Wenatchee Preview

Wenatchee Lacks Power At Plate
OMAK, Wash., April 19 (UP) — The Wenatchee Chiefs, following a middle of the road policy—a rookie here a veteran there—count on strong pitching and good fielding with just enough hitting to carry them through in their bid for the Western International League pennant.
One observer at the spring camp here said of the Chiefs: “You might say these guys fit an old term once applied to the Cincinnati Reds when they were winning National League pennants—“all field, no hit, good pitching.”
And the Chiefs have a strong talking point on the pitching and fielding. The mound staff at present includes veterans Frankie Dasso, the former Coast Leaguer, and Al Treichel, the old Boston Brave who’s been roaming the baseball trail and winning for many years. Others are Mike Kanshin, obtained from Vancouver; Bob Garrett, Bill Kapuscinski, who for the sake of brevity will go tiy the alias of Ed Kapp; Lauran Monroe, Alton Bauhofer, Carl Rounds and Paul Bohringer.
The Chiefs have converted Walt Pocekay, a third baseman, into a catcher and the veteran is looking good in his efforts behind the plate. The other receiver probably will be Foster Roberson, who is getting a look-see from Oakland after a good year with Wenatchee in 1951.
CHIEFS NEW MANAGER
Playing Manager Dick Adams, new as a field leader in Wenatchee but who once played for the Chiefs in 1946, is a fixture at first base. Another veteran is second sacker Buddy Hjelmaa, a Seattleite in his sixth year of professional ball.
This is his third season with the Chiefs. The other half on the keystone combination is Vic Solari, in his fourth year of pro ball. On the hot corner Norm Ridgeway, a 20-year-old rookie, has impressed with his all-around play. Other infielders include Ben Guerrero, Eugene Sandoval, an 18 year-old making his pro debut, and Ed Valequiz.
In the outfield Adams has Elwin Elton, who is expected to do most of the heavy stick work along with Ross McCormick, Lil Arnerich, and Stan Budin, who probably will be the leadoff man because of his short stature and speed on the basepaths.
“We’re a righthanded ball club,” says Adams in referring to his pitchers. “Not a lefthander in the lot. But if the righthanders get the ball where they’re supposed to, that's all that counts. And we have only three or four men capable of hitting .300, but if the others hit when the hits count, we could be tough.”