1971 Vancouver, Lower Mainland, Fraser Valley
1971 BC Interior
1971 Vancouver Island
VICTORIA SENIOR AMATEUR BASEBALL LEAGUE
The 1971 circuit remained as a four-team loop although a pair of new new patrons were involved. Replacing the playoff-champion Imperial Esso and Transport Worker squads were teams sponsored by Al’s Home Service and Farmer Construction. Al’s Home Service
Farmer Construction
Gorge Hotel
Greave’s Movers
(May 17) John Yankoski scored a run in the first inning, batted in another marker in the second, then drove in a pair of counters and stole home in the fourth frame as Greave’s Movers produced a season-opening 6 to 4 Senior Amateur League victory over Al’s Home Service at Royal Athletic Park. Winning pitcher Rick Cook held Al’s scoreless until the seventh inning when three walks, a two-run single by Russ Holmes, an RBI one-bagger by Terry Strandlund and a groundout by Dave Wallace accounted for the four Servicemen tallies.
Cook (W) and Robertson
T. Holmes (L), Strandlund (4) and Hall
(May 20) Because of player work commitments, Farmer Construction was late in filling out their lineup for their game against Al’s Home Service at Royal Athletic Park and, as a result, the Home Servicemen packed off a victory by default.
(May 25) A string of costly errors by Gorge Hotel in the second inning paved the way for a 3 to 0 Farmer Construction victory at Royal Athletic Park. The Contractors jumped off to a 2 to 0 lead without registering a hit in the fateful second stanza as losing pitcher George Brice dropped a routine pop-fly, Dave Rivers committed a three-base throwing error and a passed ball skipped by the catcher. Brice surrendered just three hits to Farmer batters. Gord Strongman and John McKeachie singled in the sixth inning before an error by Mark Perkins of the Hotelmen led to the third Farmer tally. The only other hit off Brice was a single by Craig Lawrence in the third. Bob Mabee went the route on the knoll for the winners.
(May 26) A Senior Amateur League game deadlocked at 4 – 4 between Al’s Home Service and Greave’s Movers was terminated at the end of seven innings on account of darkness. The suspended tilt will be resumed in the eighth inning prior to the start of the next scheduled meeting between the two teams.
(May 27) Another Victoria Senior Amateur Baseball League game ended in a stalemate. A contest between Gorge Hotel and Greave’s Movers was tied at 2 – 2 when called on account of darkness. Greaves and Gorge will complete the game prior to their next scheduled encounter.
(June 1) Pete Jolly hurled a two-hitter and struck out six batters to pace Farmer Construction to a 6 to 0 victory over Al’s Home Service in Senior Amateur League play. Jolly had a no-hitter going until Ralph Anderson connected for a one-out single in the sixth inning. Russ Holmes gathered the other safety with a sixth stanza, lead-off one-bagger. Catcher Mike McAvoy led Farmer swatters by driving in a pair of tallies with a double in the third inning.
Jolly (W) and McAvoy
Karpiuk (L), Rands (6) and Hall
(June 2) Darkness forced a halt to the action at Royal Athletic Park with Gorge Hotel and Al’s Home Service locked in a 2 – 2 deadlock after two extra innings of a Senior Amateur League clash. The combatants will complete the contest prior to a scheduled afternoon tilt on June 12.
(June 3) Bob Mabee copped his second mound victory of the campaign, spinning a four-hitter as Farmer Construction downed Greave’s Movers 4 to 1 at Royal Athletic Park. The Construction Crew notched the ultimate winning and insurance counters in the fourth inning as John McKeachie, who reached base on a fielder’s choice, and Brian MacKenzie/McKenzie, who walked, pulled off a double steal and scored on winning chucker Mabee’s two-out single.
Mabee (W) and McAvoy
L. Brice (L) and Robertson
(June 5) Greave’s Movers defeated Al’s Home Service 5 to 4 in the completion of a game suspended two weeks ago because of darkness. In their regularly-scheduled match, Al’s prevailed 9 to 5.
Oldridge (L) and Hall
Hildebrand, Lister (W) (3) and Robertson
Strandlund, Rands (W) (2) and Hall
Hildebrand (L), Graas (7) and Robertson
Farmer Construction downed Gorge Hotel in the other half of the scheduled double-bill.
Jolly, Mabee (W) (5) and McAvoy
G. Brice (L) and Bunyan
(June 6) Gorge Hotel and Greave’s Movers settled one deadlock and then went right on to create another during Senior Amateur League play at Royal Athletic Park. In the completion of the May 27 game which was suspended after nine innings innings in a 2 – 2 draw, Larry Montgomery scored in the 11th frame to give Greave’s a 3 to 2 decision. Montgomery had reached first on a base-on-balls, advanced to third on a fielding error and raced across the dish on a throwing miscue.
Moseley, Gibb (L) (10) and Lumley, Bunyan (10)
Cook, Lister (W) (10) and Robertson
Gorge and Greave’s then met in a regularly-scheduled game and played to a 2 – 2 tie in eight innings before the contest was called because of rain. This game is scheduled to be completed on June 26.
In the other game ticketed for the Royal Athletic Park diamond, Farmer Construction moved two full games ahead of the pack in the standings as Bob Mabee pitched a three-hit shutout over Al’s Home Service. Mabee won his fourth game without a loss by striking out seven batters and allowing only three singles. Farmer batters were led by Barry Harvey who collected two hits and had three RBI’s.
Mabee (W) and McAvoy
Miles (L) and R. Holmes
Standings W L Pct. GBL
Farmer Construction 5 1 .833 -----
Greave’s Movers 3 3 .500 2.0
Al’s Home Service 2 4 .333 3.0
Gorge Hotel 1 3 .250 3.0
(June 8) A double by John Howe in the top-of-the-seventh inning drove in Terry Strandlund with the lead run that stood up in Al’s Home Service’s 3 to 2 win over Gorge Hotel. The Servicemen scored their first marker when Russ Holmes hit into an opening-inning, bases-loaded double play that scored Ralph Anderson from third base. A second counter followed in the next frame on a run-scoring single by Strandlund. Winning slabster Terry Karpiuk was nicked for just three hits, yielding Gorge tallies in the third spasm on an RBI single by Mike Embury and Lorne Bunyan’s groundout.
Karpiuk (W) and Hall
Moseley (L) and Bunyan
(June 9) Three consecutive walks in the fourth inning aided last-place Gorge Hotel as they blanked the league-leading Farmer Construction 4 to 0 at Royal Athletic Park. Winning pitcher George Brice struck out seven and allowed only four hits in recording his second shutout victory of the season. The Hotelmen plated all their runs, all singles, in the fourth when Lorne Bunyan started things of with a single, followed by the three walks and singles by Gary Andrews and Dave Rivers.
Jolly (L) and McAvoy
G. Brice (W) and Bunyan
(June 10) Winning pitcher Dave Graas tossed a four-hitter and rang up ten punchouts in hurling Greave’s Movers to a 6 to 1 conquest of Al’s Home Service. Graas helped himself at the dish, as well, cuffing the pill for a pair of run-scoring singles. The win for the Moving Men pushed them to within a game of the top-dog Farmer Construction nine.
Graas (W) and Robertson
T. Holmes (L), Strandlund (6) and Hall
(June 12) In twin-bill action at Royal Athletic Park, Gorge Hotel doubled Al’s Home Service 8 to 4 while Farmer Construction nosed out Greave’s Movers 3 to 2 behind the four-hit pitching of Bob Mabee. It was Mabee’s fifth straight victory.
Mabee (W) and McAvoy
Lister (L) and Robertson
Gibb (W) and Bunyan
Rands (L), Oldridge (5), Miles (7) and Hall
(June 13) Pete Jolly’s bid for a no-hitter came crashing down in the seventh inning of a Senior Amateur tussle at Royal Athletic Park. Nursing a 1 to 0 lead in his pitching duel with George Brice of Gorge Hotel, the Farmer Construction right-hander saw his no-no evaporate when Dave Morgan opened the top-of-the-seventh with a single. Dave Rivers followed with a sacrifice, sending Morgan to second. Then Gary Andrews came through with a single to score Morgan with the tying run. Bob Lumley followed with a base on balls. Brice bunted for a single to load the bases and Doug Hill came through with an infield hit to score Andrews. After Tom Craig fanned, Mike Embury walked to force in a third tally. Brice later scored on a wild pitch, upping the score to 4 to 1 before the smoke had cleared and the side retired. The Construction crew failed to score in their half of the frame and that was that for Jolly, a sombre loss. In the meantime, Brice was credited with his third hurling triumph, punching out nine along the way.
G. Brice (W) and Bunyan
Jolly (L) and McAvoy
(June 14) Southpaw Les Brice bolstered his victory margin on the knoll by clouting the first home run of the season as Greave’s Movers advanced to within a game of league-leading Farmer Construction by tripping up Al’s Home Service 6 to 1 at Royal Athletic Park. Brice, who received seventh-inning relief assistance from Dave Graas, scored a pair of runs and drove in another brace of tallies with two hits in four trips to the plate. Greave’s catcher Tom Robertson was two-for-four with a single, double and two RBI’s. Rival backstop Don Burrows scored the lone counter for Al’s by cracking out a double and then reaching home on Al Moir’s one-bagger.
L. Brice (W), Graas (7) and Robertson
Karpiuk (L), T. Holmes (7) and D. Burrows
(June 15) Playing-manager Barry Harvey connected for hits on all three trips to the plate to drive in two runs and help Farmer Construction ease past Gorge Hotel 5 to 4 at Royal Athletic Park. Trailing 4 to 3 as they came to bat for the final time, the Construction Crew began their comeback when Gord Strongman led off by drawing a base on balls. Mike McAvoy flied out to left field and Harvey singled before Brian MacKenzie/McKenzie drew another walk to load the bases. Bob Mabee, who hurled his sixth victory without a loss, connected for a sacrifice fly to score Strongman and tie the score. A throwing error by George Holt of the Hotelmen followed which allowed the winning tally to touch home.
Moseley (L) and Bunyan
Mabee (W) and McAvoy
(June 16) Rookie power helped Farmer Construction to a 5 to 4 Senior Amateur League win over Al’s Home Service at Royal Athletic Park. The victory boosted the Farmer margin to two games atop the circuit. Rookie Russ McKee lashed out a triple in the bottom-of-the-sixth inning to score Glen Wallis and break a 4 – 4 deadlock. Wallis had doubled prior to McKee’s hit, which was the second RBI three-bagger in the contest. Chris Hall was tops with the baton for Al’s with a two-for-three performance with resulted in a run scores and another driven in.
Oldridge (L), T. Holmes (6) and D. Burrows
Jolly, Mabee (W) (5) and McAvoy
Standings W L Pct. GBL
Farmer Construction 8 3 .727 -----
Greave’s Movers 5 4 .556 2.0
Gorge Hotel 4 5 .444 3.0
Al’s Home Service 3 8 .272 5.0
(June 17) George Brice hurled a two-hit shutout to spark Gorge Hotel to a 2 to 0 win over Greave’s Movers, a victory which boosted the Hoteliers into a second-place tie with the Movers. Lorne Bunyan singled home George Holt for the first Gorge tally in the third inning and Bob Lumley plated the other run in the fourth on an infield out by Tom Craig. Gerry Lister proved to be a tough pitching rival for Brice, yielding but five hits and allowing just one earned run.
Lister (L) and Robertson
G. Brice (W) and Bunyan
(June 21) Bases on balls proved to be the undoing of pitcher Bob Mabee and the league-leading Farmer Construction squad as Greave’s Movers walked off with a Senior Amateur League decision at Royal Athletic Park. Mabee, who had been unbeaten in seven pitching assignments this season, struck out 11 batters but gave up ten walks, including three in the first inning when Greave’s tallied a deuce and four in the sixth stanza when the Movers plated a three-spot. Dave Graas threw a four-hitter to pick up his second victory, moving his club a game-and-a-half behind the Contractors.
Mabee (L) and McAvoy
Graas (W) and Robertson
(June 23) Some strong and timely hitting by Farmer Construction batters led the team to a 5 to 2 win over Gorge Hotel in Victoria Senior Amateur Baseball League play. Craig Lawrence and Tony Gage each had two hits in three trips to the plate for the winners, with Lawrence belting doubles both times. Pete Jolly picked up the hurling victory for the Farmer aggregation. Bob Lumley’s first-inning single drove in both Gorge runs.
G. Brice (L) and Bunyan
Jolly (W) and McAvoy
(June 26) Greave’s Movers, getting an assist from Al’s Home Service, climbed to within one game of pace-setting Farmer Construction following a doubleheader at Royal Athletic Park. Les Brice tossed a three-hitter and poled a run-scoring double in the first inning of the opener in leading the Movers to a 3 to 1 triumph over Gorge Hotel.
L. Brice (W) and Robertson
Moseley (L) and Craig
In the windup event, the Farmer Construction contingent was upset by last-place Al’s Home Service by an identical 3 to 1 margin. The steady three-hit pitching of Lon Miles and the fine batting and defensive play of Walt Burrows of the Servicemen spelled the difference in this encounter.
Mabee (L) and McAvoy
Miles (W) and D. Burrows
(June 28) Don Lambourne connected for a two-out double in the bottom-of-the-seventh inning to score Bob Bowles and give Greave’s Movers a 2 to 1 walkoff victory over Al’s Home Service. Bowles had singled and moved into scoring position on a follow-up one-bagger by Bob Butcher. Bob Moysey had doubled in John Yankoski for Greave’s initial marker in the sixth frame. Dave Graas pitched his third victory without a defeat, scattering five hits and issuing only two bases on balls. The Movers are now just a half-game off the pace set by Farmer Construction.
Rands (L) and Burrows
Graas (W) and Robertson
(June 29) A sizeable 8 to 0 lead that accrued over the first three innings propelled first-place Farmer Construction to an eventual 9 to 2 pasting of Gorge Hotel at Royal Athletic Park. The winners plated a five-spot in their first turn at bat, thanks in large part to Brian MacKenzie/McKenzie who connected for a bases-jammed two-bagger to drive in three of those five counters.
Jolly (W) and McAvoy
Morgan (L), Montgomery (3) and Lumley
(June 30) It took a pair of extra innings for cellar-dwelling Al’s Home Service to prevail 4 to 3 over penthouse-inhabitant Farmer Construction at Royal Athletic Park. Al’s pitching tandem of starter Tom Holmes and winner Terry Karpiuk limited the Construction Crew to just two safeties.
Thame, Jolly (L) (5) and McAvoy
T. Holmes, Karpiuk (W) (3) and Burrows
(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 6) Lonnie Miles scattered four hits, whiffed seven and issued no walks in pitching Al’s Home Service to a 6 to 0 whitewashing of Gorge Hotel. At the dish, Miles was also a contributor as he stroked a brace of safeties, drove in one run and scored another. Teammate Russ Holmes also had a pair of safe swats while Don Burrows slashed a two-run single in the opening spasm.
Miles (W) and Burrows
Moseley (L) and Craig
(July 7) Barry Harvey cuffed a two-out double in the seventh inning to drive in what turned out to be the winning run as Farmer Construction increased its lead atop the Senior Amateur loop to two games with a 5 to 2 conquest of Gorge Hotel at Royal Athletic Park. Glen Wallis delivered another two-bagger later in the frame which provided a pair of insurance counters. Harvey, the playing-skipper of the Contractors, went two-for-three at the plate, drilling another safety earlier in the scuffle that also produced an RBI.
Jolly, Mabee (W) (6) and McAvoy
Hill (L) and Lumley
(July 8) Greave’s Movers crept to just a half-game behind pace-setting Farmer Construction in the Senior Amateur circuit by trouncing third-place Al’s Home Service 13 to 4. Rookie Jim McKay cracked a two-run double for the winners in the fourth inning and also scored a pair of runs. Les Brice and winning tosser John Yankoski shared mound chores for Greave’s while four different chuckers, mired with issuing bases on balls, toiled in vain for Al’s. Ralph Anderson had a brace of safeties for the vanquished nine who were outhit 9 to 7 by the Movers.
L. Brice, Yankoski (W) (4) and Robertson
T. Holmes (L), Strandlund (3). R. Anderson (3), R. Holmes (5), Strandlund (6) and Burrows
(July 11) Greave’s Movers took over first place in the Victoria Senior Amateur Baseball League by trimming the former-leading Farmer Construction 5 to 3 and 2 to 0 in a doubleheader at Royal Athletic Park. John Yankoski had two hits and scored twice, including the winner, for the Movers in the first game.
L. Brice (W), Lister (3), L. Brice (4) and Robertson
Jolly (L) and Strongman, MacKenzie/McKenzie (4)
In the second encounter, Greave’s scored an unearned run in the fourth inning which provided the winning margin.
Lister (W) and Robertson
Mabee (L) and MacKenzie/McKenzie
In other games, Gorge Hotel downed Al’s Home Service 4 to 2 in a 12-inning contest continued from June 2 before Al’s turned around and bounced Gorge 3 to 1 in a regular-length tussle.
Moseley, G. Brice (7), Gibb (W) (10) and Bunyan, Lumley (10)
T. Holmes, Oldridge (7), Miles (L) (10) and Hall, Burrows (10)
Hill (L) and Lumley
Karpiuk (W) and Burrows
(July 13) Farmer Construction hammered Al’s Home Service 6 to 0 in a Senior Amateur League match at Royal Athletic Park. Slabster Bob Mabee earned his ninth win in twelve decisions by swishing nine and issuing just two walks, Gord Strongman set the offensive pace for the victors three base knocks including a pair of triples, two runs scores and two RBI’s. Teammate Mike McAvoy drilled a brace of safeties, driving in two and scoring once.
Rands (L), Strandlund (6) and Burrows
Mabee (W) and McAvoy
(July 15) Greave’s Movers earned a little more breathing room atop the standings by manufacturing a 4 to 0 victory over second-place Farmer Construction. Les Brice twirled a three-hitter for the shutout win.
Jolly (L) and McAvoy, Strongman (5)
L. Brice (W) and Robertson
Standings W L Pct. GBL
Greave’s Movers 12 6 .667 ----
Farmer Construction 12 9 .571 1.5
Gorge Hotel 7 11 .389 5.0
Al’s Home Service 7 12 .368 5.5
(July 17-18) The Victoria Senior Amateur League All-Stars, defending Canadian senior baseball champions, powered past the Mid-Island All-Stars over the weekend and won the Vancouver Island championship in two straight games. Victoria belted the Mis-Islanders 14 to 0 behind the three-hit pitching of Gerry Lister in the first game at Lake Cowichan, them wrapped up the best-of-three series in two straight games with a 20 to 1 rout at Royal Athletic Park a day later as Bob Mabee checked in with a one-hitter. Holding the outclassed Mid-Island team to four hits in 16 innings, the Victorians blasted out 29 safeties. Home runs by catcher Mike McAvoy and Mike Embury sparked the Saturday assault.
Lister (W) and McAvoy
Jubenvillle, Church (2), Wilson (4) and Kitt
Mabee had nine strikeouts in the Sunday romp and aided his own cause with a 4-for-5 performance at the plate.
Bailey (L), Church (2), Wilson (4) and Kitt
Mabee (W) and McAvoy, Morgan (5)
(July 19) Rookie pitcher Derek Drinkwater hurled a two-hitter in his first start in senior company to pace Greave’s Movers to a 3 to 2 victory over Al’s Home Service. The Movers collected five hits with Larry Montgomery collecting two of them, good for a pair of RBI’s. Al’s went ahead 2 to 0 in the opening inning when Ralph Anderson and Walt Burrows raked the only two hits off Drinkwater, both touching home in that frame. The winning run was scored by John Yankoski on a wild pitch by losing chucker Lonnie Miles.
Drinkwater (W) and Robertson
Miles (L) and Burrows
(July 20) Stan Gibb recorded hid fourth victory in five pitching starts as Gorge Hotel upset Farmer Construction 11 to 9 in a swatfest at Royal Athletic Park. Gibb crossed the plate three times in the high-scoring joust after reaching first base on a walk, after being hit by a pitched ball and by drilling a single. Teammate Gary Andrews helped at the plate by creaming the orb for a bases-loaded triple. Gord Strongman was the top willow wielder for the vanquished nine, going four-for-four at the dish, scoring twice and driving in a run.
Gibb (W) and Bunyan
Jolly (L), Strongman (3) and McAvoy
(July 21) John McKeachie sparked a nine-run fourth-inning with a grand-slam homer as Farmer Construction strolled to a 15 to 2 pasting of Al’s Home Service in Senior Amateur League action. Playing-manager Barry Harvey of the victors also had a home run in this one-sided tilt, a three-run shot in the opening panel. Bob Mabee breezed to his tenth knoll triumph with a five-hitter.
Oldridge (L), T. Holmes (1), Strandlund (4), Karpiuk (4), Burrows (6) and Burrows, Hall (6)
Mabee (W) and McAvoy
(July 22) Gorge Hotel overcame a 3 to 0 deficit and went on to annex a 4 to 3 triumph over league-leading Greave’s Movers. Winning pitcher Lorne Bunyan, normally a catcher, came to the rescue of starting tosser Des Moseley in the third chapter and pitched shutout ball the remainder of the game for the Hotelmen, striking out five along the way. Barry Cosier, appearing in his first contest of the season, went three-for-three at the plate and scored the winning run.
L. Brice (L) and Robertson
Moseley, Bunyan (W) (3) and Bunyan, Morgan (3)
(July 23) Pace-setting Greave’s Movers and Gorge Hotel split a couple of games that were postponed from earlier dates. The first skirmish, a continuation of an eight-inning 2 – 2 contest, saw Greave’s win it 3 to 2 in 13 innings.
Gibb, Moseley (7), Hill (L) (9) and Bunyan
L. Brice, Lister (W) (9) and Robertson
In the second game, Gorge triumphed 3 to 1 to consolidate their third-place position, 2-1/2 games behind second-place Farmer Construction and a half-game in front of trailing Al’s Home Service.
Lister (L), L. Brice (3), Yankoski (5) and Robertson
Gibb (W) and Morgan, Craig (5)
(July 24) Terry Karpiuk picked up his fourth mound victory of the season, half of the cellar-dwelling Al’s Home Service win total, as he hurled the Servicemen to a 7 to 2 win over league-leading Greave’s Movers. Karpiuk fanned six while tossing a four-hitter while losing chucker Derek Drinkwater was nicked for five hits and whiffed ten. Ralph Anderson led the winners offensively, slashing three singles, scoring each time and knocking in a run.
Karpiuk (W) and Burrows
Drinkwater (L) and Robertson
(July 26) Greave’s Movers humbled second-place Farmer Construction 7 to 2 to move within one game of clinching the Victoria Senior Amateur Baseball League pennant. Bob Bowles, John Yankoski, Bob Butcher and winning pitcher Les Brice had two hits apiece for the winners with Bowles’ safe swats resulting in a brace of RBI’s. John McKeachie had a pair of safeties for Farmer and drove in both of their runs in the first inning.
Mabee (L) and McAvoy
L. Brice (W) and Robertson
Standings W L Pct. GBL
Greave’s Movers 15 9 .625 ----
Farmer Construction 13 11 .542 2.0
Gorge Hotel 10 12 .455 4.0
Al’s Home Service 8 14 .364 6.0
(July 27) Al’s Home Service rallied for four runs in the final inning to topple Gorge Hotel 5 to 2 at Royal Athletic Park. The victory moved the cellar-dwelling Servicemen to within one game of third-place Gorge. Al’s began their seventh-inning comeback with a one-out single by winning pitcher Lon Miles. After Chris Hall had fanned and Russ Holmes drawn a base on balls, John Howe tagged a single to bring Miles in from second base with the tying run. Pinch-hitter Terry Strandlund then doubled in two more and scored himself on another two-bagger by Ralph Anderson.
Miles (W) and Burrows
Gibb (L) and Bunyan
(July 28) Farmer Construction left Gorge Hotel in a rather precarious position after taking a 3 to 1 victory over the Hoteliers at Royal Athletic Park. Pete Jolly, with a three-hitter, outduelled Gorge’s Doug Hill as both chuckers went the route. Gorge now occupies third place and the final playoff spot in the four-team loop but only by a half-game in front of Al’s Home Service.
Hill (L) and Bunyan, Lumley (5)
Jolly (W) and McAvoy
(July 29) Terry Karpiuk rang up nine punchouts, issued only three walks and gave up just two hits as Al’s Home Service turned giant-killer and toppled league-leading Greave’s Movers 2 to 1 as the Senior Amateur League race tightened in the stretch run. The victory for Al’s boosted them into a tie for the final playoff spot while the Greave’s defeat reduced their lead in the circuit to one game. The Servicemen plated both of their counters in their first turn at bat when Walt Burrows hit a sacrifice fly to score Ralph Anderson and Russ Holmes singled in Don Burrows.
Karpiuk (W) and Burrows
L. Brice (L) and Robertson
(August 6-8) B. C. Senior Amateur Baseball Championship tournament
(August 10) Following a layoff of close to two weeks with Royal Athletic Park unavailable, Greave’s Movers clinched top-spot and the 1971 pennant with a 6 to 3 win over Farmer Construction. Les Brice scattered nine hits for the knoll triumph. Bob Bowles drove in three runs for the victors, nailing the horsehide for two hits, one of which was a double. Greave’s rookie George Pakos also stung the sphere for a brace of safeties, driving in a pair of markers with a first-inning two-bagger.
L. Brice (W) and Robertson
Mabee (L) and McAvoy
(August 11) Doug Hill fired a four-hitter and breezed seven to lead Gorge Hotel to a 6 to 2 win over Al’s Home Service as the Hotelmen clinched at least a tie for the final playoff spot in the Senior Amateur League. Hill was also effective with the baton, driving in a pair of sixth-inning tallies. Gary Andrews of the winners and Lon Miles of Al’s both registered two safeties. The Servicemen lodged a protest claiming that Gorge used an ineligible player.
Karpiuk (L) and Burrows
Hill (W) and Morgan
(August 12) With the protest by Al’s Home Service being upheld by the league, a replay of the August 11 clash was necessary forcing a season-ending doubleheader at Royal Athletic Park. Gorge Hotel responded with vigour and scored 8 to 6 and 6 to 0 to lay claim to the final playoff berth in the Senior Amateur circuit. The Hotelman banged out nine hits in reclaiming their victory of a night previous as Stan Gibb went the route for the mound triumph in the opener.
Gibb (W) and Morgan
Miles (L), R. Holmes (7) and Burrows
Winning pitcher Doug Hill paced Gorge in the second game by striking out 11 batters while Mike Squires drove in two runs for the winners with a third-inning triple.
Hill (W) and Morgan
T. Holmes (L) and Burrows
Final Standings W L Pct. GBL
Greave’s Movers 16 10 .625 ----
Farmer Construction 14 12 .542 2.0
Gorge Hotel 12 14 .455 4.0
Al’s Home Service 10 16 .364 6.0
PLAYOFFS
SEMI-FINALS (best-of-three series) Gorge Hotel vs Farmer Construction
(August 13) Bob Mabee struck out eight and drove in two runs at Royal Athletic Park to pace Farmer Construction to a narrow 4 to 3 win over Gorge Hotel in the opener of their best-of-three semi-final series. The Farmer nine was replete with rookies in the lineup as four of them, Mike Baier, Andy Linn, Wayne O’Malley and George Pakos, graced the diamond. Baier, Linn and O’Malley featured in the winning run. In the sixth inning, Baier doubled, advanced to third on Linn’s single and scored on O’Malley’s one-bagger.
Moseley (L) and Morgan
Mabee (W) and McAvoy
(August 14) Although Farmer Construction prevailed in the semi-finals, no trace of any result relative to game two, scheduled for this date, or a possible third game was found in published issues of the Victoria Times Colonist.
FINALS (best-of-five series) Farmer Construction vs Greave’s Movers
(August 18) Barry Harvey tagged a seventh-inning single which drove in a pair of runs as Farmer Construction took a one-game lead in the Senior Amateur finals by squeezing past Greave’s Movers 4 to 3 at Royal Athletic Park. Harvey’s blow gave the Contractors a 4 to 0 lead, a cushion that they ultimately needed in this battle to the finish as Greave’s mounted a bottom-of-the-seventh rally which netted them three counters, one short of deadlocking things. Catcher Mike McAvoy went two-for-three with the lumber and drove in a brace of tallies for the winners.
Jolly (W), Mabee (7) and McAvoy
Lister (L) and Robertson
(August 19) Greave’s Movers packed all of their scoring into the first and last innings en route to a 5 to 0 triumph over Farmer Construction, a win that squared the best-of-five Victoria Senior Amateur Baseball League finals at one game each. Bob Bowles, who had two safeties in the contest, drove in both runs that the winners plated in the opening canto with a two-out single. Larry Montgomery, who also collected a brace of safe swats, connected for another two-run single in the seventh frame. Gerry Lister stroked a one-bagger later in the spasm and Montgomery was declared safe at home with a fifth tally when he collided with catcher Mike McAvoy, jarring the ball loose from the backstop’s grip. Winning slabster Les Brice struck out seven and gave up two walks while hurling the four-hit victory. Loser Bob Mabee fanned 13, issued two free passes and surrendered six base raps.
L. Brice (W) and Robertson
Mabee (L) and McAvoy
(August 20) A one-hit pitching performance by Gord Strongman was the big weapon utilized by Farmer Construction in their 5 to 0 conquest of Greave’s Movers at Royal Athletic Park. With the victory, the Contractors need only one more win to claim the playoff championship. A one-out double in the seventh inning by Bob Moysey was the lone safety off Strongman who walked three and whiffed an equal number. The Farmer squad took a two-run lead in the fourth inning on two walks, a hit batter and two errors. They added three more in the seventh as Stan Thame reached first on a fielder’s choice, Tony Gage singled and Craig Lawrence delivered a two-run double which was followed by a one-bagger off the bat of Strongman that plated Lawrence.
Strongman (W) and McAvoy
Lister (L) and Robertson
(August 23) Pete Jolly rang up seven punchouts and yielded just one hit in pitching Farmer Construction to a 2 to 0 shutout win over Greave’s Movers and a three-games-to-one triumph in the 1971 Victoria Senior Amateur Baseball League final series. Jolly had a no-hitter going until the seventh inning when leadoff batter Bob Bowles of the Movers lofted a pop fly to right-centre which middle pasture patroller Craig Lawrence lost in the dusk as right fielder Tony Gage, making a valiant effort to aid his teammate, made a long run for the ball only to have it glance off his glove for a single. First baseman John McKeachie, who had two hits for the Contactors, figured in both of their runs, scoring the first in the second inning after singling, moving to second on a sacrifice bunt by Bob Mabee and racing all the way home on a throwing error. McKeachie also clouted a third-inning double that drove in Lawrence with the final tally of the game.
Brice (L) and Robertson
Jolly (W) and Strongman
1971 UPPER ISLAND SENIOR BASEBALL LEAGUE
Play in this four-team circuit ground to halt in late July with first-place Ladysmith well out in front in the standings
Campbell River
Ladysmith Travellers
Lake Cowichan
Nanaimo Villas
(May ) Ladysmith and Lake Cowichan battled to a 6-6 tie.
(May 22) Lorne Smith and Lynn Irving cracked homers to pace Ladysmith Travellers to an 11-6 victory over Lake Cowichan Saturday at the Agricultural Field. Smith's blast was a three-run shot. Barry McMahon was the winning hurler with a six-hitter.
John Nicholson (L) and xxx
Barry McMahon (W) and xxx
(May 23) At Campbell River Sunday, the home squad and Nanaimo Villas split a twin-bill with the visitors taking the first game 10-4 as Bill Baker led the way as the winning pitcher and leading hitter, with a homer run and two singles. Nanaimo pounded out 14 hits.
Bill Baker (W) and xxx
Paul Woodward (L) and xxx
The host team rebounded to win the second game 7-6 in a game which produced 21 hits. Ron Frye was the winning hurler topping Ted Malinski of the Villas.
Ted Malinski (L) and xxx
Ron Frye (W) and xxx
(May 30) Ladysmith took a pair from Campbell River 5-4 and 5-0. Lorne Smith and Johnny Wilson each swatted two-run homers in the opener. Murray Davidson, who relieved starter Dal Church in the fifth with the bases loaded retired the side without allowing a run to earn the win.
xxx and xxx
Dal Church, Murray Davidson (W) (5) and xxx
Barry McMahon fired a six-hit shutout in the second game as Lorne Smith and Ken Taylor led the offense with round trippers.
xxx and xxx
Barry McMahon (W) and xxx
(May 31) Nanaimo and the Lakers split a double-header in Lake Cowichan. The home squad took the opener 4-1 but the Villas rebounded to win the second game 8-4. Jim Jubenville held the Villas to three hits in winning the first contest. In the second, Randy Senini paced Nanaimo with three hits, including a two-run homer. Gordie Carlson allowed nine hits in going the route for the pitching win while Robertson took the loss, being tagged for 11 hits and four walks.
Bill Baker (L) and xxx
Jim Jubenville (W) and xxx
Gordie Carlson (W) and xxx
Robertson (L) and xxx
(June 4) A sixth inning homer by Bill Cain was all the Ladysmith Travellers needed Friday to nip Nanaimo Villas 1-0. The game was a pitching duel between Nanaimo's Gord Carlson, who allowed three hits, and Travellers' Clint Bailey who yielded but two safeties.
Gord Carlson (L) and xxx
Clint Bailey (W) and xxx
(June 9) Ladysmith posted its fifth win of the season Wednesday edging Lake Cowichan 4-3. The Travellers, with five wins and a tie, are well ahead in the standings with 11 points to just four for the second place Villas of Nanaimo. The Travellers needed a last inning relief effort by Barry McMahon to cinch the victory. McMahon came in with two out in the seventh and the tying run on third. He fanned the lone batter he faced to preserve the win for starter Murray Davidson. The two combined on a four-hitter. John Jubenville took the loss giving up nine hits.
John Jubenville (L) and xxx
Murray Davidson (W), Barry McMahon (7) and xxx
(June 12) A scheduled double-header between Nanaimo and Campbell River was rained out.
(June 12) Clint Bailey fired a two-hitter Saturday to lead Ladysmith to a 3-2 win over Lake Cowichan. In posting his second straight victory, Bailey fanned nine. Dev Dley took the loss allowing nine hits. He racked up 11 strikeouts.
Dev Dley (L) and xxx
Clint Bailey (W) and xxx
W L T PTS
Ladysmith 6 0 1 13
Nanaimo 2 3 0 4
Lake Cowichan 1 4 1 3
Campbell River 1 3 0 2
(June 20) A scheduled twin-bill between Campbell River and Ladysmith was rained out.
(June 20) A porous defense hurt Nanaimo as Lake Cowichan took advantage of six Villas' errors to post an 8-1 triumph. Jim Jubenville twirled a four-hitter, with 10 strikeouts, for the win. Bill Baker allowed just five hits in taking the loss.
Bill Baker (L) and xxx
Jim Jubenville (W) and xxx
(June 27) Lake Cowichan ended Ladysmith's unbeaten streak upending the league leaders 4-3 at the Travellers' Agricultural Field. The visitors notched two runs in each of the third and fourth innings and held on for the win. Ladysmith got two in the bottom of the fourth and sliced the margin to one on a homer by Wayne Noye in the sixth. Jim Jubenville scattered seven hits in picking up the win over Barry McMahon.
Jim Jubenville (W) and xxx
Barry McMahon (L) and xxx
W L T PTS
Ladysmith 6 1 1 13
Lake Cowichan 3 4 1 7
Nanaimo 2 4 0 4
Campbell River 1 3 0 2
(June 30) Nanaimo Villas handed Ladysmith its second straight defeat, 6-4 Wednesday at Ladysmith. Villas overcame a 4-3 deficit with a run in the sixth and two more in the seventh. Bill Baker picked up the pitching win over Murray Davidson.
Bill Baker (W) and Bob Humphrey
Murray Davidson (L) and Willis
W L T PTS
Ladysmith 6 2 1 13
Lake Cowichan 3 4 1 7
Nanaimo 3 4 0 6
Campbell River 1 3 0 2
(July 11) Lake Cowichan took both ends of Sunday's double-header from Nanaimo, winning 13-0 and 10-9. the Lakers took the first game behind the two-hit, shutout, hurling for Jim Jubenville and got home runs from Jubenville and John Ryan in taking the second game.
Jim Jubenville (W) and Davis
Carlson (L), Shield (3), Kitt (7) and Kitt, Humphrey (7)
Dley (W), Nicholson (5) and Davis
Kitt (L) and Carter
W L T PTS
Ladysmith 6 2 1 13
Lake Cowichan 5 4 1 11
Nanaimo 3 6 0 6
Campbell River 1 3 0 2
(July 22) Dale Church swatted a grand slam homer in the fourth inning to bring Ladysmith back from a 3-1 deficit and the Travellers went on to an 8-3 victory Thursday over Nanaimo in action at Robins Park. Clint Bailey held the Villas to four hits in doing the distance for the pitching win.
Clint Bailey (W) and Taylor
Colin Shade (L), Baker (7) and Carter, Demens (6)