GAHS to play final game on Memorial Field

[jottings]

GAHS to complete 60 years
of baseball at Memorial Field
on Monday, May 3 vs. Logan nine


Weather permitting, Gallipolis Gallia Academy High School’s baseball team will play its final regular scheduled season game on Memorial Field on Monday, May 3, when Logan visits the Old French City for a non-league contest.

The Blue Devils field at the new high school in Centenary is expected to be completed for play in the spring of 2011.

During the past 70 years, GAHS has played its home games on two different diamonds. From 1941 to 1949, Gallipolis played its home games on the Gallipolis State Institute grounds (formerly the OHE Field now the Gallipolis Developmental Center). The GSI diamond was located where the current basketball-swimming complex is now standing.

In the spring of 1950, the Blue Devils moved to the Memorial Field diamond for the first time. The Gallians will complete 60 years at that location when Logan visits Gallipolis on May 3.

First game on Memorial Field was scheduled against Oak Hill on April 1, 1950, but was postponed because of wet grounds. Rain also postponed the Blue Devils first road game at Wahama on April 6. Gallipolis edged Jackson 2-0 on the road on Tuesday, April 12 before playing its first game ever on Memorial Field on Wednesday, April 13, 1950.

The first home game was against visiting Pt. Pleasant and was played under winter-like conditions. In fact, the contest was halted momentarily by a blinding snowstorm early in the game. Game time temperature was 32 degrees.

J. Sherman (Jaspey) Porter, sports editor of the Gallipolis Daily Tribune and weekly Gallia Times, gave this account of the Blue Devils 4-3 victory over the Big Blacks 60 years ago.

“Second victory in two days, second cold day in two days, this one played in the snow, second consecutive day of the seventh inning scoring turning the tide.

“Two days in a row of senior Gene Wetherholt hurling, this time both as a starter and reliever. That tells the tale of the 4-3 triumph Wednesday afternoon on Memorial Field of Coach Richard (Dick) Shrider’s Gallia Academy baseball team over Coach Jack Rogers Pt. Pleasant Big Blacks.

“When Wetherholt left the mound at the end of the fourth inning, the score was tied at 2-2. He had allowed two hits in the second inning when the Rogersmen got two runs and he also walked one man—Reece Nott—in that inning. Frank Capehart and John Caudill got the hits off Wetherholt.

“That was the same inning in which Wetherholt himself pounced out a double, scoring when PPHS shortstop Bob Bonecutter fumbled Lawrence (Shorty) Marshall’s line drive.

“Junior Wilson, who walked, scored in the third inning to knot the count at 2-2 when Kenny Curry slammed out the first of two hits he got during the wintry afternoon before 150 spectators, mostly students.

“Wetherholt went out to centerfield to start the fifth and southpaw Tommy Thompson took over on the mound. Thomposn did all right until his arm got sore from the cold early in the seventh. Then he yielded a hit to Caudill and followed it up by walking Bill Rardin. Shrider then waved Wetherholt back to the hill, and sent Thompson to the outfield.

“Wetherholt struck out the first two men before Bonecutter got a hit, then he fanned losing pitcher Hatfield for the third out. The game ended when Hatfield walked Ron Canaday, Bill Hager struck out, Carl Baker walked and Curry drove Canaday in with the winning run on a hit.

“Hatfield walked four Blue Devils, struck out nine and hit Junior Wilson—second consecutive day Junior’s got on base because the ball struck him. Weatherholt walked two, and struck out 11. Thompson fanned two and walked one.”


Blue Devil starters on that historic day 60 years ago were: Bill Hager, third base, Carl Baker, left field, Ken Curry, shortstop, Gene Wetherholt, pitcher, Bill Hogan, first base, Jim Dailey, right field, Fred Burdette, catcher, Lawrence (Shorty) Marshall, Jr., second base, and Junior Wilson, centerfield.

Other players on the 17-member 1950 squad were: Steve McKean, Keith Shelton, Bob Harrison, Ron Canaday, Tom Thompson, Terry Johnson and Clarence Jackson, and C. H. (Johnny) Ecker.

Gallipolis finished the season with a 8-6 overall record. In the SEOAL’s South Division, the Blue Devils finished second behind Middleport with a 4-2 record, losing both games to the Yellow Jackets 7-0 and 10-0. Athens captured the 1950 SEOAL title with a 5-0 mark after defeating Middleport in the championship playoff game.

Oak Hill downed GAHS twice in 1950, 4-0 and 3-2. Other 1950 Blue Devil wins were over Pt. Pleasant, 7-4, Pomeroy 4-0 on Wetherholt’s no-hitter, Jackson, 4-0, and Wahama, 5-2 in the first high school night game in Gallipolis history

That historic night game was played on Monday, May 22, 1950 after GAHS had been eliminated from tournament play. Earlier in the year, Wahama had downed GAHS 15-1, scoring 11 runs in the first inning.

The 1950 Gallians reached the Class A District finals at Ohio University by beating Pomeroy, 9-5, Portsmouth 6-4, and Jackson 4-0 before being eliminated 5-1 by Ironton in the district finals.

[blaze275]

Is that the same JR Wilson that Isaw at the GAHS- Meigs game tonight?

[jottings]

You mean that old 76-year-old greyheaded guy next to John Troester's dad? Yep.

[Raiderball]

Good read Jottings. Thanks for posting.

[Mighty Mighty Devils]

Great piece of history Jottings hope we have a great turnout for the final home game it's the ending of a great era of GAHS history at Memorial Field I played My first game ever there on the high school field now my son will play the final high school game there-- pretty cool

[The General]

I have a lot of fond memories of the place.Too many to really say. I have also felt MANY times that some C-4,strategically located at vital points at the facillity,would have been the best answer The 2 diamonds and the pig sty ....Wired to me..... But the place is ripe with memories for so many people and has had a huge impact on so many peoples lives that it is going to be impossible NOT to be a little sad when the Blue doesnt compete down there.

[jottings]

Former co-workers visit Jottings

Fred Hoffman, longtime employee of the Ohio Valley Publishing Co., and a native of Middleport dropped over to see Jottings during Wednesday’s Gallipolis-Meigs baseball game at Rock Springs. Jottings was a former co-worker with Hoffman

Fred was a 1950 graduate of Middleport High School, and began his career in the newspaper industry shortly after graduation, first as a linotype operator for the Gallipolis Daily Tribune and later for the Pomeroy Daily Sentinel before returning to Gallipolis when the OVP took over the Gallipolis Tribune in 1959.

Hoffman later was promoted to composing room superintendent and is still employed in the composing room at the Gallipolis plant. His grandson laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt early in Wednesday’s game.

Another visitor was Dave Harris, former ad salesman for the OVP and part-time sportswriter for several years. Dave, also a former co-worker, reminded us that the drive for a new football stadium at Meigs High School was not dead, and gave us a piece of literature titled “The Dream is Still Alive.”

A large group of people, including teachers, parents, alumni, business owners and many others with a deep concern for the future of education in the Meigs Local area have banded together with a new resolve to save this worthy program.

The Meigs Multipurpose Complex Capital Campaign is currently underway. Individuals may reply to this address for tax deductible gifts:

Meigs Local Enrichment Foundation, Post Office Box 173, Pomeroy, Ohio, 45769. Eight levels of donations from $50 to $10,000 are being accepted.

Cost of the new complex is $1,600,000. The group is $300,000 short of this goal.

Harris also reminded youthful football prospects that the annual Bartrum & Brown football camp will be held Saturday, May 15, at Marshall’s Joan C. Edwards Stadium. There will be two sessions, grades 1-4 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and grades 5-8 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Cost is $30 for early registration and $40 the day of camp. A $20 fee will be charged for each additional family member. Early registration must be postmarked by May 1.

[blaze275]

I thought so,always look forword to your posts of the games.

[jottings]

Rain finally came early this morning. If it continues, will the Gallipolis officials call for a makeup date?

[jottings]

Haven't heard anything about the game. Was over to Memorial Fidld twice this morning. There were a few wet spots on the softball diamond (third, first and right field near the gate). Sun has been out all day. A little windy.

[jottings]

Evidently both the Blue Devils and Blue Angels games with Logan were called off ths evening.

[The General]

Softball field was very playable. And so was the baseball field.

[jottings]

Why did they call the games off so early?