EAST FAREWELL NEWS
Thursday, October
22, 1953 Vol. C434
LOCAL
NEWS
TRAVELERS
WIN!
East Farewell – The
Travelers won their second championship in two years by defeating the
Corning Glass Works in 12 innings on Saturday, 6-5. The win was the climax of
an exciting season that saw the team overcome a nearly disastrous mid-season
slump and rally to come back, catch and in the last game defeat CGW in a
fantastic 12 inning show in front of a sold out crowd. The win makes the
Travelers the only team to repeat as champions since CGW did way back in 1943.
There was the
air of celebration as start time approached with the crowd filling the stands
well before the game began. In the parking lot fans arrived very early and set
up what can only be described as a happy campground with barb-b-que grills,
tables and chairs. There was a party feeling and lots of outdoor cooking and
fans expecting a great game. They were not disappointed.
The game
started off with both pitchers, Bill “Smoke” Black for CGW and Joey Alfred for
the Travelers, striking out the side in the first. It looked like it was going
to be a pitcher’s duel until the third when the bats on both sides came to
life. In the top of the third CGW’s Ralph Benson slapped a single into right
and was able to steal second sliding under high throw from Traveler’s Brown.
After Fannelli bunted Benson over to third Connors hit into a double play but
Benson scored. Downey flied out to center to end the inning. Then the Travelers
came to bat and a previously untouchable Black was touched for a double by
Watson and a homer by Anthony Dimero that gave the Travelers the lead. The lead
was short lived as CGW came right back in the fourth to score three with a home
run by their slugger Max “Blaster” Gunn. CGW went on to score one more in the
eighth with two doubles by O’Hara and Steele. It looked bad for the Travelers
going into the eighth down by three and only two base runners in the last two
innings. The top of the order came up and went to work. Francis started off
with a clean single and Dale moved him to third with another single. Then Black
walked Watson, only his second of the day, and Johnny Cloos stepped to the
plate. Cloos led the league in homers and grand slams. The count went to 3-2
and Johnny smacked a high fastball into right, clearing the bases and tying the
game. The game stayed tied through the ninth and then the fans were treated to
some free championship baseball. Both teams threatened in the tenth and
eleventh but in the twelfth Travelers’ reliever, Ricky McGraw, was able to
retire the bottom half of the CGW nine with a ground out and striking out two.
The bottom of the twelfth started bad for the Travelers with Archibald striking
out, but Billy Sweet was able drive a ball to the wall, ending up on second.
“Mean” Richie Lane came to bat. The count was 2-2 and Lane connected with a low
and outside curve, sending it to the wall. Sweet scored and the Travelers
rushed the field along with a euphoric crowd of fans.
Some form of
semblance was established and the Championship Trophy was awarded by League
Commissioner, Ted Wilson. The fans and the team stayed on the field for hours
slapping each other on the back, shaking hands and getting autographs. The
Travelers have done what hasn’t been done in ten years and with the current
lineup healthy and fairly young this could be a championship team for some time
to come. Congratulations Travelers!
1953
Mid-States League Champs
SPORTS
COUGARS BOW TO CANARIES – TRAVELERS WIN
CHAMPIONSHIP
Slate Mountain – The Slate Mountain Canaries hosted the Cougars
on Friday night for Canaries Homecoming game. They were not the best hosts as
far as the Cougars were concerned, defeating the Cougars 21-7. The Canaries
have turned around their program after a disastrous 2-6 season they have won
their first four games and are leading the league. Much of their success stems
from a new running game anchored by sophomore Jeb Reilly and fullback Don
Ralston. The two are responsible for every Canary score except for the kicking
game.
The game
started off well for the Cougars with QB Sam Jones hitting wide receiver Dave
Walker for a thirty yard score, Charlie Cox kicked the extra point. They held
the lead through the first quarter and well into the second quarter. With one
minute left in the first half Slate Mountain finally broke the boys loose and
drove eighty yards to score with a seven yard run by Ralston. The second half
was all Canaries. They were able to score in the third quarter with a ten yard
end around by Reilly and in the fourth with another tough run by Ralston. The
Cougars were able to move the ball but never got inside the ten. They were
unable to even get close enough to give Cox a fair chance to attempt a field
goal.
“They were
hitting on all cylinders out there today and we weren’t,” said Coach Burkowitz
after the game, “It was tough but the boys did a lot right and they have
nothing to be ashamed about. These guys are only going to get better, you can
bet on that.”
Next week the
Cougars come home for their Homecoming next week against the Coring Devils. The
game will be played on the school field Saturday, starting at 1:30. There will
also be an evening of festivities for the students, parents and alumni which
will include an outdoor picnic dinner and dance. The party is scheduled to
begin at 6:30 but if past homecoming events are any indication, the party will
start as soon as the game is over.
East Farewell – “Mean” Richie Lane slapped a
long drive to the wall scoring Billy Sweet from second and winning the
championship game in the 12th inning on Saturday. The Travelers beat
CGW, 6-5, to take the championship for the second year in a row, the first back
to back championship in the league in ten years. It was an exciting game with
the Travelers coming from behind to tie the game in the eighth with a Cloos
double and win in the twelfth with Lane’s walk-off hit. The Travelers will be
honored with a parade next week. The outlook for this team is great with both
youth and talent on their side. A salute to the Travelers!
NATIONAL
NEWS
DISNEY PLANS 14 RELEASES OVER NEXT TWO YEARS
– PIGGLY WIGGLY FOUNDER PASSES
Walt Disney Productions maps a program of 14 feature-length films for release over the next two years - the most ambitious in Disney’s history. Of the 14 – two will re reissues: “Pinocchio” and “Fantasia.” The latter is now being converted to CinemaScope projection. Line-up of new films, also in CinemaScope includes “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea”, “Lady and the Tramp” and “Sleeping Beauty.”
Clarence Saunders,
founder of the South’s “Piggly Wiggly” stores,
passed away this week. He was 72
Many, many
thanks to www.mrpopculture.com for
contributing to this section of the East Farewell News.
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