Spring Training, Tuesday, April 20, 1954

A FELLER NAMED BRENNER
Vics Face Caps Hill Ace In Opener
By CLANCY LORANGER
[Vancouver Province, April 20, 1954]
CLARKSTON, Wash.—Opening night for the pro baseball Capilanos in 1953 was a nightmare that haunted them for the rest of the season. The 3000-odd fans who turned up could have forgotten about the fact they were freezing to death if the Caps had been winning.
But they not only weren’t winning, they looked awful as they took an 8-0 drubbing from Lewiston Broncs. They couldn’t hit, they couldn’t field—in fact, they couldn’t do anything right, and they didn’t live it down for months.
General manager Bill Brenner remembers that night, because at the time he was managing Lewiston. Naturally, he’s determined that there won’t be a repeat performance this year.
He had some time to think about it here Monday, when his exhibition game with Lewiston was rained out. So—he had a couple of announcements to make regarding opening night, April 29, against Victoria Tyees.
First off, he’s pitching the ace that night: fellow named Brenner, who won 22 games last year.
The weather he can’t guarantee, but just in case Victoria should do a Lewiston act, Bill has plans for another act he hopes will keep the folks off their hands. On hand, Bill hopes, will be a big name from the baseball or entertainment world to add a little opening night lustre.
Brenner tried to get Joe DiMaggio (preferably with Marilyn), but Joe couldn’t make it. Ty Cobb is a candidate, too, but he’s a hard man to find. Also on the list is Bob Hope. Anyway, somebody will be along. The wires are humming.
Another early season attraction will be Seattle Rainiers, who’ll be along on May 3 this year. Brenner says he’s going to pitch in that one, too.
DIAMOND DUST – Brenner lost a lefthander Monday … He got word that Raul Galata, his Mexican southpaw, tired of trying to fight his way through the immigration curtain, had decided to forget the whole thing … Galata will play ball for Vera Cruz in Mexico … George Nicholas arrived and got in his first workout Monday before the rain came … He looks in good shape. Tom Del Sarto, scheduled to pitch Monday, will be on the mound today when the Caps tackle the Broncs again at Lewiston. Brenner is dickering with Bob Brown at Calgary and should have a shipment of his surplus players for Bob soon

Good Crowd on Hand To Watch Tyees Win
[Victoria Colonist, Tuesday, April 20, 1954]
There was considerable evidence of renewed baseball interest at Royal Athletic Park last night at 562 paying fans plus more than 100 youngsters turned out despite bitter cold to watch the Victoria Tyees play their first spring training exhibition game.
Pitted against Farmers Construction in the sixth day of spring training, the Tyees didn’t get much wood on the ball and had to struggle to come out on top, 7-3, on the strength of a four-run rally in the eighth inning. But playing in weather fit only for hockey and under the lights for the first time were certainly extenuating circumstances for both clubs.
Tyee manager Don Pries used all of his 15 players with only himself, Armando Sanchez, Art Seguso, Milt Martin and Primo Santini playing the full nine innings. The Tyees pitching staff—all four of them—saw action.
FLINN STARTS
Hal Flinn, who reported yesterday from the San Francisco Seals went the first three innings, while Mike Kanshin, Bill Prior and Berlyn Hodges each worked two innings.
Flinn gave up two hits and one run in his stint, Drilling one hit and one run, Prior no hits and one unearned run, and Hodges pitched scoreless and hitless baseball. Farmers got three hits.
On the other hand, the Tyees got plenty of argument from lefthander Art Worth, who pitched for Spokane last season and is now an Edmonton holdout. Worth looked smart in a four-inning job as he struck out three and walked two. However, his two bases on balls came together in the third inning along with a single to Ron Jackson, the only hit off worth, to give the Tyees their first run.
TYEES START
Lowell Hodges pitched the last four innings for Farmers and stayed right in the game until the eighth, when two bases on balls, a double by Martin, a triple by Tom Keough, and an error broke the game wide open.
Up until the eighth the Tyees were never ahead and were behind by one run three times. Ed Ash has come up with a good-looking amateur club which, given pitching, should provide some good competition for the Tyees in future games. Shortstop Lyall Cornett and third-baseman Stu Mitchell both fielded well and Farmers gave away only the last run as they made the Tyees work to get the verdict.
MARTIN GETS TWO
Martin was the only Tyee to get more than one hit, nothing a fifth-inning single in addition to his double, which was the first well-hit ball off either Worth or Lowell Hodges. Worth hit a double for Farmers while centerfielder Bernie Anderson of the losers made a fine catch of an extra-base bid by Santini for the game’s top defensive play.
The two teams meet again Thursday night at 6:30.
On Sunday, the Tyees played an inter-squad game more for the batting practice than anything else. Pitchers were instructed to stay away from anything but fast balls as The Hodges beat The Drillings, 5-3, in an eight-inning game. Pepper Wesley, youthful colored infielder, caught the eye in this one by connecting for two doubles and turning in a couple of fine defensive plays.
Manpower troubles should be straightened out well before the week is out. Eddie Lake, veteran shortstop, has promised to be on hand no later than Wednesday, the same day that Dain Clay, veteran outfielder, is expected. Don Smith, the big Fairbanks southpaw, is due today and the Tyees expect to find out tonight just what they can expect from the Portland Beavers. They are also deciding whether or not to sign a pitcher named Jim Reynolds and hope to be able to announce another acquisition or two from another Coast League club.

TUESDAY GAMES

KENNEWICK, April 20 — The Tri-City Braves exploded with eight runs in the first inning for impetus, then slugged along to a 16-8 Western International League exhibition baseball victory over Yakima Tuesday.
Six hits and three Yakima errors helped compile the eight – run frame.
Yakima's catcher Lon Summers hit a home run in the fifth.
Bob Moniz of Tri-City had a fat day at the plate, getting five hits in six times at bat, including three doubles.
Yakima ....... 201 011 120— 6 13 3
Tri-City ..... 030 032 00x—16 17 4
Elmore, Edmunds (2) and Summers; Lemieux, Bloom (6) and Johnson, Carroll (7)

LEWISTON, Idaho, April 20 — Vancouver's power packed lineup rapped four home runs to defeat Lewiston 11-3 in an exhibition game between the two Western International League teams Tuesday.
Marvin Williams, the Caps second baseman, slugged two of the homers, driving in five runs. Arnie Hallgren. Milwaukee bonus baby outfielder on option to Vancouver, and Ellis Daugherty, first baseman, collected the other circuit clouts.
Vancouver ... 041 300 102—11 16 1
Lewiston .... 101 140 100— 8 11 1
Delsarto, Tompkins (5), MacKay (5) and Duretto; Marshall, Durganc (8) and Garay.

MODESTO, April 20—The Modesto Reds of the California League scored a 6-5 exhibition victory over the Wenatchee Chiefs of the Western International League last night as-pinch hitter Jim Yarber banged out a double in the last of the ninth that scored two runs.
Vern Richert of Wenatchee was the big man at the plate for the Chiefs with a homer with one man on in the first inning.

VISALIA, Tulare Co. [Fresno Bee, April 21, 1953]—The Edmonton Eskimos of the Western International Class A League walloped the Visalia Cubs, of the class C California League, 16 to 6, in a baseball game here, last [Tuesday] night.
Don Gigli, Edmonton shortstop belted a three run homer in the sixth inning to pace the Eskimo attack.
Galen Bowman provided some Cub cheer with a two-run double in the second inning.
Edmonton ...... 322 003 105—16 13 2
Visalia ....... 023 010 000— 6 8 3
Miner and Self; Preston, Williams (4) and Arnold.