SOUTHERN ALBERTA SEMI-PRO LEAGUE
(May 25) Under ideal weather conditions, the recently formed Southern Alberta semi-pro Baseball League got underway at Henderson Park in Lethbridge. A twin-bill ushered in the new circuit. The Calgary Mustangs of “Dodger” Lewis laid the hickory on the horsehide to romp the Lethbridge Bears 12 to 6 in the afternoon contest and Lethbridge came back to triumph 7 to 4 in the nightcap. After a shaky first inning, Calgary tosser Archie McTeer settled into his stride and, backed by the heavy hitting of his mates, winged his way to an eight-hit victory. Paul Thompson, Chicago Black Hawks’ forward, slammed three doubles for the Mustangs while teammate Earl Knipfel blasted a triple and double.
McTeer (W) and Knipfel
Teel (L), Ericksen (5) and Henderson
The twilight fixture told a different tale. Lethbridge produced a portside twirler in Allan Thompson who, backed by a stellar defense, went on to earn a clean cut victory. Lethbridge held a 10 to 6 edge in base hits over the Cowtowners as first sacker Stan Ericksen led the way with a trio of knocks. Outfielder Sankey of the Bears followed with a brace of singles. Everett Hodges, brother of the Bears’ skipper Clint Hodges, poled out a circuit clout for the Mustangs. His teammate, Paul Thompson drilled another double in this game, his fourth in the double-dip. Over the course of the day’s proceedings, Lethbridge’s Ericksen collected six hits, two of them doubles.
Jones (L) and Knipfel
Thompson (W) and Harris
(May 29) When a carload of Lethbridge baseball players became stranded on their way to Calgary, leaving the Bears with only eight men, Calgary Mustangs’ manager “Dodger” Lewis loaned Bert Gibson to the visitors for the game. He now regrets that decision as Gibson was instrumental in Lethbridge’s 4 to 0 win over Calgary at Mewata Stadium. Gibson had 2 hits, a triple and a double, driving in a pair of the Bears’ four tallies and scored one himself. Wensley, a stocky southpaw, tossed a five-hitter to earn the shutout win. Lewis was nicked for eight hits in taking the loss. Playing-manager Clint Hodges of the Bears picked up a double and single. Shortstop Joe McGoldrick singled twice for the losers.
Wensley (W) and Nicol
Lewis (L) and Purmal
(May 30) Backed by the seven-hit pitching of Bernie Neis, the Calgary Mustangs pulled even with the Lethbridge Bears in their scheduled two-game series with an 11 to 2 victory at Mewata Park. The Mustangs collected an even dozen base hits off three Lethbridge hurlers in support of Neis’ mound effort. The Mustangs took advantage of four Lethbridge errors to score five runs in the fifth inning and another four in the eighth. Wally Smith and Archie McTeer each had a double and single for the winners. McTeer’s base knocks drove in three runs.
Cook (L), Robinson (2), Wensley (5) and Nicol
Neis (W) and Purmal
(June 2) Riding the smart hurling of Bill Daoust, an import chucker from the University of California, the Calgary Mustangs took the ten-inning opening clash in a three-game series from the homestanding Medicine Hat Royals 7 to 5. Daoust fanned all three Medicine Hat batters in the bottom of the tenth to preserve the victory. In total, he whiffed ten. The Royals out hit the Mustangs 11 to 8. Eight Calgary batters strode to the plate in the extra frame and managed to bring in a lead run plus an insurance tally. Losing chucker “Lefty” Mydansky threw wide of first after fielding Cecil “Tiny” Thompson’s dribbler as the inning began. After one was retired, “Dodger” Lewis singled and Thompson moved to third. A base on balls loaded the sacks. Thompson was out at the plate on a fielder’s choice but the go-ahead marker and the final Calgary run crossed the plate on a Texas Leaguer by Carl Sorenson. Lewis and Townsend both had two hits for the winners while catcher Harvey Blaney of the Royals led all batters garnering three safeties.
Daoust (W) and Purmal
Mydansky (L) and Blaney
(June 3) The Medicine Hat Royals took over first place in the Southern Alberta semi-pro baseball loop by capturing both ends of a doubleheader from the Calgary Mustangs 7 to 6 and 7 to 5. The Royals roughed up Calgary’s “Dodger” Lewis for 12 hits in grabbing the opener. Playing manager Ike Davis had two run-producing base knocks, a single and a double, while Jim Toole also drove in a pair of Hatter tallies with a triple, double and single. “Buster” Mutch touched Lewis’ offerings for three singles. Tobacco chewing third sacker O’Leary of the Mustangs paced his club at the platter, collecting three bingles.
Lewis (L) and Purmal
Mutch (W) and Blaney
In the twilight session, the hosts jumped out to a first-inning 4 to 0 lead as losing pitcher “Smokey” Harris walked five in that frame. Although touched for eleven base raps by the Calgarians, big Rex Bray of the Royals was able to snap out of his bad moments when it mattered most. Jimmy Toole had a double and single, driving in a three runs, for the winners. Outfielder Thompson singled three times for the Mustangs.
Harris (L) and Purmal
Bray (W) and Blaney
(June 5) A combination of eight hits, six errors and pitcher Reg Wallis’ wildness gave the Medicine Hat Royals an 8 to 3 victory over the Lethbridge Bears at Henderson Park. While Medicine Hat’s “Lefty” Mydansky was touched for just as many hits as Wallis, eight, he was steadier in the pinches. Wallis issued free passes to first on seven occasions while Mydansky confined his to one. Errors afield did not help the Lethbridge cause, six fumbles being chalked up against the Bruins. The Royals were guilty of two miscues. John Lilly singled twice for the losers.
Mydansky (W) and Blaney
Wallis (L) and Harris
(June 10) The touring Michigan Wolves, a coloured squad from Detroit, suffered two humiliating defeats against the home town Medicine Hat Royals, 22-1 and 12-4.
Jimmy Toole led a 20-hit attack in the afternoon contest with four safeties. He shared honours with Red Tulloch, a right-hander from Lloydminster, who limited the Wolves to three bingles. In the night contest, Jack Kalies, the Royals' second sacker, drove in six runs with a homer, triple and single.
Stevenson (L), Dacy, White and Ray
Tulloch (W) and Blaney
Hawkins (L) and Ray
Mydansky (W) and Blaney
(June 10) The Houston Black Buffaloes of Texas took ten innings to down Calgary Mustangs 7-4 in a sensational exhibition game at the Stadium Park Wednesday night. Bill Daoust, the young southpaw, made his debut with the Mustangs and pitched well until the tenth when the visitors collected five hits for their winning markers.
xxx and xxx
Daoust (L) and xxx
(June 13) The Medicine Hat Royals remained atop the Southern Alberta semi-pro Baseball League by virtue of their doubleheader split with the Lethbridge Bears. The Royals grabbed the afternoon session 4 to 0 but lost the sunset duel 9 to 8. The Coal City crew was held to just two weak hits by Medicine Hat’s “Red” Tulloch in the opener. Losing twirler Howard Teel surrendered seven Gas City base hits, two by outfielder “Buster” Mutch who was the only batter on either squad to collect more than one hit.
Teel (L) and Henderson
Tulloch (W) and Blaney
Lethbridge came out of the gate flying in the second tilt and, by the end of the fifth inning, had built up an overwhelming 9 to 0 lead. The Bluebloods then came to life and, during the last four stanzas, almost succeeded in knotting the count. Medicine Hat had an 11 to 9 edge in base hits as playing-manager “Ike” Davis led the way with a brace of doubles and a single.
Wallis (W) and Henderson
Mydansky (L) and Blaney
(June 16) Dave McNeill’s long drive to centre field for a home run in the eighth inning broke up a pitcher’s battle between Bill Daoust and “Buster” Mutch and gave the Calgary Mustangs a 3 to 2 victory over the Medicine Hat Royals. Daoust hurled great ball for the Calgarians, allowing only three scattered hits, all singles, while fanning 12. John Lilly, Calgary catcher and a recent addition from the Lethbridge Bears, was the hitting star of the game with two long triples to left field. Both Medicine Hat markers were unearned and came as a result of an overthrow to third base on a fielder’s choice attempt.
Mutch (L) and Blaney
Daoust (W) and Lilly
(June 17) The Medicine Hat Royals gained an even break in their two-game series with the homestanding Calgary Mustangs when they defeated the Broncs 3 to 1 at Mewata Stadium. “Lefty” Mydansky of the Monarchs tossed a four-hitter in earning the mound win over “Dodger” Lewis. Mustang outfielder Archie McTeer was the only player from either squad to amass two hits.
Mydansky (W) and Blaney
Lewis (L) and Lilly
(June 18) Cracking out a total of 19 hits off three Lethbridge chuckers, the visiting Medicine Hat Royals demolished the Bears 18 to 1 at Henderson Stadium. Winning pitcher “Red” Tulloch yielded just four hits to the Bears. Every player in the Royals’ lineup shared in the hitting spree with “Buster” Mutch and Art Plotsky leading the parade with three base blows each.
Tulloch (W) and Blaney
Wallis (L), Teel (2), Henderson (6) and Henderson, Harris (6)
Southern Alberta standings W L Pct.
Medicine Hat Royals 6 3 .667
Calgary Mustangs 4 5 .444
Lethbridge Bears 3 5 .357
(June 20) The Medicine Hat Royals won their third in a row when they edged the visiting Calgary Mustangs 3 to 2 in the first of a three-game weekend series. Newcomer Frank Mauldin took to the hill for the visitors, limiting the Hatters to seven hits while the Mustangs garnered nine. However, six free passes and three Calgary bungles proved his undoing. “Buster” Mutch pitched a shrewd and steady game for the Gas City Gang, scattering nine hits, fanning three and issuing an equal number of walks. After four frames, the teams were deadlocked at two runs each. The Bluebloods pushed over the deciding run in the fifth on Art Plotsky’s RBI double. Winning tosser Mutch was no slouch at the plate as he banged out a double plus a pair of singles. Dave McNeill swatted a triple and single for the vanquished nine.
Mauldin (L) and Lilly
Mutch (W) and Blaney
(June 21) Boss “Ike” Davis and his fence-busting Medicine Hat Royals solidified their unchallenged grasp as the top-ranked team in the Southern Alberta semi-pro circuit when they took a doubleheader from the Calgary Mustangs by scores of 3 to 2 and 7 to 4 to sweep all three weekend contests. “Red” Tulloch comfortably tucked another victory under his belt as the Royals took out the Calgarians a second time by the identical score. The raging redhead struck out six and allowed only seven weak bingles, three of them coming in the ninth when the Mustangs plated both of their counters. The Royals had single tallies in each of the first, fifth and sixth frames. A series of singles in the sixth paved the way for Art Plotsky’s run which turned out to be the winner. Manager-shortstop “Ike” Davis of the Hatters enjoyed a three-hit afternoon, drilling a double and two singles.
Daoust (L) and Lilly
Tulloch (W), Mydansky (9) and Blaney
Southpaw Herb Thacker of the Royals looked none too brilliant in fashioning a nine-hitter in the nightcap but was able to coast to victory as his mates pounded loser Dave McNeill for 15 base knocks. Each of the seven Medicine Hat runs was earned. Newcomer Tommy Bell of the Mustangs laced three singles in his league debut. Jack Kalies, “Ike” Davis and Jimmy Toole each had a double and a single for the victors.
McNeill (L) and Lilly
Thacker (W) and Blaney
(June 22) A bottom-of-the-ninth fly-out to left field by Tommy Bell, allowed Cecil “Tiny” Thompson to tag up at third and narrowly beat the relay throw to the plate for the winning run as the Calgary Mustangs eked out a 7 to 6 victory against the Lethbridge Bears. Out hit 12 to 6 and met by the stellar chucking of Bill Joyce on the Lethbridge mound, the Calgary team offset the lack of batting power by taking advantage of Lethbridge errors and only one of their seven runs turned out to be earned. The Mustangs held a 6 to 4 lead heading into the eighth frame but the Bears rallied for single counters in each of their last two turns at bat to tie things up. Thompson drew a base on balls to begin the last half of the ninth and galloped all the way to third on a two-base error, setting the stage for Bell’s high fly ball to left field. Newcomer Dave Dufrene led the winners offensively with a double and single. Pacing the Bears’ 12-hit attack was third baseman Gordie Stewart with three singles.
Joyce (L) and Henderson
Mauldin, Lewis (W) (9) and Lilly
(June 24) The Calgary Mustangs pulverized an overmatched Lethbridge Bears squad 28 to 7 in a long, drawn-out affair at Mewata Stadium. “Smokey” Harris went the route for Calgary with only one bad inning, the eighth, when he was nicked for five hits and as many runs. In the 21-hit Mustang barrage, Tommy Bell slugged two home runs and Larry Conti followed with a third. Dave Dufrene poled out a couple of three-baggers and there were a host of doubles. Gord Stewart had a home run for the Lethbridge nine.
Shannon (L), Wallis (1), Hutchinson (6) and Henderson
Harris (W) and Lilly
(June 26) In the first game under the lights at Lethbridge, Ray Doan's House of David turned back the Lethbridge Bears 12-5 before 2,800 fans. The visitors punched out 16 hits, four by first sacker Grant and three each by right fielder Olive and left fielder Humbracht whose effort included a homer. Irvin tossed a four-hitter and whiffed 13 for the grizzlies.
Irvin (W) and Rindt
Teel (L) and Henderson
(June 27) After a humiliating defeat four days previous, the Lethbridge Bears found the friendly confines of Henderson Stadium more to their liking and responded with a 6 to 4 win over the Calgary Mustangs. The Bears had base hits in every inning and, after taking the lead in the fifth frame with a three-run burst, were never in danger. While winning chucker Bill Joyce was lit up for 13 hits, he was steady as a rock in clutch situations, coming through with eight crucial strikeouts. Shortstop Tommy McInnis poked a double and a pair of singles for the Bruins while catcher Johnny Lilly led the Mustang willow wielders with a trio of base raps.
Mauldin (L), Dufrene (5) and Lilly
Joyce (W) and Harris
Southern Alberta standings W L Pct.
Medicine Hat Royals 9 3 .750
Calgary Mustangs 6 9 .400
Lethbridge Bears 4 7 .364
(June 28) Having played only exhibition matches during the past week, the mighty Medicine Hat Royals returned to league wars in a powerful manner by pounding the Lethbridge Bears 12 to 3 to romp further ahead in the Southern Alberta semi-pro baseball league. Sorrel-topped “Red” Tulloch of the Royals maintained his unblemished mound record in going the route and limiting the Bears to but five scattered hits while fanning nine. The Regal crew blasted 15 hits off losing hurler Bill Walker with four of them, all singles, coming off the bat of catcher Harvey Blaney. Bill Mutch got things rolling offensively for the winners when he cracked a two-run round-tripper during a seven-run third inning. First baseman Harry Levinson rapped a double and a brace of one-baggers for the Hatters. Bill Joyce had a triple and a pair of singles for the Bruins.
Walker (L) and Harris
Tulloch (W) and Blaney
(June 29) The classy Medicine Hat Royals hammered the hapless Lethbridge Bears 11 to 0 in the Gas City. Rex Bray breezed to the four-hit shutout win which included five strikeouts. Outfielder Bill Mutch cracked his second four-bagger in as many days for the Bluebloods and accounted for three runs-batted-in. Playing-manager Ike Davis contributed a double and a single as well as pilfering a pair of bases.
Thacker (L) and Henderson
Bray (W) and Blaney
(June 30) The Medicine Hat Royals continued their torrid pace as they laid an 8 to 1 pasting on the Lethbridge Bears.”Lefty” Mydansky held the Bears to five hits in capturing the mound win. A three-run homer by second baseman Jack Kalies of the Royals in the third inning highlighted the 12-hit Medicine Hat offense. Third baseman Jimmy Toole of the Hatters tripled and singled while Mydansky aided his own cause with a double and single. Lethbridge playing-manager Clint Hodges also had a double and a one-bagger. An unusual feature of this game was that two triple-plays took place, one by each team.
Joyce (L) and Hodges
Mydansky (W) and Blaney
(July 1) The Ike Davis-piloted Royals out of Medicine Hat rang up two more Southern Alberta semi-pro league triumphs as they swept a Dominion Day double-bill from the Lethbridge Bears by scores of 9 to 7 and 10 to 3. The opener was a free-hitting, error-filled contest loaded with passed balls, balks and wild pitches. The Gas City Gang out hit the visitors 11 to 8. Jack Kalies walloped his second homer in two days for the winners. After a four-run seventh inning by the Grizzlies knotted the count at 7 – 7, the Bluebloods regained the lead for good in their half of the frame when singles by Rex Bray, Kalies and Harry Levinson accounted for a pair of counters. Kalies accumulated three hits in total for the Regals.
McInnis (L) and Henderson, Hodges
Tulloch (W) and Blaney
The Royals, with Rex Bray on the hill in the evening billing, had a 12 to 5 advantage in the base-hit department. Jim Toole and Art Plotsky both had a triple and a single for the Hatters while catcher Harvey Blaney poked a double plus a one-bagger.
Walker (L), Joyce (1), Stewart (9) and Henderson
Bray (W) and Blaney
At around this point, the three teams simply stopped intra-league play. Medicine Hat was the runaway leader, Lethbridge was woefully weak and Calgary, caught in the middle, completed negotiations with the four member clubs in the Northern Alberta semi-pro circuit to play a series of exhibition games. An article, published in the July 6, 1936 edition of the Medicine Hat News, officially confirmed the collapse of the Southern Alberta loop.
Standings at dissolution W L Pct.
Medicine Hat Royals 14 3 .824
Calgary Mustangs 6 9 .400
Lethbridge Bears 4 12 .250
After a slow post-Southern loop start, the Calgary Mustangs reeled off ten victories in a row in exhibition encounters and made overtures about joining the Northern Alberta pro circuit for the second half of their schedule.
NORTHERN ALBERTA SEMI-PRO LEAGUE
First Half Game Reports
(June 14) In the initial engagement of the newly-formed Northern Alberta Baseball League, the hosting Ponoka Panthers were handed an artistic 15 to 5 shellacking by the Edmonton Cardinals. Redbird starter “Buck” Eaton had early control problems and relinquished mound duties to “Ike” Isaacson who got credit for the hill victory. The Panthers had a meagre four hits off the trio of Eaton, Isaacson and ace chucker, Lester Webber, one of which was a two-run homer by Brick Sparks. The Cards collected 14 safeties off loser Les Rios and reliever Albert Perry. Catcher “Mickey” Duggan led the way with a double and two singles while outfielder Eddie McHugh singled three times. Lester Williams, Freddy Lupul and Pete McCready each had two safeties with one of Williams’ raps going for two bases.
Eaton, Isaacson (W) (5), Webber (8) and Duggan
Rios (L), Perry (6) and Simas
(June 15) As the Northern Alberta Baseball League season was ushered into Wetaskiwin, the Indians went on the warpath and, facing an early 5 to 2 deficit, fought back and finally scalped the shorthanded Edmonton Shastas 8 to 5. Missing four of their import players travelling from California, the Shastas managed to out hit their hosts 9 to 8. Elden Lampe turned in the complete game mound win for the Tribe, fanning seven while issuing one walk. First baseman Eddie Kronfeld led the Indians at the dish with a triple and double. Wetaskiwin playing-manager “Mutt” Anderson and Edmonton first sacker, big Lester Williams, both had home runs.
Valencia (L), Williams (5) and Harney
Lampe (W) and Anderson
(June 17) Capital City rivals, the Cardinals and the Shastas, met for the first time in the new season and the Redbirds prevailed in their battle of Edmonton by chalking up a decisive 8 to 1 triumph. Lester Webber of the Cardinals fanned nine in pitching a solid game. He allowed seven hits, three of them decidedly scratchy, in going the route for the win. Three Shasta hurlers were touched for a dozen hits and their cause was hampered by four fielding miscues. Scoring three runs in the top of the first inning, the Cardinals ran away with the contest. The Shastas lone run was plated in their last turn at bat when Lester Williams clouted a solo homer. ”Mickey” Duggan paced the winners offensively with a double and a pair of singles. Lloyd Harney singled three times for the Shastas.
Webber (W) and Duggan
Valencia (L), Williams (1), Wynn (9) and Harney, Horne
(June 17) A horrific seventh inning and an equally bad ninth spelled doom for the hosting Ponoka Panthers as they were pummelled 14 to 8 by the Wetaskiwin Indians. Winning tosser Jimmy Rattlesnake wasn’t at his best but survived his wild moments to finish with an eight-hitter. Third baseman Conn of the Tribe started the heavy hitting when he connected for a solo four-bagger in the first inning. Playing-manager “Mutt” Anderson set the pace for Wetaskiwin with two doubles and a triple.
Rattlesnake (W) and Anderson
Sparks (L), Rios (9) and Semenza
(June 19) The Edmonton Cardinals romped to a decisive 12 to 3 triumph over the homestanding Wetaskiwin Indians. “Ike” Isaacson hurled a steady nine-hitter for the win, striking out five and not issuing a single base on balls. Freddy Lupul had three singles for the winners while catcher “Mickey” Duggan and shortstop Jack Sauceda both connected for a triple and single.
Isaacson (W) and Duggan
Lampe (L), Kronfeld (4), Clelland (7) and Anderson
(June 21) The Edmonton Cardinals are still undefeated. While close to 4,000 baseball enthusiasts overflowed the stands, a thrilling last-inning rally by the Wetaskiwin Indians failed and the Redbirds won their fourth straight engagement in the Northern Alberta baseball circuit, 4 to 3. Winning chucker, big Lester Webber, fanned Larry Simas in the ninth to stave off a last-ditch rally as the Tribe made things interesting by plating a pair in their final turn at bat. Showing a tendency to let down and coast at times, Webber was nicked for eight safeties, two more than Wetaskiwin tosser Jimmy Rattlesnake surrendered. Cardinal receiver “Mickey” Duggan picked up a triple and single, the same offensive output that Wetaskiwin’s Gene Clelland produced.
Rattlesnake (L) and Anderson
Webber (W) and Duggan
(June 21) The Ponoka Panthers captured their first win of the 1936 season by smashing out a 14 to 6 triumph over the winless Edmonton Shastas. Les Rios went the full route on the hill for the Cats, allowing 13 hits. Ponoka lit up three Edmonton hurlers for 16 base blows in this heavy-hitting contest. Al Pimentel spearheaded the winners’ attack with a triple and a brace of one-baggers. Teammate Larry Semenza picked up a double and a pair of singles. Al Horne and Gene Bankston each produced three singles for the Shastas.
Rogers (L), Williams (3), Shandro (7) and Bankston, Harney
Rios (W) and Semenza
Standings W L Pct.
Edmonton Cardinals 4 0 1.000
Wetaskiwin Indians 2 2 .500
Ponoka Panthers 1 2 .333
Edmonton Shastas 0 3 .000
(June 22) With a batting rally in the bottom of the ninth frame, the Wetaskiwin Indians held the Ponoka Panthers to a 5 – 5 tie in a Northern Alberta first-half fixture in Wetaskiwin. Tied 3 – 3 entering the ninth, the Panthers scored a pair but the lead was short-lived as the Indians countered with two of their own in the last half of the stanza. An extra-inning did not produce a winner. The Indians held a comfortable margin in base hits, slamming 11 as opposed to five for the Panthers. Wetaskiwin shortstop Harry Goodchild wielded the willow for a triple and two singles. Playing-manager “Mutt” Anderson followed with a double and single.
Perry and Semenza
Clelland and Anderson
(June 23) The Edmonton Shastas suffered their fourth straight setback when they were defeated by the Ponoka Panthers 8 to 4 in a Northern Alberta fixture. In the lead on two occasions, the Shastas fell apart in the seventh when the Panthers took advantage of the lack of available help in the Edmonton bullpen. Young Jack Rogers, out of gas, was battered for a five spot in that frame before Les Rios was finally summoned by playing-manager Gene Bankston. Al Pimentel and Bill Sutherland both ripped a double and single for the victorious Ponoka team. Lloyd Harney, with a home run and a single, was best with the stick for the losers.
Sparks, Rios and Semenza
Rogers (L), Wynn and Bankston
(June 25) Climbing aboard pitcher Les Rios’ assorted offerings right from the start, the Edmonton Cardinals handed the Ponoka Panthers an 11 to 5 trimming at Renfrew Park. The win was the Cards’ fifth in a row. “Ike” Isaacson struck out nine in earning the five-hit win. Jack Sauceda and Pete McCready led the Edmonton attack with two hits apiece, the net result being a pair of runs-batted-in each.
Rios (L) and Semenza
Isaacson (W) and Ferro
(June 26) Playing-manager “Mutt” Anderson’s single in the bottom of the tenth inning drove in Barney Lawson with the winning run as the Wetaskiwin Indians edged past the Edmonton Shastas 6 to 5 in Northern Alberta League action. Russell Wynn of the hard-luck Shastas pitched a fine game, allowing only five hits, but five errors by his mates contributed to his downfall. Jimmy Rattlesnake got the extra-frame win although he was lit up for 12 Edmonton safeties. Lawson had a double and single for the winners. Dick Valencia stroked three singles for the Shastas while Johnny Pavlick registered a triple plus a one-bagger.
Wynn (L) and Bankston
Rattlesnake (W) and Anderson
(June 28) The Ponoka Panthers pounded out a 13 to 11 victory over the Wetaskiwin Indians in a Northern Alberta League slugfest. Although out hit 19 to 18, the Panthers were full value for their two-run margin. Both chuckers were hit hard from the beginning, yet persevered to the finish. Shortstop “Ace” Bradley was the heavy sticker for the winners, lacing four singles in four attempts. Ike Kahn and Harry Goodchild of the Tribe both had a double and two singles while their teammate Eddie Kronfeld, as well as the Lewis boys of the Panthers, Charlie and Cec, all had three singles. The game’s lone home run was belted by Ponoka’s Les Rios.
(June 28) The Edmonton Shastas finally defeated the jinx that has been hounding them all season. In an excellent 11-inning game, they defeated the Edmonton Cardinals 8 to 7 at Renfrew Park. Trailing 7 to 6 when they came to bat in the bottom of the ninth, the Cards manufactured the tying tally on a run-scoring single by Jack Sauceda. They then blew an opportune chance to win it all in the tenth when Davey Fenton, advancing on a single, failed to touch home on a play at the plate in which he appeared to have beaten the outfield relay to catcher Gene Bankston. The Shastas scored the winner in the second extra-frame on a bases-loaded fielder’s choice. Lester Williams had a triple, double and single for the winners. Eddie McHugh, recently obtained by the Redbirds from the Shastas, laced three singles against his old mates.
Valencia, , Wynn (W) (3) and Bankston
Gerardin, Isaacson (L) (6) and Ferro
(June 29) A flurry of Wetaskiwin errors in the ninth inning allowed three runs to score, enabling the Edmonton Cardinals to defeat the Indians 8 to 7 in Wetaskiwin. All square at 5 – 5 breezing into the ninth inning, the Indians fell apart and, before they could collect themselves and save the day, the league-leading Cards had scored three runs. To their credit, Wetaskiwin came right back with two counters in their half of the final inning but, with two out and the tying run on third base, Larry Simas was the victim of a “hidden ball” trick pulled by Davey Fenton and that ended the ball game. Eddie Kronfeld of the Tribe led all swatters with a pair of three-baggers plus a single.
Speer, Gerardin (W) (7) and Farrell
Rattlesnake (L) and Anderson
Standings W L Pct.
Edmonton Cardinals 6 1 .857
Ponoka Panthers 3 3 .500
Wetaskiwin Indians 3 4 .429
Edmonton Shastas 1 5 .167
(June 30) The Edmonton Shastas suffered a 7 to 2 setback at the hands of the visiting Wetaskiwin Indians at Renfrew Park. Elmer Randall, making his pitching debut with the Indians, set the Shastas down on six very scratchy hits while whiffing nine. On the other hand, the Tribe swatters were in a hitting mood, shelling loser Dick Valencia for 12 base blows in 5 2/3 innings. Harry Goodchild led the Redskins offensively with a triple, double and single. Second sacker Johnny Pavlick of the Edmontonians singled three times. Bobby Morey, the Shastas’ new shortstop, was issued a base on balls in all four of his plate appearances.
Randall (W) and Simas
Valencia (L), Williams (6) and Harney
(July 1) The Edmonton Cardinals took a huge step in cementing a first-place finish in the Northern Alberta baseball league when they turned back the Edmonton Shastas 10 to 6. It was the second defeat in two nights for the cellar-dwellers who were able to garner ten hits off the slants of winning chucker “Buck” Eaton. Russell “Rusty” Wynn was lit up for 13 Redbird base knocks in taking the loss. Hugh Gerardin of the Cards and Dick Valencia of the Shastas both had three hits in leading their respective teams at the plate. One of Gerardin’s base blows was a triple. Tony “Pinky” Ferro also had a good night in the batters’ box for the Cardinals, slamming a triple and a double.
Eaton (W) and Ferro
Wynn (L) and Bankston
(July 5) Elmer Randall hurled the Wetaskiwin Indians to a sparkling 3 to 0 victory over the league-leading Edmonton Cardinals at Renfrew Park. Randall started badly, issuing a walk and hitting two batters, but worked out of that jam without permitting a run. He went on to toss a three-hitter, fanning seven along the way. Losing hurler Emerson “Buck” Eaton was touched for nine Wetaskiwin base knocks. Leading the Tribe at the platter were Larry Simas with a triple and single as well as Carlos Barbettini and Barney Lawson who both had a two-bagger plus a single.
Randall (W) and Simas
Eaton (L) and Ferro
(July 7) Shelling Wetaskiwin starter “Red” Tulloch from the mound in five innings and treating his successor, Jimmy Rattlesnake, with as little respect, the Edmonton Shastas blasted their way to a 10 to 0 triumph over the Indians at Renfrew Park. Paced offensively by shortstop Bobby Morey, who went four-for-five including a home run, the Shastas accumulated 12 hits for a total of 22 bases. Morey’s four bingles accounted for five RBI’s. “Rusty” Wynn, on the hill for the winners, pitched gilt-edged ball, limiting the Tribe to five safeties. Dick Valencia and Lester “Red” Williams both hit a triple and a single for the winners.
Tulloch (L), Rattlesnake (6) and Simas
Wynn (W) and Bankston
Standings W L Pct.
Edmonton Cardinals 7 2 .778
Wetaskiwin Indians 5 5 .500
Ponoka Panthers 3 3 .500
Edmonton Shastas 2 7 .222
(July 8) The Ponoka Panthers moved into second spot in the Northern Alberta Baseball League standings following their 11 to 6 thumping of the top-dog Edmonton Cardinals. Pounding “Ike” Isaacson’s offerings mercilessly, the Panthers converted 13 hits into 11 runs and were never headed by the Edmonton club. Although Jack Sauceda and “Mickey” Duggan of the Redbirds clouted out four-baggers during the slugfest, the losers were only able to reach winning twirler “Lefty” Mydansky for nine hits. “Buster” Mutch hit a circuit-drive for the Ponoka team. “Ace” Bradley of the Panthers and the Cards’ “Mickey” Duggan both had a double and single.
Isaacson (L) and Ferro
Mydansky (W) and Semenza
(July 9) The Edmonton Shastas shaded the Ponoka Panthers 5 to 4 in a Northern Alberta circuit match at Renfrew Park. Newcomer Leroy Goldsworthy, former Winnipeg Maroons’ pitcher and current National Hockey League player, hurled the first five frames for the Shastas and got credit for the win. Losing chucker “Buster” Mutch went the route, recording 12 strikeouts. Three runs in the opening inning started the Shastas on their way to victory. The Panthers pecked away and finally grabbed a 4 to 3 lead in in the top of the sixth. Freddy Engel’s solo homer in the bottom of the frame tied it and, later in the stanza, Shastas’ playing-manager Gene Bankston hit a line single that plated the go-ahead tally which turned out to be the winner. Ponoka held a slight 10 to 9 edge in the base hit department as Bill Creager posted a triple and single for the Cats.
Mutch (L) and Semenza
Goldsworthy (W), Wynn (6) and Bankston
Standings W L Pct.
Edmonton Cardinals 7 3 .700
Wetaskiwin Indians 5 5 .500
Ponoka Panthers 4 4 .500
Edmonton Shastas 3 7 .300
(July 12) The Edmonton Shastas came through with a 12 to 10 triumph over their highly-rated city cousins, the Edmonton Cardinals, to prevent the Cards from clinching top spot in the Northern Alberta League first-half standings. With well over 4,000 spectators on hand at Renfrew Park, the battle between the two Capital City crews saw Jack Kalies, first batter up in the game, slap one of Joe Malman’s fastballs for a home run. In the fourth, the Shastas batted around, scoring six times, and appeared to be headed for a one-sided victory. The Redbirds made things close, however, when they tallied seven counters in the bottom of the sixth but they were never able to completely get out of the hole they had earlier dug for themselves. Newcomer George Paull, the first of four Shasta chuckers was credited with the mound triumph. Paull, Kalies, Dick Valencia and Leroy Goldsworthy all registered a pair of hits for the winners.
Paull (W), Kalies (6), Goldsworthy (7), Williams (8) and Bankston
Malman (L), Eaton (4) and Ferro
(July 14) The Edmonton Cardinals clinched first place in the Northern Alberta Baseball League first-half standings by virtue of their 6 to 4 win over the Ponoka Panthers. In this hard-fought contest, the Redbirds trailed 3 to 0 until the bottom of the fifth when they tied things up on a bases-loaded walk followed by a pair of sacrifice flies. Harry Levinson hit a two-run triple in the sixth to put the Cards out in front, a lead they would not relinquish. Levinson also had a double to lead Edmonton’s eight-hit attack. Brick Sparks was best with the stick from the Ponoka dugout as he blasted a triple and a pair of singles.
Rios (L) and Semenza
Isaacson (W) and Duggan
(July 16) The Ponoka Panthers mauled the Wetaskiwin Indians by a 9 to 1 score in Wetaskiwin to move past the Tribe into second place in the first-half standings of the Northern Alberta circuit. Ponoka scored in five of the first six innings and held a 9 to 0 lead before the Tribe was able to register their one and only run. “Buster” Mutch breezed to the six-hit mound victory while whiffing seven. Playing-manager “Ike” Davis led the winners at the dish with a double and a single. The Panthers’ leadoff hitter, Charlie Lewis, singled twice and swiped three bases.
Mutch (W) and Semenza
Randall (L), Tulloch (7) and Simas
Final first-half standings W L Pct.
Edmonton Cardinals 8 4 .667
Ponoka Panthers 5 5 .500
Wetaskiwin Indians 5 6 .455
Edmonton Shastas 4 7 .364
Northern Alberta Baseball League (second half)
The second half of the schedule initially began on July 15th with the same four teams involved. After eight games into the last-half schedule, however, including three consecutive losses incurred by the Wetaskiwin Indians, the winless Wetaskiwin franchise folded and was quickly replaced by the Calgary Mustangs of the defunct Southern Alberta circuit. League officials decided to throw out the results of the eight games already played and start afresh with a new schedule beginning July 26th. Wholesale roster changes were a direct result of the shakeup.
Second Half Game Reports
(July 26) Behind the two-hit pitching of “Lefty” Mydansky, the Ponoka Panthers opened the second-half of the Northern Alberta Baseball League schedule with a 2 to 0 verdict over the Calgary Mustangs. Both of the Panthers’ markers were registered in the second inning. Doubles by “Buster” Mutch and “Ace” Bradley followed by a run-producing single from the bat of catcher Larry Simas accounted for all the scoring. Mutch later added a pair of singles to his production to emerge as the game’s top hitter.
Joyce (L) and Lilly
Mydansky (W) and Simas
(July 26) With revamped lineups following the dissolution of the Wetaskiwin team, the two Edmonton teams opened second-half hostilities at Renfrew Park and once again, the first-half winners, the Cardinals, emerged with the upper-hand, dropping the Shastas 6 to 2. Scoring a run in the first, two in the second, another in the fourth and two more in the fifth, the Cardinals were always out in front. Winning chucker “Buck” Eaton struck out seven and breezed for most of the route in tossing a five-hitter. Walks and errors at crucial times were the Shastas’ worst enemy. Dick Valencia and playing-manager Leroy Goldsworthy of the Shastas were the only players from either squad to register two hits.
Elchuk (L), Cook (1), Wynn (4) and Harney
Eaton (W) and Woolridge
(July 28) By virtue of a four-run uprising in the ninth inning, the Ponoka Panthers reeled off their second straight victory in the second-half schedule by dropping the Edmonton Shastas 6 to 2. The visiting Panthers held a 9 to 5 edge in base hits garnered. The Shastas were unable to cope with the numerous ninth-inning bunts laid down on the Renfrew Park diamond by Ponoka batters and imploded when it mattered most. “Lefty” Mydansky earned the mound win with a three-inning relief job. Loser Ted Malmberg was nicked for nine hits but it was his inept fielding of bunts that led to his downfall. Ponoka outfielder Stewart led the way offensively with three singles.
Tulloch, Mydansky (W) (7) and Simas
Malmberg (L) and Harney, Anderson
(July 29) Behind the seven-hit pitching of fireballer “Ike” Isaacson, the Edmonton Cardinals hung a 9 to 4 defeat on the Ponoka Panthers. The Cards took an early lead in this contest and were never headed. Isaacson rang up seven strikeouts while his mound opponent, Les Rios, registered six. Second baseman Carlos Barbettini, recently secured after the Wetaskiwin team blew up, led the Capital City crew with the bat, slamming four hits including a pair of ringing doubles. Panthers’ playing-manager “Ike” Davis and Bill Creager had home runs in a losing cause.
Isaacson (W) and Woolridge
Rios (L) and Lewis
(July 31) In their first appearance this season in Edmonton as a member of the Northern Alberta loop, the Calgary Mustangs were broken and saddled 4 to 0 by the first-half winners, the Edmonton Cardinals. Given brilliant support afield, Cardinals’ moundsman Joe Malman held the Calgarians to a single base blow in the seven-and-a-half innings that the joust lasted before being called on account of darkness. Bill Joyce, who did the chucking for the Mustangs, was tagged for seven base knocks. Pete McCready drilled a double and a single for the winners while shortstop Jack Sauceda singled twice.
Joyce (L) and Lilly
Malman (W) and Woolridge
(August 2) The visiting Calgary Mustangs soundly trounced the Edmonton Shastas 13 to 3 in a Northern Alberta tussle played at Renfrew Park that attracted a crowd of close to 5,000 fans. Bill Daoust, the classy little Mustang southpaw, tossed a seven-hitter for the mound victory and never experienced any serious difficulties throughout the encounter. The Cowtowners clobbered three Shasta moundsmen for 14 base blows with shortstop Dave Dufrene leading the way with three hits which drove in four runs.
Daoust (W) and Lilly
Malmberg (L), Elchuk (8 ), Koch (8) and Harney
(August 2) The Ponoka Panthers moved into a tie with the Edmonton Cardinals for the leadership of the second-half standings in the Northern Alberta circuit when they defeated the Cards 5 to 4 at Sylvan Lake. Manager “Ike” Davis of the Panthers used giant coloured pitcher, R. E. Walker, on the hill for this tussle. Walker, currently touring with the Acme Giants, was signed by Davis for this lone mound appearance. He fanned nine while surrendering an equal number of base raps. He aided his cause considerably with the bat, slashing out a triple and single off loser “Buck” Eaton. Carlos Barbettini led the Redbirds at the dish with a double and a brace of one-baggers.
Eaton (L) and Simas
Walker (W) and Semenza
(August 3) Turning on “Lefty” Mydansky, the Ponoka Panther portsider who had shut them out on two hits eight days earlier, the Calgary Mustangs posted a 7 to 5 victory over the northerners at Mewata Stadium. The game was called at the end of the eighth owing to darkness. The Mustangs shelled their nemesis, Mydansky, for nine base blows before driving him to the showers after just 2 2/3 innings of mound work. The steady seven-hit twirling of big Bill Joyce spearheaded the Stampede City win. A two-run homer by his batterymate, John Lilly, in the third gave the Mustangs a margin that Ponoka could not overtake. The Calgary receiver also had three singles in leading the batting assault.
Mydansky (L), Rios (3) and Semenza
Joyce (W) and Lilly
(August 4) The Edmonton Shastas finally found the range and soundly whipped their city cousins, the Edmonton Cardinals, 12 to 2 for their initial second-half victory. Blasting 16 hits off the slants of losing twirler Joe Malman and reliever “Buck” Eaton, the Shastas built up an insurmountable 12 to 0 lead before the Redbirds were able to score twice in their final turn at bat. “Rusty” Wynn gave up eight hits and fanned five in notching the mound victory. Playing-manager Leroy Goldsworthy had three base hits for the Shastas which drove in a pair of counters.
Malman (L), Eaton (5) and Woolridge
Wynn (W) and Harney
(August 4) Pinch-hitter Lester “Rio” Rios slammed a seventh-inning three-run home run to spark the Ponoka Panthers to a come-from-behind 6 to 3 win over the Calgary Mustangs. For the most part, the Calgarians outplayed the victorious Felines, holding a 7 to 5 edge in base hits and playing errorless afield. “Red” Tulloch earned the pitching decision over Reggie Wallis. Outfielder “Ace” Bradley of Ponoka and the Mustangs’ Bill Joyce shared batting honours, each singling twice.
Tulloch (W) and Semenza
Wallis (L) and Lilly
Second-half standings W L Pct.
Ponoka Panthers 4 2 .667
Edmonton Cardinals 3 2 .600
Calgary Mustangs 2 3 .400
Edmonton Shastas 1 3 .250
(August 5) The Ponoka Panthers edged the Edmonton Shastas 6 to 5 in a Northern circuit game at Ponoka which was called in the seventh frame because of darkness. Both teams garnered seven base knocks. “Lefty” Mydansky struck out ten in going the distance for the victory. Shortstop Bobby Morey of the Edmontonians had the best success against Mydansky as he lit up the Panther portsider for three singles which drove in three runs. Outfielder Charlie Lewis was the only swinger from the winners’ dugout to register two hits. Second baseman Bill Creager of the Panthers had a three-run circuit-clout.
Koch and Harney
Mydansky and Semenza
(August 6) Ponoka’s powerful Panthers climbed further into the lead of the Northern Alberta Baseball League when they defeated the Edmonton Cardinals 4 to 3 at Renfrew Park. After six frames, the teams were deadlocked at 2 – 2. The invaders plated a pair in the seventh, the first on a wild throw to the plate and the second, the eventual winner, on Ike Kahn’s RBI single. Each team collected seven bingles with Kahn and the Cards’ Hugh Gerardin both registering a pair. Gerardin’s total included a double. Phil Horn and “Buck” Eaton of the Redbirds both belted bases-empty home runs.
Tulloch (W) and Semenza
Isaacson (L) and Woolridge
(August 9) With a capacity crowd looking on at Renfrew Park, the Edmonton Shastas booted the ball on seven occasions and were dumped 7 to 1 by their intra-city rivals, the Edmonton Cardinals. Emerson “Buck” Eaton hurled the Cardinals to their triumph. All the Shastas could do was touch his offerings for five hits. Eaton also picked up a brace of singles off losing chucker Bill Koch. Outfielder Hugh Gerardin led the Redbirds with the hickory, smashing a double and a brace of one-baggers.
Koch (L) and Harney
Eaton (W) and Woolridge
(August 9) The Calgary Mustangs exploded for nine runs in the seventh inning and went on to defeat the league-leading Ponoka Panthers 12 to 9. Four home runs, two by each side, highlighted this heavy-hitting affair. Winning tosser Bill Joyce and his batterymate John Lilly connected for the visiting Calgarians while second baseman Bill Creager and catcher Larry Semenza clouted four-baggers for the Panthers.
Joyce (W) and Lilly
Mydansky (L), Tulloch (7), Rios (7) and Semenza
Second-half standings W L Pct.
Ponoka Panthers 6 3 .667
Edmonton Cardinals 4 3 .571
Calgary Mustangs 3 3 .500
Edmonton Shastas 1 5 .167
(August 11) A ten-inning thriller at Renfrew Park produced a 2 – 2 draw between the hosting Edmonton Cardinals and the Calgary Mustangs. Diminutive Bill Daoust of the Cowtowners and lanky Joe Malman of the Redbirds both went the distance in the extra-inning encounter. Daoust limited the Cards to four hits while Malman was touched for nine bingles by the Mustangs. Both ball tossers registered seven strikeouts and issued two walks. Jack Sauceda’s bottom-of-the-ninth single drove in the tying run for the Cardinals. Darkness prevented play beyond the tenth. Edmonton catcher Larry Simas and Calgary’s Bill Joyce were the only batters to collect two base hits. It was announced that the game would be replayed at Sylvan Lake on August 16th.
Daoust and Lilly
Malman and Simas
(August 13) The Calgary Mustangs bid adieu to Renfrew Park in a whirl of glory as they defeated the Edmonton Shastas 9 to 7 in their last scheduled Edmonton appearance in regularly scheduled Northern Alberta League games. The Mustangs uncorked their heavy artillery against losing chucker “Rusty” Wynn and reliever Ted Malmberg, slamming 12 hits. Outfielder Dave McNeill and shortstop Dave Dufrene both collected three raps with McNeill’s output including a round-tripper. Playing-manager “Dodger” Lewis kicked in with a brace of doubles. Pacing the Shastas’ nine-hit offensive production off the slants of winning tosser Reg Wallis were catcher Lloyd Harney with a triple and single as well as outfielder “Mutt” Anderson with a double and one-bagger.
Wallis (W) and Lilly
Wynn (L), Malmberg (9) and Harney
Second-half standings W L Pct.
Ponoka Panthers 6 2 .667
Calgary Mustangs 4 3 .571
Edmonton Cardinals 4 3 .571
Edmonton Shastas 1 7 .125
(August 14) Putting blows together for a sixth-inning rally that netted five runs, the Edmonton Cardinals took over sole possession of second place in the Northern Alberta semi-pro circuit with a 6 to 4 victory over the Calgary Mustangs in a darkness-shortened, seven inning affair at Mewata Stadium. The defeat was made all the more painful to the Calgary side as they out hit the visitors 13 to 8 and stranded eleven base runners. Outfielder Hugh Gerardin had a circuit-clout and a two-bagger for the winners. Calgary first sacker “Dodger” Lewis singled three times in a losing cause.
Malman (W) and Simas
Daoust (L) and Lilly
(August 16) The Calgary Mustangs climbed back into a second-place tie with the Edmonton Cardinals in the Northern Alberta loop by claiming a 9 to 4 victory over the Cards in a game played at Sylvan Lake. The game was a replay of the 2 – 2 tie played in Edmonton last week. Big Bill Joyce struck out seven Redbirds in going the route for the win. The Wild Horses had a 13 to 9 advantage in base hits. Outfielder Pete McCready of the Edmontonians was the game’s leading hitter, smacking a home run in addition to a pair of singles. Joyce picked up a double and single for the winners while Dave Dufrene, Tommy Bell, Archie McTeer and Dave McNeill all singled twice.
Joyce (W) and Lilly
Isaacson (L), Gerardin (7) and Woolridge
(August 16) In spite of out hitting their opponents by an 8 to 4 margin, the league-leading Ponoka Panthers were dropped 5 to 3 by the cellar-dwelling Edmonton Shastas at Renfrew Park in the Capital city. Bill Koch had the Panthers well in control throughout his complete game mound stint. He struck out ten and, with the exception of Charlie Lewis who got to him for three scratchy singles, Koch fared well against manager Ike Davis’ men. Dick Valencia had a home run and single for the winners. Bill Creager hit a double and single for the Panthers.
Rios (L) and Semenza
Koch (W) and Harney
(August 17) For the second consecutive day, the Edmonton Shastas pulled off a victory over the Ponoka Panthers. This time it was a narrow, come-from-behind 4 to 3 win on the Panthers’ home turf. “Rusty” Wynn got the hard-fought mound decision over “Red” Tulloch. Ponoka had a 9 to 8 advantage in base hits. “Ace” Bradley of the winners as well as “Mutt” Anderson and Bobby Morey of the Felines each singled twice.
Malmberg, Wynn (W) (1) and Harney
Tulloch (L) and Semenza
Second-half standings W L Pct.
Edmonton Cardinals 5 4 .556
Calgary Mustangs 5 4 .556
Ponoka Panthers 6 5 .545
Edmonton Shastas 3 6 .333
(August 18) The Ponoka Panthers completed their second-half schedule with a 5 to 3 win over the Edmonton Cardinals. With the victory, Ponoka regained possession of top spot in the Northern Alberta semi-pro league while the loss dropped the Redbirds into third place. The Panthers erupted for four runs in their first turn at bat, driving loser Joe Malman to the showers. Winning tosser Jimmy Rattlesnake went the distance on the hill, surrendering ten base hits. Carlos Barbettini of the Redbirds led hitters on both sides with a double and single.
Rattlesnake (W) and Semenza
Malman (L), Eaton (1) and Simas
(August 19) Riding the strong left arm of Bill Daoust, augmented with sterling play by his mates, the Calgary Mustangs rode into the Northern Alberta semi-pro league leadership with a 2 to 1 victory over the Edmonton Shastas. Daoust’s portside hurling handcuffed the Shastas on three hits as the Calgary team pushed across two runs in the sixth frame to edge the Edmontonians. Right-hander Bill Koch of the Shastas pitched well in yielding five hits and striking out eight. Daoust fanned eleven and issued only one walk. Harry Levinson’s third-inning RBI single gave the Shastas a 1 to 0 lead. A bases-loaded walk forced in Calgary’s first counter in the sixth to knot the count and a fielder’s choice later in the inning plated the eventual winner. Not a lone batter on either squad was able to muster up more than one hit.
Koch (L) and Harney
Daoust (W) and Lilly
(August 20) Before the largest crowd to witness a baseball game in Calgary this season, the hometown Mustangs continued their late-season hot pace with a narrow 3 to 2 win over the Edmonton Shastas. Plating a pair of first-inning counters, the Mustangs never trailed in this contest although being out hit by an 8 to 6 margin. The only three players to manufacture two base hits in this tussle were all Edmontonians. First baseman Harry Levinson, outfielder “Mutt” Anderson and catcher Lloyd Harney each stroked a brace of one-baggers. Unfortunately for the Mustangs, two of their top import pitchers, Bill Daoust and Bill Joyce, left after the game for California to return to college.
Wynn (L) and Harney
Joyce (W) and Lilly
(August 22) With no hope of capturing the second-half pennant, the Edmonton Shastas disbanded and today members of the club from California are on their way home. Their last scheduled league game against the Edmonton Cardinals has been forfeited, leaving the Redbirds with an opportunity to create a three-way tie for first-place with a win over the Calgary Mustangs.
(August 24) Reg Wallis, diminutive Calgary portsider, led the Mustangs to a 4 to 2 triumph over the Edmonton Cardinals to clinch the second-half pennant in the Northern Alberta Baseball League and give the Calgarians an opportunity to face the same Cardinal outfit, winners of the first-half of the schedule, in a best-of-seven series for the overall championship of the circuit. Wallis limited the northerners to eight scattered hits and had the ability to pull himself out of a couple of bad jams. He also slammed a two-run triple in the second frame which sent the homesters into the lead for good. Later in the game, he also ripped a double. For the final series, the Mustangs have added pitchers Bill Koch and Ted Malmberg from the eliminated Edmonton Shastas to replace the departed Bill Daoust and Bill Joyce.
Isaacson (L) and Woolrich
Wallis (W) and Lilly
Second-half final standings W L Pct.
Calgary Mustangs 8 4 .667
Ponoka Panthers 7 5 .583
Edmonton Cardinals 5 6 .455
Edmonton Shastas 3 8 .273
Playoff Finals
(August 25) Paced by the home run pounding of Larry Conti and Dave McNeill, the Calgary Mustangs won a pitchers’ battle in the first game of the Northern Alberta Baseball League playoff series, defeating the Edmonton Cardinals 3 to 1 at Mewata Stadium. Bill Koch, recruited to the Calgary pitching staff from the Edmonton Shastas as a playoff replacement, opposed lanky southpaw Joe Malman of the Redbirds in a classy hurling duel. Faced with the departure of their steady receiver John Lilly who headed south to return to studies at the University of California, the Mustangs picked up Larry Semenza, Ponoka backstop, to fill in behind the plate for the series. Second baseman Bill Creager, cleanup hitter for the Panthers, was also picked up for the series and tended the keystone sack in this game. There were only seven base hits in the nine inning session and Calgary garnered four of them, two of which were circuit blasts. It was Cardinal outfielder Pete McCready who started the home run parade with a second-inning drive that cleared the left field fence. But the advantage was short-lived as Conti started off the bottom half of the frame with a booming triple and trotted home as McNeill drilled a two-run shot. Calgary’s third run came in the fourth when Conti launched a moonshot over the left field fence, a drive considered to be the longest hit at the Mewata diamond during the season. From the fourth inning on, it was air-tight baseball as both hurlers struck out eight apiece and didn’t give way to anything that looked like a bingle.
Malman (L) and Simas
Koch (W) and Semenza
(August 26) Away to a flying start with a three-run outburst in the first inning, the Calgary Mustangs took a commanding two games to none lead in the Northern Alberta semi-pro playoffs with a 5 to 0 victory over the Edmonton Cardinals. Mustang starter Ted Malmberg went 7 1/3 innings on the hill to get credit for the three-hit whitewashing. Bill Koch did a fine job in relief to preserve the win. A pair of Daves, Dufrene and McNeill, supplied the brunt of the Calgary offensive power. Leadoff hitter Dufrene powered a triple and a pair of singles while his teammate, McNeill, singled three times.
Eaton (L), Isaacson (1) and Simas
Malmberg (W), Koch (8) and Semenza
(August 27) With a garrison finish to overtake a two-run Edmonton Cardinal lead in the seventh and final inning, the Calgary Mustangs gained a stranglehold on the Northern Alberta Baseball League title with a 5 to 4 victory at Mewata Stadium. It was the third straight playoff win for the Mustangs and their final home game as the series now shifts to Edmonton for the balance of the playoffs. It was Larry Conti, playing a stellar game for the Mustangs since being switched from third base to shortstop, who laid down an ideal squeeze bunt which brought in the winning marker in the bottom of the seventh. At that point, darkness prevented another inning of play so the game was called. The thrilling rally began when Tommy Bell, first batter up, drew a base on balls. After one was retired, Dave McNeill pulled a hit down the first-base line and Bell raced all the way to third. With Billy Creager batting, McNeill stole second base, putting the tying markers in scoring position. Creager responded with a single to knot the count. With Conti at bat, Creager pilfered the keystone sack and wound up at third when Carlos Barbettini, covering the bag, let catcher Larry Simas’ throw get by him. The Mustangs then gambled as Conti, with a 2 and 2 count on him, laid down the perfect suicide bunt to plate Creager. Southpaw Reg Wallis tossed a five-hitter for Calgary in earning the mound win over “Buck” Eaton. McNeill and catcher Larry Semenza each had a double and single for the winners.
Eaton (L) and Simas
Wallis (W) and Semenza
(August 28) Staving off elimination, the Edmonton Cardinals survived to live another day when they nipped the Calgary Mustangs 7 to 6 in an eight-inning nail-biter at Renfrew Park. Winning pitcher “Ike” Isaacson, who was hastily summoned to the mound in a relief role after the invaders from Calgary had rocked Redbird starter Joe Malman for nine safeties in 4 1/3 innings, kept his club in the game and then in the eighth and final frame, with the score deadlocked at 6 – 6, led off the bottom of the inning with a booming triple to deep right field. Dick Valencia then followed with a run-scoring single and, although the stanza was completed, the game was called at that point for lack of illumination. The Cowtowners had a distinct 12 to 6 edge in base hits garnered. Dave Dufrene led the way with a double and a pair of singles. Dave McNeill had a home run for the losers.
Malmberg (L) and Semenza
Malman, Isaacson (W) (5) and Simas, Anderson
(August 30) Before an overflow crowd of close to 4,000, the Edmonton Cardinals hung up their second straight triumph over the Calgary Mustangs, taking a decisive 7 to 5 win at Renfrew Park. The Cards never trailed as they accumulated a 6 to 0 lead after five innings were in the books. “Buck” Eaton, with ninth-inning relief help from “Ike” Isaacson, had a five-hitter in earning the mound victory for the Redbirds. Pacing the Edmonton offensive thrust was first baseman Phil Horn who had a double and two singles which produced a pair of runs.
Koch (L) and Semenza
Eaton (W), Isaacson (9) and Simas
(August 31) In their sixth playoff engagement, the Edmonton Cardinals and Calgary Mustangs battled to a 1 – 1 draw in an eight-inning pitcher`s duel which was terminated early because of darkness. The Cards held a narrow 4 to 3 edge in base hits in this exciting contest. Facing a 1 to 0 deficit after the top of the second frame, the Redbirds were able to plate the equalizer in the seventh and had an opportunity to score a go-ahead run in the same stanza but a failed suicide squeeze attempt cut the rally short. Edmonton third baseman Davey Fenton was the only player on either side who could muster up two hits.
Wallis and Semenza
Isaacson and Simas
(September 1) A four-run uprising in the first inning ignited the Calgary Mustangs to a 4 to 3 triumph over the Edmonton Cardinals. The win allowed the Mustangs to claim the Northern Alberta semi-pro crown for 1936 by virtue of their four games to two margin with one tie game in the seven-game series. Once more, the fans were treated to a hurling duel. Calgary playing-manager Lincoln “Dodger” Lewis, making his first mound appearance in several weeks, displayed his savvy and craftiness in holding the Edmontonians to five hits during the darkness-shortened, six-inning affair. “Buck” Eaton opposed Lewis on the hill and allowed only four hits but a first-inning error by Redbird shortstop Jack Sauceda gave the Calgarians two runs and set the wheels in motion for their triumph. Archie McTeer had a triple and a single for the winners while Phil Horn of the Cards picked up a double and a single.
Lewis (W) and Semenza
Eaton (L) and Simas
ALBERTA SENIOR / INTERMEDIATE AMATEUR
(May 17) In the first game of the season at Champion, the home squad came away with a 12-7 triumph over Stavely in a game which produced a triple play. With runners on second and third, the batter popped to the pitcher Hicks who threw to third for the second out and D.Latiff relayed to second baseman Alex Latiff to end the inning. Yerko knocked in five runs for Stavley with a homer and double.
Beattie, Brock, Chilton and Yerko, Rea
Hicks, Walter and Hargraves
(May 22) Claresholm, the defending Foothills League champions opened the season Friday with a 12-4 victory over Nanton. Lombeim and Matson combined on a seven-hitter for the winners. Wallis, hurling for Nanton, allowed just seven hits but walked four and hit three batters. Kitchen belted a homer for Claresholm.
Wallis (L) and McKenzie
Lomheim, Matson and Edlund
(May 24) Nanton edged Arrowwood 4-3.
Norton (L) and xxx
Koch (W), Wallis (7) and xxx
(May 24) The Lethbridge Galt Miners opened the season with an auspicious display downing Montana's Sunburst Texaco Firechiefs 6-2 and 7-0 in an exhbiition double-header. Dutch Holman bested former Miner Stan Chervinski in the first game tossing a six-hitter. Six errors hurt the visitors. First sacker Dahlen of Sunburst was the game's hitting star with a triple and two singles.
Holman (W) and Toccoli
Chervinski (L) and Dennis
In the nightcap, Alex Yanosik held Sunburst to just four hits and fanned nine in throwing the shutout. Left fielder Orlando Luciani led the Miners' attack with a double and single with two runs scored. Dahlen had two more hits, one a double, for the Americans. Shorty Turf yielded eight hits in taking the loss.
Turf (L) and Coleman
Yanosik (W) and Toccoli
(May 27) Bill Koch fired a no-hit, no-run game Wednesday as Nanton shutout Claresholm 10-0. Koch compiled 16 strikeouts. Reg Wallis and Bastin each had three hits for Nanton.
Lomheim (L) and Edlund
Koch (W) and McKenzie
(May 29) Stavely Regals crushed Claresholm 29-4.
(May 31) Bill Koch, coming off a no-hitter, with 16 strikeouts, in his last start, fanned 14 Sunday as Nanton whipped Champion 13-3.
Steeves (L), Walker, R.Latiff and Hargreaves
Koch (W) and McKenzie
(June 3) "Irish" O'Connor fashioned a three-hitter and made seven assists in the field as Stavely crushed Nanton 10-1. O'Connor fanned ten.
Teskey, Koch (3), Geddes and McKenzie
O'Connor and Yerko
(June 5) Champion pounded out 14 hits in trouncing the home club 10-1 on a windy and rainy night at Claresholm. Robinson slammed a three-run homer in the second frame and Walker duplicated the feat in the seventh. Black accounted for the only Claresholm run with a seventh inning circuit blow.
Walker (W) and Hargreaves
Matson (L), Keats and Edlund
(June 5) Arrowwood topped Nanton 7-1 on a cool night at Nanton. The temperature was near the freezing point. Pitman tossed a five-hitter for the win besting Stoba..
Pitman (W) and M.Norton
Stoba (L) and McKenzie
(June 12) In an exhibition double-header at Taber, the hosts and Enchant battled to a 5-5 draw in the opener and Enchant notched a 2-1 win in the second.
Gillespie and Robertson
Martin and Williams
Malenberg and Gillespie
Reid, Peterson and Williams
(June 12) In a league fixture at Champion, the homesters whipped Claresholm 10-0 behind a 13-hit attack. Right fielder W.F.Hamilton was the star for the winners and Dick Latiff knocked a homer for Champion and R.Robinson had a triple.
Keats, Hutchinson and Edlund
Robinson and Hargreaves
(June 15) At Nanton, the visiting Vulcan nine surprised the home club with three runs in the first inning, but the lead didn't last long as Nanton responded with five hits in the bottom of the first, as Vulcan made four errors, to plate eight runs en route to an 11-8 triumph.
Deal, Snow, Craig and Lungren
Stoba a(W) nd McKenzie
(June 15) Russell Berg smashed one past third in the tenth inning to score Lomheim with the winning run as Claresholm shaded Arrowwood 3-2. Lombeim went the distance with a seven-hitter for the win.
Pitman (L) and M.Norton
Lomheim (W) and Schram
(June 17) Claresholm defeated Vulcan 17-4 as Rudy Matson registered 11 strikeouts in going the route for the pitching win.
Matson (W) and R.Nowlin
Fulton (L), Craig (2), Ulrich (4), Snow (6), Lundgren (8) and Recor
(June 19) Carmangay demolished Starline 18-2 Friday in a contest at Starline. Teskey went the route for the winners.
xxx and xxx
Teskey and Hubka
(June 19) Claresholm took revenge for an early season loss at Nanton trouncing the visitors 11-0 behind Jack Keats' four-hitter. He struck out six and walked four.
Stoba, Koch and McKenzie
Keats and Nowlin
(June 19) Champion handed Stavely its first loss in league play Friday downing the Regals 5-4.
O'Connor (L) and xxx
Walker (W) and xxx
(June 20) In the Old Chief League Saturday, Spring Coulee edged Cardston 5-4.
(June 21) Blackie defeated Nanton 6-2 in a league fixture before more than 500 at Nanton Sunday. Blackie had eight hits and took advantage of seven Nanton errors.
Baker, Addesman and xxx
McLaren, Koch and McKenzie
(June 21) Foremost took both games of Sunday's double-headfer with Whitla winning 14-13 and 8-7. In the second game, R.P. Medhurst smacked a grand slam homer in the 8th inning for the winning blow.
(June 21) In an exhibition twin-bill with the Champion Elks, the Lethbridge Galt Miners put on a Jekyll and Hyde routine Sunday in playing errorless ball to win the first game 9-2 then booting the ball nine times in the second game in dropping a 15-11 decision. Alex Yanosik and Bob Moodie combined on a five-hitter in the opener while Joe Hanisko highlighted the attack with a second inning home run.
Steeves (L), Latiff and Hargreaves
A.Yanosik (W) , Moodie and Grob
The second game was a symphony of errors and heavy hits that saw Champion emerge with a 15-11 triumph. The teams combined for 25 hits and 20 errors. Roy Robinson, former Lethbridge flinger, hurled a nice game but was accorded terrible support by his teammates who made 11 miscues. Robinson compiled 17 strikeouts. The visitors pounded Dutch Holman for 16 hits.
Robinson (W) and Hargreaves
Holman (L) and Toccoli
(June 22) Stavely doubled up on Claresholm Sunday winning 10-5.
Lomheim (L) and xxx
Rea (W) and xxx
(June 22) Arrowwood Panthers edged Nanton 6-5.
Koch (L) and McKenzie
Miller (W) and M.Norton
(June 24) Burdett downed Foremost 10-6 to take top prize in the Foremost Tournament. Foremost defeated Nemiskam 6-2 in the first game and Burdett reached the final with a 13-3 win over Warner in the second.
(June 24) Claresholm scored four runs on five hits in the first inning and led all the way in a 5-4 decision over Nanton.
Keats (W) and R.Nowlin
Stoba (L), Koch (8) and McKenzie
(June 24) Stavely invaded Champion and were handed their second loss in league play by the homestanding Elks, a resounding 20-3 shellacking. Stavely's Russ Beatty picked up four hits in a losing cause.
(June 25) Claresholm whipped MacLeod 16-1 in a sloppily played exhibition contest at Claresholm. Matson held the visitors in five hits in going the distance for the win. The teams combined to make 16 errors, nine by MacLeod.
Webb (L), Mackintosh and Ramsbottom
Matson (W) and Nowlin
(June 26) Jack Keats threw a four-hitter Friday as Claresholm shutout Nanton 11-0. Keats fanned six and was aided by a pair of double plays.
Stoba (L), Koch (6) and McKenzie
Keats (W) and xxx
(June 26) Rayo Woolf's Raymond Tigers outclassed the Stirling nine 13-2 Friday at Raymond. Neilson fired a two-hitter for the winners while the Tigers pounded out 13 hits in the victory.
Ogden (L) and Eveson
Neilson (W) and Weaver
(June 28) The wind-whipped Adams Park diamond was no hurdle for the Galt Miners Sunday as they trampled the Coaldale Artic Golds 15-2 before a crowd of about three hundred who braved the wind and dust. The weather conditions forced cancellation of a scheduled second game. Brothers Orlando and Ernest Luciani led a 15-hit offensive for the Miners. Orlando rapped a homer and two singles while Ernest clouted three doubles. Alex Yanosik held the visitors to five hits in going the distance for the mound victory. Don Gordon was Yanosik's chief nemesis belting a homer and double.
Doug Thornton (L) and Erickson
A.Yanosik (W) and Grob
(July 5) Before a large crowd at Sunburst, Montana, Lethbridge Galt Miners posted an 11-7 verdict to extend their winning streak to four games. The Fire Chiefs, with another two imports from Spokane, were unable to cope with the steady hurling of Alex Yanosik. The game featured five home runs as Ken Ringland, Orlando Luciani and Yanosik smacked four-baggers for Lethbridge. Sunburst third baseman Shoening belted the first pitch of the game for a homer and Slim Petrunia later had a circuit blow.
Yanosik (W) and Grob
Chervinski (L), Turf (5) and Petrunia
(July 8) The Mexican Aztecas captured both ends of Wednesday double-header at Adams Park scoring an easy 11-5 win over Lethbridge Galt Miners in the opener and escaping with a 4-3 decision in the second game. Aztecas plated four runs in the first inning and coasted to victory in the first game with a 15-hit attack bolstered by a half dozen free passes. First baseman Parra knocked in four runs while Vargas, the centre fielder rapped a triple, double and single. The left fielder, Caballero had the only homer.
J.Perez (W) and Ybarra
Eagleson (L), Holman(6) and Grob
Arriola, a diminutive right-hander held the Miners to five hits in the second game with six strikeouts and five walks. Parra, with two singles, was the only batter with more than one hit.
Arriola W) and Gonzales
Yanosik (L) and Grob
(July 8) Nanton spoiled the day for the home crowd taking an 8-6 decision at Arrowwood. Trailing 6 to 2, Nanton went on a hitting spree in the 7th inning to count six runs and take the victory.
Geddes, Kitchen (W) and Wilson
Pittman (L) and M.Norton
(July 9) In one of the best games played in Nanton this season, the touring Mexican Aztecas knocked out 13 hits in taking a tight 3-2 decision from Nanton before a large crowd of enthusiastic fans. The visitors scored two in the first inning and another in the eighth for the win. Nanton scored in the fifth and sixth innings. Koch pitched well for Nanton, striking out 13. Vargas allowed ten hits and fanned ten in posting the win for the Aztecas.
Vargas (W) and Gonzales
Koch (L) and McKenzie
(July 17) Nanton ace Bill Koch rang up 11 strikeouts in pitching the visitors to a 4 to 2 win over Claresholm.
Koch (W) and McKenzie
Keats (L) and R.Nowlin
(July 19) Jack Van Slate of the Sunburst Fire Chiefs turned in a masterpiece Sunday in the first game of a double bill firing a no-hitter with 20 strikeouts in a 4-0 victory over Lethbridge Galt Miners. As if that wasn't enough, Van Slate came back in relief to get the win in the second game as the Americans exploded for seven runs in the tenth inning to dump the Miners 9-2.
in the first game, an outfield error kept Van Slate from a perfect game. The Chiefs collected ten hits off Dutch Holman.
Van Slate (W) and Petrunia
Holman (L) and Toccoli
With the scored tied 2-2 in the ninth, Van Slate replaced towering right-hander Haroldson who had allowed just four hits in his eight-inning stint. Fred Onofrychuck, the first man to face him, got the only hit off him on the day lifting a Texas Leaguer to short left field. The Montana ace then proceeded to fan the next six batters to bring his total to 26 for the day. But his storybook day still had a ways to go. He strode to the plate in the 10th and whacked one over the left field fence for a home run which started Sunburst's winning rally. Before the smoke had cleared a combination of three hits and three errors added another six runs to what had been a tight ball game. First baseman Dahlen led the winners with a homer, double and single. .
Haroldson, Van Slate (W) (9) and Petrunia
Yanosik (L) and Toccoli
(July 20) A big crowd turned out in Nanton Monday as the Detroit Colored Giants defeated the locals 4-2. The game featured three home runs.
(July 24) Bow Island defeated Fox Valley 2-1 with Thacker registering the pitching win.
xxx and xxx
H.Thacker (W) and M.Allen
(July 24) Taber Canners wound up the Intermediate league schedule defeating New Dayton 5-4 in a seven-inning game Friday evening. It was New Dayton's sole loss on the season.
Eliason (L) and Mahood
Martin (W) and Stubbert
(July 26) The host Fire Chiefs and Galt Miners split a double-header at Sunburst Sunday with the home squad taking the opener 8-7 and the Miners prevailing in the second game 3-1.
(August 2) Lethbridge Galt Miners added two more wins to their impressive total when they took both games of a twin-bill from Coleman 6-2 and 7-1. The visitors were strengthened by players from Michel, Hillcrest and Blairmore. Dutch Holman pitched a seven-hitter in the afternoon as shortstop Eric Dolighan led the offense with three hits.
Sadlish (L) and Elick
Holman (W) and Toccoli
Ken Ringland yielded just two hits in the second game while compiling 13 strikeouts. Again, Eric Dolighan paced the attack with three hits.
Houbregs, McIntosh and Elick
Ringland (W) and Toccoli
(Aug 4) The touring Detroit Colored Giants downed the locals 13-8 in a game at Wainwright, Alberta Tuesday evening. Wainwright surprised the visitors with a big first inning scoring five times on two hits and three Detroit errors. The Giants rebounded with one in the 2nd and four in the 3rd to tie the count. They added three in the 4th and never looked back. Bill Smith, the 6'4" manager of the Giants, belted one in the 7th inning that was described as the longest ever seen on the local diamond. While the fielders retrieved the ball from the bushes, Smith loped around the bases with plenty of time to spare.
The following night, the Detroit team motored to Camrose and downed the local club 6-3.
Intermediate Playoffs
Champion’s dominance over perennial powerhouse Stavely in league play allowed them to claim the league pennant which gives them a bye in the four-team playoff system. Third-place Nanton will meet fourth-place Claresholm in a best-of-three quarter-final series, the winner to face second-place Stavely. The victor of the semi-final playoff will then meet Champion.
(July 19) Nanton sent the local fans home happy Sunday with an 8-1 victory over the visiting Claresholm Huskies in the first game of the playoffs for the Foothills championship. Big Bill Koch held the visitors to just three hits and struck out 13 while Nanton collected 13 hits off a pair of Claresholm hurlers. Kitchen led a 12-hit Nanton attack with a single, double and triple in five trips to the plate.
Lomheim (L), Matson (2) and R.Nowlin
Koch (W) and McKenzie
(July 23) Claresholm with just one hit off Bill Koch, took advantage of six Nanton errors Wednesday to notch a 3-1 win in the second game of the Foothills League playoff series. Claresholm got a run in the first inning on an error and two more in the second when Nanton booted the ball four times. Keats gave up just five hits in going the route for the win. He struck out seven and walked a pair. Koch rang up nine strikeouts and issued one free pass.
Koch (L) and McKenzie
Keats (W) and R.Nowlin
(July 26) Riding a 17-hit attack, Nanton eliminated Claresholm from the Foothills playoffs notching an 8-4 victory. Stoba gave up nine hits but managed to go the distance for the winners. A four-run second inning, on five hits and an error, put Nanton on the path to the victory. Nanton had failed to score in the first after loading the bases with one out. They added two in the fourth on three hits, one a triple by McKenzie.
Keats (L) and Nowlin
Stoba (W) and McKenzie
The Stavely Advertiser of Friday, July 31st, indicated Nanton had defaulted its semi-final series to Stavely.
(August 9) At Champion, the hometown Elks and Stavely split a playoff double-header. Stavely took the opener 5-0 and Champion rebounded to take the second game 4-3.
O'Connor (W), Rea and Yerko
Watts (L) and Walker
Robinson (W) and Hargreaves
Doyle (L) and Brock
(August 16) Brooks took the first two games of the Intermedaite playoff series with Queenstown 13-11 and 2-1. In the first game, Brooks capitalized on ten Queenstown errors.
Ab Crellin (L) and xxx
Ray Rasmussen (W), Judkins (7) and xxx
Again, sloppy defense spelled defeat for Queenstown in the second game as Brooks scored a pair on a single hit and two errors in the third inning. Bischel hurled a four-hitter for the win. Jim Rubbelke took the loss although yielding just four hits.
Jim Rubbelke (L) and xxx
Bischel (W) and xxx
(August 16) Playing at home, Stavely swept a double-header to take the first two games of the Intermediate playoff series over Cardston, 4-2 and 7-3. In the first inning of the first game Cardston loaded the bases with nobdy out but managed just one run. Robinson gave Stavely the lead in the second belting a homer with Beatty aboard. After the visitors notched a run in the seventh to tie, the homesters plated a pair in the 8th on Shorty Bouzyan's hit, a walk to Rea and Yerko's safety. Irish O'Connor held Cardston to eight hits while fanning nine to register the mound win.
Cahoon (L) and McKenzie
O'Connor (W) and Rea
Stavely had two three-run innings, the third and the sixth, en route to the 7-3 victory in the second game. Jimmy Walker tossed a seven-hitter for the win. Stavely punched out ten hits off two Cardston hurlers including triples by Latiff and Walker.
Leavitt (L), Wolsey and Bohne
Walker (W) and Rea
(August 19) Stavely crushed Cardston 17-3 in the second game of a double-header Wednesday to knock the defending champions out of the Intermediate playoffs. The Maple Leafs won the first game 5-0 behind Cahoon's three-hitter before Stavely took advantage of fifteen Cardston errors to plate 17 runs in the deciding contest.. Stavely will represent Southern Alberta in the provincial finals. Dick Latiff smacked a homer for the winners and Yerko had a field day with four hits, six runs batted in and four runs scored. Johnnie Hughes had three hits and scored three times.
O'Connor (L) and Read
Cahoon (W) and McKenzie
Walker (W) and Rea
Cahoon (L), Leavitt and McKenzie, Bohne
(August 30) Stavely moved two-thirds of the way toward a provincial title Sunday downing Brooks 12-5 and 5 to 2 in the first two games of the Alberta Intermediate Championship. Brooks jumped into a quick 4-0 lead in the first inning of the opening game, but hurler Irish O'Connor then settled down to hold the vistors to just one more marker the rest of the way while his mates began piling up the runs, clinching the game with five in the eighth. Johnnie Hughes scored four times for the winners with a homer and four walks. Ferris "Shorty" Bouzyan, picked up from Champion, scored three times. "Hap" Rea belted a homer for Stavely and Wood had one for the visitors.
Rasmuson (L) and Burrows
O'Connor (W) and Rea
Veteran Lester "Slim" Haynes turned in a solid performance in the second game holding Brooks to six hits as Stavely prevailed 5-2. Bobby Doyle led the winners with three hits in four trips to the plate. Bischel, on the hill for Brooks, gave up eight hits and fanned eleven.
Bischel (L) and Burrows
Haynes (W) and Rea, Doyle
(September 6) Stavely Regals captured the Alberta Intermediate title Sunday defeating Brooks to take the best-of-five series in three straight games. Brooks took the lead in the first inning but Stavely tied it in the third and went ahead for good in the fifth.
Southern Alberta Final Series
(August 5) The Galt Miners, Lethbridge’s entry in the race for Alberta senior amateur baseball honours, took a long stride toward their goal when they took both ends of a playoff double-bill from the scrappy East Coulee Athletics by 4 to 0 and 10 to 9 scores. Sturdy Alex Yanosik was the hero of both Miner wins, hurling four-hit ball to pick up the first-game triumph and then coming to the rescue of “Dutch” Holman in the late encounter to benefit from a Miner eighth-inning rally. Yanosik had three hits off loser Fred “Smiley” Brooks in the opener as did teammate Eric Dolighan. Outfielder Swanson doubled and singled for the losers.
Brooks (L) and Nicol
A. Yanosik (W) and Toccoli
A home run by East Coulee outfielder Owens touched off an four-run eighth inning for the Athletics that gave them a temporary 9 to 8 lead. The Miners’ Orlando Luciani’s two-bagger in the bottom of the frame drove in the tying and lead markers which put Lethbridge in front to stay. Luciani had another double and single to go along with his game-winning hit. Shortstop Fred Onofrychuk hit a round-tripper for the winners. The game’s top swatter was losing twirler Danny Hackler of the Athletics who ripped Lethbridge ball tossers for a double and three singles.
D. Hackler (L) and Nicol
Holman, A. Yanosik (W) (6) and Toccoli
(August 6) The Lethbridge Galt Miners had the southern Alberta championship almost in their grasp after defeating the East Coulee Athletics 8 to 7 at Adams Park to run their string of victories over the visitors to three straight. Fighting an uphill battle, the Miners overcame a 7 to 3 sixth-inning deficit to finally emerge on top with a pair of eighth frame counters. Fred Onofrychuk’s war club was responsible for a single and double in the sixth and eighth innings that drove in three runs. His eighth frame two-bagger plated Howard Teel with the tying marker and he trotted home with the winning tally on Steve Smerek’s bunt down the third base line. Teel got the mound win with 3 1/3 innings of scoreless relief work.
Olive, D. Hackler and Nicol
Ringland, Teel (W) (6) and Toccoli
(August 12) The Galt Miners of Lethbridge advanced to the finals of the Alberta senior amateur baseball championship by defeating the East Coulee Athletics 2 to 1 in Drumheller to complete a sweep in their best-of-seven series. The A’s out hit the visitors 8 to 4 but weren’t able to capitalize on their opportunities. Winning pitcher Alex Yanosik struck out eight while East Coulee’s Fred Brooks fanned eleven. Orlando Luciani connected for a bases-empty home run in the fourth inning to give the Miners a 1 to 0 lead. Both teams counted single tallies in the eighth, the Miners’ run crossing the plate as a result of Fred Onofrychuk’s double, with the Athletics’ run scoring on an overthrow to third base, Lethbridge’s lone error of the game.
A. Yanosik (W) and Toccoli
Brooks (L) and Nicol
Northern Alberta Final Series
(August 8-9) The Cadomin Maroons won two of the first three games from Westlock in the seven-game Northern Alberta senior amateur baseball playoffs. Cadomin handily took the first and second games 10 to 2 and 15 to 5 but were bombarded 18 to 7 by Westlock in the third match of the weekend series. Games were played before record crowds in Cadomin and under ideal weather conditions. The Maroons hammered two Westlock chuckers for 17 hits in the showdown opener.
McAthey (L), J. Sutherland (3) and Downing
Benoit (W) and Stewart
xxx (L) and xxx
xxx (W) and xxx
xxx (W) and xxx
xxx (L) and xxx
(August 12) Playing in Westlock, the Cadomin Maroons administered a 15 to 6 setback on the host Westlockers in a darkness-shortened contest. The Maroons now have a three games to one stranglehold in the series. Complete game hurler Dick Benoit of Cadomin won his second game of the series.
Benoit (W) and Stewart
Clarke (L), J. Sutherland and xxx
(August 13) The Cadomin Maroons captured the northern Alberta senior amateur baseball crown with a keenly-contested 3 to 2 extra-inning win over Westlock. Both pitchers, John Gerlitz of the Maroons and Westlock’s Herman Loblick, held the game scoreless up until the eighth inning. In that frame, the homesters jumped into a 2 – 0 lead on Dahl’s run-scoring triple followed by Loblick’s single. The invaders scrambled back with a pair of tallies to knot the count at 2 – 2 which eventually forced overtime. In the tenth, playing-manager Frank Lewis of the Maroons plated the winner when he scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Ken Stewart.
Gerlitz (W) and Stewart
Loblick (L) and Dahl
(August 30) In a benefit double-header for Ernie Luciani, Lethbridge Galt Miners crushed New Dayton, the Southern Alberta Intermediate champions, 17-0 and 10-5. Luciani, the Miners first sacker suffered a skull fracture in a game with New Dayton earlier this month. George Yanosik smacked four doubles and Orlando Luciani crushed a homer over the far left field fence, a rare feat, and added a triple. Alex Yanosik limited New Dayton to six hits in firing the shutout.
S.Chervinski (L) and xxx
Yanosik (W) and xxx
New Dayton took a 3-0 lead in the first inning of the second game but Miners responded quickly taking the lead in the second frame and coasting to the victory. Second baseman Steve Smerek had three hits for the winners, Ken Ringland added a double and triple and Fred Onofrychuk and George Yanosik each punched out a pair of two-baggers. Dutch Holman scattered ten hits for the win. Beaton and Eliason each had two hits for New Dayton.
Eliason, M.Nelson and Mahood
Holman (W) and Toccoli
Alberta Finals (best three-out-of-five)
(September 6) The Cadomin Maroons, northern Alberta titleholders, took a huge step toward attaining the provincial crown when they swept both games of a doubleheader from the hosting Galt Miners of Lethbridge. The heavy hitting Cadomin club eked out a close 4 to 2 decision in the first game of the series in a really classy hurling duel between Dick Benoit, francophone ace of the northern nine, and Lethbridge’s Alex Yanosik while, in the evening encounter, they chased three of the four Galt Miner elbowers from the hill as they plastered the horsehide far and often for an 18 to 7 verdict. Benoit fanned eleven to Yanosik’s ten and both surrendered seven safeties in the matinee event but Benoit was the benefactor of the big war club of his batterymate, Ken Stewart, who had three hits, a home run and two doubles, and drove in all four Cadomin runs. Fred Onofrychuk of the Miners had a triple and single in a losing cause.
Benoit (W) and Stewart
A. Yanosik (L) and Toccoli
The late match was more or less of a run-away for the Cadomin nine as the Miners paraded four hurlers to the mound, none of whom met with much success. Starter “Dutch” Holman was saddled with the loss after being driven to the showers in the second frame. Dick Benoit went the route for the northerners to earn his second complete game victory of the day. Leading the hit parade for the winners was first sacker Nick Melnyk who had a double and three singles. Catcher Ken Stewart singled three times to bring his output for the day to six hits. George Yanosik drilled a four-bagger and double for Lethbridge.
Holman (L), A. Lewis (2), Hanisko (4), J. Lewis (5) and Petrunia
Benoit (W) and Stewart
(September 7) Facing elimination, the Lethbridge Galt Miners staged a remarkable comeback to cop games 3 and 4 of the Alberta finals, romping to 6 to 1 and 8 to 2 victories over the Cadomin Maroons behind the steady and reliable hurling of Alex Yanosik who hurled his third complete game in two days. Yanosik held the Maroons to five hits in the opener of the double-bill while whiffing six. Losing flinger Guy Sampson was touched for eight Lethbridge safeties, three of them for extra-bases. The Miners broke up a scoreless game by plating one run in the fifth, three in the sixth and an additional two in the seventh. Cadomin spoiled Yanosik’s bid for a shutout by tallying their lone counter in the final frame.
Sampson (L) and Stewart
A. Yanosik (W) and Toccoli
Although out-hit by a 12 to 7 margin in the owl encounter, Lethbridge took advantage of their opportunities, pushing across five runs in the seventh inning to break open a close game. Steve Smerek backed Yanosik’s second mound win of the day, with a double and single at the dish. Nick Melnyk, Dave Pow and Dick Benoit each had two singles for the Maroons.
A. Yanosik (W) and Toccoli
Gerlitz (L), Sampson (7) and Stewart
(September 8) The Alberta senior baseball championship is still swinging in the balance as a result of a thrilling nine-inning 5 – 5 tie between the Lethbridge Galt Miners and Cadomin Maroons in the fifth game of the title series. Alex Yanosik, who took the mound for the Miners for his fourth game of mound service in three days, gave a grand exhibition of intestinal fortitude. Yanosik held the heavy-hitting Maroons to eight base raps while the Miners connected for 13 safeties off the Cadomin tandem of Nick Melnyk and Dick Benoit. Yanosik also had a clutch two-out single in the ninth to drive home the tying run. In the Cadomin half of the frame, the Maroons had the potential winning run on third following Benoit’s lead-off triple. With none out, Jack Lewis took over for Yanosik on the hill and cooly set down the next three batters in order to preserve the tie. Orlando Luciani had a pair of doubles and a one-bagger for the Miners. Melnyk had a three-run homer plus a single to pace the Maroon swatters.
A. Yanosik, J. Lewis (9) and Toccoli
Melnyk, Benoit (6) and Stewart
(September 9) The Lethbridge Galt Miners, behind the steady seven-hit hurling of veteran Jack Lewis, captured the Alberta senior amateur baseball crown for the first time with a decisive 13 to 3 pasting of the Cadomin Maroons. Lewis struck out eleven, never issued a walk and did not allow more than one hit in any inning. The Miners jumped on the offerings of three Cadomin chuckers for a total of 16 clean-cut base blows. Cadomin actually held a 3 to 1 lead after four innings were in the books but, in the fifth, after two had been retired, the Lethbridge bats suddenly began to connect and forgot to stop until six runs had crossed the plate. Fred Onofrychuk had a double and two singles for the Miners while teammate Steve Smerek contributed three singles. Lethbridge catcher Rigo Toccoli drove in four runs for the new provincial champions. Cadomin’s John Gerlitz and Nick Melnyk both touched Lewis for a double and single.
J. Lewis (W) and Toccoli
Benoit, Sampson (L) (3), Stewart (5) and Stewart, Lewis (5)
(September 13) In a challenge series for the Calgary Brewery Trophy, Lethbridge Galt Miners whipped "Happy" Rea's Stavely Regals 9-5 and 13-8, beating legend Slim Haynes in the process. In spite of chilly and blustery weather, the games filled the grandstands. Sloppy defense hurt the visitors in both contests as Stavely made eight errors in the first game, four by catcher Rea, and five more in the second, two by Rea and three by Yerko who alternated between catcher and shortstop. Miners fell behind 4-2 before rallying with single runs in the fourth and fifth, three in the sixth and two in the seventh. Steve Smerek knocked in three for the winners.
O'Connor (L) and Rea
A.Yanosik (W) and Toccoli
Catcher Rigo Toccoli collected three hits, driving in four runs, to pace the Miners' attack in the second game. George Yanosik, who scored three times, knocked in three with a triple and single. Jack Lewis held the visitors to seven hits in twirling the mound victory. Miners got to Slim Haynes for 13 hits. The Stavely veteran fanned ten and walked one.
J.Lewis (W) and Toccoli
Haynes (L) and Rea, Yerko