Saturday, July 26, 1952

W L Pct GB
Victoria .... 65 32 .670 —
Vancouver ... 48 43 .524 14
Spokane ..... 52 48 .520 14½
Lewiston .... 47 49 .490 17½
Salem ....... 46 48 .489 17½
Yakima ...... 46 53 .465 19½
Wenatchee ... 41 55 .427 23½
Tri-City .... 40 57 .413 24½

VICTORIA [Colonist, July 27]—Victoria Tyees marked time yesterday in their relentless march to the W.I.L. pennant, but still gained standing with their closest pursuers two games closer to the end of the schedule without denting the league-leader’s 14-game bulge.
Getting rid of a bad game in the afternoon, the Tyees bounced back from a 12-3 lacing to win the series finale from the third-place Spokane Indians, 3-1, under the lights at Royal Athletic Park.
Meanwhile, Lewiston’s helpful Broncs managed a split at Vancouver to take the series from the Caps, 4-1. The Broncs stopped the Capilano surge cold in the series to help add three games to Victoria’s lead.
TYPICAL COMEBACK
Last night’s comeback was typical of the Tyees. The Indians, smarting from three straight losses, were jubilant after winning yesterday’s first game and confident of a sweep. They got good pitching from Gordie Palm and they played good baseball, but the Tyees, featuring Jehosie Heard and manager Cec Garriott, had already forgotten the afternoon debacle and were at their best once more.
Last night’s game featured two oddities—two men sharing a time at bat both getting thrown out of the game for protesting called strikes in what eventually became Heard’s 10th strikeout and “the case of the vanished home run.”
What still remains [a] mystery happened in the sixth inning—the peak of that daylight-dark period in every night game which often decides games. Palm, pitching extremely well, was jealously guarding a 1-0 lead and had two out when Bob Moniz sent a short fly to right field. Pat Simmons didn’t see the ball and Moniz, with heads-up base-running, got himself a triple.
WHERE DID IT GO?
Garriott stepped up and took a tremendous clout at a low pitch. He hit it solidly and it took off for pastures in distant right field. Simmons again lost the ball—and so did everyone else. It seemed headed over the fence but the fence at that spot was a long way from the plate and no one is certain whether or not it made it. Business manager Reg Patterson is going to try to satisfy his curiosity today by conducting a search inside the park to see if he can find the missing pellet.
In any event, the wallop became Garriott’s 12th home run—he hit one in the afternoon—and it provided Heard with all the runs he needed for his 15th win in 21 decisions.
TWO FOR ONE
Simmons was also a key figure in the strike-and-you’re-out episode in the eighth. He said something which must have been unpleasant when plate umpire Art Jacobs called a 1-0 pitch a strike and was sent packing. Bill Sheets took over as a pinch-hitter with a 1-1 count, fouled off a pitch, then started to swing at Heard’s next offering. He attempted to check himself, but Jacobs rightly ruled he had “broken his wrists” and called him out. Sheets got his money’s worth before parading off to the showers with Simmons and a third teammate, who was also uncomplimentary from the bench.
There wasn’t much in the afternoon game after the fifth inning. Bill Prior set the Indians down in order for four innings rather impressively but lobbed the ball into the bleacher fence trying for a force-out at third base in the fifth to set the stage for a five-run uprising which erased the 1-0 lead he was protecting.
The Indians took advantage of two errors on one play by Eric Gard, on in relief after Prior was taken out for a pinch-hitter, to make it a rout with another five runs in the eighth. The Tyees got to John Conant for 12 hits but they were scattered over eight innings and chances were lost when the game was close by unsuccessful base-running which saw three runners cut down at second base.
DIAMOND DUST: Prior’s loss was his first of the season after three straight wins … Jim Brown missed by two the league record for second basemen when he handled 13 chances in the first game against the Indians … The Tyees now hold an 11-4 edge over Spokane for the season and have won 17 of their last 21 games … John Treece, a year older now, received a cake from the Booster Club prior to the night game … This apparently is Cec Garriott’s lucky year. He not only won a bicycle in the amateur baseball fund drive but hit the jackpot—and good—on a trip to Lewiston when he gambled three silver dollars in a slot machine … Tacoma interests are reportedly eyeing the Wenatchee franchise for next season. The Chiefs are not doing well on the field or at the box office … League president Bob Abel had little to say as he sat in on both games and seemed most concerned with the assault charge filed against Tri-City business manager Dick Richards for hitting Laurie Monroe when the Wenatchee outfielder requested game passes …Ed Murphy is a Spokane resident and operates a tavern in the Inland Empire. One of his bartenders is Bob Costello, the studious-looking righthander who used to fire the ball past W.I.L. hitters.
First Game
Spokane ..... 000 050 250—12 13 0
Victoria ...... 000 100 200—3 12 4
Conant and Sheets, Hinz (9); Prior, Gard (8) and R. Bottler.
Second Game
Spokane ..... 000 100 000—1 7 0
Victoria ...... 000 002 10x—3 8 0
Palm and Hinz; Heard and Martin.

VANCOUVER [Keith Matthews, News-Herald, July 28]—The Capilanos cleared their decks on regular WIL baseball play today [Monday], preparatory to greeting the Coast League Seattle Rainiers with what he been described as “the big one” for local ball followers.
The Rainiers will fly into town this afternoon, will catch a couple of hours rest in their hotel, then meet the Caps in an exhibition at Cap Stadium tonight at 8:15. All reserved seats are sold out, but upwards of 500 rush seats go on sale at 6:30 when the box office opens. A crowd of close to 7000 is expected.
This is the first time since 1942 that the Rainiers have visited their farm holding in Vancouver, and oddly enough, they are still looking for their first victory over the Caps.
In three tries so far, Vancouver has come out on top each time. They were all benefits, these exhibitions, one to aid a fund to increase Canada’s Air Force strength, one for the Queen’s Fund and another for luxuries for crew members of the Navy frigate “Capilano.”
It was Bob Brown who recalled in 1941, school “marm” Ernie Kershaw curve-balled the Rainiers into submission. That was a Capilano club which boasted Red Sox protégé Al Lingua as its leading hitter.
Then, in ’42, Red Adams pitched a Vancouver [win] over Seattle with the help of a solid attack centered around Bill Brenner, Maury Donovan, Mel Mallory, Roy Paton and Clarence Maddern.
Maddern comes back for this one, but he’s on the opposite side of the fence this time in a Rainier uniform. Bob Hall, another former townie, will be the Seattle starter and behind him will be quite an array of long-ball punch and speed. Walt Judnich and Al Lyons supply a lot of the power, Artie Wilson, Bob Boyd and K. Chorlton most of the speed.
It will be a great coming out baseball part, to be sure, and for the occasion, Edo Vanni, the Vancouver leader, will trot out Paul Jones as his starting pitcher. “I’m going to try to go all the way with Paul, too,” Edo said. “I want those Seattle fellows to have a good look at the kid. He’s got it.”
Saturday, the Caps warmed up to this invasion by snapping a losing streak with a 7-3 second game win over Lewiston. They had lost their fourth in a row in the opener, 2-0.
Rookie Tom Lovrich pitched his fourth win of the year in the nightcap, calling for help in the eighth from Van Fletcher when he got plumb tuckered out. A 12-hit attack, led by Jesse Williams, Gordon Brunswick and Len Tran, highlighted the victory and the defensive display of Jimmy Moore at first base ran it a close second. Moore switched from the outfield to first base as a substitute for Jim Wert and looked like a million dollars around the bag.
The Caps were the victims of four-hit shutout pitching by Dale Thomason in the first game and another piece of their own questionable strategy. They had a chance to break the scoring ice in the first inning when Moore doubled and Williams followed with a single. Moore, however, was allowed to try and score all the way from second and was thrown out at the plate by twenty feet. Then, in the sixth inning when Lewiston scored both its runs, the Broncs led 1-0 and ad a man on second and third with one out.
Charlie Mead was the next batter and instead of disposing of the dangerous lefthander and walking him to fill the open base to get the double play set up, Vanni ordered Ed Locke to pitch to the ‘old pro’. Charlie banged a single into centre field to score the second run, then Artie Wilson and Glen Tuckett, both right-handed hitters, both popped out.
First Game
Lewiston ….. 000 002 0—2 7 1
Vancouver … 000 000 0—0 4 1
Thomason and Helmuth; Locke and Ritchey.
Second Game
Lewiston ….. 030 000 020—5 8 3
Vancouver … 011 140 01x—8 12 1
Schulte, Clancy (4), Brenner (5) and Lundberg; Lovrich, Fletcher (8) and Duretto.

KENNEWICK [Tri-City Herald, July 27]—The Tri-City Braves dropped both ends of a doubleheader Saturday night to the Yakima Bears in a Western International League
game at Sanders Field. The scores were 1-0 and 8-6.
George New lost a heartbreaker in the first game. He struck out 12 and gave up but two hits.
The Bears got their lone score in the sixth inning when Ernie Schuerman walked. Then Jerry Zuvela got to first on New's error and John Albini walked.
Dano Lodigiani knocked out a long, fly ball to center field and Schuerman scored after the catch.
Ken Wright, the winning pitcher held Tri-City to four hits. He gave up but one base, on balls and the Bears made no errors.
The game marked the first appearance of Ray Hamrick, infielder signed by the Braves recently. Hamrick comes here from San Francisco in the PCL.
The second, game was a wild swinging affair with the Braves outhitting the Bears 14-11, even while losing the game.
Yakima's big inning was the sixth. Zuvela lead off with a hit and Noren walked, Albini flied out and Lodigiani was hit by the pitcher to fill the bases.
Then Joe Scalise dropped a long fly Wall and Zuvela scored. A single by Mike Donahue scored Noren and Lodigiani.
In the second inning Yakima got a run whan Noren hit and Albini walked. Lodgiani got a hit scoring Noren.
Wining pitcher, Ted Shandor; losing pitcher, Ralph Romero,
The Bears' third-inning score came when Zuvela got a homer.
In the fourth Albini led off with a double. He was sacrificed to third and Richardson's single drove him in. They picked up their seventh inning score on a single by Zuvela, another by Noren and one by Albini. Zuvela attempted to make it home but he was thrown out at the plate by left fielder Des Charouhas.
Lodigiani got a hit, however, to score Noren.
Tri-City got their scores in second frame on singles by Tommy Marier and Nick Pesut. Hamrick grounded out scoring Marier.
In the third, Ralph-Romero doubled, Charouhas flied out and Vic Buccola walked. John Kovenz knocked out a triple scoring both Romero and Buccola.
In the sixth inning, Hamrick hit, Lopes got a single and Des Charouhas scored them both with a triple.
First Game
Yakima ...... 000 001 0—1 2 0
Tri-City ... 000 000 0—0 4 2
Wright and Donahue; New and Pesut.
Second Game
Yakima ..... 021 103 100—8 11 0
Tri-City .... 013 002 000—6 14 0
Shandor, Del Sarto (6) and Donahue; Romero, Britton (9) and Pesut.

SALEM, July 26—Wenatches exploded for four runs in the fifth inning for a 6-2 Western International League baseball victory over Salem here Saturday night.
Dave Dahle, who went the distance for Wenatchee, limited Salem to seven hits in his 12th win this year. He struck out six and walked one.
A double by Laurie Monroe, singles by Walt Pocekay and Lyle Palmer, three walks, a sacrifice and a fielder's choice, accounted for the Wenatchee surge in the fifth.
They added another in the seventh on two singles and an error and another in the ninth on a single by Pocekay and a triple by Bud Hjelmaa.
Manager Hugh Luby collected three of Salem's hits.
In Sunday night's doubleheader, Bill Stites (7-11) and Chuck Oubre (11-5) will pitch for Wenatchee. For Salem it will be Ray McNulty (12-10) and Vince DeBiasi (0-1).
Wenatchee ... 000 040 101—6 11 3
Salem .......... 000 100 010—2 7-1
Dahle and Pocekay; Hemphill, Edmunds (5), DeGeorge (9) and Thrasher.
LP-Hemphill.

Mataya Released
[Tri-City Herald, July 27, 1952]
The Tri-City Braves announced Saturday night that Frank Mataya, who has been playing left field in recent games, has been released. Manager Dick Richards said with the signing of Ray Hamrick, his staff would have to be reduced by one. Mataya is a rookie.

Abel To Probe Richards-Monroe Fight
Wenatchee Men File Complaint
[Tri-City Herald, July 26, 1952]
Robert Abel, president of the Western International league, said Saturday night he will deal with the Dick Richards-Laurie Monroe fisticuffs "myself."
Abel also revealed he has received a formal complaint asking disciplinary actions. It was signed by Wenatchee left-fielder Laurie Monroe and his manager, Dick Adams.
The investigation involves a fist fight between Monroe and Richards in the offices of the Braves last week. Monroe went to the Braves' offices to ask for some passes. He was refused. Heated words were exchanged and Richards struck Monroe. Monroe retaliated and gave Richards a black eye.
Mr. Abel said last night he has asked Richards for a report on exactly what happened. He further asserted "I won't let these quarrels go outside of the league."
He said he will leave for Salem, where the Wenatchee Chiefs are playing, on Monday to question the player's there. He will be in the Tri-City area near the end of the week.
The telegram sent to Abel from the Wenatchee men read:
"Regarding the incident July 24 in Tri-City involving player Laurie Monroe and Dick Richards.
Monroe asked for four passes. Richards refused, Monroe stated, "What a poor businessman you are." Richards struck Monroe over the left eye inflicting gash which required four stitches.
"There was no cursing until after the scuffle. The game was held up four minutes pending Monroe's return from the hospital.
"Monroe played game although suffering dizzy spells. Wenatchee requests disciplinary action."
Richards said he would welcome Abel's investigation. He asserted the usual procedure in requesting passes was for the manager to call for them. He reiterated that Monroe was profane and abusive.
He further asserted that the pass trouble started when Tri-City played Wenatchee in the last series at their home field. Richards and Mrs. Charles Gassawisy, wife of the playing manager of the Tri-City team was refused a box seat by the Wenatchee manager.
Therefore, Richards said, "I instructed my staff not to give any passes to the Wenatchee squad when they came here.
Meanwhile, Richards has not received any word of legal action taken against him.

Pass Irks Richards Request
WENATCHEE, Washington, July 26 (BUP)—Laureen Monroe, outfielder of the Wenatchee Chiefs of the Western International League, has filed assault charges against Dick Richards, business manager of the Tri-City Braves.
A complaints filed by Monroe at the Benton County Courthouse said Richards hit Monroe after the outfielder requested free tickets before the Wenatchee-Tri-City game here last night at Tri-City. Monroe later played in the game.

Ritchey Still Top Hitter In WIL
John Ritchey, Vancouver, with a .347. average, again is the leading batter in the Western International League, according to statistics compiled by Howe News Bureau.
Cece Garriott, Victoria, spurted to take the lead in runs with 78. Three of his runs during the week came on homers which also gave him the lead in that department with 10.
Walt Pocekay, Wenatchee, again leads in total bases with 105, but he was tied for the lead in hits, at 115 apiece, by Melvin Wasley, Spokane.
Milt Smith, Lewiston, stole six bases during the week, to make his total 28 and to tie him for the lead in that department with Ed Murphy, Spokane.
Other department leaders held their positions. They are: Des Charouhas, Tri-City, 11 triples; Charles Mead, Lewiston, 29 doubles, and Grannie Gladstone, Victoria, 72 runs batted in.
Cal McIrvin, Victoria, the league's leading pitcher, got credit for one victory during the week to make, his record, 134.
TEAM BATTING
 G   AB  R   OR   H  TB   2B 3B HR SH SB  BB  SO PCT
Victoria
90 3075 528 436 867 1175 174 19 32 54 79 479 381 282
Vancouver
84 2890 443 351 792 1031 112 38 17 52 53 409 311 274
Spokane
93 3073 442 418 839 1061 112 31 16 73 84 415 447 273
Lewiston
89 3027 479 505 826 1153 146 29 41 46 65 454 389 273
Yakima
93 3117 489 503 829 1133 148 39 26 63 75 489 474 266
Salem
89 2972 392 375 769  984 124 32  9 44 52 403 432 259
Wenatchee
91 2996 385 522 727  936 115 26 14 53 46 362 440 243
Tri-City
91 3001 421 469 712  935 103 30 20 70 76 514 487 237

TEAM FIELDING
              W  L T DP TP DP   PO    A   E PCT
Salem ...... 42 47 0 102 0 11 2300 1076  96 972
Tri-City ... 39 52 0  67 1 12 2345  940 123 964
Vancouver .. 45 39 0  95 0  8 2212 1003 122 963
Victoria ... 60 30 0  85 0 13 2367  990 135 961
Yakima ..... 43 50 0  96 0 16 2410 1061 154 958
Wenatchee .. 38 53 0  76 0 13 2343  954 162 953
Lewiston ... 42 47 0  69 0  9 2303  984 162 953
Spokane .... 51 42 0  90 0  9 2403 1024 173 952

BATTING
Players With 200 times at bat
                    AB  R   H RBI Pct
Ritchey, Van ..... 271 62  94 50 .347
Wasley, Spo ...... 337 64 115 66 .341
Pocekay, Wen ..... 338 61 115 42 .339
Luby, Sal ........ 300 46  99 35 .330
Hjelmaa, Wen ..... 303 46  98 42 .323
Murphy, Spo ...... 356 64 114 39 .320
Moniz, Vic ....... 345 73 110 42 .319
Pries, Vic ....... 312 59  99 53 .317
Duretto, Van ..... 262 38  83 37 .317
Donahue, Yak ..... 306 44  95 44 .410
Lodigiani, Yak ... 239 36  74 29 .310
Charouhas, TC .... 349 60 107 50 .307
Nelson, Sal ...... 267 38  82 45 .307
Garriott, Vic .... 315 78  96 68 .305
Kanelos, Spo ..... 271 41  82 29 .303
Perez, Sal ....... 333 61 106 53 .300
Smith, Lew ....... 327 77  98 42 .300
Adams, Wen ....... 281 38  84 33 .299
Helmuth, Lew ..... 221 29  66 39 .299
Brunswick, Van ... 252 38  75 55 .298
Vanni, Van ....... 296 52  87 27 .294
Branham, Vic ..... 219 48  64 21 .293
Taormina, Yak .... 262 43  76 56 .290

PITCHING
With five or more decisions
                     W  L  IP  H  BB  SO
Gunnarson, Vic ..... 5  1  54  61 16  26
McIrvin, Vic ...... 13  4 162 126 59  90
Lorino, Vic ....... 17  5 183 183 79 114
Roberts, Spo ....... 7  3  71  69 45  51
Oubre, Wen ........ 11  5 131 115 82  61
Heard, Vic ........ 13  6 155 137 69 125
Nicholas, Lew ...... 9  5 121 120 68  67
Guldborg, Van ..... 10  6 147 123 84  96
Shandor, Yak ....... 8  5 115 128 40  42
Brenner, Lew ...... 11  7 153 162 46  67
Greenwood, TC ...... 7  5 103  76 77  80
Bishop, Spo ....... 11  8 152 150 55  59
Romero, TC ........ 12  9 167 150 95 106
Del Sarto, Yak ..... 8  6 138 152 67  68
Snyder, Van ........ 8  6 117 128 48  51
Hemphill, Sal ...... 8  6 115 105 51  55
Conant, Spo ........ 9  7 145 153 43  71
Fletcher, Van ...... 9  7 140 146 29  56
Dahle, Wen ........ 10  8 126 136 45  64
Palm, Spo .......... 7  6 104 100 89  63
Marshall, Spo ...... 8  7 165 149 85 107
Wright, Yak ........ 8  7 117 139 78  61
McNulty, Sal ...... 11 10 178 192 68  83