1975: THE BIRTH OF THE SASKATCHEWAN MAJOR BASEBALL LEAGUE
The spring of 1975 witnessed a merger of the Northern Saskatchewan Baseball League and the Southern Saskatchewan Baseball League as the crème de la crème of both circuits came together to form a league for the elite players of the wheat province. The Saskatchewan Major Baseball League had six teams, Saskatoon, Unity and Eston, based in the nothern section of the province, and Regina, Moose Jaw and Swift Current representing the southern part of the Canada’s breadbasket.
The new association had a couple of peculiarities which affected both scheduling and team composition. The founders of the SMBL decided that a 26-game schedule for each member club would be established for the inaugural season, however, the schedule would be highly unbalanced. Recognizing that the sextet of SMBL franchises were, geographically arranged, roughly speaking, in an oval, the schedulers had each team playing seven games against the clubs on either side of them in the imaginary circumference and four games against all the others.
Then, there was a rule regarding imports. It was also also unbalanced. Organizers decided that the differences in population among centres was such that, to even things up, Unity and Eston were allowed four imports, Swift Current three and the two major centres only two.
1975 SMBL GAME REPORTS
(May 28) Pitching was the dominant factor as batters on both squads appeared rather anemic during the inaugural SMBL contest played at Moose Jaw’s Ross Wells Park. When the dust had settled, the visiting Regina Red Sox emerged as victors with a 2 to 0 whitewash of the hometown Devons. Limited to three hits by losing southpaw Rod Heisler, who recorded 15 strikeouts during his tenure on the hill, the Queen City crew took full advantage of blunders by the portsider to plate their pair of runs. A fifth frame bases-loaded walk by Heisler forced in Regina’s first counter. Then, in the eighth inning with two outs, Heisler elected to throw a comebacker to third base rather than taking the easy out at first and, upon tossing the ball wild of the hot corner, allowed the insurance run to cross the plate. The Red Sox trio of winning pitcher Russ Barr and relievers Glen Burdon and Lyle Johnson effectively scattered five Mill City safeties in recording the shutout.
Barr (W), Burdon (5), Johnson (7) and Logan
Heisler (L), Andrie (9) and Devine
(June 1) The Regina Red Sox managed a split in their doubleheader with the home standing Saskatoon Boston Royals, whipping their hosts 8 to 3 in the first game but taking it on the chin 7 to 0 in the finale. The Crimson Hose scored two runs in each of the second and fifth innings and four more in the eighth during their opening game rout. The pitching tandem of winner Lyle Johnson and reliever Glen Burdon allowed the Saskatonians five hits. Rich Gergley of the Red Sox and Randy Munch of the Royals both went four-for-five in the hitting department. Gergley pasted a home run, triple and two singles while Munch had a trio of two-baggers and a single.
Johnson (W), Burdon (8) and Logan
Andreen (L), Guenther (5) and Maxemiuk
The Bridge City boys wasted little time in getting their revenge in the second game, garnering single runs in the first and third innings and five more in the fourth frame. Winning pitcher Gary Brandon limited the Sox to six hits. Gord Johnson smacked a three-run tater for the Royals in the fourth. Teammates Bob Brown and Fred Maxemiuk both contributed three safeties.
Barr (L), Currie (4), Cox (8) and Logan
Brandon (W) and Brown
(June 1) The Unity Cardinals swept a double-bill from the Eston Ramblers in the initial SMBL action for both teams. The Cards eked out a 5 to 4 win in the matinee event and then followed that victory up with a 4-0 triumph in the follow-up contest. Ron Hein cracked two singles in pacing the winners’ offense in the opener. Bob Whiting, with relief help from Neil Lampitt, came out on top in his mound duel with John Littlefield of the Ramblers. The Cards were out hit 9 to 8 by Eston.
Littlefield (L) and xxx
Whiting (W), Lampitt and xxx
Unity’s Tim Herback tossed shutout ball in posting the win in the second encounter. Greg Goldade was nailed with the loss. Once again, the Ramblers out hit their victorious hosts, this time by a 7 to 4 margin,
Goldade (L) and xxx
Herback (W) and xxx
(June 1) Ross Mahoney had a two-run round-tripper plus a pair of singles to pace the Swift Current Indians to a relatively easy 8 to 3 victory at the expense of the Moose Jaw Devons. Swift Current jumped into a 6 to 0 lead after three innings and coasted from there. Winning hurler Don Szabo of the Tribe went the distance on the hill and limited the Devons to six hits.
Szabo (W) and Neal
Andrie (L), Heisler (6) and Devine
(June 6) Right-hander Doug Overbo made his season debut, striking out seven without issuing a single walk in three solid innings of scoreless relief work, as the Regina Red Sox picked up their third win of the young SMBL season in dumping the winless Moose Jaw Devons by an 8 to 3 count. Losing chucker Dan Andrie was lit up for three Regina round-trippers, one each by Bill Bell, Jerry Zrymiak and Rick Tabin. The Devons’ Randy Hennenfent had an apparent three-run homer reduced to a two-run single when he failed to touch second base while circling the sacks.
Andrie (L), Heisler (8) and Devine
Barr, Johnson (W) (2), Burdon (7), Overbo (7) and Logan
(June 6) The surprising Unity Cardinals ran their SMBL record to 3 – 0 by trouncing the Saskatoon Boston Royals 14 to 4 in the Hub City. Import pitcher Brad Kelley was the story in the Redbirds win. The Fresno State product pitched the first six innings and drove in five runs with a single and double. Outfielder Glen Miller contributed three safeties for the winners while Saskatoon’s Don McLeod manufactured two hits. Royals’ starter and loser Wayne Plummer was blasted from the mound in the midst of a six run splurge by Unity in the third inning. In total, the Pizzamen used five pitchers in an attempt to stop the bleeding.
Kelley (W), Ferguson (7) and Harris
Plummer (L), Haanen (3), Andreen (4), Guenther (5), Kemp (9) and Brown, Gautschi (6)
(June 8) The Unity Cardinals tasted defeat for the first time this season, dropping the second game of a doubleheader 2 to 0 to the Regina Red Sox after doubling the Queen City contingent 8 to 4 in the leadoff game. The Cardinals touched Regina pitchers for 13 hits en route to their win in the opener. Glen Miller and Neil Lampitt each had three hits for Unity. Gary Ferguson snared the mound win while Doug Overbo was stung with the loss.
Overbo (L), xxx, xxx and xxx
Ferguson (W) and xxx
Bob Currie’s shutout pitching sparked the Redlegs to their victory in the second half of the day’s proceedings. Unity’s Hal Harris was saddled with the loss.
Currie (W) and xxx
Harris (L) and xxx
(June 8) The Eston Ramblers and Moose Jaw Devons both won their first games of the season by splitting a twin bill in Eston. In the first of two superbly pitched contests, the Ramblers came out with a 2 to 0 verdict but the Devons rebounded by squeezing out a 1 to 0 win in the late game. John Littlefield struck out 15 Devons in the Ramblers’ opening game victory. Loser Brad Devine’s control problems led to five walks, costing him dearly in crucial situations. Littlefield and Eston teammate Rod McIvor as well as Moose Jaw’s Ned Andreoni each drilled a brace of singles.
Devine (L) and Baba
Littlefield (W) and xxx
Southpaw Rod Heisler tossed a masterful one-hitter for the Devons in the second game, besting import Gorman Heimueller who fanned nine in taking the defeat. Moose Jaw’s Gary Erfle plated the game’s lone run when, following a double, he was sacrificed to third and then scored on a fielder’s choice. Ned Andreoni had a repeat two singles for the winners.
Heisler (W) and Baba
Heimueller (L) and xxx
(June 8) The Swift Current Indians are the only undefeated team in the newly formed SMBL. The Tribe improved their record to 2 – 0 with an offensively-charged 14 to 7 pasting of the Saskatoon Royals in the Bridge City. The Speedy Creekers used three home runs, including one each by catcher Verne Neal, rookie Rick Harvey and infielder Ross Mahoney to overcome an early 3 to 0 deficit and run away with the verdict. Muscular catcher-turned-outfielder, Gord Johnson, and Bob Brown both jacked out dingers for the Saskatonians. Neal was the top offensive threat for the winners with a double and single in addition to his four-bagger. Doug Senyk also collected three safeties. Brown had three hits in four trips to the platter for the Royals. Don Szabo scattered ten hits in picking up the win. Ken Haanen, the first of three Saskatoon pitchers, was tagged with the loss.
Szabo (W) and Neal
Haanen (L), Guenther (6), Andreen (8) and Gautschi
(June 10) Slamming two home runs as part of a perfect five-for-five output at the plate, catcher Andy Logan paced the Regina Red Sox to an 11 to 5 win over the Moose Jaw Devons in SMBL action at Currie Field. The victory for the Capital City nine moved them to mere percentage points of top spot in the fledgling circuit behind the Unity Cardinals. The Cards sport a 4 – 1 record while the Red Sox have posted 5 wins against a pair of losses. The Scarlet Stockings pushed across seven runs in the first two innings to essentially salt the game away. Winning chucker Glen Burdon surrendered two unearned runs during his six innings of toiling on the hill.
Heisler (L), Andrie (2) and Baba
Burdon (W), Cox (7) and Logan
(June 10) The Saskatoon Boston Royals dumped the Eston Ramblers 8 to 4 in the first meeting of the two clubs this campaign. Playing on their home turf, the Royals rode the arm of Gary Brandon to snare the victory. Eston’s Mike Ongarato absorbed the hill defeat. One of the stories of the game was Saskatoon’s base running as the Royals swiped six sacks. Don McLeod was the top man at the plate for Saskatoon with a double and single. Randy Munch added a pair of singles for the winners. Greg Goldade had a double and single for the visitors while Reg Andrew added a brace of one-baggers.
Ongarato (L) and Reeve
Brandon (W) and Brown
(June 11) The Regina Red Sox exploded for nine runs in the top of the sixth inning on their way to a lopsided 16 to 5 win over the pitching-weak Moose Jaw Devons at Ross Wells Park. Scarlet Hose hurler Doug Overbo, an import from North Dakota, gained the pitching decision as well as pacing Regina's 12 hit attack with a three-run homer and a single. Rich Gergley also hammered out a three-run circuit clout for the Sox while Doug Simon added a triple and a double. Jerry Zrymiak punched out two singles. Jim Baba led the Devons’ feeble five-hit offensive production with a three-run four-bagger in the sixth. Randy Vogt of Fresno, California, getting his first start of the season, was nailed with the loss.
Overbo (W), Barr (8) and Logan
Vogt (L), Heisler (6) and Devine
(June 12) John Littlefield struck out ten batters while surrendering only one hit as the Eston Ramblers travelled to Swift Current and hung a 6 to 1 defeat on the host Indians. Swift Current second baseman Scott Nutzhorn broke up the no-hit bid with a clean safety. Losing hurler Wayne Pusch of the Tribe gave up eight hits, struck out seven and walked four. Gorman Heimueller blasted a two-run homer for the Ramblers while Mike Ongarato contributed a double and single. Greg Goldade pitched in with a pair of singles.
Littlefield (W) and xxx
Pusch (L) and xxx
(June 13) The Regina Red Sox crushed the visiting Saskatoon Boston Royals 14 to 1 to increase their lead atop the SMBL to a full game over the idle Unity Cardinals. Newly arrived import pitcher John Ortiz of the Royals was greeted rudely by the Sox who chased him from the hill before the completion of the fourth inning. Regina’s Andy Logan started things off with a three-run homer in the initial frame and Bill Bell capped proceedings with a two-run shot in the eighth. In between, playing-manager Doug Simon drove in a pair of runs with a seventh inning homer while Rich Gergley went four-for-five at the dish, including a three-bagger and a double. Saskatoon’s lone tally came as a result of a bases-empty dinger by Gord Johnson. Rookie Gary Hollman was the only Royal to hit safely twice in the game.
Ortiz (L), Lampert (4), Brown (7) and Gautschi
Currie (W), Barr (7) and Logan
(June 15) The bottom-feeding Moose Jaw Devons disappointed the previously high-flying Unity Cardinals in double fashion by initially stymying the Redbirds 7 to 6 in 11 innings and then following that up with a 15 to 5 victory, at Moose Jaw’s Ross Park. Rod Heisler came on to relieve Moose Jaw starter Randy Vogt after seven innings and shutout the Cards for the remainder of the game to earn the win in the extra-inning opener, besting Brad Kelley. The Redbirds had taken a 6 to 4 lead in the seventh on Hal Harris’ two-run homer but Jim Baba‘s two-run single in the eighth knotted things and precipitated the movement into overtime. The winning run was plated in the 11th in somewhat of a Keystone Kops performance by the Cardinals. Leading off the second extra-frame, Moose Jaw’s Ned Andreoni hit a routine ground ball to shortstop but wound up at second base on an overthrow to first. Following an intentional walk, a sacrifice bunt attempt by Rod Heisler was fielded by Kelley and a second overthrow to first permitted Andreoni to cross the plate with ease. Loser Kelley hurled the entire game for Unity, yielding 12 hits while striking out an equal number of batters. Harris wielded the big stick for the Cards in this encounter. Aside from his dinger, he also produced a 2-run double plus a single, garnering four RBI’s in total. Tom Sharpe and Glen Miller both stroked a pair of hits for Unity.
Kelley (L) and Harris
Vogt, Heisler (W) (8) and Devine
With the momentum of their matinee triumph still fresh, the Devons roared out of the gate in the late encounter by putting three runs on the board in their first turn at bat and adding five more in their second. The rout was on and the Mill City Meat Packers battered three Redbird chuckers for 17 hits in total. Glen Hollands went all the way for Moose Jaw, whiffing 12, and was credited with the mound win. Import Gary Ferguson took the loss. Hollands also belted one out of the park in the sixth and hit a three-bagger as well. Devons’ veteran and on-field leader Ned Andreoni went four-for-four at the dish. Ken Arndt collected three hits and Hugh McIvor two for the Cardinals.
Ferguson (L), Sharpe (2), Herback (7) and Harris
Hollands (W) and Devine
(June 15) The Eston Ramblers knocked off the league-leading Regina Red Sox twice in doubleheader action at Eston, taking the initial encounter 8 to 2 and then edging their southern visitors 11 to 10 in the finale. In spite of the double defeat, the Reginans clung to top place in the SMBL as their closest pursuers, the Unity Cardinals, also fell twice in weekend action. The Ramblers made it easy for complete game winner Gorman Heimueller in the matinee affair as they lambasted Red Sox pitching for 15 hits. Heimueller helped his own case considerably by blasting three hits, one of which was a homer. Reg Andrew also banged out a trio of base raps for the winners while Bob Reeve, Rick Morrice and Greg Goldade all chipped in with a brace of knocks. Third sacker Rod McIvor of the Nomads joined Heimueller as a member of the circuit-clout club. Red Sox outfielder Warren Kivell collected four singles and a two-bagger during the double-bill.
xxx (L) and xxx
Heimueller (W) and xxx
The second contest was a slugfest which saw the Ramblers outlast the Reginans by scoring the winning run in the bottom of the ninth frame. Eston’s Randy Arthur pitched five strong innings before being lifted for reliever Mike Ongarato, the eventual winning twirler. Jim Paisley’s grand slam home run produced a short-lived 10 to 9 lead for the Red Sox heading into the final inning but a couple of mental mistakes by the Queen City brigade spelled their doom. After Reg Andrew had reached first base on a clean single up the middle, John Littlefield laid down a sacrifice bunt and was safe himself because of a Regina error. The same result occurred when Blythe Irvine followed by bunting the runners over. Not only was he safe at first but Andrew kept motoring around third base and sped in with the tying marker as Littlefield proceeded to third. After Randy Arthur was intentionally walked to load the sacks, Greg Goldade drilled the first pitch into left field, scoring Littlefield with the winning tally. Ongarato was Eston’s offensive star with a three-hit output.
xxx, xxx (L) and xxx
Arthur, Ongarato (W) (6) and xxx
(June 15) Wayne Plummer scattered four hits in earning the mound win as the Saskatoon Boston Royals defeated the Swift Current Indians 5 to 3 at Swift Current. The only inning in which Plummer experienced any difficulty was the fourth when he was lit up for solo home runs by the Speedy Creek duo of Russ Mahoney and Vern Neal. Bob Brown paced the Bridge City attack registering a double and single off the slants of loser Don Szabo.
Plummer (W) and Maxemiuk
Szabo (L) and Patterson
SMBL standings as of the end of June 15
W L Pct. GBL
Regina Red Sox 7 4 .637 ---
Unity Cardinals 4 3 .571 1
Eston Ramblers 4 4 .500 1 1/2
Swift Current Indians 2 2 .500 1 1/2
Saskatoon Boston Royals 3 4 .429 2
Moose Jaw Devons 3 6 .333 3
(June 17) The surging Eston Ramblers stretched their SMBL winning streak to four games, defeating the home-town Saskatoon Boston Royals 6 to 4. The Rambler victory marked the first time in three years that they have knocked off Saskatoon at Cairns Field. John Littlefield, the hard-throwing right-hander from Arizona State, recorded his third SMBL win in impressive fashion, scattering 8 hits while sending 12 batters down via the strikeout route. Import John Ortiz suffered his second loss since joining the Royals last week. He yielded 11 hits in a route-going performance while fanning 13. The biggest difference between the teams on this occasion was the Ramblers ability to steal bases. They swiped a total of eight sacks. Mike Ongarato showed the way at the plate for Eston with three hits in five trips, including a double. Bob Reeve, Reg Andrew and Blythe Irvine each hit safely twice for the victors. Randy Munch had a double and single for the Royals while Bob Brown was next in line with a pair of one-baggers.
Littlefield (W) and Reeve
Ortiz (L) and Gautschi
(June 17) The Swift Current Indians tripped the cellar-dwelling Moose Jaw Devons 6 to 4 in an SMBL encounter played in Speedy Creek. Wayne Pusch scattered seven hits in hurling the win while the loss went to Dan Andrie who was relieved by Rod Heisler. The Mill City tandem surrendered a combined total of 10 hits. Len Patterson had a trio of one-baggers for Swift Current while Indians’ teammate Ross Mahoney drilled a pair of singles. Gary Erfle clouted a two-run homer for Moose Jaw.
Andrie (L), Heisler (6) and xxx
Pusch (W) and Patterson
(June 18) Losers of their four previous head-to-head meetings this season, the plucky Moose Jaw Devons continued to show improvement on the diamond as they upset the Regina Red Sox 4 to 2 at Moose Jaw’s Ross Wells Park. The Devons plated all their counters in the fourth frame on a pair of free passes followed by four consecutive singles off the slants of loser Bob Currie. Failure to connect with men in scoring position plagued the Queen City nine who left 13 runners stranded. Californian Randy Vogt gave up 10 hits while fanning seven to pick up the hill triumph.
Currie (L) and Logan
Vogt (W) and Devine
(June 18) The Swift Current Indians tallied three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning and went on to edge past the Saskatoon Boston Royals 5 to 4 in SMBL play in the Frontier City. The Tribe’s Don Szabo out-dueled the Royals’ Mike Lampert to pick up the win. He also had two singles, the last of which drove in the winning run. Szabo surrendered seven Saskatoon hits while Lampert allowed the Speedy Creek crew eight safeties. Gord Johnson of the Royals launched another booming four-bagger to keep him atop the SMBL home run derby.
Lampert (L) and Maxemiuk
Szabo (W) and Patterson
(June 18) The home-standing Eston Ramblers continued to gather momentum as they won their fifth in a row with a 9 to 3 romp over the Unity Cardinals. The Ramblers plated six counters in the first two frames to set the tone for the day. Eston’s Gorman Heimueller struck out 12 Redbird batters in breezing to the mound win over Gary Ferguson. Bob Reeve led the Nomads at the plate with a pair of doubles and a single. Rick Morrice, behind the plate for this game in order to give Reeve some rest from the rigours of everyday catching, picked up a pair of base hits. Unity’s Hal Harris had the game’s only home run and added a double as well.
Ferguson (L) and xxx
Heimueller (W) and Morrice
(June 22) The Moose Jaw Devons climbed out of the SMBL cellar by edging the Saskatoon Boston Royals 2 to 1 in a contest played at Ross Wells Park. Devons’ chucker Glen Hollands scattered six hits in collecting his second win of the season. Wayne Plummer took his second loss in three decisions. Tied 1 – 1 entering the bottom of the eighth frame, Randy Vogt drove home the winner for the Devons from second base with a two-out single. Vogt and Gary Erfle both had a pair of singles for Moose Jaw. Rookie Gary Hollman was the lone member of the Royals to garner two hits.
Plummer (L) and Brown
Hollands (W) and Devine
(June 22) The red-hot Eston Ramblers swept both ends of a twin-bill from the Swift Current Indians, edging past the Tribe 4 to 3 in the matinee game and following that up with a decisive 6 to 2 triumph in the nightcap. The double whammy over the Speedy Creekers, on home turf, propelled the surging Ramblers past the Regina Red Sox into the SMBL lead. Import John Littlefield fashioned a six-hitter while whiffing seven in gaining credit for the pitching win in the opener. Fellow import Gorman Heimueller sparked the Eston offense with a two-run homer. Bob Reeve’s two-out single in the bottom of the ninth plated the winning marker, driving in Rick Morrice who had reached base by doubling.
xxx (L) and xxx
Littlefield (W) and Reeve
Heimueller was the winning pitcher in the second contest, surrendering six hits while fanning 13. The bulk of the Rambler hitting arsenal was provided by Rod McIvor who blasted a three-run circuit clout. Teammate Greg Goldade connected for a solo shot. Heimueller’s mound victory was his third of the season.
xxx (L) and xxx
Heimueller (W) and xxx
(June 22) Playing-manager Doug Simon drilled his third home run of the day in the second encounter to spark the Regina Red Sox to a 4 to 3 win over the Unity Cardinals and a split in their SMBL doubleheader played in the Queen City. The Cardinals prevailed in the opener by a 9 to 6 count. Unity catcher Hal Harris hit a three-run blast late in the first match which proved to be the difference in this contest. The two teams combined to clout seven taters in the matinee affair including a pair by Simon. Others drilling circuit clouts in this early game were Ed Ralston, Hugh McIvor and winning pitcher Brad Kelley of the Redbirds as well as Clark Compton of the Scarlet Stockings.
Kelley (W) and Harris
Barr (L), Burdon (3), Currie (7), Johnson (7) and Logan
In the second game, Regina scored all their runs, including back-to-back homers by Simon and Andy Logan, in the third inning off losing pitcher Gary Ferguson. Lyle Johnson was the winning pitcher for the Red Sox in a route-going performance.
Ferguson (L), Sharpe (3) and xxx
Johnson (W) and xxx
(June 25) The Eston Ramblers picked up their seventh victory in their last eight SMBL games as they dumped the slumping Saskatoon Boston Royals 5 to 1 in Eston. It was the fourth loss in a row for the Hub City crew and sank them deeper into the cellar of the league. Import Gorman Heimueller picked up the complete game win for the Ramblers scattering eight hits while fanning five. Mike Lampert, the Royals’ Californian hurler, took the loss. Mike Ongarato and Blythe Irvine had three singles apiece for Eston. Bob Brown paced the Royals with a double and single while veteran Randy Munch had a brace of one-baggers. Rookie second baseman Gary Hollman accounted for the lone Saskatoon run when he connected for a solo home run in the fourth inning.
Heimueller (W) and Morrice
Lampert (L) and Brown
(June 27) The Saskatoon Boston Royals continue to have problems finding the winning formula in the Saskatchewan Major Baseball League. They dropped a 5 to 3 rain-shortened game to the Regina Red Sox in the Capital City to extend their losing streak to five games. Four Saskatoon errors and five passed balls during the six innings of play proved to be the Royals’ downfall against the Sox. Regina’s Glen Burdon was credited with the hurling victory, surrendering six safeties, one of which was a two-run homer by Don McLeod. Import John Ortiz was inconsistent on the hill for the visitors, striking out six Redleg batters while issuing seven walks.
Ortiz (L) and Purcell
Burdon (W) and Logan
(June 27) In a SMBL game at Unity, the hometown Cardinals broke a 7 – 7 tie in the 10th frame to manufacture a narrow 8 to 7 win over the top-dog Eston Ramblers. Ed Ralston picked up three hits to pace the winning Cards at the dish. Hal Harris had a double and single for the Redbirds while winning chucker Steve Guyon also picked up a brace of safeties. Bob Reeve led the Wanderers at the plate by stroking a trio of base raps. Losing hurler Mike Ongarato, who hurled the last three innings for the Nomads and was nailed with the loss, had a pair of base knocks.
McMillan, Ongarato (L) (8) and xxx
Guyon (W) and xxx
(June 29) The Saskatoon Boston Royals dropped their sixth straight SMBL game in Unity as the Cardinals blasted the Pizzamen 11 to 3. The Redbirds assumed control early and put the game on ice, scoring a pair in the fourth and adding three in the fifth. Tim Herback scattered seven Saskatoon hits in picking up the pitching win. Complete game loser Bob Brown drilled a double and single in support of his mound performance. Ed Ralston of Unity was the game’s top batter, garnering a double and two singles.
Brown (L) and Gautschi
Herback (W) and Wandler
SMBL standings as of the end of June 29
W L Pct. GBL
Eston Ramblers 9 5 .643 ---
Regina Red Sox 9 6 .600 1/2
Unity Cardinals 7 5 .583 1
Swift Current Indians 4 4 .500 2
Moose Jaw Devons 5 7 .417 3
Saskatoon Boston Royals 3 10 .231 5 1/2
(July 2) The Unity Cardinals created a three-way tie for top spot in the SMBL when they crushed the previous kingpins, the Eston Ramblers, by a 12 to 0 count in Unity. Winning hurler Don McIntyre was in compete control allowing eight well-spread hits and whiffing six while his mates hammered three Rambler chuckers, driving starter and loser Gorman Heimueller from the hill after 4 1/3 frames. The trio gave up 10 hits and 10 bases on balls. Hal Harris led the Redbird offensive assault with a triple and single. Tom Sharpe, Byron Merkowsky and Ed Ralston all had a pair of singles for the Cards while McIntyre drove in a total of four runs, three on a bases-loaded triple that broke the game wide open in the fifth inning..
Heimueller (L), McMillan (5), Ongarato and xxx
McIntyre (W) and xxx
(July 2) The visiting Regina Red Sox and Moose Jaw Devons played to a 1 – 1 draw in a game that was called after ten innings because of darkness. Regina played the game under protest after runner Warren Kivell was sent back to third base after scoring what appeared to be a fifth-inning run when the base umpire called time following a close play at first base as Regina batter-runner, Clark Compton, collided with Devons’ first sacker, Randy Vogt. Both starting pitchers, Moose Jaw’s Glen Hollands and Lyle Johnson of the Red Sox hurled the entire 10-frame contest with Hollands giving up five hits to four surrendered by Johnson. Andy Logan of the Redlegs was the only multi-hit player in the contest, picking up a double and single.
Hollands and Devine
Johnson and Logan
(July 4) Verne Neal’s grand-slam home run in in the fourth inning led the Swift Current Indians to a 9 to 7 win over the bottom-feeding Saskatoon Boston Royals at Cairns Field. His blast snapped a 3 – 3 deadlock and the Indians never looked back. The Swift Current victory allowed them to move past Moose Jaw into fourth place in the SMBL. Veteran Wayne Pusch, with relief help from Jeff Gleed, picked up the hill triumph. Newly arrived import, left-hander Tom Schneider from Santa Clara University, was tagged with the loss. Schneider fanned 12 but unloaded three wild pitches during his 8 innings of work as the Tribe nicked him for 10 safeties. Neal was the top offensive threat for Swift Current with a single in addition to his dinger. Teammates Brian Keegan and Dwayne Dekowny of the Tribe as well as Bob Brown and Gary Brandon of Saskatoon had two singles apiece.
Pusch (W), Gleed (7) and Patterson
Schneider (L), Lampert (9) and Chesso
(July 4) A well-executed squeeze bunt by Gerry Fellner in the bottom of the 14th inning provided the Regina Red Sox with the winning counter as they edged the visiting Moose Jaw Devons 4 to 3 at Currie Field. On a hot, muggy night and after five long and tiring extra frames, the win for the Sox was especially satisfying as it came against their arch-rivals from the Mill City and vaulted the Reginans into sole possession of first place in the SMBL, a half-game ahead of the Unity Cardinals and Eston Ramblers. Both chuckers, winner Bob Currie and loser Randy Vogt toiled the entire 14 innings and withstood the constant pressure of pitching with men on base as the teams combined to strand 30 base-runners. The game produced a total of 23 base hits, all singles. Currie led the Sox with three of their total of 13. Third sacker Greg Steele of the Devons also produced a trio of one-baggers.
Vogt (L) and Devine
Currie (W) and Logan, Paisley (10)
(July 6) The Unity Cardinals moved into top spot in the SMBL following a sweep of their doubleheader with the Swift Current Indians in the Frontier City. Solid pitching was the difference in the opener in which the Redbirds prevailed by a 6 to 0 count. Heavy clouting propelled the Cards to a 12 to 2 triumph in the follow-up encounter. Steve Guyon fired a three-hitter and struck out nine in leading Unity to the win in the matinee event. As well, Guyon produced a double and single from the batters’ box as did Darrell Eddingfield. Fellow Redbird Neil Lampitt had two singles. Losing twirler, import Jeff Gleed, gave up 11 hits.
Guyon (W) and Harris
Gleed (L) and Patterson
Catcher Hal Harris rapped a pair of three-run homers to spark the Redbirds in the nightcap. Batterymate Brad Kelley tossed a solid five-hitter and fanned 13 batters for the mound win. Both Swift Current tallies came as a result of solo homers, one each by Ross Mahoney and Len Patterson. Ed Ralston had a bases-empty tater for the winners while Neil Lampitt of the Birds had two doubles and a single. Doug Senyk of the Tribe finished the evening with a double and a single.
Kelley (W) and Harris
Hogg (L), Harvey (6) and Patterson
(July 6) The Moose Jaw Devons and Eston Ramblers split a pair of SMBL games at Ross Park. The Ramblers took the opening contest 9 to 6 while the Devons bounced back with a 9 to 4 win in the second half of the day’s proceedings. Gorman Heimueller scattered nine hits to record the win in the first game while another import, Glen Hollands, was tagged with the loss. Heimueller struck out five and didn’t allow any free passes. Hollands gave up seven hits while fanning two and walking three. Mike Ongarato of the Ramblers hit the only homer of the game, a two-run smash in the fourth when Eston scored four runs. Ongarato also picked up a pair of singles. Gary Erfle of the Devons was their top hitter, singling twice.
Heimueller (W) and Morrice
Hollands (L), Andrie (7) and Devine
Moose Jaw’s Rod Heisler handcuffed the Ramblers on a six-hitter in besting Eston’s John Littlefield in the second contest but he found himself constantly in hot water because of his wildness. He walked nine while striking out four. Littlefield surrendered 11 safeties. The Devons’ Rod Pederson hit the lone homer of the game. Teammate Jim Baba picked up three singles to lead all hitters.
Littlefield (L) and Morrice
Heisler (W) and Devine
(July 8) Booming home runs by catcher Len Patterson and outfielder Lonnie Sannes powered the Swift Current Indians to a 9 to 3 victory over the Moose Jaw Devons at Mitchell Field. Patterson also added two singles while Sannes clouted a ground rule double. Winning pitcher Wayne Pusch allowed six Moose Jaw hits, struck out eight and walked three. He also aided his own cause with a double and a single. Doug Senyk and Brian Keegan both singled twice for the winners who slammed 12 hits off loser Brad Devine and reliever Dan Andrie. Four of the Devons’ six hits were doubles off the bats of Gary Erfle, Ken Neff, Randy Hennenfent and Andrie. The victory evened the Tribe’s record to six wins and six losses and strengthened their hold on fourth place in the SMBL.
Devine (L), Andrie (6) and Baba
Pusch (W) and Patterson
(July 8) The Eston Ramblers moved into a first place tie with the Unity Cardinals in the SMBL, tripping the Cards 7 to 3 in a game played in Eston. Mike Ongarato struck out 14 batters and limited the U-Birds to five hits in pitching the Ramblers to the win. Offensively, he also contributed a home run and double off the slants of loser Tom Sharpe. The Wanderers had ten base hits off Sharpe but were also set down on strikes ten times by the Unity right-hander. John Littlefield cracked a double and single for Eston while Rod McIvor had a pair of singles. Leading the Redbirds at the dish were Hal Harris and Ed Ralston who each hit a double and single.
Sharpe (L) and Harris
Ongarato (W) and xxx
(July 9) Randy Vogt tossed no-hit ball for eight innings as the Moose Jaw Devons defeated the Swift Current Indians 5 to 0 at Ross Wells Park. A ninth-inning single by Brian Keegan was the only safety surrendered by Vogt. The import hurler struck out 14 and walked five. He also slapped a pair of timely singles and drove in three runs. Tony Van Koops started on the hill for the Tribe and gave way to Don Szabo after four frames. Gary Erfle had three hits to lead the Devons offensively while Brad Devine and Ken Neff each added a double and a single.
Van Koops (L), Szabo (5) and Patterson
Vogt (W) and Devine
(July 9) The Eston Ramblers moved ahead of the Unity Cardinals into top spot in the SMBL with a 4 to 1 decision over the U-Birds in Unity. Randy Arthur struck out seven and held the hard-hitting Cards to six hits, three of them by Hugh McIvor, in picking up the hill victory over Don McIntyre. The Ramblers accumulated eight hits in combing the slants of McIntyre.
McIntyre (L) and xxx
Arthur (W) and xxx
(July 10) Right-hander Jeff Gleed wielded the whitewash brush at Mitchell Field as the Swift Current Indians scalped the Eston Ramblers 4 to 0. It was the Tribe’s first win of the season over the Ramblers after three setbacks. In earning his first win of the season after two losses, Gleed scattered seven hits, struck out eight and walked only one batter. Losing hurler Gorman Heimueller allowed nine hits, whiffed six and issued five bases on balls. The Indians pushed across their first three runs in the fourth inning on a bases loaded single by Tony Van Koops and a one-bagger by Scott Nutzhorn. Len Patterson crossed home plate with the fourth Speedy Creek counter on a successful double steal in the fifth. Playing-manager Brian Keegan and Nutzhorn both collected a pair of singles for the Wigwam Dwellers. Heimueller paced the Wanderers at the plate with a double and two singles.
Heimueller (L) and xxx
Gleed (W) and xxx
(July 15) The Unity Cardinals held on to defeat the lowly Saskatoon Boston Royals 6 to 5, a win which enabled them to become the sole occupant of the SMBL penthouse by a scant half game. Playing-manager Tom Sharpe scattered five hits in going the route for Unity. He fanned 14 Royals while nicking a pair of batters and walking one. Import Matt Moore from the Santa Barbara Gauchos lost his debut performance in the loop. He lasted only until the third frame as he continually had location problems, walking eight in his short stint on the hill. The Cards scored all the runs they would eventually need in the second inning when Hugh McIvor’s grand-salami triggered a five-run outburst. Gord Johnson of the Pizzamen blasted a round-tripper, a solo shot in the eighth.
Sharpe (W) and Wandler
Moore (L), Andreen (3) and Melendez
(July 15) The hometown Swift Current Indians evened their season record at 7 – 7 by taking out the tough Eston Ramblers 5 to 3 at Swift Current. Jeff Gleed scattered eight hits to collect the win, fanning 11 along the way. Mike Ongarato was saddled with the defeat. He struck out nine and, although he surrendered only six safeties, the long-ball did him in as Verne Neal took him deep for a two-run shot while Dwayne Dekowny had a bases-empty dinger. Catcher Len Patterson continued his solid hitting with a run-scoring double and a single. Gorman Heimueller had two doubles and a single for the Ramblers in a losing cause.
Ongarato (L) and xxx
Gleed (W) and Patterson
SMBL standings at the end of July 15
W L Pct. GBL
Unity Cardinals 11 6 .647 ---
Regina Red Sox 10 6 .625 1/2
Eston Ramblers 10 7 .588 1
Swift Current Indians 7 7 .500 2 1/2
Moose Jaw Devons 6 9 .400 4
Saskatoon Boston Royals 3 12 .200 7
(July 16) The Regina Red Sox held off a late rally to dump the Saskatoon Boston Royals 9 to 5 at Cairns Field. Saskatoon’s loss, their eighth in a row, left them mired deep in the cellar of the SMBL while the win for the Red Sox allowed them a share of top spot in the SMBL with the Unity Cardinals. With the score knotted at 1 – 1 in the fourth inning, Regina’s mighty swatter Doug Simon stepped to the plate with the sacks full and promptly rattled one of loser Wayne Plummer’s offerings deep into the night for a grand-slam. The Sox managed nine hits during the contest while the Royals racked five Regina tossers for 11 safeties. Simon added a single in addition to his circuit blast while Andy Logan also collected two hits for Regina. Gord Johnson paced Saskatoon’s offensive thrust with a double and two singles. Randy Munch and Gary Hollman each had two safeties.
Burdon, Johnson (W) (4), Overbo (6), Barr (8), Currie (8) and Logan
Plummer (L), Brandon (6) and Melendez
(July 16) The hometown Moose Jaw Devons crushed the Swift Current Indians 13 to 2 behind the seven-hit pitching of southpaw Rod Heisler. The tall portsider fanned seven and walked five while earning his fourth win of the season. Don Szabo and Rick Harvey toiled on the rubber for the Tribe with Szabo being nailed with the loss. Randy Vogt had a double and a three-bagger for the Devons. Glen Hollands and Gary Erfle each delivered a double and a brace of singles. Ned Andreoni and Jim Baba followed with a single and a double apiece.
Szabo (L), Harvey (5) and Patterson
Heisler (W) and Devine
(July 17) The Eston Ramblers executed a bottom of the ninth inning squeeze bunt to perfection as they took a razor thin 7 to 6 victory over the visiting Unity Cardinals. With the bases loaded and one out, the well placed bunt allowed Mike Ongarato to scurry in from third with the winning marker. Blythe Irvine rapped a three-run homer for the winners while Bob Reeve, Reg Andrew and Don Jackson all had a brace of one-baggers off the trio of Redbird chuckers. Hal Harris was the only Cardinal to register more than one hit.
Herback, Kelley (1), Guyon (L) (5) and Wandler
McMillan, Heimueller (W) (9) and Jackson
(July 18) The Regina Red Sox blasted five home runs and battered two Swift Current pitchers for 17 hits as they overwhelmed the hosting Indians 13 to 1 in SMBL action. The win moved the Queen City nine into sole possession of first place in the league. Jim Paisley led the Regina assault on losing pitcher Wayne Pusch and reliever Rick Harvey with a pair of two-run homers. Andy Logan added a three-run blast while Jerry Zrymiak and Clark Compton had solo shots. Winning pitcher Russ Barr scattered five hits in a route-going hill performance for the Sox.
Barr (W) and Logan
Pusch (L), Harvey (6) and Patterson
(July 21) The power-packed Regina Red Sox touched Eston pitchers for ten hits including four home runs and three doubles en route to a 12 to 5 demolition of the sputtering Ramblers. Winning pitcher for the Reginans, southpaw Bob Currie, was stingy with the hits, issuing only three. However, two of those were home runs which accounted for four of Eston’s five counters. Contributing to the carnage that befell the Ramblers at Currie Field were Bill Bell and Doug Simon who both belted two-run shots as well as Clark Compton and Andy Logan who each had a bases-empty dinger. Reg Andrew pasted a solo blast for Eston while teammate Gorman Heimueller added a three-run tater.
Ongarato (L), Arthur (4), McMillan (7) and Morrice
Currie (W) and Logan
(July 22) Facing a 7 to 0 deficit midway through the fourth inning, the power-laden Regina Red Sox chipped away with two runs in the bottom of that inning then exploded for ten runs in the sixth frame and came out on the long end of a 15 to 8 verdict over the visiting Swift Current Indians. The Speedy Creek Tribe broke out of the gate fast and furious as Len Patterson got things rolling with a first-inning grand slam home run. They added two more counters in the second frame and one more in the fourth. That should have been two except for the fact that Ross Mahoney, on his trot around the bases, failed to touch home plate on what would have been a two-run circuit clout. Regina’s Andy Logan narrowed the Indians’ lead with a two-run four-bagger in the fourth. Then, in the bottom half of the sixth, all hell broke loose. Ron Reinhart started it off with a single. Five walks, four more singles, one double and one sacrifice later, the Crimson Hose had ten runs and a 12 to 7 lead. Later, Doug Simon’s bases-empty home run in the eighth helped pad that margin. Logan led the Red Sox offensively with a double and single to go along with his dinger. Patterson added a single to his homer.
Van Koops, Szabo (L) (6) and Neal
Johnson, Burdon (W) (1), Overbo (7) and Logan
(July 23) A 12-hit attack paved the way for the Moose Jaw Devons as they pulverized the Saskatoon Boston Royals 10 to 1 in SMBL action in the Friendly City. It was the ninth loss in a row for the hapless Royals who dropped deeper into the basement of the league. Moose Jaw, meanwhile, consolidated its hold on fourth spot. Rod Heisler picked up his fifth win of the year for the Devons, striking out nine, walking five and giving up five hits. Rookie Lloyd Guenther started on the hill for the Royals and took the loss. He yielded all 12 Moose Jaw hits before being driven to the showers in the seventh frame. Brad Hennenfent hit a triple, double and single for the Devons while playing-manager Ned Andreoni added three singles. Jim Baba and Gary Erfle each had a double and single while Brad Devine came up with a pair of safeties.
Guenther (L), Kemp (7) and Melendez
Heisler (W) and Devine
(July 24) The Moose Jaw Devons strengthened their hold on the fourth and final playoff spot in the SMBL as they edged the Swift Current Indians 5 to 3 in 10 innings. The last post-season berth will be determined next week when the two teams tangle again in the Frontier City. Moose Jaw’s margin of victory was provided by Ned Andreoni who stroked three hits including a tenth inning double that shattered a 3 – 3 tie, created by Verne Neal’s two-run homer in the eighth frame. A solo drive by the Devons’ Jim Baba was the only other homer of the game. Winning pitcher Glen Hollands tossed a five-hitter, struck out nine and walked three. Jeff Gleed took the loss, surrendering 11 hits, fanning 11 and issuing one base on balls.
Hollands (W) and Devine
Gleed (L) and Patterson
(July 25) The losing streak of the tail-end Saskatoon Boston Royals was extended to 11 games at Cairns Field when they dropped a 6 to 2 decision to the Unity Cardinals. The hapless Royals did not get a runner on base during the last five innings of this encounter as import Brad Kelley of the Cards breezed to the mound win with a six-hit performance, whiffing 14 while issuing only one free pass. Loser Matt Moore lasted only two official frames, getting the hook in the third when he was unable to find the plate. Redbirds’ backstop Hal Harris belted a seventh inning two-run four-bagger for the winners. He also had three walks and a sacrifice fly. Darryl Eddingfield and Hugh McIvor each had a single and double for the Cards. Rookie Randy Ireland came up with a pair of singles for the Pizzamen.
Kelley (W) and Harris
Moore (L), Kemp (3) and Melendez
(July 25) The Regina Red Sox maintained their grasp on first place in the SMBL by crushing the visiting Swift Current Indians 18 to 3. That made it four routs in a row for the sweet swatting Sox. Collecting 18 safeties along with their 18 counters, the Scarlet Stockings were led at the platter by Bill Bell who blasted a home run, double and single, Andy Logan who smacked three doubles, Doug Simon with two doubles and a single, Jim Paisley with a trio of singles, Lyle Johnson with a double and single and Jerry Zrymiak with a brace of one-baggers. Ross Mahoney and Len Patterson had circuit-jacks for the Tribe. Assuming a big lead right from the get-go, the Redlegs were able to give three chuckers some work on the hill to keep them sharp for the stretch run.
Pusch (L), Harvey (6) and Patterson
Barr (W), Johnson (5), Burdon (9) and Logan
SMBL standings as of end of July 25
W L Pct. GBL
Regina Red Sox 15 6 .714 ---
Unity Cardinals 13 6 .684 1
Eston Ramblers 13 9 .591 2 1/2
Moose Jaw Devons 9 12 .429 6
Swift Current Indi 7 12 .368 7
Saskatoon Boston Royals 3 15 .167 10 1/2
(July 27) In a scheduled doubleheader at Currie Field, the Regina Red Sox had to play only one game to come away with a sweep. The visiting Saskatoon Boston Royals arrived at the Sox’ home diamond in the Uplands subdivision of the Queen City a full hour late for the opener. That didn’t sit too well with the umpire who awarded the contest to Regina by default 9 to 0. When the teams finally took the field for the scheduled second affair, the Saskatonians started quickly, with four unearned runs, but faded even faster as the Red Sox pounced on Royals’ starter and loser Roy Kemp and reliever Bob Brown for seven runs in the second frame to walk away with a 12 to 5 verdict. The Sox banged out a total of 15 hits as Doug Simon, Clark Compton, Jerry Zrymiak and Bill Bell all blasted home runs for the victorious Capital City bunch. The sweep increased the Red Sox first place lead over the Unity Cardinals to two games.
Kemp (L), Brown (2), Gautschi (5) and Melendez, Fornier (8)
Burdon, Johnson (W) (2) and Logan
(July 27) The Eston Ramblers dealt a serious blow to Swift Current’s playoff aspirations as the Nomads took both ends of a twin-bill from the visiting Indians, downing the Tribe 6 to 5 in the ten inning matinee and following that up with an 8 to 4 triumph in the finale. Gorman Heimueller went the distance for the Ramblers in the opener, striking out nine, to earn the win. Terry May, who relieved starter Neil Hogg in the fourth inning, was nailed with the loss. The Ramblers scored three runs in the eighth and plated the winner in the bottom of the tenth on Heimueller’s bases-loaded single to escape with the narrow win. Heimueller was his own best offensive aid as he also smacked a double. Reg Andrew provided solid offense for the Wanderers as he unloaded a double and a brace of singles. Doug Senyk had two doubles and a single for the Speedy Creek gang while Scott Nutzhorn followed with a double and single. Dwayne Dekowny pitched in with a couple of singles.
Hogg, May (L) (4) and xxx
Heimueller (W) and xxx
The Ramblers exploded for 13 hits off the slants of loser Tony Van Koops in the nightcap as mound winner John Littlefield effectively spaced eight singles by the Tribe and struck out six in going the route. Eston scored four runs in the eighth inning to break a 4 – 4 tie. Mike Ongarato and Reg Andrew both drove in three runs for the winners as a result of a double and two singles apiece. Losing twirler Tony Van Koops stroked a pair of hits in his own cause.
Van Koops (L) and xxx
Littlefield (W) and xxx
(July 27) By virtue of their splitting a doubleheader with the visiting Moose Jaw Regals, the Unity Cardinals lost a full game to the league-leading Regina Red Sox and now trail the Queen City troupe by two games in their quest for first place in the SMBL. The Cardinals took the opener of the two-game set 5 to 1 but found themselves on the short end of a 7 to 5 score in the late game. Playing-manager Tom Sharpe fired a nifty two-hitter while fanning six to lift the Birds to victory in the curtain raiser. Loser Randy Vogt yielded five safeties to the Mainliners, two by Glen Miller, before being yanked in the fifth.
Vogt (L), xxx (5) and xxx
Sharpe (W) and xxx
The Mill City Meat Packers bounced back behind winner Rod Heisler to even the score in the late affair. Gary Erfle had two RBI’s in the nightcap to key the eight-hit Moose Jaw attack from the offerings of losing twirler Don McIntyre. Ed Ralston’s triple was the highlight of the Cards’ nine-hit production.
Heisler (W) and Devine
McIntyre (L), Guyon (4), Sharpe, Harris and xxx
(July 28) SMBL commissioner Joe Zeman announced that a game defaulted to Regina when the Saskatoon Boston Royals were late for a twin-bill will be replayed after the regular games are completed if it could have any bearing on the Red Sox’ position in the standings. He said the umpires do not have the authority to forfeit a game.
(July 28) The Swift Current Indians surprised the league-leading Regina Red Sox in a SMBL contest played in the Frontier City by dumping them 13 to 3. The Tribe struck for six runs in the first inning and added six more in the third to take complete control of the game. Winning hurler Jeff Gleed went the route, allowing nine hits while fanning 13. Losing pitcher Bob Currie and reliever Jim Paisley were rocked for 11 hits. Scott Nutzhorn and catcher Len Patterson each poked out a pair of safeties for the Indians.
Currie (L), Paisley (3) and Bell
Gleed (W) and Patterson
(July 30) The Unity Cardinals nipped the Saskatoon Boston Royals 2 to 0 in Unity as the Redbirds’ Brad Kelley bested Lloyd Guenther of the Royals in a well-pitched match. Kelley aided his own cause at the plate by cracking out a pair of singles, one of which drove in a run. He was unable to go the route on the mound, however, as he injured his shoulder and required relief help from Tom Sharpe in the eighth inning.
Guenther (L) and xxx
Kelley (W), Sharpe (8) and xxx
(July 30) The youthful Moose Jaw Devons defeated the Swift Current Indians 4 to 2 at Swift Current’s Mitchell Field to clinch the fourth and final playoff spot in the six-team league. Their record now stands at 12 wins, 11 losses and a tie. Glen Hollands pitched a five-hitter for Moose Jaw while fanning 15. Losing pitcher Don Szabo gave up nine hits while whiffing six. Randy Vogt of the Devons had a home run and double while teammates Brad Hennenfent and Brad Devine both contributed a brace of singles.
Hollands (W) and Devine
Szabo (L) and Patterson
(July 31) The SMBL has been without a statistician for most of the season and erratic reporting of games has left some teams wondering exactly where they stand. The standings printed intermittently in the two major newspapers within the province were tabulated by beat reporters and did not always coincide. At least one of the member clubs kept their own set of data, which may or may not have been exact. With two of the teams clearly out of contention for a playoff berth and with weekend tournament commitments for some of the others, the league decided to forego the few games left in the regular schedule and move directly into playoff mode. The following final league standings reflect how most observers saw things and is probably as precise as can be expected.
Final SMBL standings
W L Pct. GBL
Regina Red Sox * 16 7 .696 ---
Unity Cardinals 15 9 .625 1 1/2
Eston Ramblers 13 9 .591 2 1/2
Moose Jaw Devons* 12 11 .522 4
Swift Current Indians 9 15 .375 7 1/2
Saskatoon Boston Royals 3 17 .150 11 1/2
* one tie game between Regina and Moose Jaw never replayed.
On the basis of these standings, the first-place Regina Red Sox will meet the fourth-place Moose Jaw Devons in one semi-final while the runner-up Unity Cardinals will take on the third-spot Eston Ramblers in the other bracket. Both semi-final series will be best four-out-of-seven. The SMBL office also announced that the Unity Cardinals will be allowed to use import Doug O’Brien, recently a member of the touring California Berkeley Bears, in place of fellow import Brad Kelley in the playoffs. Kelley had sustained a season-ending injury, tearing a tendon in his right shoulder while pitching.
SMBL PLAYOFFS
(August 4) The Regina Red Sox, pennant winners of the regular SMBL season, dipped into their back of tricks at Currie Field to pull out a 3 to 2 comeback decision over the plucky Moose Jaw Devons in the league’s playoff opener.
The Sox, who lost only once to the youthful Mill City squad in seven league encounters, saved their magic for the last of the ninth inning. For the first six innings of this exciting encounter, Moose Jaw’s Randy Vogt and Doug Overbo of the Sox, a pair of imports, were locked in a scoreless pitcher’s duel that showed no signs of loosening up. Then, in the top of the seventh, the Devons grabbed a 1 to 0 lead compliments of a pair of Red Sox errors .Moose Jaw added what looked like an insurance run in the top of the ninth when Vogt led off with a single, went to second on an infield out and came home on a double by Glen Hollands.
Facing a two-run deficit in their last turn at bat, the Sox got off to a good start when Bill Bell led off with a single, made it to second on an infield error which could have resulted in a double play. He wound up on third when, with one out, Overbo dragged a perfect bunt down the first base line to load the sacks. Vogt, who had been almost untouchable through the first eight innings, obviously felt the heat at this point as he walked in one run on four consecutive balls to Warren Kivell. Jim Paisley’s single to right field tied the game and set the stage for the 11th hour heroics of Regina’s Sultan of Swat, Doug Simon. The Crimson Hose playing-manager lashed a single up the middle off Vogt to end the night’s proceedings. Simon finished the evening with a double and two singles to show for his efforts. Unfortunately for the Redlegs, he will be available for the second game of the series but then heads to Montreal to attend the training camp of Canada’s National team. Jerry Zrymiak and Andy Logan will share the managerial duties while Simon is away.
Vogt (L) and Devine
Overbo (W) and Logan
(August 5) Moose Jaw’s Brad Hennenfent launched the first pitch thrown, in the bottom of the initial inning, into orbit to set the tone for the game as the hometown Devons defeated the Regina Red Sox 5 to 2 to square their playoff series at a game apiece. Hennenfent’s leadoff blast ignited a three-run first inning outburst for the Devons. The Red Sox closed the gap with a single run in the second frame and the teams traded single counters in the third stanza. The Devons’ Rod Heisler unfurled a six-hitter while fanning eight to take the pitching win. Like his mound opponent, Regina’s Glen Burdon went the distance on the hill, but surrendered eight hits in absorbing the loss. Ned Andreoni added a pair of doubles to the Devons’ offensive production.
Burdon (L) and Logan
Heisler (W) and Devine
(August 5) The Eston Ramblers grabbed a one-game lead in their SMBL playoff set-to when they knocked off the Unity Cardinals 5 to 2 in Unity. Winning pitcher John Littlefield went the distance, spinning a six-hitter and recording eight strikeouts along the way while issuing two walks. Losing pitcher Tom Sharpe surrendered eight hits and gave up one base on balls while fanning nine Ramblers. Eston playing-manager Merle Byrnes had the major blow in this contest, a two-run homer, while Reg Andrew of the Ramblers drilled a bases-empty dinger. Hal Harris and Don Hilsendager both hit a pair of singles for Unity.
Littlefield (W) and xxx
Sharpe (L) and xxx
(August 6) Moose Jaw’s Ned Andreoni cranked a three-run homer in the 11th inning to produce a 10 to 7 win by the Devons over the Regina Red Sox and a two games to one lead in their best-of-seven playoff round. Gary Erfle of the Devons had tied the game with a solo homer in the ninth and, after the Sox failed to score in their half of the inning, the contest went into overtime. Moose Jaw promptly went ahead in the tenth, scoring an unearned run on an error by Regina’s Jerry Zrymiak but the Scarlet Stockings knotted things on a Warren Kivell triple and a single by Bill Bell. Then came Andreoni’s launch in the 11th to which the Red Sox failed to respond. Outfielder Jim Baba clubbed a pair of round-trippers for the winners while Regina’s Andy Logan had a two-run four-bagger.
Hollands (W), Vogt (11) and Devine
Currie, Sawa (5), Overbo (9), Johnson (L) (11) and Logan
(August 6) Erasing an early deficit, the Unity Cardinals scored single counters in the fifth and sixth innings to register a 2 to 1 victory over the visiting Eston Ramblers, a win that evened their SMBL semi-final playoff series at one game each. Unity’s Doug O’Brien flung a top-notch five-hitter and whiffed an even dozen to earn the complete game triumph. The Cards rocked losing pitcher Gorman Heimueller for nine hits, including two each by Darrell Eddingfield, Tim Herback and Tom Sharpe. Randy Arthur had a brace of base knocks for the Nomads.
Heimueller (L) and xxx
O”Brien (W) and xxx
(August 7) The Eston Ramblers took a two games to one lead in their SMBL bracket when they downed the Unity Cardinals 5 to 1 in Eston. Mike Ongarato survived nine Unity base hits in picking up the pitching win. Loser Don McIntyre surrendered 11 hits to the Wanderers including a two-run double to Reg Andrew in the first inning.
McIntyre (L) and xxx
Ongarato (W) and xxx
(August 12) The surging Moose Jaw Devons jumped into a three games to one lead in their SMBL best-of-seven semi-final when they blanked the pennant-winning Regina Red Sox 3 to 0 at Ross Wells Park. Import chucker Randy Vogt of the Devons fired a three-hitter and fanned 14 Regina batters to earn the shutout win. Loser Bob Currie of the Red Sox was also stingy with the base hits, limiting the winners to four while whiffing the same number. Both hurlers issued but one free pass. Moose Jaw jumped into a 2 to 0 lead in the bottom of the second, then added one more in the bottom of the third to round out the scoring. Brad Hennenfent had two singles to lead the Mill City gang at the plate. Andy Logan contributed a pair of one-baggers to the Red Sox’ attack.
Currie (L) and Logan
Vogt (W) and Devine
(August 12) The Unity Cardinals edged the Eston Ramblers 5 to 4 to even their playoff series at two games each. Doug O’Brien of the Cards out-dueled the Ramblers’ John Littlefield in picking up the hurling win. Ed Ralston led the 12-hit Unity offense with three singles. Merle Byrnes had two of Eston’s seven hits.
O’Brien (W) and xxx
Littlefield (L) and xxx
(August 13) Both semi-final games in the SMBL, one in Moose Jaw and the other in Eston, wound up being called because of darkness. Neither of these fifth games had a winner and both were declared as draws.
At Ross Wells Park in the Friendly City, the hometown Moose Jaw Devons rallied with single runs in the bottom of the eighth and ninth innings to tie the Regina Red Sox 2 – 2. Moose Jaw pitcher Glen Hollands had a no-hitter for 7 2/3 innings but wound up allowing two hits. The Devons collected five hits off Regina’s Doug Overbo. Moose Jaw’s Jim Baba had a brace of safeties and was the only player on either squad to register more than one hit.
Overbo and Logan
Hollands and Devine
In Eston, the Ramblers and the Unity Cardinals battled through 11 innings but had to settle for a 3 – 3 stalemate when darkness prevented any further play. Chuckers Tom Sharpe of the Redbirds and Mike Ongarato of the Ramblers both toiled the entire match.
Sharpe and xxx
Ongarato and xxx
(August 14 ) The sixth game of the semi-final round between Eston and the homestanding Unity Cardinals saw the Ramblers emerge with a narrow 2 to 1 win in a pitching dominant game. Gorman Heimueller of the Nomads outlasted Don McIntyre of the Cards in this classic pitcher’s duel.
Heimueller (W) and xxx
McIntyre (L) and xxx
(August 15) The Eston Ramblers rambled their way into the inaugural SMBL final series when, on their home turf, they disposed of the Unity Cardinals 6 to 3 to take the semi-final round four games to two with an additional game tied. Eston lost no time in piling up the runs starting with a three-run homer by Gorman Heimueller in the initial frame. Greg Goldade followed with a two-run circuit blast in the fifth. John Littlefield went the route for Eston, striking out 12 while scattering seven hits. Steve Guyon issued eight hits and struck out six in taking the loss. Unity was blanked for the first six innings but hit the scoreboard in the seventh with three runs including a homer by Hugh McIvor. Mike Ongarato drilled three singles for the victorious Ramblers while losing hurler Guyon had a pair of one-baggers. This was the last game of the season for Eston imports Littlefield and Bob Reeve as they are returning to the United States to fulfil other commitments.
Guyon (L) and Wandler
Littlefield (W) and Morrice
(August 17) The pennant-winning Regina Red Sox were eliminated from the SMBL playoff picture when they dropped an extra-inning 7 to 3 decision to the upstart Moose Jaw Devons at Currie Field. The victory gave the Devons the series four games to one with one game tied. The Devons now meet the Eston Ramblers in the league final. A run-scoring single by Ned Andreoni in the top of the 12th inning put the Devons ahead to stay. Randy Vogt followed with a three-run homer before the Sox could end the uprising. Glen Hollands, who took the hill for Moose Jaw in the ninth inning, pitched hitless ball the rest of the way to garner the victory. Lyle Johnson, who toiled 11 2/3 frames for the Reginans, was tagged with the setback. Gary Erfle and Randy Hennenfent each hit a home run for the Devons while Andy Logan launched one for the Sox which sent the game into extra innings.
Heisler, Andrie (4), Hollands (W) (9) and Devine
Johnson (L), Barr (12) and Logan
(August 20) A two-run homer by Mike Ongarato in the seventh inning paved the way for a 3 to 0 victory by the Eston Ramblers over the Moose Jaw Devons in the first game of the SMBL best-of-five final playoff series. Winning pitcher Gorman Heimueller had seven strikeouts and gave up three walks while loser Randy Vogt chalked up six strikeouts, issued six free passes and hit one batter.
Vogt (L) and Devine
Heimueller (W) and Morrice
(August 21) The Eston Ramblers exploded for five runs in their last two turns at bat to beat the Moose Jaw Devons 8 to 4 and take a two games to none lead in the best-of-five SMBL final series. Winning pitcher Mike Ongarato struck out nine, gave up two bases on balls and contributed two doubles and a single at the plate. Eston’s Gorman Heimueller also had a pair of doubles and a one-bagger while Reg Andrew drilled a two-run dinger to go along with a single. The Devons opened quickly, plating three counters in their first time at bat but then went runless until a last-ditch home run by Randy Hennenfent in the eighth.
Hollands (L), Andrie (7) and Devine
Ongarato (W) and Morrice
(August 22) The Moose Jaw Devons scored a lone run in the sixth inning to snap a 1 – 1 tie and defeat the Eston Ramblers 2 to 1 in the third game of the SMBL final series. Eston still leads the best-of-five playoff round two games to one. Left-hander Rod Heisler went the distance for Moose Jaw, striking out seven and yielding but three Eston hits. He walked three and hit one batter. In taking the loss, the Ramblers’ Neil McMillan allowed four hits, struck out five and walked three. Greg Goldade plated the first run of the game in the fourth inning to give Eston the lead but the Devons retaliated when Jim Baba scored on a fielder’s choice in the bottom half of the same frame. Gary Erfle scored the winning run after he was issued a free pass, advanced to second on a single, reached third on a wild pitch and scored on an infield ground out. The game ended prematurely after 7 1/2 innings with darkness and a light rain being the culprit.
McMillan (L) and Morrice
Heisler (W) and Devine
(August 23) The upstart Moose Jaw Devons staved off elimination at Ross Park with a come-from-behind 7 to 6 win against the Eston Ramblers in the fourth game of their SMBL final series. The Devons had to erase a 4 to 0 deficit that was staring them in the face entering the bottom half of the sixth frame. Bit by bit, they responded to the challenge, plating a brace in that inning, a three-spot in the seventh and another pair in the eighth to take a 7 to 4 lead heading home. The Ramblers weren't’ done, however, and came within a whisker of knotting the count in the ninth. With the potential tying and lead runs at second and first respectively, Moose Jaw right fielder Glen
Hollands slipped going after Randy Arthur’s fly ball but recovered just in the nick of time to get to his feet, continue the pursuit and catch the ball inches from the ground. Dan Andrie went the route on the hill for the winners, allowing the Wanderers seven hits while fanning four and issuing a single free pass. Losing twirler Gorman Heimueller went seven full innings and pitched into the eighth before getting the hook. The Mill City kids laced eleven safeties off his slants and those of reliever Arthur, with a double and a single coming off the bat of Gary Erfle.
Heimueller (L), Arthur (8) and Morrice
Andrie (W) and Devine
(August 24) Mike Ongarato tossed a one-hitter to lead the Eston Ramblers to a convincing 6 to 0 victory over the Moose Jaw Devons and the inaugural championship of the Saskatchewan Major Baseball League. Ongarato gave up a third inning single to Moose Jaw’s Gary Erfle but slammed the door thereafter to coast to the shutout win. He struck out ten batters while issuing three bases on balls as the hometown Ramblers won the best-of-five final series three games to two. Losing twirler Glen Hollands was tagged for a solo homer by Randy Arthur in the second inning which proved to be the only run that Eston would need. The Nomads tagged Holland and reliever Rod Heisler for nine hits in total. Gorman Heimueller led the way with the stick for the Wanderers as he drilled a double and two singles while Reg Andrew contributed three one-baggers.
Hollands (L), Heisler (8) and Devine
Ongarato (W) and Morrice