"Once again ‘Play Ball’ shouted throughout the country and Mechanicsburg High School has responded to this call very enthusiastically, having some 82 hopeful candidate signed up for baseball.

The early practices were held in the gym mainly for the pitchers and catchers. Coach Davis had a good bunch of candidates out for these positions. Leading candidate for the number one pitching post seems to be Stan Anderson, a veteran of three seasons; however, Bob Sponsler, Lester Hess and a few others will be slated for their turn on the mound before the 1947 season is over.

The leading candidates for the receiving duties behind the plate will probably be Earl Eppley and Fred House, both veterans returning for duty; however, they will receive competition from Lloyd Enck. Eppley and House will no doubt take turns catching with the one not catching playing in the outfield, since both are good hitters.

The infield looks something like this. Verne Shur or Leroy Sholley at first base, Bill Moon or Keith Waggoner at second, Dick Stohler or Lester "Red" Hess at short and Pork Hann at third. The outfield has Ben Gouse, Wayne Miller, Gervase Eline, Lorraine "Larry" Beaston, and Donald Whitcomb; however, these are not all the hopeful candidates out for the only spring sport in Mechanicsburg High School. The following boys are the candidates for the team: George Wagner, Don Cornman, Fred Diehl, Albert Siefert, Wayne Miller, Bill Moon, Don Hann, Ben Gouse, Lloyd Gross, Harry Frey, Don House, Keith Waggoner, Don Whitcomb, Leroy Sholley, Dick Stohler, Stan Anderson, Fred House, Bob Sponsler, Earl Eppley, Carl Woll, Pete Enck, John Laudermilch, Steve Diehl, Perry Albert, Lester Hess, Bob Hann, and Verne Shur.

Also, the MHS Athletic Association points out that expenditures to operate a baseball team will run $875. The MHS AA receives $375 from the budget and $100 is approximately taken in at the games, which means that the school will operate at a loss of $400 unless 400 tags priced at $1.00 are purchased by residents of the community.

So, come on students. Let’s get out and support our team. I'm sure we can give our competitors a run for their money this year."

(By Dave Sultzaberger, April 18, 1947 Torch)

A 1947 opponent that is common to today’s schedule was Chambersburg. "On April 27 four double plays and a three-run triple by Gene Oyler enabled the Chambersburg High School baseball team to maintain its two-year unbeaten record Saturday afternoon as the Trojans defeated the Mechanicsburg High club, 6 to 3, at Chambersburg.

Wayne Gift, pitching his first game, went the route for Chambersburg and while shaky at spots was pulled out of tough places by the classy work of the infield. Stan Anderson twirled for Mechanicsburg. Each gave up eight hits.

Chambersburg won eight games without a loss last year and now has four straight wins this Spring." (April 28, 1947 Daily Local News)

Carlisle, New Cumberland Also Share 1947 Crown

"Carlisle High School, Mechanicsburg High and New Cumberland High will be co-champions of the West Shore Scholastic Baseball league, it was decided at a league meeting held yesterday at the Lemoyne High Building. Teams of the three schools finished the regular season in a tie for the first place, each having six wins and four losses. Also, Lemoyne finished at 5-5, and Camp Hill was 3-7.

League representatives decided that as the schools are now in the midst of final examinations or are about to begin them and as some of the schools will be closing within about a week, there would not be time for a playoff to select a single champion. This is the third straight year for New Cumberland High to win or share in the league title.

There had been some thought of having the champion of the West Shore League meet Lower Paxton High, the winner of the Lower Dauphin County League championship, but it will not be possible.

The tie came about when Coach Max Stein’s pesky Lions from Camp Hill dumped Carlisle, 5 to 2. A victory would have given Carlisle sole possession of the crown.

Meanwhile, Mechanicsburg and Lemoyne tangled at Lemoyne in a tense 13-inning struggle. The visitors finally emerged victorious, 5 to 2, by punching over three runs in the top half of the 13th inning. This eliminated Lemoyne from the race.

This game tied the record for the longest school game in the Harrisburg area this season, Carson Long Institute and New Bloomfield High having gone the same distance more than a month ago.

Veteran Stan Anderson, of Mechanicsburg, and Don Stiles, of Lemoyne, put on a duel at Lemoyne. Mechanicsburg broke the ice in the second with a run, but Lemoyne pushed over a pair of tallies in the fourth to lead, 2 to 1. The Trojans held the advantage until the top of the seventh when Mechanicsburg tied it. Keith Waggoner was safe on an error, stole second, and raced to third on an overthrow to second. Pinch-hitter Radnor lined a single to right field, scoring Waggoner.

The fateful 13th opened with Anderson flying out to right. Leroy Sholly singled to left center. Bob Sponsler beat out a bunt for a hit sending Sholly to second. Don Hann was struck by a pitched ball filling the bases.

Don Young relieved Stiles on the mound for Lemoyne and on the 2nd pitch uncorked a high one that sailed over the catcher’s head. Sholly scored. Earl Eppley walked to load the bases again. Waggoner singled, scoring Sponsler. Corman’s bunt forced out Hann at the plate, but Ben Gouse singled in Eppley with the third run."

(May 28, 1947 Daily Local News)

At season’s end, the Harrisburg Evening News reported the following: "The West Shore Scholastic League has 20 .300 hitters, topped by outfielder Verne Shur, of Mechanicsburg, who is hitting a neat .470. Other leaders include Stan Anderson, Mechanicsburg, .444; Ken Mundis, Enola, .428; Eddie Rodgers, New Cumberland, .409; John Howanstine, Enola, .391; Marty Kohr, New Cumberland, .375."