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With a record of 20-2 the 1964
Centralia High School baseball team capped
off the only four consecutive seasons with
20 or more wins. With an infield of John
Abrams (3rd), Bill White (SS), Dan Kelly
(2nd), Van Bell (1st) and Gene Ferguson
behind the plate, coach Jerry Wilson
declared this his best infield yet and
possibly one of the best in the entire
state. They turned ten double plays in the
first nine games and that pace continued
throughout the season. They
outscored their opponents 160-55. The
pitching was anchored by third-year starter,
Ron Black, with 7 wins and two losses. Other
pitchers were Dan Garrett and Derry Booth.
In the outfield, Coach Wilson settled on
Black playing center field when not
pitching, and Paul Morgan found a home in
left field. Others sharing outfield duties
included: Jim Branon, Dwight Telford, Derry
Booth and Roger Westbrook. The
season came to a disappointing and abrupt
end in the Regional at Pinckneyville. The
Orphans fell to the Panthers 2-1 in twelve
innings as all three runs scored were
unearned. The Orphans had beaten
Pinckneyville in a 10-0 no-hitter by Derry
Booth only weeks earlier. Black
had 63.1 innings pitched with 80 strike
outs, and a 1.26 ERA. White led the team in
runs (26), hits (32), doubles (6), and
batting average (.410). Ferguson led with 3
triples, 4 home runs, ,and 30 RBI. Career
CHS records held by this team included: Bill
White - Hits (91), runs (85), doubles (17),
and triples (8); Van Bell - walks (72).
White and Bell were each named first team
All-Southern Illinois at shortstop and first
base respectively by the Evansville Courier. See
- Roger
Westbrook (1996), Bill
White (2003), Gene
Ferguson (2004), and Ron
Black (2008).
COACH -
Jerry Wilson.
PLAYERS -
Paul Morgan, Dan Garrett, Van Bell, Dan
Kelly, John Abrams, Bill White, Dwight
Telford, Tom Crenshaw, Gene Ferguson, Jim
Branon, Lonnie Beal, Ron Black, Allan Krausz,
Derry Booth, Roger Westbrook, Stan Fark, T.
Thomas, T. Leslie, Ray Garrett.
MANAGERS -
Gary Whitt, Larry Sanders, Richard Snider.
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