CALGARY SENIOR BASEBALL
Calgary had neither an intra-city senior league nor a team playing in an inter-city league during the summer of 1934. Three separate senior amateur teams were organized, those being the Dodgers and the Monarchs who engaged in only a few exhibition games with area teams while the other club, the Pucksters, took on the heavyweights visiting Calgary, the American touring clubs, but that was the extent of it as none of the three registered to enter the senior provincial playoffs.
EDMONTON SENIOR BASEBALL
The Capital city had two thriving men’s baseball leagues in operation throughout the 1934 season. The Edmonton Senior League was considered the elite loop but the Big Five League, labelled as an Intermediate circuit, had a few players who were performers in senior competition elsewhere. The Edmonton Senior League played their games at Renfrew Park while the Big Fivers plied their trade at the Boyle Street diamond.
Edmonton Senior League
Shastas captured first-half honors in the ESAL and faced the Royals, second-half victors, in a best-four-out-of-seven series for the overall championship of the circuit and an opportunity to carry Edmonton’s colors in the forthcoming Alberta senior provincial playoffs.
(July 11) Bill Sutherland, the hard-hitting shortstop of the South Side Athletics, is the leading hitter for the first half of the Edmonton Senior League. Playing in eight games, Sutherland rapped the ball for a .355 percentage. Clayton Dolighan of the Royals and Phil Horn, "Specs" Reynolds and Glen Wilkie of the Cubs were are deadlocked for second place with averages of .333.
Final Series
(August 14) Youthful “Lefty” Plotts turned in a glittering five-hit mound performance in leading the Shastas to a 4 to 0 whitewashing of the Royals in the opener of their best-of-seven Edmonton Senior Amateur Baseball League final series. Fanning no less than 11 Royal batters, the Shasta southpaw outdueled “Buck” Eaton over the night’s proceedings. The winners picked up a lone counter in the second stanza and hammered out four hits, good for three runs in the sixth to practically clinch the verdict. “Red” Hopper, husky swatsmith of the Shastas, was the hitting hero of the triumph, slashing out three screaming singles good for an equal number of RBI’s.
Eaton (L) and Samis
Plotts (W) and Sillars
(August 16) Following the example of his portsiding teammate, “Lefty” Plotts, Hanger Guidolin pitched the Shastas to their second successive victory in the Edmonton senior championship. The Royals were blanked 5 to 0 as they lost their second straight without scoring a run. Other than for Clint Hodges who had a double and single, the bats of the Blue Bloods were quiet and accumulated only four safeties. Tall “Scotty” Lee gave up nine base raps in taking the hillock loss. Outfielder Lorne Kerr was the top swatter for the Shastas with a single and triple while driving in two of his club’s five runs.
Guidolin (W) and Sillars
Lee (L) and Samis
(August 19) On the strength of another solid pitching performance by young “Lefty” Plotts, the Shastas smashed through to their third straight shutout victory over the Royals in the playoff for the championship of Edmonton’s Senior Baseball League. Allowing only three scattered hits through the nine frames, Plotts breezed to victory as his mates scored seven times for a 7 to 0 win. Freddy Hess, third baseman of the winners, had three safeties including a double off the slants of losing Royal twirler, pint-sized “Lefty” Fiss.
Fiss (L) and Samis
Plotts (W) and Sillars
(August 21) Skipper Murray Murdoch’s Shastas won the Edmonton Senior League championship by scoring their fourth playoff triumph in as many starts. The final score was 5 to 4 with all three previous games resulting in shutout victories for the team piloted by the New York Rangers hockey star. The Royals went 32 consecutive innings before hitting the score sheet, posting a four-spot in their last turn at bat in this seven-inning finale. “Sunny” Sunderland survived the shaky final frame to get the mound win. Losing chucker “Scotty” Lee lit him up for a home run in the Royals’ too-little, too-late spurt. “Bud” Abbey drilled a triple and single in leading the Shasta offense.
Sunderland (W) and Sillars
Lee (L) and Samis
The Shastas now go on to represent the city of Edmonton in the quest for the Alberta senior amateur baseball crown. Their next opponent in northern play is the team from Wetaskiwin.
EDMONTON BIG FIVE LEAGUE
Final Standings W L Pct.
York Hotel 19 5 .792
North Edmonton Swifts 12 11 .522
Gibbons 11 12 .478
National Home Furnishers 11 13 .458
Empire Hotel 5 17 .227
The Big Five League, unlike their intra-city competitors from the Edmonton Senior League, did not split their schedule into two halves but played a continuous agenda of contests. Coming out on top of the circuit with a comfortable margin was the York Hotel nine. North Edmonton Swifts and Gibbons met in a September semi-final with Gibbons prevailing but no evidence was located in print that a final series with the pennant-winning York Hoteliers ever materialized. Lateness in the season combined with player shortages made such a title showdown improbable.
CENTRAL ALBERTA
(May 22) The Camrose Cubs made an excellent beginning of the season’s play by defeating Ponoka 3 to 2 at Ponoka in the first game of the 1934 Central Alberta Baseball League. Cliff Leighs pitched eight frames of effective baseball in earning the win.
Leighs (W), Carruthers (9) and V. Larson
xxx(L) and xxx
(May 22) Wetaskiwin and Millet played to a 3-3 draw in their opening action of the 1934 schedule.
(May 29) At Leduc Tuesday, rain forced the postponement of the Wetaskiwin contest with Fredericksheim. The game was called at the end of the third inning with Wetaskiwin ahead 4-2. Jimmy Rattlesnake started for Wetaskiwin but was hit on the arm by a batted ball and replaced by Cleland.
(May 29) The Camrose Cubs stepped into first place in the CABL by defeating Millet 7 to 3 in a game that had to be curtailed after 5 innings because of rain and darkness.
xxx (L) and xxx
Mittlestadt (W) and Rosland
(June 1) Wetaskiwin and the Camrose Cubs played to a 1 – 1 tie in a regular CABL game in Camrose. Poor weather hampered both teams in taking full advantage of the offensive opportunities afforded them.
Rattlesnake, Schneck (7) and Lundell
Leighs and Rosland
(June 4) Fredericksheim took over top spot in the CABL by thumping the Camrose Cubs 9 to 0 in a showdown of undefeated teams. Big Herman Loblick tossed the shutout win for Fredericksheim.
Carruthers (L) and Rosland
Loblick (W) and xxx
(June 5) After playing eleven innings, Ponoka and Wetaskiwin settled for a 3 – 3 tie.
xxx and xxx
Schneck, Rattlesnake (8) and xxx
(June 6) Two errors in the fourth inning gave Wetaskiwin the only run of the game in a 1-0 victory over Fredericksheim. Jimmy Rattlesnake's fly ball was booted twice in the outfield and he came home on Eddie Kronfeld's hot grounder. The winners had six hits while Cleland allowed just four in hurling for Wetaskiwin.
Cleland (W) and Lundell
R.Mix (L) and F.Mix
(June 8) Edmonton Royals broke a 3-3 tie with two runs in the 8th inning to take a 5-3 exhibition victory over Wetaskiwin. Jones twirled a six-hitter for the win, besting Jimmy Rattlesnake who allowed seven safeties.
Jones (W) and xxx
Rattlesnake (L) and xxx
(June 8) Fredericksheim Fliers kept up a high-flying pace Friday downing Millet 8-6 in spite of facing a pair of strong Edmonton hurlers - Thompson and Duke Baer - brought in by Millet for the contest.
(June 8) The Camrose Cubs retained their second-place position in the CABL by edging past Ponoka 3 to 2. Winning pitcher Cliff Leighs won his own game with a timely bottom-of-the-ninth-inning single that drove in the deciding run.
Leighs (W) and Rosland
Sweet, Dittberner (L) (5) and Crellin
(June 10) Camrose took a 4-0 lead in the first inning and held on for a 12-9 exhibition win over Wetaskiwin Sunday. Despite allowing 12 hits, Tiny Mittlestadt went all the way for the mound win.
Mittlestadt (W) and xxx
Schneck, Cleland, Rattlesnake (8) and xxx
(June 12) With Wetaskiwin up 3-0 in the third, rain forced officials to call off the contest with Fredericksheim. Jimmy Rattlesnake had already racked up five strikeouts.
Loblick and xxx
Rattlesnake and xxx
R.Mix (W) and F.Mix
Oleskey (L), Elder and Moen
(June 19) Millet overcame a 3 – 0 deficit and roared back to drop the Camrose Cubs 6 to 3.
Leighs (L) and Rosland
Thompson (W) and Moen
(June 21) Wetaskiwin defeated Millet 7 to 3 in a make-up game of a previously postponed contest. Nichols slugged a pair of doubles for the winners.
Loree (L) and xxx
McFaul (W) and xxx
(June 22) Hometown Wetaskiwin erupted for five runs in the third inning combining a triple, double, three singles and a sacrifice to go on to trounce the Edmonton Royals 12-3. Kip Anderson went the distance for the winners yielding eight hits with nine strikeouts. Wetaskiwin ripped Buck Eaton and Joe Shandro for 12 safeties. Jimmy Rattlesnake and Eddie Kronfeld each had three-baggers for the winners. Shandro led the Royals with a triple and double.
Eaton, Shandro (7) and xxx
K.Anderson (W) and xxx
(June 25) The Fredericksheim Fliers were removed from the pinnacle as the Central Alberta League leaders when they were bounced 5 to 2 by the homestanding Wetaskiwin nine. Winning hurler Jimmy Rattlesnake tamed the Fliers on six hits while ringing up seven strikeouts.
R. Mix (L), F. Mix (6) and xxx
Rattlesnake (W) and xxx
(June 28) Rain curtailed a CABL game between Wetaskiwin and Camrose after six complete innings, a contest which goes into the books as a 7 to 3 win for Wetaskiwin. The game was knotted at 3 – 3 after five frames but Camrose broke down defensively in the sixth as the Wetaskiwinites plated four. Jimmy Rattlesnake allowed seven singles and struck out six in picking up the hillock triumph.
Mittlestadt (L) and xxx
Rattlesnake (W) and xxx
(June 29) Ponoka and Wetaskiwin played to a scoreless draw Friday in a game called after six innings because of rain. Cleland for Wetaskiwin and Eddie Crellin for Ponoka each permitted just two hits.
Crellin and xxx
Cleland and xxx
(June 29) Fredericksheim downed Camrose 6-2 Friday at Camrose. Mix went the route for the win while Lefty Carruthers took the loss.
Mix and xxx
Carruthers (L) and xxx
(July 6) In a playoff to determine the pennant winners, Fredericksheim and Wetaskiwin fought to a 3-3 tie in 10 innings Friday. The game was called on account of darkness. Trailing 3-0 after eight innings, Wetaskiwin rallied in the ninth for the tie. Kip Anderson, who relieved starter Rotvik in the third, allowed just three singles and fanned nine the rest of the way.
Johnson, R.Mix (9) and xxx
Rotvik, K.Anderson (3) and xxx
(July 9) Jimmy Rattlesnake twirled a no-hitter Monday night to shutdown Fredricksheim 9-0 in a playoff to determine first place in the Central Alberta circuit. Rattlesnake faced just 28 batters, giving up a pair of free passes. One of the runners was caught off the sack at third. The left-hander rang up seven strikeouts. Triples by Eddie Kronfeld and Kip Anderson were features of the game for the winners. Clint Hodges received three walks. Ferd Mix surrendered five hits and fanned nine in six innings before being replaced by brother Reuben.
F.Mix, R.Mix (7) and xxx
Rattlesnake (W) and xxx
(July 15) Led by the big bat of outfielder Charlie Lewis, Ponoka handed Wetaskiwin an 8 to 4 trouncing in CABL action. This decisive win wound up a doubleheader program, the seven-inning first game of which ended in a 0 – 0 scoreless deadlock. Duke Baer and McGarvey combined on a two-hitter for Ponoka while Cleland tossed a four-hitter for Wetaskiwin.
Cleland (6) and Craig
Baer, McGarvey (6) and Stoddard
Lewis pounded out a two-bagger in the fifth inning of the late encounter, driving in a pair of runs and, in the seventh frame, connected for a three-run round-tripper to bring his RBI total for the game to five. Baer had three hits and three runs for the winners. Cleland punched out three hits for Wetaskiwin.
Ditburner (W), McGarvey (7) and Stoddard
Hodges (L), Cleland (5) and Craig
(July 16) Fredericksheim got a run in the bottom of the ninth Monday as Belter was safe on a bunt and made the circuit on an error to down Camrose Cubs 4-3 to advance to the league final against Wetaskiwin.
Leighs (L) and Larsen
Johnson (W) and Dalmer
(July 19) Wetaskiwin jumped into a 6-0 lead in the first inning and drubbed Camrose 12 to 6 Thursday at Camrose.
Rattlesnake (W) and xxx
Scotvold (L), E. Jasman (8) and xxx
(July 21) Wetaskiwin capitalized on three errors and a walk in the fourth inning to plate four runs and the Athletics went on to a 6-3 victory over Camrose Cubs Saturday. Kip Anderson held the visitors to seven hits in hurling the victory.
E.Jasman (L) and xxx
K.Anderson (W) and xxx
(July 22) The Camrose Cubs broke into the win column in the CABL finals by spanking a shorthanded Wetaskiwin nine by a 7 to 1 count. Wetaskiwin did not have its regular lineup and cold, windy weather with occasional dust clouds kept the players and fans in poor humour. The game was replete with errors, Camrose scoring five runs in the second inning all on errors. Harold Larson smacked a bases-loaded triple and scored himself when the catcher dropped the ball.
Schneck (L) and xxx
Mittlestadt (W) and xxx
(July 24) The opening game of the final series between Fredericksheim and Wetaskiwin ended in a 1-1 tie. it was called in the ninth inning on account of darkness. The visitors got their lone run in the first inning when shortstop Elder singled and was brought in by a hit to left field. Wetaskiwin evened the count in the fifth when Craig reached with a single and was chased home by Cleland's drive to centre field. Each team had just four hits. Jimmy Rattlesnake set down nine by strikeouts and walked one. W.Johnson fanned five and issued one free pass.
Johnson and Goggins
Rattlesnake and Lundell
(July 25) Wetaskiwin defeated Fredericksheim.
(July 26) Fredericksheim Fliers extended the playoff final to a fourth game Thursday defeating Wetaskiwin Athletics 6-4. Each team has a win and a tie in the best of three series. Wetaskiwin tallied in the first inning when Cleland reached on an error and scored on Clin t Hodges' three-bagger to right. Singles by Craig and Cleland and a sacrifice by Eddie Bergen added to the total in the third. Wetaskiwin scored it's final runs on a single by Bergen, a second three-bagger by Hodges and a wild pitch by Thompson. Fred Henderson, on the hill for the Athletics, kept the Fliers off the scoreboard until the fourth, when he hit Goggins and gave up a triple to Ferd Mix who came home on Delmar's one-bagger. In the 8th, Fliers plated three on three hits, a walk and a sacrifice. They added an insurance run in the 9th when Kallis singled and came around on a sacrifice and two errors.
Thompson, Johnson and xxx
Henderson (L) and xxx
(July 28) Wetaskiwin marched off with first prize money Saturday night after defeating Viking 6 to 5 in the final of the Camrose Exhibition Tournament. Athletics scored the winner with two out in the bottom of the ninth. Jimmy Rattlesnake went the route for his second complete game win of the tournament.
Carruthers (L) and Ross
Rattlesnake (W) and Henderson
Wetaskiwin reached the final with a 10-1 victory over Bawlf. The Athletics put the game on ice early with two runs in the first inning and five more in the second. Bawlf batters evinced great difficulty in hitting the deceptive lefty deliveries from Jimmy Rattlesnake.
Rattlesnake (W) and Henderson, Craig (6)
Barnstable (L), Ferry (3) and Olstad
A four-run rally in the 8th inning carried Viking to an 8-7 win over Camrose in the other first round tilt. Down 7-3, Viking began the comeback with a homer from Nomeland in the 7th. In the 8th, with two down and two on, Horton ripped a liner to short and on a wild throw to first two runs came home. Nomeland was safe on a drive to left and Jones connected for a two-bagger to plate Horton and Nomeland.
Emil Hanson, Carruthers (7), Emil Hanson (8), Emory Hanson (8) and G.Rosland
J.McAthey (W) and S.Ross
(July 30) With a six-run splurge in the fifth inning, Wetaskiwin downed Fredericksheim 10-6 to advance to the second series in provincial senior playoff action. The Athletics combined three singles, a double, Kip Anderson's homer and a error to plate the six markers. Anderson went the route on the mound for the winners scattering nine hits. Clint Hodges, Pete Ryan and Eddie Kronfeld each collect two hits for Wetaskiwin. Johnson yielded ten hits and fanned 12 in going the distance for the Fliers.
Johnson (L) and Goggins
Anderson (W) and Lundell
(August 1) With an 8-2 victory over Camrose in the final, Ponoka captured top prize in the Ponoka Tournament Wednesday. It was a tight contest until the 8th when Ponoka scored five runs on four hits. Dittberner went the distance for the winners allowing just three singles. Crellin led the offense with a homer.
Carruthers (L), Scotvold (8) and xxx
Dittberner (W) and xxx
Camrose reached the final by downing Fredricksheim 10-1 behind the five-hit pitching of Emil Hanson.
E.Hanson (W) and xxx
R.Mix (L), Elder and xxx
Duke Baer fired a two-hitter as Ponoka shutout Wetaskiwin 8-0 in the other opening round contest. Three singles and an error accounted for three runs in the fifth and another two errors helped Ponoka to four runs in the sixth.
Baer (W) and xxx
Rattlesnake (L), K.Anderson (6) and xxx
(August 2) Three Hills took a stranglehold on their best-of-three series with Camrose Cubs capturing both games of a double-header, 8-2 and 8-3.
(August 6) Three Hills knocked Camrose out of the Alberta Senior Amateur Playdowns Sunday taking the second game of a double-header 12 to 5 after losing the opener 8 to 4. Three Hills jumped into an early lead in the first game, scoring three runs in the first inning but the Cubs quickly rebounded with four counters in their half of the first. They added two more in the second and a pair in the third. Lefty Carruthers recovered from a shaky first frame to offer a solid outing. Brooks took the loss.
In the second game, Three Hills erupted for five runs in the fifth inning and buried the Cubs 12 to 5.
Brooks (L) and Hess
Carruthers (W) and Roseland
Riddell (W) and Hess
Carruthers (L), R.Mix (5), Leighs (6) and Rosland
(August 8) With a double-header sweep of Wainwright, 4-0 and 4-3, Wetaskiwin took a solid grip on their provincial playoff series Wednesday. Kip Anderson yielded just five singles in tossing the shutout in the opener to best Spornitz who gave up six hits, including a two-run triple to Eddie Kronfeld.
Spornitz (L) and xxx
K.Anderson (W) and xxx
Jimmy Rattlesnake fired a six-hitter and fanned 12 in helping Wetaskiwin to the second game 4-3 triumph. Eddie Bergen led the offense with three hits in five trips. Peter Ryan slammed a two-bagger, his second of the day before suffering a broken leg.
Levelle, Roberts (5) and xxx
Rattlesnake (W) and xxx
(August 12) At Wainwright Sunday, the home club was awarded a victory in the second game after the teams fought to a 1-1 five-inning tie in the first game, cut short by rain. In the evening encounter, the Wetaskiwin players left the field in the fourth inning protesting the Wainwright umpire's decisions and because the crowd rushed onto the diamond at different times threatening to do bodily harm to the players and the Wetaskiwin base umpire. Wainwright led 3-0 at the time.
(August 17) While Wetaskiwin manager Clint Hodges rested his regular pitchers for the Wainwright series, Ponoka notched an easy 10-2 win Friday in an exhibition affair. Cecil Lewis fashioned a five-hitter for the winners while his teammates collected ten hits, including a triple by Duke Baer. A large crowd turned out for the benefit with proceeds to Pete Ryan who had his leg broken in a game last week.
(August 19) Trailing by four runs after seven innings, Wetaskiwin rallied with four in the 8th and the winner in the 10th to down Wainwright 6-5 to win the best of five series before one of the largest crowds in Wainwright in many years. With two hits and a sacrifice, the visitors drew first blood with a run in the top of the first inning but Wainwright came right back with two runs on three hits, including a triple by Lane, and two errors in the last half of the first to take the lead. For the next six frames, Paul Spornitz, on the hill for Wainwright, allowed only two hits while his teammates scored in the second, fifth and sixth to take a 5-1 advantage. Then in the 8th, Wetaskiwin rallied. Lundell led off with a free pass, Rankin was hit by a pitch and, with one out, Eddie Bergen loaded the bases with a single. Clint Hodges cleared the sacks with a two-bagger and Kip Anderson followed with another double, off reliever Sam Roberts, to drive in the tying marker. Neither team was able to score in the ninth, but in the extra inning Wetaskiwin got two men aboard on walks and got the winner home on two sacrifice hits. In the bottom of the 10th, Vaughan Ganderton reached with a hit, but was thrown out at second and Jimmy Rattlesnake, who relieved starter Kip Anderson in the 6th, fanned the next two batters to nail down the victory. Wetaskiwin moves on to face Edmonton Shastas in the provincial playdowns.
K.Anderson, J.Rattlesnake (W) (6) and Henderson
Spornitz, S.Roberts (L) (8) and V.Coffield
(August 24) Jimmy Rattlesnake fired a four-hitter and his battery mate, Fred Henderson, had two hits, two stolen bases and knocked in a pair as Wetaskiwin topped Edmonton Shastas 7-4 Friday in the opening game of their best of five Northern Alberta championship series. Rattlesnake fanned seven and had seven assists in the 8-inning contest. Wetaskiwin, down 4-3, scored four times in the bottom of the 8th for the victory. They had just six hits but capitalized on six Edmonton errors.
Guidolin (L) and Sillars
Rattlesnake (W) and Henderson
(August 26) With an overflow crowd of 5,000 looking on, Edmonton Shastas evened their provincial series with Wetaskiwin at a game apiece with a thrilling 4-3 triumph Sunday. They pushed across the winning run in the bottom of the ninth after the visitors had scored twice in the top of the ninth. Larry Sillars drew a walk and Freddy Hess, who had earlier smacked a home run, single to centre, before Red Hopper loaded the bases with an infield hit. Manager Murray Murdock sent in pinch hitter "Hanger" Guidolin and he laid down a squeeze bunt down the third base line to send Sillars home with the winner. Henry "Lefty" Plotts held Wetaskiwin to just three hits in going the distance for the win. Kip Anderson surrendered eight hit in taking the loss.
K.Anderson (L) and Henderson
Plotts (W) and Sillars
(August 28) A record crowd in Wetaskiwin came away happy as the home club shaded Edmonton Shastas 2-1 in the third game of the Northern Alberta Senior playdowns. Jimmy Rattlesnake fired a three-hitter with eight strikeouts for the pitching win and contributed two hits and two stolen bases. Wetaskiwin took the lead with a run in the second inning as Eddie Kronfeld reached on an error, advanced on a sacrifice and Rattlesnake's single and scored on another error. Edmonton tied the score in the sixth when Ike Davis, who had singled and stolen second, came home on Larry Sillars' single to right field. The home squad got the winner in the 8th as Clint Hodges was safe on an error and a long fly ball off the bat of Kip Anderson fell between Pee Wee Ritchie the Shastas' left fielder and Lorne Kerr in centre and Hodges scampered all the way home with what proved to be the deciding marker.
Loblick (L) and Sillars
Rattlesnake (W) and Henderson
(August 31) Edmonton Shastas dumped Wetaskiwin 6-1 Friday to even their series at two games apiece and force a fifth and deciding game on Sunday. Henry Plotts held Wetaskiwin to three hits while Red Hopper, Lorne Kerr and Hanger Guidolin each collected two hits to lead the Shastas' attack. Edmonton had ten hits off Kip Anderson.
Anderson (L) and Henderson
Plotts (W) and Sillars
(September 2) Red Hopper smacked a double and two singles and Ike Davis added a triple and single to lead Edmonton Shastas to a 5-2 victory of Wetaskiwin in the fifth and deciding game of their Northern Alberta Senior playoff. Shastas pulled off five double plays behind the hurling of Herman Loblick to shut down the Wetaskiwin attack. Each team had eight hits and just one earned run.
Rattlesnake (L) and Henderson
Loblick (W) and Sillars
RED DEER VALLEY BASEBALL LEAGUE
Drumheller Commercials, second-half winners, defeated the first-half winners from Wayne to capture the overall 1934 Red Deer Valley Baseball League championship.
ROSEBUD BASEBALL LEAGUE
Olds captured the 1934 regular season pennant while Bowden emerged as the playoff champion of the 1934 Rosebud Baseball League.
SOUTHERN ALBERTA BASEBALL LEAGUE
(May 30) The invading Medicine Hat Royals opened the 1934 Southern Alberta Baseball League in grand style with a double-bill sweep of the host Lethbridge Galt Miners, the scores being 8 to 5 in the opener and 12 to 11 in the finale. Wind and dust all day inhibited the defenses and helped in swelling the high scores. In the afternoon encounter, portsider Wilf Pennington fanned three and surrendered seven hits to earn the victory. Royals’ third sacker Jim Toole paced all swatters with a trio of one-baggers.
Pennington (W) and H. Blaney
Ponech (L) and Andy Yanosik
Ernie Sunderland’s solid ninth inning of relief work saved the game for the Royals in the late game, a wild slugfest. He came on with the bases loaded and none out, took part in a swift double play and struck out the last batter. Home runs were poled out by John Claude Yorko and George Yanosik, one of four base raps by the Lethbridge third baseman.
Bray, C. Crane (W)(4), A. Plotsky (8), Sunderland (9) and C. Crane, H. Blaney (4)
Clarke (L), Alex Yanosik (9) and Toccoli
(May 31) Fresh from a twin victory over the Lethbridge Miners, the Medicine Hat Royals ran smack into a somewhat different reception from the other windy city aggregation, the Lethbridge Cubs, who hammered them 10 to 1.
The Baby Bears blew the game wide open by scoring five runs in the third inning. Shortstop Roy Harris banged out four safeties for the winners. Both catchers, “Hap” Rea of the Cubbies and Harvey Blaney of the Gas City Gang, registered three base blows.
Sunderland (L) and H. Blaney
Holman (W) and Rea
(June 1) Breaking up a 3 – 3 deadlock with a three-run spurt in the ninth inning, the Medicine Hat Royals came out on the long end of a 6 to 3 count with the Lethbridge Cubs. Rain drizzled from start to finish in this encounter. In spite of the weather, both pitchers went the distance and turned in effective performances. Winning tosser “Lefty” Pennington fanned eight and was nicked for six hits while loser Ken Ringland of the Bruins gave up eight safeties and whiffed 15. Ken Blaney of the Royals picked up a double and single in leading the swatters.
Pennington (W) and C. Crane
Ringland (L) and Rea
(June 2) The Coutts Oilers won their inaugural fixture in the SABL by dropping the Medicine Hat Royals 7 to 4 at Sweet Grass MT in the first game of a weekend twin-bill. Tied at 3 – 3 entering the bottom of the fourth canto, the Oilers struck for four counters to take the lead for good.
xxx (L) and xxx
xxx (W) and xxx
(June 3) The Medicine Hat Royals avenged their Saturday loss by edging the Coutts Oilers 6 to 5 in Sunday’s follow-up tussle. Ed Plotsky’s three-run circuit-clout in the fifth stanza provided the Hatters with the necessary cushion to come out on top. Winning chucker Ernie Sunderland fanned ten in his route-going performance. Coutts’ first baseman Dahlan collected a home run and triple.
Sunderland (W) and xxx
Eagleson (L) and xxx
(June 6) After several games on the road, the Medicine Hat Royals opened at home by splitting a doubleheader with the Lethbridge Galt Miners, winning the first contest 1 to 0 in ten innings and dropping the nightcap 3 to 0.
Jim Toole’s RBI single in the extra frame broke up the matinee game. Art Plotsky spun a four-hitter in garnering the whitewash mound triumph.
Alex Yanosik (L) and Andy Yanosik
A. Plotsky (W) and C. Crane
“Honey” Hanisko held the Royals to just three hits in taking the shutout win in the second game. The Coal Heavers’ Ernie Luciani was the only player on either squad to register a pair of hits.
Hanisko (W) and A. Yanosik
Crane (L), Pennington (7) and H. Blaney
Standings after June 6 W L Pct.
Medicine Hat Royals 5 3 .625
Lethbridge Cubs 1 1 .500
Coutts Oilers 1 1 .500
Lethbridge Galt Miners 1 3 .250
(June 10) The visiting Lethbridge Cubs and the hosting Medicine Hat Royals broke even in a pair of games played in the Gas City. The Cubs captured the opener 3 to 1 while the sundown tilt was taken by the homesters 3 to 2. right-hander “Dutch” Holman rang up seven strikeouts and held the Royals to just two hits in the matinee event. The Cubs scored all of their runs in their first turn at bat.
Holman (W) and Rea
Sunderland (L) and C. Crane
The Hatters won the twilight fixture in the seventh inning. With the score tied at 2 – 2, Gas City infielder Wally Brehm was hit by a pitch, moved to second on a base-on-balls to Pat Harrison and was allowed to score on an attempted fielders’ choice which wound up as an overthrow. Southpaw Wilf Pennington whiffed six while surrendering nine hits in picking up the hillock victory. Roy Harris of the Cubs led all batters with four singles.
J. Lewis, Ringland (L) (6) and Rea
Pennington (W) and C. Crane
(June 10) A large Sunday crowd of Sweet Grass MT ball fans witnessed the Lethbridge Galt Miners and the Coutts Oilers halving a doubleheader. The visitors took the afternoon tilt 6 to 4 while the Border brigade waltzed off with the long end of a 10 to 6 score in the sundown encounter. Lethbridge moundsman Alex Yanosik limited the Oilers to four hits in the first game.
Alex Yanosik (W) and Andy Yanosik
Kingen (L) and Petrunia
Outfielder “Lefty” Starr, former Lethbridge Cubs’ player, aided Coutts in their evening victory by cracking out three safeties in four times at bat.
Ponech (L), Hanisko, Clarke and Toccoli
Eagleson (W) and Petrunia
(June 13) The Lethbridge Cubs met the Lethbridge Galt Miners in two Southern Alberta League games, each team winning by a 3 to 2 count. In winning the afternoon game, Jack Lewis, flashy Cub moundsman, set the Miners down on five well scattered hits as compared to 12 garnered by his mates off loser Alex Yanosik’s right hand slants.
J. Lewis (W) and Rea
Alex Yanosik (L) and Toccoli
The late tilt was a thriller with the outcome in doubt right up to the final second of play. Trailing 3 to 0 entering the ninth inning, the Cubs rallied by scoring twice and, with two away, had the tying marker on third base. Miner right fielder Swedish saved the day by nabbing a long fly ball.
Holman (L) and Rea
Clarke (W) and Toccoli
(June 15) In an all-Lethbridge joust, the Galt Miners defeated the Cubs 3 to 2 to move past their city cousins into third place in the SABL. Orlando Luciani and Steve Smerek both singled twice for the winners.
Hanisko (W) and Toccoli
Randle (L) and B.Harris
Standings after June 15 W L Pct.
Medicine Hat Royals 6 4 .600
Coutts Oilers 2 2 .500
Lethbridge Galt Miners 4 5 .444
Lethbridge Cubs 3 4 .428
(June 17) The Coutts Oilers moved into first place in the SABL by taking both ends of a double-bill 3 to 2 and 2 to 0 from the Medicine Hat Royals. Southpaw chucker Billy Eagleson of the Oilers held the Royals to seven hits in picking up the matinee mound win. Outfielder Free of the visitors and Medicine Hat’s Jim Toole led their respective teams offensively, each banging out a triple and single.
Eagleson (W) and Petrunia
Sunderland (L) and C. Crane
Kingen (W) and Petrunia
Pennington (L) and H. Blaney
(June 22) The Lethbridge Galt Miners defeated their intra-city brethren, the Lethbridge Cubs, 8 to 3 in a SABL fixture. The Miners belted losing flinger Jack Lewis for seven runs in the 2 2/3 innings he lasted on the rubber.
Alex Yanosik (W) and Toccoli
J. Lewis (L), Randle (3) and B. Harris
(June 24) At Coutts, the Lethbridge Cubs and Coutts Oilers split a SABL doubleheader, the Cubs taking the first game 7 to 4 and losing the nightcap 12 to 8. Outfielder Stewart paced the victorious Cubs at the dish in the opener, slamming a triple, double and single. Lethbridge’s “Babe” Harris had a circuit-clout in support of winning pitcher “Dutch” Holman.
Holman (W) and Rea
Chervinski (L), Eagleson (7) and Petrunia
The Oilers brought out their heavy artillery in the follow-up match, a free-hitting affair, and four Lethbridge pitchers were all unsuccessful in stopping them. First baseman Dahlen paced the Oilmen at the dish with a triple and single, the same output achieved by Cubs’ outfielder Stewart. Winning tosser Kingen and third sacker McGinnis both had a double and single for the winners.
Randle, Holman (5), Robinson (L) (7), Lewis (8) and Rea
Kingen (W) and Petrunia
(June 24) Approximately 1,500 fans witnessed two fine baseball games at Adams Park in which the Lethbridge Galt Miners won twice by the narrowest of margins, 3 to 2 and 4 to 3, over the invading Medicine hat Royals. A ninth-inning rally by the Miners earned them the victory in the first session. George Yanosik’s single drove in the winning tally.
Thacker (L) and xxx
Clark (W) Toccoli
George Yanosik was again the batting star who delivered under pressure in the second tilt, slamming a two-run double in the eighth canto to put the Miners in the lead for good. Howard Teel hit a two-run round-tripper for Lethbridge. Both chuckers went the distance and had identical six-hit, six strikeout performances.
W. Pennington (L) and C. Crane
Hanisko (W) and Toccoli
Standings after June 24 W L Pct.
Coutts Oilers 5 3 .625
Medicine Hat Royals 6 6 .500
Lethbridge Galt Miners 5 5 .500
Lethbridge Cubs 4 6 .400
(July 8) The Coutts Oilers clinched first place in the SABL first-half standings with a twin killing of the homestanding Lethbridge Cubs by scores of 8 to 6 and 11 to 10. The Border Boys score twice in both the eighth and ninth frames to pull out the win in the opener.
Eagleson (W) and Petrunia
Holman (L) and Rea
The evening tilt was a regular batting spree with the lead changing hands frequently. With the score knotted at 9 – 9, Coutts took the lead for good by tallying twice in the seventh stanza. Bill Eagleson of the Oilers wound up getting credit for both mound wins.
Kingen, Eagleson (W) (4) and Petrunia
Ponech, Ringland (L) (4) and Rea
Standings after July 8 W L Pct.
Coutts Oilers 7 3 .700
Medicine Hat Royals 6 6 .500
Lethbridge Galt Miners 5 5 .500
Lethbridge Cubs 4 8 .333
(July 11) The Lethbridge Galt Miners and Coutts Oilers split two previous postponed games when they met for a twin-bill at Adams Park. The Coalmen captured the matinee tussle 7 to 5 while the Oilmen responded with a 13 to 5 triumph in the evening battle. Victorious tosser Alex Yanosik and vanquished Kingen of the Border Brigade both gave up seven safeties in the early game but Yanosik did a better job in keeping the hits well scattered. “Lefty” Starr with a triple and single as well as Dahlen with a double and single were the top swatters for Coutts. Howard Tell managed a double and single for Lethbridge.
Kingen (L) and Petrunia
Alex Yanosik (W) and Andy Yanosik
The Miners started out with a three-spot in the opening frame of the late encounter but the lead was short-lived as the Oilmen drove loser Joe Hanisko from the hill after netting six runs in five innings. Catcher George Petrunia of the Coutts squad had a stellar game at the platter, drilling a pair of doubles plus a brace of one-baggers. Hot corner custodian McGinnis also was hot with the hickory, chalking up a brace of doubles and a single.
Eagleson (W) and Petrunia
Hanisko (L), Clark (6), Alex Yanosik (7) and Andy Yanosik
Final first-half standings W L Pct.
Coutts Oilers 8 4 .667
Medicine Hat Royals 6 6 .500
Lethbridge Galt Miners 6 6 .500
Lethbridge Cubs 4 8 .333
No second-half schedule was ever undertaken as the Medicine Hat and Lethbridge teams concentrated on a few exhibition games prior to entering the 1934 Alberta senior baseball playdowns.
SOUTHERN ALBERTA
(May 16) At Champion Wednesday, Blackie shaded the home squad 4 to 3.
Walker, Evans and Malberg
Luchia, Fox and Watts
(May 20) Champion trounced Vulcan 18-8 Sunday at Champion. The home squad got off to a quick start scoring in the first inning. A two-run triple by Jack Kulpas highlighted the action. Steeves handled the mound duties for the winners while D. Aldred and Rutten pitched for Vulcan.
D.Aldred (L), Rutten (6) and Rutten, Robson (6)
Steeves (W) and Watts
(May 23) Champion defeated Stavely 6-3 Wednesday in a seven-inning contest cut short by heavy winds and dust. Ferguson went the route for the pitching win for Champion besting veteran Slim Haynes.
Ferguson (W) and Watts
Haynes (L) and Chilton
(May 28) Heavy hitting by Jack Kulpas and Phil Bastin and solid pitching by V.Ferguson carried Champion to a 9 to 2 triumph over Blackie. Kulpas had three hits while Bastin slugged a bases-loaded triple and a single.
V.Ferguson (W) and G.Fox
M.Steer, Baker, Walker and Woolridge
(June 11) Melvin Bowman smacked four hits, one of them a home run, to led Arrowwood to a 13-7 victory over Champion Monday evening. Fred Miller registered the mound win for the home squad.
Luctia (L) and Watts
Miller (W) and Norton
(June 19) Champion downed Arrowwood 5-1 Tuesday behind the solid mound work by Steeves.
xxx and xxx
Steeves (W) and Watts
(June 13) Champion wallopped Stavely 20 to 6 Wednesday to win the Benefit Baseball Tournament at Stavely. Steeves struck out 15 in going the full nine innings for the winners. Slim Haynes was hit freely by Champion.
Steeves (W) and xxx
Haynes (L) and xxx
Champion made the final by defgeating Claresholm.
(June 15) On Friday, Champion crushed Carmangay 8-1. Luchia went seven innings for the winners with Bester relieving. Tishy and Hubka hurled for Carmangay.
Tishy (L), Hubka and Hargraves, xxx
Lucia (W), Bester and Watts
(June 18) Playing in strong winds at Carmangay, Champion downed the locals 11-7 in a seven-inning contest. Dick Latiff was the batting and fielding star. It was the eighth win in ten games for Champion.
Luchia, Bester, Bastin and xxx
xxx and xxx
(July 2) In a slugfest at Champion's Dominion Day celebration, the home club whipped Vulcan 20-13 in a game featuring three home runs, two by Dick Latiff and one by F.Watts. Heavy rain halted many activities. More than .59 inches of rain fell within thirty minutes, one of the heaviest falls of rain and hail ever recorded in the district.
CROW'S NEST PASS
(May 14) Hillcrest topped Bellevue 8-7.
(May 28) Blairmore defeated Hillcrest 17-10.
(May 30) Coleman defeated Hillcrest 5 to 3 to claim their first victory of the season.
Taber (L) and Elick
Gate (W) and Richards
(June 8) Before a large gallery in Hillcrest, Coleman roared from behind a four-run deficit to edge the homestanding Miners 9 to 8. Losing twirler “Buck” Tabor led his team’s 13-hit attack, blasting three doubles and a single.
Yagos, Gate, Atkinson and Richards
Tabor (L) and Elick
(June 10) Blairmore scored a 9 to 4 victory over Coleman in CNP play. After five innings, the teams were deadlocked 2 –2 but the Canuck bats took over in the later frames.
Houbregs (W), and xxx
Yagos, Atkinson (L) and xxx
(June 10) Hillcrest defeated Bellevue 16-7.
(June 11) Coleman 5 Hillcrest 5.
(June ) Bellevue 14 Hillcrest 4.
(June) Hillcrest 10 Blairmore 4.
(June 15) Bellevue scored a bottom-of-the-ninth run to edge past Coleman 9 to 8. With the victory, Bellevue has a record of three wins, one loss and a tie which has them in a tie in the CNP standings with Hillcrest.
xxx (L) and xxx
xxx (W) and xxx
(June 18) The Blairmore Canucks dropped the homestanding Hillcrest Miners 6 to 4 in a ragged CNP contest.
Houbregs (W), Herman and Van Duren
Elick (L), Tabor, Ferstay and Makin
(June 22) After eleven innings of baseball, the Coleman Canadians and Blairmore Canucks were unable to declare a winner as darkness and rain halted proceedings with a 4 – 4 tie score. Paul Yagos of the Canadians and Blairmore’s Chala led their respective teams offensively with a brace of base knocks each. Gusty of the Canucks was a speed demon on the base paths, swiping four bases.
Kapalka, Atkinson, Gate and John Kapalka
Shannon, Herman, Houbregs and Van Duren
(June 24) The Bellevue nine chalked up another decisive CNP victory, a 12 to 6 pasting of the Hillcrest Miners. Scodallero smashed a four-bagger for the Mohawks.
Lund (W), Key and Morris
Carter (L), Tabor and Makin
(June 25) The Blairmore Canucks consolidated their hold on second place in the CNP Baseball League with an uphill 9 to 7 comeback win over the league-leading Bellevue Mohawks. Trailing by a 7 to 2 count after 6 1/2 frames, the Canucks came to life, scoring four times in the bottom of the sixth and adding three more in the seventh. Phil Houbregs did a stellar job of relief work for the winners, limiting the Mohawks to three scratch hits in earning the mound win. His eighth-inning triple also drove in the winning runs for Blairmore. Dave Kemp had a three-run homer in support of Houbregs.
Mills (L), Pozzi (8) and Morris
Herman, Houbregs (W) (6) and Van Duren
Standings W L Pct .
Bellevue 6 3 .667
Blairmore 4 3 .571
Hillcrest 4 5 .444
Coleman 2 5 .286
(June 28) Bellevue has won four of its last five games and now leads the league standings.
(July 6) Playing on their home turf, the Hillcrest Miners took the Bellevue nine into camp with a 14 to 9 victory. The Miners never trailed and hammered four Mohawk chuckers for a total of 18 hits.
Key (L), Pozzi (3), Marcolin (6), Mills (7) and Morris
Elick (W) and Makin
(July 9) Scoring ten times in their first three turns at bat, the Blairmore Canucks had little difficulty in defeating the Coleman Canadians 12 to 3 at Blairmore. The win moved Blairmore into a tie for second spot in the CNP League. Winning pitcher Shannon threw a one-hitter but his performance was tainted by his wildness as he issued six free passes, hit two batters and made three wild pitches. Martini blasted a first-inning circuit clout for the winners.
Gates (L), Yagos (3) and Richards
Shannon (W) and Van Duren
(July 10) In a very ragged game punctuated by 15 errors, the Bellevue Canucks increased their lead in the Pass Circuit by taking the Hillcrest Miners into camp 9 to 8. Bellevue had a significant 11 to 4 advantage in base hits garnered.
Ferstay (L), Elick and Makin
Mills (W) and Morris
(July 12) Rain spoiled a first-class pitching duel between Blairmore’s Phil Houbregs and Mills, Bellevue’s ace hurler, in the head-to-head battle for the Alberta Insurance Agencies Trophy. The game had to be called at the end of seven innings with the score tied 3 – 3. Blairmore held a slight 5 to 4 edge in base raps when the contest was terminated. Dave Kemp had a first-inning home run for the Canucks.
Mills and Morris
Houbregs and Van Duren
(July 15) Resuming their battle for the Alberta Insurance Agencies Trophy in Blairmore, the hosting Canucks and the Bellevue Mohawks played nearly eight innings of baseball before the umpire awarded the contest to Blairmore by a 3 to 1 score after a near riot broke out over a disputed catch which prompted the Mohawks’ refusal to continue the game. With the score even at 1 – 1 in the bottom of the eighth frame, Mohawk outfielder Scodallero made what appeared to be an impossible shoestring catch on a shallow fly ball and then fired the ball to second base to complete a double play. The runner, Vejprava, who had been at second, had raced around third to score while the batter Van Duren had become a runner at first base. Neither umpire was positive about whether a legal catch had been made but a decision was finally made that the ball had been trapped and allowed the second Blairmore run. Van Duren, at first base, recognizing that time had not been called, gingerly circled the bases during the argument that ensued and touched home plate for an addition Blairmore counter. The result of all the arguing was that the Bellevue team walked off the field to end what had been a highly entertaining game. Lost in all the discord was the 12 strikeout performance by winning hurler Phil Houbregs and a solo home run by outfielder Coates of the Mohawks.
Mills (L) and Morris
Houbregs (W) and Van Duren
(July 17) Coleman scored the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning to defeat Hillcrest 7 to 6.
Tabor (L) and Makin
Yagos (W) and Richards
(July 19) Three hits and three errors in the first inning paved the way for Bellevue to defeat Blairmore on Thursday to take top prize in the Blairmore Amateur Athletic Association Tournament.
Mills (W) and Morris
Houbregs, Dobek and VanDuren
(July 20) The Blairmore Canucks drew a little closer to the league-leading Bellevue Mohawks when they defeated them 5 to 2 in a regular CNP game at Blairmore.
Hortak (W), xxx (6) and xxx
Dobrek (L) and xxx
(July 22) Postponed many times since the Dominion Day weekend, the final game of the Blairmore Amateur Athletic Association tournament was finally completed and saw the Bellevue Mohawks emerge with first money after defeating Blairmore 10 to 6. Scoring four times in the opening inning off Canucks’ ace hurler, Phil Houbregs, the Tribe kept pace with their hosts for the remainder of the game before fans from all the five Pass towns.
Houbregs (L), Dobrek (6) and Van Duren
Mills (W) and Morris
(July 25) The cellar-dwelling Hillcrest Miners surprised the Blairmore Canucks by tumbling their hosts 13 to 9 in an error-filled contest.
Tabor (W), Richards and Matkin
Houbregs, Shannon (W) (4), Vangotsinoven (7) and Van Duren
Standings P W L Pct.
Bellevue 16 9 7 .563
Blairmore 15 8 7 .533
Coleman 14 7 7 .500
Hillcrest 17 7 10 .412
(August 1) The Bellevue Mohawks assured themselves of a playoff berth when they got by Coleman 4 to 2 in a CNP fixture in Bellevue.
Yagos (L) and Richards
Mills (W) and Morris
(August 6) Blairmore and Coleman wound up tied for second place in the CNP League standings when the Canucks defeated Coleman 14 to 5 at Blairmore.
Yagos (L) and Richards
Houbregs (W) and Herman
(August 13) Blairmore defeated Coleman in the first game of a best-of-three series to decide second place in the CNP circuit. No final score or game details found in print.
(August 16) A two-out rally in the fourth frame which netted four runs was good enough to carry the Blairmore Canucks to a 6 to 2 margin over Coleman and send them into the CNP League finals against the pennant-winning Bellevue Mohawks.
Yagos (L) and Gate
Houbregs (W) and van Duren
(August 20) Blairmore Canucks rallied for four runs in the ninth inning to capture the opening game of a best-of-five series downing Bellevue 4-1 Monday.
Houbregs (W) and xxx
Mills (L) and xxx
(September 3) The Blairmore-Coleman aggregation edged Bellevue-Hillcrest 10-9 Monday.
(September 5) The Bellevue nine successfully defended the Alberta Insurance Agencies challenge trophy when they took a 4 to 2 game from the Blairmore Canucks at Bellevue. Both teams managed five hits in the tightly contested match. Winning pitcher Mills fanned ten Blairmore batters.
Houbregs (L) and xxx
Mills (W) and xxx
BUSH LEAGUE
(May 13) The Bush League baseball season got underway to a good start Sunday favoured withy good weather and large crowds. Cremona crushed Madden 21-0 as Tronnes fanned 22 and allowed just four base runners.
Tronnes (W) and Randolph
McArthur (L) and Roch
Atkins opened the season with a 15-5 victory over Water Valley.
N.Whitlow (W) and K.Whitlow
Jordon (L), Lawrence and Lowrey
1934 ALBERTA PROVINCIAL PLAYOFFS
First Round Byes
Cadomin Maroons (northern area)
Edmonton (northern area)
Luscar (northern area)
Medicine Hat Royals (southern area)
CENTRAL ALBERTA AREA
(First round) Ponoka vs Bowden/Innisfail
(July 23) The Bowden/Innisfail baseball club took the first round-one game of the senior amateur provincial playoffs when they defeated Ponoka 3 to 1 at Innisfail. Both teams collected eight base hits, The homesters broke a 1 – 1 tie by scoring a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Dittberner (L) and Stoddart
McMahon (W) and Thompson
(July 25) Hammering three Bowden/Innisfail pitchers for 14 base blows, Ponoka tied their round one series with the invaders by blasting them 13 to 5. Winning chucker “Duke” Baer whiffed ten and allowed just five hits, four of which came in the eighth inning on Gooder’s grand-slam homer after the game had become a rout. Charley Lewis registered three hits and an equal number of RBI’s for the winners.
McMahon (L), Scragg, Gooder and Thompson, Michael
Baer (W) and Stoddart
(July 29) With the series tied at one game each and the final game knotted at 3 – 3 playing in the tenth inning, singles by Joe Thompson and S. Michael, along with a costly Ponoka error, gave the Bowden/Innisfail squad a 5 to 3 victory over Ponoka and the right to move on to the second round of provincial playoffs.
McMahon (W) and Thompson
Weiss, Baer (L) and Stoddart
(First round) Three Hills vs Delbourne
Three Hills defeated Delbourne – game dates, final scores and game details including batteries not available.
(First round) Vegreville vs Camrose Cubs
(July 25) Vegreville defaulted to the Camrose Cubs in their first-round of senior amateur provincial playdowns. A second-round opponent for the Cubs has, as yet, to be determined.
(First round) Mirror vs Stettler
(July 27) Stettler advanced to the second round of the provincial playdowns by defeating Mirror 4 to 3. Both pitchers had excellent control throughout as not a single base on balls was issued. Winning twirler Olive retired 13 by the strikeout route. Mirror’s “Buster” Mutch fanned ten.
Mutch (L) and Ray
Olive (W) and Seyers, Savage
(Second round) Camrose Cubs vs Three Hills
(August 2) Three Hills took a stranglehold on their best-of-three series with Camrose Cubs capturing both games of a double-header, 8-2 and 8-3.
(August 5) Three Hills knocked Camrose out of the Alberta Senior Amateur Playdowns Sunday taking the second game of a double-header 12 to 5 after losing the opener 8 to 4. Three Hills jumped into an early lead in the first game, scoring three runs in the first inning but the Cubs quickly rebounded with four counters in their half of the first. They added two more in the second and a pair in the third. Lefty Carruthers recovered from a shaky first frame to offer a solid outing. Brooks took the loss.
In the second game, Three Hills erupted for five runs in the fifth inning and buried the Cubs 12 to 5.
Brooks (L) and Hess
Carruthers (W) and Rosland
Riddell (W) and Hess
Carruthers (L), R.Mix (5), Leighs (6) and Rosland
(Second round) Bowden/Innisfail vs Stettler
(August 2) Stettler’s nine took the first game of their round-two provincial playoff series with Bowden, bouncing the visitors 9 to 3. The homesters held a 9 to 5 advantage in base hits.
Bilmer (L), McKay (3) and xxx
Seyers (W), Olive (7) and xxx
(August 6) Stettler eliminated Bowden/Innisfail from further playoff action by thumping the hosts 14 to 11 in the second tussle between the contenders. It was a game of mighty swats and loose fielding, the redeeming feature being the late comeback by Bowden, after being seven runs down, to make the game interesting. Each team used three pitchers as extra-base hits were numerous.
xxx (W), xxx, xxx and xxx
McMahon (L), McKay, Thompson and xxx
(Third round) Three Hills vs Stettler
(August 9) Three Hills scored three times in the sixth inning and went on to defeat Stettler 6 to 3 in the first game of a best-of-five southern Alberta semi-final.
Riddell (W) and Hess
Olive (L), Seyers (9) and Savage
(August 13) Down by a 4 to 0 count as they took their last turn at bat, the Stettler squad made a dramatic comeback to edge Three Hills 5 to 4 to tie their third-round series at a game apiece. With a runner on third base and the score deadlocked at 4 – 4, winning pitcher Olive laid down a perfect bunt to bring home the lead tally. Neither starting pitcher lasted the entire nine innings.
Brooks, Riddell (L) (9) and xxx
Seyers, Olive (W) (8) and xxx
(August 15) Three Hills and the Stettler Tigers split a playoff twin-bill, the third and fourth games of their current series. Playing on the Three Hills diamond, the hosts defeated Stettler 10 to 5 to open the day’s proceedings. The Bengals took the second contest. No final score was noted in the newspaper accounts. Alf Hosie was the batting star for Three Hills in the opener, drilling a home run, double and single.
xxx (L) and xxx
xxx (W) and xxx
Hosie distinguished himself as a relief pitcher in the late contest although it was insufficient to bring his team a victory.
xxx (W) and xxx
xxx, Hosie and xxx
(August 17) The Stettler Tigers eventually won the series and moved on to play the Medicine Hat Royals in the provincial semi-finals. No final score or game details uncovered.
SOUTHERN ALBERTA AREA
(First round) Lethbridge Cubs vs Lethbridge Miners)
(July 20) The Galt Miners defeated the Cubs 13 to 12 in the first game of their all-Lethbridge playoff series for the right to move on in the hunt for the southern Alberta championship. Despite out hitting their cross-town rivals 13 to 11, the Cubs were dreadful defensively and committed nine fielding miscues which essentially cost them the game. The Miners piled up a 12 to 5 lead in the first five innings and held off a late charge by the Baby Bears. Orlando Luciani of the Cubs and “Hap” Rea of the Coalers both had three hits. Third baseman Roy Robinson of the Cubbies lashed out a pair of three-baggers while George Yanosik of the Miners and Ken Ringland of the Bruins smashed home runs.
Alex Yanosik (W) and Petrunia
Davis (L), A. Lewis (2), Holman (3) and Rea
(July 22) The Lethbridge Cubs bowed out of the Alberta senior baseball playdowns at Adams Park when they fell to the well-balanced Lethbridge Galt Miners 8 to 5. The Miners win culminated a two games to none sweep in the best-of-three series and sends them into a second-round matchup with the Medicine Hat Royals. The teams were deadlocked 5 – 5 after six innings but the Miners forged ahead with the winning runs in the eighth. “Honey” Hanisko went the route on the hillock for the Coal Heavers, yielding six hits in a winning effort. His batterymate, Rigo Toccoli, headed the list of willow wielders for the winners with a trio of hits. Cub first sacker Gord Morrison also singled three times.
Randle, Ringland (L) (7) and B. Harris, Rea
Hanisko (W) and Toccoli
(Second round) Lethbridge Galt Miners vs Medicine Hat Royals
(August 1) The Lethbridge Galt Miners opened their second-round Southern Alberta series with a 5 to 2 win over the Medicine Hat Royals in the lid-lifter of a doubleheader on Lethbridge turf. The second contest, an eleven-inning affair, ended in a 2 – 2 saw off when darkness prevented further play. Alex Yanosik stymied the Gas City Gang on three hits while ringing up 12 strikeouts to lead the Miners to the win in the opener.
Thacker (L) and C. Crane
Alex Yanosik (W) and Petrunia
Both teams collected six safeties in the double extra-inning stalemate. “Lefty” Pennington registered 12 strikeouts in a route-going performance for the Blue Bloods.
Pennington and C. Crane
Hanisko, Alex Yanosik (10) and Petrunia
(August 5) Estimated crowds of 3,500 and 4,000, the largest seen in Medicine Hat in over 15 years, watched the Medicine Hat Royals take the visiting Lethbridge Galt Miners in two straight games, the scores being 3 to 2 in the afternoon and 7 to 6 in the evening. In both contests, the Royals broke a tie by scoring in their final turn at bat. Ken Blaney’s one-out RBI single did the trick for the Regal clan in the matinee tussle.
Hanisko (L) and Toccoli
Pennington (W) and C. Crane
Wilf Pennington picked up his second mound win of the day for the Royals in the late encounter and also scored the winning run after doubling to open the bottom-of-the-ninth inning. Wally Brehm’s base hit and a wild throw allowed him to cross the plate.
A. Yanosik (L) and Toccoli
Thacker, Bray (7), Pennington (W) (8) and C. Crane
(August 19) The Medicine Hat Royals split a playoff doubleheader with the Lethbridge Galt Miners and, in doing so, won the right to enter the third round of the Alberta senior playoffs. The visiting Miners took the opener 4 to 0 to tie the series at two games each with one stalemate but a Royals’ 3 to 1 victory in the evening game sealed the deal for the Gas City crew. The afternoon clash was a heartbreaker for Wilf Pennington, the southpaw Hatter moundsman, who allowed the visitors only four hits and yet lost the game by a series of tough breaks. Winner Alex Yanosik fanned eight while Pennington whiffed ten.
A. Yanosik (W) and Petrunia
Pennington (L) and C. Crane
Herb Thacker tossed the clinching win for Medicine Hat in the nightcap, yielding only six hits while banging out a brace of base knocks. Ken Blaney’s two-run homer in the sixth frame provided the Royals with the winning margin.
Hanisko (L) and Petrunia
Thacker (W) and C. Crane
NORTHERN ALBERTA AREA
(First round) Fredericksheim vs Wetaskiwin
(July 24) The opening game of the final series between Fredericksheim and Wetaskiwin ended in a 1-1 tie. it was called in the ninth inning on account of darkness. The visitors got their lone run in the first inning when shortstop Elder singled and was brought in by a hit to left field. Wetaskiwin evened the count in the fifth when Craig reached with a single and was chased home by Cleland's drive to centre field. Each team had just four hits. Jimmy Rattlesnake set down nine by strikeouts and walked one. W.Johnson fanned five and issued one free pass.
Johnson and Goggins
Rattlesnake and Lundell
(July 25) Wetaskiwin defeated Fredericksheim.
(July 26) Fredericksheim Fliers extended the playoff final to a fourth game Thursday defeating Wetaskiwin Athletics 6-4. Each team has a win and a tie in the best of three series. Wetaskiwin tallied in the first inning when Cleland reached on an error and scored on Clin t Hodges' three-bagger to right. Singles by Craig and Cleland and a sacrifice by Eddie Bergen added to the total in the third. Wetaskiwin scored it's final runs on a single by Bergen, a second three-bagger by Hodges and a wild pitch by Thompson. Fred Henderson, on the hill for the Athletics, kept the Fliers off the scoreboard until the fourth, when he hit Goggins and gave up a triple to Ferd Mix who came home on Delmar's one-bagger. In the 8th, Fliers plated three on three hits, a walk and a sacrifice. They added an insurance run in the 9th when Kallis singled and came around on a sacrifice and two errors.
Thompson, Johnson and xxx
Henderson (L) and xxx
(July 30) With a six-run splurge in the fifth inning, Wetaskiwin downed Fredericksheim 10-6 to advance to the second series in provincial senior playoff action. The Athletics combined three singles, a double, Kip Anderson's homer and a error to plate the six markers. Anderson went the route on the mound for the winners scattering nine hits. Clint Hodges, Pete Ryan and Eddie Kronfeld each collect two hits for Wetaskiwin. W.Johnson yielded ten hits and fanned 12 in going the distance for the Fliers.
Johnson (L) and Goggins
Anderson (W) and Lundell
(First round) Bawlf vs Wainwright
(July 21) Wainwright pummeled the Bawlf nine 11 to 2 to easily capture the inaugural meeting in their provincial playoff series. Reg Cofield paced the winners offensively with three triples to his credit.
Spornitz (W) and B. Roberts
xxx (L) and xxx
(July 25) Bawlf was eliminated from the Alberta senior playoff scene when they dropped a narrow 4 to 3 decision to the host Wainwright contingent. Vaughan Ganderton belted a solo round-tripper in the third frame for the victors in support of winning pitcher Paul Spornitz.
xxx (L) and xxx
Spornitz (W) and B. Roberts
(Second round) Wainwright vs Wetaskiwin Cubs
(August 8) With a double-header sweep of Wainwright, 4-0 and 4-3, Wetaskiwin took a solid grip on their provincial playoff series Wednesday. Kip Anderson yielded just five singles in tossing the shutout in the opener to best Paul Spornitz who gave up six hits, including a two-run triple to Eddie Kronfeld.
Spornitz (L) and xxx
K.Anderson (W) and xxx
Jimmy Rattlesnake fired a six-hitter and fanned 12 in helping Wetaskiwin to the second game 4-3 triumph. Eddie Bergen led the offense with three hits in five trips. Peter Ryan slammed a two-bagger, his second of the day before suffering a broken leg.
Levelle, Roberts (5) and xxx
Rattlesnake (W) and xxx
(August 12) At Wainwright Sunday, the home club was awarded a victory in the second game after the teams fought to a 1-1 five-inning tie in the first game, cut short by rain. In the evening encounter, the Wetaskiwin players left the field in the fourth inning protesting the Wainwright umpire's decisions and because the crowd rushed onto the diamond at different times threatening to do bodily harm to the players and the Wetaskiwin base umpire. Wainwright led 3-0 at the time. Wainwright plated single counters in each of the first three frames and rode the brilliant one-hit pitching of Paul Spornitz to whitewash Wetaskiwin before the forfeit which tied the series at a game apiece.
Anderson and Henderson
S. Roberts and B. Roberts, V. Coffield
Rattlesnake (L) and Henderson
Spornitz (W) and V. Coffield
(August 17) While Wetaskiwin manager Clint Hodges rested his regular pitchers for the Wainwright series, Ponoka notched an easy 10-2 win Friday in an exhibition affair. Cecil Lewis fashioned a five-hitter for the winners while his teammates collected ten hits, including a triple by Duke Baer. A large crowd turned out for the benefit with proceeds to Pete Ryan who had his leg broken in a game last week.
(August 19) Trailing by four runs after seven innings, Wetaskiwin rallied with four in the 8th and the winner in the 10th to down Wainwright 6-5 to win the best of five series before one of the largest crowds in Wainwright in many years. With two hits and a sacrifice, the visitors drew first blood with a run in the top of the first inning but Wainwright came right back with two runs on three hits, including a triple by Lane, and two errors in the last half of the first to take the lead. For the next six frames, Paul Spornitz, on the hill for Wainwright, allowed only two hits while his teammates scored in the second, fifth and sixth to take a 5-1 advantage. Then in the 8th, Wetaskiwin rallied. Lundell led off with a free pass, Rankin was hit by a pitch and, with one out, Eddie Bergen loaded the bases with a single. Clint Hodges cleared the sacks with a two-bagger and Kip Anderson followed with another double, off reliever Sam Roberts, to drive in the tying marker. Neither team was able to score in the ninth, but in the extra inning Wetaskiwin got two men aboard on walks and got the winner home on two sacrifice hits. In the bottom of the 10th, Vaughan Ganderton reached with a hit, but was thrown out at second and Jimmy Rattlesnake, who relieved starter Kip Anderson in the 6th, fanned the next two batters to nail down the victory. Wetaskiwin moves on to face Edmonton Shastas in the provincial playdowns.
K.Anderson, J.Rattlesnake (W) (6) and Henderson
Spornitz, S.Roberts (L) (8) and V.Coffield, B.Roberts
(Second round) Luscar vs Cadomin Maroons
(July 26) Cadomin took the first game of the senior amateur playoffs from Luscar by a score of 5 to 1. Smart base running and tight pitching featured the full nine innings with the Maroons having the edge in play.
Loree (L) and Nichol
Mydansky (W) and Stewart
(July 29) Knocking the pick of the offerings of three Luscar ball tossers for a total of 19 base blows, the Cadomin Maroons decimated their hosts 17 to 0 to take the third game of their playoff series and move on to the next round. “Lefty” Mydansky held Luscar to five scattered singles and struck out nine in coasting to the mound triumph.
Mydansky (W) and Stewart
Loree (L), Oslund, Nichol and Nichol, Watson
(Third round) Wetaskiwin Cubs vs Edmonton Shastas
(Northern semi-finals)
(August 24) Cree Indian chieftain Jimmy Rattlesnake fanned seven while hurling a brilliant four-hitter that humbled the Edmonton Shastas 7 to 4 as his Wetaskiwin Cubs jumped into a one-game lead in the northern Alberta senior baseball semi-finals. For seven innings, the contest provided a grand pitching battle between Rattlesnake and Hanger Guidolin, ace right-hander of the Shastas. In the eighth, however, Guidolin issued two walks and allowed two hits which, together with some glaringly weak support, enabled the Cubs to count their winning runs. Rattlesnake’s batterymate, catcher Freddy Henderson, ripped two singles in support of his chucker.
Guidolin (L) and Sillars
Rattlesnake (W) and Henderson
(August 26) Punching in a run in the bottom of the ninth inning after their rivals had counted a pair in the top of the frame, the Edmonton Shastas defeated the Wetaskiwin Cubs 4 to 3 to square their best-of-five series at a game apiece. Pinch-hitter Hanger Guidolin’s single down the third base line with the sacks full drove in Larry Sillars from third with the winner. The game produced a brilliant hurling duel between a pair of southpaws, Shastas’ starry “Lefty” Plotts and “Kip” Anderson of Wetaskiwin. Plotts, with a three-hitter, gained the edge when Anderson began to falter in the eighth and ninth cantos. For the winners, stocky third sacker Freddy Hess and talkative second baseman “Bud” Abbey provided much of the hitting ammunition. Hess hammered out a long home run and a single while Abbey had a three-bagger and a double.
Anderson (L) and Henderson
Plotts (W) and Sillars
(August 28) The Wetaskiwin Cubs stepped into a two games to one lead in their best-of-five semi-final series with the Edmonton Shastas by defeating the Capital City squad 2 to 1 before a record crowd of close to 2,000 at Wetaskiwin. Jimmy Rattlesnake, mound winner in the first game of the series, was again on the hill for Wetaskiwin. He was touched for only three base hits whiffed eight Edmontonians. Losing twirler Herman Loblick was also highly effective, surrendering only five safeties while punching out an equal number of Wetaskiwin batters on strikes. An unearned run in the eighth inning broke up a 1 – 1 deadlock. Rattlesnake and his catcher, Fred Henderson, both had two hits for the winners.
Loblick (L) and Sillars
Rattlesnake (W) and Henderson
(August 31) Regaining their hitting form and riding the three-hit pitching of Henry “Lefty” Plotts, the Edmonton Shastas deadlocked their provincial senior baseball playdown series with Wetaskiwin at two victories each at Renfrew Park when they dumped the visitors 6 to 1 in a tussle shortened to seven innings by darkness. With Plotts pitching his second three-hit performance within five days, the Shastas broke loose on a great batting rampage to collect no less than ten safeties from the offerings of “Kip” Anderson, another southpaw, and completely submerged the invaders. For the winners, “Bud” Abbey, “Red” Hopper and Lorne Kerr all picked up a brace of base knocks with one of Abbey’s going for three-bases.
Anderson (L) and Henderson
Plotts (W) and Sillars
(September 2) Wetaskiwin was eliminated from further championship play in the hunt for Alberta senior baseball supremacy when they dropped a 5 to 2 decision to the Edmonton Shastas. Big Herman Loblick of the Shastas shut the door on the title hopes of Jimmy Rattlesnake and company with a steady eight-hitter. Rattlesnake, in his unsuccessful attempt to win his third game of the series, also was nicked for eight safeties but gave up knocks at more crucial times. Main feature of the contest was that the Shastas completed no less than five double plays. “Red” Hopper and former major leaguer “Ike” Davis led the winners with the stick, Hopper rapping out three hits, one of which was a double, while Davis drilled a triple and single. Outfielder McFaul collected a pair of one-baggers for Wetaskiwin.
Rattlesnake (L) and Henderson
Loblick (W) and Sillars
The Shastas captured the series three games to two and advanced to meet the Cadomin Maroons for the northern Alberta title.
Northern Alberta Finals
Cadomin Maroons vs Edmonton Shastas
(September 3) The Edmonton Shastas were victors in the first two games of their northern Alberta final series with Cadomin, winning 6 to 3 in the first contest and shutting out the Maroons 3 to 0 in the second event of the playoff doubleheader held at Renfrew Park. Frank “Lefty” Bidgood was a surprise starter for the Edmonton champions in the opening tussle and, although he allowed nine hits, two more than Cadomin ace “Lefty” Mydansky, the Shasta portsider was the complete master of the Maroons as he turned them back inning after inning with his slow curve-ball twirling. Ex-Washington Senator infielder “Ike” Davis and Frank Hess each had a double and single in support of Bidgood. Frank Lewis and Nick Melnyk both singled twice for the Coal Branch ball squad.
Mydansky (L) and Stewart
Bidgood (W) and Sillars
Given perfect defensive support by his teammates, “Sunny” Sunderland blanked the visitors on four hits in the late contest, putting the Shastas into a highly favourable two-game lead in the best-of-five affair. Losing flinger Benoit was nicked for ten base blows, three of them, a double plus two one-baggers, coming off the bat of outfielder Lorne Kerr who also swiped a pair of bases. Third sacker Fred Hess chipped in with a double and single.
Sunderland (W) and Sillars
Benoit (L) and Stewart
(September 5) The Edmonton Shastas won the northern Alberta senior baseball title when they defeated the Cadomin Maroons 5 to 3 to take the best-of-five series in three straight games. The Edmonton margin of victory was seriously threatened in the final frame as the Maroons made a determined bid for the winning verdict. Only a brilliant double play, engineered by second baseman “Bud” Abbey, halted Cadomin’s attempted rally, keeping the Shastas’ lead intact. The Maroons had the bases crammed in the ninth with no outs when Herman Loblick was summoned to the hillock to bail out “Lefty” Plotts. A vicious line drive by Cadomin’s Con Doherty found the open glove of the colourful Abbey whose throw to first doubled off the trapped runner. A pop up to catcher Larry Sillars followed and the game was history. Both teams registered eight base hits. Lorne Kerr, “Ike” Davis and Fred Hess of the Shastas as well as Frank Lewis and Johnny Gerlitz of Cadomin all picked up a brace of base raps. Both of Davis’ safeties, a triple and a double, went for extra-bases.
Mydansky (L) and Stewart
Plotts (W), Loblick (9) and Sillars
ALBERTA SEMI-FINALS (SOUTH vs CENTRAL)
Stettler Tigers vs Medicine Hat Royals
(August 26) The Medicine Hat Royals took the first two games from Stettler in the best-of-five semi-finals for the Alberta senior baseball championship. The scores were 12 to 4 in the afternoon and 3 to 2 in the evening.
Both teams hit the ball hard in the opener although the Royals were far superior in making their hits count as well as defensively. Medicine Hat ran up a big early margin in this contest and were never seriously threatened. Catcher Chuck Crane led the Hatters offensively with a triple, double and single while third baseman Jim Toole contributed a two-bagger and a pair of singles.
Sorenson (L), Seyer (2) and Savage
Pennington (W) and C. Crane
Medicine Hat scored in the bottom of the ninth to gain the second game victory and a sweep of the day’s events. Held to only five hits by losing chucker Emblaw, the Gas City Gang took advantage of their scoring opportunities to snatch a victory from the jaws of apparent defeat. Leadoff hitter Allan Chapman slapped three singles for Stettler in a losing cause. Ken Blaney topped the Royals with the hickory, posting a brace of one-baggers.
Emblaw (L) and Savage
Thacker (W) and C. Crane
(September 3) The Medicine Hat Royals eliminated the Stettler Tigers from further action in the quest for the Alberta senior baseball championship by taking a narrow 2 to 1 win over the Stettlerites. The Royals scored both of their counters in the sixth frame on Jim Toole’s double. The Tigers had a great opportunity in the seventh as they clawed winning pitcher Wilf Pennington for five hits but were only able to score a single tally. Stettler backstop Savage had three of his team’s six hits off Pennington. The Blue Blood battery of Pennington and Chuck Crane both had two base knocks in the clinching contest.
Pennington (W) and C. Crane
Olive (L), Emlaw (9) and Savage
PROPOSED PROVINCIAL FINALS (NORTH vs SOUTH)
(September 4) The Medicine Hat News reported that a dispute had arisen between the Royals and the probable northern champion Edmonton Shastas as to a location for the provincial finals. Edmonton apparently wants the entire series held in the Capital City but the Royals’ management is holding out for at least two of the games to be played at Athletic Park in view of the splendid support given the Royals by the Medicine Hat fans. The Edmontonians wanted a specific financial guarantee to travel to Medicine Hat, a commitment which the Royals felt was not necessary since they were prepared to journey to the home of the northerners without any such financial guarantee in return.
(September 16) The Drumheller Commercials, intermediate baseball champions of Alberta, were beaten twice by the Medicine Hat Royals, southern Alberta senior champions for 1934, who are awaiting an opportunity to add the provincial tiara to their laurels. Playing in the Gas City, the Royals took an afternoon contest 3 to 0 and won a 4 to 1 decision in the late game. The Royals proved far superior in all departments although the visitors came forth at times to give the large crowds excellent defensive exhibitions in turning the double play. Medicine Hat is still awaiting definite word from the Edmonton Shastas as to a location for the series.
Rolando (L) and McKinley
C. Crane (W) and H. Blaney
Vockeroff (L) and Vickers
Pennington (W) and H. Blaney
(September 16) In an exhibition game designed to keep the team focused and sharp for the proposed Medicine Hat series, the northern Alberta champion Edmonton Shastas were defeated 4 to 2 by Mirror’s fast-stepping baseball club at Renfrew Park. The game, interrupted for long periods of stoppage by the wet weather, was terminated after six innings.
Mutch, Tulloch (W) (1) and Ray
Sunderland (L), Plotts and Sillars
(September 20) The Medicine Hat Royals were officially crowned the 1934 senior baseball champions of Alberta by the Alberta Amateur Baseball Association when the Edmonton Shastas failed to arrive at a decision as to where the final series should be played. The association had been in contact with officials of the Shastas but the midnight ultimatum to respond was never met.