FOOTHILLS BASEBALL LEAGUE
A Calgary-based wartime association of diamondeers, the 1945 Foothills Senior Baseball League began as a circuit of six teams, four of which were military clubs. Two of the four armed forces units, however, never completed the season as transfers and discharges depleted their rosters.
Holding down first place during most of the early season, the defending champion No. 3 Service Flying Training School was the first to drop out in late July, reducing the loop to five entries. Some of their remaining elite players were quickly absorbed by the other RCAF entry from No. 10 Repair Depot. In mid-August, the American G. I. team followed suit and pulled out. When the final curtain came down, the No. 10 Repair Depot held first place and a bye into the final playoff series which set up a semi-final featuring the runner-up Purity 99 squad and the third-place Currie Army Barracks aggregation.
Final Standings *
W L Pct.
No. 10 Repair Depot Fliers 12 3 .800
Purity 99 8 7 .533
Currie Army Barracks 8 9 .429
Detroit Auto Body Bears 4 11 .267
* unbalanced as per withdrawal of two teams whose wins and losses were struck from the records
Final 1945 offensive statistics (Calgary Herald, August 28, 1945 edition)
Lefty Ray Humble, one-man gang of the No. 10 Repair Depot Fixers – he plays first base or the outfield when he’s not taking his turn on the pitching mound – topped the batting averages of the Foothills Senior Baseball League for the 1945 season. The Creston B.C. native garnered 31 base hits in 78 trips to the plate for a .397 percentage. In spite of missing a month of the season, Boston Bruins’ puck star Pat Egan of Purity 99 had eight circuit clouts and 25 runs batted in to lead the circuit in those categories. Speed on the base paths was also cornered by Purity 99 with “Lefty” Wilson pilfering 16 sacks, teammate Mickey Hajash 14 and Max Bentley of Currie Barracks 11. Bentley was second to Humble in the hit column with 27 bingles. A dozen players achieved a batting average of .300 or better.
AB R H 2B 3B HR SB BB RBI SO Pct.
Ray Humble, Fixers 78 13 31 6 2 3 0 1 20 7 .397
Vern Kendrick, Currie 33 11 12 5 0 0 2 2 3 0 .364
Turner, Fixers 22 4 8 3 0 0 1 0 6 6 .364
Barney Walker, Bears 11 1 4 3 0 0 1 0 0 0 .364
Giavanazzo, Bears 25 2 9 0 0 0 1 2 2 0 .360
Max Bentley, Currie 77 15 27 7 1 1 11 1 21 6 .351
Pat Egan, Purity 40 15 17 4 0 8 5 12 25 16 .347
Archie Wilder, Fixers 52 13 18 0 0 3 7 8 17 1 .346
Dick Noon, Currie 56 13 19 5 0 3 1 4 12 8 .339
McKay, Fixers 12 1 4 0 0 0 1 1 1 4 .333
Woody Huckabay, Fixers 80 14 26 7 0 0 8 3 3 3 .325
Laing, Purity 54 9 17 1 0 3 2 7 6 20 .321
Doubles – Max Bentley, Woody Huckabay – tied with 7
Triples – Ray Humble, “Lefty” Wilson (Purity), Jim Smale (Fixers), McIntyre (Fixers), Gerry Fath (Bears) – tied with 2
Bases on Balls – Ollie Dahl (Currie) – 15
Strikeouts – Jack Stover (Purity) - 27
Final 1945 pitching statistics (Calgary Herald, August 30, 1945 edition)
Portsider Ray Humble registered the lowest earned run average of all pitchers in the 1945 Foothills Senior Baseball League, Pitching for two different teams in the circuit, Humble held the opposition to a miniscule 0.81 ERA per game. Purity 99’s Dean Olmstead, who fanned the most batters, 91, also led the loop in walks surrendered, hit batters and wild pitches.
GP W L Pct. IP H R BB SO HB WP ERA
Ray Humble, Fixers 8 6 2 .750 66 54 20 8 85 2 3 0.81
Jack Stover, Purity 6 3 1 .750 49 39 24 10 45 6 1 1.10
Ron Miller, Purity 2 0 2 .000 6 9 11 1 5 0 0 1.49
Dean Olmstead, Purity 11 5 3 .625 87 53 41 40 91 16 14 1.55
Vern Richardson, Fixers 14 8 2 .800 92 69 32 12 87 3 2 1.58
Fred Harmon, Purity 12 5 5 .500 92 86 53 26 56 7 4 1.75
Jock Tennant, Fixers 3 1 1 .500 18 10 6 7 20 2 3 2.00
Roy Robinson, Bears 4 1 0 1.000 22 13 6 8 16 2 1 2.04
Barney Walker, Bears 3 1 2 .333 25 30 15 6 22 2 0 2.16
John Empey, Fixers 5 3 0 1.000 32 28 15 15 18 3 3 2.53
Alex Uffelman, Bears 6 1 5 .167 45 42 31 9 45 2 5 2.59
Les Christensen, Currie 6 4 2 .667 47 44 23 14 40 1 0 2.87
Rene Renauld, Bears 6 2 2 .500 41 34 30 18 49 9 1 3.73
“Lefty” Willis, Bears 9 1 6 .143 65 63 35 20 87 6 5 4.01
“Red” Turley, Currie 8 4 4 .500 53 65 38 18 33 2 3 4.07
“Red” Matheson, Currie 6 0 1 .000 23 25 17 10 15 1 0 4.30
Max Silverman, Currie 7 2 4 .333 53 57 44 31 40 3 6 4.58
Innings Pitched – Vern Richardson, Fred Harmon – tied with 92
Strikeouts – Dean Olmstead - 91
PLAYOFFS
Semi-finals (best-of-five series)
(August 28) Currie Army Barracks unleashed a ninth-inning barrage to overhaul Purity 99’s 4 to 3 to take the lead in the Foothill League’s semi-finals. Trailing 3 to 1 entering the ninth frame, the Soldiers loaded the bases after the leadoff batter had been retired. Losing twirler Jack Stover then fanned “Whitey” Rimstad for the second out. Currie chucker Max Silverman drew a base on balls which forced in the second Army counter and Ollie Dahl took the hero’s mantle with a sharp single which drove in the tying and lead markers. In the bottom of the ninth with darkness enveloping the skies, Silverman whiffed an array of pinch-hitters to end the game. Silverman struck out 14 and scattered five hits to earn the mound win. Both hurlers, Stover and Silverman, were the only players to register two hits with one of Silverman’s going for three bases.
Silverman (W) and Stewart, R. Bentley
Stover (L) and Marquess, Alexander
(August 30) Purity 99’s squared the Foothills League semi-finals at a game apiece with an 8 to 5 conquest of Currie Army Barracks. The Oilmen had the equalizer tucked away in less than four innings when eight hits and an equal number of runs sent losing chucker Les Christensen to the showers leaving Dean Olmstead as the winner. Olmstead hurled five-hit baseball while whiffing six and walking five. Pat Egan’s two-run homer and a two-run double by Laing were the timely blows for the winners.
D. Olmstead (W) and Alexander
Christensen (L), Matheson (4) and Stewart
(August 31) In spite of giving up only four base hits, Max Silverman of the Currie Army was his own worst enemy as he issued 11 base on balls including a bases-loaded walk in the bottom-of the-ninth frame which forced in the winning marker for the Purity 99 squad, giving the Oilers a 4 to 3 victory and a 2 to 1 edge in the series. The Purity baseballers used three chuckers with Dean Olmstead’s one-frame stint in the ninth-inning copping the late-inning victory. Silverman had three of his team’s eleven hits. Trailing by a run in their final turn at bat, the Ninety-Niners saw shortstop Bert Olmstead lead things off with a free pass and move to second on a sacrifice. A visibly tired Silverman then walked the next two batters to load the sacks. Slugger Pat Egan fooled everyone by laying down a bunt to plate the equalizer. Another walk, this one to Mickey Hajash, then ended the game.
Silverman (L) and Stewart
Harmon, Stover (5), D. Olmstead (W) (9) and Alexander
(September 1) 19 year old “Red” Matheson scattered five Purity hits over nine innings as the Currie Barracks Army nine evened their series with the Oilmen at two games each with a 6 to 4 win. Max Bentley supplied the hitting punch in the Soldiers’ attack as the hard-hitting third sacker hammered out two hits, one a double, and batted in three runs. Pat Egan belted a two-run circuit clout in the ninth frame for the Puritans, reducing the deficit to two runs, but that was as close as they would get.
Stover (L), D. Olmstead (4), Stover (8) and Marquess
Matheson (W) and R. Bentley
(September 2) Led by outfielder Angie Giavedoni’s hot bat, the Currie Army nine won the fifth and deciding game with the Purity 99’s by prevailing 10 to 9 after 11 torrid innings of play. After seven innings, the Ninety-Niners sported a 5 to 1 edge and appeared headed to the league finals as Fred Harmon was readily handcuffing the Soldiers. In the eighth, however, Giavedoni made things close by touching Harmon for a three-run round-tripper. The Oilers picked up a singleton in the bottom of the stanza to stretch their lead to two. Both teams found their batting prowess in the ninth. The Curries plated five counters, three on another circuit-blast by Giavedoni to take a 9 to 6 lead. Purity came right back. A rare bases-loaded intentional walk to slugger Pat Egan forced in one run and Mickey Hajash’s double brought home two more to knot the count. After a scoreless tenth, Ollie Dahl walked, went to third on an error and scored on an infield out. That was the ball game as Max Silverman then bore down and retired the side in order. Aside from his two homers which produced six RBI’s, Giavedoni also had a double and single. Silverman and Egan also homered for their respective teams.
Silverman, Christensen (5), Silverman (W) (9) and R. Bentley, Dahl
Harmon, D. Olmstead (L) (9) and Alexander
Finals (best-of-seven series)
(September 4) Vern Richardson’s three-hit pitching silenced the Currie Army big guns and presented the No. 10 Repair Depot Fixers with a 5 to 2 opening game victory in the Foothills League finals. The Repairmen received timely hitting from outfielder “Shorty” Mason who had three hits, including a double, which drove in four runs.
Matheson (L) and R. Bentley
Richardson (W) and Wooldridge
(September 5) Portsider Ray Humble tethered the usually dangerous Currie Army batting power by scattering five bingles over nine innings as the No. 10 Fixers took an 8 to 3 verdict from their service cousins. Humble also swung a big bat for the Repairmen, pacing their 13-hit attack with two home runs and a four for five performance at the platter. The game was played under protest as the Soldiers used pitcher “Lefty” Willis of the Detroit Auto Body Bears as an injury replacement. With the No. 10 win, however, the protest will never get to the league.
Humble (W) and Wooldridge
Willis (L) and R. Bentley
(September 6) Currie Army Barracks picked off the hits when needed, capitalized on the breaks when presented and wound up on the long end of a 7 to 4 score in the third game of the Foothills League finals at Buffalo Park. The Soldiers gave Max Silverman a two-run margin to work on and the Currie right-hander kept the lead throughout with effective nine-hit pitching. Outfielder Gray belted a two-run round-tripper for the winners. “Whitey” Rimstad contributed a double and single.
Silverman (W) and Dahl
Tennant (L), Empey (6), Richardson (9) and Wooldridge
(September 9) Currie Army swept both ends of the Foothills League doubleheader with the No. 10 Repair Depot before a two-game crowd of close to 9,000 as the Soldiers took a 3 to 2 lead in the final series. On the strength of Les Christensen’s two-hit pitching, the Soldiers shutout the Repairmen and Ray Humble 3 to 0 in the afternoon engagement and, in the twilight fixture, Max Silverman turned in his second win of the series as the Currie arsenal blasted 16 hits in taking a 12 to 2 verdict. The Barracks brigade staked Christensen to a two-run lead in the first inning of the opener and that was all that the Currie elbow artist needed for the complete game triumph. Max Bentley with a pair of doubles was the only player to register two hits.
Humble (L) and Wooldridge
Christensen (W) and Stewart
Currie sluggers got to loser Vern Richardson early and often in the late affair, driving him to the showers in the fourth frame. Silverman went the route for the win, yielding eight safeties. Max Bentley and Vern Kendrick of the Army as well as Danny Wooldridge of the RCAF crew shared honours at the dish with a double and two singles each.
Silverman (W) and Stewart
Richardson (L), Tennant (4) and Wooldridge
(September 10) A split was all the Currie Army Barracks needed to cop the 1945 Foothills League crown and that is exactly what they got. After Ray Humble of the No. 10 Fixers had tossed a four-hitter to blank Army 6 to 0 in the matinee match to keep the Repairmen alive, the Soldiers responded by taking the second game 9 to 5 to capture the series and the crown. The Repairmen were in control of the afternoon contest right from the start, scoring single runs in both the first and second stanzas. Humble breezed to the complete game victory as his mates backed him up with a ten-hit attack. Archie Wilder had a four-bagger and single for the Fly Boys.
Humble (W) and Wooldridge
Matheson (L) and Stewart
The seventh game was a wild one with the Fixers holding a slim 11 to 10 margin in base hits. After four frames, the teams were deadlocked at 4 – 4. Currie took a one run lead in the fifth and then blew the game wide open in the seventh when Max Bentley slammed a grand-slam home run to provide some breathing room. Reliever Les Christensen did the rest, limiting the Air force crew to a lone counter in the eighth. Shortstop Vern Kendrick singled three times for the Soldiers.
Silverman, Christensen (W) (3) and Stewart
Richardson, Empey (L) (2), W. Huckabay (7) and Wooldridge
Following their two intense playoff series for the Foothills League tiara, the Calgary Soldiers embarked upon an inter-city series with the champions of the Edmonton Senior League, the U. S. Army Air Force Yankees. It was intended to be somewhat of a de facto provincial championship although not sanctioned to be since the Americans would have been ineligible to compete in such. A best-of-seven series was planned but adverse weather conditions in the Capital city plus Currie Barracks’ commitment to play in an inter-provincial series with a Manitoba representative shortened the showdown to five games with the Calgary military nine having a 3 games to 2 edge over the Edmonton Yanks.
During the five games that were played, the Currie Army team used five pickups from other Foothills League clubs in addition to their own player personnel. Those added to the roster for this series were Dean Olmstead of the Purity 99 squad, Rene Renauld of the Detroit Auto Body Bears plus three members of the No. 10 Repair Depot Fixers, Ray Humble, Woody Huckabay and Vern Richardson.
Game Reports
(September 12) Lanky Dean Olmstead tossed a two-hitter into the teeth of the Edmonton-based U. S. Army Air Force Yankees at Renfrew park as the Calgary Currie Army blanked the Yanks 7 to 0 in the curtain-raiser of their inter-city baseball series. The Foothills League champions, reinforced for this game by three pickups, had 14 hits off a pair of American chuckers. Woody Huckabay and Max Bentley both had three hits for the winners.
Olmstead (W) and Stewart
McKenna (L), Wheatley (8) and Crumly
(September 13) Taking advantage of a bad first-inning by the visitors from Calgary, the Edmonton-based U. S. Yanks struck back with a vengeance and drubbed the Currie Barracks nine 9 to 2 in the second game of the Alberta inter-city senior baseball challenge. The Amerks plated five counters in the initial frame, driving losing pitcher Rene Renauld from the hill. Winning flinger Johnny Gray scattered six hits and was in control all the way. First baseman Woody Bell led the G. I. contingent at the dish with a home run and triple. Shortstop Vern Kendrick paced the Curries offensively with a double and single.
Renauld (L), Richardson (1) and Stewart
Gray (W) and Crumly
(September 15) Propelled by the three-hit twirling of left-hander Ray Humble, the reinforced Currie Army Barracks team of Calgary defeated the Edmonton Yankees 7 to 3. Losing hurler Wilbur Ray was shelled from the mound in the second inning. Max Bentley’s three hits sparked the Calgary offense. Dick Noon belted a bases-empty circuit-jack for the Canucks. Two of the three hits surrendered by Humble to the Yankees were round-trippers, one each by Woody Bell and Gino Valenti.
Ray (L), McKenna (2) and Crumly
Humble (W) and Stewart
(September 16) More than 11,000 fans braved overcast skies, the wind and the cold to witness a pair of inter-city challenge engagements which were divided, leaving the Calgary Currie Barracks gang in charge by three games to two. About 6,000 turned out to watch the Barracks Brigade cop the initial tussle 13 to 9 in a slugfest while better than 5,000 collection paying customers viewed the six-inning twilight struggle when Wilbur Ray kept the Edmonton Yanks in contention, spinning a six-hitter for a 13 to 5 victory. The Curries held a 14 to 13 edge in hits in their opening game win. It was not to be a pitcher’s game as evidenced by the the first-inning offence provided by both teams. The Edmonton-based Yankees grabbed a 3 to 0 lead in the top of the first only to see the Currie Canadians smother them with a six-spot in the last half of the stanza. The Canucks never lost that lead in spite of plenty of scoring by both teams in the middle innings. Catcher Ivan Crumly of the Americans was the game’s top willow wielder, collecting four base blows including a home run and double. Outfielder Manuel Dorsky of the Yanks as well as Dick Noon, Ken Stewart and Ray Humble of the winners each banged out three base raps. Two of Stewart’s knocks were doubles.
Wheatley (L), Gray (1) and Crumly
Silverman (W), Richardson (6) and Stewart
The finale was an abbreviated affair, cut short to six frames by the weather and illumination difficulties. The Yanks scored in five of the six cantos as every player in their lineup was a part of the hit parade. Third sacker Burchfield had three hits resulting in an equal number of runs driven in. Second baseman Hackney and perennial slugger Woody Bell both hammered four-baggers for the Yankees as did outfielder Angelo Giavedoni of the Calgarians.
Ray (W) and Roach
Olmstead (L), Richardson (6) and Stewart, R. Bentley
(September 18) Game #6 scheduled for Renfrew Park in Edmonton was called off due to poor weather conditions.
The remainder of the series was never completed as the Currie Army team returned to Calgary to engage in an inter-provincial series with the Transcona, Manitoba club.
For their inter-provincial series with the Transcona Railroaders of the Greater Winnipeg Senior Baseball League, the Currie Army Barracks team reinforced their lineup with three key members of the No. 10 Repair Depot Fixers, adding pitchers Ray Humble and Vern Richardson as well as shortstop Woody Huckabay.
1945 Western Canada playoff series
(September 25) On the strength of a huge eight-run second inning, Calgary’s Currie Army Barracks picked off the first game of the 1945 Western Canada baseball series at Buffalo Park. The final count was 11 to 1 against the Winnipeg Transconas. Dick Noon’s three-run homer and Vern Richardson’s five-hit pitching, which included 12 strikeouts, propelled the Foothills League champions to the convincing win. Noon, Angelo Giavedoni and Max Bentley each had two hits for the Calgary-based Soldiers with two-baggers included in Giavedoni and Bentley’s totals. Buster Glowa had a brace of hits for the Manitobans.
Lehman (L) and Blaquiere
Richardson (W) and Stewart
(September 26) The senior baseball season came to a close with Currie Army and the Winnipeg Transconas going ten innings in a 3 – 3 deadlock as darkness ended the game and sent the Transcona club scurrying to the railroad station to catch a train. The Manitoba club had run out of time because bad weather had kept the team idle for four of their six days in Calgary. With Currie leading the shortened series on the strength of their opening game victory, the Western Canada Seattle Ranier trophy was awarded to the Calgary Soldiers. A pair of left-hander hooked up in a hurling duel as “Lefty” Hewitt of the Transconas opposed Currie’s Ray Humble. Despite the cold weather, irritating drizzle, slippery diamond and the seven errors charged the Manitobans, it was a fair contest from start to finish. Transcona had a 9 to 8 advantage in base hits garnered. Dick Noon of the Calgarians was the game’s leading hitter with a double and a pair of singles. Following the game, Max Bentley was granted leave of absence from the Canadian Army and headed for Chicago to re-join the NHL Black Hawks.
Humble and Stewart
Hewitt and Blaquiere
ALBERTA, Lethbridge/Medicine Hat
(June 10) Picture Butte Royals showed old time form Sunday in taking a pair of hard-fought victories, 6-3 and 3-0, from Columbus Club in a Southern Alberta Senior Baseball League double-header at Adams Park. In the first game, the Royals took a 6-0 lead after four innings and held off late rallies by the home club in the last three frames. Ted Malmberg went the distance allowing eight hits for the win. Russ Finley, who wiggled out of a bases-loaded jam in the first inning, tossed a neat three-hit shutout for Picture Butte in the second encounter.
Malmberg (W) and Thomas
Kucheran (L), O.Luciani and Odland
R.Finley (W) and Thomas
Alex Yanosik (L), O.Luciani and Andy Yanosik
(June 10) Medicine Hat Tigers crushed Patricia Oilers 14-3 and 14-7 Sunday as the Oilers booted the ball seven times in the first game and made 15 errors in the second. Lefty Pennington was in form in the afternoon holding the visitors to nine hits while helping a 17-hit attack with two doubles and a single. The second game was a scoreless tie for four innings before the Tigers pushed across four in the fifth frame, one in the sixth and wrapped it up with three more in the seventh and six in the 8th.
Sears (L), Block (8) and Conley
Pennington (W) and Blaney
Charlton (L) and Conley
Knight (W) and Stolee
(June 17) Lethbridge Columbus Club and Medicine Hat Tigers divided a Sunday double-header at Medicine Hat. A seven-run rally in the 8th inning brought the Tigers a 10-9 win in the first game with Lethbridge rebounding for a 9-6 win in the nightcap.
(June 24) In an exhibition double-header at Adams Park, the Medicine Hat Tigers proved too good for the Lethbridge Columbus Club seniors Sunday winning 8-4 and 7-4. The locals were plagued by injuries. First baseman Ernie Luciani was hurt in the second inning of the first game and George Onofrychuk suffered a leg injury sliding into third in the second game, which he finished but discovered later he had a broken bone in his arm.
xxx and xxx
Art Lewis, Kucheran and Father Murray
xxx and xxx
Alex Yanosik, Ontko and Andy Yanosik
(July 1-2) Medicine Hat Tournament
Lethbridge Columbus Club and Medicine Hat Tigers split top money at the Medicine Hat Tournament as rain forced the final to be called in the fourth inning with Lethbridge in the lead 7-2. Blackie took third money when they shaded Picture Butte 7-5 Monday afternoon.
Seven solid hits and three Tiger errors paved the way for the early Lethbridge lead in the final. Joe Arisman led Lethbridge driving in four runs with three hits in three times to the plate. Alex Yanosik pounded out a double and two singles. Jimmy Toole extended his hitting streak to six for six with a single in his first at bat.
Alex Yanosik and Andy Yanosik
T.Bray and Stolee
In opening games Sunday, Medicine Hat defeated Picture Butte 10-9 and Lethbridge squeezed by Blackie 8-5.
The Tigers, who blew an early 5-2 lead against Picture Butte, needed a late comeback to capture the victory. Trailing 8-5 in the eighth frame, Harvey Blaney sparked the two-out rally with a bases-loaded single. A one-bagger by Jim Toole and Ted Bray's double and the 'Hatters had five runs and a 10-8 advantage. Toole led the winners with five hits, one a triple, and batted in four runs.
T.Malmberg, Pengully and Bohne
Pennington (W) and Blaney
Lethbridge took a 4-0 lead against Blackie, powered by homers from Gus Ortman and Alex Yanosik, but fell behind as Blackie scored three in the fourth and two more in the fifth. Columbus Club tied the match in the 8th with Andy Yanosik driving in the crucial marker and scored three in the ninth for the win. With one run in and Smerek and Alex Yanosik on third and second respectively and Johnny Ontko at the plate, Blackie hurler John Stover was caught sleeping when Smerek suddenly dashed for home. Ontko tapped the hurried pitch over the head of the first baseman to score both runners and provide the three run margin. Entering the game in the last of the fifth, 17-year-old Ontko held Blackie without a hit for the remainder of the game.
Ortman, Lewis, Ontko (W) and Andy Yanosik
Baker, Stover (L) and Slump
In the consolation final, Blackie took a three-run lead in the first inning and were never headed in winning 7-5. Four singles by Stewart, Packenham, Stover and Slump accounted for the scoring. Big John Stover again handled the mound work for Blackie and held Picture Butte to seven hits.
Stover (W) and Slump
T.Malmberg (L) and Thomas
(July 16) Columbus Club downed No.8 Bombers 6-3 in the first game of a three-game series for the White Lunch Cup, currently in possession of the Bombers. Andy Young gave up four hits and a run in the first inning but settled down to allow just four more hits the rest of the way. Down 2-0, Columbus Club rallied in the sixth when Father Murray doubled to advance Luciani to third and Pilling followed with a liner to score both base runners then proceeded to steal home to put his club in the lead. They added three more in the seventh as Doad Tufteland reached on a fielder's choice, Stan Chervinski clouted a two-bagger, Luciani smacked a triple and Young finished it off with a run-scoring single.
Young (W) and Murray
Ortman (L) and Huckaby
(July 22) Playing error-less ball and hitting in the clutches, Lethbridge Columbus Club swept a double-header from the Kinniburgh Red Devils of Burdett 11-9 and 11-3 Sunday at Adams Park. Lethbridge started fast in both games, with six runs in the first inning of the opener and three in the initial frame of the second game.
Gross, Millar and Brooks
Bobinec, Alex Yanosik and Andy Yanosik
Thacker, Kinniburgh and Brooks
Liciani and Yanosik
(August 6) The Lethbridge Columbus Club walked away with two more victories Sunday downing Enchant, the northern league champions, 10-6 and 7-0. In the afternoon fixture, Columbis got off to a great start ripping Drake for nine hits and eight runs in the second inning. John Ontko allowed eight hits and fanned eight in going the distance for Lethbridge.
Drake (L) and Howg
Ontko (W) and Yanosik
Bill Kucheran fired a three-hit shutout in the twilight game as Columbus won 7-0. It was scoreless until the sixth when Columbus got on the scoreboard with a singleton. They added two in the seventh and four in the eighth.
Reynolds, Drake and Howg
Kucheran (W) and Yanosik
SOUTHERN ALBERTA BASEBALL LEAGUE
An eight-team league, operating in two divisions, was formed by the Japanese of Southern Alberta.
The Northern Division fielded the Coaldale Bussei, Raymond Young Men's Buddhist Assocation, Raymond A.C. and Coaldale Cubs.
In the Southern Division were the Iron Springs Y.P.A, Picture Butte Busseis, Picture Butte Chinooks and Turin Y.P.A
(May 26) The Picture Butte Bussei clobbered the Chinooks 20-3.
(June 3) The Northern Division of the Southern Alberta League officially got underway Sunday at Picture Butte and the Iron Springs Y.P.A. easily out distanced Picture Butte Chinooks 26-12 in a seven inning encounter.
(June 3) The Picture Butte Busseis handed Turin Y.P.A. a 17-9 defeat in a free swinging affair. Tsuhi Owamoto allowed 11 hits in pitching his initial victory.
T.Iwamoto (W) and F.Yohiro
K.Sasaski (L) and T.Ikeda
Turin Y.P.A. upset Iron Springs 13 to 7 in the seven-inning first game of a double-header. Iron Springs had a 7-0 lead going into the third inning when Turin began its rally. Terry Ezaki of the losers hit the first homer of the season.
Tak Hayashi (L) and K.Isogai
T.Ikeda and K.Sameshima
The second game saw Picture Butte Bussei outplay the Picture Butte Chinooks 16 to 5.
F.Yahiro (W) and B.Shikaze
Ikebuchi (L) and N.Moriyama
(June 10) In the Southern Division of the Southern Alberta League, Coaldale Busseis edged Raymond A.C.'s 2-1 while Raymond Y.M.B.A whipped the Coaldale Cubs 19 to 8.
(June 17) Picture Butte Busseis notched their fourth straight victory, 10-4 over Iron Springs Y.P.A. in spite of being out hit 10 to 4. Iron Springs made it easy for the Busseis by making 13 errors.
Turin defeated Picture Butte Chinooks 13 to 10.
(June 24) Raymond A.C. handed Coaldale Busseis their first loss of the season Sunday, 8-7. The Raymond Y.M.B.A. clobbered the Coaldale Cubs 22 to 11. Cubs battled on even terms until the ninth when their defense fell apart paving the way for an 11-run inning by Raymond. A lone bright spot for the losers was a homer by Jim Higa, the first of the season.
W L T
Coaldale Bussei 4 - 1 - 0
Raymond Y.M.B.A. 3 - 1 - 1
Raymond A.C. 2 - 2 - 1
Coaldale Cubs
0 - 5 - 0
(July 1) Iron Springs moved into a tie for second place defeating Turin 28 to 19. Picture Butte Chinooks sprang a surprise edging Picture Butte Busseis 14 to 13.
(July 8) Coaldale Cubs picked up their first win of the season taking the first game of a double-header from Coaldale Busseis 11-8. But, Cubs dropped the second encounter 8 to 1.
(July 22) Iron Springs Y.P.A. scored four runs in the initial frame and poured it on trouncing Turin 16 to 4. Art Oshiro made his debut on the mound for Iron Springs allowing three hits over six innings. Roy Hayashi relieved in the seventh.
Ikeda (L), Nishi and Sameshima
Oshiro (W), Hayashi and Araki
(July 29) The Picture Butte Chinooks were the latest victims of the powerful iron Springs Y.P.A. falling 14 to 8 to the heavy hitters. Roy Hayashi allowed seven hits in doing the distance on the mound for the winners, supported by a 12-hit attack highlighted by home runs by Miyashita and A.Konna. Kawasaki took the loss the the Chinooks.
Kawasaki (L) and Konna
Hayashi (W) and Miyashita
(July 29) Turin picked up a win by default when the Picture Butte Busseis were unable to field a team.
(August 6) K.Moriyama tossed a four-hitter to help Iron Springs overcome nine errors in downing Busseis 8-7 to gain a share of first place in the league standings.
Iwamoto (L) and F.Yakiro
K.Moriyama (W) and T.Hayashi
At Turin, the home club rapped 21 hits in crushing the Chinooks 19 to 13. They had a little scare in the ninth as Chinooks rallied for seven runs after trailing 19 to 6.
S.Newatsukino (W) and E.Someshima
S.Ohno (L) and Hatteri
(August 13) A deadlock for first place continues between Iron Springs Y.P.A. and Picture Butte Busseis. Busseis whiped the Picture Butte Chinooks 17 to 2 while Iron Springs dumped Turin 27 to 7.
Myashita (L), Ohno and Ikebuchi
Iwamoto (W) and Shikaze
Oshiro, Hayashi and Hayashi
Niwatsukino, Ikeda and Sameshima
(August 27) Iron Springs clinched first place in the Northern Division of the Southern Alberta League by whipping Picture Butte Chinooks 19 to 6.
At Turin, Picture Butte Busseis wound up the regular schedule with a 27 to 10 trouncing of Turin Y.P.A.
Iron Springs 9 - 3
Busseis 8 - 4
Turin 5 - 7
Chinooks 2 - 10
(September 2) With a 21-hit attack, Raymond overwhelmed Iron Springs 22-7 to even their final series at a game apiece. G.Yoshinaka led the winners with a homer and two doubles and Y.Yamura rapped out four safeties. For Iron Springs, A.Oshiro had three hits in three trips.
K.Moriyama, A.Oshiro, R.Hayashi, A.Oshiro and M.Araki
T.Hayashi, Y.Tamura, G.Yoshinaka and J.Kitaguchi
(September 19) Raymond A.C.'s captured the Southern Alberta Baseball League championship by trouncing the Iron Springs Y.P.A. 14 to 8. After dropping the opener 4-3, the A.C.'s came back strong to win the next two games to easily take the crown. Raymond got off to a flying start scoring six runs in the first inniing on just one hit combined with four walks and four errors. Although Iron Springs out hit Raymond 8 to 7, they gave up 12 walks and made 12 errors. Y.Tamura pitched an eight-hitter for the win. H.Yagi at third base was outstanding making back-to-back spectacular plays on hot grounders.
K.Moriyama, Tak Hayashi and Tolo Hayashi.
Y.Tamura (W) and J.Kitaguchi
BOUNDARY AREA
(July 1) Midway captured the Dominion Day Tournament at Grand Forks downing the host club 5-3 in the final. Grand Forks took the lead with a pair in the first inning but Midway caught up in the fourth and then led to the finish.
EAST KOOTENAYS
(July 20) Kimberley soldiers and sailors edged the Cranbrook Navy 5-4 breaking a 3-3 deadlock with two late tallies. Butch Zak tossed a seven-hitter, with seven strikeouts for the pitching win. Bruce Malcolm took the loss giving up 12 hits. Doubles by Dellert and Bates broke the tie in the 8th and Zak scored the winner in the ninth.
Zak (W) and xxx
Malcolm (L) and xxx
CROW'S NEST PASS
(May 24) The Natal-Michel Buffaloes, the 1944 Crow's Nest Pass champions, took top honours at the Cowley Tournament defeating Blairmore Columbus Club 5-4 in an entertaining final contest. Whalley Krall, the Buffaloes starter, weakened in the last of the ninth and put the winning run on base with none out. Tommy Krall came to the rescue and retired the side to preserve the victory. Natal-Michel made the final game by downing Pincher Creek 7-1 behind the stellar hurling of veteran Tommy Krall. Blairmore beat the highly-touted Hillcrest Miners 3-1.
W.Krall (W), T.Krall and xxx
xxx and xxx
T.Krall (W) and xxx
xxx and xxx
(June 3) In a slugfest at Natal, the visiting Hillcrest Miners outlasted the Michel-Natal Buffaloes 17 to 13 in an error-filled contest. Each team booted the ball ten times. Each starting pitcher gave up ten runs.
Deacon, Scott (7) and xxx
T.Krall, W.Krall (6) and xxx
(June 10) Natal-Michel managed to divide a split-location double-header crushing Coleman Pucksters 20-3 in the first game behind the six-hit pitching of young Whalley Krall before going down to a 10-7 defeat at Blairmore. Krall had a shutout against Coleman for seven innings until the Pucksters got a pair in the 8th and a homer by Slugg in the ninth. Bing Weaver led the Buffaloes with a pair of round-trippers. With their win, Blairmore was left as the only unbeaten team in the league. Angus Chala got the pitching win.
W.Krall (W) and xxx
xxx and xxx
T.Krall (L) and xxx
A.Chala (W) and xxx
(June 17) Hillcrest, playing at home, trounced Pincher Creek 13-3.
(June 20) Hillcrest fought back from a 5-3 deficit to score a run in the 7th and a pair in the 8th to down Blairmore 6-5 Wednesday.
(June 24) Joe Kanik, home on a two-month furlough from his military duties, hurled Blairmore Columbus Club to a 5-3 victory over Pincher Creek Sunday at Blairmore. Kanik, a star chucker for Calgary Tecumsehs last season, limited the visitors to three hits.
Wolfe (L), Davis and Wollman
Kanik (W) and Cerney
(June 24) A five-run second inning sparked Natal-Michel Buffaloes to a 10-8 victory over the greatly improved Coleman Pucksters at Natal. Both pitchers, Tom Krall for the Buffaloes and Seaman for Coleman yielded eight hits in complete game efforts but shoddy work in the field paved the way for a host of unearned markers. Seaman, pitching his first game of the year, showed the form when he pitched for Hillcrest before going on active duty. He fanned ten. Krall, besides picking up the pitching win, was the top hitter with two doubles and a triple. Melussi had a two-run triple for Coleman.
Seaman (L) and xxx
T.Krall (W) and xxx
(July 2) Blairmore Tournament
With Ray Humble performing splendidly on the mound, Pearce whipped Blairmore 13-1 in the final of the Blairmore Dominion Day Tournament. Humble had earlier pitched Pearce to a 7-3 victory over Tom Krall and the Michel entry. In the opening game, Lethbridge B. and G. defeated Hillcrest 4-1. Hillcrest had J.Seaman, a former member of the Hillcrest nine and now in the armed services down east doing the hurling and he turned in a fine performance. But, two wild throws cost Hillcrest the win. Blairmore received a bye when Macleod failed to show and they were drawn against Lethbridge B. and G. With two old teammates, Angus Chala and Lawrence Schlosser, now opposing each other, Blairmore surprised with a 5-3 decision. Lethbridge made some costly errors and Schlosser made a balk that permitted a runner to walk home.
(July 14) The Natal-Michel Buffaloes journeyed to Pincher Creek and Waterton Lakes Park for a split-site double-header and dropped a 6-4 decision in the first game, the league encounter, and came back to clobber Pincher Creek 11-1 in the exhibition contest. Buffaloes had a 4-1 lead in the fourth inning on Angus Chala's two-run triple but Pincher Creek bounced back, thanks to some shoddy fielding to knot the count and then score the winner in the seventh inning. Whalley Krall allowed but six his in taking the loss.
W.Krall (L) and xxx
xxx and xxx
Tom Krall tossed a five-hitter and whiffed 15 in the seven-inning second game as the Buffaloes won easily with a 14-hit attack including a towering two-run home run by Tom Krall.
T.Krall (W) and xxx
xxx and xxx
(July 15) Hillcrest smacked four homers, good for seven runs, to trim Blairmore 9 to 1 to move into sole possession of first place. Johnny Quintillio starred for the winners hurling a solid five-hitter while contributing one of the round trippers, a towering blow over the right field fence. Hillcrest pounded Angus Chala and Lawrence Schlosser for 13 hits before one of the largest crowds of the season.
W L T PTS
Hillcrest 3 - 2 - 1 7
Blairmore 3 - 2 - 0 6
Natal-Michel 3 - 3 - 0 6
Pincher Creek 3 - 3 - 0 6
Coleman 1 - 3 - 1 3
(July 22) Natal-Michel Buffaloes captured both ends of a double-header with Pincher Creek at Natal, 16-5 in the league contest and 8 to 3 in an exhibition game. Whalley Krall tossed an eight-hitter for the win in the opener and Tom Krall fashioned a six-hitter in the second game.
W.Krall (W) and xxx
xxx and xxx
T.Krall (W) and xxx
xxx and xxx
(July 29) Blairmore Columbus Club clinched first place in the Crow's Nest Baseball League Sunday afternoon when they walloped Coleman 16 to 4 at Blairmore. Joe Kanik, on the mound for Blairmore, got off to a shaky start giving up a walk, double and home run to the first three batters. He settled down to blank Coleman over the next eight innings until allowing another run in the ninth. He ended up with a seven-hitter and rang up 18 strikeouts. Blairmore rebounded quickly pushing across six runs in the bottom of the first. They nicked Field for a triple, a double and three singles and capitalized on four errors. They added three runs in the second and poured it on with three more in the fourth, two in the fifth and another pair in the sixth.
Field (L), Slugg and Moore
Kanik (W) and Cerney
W L T PTS
Blairmore 6 - 2 - 0 12
Natal-Michel 4 - 3 - 0 8
Hillcrest 3 - 2 - 1 7
Pincher Creek 3 - 5 - 0 6
Coleman 1 - 5 - 1 3
(August 5) Blairmore Columbus Club defeated Pincher Creek 10-9 in the opening game of their playoff series. Tony Vejprava led the winners with a round-tripper.
(August 5) 30 hits and 20 errors produced 32 runs as Hillcrest Miners downed Natal-Michel 19-13 in a wild one at Hillcrest. Playing in the newly built ball park in a windstorm led to all kinds of miscues on the field. Johnny Quintillio was hit hard but managed to go the route for the Miners collecting nine strikeouts. There were two homers, Stasiuk for Hillcrest in the first inning and Chala for the Buffaloes in the 8th.
T.Krall, W.Krall and xxx
Quintillio (W) and xxx
(August 8) Behind the effective six-hit pitching of veteran Tom Krall the Natal-Michel Buffaloes downed the Hillcrest Miners 7-1 in the opening game of their best-of-three semi-final series. Buffaloes sewed up the contest in the bottom of the third when they touched Johnny Quintillio for four straight hits, including a two-run double by Gergel to score four times. Krall fanned 12 in going the distance for the pitching win.
Quintillio (L), Scott (7) and xxx
T.Krall (W) and xxx
(August 19) Uncorking some unexpected hitting power, aided by loose fielding by Natal-Michel, Blairmore Columbus Club won both ends of a double-header, 11-10 and 10-5, in the best-of-five series for the Ringland Cup. Blairmore blew a 9-2 lead in the first game before getting a John Chala homer in the 8th and a bases-loaded walk in the ninth for the winning marker. Angus Chala held the Buffaloes to two runs through six innings before the visitors rallied for eight runs over the last three frames. Laddie Cerney led the winners with four hits and John Chala added two singles to his four-bagger. Bing Weaver had three hits for the losers.
W.Krall (L) Katrichuk (3) and Sadlish
A.Chala (W) and Cerney
Blairmore rapped 12 hits in the second game, led by Pedro Giacomuzzi who went four for five, to dump Natal-Michel 10-5. Schlosser tossed a six-hitter for the pitching triumph.
T.Krall, W.Krall and Weaver
Schlosser (W) and Kubik
(September 16) Hillcrest Tournament
Blairmore captured the three-team Hillcrest Tournament downing Hillcrest 13 to 8 in the final, called after just four innings due to darkness. Blairmore had earlier topped Hillcrest 14-13 and Hillcrest beat Natal-Michel 16-7.
(October 7) Crow's Nest Pass All-Stars vs Calgary All-Stars
The following appeared in the Blairmore Enterprise, October 5, 1945 :
BASEBALL
Calgary All-Stars
vs.
C.N.P. All-Stars
Hillcrest Park, Sunday, Oct. 7
Game called 2 p.m.
CALGARY ALL-STARS
George Alexander, regular Catcher for Purity 99 for the season; all-around fielder who starred formerly in the backfield for Calgary Bronks football team. Played hockey with San Francisco Shamrocks of Pacific Coast League and is likely to appear with the New York Rangers this winter.
Bob Brownridge, Catcher. Bob has starred with Air Force baseball and hockey teams in Calgary for the past three years. This year he will play hockey with the Calgary Stampeders in the Western Canada Senior Hockey League. Batting average for the current season is .365.
Ray Humble, Pitcher. Ray was chosen the most valuable player in the league for this season. He is a fast, consistent southpaw pitcher and when not pitching plays 1st base and right field. Batting average for the season .438.
Vern Richardson, Pitcher. Leading pitcher in the Calgary Foothills League for this season with a record of 8 wins and 2 losses. Starred in fifth game of series against Edmonton U.S. Army Yanks. Formerly the property of Montreal Royals.
Rennie Renault. A speed ball Pitcher who played for Detroit Bears in the Foothills League. Also a valuable man at bat with several home runs to his credit.
Carl Laing, 2nd Base. This Ontario boy has had a tryout with Toronto Maple Leafs baseball team and this year was one of the mainstays of the Purity 99 infield. Hits home runs regularly.
Ronnie English, Shortstop and 3rd Base. Ronnie is one of the boy wonders of the senior league at 18 years of age. One of the fastest men on bases with an average of one stolen base per game in league play.
Art Lewis, Right Field. This southpaw fielder bats right-handed and knocks home runs into any field.
Joe McGoldrick, 3rd Base. This veteran hockey and baseball player was playing coach for the Detroit Bears this season and batted .325.
Jerry Fath, Centre Field. Jerry played centre field and was lead-off man for the Detroit Bears. One of the leading ball hawks in the league. Batted .310 for the season.
Dick Noon, Left Field. This clutch hitter was one of the big guns of the Currie Army baseball team in winning the Provincial and Western Canada championships this year. Dick batted .375 for the season, .550 in the playoffs, and was second in home runs for the season to Pat Egan.
Archie Wilder, Shortstop. Archie started the season with No.3 Flyers and wound up with No. 10 Repair Depot. One of the steadiest batters in the league with a .400 average; he consistently knocks home runs.
Sweeney Scnriner, Calgary Coach and sensational performer. Well known to the hockey world. Will be on hand to inspire his team. Incidentally Schriner is well know to CNP hockey fans, having performed at Blairmore in junior competition.
C.N.P. All-Stars
J.Elick. Catcher. CNP most efficient receiver, Bats left, hits well, and can be depended upon to direct the team in his coaching duties.
Chala. Pitcher. Well known to ball fans as a reliable performer. Fair batter, cheerful loser, with a fast ball and plently of stuff.
Weaver. Natal boy. All-around brilliant performer. Plays 3rd or short and a leading batter of the CNP League. Bing will be doing his stuff as ever.
Paul Chala. Another Natal boy. A consistent batter and one of the best 1st base players in the league. Not flashy, but reliable, cool and deliberate.
Giacomuzzi, 2nd Base. Affably mouthy, tough batter that can be depended upon to drive preceeding batters home. "Let's see you, Moose."
Scott, Pitcher and 1st Base. Consistent receiver. Can give a good account of himself for five innings. Bats well occasionally.
C. Rhodes. The best Shortstop of the league. When on, really performs in big league fashion. He is the "spark plug" of the team. Bats well and possesses a good throwing arm.
Kanik, Pitcher, of Blairmore. Fast ball artist. Holds a Calgary record for 18 strikeouts last year. A great all-around performer.
"Butch", a pasture guard. Will maintain his batting average and Babe Ruth ability to point the way in home runs. We depend upon Butch to match Ray Humble.
Joe Gergel, Shortstop, Natal. Brilliant performer, sharp fielding, accurate throwing arm. A good account of himself can be expected.
T.Krall, Right Fielder. The willow wielder will be on hand to see the ball hop the fence or bust. Tommy said he would not miss these games, as he his longing to get at Ray Humble. Good luck, T.
A.Bianchini, Left Field. The old reliable will again demonstrate his ability to hit in the pinches, in which capacity he will be used.
Davie Pow. Utility player. Can meet the demands of his fans any time. The diminutive performer is really smooth at 1st. We will be watching him.
Bill Fields, also a utility recruit, will be on the job as usual at either 1st, 3rd or on the mound. Fields can be depended upon for a good clout.
Manager Rosco Delini will be in there directing his players to defeat Calgary.
S. Tabor, will be the Chief Arbiter. Call 'em good, Buck.
Due to poor weather conditions, the game had to be postponed until the spring.