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ayaghmour2 · 02-21-2025, 12:48 PM

APRIL 7, 1963

Previewing the Continental Association

Spring Training is now over, with the Keystones (14-4) and Stars (12-6) winning their respective associations, so all focus is on the return of the regular season. Set to begin with two games tomorrow, excitement is fully in the air as rosters begin to trim. But before getting to that, let's take a look at how we think the Continental Association may turn out:

1. Kansas City Kings: Picking t he Kings first is as simple as two words. Hank Williams (.375, 43, 128). He's the best hitter in baseball and a three-time Whitney, coming off his third season where he led the Continental in average, on-base, and slugging, as well as his fourth leading WRC+. 29 until June, Williams enters his eighth season with a .358/.447/.628 (187 OPS+) career line, slugging 216 doubles and 188 homers with 624 RBIs, 636 runs, and 487 walks. The All-Time career King leader in average, on-base, and slugging, he's also 4th in homers, and is a near lock for 200 homers. He needs just 12, something he might do as early as May.

Far from a one-man show, he has stars both in his lineup and the rotation, as the Kings bring back reigning Allen winner Beau McClellan (17-10, 3.51, 197) for his thirteenth year. He leads youngsters Gene Bailey (10-4, 3.30, 92) and Allie Boone (10-2, 3.36, 106), and I'd love for them to open with 20th ranked prospect Johnnie Higgins. A potential ace, his fastball/slider combo is elite, and once his control is ironed out he's going to dominate. He's a hard thrower with four great pitches, and with a lockdown closer in Del Lamb (9-6, 15, 3.22, 83) they can rely on the pen if their young hurlers show some growing pains. A deep lineup helps, as they get a healthy Ken Newman (), 9-time All-Star Charlie Rogers (.287, 15, 73, 14), and emerging star Pat Davis (.350, 20, 103, 41). 2-for-2 in All-Star appearances he also has a steal crown, an RBI crown, and back-to-back 200-hit seasons to round it out. He led with 214 and 219, and was worth over 6.5 WAR in each season. Add in Bob Burge (.312, 10, 92), Cal Randall (.287, 11, 54), and a potential breakout from the rangy Tom Hicks (.252, 3, 40, 4), Kansas City has a good shot to take down their division rival in the WCS.

2. Cleveland Foresters: It may turning into a young man's game, but the vets in Cleveland are still good enough to contend for a pennant. After losing two WCS in a row, they collapsed last summer, and will be looking for revenge in 1963. Losing two rotation members is brutal, and I was surprised they didn't make a move during the offseason, but any rotation led by Adrian Czerwinski (16-10, 4.44, 170) can cause problems. He's is for a bounce back season, as his 3.66 FIP (79 FIP-) was close to a run lower then his ERA. Finding a reliable 2 may be tough, but with a young stud closer in Johnny Ogden (6-6, 30, 2.76, 141), they don't need perfection from the non-Czerwinski starters. Their Stan Kleminski (.292, 5, 47, 15) led lineup produces a lot of runs, so they'll just need to keep it close. Paul Williams (.289, 22, 98), John Low (.296, 12, 71), Sherry Doyal (.308, 26, 101, 6),. and Hal Kennedy (.309, 24, 83) are all among the best hitters, and I'd have love to see them add someone like Vern Osborne (13-11, 5.30, 126). That could have made them the pennant favorites, but instead I think they'll come up just short.

3. San Francisco Sailors: After a rough showing in the championship last season, I think it's going to be tough for the Sailors to get back. They had plenty go their way, and I'm skeptical the staff can again have every pitcher finish with an above average ERA+. It's a strong, deep staff, but Charlie Lawson (16-10, 4.02, 169) and George Fuller (17-10, 3.72, 132) are a really strong 1-2 punch. Whoever they line up behind them will do well, but it won't be guys who blow you away. This puts some pressure on the lineup, but they have plenty of guys who can produce runs. It will be a crime if John Kingsbury (.350, 22, 113, 13) is again left out of the All-Star game, and he's paired with the league's best shortstop in Carlos Jaramillo (.291, 8, 45, 27). Ernie Carter (.340, 12, 119, 10) will look to build off a stellar debut season, just like young second basemen Heine Spitler (.333, 4, 81, 27) did last year. Still a threat to repeat. this is a good, consistent team, and if not one comes out and dominates, they can win a long season grind just like they did last season.

4. Chicago Cougars: The best news for the Chicago this year is that Jack Gibson is healthy, and after hitting .438/.441/1.125 with 2 doubles, a triple, 6 homers, and 11 RBIs, they have to believe their young star is the same guy he was before his ruptured MCL. If he was healthy last season, the Cougars could have threatened the Sailors for the pennant, and if he can stay healthy that lineup will be dangerous. Gene Case (.302, 38, 117) had the opposite of a sophomore slump, coming close to a 40-homer season, while Henry Watson (.305, 32, 126, 6) and Jerry McMillan (.328, 18, 65, 22) are among the top young players in the game. They could be joined by another, as 3rd ranked prospect Dode Caudill could break camp with the big league club. He had an unimpressive spring, but Chicago looks to be transitioning Jim Barton (.317, 11, 80) to Dode or top-50 prospect Bobby Martinez (.396, 1, 12, 4). The pitching was good last year, especially the pen, as Pug White (12-8, 18, 3.10, 110) and Arch Wilson (11-3, 11, 2.74, 41) were a lethal late-inning mix, making it much easier on the starters. They have some good ones there too, with Roy Ellis (10-7, 3.83, 147) emerging as an ace and Dick Champ (5-4, 3.80, 52) coming over from their crosstown counterparts. I'd like to see them bring back one of Henry Henderson or Ken Stone, both high upside former top-prospects who spent all of last season in Milwaukee. Both have past FABL experience, but were stuck on a teak with a lot of pitching depth. Both have options and could end up in Milwaukee once more, but if the Cougs are serious about competing, they may want to test their talented young arms.

5. Cincinnati Cannons: Since the Continental is up for grabs this season, the Cannons being 5th doesn't mean that they don't have a chance. In fact, any team with Dallas Berry (.330, 40, 125, 16) can win a pennant, and it's even easier when joined with a co-star like Bonnie Chapin (.316, 26, 96). It could soon be a trio, as 2nd ranked prospect Mark Boyd hit .455/.538/.970 with 5 homers and 12 RBIs. A third potential star, his development will determine how far this team can go, as they are very close to dominance. Art McKinney (.261, 21, 115) is a solid starter, Babe Booth (.312, 6, 67) was a top-10 prospect for a reason, and I like what I've seen from Joe Case (.333, 1, 7) and Milt Senecal (.282, 10, 52, 13) this spring. If a few things go their way, they could have one of the best lineups, and they may need it with their staff. I'm a huge Charlie Warren (17-11, 3.11, 180) fan, and they should give him as many starts as possible, Jack Meeks (16-11, 4.51, 151) is just 22 and is primed for a step-forward, but they need to find more the him. The Cannons haven't given any indication that 7th ranked prospect Marco Middleton (0-1, 1, 5.40, 6) has made the rotation, but I think it's worth giving the 19-year-old a shot. If they think he's only ready for the pen, him and Paul Williams (3-6, 31, 2.01, 103) could be lethal in the pen, allowing them to mix and max starters behind their elite innings eater up front.

6. Los Angeles Stars: I feel bad putting the Stars 6th, but with how crowded the CA is shaping out to be, I can truly see any of the eight original teams taking the crown. Even Montreal. LA had the best spring record in the Conti, and their double-Barrell action could fuel one of the top offenses in the association. Ralph (.305, 35, 114) is already a star at 22, turning 23 in a week, while the 32-year-old Charlie (.266, 20, 77) has yet to produce a below average season at the plate. Most teams have top outfields, and there grouping of Charlie Sax (.328, 8, 50, 10), Ed Moore (.331, 15, 79, 10), and Lou Allen (.290, 27, 93) is just starting to hit their prime. And even though it was just 56 games last season, young backstop Bob Griffin (.325, 8, 38, 2) features an interesting power/speed combo from a position where that just isn't regular. The pitching did take a big blow, but Dewey Allcock (15-7, 3.64, 125) looked just as good as he was pre-injury, and Floyd Warner (12-12, 4.37, 129), Carl Johnston (13-7, 1, 3.65, 126), and Sy Dunn (14-11, 4.60, 153) continue to show improvement. The group may be completed by 22-year-old Harry Stout (9-6, 8, 98), who's fastball/slider mix gives hitters nightmares. If he can step up as a true #2 behind Allcock, the Stars will make plenty of noise, but right now I think they're just on the cusp of being a feared contender.

7. Toronto Wolves: After a rare .500 season, the first since they won 82 games in 1948, the Toronto Wolves will look to get back over that mark, hoping to take advantage of one of the best staffs in the game. Led by "Pretty Boy" Allen Smith (16-9, 3.40, 201), there isn't an easy draw, as he's a two-time strikeout leader, Phil Colantuono (6-3, 3.53, 50) excelled after his lengthy injury stay, and 22-year-old Bill Medley (12-11, 3.54, 167) had an under the radar breakout campaign as a rookie. That trio is already impressive, but if George Hoxworth (5-2, 4.11, 41) again shows signs of the guy who put together back-to-back-to-back 200 K seasons before his 22nd birthday, the Wolves have a legit shot to allow the fewest runs in the Conti. That would be huge, as besides star veteran Tom Reed (.308, 28, 100, 6), the lineup could use some work. It's not devoid of talent, I'm a big Sid Cullen (.304, 17, 69) fan and Ed Savage (.442, 10, 36) put the league on notice last September, but aside from them and the slick-fielding Jesse Taylor (.277, 14, 73, 16), Reed won't have much support. That being said, they have a high quality farm, led by the 12th ranked Savage, and can tap into that to add an impact bat. If they can overperform early, the Wolves front-office could be enticed to make a move, and I really think that if the expansion teams are handing out free wins again, the Wolves can finally finish above .500.

8. Montreal Saints: It feels unfair having the Saints this low, but I just do not trust their pitching staff. The ace is the fireballer Bob Nelson (13-6, 1, 4.46, 134), and while talented, the 23-year-old has major home run issues and Montreal no longer called the spacious Parc Cartier home. Control artist Jim Montgomery (10-15, 5.15, 117) has the same issues, finishing with a league high 37, 38, and 35 home runs, with 33 the last time he didn't surrender the most. On paper, those are two good pitchers, but they haven't been throwing like it, and don't have much room for error. The rest of the staff is a culmination of young pitchers, and they brought in a pair of top-100 prospects to start games for them this spring. No indication out of Saint camp if they'll break with Kellogg winner Ham Flanders (.361, 26, 105, 13), but I'd love to see 19-year-old southpaw John Mullins at some point this year. Ranked 52nd in the league, the stuff is off the charts, and his emergence could make Saints fans feel better about trading Bob Griffen to LA last season. An imposing 6'4'' force, he thrives when he's groundballs, and five of his six offerings are at least plus-plus pitches. With his work ethic, the sky really is the limit, and I don't buy that 51 prospects have more upside then him. If Mullins can emerge as an ace, it'll take the pressure off Flanders, Andy Gilman (.277, 24, 79), and Harry Swain (.301, 12, 79), who were key contributors of one of the Conti's best lineups last year. This team will score runs, but to keep up they need to find guys who can keep the ball in the park.

9. Dallas Wranglers: For a while, it looked like the Wranglers could finish above one of the eight original teams, but with an expansion roster you can only do so much. Hitting on their first three picks of the rookie draft, they've gotten on the right start for emerging from the bottom, but for now the roster relies heavily on veterans. 33-year-old Steve Miller (5-15, 4.38, 104) was a nice find for the rotation, and they can build around the relative youth of Butch Abrams (13-13, 4.31, 98) and Ken Hudson (.243, 20, 66). Finding support behind that is tough, as pretty much everyone else was average. At best. A team with a lot of guys 34 and up, it will be hard to turn them into decent prospects, but they have some really disciplined hitters that could be useful role players. Tom Leisher (.258, 6, 36) is a borderline starter behind the plate, and a more then capable reserve, while Carl Matthews (.215, 11, 48) does a good job working the count. Neither are game changers, but they're useful supplemental pieces who can help instruct the younger guys who will have plenty of shots to earn playing time.

10. New York Imperials: You would think that after losing the most games in FABL history last season, it would be harder to lose more, but with the season expanded to 162 that may be easier said then done in the Big Apple. At 38-116, the New York Imperials were as bad as bad can be, and it's hard to see them doing much better in 1963. On the bright side, I think they did well improving their staff, as deadline acquisition Frankie Sawyer (5-8, 5.59, 73) is starting to look like a real find from Kansas City. His 4.36 FIP (95 FIP-) in 83.1 innings for the Imps impressed, and he's already been worth parting with third basemen Joe Dorch (.303, 3, 32). A five-pitch pitcher, his fastball has real bite, and at worst he profiles as a back-end starter. Southpaw Bob Brown was a huge pickup with the first pick in the Rule-5 Draft, as he's got an overpowering fastball with mid-rotation potential. Scoring runs may still be tough, but they've got a legit slugger in Turk Ramsey (.282, 36, 89), and adding Del Gaines after he was cut from the Eagles could pay dividends as he turned 26 in February. Add in another 26-year-old in Vern Reynolds (.272, 4, 20), and the semblance of a lineup starts to take form. More growing pains are expected, but despite the lofty loss totals, the Imperials are heading the right direction, and they should be able to avoid the large losing streaks better then they did in year one.

San Francisco got some good news, as the Montreal Saints announced that they were returning 23-year-old righty Leo McDonald to the Sailors organization. Taken with the 5th pick, McDonald seemed like a good bet for cracking the Saints roster, but he allowed 7 runs on 10 hits and 4 walks, striking out 4 in 6.1 innings. A six-pitch power arm, McDonald was 18-7 with a 2.97 ERA (132 ERA+), 1.35 WHIP, and 126 strikeouts in 29 AAA starts. With his return to the bay, he now ranks 15th among Sailors prospects and 177th overall.
Dallas was hit with a late spring injury, as switch hitting shortstop Harry Clay (.210, 2, 38) fractured his finger. Not much of an offensive threat, his injury may help the Wrangler lineup, but it will certainly hurt their defense. A rangey middle infielder, the then 29-year-old Clay had a 15.1 zone rating (1.066) for Dallas at short last season. A veteran of 535 games with the Gothams and Wranglers, he's hit just .215/.291/.249 (46 OPS+) at the FABL level.
In fact, the Imperials were the only expansion club to stay healthy, as the Suns lost Doc Carver (12-12, 4.67, 125) and the Millers Jack Jordan (0-0, 5.44, 33). LAs loss of Carver is minor, as their ace should be healthy after a minimum length stay. While not overly costly, it will prevent him from following up is association high 34 starts, as he was highly effective for the new team. Jordan, however, will miss more time, as the third-year reliever is expected to have a 4-month absence due to his shoulder inflammation.
There are rumors circulating that a few teams are looking to get some business done before Opening Day. Both the Kings and Cougars have announced a group of available players, but a third unnamed team is rumored to be putting together a pair of high value trades.

MOTORS ONE WIN AWAY FROM SWEEP
Dukes Win at Home to Cut Into Packers Lead

The two-time defending Challenge Cup champion Detroit Motors moved to within a victory of another trip to the finals after they beat Montreal 3-2 Saturday evening. That win gives the Motors a commanding three games to none lead in their best-of-seven semi-final series and they can clinch their berth in the finals with a win at the Montreal Arena Tuesday evening.

Hobie Barrell exploded for five points in the Motors 8-3 victory at Thompson Palladium in the opener and Detroit followed that up with another lobsided win in game two. That one was by a 6-1 count as Detroit outshot Montreal 39-19 and once more it was Barrell who took center stage. Hobie had four assists but was overshadowed by his big brother as Benny scored once and added four helpers for a five point evening.

The series shifted to the Montreal Arena on Saturday and game three was a much tighter affair but the result was the same - another win for Detroit. The Vals opened the scoring late in the first period when Jack Charest scored a shorthanded marker and Montreal went up 2-0 seven minutes into the middle frame on a Yan Tremblay goal set up by Matthew Muir, who also assisted on Charest's opening period tally.

Detroit got one back five minutes later when, like Montreal's first goal, it was a shorthanded tally with this one coming off the stick of Pete Stojanov. The goal that may well have broke the Valiants back came with just one second left in the second period when Darcy Sill was left alone in the slot and wristed a puck over Nathan Bannister's blocker to tie the contest.

Detroit would be outshot 12-5 in the third period and 39-19 in the game but Charlie Dell was outstanding in the Motors cage and the game-winning goal came when Sill and Benny Barrell set up Ty Boulet with just over two minutes left in regulation. Dell suffered an elbow injury in the game but stayed in the net. However, he is questionable for game four. If Dell can't go, Sebastien Goulet, who played all 11 games in the Motors Cup win a year ago, will see his first action of this postseason.

*** Dukes Get In The Win Column ***

Like Detroit, the first place Chicago Packers were terrific on home ice. Chicago won the series opener from Toronto 4-1 and took control of the second game early, building a 3-0 lead and holding on for a 5-3 victory. Pete Bernier was the star of the show for the Packers in the second game as he set up four Chicago goals while John Trumbell scored twice. Quinton Pollack had a goal and an assist for the Dukes but that was not enough to prevent them from falling behind two games to none in the series.

Friday evening in Toronto was a different story as the Dukes showed their resilience. The Toronto team had to win its final four games of the season just to make the playoffs and they once more reached deep in the final twenty minutes of game three. Toronto entered the final frame down 3-2 and on the verge of dropping a third straight game in the series but the Dukes, who were outshot 34-11 in the opening forty minutes, rallied with three unanswered goals to earn their first win in the series. Hank Knackstedt tied the game early in the third and a minute later Nick Poulin put Toronto ahead. Nick Landry sealed the win with an empty net goal in the closing seconds. Toronto will look to even the series tonight at Dominion Gardens.

Dukes Claw Back Into Series

Toronto keeps there playoff hopes alive by splitting two games with Chicago over the past week. On Tuesday night, after two days off, Lakeside Aud was again packed to the seams with scalpers having a field day on the streets leading to the rink. Tickets were said to being scalped at over five times their face value. Those on hand were treated a fast start from the Packers when Ray Weller lit the lamp before the a half minute had run off the clock. Toronto seemed to have worked out ways to beat Chicago's tight checking umbrella that shut them down in the first game. Dukes' shooters tested Bomberry between the Packers' pipes 11 times in the first without a goal. After the early goal Connelly was solid for Toronto until the last minute when Ken York was setup by Dave Corden with 43 seconds left before intermission. Another early goal, at 1:24 of the middle frame, from John Turnbull made it 3-0. Dukes found their legs in the middle part of the period when Pollack, Knackstedt narrowed the margin to one before Weller with his second of the game made it 4-2 at 17:48 of the second. For all intents and purposes Turnbull ended the game with a goal before the third was 3 minutes old. The ice seemed to get sticky in the third possibly due to the combination of a large crowd along with the unseasonably warm weather in Chicago. The ice was like glue with only a total of 6 shots between the two teams in the final period. Don Morrison made it 5-3 with just over ten minutes to play, that was as close as the game would get on this night.

Dukes returned home on Friday night fighting against going down 3 games to none in the series. The game did not start well with the Packers going up one at 2:47 of the opening frame off of Mike Homfray's stick. In a game in which Connelly rob Packers' marksmen time and again the home side managed to escape the first tied at one when Lou Turner beat Bomberry cleanly at 10:36. The Dukes were outshot 18-4 in the first. The second period was more of the same, Chicago firing an unrelenting barrage at Connelly, shots total for two periods were Chicago 34, Toronto 11. Despite that Williams gave the Dukes a 2-1 lead before goals by Matt McGrath, Pete Bernier in the last five minutes has Chicago leading 3-2 after 40. A light of some kind came on for the Dukes in the third. Two quick goals, Knackstedt at 2:26, Poulin 66 seconds later gave Toronto 4-3 lead. In a period where shots we even at 13 Chicago could beat Connelly who made 45 save in the game. Landry's empty netter made the final 5-3.

Coach Bear-"We are back in the series thanks to Mike Connelly. Game 3 was one the finest displays of puck stopping I have every witnessed, I told the players after the game they should all give Connelly their game cheques because he earned the money. Time to get ready for Game Four on Monday."

Full Court Press: April 1-7, 1963

The Mustangs have fought back to tie the Falcons for first place as the league enters its final couple of weeks. With each game, the stakes get higher and higher. Toronto defeated Detroit in their two most recent meetings and swept a home-and-home set with St. Louis, but the Falcons dropped an easy one, 78-60 no-show against Chicago. Outside of Fred Lillard’s 26 points, the team vanished, losing the rebound battle, 57-41, and only drawing six fouls all night. Meanwhile, Detroit has fired off four straight wins since those back-to-back losses to the Falcons.
Toronto has managed to stay afloat with a 5-4 record while the Falcons have been without the services of guard Bill Spangler and his 19.2 points a game. Spangler will miss another month with a torn ligament in his ankle and the concern is not only for the rest of the regular season, but also the playoffs. Detroit was used to playing without rookie pivot Jack Salyer early in the season, though the Mustangs only mustered a 10-13 record before Salyer debuted. It has been different this time around. Salyer has missed 10 games with a concussion and the Mustangs have gone 8-2. Without Salyer, who averages 17.6 points a game, Detroit will have to find more consistent scoring, though the capable Gary Moore can manage the defensive side of the ball.
St. Louis has lost just about all hope in capturing the division, as the Rockets are four games out with six to play. The Falcons and Mustangs both had their way with the Rockets over the last couple of weeks. Wayne Wyrick bruised his hip in a win against Chicago and the Rockets have promptly gone 0-4 without him. Wyrick will likely not be back for their next game against Philadelphia, but another loss will put them five back of either Detroit or Toronto with five left. At that point, the Rockets should elect to get healthy and stay healthy for Game One on the road in either city.
Philadelphia and New York have six games left and the Phantoms have a three-game lead on the second seed in the East, while Boston will get some time to rest after the regular season. Before the Centurions rest, however, they will play both teams twice the rest of the way. New York has the easier schedule with four games against last-place Washington, while Philadelphia will have to tussle with Toronto twice.

IT WILL BE TECHSTERS VS DOLPHINS FOR CAGE CROWN

It will be a rematch of the 1922-23 AIAA championship game as North Carolina Tech and Coastal California are set to meet at Bigsby Garden tonight for the 54th annual collegiate basketball tournament title game.

It is a meeting of two schools with a rich collegiate basketball tradition. Coastal California had appeared in all but three of those 54 tournaments and with 95 victories and 18 trips to the semi-finals the Dolphins set the standard in both of those categories. Despite all of that success the Dolphins were snakebit for much of their existence and have won it all just one despite 18 semi-final berths and six previous trips to the title game. That tournament win came back in the spring of 1951. Coastal California is also the all-time AIAA leader in total wins with 1,320.

North Carolina Tech has won four AIAA tournament titles including three in a row in the early 1920s that included a win over Coastal California in the middle year of that streak. The Techsters remain the only school to win three consecutive tournament titles but have not won one since the spring of 1934 when they claimed their fourth national crown. Tech is fifth all-time in tournament wins with 70 but prior to this year's four only 7 of the previous 66 victories in tournament play have come since the end of World War II.

This year's North Carolina Tech team is led by a pair of seniors who are each expected to be first round draft picks in the Federal Basketball League in guard Bob Terwilliger and center Earl Arsenault. There is talk that Arsenault may well be the first name called come draft day.

SATURDAY'S SEMI FINALS

The two semi-final games on Saturday could not have been any more different. The Techsters, led by 12 points from Terwilliger and 14 boards from Arsenault built a 22-7 first half lead on Mobile Maritime, a surprising addition to the final four after being a sixth seed, and doubled the Middies 48-24. The outcome was never in doubt as the Techsters led 14-1 just over seven minutes into the game.

The other semi-final was as tight as they could come with Coastal California rallying to nip Maryland State 45-43. The Dolphins had fallen behind by seven -the largest margin of difference on the day- with a little over 12 minutes remaining but rallied to pull out the victory in what was their toughest test of the tournament. Senior guard Bill Mebane led the way with 14 points for the Dolphins while his backcourt mate Dan Hague added 10.

The Dolphins defeated top ranked Carolina Poly in the quarterfinals and now, after beating Maryland State, they look for their third straight win over a South Atlantic Conference power in the championship date with North Carolina Tech.

RECENT KEY RESULTS

Canadian middleweight Brenton Drier ran his record to 21-2-2 with a fifth round knockout of Elton Lewis.

UPCOMING MAJOR FIGHTS

May 3- Welterweight champion Matt Leach will face former champion Eugene Ellis in Houston. Leach, a 29-year-old New York City native, is 33-6-2 and will making his second defense since winning the title from Lenny Shafto last September. The 32-year-old Ellis, 46-6-1 alternated with Lonnie Griffin as welterweight champ for much of the last half of the 1950s. The two staged many thrilling battles for the crown but Ellis has not had a title shot since losing for the last time to Griffin two years ago. It will be the first time the Seattle native faces Leach.
June 20- Heavyweight Champion George Galleshaw will put his title on the line against former champion Steve Leivers at Bigsby Garden in New York City. Galleshaw held the title for 18 months beginning in 1960 before losing it in a shocking upset to Bert Parks but he regained the crown last November and successfully defended his title in February against Will Flowers. Galleshaw enters the fight with a 36-2-1 record. Leivers, 34, held the title for a spell in the mid-1950s, taking it from another Englishman Joe Brinkworth and making two successful defenses before losing to Brad Harris in 1957. He is 43-2-1 and will be facing Galleshaw for the first time.

The Week That Was
Current events from the week ending 04/07/1963

Defense Secretary McNamara has defended the administration's requests for a $4.5 billion dollar foreign aid allotment in its budget, sternly warning any attempt to return to a "fortress America" concept of national defense "would lead, not to self-preservation, but to suicide."
The State Department said today that Communist forces have committed "a serious violation of the cease fire" in Laos. It has called on Britain and Russia for "prompt and effective action to stop the firing."
Secretary of State Rusk sign a Polaris missile deal with Britain before flying to Paris for important allied policy talks including a meeting with French President Charles de Gaulle. That meeting is hoped to narrow the split in the Atlantic alliance created last January when the French vetoed Britain's entry into the European Common Market.
The stormiest political campaign in recent Canadian history has ended with forecasters still hedging their bets on the outcome of today's voting. The consensus is that Lester B. Pearson's Liberal Party will replace Prime Minister John Diefenbaker's Conservatives as the largest single bloc in Parliament but a clear majority seems to have less than a 50-50 chance.
President Kennedy was injected into the Canadian race after a newspaper report of a confidential document in which the President allegedly made an uncomplimentary reference to Diefenbaker.
Russia did not confirm its objective but the Soviet Lunik-4 unmanned space craft missed the moon by more than 5000 miles and is on a course towards the sun. American space officials believe the goal was to land the craft on the surface of the moon but are saying its guidance system had too much error and was unable to correct its course.
The Soviet Union announced it will accept President Kennedy's offer for a direct telecommunications link between Washington and the Kremlin to prevent an accidental outbreak of world war.

02-21-2025, 12:48 PM	#1084
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 3,034	April 7th, 1963 APRIL 7, 1963 Previewing the Continental Association Spring Training is now over, with the Keystones (14-4) and Stars (12-6) winning their respective associations, so all focus is on the return of the regular season. Set to begin with two games tomorrow, excitement is fully in the air as rosters begin to trim. But before getting to that, let's take a look at how we think the Continental Association may turn out: 1. Kansas City Kings: Picking t he Kings first is as simple as two words. Hank Williams (.375, 43, 128). He's the best hitter in baseball and a three-time Whitney, coming off his third season where he led the Continental in average, on-base, and slugging, as well as his fourth leading WRC+. 29 until June, Williams enters his eighth season with a .358/.447/.628 (187 OPS+) career line, slugging 216 doubles and 188 homers with 624 RBIs, 636 runs, and 487 walks. The All-Time career King leader in average, on-base, and slugging, he's also 4th in homers, and is a near lock for 200 homers. He needs just 12, something he might do as early as May. Far from a one-man show, he has stars both in his lineup and the rotation, as the Kings bring back reigning Allen winner Beau McClellan (17-10, 3.51, 197) for his thirteenth year. He leads youngsters Gene Bailey (10-4, 3.30, 92) and Allie Boone (10-2, 3.36, 106), and I'd love for them to open with 20th ranked prospect Johnnie Higgins. A potential ace, his fastball/slider combo is elite, and once his control is ironed out he's going to dominate. He's a hard thrower with four great pitches, and with a lockdown closer in Del Lamb (9-6, 15, 3.22, 83) they can rely on the pen if their young hurlers show some growing pains. A deep lineup helps, as they get a healthy Ken Newman (), 9-time All-Star Charlie Rogers (.287, 15, 73, 14), and emerging star Pat Davis (.350, 20, 103, 41). 2-for-2 in All-Star appearances he also has a steal crown, an RBI crown, and back-to-back 200-hit seasons to round it out. He led with 214 and 219, and was worth over 6.5 WAR in each season. Add in Bob Burge (.312, 10, 92), Cal Randall (.287, 11, 54), and a potential breakout from the rangy Tom Hicks (.252, 3, 40, 4), Kansas City has a good shot to take down their division rival in the WCS. 2. Cleveland Foresters: It may turning into a young man's game, but the vets in Cleveland are still good enough to contend for a pennant. After losing two WCS in a row, they collapsed last summer, and will be looking for revenge in 1963. Losing two rotation members is brutal, and I was surprised they didn't make a move during the offseason, but any rotation led by Adrian Czerwinski (16-10, 4.44, 170) can cause problems. He's is for a bounce back season, as his 3.66 FIP (79 FIP-) was close to a run lower then his ERA. Finding a reliable 2 may be tough, but with a young stud closer in Johnny Ogden (6-6, 30, 2.76, 141), they don't need perfection from the non-Czerwinski starters. Their Stan Kleminski (.292, 5, 47, 15) led lineup produces a lot of runs, so they'll just need to keep it close. Paul Williams (.289, 22, 98), John Low (.296, 12, 71), Sherry Doyal (.308, 26, 101, 6),. and Hal Kennedy (.309, 24, 83) are all among the best hitters, and I'd have love to see them add someone like Vern Osborne (13-11, 5.30, 126). That could have made them the pennant favorites, but instead I think they'll come up just short. 3. San Francisco Sailors: After a rough showing in the championship last season, I think it's going to be tough for the Sailors to get back. They had plenty go their way, and I'm skeptical the staff can again have every pitcher finish with an above average ERA+. It's a strong, deep staff, but Charlie Lawson (16-10, 4.02, 169) and George Fuller (17-10, 3.72, 132) are a really strong 1-2 punch. Whoever they line up behind them will do well, but it won't be guys who blow you away. This puts some pressure on the lineup, but they have plenty of guys who can produce runs. It will be a crime if John Kingsbury (.350, 22, 113, 13) is again left out of the All-Star game, and he's paired with the league's best shortstop in Carlos Jaramillo (.291, 8, 45, 27). Ernie Carter (.340, 12, 119, 10) will look to build off a stellar debut season, just like young second basemen Heine Spitler (.333, 4, 81, 27) did last year. Still a threat to repeat. this is a good, consistent team, and if not one comes out and dominates, they can win a long season grind just like they did last season. 4. Chicago Cougars: The best news for the Chicago this year is that Jack Gibson is healthy, and after hitting .438/.441/1.125 with 2 doubles, a triple, 6 homers, and 11 RBIs, they have to believe their young star is the same guy he was before his ruptured MCL. If he was healthy last season, the Cougars could have threatened the Sailors for the pennant, and if he can stay healthy that lineup will be dangerous. Gene Case (.302, 38, 117) had the opposite of a sophomore slump, coming close to a 40-homer season, while Henry Watson (.305, 32, 126, 6) and Jerry McMillan (.328, 18, 65, 22) are among the top young players in the game. They could be joined by another, as 3rd ranked prospect Dode Caudill could break camp with the big league club. He had an unimpressive spring, but Chicago looks to be transitioning Jim Barton (.317, 11, 80) to Dode or top-50 prospect Bobby Martinez (.396, 1, 12, 4). The pitching was good last year, especially the pen, as Pug White (12-8, 18, 3.10, 110) and Arch Wilson (11-3, 11, 2.74, 41) were a lethal late-inning mix, making it much easier on the starters. They have some good ones there too, with Roy Ellis (10-7, 3.83, 147) emerging as an ace and Dick Champ (5-4, 3.80, 52) coming over from their crosstown counterparts. I'd like to see them bring back one of Henry Henderson or Ken Stone, both high upside former top-prospects who spent all of last season in Milwaukee. Both have past FABL experience, but were stuck on a teak with a lot of pitching depth. Both have options and could end up in Milwaukee once more, but if the Cougs are serious about competing, they may want to test their talented young arms. 5. Cincinnati Cannons: Since the Continental is up for grabs this season, the Cannons being 5th doesn't mean that they don't have a chance. In fact, any team with Dallas Berry (.330, 40, 125, 16) can win a pennant, and it's even easier when joined with a co-star like Bonnie Chapin (.316, 26, 96). It could soon be a trio, as 2nd ranked prospect Mark Boyd hit .455/.538/.970 with 5 homers and 12 RBIs. A third potential star, his development will determine how far this team can go, as they are very close to dominance. Art McKinney (.261, 21, 115) is a solid starter, Babe Booth (.312, 6, 67) was a top-10 prospect for a reason, and I like what I've seen from Joe Case (.333, 1, 7) and Milt Senecal (.282, 10, 52, 13) this spring. If a few things go their way, they could have one of the best lineups, and they may need it with their staff. I'm a huge Charlie Warren (17-11, 3.11, 180) fan, and they should give him as many starts as possible, Jack Meeks (16-11, 4.51, 151) is just 22 and is primed for a step-forward, but they need to find more the him. The Cannons haven't given any indication that 7th ranked prospect Marco Middleton (0-1, 1, 5.40, 6) has made the rotation, but I think it's worth giving the 19-year-old a shot. If they think he's only ready for the pen, him and Paul Williams (3-6, 31, 2.01, 103) could be lethal in the pen, allowing them to mix and max starters behind their elite innings eater up front. 6. Los Angeles Stars: I feel bad putting the Stars 6th, but with how crowded the CA is shaping out to be, I can truly see any of the eight original teams taking the crown. Even Montreal. LA had the best spring record in the Conti, and their double-Barrell action could fuel one of the top offenses in the association. Ralph (.305, 35, 114) is already a star at 22, turning 23 in a week, while the 32-year-old Charlie (.266, 20, 77) has yet to produce a below average season at the plate. Most teams have top outfields, and there grouping of Charlie Sax (.328, 8, 50, 10), Ed Moore (.331, 15, 79, 10), and Lou Allen (.290, 27, 93) is just starting to hit their prime. And even though it was just 56 games last season, young backstop Bob Griffin (.325, 8, 38, 2) features an interesting power/speed combo from a position where that just isn't regular. The pitching did take a big blow, but Dewey Allcock (15-7, 3.64, 125) looked just as good as he was pre-injury, and Floyd Warner (12-12, 4.37, 129), Carl Johnston (13-7, 1, 3.65, 126), and Sy Dunn (14-11, 4.60, 153) continue to show improvement. The group may be completed by 22-year-old Harry Stout (9-6, 8, 98), who's fastball/slider mix gives hitters nightmares. If he can step up as a true #2 behind Allcock, the Stars will make plenty of noise, but right now I think they're just on the cusp of being a feared contender. 7. Toronto Wolves: After a rare .500 season, the first since they won 82 games in 1948, the Toronto Wolves will look to get back over that mark, hoping to take advantage of one of the best staffs in the game. Led by "Pretty Boy" Allen Smith (16-9, 3.40, 201), there isn't an easy draw, as he's a two-time strikeout leader, Phil Colantuono (6-3, 3.53, 50) excelled after his lengthy injury stay, and 22-year-old Bill Medley (12-11, 3.54, 167) had an under the radar breakout campaign as a rookie. That trio is already impressive, but if George Hoxworth (5-2, 4.11, 41) again shows signs of the guy who put together back-to-back-to-back 200 K seasons before his 22nd birthday, the Wolves have a legit shot to allow the fewest runs in the Conti. That would be huge, as besides star veteran Tom Reed (.308, 28, 100, 6), the lineup could use some work. It's not devoid of talent, I'm a big Sid Cullen (.304, 17, 69) fan and Ed Savage (.442, 10, 36) put the league on notice last September, but aside from them and the slick-fielding Jesse Taylor (.277, 14, 73, 16), Reed won't have much support. That being said, they have a high quality farm, led by the 12th ranked Savage, and can tap into that to add an impact bat. If they can overperform early, the Wolves front-office could be enticed to make a move, and I really think that if the expansion teams are handing out free wins again, the Wolves can finally finish above .500. 8. Montreal Saints: It feels unfair having the Saints this low, but I just do not trust their pitching staff. The ace is the fireballer Bob Nelson (13-6, 1, 4.46, 134), and while talented, the 23-year-old has major home run issues and Montreal no longer called the spacious Parc Cartier home. Control artist Jim Montgomery (10-15, 5.15, 117) has the same issues, finishing with a league high 37, 38, and 35 home runs, with 33 the last time he didn't surrender the most. On paper, those are two good pitchers, but they haven't been throwing like it, and don't have much room for error. The rest of the staff is a culmination of young pitchers, and they brought in a pair of top-100 prospects to start games for them this spring. No indication out of Saint camp if they'll break with Kellogg winner Ham Flanders (.361, 26, 105, 13), but I'd love to see 19-year-old southpaw John Mullins at some point this year. Ranked 52nd in the league, the stuff is off the charts, and his emergence could make Saints fans feel better about trading Bob Griffen to LA last season. An imposing 6'4'' force, he thrives when he's groundballs, and five of his six offerings are at least plus-plus pitches. With his work ethic, the sky really is the limit, and I don't buy that 51 prospects have more upside then him. If Mullins can emerge as an ace, it'll take the pressure off Flanders, Andy Gilman (.277, 24, 79), and Harry Swain (.301, 12, 79), who were key contributors of one of the Conti's best lineups last year. This team will score runs, but to keep up they need to find guys who can keep the ball in the park. 9. Dallas Wranglers: For a while, it looked like the Wranglers could finish above one of the eight original teams, but with an expansion roster you can only do so much. Hitting on their first three picks of the rookie draft, they've gotten on the right start for emerging from the bottom, but for now the roster relies heavily on veterans. 33-year-old Steve Miller (5-15, 4.38, 104) was a nice find for the rotation, and they can build around the relative youth of Butch Abrams (13-13, 4.31, 98) and Ken Hudson (.243, 20, 66). Finding support behind that is tough, as pretty much everyone else was average. At best. A team with a lot of guys 34 and up, it will be hard to turn them into decent prospects, but they have some really disciplined hitters that could be useful role players. Tom Leisher (.258, 6, 36) is a borderline starter behind the plate, and a more then capable reserve, while Carl Matthews (.215, 11, 48) does a good job working the count. Neither are game changers, but they're useful supplemental pieces who can help instruct the younger guys who will have plenty of shots to earn playing time. 10. New York Imperials: You would think that after losing the most games in FABL history last season, it would be harder to lose more, but with the season expanded to 162 that may be easier said then done in the Big Apple. At 38-116, the New York Imperials were as bad as bad can be, and it's hard to see them doing much better in 1963. On the bright side, I think they did well improving their staff, as deadline acquisition Frankie Sawyer (5-8, 5.59, 73) is starting to look like a real find from Kansas City. His 4.36 FIP (95 FIP-) in 83.1 innings for the Imps impressed, and he's already been worth parting with third basemen Joe Dorch (.303, 3, 32). A five-pitch pitcher, his fastball has real bite, and at worst he profiles as a back-end starter. Southpaw Bob Brown was a huge pickup with the first pick in the Rule-5 Draft, as he's got an overpowering fastball with mid-rotation potential. Scoring runs may still be tough, but they've got a legit slugger in Turk Ramsey (.282, 36, 89), and adding Del Gaines after he was cut from the Eagles could pay dividends as he turned 26 in February. Add in another 26-year-old in Vern Reynolds (.272, 4, 20), and the semblance of a lineup starts to take form. More growing pains are expected, but despite the lofty loss totals, the Imperials are heading the right direction, and they should be able to avoid the large losing streaks better then they did in year one. San Francisco got some good news, as the Montreal Saints announced that they were returning 23-year-old righty Leo McDonald to the Sailors organization. Taken with the 5th pick, McDonald seemed like a good bet for cracking the Saints roster, but he allowed 7 runs on 10 hits and 4 walks, striking out 4 in 6.1 innings. A six-pitch power arm, McDonald was 18-7 with a 2.97 ERA (132 ERA+), 1.35 WHIP, and 126 strikeouts in 29 AAA starts. With his return to the bay, he now ranks 15th among Sailors prospects and 177th overall. Dallas was hit with a late spring injury, as switch hitting shortstop Harry Clay (.210, 2, 38) fractured his finger. Not much of an offensive threat, his injury may help the Wrangler lineup, but it will certainly hurt their defense. A rangey middle infielder, the then 29-year-old Clay had a 15.1 zone rating (1.066) for Dallas at short last season. A veteran of 535 games with the Gothams and Wranglers, he's hit just .215/.291/.249 (46 OPS+) at the FABL level. In fact, the Imperials were the only expansion club to stay healthy, as the Suns lost Doc Carver (12-12, 4.67, 125) and the Millers Jack Jordan (0-0, 5.44, 33). LAs loss of Carver is minor, as their ace should be healthy after a minimum length stay. While not overly costly, it will prevent him from following up is association high 34 starts, as he was highly effective for the new team. Jordan, however, will miss more time, as the third-year reliever is expected to have a 4-month absence due to his shoulder inflammation. There are rumors circulating that a few teams are looking to get some business done before Opening Day. Both the Kings and Cougars have announced a group of available players, but a third unnamed team is rumored to be putting together a pair of high value trades. MOTORS ONE WIN AWAY FROM SWEEP Dukes Win at Home to Cut Into Packers Lead The two-time defending Challenge Cup champion Detroit Motors moved to within a victory of another trip to the finals after they beat Montreal 3-2 Saturday evening. That win gives the Motors a commanding three games to none lead in their best-of-seven semi-final series and they can clinch their berth in the finals with a win at the Montreal Arena Tuesday evening. Hobie Barrell exploded for five points in the Motors 8-3 victory at Thompson Palladium in the opener and Detroit followed that up with another lobsided win in game two. That one was by a 6-1 count as Detroit outshot Montreal 39-19 and once more it was Barrell who took center stage. Hobie had four assists but was overshadowed by his big brother as Benny scored once and added four helpers for a five point evening. The series shifted to the Montreal Arena on Saturday and game three was a much tighter affair but the result was the same - another win for Detroit. The Vals opened the scoring late in the first period when Jack Charest scored a shorthanded marker and Montreal went up 2-0 seven minutes into the middle frame on a Yan Tremblay goal set up by Matthew Muir, who also assisted on Charest's opening period tally. Detroit got one back five minutes later when, like Montreal's first goal, it was a shorthanded tally with this one coming off the stick of Pete Stojanov. The goal that may well have broke the Valiants back came with just one second left in the second period when Darcy Sill was left alone in the slot and wristed a puck over Nathan Bannister's blocker to tie the contest. Detroit would be outshot 12-5 in the third period and 39-19 in the game but Charlie Dell was outstanding in the Motors cage and the game-winning goal came when Sill and Benny Barrell set up Ty Boulet with just over two minutes left in regulation. Dell suffered an elbow injury in the game but stayed in the net. However, he is questionable for game four. If Dell can't go, Sebastien Goulet, who played all 11 games in the Motors Cup win a year ago, will see his first action of this postseason. * Dukes Get In The Win Column * Like Detroit, the first place Chicago Packers were terrific on home ice. Chicago won the series opener from Toronto 4-1 and took control of the second game early, building a 3-0 lead and holding on for a 5-3 victory. Pete Bernier was the star of the show for the Packers in the second game as he set up four Chicago goals while John Trumbell scored twice. Quinton Pollack had a goal and an assist for the Dukes but that was not enough to prevent them from falling behind two games to none in the series. Friday evening in Toronto was a different story as the Dukes showed their resilience. The Toronto team had to win its final four games of the season just to make the playoffs and they once more reached deep in the final twenty minutes of game three. Toronto entered the final frame down 3-2 and on the verge of dropping a third straight game in the series but the Dukes, who were outshot 34-11 in the opening forty minutes, rallied with three unanswered goals to earn their first win in the series. Hank Knackstedt tied the game early in the third and a minute later Nick Poulin put Toronto ahead. Nick Landry sealed the win with an empty net goal in the closing seconds. Toronto will look to even the series tonight at Dominion Gardens. Dukes Claw Back Into Series Toronto keeps there playoff hopes alive by splitting two games with Chicago over the past week. On Tuesday night, after two days off, Lakeside Aud was again packed to the seams with scalpers having a field day on the streets leading to the rink. Tickets were said to being scalped at over five times their face value. Those on hand were treated a fast start from the Packers when Ray Weller lit the lamp before the a half minute had run off the clock. Toronto seemed to have worked out ways to beat Chicago's tight checking umbrella that shut them down in the first game. Dukes' shooters tested Bomberry between the Packers' pipes 11 times in the first without a goal. After the early goal Connelly was solid for Toronto until the last minute when Ken York was setup by Dave Corden with 43 seconds left before intermission. Another early goal, at 1:24 of the middle frame, from John Turnbull made it 3-0. Dukes found their legs in the middle part of the period when Pollack, Knackstedt narrowed the margin to one before Weller with his second of the game made it 4-2 at 17:48 of the second. For all intents and purposes Turnbull ended the game with a goal before the third was 3 minutes old. The ice seemed to get sticky in the third possibly due to the combination of a large crowd along with the unseasonably warm weather in Chicago. The ice was like glue with only a total of 6 shots between the two teams in the final period. Don Morrison made it 5-3 with just over ten minutes to play, that was as close as the game would get on this night. Dukes returned home on Friday night fighting against going down 3 games to none in the series. The game did not start well with the Packers going up one at 2:47 of the opening frame off of Mike Homfray's stick. In a game in which Connelly rob Packers' marksmen time and again the home side managed to escape the first tied at one when Lou Turner beat Bomberry cleanly at 10:36. The Dukes were outshot 18-4 in the first. The second period was more of the same, Chicago firing an unrelenting barrage at Connelly, shots total for two periods were Chicago 34, Toronto 11. Despite that Williams gave the Dukes a 2-1 lead before goals by Matt McGrath, Pete Bernier in the last five minutes has Chicago leading 3-2 after 40. A light of some kind came on for the Dukes in the third. Two quick goals, Knackstedt at 2:26, Poulin 66 seconds later gave Toronto 4-3 lead. In a period where shots we even at 13 Chicago could beat Connelly who made 45 save in the game. Landry's empty netter made the final 5-3. Coach Bear-"We are back in the series thanks to Mike Connelly. Game 3 was one the finest displays of puck stopping I have every witnessed, I told the players after the game they should all give Connelly their game cheques because he earned the money. Time to get ready for Game Four on Monday." Full Court Press: April 1-7, 1963 The Mustangs have fought back to tie the Falcons for first place as the league enters its final couple of weeks. With each game, the stakes get higher and higher. Toronto defeated Detroit in their two most recent meetings and swept a home-and-home set with St. Louis, but the Falcons dropped an easy one, 78-60 no-show against Chicago. Outside of Fred Lillard’s 26 points, the team vanished, losing the rebound battle, 57-41, and only drawing six fouls all night. Meanwhile, Detroit has fired off four straight wins since those back-to-back losses to the Falcons. Toronto has managed to stay afloat with a 5-4 record while the Falcons have been without the services of guard Bill Spangler and his 19.2 points a game. Spangler will miss another month with a torn ligament in his ankle and the concern is not only for the rest of the regular season, but also the playoffs. Detroit was used to playing without rookie pivot Jack Salyer early in the season, though the Mustangs only mustered a 10-13 record before Salyer debuted. It has been different this time around. Salyer has missed 10 games with a concussion and the Mustangs have gone 8-2. Without Salyer, who averages 17.6 points a game, Detroit will have to find more consistent scoring, though the capable Gary Moore can manage the defensive side of the ball. St. Louis has lost just about all hope in capturing the division, as the Rockets are four games out with six to play. The Falcons and Mustangs both had their way with the Rockets over the last couple of weeks. Wayne Wyrick bruised his hip in a win against Chicago and the Rockets have promptly gone 0-4 without him. Wyrick will likely not be back for their next game against Philadelphia, but another loss will put them five back of either Detroit or Toronto with five left. At that point, the Rockets should elect to get healthy and stay healthy for Game One on the road in either city. Philadelphia and New York have six games left and the Phantoms have a three-game lead on the second seed in the East, while Boston will get some time to rest after the regular season. Before the Centurions rest, however, they will play both teams twice the rest of the way. New York has the easier schedule with four games against last-place Washington, while Philadelphia will have to tussle with Toronto twice. IT WILL BE TECHSTERS VS DOLPHINS FOR CAGE CROWN It will be a rematch of the 1922-23 AIAA championship game as North Carolina Tech and Coastal California are set to meet at Bigsby Garden tonight for the 54th annual collegiate basketball tournament title game. It is a meeting of two schools with a rich collegiate basketball tradition. Coastal California had appeared in all but three of those 54 tournaments and with 95 victories and 18 trips to the semi-finals the Dolphins set the standard in both of those categories. Despite all of that success the Dolphins were snakebit for much of their existence and have won it all just one despite 18 semi-final berths and six previous trips to the title game. That tournament win came back in the spring of 1951. Coastal California is also the all-time AIAA leader in total wins with 1,320. North Carolina Tech has won four AIAA tournament titles including three in a row in the early 1920s that included a win over Coastal California in the middle year of that streak. The Techsters remain the only school to win three consecutive tournament titles but have not won one since the spring of 1934 when they claimed their fourth national crown. Tech is fifth all-time in tournament wins with 70 but prior to this year's four only 7 of the previous 66 victories in tournament play have come since the end of World War II. This year's North Carolina Tech team is led by a pair of seniors who are each expected to be first round draft picks in the Federal Basketball League in guard Bob Terwilliger and center Earl Arsenault. There is talk that Arsenault may well be the first name called come draft day. SATURDAY'S SEMI FINALS The two semi-final games on Saturday could not have been any more different. The Techsters, led by 12 points from Terwilliger and 14 boards from Arsenault built a 22-7 first half lead on Mobile Maritime, a surprising addition to the final four after being a sixth seed, and doubled the Middies 48-24. The outcome was never in doubt as the Techsters led 14-1 just over seven minutes into the game. The other semi-final was as tight as they could come with Coastal California rallying to nip Maryland State 45-43. The Dolphins had fallen behind by seven -the largest margin of difference on the day- with a little over 12 minutes remaining but rallied to pull out the victory in what was their toughest test of the tournament. Senior guard Bill Mebane led the way with 14 points for the Dolphins while his backcourt mate Dan Hague added 10. The Dolphins defeated top ranked Carolina Poly in the quarterfinals and now, after beating Maryland State, they look for their third straight win over a South Atlantic Conference power in the championship date with North Carolina Tech. RECENT KEY RESULTS Canadian middleweight Brenton Drier ran his record to 21-2-2 with a fifth round knockout of Elton Lewis. UPCOMING MAJOR FIGHTS May 3- Welterweight champion Matt Leach will face former champion Eugene Ellis in Houston. Leach, a 29-year-old New York City native, is 33-6-2 and will making his second defense since winning the title from Lenny Shafto last September. The 32-year-old Ellis, 46-6-1 alternated with Lonnie Griffin as welterweight champ for much of the last half of the 1950s. The two staged many thrilling battles for the crown but Ellis has not had a title shot since losing for the last time to Griffin two years ago. It will be the first time the Seattle native faces Leach. June 20- Heavyweight Champion George Galleshaw will put his title on the line against former champion Steve Leivers at Bigsby Garden in New York City. Galleshaw held the title for 18 months beginning in 1960 before losing it in a shocking upset to Bert Parks but he regained the crown last November and successfully defended his title in February against Will Flowers. Galleshaw enters the fight with a 36-2-1 record. Leivers, 34, held the title for a spell in the mid-1950s, taking it from another Englishman Joe Brinkworth and making two successful defenses before losing to Brad Harris in 1957. He is 43-2-1 and will be facing Galleshaw for the first time. The Week That Was Current events from the week ending 04/07/1963 Defense Secretary McNamara has defended the administration's requests for a $4.5 billion dollar foreign aid allotment in its budget, sternly warning any attempt to return to a "fortress America" concept of national defense "would lead, not to self-preservation, but to suicide." The State Department said today that Communist forces have committed "a serious violation of the cease fire" in Laos. It has called on Britain and Russia for "prompt and effective action to stop the firing." Secretary of State Rusk sign a Polaris missile deal with Britain before flying to Paris for important allied policy talks including a meeting with French President Charles de Gaulle. That meeting is hoped to narrow the split in the Atlantic alliance created last January when the French vetoed Britain's entry into the European Common Market. The stormiest political campaign in recent Canadian history has ended with forecasters still hedging their bets on the outcome of today's voting. The consensus is that Lester B. Pearson's Liberal Party will replace Prime Minister John Diefenbaker's Conservatives as the largest single bloc in Parliament but a clear majority seems to have less than a 50-50 chance. President Kennedy was injected into the Canadian race after a newspaper report of a confidential document in which the President allegedly made an uncomplimentary reference to Diefenbaker. Russia did not confirm its objective but the Soviet Lunik-4 unmanned space craft missed the moon by more than 5000 miles and is on a course towards the sun. American space officials believe the goal was to land the craft on the surface of the moon but are saying its guidance system had too much error and was unable to correct its course. The Soviet Union announced it will accept President Kennedy's offer for a direct telecommunications link between Washington and the Kremlin to prevent an accidental outbreak of world war.