Pre-Season - April 5, 1950

Wedemeyer-Salt Lake Deal
Called Erroneous Report
HEALDSBURG, Calif., April 4 — The presence of both the Salt Lake City baseball team and Herman Wedemeyer in Palo Alto is only coincidental.
The word of Dewey Soriano, president of the Yaklma club of the Class B Western International League, which holds Wedemeyer's option. Soriano Thursday denied a
San Francisco report that Wedemeyer had been sent to the class C Salt Lake City team, now training at Palo Alto.
He said the mixup probably arose because Wedemeyer had been sent to Palo Alto so movies could be taken of his batting swing in an effort to improve his hitting. Both Yakima and Salt Lake City are San Francisco Seals' farm clubs. Wedemeyer, former football All America with St. Mary’s, has a pro football contract with the Baltimore Colts. The status of that contract depends on his success in baseball. “We have not optioned 'Wedey' to Salt Lake City or anyone else,” Soriano said. “He's coming back and we will see where he belongs in baseball. Then Yakima will either I keep him or option him for a year.”


Bees 'Acquire' Wedemeyer, But Yakima Says 'No'
Exhibition Tonight May End Debate
By OLLIE McCULLOCH
Herman Wedemeyer, who high-stepped his way to all-American fame on the St. Mary's college gridiron, Wednesday became a source of baseball confusion for Salt Lake City and Yakima, Wash.
In a telephone conversation Ben Dunne, Salt Lake Bee president, confirmed reports that
“Wedey” had been assigned to the Buzzers from San Francisco Seals via their Yakima affiiate in the Western International league. However, Dewey Soriano, who holds a like position at Yakima, quickly issued a denial in an Associated Press dispatch from Healdsburg, Cal., where the Bears are in training.
Neither Paul I. Fagan nor Charles J. Graham, president and general manager, respectively, of the Seals could be reached Wednesday night to help untangle the ownership problem. The Bay city club signed Wedemeyer last winter on a trial basis.
Counted in Plans
Dunne and Mgr. Karl Bolyard both stressed that they had definite plans for Wedemeyer in the Salt Lake outfield this year. Soriano, who got the Hawaiian-born star after early spring training
with the Seals, wasn't so certain.
The A.P. dispatch said that Wedemeyer had been sent to the Bee camp at Palo Alto to have movies taken in an effort to improve his batting. A notoriously poor hitter, he is, nevertheless, considered a good prospect on his speed, throwing and fielding.
“Yakima will decide if Wedey is good enough for class B ball because we hold the option papers,” Soriano said.
“We have not optioned him to Salt Lake City or anywhere else.”
Return in Yakima
“. . . He's coming back here and we will see where he belongs in baseball,” the Bear boss concluded, “then Yakima will either keep him or option him for a year.”
The entire situation is expected to be untangled Thursday night when the Bees and Yakima tangle in an exhibition game at Healdsburg—a game in which Soriano will pitch for Salt Lake on a “loan” basis.
If Wedemeyer, who is property of the Baltimore Colts of the professional football loop, joins Salt
Lake, he will also join another Hawaiian in the outfield. Earlier Wally Yonamine. Hawaiian-born Japanese and another ex-St. Mary's gridder. was sent to the Buzzers by San Francisco.
Bolyard Enthused
After watching “Wedey” work out and displaying confidence that he could count him in his 1950 plans, Bolyard joined in praise offered by Seal officials. “He's plenty fast, can throw well and will be good defensively. Right now, we're working hard on his hitting,” Bolyard said.
With Wedemeyer, the Bee chief admitted his outfield would be set. Yonamine and Tommy O'Laughlin, 1949 star, would hold down the other gardens.
All three Buzzer officials agreed that Palo Alto weather has left little to be desired. “We've had three wonderful days and every one's keeping busy all the time, either taking their turn in batting practice or working out on the batting tees,” Bolyard concluded.
Borrowed Hurler
Thursday's spring opener will be only a partial test for the Salt Lakers. Dewey Soriano, president of the Yakima club and former Pacific Coast hurler, will toe the rubber for the Bees and go as far as he can. Mel (Red) Van Woerkem and Que Bailey will likely pick up from there. The Healdsburg game will feature “Ernie Domenichelli night” with fans of nearby Geyersville, Domenichelli's hometown, feting the Yakima pitcher against his former mates. 1500 fans are expected — and many of them will be Ernie's relatives. Seven uncles and their families will join his parents in the trek from Geyersville — followed by 500 other fans.
- Salt Lake Tribune, Thur., Apr. 6, 1950

Tri-City Braves Take Tacoma Second Time, 7-6
Local Club Runs Wild In Ninth;
Pitchers Are Working Well
By DON BECKER
Herald Sports Editor
LINDSAY, Calif., April 6—The Tri-City Braves gave another twist to the tail of the Tacoma Tigers here last night and dumped the coast team 7-6 for the second successive time.
Both clubs are enjoying California's sunshine as they prepare for their northern campaigns in the Western International league.
The Braves jumped to an early start with two runs in the second inning but Tacoma came back
strong to rack up six runs by the time the ninth came around. The Tigers held a comfortable
6-3 edge in the ninth. Then the Braves went on the warpath and shoved four runs across to sew
things up.
The crowd of 300 was on its feet all through the wild ninth. The first three Braves at bat, Joe Frisina, Jim Warner and Nick Pesut rapped out singles to get on base.
Neil Bryant, husky third baseman, rose to the occasion and lashed out a hot single that scored Frisina and Warner.
There was no stopping the Braves after that. Shortstop Art Wilson laid down a bunt and the Tacoma third baseman obliged by rifling the ball into the next county. Pesut and Bryant trotted over home plate and that ended the ballgame.
The Braves looked good all the way through the contest.
Wilson and Johnny Scherger drew first blood in the second when they scored on Quint White's single. Spaeter added another notch in the fifth on Bryant's single.
The Tigers had a good night until the hectic ninth. Tacoma batten nicked pitchers Lou McCollum and Dick Stone for two hits each and tapped Bob Busby for five.

Wenatchee Chiefs Beat Caps 16-4
PENTICTON, B. C., April 5, (UP) — The Wenatchee Chiefs unleashed the heavy timber today to blast the Vancouver Capilanos 16-4 in an exhibition Western International League baseball game.
Centerfielder Joe Unfried started the fireworks with a grand-slam home run over the left field wall in the first inning, two other four-masters also were bagged in the rout.
It was the Chiefs' third lopsided win over the Caps in training camp games. The teams play again Friday and Sunday at Oliver, B. C.