Need One More To Clinch Title
By CLANCY LORANGER
[Vancouver Province, Sept. 11, 1954]
If the Capilano ball club had imported a Hollywood writer to prepare the script, he couldn’t have conceived a more appropriate ending for the 1954 baseball season.It faded out with a thundershower that sent fans scampering and ended the last local game of the season in the top of the seventh inning.
If anything typified this season, it was rain, And the [unreadable], too. They looked like the powerhouse club they were supposed to be, and they had a nice, cosy 11-1 edge when the umpires called it off.
THREE IN A ROW
That made it three in a row for the Caps over the second half champs, Lewiston Broncs, and they could wind up the series in the Idaho city when the best-of-seven championship series resumes. Pete Hernandez, who blanked the Broncs in the first game, will be pitching Sunday.
It was strictly “no contest” from the start Friday, although the 1500-odd fans seemed to enjoy it—until the rains came.
The Caps teed off on Al Yaylian in the first inning for four runs on five hits and a walk, and the slow-working (slow-working? He’s full stop) lefty was racked for four more before John Marshall came in in the fourth. John, who took a beating in the first game, as no better Friday, and the Caps ended up with seven runs in that frame.
THREE HITTER
Showing the way was manager Bill Brenner, who had nothing to say after the game about the fact that he had allowed just three hits, including Larry Barton’s homer. But like all pitchers, he was willing to admit that he was a great hitter—and he had two doubles and a single to prove it.
Early next week he should have a WIL pennant to prove he did his part for Vancouver baseball fans in ’54, too.
Lewiston ........... 000 001— 1 3 0
Vancouver ........ 400 700—11 13 1
Yaylian, Marshall (4) and Cameron; Brenner and Pesut.
Caps Within One Game Of WIL Title After Easy 11-1 Victory
Rain Calls Halt To Game At Stadium After Sixth
[Vancouver News-Herald, Sept. 11, 1954]
Added to his other talents, Capilano manager-pitcher-slugger Bill Brenner may have an eye for the local weatherman’s job after his usual foresight Friday night at Capilano Stadium.
With an eye on the threatening clouds overhead, he sent his Capilanos out early to get a lead on the Lewiston Broncs, and then sat back to wait for the rain.
He wasn’t disappointed. When it finally let loose with a rush like the torrents going over Niagara Falls, Caps had a nice 11-1 lead.
GAME CALLED
The rain struck in the bottom of the sixth and the game was called. But it was long enough for the Caps to move within one game of the Western International League baseball title.
Brenner’s boys could wrap it all up Sunday night when they move into Lewiston for the fourth game of the best of seven series.
Broncs honor was saved in the top of the sixth inning just before the timely rain wrote a finish to the slaughter. Larry Barton wrapped a home run off knuckleballer Brenner.
THREE FOR THREE
Brenner was at his versatile best for the Caps. He pitched the win, giving up a smattering of three hits over six innings and hit a very respectable three for three.
His hits were two doubles and a single. One of the doubles came in the fourth inning when Caps broke loose for seven runs. He bounced one off the outfield fence, scoring two runs.
In all Caps picked up 13 hits and it took two Lewiston pitchers to stem the tide in the abbreviated game.
Al Gaylian started out. He gave up four runs in the first inning and then another four in the fourth before John Marshall came in to relieve
Bossman Bill Moves Caps Near Ball Mug
City Club Now Three Up In Western Ball Series
By SKIP RUSK
[Vancouver Sun, Sept. 11, 1954]
The heavens opened their flood-gates on Cap Stadium Friday night, drenching the faithful 1200 with torrents of rain. Which may have been a sign that professional baseball is washed up in Vancouver.
Bill Brenner’s Caps, in making their last appearance of the season here last night, easily destroyed Lewiston Broncs to take a 3-0 lead in their Western International League playoff.
Bill pitched his 22nd victory of the year as only the rain slowed down Caps’ offense at the end of six innings. At this time, they were head 11-1. Vancouver won the first two games of the best of seven series 17-0 and 8-7.
The last four games will be played in Lewiston, beginning Sunday with Pete Hernandez (9-2) pitching for Vancouver. The locals, of course, are strong favorites to continue riding herd on the Broncs and end the nonsense in one more game.
However, local fans may have seen the last of WIL baseball here. What started out as a 10-team league deteriorated to seven before the second-half schedule was completed.
Why?
Calgary, Spokane and Victoria called it quits because of poor attendance, poor weather, poor promotion and poor pocketbook. Here, manager Brenner got together one of the best—if not the best ever—teams to perform in Vancouver. Yet fans stay away in droves.
Fans Jumped on Al
Last night, the fans jumped on Lewiston pitcher Albert Soosen Yaylian, a rather slow-working pitcher who was the victim of bronx cheers in his two other performances here. The Caps didn’t waste any time on Mr. Yaylian. They touched him for four runs in the first inning.
When “Avak” broke into the WIL in 1946, his first pitch was knocked out of the park for a grand-slam home run. Caps didn’t mistreat him that bad, however, as Eddie Murphy, K Chorlton and Marv Williams nicked Al for consecutive singles. Ken Richardson walked, Neil Sheridan singled and Jim Clark followed with a double and four runs were in.
Al gave way to John Marshall, who had the misfortune of starting the first game for Lewiston. Between the two of them, Vancouver got seven hits in the fourth on six hits, including Brenner’s 415-foot double to centre-field.
It started sprinkling then and Brenner, who had given up just two singles in five innings, threw a “screwball” at Bronc manager Larry Barton. The pitch got crossed up on the way to the plate, but Barton straightened it out, sending it 350 feet over the right field wall.
LINE DRIVES—If Caps win Sunday, Vancouver will have its first championship since Brenner masterminded the job back in 1947 … after the season, Marv Williams and Bob Duretto will head down south to play winter ball … Jim Clark will go back to the machine shop … Ken Richardson will work in an aircraft factory and Bob Wellman will be employed in his home-town Cincinnati … Brenner will finally get to paint his house in Lewiston.
Week’s Work
By CLANCY LORANGER
[Vancouver Province, Sept. 11, 1954]
WEDNESDAY—About people: Well, if you insist, here’s the WIL all-star team I picked for league headquarters: catcher, Lonnie Summers, Yakima; first base, Bob Wellman, Vancouver; second base, Marv Williams, Vancouver; third base, Harvey Storey, Lewiston; shortstop, Jim Clark, Vancouver; outfield, K Chorlton, Vancouver; Al Heist, Lewiston; Bob Brown, Edmonton; right-hand pitcher, Bill Brenner, Vancouver; left-hand pitcher, Al Yaylian, Lewiston; manger, Hugh Luby, Salem.
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