Training Camp — March 31, 1952

Wert, Another 15 Capilanos Off For Spring Training
[Vancouver Province, March 31, 1952]
About 15 members of the Vancouver Capilanos will leave for Penticton tonight and the opening of spring training. Among the early-starters will be first baseman Jim Wert, bought outright from Seattle over the weekend, and catcher Don Lundberg and outfieder Bill Cleveland, both on option from the Rainiers.

Garriott Hits Into Triple Play as Tyees Drop Opener to Salinas
By JIM TANG [Victoria Colonist]
SALINAS, March 31—Don Troy gave up six runs in one inning and manager Cecil Garriott hit into a triple play as a ninth-inning pinch-hitter Sunday afternoon as Victoria Tyees lost 8-5 to Salinas Brownies in their first spring training exhibition game.
About 300 fans braved the cold to watch their strong semi-pros merit the win over a makeshift Victoria team which probably did not include four players, not counting regulars, who will be on the regular roster when the W.I.L. season is a month old. Garriott deliberately used as man players of questionable status as possible and will probably continue to use his rookies in the first few games to give them a chance to eliminate themselves.
TROY HIT HARD
Sunday’s baseball game was played under cloudy skies with a cold win making it impossible to play good baseball. The game produced little startling with the Tyees managing only seven hits off three pitchers, while a trio of Victoria hurlers gave up 12. However, only Troy looked bad. The colored righthander, who could be an asset if he could regain his old-time form, showed little to indicate he will and his arm was sore after the game. He worked two innings, gave up seven runs and as many hits and walked four.
Ben Lorino preceded Troy and did well enough for his first start. He was reached for one run on four hits in three innings and showed a good fast ball. He struck out three and walked one. Best pitching was done by southpaw John Valerie, who blanked the Brownies on one hit over the last four innings.
TYING RUN AT PLATE
Blanked for six innings after getting away to a three-run start, the Tyees started to look more like a ball club the last two innings as Garriott gradually worked some of his better players into the line-up. They scored one in the eighth and got the tying run to the plate in the ninth. Gladstone, whose first name is Granville and who is nicknamed Granny, opened by drawing a walk as a pinch hitter. Cliff Prelow and Ernie Sites singled, scoring Gladstone and leaving runners on second and first.
This brought up Garriott to bat for John Healey, who had run for Bob Domergue in the eighth when the rookie third-baseman sprained his ankle. The manager hit a perfect double-play ball to the shortstop and it became a game-ending triple-play when Prelow rounded third and was tagged out in a run-down.
“DUMB” ROOKIE
Domergue, who stated he was only a “dumb” rookie, is the most repentant person in camp. The only Tyee to get two hits, he tried to steal third in the eighth after rapping a 370-foot double off the fence and hurt his ankle. In his anxiety to impress he forgot Garriott’s instructions about not stealing and the score, which was 8-3 for Salinas at the time. He will be out for two days.
Meanwhile, business manager Reg Patterson is starting to look for needed players. Gladstone, who will either play in the outfield or at shortstop, has been the only addition for the past few days. Don Pries, who was being counted on to fill the void at third base, is in Oakland and will be here if and when a contract dispute involving Portland is settled.
DUE FOR LECTURE
Catcher Milt Martin and first baseman Dick Bartle also sent down by the Beavers and far from certain of making the club, didn’t exactly give Garriott the right kind of impression by an unauthorized trip home. They drove right by Salinas from Riverside to spend the week end with their families at Vancouver, Washington, notifying the club from there that they would report Tuesday. They appear to be in for a bit of a lecture.
BRAVES GET BUCCOLA
The search for first baseman has top priority at the moment. It was no surprise that Vic Buccola was returned to Tri-City by Portland Beavers but it ad been hoped tat he would join the Tyees. He was purchased on a “look” basis and returned to his old club when not kept. There is little chance of getting the needed sacker from Portland at the moment but there is a chance of a deal with Vancouver for Chuck Abernathy, tall southpaw who played the season for the Caps in 1951. General manager Bob Brown has informed Paterson that he ahs a first baseman and a catcher to trade and Jim Hedgecock may be used in the deal.
Patterson also intends to get in touch with the Oakland club to see if there is any chance of getting Jim Marshall, sophomore youngster, on option. Marshall played for Wenatchee last season but Manager Dick Adams is also a first baseman. Bartle is not being counted on as a regular but lack of opposition may give him a chance to nail down the berth. One of the outfielders may be given a chance at te bag and there is also the possibility that Pries would be shifted back to his old spot if a third baseman is found.
MARCUCCI MAY STICK
A first-string catcher is also a necessity. Neither Maisoe Bryant nor Joe Yanchuk appears capable of making the club and Lilio Marcucci, who has been looking good with Portland, is almost certain to be kept for a few weeks at least if the Beavers don’t keep him around all season.
Patterson is attempting to make a deal with Rube Novotney, one-time Los Angeles catcher now with Nashville.
Hedgecock has not been heard from with the southpaw and club officials seemingly engaged in a war of nerves. He is good trading bait and chances are that he will be used in a deal. Bill White, who has been trying out with San Diego, may also figure in a deal.
Salinas ...... 010 100 000—8 12 2
Victoria ..... 300 000 011—5 7 3
Craig, Klingensmith (4), Cantrell (7) and Hannah, Brooks (9); Lorino, Troy (4), Valerie (6) and Bryant, Yankchuk (6)