Monday, September 8, 1952

W L Pct. GB
Victoria ..... 91 52 .636 -
Spokane ...... 88 61 .591 6
Vancouver .... 70 66 .515 17½
Salem ........ 70 75 .483 22
Yakima ....... 69 76 .476 23
Lewiston ..... 68 80 .459 25½
Tri-City ..... 62 77 .446 27
Wenatchee .... 57 88 .393 35

VICTORIA [Colonist, Sept. 9]—Winning it as champions should—with steady pitching backed by solid and timely hitting and errorless defense, the Victoria Tyees last night became champions of the Western International Baseball League.
Playing before less than 500 fans, only 326 of them paying customers, who sat huddled under the roofed grandstand, the Tyees trimmed the Lewiston Broncs, 11-3, at Royal Athletic Park last night to put it beyond mathematical doubt. No matter what happens in the remaining games this week, Spokane Indians can come no closer than two percentage points.
The Tyees have six games left, two with Lewiston and four with Spokane. The Indians are due to play three against Vancouver Capilanos before moving in here on Thursday to complete the season. They were rained out at Vancouver last night.
HAN HURLS CLINCHER
To Leroy Han, 18-year-old rookie righthander not long out of Vancouver (Wash.) High School, fell the honor of pitching the pennant clincher.
Han, who had added incentive in the person of a cute Yakima visitor sitting in the stands, turned in what was probably his best game of the season as he recorded his third win in four decisions.
He walked only four Broncs, struck out six and spread eight hits over five innings, never allowing more than two in a single frame. He was in trouble in the first, third, fifth and sixth but bore down each time to get the last two outs, once with the bags loaded and three times with two runners aboard. He set down the last eight men he faced in order.
BRANHAM STARRY
The Broncs jumped into a 2-0 lead. Lu Branham, who was to enjoy his biggest night of the season with five hits and a walk, sliced the margin in two with a third inning home run and then the Tyees sent Sal DeGeorge packing with a six-run fifth inning.
Branham started it with a walk. Bob Moniz singled and Don Pries bunted the runners along. Granny Gladstone scored them with a looping single to left. Chuck Abernathy singled, Dwane Helbig doubled, Jim Clark was walked intentionally, Ron Bottler singled and Branham followed suit after Han had struck out.
The Tyees jumped on Larry Powell for four more runs in the seventh just to make it certain.
QUIET ELATION
There was only quiet elation in the dressing room after the game as the Tyees received congratulations from fans and club officials. Despite the late Spokane drive, the lengthy Victoria lead had made the pennant only a matter of time and the players took it in stride although there was evident relief that it was now definitely theirs.
Club officials are hoping for better weather so they can wind up with better crowds for the six remaining games of the season.
BIDS FOR RECORD
Tonight there is the prospect of a fine pitcher’s battle. Ben Lorino, who can tie the league record for victories with two starts left and may break it if he gets a chance in relief in a close game, will go after his 26th win tonight. Opposing him will be Lewiston manager Bill Brenner, who, somewhat amazingly for a retired catcher, will be seeking his 20th triumph.
Tonight there will be Johnny Price and his matchless baseball act, a must for all baseball fans. Thursday is “Radio Appreciation Night,” Friday will be “pennant-raising night” and Saturday night it will be “Player Appreciation Night.”
Lewiston ...... 101 001 000— 3 8 2
Victoria ...... 001 060 40x—11 17 0
DeGeorge, Powell (5) and Lundberg, Helmuth (8); Han and R. Bottler.

Spokane at Vancouver, postponed, rain.

ONLY GAMES SCHEDULED

Schuster Was ‘No Surprise’
LOS ANGELES, Sept. 8—It wasn’t exactly an accident, or a last minute decision.
So said Manager Fred Haney of the Hollywood baseball club in telling Monday about the surprise appearance, and game winning pinch hit, by veteran Bill Schuster for the Stars against Portland last Saturday.
Schuster, gone from the Pacific Coast league for two years, suddenly bobbed up in a Hollywood uniform and won the game.
Haney disclosed that he warned Schuster 10 days before that he might be called for active service and Schuster spent the time working out here while Hollywood was on the road.
Then came the day for Bill to sign, and next day came the moment for his surprise appearance. “Call it luck, call it anything, but it paid off,” Haney said.