The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1954-06-12


Both George Lastres and
Don Cruz, who have been
under the surveillance of
scouts throughout the sea-
son, gained the status Of
''bonus babies" when they
signed pacts. Lastres was
signed by the New York
Giants organization and will
report to the Danville, ILL.,,
club in the Class D Three-I
League, early next week.
Cruz elected 10 cast his lot with
the Brooklyn Dodgers and starts
his professional baseball career
next week with Cocoa in the Flo
rida State League.
Both young men were signed
with substantial bonuses and an un-
disclosed salary. Lastres will re-
port TO Danyille as a pitcher while
Cruz goes to Cocoa as an infielder.
The Citizen has been aware Of
the possibility that the interest that
has been shown in the pair by ma
jor league scouts, but refrained
from discussing 1t to protect their
eligibility for state tournament
play.
Meanwhile, the beaten but un-
bowed baseballers are scheduled
to arrive in Key West late today.
st. Pete's upset victory over the
defending state champions left the
C0nchs with 23-3 season record
and halted pitcher George Lastres'
win streak at u straight. It was
st. Pete's 18th win in Il starts.
After the Conchs took q two-run
first inning lead, the Green Devils
came back strong 10 collect three
runs on three hits in the second,
one run on no hits In the third,
and five runs on four hits in the
bottom Of the sixth.
The Conchs were unable TO score
again until the third they pushed
across one run on no hits. Key
West added its two final counters
In the sixth on one hit.
Winning pitcher was Gordon Nc.
Kenzie, (5-1) A highlander with
q nice curve and good fast ball.
Lastres, the loser, gave up eight
hits until he was relieved in the
sixth by Roger Bean. Lastres' ma
ties committed five errors in the
field, q one-game record amou
Of hobbies for the usually steady
Gold Coast Champs.
Bean, who was called in from
left field to spell Lastres after the
bases were loaded and one man
was out, only pitched to two men,
both ct whom he walked.
Coach Davis then called in third
baseman DON Cruz who stopped the
st. Pete uprising.
In the top half Of the seventh,
with the Conchs behind four runs.
and two men on, Green Devil
Coach Bucky Hawk lifted pitcher
Mckenzie and sent in Sonny Stull,
(S-1) the st. Pete starter.
Stull clinched the victory when
he forced Jerry Pita to hit q pop
dy TO short left field which was
caught by Don Rohbrough, ending
the ball game.
Only bright spot Friday, 50 far
10 the Conchs were concerned, was
the signing Of Lastres and Cruz to
professional baseball.
Tournament officials presented
trophies and gold baseballs to the
winners and runners.up in both d.
visions Immediately after the Key
West st. Pete contest.
Acting team captain Julio Hen
riQuez and Coach Davis accepted
the Class "A runner-up trophy for
the Conchs.
Some 200 Key West fans were
estimated to be in the stands Fri
day for the championship game.
Usually noisy and full of pep, they
were gripped with deathly silence
when they realized Key West had
been defeated.
After the bah game, the Key
West players made no excuses for
the loss. They played their hearts
out and behaved like perfect gen.
tlemen, and that's all any Key
West fan would ask.
Somebody summed 1t UP this
way: st. Pete was the better ball
club. Friday night.
The score:
Key West 200 OH 0 S-4-4
st. Pete 031 COS K 9-S-3