ALBERTA GENERAL
(May 26) Champion continued to hold a jinx over Barons with a 5-1 victory in the opening game of the Wheat Belt Baseball League at Barons. Bud Siler pitched two-hit ball to earn the pitching win over young Bob Hood who yielded five hits and six walks. Siler fanned ten with no free passes. One of the highlights was a defensive play by Champion right fielder Mervyn Smith. On Sherwood's sharp drive to right field, Smith quickly retrieved the ball and made an outstanding throw to first base to turn a probable hit into an out.
Siler (W) and Watt
Hood (L) and Plourd
(May 30) In their home opener Sunday afternoon, Carmangay whipped Nobleford 12 to 2 behind the solid hurling of Bill Chilton.
xxx and xxx
Chilton (W) and R.L.Long
(June 6) A.Saffel, the ace hurler of the Barons nine of the Wheat Belt League turned in a pitching gem at home in fanning 19 as the homesters downed Brant 4-2. In the second contest Brant bounced back to bag a 7-4 verdict.
(June 9) The Barons nine and Carmangay split a Sunday twin-bill played at Carmangay. The visitors took the opener 10-0 before Carmangay rebounded with a 3-2 verdict in the second game.
Karl (L) and Plourd
Chilton, Teskey and Long
(June 18) Champion Red Sox copped top money at the Carmangay Tournament Friday as an enthusiastic crowd attended. Champion had an easy time in the opening game trouncing Barons 12-3 as Bud Siler handled the pitching duties.
Siler (W) and Watts
Saffel (L), Karl and Sherwood
Vulcan topped the host Carmangay nine 7-5, coming from behind an early 4-0 deficit.
Johnson, Gimlet and Speath
Chilton (L) and Long
Champion got by Vulcan 5-4 in the final.
Siler, M.Smith and Dupp, Watts
Fisher, Dann and Speath
(July 1) House of David had a big seventh inning, scoring five times, and that was the difference as the bearded wonders topped the Kansas City Monarchs 7-2 in an enteraining exhibition match at Henderson Park at Lethbridge. Some 2,000 fans (paying $1.30 apiece) jammed the stands, sprawled along the base lines or remained inside their cars. Hitting star of the contest was Ted Crapp, the Davids' catcher, who had a perfect night at the plate with four hits, two of them doubles, in four trips to the plate. Second baseman Handy of the Monarchs smacked a triple and single. In the 7th, the Davids combined three hits, two errors, a walk and a fielder's choice to put together their five-run rally. Cool Papa Bell, the Monarchs' manager got into the game while Doc Tally, head man for the House of David showed he had lost none of his old "Pepper Ball" mastery in performing for the large crowd. Johnny Fine picked up the win with an eight-hitter. Mickey Stubblefield allowed 11 hits in taking the loss.
Stubblefield (L) and Wright
Fine (W) and Crapp
(July 27) Champion Tournament
Rain wiped out the closing game of the opening day of the annual Lions Club Tournament at Champion but there were no tears as the raindrops brought welcome relief to farmers in the area which has seen near drought conditions. Previous to the downpour large crowds were on hand to watch Champion trim Claresholm 7-1 and Enchant eke out a 3-2 victory over Lomond. A 0-0 game after six innings, Claresholm scored in the top of the 7th inning and Champion responded with four in the bottom of the 7th and two more in the 8th for the win. Bud Siler picked up the win in relief.
McDonald (L) and Young
Chilton, Siler (7) and Watts
Crellin (L) and McBride
Petrie (W) and Howe
(July 31) The Lethbridge Herald ran a story on a recent baseball school, under the headline, "Successful School, Dodgers Impressed by Klem and Yanosik".
A total of 32 youthful baseball enthusiasts and many interested fans turned out at Henderson Park Friday morning as the first Brooklyn Dodger school ever held in Lethbridge got underway. The school commenced at 10 in the morning and ran through until three in the afternoon.
Don Lindberg, Brooklyn's North-western division scout, was in charge of the five-hour session and reported that there is a wealth of baseball talent in Lethbridge and southern Alberta.
Initial procedure of the day was assigning numbers to all players. The numbers were the only identification the players had during the workout.
Among the most promising players at the school were two Lethbridge ball-hawks and an Edmonton youngster, Lindberg said after the gamp had wound up that he was more than pleased with the showing of the players and was particularly interested in Johnny Klem, hard-hitting left fielder of the Reos, Clarence Yanosik, fleet-footed centre field guardian of the Reos and Elmer Thomas, a lefthanded hurler from Edmonton. "We are definitely interested in Klem, Yanosik and Thomas and plan on taking them down to one of our spring training camps next spring," Lindberg told Les Chenger, the local baseball man who was responsible for the school being held here.
Lindberg instructed all the players on the correct way to field a ball, batting hints and other baseball savvy. A pickup game was also played during the course of the day with all the 32 players taking part.
Although nothing is definite, it appears as though the Dodgers will hold a three-day school here next summer. Lindberg, more than impressed by the showing of many players at the Edmonton school, Calgary and Lethbridge, figures around 130 players will be on hand next year if the school is held here for three days.
Listed below is a list of the players who attended the school.
Wayne Ripley, Russell Bishop, Leroy Johnston, Douglas Thompson, all of Spring Coulee; Jack Gillies, Floyd Gillies, all of Picture Butte; Max Fairbanks, Val Grvabac, Allan Witbeck, all of Raymond; Douglas Gyle, Barons; Robert Shearer, Carmangay; Harry Gorrill, New Dayton; Tom Karren, Magrath; Ed Munroe, Spring Coulee; Neil Howell, Calgary; Elmer Thomas, Edmonton; Steve Odney, Steve Mikita, Eddie Dorohoy, Brian Henson, William Fekete, Roy Richardson, Carl Odney, Thomas Harris, John Kundrick, Clarence Yanosik, Norm Petrie, Bill Kucheran, John Koskoski, John Klem, all of Lethbridge. (Lethbridge Herald, July 31, 1948)
(* The story had Lindberg's name spelled incorrectly on several occasions).
(August 4) Vauxhall and Taber senior squads split a double-header at Vauxhall with the home club winning 2-0 in the first game scoring singletons in the 7th and 8th innings. In a free-swinging nightcap, Taber came out ahead 11-6.
(August 4) Champion Tournament
Picture Butte captured top money at the annual Champion Tournament Wednesday defeating Champion 5-1 in the final as Finley held the host club to a sixth inning run.
Finley (W) and Cook
Chilton (L), Siler (5) and Latiff, Watts (5)
Picture Butte advanced by ousting Parkland 9-0 while Champion gained a finals berth with a convincing 12-0 win over Enchant. In losing, Champion dropped its first game of the season. In an early round-robin, Picture Butte topped Parkland 4-3 and Parkland whipped Vulcan 16-1.
Siler (W), Latiff (7) and Watts
Jacobson (L), Petrie (4) and Howe
BIG FOUR INTER-CITY LEAGUE
(May 4) Calgary Purity announced the signing of three players, first baseman Walt Gully, second baseman Ernie Beland and shortstop Woody Huckabay. The Calgary Buffaloes inked right hander Jack Stover and third baseman Des O'Connor.
(May 14) Jack Mills made quite a debut for Calgary Purity tossing a six-hut shutout as the 99's downed Edmonton Cubs 13-0 in the opening game of the Big Four Baseball League. Purity had 17 hits.
Forrest Hunter, Trann (5) and Stevenson
Mills and Stewart
(May 22, Saturday) Calgary Purity 99s downed Edmonton Cubs 9-2. The 99s took a three-run lead in the opening frame and never looked back. They punched out 14 hits against two Cubs' hurlers and took advantage of five Edmonton errors. John Carpenter went the distance for the win.
Carpenter (W) and Weaver
Callihan (L), Trann (1) and Stevenson
(May 22, Saturday) Calgary Buffaloes topped Edmonton Eskimos 9-7. A three-run outburst in the bottom of the 8th inning provided the margin of victory.
(May 23, Sunday) Purity 99s made it three in a row over Edmonton Cubs with a 12-9 victory, in spite of six miscues in the field and a 5-0 deficit after two innings. 99s pounded four Cubs' pitchers for 18 hits in rebounding to take the win. An eight-run, 5th inning sewed up the triumph. Kanik was the winner in relief of starter Cameron.
Cameron, Kanick (W) (2) and Weaver
Purvis, Trann (4), Hunter (5), Peters (5) and Stevenson, Harney (5)
(May 23, Sunday) Edmonton Eskimos had 16 hits in downing Calgary Buffaloes 11-5.
(May 23) Calgary Buffaloes downed Edmonton Eskimos 9-7. Each side had 12 hits.
(May 24, Monday) Edmonton Eskimos shaded Edmonton Cubs 13-11. The wild contest featured 23 hits, 13 errors and 16 stolen bases. It was the Cubs' 4th straight loss.
Kusyk, Trann (1), V Callahan (7) and Stevenson
O'Neill, H Callahan (1) and Samis
(May 24) Edmonton Eskimos pounded out 16 hits and took advantage of eight errors to trounced Calgary Buffaloes 11-5.
(May 28) Calgary Buffaloes whipped Edmonton Cubs 18-7 in the first game of a three game weekend set.
(May 28) Calgary Purity downed Edmonton Eskimos 4-1, holding the Esks to six hits.
(May 29) Edmonton Eskimos clobbered Calgary Purity 25-0 with a 27 hit attack. Purity added to the embarrassment making 12 errors.
(May 29) Calgary Buffaloes downed Edmonton Cubs 5-3.
(May 30) Calgary Buffaloes edged Edmonton Cubs 4-2 to sweep their three-game series.
(June 2) Des O'Connor belted a pair of homers and a single to lead Calgary Buffaloes to a 5-2 win over Calgary Purity 99s.
(June 2) Edmonton Eskimos took a pair from the Edmonton Cubs 9-5 and 6-2. The Cubs did notch a win in the committee room as officials overturned the Esks 17-16 win of a week ago
(July 28) Brooklyn Dodgers announced they had offered two Calgary youngsters baseball tryouts in their 1949 spring training camps at Florida. Glen Gorbous, 18-year-old third sacker with Calgary Purity 99s in the Alberta Big Four circuit, and 17-year-old Brian Gibson from Calgary's junior ranks. Howard Haak, Dodger's Pacific Coast scout who ran a short summer school for Southern Alberta hopefuls, said Darwin Walkingshaw was another possibility for a tryout offer.
(August 20) Greg McLellan clubbed a pair of homers to account for the tying and winning runs in a 7-6, 13-inning win for Calgary Buffaloes over Edmonton Eskimos in the first game of the best-of-seven Big Four semi-finals at Calgary. Lloyd Bradley gave up four runs in the first inning but settled down to go the full 13-innings for the win. Calgary collected 14 hits of a pair of Edmonton hurlers.
Darrah, Seaman (9) and Samis
Bradley (W) and Petrunia
(August 22) Another pair of homers by Greg McLellan paced Calgary to a 6-3 win over Edmonton Eskimos.
(August 23) Greg McLellan bashed his fifth homer in three games but it wasn't enough as Edmonton Eskimos whipped the Buffaloes 9-1.
(August 28-29) Calgary Buffaloes retained the Calgary Brewery Trophy over the weekend in turning back a strong challenge from the Lethbridge Galt Miners. Buffs took the Saturday game 4-1 and came back with a 6-4 decision Sunday afternoon. Charlie Morris gave up a run in the first inning Saturday then blanked the Miners the rest of the way on a six-hitter to register the win. Norm Petrie took the loss. In the second game, Lloyd Bradley survived ten hits, including homers by Matt Slavich and Cliff Finley, to go the distance for the pitching win. Babe Work connected for a round-tripper for the winners. In an exhibition game Sunday night, the Buffs made a clean sweep of the series with a 4-2 victory.
Petrie, Finley (5) and Dupuis
Morris (W) and Mori
Kucheran (L) and Dupuis
Bradley (W) and Mori
(August 30) Calgary Purity 99ers downed Edmonton Eskimos 9-3 to take a 2-1 game lead in the Big Four Baseball League finals. Winning pitcher John Carpenter and third baseman Glen Gorbous led the offense each with three hits. The visitors took a three-run lead in the 3rd frame and added a pair in the 5th before wrapping up the contest with a four-run outburst in the 8th. The contest drew a capacity crowd of 4.500.
(September 5-6) Calgary Purity, the pennant winners in the Big Four League, topped the Lethbridge Reos three games to one in a four-game exhibition series Sunday and Monday at Henderson Park as lefty Tony Maze hurled three of the four games for Calgary. Purity took both Sunday games 1-0 and 5-3 then captured the Monday afternoon encounter 4-3 before dropping the nightcap 7-5.
In the opener, Maze, Purity's chunky portsider hooked up in a tight pitching duel with Bill Kucheran. Maze allowed just two hits and fanned ten while Kucheran scattered six safeties and collected six strike outs. The only run came in the ninth inning as Ernie Beland singled and Dick Noon knocked him in with a blow down the right field line.
Maze (W) and Stewart
Kucheran (L) and Dupuis
Maze also went the distance for Purity in the second game giving up seven hits in the 5-3 win. Knuckle-baller Stan Chervinski yielded eight hits in taking the loss.
Maze (W) and Stewart
Chervinski (L) and Dupuis
Woody Huckaby pitched a solid game for Purity Monday afternoon holding the Reos to three hits and Calgary collected six off Hec Negrello in the 4-3 triumph. Purity got the winner in the fourth inning as Buck Weaver, Jimmy Lowe and Huckaby connected for back-to-back-to-back triples.
Huckaby (W) and Weaver
Negrello (L) and Dupuis
Reos got their only win Monday evening with a two-run spurt in the bottom of the seventh inning. Yanosik and Walkingshaw reached with singles and advanced on a sacrifice. On a bunt down the first base line, Ernie Beland throw home was wild and both runners scored. Glen Gorbous paced Purity withy a triple and two singles. Maze threw his third game of the series allowing 12 hits.
Maze (L) and Weaver
Kucheran, Menzies (W) (4) and Dupuis
SOUTHERN ALBERTA BASEBALL LEAGUE
(May 24) Blanked for eight innings, the Lethbridge Miners scored a pair in the bottom of the ninth to post a 2-1 victory over Picture Butte Royals in the opening game of the 1948 Southern Alberta Baseball League. The Royals took the lead in the fifth inning as Tommy Karren crossed the plate on Roy Hayashi's double. In the ninth, Steve Smerek drove in Frank Deak with a single and scored himself as Fred Onofrychuk delivered his second hit of the game. Johnny Ontko held the Royals to four hits while the Miners collected ten off Russ Finley.
Finley (L) and Cook
Ontko (W) and Deak
(May 24) Lethbridge Reos brought out the firepower on opening day to demolish Taber 14 to 4 and 13-1 in a double-header at Taber. Included in a 12-hit attack in the first game were a pair of doubles by Clarence Yanosik. In the nightcap Val Grvabac was the big gun reaching base five times, two hits, an error, hit by a pitch and a fielder's choice. Babe Goodrich had a six-hitter with 13 strikeouts in the first game while Don Menzies had a nine-hit effort in the seven-inning second contest. Reos made just one error on the day while Taber booted the ball nine times, seven in the second encounter.
Goodrich (W) and Petrunia
Kerkhoff (L), Kinniburgh (7) and Stubbert
Menzies (W) and Petrunia
Christenson (L) and Stubbert
(May 30) The Reos and Purity split a pair at Henderson Park. Bill Kucheran pitched Purity to a 10-6 win in the lid-lifter while the Reos bounced back for a 6-5 win in the nightcap. Purity put the first game away with a seven-run 4th inning. Glen Gorbous had two hits in the inning. He also contributed a run-scoring single in the 8th. He had a triple and double in the second game which featured a two-run homer by Norm Petrie.
Goodrich (L) and Petrunia
Kucheran (W) and Dupuis, Richardson
Petrie (L) and Dupuis
Menzies (W) and Petrunia
(May 30) Lethbridge Miners took both ends of Sunday's error-filled double-header over hometown Taber Bears, 4-2 and 4-0. The teams made 20 bobbles on the day, 12 by the home club. Matt Slavich twirled a six-hitter for the win in the first game and George Rodzinyak, with just one strikeout and no walks, fired a three-hit shutout in the second.
Kinniburgh (L) and Stubbert
Slavich (W) and Deak
Westora (L) and Stubbert
Rodzinyak (W) and Deak
(May 30) At Medicine Hat, the Bow Island-Burdett Combines and the Tigers split honours in the season opening twin bill before a large and enthusiastic crowd. Shorty Collins, the Combines' ace, set down the locals 6-1 in the first game yielding just six hits. In the evening, the Tigers lambasted the visitors 16 to 6 combining nine hits with 12 walks and five Combines' errors. But, the Tigers had to come from behind as the visitors had a 3-0 lead in the second inning. With one out, Wally Granberg loaded the bases with three straight walks and singles by Crane and Smith netted four counters. Collins cracked a bases-loaded double in the fifth to put Bow island-Burdett back in the lead, 6-4, but a seven-run sixth inning, on four hits, four walks and an error, put the game on ice for the locals. They added five more in the eighth for good measure.
Collins (W) and H.Emard
Sailer (L) and Long
Granberg, Seveirud, Thacker, Miller, Flamme and Hogan
Kline, Knight and Long
(May 30) Picture Butte Royals got off to a flying start in the Southern Alberta baseball wars when they trounced the Magrath Eagles 8-1 Sunday. Ted Malmberg and Russ Finley combined to hold the visitors to a single marker. Walt Pashuk, the Eagles hurler, was the game's top hitter with a triple and single.
Pashuk (L) and xxx
Malmberg (W), Finley (7) and xxx
(June 2) Magrath Eagles scored five in the initial frame en route to their first victory of the new season, an 8-3 triumph over Wrentham.
Rosser (L) and xxx
xxx and xxx
(June 2) New Dayton came to town Wednesday and surprised Purity 99 downing the oilmen 6-5. Rex Cahoon fired eight shutout innings before Purity broke loose for all five of its runs in the bottom of the ninth inning. The visitors tapped Bill Kucheran for 15 hits, three by B.Cronkhite the first sacker. Cahoon and Duncan each had two hits and two runs scored. Harry Gorrill and Harry Cronkhite collected two safeties apiece. For the losers, Ray Richardson, Norm Petrie and Pereni each clubbed three hits. Richardson had the only homer.
Cahoon (W), H.Gorrill (9), Cahoon (9) and T.Cronkhite
Kucheran (L) and Dupuis
(June 6) Two Lethbridge Reo errors and a wild pitch in the 10th inning gave the Bow Island-Burdett Combines a split of an "A" Division double-header Sunday. Reos took the opener 5-3 but dropped the twilight fixture 3-2. In the afternoon Hec Negrello and Darwin Walkingshaw each smacked a triple and double to lead the winners. Walkingshaw had another two-bagger in the second game. Doug Flamme was the heavy hitter for the Combines with four hits on the day. In the second game, Reos out-hit the Combines 13 to 8 but errors by Babe Goodrich and Pete Lysak, coupled with a wild pitch, gave Phil Nelson the Combine centre fielder an opportunity to notch the winning run.
Schneidt (W) and Petrunia
Collins (L) and Emard
Chervinski, Goodrich and Petrunia
Thacker (W) and Allen
(June 6) Odie Lowe's Purity 99s took both games of Sunday's twin-bill at Picture Butte, downing the Royals 7-2 and 8-1. A three-run splurge in the first frame of the afternoon fixture was enough to give the oilmen the victory. Norm Petrie held the locals to four hits in his complete game performance. Purity also jumped into an early lead in the second contest building a 4-0 advantage after two innings. Bill Kucheran gave up just six hits and a lone marker in his route-going effort for Purity.
Petrie (W) and Dupuis
Finley (L) and Cook
Kucheran (W) and Dupuis
Moriyama (L) , Malmberg and Cook
(June 6) Paced by some rookies up from junior ranks, the Lethbridge Miners knocked off the highly-touted Medicine Hat Tigers in both games of a Sunday double-header, 3-1 and 7-5. Johnny Ontko tamed the Tigers with eight well scattered hits in the afternoon while George Rodzinyak recovered from a four-run first inning to allow just one more the rest of the way as the Miners rallied with four runs in the second and three in the third for the win. Jack Yucytus, another rookie, slapped three doubles, one scoring three runs, and Rodzinyak connected for a three-bagger.
Sailer (L) and xxx
Ontko (W) and xxx
Kline (L) , Knight (3) and xxx
Rodzinyak (W) and xxx
(June 6) In a well-played contest at Wrentham Sunday, New Dayton came away with a 4-2 triumph behind the brilliant four-hit pitching of Harry Gorrill. Both Garth Ledgerwood and Ed Rudd, for Wrentham, also hurled well allowing just six hits between them while fanning nine. Gorrill had five strikeouts and one base on balls. The visitors rolled up a 4-0 lead before Wrentham got on the scoreboard. In the first frame, A.Duncan walked, stole second and third and came home on D.Duncan's fly to centre field. They added another run in the fourth on two singles and a two-bagger by Harry Cronkhite. In the sixth, a walk, Harry Cronkhite's single and a double by T.Cronkhite added two more counters. Ken Mueller got one for the home club in the sixth as he tripled and romped home on Bill Huckaby's single. In the ninth, Ledgerwood was hit by a pitch and raced home on Vince Bobenic's drive to the outfield.
Gorrill (W) and Kaupp
Ledgerwood, Rudd and Huckaby
"A" Division
New Dayton 2 - 0
Purity 99s 2 - 1
Magrath Eagles 1 - 1
Picture Butte Royals 1 - 2
Wrentham Red Sox 0 - 2
"B" Division
Lethbridge Miners 4 - 0
Lethbridge Reos 3 - 1
Medicine Hat Tigers 2 - 3
Bow Island-Burdett 2 - 3
Taber Yellow Sox 0 - 4
(June 9) Ted Malmberg fired a five-hitter to help Picture Butte to a 4-1 victory over New Dayton, the first loss of the season for the league-leaders of the "A" Division. Harry Cronkhite allowed just six hits, but five New Dayton errors proved costly.
Malmberg (W) and Cook
H.Cronkhite and T.Cronkhite
(June 9) In a rain shortened contest, Lethbridge Miners scored three in the first inning and went on to a 5-1, six-inning, victory over the Reos in the first game of a White Lunch challenge series at Adams Park.. In the initial frame, Jimmy Allison walked and Matt Slavich knocked him in with the first of his two doubles. Joe Arisman cracked one off the left-centre field fence to plate the second run and Johnny Ontko rapped one to right field and when Witwicki's easy roller was fumbled at shortstop, Miners got their third counter. Arisman drove in two more runs in the third. Reos, who had just three hits off Slavich, got two of them in the fifth as Hec Negrello singled and Johnny Klem brought him home with a two-bagger.
Goodrich (L) and Petrunia
Slavich (W) and Witwicki
(June 10) The first game of the White Lunch challenge series between Reo Motors and Lethbridge Miners is to be replayed. Miners won the contest 5-1, but the Reos protested that the Miners had used an unregistered player. The league secretary reluctantly allowed the protest while pointing out the Reos had also breached rules for the challenge series.
(June 13) Behind a masterful three-hitter by burly Bud Siler, Champion surprised close to 1,000 fans at Adams Park Sunday afternoon by edging the Lethbridge Miners 3-2 in exhibition play. The squads battled to a 4-4 draw in the nightcap. Siler rang up 17 strikeouts with just a single base on balls giving up both runs on a bloop double in the fourth inning after the walk and a hit batsman. Champion got the winner in the 7th on two hits, a sacrifice and a fielder's choice. Bob Fath streaked home with the deciding tally. Johnny Ontko yielded just five hits in taking the loss.
Siler (W) and Watts
Ontko (L) and Deak
(June 13) Purity 99 took a firm hold on top stop in the "A" Division of the Southern Alberta League standings Sunday taking both ends of a double-header from Picture Butte Royals at Henderson park, 5-3 and 3-2. In the afternoon, Purity broke a 3-3 tie with a pair in the seventh inning for the win. Bill Kucheran field a five-hitter for the mound triumph.
Kucheran (W) and Richardson
Malmberg (L), Moriyama and Karren
Johnny Goran fired shutout ball for eight innings but needed help in the ninth to quell a Butte rally as Purity escaped with a 3-2 victory. A two-base swat by Steve Odney drove in the initial run for Purity in the sixth inning. Bill Ingram's two-run homer in the eighth increased the lead to 3-0. But, in the top of the ninth Roy Hayashi drew a walk and Barton Watson reached on an error. Loggie Erickson brought both runners homer with a two-bagger to right-centre field. Norm Petrie relieved Goran to put out the fire.
Finley (L) and Cook
Goran, Petrie and Dupuis
(June 13) Wrentham pleased the home fans Sunday with their first victory a 5-1 decision over New Dayton. A three-run second frame, highlighted by Johnny Rosser's double, put the homesters in front to stay. Rosser went the distance on the mound for the winners allowing seven hits, the same as Harry Gorrill for New Dayton.
H.Gorrill and T.Cronkhite
Rosser (W) and Huckaby
(June 13) Combining ten hits with nine Medicine Hat errors, Lethbridge Reos eked out a 5-4 victory in the second game of a double-header. Tigers took the opener 7-4. Reos jumped on Bill Sailer for four runs in the first two frames, and had two runners aboard in the third with none out. But the Tigers produced a triple play on a grounder to the pitcher and Sailer proceeded to blank the Reos for the last seven innings as the Tigers cracked 11 hits in their first game triumph.
A.Yanosik (L) and Toccoli
Sailer (W) and Long
After spotting the Tigers three runs in the first inning of the second game, Stan Chervinski settled down to allow just five hits overall while the Reos fought back to tie in the fifth when reliever Jimmy Toole uncorked a wild pitch to allow Val Grvabac to tally. They got the winning run in the seventh thanks to a pair of bobbles by the Tigers.
S.Chervinski (W) and Petrunia
Knight, J.Toole and Plotsky
"A" Division
Purity 99s 4 - 1
New Dayton 2 - 2
Magrath Eagles 1 - 1
Picture Butte Royals 2 - 4
Wrentham Red Sox 1 - 2
"B" Division
Lethbridge Miners 4 - 0
Lethbridge Reos 4 - 2
Medicine Hat Tigers 3 - 4
Bow Island-Burdett 2 - 3
Taber Bears 0 - 4
(June 20) Stan Chervinski was the man at the plate and on the mound as Reo Motors edged Medicine Hat in a 12-inning thriller, 2-1. Tigers took the lead in the fourth on Todd's two-bagger and held the advantage until the bottom of the ninth when pitcher Bill Sailer threw wide of second in an attempt to trap Johnny Klem off the bag. The miscue allowed the Reo left fielder to scamper all the way home with the tying marker. Chervinski relieved starter Schneidt in the 10th and blanked the Tigers in his three-inning stint. In the 12th Val Grvabac was hit by a pitch and moved to second on a sacrifice. Chervinski's smash to right-centre field brought in the game winner. The second game was called after just three innings on account of rain with the Tigers ahead 2-1.
Sailer (L) and Long
Schneidt, Chervinski (W) and Petrunia
Kapp (W) and Long
Goodrich (L) and Toccoli
(June 20) The Bow Island-Burdett Combines blanked Taber Bears in both games of a double-header, winning 4-0 and 16-0 in wildly contrasting affairs. The first game was an 11-inning thriller as Kinniburgh, for Taber, and Joe Thacker pitched superbly. A two-run homer by Herb Thacker keyed the Combines four-run outburst in the 11th. The second game was a runaway as the Combines pounded five Taber hurlers for 14 hits while Shortly Collins fired shutout ball.
Thacker (W) and Allen
Kinniburgh (L) and Stubbert
Collins (W) and Allen
Kerkhoff, Ledgerwood, Lewis, Odlund, Nelson and Stubbert
(June 23) Lethbridge Purity 99s got some payback for New Dayton's surprise victory at the beginning of June downing the home club 9-2 behind the solid hurling of Norm Petrie who had a shutout until the bottom of the ninth when New Dayton got its only two runs. Glen Gorbous led the winners with three hits. Kaupp, the homesters second baseman, reached base four straight times, with two hits and a pair of free passes. Petrie allowed just six hits in his route-going effort.
Petrie (W) and Dupuis
Gorrill (L), Cahoon and Cronkhite
(June 27) Lethbridge Reos and Vauxhall Giants provided some weird and wacky baseball at Henderson Park Sunday as the Reos won the second game 9-4 after the teams fought to a 6-6 draw in the opener. George (Babe) Goodrich fired a two-hitter in the first game as the Reos pounded 12 safeties off Skettering. But, errors, by large measure, determined the outcome. Reos had a 3-0 lead but in the fourth the visitors got just one hit but combined with two walks, three errors and some head-shaking plays Vauxhall scored five times. They added another in the eighth after Harold Dalton got a life when Hec Negrello and Val Grvabac did an Alphonso and Gaston act with an infield pop-up. Doug Stevenson poled a blow that Johnny Kundrick, the Reos right fielder, let through. Then Dalton came home when catcher Ted Petrunia tried to cut down Stevenson in his steal of second. Reos had plated a pair in the seventh when Johnny Klem banged a homer and Grvabac reached on a fielder's choice and came tearing home on Pete Lysak's single. In the ninth, down 6-5, pitcher Stan Chervinski was sent up to pinch hit and the veteran came through with a single to centre to bring in Petrunia.
In the second game, the Reos trotted out newcomer Ivan Norris who proceeded to toss a three-hitter for the pitching win. After the Reos garnered four runs in the second frame highlighted by triples by Erickson and Clarence Yanosik, Vauxhall rallied for four markers in the fourth. Martin and Roy Cleland walked, and an error loaded the bases to set the stage for Howg's three-run smash to right field. An error allowed Howg to trot home. The Reos tightened up defensively and Norris blanked the visitors the rest of the way as the Reos added three in the fourth and two in the seventh to win 9-4.
Skettering (L) and Howg
Goodrich (W) and Petrunia
R.Cleland, Brooks and Howg
Norris (W) and Petrunia
(June 27) Bow Island-Burdett dropped the Lethbridge Miners out of undisputed possession of first place in the "B' Division taking both games of a double-header, 5-4 in the afternoon and 4-2 in the nightcap. They were the first defeats of the season for the Miners.
(June 27) Picture Butte Royals captured both ends of a twin-bill from the Red Sox at Wrentham, taking the first 7-5 in 11 innings and then winning 7-4 in the second encounter. Vince Bobinec, the Sox hurler in the afternoon, smacked the only homer.
(June 27) Taber Bears are still looking for their first victory after tangling with Medicine Hat in a double-header at the 'Hat and coming away with their seventh and eighth losses of the season, 7-0 and 11-1. Jim Wifley set the Bears down on four hits in the first game while the Tigers collected 11 off Dick Kinniburgh. Tigers sewed up the second contest when they crossed the plate eight times in the third inning thanks to six walks, three hits and two errors. Taber out-hit the Tigers 10 to 8.
D.Kinniburgh (L) and Stubbert
Wifley (W) and Long
T.Kerkhoff (L) and Lewis
Odland and Odland, Stubbert
(June 29) In a dandy pitcher's duel at Picture Butte, the Royals and New Dayton fought to a 1-1 draw. Russ Finley, on the hill for Picture Butte allowed just three hits while whiffing 16. Ivan Norris fired a two-hitter and fanned seven.
Norris and T.Cronkhite
R.Finley and Erickson
(June 29) Lethbridge Miners took a firm hold on their retention of the White Lunch Cup at Adams Park crushing the Reo Motors threat 8-1 in an error-filled contest. Each side booted the ball six times. Lefty Matt Slavich hurled a four-hitter for the win allowing just a third inning run. Miners scored singletons in each of the first four innings then capped the offensive with four in the fifth.
Chervinski (L), Negrello (5) and Toccoli
Slavich (W) and Deak
"A" Division
Purity 99s 5 - 2
Magrath Eagles 2 - 1
Picture Butte Royals 4 - 4
New Dayton 2 - 3
Wrentham Red Sox 1 - 4
"B" Division
Lethbridge Reos 5 - 2
Lethbridge Miners 4 - 3
Bow Island-Burdett 7 - 5
Medicine Hat Tigers 6 - 4
Taber Bears 0 - 8
(July 1) Medicine Hat Tournament
Lethbridge Reos shaded Medicine Hat 9-8 to waltz off with top money of $300 in the Kinsmen Tournament at Medicine Hat. Reos built up a three run lead after five innings only to see the advantage nullified in the sixth when the 'Hatters capitalized on wildness by Reos' hurlers to score six times. With the sacks loaded in the 7th for Lethbridge, Darwin Walkingshaw plunked a two-bagger to centre to score three and Hec Negrello followed with a timely poke to score Walkingshaw to put the Reos ahead 7-6. Tigers came right back with a run in the bottom of the 7th to make it 7-7. Pete Lysak, Babe Goodrich and Doug Menzies supplied the winning punch in the 8th with two singles and a double good for two runs. Gordon Smith's three-bagger in the ninth to score Fred Long raised the Tigers' hopes but a ground out ended the game.
Goodrich, Negrello, Menzies and Petrunia
Sagstuen, J.Toole and Long
Veteran Ted Malmberg hurled a six-hitter to lead Picture Butte to a 7-2 triumph in the consolation final over Portreeve, Saskatchewan. Two walks and three hits gave the Buttes four tallies in the 7th inning to put the contest in the bag. Singles by Roy Hayashi and Malmberg accounted for the markers.
Willis (L), Franks (2) and A.Powell
Malmberg (W) and Cook
(July 4) Lethbridge Purity 99 and Coleman Cubs split a pair Sunday at Henderson Park. Purity took the opener 7-6 coming from behind with three in the 7th and one in the bottom of the ninth for the victory. Steve Odney of the winners and Alex Kovacik of the Cubs slammed homers. Bill Kucheran was the beneficiary of the late rally picking up the win in relief of starter Johnny Goran.
Lefty Kimoto (L) and Yoshinaka
Goran, Kucheran (W) (4) and Dupuis
The Cubs quickly took the lead in the second game with a brace in the opening frame and three more in the fourth en route to an 8-4 victory. Rocky Richardson, the 99's leadoff man, tripled and came home on Eddie Dorohoy's fielder's choice in the first and then Purity was blanked until the 8th when they rallied for three runs. Stumpo Kimoto held Purity to six hits while the Cubs pounded out 14 against Neil Howell.
Stumpo Kimoto (W) and Yoshinaka
Howell (L) and Dupuis
(July 6) Lethbridge Reos rebounded from an opening game shellacking to whip the Lethbridge Miners 12-3 to tie their best of three White Lunch challenge series at a game apiece. Alex Yanosik limited the north side club to two hits over the first five scoreless innings before taking it easy with an 8-0 lead and giving up another seven hits over the last four frames. Darwin Walkingshaw was the big gun for the winners with three hits. For the Miners, the two juniors again led the club with Joe Arisman and George Rodzinyak each with two hits.
A.Yanosik (W) and Petrunia
Slavich (L), Ontko and Deak
(July 8) The White Lunch Trophy is in the hands of the Lethbridge Reos who pounded out 12 hits at Adams Park to trounced the Miners 8-2 and take the best-of-three challenge series two games to one. Babe Goodrich held the Miners to five hits in going the route for the pitching win. Reos took the lead right from the start as Clarence Yanosik's double drove in Darwin Walkingshaw, who had walked, for the game's first run. Another couple of tallies in the second, on three hits and a fielder's choice, put the southsiders in the lead for good.
Goodrich (W) and Toccoli
M.Slavich (L) and Deak
(July 8) Wrentham Red Sox rapped out 18 hits in taking a 14-10 slugfest from Purity 99's. Romie Miller led the Sox with a pair of round-trippers off Purity's Johnny Goran. Sox built up a 10-1 lead after five innings and had to stave off a late charge by Purity who tallied five times in the sixth and added four in the seventh.
Eliason, Rosser and Huckaby
Goran (L) and Dupuis
(July 15) Ligon's All-Stars fell behind 4-0 in the first inning but bounced back with four runs in the 7th and a pair in the 8th for a 9-5 win over Lethbridge All-Stars. Lefty Jack Johnson allowed just seven hits in registering the win. Felix McLaren had a double and two singles to lead the hitters. Toby Simms, Ligon's second sacker had a pair of safeties. The winning outburst in the 7th included singles by Eddie Brown and Tom Snoddy and McLaren's double.
Johnson (W) and Underwood
Petrie (L), Kucheran (8) and Petrunia
(July 16) A week before the Southern Alberta playoffs were scheduled to begin, Purity 99 has disbanded. Les Chenger, manager of the club, confirmed the rumour.
So ends the club that town-talk whispered was assembled on promises reaching all the way from a package of bubble gum to a fabulous $80 a month salary. [Lethbridge Herald, July 17, 1948]
(July 18) Lethbridge Reos and Bow Island-Burdett Combines split a double-header at Henderson Park Sunday. Combines took a 6-2 lead and held off a late charge by the Reos in the first game to win 6 to 5 behind the seven-hit pitching by Shorty Collins who helped his own cause with two hits. Bill Kucheran went the distance with a seven-hitter as Reos won the second game 4-3. Clarence Yanosik paced the Reos with a double and two singles.
Collins (W) and Allen
A.Yanosik, Negrello (8) and Petrunia
Nelson (L) and Allen, Emard (6)
Kucheran (W) and Petrunia
(July 18) Rookie Johnny Ontko fashioned a four-hit shutout at Adams ball yard Sunday as Lethbridge Miners blanked the touring Dykeman's Bars 8-0 in the first game of a double-header. Miners also took the second contest, 11-5. Ontko fanned nine and walked two in his outstanding performance. Miners collected 13 hits, included a pair of extra base blows by Matt Slavich.
Gray (L) and Horning
Ontko (W) and Dupuis, Deak
Miners fell behind 4-0 in the second game before rallying to whip the Bars 11-5 with a 14-hit attack. The visitors combined three hits and two walks off Norm Petrie to score four times in the first inning. The locals responded with three in their half of the first and Petrie tied the game in the second inning coming home on Matt Slavich's drive to left field. Joe Arisman shot the Miners into the lead when he crossed home plate on George Rodzinyak's smash to centre. They added four in the fifth and two more in the 8th. Petrie allowed nine hits in going the distance for the pitching win.
Jaap, Grey and Horning
Petrie (W) and Deak
(July 21) Matt Slavich had a rough first inning giving up two runs then settled down to pitch shutout ball the rest of the way to lead Lethbridge Miners a 4-2 win over Taber and first place in the "A" Division of the Southern Alberta League. Slavich also drove in one run and scored the tying marker while his brother Steve Slavich notched the winner on Steve Smerek's line drive to right.
Kerkhoff, Kinniburgh and Kaga
Slavich (W) and Deak
(July 21) Picture Butte strengthened its hold on second place in the "A" Division of the Southern Alberta League with a 5-4 win over New Dayton in the second game of a double-header. The teams fought to a 5-5 draw in the first game. New Dayton rallied for four runs in the top of the ninth to emerge with a draw in the opener.
Gorrill and D.Duncan
R.Finley, Moriyama and Cook
A long homer by Stan Thomas in the ninth inning of the second game gave the Royals a 5-4 verdict. Ted Malmberg and McMullen combined on an eight-hitter for the winners.
Pengully (L) and D.Duncan
Malmberg, McMullen and Cook
(July 22) Lethbridge Reos spotted Picture Butte a 7-3 lead before rallying in the 7th and 8th inning to edge the visitors 8-7 at Henderson Park. Don Menzies provided a dramatic finish to the challenge series socking a two-run homer for the winning run and the White Lunch Trophy. Reos won the best-of-three series in two straight games after taking the opener Wednesday 8-0. Roy Hayashi was the game's top swatter with four hits in five trips. Ted Petrunia went three for four.
Malmberg, Finley (8) and Cook
Howell (W), Negrello (9) and Petrunia
(July 25) Veteran flinger Stan Chervinski had his knuckle ball dancing Wednesday in pitching George Yanosik's Lethbridge Reos to an 8-0 blanking of the Picture Butte Royals in the first game of a best-of-three series for the White Lunch Trophy. Chervinski held the Royals to four hits and a walk while fanning four. Russ Finley went the route giving up seven hits in taking the loss. Reos took the lead in the first inning with four runs. Two walks and a double by Johnny Klem proceeded a booming, bases-clearing double by Hec Negrello who came home on an error. They added three in the fourth without a hit. The Royals made three errors and Finley walked three.
R.Finley (L) and Cook
Chervinski (W) and Petrunia
(July 25) Medicine Hat hurler Bill Sailer won his own game in the bottom of the ninth inning Sunday pushing a single into right field to send Andy Kapp home from second base with the winning run in a 10-9 victory over Lethbridge Reos in the first game of their Division "B" final series. Later, the Reos beat the Tigers 10-3 in an exhibition game. Darwin Walkingshaw and Val Grvabac of the Reos and Kapp of the Tigers led the hitters each with three hits.
Chervinski, Negrello (L) (4) and Petrunia
Sailer (W) and Long
(July 25) In the Southern Alberta Senior Baseball playoffs, Bow Island-Burdett Combines grabbed a win and a tie against Lethbridge Miners Sunday in a semi-final double-header. Combines pounded out 17 hits and played errorless ball in the opener to win 10-3. Shorty Collins fired a seven-hitter for the win.
Collins (W) and Allen
Ontko (L), Allison and xxx
The nightcap went 10 innings before being called because of darkness. Miners came from behind in the bottom of the ninth to tie a 5-5. Matt Slavich's triple with one aboard tied the count.
Thacker, Collins and Allen
Slavich and Deak
(July 28) Picture Butte Royals consolidated their hold on second place in the A Division with a thrilling 2-1 victory over the pace-setting Magrath Eagles. Barton Watson's line-drive double in the bottom of the 11th scored Russ Finley with the winning run. Three Royals' hurlers combined a a five hitter. Walt Pashuk went the route, taking the loss for the Eagles.
Pashuk (L) and xxx
Malmberg, Moriyama, Watson and xxx
(August 1) The Bow Island-Burdett Combines advanced to the division final by splitting a twin-bill with Lethbridge Miners. The visitors easily took the first game 15-4 but the Combines regrouped to shade the Miners 8 to 7 in the second game. Joe Thacker gave up nine hits but went the distance for the pitching win in the deciding encounter. Combines got the win in the last of the ninth when a pop fly dropped safely back of second base to bring in the winning run.
Ontko (L) and Deak
Thacker (W) and Allen
Matt Slavich pitched and batted the Miners to their opening game win. He picked up five hits in six trips to the plate while going the route on the hill in the blowout.
Slavich (W) and Deak
Collins (L) and Allen
(August 1) With 1,400 fans looking on, Medicine Hat Tigers ousted the Lethbridge Reos from the Southern Alberta playoffs Sunday taking a 6-1 lead after two innings and downing the Reos 8 to 5 to win the series in two straight games. They won the opener 10-9 last Sunday. Reos managed to win an exhibition game, 7-3. Medicine Hat pushed across four runs in the first frame as Doug Toole led off the attack with a double and raced home as Clarence Yanosik lost Fred Long's high fly in the sun. Long scored on an error. Gord Smith crossed the platter on a ground out and Jimmy Toole got the fourth run on Ted Smith's scratch single. Reos got on the scoreboard in their half of the first as Darwin Walkingshaw singled and scored on a drive by Clarence Yanosik. Four hits, by Crane, Doug Toole, Jimmy Toole and Andy Kapp gave the 'Hatters two more in the sixth. Don Menzies punched a run-scoring triple for the Reos second run and they added another in the sixth. Yanosik ripped a double to bring in two runs in the seventh.
Sailer (W) and Long
A.Yanosik (L), Goodrich (2), Negrello (8) and Petrunia
Stan Chervinski held the Tigers to five hits and Clarence Yanosik cracked a lone homer in the Reos 7-3 victory. Johnny Kundrick had three hits.
Wifley (L), Kapp (6) and Long
Chervinski (W) and Grvabac
(August 2) Wrentham Red Sox shaded Picture Butte 3-2 in the opening game of the "A" Division semi-finals. Elmo Eliason, the Sox ace, bested the combined pitching efforts of Barney Watson and Ted Malmberg for the Royals. A third inning rhubarb highlighted the action. The dispute arose over a call with Watson at the plate. Umpire George Dew ejected the Red Sox catcher Bill Huckaby but the Sox players refused to continue and left the diamond. With fans booing lustily the game was held up for twenty minutes with Dew finally reversing his decision and permitted Huckaby to return to the game.
Eliason (W) and xxx
Watson, Malmberg and xxx
(August 2) Lethbridge Miners surprised the touring Oakland Beavers Monday taking a 6-4 decision in the first of a two game series. Miners grabbed the lead with three runs in the third inning when Steve Smerek and George Rodzinyak scampered home on an overthrow of third and Hec Negrello scored on an infield grounder after stealing third. Beavers got back in the game in the fourth when Jerry Burleson smacked a long double off the fence in right-centre scoring Chappie Gray who had doubled and Randy Olea who drew a walk. Miners went up 4-2 in the bottom of the fourth as Negrello's single drove in Bill Kucheran, on base with a one-bagger. Olea's single through the box in the top of the sixth brought in Wilbert Greene with the Beavers' third marker but the Miners came right back in the bottom of the frame to plate another run, Smerek scooting home on Negrello's slam to right. Smerek tallied the Miners final run in the 8th coming home in front of a triple by Matt Slavich. Oakland rallied for a run in the ninth on Hamilton's one-base swat, a walk, a double steal and an infield out. Kucheran went the distance, giving up nine hits for the win. Miners got ten hits off Greene.
Greene (L) and Hamilton
Kucheran (W) and Witwicki
(August 3) The barnstorming Oakland Beavers even their Lethbridge series Tuesday with a 6-3 victory over the Miners. Lethbridge had won the opener Monday 6-4. Mule Brown and Percy Fisher combined to hold the home club to seven hits to best Norm Petrie who allowed nine to the visitors. Buddy Watkins, Jerry Burleson and Brown each had two hits for the Beavers.
Brown (W), Fisher (8) and Hamilton
Petrie (L) and Witwicki
(August 8) A seeing-eye single, just over first base, by catcher Bus Allen, scored two runs to break a 4-4 deadlock and give Bow Island-Burdett Combines a 6-4 victory over Medicine Hat Tigers in the opening game of a best-of-five Southern Alberta League final series. It was a tight contest all the way. Joe Thacker, on the hill for the Combines, shutout the Tigers for six innings while his mates picked up a run in the second and two more in the sixth. Tigers battled back to tie the game in the seventh. Gord Smith led off with a single and Jim Toole was safe on an error as Smith scored. Andy Kapp got his third straight single and when Herb Thacker booted Howie Teel's hard grounder, both runners crossed the plate. Combines regained the lead in the seventh when Doug Flamme drove in Darryl Knibbs. Tigers knotted the count again in the eighth when veteran catcher Fred Long slashed a triple and came home on a fielder's choice. Combines wrapped it up in the bottom of the eighth. Lorne Emard singled and Shorty Collins drew a free pass before Allen's heroics.
Sailer (L) and Long
J.Thacker (W) and Allen
(August 8) Les Peta led a 15-hit attack for the Wrentham Red Sox in a 10-4 victory over Magrath in the opening game of a best-of-three series for the A Division crown in the Southern Alberta League. Elmo Eliason scattered seven hits in going the distance on the mound for the winners. Vince Bobinec of the Sox and Tommy Karren of the Eagles slammed three-baggers.
Eliason (W) and Huckaby
Toomer (L), Pashuk, Nielson and Rice
(August 11) Eddy Steadman's two-run homer in the 8th inning carried George Wesley's Wrentham Red Sox to a thrilling 5-4 decision over Magrath Eagles and the championship of the A Division of the Southern Alberta Baseball League. Sox won the series in two straight games. Sox came from behind a 4-0 deficit with a run in the seventh and three in the eighth for the win. Vince Bobenic led off the 8th with a walk and scampered home as Miller smacked a double to left field. Then, Steadman, with a full count, drove another one to left and romped across the platter with the winning run before the long ball was retrieved.
Pashuk (L) and R.Rice
Rosser (W) and Huckaby
(August 15) After getting out of a none out, third and first, situation in the tenth inning, Bow Island Burdett scored on Medicine Hat miscues in the 11th to notch a 5-4 victory and take the best-of-five playoff series for the Southern Alberta League, B Division title in three straight games. They'll now meet the winner of the Coleman-Wrentham series for the southern Alberta championship. With the teams tied 4-4, Gord Smith led off the tenth for the Tigers with a triple to the right field fence. Jim Toole walked and Coach Howie Teel came up to pinch-hit. With a squeeze play on, Teel attempted to bunt but missed and the ball bounced behind the plate and catcher Bus Allen retrieved the ball in plenty of time to tag Smith. Teel then fanned and the Combines got an infield out to end the threat. In the 11th, Lorne Emard reached for the Combines and went to second and then third as the throw sailed into centre field. When the relay from centre was slow and off the mark, Emard steamed home with the winning run. Shorty Collins fired a four-hitter for the win.
Collins (W) and Allen
Sailer (L) and Long
(August 15) Lethbridge Miners and Reos divided a double-bill at Henderson Park Sunday with the Miners taking the opener 11-9 and the Reos coming back for a 7-4 triumph at night. Miners led throughout in the first game as Darwin Walkingshaw paced the hitters with three safe pokes. Ted Petrunia homered for the Reos and Matt Slavich belted a triple for the Miners. Norm Petrie survived 11 hits to go the distance for the win.
Petrie (W) and Dupuis
Goodrich, Negrello (6) and Richardson
Hec Negrello starred for the Reos in the second game, pitching a nine-hitter for the win while powering a 12-hit attack with a homer, double and single. Johnny Kundrick also had three hits. Matt Slavich cracked a triple and single for the Miners. Sonny Slavich also had a three-bagger.
Ontko (L) and Deak, Dupuis (6)
Negrello (W) and Richardson
(August 17) Wrentham Red Sox have won a bye into the playoff final in a special draw held Monday. The Bow Island-Burdett Combines face the Coleman Cubs in a best-of-five semi-final beginning Sunday. Combines, who started the season slowly and wound up in third place in the B Division of the Southern Alberta League. They romped through the league playoffs to trip up the league-leading Lethbridge Miners in a best-of-three series.
(August 22) Bow Island-Burdett and Coleman Cubs split the opening games of their best-of-five series Sunday. Combines took the first game 4-2 and Coleman hit back to win 7-5 in the second game. Each each had ten hits in the opener but outstanding defense by the Combines, as opposed to five errors by the Cubs, made the difference. Joe Thacker got the win besting Lefty Kimoto, who led the hitters with three safeties. Fleming belted a homer for the winners while Alex Kovacik replied for the Cubs.
L.Kimoto (L) and Yoshinaka
Thacker (W) and Allen
In the second game, George Yoshinaka and Alec Kovacik pounded homers for the Cubs in their 7-5 triumph. Charlie Kitaguchi of Coleman and losing hurler Phil Nelson each collected three hits. Stumpo Kimoto held the Combines to eight safeties.
Nelson (L) and Allen
S.Kimoto and Yoshinaka
(August 29) 17-year-old Darwin Walkingshaw was in the spotlight Sunday powering the Lethbridge Reos to two victories, 6-5 and 10-2, over Wrentham Red Sox to retain possession of the White Lunch Trophy. The first sacker won the opener with a booming two-run triple in the bottom of the ninth inning. Then in the nightcap, Walkingshaw cracked a bases-loaded homer to highlight a huge eight-run second inning. Stan Chervinski, the veteran knuckle-ball artist, shared the hero's role with the young first sacker, hurling both games for the Reos. Walkingshaw had three hits in the first game and a pair in the second. Ken Mueller paced the Red Sox with four singles and a double in the two games.
Rosser (L) and Huckaby
Chervinski (W) and Petrunia
Eliason, Gorrill (7) and Huckaby
Chervinski (W) and Petrunia
(August 29) The Bow Island-Burdett Combines advanced to the Southern Alberta Baseball Association finals Sunday by defeating Coleman Cubs in a double-header, 3-2 and 6-5. Combines will meet Wrentham Red Sox for the SABA title. Joe Thacker out-dueled Lefty Kimoto in the opener to win with a five-hitter. Combines brought in the winning run in the sixth inning with two out. Darryl Knibbs singled to centre, stole second and romped home on Herbie Thacker's one-bagger. In the fifth, the Combines brought in the tying run when Joe Thacker singled to centre and Knibbs, running for Thacker, stole second and scored an an error.
Doug Flamme stepped in from second base to hurled a nine-hitter for the victory in the second game. Bow Island-Burdett got the deciding run on a wild throw in the sixth inning. O'Donnell opened the frame with a rousing three-bagger and Phil Nelson followed with an infield grounder. But a wild heave to first allowed O'Donnell to scamper home with the Combines' sixth marker. Alec Kovacik belted a homer for the Cubs.
Lefty Kimoto (L) and Yoshinaka
J.Thacker (W) and Allen
Stumpo Kimoto (L) and Yoshinaka
D.Flamme (W) and Allen
(September 11) With one victory on the field and another by default the Bow Island-Burdett Combines are just one win away from the Southern Alberta senior championship. Wrentham Red Sox were late in arriving for a scheduled afternoon contest at Burdett as part of a double-header and umpire Roy Collins awarded the game to the Combines after a delay of an hour and 30 minutes. Once the Red Sox arrived, Combines were quick to show their stuff exploding for six runs in the third inning en route to an easy 11-0 triumph. Joe Thacker blanked the Sox on five hits for his third playoff victory. Combines collected 13 hits before an overflow crowd.
Eliason (L), Rosser (4), Ledgerwood (8) and Huckaby
J.Thacker (W) and Allen
(September 19) The Burdett-Bow Island Combines whipped the Red Sox 5-4 and 18-4 Sunday at Wrentham before a huge turnout to capture the Southern Alberta senior baseball championship. Even discounting a default victory, Combines took the series in three straight games. Over 1,500 fans jammed into the confines of the little park with cars and trucks completely surrounding the outfield. Hundreds more swelled the already large crowd for the second contest with latecomers having to park throughout the town. For the first time, Wrentham had to patch together ground rules for their home-town pasture.
Red Sox took the early lead in both games. In the afternoon, Ken Miller's slow roller to third brought Les Peta home in the third inning with the first run of the game. Elmo Eliason's blow to deep right drove in Steadman to give the Sox a 2-0 lead. But the Combines roared back in the fifth with three markers, highlighted by Pat Knibbs' round-tripper. They added two more in the sixth with Herb Thacker and Bus Allen scampering home on two hits and an error. Wrentham closed the gap to 5-4 in the seventh on Steadman's double, a one-bagger by Eliason and a bobble at first base but Joe Thacker beared down to blank the home club over the last two frames. It was Thacker's 12th win in 13 starts this summer.
Thacker (W) and Allen
Rosser, Bobinec (5) and Huckaby
The Red Sox one-run lead was short lived in the second game as Burdett-Bow island went wild with an eight-run splurge in the third inning and coasted to the 18-4 decision. Combines had 17 hits.
Nelson (W) and Allen
Eliason, Ledgerwood (3), Bobinec (6) and Huckaby
FOOTHILLS BASEBALL LEAGUE
(May 16) Jack Scott kicked off the season in style for Parkland Sunday tossing a no-hitter in a 4-0 exhibition win over Nanton.
Rousseau, Duthie, Garbutt and Turley
Scott (W) and N.Hawk
(May 26) The Foothills regular schedule got underway Wednesday at Nanton with High River posting an 8 to 5 victory. VanWinkle led the winners with three hits, one of them a four-bagger.
(May 30) High River scored six runs in the first inning and went on to a 9-6 win at Granum. Shortstop Pickersgill had two hits and scored three runs for the winners. VanWinkle and Mac Rudd each added two hits for High River.
Weber (W), VanWinkle (9) and McNally
xxx and xxx
(May 30) A four-run fourth inning proved decisive as Parkland shaded Nanton 7-6 Sunday at Nanton.
Scott, R.Hawk and N.Hawk
Rousseau (L) and Edey
(June 6) High River scored seven runs in the first inning, helped by Nanton errors, and held off a ninth inning rally by Nanton Sunday to come away with a 7-6 victory. McKenzie's three-run homer in the ninth for Nanton was the game's big blow. Rousseau fanned 12 in seven innings of relief for the losers.
L.Garbutt (L), Rousseau (3) and Edey
xxx and xxx
(June 6) Claresholm won its third straight game downing Parkland 13 to 6 Sunday.
R.Hawk, Scott and N.Hawk
Long (W) and Young
(June 9) Nanton and the Vulcan Purity 99s braved the wind and dust Wednesday to face off in an exhibition game. Vulcan took the early lead and won, 13 to 7. Nanton used three hurlers.
Prowdie, Rousseau (2), L.Garbutt (4) and Turley
xxx and xxx
(June 13) With a four-run rally in the 8th inning, Parkland came from behind to down High River 11-7. High River had scored three in the seventh to tie the count at 7-7 with none out. R.Hawk, in relief, fanned three straight batters to end the threat.
Rudd (L) and xxx
Scott, R.Hawk (W) (7) and xxx
(June 20) Jack Scott twirled a no-hitter Sunday, his second of the season, to highlight Parkland's 11-1 victory over Nanton in Foothills Baseball League action. Scott struck out 14 batters. Parkland punched out 15 hits with each hitter in the lineup getting at least one safety. It was Parkland's third win in four starts. Claresholm leads the circuit with a 4-0 record.
xxx and xxx
Scott (W) and xxx
Claresholm 4 - 0
Parkland 3 - 1 1.0
High River 3 - 3 2.0
Stavely 2 - 2 2.0
Nanton 1 - 4 3.5
Granum 0 - 3 3.5
(June 24) Nanton and High River battled to a 6-6 draw in an exhibition game on the Nanton diamond as part of the stampede show. The game was called after seven innings so the crowd could return to the branding which was scheduled to begin at seven o'clock.
xxx and xxx
Roy Larson, Jack Scott and Stan Hawk
(June 25) Nanton downed Enchant 3-2 Friday with Rousseau handling the mound chores for the winners.
xxx and xxx
Rousseau (W) and xxx
(June 25) At Parkland Friday, Stavely came from behind to notch an 8 to 3 victory. Parkland held a 3-0 lead until the top of the 8th when Stavely scored three to tie the count. The visitors added five more runs in the ninth inning to walk away with a convincing triumph. Janot allowed just three hits on the mound for Stavely while Jack Scott and R.Hawk allowed six.
Janot (W) and xxx
Scott, R.Hawk and xxx
(June 27) At Nanton Sunday, Claresholm trimmed the locals 17-4. Bill Greig provided the highlights for the losers with a homer and triple.
xxx and xxx
Rousseau, Garbutt and Larson
(June 27) Although without their regular catcher and first baseman, Parkland whipped Granum 20 to 14. Ellis Oviatt led the winners with five hits in seven trips to the plate. Parkland, which had 22 hits, put the game away early with a ten run explosion in the fourth inning.
Scott, R.Hawk and xxx
xxx and xxx
(July 1) Claresholm shaded Parkland 4-3 as part of Dominion Day sports at Stavely. The lead went back and forth four times before Claresholm took the lead for good in the top of the ninth inning. Allie McDonald went the distance for the winners yielding eight hits. Jack Scott gave up seven in taking the loss.
McDonald (W) and xxx
Scott (L) and xxx
Claresholm went on to down Stavely 5 to 3 in 12 innings to take top money.
(July 4) High River moved into second place in the Foothills standings Sunday as a result of a 10 to 6 win over Parkland. Van Winkle went the route for the winners.
Scott (L), R.Hawk (5) and xxx
Van Winkle (W) and xxx
(July 12) At Stavely Monday, Nanton downed the locals 11 to 7,
(July) Blackie scored a run in the top of the first inning but it was the last time they held the advantage as Parkland roared back with three in their half of the first en route to a 9 to 4 victory with a 12-hit attack against two Blackie hurlers. Jack Scott for Parkland allowed just five hits in seven innings while R.Hawk pitched the last two frames.
xxx and xxx
Scott (W), R.Hawk (8) and xxx
(July 18) Jack Scott shutout Stavely on five hits as Parkland notched a 7-0 win in its last league game of the season. Parkland had just six hits but were helped by six Stavely errors. Jensen belted a homer in the second inning.
McInnes (L) and xxx
Scott (W) and xxx
(July 18) Claresholm continued winning picking up a pair of victories, 18-9 over Parkland and 10-5 over Nanton. Claresholm pounded out 12 hits in trouncing Parkland as Long and McDonald combined to hold the losers to seven hits. Jenkins pitched the win for Claresholm in the second game.
Jack Scott (L) and xxx
Long, McDonald and xxx
Hawk, Rasseau and xxx
Jenkins (W) and xxx
(July 18) It was a pitcher's duel for six innings but High River exploded in the late going to trounce Nanton 13-1 in the first game of their playoff series. Dick Van Winkle tossed a three-hitter for the win. Going into the seventh, High River held a tenuous 2-1 margin with Srigley accounting for both runs while Bill Greig scored for Nanton. In the fatal seventh, Pickersgill reached base and Alvin McNally followed with a triple to begin the onslaught.
xxx and xxx
Van Winkle (W) and xxx
(July 21) High River knocked Nanton out of the playoffs with a convincing 14 to 4 triumph at Nanton.
xxx and xxx
Larson (L) and Messerli
(July 25-26) Parkland advanced to the Foothills finals by taking High River in two straight playoff contests. On Sunday, in High River, Parkland crushed the locals 10 to 1 scoring three times in the first inning then seven in the final frame. R.Hawk fired a four-hitter for the win. The only run against him came in the 8th inning thanks to an error, hit and a wild pitch.
R.Hawk (W) and xxx
McNally (L), Weber and xxx
On Monday, Parkland smacked three homers in running up an 18 to 6 score. R.Hawk, Les Greggins and Jensen hit the round trippers for the winners while Morley Geiger blasted one for High River. Jack Scott allowed eight hits in going the route for the pitching win. He fanned seven. Parkland had 15 hits off Mac Rudd.
Rudd (L) and xxx
Scott (W) and xxx
(July 30) In the opening game of the Foothills final series, Parkland nearly blew a 6-0 lead but regained composure to down Claresholm 9 to 6 in a game called after seven innings on account of darkness. Trailing by six runs, the home club rallied for five runs in the fifth inning to cut the lead to one, but Parkland scored three more in the sixth to regain a comfortable lead.
R.Hawk (W), Scott (5) and xxx
xxx and xxx
(August 1) In an exciting tilt at Parkland, the homesters came through with the winning run in the bottom of the 8th inning to shade Claresholm 8 to 7 and take a commanding two to nothing game lead in the best of five series. With the count tied 7-7, Jenson belted his second three-bagger of the game and Ellis Oviatt followed with a single to plate the winner. Claresholm took the early lead with four hits and three runs in the second inning. Parkland responded with a pair in the bottom of the frame and added three in the fourth to go ahead 5 to 3. The visitors notched a pair in the top of the sixth to make it 5-5 before Parkland responded with two more in the bottom of the sixth to again take the lead, 7-5. Claresholm made another run with two in the 8th setting the stage for Oviatt's deciding blow.
McDonald (L) and Young
R.Hawk, Scott and N.Hawk
(August 8) Parkland won its second consecutive Foothills championship Sunday defeating Claresholm 12 to 7 to win the best of five final series in three straight games. Parkland took a 3-0 lead in the first inning and adding another in the third on Dick Hawk's long homer. They ran up a 12-2 advantage with six runs in the top of the ninth before the home club rallied for five runs in the bottom of the final frame. Jack Scott went the route for the winners yielding just four hits while Parkland collected 14 safeties off Long.
Scott (W) and xxx
Long (L) and xxx
(August 15) With Jack Scott firing a three-hitter with ten strikeouts, Parkland downed Macleod 7 to 2 Sunday at Parkland. It was the club's 15th win in 22 games.
Reardon (L) and xxx
Scott (W) and xxx
(August 22) Parkland traveled to Macleod Sunday and came away with victories in both games of a double-header. They took the first game 7 to 2 behind Jack Scott's four-hit pitching and a ten-hit attack. R.Hawk fired a one-hitter in the second game as Parkland blanked the home club 11 to 0 smacking 14 hits off Reardon.
Scott (W) and xxx
VanWinkle (L) and xxx
R.Hawk (W) and xxx
Reardon (L) and xxx
(August 29) With a 22-hit attack Parkland rang up a 15-11 victory in the first game of a double-header at Picture Butte Sunday. Les Greggins led the winners with two triples and two singles and Don Hawk also had four hits. Jack Scott, on the hill for Parkland, gave up 11 safeties but managed to go the distance. Ted Malmberg took the loss.
Scott (W) and xxx
Malmberg (L) and xxx
In the second game, Picture Butte plated the winner on two hits and an error in the 8th inning to take the 6-5 victory. Mori surrendered 11 hits in registering the pitching win while Dick Hawk allowed eight hits in taking the loss.
D.Hawk (L) and xxx
Mori (W) and xxx
SOUTHERN ALBERTA SUGAR BEET LEAGUE
(May 15) Runs, runs and more runs highlighted the opening games of the Southern Alberta Sugar Beet League.Magrath Evacs defeated the Raymond Busseis 14 to 7. At Lethbridge, Picture Butte Bluebirds crushed the Lethbridge Athletics 17 to 8 and, in the highest-scoring game of all, Coaldale K & K, replacing the Coaldale Busseis in the loop, shellacked the hapless Coaldale Cubs 33 to 3.
(September 19) Magrath took both ends of a double-header from Taber to win the 1948 championship of the Sugar Beet League. The Evacs made it look easy winning 18-9 in the first game behind a 16-hit attack and following with a 15-8 triumph in the second. Taber made 10 errors in the opener and eight more in the second contest. Mamoru Yabe was the winning hurler in both games. Magrath jumped out into a 7-1 lead in the first game but had to overcome a 5-0 deficit in the second.
R. Kaga (L), Y.Nishimura, T.Kaga and Y.Kaga
Mamoru Yabe (W) and Joe Takahashi
S.Saga, Mas Takahashi, M.Yabe (W) and Joe Takahashi
Y.Nishimura, T.Kaga and Y.Kaga
LETHBRIDGE BASEBALL HISTORY
(Lethbridge Herald, May 22, 1948)
Tomorrow is opening day so far as the local baseball season is concerned. If the weatherman is in a friendly mood, both Adams and Henderson parks will be the scene of doubleheaders, with the Purity 99's, the Miners, Bow Island, and Picture Butte all making their debuts.
Baseball has always been a popular game around Lethbridge, just in the case there are some in the audience who think this town has never been interested in any other sport than hockey. As proof of this, the Herald has taken time out to produce a chronological history of the game so far as Lethbridge is concerned. What follows may bring a few crocodile tears to the eyes of old-timers.
1905 to 1906 - Houk's Savages was the first ball club to attain any prominence. The team participated for the most part in challenge games in "The Square," now Galt Gardens.
1907 - Lethbridge became a member of the first Western Canada professional league, which included Edmonton, Medicine Hat and Calgary. Medicine Hat won the league, Lethbridge finishing third. Ralph Works, 'Hat pitcher, went to Detroit Tigers in the American League. Jack Morrison managed the Lethbridge "Miners."
1908 - The pro circuit did not function and baseball was more or less in active for a season.
1909 - The Western Canada circuit was reformed, with Regina, Moose Jaw, Winnipeg and Brandon included together with the original quartet. An exceptionally fine brand of ball was played and the league produced several major league stars. Cy Pieh, hurling for Lethbridge, developed a spitball that took him to New York Yankees. Babe Herman and Heinie Manush were other players who went to the big time from this league. Medicine Hat's strong club topped the standings. Lethbridge finished fourth.
1910 - The Twilight League continued operation, with Saskatoon replacing Medicine Hat. Chris Eckstorm was named president of the circuit. Edmonton headed the final standings with Lethbridge fifth.
1911 to 1914 - The pro league was disbanded and semi-pro and amateur ball clubs operated with no particular club gaining prominence. Exhibition games featuring "All-Star" lineups were the rule. Best league to operate during this period included Lethbridge, Magrath, Taber and Cardston.
1914 to 1918 - Baseball during the war years - 1914 to 1918 - was practically non-existent. The only games played were between pick-up teams. The school leagues, however, were developing players for future delivery.
1918-1923 - A commercial city league was organized in 1918 and a gradual baseball revival took place during the next few years with this circuit playing a major part. Charter members of the league were the Rotes, Bankers, Coalhurst and Galt Miners. The "O.B.'s" and Columbus Club also entered teams at various times during the league's operation. Galt Miners continued to figure prominently in Lethbridge ball circles from this time on. They took over Adams ball park from the time of their organization, fencing the enclosure in 1919 and adding improvements from time to time.
1924 - Eckstorm park had gradually passed into disuse and a movement was launched for the construction of a new park. On May 23, 1924, Henderson Park received its public inauguration, with Tommy Evans' Elks defeating Medicine Hat Typos 6-4 and 4-3. The new orchard was under a civic commission consisting of Billy Mulholland and "Big Six" Geoghegan, Lethbridge boy who attained considerable pitching prominence, chucked for Elks. The club played exhibition and challenge games for the remainder of the season, the Miners playing in intermediate circles.
1925 - Cubs and Miners continued to operate, with the former drawing the crowds. Leroy Goldsworthy, an Edmonton youngster, joined forces with Geoghegan on the pitching staff and between the two of them they hurled Cubs to some notable wins. Fernie also had a great team at this time and were possessors of the Brewery Challenge trophy. A bitter series between the two clubs resulted in Fernie retaining the trophy by winning 7-6 and 5-2. Fernie went on to win the Alberta title.
1926 - Cubs continued to hold the interest of fans although Miners had a smart intermediate club. Goldsworthy left the team and was later a pitcher with the Winnipeg Maroons in the Northern professional league. His feats in the National Hockey League gained him most recognition, however. Galt Miners after a successful season, were declared joint provincial champions with Calgary East in the 'mediate division.
1927 - Cubs disbanded and Miners lost out in the intermediate playoffs to Hillspring.
1928 - Baseball did a fadeout, interest centering on fastball, which claimed the services of many good hardball players. Miners were eliminated early in the 'mediate playoffs.
1929 - Fastball continued to hold the fans' fancy and the Miners contented themselves with exhibition games and games for the White Lunch challenge cup. Fastball continued to draw many fans up to and including 1932, when it went into a decline.
1930 - The Red Sox were revived but met with indifferent success, as did the Miners. A Southern Alberta league was formed, but many of the games were postponed.
1931 - Best club in the city from the championship viewpoint was the St. Pats' junior aggregation, which annexed the Alberta title. It was formed completely of homebrews, Miners operated as usual.
1932 - the C.P.R. Red Sox were formed and games between this club and the Miners provided the season's highlights. Both clubs were made up of city and district boys.
1933 - Miners were still going strong. One or two All-Star teams formed for special games. Challenge games for the White Lunch and Brewery cups were features.
1934 - Miners led the way back to public interest in baseball, and rivalry with Medicine Hat was especially keen. The 'Hatters eliminated Miners in the senior playoffs.
1935 - Miners again dominated the scene. Took possession of the White Lunch cup and held it almost throughout the season. Advanced to Alberta senior finals, losing out to a packed Ponoka team.
1936 - Lethbridge annexed its first senior baseball title when Galt Miners defeated Cadomin in six games in the provincial final. Also finished the season in possession of the Brewery and White Lunch cups.
1937 - Miners retained the senior crown, downing Cadomin in four straight games. Retained White Lunch and Brewery cups. A good junior ball league developed some fine young material.
1938 - Miners again dominated the Lethbridge ball scene, but lost several of their stars to Picture Butte. In the finals, after two bitterly-contested series, the Picture Butte team succeeded Miners to the Alberta crown. They also lost the White Lunch cup to the 'Butte. The All-Stars, an intermediate aggregation, topped off a fine season by winning the Alberta intermediate championship.
1939 - Miners continued to dominate the local baseball scene but they were far below the standard of former years. The Southern Alberta baseball championship went to Picture Butte with Ted Malmberg tossing up four-hit ball as the Royals snowed Medicine Hat under 13-1 in the fifth and deciding game for the southern title.
1940-1945 - Baseball generally went under the war cloud and after the first year of war became practically non-existent except for occasional games between armed services clubs. No.8 Bombing and Gunnery School took possession of the White Lunch cup and then lost it later to the Columbus Club.
1946 - Lethbridge Miners reorganized and fielded a pretty snappy club composed mostly of veteran players. With baseball not fully organized, most games were exhibition. Biggest series this year was against Sceptre, a touring team from Saskatchewan. Miners took the White Lunch cup from Columbus Club juniors in two straight games.
1947 - Rivalry game back into the local baseball picture with the mushrooming of the Reo Motors ball team under the guidance of George Yanosik. In all series played against the Miners the new team, though popular with local fans, fared only second best. It was the year highlighted by the famous letter from Joe Deak, and the Miners losing their 10-year grip upon the Brewery trophy by being swamped by the Calgary Buffaloes. Miners also lost their hold on the White Lunch cup to Picture Butte.
1948 - ? ?
As for the reference above to a highlight being a Joe Deak letter, we've located the published version in the Lethbridge Herald of June 20, 1947. Deak was the secretary of the Miners.
