Victoria .... 71 36 .664 —
Spokane ..... 62 49 .559 11
Vancouver ... 54 48 .529 14½
Salem ....... 52 55 .486 20
Lewiston .... 52 57 .477 21
Yakima ...... 50 61 .450 23
Tri-City .... 46 61 .430 25
Wenatchee ... 44 64 .407 28½
VICTORIA [Colonist, Aug. 7]—Victoria Tyees, who are usually dishing it out, last night found out what it was like to be on the receiving end—and how they found out.
Playing before a “Family Night” crowd, estimated at more than 2,500, including 1,356 who paid, the Tyees absorbed their worst set-back of the season as the hit-happy Yakima Bears romped to a 25-4 triumph in the series finale.
It was the last appearance of the Bears here this season and they left a lasting memory as they copped their second series at Royal Athletic Park.
Sixth in the W.I.L. standings only because of their early-season slump and no pitching depth to go with their powerful batting order they have assembled, the Bears, who had eight righthanded hitters in their batting order, practically ruined the earned-run averages of two Victoria southpaws.
LORINO VICTIM
Ben Lorino, who started seeking his 20th victory and took his sixth setback instead, and Carl Gunnarson, were the unfortunates. Lorino was tagged for 12 hits and 11 runs in five innings and Gunnarson was charged with 14 runs as the Bears crashed out 15 hits in his four-inning stint.
Although Bobby Shantz might have had trouble with the Bears last night, it’s only fair to point out Lorino didn’t have the best of luck. He picked a runner off first base in the first inning but no one covered first base in the ensuing rundown and the runner got back safely. Two runs resulted from that lack of alertness, which might have been charged to Lorino.
STARTED PARADE
Then in the fifth with the score only 5-3 against him, Lorino saw two routine fly balls fall for doubles when they were lost in the lights, a badly-hit roller for an infield hit and John Treece drops a fly ball as the first four Bears reached base.
Then the parade started. It was 11-3 when the fifth was over and a discouraged Lorino mercifully went in for an early shower. But Gunnarson had to stay to the bitter end, giving up three runs in the sixth and seventh innings, six in the eighth and another pair in the ninth as the Bears ran the legs off an overworked Victoria outfield trio.
THE TALLY
When a harried scorekeeper finally balanced his scorebook, he found:
That the Bears had made 27 hits good for 42 bases—four hits and 19 bases short of the league records.
That first-baseman Len Noren missed a league record by two by batting in seven runs with three doubles and three singles.
That shortstop Ernie Schuerman had a perfect night at bat with three doubles, three singles and a walk in seven trips and had scored six runs.
That Schuerman and Noren had tied a league record with three doubles in one game.
That every man who started for the Bears had made two or more hits and bated in at least one run and that all but catcher Mike Donohue had scored two or more runs.
That outfielder John Albini, who likes to hit at Royal Athletic Park, had batted in five runs with his third and fourth home runs here.
INDIANS, CAPS GAIN
The trouncing cost the Tyees a game to each of their two closest pursuers as both Spokane Indians and Vancouver Capilanos won. However, the W.I.L. leaders have a great chance to make up ground in the ensuing three days.
Tonight, the trailing and injury-riddled Wenatchee Chiefs move in for five games in three days, starting with a double-header. Jehosie Heard and Bill Bottler will pitch for the Tyees tonight.
Yakima ..... 202 163 382—25 27 0
Victoria .... 002 100 100— 4 8 2
Thompson and Donahue; Lorino, Gunnarson (6) and Martin, Bottler (7).
LP-Lorino.
SALEM, Aug. 6—Spokane made it two in a row over Salem here Wednesday night, defeating the Senators 5-2 in a Western International League game.
Spokane opened the scoring in the third when Mel Wasley doubled following a Salem error. In the fourth, George Huffman drove in another run following Ed Murphy's
single.
Two walks, an error and Sam Kanelos' double finished Spokane's scoring. Walks helped Salem score its two runs.
Frank Chase, the winning pitcher, spaced eight hits.
Spokane ... 001 102 000—5 12 0
Salem ...... 001 100 000—2 8 2
Chase and Sheets; Edmunds, Francis (8) and Nelson.
LP—Edmunds.
VANCOUVER [News-Herald, Aug. 7]—The Capilanos won their third ball game in a row at the Stadium 9-8, and another one of those hair-raising ninth inning situations made it a mighty interesting evening.
However, there are more important things than little rallies, going on in these games. Perhaps un-noticed by fans and maybe players alike, is a battle for the 1952 WIL batting crown which is reaching tense proportions,
At present the interested figures are John Ritchey, Spokane’s Mel Wasley and Wenatchee’s Walter Pocekay. John is the defending the title he won in ’51 by leading the pack again with a .344 mark. Wasley is a step back at .341 and Pocekay is in third at .338.
All of them are making noises as if they don’t intend to give up this fight without a battle. During this three-game series, Pocekay has gone bat crazy, amassing seven hits in 12 trops to move in on his competitors. Ritchey, out with an injury for the first two games, came back last night with two-for-four and his pinch-single Tuesday gave him three-for-five on the set.
It is a most interesting situation and could get even more so before it comes up for settlement on September 14, the WIL’s closing day.
Pocekay, for instance, was a pain in the neck to the Caps all night Wednesday, his three-for-five accounting for three Chiefs runs. He drove in two and scored on and his ninth-inning single helped along a rally when the Chiefs drove from 9-5 to 9-8 and had the tying and winning runs on base.
Vanni had to use all of his strategy in this inning when Wenatchee chased across its three runs and loaded the bases with two out. John Guldborg left in favor of Billy Whyte, and when Bill got Laurie Monroe, a left batter, Vanni waved to the bullpen and got Ed Locke in there to pitch to Wenatchee’s right-handed power. It worked when Buddy Hjelmaa flied out, but it was close.
Neither club had much trouble getting basehits. Wenatchee had 14, the Caps 11 but Vancouver once more found themselves scoring without the slightest bit of trouble. Gordie Brunswick was a demon in this department, his four hits accounting for three rbi’s.
DIAMOND DUST—The smallest night crowd of the year saw this one, only 1025 … It should be different tonight.
- - -
VANCOUVER, B. C., Aug. 6— The Vancouver Capilanos survived a shaky ninth inning Wednesday night to take a 9-8 Western International Baseball league victory from the Wenatchee Chiefs.
The Chiefs scored three runs in the ninth to come within a run of the Caps, and when the last out was registered, Wenatchee had the bases loaded.
In winning, Vancouver swept the three-game series. The Caps play host to Yakima starting Thursday night while the Chiefs will try their luck against Victoria.
Wenatchee got its ninth-inning runs on singles by Walt Pocekay, Lyle Palmer and Ben Guerrero, two bases on balls and a Vancouver error.
Longest blow of the game was a triple by Len Tran. Pocekay, the Wenachee catcher, hit three for five, including two doubles.
Credit for the win went to Bud Guldborg, who was yanked in the ninth. Ed Kapp was the loser.
Wenatchee ...... 200 020 013—8 14 3
Vancouver ...... 203 012 10x—9 11 1
Kapp, Stites (4) and Pocekay; Guldberg, Whyte (9) Locke (9) and Ritchey.
WP-Guldborg. LP-Kapp.
KENNEWICK [Tri-City Herald, Aug. 7]—A double by Ray Hamrick and single by Don Lopes brought in the winning and tying runs to give the Braves a 4-3 victory over Lewiston Wednesday night in a last-of-the-ninth thriller.
Tonight Ralph Romero will take to the mound at 8 p.m. for the Braves when they seek their second win of the series.
Wednesday night the Braves were one run behind going into the bottom of the ninth. The first bater up, George Lewis, struck out. But Vic Buccola, who played first base despite his neck-injury, got on on a single. Then Hamrick, who was hltless in his four previous times at bat, stepped-up and hit the ball down the right field base line.
Buccola easily, made it to third and kept right on for home when Charlie Gassaway, who was coaching third, saw that Lewiston shortstop Milt Smith was going to pause on the relay in.
Buccola came home standing up. Hamrick holed up at second.
The next batter, Don Lopes, stepped up and hit out a single down the third base line to bring Hamrick in with the winning run. It was Lopes' third hit of the evening in his four times at bat.
There were a total of seven errors in the game and Tri-City bobbles played a part in two of Lewiston's scores.
The Broncs got their first run when Charlie Meade walked. Arty Wilson attempted to sacrifice. Pitcher Bob Greenwood scooped it up and made a wild throw to second. Mead went to third. Bob Lundberg was intentionally walked to fill the bases.
Mead scored when pitcher Sal DeGeorge hit a ground ball down to Buccola who saw it was too late to catch the runner coming in for home.
The Broncs second run came in when Wilson singled, and moved to second when Des Charouhas in center field fumbled while trying to get at the ball. Wilson attempted to steal third and George Lewis' throw was wild. Wilson then came on home.
The Broncs got their last run in the top of the ninth on a double by Milt Smith who moved to second when Snag Moore grounded out. Smith scored after the catch of Jake Helmutn's long fly ball to center field.
Tri-City got their earlier two runs in the fifth and eighth frames. In the fifth, Lewis doubled off the right field wall, He moved to second on Buccola's single and scored after the catch of Hamrick's long fly to left field.
The Braves picked up their other run when Lopes singled and moved to second on John Kovenz' sacrifice bunt. Lopes then took a long leadoff until he tempted DeGeorge into making a play for him. DeGeorge did. The throw was wild and went out to center field. Lopes moved to third. He scored after the catch of Charouhas' fly to right field.
Greenwood gave up six hits. He struck out eight. Greenwood got his usual double in the third inning but the next three batters were unable to bring him in.
Tri-City got eight hits off DeGeorge, three of them in the winning inning.
Robert Able [sic], president of the Western International League, attended the Tri-City-Lewiston game Wednesday night. Abel was in the Tri-City area to investigate the Dick Richards-Larry Monroe fight of a few weeks ago. Abel laid he had received eight
reports and win make his decision soon.
Lewiston ...... 000 101 001—3 6 3
Tri-City ....... 000 010 102—4 8 4
DeGeorge and Lundberg; Greenwood and Lewis.
BOB BROWN’S BRAIN CHILD
Tyee-Cap Playoff?
By KEITH MATTHEWS [News-Herald, Aug. 7, 1952]
Bob Brown is dreaming up a BC Championship baseball series involving his Capilanos and the Victoria Tyees as a post-season plumb for baseball followers.
With no playoff in the Western International League this season [] with the present [] ing its final stages []over September 14), []the weather will [] good enough to add another week’s baseball onto the schedule if it’s done right away.
“What would be better,” he questioned, “than a series between Victoria and Vancouver for the championship of British Columbia?”
The thought is still in its []nt stages, but there is little doubt that Bob will go ahead with the plan and try to persuade the Tyees to play. And if he goes about it in his usual shrewd manner, then Bob stands a very good chance of realizing his goal.
For one thing, Victoria owes Mr. Brown and the Caps a large-sized favor. It was Vancouver who agreed to allow Victoria to take home the entire proceeds of a 4500 gate in Victoria recently, to help the Islanders defray some overdue debts.
Too, Reg Patterson, the Victoria general manager, has looked to Brown, a great deal in the past for advice. Reg just got himself started as a front office executive in baseball a few years back, and several times, Bob has advised him to change paths and thereby save Reg a lot of embarrassment and a little money.
It all adds up, therefore, that when and if Brown and Patterson start negotiating for the series, it’s [sic] chances are hopeful.
“The players would get almost all the proceeds,” Bob explained. “We would start the series on Monday, September 15 in Victoria and open there with three games. Then come back here for three with the remainder, if necessary, going to the Island. It would likely be a four-out-of-seven affair.”
While he was on the subject of discussing the future Bob said he hopes to renew his efforts to coax Calgary and Edmonton into the league for the 1953 season.
“More than ever before, I feel we must have both these clubs in our league. Even if we had to go to 10 teams to admit them, I believe we should make that stipulation. Our attendance would increase by leaps and bounds, just as hockey’s has since they brought in prairie interests.”
Brown intends to bring up the matter of Calgary and Edmonton at a forthcoming WIL meeting and this time, he promises, he’s going to press the issue until every other franchise holder is sold on its advantages. At this meeting, it is felt, the troublesome Wenatchee franchise will be thoroughly investigated, and it would surprise nobody if the Chiefs moved their lot into Tacoma for the 1953 season.
Sports Notes
By Gil Gilmour
[Tri-City Herald, Aug. 7, 1952]
Dick Richards, general manager of the Tri-City Braves, is making noises like a man who plans to leave town. He says attendance totals are so poor at Sanders Field that everyone is losing money and the club can't continue to operate for long that way.
Richards hasn't said exactly what he has in mind but he has asserted that "something's going to happen" and "you can draw your own conclusions."
The baseball season's end is still a month away but more and more players are talking about what they will do when the season is over. Charlie Gassaway, whose managerial troubles have turned a few more of his hairs grey, says he is planning about a month's vacation.
Nick Pesut, the Braves' battered catcher, is looking for some volunteer labor. It seems Nick wants to get the inside of his Sacramento home painted and he wants a couple of congenial ball players to assist with the job. So far, he hasn't been able to snooker and idle players into the project. He says no wages go with the job—"I'll fill yer belly and that's good enough."
When it comes to getting hurt in baseball, the catcher is in the toughest spot. A few days. ago. Nick was bashed in the face with a foul-ball while in the on-deck circle but that could happen to any player.
Now Nick has a "split" which is an occupational hazard confined almost exclusively to catchers. A split is caused by a ball hitting one finger and bending it back until the web between it and the next finger splits open.
Nick's most recent one is a rough looking thing that required three stiches. The tips of two fingers are curled and the whole hand is swollen.
Richards hasn't said exactly what he has in mind but he has asserted that "something's going to happen" and "you can draw your own conclusions."
The baseball season's end is still a month away but more and more players are talking about what they will do when the season is over. Charlie Gassaway, whose managerial troubles have turned a few more of his hairs grey, says he is planning about a month's vacation.
Nick Pesut, the Braves' battered catcher, is looking for some volunteer labor. It seems Nick wants to get the inside of his Sacramento home painted and he wants a couple of congenial ball players to assist with the job. So far, he hasn't been able to snooker and idle players into the project. He says no wages go with the job—"I'll fill yer belly and that's good enough."
When it comes to getting hurt in baseball, the catcher is in the toughest spot. A few days. ago. Nick was bashed in the face with a foul-ball while in the on-deck circle but that could happen to any player.
Now Nick has a "split" which is an occupational hazard confined almost exclusively to catchers. A split is caused by a ball hitting one finger and bending it back until the web between it and the next finger splits open.
Nick's most recent one is a rough looking thing that required three stiches. The tips of two fingers are curled and the whole hand is swollen.
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