(May 27) The Saskatoon Commodores, returning to the NSBL after a two-year hiatus in the Southern League, scored four runs in the 10th inning to trip the Kindersley Klippers 7 to 3 in the opening game of the 1973 campaign. Catcher Lee Von Hagen was the batting hero for the Commodores in Kindersley as he powered a bases-loaded triple in the extra frame to put the Saskatonians in the lead. Larry Lazecki was the winning pitcher in relief. He came on in the ninth to help end a Kindersley rally and then retired the side in the bottom of the 10th inning. Larry Shepherd was the loser in relief of Randy Arthur. Von Hagen also drove in a pair of counters with an eighth-inning bases-loaded single.
Brandon, Plummer (7), Lazecki (9) (W) and Von Hagen
Arthur, Shepherd (3) (L) and D. Jackson, Schommer (10)
(May 27) The Eston Ramblers blanked the hometown Unity Cardinals 9 to 0 to kick-off the season for both clubs. Greg Larson of the Ramblers struckout 15 Unity batters while allowing five hits in earning the shutout win. Loser Rob Zaichowsky and reliever Don Cote gave up only seven hits but three errors hurt the Cardinals. Eston played errorless ball. Howard Gesy had a triple and single to pace the Ramblers while Brent Leavins came through with a double and single. Not to be outdone, Blythe Irvine rapped a trio of singles for the winners. Gary Clements had a double and single for Unity and Jim McLean drilled a brace of one-baggers.
Larson (W) and Morrice
R. Zaichowsky (L), Cote and Wilkinson
(May 29) The North Battleford Beavers got their NSBL season off on the right foot by blasting the Unity Cardinals 11 to 2 in North Battleford. Tom Sallaway was the winning pitcher for the Beavers, going the distance while allowing four hits with 14 strikeouts. Rob Zaichowsky was the starter and loser for Unity. Mark Perkins was the batting star for North Battleford with a two-run circuit-blast plus a pair of doubles. Hugh McIvor had three singles and Don Hilsendager a double and single. Ed Ralston's two-run single drove accounted for all the Redbird runs.
R. Zaichowsky (L) G. Zaichowsky (6) and xxx
Sallaway (W) and xxx
(May 30) At a new-look Cairns Field, the host Saskatoon Commodores and the visiting Eston Ramblers put on a fine display of baseball in a tightly-contested game in which the Commodores eked out a narrow 1 to 0 verdict over the Estonites. Ken Haanen was highly effective on the mound for the winners, scattering five hits and fanning nine while allowing only one Eston runner to reach third base. The Commodores also came up with a number of fine defensive plays in backing up Haanen and such was needed as Saskatoon was limited to only two hits in the game off Eston's big import righthander Tim Sipe, out of the University of North Dakota at Grand Forks. However, one was a leadoff double by Fred Maxemiuk in the second inning which resulted in the game's only run. Maxemiuk moved to third on a sacrifice by Gary Brandon and, following a strikeout, crossed the plate on an error when Lee Von Hagen's ground ball was booted. Eston's Blythe Irvine had a double and single off Haanen's offerings while Greg Goldade picked up a pair of singles.
Sipe (L) and Morrice
Haanen (W) and Von Hagen
(June 3) The hometown Eston Ramblers swept a doubleheader from the previously undefeated North Battleford Beavers 4 to 2 and 3 to 2 in weekend NSBL action. Eston came from behind to triumph in both games. The sweep gives the Ramblers three wins in four games in the young season.
A three-run homer by import Tim Sipe in the sixth inning did the trick in the opener. The Beavers' Cam Sternig had hit a solo homer in the top of the inning but Sipe erased that following a double by Rick Morrice and a single by Blythe Irvine. Lynn Allan was the winning pitcher, allowing six hits, striking out seven and walking two. Loser Cliff Ballou gave up five hits, struck out 11 and walked two. Sipe added a double to his home run while Morrice also had another double. Rick Johnston had three singles and Hugh McIvor a double for North Battleford.
Ballou (L) and xxx
Allan (W) and Morrice
Despite the fine pitching of import Greg Larson, the Ramblers needed an extra inning to win the second game, after initially trailing 2 to 0. Blythe Irvine's single, a sacrifice, a stolen base and a single by Reg Andrew, his second of the game, accounted for the winning run. Larson was tagged for nine hits but he fanned 15 batters and walked only one. Tom Sallaway started for the Beavers and allowed only one hit in four innings before retiring because of an arm injury. Reliever Brian Lampitt gave up all the Eston runs and was tagged with the loss. Cam Sternig picked up a pair of singles for the Beavers.
Sallaway, B. Lampitt (5) (L) and xxx
Larson (W) and Morrice
(June 5) The North Battleford Beavers came from behind to trip the Saskatoon Commodores in an NSBL game played in North Battleford. The loss for the Hub City squad was their first defeat of the infant campaign. The damaging inning for the Commodores was the seventh when the Beavers scores three times to take a 6 to 4 lead. North Battleford catcher Mike Hanus drove in the winning run with a one-out single. Rookie Bill Lumdsden picked up the mound victory in a relief role. Cam Sternig led the Beavertown gang at the dish with a double and three singles. Teammate Hugh McIvor contributed a brace of singles. Rookie outfielder Gord Johnson was the hitting hero for the Saskatonians with two singles and a two-run four-bagger.
Brandon, Plummer (7) (L), Brandon (7) and Sapieha, Von Hagen (6)
Ballou, Lumsden (7) (W) and Hanus
(June 5) The hometown Unity Cardinals picked up their first victory of the season, blanking the Eston Ramblers 3 to 0. Import righthander Steve Simonian from Fresno City College in California made his debut with the Cardinals an impressive one as he hurled a five-hit shutout. However, it was errors that hurt the Ramblers as they were charged with six miscues. Unity managed only four hits off Eston righthander Tim Sipe but played a flawless defensive game.
Sipe (L) and xxx
Simonian (W) and xxx
(June 6) The Eston Ramblers moved into first place in the NSBL by blanking the Kindersley Klippers 5 to 0. The hometown Ramblers got a fine one-hit, 15-strikeout performance from import hurler Lynn Allan in taking the decision and moving in front of the second-place Saskatoon Commodores by a half-game. Allan, from Brigham Young University, allowed only Don Schommer's two-out single in the first inning. He walked three men. The losing chucker was Larry Shepherd who was relieved by Randy Arthur in the sixth inning. The Kindersley tandem were tagged for 11 hits. Howard Gesy led the Eston offense with a double and two singles. Greg Goldade had a triple and single, Tim Sipe a double and single and Allan two singles. Each team committed one error.
Shepherd (L), Arthur (6) and xxx
Allan (W) and xxx
Eston 4 2 ----
Saskatoon 2 1 1/2
North Battleford 2 2 1
Unity 1 2 1 1/2
Kindersley 0 2 2
(June 8) Ken Haanen hurled a five-hit shutout and also had four hits in four trips to the plate as the Saskatoon Commodores easily downed the Unity Cardinals 6 to 0 at Cairns Field. Doug Wilkinson toiled the entire route on the hill for the Cards and suffered the loss. Haanen had half of the Commodores' eight-hit production with one of his hits going for three bases. Glen Miller poked a pair of singles for the Redbirds.
Wilkinson (L) and Wandler
Haanen (W) and Von Hagen
(June 8) The Eston Ramblers maintained their narrow margin atop the NSBL by taking a 3 to 2 victory from the North Battleford Beavers. Four errors in the seventh inning led to two unearned runs that gave the Ramblers a 2 to 1 lead. Greg Goldade scored the winning run in the eighth when he singled and was driven home on Rick Morrice's single. Greg Larson took over on the mound for Eston in the fourth inning and allowed one hit for the remainder of the game to earn the pitching win in relief of Doug Coon.
Coon, Larson (4) (L) and Morrice
Reynolds (L) and Hanus
(June 10) Newly-arrived 19-year old import Jeff Benedetti from the University of Southern California held the Unity Cardinals to one run on five hits while whiffing 11 batters in leading the Saskatoon Commodores to a 2 to 1 triumph. A second scheduled meeting between the two squads was rained out. Ken Haanen's first-inning single drove in Randy Munch to put the visiting Commodores into an early lead. Unity tied the game in the third after Andy Wandler led off with a single, stole second and scored on Glen Miller's two-out infield single. Munch reached base on an eighth-inning miscue, advanced to second on Al Mitchell's single and tallied the winning maker when Fred Maxemiuk drilled a one-bagger off loser Tom Kendall of Sacramento State.
Benedetti (W) and Von Hagen
Kendall (L) and Wandler
(June 10) The visiting North Battleford Beavers whipped the Kindersley Klippers 14 to 2 in the first game of a scheduled double-bill before rain washed out the nightcap. Walks and errors hurt the Klippers who are now winless in three games. Losing hurler Mike Murphy and reliever Les Swartz of the Klips gave up 12 bases-on-balls in the one-sided contest. Tom Sallaway was the mound winner for the Beavers, going all the way while allowing six hits, no walks and striking out seven. Don Hilsendager's bases-loaded double led a six-run second inning for North Battleford. Hilsendager also had a single while teammates Cam Sternig and Hugh McIvor punched out a brace of singles each. Bob Halpenny responded with a pair of one-baggers for Kindersley.
Sallaway (W) and xxx
Murphy (L), Swartz (6) and xxx
(June 12) Reliever Larry Lazecki of the Saskatoon Commodores took to the mound in the ninth inning, tossed one pitch which induced a game-ending double play to bail his team out of a hole and preserve a 3 to 2 victory over the Eston Ramblers. In this battle for top spot in the NSBL, the Saskatonians out-hit the visitors 5 to 4. Import righthander Steve Kemp, from the University of Southern California, notched his first NSBL mound win, striking out 10 in his 8 1/3 innings on the hill. The loss was pinned on Lynn Allan which evened his season's record at 1 - 1. Al Mitchell and Ken Haanen both ripped doubles for the winners while Tim Sipe had two singles for Eston.
Allan (L) and Morrice
Kemp (W), Lazecki (9) and Von Hagen
(June 12) The home-standing North Battleford Beavers closed to within a half-game of the Eston Ramblers in the NSBL standings by posting a 2 to 0 victory over the Unity Cardinals. The three-hit pitching of Cliff Ballou did the job for the Beavers. Ballou struck out six and walked two in earning the shutout win while losing pitcher Steve Simonian gave up just four hits while fanning eight. North Battleford's Cam Sternig was the lone player in the game to register more than one hit, producing a pair of singles.
Simonian (L) and xxx
Ballou (W) and xxx
(June 13) The Saskatoon Commodores jumped all over Eston starting pitcher Doug Coon, blasting him from the hill in the top of the first inning before he could retire a single batter as the Bridge City brigade romped to an easy 13 to 2 victory over the Ramblers. The win was Saskatoon's sixth in seven starts and gives them a two-game bulge over both Eston and North Battleford. In total, the Saskatonians ripped three Rambler chuckers for 16 base hits. Wayne Plummer cruised to the pitching win, firing a five-hitter while whiffing seven. Everyone in the Commodore lineup had at least one hit. Fred Maxemiuk led the way with a trio of base knocks, one of which was a double. Al Mitchell, Plummer, Gord Johnson, Gary Brandon and Randy Munch all had two safeties for the winners. Reg Andrew came through with a double and single for Eston.
Plummer (W) and Von Hagen
Coon (L), Sipe (1), Larson (9) and Morrice
(June 13) The Unity Cardinals erased a 5 to 2 deficit and bounced the winless Kindersley Klippers 10 to 6 in NSBL action in Unity. Tom Kendall pitched a complete-game six-hitter for the Redbirds, striking out 12 along the way. Mike Murphy, the third of three Klipper pitchers, took the loss as he hurled the final six innings. Ed Ralston's inside-the-park homer started Unity on its way back and, later, back-to-back run-scoring singles by Ralston and Steve Simonian in the sixth snapped a 5 - 5 tie. Simonian had a triple and two singles for the winners.Terry Ruggles collected a three-bager and single for the Klips.
xxx, xxx, Murphy (4) (L) and xxx
Kendall (W) and xxx
Saskatoon 6 1 -----
North Battleford 4 3 2
Eston 5 4 2
Unity 2 5 4
Kindersley 0 4 4 1/2
(June 15) Playing in less-than-ideal weather conditions at Cairns Field, the Saskatoon Commodores padded their lead atop the NSBL standings with a 4 to 1 decision over the visiting North Battleford Beavers. Jeff Benedetti, the University of California sophomore, tossed a four-hit gem and fanned eleven to pick up his second mound win of the campaign. Import lefthander Vince Rucobo, making his first start of the season for the Beavers, gave up all of Saskatoon's eight hits in taking the loss. Randy Munch and Fred Maxemiuk led the way for the winners, stroking two hits apiece.
Rucobo (L), Lumsden (8) and Hanus, Hilsendager (5)
Benedetti (W) and Von Hagen
(June 17) The Eston Ramblers and Unity Cardinals split a Sunday doubleheader in Eston with the home-standing Ramblers emerging with a 6 to 1 win in the opener while the Cardinals reciprocated with an identical 6 to 1 margin in the second encounter.
Eston used nine base hits along with three Unity errors to roll to the matinee decision. Lynn Allan was the winning hurler, allowing six hits, while Steve Simonian was tagged with the loss. Greg Goldade led the Ramblers offensively with a triple and single while Reg Andrew had a double. Glen Miller had two singles and Ed Ralston a double for the Cards.
Simonian (L) and xxx
Allan (W) and xxx
Tom Kendall fired a nifty three-hitter in leading the Cardinals to the second-game victory. The only run off his slants came as a result of a bases-empty dinger by Eston's Blythe Irvine. Gary Clements led the Redbirds' eight-hit attack with two doubles and a single which produced three RBI's. Glen Miller had a triple, Doug Wilkinson a double and Ed Ralston two singles for Unity off loser Greg Larson.
Kendall (W) and xxx
Larson (L) and xxx
(June 17) The North Battleford Beavers hung a 4 to 1 loss on the Kindersley Klippers in the first game of a twin-bill in Beavertown only to see the Klips respond in the owl encounter with their first victory of the season, a 4 to 0 whitewashing of their hosts.
The Beavers scored three runs in the first inning of the opener. A rare bases-loaded triple-steal accounted for the first run and, then, Rick Johnston added a two-run double. Import southpaw Mike Reynolds won his first mound start for North Battleford, scattering six hits while fanning four. Losing chucker "Bud" Papadakis of the Klippers also surrendered six hits and whiffed five. Neil Lampitt and Mark Perkins of the Beavers both lit up Papadakis for a brace of singles while Terry Ruggles had a double for Kindersley.
Papadakis (L) and xxx
Reynolds (W) and xxx
After five consecutive NSBL losses, the Klippers finally hit the win column in the late game. Mike Murphy gave up four hits and struck out five in pitching Kindersley to their initial triumph. The Klippers scored all of their runs in the fourth inning when they collected four of their five hits. An error accounted for the first run and then a two-run single by Buddy Papadakis and a single by Fred Seidel did the rest of the damage. Tom Sallaway was the losing pitcher, striking out ight and walking one. Ken Erne had two singles for the Beavers.
Murphy (W) and xxx
Sallaway (L) and xxx
(June 19) Two fine fielding plays and some excellent relief work proved to be the ticket to victory as the Saskatoon Commodores downed the North Battleford Beavers 2 to 1 in an NSBL game at Saskatoon's Cairns Field. Jeff Benedetti relieved winner Steve Kemp in the eighth inning to preserve the win for the Hub City crew. Kemp had allowed three hits while fanning ten Beaver batters in his 7 1/3 innings on the mound. Benedetti gave up one hit and struck out two in his relief stint. The Commodores managed to collect only three hits off loser Cliff Ballou who went all the way on the slab, striking out four. Third sacker Bill Dunbar of Saskatoon had two of those base raps, one of which singled home the winning run in the sixth frame. Shortstop Randy Munch snared an eighth-inning line-drive and turned it into a double play to end the Beavers' main offensive thrust and then, in the ninth, first sacker Gary Brandon dove and grabbed a slicing line drive that was heading for extra-bases, a catch which ended the game.
Ballou (L) and Hanus
Kemp (W), Benedetti (8) and Von Hagen
Saskatoon 8 1 -----
Eston 6 5 3
North Battleford 5 6 4
Unity 3 6 5
Kindersley 1 5 5 1/2
(June 20) Mike Murphy, an import hurler from Fresno State University, fired a four-hitter and rang up 13 strikeouts to lead Kindersley Klippers over Eston 2-1. Losing pitcher Tim Sipe allowed just six hits. Lane Jackson led the winners with a double and single.
Sipe (L) and xxx
Murphy (W) and xxx
(June 20) Veteran Vince Rucobo hurled a four-hit shutout as North Battleford downed Unity 5-0. Beavers scored three runs in the first inning before losing pitcher Doug Wilkinson could get an out and coasted to the win. Neil Lampitt led off with a single followed by another one-bagger by Mark Perkins. Rick Johnston reached on an error as Lampitt scored. Singles by Hugh McIvor and Jim Johnston drove in two more scores. Perkins led the offense with three hits. Lampitt added a triple to his single.
Rucobo (W) and xxx
Wilkinson (L) and xxx
Saskatoon 8 1 ---
Eston 6 6 3.5
North Battleford 6 6 3.5
Kindersley
2 5 5.0
Unity 3 7 5.5
(June 21) The Klippers and Unity battled to a 4-4, 11-inning draw at Kindersley. The game is to be completed at the later date. Import Steve Simonian went the distance for the Cardinals allowing seven hits, four walks while fanning ten. Larry Shepherd pitched into the 9th for the Klippers, giving up five hits and no walks, before giving way to Terry Ruggles. Unity struck early when Glen Miller belted a two-run homer in the first inning. Klippers pecked away scoring single runs in the 4th, 6th and 7th to move into the lead. Unity responded with two runs in the top of the 9th helped by a pair of errors. Kindersley sent the game into extra innings with help off the bench as pinch-hitters, Don Jackson, with a single, and Jerry Flanagan, on a base on balls, reached base in the bottom of the 9th. Jackson went to third on a wild pitch and scored on a sacrifice fly by Lane Jackson.
Simonian and xxx
Shepherd, Ruggles (9) and xxx
(June 22) Saskatoon Commodores won their 9th game in 10 starts trouncing the error-prone North Battleford Beavers 10-3. Wayne Plummer had a three-hit shutout into the 9th inning before a two-out error opened the gates for three unearned runs. He struck out ten and walked two. Commodores opened fast with three in the second inning to pin the loss on import Mike Reynolds. Gary Brandon, Plummer and Randy Munch each rapped run-scoring singles of Reynolds. In the 7th, Saskatoon exploded for six runs on just three hits as the Beavers made five of their eight errors. Munch had three hits for the Commodores and Brandon knocked in three with a pair of singles.
Plummer (W 2-1) and Renwick
Reynolds (L 1-2), Lumsden (2) Sallaway (7), Ballou (7) and Hanus
(June 22) Bud Papadakis survived ten hits to go the distance in a 5-4 Kindersley win over Eston. He helped the offense with a pair of hits as did Lane Jackson who had a double and single. Greg Larson was saddled with the loss.
Papadakis (W) and xxx
Larson (L) and xxx
(June 24) Saskatoon stretched its winning streak to nine games in taking a twin-bill from Eston, 2-1 and 3-2. Ken Haanen belted a solo homer in the 2nd extra inning of the scheduled seven-inning first game to break a 1-1 tie. The teams had battled to a scoreles draw through seven frames in a game delayed in the 6th for 90 minutes by rain. Sasktoon took the lead in the top of the 8th when winning pitcher Jeff Benedetti was hit by a pitch and moved to second on a sacrifice. A wild throw to second on an attempted pickoff allowed Benedetti to score. Eston rallied to tie in the bottom of the 8th when Greg Goldade reached on an error, went to second on a wild pitch and came home on a double by Howard Gesy. Benedetti fired a three-hitter, with ten strike outs, for the win. Sipe allowed just five hits and fanned 13 in taking the loss. Gesy had all three hits for the Ramblers.
Benedetti (W) and Von Hagen
Sipe (L) and Morrice
Commodores also scored first in the second game. Ken Haanen singled, stole second and scored on Gary Brandon's single in the 4th inning. Eston scored both their markers in the 5th. Blythe Irvine reached on a two-base error to lead off the inning. Rick Morrice drove in Irvine with a single, stole second, moved to third on a wild pitch and came home on a fielder's choice. Commodores came from behind to win it in the 7th. After Don McLeod rapped a double and Brandon followed with a single, pinch hitter Lee Von Hagen sliced a drive off the glove of Al Marshall to scored both runs on the error. Steve Kemp and Wayne Plummer combined on a two-hitter for Saskatoon.
Kemp (W), Plummer (7) and Renwick, Dunbar (1)
Larson (L) and Morrice
(June 24) Unity's Glen Miller worked losing pitcher Mike Murphy for a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the 10th inning to give the Cardinals an 8-7 victory over Kindersley. Tim Herback led Unity's attack with a home and single. Gary Clements and Jim McLean each had two singles. Bud Papadakis had two safeties for the Klippers.
Murphy (L) and xxx
Kendall (W) and xxx
Mike Murphy rebounded in the nightcap defeating Doug Wilkinson as Kindersley notched a 4-2 victory. Lane Jackson and Bob Halpenny each rapped a double and single for the winners while Fred Seidel and Papadakis cracked triples. McLean had three singles for Unity and Wilkinson had a double.
Murphy (W) and xxx
Wilkinson (L) and xxx
(June 26) Tom Sallaway pitched North Battleford to a 7-1 win over Kindersley. The right-hander allowed just four hits and two walks while fanning eight. Beavers had nine hits off loser Les Swartz and reliever Fred Seidel. Rick Johnston had three hits for the winners and Don Hilsendager produced a triple.
Sallaway (W) and xxx
Swartz (L), Seidel (8) and xxx
(June 26) Gary Brandon shutout Unity on five hits as Saskatoon won its 10th straight and 12th in 13 games this season, 2-0 over the Cardinals. Robert Zaichowsky allowed the Commodores just six hits in taking the loss. Saskatoon scored in the opening frame as Randy Munch singled, stole second and third and came home on a single by Bill Dunbar. In the 6th, Dunbar singled, advanced on a ground out and single and scored on a fielder's choice.
R. Zaichowsky (L) and Wilkinson
Brandon (W 1-0) and Von Hagen
Saskatoon 12 1 ---
North Battleford 7 7 5.5
Eston 6 9 7.0
Kindersley
4 7 7.0
Unity 4 9 8.0
(June 27) Tim Sipe rapped two doubles and a single to lead the Eston offense in an 8-5 win over Unity. The University of North Dakota product also picked up the pitching victory going into the 8th inning before Greg Larson provided relief. Brent Leavins poked a triple and double for the Ramblers while Howard Gesy and Rick Morrice each had a double and single. Gary Clements and Doug Wilkinson each had a double and single for Unity. Steve Simonian took the loss.
Sipe (W), Larson (8) and xxx
Simonian (L), Wilkinson (6) and xxx
(June 28) Kindersley Klippers halted Saskatoon's winning streak at ten games, upending the Commodores 8-4. Bob Halpenny led the winners driving in four runs with a triple and single. Lane Jackson added a double and triple. Bud Papadakis scattered 12 hits to register the win. The loss was just the second in 14 starts for Saskatoon.
A. Mitchell, Lazecki (L 1-1) (4) and Von Hagen
Papadakis (W 2-1) and Schommer
(July 2) Saskatoon Commodores started a new winning streak Monday downing Kindersley 4-2. Klippers opened the scoring with a run in the top of the 3rd inning. A single by Bob Halpenny and two walks loaded the bases and an error allowed Halpenny to score. Saskatoon responded with three in the bottom of the frame. Lee Von Hagen reached on an error, Randy Munch blooped a single into shallow right and losing pitcher Terry Ruggles issued three straight walks to force in a pair of runners. Don McLeod, whose error in the top of the inning allowed Kindersley to score, then came home on an error to put the Commodores ahead 3-1. Klippers got a run in the 4th on a sacrifice fly and Saskatoon plated their final marker in the 7th on an error and groundout. Jeff Benedetti got the win with relief help from Wayne Plummer.
Ruggles (L) and Schommer
Benedetti (W 4-0), Plummer (7) and Von Hagen
(July 3) Spero "Buddy" Papadakis and the Kindersley Klippers again proved to be too much for Saskatoon. Klippers rallied with four runs in the 9th inning to top the Commodores 11-9 in spite of an offense which produced just five hits. However, two of the hits were homers, one a grand slam by Papadakis, and Klippers took advantage of 11 bases on balls and four errors. Saskatoon had come from behind to lead 9-7 after eight innings. But, four walks, a wild pitch, a passed ball, two errors and a single combined to bury the Commodores in the 9th. Dave Croft had the other four-bagger for the winners. Papadakis struggled for the win giving up nine hits and eight walks. He fanned nine.
Papadakis (W) and Schommer
Kemp, Plummer (L) (8), Lazecki and Renwick.
(July 3) North Battleford edged Unity 6-5.
xxx and xxx
xxx and xxx
Saskatoon 13 3 ---
North Battleford 8 7 4.5
Eston 7 9 6.0
Kindersley
6 8 6.0
Unity 4 11 8.5
(July 4) Saskatoon downed Unity 5-1 behind Gary Brandon's six-hitter. It was the 14th win against only three losses for the Commodores. Mick Shaw led the offense with a triple and single.
Brandon (W) and Von Hagen
Simonian (L) and Wandler
(July 4) Eston Ramblers rallied for four runs in the 9th inning to down Kindersley 7-4. Doug Coon led the attack driving in three runs with a triple and a single. Greg Larson pitched a seven-hitter with eight strikeouts for the win. Mike Murphy took the loss. He gave up seven hits and whiffed nine.
Murphy (L) and xxx
Larson (W) and xxx
(July 7) Saskatoon used a 16-hit attack to trounce Unity 13-6 Saturday. Fred Maxemiuk led the way with three hits. Ken Haanen picked up the win in relief of starter Larry Lazecki. Tim Kendall took the loss.
Lazecki, Haanen (W) (5) and Sapieha
Kendall (L) and Wandler
(July 8) Commodores swept both games of a twin-bill from Eston, 5-3 and 8-0. Jeff Benedetti hurled a seven-hitter for the first game victory while Wayne Plummer allowed just five hits in pitching the shutout in the second. Saskatoon rallied from a 3-0 deficit with four runs in the 7th inning for the win in the opener. A bases-loaded walk to Dave Renwick forced in the first run, Benedetti knocked in a pair with a single and Randy Munch drove Renwick home. Ken Haanen scored an insurance run in the 8th when he came home while a throw went to second to nab Don McLeod trying to steal. Ramblers had notched two runs in the first inning. Greg Goldade doubled and came home on two passed balls. Rick Morrice walked, stole second, went to third on a passed ball and scored on a single by Tim Sipe. In the second contest, Saskatoon put the game away early scoring three times in the first inning on just one hit. Haanen scored three of the Commodores' eight runs.
Allan (L), Sipe (7) and Morrice
Benedetti (W) and Renwick
Larson (L) and Morrice
Plummer (W) and Maxemiuk
(July 8) Kindersley and North Battleford split a pair Sunday. Klippers took the first game 6-5 and the Beavers bounced back for a 6-3 win in the second. Randy Arthur belted a bases-loaded single in the bottom of the 7th inning for the Kindersley victory. Bud Pakadakis, who had two hits, was the winning pitcher.
Cliff Ballou (L) and xxx
Papadakis (W) and xxx
Beavers scored four in the first inning and coasted to the 6-3 triumph in the nightcap. Mike Reynolds was the winning hurler while Arthur took the loss. Tom Sallaway led the Beavers offense on the day driving in four runs with four hits. Mike Hanus had five hits in eight at bats. Papadakis drove in three runs for the Klippers in the second game with a single and a sacrifice fly.
Mike Reynolds (W) and xxx
Arthur (L) and xxx
Saskatoon 17 3 ---
North Battleford 9 8 6.5
Eston 8 11 8.5
Kindersley
7 10 8.5
Unity 4 13 11.5
(July 9) North Battleford downed Eston 4-2 Monday to move three games up on the Ramblers in a battle for second place in the standings. Tom Sallaway fanned ten and walked just one in registering the win. Beavers scored three of their runs on wild pitches. Rick Johnston had three singles for the winners. Reg Andrews belted a homer for Eston. Terry Sheehan was the losing hurler.
Sallaway (W) and xxx
Sheehan (L) and xxx
(July 9) A pair of Beavers lead the NSBL in hitting in statistics up to July 4th (with several games not reported). Hugh McIvor and Cam Sternig are tied with .333 marks, a few points up on Glen Miller of Unity, at .326. McIvor and Gary Clements of Unity each had 17 hits, tops in the league, while Mark Perkins of North Battleford leads in runs, 15, and home runs, 2. Randy Munch of Saskatoon leads in stolen bases, with 12, and Ken Haanen of the Commodores has the most runs batted in, 10. Haanen is also the top hurler with a 2-0 record and no earned runs. allowed. Two other Commodore hurlers also sport top marks. Jeff Benedetti is 5-0, 1.07 and Gary Brandon had a 2-0 record and a 1.39 earned run average.
(July 10) Fred Maxemiuk's bases-loaded, infield single in the 12th inning gave Saskatoon a hard-fought 2-1 victory over North Battleford. Maxemiuk thought he had scored the winning run in the 11th inning when he came home on Ken Haanen's single but the umpire ruled Haanen had missed third base in his rush to score. Beavers took the lead in the 5th when Don Hilsendager drove in Mike Hanus. Commodores knotted the count in the 7th inning as Don McLeod scored on Dave Renwick's single. Beavers had a chance to win in the bottom of the 10th but Neil Lampitt was thrown out at home trying to score from second base on a passed ball. Steve Kemp held North Battleford to five hits in going the distance for the win. Vince Rucobo took the loss.
Kemp (W) and Renwick
Rucobo (L) and Hanus
(July 10) Spero "Bud" Papakakis drove in three runs with a homer, double and single to lead Kindersley Klippers to a 5-2 win over Unity. Terry Ruggles, who got the win, and Mike Murphy combined to hold the Cardinals to six hits. Rich Rucobo took the loss.
Ruggles (W), Murphy (7) and xxx
Rucobo (L), Wilkinson (8) and xxx
Kindersley 5 Unity 2
Saskatoon 18 3 ---
North Battleford 10 9 7.0
Kindersley
8 10 8.5
Eston 8 12 9.5
Unity 4 14 12.5
(July 11) Eston moved into the third place tie with Kindersley downing the Klippers 5-4. Both teams are nine games back of the league-leading Saskatoon Commodores. Lynn Allan picked up the win. Bud Papadakis was the loser.
Allan (W) and xxx
Papadakis (L) and xxx
(July 12) A throwing error in the 8th inning proved to be the difference as Eston Ramblers edged Unity 3-2 to hand the Cardinals their 8th straight defeat. Already up 2-0, Eston loaded the bases and on a squeeze bunt had a runner thrown out at the plate. However, catcher Andy Wandler tried for a double-play with a throw to first base. The ball sailed wide and Howard Gesy raced home with what proved to be the winning run. Down 3-0 going into the 9th, Eston rallied with two runs but fell short. Greg Larsen fired a six-hitter for the win. He struck out 12 men and walked four.
Larsen (W) and Morrice
Simonian (L), Kendall (9) and Wandler
(July 13) North Battleford crushed the Commodores 11-4 Friday handing Saskatoon just its 4th loss of the season. Cliff Ballou held the Commodores to five hits in going the distance for the win. He only bad inning was the 6th when the Commodores got four singles and a sacrifice to score three runs. Cam Sternig led a balanced Beavers' attack with a double and single, driving in a pair.
Ballou (W) and Hanus
Renwick, Lazecki (L) (4), Haanen (7) and Von Hagen, Sapieha (7)
(July 14-15) See Kindersley Tournament
(July 18) In the opening game of a best-of-three Saskatchewan Senior semi-final, Regina-Moose Jaw Combines trounced Saskatoon T-Birds 28-8.
(July 18) The Saskatoon Commodores tripped the Eston Ramblers 6 to 3 in an abbreviated NSBL contest played in Eston. Darkness prevented play beyond the sixth inning as the start of the game was delayed by rain. Saskatoon's victory was their eighth straight over Eston in meetings between the two clubs this season. Steve Kemp was the winning chucker, allowing four hits and striking out five. Eston starter Terry Sheehan tossed the first five frames and was touched for ten of the Commodores' twelve hits. Four Saskatonians managed two hits apiece as every player but Kemp got at least one base hit. Don McLeod had a double and single while Lee Von Hagen, Al Mitchell and Gary Brandon had two singles apiece. Greg Goldade picked up a brace of singles for Eston while Blythe Irvine rapped a two-bagger.
Kemp (W) and Von Hagen
Sheehan (L), Goldade (6) and Purcell
(July 18) The North Battleford Beavers scored four runs in the third inning en route to a 6 to 2 decision over the Unity Cardinals. Winning pitcher Mike Reynolds had a no-hitter going for seven innings. However, the Cards got to him in the eighth frame, scoring a pair on four hits. Doug Wilkinson was the loser for Unity which has now lost nine games in a row. Cam Sternig led the Beavers' eight-hit attack with two singles.
Reynolds (W) and xxx
Wilkinson (L) and xxx
(July 19) The Regina-Moose Jaw Combines trounced the Saskatoon T-Birds 7-1 to advance to the final of the Saskatchewan Senior Baseball championship. Roy Rowley went the distance for the winners and helped the offense with a double and single. Doug Simon had a pair of singles.
(July 19) The North Battleford Beavers made it two straight wins over the Saskatoon Commodores with a hotly-contested 3 to 1 triumph in Beavertown. Cliff Ballou defeated the Commodores for the second straight time, holding the Saskatonians to seven hits. Jeff Benedetti went all the way for the Commodores, suffering his first loss in six decisions in spite of holding the hosts to six safeties. Randy Munch and Lee Von Hagen had two singles apiece to lead the Commodore attack while Neil Lampitt had two singles for North Battleford.
Benedetti (L) and Von Hagen
Ballou (W) and Hanus
(July 19) The Eston Ramblers took over sole possesion of third place in the NSBL, coming from behind to defeat the Kindersley Klippers 5 to 3. Eston starting pitcher Al Saisi was driven from the hill in the opening frame after failing to retire any of the first four Kindersley batters. He was relieved by Tim Sipe who went on to record the win. Losing hurler Dave Croft surrendered 11 safeties in going the distance for the Klippers. Saisi fared much better as a batter and came away as the game's top hitter with three base knocks. Reg Andrew and Merle Byrnes each had two singles for Eston. Jerry Flanagan ripped two hits for the Klips.
Saisi, Sipe (1) (W) and xxx
Croft (L) and xxx
(July 21) The Kindersley Klippers belted the visiting North Battleford Beavers 9 to 2 in an NSBL encounter. The Klippers used two big innings in roaring back from an early deficit. The Beavers had taken a 2 to 0 lead in the third inning on Hugh McIvor's two-run homer but Kindersley picked up four runs in their half of the same frame and added five more in the fourth. Bud Papadakis was the winning pitcher, allowing eight hits. Brian Lampitt, who was relieved by Mike Reynolds in the fourth, was the loser. McIvor added two singles to his circuit clout to emerge as North Battleford's top swinger at the platter. Kindersley's Terry Ruggles had a two-run triple and a double to pace the winners offensively. Others with significant contributions in Kindersley's 10-hit attack were Papadakis with a two-run round-tripper, Don Jackson with a two-run double and Dave Croft with a two-run single.
B. Lampitt (L), Reynolds (4) and xxx
Papadakis (W) and xxxx
(July 22) The pennant hopes of the North Battleford Beavers suffered a rude blow as they were administered a doubleheader setback, 2 to 0 and 3 to 2, at the hands of the hometown Eston Ramblers. The double defeat left the defending champion Beavers 6 1/2 games behind the pace-setting Saskatoon Commodores and with only a faint hope of catching the Saskatonians.
In the opener, a double by Al Saisi and a sacrifice fly by Brent Leavins accounted for both Eston counters. The Ramblers picked up six hits off the offerings of losing twirler Vince Rucobo while winner Lynn Allan held the Beavers to four hits in earning the shutout. Blythe Irvine had two singles to lead the winners at the dish.
Rucobo (L) and xxx
Allan (W) and xxx
In the follow-up tussle, the Ramblers broke a 2 - 2 tie in the third inning when a single by Reg Andrew drove in Al Saisi, who had doubled, with the winning run. The Beavers managed only four base knocks, all off Eston starter Terry Sheehan, who was relieved by winning chucker Tim Sipe in the third frame. The Ramblers garnered nine hits off of losing pitcher Tom Sallaway with Saisi leading the way with his double plus a pair of singles. Andrew followed with a double and single while Brent Leavins contibuted a brace of one-baggers. Cam Sternig had two singles for the Beavers.
Sallaway (L) and xxx
Sheehan, Sipe (3) (W) and xxx
Saskatoon 19 5 -----
North Battleford 13 12 6 1/2
Eston 13 13 7
Kindersley 9 12 8 1/2
Unity 4 16 13
(July 30) The Unity Cardinals dropped their tenth NSBL game in a row, bowing 7 to 0 to the North Battleford Beavers at North Battleford. Two runs in the first inning were all the Beavers needed to claim victory although they broke loose for a five-run fourth inning. Cliff Ballou was the winning hurler, going seven innings and allowing four hits. Bill Lumsden worked the last two innings, surrendering one hit. The Unity loser was starting pitcher Rob Zaichowsky. He was relieved by Rick Rucobo in the fourth while Gene Zaichowsky, the most effective of the trio, came on in the fifth.
R. Zaichowsky (L), R. Rucobo (4). G. Zaichowsky (5) and xxx
Ballou (W), Lumsden (8) and xxx
(July 31) Kindersley Klippers were both generous and victorious Tuesday in their NSBL tilt with Unity. Klippers whipped the Cardinals 10-4 as Bud Papadakis and Randy Arthur each had three hits. Kindersley also loaned a player to the Cards as Unity arrived for the game one man short. Klippers gave them a player to start the game then took him back in the 6th and replaced him with another Klipper. Mike Murphy picked up the win in a relief role. Rich Rucobo took the loss. Brennan Merkowsky had two doubles and a single for Unity.
Jerry Flanagan, Murphy (W) and xxx
Rucobo (L), Glen Miller, Hein and xxx
Saskatoon 19 5 ---
North Battleford 14 12 6.0
Eston 13 13 7.0
Kindersley
10 12 8.0
Unity 4 18 14.0
(August 1) Saskatoon Commodores snapped a 1-1 tie with a six-run outburst in the 6th inning to send Unity to its 12th straight defeat, 7-1. With the win, Saskatoon clinched at least a tie for first place. Commodores took the lead in the first inning as Al Mitchell walked, advanced on a single and stolen base and scored on Gord Johnson's ground ball. Rich Rucobo drove in Ron Hein in the 5th for the Cardinals to knot the count. In the 6th, three hits, three errors and two walks helped Saskatoon to six runs and their 20th win in 25 games. The game was called after seven inning because of darkness. Steve Kemp went the distance, allowing seven hits, to pick up the win.
Kemp (W) and Von Hagen
Rucobo (L), Zaichowsky (7) and Wandler
(August 1) Eston Ramblers trounced Kindersley 19-8.
xxx and xxx
xxx and xxx
(August 2) In a day of outstanding pitching, North Battleford took both games of a twin-bill from Eston, 1-0 and 2-1. Both games were seven-inning affairs. In the opener, Vince Rucobo fired a two-hitter out-dueling Lynn Allan who gave up just four hits. The only run came in the 5th inning as Mark Perkins drew a walk and stole second before Rick Johnston singled him home. In the second game, Tim Sipe of the Ramblers hurled a one-hitter but ended up with the loss. Tom Sallaway, with a three-hit performance, was the winner. Cam Sternig's single in the 6th was the lone safety off Sipe. However, the Beavers jumped into the lead with two runs in the first inning. Don Hilsendager and Perkins drew walks and moved up on a sacrifice by Rick Johnston. Sternig followed with a sacrifice fly to score one run and the other came home on a grouner to shortstop.
Allan (L) and xxx
Rucobo (W) and xxx
Sipe (L) and xxx
Sallaway (W) and xxx
Saskatoon 20 5 ---
North Battleford 16 12 5.5
Eston 14 15 8.0
Kindersley
10 13 9.0
Unity 4 19 15.0
(August 2) Saskatoon Commodores erupted for three runs in the first inning and the margin held up as they downed the Regina-Moose Jaw Combines 5-2 in the opening game of a best-of-three provincial senior championship. Don McLeod started the uprising with a line-drive single to right field. Singles by Ken Haanen, Lee Von Hagen and Larry Haylor plated the three runs. McLeod scored the 4th run in 5th inning as he singled, stole second and came around to score on a passed ball. In the 7th, McLeod scored again, reaching on a single, advancing on a hit and double-steal and crossing the plate on another passed ball. Jerry Zrymiak accounted for the first Combines run in the 3rd inning when he scored from third on an overthrow by the catcher. Jim Paisley doubled in Vern Neal with the other Combines marker in the 7th. Ken Haanen went the distance for the win. The series will determine Saskatchewan's representatives at the Canadian Senior championships in Edmundston, New Brunswick.
Rowley (L) and Bell
Haanen (W) and Von Hagen
(August 3) Bud Papadakis cracked a two-run homer in the top of the first inning then blanked Saskatoon on three-hits as Kindersley Klippers took a 2-0 decision over the Commodores. Papadakis, who walked three and fanned ten, had a one-hitter into the 9th inning. Jeff Benedetti took the loss, giving up six hits and six free passes.
Papadakis (W) and D. Jackson
Benedetti (L 5-2) and Von Hagen, Renwick (5)
(August 3) Unity Cardinals rallied for a run in the 9th inning to tie North Battleford 3-3 in a game called after nine because of darkness. A triple by Rich Rucobo drove in Glen Miller with the tying run. Rucobo and Miller each had two hits for the Cards while Neil Lampitt led the Beavers with three hits.
Lumsden, Lampitt (4) and xxx
Gene Zaichowsky, Robert Zaichowsky (9) and xxx
(August 5) At Kindersley, the Klippers took a pair from Saskatoon, 7-2 and 5-2. A five-run first inning in the opener proved enough for the victory. Dave Croft went the distance for the Klippers allowing just five hits.
Kemp (L) and xxx
Croft (W) and xxx
In the nightcap, Mike Murphy tossed a three-hitter for the win. Larry Haylor pitched a five-hitter but was saddled with the loss. Ken Haanen accounted for both Saskatoon runs with a two-run homer in the first inning.
Haylor (L) and xxx
Murphy (W) and xxx
(August 5) Mark Perkins, an addition from North Battleford Beavers, belted a pair of homers, one a three-run shot, to give Saskatoon Commodores a 6-2 win over the Regina-Moose Jaw Combines and a berth in the Canadian Senior baseball championships in New Brunswick. Saskatoon won the best-of-three final series in two straight games. Perkins added a two-run homer in the 5th inning. Cam Sternig, another acquisition from the Beavers, had three hits. Wayne Plummer, who issued nine bases on balls, walked a tighrope but managed to go the distance for the win.
Plummer (W) and xxx
Lyle Johnson (L), Neil McMillan and xxx
(August 6) Kindersley Klippers, who took a twin-bill from the Commodores Sunday, came from behind Monday to hand Saskatoon its third weekend defeat, a 9-7 decision at Cairns Field. Down 7-6, Klippers scored a pair in the 6th as Jerry Flanagan came home on an error and Terry Ruggles scored on a double by Dave Croft. Kindersley added an insurance run in the 8th as winning pitching Bud Papadakis doubled in Ruggles. Papadakis, who pitched a six-hitter with 11 strikeouts, led the winners at the plate driving in four runs with a pair of doubles and two singles.
Papadakis (W) and D. Jackson
Haanen (L), Renwick (7) and Von Hagen
Saskatoon 20 9 ---
North Battleford 16 12 3.5
Kindersley
14 13 5.0
Eston 14 15 6.0
Unity 4 19 15.0
(August 8) Jeff Benedetti shutout North Battleford on seven hits as the Commodores clinched first place with a 3-0 triumph. All the scoring came in the 2nd inning. Larry Haylor, who had doubled, put up the first run coming home on a passed ball. Gary Brandon tripled in the second run and Randy Munch knocked in the third with a single. Cliff Ballou took the loss in spite of a fine five-hit effort.
Ballou (L) and Hanus
Benedetti (W) and Von Hagen
(August 9) Kindersley Klippers notched their 5th straight win Thursday crushing Eston Ramblers 9-2 and moving the Klippers just a half-game back of second place North Battleford. The Beavers and the Klippers meet tonight to decide second spot. Mike Murphy, with a three-hit performance, was the winning pitcher. Dave Croft belted a homer for the winners while Terry Ruggles helped with a triple and single. Murphy and Lane Jackson each had a double and single. Eston protested the decision claiming the Klippers used an ineligible player.
Murphy (W) and xxx
Sheehan (L), Sipe (3) and xxx
Saskatoon 21 9 ---
North Battleford 16 13 4.5
Kindersley
15 13 5.0
Eston 14 16 7.0
Unity 4 19 13.5
(August 10) Kindersley won its 6th in a row and 8th in 9 starts to claim second place in the league standings with a 5-3 win over North Battleford. Beavers made five errors in making things easy for the Klippers. All the Kindersley runs were unearned. Terry Ruggles had a six-hitter and rang up nine strikeouts in gaining the mound decision. Vince Rucobo was handed the loss, giving up seven hits. Bud Papadakis, Ruggles and Don Schommer each had two hits for the Klippers and Neil Lampitt had a pair for the Beavers.
Rucobo (L) and xxx
Ruggles (W) and xxx
Saskatoon 21 9 ---
Kindersley
16 13 4.5
North Battleford 16 14 5.0
Eston 14 16 7.0
Unity 4 19 13.5
PLAYOFFS
(August 10) Saskatoon Commodores, shutout for seven innings, scored two lare runs to shade Eston 2-1 in the opening game of their semi-final series. Ramblers had opened the scoring in the 5th inning as Greg Goldade led off with a walk, stole second and came home on Al Saisi's double, the only extra base hit of the game. In the 8th, Al Mitchell drew a walk to lead off the inning, advanced on a passed ball and a sacrifice fly and scored on a fielder's choice. In the 9th, Randy Munch received a free pass, went to second on another passed ball and advanced to third on an infield grounder. Fred Maxemiuk then grounded to the right side and first baseman Reg Andrews juggled the ball allowing Munch to beat the throw home with the winner. Wayne Plummer fired a two-hitter and set down 13 by strike outs for the win. Six walks, however, kept him in trouble.
Allan, Saisi (L) (9), Allan (9) and Morrice
Plummer (W) and Von Hagen
(August 11) Saskatoon Commodores advanced to the NSBL final by sweeping a double-header from Eston 5-0 and 5-2 to take the semi-final series in three straight games. Jeff Benedetti fired a five-hit shutout in the first game. Fred Maxemiuk singled home Randy Munch in the 5th inning for the only run the Commodores would need. Munch and Gary Brandon each had two hits for Saskatoon. Ken Haanen blasted a three-run homer to provide the margin of victory in the second game. Haanen's first hit of the playoffs followed 8th inning walks to Don McLeod and Maxemiuk. Steve Kemp went the route for the win allowing seven hits and fanning ten. Terry Sheehan gave up just four hits in taking the loss.
Benedetti (W) and Von Hagen
Sipe (L) and Morrice
Kemp (W) and Renwick
Sheehan (L) and Morrice
(August 11) North Battleford Beavers stopped the high-flying Kindersley Klippers with a 6-4 win in the opening game of their best-of-three semi-final series. Klippers had won six in a row, including the final league game against the Beavers. Tom Sallaway pitched the win with Mike Hanus, Don Hilsendager and Rick Johnston each with two hits. Bud Papadakis was the losing hurler.
Sallaway (W) and xxx
Papadakis (L) and xxx
(August 12) Mark Perkins scored the winning run in the bottom of the 9th inning as North Battleford edged Kindersley 3-2 Sunday to take a 2-0 game lead in their semi-final. Perkins had reached on a fielder's choice, stole second and raced home on Cam Sternig's single. Cliff Ballou was the winner. Don Hilsendager had two hits for the Beavers.
Croft, Murphy (L) (4) and xxx
Ballou (W) and xxx
(August 13) Kindersley Klippers erupted for four runs in the 5th inning and held on to down North Battleford 4-3 to extend the semi-final series. Beavers lead the best-of-three set, two games to one. Randy Arthur's three-run double was the key blow. The first run came on back-to-back doubles by Lane Jackson and Terry Ruggles. Bud Papadakis held the Beavers to three hits until the 9th inning when they added two runs on four safeties. They had the tying run on third base when Papadakis ended the game with his 5th strikeout.
Papadakis (W) and xxx
Rucobo (L) and xxx
(August 14) In his first pitching effort of the season, Don McIntyre fired a three-hitter to lead North Battleford to a 6-1 win over Kindersley and victory in the semi-final series. McIntyre rang up 11 strikeouts and help the offense with a two-run single in the 6th inning. Beavers scored a pair in the first inning and were never headed. Don Hilsendager had two hits for the winners, Lane Jackson poked a double and single for the Klippers.
McIntyre (W) and xxx
Murphy (L), Ruggles (3) and xxx
FINAL SERIES
(August 15) Wayne Plummer gave up just one hit and survived six walks to help Saskatoon to a 2-1 victory in the opening game of the best-of-seven Northern Saskatchewan League final series. The winning marker came in the 7th inning as Gord Johnston singled in Al Mitchell to break a 1-1 deadlock. Mitchell had drawn a one-out walk and advanced on an error. Beavers had taken the lead in the 3rd inning as Jim Johnston opened with a walk, moved to second on a sacrifice and over to third on a passed ball. A sacrifice fly by Don Hilsendager put North Battleford up 1-0. The Commodores came right back in the bottom of the 3rd as Johnson led off with a base on balls, was sacrificed to second and came home on Gary Brandon's double down the first base line. Tom Sallaway took the tough loss, giving up just four hits.
Sallaway (L) and xxx
Plummer (W) and xxx
(August 16) Saskatoon Commodores took advantage of sloppy defense by North Battleford to take a 7-3 decision and a 2-0 game lead in the NSBL final series. With the Beavers up 3-2 in the 8th inning, a crucial error led to a five-run inning by the Commodores. Gord Johnson's two-run single plated the winning marker. North Battleford booted the ball five times overall. Jeff Benedetti tossed a six-hitter for the win.
Benedetti (W) and Maxemiuk
Ballou (L), Lumsden (8) and Hanus, Johnston (8)
(August 17) Saskatoon Commodores, with Steve Kemp hurling a four-hitter and North Battleford making six errors, notched a 3-0 victory and a 3-0 game lead in the NSBL final series. A first inning error by shortstop Alf Lampitt allowed Fred Maxemiuk to score what proved to be the only run Saskatoon needed. They added an insurance run in the 4th as Randy Munch rapped a bases-loaded single. In the 7th, Ken Haanen's infield single plated Munch with the final run. Vince Rucobo allowed just five hits in taking the loss.
Rucobo (L) and Johnson
Kemp (W) and Von Hagen
(August 18) Saskatoon Commodores downed North Battleford 4-3 to take the NSBL final series in four straight games. Saskatoon came from behind with a pair in the 7th and another two in the 8th for the win. Again, Gord Johnson was prominent in the victory. Johnson, who drove in the winning runs in the first and second games, doubled in the tying run and scored the winner in the 8th inning. It was one of three hits for the Commodores' right fielder. A single by Larry Haylor scored Johnson. Gary Brandon hurled a five-hitter for the win. Don McIntyre took the defeat. Commodores won 11 straight games, without a loss, in playoff action. They had earlier defeated Eston in three straight in the semi-finals and in the Saskatchewan Senior playoffs had beatenboth Govan Angles and the Regina-Moose Jaw Combines in two straight.
Brandon (W) and Maxemiuk
McIntyre (L), Ballou (8) and Johnston