Description
Not content to rest on their laurels as 1947 Nova Scotia Bantam Provincial Baseball Champs with an undefeated season, the 1948 Bantam Cards aimed for a repeat under new coach Bernie Parent, manager Corning Sinclair and other Senior Cardinals. The team lost pitcher Tremaine Rafuse but picked up able players in Bucky Tolbart, Bill Gates and Billy Francis along with assistant coach Arthur “Doc” Hermann. The Cards captured the Valley title by defeating Berwick in two straight games.
In the Provincial playdowns, Middleton’s first hurdle was the Springhill Bantam Braves featuring 9-year-old sensation, Mike Hatherly. In the opening round, the home team Cards eked out an 18-17 victory in extra innings behind the 8 strikeouts registered by ace Gordon Francis. In the second game, also played in Middleton, the team rode the coattails of pitcher Billy Gates to a 20-7 victory. The following week in Springhill, with Francis again on the mound limiting the boys from the mining town to only 5 hits, the Cards prevailed 8-5.
In the final round, the Cardinals faced the Halifax Monarchs. Middleton swept the first two games at home by scores of 5-0 and 7-6. Halifax rebounded on their home turf to take the next two games setting the stage for the deciding tilt to be played on neutral ground in Hantsport. Tied 11-11 in the bottom of the ninth, Montgomery led off with a single and moved to second when Perkins drew a base on balls. The Halifax pitcher then proceeded to retire the Cards big guns, Bruce and Marshall, only to have Bob Rafuse single in the winning run giving Middleton a 12-11 victory to repeat as Nova Scotia champs.