Tuesday, August 26, 1952

W L Pct. GB
Victoria .... 83 44 .654 —
Spokane ..... 75 59 .560 11½
Vancouver ... 63 60 .512 18
Salem ....... 63 67 .485 21½
Yakima ...... 62 68 .477 22½
Lewiston .... 60 72 .455 25½
Tri-City .... 58 70 .453 25½
Wenatchee ... 53 77 .408 31½

VICTORIA [Colonist, Aug. 27]—Victoria Tyees walked to a 9-6 decision over Tri-City Braves at Royal Athletic Park last night to extend their W.I.L. lead over Spokane’s second-place Indians to 11½ games.
The Indians, hoping that their series against last-place Wenatchee would enable them to gain ground, got a rude shock when the Chiefs erupted for six runs in the eighth inning to grab a 7-6 verdict.
FORCED INTO IT
The Tyees appeared a bit reluctant to pick up the win last night. Their first batter reached base in seven of the eight innings they batted as three Tri-City pitchers handed out 15 bases on balls, made two wild pitches and hit a batter, but they were trailing when the Braves insisted in the eighth.
Victoria pitchers handed out nine walks, eight of them by starter Bill Bottler, to make a total of 24 for the two hours and 53 minutes of baseball. Record books list 26 bases on balls, in a game between Yakima and Wenatchee in 1947, as the high, but it is believed that this was smashed earlier this season.
Bill Bottler started for the Tyees and was staked to a 6-1 lead in the second inning. But his own lack of control and a couple of slips by his teammates helped the Braves to slice into their lead and finally move ahead, 8-6, with four runs in the sixth.
A bad throw by manager Cec Garriott with an easy double play at second base gave Tri-City a run in the fifth and Jim Clark’s attempt to get the lead runner at second instead of taking the out at first became responsible for three of the Braves’ four runs in the sixth.
Meanwhile, the Tyees passed up scoring chances in every inning by failing to hit. They didn’t hit in the eighth either, but the Braves weren’t to be denied this time.
FINALLY DO IT
Bill Kostenbader, who had somehow pitched five scoreless innings after relieving starter Dave Brittain in the second, opened by walking Garriott and Don Pries. Granny Gladstone then laid down a perfect bunt, which went for a hit, to load the bags.
The Braves called on George New, their erratic southpaw who leads the W.I.L. in giving up walks and is second in strikeouts. New struck out two of the five men he faced—but then he walked the other three to force in three runs.
The win, his sixth in nine decisions, went to Bill Prior, second of Victoria’s three pitchers. Prior was unhittable after giving up singles to the first two batters he faced. He was lifted for a pinch-hitter in the eighth and reliable Carl Gunnarson had no trouble protecting the lead in the ninth.
DIAMOND DUST—It will be LeRoy Han and Jehosie Heard for the Tyees in tonight’s doubleheader. Ralph Romero will pitch one game for the Braves. George New was scheduled for the otger but he worked part of an inning last night … Five of Tri-City’s eight runs and four of Victoria’s nine were put on base by walks last night … Chuck Abernathy was out of action again with a recurrence of his leg trouble and Don Pries took over at first base in his usual steady style … Jim Clark returned to the line-up after a sore neck put him on the sidelines Saturday night and catcher Milt Martin, who received a mild concussion in a collision with Jim Wert Saturday, was in uniform last night and may catch one of tonight’s games … Ron Bottler tossed out two would-be base stealers last night with fine throws … Plate umpire Russ Kimpel missed one in the sixth when he called Don Pries out at the plate … Catcher Nick Pesut failed to make a tag after taking taking the outfield throw but Kimpel made his call too soon and was not in position to see the play as Pries crashed into the burly catcher.
Tri-City ..... 102 014 000—8 10 1
Victoria ..... 150 000 03x—9 10 2
Brittain, Kostenbader (2) New (8) Satalich (8) and Pesut; B. Bottler, Prior (6), Gunnarson (9) and R. Bottler.

WENATCHEE, Aug. 26 — Wenatchee lowered the boom in the eighth inning with a splurge of six runs that included a three run single to defeat Spokane, 7-6, Tuesday night
in a Western International League baseball game.
A freak play in which three Wenatchee runners crossed the plate on Frank Dasso's bases-loaded single highlighted the inning.
Spokane ........ 100 040 001—6 12 1
Wenatchee .... 010 000 06x—7 3 2
Bishop, Roberts (8) and Sheets; Oubre and Pocekay.
WP-Oubre. LP-Roberts.

VANCOUVER [Keith Matthews, News-Herald, Aug. 27]—Van Fletcher has become convinced in his strivings for his 11th victory of this baseball campaign that there is only one way to win a ball game. That is to shutout the other side—the worst you can get this way is a tie.
But for an eighth inning error by Jesse Williams and a resultant unearned run, Fletcher did his part and pitched the shutout. However, he could have been more generous and still won for the Caps scored six in the first inning and won 6-1.
This was Fletcher’s seventh try for number 11, which to everyone but him is listed as a lucky number.
SALEM WAS CLOSE
It came at an opportune time, too, for the Salems were just two and a half games behind the Caps and third place before this series started and could have left town ahead of the townies. Now, that much is impossible.
Tonight, for instance, the clubs play a doubleheader starting at 7 o’clock and even if the Caps roll over and die—which Edo Vanni says is extremely unlikely—they will still maintain their third place grip.
Fletcher looked something like the pitcher who started off the season like a lion. He was quick and he was accurate.
McNULTY GENEROUS
Meanwhile, the Caps’ offensive never had it so easy. They caught Ray McNulty, the ace of Hugh Luby’s staff, in one of Ray’s generous moods. The 16-game winner gave up four bases on balls and a single in the first inning before he was taken out. Then Vancouver got another walk and three more hits off Ted Edmunds (all of this with two out) and it counted for six runs and a baseball game.
Salem outhit the Caps 7-5 but the townies out-walked Salem 8-1. There was the story right there—there is still no devised defense against the base on balls—baseball’s most deadly poison.
For this doubleheader tonight, Vanni is going to introduce the Caps’ new right-hander, fire-balling Dick Aubertin. A colorful customer with a big fastball, Richard has only to get the ball over the plate to win. And there we go talking about that base on balls again. In the second game, Bob Snyder will pitch.
DIAMOND DUST—Friday when Tri-City is here, Bob Brown is going to try something new at his ball yard. He calls it Picture Night and everyone who walks through the turnstiles gets an autographed picture of the Capilanos.
- - -
VANCOUVER, B.C., Aug. 26 — The Vancouver Capilanos catapulted to a 8-1 Western International League baseball victory over the Salem Senators Tuesday night on six first-inning runs.
The Caps gained the runs off four hits, two errors and four bases on balls. All the hits were singles. The Senators earned their lone run in the eighth when Bob Nelson.went to second on a fielder's choice and was singled home by Gene Tanselli.
Salem ......... 000 000 010—1 7 1
Vancouver ... 000 000 00x—6 5 1
McNulty, Edmunds (1) Rick (8) and Nelson; Fletcher and Nelson.
LP-McNulty.

LEWISTON, Aug. 26 — The Yakima Bears pounded Lewiston starter Dale Thomason for five runs in the first three innings and then coasted to a Western International league series-opener win over the Broncs Tuesday night 6-5.
Tom DelSarto notched his 13th win as he scattered five hits at
Lcwiston.
Yakima ....... 113 000 001—6 10 2
Lewiston ..... 200 010 011—5 5 2
DelSarto, Savage (8) and Donahue; Thomason, Brenner (3) and Lundberg.
WP-DelSarto. LP-Thomason.

‘ONLY THING TO SAVE LEAGUE’
Salem Manager Supports Addition of Prairies
By KEITH MATTHEWS
[Vancouver News-Herald, August 27, 1952]

Add one more name to the list of baseball officials who feel that Edmonton’s and Calgary’s addition to the WIL is not only a good idea, but a necessary one. The name is Hugh Luby, playing manager of the Salem Senators.
Luby, during Monday’s rainout with the Caps, had a long session with Bob Brown, general manager of the Vancouver club and ‘father’ of the enrollment of the prairies thought. The topic, of course, was the possibility of Edmonton and Calgary coming into the league.
“When the idea was first advanced a couple of years ago,” Luby said, “I admit I didn’t like it. However, if we don’t move ahead with the times we are going to collapse, and this is our change. I see that now.”
Luby said that transportation difficulties were his main objection in the first place, but that has since been overcome by airplane.
“A number of ball players refuse to fly because of silly fears or superstitions,” Luby explained. “That is not a point to consider. People, at one time, were frightened to death by a monster on wheels that they called the automobile.
“As a matter of fact,” Luby went on, “I was just sitting here figuring additional transportation costs and including Calgary and Edmonton in the scheme when you asked me about those clubs.
“I figure that it will cost $2000 for a round trip from Salem through the prairies and back home. That’s more than it costs us now, but look at the additional revenue we would get from having those clubs in.”
Luby’s idea was to set up a sort of transportation pool system with each club putting in a similar percentage.
“Nobody would go broke with that idea and at the end of the year I’ll bet our splits from having Calgary and Edmonton in would increase enough to more than make up the travel differences. Yes, the idea is not only worth considering right now, it demands it!”
Luby went on to speak of what kind of a set-up would be most satisfactory to the WIL including the prairie entries.
“Bob (Brown) assures me he is going after the idea of bringing in the prairies for next season. He is so serious about it, he told me they should be in even if we have to go to 10 clubs. I’ll tell you this much—as far as an individual is concerned, I endorse the idea thoroughly. As far as the Salem club is concerned, I see no reason why we shouldn’t vote right along with Vancouver. After all, it will be beneficial to us, too.”

NON WIL MINOR LEAGUE NEWS
Bristol Comes Up With New No-Hit Hurler
BRISTOL, Va.-Tenn., Aug. 27.—If your life's ambition is to pitch a no-hit baseball game, just join the Bristol team of the Class D Appalachian League. Everybody seems to get into the act with Bristol.
Last night it was Frank Ramsay's turn. The 19-year-old southpaw came up with Bristol's filth no-hitter of the season—a sparkling 1-0 gem against Bluefield.
The no-hitter not only was Bristol's fifth of the season, it was the second in two nights. Only 24 hours earlier, Bill Bell had blanked the same Bluefield Club without a hit. The no-hitter was Bell's third of 1951.
Rocket Ron Necciai started it all back on May 13 when he twirled a no-hitter and struck out 27 men in the process.
Only a few nights later, Bell came through wifn a 1-0 no-hit win over Kingsport. Bell followed this up four nights later with a 4-0, no-hit triumph over Bluefield. And the 18-year-old righthander from Goldsboro, N.C., pitched a hitless 1-0 win over Bluefield here Monday night.
Ramsay, from Rocky Hill, Conn., walked five, hit one batter and struck out nine last night. It was the 14th triumph against 10 defeats for the 19-year-old left hander.
All of which led to Thompson's sigh of relief. Bristol still has two games to play—but they're not in Bristol.

Thursday, August 7, 1952

W L Pct. GB
Victoria .... 73 36 .670 —
Spokane ..... 63 49 .560 11½
Vancouver ... 54 49 .524 16
Salem ....... 52 56 .481 20½
Lewiston .... 52 58 .473 21½
Yakima ...... 51 61 .455 23½
Tri-City .... 47 61 .430 25½
Wenatchee ... 44 66 .400 30½

VICTORIA [Colonist, Aug. 8]—Showing a complete reversal of form from Wednesday night and finding Wenatchee’s injury riddled Chiefs not even a reasonable facsimile of Yakima’s hard-hitting Bears, Victoria’s Tyees added to their W.I.L. lead at Royal Athletic Park last night as they swept a double-header from the trailers 7-2 and 7-3.
The double win boosted the Tyees 11½ games ahead of the second-place Spokane Indians, who completed a series sweep over Salem and 16 games ahead of the third-place Vancouver Capilanos, who also found the Bears more than they could handle.
PATCHWORK TEAM
The Chiefs presented a patchwork line-up which had only the batterymen and outfielder Ross McCormick in their usual positions. First-baseman Bill Stites completed the outfield, second-baseman Buddy Hjelmaa was to be found at first base, outfielder Laurie Monroe held down the keystone sack, third baseman Mike Guerrero moved over the shortstop and outfielder Lyle Palmer handled Guerrero’s old job.
Just the same, it took excellent pitching by Jehosie Heard and Bill Bottler and an overall improvemet to beat the handicapped Chiefs who had southpaw Dave Dahle and veteran righthander Frank Dasso ready for the league leaders.
Heard chalked up his 18th victory in 24 decisions and his seventh straight in the nine-inning opener as he held the Bears to five hits. Bottler, knocked out in his last two starts, pitched a four-hitter in the seven-inning finale to record his fourth win in six decisions.
SOUNDER DEFENSE
The Tyees were bolstered by the return to action of Lu Branham, their peppy second baseman. Branham’s return enabled manager Cec Garriott to return John Treece to third base and take Bob Moniz from the hot corner and put him back in left field. The result was a far tighter defense, which may have won the second game when Branham pivoted a difficulty double play in the sixth inning, when the Chiefs had one run in, the bases loaded and Bottler on the ropes.
Branham also contributed offensively, getting three hits in the two games, batting in one and scoring four.
CONSISTENT ATTACK
Moniz and Garriott did the most damage at the plate as the Tyees, hitting consistently, picked up 25 hits. Moniz had a home run, double and single in the first game and a double in the second and batted in four runs. Garriott batted in one runs in the first game as he picked up three singles and two runs in the second with a single and a bases-loaded bases on balls.
The five-game series continues tonight with a single game and ends tomorrow with afternoon and evening games. Bill Prior has been nominated to do the Victoria pitching tonight and the local righthander will be seeking his fourth win.
First Game
Wenatchee .... 001 010 000—2 5 1
Victoria ......... 200 022 01x—7 15 1
Dahle and Pocekay; Heard and R. Bottler.
Second Game
Wenatchee .... 002 001 0—3 4 3
Victoria ......... 110 500 x—7 10 0
Dasso and Pocekay; Bill Bottler and Martin.

SALEM, Aug. 8—Spokane made a clean sweep of a three-game Western International League series, defeating Salem, 5-1, here Thursday.
The Indians got four runs in the third inning on hits by Wilbur Johnson, John Conant, Ed Murphy, Sam Kanelos and Mel Wasley. Hits by Wasley and Bill Sheets accounted for the other score in the sixth.
Connie Perez, Salem outfielder, won a home-run hitting contest over Mel Wasley prior to the game, 4-3. But in the game, Wasley rapped out three hits in four tries while Perez was held hitless.
Spokane ... 004 001 000—5 12 2
Salem ...... 000 000 010—1 7 1
Conant and Sheets; DiBiasi and Nelson.

VANCOUVER [Keith Matthews, Aug. 8]—As they are nearing their greatest hour of need—the WIL’s stretch run—the Capilanos found themselves two more baseball players short after Thursday night’s 7-5 loss to Yakima.
One is Jesse Williams, the shortstop who jammed his thumbs in the third inning, then gamely finished the game without reporting an injury. Now, he’s going to have to rest for a few days from what appears to be a dislocation.
The other is Paul Jones, the pitcher. Today, Paul was to be reinstated to full and active duty after his insubordination sentence. However, that’s going to be hard to do as Paul has jumped the ship.
Some of his team-mates feel Paul has gone home, others are sure he has headed eastward across Canada and will wind up playing semi-pro ball. No matter where he has gone, he’s of no further use to the Caps, and although the Capilanos could suspend him indefinitely from Organized Baseball, they will probably not bother and merely release him outright.
None of this is going to help Vancouver in whatever chances they have of catching Victoria. Luckily enough, Jimmy Moore is around and he’ll fill in in the infield while Williams is out.
The bothersome Yakimas went to town in a big way in the third inning last night, scored five runs for themselves and won a ball game then and there.
Slowly the Caps tried to creep back into contention. They got up to 6-4 when Len Noren’s innocent-looking seventh-inning single took a bad hop over Gordon Brunswick’s head and went for a run-scoring triple. That took just about all the air out of the Caps.
Brunswick, incidentally, had another great night. In the past week, the big fellow has found himself with the bat, and last night he crashed his 9th homer of the year and two singles in four trips.
DIAMOND DUST—The same clubs meet again tonight at 8:15 with Tom Lovrich (5-2), the Caps’ red-hot collegian going against Mr. Lodigiani’s crew. … Blondie and Dagwood Bumstead, of comic strip fame, were introduced before the game … They’re playing an engagement at the Cave … Baby Alexander got right into the swing of things by grabbing a vendor’s uniform and selling peanuts while his folks watched the game.
Yakima ........ 105 000 100—7 13 1
Vancouver ... 011 020 100—5 10 3
Shandor and Donahue; Snyder and Ritchey.

KENNEWICK [Herald, Aug. 8]—Tri-City's big, burley catcher, Nick Pesut, was the hero of the game Thursday night after he broke up the game with a bases-loaded homer in the third inning.
The series then put the Braves out in front 6-4, and they were never again seriously threatened in taking a victory from the Lewiston Broncs 10-5.
The win gave the Braves two out of three of the series. Tonight they will open a series with Spokane. This season, Spokane has beaten the Braves 10 times to six wins for Tri-City.
The two teams have won three apiece in series at Sanders Field.
Big Nick was feeling good all the way around Thursday night. Although he was playing with his injured throwing hand wrapped in bandages, he pegged out two runners who attempted to steal second after the batsmen struck out.
He also snagged two high pop foul flies back near the screen. Besides the homer, Nick's first of the season, he got two more singles and only a brilliant stop by second baseman Glen Tuckett kept him from getting four for four. His hit in the seventh inning drove in a run to bring his total for the night to five.
The way the game started things looked bad for the Braves. Lewiston scored in the first when Milt Smith walked and got to second on Snag Moore's grounder. Smith scored when Gabby Williams singled.
Tri-City came back for one run in the bottom of the inning after Don Lopes balked and was driven in by John Kovenz' triple.
Then Lewiston had their big inning. With none away, Arty Wilson singled. Glenn Tuckett stepped up and belted the, ball out of the park. He was followed by Bob Lundberg who did the same.
Ralph Romero, the Tri-City hurler, clamped down and then and the next batter flied out and the next two struck out to end the inning.
But the Braves bounced back in the bottom of the third. Ray Hamrick doubled and Joe Nicholas, former Tri-City hurter, walked three men to bring in one run. It was then that Pesut got his homer.
From then on it was all Tri-City's game although the Broncs picked up one run on in the sixth on the Lopes' error, a hit by Wilson and another by Tuckett.
The Braves picked up two runs in the fourth when Hamrick got his second double and Don Lopes scored on Del Charouhas' single.
Tri-City got a lone run in the seventh when Marier walked, Scalise singled and Pesut singled.
In the eighth inning, Charlie Mead hit a fly ball deep into center field. Charouhas sped back for it and hauled the ball in. But in doing so, the center fielder smashed into the boards and was knocked out.
The Tri-City team raced out to center field to give Charouhas aid. He recovered and played the rest of the game.
In the bottom of the eighth, Charouhas knocked out a triple to score Kovenz for the Braves' final tally.
Altogether the Braves collected 11 hits and made two errors, Romero who went the distance, yielded nine hits. The Broncs made no errors.
Lewiston ... 130 001 000—3 9 0
Tri-City .... 105 200 11x—10 11 3
Nicholas, Clancy (3), Schulte (4), Bowman (6) and Lundberg; Romero and Pesut.

Wenatchee Cancels Series At Home
WENATCHEE, Wash., August 7—The cellar-dwelling Wenatchee Chiefs of the Western International Baseball League are having money troubles and will play at least one of their remaining home series on the road, their president said Thursday.
Arthur Pohlman, president, said the team will play in Vancouver Aug. 15, 16 and 18, instead of at home, as scheduled.
The Chiefs just aren't drawing crowds this year, he said, while the Capilanos who are, have promised them expenses and a 50-50 split of the gate to play the August series in Canada.

Sports Notes
By Gil Gilmour
[Tri-City Herald, Aug. 9, 1952]

When Robert Abel, president of the Tri-City Western International League, dropped into town the other day, Tri-City Brayes officials let him know that they aren't too enthusiastic about other teams in the league playing exhibition games with the Coast League teams.
Last week, Salem played an exhibition with Portland and 4,500 came out to see the game. So the next night when Salem played a league-scheduled game, only a few hundred fans showed up which cut the take of the visitors.
The Braves officials say they were caught in a similar deal one time at Salem and they want no part of it again.
In the WIL the visiting team gets 40 per cent of the gate or $200, whichever is higher, but the Braves officials say they can't keep a team on the road for $200 a day.
Under league rules such exhibitions are forbidden unless the next scheduled WIL team grants permission. Presumably, Salem got this permission.
INVESTIGATION
Abel was here to finish up his investigation of the Dick Richards—Larry Monroe fight and although he did not say what action he has in mind, he left no doubt that he was annoyed by the whole thing.
He also made it clear that Wenatchee Manager Dick Adams was intent on pushing the thing as he told me he would do the night of the fight. And apparently, Monroe, the ball player whose forehead was cut in the fracas, isn't about to let the matter drop.
Abel has asked the Wenatchee club to forget about the charges filed in Kennewick against Richards and wants the row kept within the baseball family. This will
probably be done although some time ago the Wenatchee World quoted Adams as saying ,the case would be pressed the next time the Chiefs come to the Tri-Cities.
Wenatchee comes here again Aug. 22-24. The Braves play there next Tuesday, and although there will more than likely be fireworks at the series, it would be a good time for everyone to get the thing peacefully ironed out.
CLINIC
Manager Charlie Gassaway had come up with the idea of starting a baseball clinic for fans. Charlie is none too happy about the criticism leveled at him for his use of squeeze play tactics.
In particular was the example of the other night. The Braves were one run behind and had a man on first. John Kovenz, a top hitter and also an excellent bunter, came up to bat and fouled hs first attempt.
A group of the fans set up a howl and placed blame on Gassaway. As it turned out Gassaway's tactics worked and he now has the satisfaction of knowing he was right.
Kovenz laid the next pitch down and the runner moved to second from where he eventually scored to tie up the game. Playing the percentages may not be the most, dramatic baseball but it's usually the smartest game.
ROOKIES
Gassaway, incidentally, is long on veterans and short on rookies. Officially Gassaway is on the sick list. If he recovers from his shoulder injury and takes his place in the lineup, he will have to take one of the veterans—in this case, Ray Hamrick out of the lineup.
All of the players on the regular lineup are either veterans or limited service men.

NON WIL MINOR LEAGUE NEWS
Necciai Joins Pirate Squad
PITTSBURGH, Aug. 7 — A tall, skinny lad who had to crouch to get out of the airplane without bumping his head arrived here Thursday night to begin his major league career.
Ron Necciai, right hand strikeout sensation of the minor leagues, is slated to put on a Pittsburgh Pirate uniform Friday. If everything goes according to plan the 20-year-old 6 foot, 5 inch hurler will make his first start against the Chicago Cubs here Sunday.

Monday, May 26, 1952

W L Pct GB
Victoria ..... 23 9 .719 —
Spokane ...... 22 13 .629 2½
Vancouver .... 16 11 .693 4½
Wenatchee .... 16 18 .471 8
Lewiston ..... 16 18 .471 8
Salem ........ 16 20 .444 9
Yakima ....... 13 22 .371 11½
Tri-City ..... 12 23 .343 12½

VANCOUVER [Keith Matthews, News Herald, May 27]—John Ritchey is a smart hombre with a baseball bat in his hands.
Therefore, when the Capilano catcher points a finger at a rival pitcher and say, “that fellow has got it” few with argue with him.
Long before the Victoria Tyees went about beating the Caps 7-0 at Capilano Stadium Monday night, Ritchey pointed out Johosi [sic] Heard and matter of factly said, “that guy is the best left-hander in the league. Everything he throws does something.”
GOT FOUR, BUT
As it turned out Heard started for the Tyees and Ritchey caressed four baseballs right on the snoot in four trips. However, three of them were right at somebody and that was pretty well the Capilano story Monday. They hit a lot of line drives, maybe even more than they would in an average 10-hit output, but they were always right at somebody.
The Tyees’ aim wasn’t so good. They dropped a few bloopers here, a hot liner there and capitalized on John Guldborg’s wildness to make a night of it. They stretched their winning streak to six while snapping the Caps at five.
HAVE WEAKNESSES
There have been a lot of pros and cons about this Victoria club, whether it is good enough to stay up there or whether it is just a fly-by-night outfit.
They are not without weaknesses. Second base is a problem with them and their pitching is all left-handed. However, they are hustling like all get-out and as long as they continue, they’ll be tough to knock off.
Guldborg’s was his first loss after four straight successes. It was also his first bad job of pitching. He didn’t run into grief until the sixth when the Tyees piled on six runs on six hits and three bases on balls. Then Bob Snyder came along, put out the fire quickly, but it was far too late.
LEFT LAST NIGHT
With this one out of their system, the Caps left shortly after game time for an all-night bus haul to Lewiston. Bill Schuster will open with Paul Jones (0-3) tonight then follow with Ed Locke (4-2) and Van Fletcher (3-1) for the remainder of the Bronco series. Then Vancouver moves into Tri-City where Bob Snyder (0-0) goes after his first decision and the pitching rotation will start all over again.
DIAMOND DUST—Schuster said he would likely use Bob Duretto as a second string catcher in Tri-City when the Caps run into a Sunday double-header in order to rest Ritchey . . . Mike Catron, a Cleveland scout, was a spectator at the Monday game and was amazed at the brilliance of the new Cap Stadium . . . “best park I’ve ever seen in minor league ball.”
- - -
VANCOUVER, B.C., May 26. (U.P.) The Victoria Tyees hammered out a 7-0 victory over the Vancouver Capilanos tonight to end the Caps' Western International League win streak at five straight.
The Tyees exploded for six runs in the sixth inning, shelling John Guldborg from the mound. Jehosie Herd was the Victoria winner, allowing seven hits, but keeping the Caps at bay in the tight spots.
Bob Snyder, the league's leading hurler last season, replaced Guldborg and pitched three and one-third innings of no-hit ball to shackle the Tyees the rest of the way. The damage had been done before he got into the game, however, on Cece Garriott's double, Granville Gladstone's double, four singles, three bases on balls and a Vancouver error.
Previously, Guldborg had won four straight for Vancouver.
Victoria ......... 000 015 000—7 10 3
Vancouver ..... 000 000 000—0 8 2
Heard and Martin; Guldborg Snyder (6) and Ritchey.

ONLY GAME SCHEDULED

DON CARLSON
[Vancouver Province, May 27, 1952]
Caps Best Ever
Bob Brown calls his 1952 Capilano infield “by far the best that has ever played in this city.” It is a tribute Wert, the Tran brothers, and Williams should cherish, for R.P. is not one to wax insincerely over diamond talent.
Bill Schuster, Brown’s field manager, picks his mound staff as the apple of his eye, with the home season now at the quarter-way mark. Snyder, Guldborg, Locke and Fletcher, he said Monday, should give him at least 80 games before season’s end.
While the head men select their favorites, apparently the whole club is the choice of fans. Brown told me Monday that attendance per game is “far above” last year’s averages, despite the cold and rain that washed out seven games in May. And last year the Caps set an attendance record for Vancouver.
● ● ●
Brown calls his infield the “perfect” infield. When the Trans set the WIL double play record three seasons ago, third base was weak. Brown never did warm up to Jimmy Robinson. Last year, first was wobbly under Chuck Abernathy, and Gordie Brunswick was just learning.
“What we have now, says Brown, “can run, field and hit. What more can we ask?”
What is his most pleasant surprise so far? “The word of Bob Duretto,” he said.
“He was the question mark. His short season in the Sally League in 1951 did not give us much to go on when we bought him. He has turned out to be a cracking good man.”
Who is his big disappointment? “You can write,” he said, “that I am disappointed in Harry Butts. Here is a young pitcher with all the ability in the world.
“He doesn’t concentrate enough on the club he’s with. He always has aspirations elsewhere, a habit which could cost him a wonderful career.”
Butts is the brilliant youngster who won 20 games last year between Indianapolis, Manitoba and Venezuela: his record confirms that he has itchy feet, but talent too.
● ● ●
Schuster’s darlings are the big four of the hurling corps. “If Snyder has anywhere near the kind of year he had last year (27 wins),” the mellowing Rooster said, “we’ll have that flag.
“Locke has been my best surprise, in the hurling end. Ray Tran’s punch hitting has been one of our top offensive weapons.”
Two other guys, I suggest, deserve heaps of credit. Edo Vanni and Jesse Williams have done wonders for the youngsters. They are two veterans who are walking proof that old pros don’t just go through the motions.
In short, said Brown, “we are fully satisfied with our team.” Not every Capilano club has been able to make that boast.

ON THE INSIDE
By DON BECKER, Herald Sports Editor [May 27, 1952]

This Rocket Ron Necciai (pronounced Netch-Eye) who set a new baseball record by striking out 27 batters in a game ... that's all of them ... may put in an appearance with the Hollywood Stars. Branch Rickey figures the kid is too good to stay in the class D Appalachian League any longer and is going to farm 11 him out. Necciai, who finished his final game by striking out 24 batters will find the going considerably rougher in the PCL.
It will take more than a batch of press clippings to set those boys down. Most of them have looked at more pitches than that blonde on the third stool from the end of the bar gets in a life-time. Should he join the Hollies they'll have two of the most publicized hurlers of the day. The other of course is the 100 Grander, Paul Pettit ... that duo should make a good doubleheader drawing card.
One of the reasons Salem had so much trouble trying to sign their veterans . . . and they didn't get most of them ... to WIL contracts was because of the new Oregon semi-pro league. A couple of ex-Senators who listened to the lure of the loot of the semi-proers were pitcher Aldon Wilkie and catcher Bill -Beard . . . and oh how Salem needs them this year. . . The latest to join the Oregon State League was the slugging Harvey Storey.
STRETCHING LIKE A PRE-WAR JOB
By the way have you noticed how that WIL League is stretching? There's a bigger gap between the top and the bottom than you'll find in a wartime girdle. Actually you might say there are three races. Victoria, Spokane and Vancouver are battling for the lead showing a three and a half game margin. Wenatchee, Lewiston and Salem are four games out of third; and bunchT-ed tighter than kids at the door on the last day of school, for the other top division spot.
That leaves Yakima and Tri-City. After a home stand in which they won two of seven, the Braves stumbled and fell hard on the road, coming back with but one win in eight starts. Needless to say they're once more back in the cellar. Starting tonight they'll open an 11-game home series (their next to the longest of the season). It'll ba Salem, Vancouver and then Yakima in that order.
TONIGHT ROMERO. TOMORROW ROMERO. ETC..
Of course there's one way the Braves can win, and why keep it a secret any longer . . . just pitch Ralph Romero. Not only can the bespectacled ace hurl a
mighty fine game, but he's death at the plate when the chips are down ... as witness that marathon he won Sunday at Salem.
NEED SOME BALL SLASHERS
Tri-City has added another pitcher to their staff. Fellow by the name of Bob Greenwood who is said to be something of a Phillie prize prospect. That means one hurler will have to be cut from the squad and you won't need an adding machine to narrow down the field on that item. Actually though the pitching staff is one of the strongest departments of the club. The crying need is for a couple of hard hitting outfielders and a little less sieve-like activity on the part of the infield. Correct those faults and the Braves could lift their head out of the cellar and might become a first division club, aa was originally prophesied.
JOTS AND DOTS . . . THIS AND THAT
Buddy Peterson, former Tri-City shortstop is blasting the ball at a .325 clip for Louisville of the American Association, and he's made quite an impression with his clutch blows too. In fact he was told to tell his family to move to Kentucky. The inside dope we picked up in Portland on Buddy's trade to Louisville to San Diego is that it was completed before Manager Lefty O'Doul knew what was going on. Seems Bill Starr, the Padre owner, put it through ... the second time he's neglected to notify his manager.

NON WIL BASEBALL NEWS
New Hurler Out Rockets Ron Necciai
BRISTOL, Va.-Tenn., May 26—This baseball-wacky town never thought it would see the likes, of Rocket Ron Necciai, the bullet-ball pitching phenom who struck out 27 men in hurling a no-hitter.
But six days after Necciai's departure from the Class D Appalachian League folks hereabouts are raving over a new hurling wonder — Bill Bell — who appears to be every bit as good as, and perhaps better than, the illustrious Ron.
The 18-year-old Bell achieved what is believed to be an all-time minor league record Monday night when he turned in his second successive no-hit performance. The 6 ft. 2 in, righthander twirled his first no-hitter last Thursday — the night after Necciai,
who fanned 109 in 32 2-3 innings, pitched his last game for Bristol.
Bell whiffed 17 and drove home the winning runs as the Twins edged Kingsport, 1-0
Monday night, Bell, shackled Bluefield's Blue Grays, striking out 20 as the Twins won, 4-0, to stretch their winning streak of 18.
The trio of no-hitters by Bell and Necciai came within a period of 14 days.
Both are tabbed prize pitching prospects by front office officials of the parent Pittsburgh Pirates.

Wednesday, May 14, 1952

W L Pct
Victoria ..... 14 6 .700 —
Spokane ...... 15 7 .682 —
Vancouver ..... 9 8 .529 3½
Salem ........ 10 12 .455 5
Lewiston ...... 9 12 .429 5½
Wenatchee ..... 9 12 .429 5½
Yakima ........ 9 13 .409 6
Tri-City ...... 9 14 .391 6½

KENNEWICK [Tri City Herald, May 15]—That thump you may have heard around 10:30 last night was the Tri-City Braves clanging their way into the Western International League baseball cellar. Victoria did the shoving with a 15-4 error-filled victory. It was the second victory in as many, nights for Cece Garriott's Tyees and moved them back on top of the league.
Tonight Ralph Romero will try and do for Tri-City what a quintet of other Brave hurlers have so far this season been unable to do—beat Victoria. It will also mark the last game of the series, with the Wenatchee Chiefs scheduled to move in Friday.
Victoria led the lambs to the slaughter in the first inning last night. Starter Ken Michelson, who was charged with the defeat, was shelled from the mound after facing the first five men. Granny Gladstone, greeted reliefer Neal Johnston with a double to leave no doubt in the minds of the 273 fans of which team was going to be master of the game.
After scoring six times, in the first the Tyees settled for two in the third and eighth innings, four an the fifth and for dessert pecked away at one more in the sixth.
Tri-City kicked the ball four times all in the infield but it didn't
make much difference except to the pitcher's earned run averages.
With Vic Buccola out of the lineup because of a strained neck muscle catcher Nick Pesut took over the initial corner with rookie Clayton Carr doing the backstopping.
Olney Patterson, the only Brave apparently capable of getting the ball out of the infield with any consistency, didn't let the slaughter affect his personal batting average.
He collected three of the Braves seven hits, including a triple, and scored twice. Shortstop Des Charouhas and second baseman Tommy Marier each drove in two runs for Tri-City.
Manager Gassaway slapped a $10 fine on every player with the exception of Buccola and Romero. He said the fine was for lack of hustle and further instructed the Braves they should work out daily at noon until they are in the first division.
Harvey Allen, Victoria's right fielder who struck out four times in the first game, hammered one over the 400 foot centerfield wall last night. It was one of the longest hits, though not the longest ever recorded at Sanders Field.
Victoria ...... 602 041 020—15-12-2
Tri-City ...... 200 000 020— 4- 7-4
Larino and Marcucci, Towne (8), Martin (9); Michelson, Johnston (1), Satalich (3) and Carr.

SPOKANE, May 14 — Ross McCormack smashed a pinch-hit double to drive in the winning run in the ninth for Wenatchee's 2-1 Western International League baseball victory over Spokane Wednesday.
Dave Dahle pitched the victory for the Chiefs who Tuesday bowed to the Indians 23-3. He allowed six scattered hits, struck out three and walked four.
Ed Murphy scored Spokane's first run in the third, coming first run in the third, coming home on Wilbur Johnson's single after stealing second. Dick Adams tied the game in the seventh, scoring on Norm Ridgway's bunt.
They will play the final game of the three-game series Thursday.
Wenatchee ... 000 000 101—2 5 2
Spokane ....... 001 000 000—1 6 0
Dahle and Pocekay; Bishop, Roberts (9) and Sheets.

SALEM [Vancouver News Herald, May 15]—Paul Jones' wildness and a lot of cold weather combined to topple the Vancouver Capilanos here Wednesday night.
The Caps lost a close 5-4 decision to the hometown Salems in a game which swayed one way, then the other.
Ray McNulty, a curve-balling right hander, wasn’t too much better than Jones and at times he was almost as wild, but tight defensive play by his infield pulled him out of trouble time after time.
What turned out to be the winning run was ancient Hugh Luby’s steal of home in the seventh. He got a big jump on Bob Snyder and slid in under John Ritchey’s tat play to score.
Snyder came on in the seventh after the Caps had lifted Jones for a pinch-hitter in the sixth to start a rally. Ed Locke came to the plate with his big bat to hit for Jones and that’s exactly what he did. His single with men on second and third scored both of them and put the Caps within one run of their victors.
Jones was the losing pitcher and though his chart shows only two bases on balls, what it doesn’t show is that he worked behind the batter all the way.
Jones also balked once and tossed two wild pitches.
The clubs play again here tonight and Schuster will be going with John Guldborg (4-0).
Vancouver ...... 010 002 001—4 9 2
Salem ............ 001 300 10x—5 11 0
Jones, Snyder (6) and Ritchey; McNulty and Nelson.

LEWISTON, Idaho, May 14 — Yakima Bears swept a Western International League baseball doublebeader from the Lewiston Broncs Wednesday, winning the first game 3-2 in eight innings and taking the seven-inning nightcap 7-4.
John Albini pitched a three-hitter in the eighth-inning opener. It was scheduled for seven innings, but went into overtime when Artie Wilson scampered home with the tying run in the last of the seventh after reaching third on a single followed by a Yakima error.
Tom del Sarto gave up only four hits as he pitched the Bears to the second victory, called at the end of seven frames because of the 11:15 curfew.
First Game
Yakima ....... 000 020 01—3 8 4
Lewiston ..... 100 000 10—2 3 3
Albini and Donahue; Powell, Brenner (8) and Lundberg, Helmuth (8).
Second Game
Yakima ....... 001 041 1—7 8 3
Lewiston ..... 030 000 1—4 4 2
DelSarto, Clancy (6), Thompson (7) and Donahue; Schulte, Beerman (7) and Helmuth.

Chiefs Release Four
WENATCHEE, May 14—The Wenatchee baseball management announced Tuesday the outright reclease of two veteran pitchers, Al Treichel and Mike Kanshin, and outfielders Stan Budin and Elwin Elton. It cut the Western International League club's rosier to 18, witn one more to cut by May 22.

NON-WIL MINOR LEAGUE NEWS
Tall Hurler Fans 27 in Nine Innings
BRISTOL, Tenn.-Va.—(AP)—A new strikeout record for organized baseball apparently has been set by 19-year-old Ron Necciai of the Appalacnian League's Bristol Twins.
The six-foot-five fireballer, a Pittsburgh Pirate farmhand from Monongahela, Pa., fanned 27 batters in nine innings and pitched the Twins to a 7-0 no-hit win over the Welch, W. Va., Miners here Tuesday night.
Statisticians at Columbus, O., St. Louis and Pittsburgh riffled through all available records Wednesday but could find nothing to equal Necciai's feat.
The top mark found was hung up by Hooks Iott who struck out 25 in a nine-inning game for Paragould, Ark, June 18, 1941. Later that season Iott fanned 30 men in a 16-inning game.
In only one inning did Necciai fail to strike out the side - the second when a batter grounded out to the shortstop.
In the ninth he struck out four. The third strike on Billy Hammond eluded Catcher Harry Dunlop. Necciai then whiffed Bob Kendrick for his 28th victim and the game.
One batter reacbed first on an error. Necciai hit another with a pitched ball and gave up one base on balls.
Rookie Catcher Dunlop, a California, is believed to have set a modern record himself by handling 25 putouts and one assist.

BRISTOL, Tenn.—UP—A pitcher's dream game—27 strikeouts—has been fashioned by 20 year old Ron Necciai, a pitcher with the Bristol Twins of the class D Appalachian League.
Necclal's amazing feat, performed last night as he pitched a no hitter to beat the Welch Miners, 7 to 0, is believed to be the first time in the history of
organized baseball a pitcher has recorded the maximum number of strikeouts for a nine inning game.
Only two batters reached base against Necciai—he walked one and the other reached first when the catcher dropped a third strike.
Necciai, a Pittsburgh Pirate farm hand from Monongahela, Pa., is on option to the Twins from New Orleans of the Southern Association. He has been burning up the league with strikeouts, with 77 to 32 innings, and last night's win was his second shutout. The previous Appalachian League record for strikeouts in a single game was 21.

BRISTOL, Va.-Tenn., May 14— (U.P). A 19-year-old pitcher who struck out 27 batters in a nine inning game shrugged it off today with one remark:
"Shucks, I'm just learning to pitch."
Towering Ron Neccai at least equalled—and probably set—an all-time baseball strikeout record Tuesday night in pitching a 7-0 no-hit victory ior Bristol over Welch in the Class D Apalachian League. Only four men reached base in the near perfect game, and one of them was a strikeout victim who got on base when the catcher dropped the third strike.
Neccai, a 6-foot, 5-incher from Monongahela, Pa., has been striking out 20 in a game earlier this season. He has fanned 77 men in the last 32 innings he's worked.
Last year his record was only four victories and nine defeats for the Class D Salisbury, N. C., club—but he struck out 111 in 106 innings.