SOUTHERN LEAGUE
Just a month prior to the beginning of tryout camps and practice sessions for Southern League returnees and newcomer hopefuls, word was received of a second known World War II fatality that had a connection to the circuit. Army Corporal Vincent "Vince" F. Germann, a member of the First Canadian Parachute Battalion, lost his life in battle on March 24, 1945. Vince played third base for the Notre Dame Hounds when they first joined the Southern League in 1937 and was their playing manager during the 1939 and 1940 seasons. His younger brother Frank, also a paratrooper, aptly carried on the family legacy for many campaigns thereafter as the heart and soul of the Hounds.
The 1945 Southern League added a fifth team when the always-competitive Weyburn Beavers returned to the circuit, joining the cinderella team of last season, the Regina Caps, as well as the Notre Dame Hounds, Regina Red Sox and a vastly-improved Regina Army team. With only one military club in the loop, augmented with some late-season returnees from overseas, the Army team was this season's most-improved franchise. Gone from the Caps was last season's magic as they finished dead last. The powerful Beavers, with their trio of pitching aces, started off slowly, compiling only a .500 record during the first one-third of the schedule. Catching fire in early July, the Beavers forged ahead to stay, finishing with a healthy lead. Carrying the momentum into the playoffs, the Weyburnites disposed of the Regina Red Sox three games to one in a semi-final series and then swept the Regina Army crew four games to zero, with a tie in the opener, to earn their fourth Southern League title.
World War II hostilities ended on both fronts within four months of each other in 1945. The European conflict saw Nazi Germany surrender on May 7 while, in the Pacific, the Japanese capitulated on September 2. Before the 1945 Southern League playoffs had been completed, a handful of the military men returning to southern Saskatchewan were able to again partake in the game they loved.
(May 27) The Notre Dame Hounds broke open a 3 - 3 ball game by piling up three seventh inning counters to knock off the Regina Red Sox 6 to 3 in the inaugural tussle of the 1945 Southern League season. "Corky" McCann drove in the lead marker with a single and when Ernie Franks' hot ground ball was being juggled, two more runs crossed the plate to seal the win for the Collegians. "Hap" Edwards doled out seven hits while whiffing 13 to earn the win. Franks and Al "Red" Staley of the Redlegs both had two hits to lead their respective clubs.
Straub (L), Larson (7) and Bell
Edwards (W) and McCann
(May 29) Regina's Army baseballers refused to have any part of defeat and finally attained their objective as darkness was falling in the last of the ninth by squeezing across two runs to nick the Notre Dame Hounds 6 to 5. Elmer Ekdahl's Texas Leaguer with two away drove in the tying and winning runs for the Army. Both teams had seven hits with Chuck McCullough and losing pitcher Ernie Franks of the Hounds supplying two each, with one of Frank's falling in for two bases.
Frank (L) and Elliott
Cherneshenko, Walters (6) (W) and Ekdahl
(May 31) Handed a three-run parcel in the opening frame, the Regina Army never looked back and chalked up a 7 to 3 decision over last season's champion Regina Caps at Park de Young. Al Ruhl went the distance for the Soldiers, nailing down the win with a four-hitter. His batterymate, Elmer Ekdahl, led the sluggers with a triple and a brace of singles.
Ruhl (W) and Ekdahl
Mullock (L), Murray (2) and Mullins
(June 3) The Notre Dame Hounds moved into a top place tie in the Southern League when they eked out a 9 to 8 victory over the Regina Army. The Hounds jumped in front to stay in the fifth inning when they collected four runs paced by Chuck McCullough's triple and "Mac" Munro's homer. Hounds' shortstop Bob Toney paced all swatters with a trio of base raps. Munro had a double to go along with his circuit clout.
Cherneshenko (L), Walters (7) and Ekdahl
Edwards (W) and Brown
(June 5) A much improved Regina Army contingent won their third of the season, nipping four potential Crimson Hose rallies to pick up a tough fought 3 to 2 decision over the Regina Red Sox. The Military Men got to loser Vern Larson for three runs in the third on two hits, a costly error and a wlid pitch and that was sufficient to beat the chunky righthander despite a four-hit job. Alex Ruhl won it with a five-hitter. Army's Nick Knott and George Cullen of the Sox both singled twice.
Larson (L) and Bell
Ruhl (W) and Ekdahl
(June 6) A see-saw, hustling ball game saw the Regina Caps edge past the Weyburn Beavers 5 to 4 at Park de Young. Caps' playing-manager "Chick" Barber drilled an eighth inning single down the third base line to score winning hurler Johnny Helfrick with the lead run which turned out to be the winner. Barber and Roy Webber of the Caps and Gayle Shupe of the Beavers all poled out three base knocks with one of Webber's being a three-bagger and one each from Shupe and Barber falling in for two bases.
Hogg (L), G. Shupe (8) and Langedahl
Helfrick (W) and Mullius
(June 7) Keith McLeod was in full control at Park de Young as the Regina Red Sox chalked up a 5 to 1 triumph over the Notre Dame Hounds. The young righthander made a shambles of the Hounds' offense, striking out eight of the Collegians who faced him in the seven-inning encounter and yielding only two hits. The Sox managed six hits off loser "Hap" Edwards, divided between Jackie Fulton, Al "Red" Staley and George Cullen with two apiece.
Edwards (L) and Brown
McLeod (W) and Bell
(June 8) The Regina Army zoomed into a huge eight-run lead in the first three innings and an eleventh hour rally by the Weyburn Beavers could not overcome it. The result was a 9 to 6 triumph for the Army in a game that had the fans on their feet throughout the Beavers' final turn at bat. Neither pitcher was particularly sharp in this contest as a total of 21 hits was registered between the two teams. The Beavers had the tying runs on base in the final frame when Doug Shupe fanned to end the game. Weyburn's Keith Covert and Norm Langedahl each stroked three hits.
G. Shupe (L) and Langadahl
Ruhl (W) and Ekdahl
(June 9) Clicking smoothly behind the smooth four-hit hurling of "Lefty" Straub, the Regina Red Sox climbed a notch in the Southern League when they hung a 6 to 0 shutout on their city cousins, the Regina Caps. Straub whiffed ten in picking up the win. He accumulated ten strikeouts, the same total registered by loser Clem Kambeitz. Wildness, on the part of the young Caps' chucker, was a major factor in costing him the game. Outfielder Fritz Dean of the Sox had the game's sole two-hit performance, slashing a double plus a single.
Straub (W) and Bell
Kambeitz (L) and Millius
(June 10) The Weyburn Beavers picked up their first Southern League win of 1945 when they trounced the Notre Dame Hounds 10 to 1. Losers of their first two starts since re-joining the loop, the Beavers pummelled loser "Hap" Edwards for 12 base blows to ensure the win. Weyburn's Keith Covert was the man of the hour, posting a complete game, five-hit mound job in addition to blasting home run in the second frame. Covert later added a brace of singles to his hit total to come out as the game's top swinger.
Edwards (L) and McCann
Covert (W) and Langedahl
(June 12) Wally Cherneshenko's drive into right-center with two down in the eighth inning punched home two runs and gave the Regina Army a 10 to 9 victory over the Regina Red Sox. The season's first dinger at Park de Young was belted by Army outfielder "Doc" Parker in the fourth. Cherneshenko wound up with four hits in his evening's work, with one of his raps going for two bases. Redlegs' catcher Harry "Huddy" Bell led his team offensively with three hits, all singles.
Walters , Ruhl (6) (W) and and Ekdahl
Larson, F. Dean (7) (L), Straub (7) and Bell
(June 13) Statuesque and unflustered as he went about his business, Gayle Shupe uncorked flashes of his old professional form when he fanned 15 in leading the Weyburn Beavers to a comfortable 6 to 3 ball triumph over the Regina Red Sox. Loser Keith McLeod of the Sox was roughed up by the Beavers for 13 base blows, three of them by first baseman Les Wilder whose total included a home run. Shupe and outfieder Ed Andries both added a double and single to Weyburn's offensive output. Regina infielders Ray Ottem and "Red" Staley also wound up with a two-bagger and single.
G. Shupe (W) and Langedahl
McLeod (L) and Bell
(June 14) Scoring a pair in the bottom of the ninth when two had been retired, the Regina Caps slipped past the Notre Dame Hounds 7 to 6 at Park de Young. The Hounds out-hit their Queen City opposition by a decisive 10 to 5 margin but simply left too many runners stranded. Jim Chadwick, Phil Heisler and losing hurler "Hap" Edwards, as well as the Caps' Roy Webber, all picked up a pair of singles in this game.
Jones, Edwards (3) (L) and Brown
Murray, Devine (6) (W) and Barber
(June 15) The Regina Red Sox paid a visit to the Soo Line city and came away with a well-deserved 2 to 0 triumph over the Weyburn Beavers. Art Straub was the man of the moment in Weyburn, coming up with a three-hit dandy on the hill for the Sox. Losing pitcher Keith Covert kept the Reginans in check for most of the game except the early innings when both runs were plated.
Straub (W) and xxxx
Covert (L) and xxxx
(June 16) A seventh inning uprising by the Regina Army proved to be fatal for the Regina Caps as the Capitals dropped a 5 to 1 decision to the Militia Men at Park de Young. Alex Ruhl tossed a three-hitter to gain credit for the win. Youthful Clem Kambeitz of the Caps was his own worst enemy as he issued a total of six bases on balls and uncorked three wild pitches in this encounter. Army third baseman Blackmore touched Kambeitz up for a brace of singles.
Kambeitz (L) and Millius
Ruhl (W) and Walters
(June 17) The Regina Caps nosed out the Notre Dame Hounds 4 to 3 in a Southern League tilt in Wilcox. Both clubs had eight hits in this evenly-matched affair. The Caps' drew their edge in this one with a two-run fourth frame obtained through "Chick" Barber's triple. Barber, along with the Hounds' Bob Donald and Jim Chadwick, had a brace of base knocks.
Helfrick (W) and Millius
Frank (L) and Brown
(June 19) The Regina Army pulled one out of the fire by scoring three times in the top of the seventh and final inning to get a 7 - 7 tie with the Regina Red Sox. Army outfielder "Doc" Parker drilled a pair of doubles plus a single to emerge as the game's top hitter.
Cherneshenko, Dobsky (5) and Walters
Larson and Bell
(June 19) The Weyburn Beavers edged the Notre Dame Hounds 8 to 7 in a Southern League match played in the Soo city. No game details were printed.
Covert (W), G. Shupe (8) and xxxx
Edwards (L), Jones (6) and xxxx
(June 20) Going out of his way to make things look easy, Gayle Shupe hoisted the Weyburn Beavers into second spot in the Southern League with an impressive four-hit mound effort that set the Regina Army down 9 to 3 at Park de Young. The big righthander struck out 14 Army hopefuls along the way. The Beavers rocked three Army chuckers for 11 hits with Ed Andries, Les Wilder, outfielder Tollefson and catcher Mel Langedahl all collecting two each. One of Wilder's blows was a home run. Elmer Ekdahl, recently discharged from the Army, changed dugouts to play once more for his former team, the Beavers.
G. Shupe (W) and Langedahl
Leader (L), Schwen (8), Dobsky (8) and Walters
(June 21) A botched pickoff attempt at third base and an errant relay throw to home plate cost the Regina Red Sox four big runs when they were edged 5 to 4 by the Notre Dame Hounds at Park de Young. Losing chucker Keith McLeod, who struck out eight while giving up seven hits, was the culprit on the overthrow as he failed to notice that no one was covering the bag. George Cullen's throw home was off line and took a bad bounce. Following the two mishaps for the Sox, it was lights out. Norm Brown and Bill Hryciuk both singled twice for the winners.
Frank (W) and McCann
McLeod (L) and Bell
(June 23) The faltering Regina Army squad clung to top spot in the Southern League, but the Soldiers' margin was sharpely reduced as they dropped an 8 to 6 game to the Regina Red Sox at Park de Young. Les Dean hoisted the Red Sox to within striking distance of second place by striking out 13 as he tossed a five-hit game at the Soldiers. Army hurler Alex Ruhl poled out a homer in the first frame to get his team off on the right foot but his mates failed to follow up the advantage. Middle infielders "Red" Staley and Al Potter of the Sox both rapped a pair of singles.
L. Dean (W) and Bell
Ruhl (L) and Walters
(June 24) The battle for second place in the Southern League was thrown wide open when the Notre Dame Hounds pinned a 2 to 1 loss on the Weyburn Beavers in a 15-inning thriller in Wilcox. Frank German, still in the military but back in the Hounds' line-up for the first time this season after a grieving period, did his fallen brother proud, hurling the entire game and drilling a brace of hits. Consecutive bunt plays by Phil Heisler and Jim Chadwick brought Bill Hryciuk across the plate with the winner in the sixth extra-frame. Ralph Hogg lost a heart-breaker as both he and Germann fanned nine. Hogg and Barry Wolstencroft of the Collegians led their respective clubs with the hickory, both slapping out three singles.
Hogg (L) and Langedahl
Germann (W) and McCann
(June 26) The once-flourishing Regina Army entry in the Southern League took it on the chin again and dropped a bitter 5 to 4 decision to the Notre Dame Hounds. The Soldiers blew a two-run lead in the eighth when they allowed three Collegians to reach base and ultimately score through an infield error, a hit batter and a walk. The Dogs collected only five hits but managed to manufacture runs when it mattered. Alex Ruhl had a circuit blast for the Soldiers. Nick Knott with a double and single was the only player on either roster to acquire two base hits.
Edwards (W) and McCann
Dobsky (L) and Shiskin
Southern League standings (as of end of June 26)
W L Pct.
Regina Army 6 4 .600
Weyburn Beavers 4 4 .500
Regina Caps 3 3 .500
Notre Dame Hounds 5 6 .455
Regina Red Sox 4 5 .444
(July 3) Today's edition of the Regina Leader-Post listed Les Wilder of the Weyburn Beavers as the early batting leader in the Southern League. The big first sacker leads all regulars with a mark of .435, based on 10 hits in 23 official trips to the plate. Right behind him is Keith Covert, another Beaver at .391 while Al "Red" Staley of the Regina Red Sox with a .355 average is in third spot.
Southern League top hitters (.300 or better average)AB H Aver.
Les Wilder (Weyburn Beavers) 23 10 .435
Keith Covert (Weyburn Beavers) 23 9 .391
Al "Red" Staley (Regina Red Sox) 31 11 .355
"Chick" Barber (Regina Caps) 23 8 .348
Ed Andries (Weyburn Beavers) 24 8 .333
Roy Webber (Regina Caps) 18 6 .333
Wally Cherneshenko (Regina Army) 41 13 .317
George Cullen (Regina Red Sox) 29 9 .310
(July 3) The Hounds are howling after Ernie Franks pitched Notre Dame's steadily-rising baseballers into a second-place tie in the Southern League with a 3 to 2 win over the Regina Caps. Frank chucked steady ball, giving up only five hits over the route.The winning runs came in the fifth when "Corky" McCann singled, Norm Brown walked and Bob Toney cracked a single off loser Don Devine that scored both runners. Hounds' outfielder Jim Chadwick led all batters with a double and single.
Devine (L) and Millius
Frank (W) and McCann
(July 4) The Weyburn Beavers hammered out 13 hits and took full advantage of ten errors by the Crinson Hose to drub the Regina Red Sox 10 to 1 at Park de Young. Keith Covert went the route on the hill for Weyburn to earn the win. He also had a pair of hits which included a grand-slam home run. Teammate Gayle Shupe followed with a double and a pair of one-baggers. Al "Red" Staley of the Sox singled twice.
Covert (W) and Langedahl
Straub (L), McLeod (6) and Bell
(July 5) The slumping Regina Army nine got dumped into the Southern League's second place slot when the Regina Caps whaled out an 11 to 7 decision over them at Park de Young. The Caps pounded loser Alex Ruhl for 16 base blows in outdistancing the Military Men. Johnny Helfrick got the win although he wasn't particularly impressive in this pitching outing. Roy Webber and Warren Bogart of the Caps were the night's leading batsmen with three hits apiece with one of Webber's blows being a four-bagger. Outfielder Kowbluk of the Soldiers ripped a pair of doubles off Helfrick.
Ruhl (L) and Shiskin, Walters (6)
Helfrick (W) and Barber
(July 6) The Weyburn Beavers lost their momentary grip on first place in the Southern League when the Regina Red Sox came out of the cellar long enough to hand out a 4 to 2 beating. The Sox got to Gayle Shupe for eight base blows as Shupe was uncharacteristically wild, issuing eleven bases on balls. Winning hurler Keith McLeod struck out eleven while being touched for seven hits, two each by Weyburn catcher Mel Langedahl and Cliff Hogg, making his first appearance with the Beavers and his brother, Ralph, this season. Hogg's total included a double which was the game's only extra-base hit.
McLeod (W) and Staley
G. Shupe (L) and Langadahl
(July 7) The Notre Dame Hounds made plenty of hay at Park de Young when they clobbered the Regina Caps 14 to 1 for one of the season's worst beatings. Keith Murray did the pitching for the Caps and was shelled steadily all night by the Hounds' arsenal. Winner Ernie Frank had a cake-walk in this one.
Frank (W) and Brown
Murray (L) and Wolff
(July 10) The Notre Dame Hounds got a cold reception when they attempted to move up into a loftier position in the Southern League as the Regina Red Sox hung a 10 to 8 reversal on the college gentry at Park de Young. The Sox caught loser Ernie Frank in a faltering performance and cashed in by taking a 7 to 0 lead after four frames had ended. Winner Les Dean weakened in the last four innings as the Dogs piled it on to make things close. In the end, the Collegians had out-hit the Sox 10 to 6 but the Reginans had the victory. Catcher Norm Brown of the Dogs paced all hitters with a double and single.
L. Dean (W) and Mitton
Frank (L), McCullough (5) and Brown
(July 11) Ageless Ralph Hogg put up 16 strikeouts, giving Regina Army batters spasms, as he led the Weyburn Beavers to a 7 to 2 triumph over the Soldiers and, in the process, sending the Beavers to the top of the heap in the Southern League standings. The Soo Line sage was miserly with the hits, allowing only three. Losing hurler Dobsky was touched for nine base blows over the route, the longest of them being Gayle Shupe's out-of-the-park blast in the sixth. Hogg and second baseman Doug Shupe both singled twice for the Beavers.
Hogg (W) and Langedahl
Dobsky (L) and Shiskin
(July 12) The free-falling Regina Army aggregation suffered through another humiliating defeat as the Notre Dame Hounds pummelled the Soldiers 15 to 5. The Army playing roster, weakened considerably by men on furlough, committed 11 errors. On top of that, their three chuckers gave up 16 hits. "Hap" Edwards breezed to the pitching win with a three-hitter. Norm Brown, the Hounds' catcher, had a field day in the batters' box, belting a triple, double and three singles.
Leader (L), Dobsky (4), Walters (6) and Beaudry
Edwards (W) and Brown
(July 14) A free-hitting contest at Park de Young saw the Regina Caps and Regina Red Sox play to a 7 - 7 draw. The teams combined for 30 base hits with the Red Sox having a slight edge. Redlegs' first sacker George Cullen connected for a home run to go along with three singles. Teammate Ray Ottem had a triple plus a pair of one-baggers. Shortstop Warren Bogart was the top batter for the Caps with a trio of singles.
Helfrick and Boney
Straub and Staley
(July 16) Looking more like the outfit that that wheeled away to an early lead in the Southern League, the Regina Army put the skids to a long losing streak with an impressive 3 to 1 victory over the Regina Caps. The Soldiers, bolstered by the addition of pitchers Al "Lefty" Erfle and Sagstuen, just back from the Mediterranean war theatre where they pitched against stiff American military competition, used both of their newcomers to success. In a combined six innings of work, the tandem held the Caps scoreless with a paltry two-hit production. Fortunately, for the Army, they needed solid pitching as their offense struggled and managed only three hits against loser Ron Campbell who rang up 11 strikeouts. Caps' second sacker Wilf Grover was the only player in the game to accumulate two hits.
Campbell (L) and Boney
Erfle, Sagstuen (5) (W), Cherneshenko (7) and Walters
(July 17) Honours were about evenly divided when the Regina Army and Regina Red Sox completed their Park de Young joust. The Soldiers won the game 4 to 3 and popped into a second place tie with the Notre Dame Hounds but Keith McLeod of the Scarlet Hose provided most of the night's thrills by ripping off an outstanding 20 strikeouts. The Militia Men got in their best licks against the Sox hurler early before he got into the groove, scoring twice in the second and adding another pair in the fourth. Army newcomer Al "Lefty" Erfle was the night's top batter with a production of three singles.
Erfle, Cherneshenko (2) (W) and Walters
McLeod (L) and Staley
(July 17) Behind the twirling of Gayle Shupe, the Weyburn Beavers shut-out the Notre Dame Hounds in Weyburn. No further information was printed as per the game's final score, game details or complete batteries.
xxxx (L) and xxxx
G. Shupe (W) and xxxx
(July 18) The Weyburn Beavers chalked up their second win in two nights when they pasted the Regina Caps 19 to 5. Two nightmarish innings brought about the Weyburn landslide and caused the Caps to rush in three hurlers at various stages of the run carnival. Winning hurler Keith Covert struck out ten in the eight-inning contest. Blaine Shupe with a double and a pair of singles and Elmer Ekdahl with a trio of one-baggers headlined the Weyburn offense. Losing chucker Don Devine had more success with the hickory than on the rubber as he came through with a triple, double and single. Caps' second sacker Wilf Grover contributed a tio of singles in a losing cause.
Covert (W) and Langedahl
Devine (L), Bogart (6), Helfrick (8) and Boney
(July 19) The recent comeback campaign of the Regina Army came to a crashing halt when they were annihilated 16 to 0 by the Regina Red Sox at Park de Young. While the Soldiers were struggling along by using four chuckers, Keith McLeod was turning in another artistic job for the Sox. He gave up just one scratch single and fanned 15 to add to the 20 he bagged a few nights ago. George Cullen's three singles led all swatters in this contest. With two hits apiece for the Red Sox were Ray Ottem and George "Lefty" Alexander who both had a triple and single.
McLeod (W) and Prosofsky
Dobsky (L), Sagstuen (2), Cherneshenko (3), McCarthy (4) and Schuler, Elliott (3)
(July 20) Les Dean, with a classy five-hit, 12-strikeout job to his credit, gained the hurling win as the Regina Red Sox drubbed their Queen City cousins, the Regina Caps, by a 10 to 2 margin. The game was close until the sixth when the Sox began to pull away. All five of the Caps' hits were divided between Johnny Helfrick and Al Boney. Helfick had a double and two singles while Boney had a two-bagger and a single.. With a pair of singles each for the winners came Dean, Gord Knutson, "Lefty" Alexander and George Cullen.
L. Dean (W) and Staley
Campbell (L) and Boney
(July 21) Home from the wars on a short leave, paratrooper Frank Germann demonstrated to a good-sized Park de Young house that army service hasn't robbed him of any of his old time mound skill when he escorted the Notre Dame Hounds to a 9 to 1 triumph over the Regina Red Sox. In only his second appearance this season, the Hound veteran was never extended as he eased through with an artistic five-hit job as only an error allowed the Sox to plate an unearned run against him. Germann's batterymate "Corky" McCann had a pair of singles off losing hurler "Lefty" Straub.
Germann (W) and McCann
Straub (L) and Staley, Buzosky (2)
(July 24) A three-run lead in the eighth frame disappeared when Don Devine's teammates began to go in the tank defensively with the net result being an 8 - 8 stalemate between the Regina Caps and the Notre Dame Hounds. Besides pitching eight-hit ball, Devine lashed out a triple and single. Teammate Roy Webber had a home run and triple to his credit while Wilf Grover came through with three singles. For the Hounds, who played catch-up in the eighth and ninth, chucker Ernie Franks was best with the bat, drilling a double and single.
Devine and Boney
Frank and McCann
(July 25) Paced by George Cullen's four-for-five hitting effort which included a triple, the Regina Red Sox galloped over the Regina Caps for a resounding 16 to 3 triumph. The Sox blew the game wide open with an eight-run rampage in the fourth frame. Les Dean eased through another slick evening on the pitching slab for the Red Sox, striking out 12 and allowing three meagre hits.
Murray (L), Rachul (4), Slinn (7) and Boney
L. Dean (W) and Staley
Southern League standings (as of end of July 25)
W L Pct.
Weyburn Beavers 8 5 .615
Regina Red Sox 9 8 .529
Notre Dame Hounds 9 8 .529
Regina Army 8 8 .500
Regina Caps 4 9 .308
(July 26) Reversing the trend after two indifferent performances, the Regina Caps came up with a crackling 5 to 3 victory over the Regina Army in a Southern League fixture at Park de Young. Big Johnny Helfrick set the pace with a six-hit mound show while his mates were right in step with a near perfect defensive display. Losing chucker "Lefty" Erfle also threw a nifty six-hitter and had a spectacular 14 strikeout show. Erfle also had a double and single while his second sacker Bill Ratke clubbed a pair of two-baggers. Len Laurie and Ron Campbell both singled twice for the winners.
Erfle (L) and Shiskin
Helfrick (W) and Boney
(July 27) The Weyburn Beavers strengthened their hold on first place in the Southern League with a 9 to 0 win over the Regina Red Sox. Six runs in the fifth inning put the game on ice for the Beavers and winning hurler Gayle Shupe who tossed the two-hit shut-out while fanning 14. Shupe's batterymate Mel Langedahl picked up a triple and single in support of his pitcher.
Straub (L) and Staley
G. Shupe (W) and Langedahl
(July 28) The Notre Dame Hounds ran into a rejuvenated Regina Army aggregation at Park de Young and were tagged with a 9 to 7 setback. Army catcher "Bucky" Walters wielded the big bat in this affair against loser "Mac" McGeough, whaling out three doubles. The Collegians had a lead after the third inning but were kept at a distance by winner Alex Ruhl for most of the final frames.
McGeough (L) and McCann
Ruhl (W) and Walters
(July 29) The Hounds of Nore Dame picked up a 6 to 5 decision over the league-leading Weyburn Beavers in Wilcox. Behind 5 to 1 early in the contest, the Hounds scratched their way back into contention and took the lead in the bottom of the eighth when an overthrow at first base allowed both the tying and winning markers to cross the plate. Lem Albers hit a solo homer for the Hounds in the fifth while Jim Chadwick socked a pair of doubles. Three players, "Corky" McCann of the Dogs plus Elmer Ekdahl and Art Fletcher of the Weyburnites all singled twice.
Covert (L), G. Shupe (8) and Langedahl
Jones (W) and McCann
(July 31) "Lefty" Straub's pitching and hitting were about all the Regina Red Sox needed as they moved up a notch in Southern League doings with a 6 to 2 win over the Regina Caps at Park de Young. The portsider recovered from some first inning shakes, when the Capitals scored both their runs, and took complete control of the tilt, pitching the Caps into the ground with a six-hit show and driving in the winning run with one of his two hits. Fellow Red Sox players Al Staley and Gord Knutson also had a pair of singles. Ron Campbell led the Caps offensively with a double and single while losing chucker Johnny Helfrick sinled twice.
Helfrick (L) and Boney
Straub (W) and Staley
(August 1) Ralph Hogg was plenty of pitcher as he escorted the Weyburn Beavers to a 5 to 3 victory over the Regina Red Sox at Park de Young. The Soo Line slicker gave up just three hits and whiffed 14 of the Reginans as the Beavers gave another boost to their lofty standing atop the Southern League. Regina's Les Dean wasn't far behing Hogg in the strikeout column but the Sox powerhouse found the game going against him when he was touched for seven hits, including two doubles and a single by Doug Shupe.
Hogg (W) and Langedahl
L. Dean (L) and Staley, Frolich
(August 2) It was a bad night for hurlers at Park de Young when the hitting brigade took things into their own hands in a game which had the Regina Army emerging from the batting practice with a 7 to 6 decision over the Regina Caps. A grand total of 21 safeties was rung up while only four strikeouts were recorded between four chuckers. The abbreviated contest was called after six innings. The Soldiers won the game in their last turn at bat on Al "Lefty" Erfle's RBI single.
Campbell, Helfrick, Devine (L) and Lynch
Cherneshenko (W) and Walters
(August 4) Pouring on the power at the plate, the Notre Dame Hounds eased into sole possesion of second place in the Southern League when they outlasted the Regina Red Sox 9 to 7. Five of the ten Hounds' base blows off loser Les Dean went for extra-bases. Stuart Reid, lanky Sox first baseman, kept the batting show from being one-sided by touching winning pitcher Frank Germann for four hits in four trips to the plate, including a mammoth fourth inning homer.The Hounds struck early and, after four innings, held an 8 to 3 lead. Notre Dame outfielder Jim Chadwick had a triple and single while teammates Norm Brown, Chuck McCullough and "Corky" McCann all doubled and singled, a feat duplicated by Regina's Dean.
L. Dean (L) and Frolich
Germann (W) and McCann
(August 6) Gayle Shupe and the Weyburn Beavers continued to roll when the big Soo Line righthander struck out 18 Regina Army batters and handcuffed them on six hits in a game which the Beavers took 2 to 1. The Soldiers had the potential tying run on base in the ninth but Shupe recorded his final strikeout to put an end to things. "Lefty" Erfle pitched well in defeat, surrendering eight hits while fanning an equal number of batters. Wally Cherneshenko of the Soldiers was the game's top batter with a triple and double.
Erfle (L) and Walters
G. Shupe (W) and Langedahl
Southern League standings (as of end of August 6)
W L Pct.
Weyburn Beavers 11 6 .647
Notre Dame Hounds 11 9 .550
Regina Army 10 10 .500
Regina Red Sox 10 11 .476
Regina Caps 5 11 .313
(August 7) In a five-inning, darkness-shortened encounter at Park de Young, the Notre Dame Hounds tacked a 10 to 4 defeat on the Regina Caps. The Hounds never looked back after capturing a first-inning lead. Pitcher "Hap" Edwards was on the bit for the Dogs, allowing only four hits in the abbreviated contest. The longest blow of the night was Johnny Helfrick's triple for the Caps in the third. Outfielder Lem Albers led the winners at the platter with a double and two singles.
Edwards (W) and Brown
McLean (L) and Boney
(August 8) Ralph Hogg's solid single drove home the deciding runs in the fifth frame as the veteran righthander went on to pitch the Weyburn Beavers to a 5 to 3 victory over the improved Regina Army. Tossing in old-time form, Hogg limited the Militia Men to nine safeties and, once the Beavers grabbed the lead, he protected the margin that his bat had built up. Alex Ruhl of the Army allowed two less hits than Hogg but a couple of lapses cost him the game after the Soldiers had sprinted into an early 3 to 1 lead. Hogg's fellow Beaver, Gayle Shupe, had the most success of any batter in this game, belting a triple and single.
Hogg (W) and Langedahl
Ruhl (L) and Walters
(August 8) The latest Southern League batting statistics, published in the Regina Leader-Post of this date, reveal that George Cullen of the Regina Red Sox currently hold the highest average in the circuit with a .338 mark. With only those at bat more than 25 times considered, Cullen has amassed 26 hits in 77 official at bats and leads teammate Ray Ottem who is hitting the ball at a .318 clip.
Southern League top hitters (.300 or better average)
AB H Pct.
George Cullen (Regina Red Sox) 77 25 .338
Ray Ottem (Regina Red Sox) 69 22 .319
Norm Brown (Notre Dame Hounds) 72 22 .306
Don Devine (Regina Caps) 46 14 .304
Keith Covert (Weyburn Beavers) 56 17 .304
Jack Helfrick (Regina Caps) 56 17 .304
Roy Webber (Regina Caps) 50 15 .300
(August 9) Staking out a temporary claim to third place in the Southern League, the Regina Red Sox picked up a 6 to 2 victory over the lowly Regina Caps at Park de Young. The Sox scored three times off losing hurler Don Devine in their first turn at bat and never let the lead slip away, out-hitting their intra-city rivals by a slight 8 to 7 margin. Vern Larson fanned nine batters in picking up the mound win. Stuart Reid of the Red Stockings and Capitals' shortstop Johnny Helfrick were the bright lights in the hitting department, each slamming a double plus a pair of one-baggers.
Larson (W) and Mitton
Devine (L) and Boney
(August 10) Playing in the Soo Line City, the Weyburn Beavers cruised to a 7 to 0 win over their closest pursuers, the Notre Dame Hounds, in a seven-inning Southern League tilt. Keith Covert, backed by superb defensive work on the part of his teammates, picked up the win, a seven-frame no-hit, no-run job. Only three Notre Dame players became baserunners, one on a walk, another on an error and the third as a hit batsman. One of those runners was promptly erased on a Beavers' double play. Southpaw Steve Jones of the Hounds was in constant trouble as the homesters got to him for nine hits, including a triple and double by Blaine Shupe.
Jones (L) and Brown
Covert (W) and Langedahl
(August 10) The Regina Red Sox scored a pair of sixth-inning tallies to earn a 3 - 3 sawoff with the Regina Army in a seven-inning joust at Park de Young. Ray Ottem's theft of home was the tying marker. Wally Cherneshenko of the Soldiers had the game's most productive offensive display as he connected for a double and two singles.
McCarthy and Walters
Straub and Frolich, Mitton (3)
(August 11) Giving another hint that they're going to be a tough club to beat in the upcoming playoffs, the Notre Dame Hounds pinned an 8 to 1 trimming on the Regina Army at Park de Young. A brace of hits, along with a balk and three errors in the first inning, gave the Hounds three runs and a stranglehold on the game. Ernie Franks, on the mound for Notre Dame, yielded but four hits. Jim Chadwick had two of the Hounds' six base knocks, both singles.
Dobsky (L) and Beaudry
Frank (W) and Brown
(August 13) The Regina Red Sox, with third place in the Southern League already assured, went out and tacked a 3 to 1 defeat on the lowly Regina Caps as the league went into its closing stages. The Red Stockings had eight hits off loser Johnny Helfrick while the Caps touched winner "Lefty" Straub for five safeties, two off the bat of Jack Slinn who doubled and singled. Second baseman Al Potter had a brace of two-baggers for the winners.
Helfrick (L) and Boney
Straub (W) and Frolich
(August 13) The Weyburn Beavers and Regina Army battled to a six-inning 1 to 1 stalemate in the Soo City. "Lefty" Erfle of the Soldiers fanned ten Weyburn batters while Ralph Hogg of the Beavers whiffed eight. Both pitchers gave up four hits in this closely-matched affair. Gayle Shupe of the homesters and outfielder Huhn of the Army brigade both singled twice.
Erfle and Walters
Hogg and Langedahl
(August 16) The first-place Weyburn Beavers closed off the Southern League's regular schedule by dumping the circuit's cellar-dwellers, the Regina Caps, twice in a twin-bill played in Weyburn.
The Caps extended the Beavers in the opener before bowing 10 to 8. The two clubs exploded for a total of thirteen runs in the first frame which saw the Beavers emerge with a 7 to 6 lead at that point.
xxxx (L) and xxxx
Covert (W) and xxxx
Gayle Shupe pitched a seven-hit shutout in the evening encounter to complete the sweep. Loser Don Devine yielded only four base blows to the Weyburnites but the homesters were able to make maximum use of them in the eight-inning joust.
Devine (L) and xxxx
G. Shupe (W) and xxxx
Southern League final standings
W L Pct.
Weyburn Beavers 15 6 .714
Notre Dame Hounds 13 10 .565
Regina Red Sox 12 11 .522
Regina Army 10 12 .455
Regina Caps 5 16 .238
Playoff pairings for the two semi-final series will have the pennant-winning Weyburn Beavers taking on the third-place Regina Red Sox while the Notre Dame Hounds, second place finishers, will go up against the Regina Army. Both series will be best-three-out-of-five affairs.
LEAGUE SEMI - FINALS
(August 21) The Notre Dame Hounds ran into a 13 to 6 going-over when they faced the Regina Army in the opener of one half of the Southern League's semi-finals. Taken off balance when the Soldiers opened the seven-inning show with a three-run outburst, the Hounds managed to stay with the flying Militia Men for five innings and were then left ducking for cover when the Army tore the game wide open with a seven run barrage in the sixth. It just wasn't the Hounds night to howl as their normally sound defense fell apart, commiting six miscues. Then, too, Army chucker "Lefty" Erfle let them down with six hits. Erfle also picked up the game's laurels in the batting department as he slapped out three singles off loser Frank Germann.
Erfle (W) and Walters
Germann (L) and Brown
(August 21) The Weyburn Beavers were the complete masters of the situation as they opened their Southern League semi-final series against the Regina Red Sox with a 17 to 2 win in six innings. Ralph Hogg, perfectly at ease on the mound, led the way to victory with nine strikeouts, and added to his laurels with a three-for-four batting performance which included a three-base clout. Ray Ottem's two-run homer in the fourth was the only blemish on Hogg's mound performance. The Beavers pounded out 20 hits in demolishing the Reginans. Sam Elson had a triple, double and single for the winners while Hogg, Doug Shupe and outfielder Art Fletcher all picked up a trio of singles. "Red" Staley of the Sox also had three one-baggers.
Straub (L), Potter (5) and Mitton
Hogg (W) and Langedahl
(August 22) The Weyburn Beavers pulled out a 1 to 0 victory over the Regina Red Sox to open up a two-game lead in their playoff series. With the contest scoreless after eight torrid innings, the Soo Line nighthawks rode the breaks for a big run in the top of the ninth. Sam Elson drove home the game's only counter after an error and a fielder's choice put a runner in scoring position. The Sox threatened in the bottom of the ninth but, with a runner at third, winning pitcher Gayle Shupe registered his twelfth strikeout to end the game. Both Shupe and losing hurler Keith McLeod surrendered six hits. Mel Langedahl had a double and single for the winners while Gord Knutson came out best for the Sox with the bat, drilling a pair of singles.
G. Shupe (W) and Langedahl
McLeod (L) and Mitton
(August 23) An early lead paid off for the Notre Dame Hounds as they eked out a 6 to 5 decision over the Regina Army at Park de Young to even their best-of-five Southern League semi-final set at a win apiece. The Soldiers, who fell behind in the early exchanges, were a charging crew at the finish and had the tying run at third base when the final out was recorded."Hap" Edwards of the Hounds picked up the pitching win. Only three base hits were garnered off his slants, one being a home run by Wally Cherneshenko and the other two coming off the bat of Al "Lefty" Erfle which included a double. Ernie Franks and Jim Chadwick both had a double and single for the winners.
Edwards (W) and McCann
Ruhl (L) and Walters
(August 24) A tie game, an infuriated catcher, an irate umpire and a threatened free-for-all gave Weyburn fans plenty of entertainment as the Regina Red Sox and Weyburn Beavers hooked up in the third contest of their best-of-five series. Closely contested throughout the six innings that were played, the tussle was tied at 5 - 5 when Regina catcher Al Staley took exception to a decision by the plate umpire and was ordered to the bench for his outburst. The Beavers had runners at second and third at the time and two were out. Instead of heading for the dugout, Staley elected to seek a fight as players from both teams milled around the plate. In the meantime, Beaver baserunner Art Fletcher strolled in from third base with what he thought should be the winning run. When peace was finally restored, it was too dark to go on with the game, so the tie result could have a protest filed.
xxxx and Staley
G. Shupe and xxxx
(August 25) The Regina Army's hitting brigade, sparked by "Rosie" Roseborsky, was a bit too much for the Notre Dame Hounds as the Soldiers posted a healthy 7 to 1 victory at Park de Young to take a two games to one lead in their best-of-five semi-final series. The Military nine never looked back after leadoff hitter Roseborsky leaned on one of losing pitcher Ernie Franks' choice offerings for a first-inning homer. The Army crew salted the game away after they routed Frank with a fourth-inning blast. Roseborsky added a single to his total later in the game, a hit which drove in a run. Wally Cherneshenko and winning hurler "Lefty" Erfle added two singles each to the Army total with Erfle's last bingle driving in a pair of runs. Jim Chadwick and "Corky" McCann singled twice for the Hounds.
Erfle (W) and Walters
Frank (L), Reynoldson and McCann
(August 28) The Weyburn Beavers took care of business and shutout the Regina Red Sox 5 to 0 to send the Reginans to the showers for the balance of the season. Gayle Shupe and his two-hit hurling were one big factor in the Sox setback while the other was provided by the Beavers' booming bats. Shupe fanned ten in twirling the shutout. Leading the Weyburn offensive attack were catcher Mel Langedahl and shortstop Sam "Box Car" Elson who each banged out a double and single off loser Keith McLeod. The Beavers now await the winner of the Notre Dame-Regina Army series.
G. Shupe (W) and Langedahl
McLeod (L) and Mitton
(August 29) After battling for six fast-paced innings, the only winner turned out to be the darkness which put a damper on further play as the Notre Dame Hounds and Regina Army were stalled at a 0 - 0 stalemate. Pitchers Wally Cherneshenko and John Reynoldson each gave up three hits with Cherneshenko collecting all three of the Army base blows while Reynoldson responded with a single off the Soldiers' hurler. Second sacker Frank Germann picked up the other two Notre Dame hits.
Reynoldson and McCann
Cherneshenko and Walters
(August 30) Getting no place fast in their Southern League semi-final series, the Regina Army and Notre Dame Hounds struggled to their second straight six-inning draw, a 1 - 1 affair at Park de Young. The Soldiers struck first, picking up their counter in the third when catcher Dave Walters doubled home second sacker Menzies who had singled. Facing elimination when they came to bat in the last of the sixth with darkness looming overhead, the Dogs responded when Nick Metz drove in Frank Germann with a clutch single.
Ruhl and Walters
Reynoldson and McCann
(September 2) With their backs to the wall, the Notre Dame Hounds responded with a 5 to 0 whitewashing of the Regina Army in playoff game six played in Wilcox. No game details or batteries were printed.
xxxx (L) and xxxx
xxxx (W) and xxxx
(September 3) Making a lot out of a little, the Regina Army hopped into the Southern League's final series when they knocked off the Notre Dame Hounds 3 to 1 to win what turned out to be a seven game series three games to two with two games tied. The Army boys had only four hits of "Smokey" Reynoldson but the hits were timely and the breaks were rolling against the Hounds. Leaning on "Lefty" Erfle's offerings for eight safeties, Notre Dame threatened almost every inning only to leave nine runners stranded on the paths, Nick Knott singled home the Soldiers' first run after Reynoldson had walked a pair. Outfielder "Doc" Parker drove in the other two counters with a sixth-inning single. Erfle seemed to get better as the game progressed but the Hounds still had many opportunities to cash in. Erfle, with a double and single, was the game's top hitter. Lem Albers and Chuck McCullough of the Collegians singled twice. The Army now have to face the well balanced Weyburn Beavers in a best-of-seven league final.
Erfle (W) and Walters
Reynoldson and McCann
LEAGUE FINAL SERIES
(September 5) The Weyburn Beavers and Regina Army got no place when they opened the Southern League final round. The seven-inning encounter ended in a 2 - 2 draw. Ralph Hogg and Wally Cherneshenko dueled the entire match which saw the Army forge ahead by scoring two runs on three hits in the sixth. In the bottom of the seventh and final frame, the Beavers loaded the bases with no one out but were only able to bring two of the runners around to tally.
Cherneshenko and Walters
Hogg and Langedahl
(September 7) Gayle Shupe, the former professional pitcher with the Winnipeg Maroons, was poison to the Regina Army's title hopes as the diamond-wise smoothy made no mistakes in chucking the Weyburn Beavers to a 3 to 1 victory before the largest crowd of the season at Park de Young. Shupe whiffed 12 batters, yielded but four stingy hits and personally drove in one of his club's runs. Losing pitcher "Lefty" Erfle gave up five of the Beavers' six hits but all three runs were charged to him. Weyburn's Ralph Hogg, with a double and single, was the only batter in the game with two hits.
G. Shupe (W) and Langedahl
Erfle (L), Whitney (7) and Walters
(September 10) Versatile Keith Covert took to the hill and escorted the Weyburn Beavers to a 2 to 0 triumph over the Regina Army in the second game of the Southern League finals. Covert held the Reginans to a pair of hits in the playoff tilt, limited to six-innings because of darkness. Gayle Shupe tripled in the third off loser Wally Cherneshenko and crossed the plate with Weyburn's first run after the Army hurler uncorked a wild pitch. Covert singled home Shupe with a second counter in the fifth. The Beavers now hold a two-game lead in the series.
Cherneshenko (L), Ruhl (4) and Walters
Covert (W) and Langedahl
(September 12) In a game where not a single run was of the earned variety, the Army baseballers of Regina were tagged with a 5 to 2 defeat at the hands of Weyburn's title-bound Beavers. Reliable Ralph Hogg took the pitching victory with a four-hitter over Gerry Whitney and the Soldiers. Hogg also had a two-bagger and single to help his own cause. Wild throws were prevalent in the scoring of all five Weyburn runs with Army catcher "Bucky" Walters being saddled with most of the damage. Infield bobbles also helped the Militia Men garner their pair of counters.
Hogg (W) and Langedahl
Whitney (L) and Walters
(September 14) Taking over the crown that was worn last year by the Regina Caps, the Weyburn Beavers carried off the 1945 Southern League championship with a 3 to 2 win over the Regina Army. The Soldiers based in the Queen City made a battle of the contest all the way behind Al Erfle's slick left-handed chucking and had the potential tying run parked on second when the lights went out on the contest and the season. Winning hurler Gayle Shupe started the ball rolling offensively for the Beavers with a fourth inning single followed by brother Blaine's ringing triple which gave the homesters a 1 to 0 lead. That was increased to 2 to 0 when Shupe, the Weyburn second sacker, crossed the plate on a ball muffed at third. The Soldiers got one back in the sixth when big Nick Knott, after hitting safely, was fortunate enough to make his way around the bases when the Beavers commenced to clumsily handle the ball. Doug Shupe's triple in the seventh drove in Art Fletcher to restore the two-run advantage. The Militia Men made a last-ditch try in the ninth and came close when "Doc" Parker rapped out a safety and pinch-hitter Menzies clubbed him home. Shupe put an end to things then and there to finish with a six-hitter and, more importantly, the championship.
Erfle (L) and Walters
G. Shupe (W) and Langedahl
EPILOGUE TO 1945 SEASON
The Weyburn Beavers were certainly worthy claimants to the 1945 Southern League regular-season pennant and playoff championship.