Coachella Valley Union High School - La Conchilla Yearbook (Coachella, CA)

Page 101 text:

The number one and number two boys on the ladder, Jim Blocher and Ben Montoya. Because La Conchilla went to press iust after the league tennis opener, when Beaumont was obliterated 25 to 0, it was impossible to report the final chap- ter in the garbled history of the 1953 CV tennis team. Most experts picked CV to regain the Eastern-RCL championship it lost to Beaumont last year. But after looking at the amazing story of the '53 courtmen, who could tell what would happen? ' The year started on a rather somber note. Coach L. Robert Pepper was stricken with polio in early October. Luckily for him and CV tennis, he made a complete recovery. Sophomore sensation Jim Blocher gave net enthusiasts a scare when, in March, it was thought a heart condition would keep him out of action. How- ever, the fears turned out to be ground- less, and tennis fans breathed more easily. The tennis ladder was iumbled from start to finish. With but one exception, Harry Woolpert at fourth singles, every position in the first eight found at least one new name occupying it during the season. Positions were lost, regained, and lost again so fast Coach Pepper con- tinually tore his hair in despair. Jim Blocher and Ben Montoya fought savagely for first singles, but as the lad- der closed, Jim had claimed it for his own. Other final standings were: Ben Montoya, second, Dick Blocher, third, Harry Woolpert, fourth, George Cun- ningham, fifth, Fred Adams, sixth, Charles Braswell, seventh, Jack Grant, eighth. In pre-season matches, the Arabs played Palm Springs twice, winning quite easily both times. As CV looked anxiously and eagerly toward the beginning of league play, Coach Pepper lined his team up this way: Jim Blocher, first singles, Dick Blocher, second, Shorty Cunningham, third, and Jack Grant, fourth. Montoya and Woolpert teamed up in first doubles and Adams and Braswell in second doubles. TENNIS TEAM - Left to right: ROW 'l: Gil Perez, Charles Braswell, George Cunningham, Ben Montoya, David Mitchell, Harry Woolpert. ROW 2: Coach Pep- per, Fred Adams, Larry Gavin, Dick Blocher, Jack Grant, Jim Blocher. gf SQ, R x . N I. W -A gc N N'sf,x3,ygK yuh' WX to fvfcw 1 Q my L X. . + f. . , V , ,V . - Q ,L fx A ,X XIX' i 'N K ' If 5, 'I A V N. lx, X, x, 1 1 4' 'Q is. , f,- A1-A -S s -X .Vs sr ,Q f . -E f re Qi f A I D D, -Z NRS' ,W 5 y I Nay 'V Q. Q w W7 i . l ' . i E

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S XVM ,nj ings,-vw I i C TRACK - Left fo righf: ROW 'l: Joe Moclclox, Gilbert Luna, Pat Teifelbaum. ROW 2: .loe Velosquez, Ben Suiz, Bill Johnson, James Ashe, Dick Willard, Frank McSwan, Tom Sylar, Larry Lichfy. PAGE 96 D Becker, Robert Lewis, Charles Cox, Tim Smith, Joe Terrones, Dave 'th P we bor wok e cyeofs makes ' kk l-arson He xefivl ol room lo QSY' . John Y Ox ' . , Zgukes off on wh U 20-foo' iumgl' he hopes Wore'

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Coach Lee Fulmer's Arab base- ballers rolled to seven wins in eight starts in their pre-league schedule. As we went to press, the defending RCL champs were rated as one of the top teams and ap- peared capable of retaining their top ranking. Good pitching and fielding were exhibited by the Arabs, who opened their season March 27 with an 8 to 7 win over Blythe. Ben Montoya was the winning pitcher. Coach Fulmer's boys ran up a string of five straight successes be- fore losing to Colton 6-1, as Mon- toya dropped his only game. In between Phil Carrasco beat St. Ber- nardine's 8-1, Montoya also bested the Saints 24-2 on a one-hitter, and Montoya and Nichols topped Beau- mont 12-5. Highlight of the early season was a no-hit, no-run pitching effort by Montoya, who defeated Tri- State league-leading Blythe, 19-0. Coach Lee Fulmer gives his outfielders the dope on how to play a pull hitter The batting averages of the regulars up to April 16 were: Joe Benitez .3335 Phil Carrasco .0005 Mike Castanon .4215 Walt Criner .0765 George Cunningham .2615 Ignacio Lopez .0795 Ben Montoya .333 Henry Moreno .1835 Ed Moreno .3455 Kris Reinertson .4445 Ralph Rodriguez .1675 Jerry Willard .190 Bob Munoz .250. Returning lettermen from last year were Joe Benitez in the outfield5 Mike Castanon at short stop5 lg nacio Lopez in the outfield: Ben Montoya, pitcher5 Bob Munoz in the outfield5 Ralph Rodriguez at second base5 Jerry Willard at first base. BASEBALL - Left to right: SEATED: Frank Sparks, manager. ROW 1: Ralph Rodriguez, Henry Moreno, Ignacio Lopez, Ernie Moreno Armando Arce, Coach Fulmer, Joe Maddox, Art Montoya, Dick Montoya, Kris Reinertson, Gary Hammons. ROW 2: Phil Carrasco, Mike Castanon, Bobby Munoz, Eddie Moreno, Joe Benitez, Bill Roberts, Walter Criner, George Cunningham, .lim Nichols, Ben Montoya, Jerry Willard. PAGE 98