(May 27) Notre Dame's classy Hounds got the season away to a flying start by carrying off first prize money in the Wilcox baseball tournament. The Hounds downed Pangman 11 to 1 in the final game. Earlier, they had defeated the Regina Red Sox.
(June 7) The Notre Dame Hounds picked up their second tournament win of the spring as bumper crowds watched them polish off the Regina Red Sox and Davidson R.C.A.F. to take top money at the Lumsden tourney.
(July 12) The Wilcox Cardinals, walloped 14 to 6 in an afternoon contest, came back to rack up an 8 to 1 triumph over the Regina Red Sox in a Park de Young exhibition twin-bill.
(July 15) Matched against one of the superior teams from the noth-central part of the province, the Holdfast All-Stars, the Regina Red Sox met a stiff test and survived with a 2 to 0 victory.
(July 19) The Notre Dame Hounds lost out to a classy nine from Sceptre in the final game of Shaunavon's baseball tournament, settling for second prize money.
(July 22) Hailed as one of the better ball clubs in the south country, the Pangman All-Stars more than lived up to their reputation when they hooked up with the Regina Red Sox in an exhibition tilt at Park de Young. The Reginans were on the bit all the way and carried off a 2 to 0 decision.
(July 25-29) Saskatoon Exhibition Tournament
(July 25) In the opening game of the Saskatoon Exhibition Tournament Tuesday night, Aberdeen with a lineup of veteran Saskatoon civilian players, upset Delisle 3-1.The game was called in the 6th inning because of rain. Bob Shore, who played hockey with the Varsity Huskies last winter, was a star for the winners holding the usually heavy-hitting Delisle aggregation to three hits. Delisle took the lead in the first inning as Hudson singled, advanced on a sacrifice and scored on an outfield error. Aberdeen came back in the second inning to take the lead. Shore smacked a triple to right centre and Slick knocked him in with a double. Buck Crawford followed with a timely single to score Slick. The winners added another in third on a double steal. Soeder, the losing hurler, allowed just three hits but they were bunched in the second inning.
Soeder (L) and Reg Bentley
Shore (W) and Bamford
(July 26) The defending champions will have an opportunity to repeat. No.4 Service Flying Training School Flyers downed Wiseton 6-4 Wednesday to advance to the second round of the Exhibition tournament. Flyers spotted Wiseton a four-run lead after five innings. Two hits, a fielder's choice and three infield errors handed Wiseton three runs in the 4th inning and some daring baserunning added another run in the 5th. Flyers rebounded with three in the bottom of the 5th then tied the contest in the 7th as Lloyd Bradley singled to knock in Turner, sitting on third with a triple. The winning run came in the 8th on an outfield error with two out. A walk and single contributed to an insurance run. Jock Tennant got the win with a seven-hitter. Lefty Arnold took the loss.
Arnold (L), D.Olmstead (6) and Derdall
Tennant (W) and Mills
(July 27) Dundurn Camp Recces moved in the second round with an easy 9-2 win over Neilburg-Paradise Hill. Down 2-1, Dundurn scored four in the 4th to take the lead for good. Big Gayle Shupe scattered seven hits while striking out 16 batters. He did not issue a walk. Shupe, Stout and Thompson each had two hits for the winners. Lefty Karst took the loss.
Shupe (W) and Stout
Karst (L), Flohr (6) and T.Amerault
(July 28) Aberdeen qualified for the final of the Exhibition Tournament Friday with an 8-7 squeaker over H.M.C.S. Unicorn. Trailing 7-5 in the 9th inning, Aberdeen came through with three runs for the triumph. With one out, Gordon Thompson drew a walk and Slick was hit by a pitch. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch and scored as John (Smiley) Maroniuk smacked a double. Bamford fanned but the catcher dropped the ball as Maroniak raced to third and then scored on another error. Maroniuk led the winners with a single, double and triple. After Aberdeen scored a pair in the third inning Navy took the lead in their half of the frame on Pete Prediger's bases-loade single. Each club counted a run in th 4th and Aberdeen took a 5-4 lead with two in the 5th. Sailors tied it in the 6th and took the lead in the 7th. When they added one in the 8th Navy appeared on the way to an upset. It was not to be. Bob Shore was the winner in relief of Maroniuk.
Maroniak, Shore (W) (7) and Bamford
Corbin, Burke (L) (3) and Prediger
(July 29) Trailing 2-0 and being out-hit and out-played, Dundurn rallied for four runs in the 7th inning to shade the S.F.T.S. Flyers 4-3 to win a berth in the Exhibition final against Aberdeen. Flyers' defensive lapses resulted in the loss. Gayle Shupe scattered seven hits for the win. Lloyd Bradley gave up just four hits, but six walks in taking the loss.
Shupe (W) and Stout
Bradley (L) and Mills
(July 29) Dundurn again used one big inning to knock off Aberdeen 7-5 to capture the 1944 Saskatoon Exhibition Tournament championship. A five-run 4th inning was key to the victory. Chuck Carle and Stoute opened with singles and Shupe reached on an error to load the bases. Bob Shore then walked Ruhl and McKenzie to force in two runs. Crawford fumbled Trann's grounder down the first base line to enable Shupe and Rule to come home and Hantuck singled to drive in McKenzie with the 5th marker. Catcher Stout, said to be on leave from an Ontario RCAF unit, led the winners with three hits. Thompson, Steele and Carle each had two safeties.
Ruhl (W) and Stout
Shore L) and Bamford
(August 5) With Walter "Butch" Buttgereit paving the way with two three-baggers, the Pangamn All-Stars took the opening game of an exhibition doubleheader 10 to 7 from the Regina Red Sox but were handcuffed in the nightcap as Regina's Keith McLeod pitched a five-hit 4 to 0 shutout for the Sox.
(September 2) Medicine Hat scored five times in the 7th inning to break a 3-3 tie en route to a 9-5 victory over Sceptre and top money at the United Commercial Travellers Swift Current Tournament. Medicine Hat had reached the final blanking Notre Dame 6-0 behind the hurling of Pennington. Dean Olmstead shutout Swift Current 8-0 in the first game to win a spot in the final. Notre Dame shaded Swift Current 3-2 in the consolation final.
Sceptre 8 Swift Current 0
Olmstead (W) and Grant
Ortman (L), Richardson and B.Abel
Notre Dame 0 Medicine Hat 6
Germann (L) and McCann
Pennington (W) and Blaney
Swift Current 2 Notre Dame 3
Richardson (L) and Abel
Franks (W) and McCann
Sceptre 5 Medicine Hat 9
Olmstead (L) and Grant
Dean (W) and Blaney