Pine Island (AV 12) - Naval Cruise Book

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SHIP'S g EAMS The 'Pine Island baseball team was forinedgin May while the vessel was located in the Pescadores Islands. After. four days of looking over an estimated 85 hopefuls, Coaches Walt Fuelling and Pete R,oskowski.,narrowed.the field down to 19 candidates. The team has played four games to date, winning three and losing one. The wins were by scores of 8 to 5, 12 to 1, and 8 to 4. The defeat was a 12 to 411 victory for the Chinese Nationalists. The Islanders are particularly proud of the fact that they are the only Navy team to, beat them as many as three times. The team has good fielding, 'strong hitting power and a very dependable staff. Thus far they have not hadethe chance to test their over-all team strength against other American teams but are looking forward eagerly to, the day- when we return to the States and they can schedule much-desired games with other ships and bases. The team feels sure that it can hold its own with theserteams and help maintain the record and high standing that the PINE -ISLAND has builtin the past year. ' The Islanders boast of four exceptional-hurlers in C. H. Horsman, C. Robbins, F..J. Nevins and J. Kostal. Two out-standing catchers are E. G. Fox and R. Richards. Infielders include: W. W. Cunningham, B. Moore, A. 'Sf Crossley fCaptainl, j.- M. Johnson and W. Woody. I ' I A ,Outfielders are: R. M. Eg-r, D.E Everson, F. P. Priore, Boardman, E. Williams, R. Edgin, D. Harbin, and Wyss. I , The Pine Islanders were organized in January of 1951 while the ship was located at Iwakuni, Japan. The team was composed ofthe standout players of the ship's intra- divisional basketball tournament. The main disadvantages were late organization and limited opponents. Our opposition. consisted of VP-42, FAW Six and the Air Force team at Iwakuni. Playing .under-adverse conditions the team presented a good showing while the temperature in the gym was in the low 20s. It 'was sometimes, to put it mildly, a little cool. The Islanders had a good team at Iwakuni considering the few times they could get together and practice and that their competition has been playing together for two or ,three months. They lost to VP-42 twice, 44 to 31 and 40 .to 37. They played ,FAW Six twice, defeating them in both instances, 56 to 38 and 48 to 46. Our two games with the Air Force were divided. . I 5 The original Islanders consisted of: E. L. Roachell, W. Fuelling, D. Gabler. J. M. Johnson, K. D. Givens,.R. J.'Avila, J. F. Reagan, C. T.,Riz-en, B. S. Steuart, W. Swart, T. E. Otto, and H. Vincent. A - A When the Pine Island came to the Pescadores we found the Chinese played baslretball the year round. So the Islanders reorganized to play teams from the Nationalist Army. V Since. yours truly was swamped with intra-mural soft-ball, Charlie Rizen became coach and manager of the team. The team has added some new members and dropped four old ones. The team now includes A. McGuire, B. L. Bright and J Chovanec The Islanders- have beat' every Chinese team that they played in the Pescadofes and ate up all of the hosts p.ineapple in the deal, 90 :av : few---ff-ffm-A-wet .W .- -...... Y-, . i t I

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gg- g A iii w .ll M One of the most important morale boosters on any vessel is the ship's band. The PINE ISLAND was fortunate in having aboard a number of excellent musicians and a small dance combo was formed 'at Okinawa overthe most difficult of hinderances.. . ,It was due to the efforts of Chaplain Parkinson and LtJG. Sherwood that the group was originally formed. Upon arrival at Okinawa an attempt was made to purchase instruments. Due to a considerable amount of red tape it was necessary to borrow the instruments from the Army Supply Corps. A The original group consisted of LtJG. Sherwood on bass, Bob Pruitt, trumpet, Rich Barker on piano, Bob Coakes, saxaphone, FrankBonorno on electric guitar, Dave Hanlon, drums, and Chuck Ballard, clarinet. LtJG. Sherwood was later replaced on bass, by Jack Lewis, and Hanlon replaced by W.iWashington, at the drums. R. A. Austin later joined the group .as a second trumpetist. The group 'continued to meet certain obstacles in arrangements. At his own expense Barker ordered a number of original arrangements from the States and later the Welfare and Recreation fund donated enough to purchase additional music. ' Ens. E. R. Hallett replaced LtJG. Sherwood as director of the group upon the latter's transfer. D. J. Hanlon, SN at D.4H. smith, su 7

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N SP E C TTI 0 Inspections, thought to be unnecessaryiby many, are a vital part of Navy Life. They serve to keep the high standards of cleanliness at its peak, 'thereby bestowing upon the U. S. Navy the nameiof being the cleanest Navy in the world. They serve to increase our dignity as there is nothing more dignified than a clean, vvell Worn uniform, as well as a clean ship. I ' The Pine Island has done Well in living up to these standardsand the expectations of the U. S Navy. Personnel and Material Inspections have proven her crew to be outstanding in neat- ness and appearance. . 91