Spring Training, Saturday, March 28, 1953

Rookie-Filled Tyees Clouted by Rainiers
By JIM TANG
[Victoria Colonist, Sunday, March 29, 1953]
SONOMA, Calif—Victoria Tyees fielded a rookie-studded line-up here yesterday for the first pre-season exhibition ballbase game and absorbed a 16-1 trouncing at the hands of the well-conditioned Seattle Rainiers, favored to win the Pacific Coast League pennant this season.
Rainiers fielded what promises to be their regular line-up with the exception of Gordon Brunswick and K. Chorlton, who replaced Walt Judnich and Clarence Maddern in the outfield. The line-up boasted five Western International League graduates—pitcher Vern Kindsfather, who set the Tyees down with four hits, catcher Ray Orteig, first baseman Gordon Goldberry and Brunswick and Chorlton.
THREE ROOKIES
Still awaiting further help from Portland, Tyees used a team that included three rookies—Ron Odekirk at shorstop, Dick Cannuli at second and Bill Mousseau in left field.
Pitching duties fell to Bill Wisneski and Bill Prior, Sam Brusa was behind the plate with holdovers Don Pries, at third, and Chuck Abernathy, at first, rounding out the infield. Gail Taylor and Walt Tyler completed the outfield. Ron Wainright and Joe Cirady were used for pinch-hitting duties.
ALL WRONG
Everything went wrong for the Tyees, tired from a rigorous four-day conditioning program. The day was cold and windy and the club lost out financially when the expected large crowd did not turn up.
Wisneski hurled good ball and with better support might have escaped without being scored on before he retired after five innings. He gave up six runs—four of them earned on five hits, five walks and a hit batter.
Prior could not find the plate and was hit hard. He gave up 10 runs on nine hits, walked seven, hit two an uncorked a wild pitch.
Wisneski gave up single runs in the first two innings after errors, and was reached for a double and Cannuli, Tailor and Wisneski hit singles.
Tyler pulled off two good catches in right field but the outfield was generally weak defensively.
Seattle ..... 110 131 540—16 14 1
Victoria .... 000 000 100— 1 4 4
Kindsfather, Evans (8) and Oretig; Wisneski, Prior (6) and Brusa.

Moniz Sold to Bevos; Lorino Back
[Victoria Colonist, March 29, 1953]
SONOMA, Calif.—Victoria Tyees have sold outfielder Bob Moniz to Portland but received a welcome addition to their mound staff with the return of southpaw Ben Lorino, who will report here Monday.
Young righthander Don Hopp checked into camp Saturday and second baseman Lu Branham and outfielder Nap Gulley are expected over the week end. Catcher Milt Martin will not report until April 5.
Further help is expected shortly from Portland but pitchers Jehosie Heard and Frank Chase are expected to remain with the Beavers until cut-down time in order to give the Portland management a better look at them under action.

Dobernic Comes West
KENNEWICK, Wash., Mar. 28— UP —Jess Dobernic, a veteran major league and Los Angeles Angel pitcher, has been purchased by the Tri-City Braves of the Western International League from Montreal.
The 34 year old right hander will be used principally for relief.

Calgary Club Starts Drills
McClatchy Newspapers Service
PORTERVILLE, Tulare Co., March 28 — The Calgary Stampeders opened Spring training yesterday on the Porterville Municipal Field, with Manager Gene Lillard declaring he definitely is in the market for more ball players.
The Stampeders, who are being built up from scratch, as a new Canadian entry, in the class A Western International League, will be short the services of some players they thought they had lined up.
Lillard said all ball players in this area, who have no high school eligibility remaining are invited to tryouts. Those who are signed to contracts will have Spring training costs refunded.
As soon as he was named manager of the newly formed Stampeders last Winter, Lillard went to work and had lined up a nucleus of 16 players, hoping to pick up the rest on option or from rookies discovered in Spring training.

Pesut Wants to Manage Tri-City

Nick Pesut Applies for Job As Manager
[Tri-City Herald, Jan. 12, 1953]
Nick Pesut, catcher under contract to the Tri-City Braves and “most popular player” of the 1952 season, has applied for the job as playing manager when the club comes under Tri-City Athletic asssociation onwership.
Pesut told Harold Matheson, president of the association, that “I think I can handle it.”
Pesut's application came along with one from Tony Fratis [sic], a pitcher who managed Modesto and Stockton. The 44-year-old Fratis, who goes by the name of “Ageless,” says he can “win 20 games” hurling for the club.
He also promises to bring some help to the Braves.
Two men have applied for business manager. One is Julian Morgan from Alabama. The other was not named.
Matheson said any of the four men stands a chance of getting the jobs because all previous applications have been withdrawn or have been rejected. The business manager will be hired first.
Meanwhile, the association has sent in a $3,100 fee to the National Association of Professional Baseball leagues. A $5,000 performance bond will be sent soon to the Western International League.
Matheson also said he and Steve Johnson of Connell will go to the the league scheduling meeting at Vancouver, B. C., Jan. 19. He said it is hoped that the association will have a business manager hired by then.
In other league business, Matheson said all those contacted who had signs at Sanders field last year have said they will want them again this year.
He also said that many persons have applied for box seats for the coming season. Matheson said it will be up to the new business manager but the policy followed in the past is to serve first those who had box seats the season before. He expects the policy will be the same again this year.

Veteran LA Pitcher Goes To Kennewick
KENNEWICK (Wash.), Jan. 12 - Jess Dobernic, veteran major league and Los Angeles Angel pitcher, has been purchased by the Tri-City Braves of the Class "A" Western International Baseball League.
The 34-year-old right-hander, who was sold yesterday, will be used principally for relief, according to Tri-City Manager Edo Vanni.
Dobernic has played with both the Chicago Cubs and the White Sox between stints with the Angels.
He was purchased for an undisclosed amount from the Toronto Maple Leafs of the AAA International League.
After winning one and losing three in 36 relief appearances last season with Toronto and Springfield, he was sent to Denver of the class "A" Western League.