Collins advanced to Sub-State Baseball Tournament by slipping by Madrid 3-1 to win the District Tournament Championship. The Clippers scored their three runs in top half of the 3rd inning after Madrid had scored once in the 2nd inning. Collins' scoring: Kilker reached 1st and took 2nd on an overthrow to 1st, Heintz doubled to score Kilker. Madrid pitcher walked the next two batters to load the bases. Duesbury, on a 3-2 count, poked a ground single up the middle just beyond the reach of the pitcher and shortstop into center field, bringing in 2 runs. Each team was held to four hits. Collins team defense was again outstanding with only one error while Madrid had three errors. For the third consecutive game, Carroll (Cactus) Smith caught a long fly ball in center field for the final out of the game. Larry Heintz was the big sticker of the game, hitting two doubles on three trips to the plate. Duesbury pitched seven innings: runs - 1, hits - 4, strikeouts - 4, walks - 1. Team fielding errors - 1. Holland was catcher. (Insert 2005: No box score found.)
May 22, 1952 The Seniors took their Annual Skip Day May 13 to Des Moines. Mr. Lawson was trip sponsor. They went on tour of the Rollins hosiery mill to see how stockings are made. The next stop was the airport to tour the new terminal building. Picnic lunch was at the Greenwood Park. The afternoon was free time for shopping, movies, and walking the streets of Des Moines.
Sub-State Baseball Tournament at Roland: First round - Collins' season winning streak came to a sudden ending as Auburn overwhelmed the Clippers 12-3, scoring runs in all innings except 1st and 4th. Duesbury hit a hard line drive to left center field that rolled between the outfielders and with no fence, enabled him to circle the bases for a home run (only career home run), putting Collins up 1-0. Collins scored two more runs in the 6th inning. Auburn scored 3 runs in the second and went on to a 12-3 win. Holland and Frerichs pitched with Kilgore catching. Collins had only 4 hits and made 4 fielding errors. Auburn was the superior team on the ball field this day. This was the final game for five seniors: Phil Holland (p-c), Erwin Frerichs (ss-3b-p); John Duesbury (p-ss); Larry Heintz (1b); Rhineardt Kilker (lf), all first team players.
Spring 1952 Baseball Season Summary: Scheduled Games - Collins won - Slater 13-6; Rhodes 5-2; Clemons 6-5; Maxwell 7-3; Maxwell 16-6; Nevada 10-7. Lost - none.
Conference Tourney: Won - Maxwell 9-8; Huxley 8-6 for championship.
Sectional Tourney: Collins won - Cambridge 7-6; Nevada 1-0 for championship.
District Tourney: Collins won - Ankeny 1-0; Madrid 3-1 for championship.
Sub-State Tourney: Collins lost Auburn 12-3.