1978 Vancouver, Lower Mainland, Fraser Valley
1978 BC Interior
1978 Vancouver Island
PACIFIC METRO LEAGUE
After a year’s leave of absence, the North Shore Mountaineers re-joined the 1978 circuit.
Fraser Division
Bellingham Bells
Burnaby Astros
New Westminster Auroras
Surrey Sports,
Capilano Division
North Shore Mountaineers
Richmond Fraser Arms
Vancouver Pharaohs
Vancouver Puccinis
(May 16) Bob Dean and Russ McKee, the number three and four hitters in the Burnaby lineup, powered the Astors to an easy 7-0 victory over Surrey Sports Tuesday at Central Park. Dean smacked a bases-clearing double in the second inning and McKee followed with a home run to give the Astors a 5-0 advantage. Dean knocked into his fourth run in the seventh with a double and then scored on McKee's sacrifice fly.
(May 16) Rookie Ron Allenby tossed a shutout Tuesday in his first outing to lead Richmond Fraser Arms to a 5-0 victory over the North Shore Mountaineers. The Arms won with just five hits, but had seven steals.
(May 17) Outfielder Stu Winrob knocked in the winning run in the eighth and final inning Wednesday as Richmond Fraser Arms shaded the Vancouver Pharaohs 7-6. Left fielder Gary Fabris made three key defensive plays in the top of the final frame as hurler Dave Steele ran into serious trouble. After he hauled in Rick Bultitude's long drive for the first out, Terry Schuss followed with a ground-rule double and moved to third on a wild pitch. Ron Turner lifted a fly to left and Fabris made the second out. Steele then loaded the bags walking both Keith Wilson and Mike White. However Ron Frederick lined out to Fabris to end the inning. The Arms got the winner with two out. Keith Frew singled and Jim Nason drew a free pass. Winrob then stepped up and drove the first pitch to deep centre to score the winning marker.
(May 21) Vancouver Puccinis and New Westminster Auroras both captured double-headers Sunday in the Pacific Metro League action. Puccinis whipped the struggling North Shore Mountaineers 8-1 and 5-2 at Nat Bailey Stadium, while the Auroras handed Richmond Frasers 3-1 and 11-3 defeats at Brighouse Park. Puccinis second sacker Dave Schwab slammed three hits and drove in a pair in support of winning hurler Rod McKay in their first victory. Greg Lindsay was credited with the win for the Auroras in the first game with relief from Nick Mitchell. Dave Steele took the loss. Kerry Morris was the second game winner as New Westminster needed just five innings for the triumph. Rick Fellardeau took the loss.
(May 22) Vancouver Puccinis fell from the unbeaten ranks Monday as the Vancouver Pharaohs nipped the Pacific Metro leaders 6-5 at Nat Bailey Stadium. Keith Wilson knocked in the winning counter with a sacrifice fly in the eighth inning. Maury Ornest, son of Vancouver Canadians owner Harry Ornest, had a solo home run for the Puccinis, now 4-1 on the season.
(May 23) The New Westminster Auroras won their first game of the season, slamming seven hits en route to a 9 to 1 Pacific Metro League win over the North Shore Mountaineers at Inter-River Park. Kerry Morris recorded the pitching win for the Auroras who took advantage of four North Shore errors. Tom Bogue was nailed with the loss for the Mountaineers whose record fell to 0 – 3.
(May 23) Richmond Fraser Arms scored early and often and cruised to a 10-1 triumph over North Shore Mountaineers Tuesday at Inter-River Park. Tom Craig cracked a pair of doubles to lead the offense.
(May 24) Burnaby Astors remained unbeaten defeating the Vancouver Pharaohs 6-5 at Central Park. Left fielder Peter Berthiaume had three hits and drove in three, including the winner in the bottom of the eighth.
(May 24) At Brighouse Park in Richmond, Fraser Arms handed North Shore a 10-0 thrashing.
(May 27) Surrey Sports upended Richmond Fraser Arms 3-1 with Brian Unruh hurling the victory. Ron Diack's homer was the key blow for Surrey. Tom Bird cracked a four-bagger for Richmond.
(May 28) Sunday at Whalley Park, Vancouver Pharaohs dropped Surrey Sports 6-2. Gordie Johnston took the pitching loss. Surrey rebounded to capture the second game downing Vancouver 3-2 behind the pitching of Steve Hynek. Ron Diack drove in the winning run with a single scoring Bob McAuley.
(June 7) A four-run sixth inning carried Surrey Sports to a 7-5 victory over Richmond Fraser Arms Wednesday at Brighouse Park. Stu Graham's two-run single was a key blow to back winning pitcher Brian Unruh.
(June 11) At Central Park Sunday, Burnaby Astors swept both games of a double-bill downing the Arms 3-2 in extra innings in the opener and 8-3 in the second game. In the first game, playing manager Ossie Chavarria cracked a bases-loaded double in the bottom of the tenth to drive in the winning marker. Gary Wilson had given the Arms the lead in the top of the tenth reaching on a bunt and coming around to score on Jim Nason's grounder to third. Russ McKee provided the punch for the Astors in the second game pounding a grand-slam homer in the second inning as New Westminster romped to the victory.
At Queen's Park Stadium in New Westminster, the Auroras split a twin-bill with Surrey Sports. Surrey took the first game 2-1 in 11 innings as Mike Paul belted a solo homer. In the second, Auroras rebounded for an 8-5 victory after trailing 5-0.
(June 13) Wayne Rogers doubled in Ossie Chavarria with the game's only run as the Astors nipped the Vancouver Pharaohs 1-0 Tuesday at Nat Bailey Stadium. Randy Town scattered five hits for the win.
(June 13) New Westminster's Tim Clark had everything well in hand for eight innings Tuesday hurling a one-hitter against Richmond Fraser Arms. But the Arms ran wild in the top of the ninth scoring eight times to walk away with an 8-5 victory. The game had sensational hurling early on as Ron Allenby, a Richmond junior brought up for the game had a three-hitter until the eighth as the teams battled to a scoreless tie. But, in the eighth, the Auroras tagged Allenby for three hits and a walk to take a 4-0 lead. In the ninth, Al Chorney's three-run double was the highlight as the Arms chased Clark from the hill with an unexpected outburst. Bill Jackson, Howie Stephens and Jim Nason also had run-scoring hits. Outfielder Gary Wilson, with his first mound appearance in 13 years, finished on the mound for Richmond.
(June 14) Pitcher Brant Wragg got himself out of a jam by striking out the final batter with the bases loaded to preserve a 2 to 1 victory for the Vancouver Pharaohs over Surrey Sports in Pacific Metro League action at Nat Bailey Stadium.
(June 16) Bellingham Bells scored a pair in the first inning and never looked back Friday in downing Richmond 6-3. Joel Zediker was the winner in the abbreviated contest, called because of darkness. Rick Fellerdeau took the loss.
(June 18) Norm Craig and John Hatch belted homers to pace Surrey Sports to a 5-1 victory over Burnaby Astors. Gord Johnson racked up 11 strikeouts in hurling for the winners.
(June 18) Vancouver Pharaohs turned on the power Sunday to dump Richmond 11-2 and 11-5 in a twin-bill at Brighouse Park. Al Forman and Ron Frederick each had two hits in the first game. In the second Terry Schuss and Rick Mark combined for six hits, five runs and four runs batted in.
At Civic Park in Bellingham, the visiting Auroras of New Westminster swept the hometown Bells 4-1 and 12-0. John Duda stroked the winning hit in the opener while Wayne Martin homered in the second to back the shutout pitching of Murray Gage-Cole.
The Astors followed the sweep trend taking 7-0 and 3-2 triumphs over the North Shore Mountaineers.
Vancouver Puccinis and Surrey sports split their double-header, with the Puccinis taking the opener 13-4 behind the solid hurling by Brian Unruh. Surrey rebounded to take the second contest 7-5 with Steve Hynek the winner. Grant Wells batted in three runs for the Sports in their victory. Gord Johnson had a four-bagger.
(June 20) Randy Town fired a four-hit shutout Tuesday and Burnaby scored the only run on an error in the bottom of the ninth inning for a 1-0 win for the Astors over New Westminster Auroras at Central Park.
(June 21) Richmond left fielder Al Chorney saw an outstanding hitting performance go for naught Wednesday as the visiting Bellingham Bells defeated the Fraser Arms 8-6 in a game which produced 29 hits. Chorney led a 15-hit Arms attack with four hits, all doubles. Bells' three-run fifth inning put them on top to stay. Jerry Steigel managed to go the distance to pick up the pitching win over Larry Fellerdeau.
(June 24) The Burnaby Astors pounded the hapless North Shore Mountaineers 8 to 1.
(June 25) The Burnaby Astors swept a doubleheader from the Vancouver Puccini’s in Pacific Metro Baseball League action at Central Park. Catcher Ted Gurniak belted a grand-slam home run in the first inning of the opener as Burnaby cruised to an 8 to 2 win while Astor hurler Randy Town recorded his third straight triumph as Burnaby prevailed 1 to 0 in the nightcap.
(June 25) Playing at Brighouse Park, Richmond Fraser Arms swept a pair from the North Shore Mountaineers, 6-2 and 11-3. Gary Wilson hurled the opening game victory allowing just eight hits. Chris Slattery took the loss. A six-run, third inning, for Richmond, told the tale in the second game. Larry Fellerdeau fashioned a five-hitter for the win, besting Cory Coomber, the first of three North Shore pitchers. Left-fielder Gary Fabris led the Richmond batting attack with four hits, four RBI’s and three runs scored in the two games.
(June 25) The Vancouver Pharaohs tallied three runs in the bottom-of-the-fourth inning and went on to defeat the New Westminster Auroras 6 to 1 at Nat Bailey Stadium.
(June 25) Playing at homer, Richmond Fraser Arms swept a pair from the North Shore Mountaineers, 6-2 and 11-3. Gary Wilson hurled the opening game victory allowing just eight hits. Chris Slattery took the loss. A six-run, third inning, for Richmond, told the tale in the second game. Larry Fellardeau fashioned a five-hitter for the win, besting Cory Coomber, the first of three North Shore pitchers.
(June 27) Stan Dean fashioned a four-hit shutout Tuesday night to lead the Astors to a 5-0 win over the Vancouver Pharaohs at Central Park. Bob Dean, Ron Masson and Dan Jukich each had three hits for the winners.
(June 27) At Queens Park Stadium, New Westminster Auroras dumped Richmond 5-1 behind the solid pitching of Nick Mitchell, backed by Gary Knight's two hits and Bill Ramsey's two RBI.
(June 28) Wayne Martin slugged a two-run homer and two singles to lead New Westminster to a 9-1 win over the Astors at Queen's Park Stadium Wednesday. Bill Ramsey and Gary Knight also had three hits for the winners.
(June 28) At Brighouse Park, the visiting Bellingham Bells hung on to beat Richmond Fraser Arms 8-6 as winning pitcher Jerry Steigel survived 15 hits to go the distance. Four of those hits were doubles by Richmond left fielder Al Chorney.
(July 1-2) New Westminster Auroras took top money of $1,500 over the weekend at the 7th Annual Surrey Sports Tournament held at Whalley Park. The Adairs from Washington were the runner-ups and took home $1,000. Vancouver Puccinis won the "B" event and the Nor'Burn Astros finished fourth overall and Surrey Sports fifth.
(July 5) A four-run rally in the final inning fell just short as Richmond Fraser Arms dropped a 10-9 decision to the New Westminster Auroras in play at Brighouse Park. Catcher Ted Springenatic led the winners with three hits while Dale Ramsay, John Duda and Murray Gage-Cole each had a pair. Tom Craig went 4 for 4 in a losing cause.
(July 8) Richmond Fraser Arms unleashed a 15-hit attack Saturday in crushing the Vancouver Puccini’s 13-5. Larry Fellerdeau was the winning hurler, his second of the season.
(July 9) Vancouver Pharaohs had just four hits off losing hurler Ron Allenby but picked up two unearned runs to edge Richmond 2-1.
(July 11) Randy Town scattered ten hits for the shutout, his fourth straight, in pitching Burnaby to a 6-0 win over Richmond. Town racked up 13 strikeouts in gaining his sixth win of the season. Jim Arlott took the loss. Astors got the only run they needed in the first inning as Arlott walked the first three batters and Bob Bridges grounded out to bring in Ron Masson. Tom Craig had a triple and three singles for the Fraser Arms.
(July 12) Richmond Arms exploded for six runs in the bottom of the second inning and cruised to a 13-5 victory over Surrey. A bases-loaded triple by Bill Jackson was a highlight of the big inning. Tom Craig added a run-scoring double and Tom Bird and Al Chorney also had RBI hits. Surrey rallied for five runs in the fourth inning but Randy Holt relieved starter Ron Allenby and hurled no-hit ball the rest of the way. Chorney added a two-run homer in the sixth.
(July 16) Surrey Sports squeezed into the playoffs taking both games of a twin-bill from Richmond 2-1 and 3-1.
(July 17) Monday at Nat Bailey Stadium, Richmond Fraser Arms upset the lead-leading Vancouver Puccinis 6-2, and topped the second place Vancouver Pharaohs 8-1. Randy Holt was a star for the Arms picking up both wins, in relief in the opener and with a route going effort in the second game.
(July 19) Bellingham Bells clobbered the Richmond Fraser Arms 22-9.
(July 20) In a slugfest, Burnaby Astors got by Richmond 15-11. Stan Dean was the winning pitcher while Gord Lowery took the loss.
(July 21) Vancouver Puccinis wrapped up their schedule with a 7-5 victory over Richmond. Cary Johnston was the winning hurler besting Larry Fellardeau.
PLAYOFFS
QUARTER-FINALS (best-of-three series)
The Burnaby Astors and Vancouver Puccini’s received byes in first-round playoff action and advanced directly into the semi-finals on the basis of their first-place finishes in the Fraser and Capilano Divisions.
(July 23) The New Westminster Auroras advanced to the semi-finals of the Pacific Metro Baseball League with a two-game sweep of Surrey Sports at Queen’s Park Stadium. The Auroras captured the first game 6 to 1 and annexed the nightcap 9 to 8 as Wayne Aalto slugged two doubles and a home run.
The Bellingham Bells eliminated the Vancouver Pharaohs in the other quarter-final playoff round.
SEMI-FINALS (best-of-three series)
(July 27) The Vancouver Puccini’s defeated the New Westminster Auroras 9 to 2 at Nat Bailey Stadium to wrap up their best-of-three semi-final series in two straight games. Carey Johnson went the distance on the knoll for the winners while Len Gamlin and Maury Ornest provided offensive power at the plate. Gamlin singled and tripled and scored three runs while Ornest ripped two singles to drive in three more tallies. Puccini’s will meet the winner of the Bellingham–Burnaby series in the league finals.
FINALS
The Burnaby Astors eventually prevailed as 1978 champions of the Pacific Metro Baseball League. No game results of the final series were reported in either the Vancouver Sun or Province.
PACIFIC COAST JUNIOR BASEBALL LEAGUE
North Burnaby Steelers
North Shore Mountaineers
Surrey Sandpipers
Vancouver Pharoahs
Vancouver TOS