May 26, 1949 District Baseball Tourney at Slater: First round - Top quality team fielding (one error), three timely hits, one each by Boozell, Johnson, and Fish, plus seven errors by Saint Mary's of Marshalltown enabled Collins to win the game 8-2. Saint Mary's scored one run in 1st inning. Collins scored five runs in 2nd after two outs with aid of four Saint Mary's errors and timely triple by Lonnie Boozell and single by Bob Johnson for a 5-1 lead. Saint Mary's scored one run in the 3rd. Collins came back with two runs, the second on a suicide squeeze bunt by Duesbury to score Larry Smith from third base. Fish scored the 8th run in the 5th. Weather conditions were adverse with rain sprinkle beginning early in the game. The sky became much darker in 4th inning; Coach Harger directed Collins batters to intentionally make outs by stepping on home plate when bunting (automatic out when step on home plate and hit the ball). This strategy was very wise as rain became heavy in top of the 6th inning and game called by the umpires. Five innings completed official game with Collins 8-2 win. Duesbury pitched; runs - 2, hits - 4, strikeouts -3, walks - 3. Charles Fish caught. Lineup: Lonnie Boozell (3b) 1 hit; Bob Johnson (2b) 1 hit; Dick Cory (1b) 0 hits; Phil Holland (ss) 0 hits; Charles Fish (c) 1 hit; Larry Smith (rf) 0 hits; John Duesbury (p) 0 hit; John Runyan (cf) 0 hits; Connie Smith (lf) 0 hits.
Semifinals - Collins was eliminated from the district tournament, losing to Churdan 6-0.Duesbury and Holland pitched; runs - 6, hits - 9. Collins had two hits and three errors. (Insert 2005: Lineup same as prior game). Churdan was a fine quality team in all aspects: pitching, catching, fielding, and solid hitting. This was a twilight game with the later innings played "under the lights" at the Slater ballpark. (Very likely, this was the first experience of playing "under the lights" for most Collins players.)
Spring 1949 Baseball Season Summary: Collins won - Nevada 15-8; Colo 11-0; Colfax 20-5; Farrar 10-0; Mingo (?)-(?). Lost - State Center 7-2; Nevada 4-2; State Center 12-6. Conference Tourney: Collins won - Shipley 2-1 (12 innings); Slater 12-1. Lost - Huxley 9-5 in finals. Sectional Tourney: Collins won - Maxwell 7-2; Farrar 12-0; State Center 8-1 to win sectional championship. District Tourney: Collins won - St Mary's of Marshalltown 8-2. Lost - Churdan 6-0. Season Record: Won 11, lost 5.
Team Members - regular starting players:Phil Holland (52) (p-if); Charles Fish (49) (c); Dick Cory (50) (1b); Bob Johnson (50) (2b); Lonnie Boozell (50) (ss-3b). Alternating starters: John Duesbury (52) (p-ss); Connie Smith (49) (lf); John Runyan (50) (cf); Larry Smith (51) (rf); Chris Buck (49) (cf); Bill Hand (49) (of); Bob McBride (50) (of); Kenny Carroll (51) (of); Bill Sager (50) (of); Charles Maxwell (c). Coach - Floyd Harger.
The State Center game in wining the sectional tournament championship is often recalled by the Collins players as among their top team victories of their high school baseball career.