Spring Training, Monday, April 19, 1954

CAPS SPLIT
Mexico’s Marvin Impresses
By CLANCY LORANGER
(Province Sports Writer) [April 19, 1954]
KENNEWICK, Wash.—More than jumping beans come out of Mexico. They turn out a pretty good brand of second basemen, too, it would appear.
New second sacker Marv Williams, picked up by general manager Bill Brenner south of the U.S.border, saw his first action and was the standout for the Vancouver Capilanos as they split a pair of games with the Tri-City Braves here on the weekend, winning 4-2 Saturday and dropping Sunday’s game six to three.
Williams, seeing his first pitching in two months, looked like a natural-born hitter as he took the opposition apart for five hits in two games, including two doubles. Big and loose, Williams swings the stick with authority and hits to all fields. He’ll do.
Brenner was pleased with the fine pitching job turned in by Bill Franks, the red-handed right hander bought from Spokane, in Saturday’s game. Franks pitched five innings of hitless ball, walking three.
Brenner pitched Sunday, and didn’t have a thing when he started. He was racked for 10 hits and six runs in the first three innings, but stayed the route and got better thereafter.
DIAMOND DUST – The Caps are back at home in Clarkston, Wash., today and have a game against Lewiston, with Tom Del Sarto due to pitch, either Rod MacKay or Bill Tompkins will help. The Caps play Lewiston again Tuesday, have games against Larson Air Force Base Wednesday and Thursday. Friday they rest and tackle Lewiston again Saturday and Sunday, Monday and Tuesday they are in Yakima, then home for the opening game April 29. Brenner cut his squad by one more when he released pitcher Bob Hansen, who wouldn’t work.

Capilanos Still Trying To Avoid Clash With Games, Says Official
VANCOUVER, April 19—President Tom English of the Capilanos Baseball Club Monday denied any breach of faith with the British Empire Games committee and said the Capilanos do not want to play here during Games week.
He said charges by Games committee members that the Capilanos would take advantage of sports-minded crowds drawn to the city by the Games were unfounded. The Games would offer “too many counter-attractions,” for baseball to show a profit during Games week, July 30 to August 7, he added.
“We’re afraid to be here during Games week,” he said. “We may end up playing in an empty stadium.
ASKED LAST YEAR
English said that the Capilanos asked last year that the British Empire Games dates be taken into consideration when the Western International League’s schedule be drawn up.
When the completed schedule put the Caps in Vancouver—playing a series against Tri-City and Salem—the club requested it be changed but was refused by the league, English said.
“We have since asked them to reconsider their stand,” he added.
He said that other teams’ traveling schedules had to be taken into account in making schedule changes along with the fact that U.S. teams all played Sunday games, forbidden play law here.
“If we can arrange a swap with other clubs we’ll do it,” he said. “We have six weeks yet and we’re still working on it. If we can get out of town, we’ll be out.”