Spring Training, Sunday, April 18, 1954

Pitching Shortage Easing; Hurlers Check In, Send Word
[Victoria Colonist, April 18, 1954]
Going through their third day of spring training at Royal Athletic Park yesterday, the Tyees were cheered by the news that their pitching shortage has at least been partially relieved.
Starting out with only righthanders Bob Drilling and Mike Hanshin and lefthander Berlyn Hodges on hand, the Tyees acquired a fourth moundsman Friday when holdover righthander Bill Prior turned out for practices. Then yesterday they were told that Hal Flinn, who is being optioned out by the San Francisco Seals, would arrive today.
That brought the total to five, and it was boosted to six yesterday when general manager Reg Patterson received the news that Donald Smith, a 200-pound southpaw from Fairbanks, Alaska, would join the club either today or Tuesday.
Not much is known about Smith except that he comes with the highest recommendation from Pat Orr, former Coast League umpire. Orr was enthusiastic in his appraisal—“He can’t miss. Boy, he can throw!”
At the same time, the Tyees are 24 hours to definite news from the Portland Beavers. The Beavers will arrive at Portland for their first home stand tomorrow and are expected to send along at least two pitchers, with chances good it may be three. And Patterson is still working on deals which will bring the club more pitching.
No other players showed up yesterday as the club went through a lengthy training devoted to batting practice, but shortstop Eddie Lake, a bit overdue, is expected momentarily. Dain Clay, veteran outfielder, is due in on Wednesday.
ROOKIES LOOK GOOD
Yesterdays raining highlighted the impression that the Tyees have come up with some outstanding rookie talent. Primo Santini was getting plenty of wood on the ball and moves around his shortstop position as if he knew what it was all about. Another who caught the eye was Armando Sanchez, the speedy Mexican, who not only indicated he is a pretty sort of an outfielder but handled himself so well behind the plate that the Tyees, with outfielder Jerry Kane also able to strap on the “tools of ignorance,” no longer have any worries about finding someone to back-up regular catcher Milt Martin.
And big Art Seguso, who is starting his sixth season in organized baseball, continued to add to the club’s expenses by dropping more over the centre field wall.
ACTION TODAY
First serious action will take play today when the Tyees play an inter-squad game. Tomorrow night, they meet Farmer’s Construction in the first of several exhibition games. It’s reported that the city amateurs intend to toss southpaw Art Worth, with Spokane Indians last season and now the property of Edmonton Eskimos, at the Tyees, with Jim Harford, Tyees’ second-string catcher last year, behind the plate.
Pries announced that every one of the Tyees would see action Monday and named a starting line-up which has Martin behind the plate, Pries at first-base, Ron Jackson at second, Steve Mesner at third, Santini at shortstop and Kane, Sanchez and Seguso in the outfield.

New Rule Takes in WIL, Too
KENNEWICK, April 18—The Western International League is going to have to abide by the new baseball rule requiring all players to carry their gloves off the field every time their team is at bat.
Robert Abel of Tacoma, WIL president, had told the 10 clubs of the class A league they would not be required to observe the rule unless instructed to do so by George Trautman, boss of the minor leagues.

SUNDAY GAMES

SALEM, April 18— Salem scored six runs in the third inning Sunday and then went on to defeat Yakima 7-5 in an exhibition Western International League baseball game.
The victory gave Salem a clean sweep of the two-game series here.
Centerfielder Chet Ashman hit a three-run double in Salem’s big third inning. Salem Manager Harvey Storey had three hits for the day.
Yakima ..... 000 040 001—5 6 3
Salem ...... 006 001 00x—7 7 2
Hyatt, Wolf (3) and Summers; Hemphill, Borst (6) and Ogden.

KENNEWICK, April 18—The Tri-City Braves evened up their two-game Western International League exhibition baseball series with Vancouver Sunday, handing the Capilanos a 6-3 setback with an early inning bombardment against playing manager Bill Brenner.
The veteran Brenner was no mystery to the Braves as they clustered all their scoring in the first three frames, but from there on he gave up only one stingy single.
Tri-City broke loose with three runs in the first on three singles and Jack Warren's double, added two more in the second on four singles and closed out their run production in the third with a solo tally on a single and Terry Carroll’s double.
Vancouver got one run in the fourth on Marv Williams' double, a single and Gale Taylor’s long sacrifice fly. The Caps got another pair in the fifth on singles by Williams and Jim Clark, a walk and a double by Ken Richardson.
Ted Savarese and Walter Clough handled the mound chores for the Braves. Brenner went all the way for the Caps.
Vancouver ... 000 120 000—3 10 2
Tri-City .... 321 000 00x—5 11 2
Brenner and Pesut; Savarese, Clough (5) and Warren.