Junior Baseball League. Anderson, who allowed just two runners to reach base, both on errors, struck out 17 in posting his fourth win of the season. New Westminster got both runs in the third inning on a double by Bob Sharp and a single from shortstop Marty Carey. Keith Richards and Greg Turner combined to hold New Westminster to just five hits.
(June 4) Larry Mann fired a three-hitter and struck out 17 Friday as Vancouver squeezed by Bellingham 3-2 in junior action. Vancouver took a 3-0 lead before the home squad broke loose for a pair in the seventh. Neil Crawford, who allowed eight hits, took the loss. The win gives Vancouver a 5-2 league mark and a share of first place with New Westminster which picked up a win Friday when North Shore forfeited the game.
(June 6) Don Lathi became the first player in the Pacific Junior League to hit a home run out of Capilano Stadium Sunday as Bellingham defeated Vancouver 6-2. Lathi's two run blast carried over the left field wall, 350 feet from home plate, in the third inning giving the visitors a 5-1 lead. Greg Turner was the winner giving up eight hits. Steve Herbert took the loss.
(June 6) At Ambleside Park, New Westminster dumped North Shore 5-1 in a rain-shortened game. Leo Gauthier picked up his first win of the season relieving Les Babuin in the fifth inning. With the win, New Westminster ran its record to 6-2.
(June 9) Ted Magnowski knocked in four runs with a double and two singles to lead Vancouver to an 11-1 romp over New Westminster in junior ball Wednesday at Capilano Stadium. With the win, Vancouver gained a share of first place with New Westminster, each with six wins and three defeats.
(June 16) Al Watson's second double of the game scored Al Embley with the lone run Wednesday as North Shore upset New Westminster 1-0 in Pacific Coast junior ball at Queen's Park Stadium. Watson also had a single. Jim Rentmeester held New Westminster to five hits in tossing the shutout to best Les Babuin who yielded eight hits.
(June 21) Larry Fellerdeau hurled a four-hitter Monday night as Vancouver defeated New Westminster 4-1 in Pacific Coast Junior League action. Shortstop Jim Schwab led the winners with three singles and right fielder Ron Turner added a two-bagger.
(June 23) Maurice L'Heureux scored from second base on a pitcher's throwing error Wednesday as New Westminster gained a 3-3 tie with North Shore in a Pacific Coast Junior game at Queen's Park Stadium.
North Shore had a 3-0 lead after five innings but New Westminster plated two in the sixth to set the stage for L'Heureux in the eighth.
(June 28) Pinch hitter Ron Turner lofted a sacrifice fly to score Ted Magnowski with the winning run in the bottom of the 10th inning Monday as Vancouver topped North Shore 8-7 in junior ball at Capilano Stadium. Larry Fellerdeau, in relief of Steve Herbert, claimed his fifth win of the season without a loss.
(June 30) John Anderson pitched five innings of relief Wednesday for his fifth win of the season as New Westminster dumped North Shore 6-1 at Queen's Park Stadium. Catcher Syd Sharp doubled in the fourth as New Westminster scored four times off loser hurling Jim Rentmeester to put the game away. Bill Jackson had three hits for North Shore.
(July 2) North Shore took advantage of four errors and two hit batsmen in the fourth inning Friday and ran roughshod over New Westminster in a junior game at Ambleside Park. Colin Thompson and Al Embley led the winners with two hits apiece and Dan Calli racked up 12 strikeouts in going the distance for the win.
(July 4) Vancouver blasted North Shore 14-2 Sunday in Pacific Coast Junior ball. Jim Schwab smacked a homer and Ron Turner, Mark McDonald and Len Gamlin each rapped two-run triples to lead a 14-hit attack. Steve Herbert yielded just two singles in going the route for the win.
(July 20) Vancouver of the Pacific Coast Junior League has won a berth at the Canadian Junior Championships at North Battleford next month. The coast nine defeated the host Creston Maroons 9-0 and 3-2 to earn the right to represent the province. Larry Fellerdeau threw a five-hit shutout in the first game and Larry Mann followed giving up just three hits in the second affair.
Bob Sharp was the outstanding hitter for the winners with a two-run homer in the opener and four hits in the second contest to win the Most Valuable Player award for the championship.
(July 30-August 2) Canadian Junior Baseball Championship Tournament