MANITOBA SENIOR BASEBALL LEAGUE
Membership in the loop was boosted to six teams with the addition of the Virden Oilers for the 1963 season. Rain-outs were plentiful during the early part of the season, forcing a great deal of re-scheduling involving numerous doubleheaders.
A proposed provincial final, with the champions of the MSBL and the Winnipeg Metro Senior circuits meeting in a best-of-three September showdown, never materialized.
Brandon Cloverleafs
Dauphin Redbirds
Hamiota Red Sox
Riverside Blues
St. Lazare Athletics
Virden Oilers
(May 23) The Brandon Cloverleafs shook off the early-inning jitters and erupted for a three-spot in the seventh canto to edge the Riverside Blues 6 to 5 as the Manitoba Senior Baseball League got underway at Kinsmen Stadium. Jack Denbow made an auspicious debut as the Leaf manager but he had to pull out all the stops to do it. With his club facing a 5 to 2 deficit in the fifth frame, he took over the pitching chores from Bruce Smith who had relieved starter Morley MacFarlane. Denbow extinguished the fire he had inherited and finished the game on the bump, choking the Blues on just one hit while ringing up eight punchouts during which time his charges were mounting an offensive comeback. Former Cloverleaf and Oakland Braves’ stalwart, Eddie Evans started on the knoll for Riverside but was replaced by Orv Shaw during a disastrous seventh-inning for the Blues. Brandon jumped on Shaw for a trey, enough to sting him with the pitching defeat. Warren Veale’s two-run double tied the game and Tom Town followed with an RBI single that produced the winning tally. Town led the victors, who were outhit by a 7 to 4 margin, at the dish with a brace of singles. Wes Rathwell and Barry Moffatt each collected a pair of hits for the Riversiders.
Evans, Shaw (L) (7) and C. Seafoot
MacFarlane, Smith (5), Denbow (W) (5) and Gullett
(May 24) The invading St. Lazare Athletics started off their MSBL season in impressive fashion as they blanked the newly-formed Virden Oilers 8 to 0 before a good crowd at the Virden Community Centre. Bill Cundiff, a late-cut by the Winnipeg Goldeyes, hurled a brilliant one-hitter for the A’s as he mowed down 16 batters via the strikeout route in the seven-inning, darkness-shortened encounter. The lone Virden safety was a fifth-frame triple by “Tex” Larway down the right-field line. Manse Moyer was the starter and loser for the Oilers. Catcher Ross Jamieson paced the Saints with the baton with a single and triple while Larry Hart collected two singles.
Cundiff (W) and Jamieson
Moyer (L), Bridgett (5) and Greves
(May 26) The Riverside Blues held off a determined Virden rally in the ninth canto to edge the Oilers 9 to 8 at Riverside. A five-run sixth inning had boosted the visitors into a brief 7 to 6 lead before the Blues plated a deuce in their half of the frame to forge ahead for good. They padded their lead with an add-on singleton in the eighth and withstood a ninth-inning comeback attempt, limiting the losers to just one run. Riverside starting flinger Garth Seafoot , with relief assistance from Ross Kinsley and Lorne Lilley, annexed the win. Doug Fowler, who exited the slab in favor of Ted Bridgett in the seventh stanza, took the loss. Barry Moffatt paced the Riversiders with the lumber, slamming out three safeties while Gene Cory, Leon Garinger and Cliff Seafoot all collected a pair. Doug Lund had three hits and Gary Greves two for the Virden squad.
Fowler (L), Bridgett (7) and Greves
G. Seafoot (W), Kinsley (7), Lilley (9) and C. Seafoot
(June 2) The Dauphin Redbirds bombed the defending-champion Hamiota Red Sox for seven runs in the first inning and went on the record an 11 to 5 triumph over their arch-rivals. Dennis McAuley went all the way on the bump for the Redbirds to get the win while Hamiota starter Gary Van Buskirk, derricked in the opening canto, was saddled with the loss. McAuley gave up six hits, fanned 12 and walked five. Del Anderson was the power source at the dish for the Birds, blasting a four-bagger, a triple and a single. Bob Kabel followed with a triple, double and single while Larry McDougall collected two hits. Frank McKinnon and Dennis Smith each collected a pair of safeties for the Sox.
Van Buskirk (L), Morton (1), Lee (8) and Don Smith
McAuley (W) and Basaraba
(June 2) Brandon nosed out Virden 8 to 7.
(June 6) The Riverside Blues revenged their first-meeting loss to Brandon as they staged a late rally to edge the Cloverleafs 4 to 3 in a Manitoba Senior Baseball League contest. Lorne Lilley went the distance for the Blues to chalk up the win. He surrendered seven hits, struck out seven and walked three. Bruce Smith started for the Leafs but was relieved by playing-manager Jack Denbow in the fourth frame. Denbow, stung with the loss, fanned five and passed one. Barry Moffatt blasted a two-run double in the eighth episode to give the Riversiders the victory. Lloyd Brown had a three-run homer for the Wheat City nine while Tom Town went three-for-four at the plate.
Smith, Denbow (L) (5) and Gullett
Lilley (W) and C. Seafoot
(June 7) The St. Lazare Athletics edged the hosting Virden Oilers 3 to 2 to remain unbeaten in MSBL play. The visitors, with a 7 to 4 margin in base knocks, picked up a pair of runs in the opening inning and scored what proved to be the winner in the fourth. Virden plated both their counters in the eighth chapter. Bill Cundiff allowed only four hits and struck out 15 to nail down the win. Oiler starting tosser Bill Cairns was tagged with the loss. No batter from either team had more than one safety. Del Stainer of the A’s banged out a double, the lone extra-base clout of the tilt.
Cundiff (W) and Jamieson
Cairns (L), Sanheim (9) and Leslie
(June 9) In a rain-shortened fracas at St. Lazare, the Athletics whipped the Brandon Cloverleafs 7 to 0. The A’s tallied at least once in every inning of the five-frame event except the second before precipitation halted proceedings. Youthful Bob Thompson rang up ten punchouts to post the complete-game win for St. Lazare, limiting the visitors to three hits. Nicked for nine safeties, Bruce Smith worked all five innings for the Leafs and was nailed with the loss. Thompson aided his own cause with a pair of doubles while Larry Hart pitched in with a two-bagger and a single.
Smith (L) and Pottinger
Thompson (W) and Jamieson
(June 9) The Dauphin Redbirds, behind the brilliant two-hit pitching of Neil Amy, doubled the Virden Oilers 4 to 2 in a rain-abbreviated contest at Virden. The game, halted after seven innings by a downpour, forced cancellation of the second portion of the scheduled double-bill. Amy fanned eight and issued four walks. Outfielder Ted Taylor was the only Oiler batter to have any success against Amy, clipping the orb for a brace of doubles, the last of which drove in both Virden counters. Manse Moyer suffered the loss. Bob Kabel and Stan McPhee, with a brace of safeties each, led the Redbirds’ 10-hit offense.
Amy (W) and xxx
Moyer (L) and xxx
(June 9) Hamiota romped to a 5 to 1 win over the host Riverside Blues. Back-to-back home runs by Dallas and Don Smith gave the Red Sox their verdict over the Riversiders. Both teams collected seven safeties. Winning heaver Gary Van Buskirk worked 7-2/3 innings on the knoll before his arm tired and he needed relief help from Don Lee. Starter Ross Kinsley of the Blues was tabbed with the loss. Denny and Don Smith led the Hamiota attack with two hits each. Top swatsmith in the tussle was Riverside’s Barry Moffatt who ripped three hits including a circuit-clout.
Van Buskirk (W), Lee (8) and Don Smith
Kinsley (L), G. Seafoot (5) and C. Seafoot
(June 11) A seventh-inning single by Ted Bridgett with the bases loaded, coupled with the three-hit pitching of Richard Sanheim, gave the Virden Oilers a 4 to 3 verdict over the Riverside Blues. Losing tosser Ed Evans, in relief of Lorne Lilley, entered the game in the seventh with two runners aboard. He successfully retired two batters before giving up a pair of walks to force in Ian Whyte with the tying run. Bridgett followed with his RBI base knock to score the lead run that led to Virden claiming their second win in six starts. Sanheim fanned ten and walked four in the nine-inning tilt, helping his own cause by slashing a pair of singles. He was the only player in the game to have more than one safety.
Lilley, Evans (L) (7) and C. Seafoot
Sanheim (W) and Greves
(June 13) Pitcher-manager Jack Denbow, the toy bulldog, fashioned himself a neat five-hit shutout in hurling the Brandon Cloverleafs to a 4 to 0 victory over the previously undefeated St. Lazare Athletics at Kinsmen Stadium. Losing twirler Bill Cundiff was sharp in defeat, adding 14 to his league-leading whiff total while allowing six safeties, but it was Denbow who stole the show. The diminutive southpaw retired the first 14 batters to face him and had a no-hitter in the works until the sixth. He fanned five and was backed by flawless defensive support from his mates. Tommy Town was Cundiff’s personal nemesis with the baton, collecting three of the six Brandon hits including a triple. Other than Town, Cundiff’s main obstacle was in consistently locating the strike zone as he issued six free passes. Canuck-recruit Barry Diller had one of the Cloverleaf base raps.
Cundiff (L) and Jamieson
Denbow (W) and Borotsik
(June 14) The Virden Oilers, outhit by an 11 to 7 margin, moved into third place in the Manitoba Senior Baseball League with a slim 3 to 2 triumph over the hosting Hamiota Red Sox. Bill Cairns, in relief of starter Manse Moyer in the fifth frame, picked up the mound decision while Hamiota starter Don Lee, who exited for Gord Lyall in the eighth, suffered the loss. Gary Greves led the winners offensively with a triple and single while Denny Smith, Buck Mathison, Sam Phillips and Dallas Smith of the Sox all hit safely twice.
Moyer, Cairns (W) (5) and Attwood
Lee (L), Lyall (8) and Don Smith
Standings W L Pct. GBL
Dauphin Redbirds 3 0 1.000 ----
St. Lazare Athletics 4 1 .800 ----
Virden Oilers 3 4 .429 2.0
Brandon Cloverleafs 2 3 .400 2.0
Hamiota Red Sox 1 2 .333 2.0
Riverside Blues 2 4 .333 2.5
(June 16) The Riverside Blues and Dauphin Redbirds split a pair of tight MSBL contests as the visiting Blues came away with a 10-inning 6 to 3 triumph to get things underway while the Feathered Flock returned the favor by scoring once in the ninth to annex the sunset event 3 to 2.
Riverside plated three unearned runs in the overtime session of the opener to break up a tight pitching match between winner Ed Evans and the Redbirds’ Neil Amy. Reliever Dennis McAuley, who inherited a bases-loaded situation, uncorked a wild pitch that allowed two runners to score while the third tally resulted from a sacrifice fly. Cliff Seafoot had three hits for the victors and Bob Ash a pair. Bill Berezinski singled twice for the Birds in a losing cause.
Evans (W) and C. Seafoot
Amy (L), McAuley (10) and Basaraba
In the second game, McAuley went all the way on the hill for Dauphin as he topped Lorne Lilley in a tense duel. McAuley also scored the winning run in the ninth after drilling a single, moving into scoring position on an error and crossing the dish on Gerry Shumanski’s base hit. Shumanski and Garth Seafoot of the Blues, with two hits apiece, were the only batters in the fracas to come up with plural hit figures.
Lilley (L) and C. Seafoot
McAuley (W) and Kabel
(June 16) It took seven hours for the Brandon Cloverleafs and Hamiota Red Sox to divide the spoils in their double-bill at Kinsmen Stadium. The Leafs captured the slow-paced opener 13 to 5 and the Crimson Hose came back with an 8 to 7 victory in a marathon 14-inning finale. Along with the 33 runs, there were 63 hits and 66 runners left on base. The Cloverleafs broke up a tight 1 to 0 duel with six runs in the fifth and their other seven in the sixth spasm to pull away in taking the lid-lifter. Ross Brownlee was the winner although he had relief help from Jack Denbow in the sixth. Greg Borotsik had three safeties for the Wheat City gang while Bob Wilson went yard with a tater to go along with a two-bagger. Losing flinger Gord Lyall had three safe blows for the Sox.
Lyall (L), Caldwell (5), McConnell (6) and Don Smith
Brownlee (W), Denbow (6) and Borotsik
Returning to game action after a pre-season injury, Brian Smith came on in the ninth inning of the late encounter for Hamiota in a tie game and went the last five frames, yielding four hits, to pick up the hurling win. He also scored the winning run in the 14th panel after doubling to to the middle pasture and romping home on Denny Smith’s fourth hit of the game. Bruce Smith was the loser after taking over from Canuck recruit Carl Cunningham in the seventh. Hamiota pounded out 21 hits and Brandon 16. Lynn Caldwell cuffed five safeties for the Scarlet Stockings while Denny Smith and Buck Mathison both had four. Dallas Smith chipped in with a triad. Bototsik, Ron Baryluk and Wilson all notched three base raps for the Brandonites. Wilson was a busy patroller in the vast middle garden, hauling in a dozen fly putouts, three of which were of the sensational variety.
Morton, Brian Smith (W) (9) and Don Smith
Cunningham, Smith (L) (7) and Bototsik
(June 16) The St. Lazare Athletics moved back into first place in the MSBL by laying a 10 to 0 thumping on the Virden Oilers. Winning heaver Bob Thompson added another six innings of shutout hurling to his recent series of goose eggs while Bill Cundiff came in to mop up during the final three frames with the victory all but assured. Cundiff increased his league-leading strikeout total to 67 when he rang up eight punchouts in facing nine batters. Richard Sanheim, the first of three Oiler chuckers, was saddled with the loss. Thompson and Roy Cuthill led the A’s blistering 17-hit attack with three safeties apiece. Garth Sararas, Del Stainer, Vern Coulter, Ted Woods and Ray Simms all added a pair. Virden’s six hits were equally divided among Bill Chapple, Doug Lund and Ted Bridgett who each stroked a brace.
Sanheim (L), Cairns (3), Bridgett (4) and Greves
Thompson (W), Cundiff (7) and Jamieson
(June 19) Lefthander Bill Cundiff struck out 15 and hurled a dandy three-hitter as the St. Lazare Athletics humbled the defending-champion Hamiota Red Sox 12 to 0. In picking up hid fourth pitching win and second shutout, Cundiff ran his strikeout total to 82 in 46 innings. The A’s lit up losing chucker Bob Brooks and reliever Lynn Caldwell for 14 base knocks with catcher Ross Jamieson collecting four of them. Larry Hart chipped in with a brace of doubles while Vern Coulter clipped the orb for a triple and one-bagger.
Brooks (L), Caldwell (3) and Don Smith
Cundiff (W) and Jamieson
(June 20) Backed by the strong pitching of their tenacious little manager, Jack Denbow, the Brandon Cloverleafs rolled to a 5 to 1 triumph over the Riverside Blues at Kinsmen Stadium. Denbow improved his record to 3 – 2 while scattering six hits, fanning six and relinquishing only one walk. Ed Evans, the Blues’ starter, was shelled for nine of the Leafs’ 12 hits and surrendered all five runs. Gerry MacKay paced Brandon at the plate with three safeties while Tommy Town, Barry Diller and Warren Veale each hit safely twice. Barry Moffatt led Riverside offensively with a pair of safeties.
Evans (L), Lilley (6) and C. Seafoot
Denbow (W) and Gullett
(June 21) The Dauphin Redbirds moved into first place in the Manitoba Senior Baseball League as they edged the St. Lazare Athletics 2 to 1. Ace portsider Dennis McAuley bested big Bob Thompson in a brilliant pitching duel as both permitted only three hits. Errors wound up being the difference-maker in this highly-fought affair as the Birds booted the ball once while the usually sure-handed A’s committed four bobbles. It was McAuley’s third win while Thompson suffered his first loss.
(June 23) The Riverside Blues proved to be anything but hospitable hosts as they bumped the St. Lazare Athletics twice in dramatic fashion, scoring in the bottom-of-the-ninth inning for a 3 to 2 opening-game win before copping a thrilling ten-inning squeaker 4 to 3 in the finale of the two-game set.
Eddie Evans earned the pitching victory in the lid-lifter after relieving starter Garth Seafoot in the eighth episode. Bob Thompson was nicked with the loss in relief of Ray Simms. Cliff Seafoot tied the game at 3 – 3 in the seventh with a towering home run while brother Garth won it in the ninth with his second hit of the game, an RBI-single that plated Evans. Gene Cory also laced a pair of safeties for the winners while Roy Cuthill went a perfect three-for-three for the A’s in a losing cause.
Simms, Thompson (L) (3) and Jamieson
G. Seafoot, Evans (W) and C. Seafoot
In the late tussle, winning heaver Lorne Lilley and losing chucker Eric Ireland hooked up in a tight mound duel. The Blues tied the game 2 – 2 in the bottom-of-the-ninth and, in the overtime session, won it in walkoff fashion on Barry Moffat’s RBI swat. Moffatt, Lilley and Cliff Seafoot all had two safeties for the Riversiders in this contest while St. Lazare’s Vern Coulter led all willow wielders with a trio of base knocks.
Ireland (L) and Jamieson
Lilley (W) and C. Seafoot
(June 23) The league-leading Dauphin Redbirds split a twin-bill with the invading Brandon Cloverleafs, dropping the matinée affair 11 to 7 before doubling the visitors 6 to 3 in the windup match. The Cloverleafs recruited an old mate, Don Hunter of the Souris Cardinals, to pitch for them in the early tilt and he went the distance, earning the decision over Neil Amy who registered 13 punchouts in taking the loss. Don Pottinger provided the big blow for Brandon with a second-inning grand-slam home run while Tommy Town contributed two hits. The Redbirds’ Bill Berezinski ripped the horsehide for three safe swats while clubmate Bob Kabel delivered a circuit-jack and a single.
Hunter (W) and Gullett
Amy (L) and Kabel
Southpaw Dennis McAuley picked up his fourth consecutive pitching win for the Birds in the nightcap and he scattered ten hits and fanned five. Loser Bruce Smith was kayoed from the hillock in the opening panel, giving way to Jack Denbow who went the rest of the way. Kabel punched out another three safeties for Dauphin in this tilt while league-leading batter Town kept up his superlative plate work for the Wheat City crew with four hits in five trips. Another Leaf swatter, Mort Wright, banged out a triple and two singles.
Smith (L), Denbow (1) and Gullett
McAuley (W) and Basaraba
(June 23) The neophyte Virden Oilers jumped into fourth place in the MSBL and pushed the defending-champion Hamiota Red Sox into the cellar by taking a 7 to 1 verdict from the Scarlet Stockings at Virden. Ted Bridgett fashioned himself a neat one-hitter in stopping the hard-hitting Hamiotans. The lone hit he surrendered, a second-inning rap by Jim Grant, cost him the shutout. Losing flinger Don Lee was given the hook in the sixth. Ted Taylor hammered a bases-loaded triple to put the Oilers in front in the third stanza. Gary Greves led Virden with the lumber, stroking three hits, Taylor, Ian Whyte and Bill Chapple all had a brace.
Lee (L), B. Smith (6), Caldwell (8) and Don Smith
Bridgett (W) and Attwood
Standings W L Pct. GBL
Dauphin Redbirds 5 2 .714 ----
St. Lazare Athletics 6 4 .600 0.5
Brandon Cloverleafs 5 5 .500 1.5
Virden Oilers 4 5 .444 2.0
Riverside Blues 5 7 .417 2.5
Hamiota Red Sox 3 5 .375 2.5
(June 25) The Dauphin Redbirds had to come from behind and then stave off a last-inning Virden rally to emerge as winners in a wild 12 to 11 Manitoba Senior Baseball League game in Virden. The victory increased Dauphin’s margin atop the circuit while the loss shunted the Oilers into fifth place in the standings. The lead bounced back-and-forth until the seventh stanza when a six-spot put the Birds in front to stay. Virden fought hard though and grabbed a pair in the seventh and four more in the ninth but fell one run shy despite having the sacks full when reliever Dennis McAuley finally put out the fire. Dauphin starting tosser Bill Kotzan, who was derricked in the seventh, was the winner while Bill Cairns, the second of a quartet of Virden heavers, was nailed with the loss. The Oilers banged out 14 safeties to 11 for the visitors. John Lesychen and Stan McPhee of the Redbirds both nailed the horsehide for three base knocks with a triple included in Lesyshen’s sum of swats. Ted Bridgett tripled and singled for Virden while Bill Chapple and Ted Taylor both socked a double and one-bagger.
Kotzan (W), Amy (7), McAuley (9) and Kabel
Sanheim, Cairns (L) (1), Moyer (7), Fowler (8) and Attwood
(June 27) The Brandon Cloverleafs climbed into second place in the MSBL at Kinsmen Stadium as they came from behind to nudge the Virden Oilers 7 to 5 on Jack Denbow’s strong relief hurling. The Cloverleafs trailed 5 to 1 as starting chucker Mort Wright ran into wildness. Denbow took over hillock duties in the fourth and blanked Virden on one hit the rest of the way. The Leafs came back with a brace in each of the fifth, sixth and seventh stanzas. Oiler starter Ted Bridgett was relieved in the sixth by Bob Attwood who took the loss. Canuck call-up Barry Diller and the league’s top hitter, Tommy Town, had three safeties apiece for Brandon while no Virden batter had more than one of their four base raps.
Bridgett, Attwood (L) (6), Cairns (7) and Atwood, Leslie (6)
Wright, Denbow (W) (4) and Borotsik
(June 27) The league-leading Dauphin Redbirds took a tense 1 to 0 thriller from the skidding St. Lazare Athletics at Dauphin. Neil Amy triumphed over Bill Cundiff in an epic mound duel that sent the A’s to their fifth straight loss. The game’s lone counter came in the second spasm when Dauphin’s Bob Kabel singled, stole the keystone sack, moved to the hot corner on a sacrifice and scored on an infield out. Cundiff fanned seven, walked three and permitted only three hits in taking the hard-luck loss. Amy whiffed four, passed three and gave up four safeties in hurling the shutout. He had to pitch himself out of jams in the final two frames. The Saints loaded the bases in the eighth and had the tying run cut down at the plate in the ninth as Amy wiggled out of peril.
Cundiff (L) and Jamieson
Amy (W) and Basaraba
(June 28) The homestanding Hamiota Red Sox pulled out a 5 to 4 triumph over the Riverside Blues to even their record at 5 – 5 and shuffle into third place in the standings. The teams were deadlocked at 4 – 4 in the sixth before the Scarlet Stockings pushed across the winning tally in the seventh. Don Lee relieved starter Wayne McConnell to earn the win. Lorne Lilley went the route for the Blues and was nailed with the setback. Denny Smith paced Hamiota with the stick, lacing three safeties while Buck Mathison, Brian and Dallas Smith all contributed a pair of hits. No batter from the Riversiders had plural hit totals.
Lilley (L) and C. Seafoot
McConnell, Lee (W) (6) and Don Smith
(June 28) The Dauphin Redbirds, although outhit by an 8 to 6 margin, kept soaring while the hosting St. Lazare Athletics continued their nosedive as the Birds doubled the A’s 8 to 4 in MSBL action. Trailing 4 to 0 until the sixth inning, Dauphin broke the floodgates with a five-spot and never looked back. The loss for the Athletics was their sixth in succession and sent them reeling into fourth place. Lefthander Dennis McAuley went all the way on the bump for the Birds in posting his fifth straight triumph. Losing flinger Bob Thompson was sailing along with a shutout until the sixth when he was kayoed as Dauphin went on their scoring rampage. Multiple hit performances were absent from both sides in this skirmish and the only extra-base clout in the scuffle came from St. Lazare’s Garth Sararas who thumped a triple.
McAuley (W) and Basaraba
Thompson (L), Cundiff (6). Hart (9) and Jamieson
(July 3) The Riverside Blues and Virden Oilers locked horns in an MSBL tussle and, after 11 innings of play, were unable to declare a winner. With the score tied at 5 – 5, further play beyond the second overtime session was not possible because of darkness. Both starting chuckers, Lorne Lilley of the Blues and the Oilers’ Ted Bridgett, tossed the entire game with Lilley giving up eight hits and whiffing ten while Bridgett was nicked for nine safeties and fanned eight. Gary Greves had four hits for Virden while Garth Seafoot led the Riverside nine with three base knocks.
Bridgett and Attwood
Lilley and M. Seafoot, Kinsley
(July 3) The Dauphin Redbirds won their seventh one-run decision in league play as they nudged the visiting Hamiota Red Sox 3 to 2. In improving their season’s record to 9 – 2, the Birds got superb relief pitching from 18-year old Bob Kutzan who came on for Neil Amy in the third inning and gave up only two hits and one run for the remainder of the contest. Hamiota starter Ken Morton was cuffed with the loss. Trailing 1 to 0, the Redbirds bunched hits to plate all three of their tallies in the sixth stanza, the first pair coming on Bob Kabel’s two-run single and the third on an RBI one-bagger by Bernie Basaraba. The Dauphin duo both wound up with two safeties. The Smiths took care of all the hitting for the Crimson Hose. Brian Smith and Denny had two each and Don the other to account for the five-hit offense of the Sox.
Morton (L), B. Smith (6), Morton (7) and Don Smith
Amy, Kutzan (W) (3) and Basaraba
(July 4) Southpaw Dennis McAuley served up a neat four-hit shutout at Kinsmen Stadium as the front-running Dauphin Redbirds continued in flight with an 8 to 0 romp over the Brandon Cloverleafs. McAuley extended his pitching record to 6 – 0 for the season while his mates were tearing the hide off the ball with 11 base blows. The winning portsider fanned eight and issued just three free passes. Tall Ross Brownlee, who normally plays shortstop, started on the bump for the Leafs but was kayoed in the fifth and absorbed the loss. Gerry MacKay finished up mound duties for Brandon. John Lesyshen had a single, double and triple in six trips for the victors, driving in four counters. Bill Berezinski, Gerry Shumanski and McAuley added more coal to the fire with two hits each. The league’s leading hitter, Tom Town, was the only Cloverleaf to hit safely more than once, slapping out a pair of singles.
McAuley (W) and Basaraba
Brownlee (L), MacKay (5) and Gullett
(July 5) A one-out single in the bottom-of-the-ninth inning by Bob Attwood, his fifth hit of the game, gave the Virden Oilers a 17 to 16 verdict over the Brandon Cloverleafs in a wild-and-wooly MSBL game at Virden. The scuffle featured 37 base hits and saw the lead change four times. Attwood started behind the plate but ascended the hillock in relief in the fourth and, in addition to cracking a triple, two doubles and two singles, received credit for the knoll triumph. Don Hunter, who both started on the bump for the Leafs and returned as a ninth-inning reliever, was tagged with the loss. Almost everyone shared in the hitting spree with Attwood’s five safeties tops for the night. Bill Chapple had three including a triple and double, Manse Moyer two singles and a double and Lou Harper and Gary Greves with a pair of doubles each. Leading Brandon were Hunter with two triples and a brace of one-baggers and Don Sumner with three singles. Leaf catcher Greg Bototsik slammed the game’s only homer.
Hunter, Denbow (4), Diller (5), Hunter (9) and Borotsik
Moyer, Cairns (3), Attwood (W) (4) and Atwood, Cairns (4)
(July 5) At St. Lazare, Hamiota vaulted into second place in the circuit by virtue of a 13 to 4 romp over the hosting Athletics. The Red Sox broke loose with three runs in each of the seventh, eighth and ninth innings to rout the Saints. Wayne McConnell went the distance for the victory, scattering seven hits while walking an equal number. Strikeout artist Bill Cundiff started on the slab for the Athletics but was bounced in the seventh and was nailed with the setback. Lynn Caldwell set the pace for the winners at the plate as he smashed a three-run homer and a single.
McConnell (W) and Dennis Smith
Cundiff (L), Hart (7), Ireland (7) and Jamieson
(July 7) The Hamiota Red Sox consolidated their hold on second place in the MSBL with a 6 to 5 win over the hosting Riverside Blues in a ten-inning fracas. Lynn Caldwell was the hero of the day for the Sox as he blasted a solo homer in the overtime session. It was his third hit of the battle. Reliever Brian Smith picked up the win while seventh-inning fireman Lorne Lilley, who yielded only one hit, that being Caldwell’s dinger, was saddled with the loss. Jim Grant, Denny Smith, Don Smith and Brian Smith each collected two hits for the victors. Garth Seafoot led Riverside offensively with a pair of doubles and a single while Barry Moffatt, Ross Kinsley and Bob Ash each singled twice.
Morton, B. Smith (W) (2) and Don Smith
Hunter, Lilley (L) (7) and Kinsley
(July 7) The Brandon Cloverleafs continued their nosedive, bowing 7 to 1 to the Athletics at St. Lazare. Bob Thompson served up a two-hitter to hand the Leafs their third consecutive loss. Thompson rang up 11 punchouts and walked only three in his route-gong performance. Brandon’s Bruce Smith also went the distance. He was nicked for five hits, walked six and fanned three. No batter had more than one hit in the tilt. The longest blow was a triple by A’s catcher Ross Jamieson.
Smith (L) and Borotsik
Thompson (W) and Jamieson
Standings W L Pct. GBL
Dauphin Redbirds 10 2 .833 ----
Hamiota Red Sox 7 6 .538 3.5
St. Lazare Athletics 7 8 .467 4.5
Brandon Cloverleafs 6 8 .429 5.0
Virden Oilers 5 7 .417 5.0
Riverside Blues 5 9 .357 6.0
(July 11) Stellar import southpaw Bill Cundiff stymied the Brandon Cloverleafs on three hits as he pitched the St. Lazare Athletics to a 4 to 1 conquest of their hosts. The win solidified the A’s hold on third place while the Brandon loss tumbled them into fifth spot in the MSBL. Cundiff fanned nine and had near-perfect control, issuing just one base-on-balls. Losing chucker Jack Denbow was tagged for seven safeties and was betrayed by some shoddy fielding from his mates. He whiffed seven and relinquished two free passes. Leaf errors led to all but the first St. Lazare run. The Athletics opened the scoring in the fourth on Larry Hart’s second single of the game and Cundiff’s sacrifice fly. A walk and an error plated another in the sixth and they added the final pair in the seventh on two miscues plus hits by Roy Cuthill and Bob Thompson. Ron Baryluk drove in the lone Cloverleaf tally with a single.
Cundiff (W) and Jamieson
Denbow (L) and Veale
(July 12) The Hamiota Red Sox administered a 15 to 0 beating on the homestanding Virden Oilers in a one-sided MBSL contest. Wayne McConnell and Don Lee teamed up to record the shutout as McConnell, who gave up three of the four Virden safeties, picked up the pitching victory. Lou Harper, the first of three chuckers used by the hosts, was the loser. Buck Mathison topped the Red Sox’ 19-hit offensive explosion with three singles while Don Smith doubled twice and Jim Grant added a double and a single. Gary Greves had a brace of one-baggers for the Oilers.
McConnell (W), Lee (7) and Don Smith
Harper (L), Cairns (4), K. Seafoot (8) and Attwood
(July 14) The hosting Riverside Blues bounced the league-leading Dauphin Redbirds twice. Treating the front-runners with disrespect, they clobbered previously unbeaten Dennis McAuley in the opening game on their way to a 19 to 6 decision and continued a streaming attack with a 12 to 6 trouncing of the Birds in the late encounter. The twin-win for the Blues vaulted them into fourth place ahead of Brandon.
Riverside rocked the Redbirds with a 21-hit offense in the matinée portion of the twin-bill and disposed of five-game winner McAuley after five innings and 12 runs. Ed Evans went all the way on the hillock for the Blues in registering the win. The big blow in this rout was Barry Moffatt’s grand-slam dinger in the fifth. Garth Seafoot and Wes Rathwell both had four hits for the winners while Moffatt and Bob Ash had three.
McAuley (L), Kutzan (7) and Basaraba
Evans (W) and Kinsley
Lorne Lilley was hammered for four runs in the first inning of the nightcap but settled down to shutout ball until the ninth as the Blues tagged Dauphin starter Neil Amy with the loss. The Riversiders waltzed away with the game after scoring ten times in the first three innings. Moffatt continued his heavy hitting with four blows in six trips. Lilley banged out three safeties while John Lesyshen smacked two doubles for the Redbirds.
Amy (L), Kutzan (7) and Basaraba
Lilley (W) and Kinsley
(July 14) The visiting Brandon Cloverleafs divided the spoils of a double-dip at Hamiota, taking a 7 to 4 decision to start the afternoon before dropping a narrow 2 to 1 verdict to the Red Sox in the finale. Bruce Smith, with relief assistance from Jack Denbow in the sixth, picked up the pitching victory in the opening tilt wile Brian Smith was nicked with the defeat. Bob Wilson and Greg Borotsik both ripped a triad of bingles for the winners with Barry Diller and Bruce Smith adding a pair. Denny Smith and Buck Mathison hit safely twice for the Hamiotans.
Bruce Smith (W), Denbow (6) and Veale
Brian Smith (L), Lee (6) and Don Smith
Don Smith doffed the catching gear and took over mound duties for the Crimson Hose in the late event. While touched for ten hits, he was tough in the clutch, permitting the Leafs their lone run in the third. Wilson hurled for Brandon and surrendered the two runs in the third before Gerry MacKay took over in the sixth. The Cloverleaf duo were nicked for seven base raps. Wilson, Warren Veale and Borotsik all registered a brace of safeties for the Wheat City squad while Brian Smith and Lynn Caldwell replicated the feat for Hamiota.
Don Smith (W) and Dallas Smith
Wilson (L), MacKay (6) and Veale
(July 14) The hosting St. Lazare Athletics pounded the Virden Oilers 14 to 1 as starting pitcher Bob Thompson hurled the first six innings to pick up the easy win. While on the bump, Thompson held the Oilers scoreless, allowed just one hit, struck out 12 and walked only one. The lone Virden run, a solo homer by losing twirler Bob Attwood, came in the seventh stanza off the slants of Eric Ireland. Larry Hart clouted two doubles and a single for the A’s while Roy Cuthill, Wes Scantlebury and Ross Jamieson all delivered a brace of bingles.
Attwood (L), Moyer (4), Fowler (9) and Greves
Thompson (W), Ireland (7), Cundiff (9) and Jamieson
(July 16) The St. Lazare Athletics, with southpaw Bill Cundiff hurling a superb one-hitter, scored in the bottom-of-the-ninth inning to nudge the pace-setting Dauphin Redbirds 1 to 0 at St. Lazare. The win for the homesters lifted them into a virtual second-place tie with Hamiota, a game-and-a-half behind the Birds. Cundiff sent 14 of the Feathered Flock back to the bench via the strikeout route and doled out only one bingle, a sixth-inning single to Bill Berezinski. Taking the loss was Dennis McAuley who had a five-hitter while whiffing and walking the same number. Ray Simms of the A’s was the only swatter in the contest to amass two hits. Cundiff’s suicide-drag bunt in the ninth with the sacks full allowed Bob Thompson to score from third with the winning run in the walkoff victory.
McAuley (L) and Basaraba
Cundiff (W) and Jamieson.
(July 16) The Riverside Blues blasted the invading Brandon Cloverleafs 12 to 0, a loss for the Wheat City gang that put them on the verge of elimination from playoff contention. Riverside’s Lorne Lilley swished seven and fashioned a three-hitter while his mates from the Blues were jumping all over starter Leaf Bruce Smith and reliever Jack Denbow for a five-spot in the opening panel and a trey in the second spasm on their way to the blowout. They finished with a 14-hit total with Ross Kinsley and Gord Hunter leading the way with three bingles each. Kinsley’s trio of swats resulted in four RBI’s. Barry Moffatt and Leon Garinger both banged out a brace.
Lilley (W) and Kinsley
Smith (L), Denbow (1) and Veale
(July 18) The Brandon Cloverleafs kept their slim playoff hopes alive at Kinsmen Stadium as they tripped the front-running Dauphin Redbirds 3 to 1 in an MSBL contest. It was the fourth consecutive defeat for the punchless Birds. Usually found at second base, Gerry MacKay started his first game of the season on the rubber and served up a six-hit winning agenda. The slender right-hander sent six batters down on strikes while walking three. Hard-throwing Neil Amy, with a seven-hitter, was tagged with the setback. A misjudged fly ball and an impotent Redbird offense spelled his downfall. Johnny Lesyshen drove in Dauphin’s only tally in the third canto with a booming triple. The Leafs tied it in the fifth when Mort Wright reached home after being hit by an Amy pitch and advancing all the way around on a pair of throwing errors later in the frame. Brandon went ahead in the seventh when rookie Bob Kutzan misjudged MacKay’s log fly ball that fell in for a triple. Wright then singled home MacKay with the run that put the Leafs ahead to stay. Don Pottinger set the pace for the Cloverleafs from the batter’s box as he cuffed out three singles. Amy and Stan McPhee had a double and single each for the Birds.
Amy (L) and Basaraba
MacKay (W) and Veale
(July 19) The St. Lazare Athletics climbed into undisputed possession of second place in the MSBL by taking a one-sided 12 to 1 decision from the Hamiota Red Sox. Bill Cundiff and Bob Thompson shared the pitching duties in the A’s victory with Cundiff hurling the first five frames, handing the ball over to Thompson with a 6 to 1 cushion. The duo limited the Red Sox to six safeties. Thompson was the big man at the dish for the Athletics, gathering three hits including a three-run homer. Eric Ireland, Larry Hart, Cundiff, Del Stainer and Ross Jamieson all contributed a brace of bingles in the 15-hit attack of the Saints.
Cundiff (W), Thompson (6) and Jamieson
Van Buskirk (L), McConnell (2), Lee (6) and Don Smith
(July 19) The Riverside Blues clinched a spot in the Manitoba Senior Baseball League playoffs, securing 6 to 5 and 2 to 0 victories over the hosting Virden Oilers, the first win coming in the completion of a suspended tie game of July 3 and the second in a regular-scheduled event. Ed Evans of the Blues hooked up with Virden’s Bill Cairns in two separate duels. They each went the three innings to break the previous 11-inning stalemate and then toiled a full nine frames in the second tilt which translated into two hurling victories and 12 shutout innings for Evans.
A walk to Barry Moffatt and Gene Cory’s base knock produced the tie-breaking run in the 14th inning of the suspended game.
In the regular game, both Evans and Cairns hurled six-hitters as Evans fanned eight and Cairns whiffed four. Two errors paved the way for the first Riverside run in the opening inning while Lorne Lilley’s double and Moffatt’s single produced the other tally in the eighth. Moffatt was the lone batter from either team to garner two safeties.
Evans (W) and Kinsley
Cairns (L) and Attwood
(July 21) The Hamiota Red Sox split a home doubleheader with the front-running Dauphin Redbirds, capturing the initial scuffle 16 to 4 before dropping the windup skirmish 16 to 7. The second-game win for the Redbirds allowed them to maintain a slim edge over the rampaging St. Lazare Athletics.
Ken Morton went the route for Hamiota’s first-game triumph as the Sox battered Dennis McAuley for 20 base blows which produced a nine-run third inning and four more counters in the fourth. Mel Smith, Dallas Smith, Frank McKinnon and Jim Grant all collected a double and single for the victorious Crimson Hose. Barry Sharpe and Stan McPhee both had a pair of safeties for the Redbirds.
McAuley (L) and Basaraba
Morton (W) and Don Smith
The Birds backed Neil Amy with flawless support in the second fracas as the little right-hander scattered seven hits. It was Dauphin’s turn for a nine-run inning and they used it in the second chapter to hang the mound defeat on Don Lee. Bill Berezinski led the Redbirds’ ten-hit offense with a triad of safeties while McPhee returned for another brace. Young Mel Smith was the only Hamiotan to amass more than one hit.
Amy (W) and Basaraba
Lee (L) and Don Smith
(July 21) The St. Lazare Athletics completed their 20-game schedule at home with a 14 to 2 shellacking of the Riverside Blues. Bill Cundiff became the winningest pitcher in the league as the Athletic ace nabbed his eighth win of the season. He fanned 11 and walked three while permitting only three hits to beat Blues’ starter Lorne Lilley and two relievers. Larry Hart, Bob Thompson and Ross Jamieson paced the 15-hit St. Lazare attack. Each had three safeties while Hart collected two doubles and Thompson one.
Lilley (L), Evans (4), Hunter (8) and Kinsley
Cundiff (W) and Jamieson
(July 23) Mathematically eliminated from the playoffs and playing out the string, the Virden Oilers apparently still intend to make life miserable for some of the teams already assured of post-season spots. The Oilers went to Hamiota and thumped the Red Sox 13 to 8 in the final game of the schedule for the hosting Scarlet Stockings. The loss pushed Hamiota back into a tie with the Riverside Blues for third place as they both have 10 – 10 records and will meet in a sudden-death tie-breaker. Bill Cairns went all the way on the hillock to register the Virden win as he fanned four, walked five and allowed nine hits. After three scoreless innings, the Oilers broke loose for six-spots in both the fourth and fifth frames to set the wheels in motion for the triumph. Losing chucker Bob Brooks, the first of three Red Sox’ twirlers, was kayoed during the fourth-inning uprising. Ted Bridgett, Gary Greves, Ted Taylor, Henry Palk and Cairns all registered two hits for the winners. Mel Smith and Sam Phillips both had a pair of swats for Hamiota with young Smith connecting for a tater and Phillips a triple.
Cairns (W) and Taylor
Brooks (L), McConnell (4), Lee (5) and Don Smith
(July 24) The Virden Oilers proved to be spoilers for the second straight night and created another tie for playoff positions in the MSBL. After absorbing a 9 to 0 lacing in the matinée portion of a twin-bill at Dauphin, the Oilers came back for a slim 2 to 1 decision over the Redbirds in the late-half of encounter. The result threw Dauphin into a first-place deadlock with St. Lazare. With both teams finishing with 12 – 8 records, a sudden-death showdown will be required.
Dennis McAuley hurled a four-hit shutout in the first game as he fanned seven and walked one. Doug Fowler went the distance for the visitors, yielding seven safeties but finding himself in peril consistently by issuing ten bases-on-balls. Flychaser John Lesyshen of the Birds was the only batter from either squad to hit safely twice.
Fowler (L) and Cairns, K. Seafoot (2)
McAuley (W) and Basaraba
Bill Cairns out-duelled Neil Amy in the seven-inning second encounter in which the Oilers had a 5 to 4 edge in base hits. Each club did all their scoring in the first inning. Roy Lund and Ted Bridgett both had two hits for Virden while Lesyshen and Al Evason clouted triples for the Redbirds.
Cairns (W) and K. Seafoot
Amy (L) and Basaraba
(July 26) The streaking Virden Oilers ended the season on a winning note, dumping the Brandon Cloverleafs 9 to 2 to climb into a tie for fifth spot in the final standings with the visitors. Tex Larway blasted two home runs including a grand-salami to pace the fast-finishing Oilmen to the victory. Winning flinger Bob Attwood went the distance on the knoll as did losing heaver Bruce Smith. Henry Palk, Gary Greves and Attwood each collected two safeties in the 11-hit Virden offensive attack. Don Pottinger and Warren Veale had a brace of hits apiece for Brandon including triples.
Smith (L) and Veale
Attwood (W) and Taylor, Cairns (8)
Final Standings * W L Pct. GBL
Dauphin Redbirds 12 8 .600 ----
St. Lazare Athletics 12 8 .600 ----
Hamiota Red Sox 10 10 .500 2.0
Riverside Blues 10 10 .500 2.0
Brandon Cloverleafs 8 12 .400 4.0
Virden Oilers 8 12 .400 4.0
* sudden-death tie-breakers necessary for first and third places to determine playoff opponents.
FIRST-PLACE TIE-BREAKER
(July 26) The St. Lazare Athletics completed their uphill struggle to annex the 1963 Manitoba Senior Baseball League pennant when they took a tight 2 to 0 decision from the Redbirds at Dauphin. The A’s won their final seven games, including the tie-breaker, to take top spot. The league’s top hurler, Bill Cundiff, hooked up with the number two twirler, Dennis McAuley on the home turf of the Redbirds. Cundiff limited the hosts to four hits and fanned 17 in a blazing performance. McAuley gave up only five hits and punched out six. Both teams came up with errorless defensive play. Bob Thompson blasted a 400-foot homer over the centre-field fence in the second stanza and the lone counter looked like it would stand-up as the decider. In their final turn at bat, however, the A’s were able to add on an insurance tally when Vern Coulter tripled and Cundiff bunted him home.
Cundiff (W) and Jamieson
McAuley (L) and Basaraba, Kabel (9)
THIRD-PLACE TIE-BREAKER
(July 26) Riverside and Hamiota battled in a similar tie-breaker for third-place and the visiting Blues came through to take a 4 to 3 squeaker. Lorne Lilley went the distance in besting young Brian Smith in the Riverside triumph. Lilley limited the Sox to five hits while Smith was touched for just six. The invaders scored the deciding run in the seventh spasm. Lilley aided his own cause with a triple while Hamiota catcher Don Smith was the only player in the game to hit safely twice.
Brian Smith (L) and Don Smith
Lilley (W) and Kinsley
PLAYOFFS
SEMI-FINALS Hamiota Red Sox vs St. Lazare Athletics & Riverside Blues vs Dauphin Redbirds (best-of-seven series)
(July 30) The fourth-place Hamiota Red Sox surprised the pennant-winning St. Lazare Athletics by taking a tense, 1 to 0 upset win as the MSBL semi-finals got underway. Hamiota’s Don Lee pitched the game of his young 18-year old life in besting the league’s top hurler Bill Cundiff. Lee scattered six hits and twice was faced with bases-loaded situations. The first time in the fifth inning, Brian Smith stepped in temporarily to retire two batters. Lee came back to the mound in the sixth and continued to baffle the hard-hitting Athletics. It was the third 1 – 0 defeat for Cundiff this season and, once again, it was a hard-luck effort. The import tosser allowed only four hits and the only run given up was an unearned tally which resulted from a first-inning St. Lazare error. Cundiff, who whiffed 140 during the regular season, fanned 15 in this one and walked four. Dallas Smith had two safeties for the winners and drove in the only run with a single after the Saints’ miscue. Bob Thompson collected a brace of bingles for the A’s. Brian Smith, besides his brief relief stint in the fifth, turned in a standout game in the outer pasture for the Sox. Twice he cut down potential tying runs at the plate with frozen ropes.
Lee (W), Brian Smith (5), Lee (6) and Don Smith
Cundiff (L) and Jamieson
(July 30) The runner-up Dauphin Redbirds snapped out of a slump to blast the Riverside Blues 9 to 3 in the opener of their semi-final set. The Birds broke loose for for five runs in the second inning as they kayoed Riverside starter Lorne Lilley. Dennis McAuley coasted to the victory on a six-hitter with seven strikeouts and four walks. Four hurlers from the Blues were unable to stop the Dauphin swatsmiths as Bernie Basaraba, Bill Berezinski and McAuley all registered a brace of safeties. Gene Cory stroked a pair of knocks for the losing nine.
Lilley (L), Hunter (3), G. Seafoot (6), Lilley (8) and Kinsley
McAuley (W) and Basaraba
(August 1) The Hamiota Red Sox once again stunned the pennant-winning St. Lazare Athletics, bouncing the A’s 9 to 6 in Hamiota. The Sox now lead the best-of-seven semi-final series 2 – 0. Wildness by the St. Lazare mound corps gave the Red Sox eight bases-on-balls and two hit batters which cost the Athletics big-time as, despite the fact that they combed three Hamiota hurlers for 13 hits while their foes could only muster up five, they were behind the eight-ball after yielding a six-spot in the opening panel. The Saints fought back to briefly knot the count in the fourth but the Scarlet Stockings quickly regained the lead with a trey in their half of the canto and never looked back. Impactful in the Hamiota victory were two double plays and three St. Lazare baserunners being cut down at the dish. Catcher Don Smith doffed his backstop tools and ascended the bump in the third, going the rest of the way for the hillock triumph. Larry Hart, the second of the A’s pitching trio, was clipped with the loss. Vern Coulter cracked out three hits for the losers, including a triple, while Ray Simms had a pair. Dallas Smith ripped a double for the Sox’ only extra-base knock.
Thompson, Hart (L) (1), Simms (4) and Jamieson
Morton, Brian Smith (2), Don Smith (W) (3) and Don Smith, Dallas Smith (3)
(August 1) The Riverside Blues fought back for a ten-inning 6 to 4 triumph over the Dauphin Redbirds to square their series at a game apiece. Pulling off some late-inning heroics after trailing 4 to 1, the Blued rammed home three runs in the eighth to deadlock things. In the bottom-of-the-tenth, Gene Cory provided a fitting ending by launching a two-run tater for the walkoff win. Eddie Evans was the route-going winner as he gave up six hits, fanned nine and walked one. Neil Amy was stung with the hard-luck defeat. He also permitted six safeties while breezing five and walking three. Stan McPhee accounted for a couple of the Dauphin tallies with a two-run dinger in the sixth spasm while Al Evason was the only Redbird to have two base raps.
Amy (L) and Basaraba
Evans (W) and C. Seafoot
(August 6) The amazing Hamiota Red Sox continued their upset surge in the MSBL playoffs as they came storming from behind to top the St. Lazare Athletics 9 to 6 and take a 3 – 0 stranglehold in the best-of-seven semi-finals. For the second straight game, the A’s outhit the Sox but they booted the ball six times. In arrears by a half-dozen markers after three chapters, the Hamioatans chipped away methodically at the deficit with a deuce in the fourth, singletons in the fifth and sixth and then exploded for a five-spot in the seventh to jump ahead with a three-run cushion. In the process, they kayoed star St. Lazare slab artist Bill Cundiff from the bump in the fifth, the first time this season that Cundiff had been driven from the knoll. Brian “Porky” Smith, in relief of starter Wayne McConnell, earned the hillock triumph while Ray Simms, who came on after Cundiff was derricked, absorbed the setback. Don Smith was the lone willow wielder from the Scarlet Stockings to hit safely twice. Bill Coulter and Cundiff both banged out a brace of raps for the Saints.
McConnell, Brian Smith (W) (3) and Don Smith
Cundiff, Simms (L) (6) and Jamieson
(August 6) A 7 to 3 triumph over the Riverside Blues allowed the Dauphin Redbirds to regain the lead in their semi-final showdown. The combatants see-sawed back-and-forth with the Blues tying the game in the top-of-the-eighth episode. However, the Redbirds broke it open with a four-spot in the bottom-half of the frame. Despite the close score, the two clubs played sloppily afield with Dauphin committing five errors and Riverside booting the ball seven times. Neil Amy picked up his first win of the series while Lorne Lilley was handed his second loss. Bill Berezinski led the Birds with the hickory, drilling three safeties, while Stan McPhee and Amy each had a pair. The Blues’ Ross Kinsley had two of the five hits yielded by Amy.
Lilley (L) and C. Seafoot
Amy (W) and Basaraba
(August 8) A grand-slam home run by Lynn Caldwell boosted the Hamiota Red Sox to a 6 to 4 conquest of the St. Lazare Athletics and an upset sweep of their semi-final playoff series. Trailing 4 to 2 in the third inning, the Sox got life when Frank McKinnon led off with a walk and Dallas Smith followed with a single. Don Smith drew another base-on-balls to load the sacks and set the stage for Caldwell’s line-drive to left-centre. Dallas Smith, who took over the heaving reins from Hamiota starter Ken Morton in the opening inning and lasted until the sixth, was credited with the pitching win. Brian Smith finished on the hill for the winners after relieving his older brother. The three Red Sox chuckers surrendered four hits, struck out four and walked seven. Bob Thompson started on the bump for St. Lazare and was relieved by Larry Hart in the second stanza, only to return to the slab in the fourth before getting the hook again in the fifth. The league’s top flinger, Bill Cundiff, completed the contest. Athletic tossers gave up five hits, nine walks and fanned eight. Ray Simms of the Saints was the lone batter from either side to have two base raps.
Thompson, Hart (L) (2), Thompson (4), Cundiff (5) and Jamieson
Morton, Dallas Smith (W) (1), Brian Smith (6) and Don Smith
(August 9) The Dauphin Redbirds neared their third straight Manitoba Senior Baseball League final series at Riverside as they blasted the Blues 9 to 4. The win gives the Birds a 3 – 1 lead in the semi-final set. Dauphin ace left hander Dennis McAuley stopped the Blues on six hits as he fanned five and walked one. Losing slabster Eddie Evans was raked for 13 base knocks before being relieved by Lorne Lilley in the seventh inning. The Riversiders turned in a shoddy defensive display as they booted the ball nine times. Bill Berezinski was again the top dog with the lumber for Dauphin as he stung the pill for three safe swats including a three-run homer, driving in a total of five runs. Larry McDougall also had a trio of hits for the winners with John Lesyshen, Neil Amy and Gerry Shumanski all collecting a pair. Gene Cory lashed out three safeties, including two doubles, for the Blues.
McAuley (W) and Kabel
Evans (L), Lilley (7) and Kinsley, C. Seafoot (8)
(August 11) The Riverside Blues stayed in the hunt for the MSBL playoff crown as they bounced the Dauphin Redbirds 9 to 1 to move to within a win of tying the semi-final series. Dauphin held a 1 to 0 lead in the second spasm but the visiting Blues went ahead 2 to 1 in the sixth and never lost any momentum in increasing that cushion. Garth Seafoot went all the way of the hillock for the winners, limiting the hosts to four hits while fanning five and walking three. Losing twirler Neil Amy started on the mound for the Redbirds but, experiencing control issues, gave way to Bob Kutzan in the sixth. The Riversiders lit up the Dauphin pitching duo for nine base raps. Gord Hunter was the only batter from the winning nine to acquire more than one safety as he stroked a pair of singles. John Lesyshen collected half of the Birds’ four base knocks, with a double and single.
G. Seafoot (W) and C. Seafoot
Amy (L), Kutzan (6) and Kabel
(August 12) The plucky Riverside Blues continued their comeback and forced their best-of-seven semi-final series to the limit on their home diamond where they doubled the Dauphin Redbirds 6 to 3. Lorne Lilley, the workhorse of the Riverside pitching staff, went six innings on the hill to pick up the win. He was relieved by speedball artist Ed Evans who completed the contest on the bump. Both teams had strong offensive outings with the Blues outswatting the visitors 14 – 12. Dauphin’s ace southpaw was ineffective, taking the loss after surrendering five runs on 11 hits. Bob Kutzan finished up after taking over in the fifth. Wes Rathwell led the Blues with the baton, lacing three singles while Barry Moffatt collected a double and single. Checking in with a brace of bingles each were Cliff Seafoot, Ross Kinsley and Garth Seafoot. Bill Berezinski continued his relentless hitting spree for the Redbirds, cracking three singles and a two-bagger. Teammate John Lesyshen followed with a pair of singles and a double.
McAuley (L), Kutzan (5) and Kabel
Lilley (W), Evans (7) and C. Seafoot
(August 14) The amazing Riverside Blues completed their comeback at Dauphin with a 9 to 2 triumph over the Redbirds to advance to the MSBL finals against the Hamiota Red Sox. Fireball chucker Ed Evans toiled the first four innings on the knoll for the Blues, yielding only a pair of hits while walking two before being relieved by Garth Seafoot with the Blues in front 3 -2. Seafoot finished the game as his mates piled on six additional counters to ice things. The winning tandem allowed just four safeties. Dauphin portsider Dennis McAuley went the route and was tagged with the loss. He surrendered nine hits while punching out ten and issuing one free pass. Barry Moffatt set the pace for the victors at the dish with a pair of singles and a triple.
Evans, G. Seafoot (W) (5) and C. Seafoot
McAuley (L) and Kabel
FINALS Hamiota Red Sox vs Riverside Blues (best-of-seven series)
(August 18) Riding high on the crest of a current win streak, the Riverside Blues took a one-game lead in the Manitoba Senior Baseball League finals with a 10 to 7 triumph over the Hamiota Red Sox. Reliever Ed Evans who ascended the bump in the fifth frame, taking over from starter Garth Seafoot, posted the mound decision. Losing chucker Wayne McConnell started for Hamiota and was lit up for eight runs, primarily because of his difficulty in locating the strike zone. Relievers Brian Smith and Ken Morton followed with the trio yielding nine hits and ten bases-on-balls. Bob Ash led the victors at the platter with a pair of singles and a double. Wes Rathwell chipped in with a pair of singles. Brian Smith paced the visitors with a pair of singles and a double while Don Smith smashed a triple and a double and Mel Smith a double and a single.
McConnell (L), B. Smith (4), Morton (7) and Don Smith
G. Seafoot, Evans (W) (5) and C. Seafoot
(August 21) The hosting Hamiota Red Sox bunched all their scoring into two big innings but had to hang on to slip past the Riverside Blues 9 to 8. The win for the Sox evened up the best-of-seven finals at a game apiece. The Crimson Hose came through with six runs in the second inning then added three more in the eighth. The Blues picked up one in the first, three in the third and then finished strong with a brace in each of the eighth and ninth cantos. Hamiota starting tosser Ken Morton took the win but needed relief assistance from Brian Smith in the fifth and Don Smith who shed his catcher’s gear to finish the game in the ninth. The threesome yielded nine hits to the Riversiders. Reliable right hander Lorne Lilley toiled on the slab for the visitors, going the route while surrendering 13 hits and five walks. Ellis Woods of the Red Sox provided the key blow in the game when he blasted a two-run homer in the eighth episode. Teammate Lynn Caldwell rapped out three singles while Don Smith had a triple and single and brother, Denny Smith, a double and one-bagger. Outfielder Barry Moffatt blasted a triple and single to pace Riverside while Ross Kinsley added a double and single.
Lilley (L) and C. Seafoot
Morton (W), B. Smith (5), Don Smith ()9 and Don Smith, B. Smith (9)
(August 28) Following five previous attempts at playing game three, all being rain outs, the MSBL finals finally resumed and saw the Hamiota Red Sox nudge the homestanding Riverside Blues 3 to 1 to take a two games to one lead in the series. The teams were scoreless until the fourth when they exchanged a run. The Sox went ahead with an unearned run in the seventh inning and tacked on an insurance marker in the eighth. Both teams rang up six safeties. Mel Smith started on the hill for the winners but needed relief help from Brian Smith who posted the win. Fastball artist Ed Evans went the route for Riverside but was let down by his mates who booted the ball on four occasions. Dallas Smith had a solo round-tripper for the Sox in the fourth and Mel Smith chipped in with a pair of singles. Gene Cory collected half of the Blues’ offensive output as he ripped a double and a brace of one-baggers.
M. Smith, B. Smith (W) (5) and Don Smith
Evans (L) and C. Seafoot
(August 30) The Riverside Blues squared their best-of-seven MSBL final series with the homestanding Hamiota Red Sox as they posted a narrow 10 to 9 victory in an error-filled game. There were 18 fielding miscues in the sloppily-played tilt, nine by each team. The Red Sox out-hit their opponents 13 to 8 in the eight-inning affair, ended by darkness. The teams were deadlocked at 6 – 6 after six chapters but the Blues picked up two counters in each of the seventh and eighth and held off a last-ditch effort by the Crimson Hose to knot the count once more in the bottom-of-the-final frame. Lorne Lilley earned the mound triumph but he needed eighth-inning help from Ed Evans and Garth Seafoot. Catcher Don Smith came to the rescue of Hamiota starting chucker Ellis Woods in the opening panel, tossing the remainder of the contest while absorbing the defeat. Cliff Seafoot and Gene Cory led the Riverside attack with a pair of hits each while clubmate Gord Hunter whacked a two-run triple. Don Smith was valiant in a losing cause as he pounded out four singles in five trips. Younger brother Brian Smith added a brace of one-baggers for the Sox.
Lilley (W), Evans (8), G. Seafoot (8) and C. Seafoot
Woods, Don Smith (L) (1) and Don Smith, Dallas Smith (1)
(September 1) The Hamiota Red Sox unleashed a 12-hit offense at Riverside to post a 5 to 3 triumph of the Blues and forge ahead 3 – 2 in the best-of-seven MSBL finals. The Red Sox were never in any trouble as they plated deuces in both the opening and second spasms before closing out the scoring with a singleton in the third. Brian Smith went the distance for the winners and choked the Riversiders on just four hits while walking three. He received solid defensive support from his mates, in particular brother Dallas Smith who was outstanding in the middle pasture. Losing heaver Garth Seafoot lasted on the bump until the third when Ed Evans took over and finished the mound duties. Lynn Caldwell set the pace for the Scarlet Stockings as he stroked three singles. Don Smith, Mel Smith and Brian Smith each pounded out two safeties for the Smith-dominated Sox.
B. Smith (W) and Don Smith
G. Seafoot (L), Evans (3) and C. Seafoot
(September 4) Before a large hometown crowd, the fourth-place finishing Hamiota Red Sox successfully defended their Manitoba Senior Baseball League crown as they pounded out a convincing 12 to 8 conquest of the Riverside Blues to capture the final series four games to two. Versatile Brian Smith, ascending the knoll in the second stanza for starter Mel Smith, finished the game in fine style to pick up the mound verdict. Hard-throwing Ed Evans suffered the loss for Riverside, exiting the hillock after being raked for eight runs on 12 hits during five cantos of work. Lorne Lilley completed the pitching assignment for the Blues. Mel Smith paced the 17-hit Red Sox hitting spree with a triple and three singles. Brian Smith clubbed a triple, double and single while Dallas and Don Smith banged out three singles each. Gene Cory, Gord Hunter and catcher Cliff Seafoot all cranked out a brace of bingles for the Riversiders.
Evans (L), Lilley (6) and C. Seafoot
M. Smith, B. Smith (W) (2) and Don Smith
WINNIPEG METRO SENIOR BASEBALL LEAGUE
This second-year loop grew to seven entries in 1963 and experienced a high degree of membership turnover from the previous campaign. Only the Balmoral Orioles, Vita Mallards and Transcona Atomics (nee Atomic Transfer) from the first-year circuit remained in the league. Joining the revamped association of entries were district teams representing Carman and Stonewall as well as Precious Blood of Winnipeg and the RCAF base located in the Capital city.
Results of fewer than half the regular-season games played ever appeared in the Winnipeg print media.
The Carman Cubs and Transcona Atomics, both sporting a few key players from last season’s runaway champion St. Boniface Native Sons, emerged as the class of the 1963 circuit with Carman finally copping the regular-season laurels in a close battle. Then, in the playoff finals, after falling behind three-games-to-none, the Cubs staged a remarkable comeback, reeling off four consecutive victories.
Balmoral Orioles
Carman Cubs
Precious Blood
RCAF
Stonewall Flyers
Transcona Atomics
Vita Mallards
(May 26) The Transcona Atomics blanked the hosting Vita Mallards 5 to 0 in Metro Senior Baseball League action. The second game of a scheduled doubleheader was postponed because of rain. Bob Audette worked five innings on the knoll for Transcona to earn the pitching win. He issued one hit and struck out ten in his stint. Larry Wood preserved the shutout in the last two innings. Bill Fosty of the Mallards was touched for seven hits in taking the loss. Len Harvey drove in three runs for the Atomics, two of them coming on a booming triple. Howie Hughes also starred at the plate, clubbing a round-tripper and a single.
(May 28) The Transcona Atomics trounced RCAF 15 to 1 in an abbreviated Metro Senior League game. The contest was halted at the end of five innings because of darkness. Tom Trosky hurled the victory, cooling the Airmen on three hits while striking out ten and walking three. The Atomics, meanwhile, were the beneficiaries of 14 bases-on-balls from the RCAF’s hill corps. Jerry Mercier had two singles and Bobby Leiter a bases-loaded triple for the winners.
(June 2) Hosting Carman and Transcona split a doubleheader in Metro Senior League play with the Cubs taking the first game 6 to 4 and dropping the second tilt 1 to 0. Glennis Scott picked up the pitching win for Carman in the opener, out-duelling George Dawson. The Cubs scored five runs in the first two innings and were never headed. Scott surrendered nine hits, fanned seven and walked one in going the distance. Cal Smith with a double and Gerry Bolin and Gary White with two singles provided much of the hitting punch for Carman. Jerry Mercier stroked a double and single for the Atomics while clubmate Len Harvey whacked a two-bagger.
In the second contest, Bob Audette threw a three-hitter for the “Sconas, striking out ten and walking two in a defensive battle. Leon McClinton absorbed the Carman loss, yielding five hits while punching out four and walking none. The lone run of the struggle came in the fifth frame when “Porky” McGraw singled, advanced to second on an error, took third on a wild pitch and scored on Roy Shuel’s one-bagger.
In another twin-bill, Balmoral edged Vita 11 to 10 in the matinée event but lost the nightcap 8 to 2. Bill LePoudre of the Orioles was credited with the mound decision in the opening-game slugfest while Bill Fosty was nailed with the setback. The leading swatsmith in the curtain-raiser was Mallard was Walter Hyra who went four-for-four in a losing cause. The finale also produced a three-hitter when the Mallards’ John Kosowan turned the trick, ringing up 14 punchouts. John Paul was the loser.
(June 6) The Vita Mallards defeated the Carman Cubs 6 to 4 in a Metro Senior League game in Carman. A four-run first-inning, sparked by a bases-loaded triple off the bat of Russ Sussman, gave the Mallards a running start. Wayne Sorby picked up the pitching win for Vita, although he needed eighth-inning relief help from Don Kosowan who fanned four during his tenure on the hill. Gladwyn Scott, with eight punchouts to his credit, was the loser. Catcher Walter Hyra paced the winners at the plate with two hits including a double. Scott, who went the distance in defeat, duplicated the plate performance for the Cubs.
(June 11) Wayne Sorby fired a no-hitter as the Vita Mallards zeroed the RCAF diamond troopers 7 to 0 in a Metro Senior League tilt at the RCAF station. Sorby also had a pair of hits for the winners.
In another game at Provencher Park, the Transcona Atomics edged Precious Blood 4 to 3. Larry Wood allowed hits hits and two runs in his five-inning stint on the mound to record the pitching decision. Tom Trosky worked the final four innings, allowing three hits and striking out eight. The losing pitcher, Dan Defries, was charged with all four runs. Singles by Bob Leiter and Jack Shuba and a double by “Porky” Ingram shot the Atomics into a 3 – 0 first-inning lead. Len Harvey and Leiter had two singles apiece for Transcona. Maurice Oakes with a home run and John Helston with two singles and a triple led Precious Blood.
(June 14) The Transcona Atomics moved to the top of the Metro Senior Baseball League standings when they whipped the Vita Mallards 6 to 1. It was the Atomics fifth win in six starts. Joe Psooy spun four-hit ball for seven innings, fanning seven and walking two. George Dawson hurled the last two frames. Vita’s Bill Fosty went all the way in taking the defeat. Ron Twerdochlib had three hits for the winners while clubmates Cam Hurst and Howie Hughes banged out two apiece. Psooy’s shutout bid was spoiled when Don Craw stole home.
(June 16) The Transcona Atomics and Vita Mallards both swept twin-bills in Metro Senior Baseball League action. The Atomics dumped the Balmoral Orioles 7 to 1 and 14 to 3 while Vita trounced the Stonewall Flyers 17 to 3 and 16 to 4.
Balmoral picked up only eight hits in their two games as Bob Audette tossed a five-hitter in the opening tussle and Danny Yackoboski threw a three-hitter in the nightcap. Audette rang up ten punchouts in his winning chore, aiding his cause with two doubles. Cam Hurst clubbed a three-bagger and a pair of singles as John Paul was tagged with the pitching defeat. In the second game, Cece Dawley, the losing pitcher for the Orioles, nailed a three-bagger in the eighth, ending Yackoboski’s bid for a no-hitter. Hurst was again the big man with the stick for the ‘Sconas, pounding out four hits. Teammate Howie Hughes chipped in with a two-bagger and three singles.
In the other doubleheader, the Mallards had little trouble in disposing of Stonewall. Orest Kuzak, who picked up the matinée-game pitching win, whiffed ten and allowed just five hits. He had home run help from Don Craw and Eddie Chesko. Warren Gregg was also highly impactful, stinging the pill for four safeties. Bob Howard suffered the loss. In the sunset event, John Kosowan notched the mound decision with big blows coming from Craw and Bill Fosty. Jack McDougall was the losing heaver.
(June 18) The Carman Cubs consolidated their hold on second place in the Metro Senior League with a 6 to 5 extra-inning win over the Balmoral Orioles. Trailing 5 – 4 going into the ninth inning, Cubs’ base runner Gary White, perched at third base, enticed Balmoral pitcher Don Marks to commit a balk, scoring the tying run. The winning counter came in the 10th when a blow off the bat of Jack Seitz plated Terry Braunstein. Leon McClinton picked up the hurling triumph in relief of starter Marcel Charbonneau in the fourth frame.
In another Metro League match, the front-running Transcona Atomics bombed the winless RCAF nine 14 to 6 behind the three-hit pitching of John Holt. Howie Hughes carried the big bat for the ‘Sconas, clubbing a grand-slam home run plus two singles. Norm Rogoski also had a good evening at the dish, pounding out three singles. Jim Simm was saddled with the Air Force pitching loss.
Standings W L Pct. GBL
Transcona Atomics 8 1 .889 ----
Carman Cubs 5 2 .714 2.0
Vita Mallards 7 5 .583 2.5
Precious Blood 3 4 .429 4.0
Balmoral Orioles 3 5 .375 4.5
Stonewall 2 5 .286 5.0
RCAF Flyers 0 6 .000 6.5
(June 21) The pace-setting Transcona Atomics defeated the Stonewall Flyers 5 to 2 in a Metro Senior League tilt. Larry Wood gave up three hits, struck out ten and walked four to earn the complete-game mound victory. Gord Potter, who was touched for six safeties, absorbed the loss. Bob Audette and Ken Ingram had two hits apiece for the Atomics while Gary Shaw contributed a two-run single. Gary Edwards slammed a three-bagger for Stonewall.
The runner-up Carman Cubs kept pace with the league-leaders, crushing the doormat RCAF squad 20 to 0. Leon McClinton, 4 – 1 for the season, posted the knoll decision over Joe Brassard.
(June 24) Winning slabster Marcel Charbonneau fired a one-hitter in leading the Carman Cubs to a 3 to 0 whitewashing of the Balmoral Orioles. John Paul spoiled the no-hit bid with a seventh-inning safety. Gladwyn Scott lashed a single for the victors that drove in a pair of tallies.
(June 25) Howie Hughes cracked a grand-slam home run as the Transcona Atomics trounced the Vita Mallards 9 to 4 at Provencher Park. Hughes also clubbed a double for the ‘Sconas who improved their record atop the Metro Senior circuit to 10 – 2. Vita, with a 7 – 6 won-lost mark, remained in third place behind the Carman Cubs who sport a 7 – 2 mark for the campaign. Dan Yackoboski yielded seven hits in copping the mound victory. He struck out nine and walked five. Mallard hurler, John Kosowan, was nicked for six hits while fanning eight and walking an equal number, in taking the loss. Bob Audette ripped a brace of bingles for Transcona. Kosowan and teammate Don Craw both had two safeties for the Ducks, with a two-bagger included in Kosowan’s total.
(June 26) Gladwyn Scott struck out 16 and tossed a four-hitter as the hosting Carman Cubs trounced the RCAF baseballers 13 to 4 in a Metro Senior Baseball League tussle. Jim Simm absorbed the loss. Key players in the 15-hit Carman attack were Gary White with two doubles and a pair of singles, Doug Ingram with a triple and two singles, Ron Braunstein who nailed a brace of doubles and playing-manager Art Vandel who belted a two-run homer. Tory Lee had a double for the Airmen.
(June 27) In a clash of the titans, the Carman Cubs broke a first-place deadlock with the Transcona Atomics by nosing out the ‘Sconas 6 to 5 at Provencher Park. Coming from behind, the Cubs staged a three-run uprising in the eighth episode to pull out the victory. Neither starting chucker, Carman’s Leon McClinton and Larry Wood of the Atomics survived to be a pitcher of record. Gerry Bolin cracked a two-run triple to tie the score 5 – 5. Bolin then scored easily on Danny Allen’s single. Allen’s RBI hit allowed seventh-inning reliever Marcel Charbonneau to chalk up the mound victory over Tom Trosky who ascended the hillock in the eighth.
(July 4) Gary White’s sharp ninth-inning single, his second hit of the game, drove in Gerry Bolin from second base to give the homestanding Carman Cubs a narrow 7 to 6 win over the Balmoral Orioles. White had earlier plated the tying marker after belting a triple. Leon McClinton, in relief of starter Gladwyn Scott, picked up the mound verdict while Don Marks was saddled with the loss. Doug Ingram had a home run for the victors. Wielding the smoking bat for the Orioles was Lorne LePoudre who smashed a brace of circuit-clouts to go along with a pair of singles.
(July 7) The Carman Cubs edged visiting Precious Blood 2 to 1 in a rain-shortened Metro Senior Baseball League game. The unwanted precipitation also forced postponement of a scheduled second game. Leon McClinton tossed a two-hitter over the seven innings played to take the mound decision. The Pee-Bees’ Joe Pyrchurko, who fired a four-hitter, was stung with the loss. Terry Braunstein singled to drive in Doug Ingram with the Cubs’ initial tally in the opening canto. A single by Gary White in the sixth stanza chased across McClinton, who had doubled, with the winner.
In doubleheader action, the Transcona Atomics clobbered the Stonewall Flyers 12 to 2 and 15 to 1. Joe Psooy handcuffed the Flyers in the opener to register the hillock decision over Gord Potter. Bob Audette and Norm Rogosky, with a double and single each, sparked the Transcona offense while teammate Gerry Mercier contributed two singles. Laurie Langrell launched a two-run dinger for Stonewall and clubmate George Bond kicked in with a brace of one-baggers. Audette and Ken Ingram smashed grand-slam homers for the ‘Sconas in the late match as John Holt posted the mound win over Ed Larner.
(July 8) Howie Hughes cracked a grand-slam home run and a single to lead the Transcona Atomics to a 12 to 2 conquest of Precious Blood at Provencher Park. Bob Audette toiled six stanzas on the bump to gain credit for the mound decision. He struck out six and gave up four hits. Tom Trosky worked the last three innings and surrendered two hits. “Curly” LeClerc absorbed the loss. Audette had a double and single for the victors while Ron Twerdochlib and Gerry Mercier ripped two singles apiece. Tom McDonald bashed a double for the Pee-Bees.
(July 9) The Carman Cubs snatched a 5 to 3 win from the Vita Mallards in a Metro Senior League clash at Provencher Park which was shortened to seven innings because of darkness. Marcel Charbonneau rang up his fourth mound victory of the season against no defeats. Leon McClinton toiled on the knoll for the final frame. John Kosowan went the route for the Ducks and was nailed with the setback.
(July 11) Stonewall whipped the Balmoral Orioles 8 to 5 in a Metro Senior League fixture at Stonewall. Gord Potter of the Flyers gained the mound decision over Balmoral’s John Paul. Top swatsmith in the scuffle was the Orioles’ Cece Dawley who stung the sphere with a pair of round-trippers and a single. Laurie Langrell popped a three-run tater for the victors.
(July 16) The Carman Cubs moved into a two-game lead atop the Metro Senior circuit after dumping their closest pursuers, the Transcona Atomics, 9 to 4. Leon McClinton hurled a four-hitter for the hillock verdict, out-duelling Dan Yackoboski. The big guns with the hickory for the winners were Gary White, who went four-for-four and scored three runs, and Danny Allen who hit three-for-four including a bases-loaded triple.
(July 18) Hosting Carman bounced the Vita Mallards 6 to 2 in Metro Senior League action. Winning heaver Gladwyn Scott struck out six in going the route, pitching two-hit ball for eight innings but, weakening in the last inning, had to settle for a six-hit job. Cub batsmen picked up 12 hits off Vita starter and loser Jack Kozak and reliever John Kosowan. Art Vandel, Jack Seitz and Danny Allen all stroked a pair of singles for the winners as did Kosowan of the vanquished nine.
(July 23) The Carman Cubs increased their first-place margin to a full game over the idle Transcona Atomics by blanking the hosting Balmoral Orioles 6 to 0. Leon McClinton won his ninth game of the season with a three-hitter as the Cubs improved their record to 18 – 3. Doug Marks suffered the loss. Danny Allen collected three hits for the winners and Gary White a pair.
(July 25) A 9 to 4 pasting of the Transcona Atomics boosted the Carman Cubs into a two-game lead over their victims in the Metro Senior League standings. Leon McClinton was the winning pitcher, increasing his hurling mark for the campaign to 10 – 1. Dan Yackoboski, the first of four chuckers for the Atomics, suffered the loss. Gary White went four-for-four at the plate and scored three runs for the victors while teammate Danny Allen hit a bases-loaded triple plus a brace of singles.
(July 26) Behind the seven-hit pitching of Joe Psooy, the second-place Transcona Atomics whipped the Balmoral Orioles 10 to 4 at the RCAF field. Psooy fanned nine and walked two in going the distance. The losing twirler was Cece Dawley. Howie Hughes banged a triple and single for Transcona while Barry Raeside, Len Harvey and Gerry Mercier each punched out a double and one-bagger. Coming through with a brace of singles each were Gerry Mercier and Tom Trosky. Bob Marks collected a double and single for the Orioles.
(July 28) The Transcona Atomics bounced the Balmoral Orioles 10 to 1 in a Metro Senior Baseball League fixture. John Holt gave up six hits, struck out four and issued only one walk in posting the mound victory. Doug Marks was the loser.
(August 7) The Carman Cubs rallied to defeat Precious Blood 10 to 8 to clinch first place in the Metro Senior Baseball League. The Pee-Bees jumped into an 8 to 0 lead in the fourth frame but imploded in the sixth and seventh stanzas when the Cubs did all their scoring. Leon McClinton, in relief of Marcel Charbonneau, emerged as the winning hurler while “Curly” LeClerc, also in a relief role, suffered the loss. Gary White had three hits for the pennant-winners, an output equalled by Maurice Oakes of Precious Blood.
PLAYOFFS
SEMI-FINALS Balmoral Orioles vs Transcona Atomics & Vita Mallards vs Carman Cubs (best-of-five-series)
(August 11) The Carman Cubs and Transcona Atomics jumped into 2 – 0 leads in their respective best-of-five Metro Senior Baseball League semi-final series. The pennant-winning Cubs defeated the Vita Mallards 3 to 2 and 11 to 1 at Carman while, at Provencher Park, the Atomics bounced the Balmoral Orioles 5 to 2 and 22 to 11.
Gary White drove in the winning run in the final inning of the opener at Carman to earn Glennis Scott the mound win over Bill Fosty. Leon McClinton, the league’s top pitcher during the regular season, stopped the Mallards on a five-hitter in the nightcap. John Kosowan was the loser. Best at the plate for the Cubs were Danny Allen and Ron Braunstein.
In the other series opener, Joe Psooy copped the knoll triumph over Cece Dawley. Psooy aided his own cause with two hits while clubmate Gary Shaw belted a brace of two-baggers. John Paul and Andy Alexiuk had two safeties apiece for Balmoral.
In the night game, Bob Audette of the ‘Sconas clubbed a triple and four singles while teammates Bob Leiter and Ron Twerdochlib both ripped the horsehide for a home run and single. Contributing three hits apiece were Howie Hughes, Cam Hurst and Jack Shuba. Best with the lumber for the Orioles were Paul and Dowley.
(August 13) Gladwyn Scott scattered eight hits in pitching the Carman Cubs to a convincing 11 to 6 conquest of the Vita Mallards and a sweep of their semi-final series. John Kosowan went the route for the vanquished Vita nine, surrendering 12 safeties. Jim Slevin with a home run, Doug Ingram with three hits and Jack Seitz with a brace of bingles were the top swatsmiths for the winners. The Cubs now face the Transcona Atomics who also captured their semi-final showdown against the Balmoral Orioles in straight games.
FINALS Transcona Atomics vs Carman Cubs (best-of-seven series)
(August 18) The Transcona Atomics took a two-game lead over the pennant-winning Carman Cubs in the Metro Senior Baseball League finals, clipping the Cubs 11 to 5 and 6 to 3 at Provencher Park.
John Holt pitched a five-hitter in the first game as Leon McClinton took the loss. Bob Leiter drove in five runs for the ‘Sconas with a double and triple while Howie Hughes, with three RBI’s, and Norm Rogoski also hit safely twice. Larry Wood rescued starter Joe Psooy in the sixth stanza of the wind-up tilt with the score tied 3 – 3 as flychaser Ron Twerdochlib made a tremendous catch with two out and the bases loaded to chill any Carman rally. The Transcona outfielder also connected for a double and one-bagger and scored what turned out to be the winning run. Wood blanked the Cubs the rest of the way after ascending the bump, stifling them on one hit. Gladwyn Scott was the losing heaver, yielding ten base knocks while whiffing six. Bob Audette and Gary Shaw had two safeties each for the Atomics. For Carman, Danny Allen had a two-run double before Wood shut the door.
(August 20) The Transcona Atomics took a three-game lead in the Metro Senior League finals by defeating the hosting Carman Cubs 8 to 6. The Cubs started out well with a four-run first inning, highlighted by a three-run triple by Danny Allen. However, the clutch hitting of Bobby Leiter and Ken Ingram enabled the Atomics to overcome the Carman lead. Leiter contributed a three-run homer and a single, scoring four runs as well. Ingram had a pair of singles which produced three RBI’s. Bob Audette threw a three-hitter for the winners, fanning 13, but kept himself in hot water by issuing a dozen bases-on-balls. Leon McClinton was stung with the loss, allowing seven hits while breezing six and walking four.
(August 22) The Carman Cubs prolonged the best-of-seven Metro Senior Baseball League finals by scrapping to a tense 2 to 0 victory over the Transcona Atomics at Provencher Park. The game was scoreless until the eighth chapter when Eddie McDonald doubled, his second hit of the game, while Terry Braunstein and Danny Allen followed, stroking clean singles off relief hurler Larry Wood to produce the winning runs. Great clutch pitching by fireballer Glennis Scott kept Carman in the game until their eighth-inning outburst. Transcona came up with at least one hit in every inning but each time they threatened to score, Scott dug down deep and retired the side. The game was called after the bottom-of-the-eighth had been completed because of darkness. Bobby Leiter continued his torrid hitting pace for the losing Atomics. The Boston Bruins centreman slapped out four hits in four trips to the plate, upping his production in the series to a 10 for 12 pace. Other top Transcona batters were Howie Hughes with a double and Cam Hurst and Ken Ingram with two singles apiece. John Holt started on the knoll for the Atomics, holding the Cubs to three safeties before being pulled for a pinch-hitter.
(August 25) The Carman Cubs fought back strong and evened their best-of-seven Metro Senior Baseball League final series with the Transcona Atomics at three games apiece by sweeping a doubleheader at Provencher Park. The Cubs breezed through the afternoon game, taking a 7 to 0 decision, and then hung on to win the nightcaps 2 to 1.
Glennis Scott was the hero of the first encounter, pitching his second-straight shutout win. He struck-out nine and held the powerful Atomics to five well-scattered singles. He also rapped out three hits, drove in one run and scored one himself. Joe Psooy started on the slab for Transcona but was forced to retire in the fifth when Terry Braunstein hit him on his pitching hand with a smashing line drive. He had been raked for a four-spot in the fourth canto when Jerry Bolin belted a bases-loaded triple and was then singled home by Scott. Larry Wood took over but experienced control issues and walked in three runs in the seventh. Jack Seitz of the Cubs had a brace of bingles, one of which was a two-bagger. Bob Audette was the only big hitter for Transcona, drilling a pair of singles.
Two runs plated in the second spasm were all that Carman pitcher Leon McClinton needed to pick up the victory in the second encounter. The runs came on a walk to Ron Braunstein and singles by Jack Seitz, McClinton and Gary White. McClinton went the distance, giving up five hits and striking out six. Transcona’s run came in the first inning with Norm Rogoski scoring after an overthrow to third base. Losing pitcher Bob Audette also gave up just five safeties but three of them were bunched in the the second when the Cubs did all their scoring. Transcona’s Bob Leiter, who had been the hitting star of the series, was only able to produce a couple of singles in the twin-bill.
(August 28) The Carman Cubs climaxed a tremendous comeback by annihilating the Transcona Atomics 12 to 2 to capture the 1963 Winnipeg Metro Senior Baseball League crown. Glennis Scott, who pitched shutouts to win both the fourth and fifth games, was again the conquering hero on the mound for the Cubs in the deciding game. The rookie-studded Transcona team seemed to fall to pieces under the steady pitching of Scott and the powerful hitting of his mates. Carman’s scoring came in tremendous rallies in the third, fourth and fifth innings. An error to Transcona second baseman Gary Shaw, a single by Scott and doubles by Eddie McDonald and Jack Seitz resulted in a four-spot in the third chapter and drove Atomics’ starter Bob Audette off the slab. His Reliever, John Holt, was betrayed the next inning by three Transcona errors and watched helplessly as three Carman runs crossed the pan. Sacrifice flies by Terry and Ron Braunstein drove in two of the tallies. McDonald wrapped up the scoring for the champions in the next inning by smashing a long, grand-slam home run. Both Transcona runs came in the second spasm with the impactful rap being a single by Ray Shuel. Scott gave up six hits, fanned four and walked on. The Transcona heavers, which included another reliever Tom Trotsky, allowed eight hits, walked an equal number and whiffed four.
MID-WESTERN BASEBALL LEAGUE
ElginIsabella
Rivers Comets
OIL DOME BASEBALL LEAGUE
Reston ColtsSinclair
NEEPAWA & DISTRICT BASEBALL LEAGUE
BirnieEden
Gladstone
Neepawa Cubs
SOUTH-CENTRAL BASEBALL LEAGUE
BelmontBoissevain Border Kings
Brandon Canucks
Glenboro
Oakland Braves
Souris Cardinals
(May 14) The Brandon Canucks opened their 1963 South-Central League season on a winning note at Kinsmen Stadium as they trounced Glenboro 16 to 0. The Canucks pounced on losing chucker Harry Lalonde for four runs in the opening inning and never looked back. Winning heaver Wayne Lalor and reliever Carl Cunningham combined to stifle the visitors on two hits and sent 13 Glenboro batters down on third strikes. Brian Josephson, Berry Diller and Al Josephson paced the 14-hit Brandon attack, lashing three safeties each. Teammate Dave Bender’s triple was the longest swat of the contest. Glenboro booted the ball seven times while the Wheat City squad committed three errors.
(May 21) Shaking off an early 2 – 0 deficit, the Brandon Canucks blasted the Boissevain Border Kings 17 to 7 in South-Central League action at Kinsmen Stadium. Ex-Oakland Brave Ron Powers started on the slab for the Brandonites but, showing visible signs of fatigue, was replaced on the hill in the fifth by Stew Farnell who was quickly tagged for four runs and given the hook. Youthful Carl Cunningham came on at that point, extinguished the fire and finished the darkness-shortened game by getting credit for the victory. Losing heaver George Hall and Bob Gouldie toiled on the bump for the Border Kings. The Josephson brothers, Al and Brian produced the punch at the plate for the the Canucks. Al lashed out a pair of singles and drove in four runs while Brian also connected for a brace of one-baggers that resulted in three RBI’s. Del Pringle was the only Boissevain player to hit safely twice.
Hall (L), Gouldie (5) and Riddell
Powers, Farnell (5), Cunningham (W) (5) and R. Josephson
(May 24) The homestanding Souris Cardinals got their first taste of action in the new campaign and made the best of it, laying an 8 to 0 whipping on Glenboro. Veteran tosser Deb Mealy scattered four hits in the five innings he worked on the hill to grab the mound victory. He fanned 11 and walked three before turning the horsehide over to Gord Lyall who threw four innings of no-hit ball to mop-up. Catcher Garry Fallis led the nine-hit Souris attack with three hits, including a double, which produced four RBI’s Al Robertson backed him up with two hits, one a long triple.
Lalonde (L), Bailey (8) and Jones
Mealy (W), Lyall (6) and Fallis
(May 24) The Oakland Braves upended the Brandon Canucks 6 to 2 in a South-Central League fixture played in Nesbitt. Youthful Brent Hodgins started on the knoll for the Braves and, with relief help from Fred Markowski, picked up the win. Oakland bombed Canuck starter and loser, Ron Dietrich, for four runs in the first inning, driving him to the showers before he had retired anyone. Wayne Lalor and Carl Cunningham toiled the remainder of the contest on the rubber for the Wheat City nine. Big Dan Gullett led the winners at the plate with three hits including a double while fellow-Brave Noel Fisher chipped in with a brace of one-baggers. Barry Diller had a double and single for the Canucks while Al Josephson connected for three singles.
Dietrich (L), Lalor (1), Cunningham (4) and R. Josephson
Hodgins (W), Markowski (5) and R. Martin
(May 26) The hosting Souris Cardinals nudged past Boissevain 3 to 1 in a game reduced to eight innings because of cold weather. Don Hunter who took over from Gord Lyall after four innings was the winning pitcher. He fanned ten and scattered four hits, blanking the Border Kings during his tenure on the knoll. Bob Gouldie, who pitched to all but three Souris batters in the game when Glen Hall took over briefly in the fifth and failed to retire anyone, was nicked with the loss. Doug Dilts poked a single and double for the Cards and drove in Hunter with the winning run. Boissevain’s Jack Houston also clipped the horsehide for a single and two-bagger.
Gouldie (L), Hall (5), Gouldie (5) and Turner
Lyall, Hunter (W) (4) and Fallis
(May 28) Former Oakland Braves’ hurler Ronnie Powers turned on his ex-mates at Kinsmen Park as the Brandon Canucks coasted to a 7 to 2 win over the Tribe in South-Central League play. Powers was wheeling along with a shutout until the Braves got to him for two runs in the eighth episode. Carl Cunningham came on in relief to finish the game. Powers used his sweeping curveball almost exclusively in fanning eight and earning the win. Peter Derkch, the first of three Oakland heavers, was the loser although he didn’t get out of the opening inning when the Canucks tallied twice. Brian Josephson of the victors as well as the Braves’ Noel Fisher and Brent Hodgins all hit safely twice.
Derkch (L), Hodgins (1), Markowski (7) and R. Martin
Powers (W), Cunningham (8) and Gray, Pottinger (8)
(May 29) The Souris Cardinals moved into undisputed possession of first place in the South-Central Baseball League as they trounced Belmont 12 to 0. It was the fourth victory in as many starts for the Cards. Don Hunter went the distance on the hill for the win, fanning 11 while issuing not a free pass. Ken Campbell, the first of three Belmont chuckers, was nailed with the loss. Al Robertson connected for a triple, double and single for the winners while teammate Deb Mealy rapped out a double and two singles. Chipping in with a brace of safeties each were Garry Fallis and Doug Armour. Steve Hyrich singled twice for the losing nine.
Campbell (L), Maxwell (2), McWilliams (8) and McWilliams. McLellan (8)
Hunter (W) and Fallis
(June 2) The Souris Cardinals pushed across three runs in the bottom-of-the-sixth spasm to edge the Oakland Braves 4 to 3 in a game that was halted after seven innings because of rain. Gord Lyall surrendered only four hits in taking the mound decision over Fred Markowsky. Don Hunter and Murray Zuk each drove in two runs for the victors while Lyall helped his own cause with a pair of singles. Wayne Cory ripped a pair of singles for Oakland while Lorne Martin had a two-run double.
Markowsky (L) and R. Martin
Lyall (W) and Fallis
(June 5) The Souris Cardinals rolled to their sixth consecutive South-Central Baseball League triumph as they doubled homestanding Glenboro. Doug Armour allowed three hits and fanned seven to earn the pitching win. Deb Mealy, who relieved him in the fifth, finished the game striking out six and allowing three hits. Starter Martin Bailey of Glenboro was tagged with the loss. He lasted three frames before getting the hook for fireballing Harry Lalonde who went the rest of the way. Don Hunter, catcher Garry Fallis and Armour all had three hits for the winners while Mealy belted a triple and single. Lalonde collected half of Glenboro’s hits as he connected for a double and a pair of singles.
Armour (W), Mealy (5) and Fallis
Bailey (L), Lalonde (3) and Johnson
(June 9) The surprising Souris Cardinals romped to their seventh consecutive South-Central Baseball League triumph on their home turf as they trounced the Brandon Canucks 6 to 1. Deb Mealy limited the Canucks to three hits and fanned 15 in going the distance. Carl Cunningham started on the rubber for Brandon but was lifted for Ron Powers in the fifth. Powers, in turn, needed relief help from playing-manager Barry Diller in the sixth stanza. Bob Lang and Don Hunter poked out a double and single each for the winners. Hunter’s two hits drove in four tallies. Diller of the vanquished nine also laced a double and one-bagger.
Cunningham (L), Powers (5), Diller (6) and Gray
Mealy (W) and Fallis
(June 11) The Souris Cardinals locked up first place in the South-Central Baseball League when they thumped the Brandon Canucks 7 to 3 at Kinsmen Stadium. It was the Cards’ eighth straight win and it handed the defending-champion Canucks their third defeat. Ex-Brandon Cloverleaf Don Hunter scattered six hits in going the route on the bump for Souris. He blanked the Wheat City squad until the sixth when they scored both their runs. Starting hurler Wayne Lalor took the loss for the Canucks, giving way to Ron Powers in the sixth after Souris had plated all seven of their markers. Playing-manager Al Robertson was the hitting star for the victors, collecting half of their eight hits. In five trips to the plate, he smacked out two singles, a double and a triple. Barry Diller, the opposing skipper, also topped the offensive attack for his charges, collecting a single and a triple.
Hunter (W) and Fallis
Lalor (L), Powers (6) and Gray
(June 27) Homestanding Glenboro whipped the Oakland Braves 10 to 7 in a previously-postponed South-Central Baseball League tilt. Oakland held a 4 to 2 lead after the first inning but Glenboro stormed back with six counters in the fifth panel. Harry Lalonde went the route on the knoll for Glenboro to pick up the win. Loser Fred Markowski started on the hill for the Braves but was sent packing by the hosts in the fifth when Brent Hodgins ascended the bump. The winners now sport a 4 – 5 record for the campaign.
(June 27) Big Morley MacFarlane made an auspicious debut as the new playing-manager of the Brandon Canucks st Boissevain as he paced the Wheat City nine to a 7 to 6 South-Central League victory over the hosting Border Kings in a rain-postponed make-up match. The former Brandon Cloverleaf played left field and smashed a home run and single to drive in five runs. Ron Powers started on the bump for Brandon but was relieved by Carl Cunningham in the third inning. Cunningham finished the game as he scattered four hits the rest of the way while fanning eight to grab the win. Bob Gouldie, in relief of Kings’ starter Kent McDougall, was tagged with the loss. Brian Josephson backed up Macfarlane with four singles while brother Al Josephson and Ben Harper each smashed a pair. Ray Dring, with two singles, was the only Boissevain player to hit safely twice.
Powers, Cunningham (W) (3) and Gray
McDougall, Gouldie (L) (1) and Turner
(July 4) The Brandon Canucks pounded out eight hits to clip homestanding Glensboro 5 to 2 in a South-Central League contest. Carl Cunningham went the route on the bump for the Canucks to grab the mound decision. Cunningham scattered six hits, issued only one walk and sent nine Glenboro batters back to the bench on third strikes. Starter Len Jackson took the loss for the hosts, giving way to Ken Stuart in the eighth. Newcomer Don Hodgson paced the Canucks at the plate with a triple and single while teammate Ben Harper ripped a pair of safeties. Bob McMullen smashed a circuit-clout for Glenboro while Harry Lalonde and Terry Gray belted three-baggers.
Cunningham (W) and Gray
Jackson (L), Stuart (8) and Thornborough
PLAYOFFS
SEMI-FINALS Oakland Braves vs Brandon Cloverleafs & Glenboro vs Souris Cardinals (best-of-five series)
(July 12) Carl Cunningham came out on top of a tight pitching duel at Nesbitt with Fred Markowsky as the Brandon Canucks drew first blood in their semi-final set-to with the Oakland Braves, blanking the Tribe 3 to 0. Cunningham gave up only three hits and struck out seven while passing three. Markowsky also allowed three safeties while issuing a three walks and fanning three. Benny Harper drove in two of the three Canuck counters.
Cunningham (W) and Gray
Markowsky (L) and Martin
(July 12) The pennant-winning Souris Cardinals slammed the hosting Glenboro nine 14 to 4 in the opener of their playoff joust.
(July 15) The Souris Cardinals took a stranglehold on their best-of-five series on their home turf as they blanked the Glenboro baseballers 7 to 0 in a rain-abbreviated tilt. Souris now lead the series 2 games to none. The Cards’ Doug Armour worked the first three innings of the five-frame contest on the knoll to earn credit for the win. Bob McMullen went the distance for Glenboro surrendering seven safeties, walking three and punching out an equal number. Tall Don Hunter set the offensive pace for the victors, clipping the horsehide for three hits. Stan Howitt had the lone bingle for the vanquished nine.
McMullen (L) and Hilhorst
Armour (W), Lyall (4) and Fallis
(July 16) The Brandon Canucks moved to within one win of clinching their South-Central semi-final series as they clipped the Oakland Braves 5 to 2 at Kinsmen Stadium. Both teams stung the orb for nine safeties in the darkness-shortened, eight-inning affair. Ron Powers went the route for the winners, punching out eight without issuing a walk. Losing heaver Orv Shaw also went the distance, fanning four while also being walk-free. Bill Fairbairn was the only Brandonite to hit safely more than once as he connected for a pair of singles. Shaw set the pace for the Braves with three singles while Noel Fisher followed with a triple and single,.
Shaw (L) and R. Martin
Powers (W) and Gray
(July 17) The Souris Cardinals gained a berth in the South-Central Baseball League finals when they dumped Glenboro 12 to 6 to sweep their semi-final showdown in three straight games. Doug Armour pitched seven innings of steady baseball before turning the horsehide over to Gord Lyall to finish up. Armour surrendered eight of the ten Glenboro bingles, struck out three and gave up three bases-on-balls. Losing flinger Ken Stewart pitched to only two batters and walked them both before getting the hook for big Harry Lalonde in the opening panel. Two big Souris innings, the first and the fifth, were the death knell for Glenboro who outhit their conquerors by a 10 to 8 margin. After posting a three-spot in their initial turn at bat, the Cardinals never looked back. Hard-hitting Al Robertson blasted a double and a pair of singles to lead the Cards at bat. Glenboro’s Barry Thornborough, Stan Howitt and Earl Johnson of the each nicked the apple for a brace of safeties.
Stewart (L), Lalonde (1) and Hilhorst
Armour (W), Lyall (8) and Fallis
(July 19) The Brandon Canucks powered their way into the South-Central Baseball League finals as they blasted the Oakland Braves 14 to 6 at Kinsmen Stadium to cop the best-of-five semi-finals in a three-game sweep. Both teams used three chuckers with Carl Cunningham, the third Brandon heaver, getting credit for the win while starter Orv Shaw of the Braves was nailed with the defeat. The Leafs had a 12 to 10 advantage in base hits. Cunningham aided his own cause with a single, double and triple in three trips to the plate. Brian Josephson backed him up with an inside-the-park home run and a single while bother Al Josephson and Dave Bender each cracked out a brace of one-baggers. Catcher Rex Martin paced the offensive attack for Oakland with three singles while Dan Gullett blasted a triple and single.
Shaw (L), Hodgins (4), Fisher (7) and R. Martin
Farnell, MacFarlane (3), Cunningham (W) (4) and Gray
FINALS Brandon Canucks vs Souris Cardinals (best-of–five series)
(July 22) The pennant-winning Souris Cardinals jumped into an early lead, then coasted to a 5 to 1 conquest of the visiting Brandon Canucks in the opening game of the South-Central Baseball League finals. Deb Mealy pitched a steady game for the Cards in posting the complete-game win. He surrendered only three safeties, fanned five and walked just one. Losing tosser Carl Cunningham also went the distance, surrendering eight singles while breezing five and going walkless. Big Don Hunter and Garry Fallis paced the Cardinals to the win with a pair of one-baggers each. Hunter drove in two runs and Fallis one. Dave Bender drove in the lone Brandon counter with a second-inning bunt single.
Cunningham (L) and Gray
Mealy (W) and Robertson
(July 23) The Brandon Canucks scored all their runs in the opening inning and hung on to edge the Souris cardinals 3 to 2 at Kinsmen Stadium, squaring the best-of-five finals at a game apiece. The loss was the first in league play this season for the powerful Souris squad. Hard-throwing Ron Powers went the route for the Canucks to post the pitching win. An off-season catch from the Oakland Braves, Powers scattered five hits, struck out ten and walked four batters. Lanky Don Hunter was tagged with the loss. Nicked for ten Brandon safeties, he fanned six and gave up five walks. Canuck catcher Bill Gray was Hunter’s biggest nemesis, lighting him up for three safe swats. Bill Fairbairn and Glen Edwards were close behind with a pair of singles each. Hunter came up with the longest blow of the contest, a three-bagger. The Cards stranded 15 baserunners while the Wheat City victors left nine on base.
Hunter (L) and Fallis
Powers (W) and Gray
(July 25) The defending-champion Brandon Canucks moved to within one win of their second consecutive South-Central Baseball League championship at Souris as they ground out a 4 to 1 victory over the pennant-winning Cardinals. Carl Cunningham, sore arm and all, went the route on the bump for the Canucks, scattering six hits, swishing five and issuing only one walk. The Brandonites were never headed after plating a singleton in the second spasm. Ace slab artist Deb Mealy of the Redbirds, who started on the hill but gave way to Gord Lyall in the sixth, was touched for nine of 11 Canuck hits. Shortstop Don Hodgson broke out of a minor slump in leading the winners with the baton, clubbing a double and a pair of singles. Benny Harper added a two-bagger and single while Brian Josephson singled twice to drive in a brace of tallies. Don Hunter drilled a double and two singles for Souris.
Cunningham (W) and A. Josephson
Mealy (L), Lyall (6) and Fallis
(July 30) Facing elimination, the revitalized Souris Cardinals bounced back from two consecutive defeats to post a 3 to 0 triumph over the Brandon Canucks to force a fifth and deciding game in the South-Central League finals. Gord Lyall held the Wheat City nine in check all the way as he limited them to four singles and was never in any serious trouble in copping the shutout win. Lyall set eight Canuck batters down on strikes and walked just one. The Redbirds unleashed a 12-hit attack but stranded an equal number of baserunners which limited their scoring to just three counters. Losing heaver Carl Cunningham was victimized for the first nine Souris bingles before getting the hook for Ron Powers. Lyall was equally effective in the batter’s box as he clipped the orb for four singles in five trips to the plate. Doug Armour, Deb Mealy and playing-manager Al Robertson each collected a pair as did young Bill Fairbairn of the Brandonites.
Lyall (W) and Robertson
Cunningham (L), Powers (7) and Gray
(August 7) The Souris Cardinals had to come from behind again but, after using 15 players, dumped the Brandon Canucks 5 to 2 to capture the 1963 South-Central Baseball League championship on their home turf. The Cards prevailed three games to two in the series that went the limit. With the score knotted at 2 – 2 in the eighth episode, Al Robertson, who piloted the Souris club, drove in the run that proved to be the winner plus an insurance counter with a perfectly-placed bunt down the third base line. Big Gord Lyall went all the way on the knoll for the Redbirds to collect the win. He scattered eight hits, walked one and rang up nine punchouts. Hard-luck loser Carl Cunningham limited the Cardinals to four safeties, all singles, fanned seven and did not issue a single walk. None of the Cards hit safely more than once. Young Bill Fairbairn, with three singles, was the big gun for the Canucks who booted the ball five times in crucial situations.
Cunningham (L) and Gray
Lyall (W) and Robertson
MANITOBA BASEBALL ASSOCIATION INTERMEDIATE FINALS
Locking horns in a best-of-three final for the 1963 Manitoba Baseball Association’s intermediate crown were the Northern section winners, Angusville Cardinals, and the Southern section champion Pilot Mound Pilots. In reaching the provincial finals, Angusville sidelined Oak River and the Neepawa Cubs while the Pilots ousted the Souris Cardinals and Goodlands.
(September 1) Angusville took the opening game of the best-of-three North-South MBA intermediate finals with a hard-fought 5 to 2 triumph over Pilot Mound. Stan Furman went the distance on the hillock for the Cards, scattering six hits while fanning seven, to post the win. Losing chucker David Pinkerton started on the knoll for the Pilots but ceded mound duties to Brian Hodgson in the seventh. The Redbirds collected seven safeties from the tandem. Hodgson came up with the only extra-base hit of the game, belting a triple. Angusville held a slim 3 – 2 edge after five innings but pushed across another pair in the seventh to put the game on ice.
Furman (W) and Kiliwnik
Pinkerton (L), Hodgson (7) and Mooney
(September 8) The Pilot Mound Pilots did things the hard way to force a deciding game in the MBA intermediate finals. Not only did the Pilots square the best-of-three series in foreign territory but they did it by staging a late rally after trailing throughout. The southern squad downed the Angusville Cardinals 6 to 3 to force a deciding game at Brandon’s Kinsmen Stadium. Angusville had captured the opener 5 – 2 in Pilot Mound. Brian Hodgson was both the pitching and hitting star for the visitors. He fanned 14 in going the route on a five-hitter and his seventh-inning line-shot drove in both the tying and winning runs. Trailing 3 to 1, Pilot Mound scored a singleton in the sixth and took the lead with a three-spot in the seventh, adding on an insurance counter in the eighth. Henry Hrubeniuk started of the Cardinal mound but gave way to Bryan McAuley in the sixth with the latter taking the loss. Joe Blackbird of Angusville was the only player on either side to garner two hits.
Hodgson (W) and Gwynne
Hrubeniuk, McAuley (L) (6) and Kiliwnik
(September 15) The Pilot Mound Pilots captured the 1963 Manitoba Baseball Association’s intermediate title at Kinsmen Stadium, blanking the Angusville Cardinals 3-0 in the third and deciding game of the series. Winning pitcher Brian Hodgson fired a no-hit, no-run gem and came close to hurling a perfect game. Just one hit batsman in the sixth inning prevented a totally flawless result. Hodgson whiffed seven in his sterling performance while losing heaver Stan Furman, who pitched a good game in his own right, fanned 11 but gave up six hits and walked four. The winning run came in the very first inning and it was Hodgson driving in the tally. The slim 1 – 0 lead held until the seventh when Craig Hughson had an RBI-single to up the cushion to a deuce. Bill Negery’s double in the ninth accounted for the final counter.
Hodgson (W) and Gwynne
Furman (L) and Kiliwnik
THE POLAR LEAGUE
The David and Goliath Championship Series (from the Manitoba Baseball Hall of Fame)
With the win over the Stylers, Johnny’s Cardinals were off to the Polar League finals against the powerful The Pas Teepees, defending champions and winners of eleven of their last twelve games…
No one gave them much of a chance. The Pas newspaper wrote that “the best team didn’t win the semi finals in Flin Flon” but acknowledged that the “spunky Cardinals put on an impressive performance to steal away the series.” He went on to say that “the Teepees had not been beat at home all season and should win the series four straight unless they suffer a complete collapse.” He called them the “New York Yankees” of the Polar League.
Well, the collapse would come in the form of left handed pitcher Bob Remington. Remington was coming off a mediocre season but looked like he was hitting his stride late in the season and in the first game of the playoffs. Remington’s biggest problem wasn’t the opposition batters as much as getting to the games as he worked at HBM&S in Snow Lake and had to communicate a long distance to each game. He was only able to make two of the five semi final games against the Ross’ Stylers.
The Teepees would be without their ace Don Miller for the first few games as he was called north on business commitments but they were more than confident in their rookie Al Wolfe to get the job done. Wolfe was coming off an outstanding season which saw him lose only two games.
Game One – Wolfe outduels Remington in a classic
Game one was a classic pitching duel between two of the league’s best pitchers.
The game was scoreless until the bottom of the sixth inning when Teepee catcher Orest Strocel reached first on a throwing error to the Cards third baseman George Chigol. Strocel then went to went to third on Barry Rowley’s single over short. After Claude Kozik flied out, Pete Warwo drilled a two run double to right field to put the Teepees up 2-0. Remington then retired the next two batters on infield grounders to end the inning but the damage was done. Wolfe retired the Cardinals in order in the top of the seventh as the Teepees took game one.
Both pitchers were brilliant, each giving up only four hits. Remington stuck out seven batters while walking one. Wolfe fanned three Cardinals and issued one walk.
GAME ONE 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Runs Hits
Cardinals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4
TeePees 0 0 0 0 0 2 X 2 4
WP: Al Wolfe (TP) LP: Bob Remington (C)
Game Two – Errors cost Cards game two in slugfest
Game two was much different than game one as the Cards jumped on Teepee starter Ticky King in the first inning. After Cards’ leadoff batter Myles Gillard led off with a walk, successive singles by Rich Billy, Vic Poirier and Glen Bensen plated three runs and gave the Cards an early 3-0 lead. The Teepees came back In the bottom of the first with a couple of unearned runs against Cardinal starter Gordie Waldmo without getting the ball out of the infield cashing in on an error, walk, two stolen bases and two infield outs.
In the bottom of the second inning, the Teepees exploded for five runs, knocking Waldmo out of the game. Waldmo, who has been the victim of some shoddy fielding during the semi finals, saw his team mates make three errors, combined with three singles and a Peter Wawro double to jump ahead 7-3. Dennis Anderson was summoned to relieve Waldmo.
Teepees starter Ticky King also didn’t escape the third inning as the Cards jumped on him for three runs more runs cutting the lead to 7-6. King was replaced by Claude Kozik who got through the fourth but was nicked for two more runs in the fifth as the Cards retook the lead 8-7.
The Teepes tied the game with a run in the bottom of the fifth then struck for the winning runs in the bottom of the sixth after two were out. After Bill Donaldson singled and Orest Pidskalny double, Orest Strocel’s ground ball skipped by Cardinal shortstop Bob McDowell allowing the winning runs to score. Bob Remington came on to get the last Teepee batter in the sixth and keep the Cards within two.
Kozik managed to escape the seventh with the 10-8 victory.
It was a tough loss for Card reliever Dennis Anderson as the Cards offense went dead and failed to get a hit in their last three at bats against reliever Claude Kozik. Dennis Anderson took the loss but he and starting pitcher Waldmo were the victims of some shoddy fielding as their teammates committed seven errors behind them.
The Teepees outhit the Cardinals 11-10 with Pete Wawro leading the way with three hits including two doubles. Billy and Bensen had two hits apiece for the Cards.
The game was costly for the Cardinals as they lost shortstop Bob McDowell. Teepee baserunner Claude Kozik went out of his way to take out McDowell hard at second base injuring his shoulder. The hit came long after the shortstop had thrown the ball to first completing the back end of a double play with second baseman Billy. McDowell stayed in the game and was able to field and throw the ball but the injured shoulder would not allow him to swing the bat and he was limited to bunting when he was at the plate.
GAME 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Runs Hits
Cardinals 3 0 3 0 2 0 0 8 10
TeePees 2 5 0 0 1 2 X 10 11
TP: Ticky King, WP – Claude Kozak (3)
C: Gord Waldmo, LP – Dennis Anderson (2)
Game Three – Cardinals get revenge
Game three back in Flin Flon was a rematch the first game starters. Al Wolfe came up with another solid performance limiting the Cardinals to just four hits over the seven innings , but they managed to bunch their hits together to score their runs.
The Cards took a 1-0 lead in the third inning when Vic Poirier was hit by a pitch and Bob Remington followed with a single. Shortstop Dennis Anderson, in for the injured McDowell, cashed in Poirier with a single.
The Cards second run came in the fourth when Gillard singled, was sacrificed to second by Billy and was driven home by Rupp’s single.
Teepees threatened in the top of the fourth when Rowley, Kozik and Wawro hit consecutive singles but Rowley was thrown out at the plate by Gillard trying to score from second. Donaldson kept the rally going when his ground ball was bobbled by second baseman Billy, loading the bases with one out. But the second baseman redeemed himself with two ground ball outs with the bases loaded. First he gunned down Kozik on a force play at home plate, then threw out White at first to end the inning.
The Teepees gave it one last shot in the top of the seventh when Teepees Cox doubled and Billy could not handle Pidskalny’s ground ball at second allowing Cox to score from second with the Teepees’ only run. Remington took his second base man off the hook retiring the side in order and stranding Pidskalny at first base as the Cards hung on for a 2-1 win. Remington held the Teepees to five hits and received some outstanding plays in the field.
Game 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Runs Hits
TeePees 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 5
Cardinals 0 0 1 1 0 0 X 2 4
WP: Bob Remington (C), LP: Al Wolfe (TP)
Game four – Cardinals do what was thought impossible
The second game of the doubleheader featured a rematch of game two starters Ticky King and Gordie Waldmo.
Cardinals opened the scoring in the bottom of the first inning when Sedgewick singled and Bensen drove him home with a double.
Doug White answered for the Teepees in the top of the second with a two run homer to the short right field off Waldmo to put the Teepees ahead 2-1.
In the fifth inning, the Cardinals scored two runs to take back the lead with the big blow coming off the bat of Rupp who hit a ground rule double into the Ross Lake School yard to drive in Gillard who had walked and Bensen who doubled. Another walk to Chigol signaled the end of King as Kozik came on in relief. Teepee’s third baseman Cox saved two more runs when he ran down Anderson’s blooper over third base.
The Cards then blew it open in the sixth with four more runs. A two run single by Billy off Kozik opened the flood gates and catcher Len Sedgwick welcomed the Teepee’s third reliever Al Wolfe with a triple driving in Billy. Gillard followed with another ground rule double to right to drive Sedgwick in with the final run and a 7-2 lead heading into the seventh.
The Teepees made some noise in the top of the seventh when Cox singled and pinch hitter Pidskalny homered to cut the lead to 7-4. Remington came in relief to put out the fire for starter Waldmo and secure the win.
Waldmo, coming off a tough outing in The Pas a week earlier rebounded to throw a neat seven hitter, striking out five and walking one to earn the victory. He also received some solid defensive play behind him, something that was missing in game two in The Pas.
The Cards, who collected ten base hits got two hits apiece from Sedgwick, Rupp, Poirier and Bensen who also scored two runs and drove in two runs.
The double header sweep was the first time the Teepees had been swept in a number of years.
Game 4 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Runs Hits
TeePees 0 2 0 0 0 0 2 4 7
Cardinals 1 0 0 0 2 4 X 7 10
WP: Gord Waldmo (C), Remington (7) LP: Ticky King (TP), Claude Kozak (5)
HR: Doug White (TP)
Game Five – Cards put Teepees behind the eight ball
Game five in Flin Flon showcased the third installment of the Wolfe-Remington show. Wolfe had bested Remington 2-0 in game one and Remington returned the favour 2-1 in game three.
The Cards gave their pitcher all the runs he would need in the first inning jumping on Wolfe for three runs. After Gillard and Billy reached base on errors, Bensen doubled them home for the first two runs. Rupp followed with a single to score Bensen.
The Cards added two more in the third inning when Bensen and Rupp hit back to back doubles to plate one run. Rupp then attempted to steal third and the Teepee catcher threw the ball into left field allowing Rupp to score easily and give the Cards a 5-0 lead.
The Teepees managed to scrape a run across in the top of the sixth but Remington shut them down the rest of the way. Remington finished the game with a seven hitter and was back up by some outstanding defense play from their two rookie infielders Anderson and Billy at second. Remington’s regular catcher Len Sedgwick was unavailable for the game and Mel Pearson stepped in to do a great job handling the catching duties. McDowell was available to play the infield if needed but still could not swing the bat.
The Cardinals now had to journey to The Pas for game six and possibly game seven with an unenviable task of beating the Teepees on their home turf. The Teepees had not lost a game at home all season and would be welcoming back their top pitcher and league MVP Don Miller. Miller had a 10-2 season record and two more wins in the semi finals against Bowsman. Miller missed the first five games of the final due to business commitments.
Game 5 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Runs Hits
TeePees 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 7
Cardinals 3 0 2 0 0 0 X 5 5
WP: Bob Remington (C) , LP: Al Wolfe (TP)
Game Six – Managers’ decisions make the difference
Cardinal manager John Wilken had a big decision to make for game six. His ace Bob Remington had worked the night shift at Snow Lake and made the trip to The Pas in the early hours but he was available. He also had Gordie Waldmo, coming off a solid performance in Cards game four win. They also had Dennis Anderson, who had pitched only in relief in this series, but was coming off a no hit game in the deciding game of the semi finals against the Stylers. Wilken chose to go with Waldmo and save his ace for a possible seventh game. He always had Anderson in the wings although his services were needed at shortstop replacing the injured McDowell. It turned out to be a great managerial move.
The Teepees had their two aces, Don Miller and Al Wolfe ready to go. Manager Ticky King chose to go with Miller in game one and use the Wolfe/Miller combination in the deciding game if it was necessary.
The first game was no contest as the Teepees, with their backs to the wall, came out smoking. They jumped on Waldmo for a run in each of the first two innings and then added three more in the third for an early 5-0 lead. Anderson came on in the fifth but fared no better giving up three runs in each of the fifth and sixth innings as his offense and defense faltered behind him. But it turned out the Cards were saving it up for game seven by this time.
The Cards only runs came on Poirier’s home run and Rupp’s run scoring double.
Teepee manager Ticky King, continued to leave his ace Miller in to pitch long after the game was not in doubt and it would prove to be a critical mistake.
Game 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Runs Hits
Cardinals 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 3
TeePees 1 1 3 3 3 0 X 11 14
WP: Don Miller (TP) , LP: Gord Waldmo, Dennis Anderson (5)
HR: Vic Poirier (C)
Game Seven – Both teams all in
Game seven would be yet another pitching duel between Remington and Wolfe. It would be the fourth meeting of the two lefthanders in the series with Remington winning two of the first three meeting.
Remington and the Cards got a little scare before the game when Remington, warming up too close to the chain length fence, clipped the fence with his pitching hand during one of his side arm deliveries gashing his middle finger. But it did not hinder his delivery and he was good to go.
As they did against Wolfe in game five in Flin Flon, the Cards came out hitting. Gillard singled on the first pitch from Wolfe and promptly stole second. After Wolfe retired Billy, Sedgwick drove Gillard home with a solid single over second base and the Cards had an early 1-0 lead.
Cards went back to work in the top of the second inning pounding out three straight singles by Poirier, Remington and Anderson. With the base loaded and nobody out, Teepee manager Ticky King panicked and brought in his ace Don Miller. Miller had pitched the first game of the double header without working up a sweat. But things were different in game two.
Gillard greeted Miller with a perfect sacrifice bunt to score Poirier. Billy blooped a single over second to score Remington and Anderson and the Cards jumped to a 4-0 lead.
The Teepees struck for four singles in the bottom of the second but Remington limited the damage to two runs by striking out the side.
But the Cards kept coming in the top of the third. After Rupp walked, Chigol hit a frozen rope over the left field fence for a two run homer and a 6-2 lead. The Teepees took advantage of a couple of errors and a single to narrow the gap to 6-3 in the bottom of the third.
Miller and Remington then settled down to pitch two scoreless innings before the Cardinals drove a stake through the heart of the mighty Teepees in the top of the sixth.
Poirier, who was having a great playoff run, walked to open the inning. A couple of Teepee errors loaded the bases and Remington, a better than average hitting pitcher, helped his own cause with a three run double and a 9-3 lead.
The Teepees didn’t go easy scratching out two runs of their own in the bottom of the sixth inning but it was all for not as the Cards salted the game away in the top of the seventh. Rupp opened with a double and McDowell moved him to third with a perfect bunt single. The Cardinals then took advantage of a disheartened Teepee squad who started to kick the ball around to score three runs more runs and a 12-5 lead heading into the final inning. In the bottom of the seventh, Remington gave up a lead off bloop single to Pidskalny then retired the next three batters in order to win the game and the series. It was Remington’s third win of the series, all against Al Wolfe, who took the loss.
Game 7 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Runs Hits
Cardinals 1 3 2 0 0 3 3 12 14
TeePees 0 2 1 0 0 2 0 5 11
WP: Bob Remington (C) Al Wolfe (TP), LP: Don Miller (2)
HR: George Chigol (C)
Cardinals Bob Remington Series MVP
Remington was by far the Cards MVP of the series pitching brilliantly in four games and winning three. But he did need the support of his teammates in the last game as the Teepees touched him for eleven hits. But the Cards played a spirited game defensively with infielders Anderson and Billy turning three double plays and Gillard and Poirier making some great running catches in the outfield.
Great Fan Cardinal Fan Support for final game
The stands were full of happy Flin Flon fans who journeyed down to see the final two games. And they got their money’s worth. It was the second championship for the Cardinals who won the title in the Polar League’s initial year. Vic Poirier was the only member of that winning team still playing with the Cards.
It was the second time in three years that a Flin Flon team has won the league crown. The Stylers did it in 1961. In 1962, the Cardinals played in the final against the Teepees which was eerily similar to this year’s final. The script was the same as the two teams split the first four games and the Cards took a 3-2 lead with a 4-3 win back in Flin Flon. The Teepees forced a seventh game with a 10-5 behind their ace Don Miller. But this time the Teepees prevailed in game seven beating the Cardinals 7-3 with Miller, in relief of starter Wally Hausknecht, getting the win.