40

Another of Decker's protégés, Jim Heller had played against Decker in the West Texas League where he won twenty games in 1948 and would repeat the feat in 1951. A crafty moundsman Heller had a delivery that kept opposing hitters off balance. Heller delivered the ball "out of his pocket almost," Johnny Watterson remembers. "You just couldn't see it in time." Heller became an instant leader with the Arrows winning ten games in 1949 and nine the following year, and Decker always turned to him in tight spots. Led by Heller and Bella, and supported by shortstop Tommy Dulmage, outfielders Doc Acocella, Joe Lay, and others, the Arrows were the class of the H&D league in 1949 and 1950 They were league championship both years. It should be noted, however, that the Central league Kentville Wildcats of 1949 with Gernert, Kaiser, Bobotas, Watterson and Chris Tonery were probably as talented as any team of the era. As a new decade began, however, forces were at work that would shift the balance of power in the league northeast to Pictou County and the Stellarton Albions.

41

'Smokey' Jim Heller of the Dartmouth Arrows
1949
'Little Brooklyn', Dartmouth Nova Scotia