1944
Varsity Baseball
(No
names were available in the 1944 Artisan.)
Training
Season Started For Baseball Team
In
the beginning …
Mechanicsburg's
spring training season has begun. With the call for players, Coach
Davis received a large array of men including some veterans. The
pitchers have really started to work. Two or three evenings a
week, they meet in the gym and work to pull their arms back into
shape. Several of the fellows after observation really seem to
have something on the ball.
For the past three weeks House, probable catcher, has been working with
the fellows to develop their variety of pitches.
Mr. Davis has been giving the probable pitchers many
pointers on the technique of the wind-up, delivery, and
follow-through. Also included in the indoor practice was bunting
and how to get right over the plate and just meet the ball.
As soon as the weather permits the entire team will go to
the park for a proper work out.
Fellows back from last year's team are House, Catcher; Rife, Brandt and
Minter on the mound;
Dixon
on the initial sack; Ward on the infield and Rupp out in the
orchard. With all of this material to work with Coach Davis should
be able to develop a very good team.
(April 6, 1944 The Torch)
Hit and Run
Mechanicsburg's
Baseball Team began training as spring came around the corner.
Although the turnout of players was above average, Coach Davis had
to base the starting team on hitting ability and previous
experience.
First
to be picked for positions were: Gwynne House, squatting at the
catcher's spot; Earl Rife, "Andy" Anderson and Robert
Brandt, pitching on the mound; Frank Ward, watching third; and Bob
Dixon, guarding the initial sock.
New
to the team but filling their positions quite capably were: Paul
Wagner, left field; Charles Witters, center field; Paul Brandt,
right field; Dick Rupp, second base; and Bob Kreitzer, short stop.
With
this large array of veterans and capable starters, the team's
prospects were quite good. The first upset of the season was
the enlistment of Paul Wagner, Frank Ward, and Charles Witters
in the Navy. Paul Bowman, another newcomer, filled Ward's
corner; William May claimed right field; and Paul Brandt, right
fielder, was shifted to center field.
With
positions filled and a full schedule ahead of them, the team
promised M. H. S. a full spring of exciting ball games.
(1944
Artisan)
1944
Baseball Schedule
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Fri.,
April 14 - Biglerville, Home
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Tues.,
April 18 - Biglerville, Away
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Fri.,
April 21 - New
Cumberland
, Home
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Tues.,
April 25 - Camp Hill, Home
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Fri.,
April 28 - Boiling Springs, Away
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Tues.,
May 2 - Lemoyne, Home
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Fri.,
May 5 - Shippensburg, Away
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Tues.
May 9 - New
Cumberland
Away
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Fri.,
May 12 - Camp Hill, Away
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Tues.,
May 16 - Boiling Springs, Home
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Fri.,
May 19 - Lemoyne Away
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Tues.,
May 23 –Shippensburg, Home
|
(April 6, 1944 The Torch)
Four
Pitchers Used In
Carlisle
Game
Taking advantage of Carlisle's probably inexperienced team, the
Mechanicsburg High forces triumphed over
Carlisle
11-4 in a game played here on Friday night.
Through
gaining a four run margin in the first frame the Wildcats, paced
by Kreitzer and Ward, each collecting three hits, were never
headed, although
Carlisle
gained two runs in the fourth and fifth frame.
Using four pitchers Mechanicsburg gave up seven safeties
while the Thundering Herd, using two pitchers, gave up thirteen
hits. Winning pitcher, Rob Brandt; losing pitcher, Miller.
(April 6, 1944 The Torch)
The following articles from the May 19, 1944 Torch indicate the effect
of WWII on M.H.S. Sports:
To
Win
The
Lord gave us two ends to use,
One
to think with, one to sit with.
The
war depends on which we choose—
'Heads we win—tails we lose!
—The Oracle.
All-Sports
Banquet to be Held May 25
M. H. S. sportsmen
will be honored this year as before at the annual all-sports
banquet to be held in the Library May 1215, at 6:30. As yet no
speaker has been secured but efforts are being made to get one.
This year, because of the large number of Varsity lettermen
in the service, all lettermen of the Jay Vee squads have been
invited to attend. It is not known at present but perhaps this
practice may be
continued.
Those varsity men
who will receive credit are: Dixon, Keet, Bertzler,
Mann, Rupp, Engle, House, Kreitzer, Rider, Spahr,
Stephenson, Bowman, Witters, Stoner, Walters, Lehmer, Wagner,
Highberger, Ward, R. Brandt, P. Brandt, W. May, Bill Ramsey, S.
Anderson, Garberich, mgr. Fahnestock, mgr. Doris Hart and Lois
Arbegast, cheerleaders.
This group will be minus nine members who have gone to
serve Uncle Sam.
1944
Lettermen
Robert Dixon, Gwynne House, Robert Kreitzer, Dick Rupp, Charles Witters,
Paul Bowman, Paul Wagner, Frank Ward, Bob Brandt, Stanley
Anderson, Earl Rife, Paul Brandt, Dick Garberich (mgr.), William
May, Dale Yinger, Bill Ramsey
Mac Kelley’s season review notes
reiteraate that the following were members of the Armed Forces:
Charles Witters, Paul Wagner, and Frank Ward
Honors
Given to Many of the Senior Boys
An athlete seldom
gets his due credit but one of the times when he does has come. As
is traditional, the final issue of the Torch pays tribute
to the Senior Sports Stars.
For those who are not ardent sports fans, here are the senior athletes
who will leave our school this year, or who have already gone:
Dick Rupp—Dick has played two years on the football team
and two years on the baseball team. Football fans will long
remember his field goal of the
Carlisle
game.
Bob Dixon—Claiming the largest sports record of the
Senior Stars, Bob played three years on the football team, three
on the baseball diamond, and two on the varsity basketball team.
Lloyd Spahr—"Sparky" is probably one of the
best-known members of the football team. He filled the backfield
in his senior year and captured many of the touchdowns in M. H.
S.'s games.
Dick Keet—With a record of three years on both the
basketball and football teams, Dick proved to be one of the more
capable athletes of the class. Basketball fans will long
remember his sure shots and expert timing.
Frank Ward—Here again the Navy has claimed another of our sportsmen.
"Ducks" has three years of varsity football1 and two of
baseball on his shield. Although he was unable to finish his
senior year he has established a reputable record for himself, and
will be greatly missed by next year's sportsmen.
Fred Stoner—In spite of his duties as Student Council
president, Fred has served the, Football team two years, his
Sophomore and Senior years, and the basketball team in his final
year.
Earl Rife—Whoever heard of 16 strikeouts in a high school
game?
Well,
it has been done. "Bud" set a new record when he struck
out 16 men in a hit game. Three years of baseball and one year of
basketball are chalked up as a high school career behind his
name.
Harry Mann—Harry came to M. H. S. in his junior year. His
record is made up of two years varsity football. The Navy has
already claimed his services. The P. P. shooters also had his services.
Paul Bowman—"Swede" is only a one-year man but
he has played quite well on both the basketball and baseball
teams. This blonde fellow started his sports career in his senior
year and has proved to foe quite capable at both sports in which
he participated. He will also be remembered as quite a bowler.
Harry Stevenson—"Steve" is another of the
Shiremanstown lads. Two years of football, though his only sport
beside the P. P. shooters is his record.
Robert Kreitzer— Both the football and baseball team will
miss the services of "
Turkey
." This lad has surely been an asset to the school as a
sportster.
Dick Lehmer—There are few fellows who can boast as many
points in basketball as Dick. He played on the varsity team in
both his Junior and Senior years, and has gained an enviable
record.
Well there you have them, the Senior Sports Stars.
Look them over and remember them for they 'have
accomplished a wonderful record in the sports world of M.H.S.
1944
Statistics
Hitting:
Team
Batting Average - .264
Leading
Hitters: Kreitzer -
.408, Anderson - .364,
Dixon
- .334
At
bats: House – 50
Home
runs: none
Triples:
Dixon
and Kreitzer – 2
Doubles:
Kreitzer – 5, Ramsey - 2
Stolen
bases:
Dixon
– 8, Kreitzer – 6, House - 5
Walks:
Rupp – 4, Ramsey - 3
Runs:
Kreitzer – 11, Ward - 10
Pitching:
Wins:
Rife, Anderson, and R. Brandt - 2
Innings
pitched: Rife – 45,
S. Anderson
- 30
Strikeouts:
Rife – 54,
Anderson
- 37
Team
Record: 6
wins, 8 losses
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