PROVINCIAL SENIOR AMATEUR FINAL
(September 5) The Champs of Regina won both games from the Saskatoon Elks in the opening doubleheader playoff encounters for the Leader Cup, emblematic of the senior amateur baseball championship of Saskatchewan. The southern representatives won the morning game 9 to 5 and the afternoon session 13 to 8.
In a free-hitting opener, the visitors pounded out 14 hits off loser Alf Bennett. Winning hurler Pete Therrien struck out ten, walked three and scattered ten Saskatoon base blows. He also picked up two hits. Former Elk, Webb Bird, now playing again in Regina, was the big offensive noise in the Champs' win with two singles and three sacrifice bunts which advanced base runners. Roy Forsyth, a transplanted Saskatonian, as well as first baseman Palmer and outfielder Andreen all had a brace of base raps for the winners with one of Forsyth's falling in for three bases. "Pee Wee" Smith led the Elks at the dish with a triple, double and single.
Therrien (W) and Leigh
Alf Bennett (L) and Reeve
The homesters jumped into a 5 to 0 first-inning lead and increased it to 8 to 1 after the second frame but were unable to build on their momentum in the afternoon event. The Champs again piled up a 14-hit barrage against Saskatoon starter Fred Cuff and losing chucker Alf Bennett. Alvin Fritz tossed a complete-game seven-hitter for the mound victory. Regina first sacker Palmer blasted a home run and a pair of singles for the Champs. Teammates Joe Johnston and Andreen also picked up a trio of raps for the winners with two of Johnston's drives being three-baggers while one of Andreen's followed suit. "Pee Wee" Smith again led the Antlered Herd at the platter with a triple and double.
Fritz (W) and Leigh
Cuff, Alf Bennett (6) (L) and Hamilton, Reeve (6)
(September 10) A twin-bill playoff set-to in Regina saw the invading Saskatoon Elks live to breathe another day as the Violet Sox took the matinee game 12 to 5 and played to a 6 - 6 draw in the finale which was curtailed after seven frames due to darkness.
The visiting Elks scored five times in the top of the first inning and sailed to victory behind the six-hit chucking of southpaw Fred Cuff in the initial game at Park de Young. The Champs, meanwhile, were imploding with nine fielding miscues just to make things easier for their guests. Losing twirler Amadee Bennett was lit up for 12 base blows, three each by Joe McCulloch and outfielder Earl Fuller of the Saskatonians. Stew Leigh was Regina's shining light with the hickory, slamming out a triple, double and single.
Cuff (W) and Hamilton
Amadee Bennett (L) and Leigh
Trailing 6 to 4 after 5 1/2 innings of the nightcap, the Champs narrowed the deficit to one run when a passed ball allowed a single tally in the sixth. In the bottom of the seventh and final frame, catcher Stew Leigh of the Hoteliers singled to lead off the inning, stole second, moved to third on an infield out and then crossed the plate with the tying counter when Amadee Bennett singled. The Reginans again threatened to score what would have been the winner as they had the bases loaded with but one retired when the smallest player on the diamond, pint-sized "Pee Wee" Smith of the Elks, in full flight, collared a line-drive hit up the middle by Champs' playing-manager "Heinie" Rogers and stepped on the keystone bag to complete an unassisted double play. This defensive highlight of the playoffs prevented the Capital City gang from capturing the game and ending the series. Leigh, Therrien and Rogers all had two hits for Regina while shortstop Sid Robinson of the Antlered Tribe led all batters, garnering a trio of one-baggers.
Alf Bennett and Hamilton
Therrien and Leigh
(September 17) Once again, the Saskatoon Elks prevail as provincial amateur baseball champions. The Purple Hose nine established its claim to 1927 honours by taking both ends of a double-bill from the Regina Champs, winning the first game 5 to 1 to tie up the title series and then coming back with a 10 to 4 decision in the late session. A brace of Bridge City southpaw chuckers were seldom in danger as they choked off the Capital City attack for the double whammy.
Fred Cuff did the portside twirling for the Elks in the afternoon tilt, completely stopping the southerners with a dandy three-hitter to go along with ten strikeouts. Pete Therrien gave up 8 safeties in absorbing the loss. First baseman Pete Campbell had a triple and single for the victors. "Pee Wee" Smith contributed a double and single while Elks' outfielder Fred Goodman chipped in with a pair of singles.
Therrien (L) and Andreen
Cuff (W) and Hamilton
The Elks were never behind in the finale, jumping out to a 4 to 0 lead in the second inning. Left-hander Frank Bedgood, in his first series' appearance, out-duelled the youthful Regina tosser, Yonge. Joe McCulloch led the Purple Stockings with the stick, drilling four singles. First baseman Palmer was best for the losers at the dish as he lashed out three singles. His Queen City teammate, Pete Therrien, led in the power department, launching a triple and double.
Bedgood (W) and Hamilton
Yonge (L) and Andreen