Pitcher's Duel Marred By Five Bear Errors
KENNEWICK, Aug. 22 (Don Becker, Herald) — There were 2,893 fans on hand at Sanders Field last night to see who was the better pitcher, Kenny Michelson of the Tri-City Braves, or Gene Conley property of the Boston Braves. And their question never did get an answer even though the Braves won their game 7-2 over the semi-pro Walla Walla Bears.
As far as the pitching statistics are concerned it was pretty much of an even battle between the two Tri-City stars. Each gave up but one earned run, Mlrhelson struck out four, while Conley got five on whiffs, and each walked three men.
What started out as a pitcher's duel fell apart in the sixth inning. Conley had given up just one hit to the Braves and had two out in the bottom of that inning before the comedy of errors set in. Clint Cameron started it off by lifting an easy high cloud buster to John Richardson, the Bears right fielder. However, Richardson diopped the ball, Conley walked the next two batters to load the bases. Neil Bryant then hit a roller to Wendell Dunham at second. Dunham kicked the ball around long enough to second Cameron in and keep the bases FOB.
HERE'S THE CLINCHER
Dick Faber put the clincher on the victory with a single that scored Peterson and Pesut. Michelson, making his third appearance at the plate, rapped a single to left and Ernie Pyne let the ball get past him to clear the bases and perch the Braves young hurler on third. And they weren't through yet. Al Spaeter picked up the third hit otf Conley with a single to score Michelson. Vic Buccola struck out to end the inning.
In many respects that inning resembled the lamous third of the night before when the Braves racked up 15 runs off Wenatchee.
Joe Beidler was the big stick for Walla Walla, The Bears shortstop rapped out two doubles and single in his four trips and counted the first score for the visitors. Beidler scored from second on Paul Chattelton's single.
The Bears notched their second run of the game in the eighth when Bob Dyer led off with a free pass. Then with two out Buidler smashed his second double to send Dyer all the way. However, an infield error prior to the score made it an unearned run.
CONLEY WAS ILL
Conley pitched the first six innings for the Bears and then was lifted for Jim Forsythe. The 20-year-old Richland star was in bed most of last week with the flu and only climbed back on his feet Sunday morning. However, despite his illness Conley
displayed all the ability that has sent the scouts clusteiihg around him.
Bad support behind him put Conley in several bad holes before the sixth opened. Yet the 6' 8" fast ball artist didn't get too disturbed. He maintained his calm and worked his way out of the jams.
Michelson displayed an amazing change over his spring training days. He had a good changeup that fooled the Bears several times, and seldom got behind the batter. He kept his fast ball in check using it only now and then, usually trying for a strikeout.
Although he gave up eight hits three of them were definitely of the scratch variety barely clearing the infield, while another was inches away from Bryant at third base. Aside from the hits only six balls got to the outfield and all of them were easy outs except one which sent Jim Warner back near the centerfield fence.
The Braves sparkled in the infield with two fast double-plays in the first two innings. Al Spaeter and Buddy Peterson teamed up for the first one, while Bryant and Buccola completed the second.
Walla Walla ...... 000 000 110— 2-8-5
Tri City ............ 000 006 10x— 7-6-1
Conley, Forsyth (7) and Hamper, Jorrison (8); Michelson and Pesut, McKeegan (8).
Stetter Stumbles But Keeps LeadTACOMA, Aug. 22 — After building up his batting average steadily over the period of more than a month, Spokane's Glen Stetter nosedived 13 points last week, but his .367 average was still good enough to top the Western International League hit parade.
While Stetter was being "cooled off" by Wenatchee and Yakima pitchers, who gave the squat swatsmith only three hits in 23 trips, Tacoma's Dick Greco was strengthening his hold on the runner-up spot by macing 12 blows in 31 trips, hiking his willow mark four points to .358.
In third place was Yakima's Bill McCauley at .338, up one point from a week ago.
Greco batted in 11 runs during the week for a season's total of 131, as against the next best aggregate of 105 by Yakima's Jim Westlaken who had pounded six mates across since the last tabulation. Jim Warner of Tri-City was next in line with 103, five more than a week ago.
Three of Greco's dozen hits were homers, giving him a total of 30 for the campaign, eight more than Victoria's Gene Thompson, who was blanked in the boundary-belt department during the Athletics' week-long series with Vancouver.
The other leaders likewise remained stationary, Spokane's Joe Rossi and Tri-City's Warner failing to increase their totals of 17 and 16, respectively.
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