BLACKSTONE VALLEY MEMORIES

April 12

1954 Pitchers 23-year-old lefthander Chet Nichols and 32-year-old righty Max Surkont, both of Pawtucket, along with 30-year-old righthander Clem Labine of Woonsocket have made National League baseball rosters. Chet is back with the Boston Braves after two years of Army duty and Max is with the Pittsburgh Pirates while Clem is with the Brooklyn Dodgers. The only Blackstone Valley native connected with the American League this season is Umpire Hank Soar of Pawtucket who has been with the junior circuit since 1950.

1964 Cumberland’s Johnny Goryl apparently is determined to win a regular job with the Minnesota Twins this season. Regarded as one of the best utility infielders in the major leagues after a great 1953 campaign with the Twins, Johnny now is in line for steady employment. Goryl didn’t hurt his chances yesterday, slamming a pair of doubles, good for three RBI, as the Twins blasted the Milwaukee Braves 12-3 in an exhibition tilt.

1976 Coach Ed Hogan’s Cumberland nine rallied for seven runs in the sixth inning to defeat coach Roger Morriseau’s Woonsocket team 16-13 in a wild game that fittingly had a weird ending. Nearly three hours after the contest started, with less than six innings played, 29 runs scored, 32 base hits, eight extra base hits, including four home runs, seven errors, eight walks and four wild pitches, the umpire decided to call the game due to darkness with two outs and two on in the bottom of the sixth. According to the rules, the Clippers were declared the winners.