May 24, 1956 John Vasey's record before the State Tournament is: Pitched 70 innings this spring, hits - 26, strikeouts - 128, walks - (?), and a record of ten wins and one loss. Last fall of 1955 he had a record of eight wins and one loss. The only game he lost in fall season was to Tracy, 1-0, the team that won the fall 1955 baseball championship. The only other loss was in this spring of 1956 was to East Des Moines, 8-1. In this spring's tournaments, in seven games, he gave up only nine hits, no earned runs, and only one unearned run. In these 39 innings, he had four no-hitters and five shutouts. Mingo was defeated that had a 9-0 record. Jerry Nichol caught every game that John pitched and is the unsung hero of many games, and one of these was the East Des Moines game. Jerry has been our relief pitcher and did a good job against Lincoln of Des Moines in a scheduled season game.
Honored - Last Tuesday at 10:00 P. M. about 125 people in 50 cars, most of them decorated, went down to the highway junction 8-9 miles south of Collins to meet our baseball boys who won the first round in the State Tournament. When the boys arrived, they were transferred to the fire truck, which brought them into Collins. They were led by a highway patrol escort and followed by what might have been the whole town of Collins. During all this time, there was the usual excitement and noise (shooting of firecrackers, blowing horns, etc.). The boys were taken to the schoolhouse where there was a party for them and their parents. It began with a speech by our Superintendent Jackson. Then Coach Thompson introduced the team, bus driver, and bat boy. Each player gave a brief unprepared speech, which was enjoyed by the crowd. Next on the agenda was a cafeteria-style lunch with the players and their parents leading the line. The boys said the lunch of cake baked by several of the women, pop, and ice cream, furnished by the businessmen hit the spot.
Baseball 1956 Spring Season Summary: Collins won - Maxwell 15-2, Clemons 9-8, Lincoln of Des Moines 14-4, Milford 15-6. Lost - Slater 2-1, Mingo 10-1, East Des Moines 8-1, Maxwell 10-6, Huxley 7-3.
Sectional Tourney: Collins won - Baxter 10-0, Farrar 10-0, Mingo 2-1 for the sectional tournament championship.
District Tourney: Collins won - United Community 11-0, Huxley 7-0 for the district tournament championship.
Sub-state Tourney: Collins won - Stanhope 2-0, East Des Moines 1-0 for the sub-state championship.
State Tourney: Collins won - Franklin of Cedar Rapids 5-1. Lost - Thomas Jefferson of Council Bluffs - 10-4 for a final four placing. Season Record: Won - 12, Lost - 6.The team won eight consecutive tournament games with only two runs scored against them in these games.