SOUTHERN LEAGUE
Eight teams again took part in the Southern League in 1947. Two new teams, the Long Lake Eagles and the Regina Pontiacs, replaced the Regina Caps and Regina Legion, again in a divisional set-up, although this time the units were North (Moose Jaw Canucks, Regina Red Sox, Notre Dame Hounds and Long Lake Eagles) and South (Weyburn Beavers, Wilcox Cardinals, Regina Clippers and Regina Pontiacs).
(May 18) The Southern League got off to its earliest start in years as the Regina Red Sox took the measure of the Long Lake Eagles 9 - 6 at Liberty. A fine pitching effort by Cliff "Lefty" Harrison and a 12-hit attack led by Al "Red" Staley lifted the Red Sox to their triumph. Although giving up 11 hits, Harrison worked well in winning his debut, fanning eight and holding the Eagles in check over most of the route. Staley was the leading hitter in the fray, smashing out a double and two singles. Jackie Fulton, Gord Knutson and Al Potter all ripped out a pair of hits for the winners. Clarence Levere, Warren Martin, Denny Evenson and R. McNabb of the Eagles did likewise.
Harrison (W) and McFarland
McIntosh (L), Arnold (5) and McLane
(May 18) The Moose Jaw Canucks opened the 1947 campaign by staging an eight-run scoring spree in the 4th inning to whip the Notre Dame Hounds 10 - 7 at Wilcox. The Canucks out-hit their Collegiate hosts 8 to 7 as Neil Mitchell of the winners as well as Jackie McLeod and Jim Starrack of the Hounds each had a pair of hits.
Emerson (W), Boyce and Lloyd Carr
Becker (L), Huck (4) and Starrack
(May 30) Following almost two weeks of cold and damp weather which put a crimp on everything outdoors, Southern League action finally resumed as bespectacled Lloyd Woolley rationed the Notre Dame Hounds to seven hits in his debut on the hill for the Regina Clippers as the defending league champions set down the Collegians 8 - 2. The southpaw, who hurled for the Regina Caps last season, fanned seven in picking up the mound win as he out-pitched Notre Dame puckster Cy Huck who allowed 13 Regina hits in taking the loss. "Muttsy" Schmidt had a perfect night at the dish going four for four including a double. Tony Righetti and Frank Smith chipped in with three hits apiece. Outfielder Ralph Beattie led the Hounds with the stick banging out a brace of hits.
Huck (L) and Richardson
Woolley (W) and Smith
(May 31) For Regina's powerful Clippers, it was hardly a workout as they smothered the newly-formed Regina Pontiacs 22 - 3 at Tech Park. The mighty Clips jumped on loser Clarence Brown for 12 runs in the first two innings of this mismatch. The duo of Dick Terry and Vern Huggins shared the mound duties for the winners with Huggins looking particularly good in his debut. Seven Clipper batters came away with two hit performances. The group consisted of Sully Glasser, Ernie Franks, "Muttsy" Schmidt, Johnny Helfrick, Frank Smith, Tony Righetti and Bert Flaman. Helfrick and Smith drove in four runs apiece. The best player for the Pontiacs was outfielder Wally Smith who played a sensational game in left field besides picking up two hits and driving in a run.
Terry (W), Huggins (5) and Smith
Brown (L), Leader (7) and Ross
(May 31) Moose Jaw's re-built Canucks rattled off their 2nd win of the campaign by downing the Regina Red Sox 5 - 2. An estimated crowd of 1,000 Ross Park fans watched in glee as "Lefty" Straub donned a Canuck uniform for the first time and set down his former mates on eight hits in picking up the win. "Lefty" Harrison gave up only six safeties in toiling for the losing Reginans. Bill Emerson was the big gun offensively for the Canucks, gathering three hits. For the Red Stockings, Al Potter with two hits, including a double, was best from the batters' box. Ritchie Eisler slammed a triple for the losers.
Harrison (L) and McFarland
Straub (W) and Smith
(June 1) The Notre Dame Hounds took in on the chin for the 3rd straight time this young Southern League season as the visiting Weyburn Beavers, in their debut performance, set the Dogs down 5 - 4. Notre Dame hung with the Beavers all the way but just couldn't get the tying marker as Ralph Hogg, the old master, kept them at bay when it mattered most. Jackie McLeod of the Hounds was credited with a gift home run when his hit down the right field line went among the autos parked around the outfield. McLeod and Del Kines of the Hounds as well as Jack Shupe of the Dam Builders each had two hits, one of Shupe's being a double.
Hogg (W), Covert (9) and White
Kerley (L), Germann (5) and Richardson
(June 1) The Long Lake Eagles went down to their second home defeat in two tries when the visiting Wilcox Cardinals romped to a 9 - 1 triumph. Don Metz twirled six innings for the Cards to pick up the win. The Long Lakers were held to but three hits in the contest. Nick Metz and Ernie Downton had two hits each for the Redbirds.
D. Metz (W), A. Downton (7) and Weisshaar
McIntosh (L), Arnold (6) and McLane
(June 6) The Weyburn Beavers made their home debut in the Southern League a winning one when they sent a dark horse to the mound and soundly trounced the Regina Pontiacs 15 - 1. Big Les Wilder, regular first baseman for the Beavers, tried his hand at chucking for the first time in half-a-dozen years and held the listless Regina outfit to a meagre four hits, sending six down swinging. Meanwhile, his mates pounded two Pontiac pitchers for 13 safe blows which included doubles by Keith Covert, Elmer Ekdahl and Don White. Wilder added a triple to the devastation of the Capital City gang. Harry O'Brien had three for four to pace the Weyburn hitters. Covert, Wilder, White and Blaine Shupe each had a pair of hits.
Banford (L), Larter (5) and Ross
Wilder (W) and White
(June 11) With three different hurlers sharing the mound duties and rationing three hits between them, the Wilcox Cardinals came through with a smashing 13 - 0 shutout victory over the Regina Red Sox. Aub Downton, George Drew and Don Metz all had a fling on the hill and limited the Redlegs to three safeties in total. Leadoff batter Clint Squires was the top gun in the Wilcox 14-hit barrage off a pair of Regina chuckers with a perfect four for four. He also plated four tallies. Nick Metz and Walt Buttgereit followed with three bingles each.
Grisenthwaite (L), Mearns (1) and Mitton
A. Downton (W), Drew (5), D. Metz (8) and Clements
(June 12) In an entertaining exhibition match at Tech Park, the proceeds of which went to the Aid-to-Greece Fund, a group of select players from several Southern League clubs put up a stout defensive display to trim the Regina Red Sox 2 - 0. "Muttsy" Schmidt of the Regina Clippers stole home with the winning run in the 7th. Gayle Shupe of the Weyburn Beavers, Frank Germann of the Notre Dame Hounds and Ernie Franks of the Regina Clippers divided mound chores for the All-Stars. Cliff "Lefty" Harrison gave up six hits in being stung with the complete game loss for the Sox. Gord Knutson of the Crimson Hose had three of the four hits that the Regina nine picked up. Bill Emerson of the Moose Jaw Canucks had two hits to pace the Selects at the plate.
G. Shupe (W), Germann (4), G. Shupe (4), Frank (5) and F. Smith
Harrison (L) and Mitton
(June 13) After falling behind 3 - 0 after the opening inning, the Notre Dame Hounds exercised patience and eventually came back to overwhelm the Regina Red Sox 12 to 3. Big Frank Germann surrendered a first frame single to Spear Salloum during a Red Sox three-run uprising but, after that, the Hounds hurler slammed the door on the Reginans and retired the side in order for the remainder of the contest. Ted Abel, on the hill for the Sox, was going along comfortably until the 6th, when the Hounds chalked up their first run, but even then he had no particular worries. The 7th, however, was a different story and as Abel faltered, the whole team crumbled with him. Three runs resulted and paved the way for the woeful 8th in which 13 Hound batters faced Abel and his bullpen help and came away with eight tallies to run away with the game. Collecting a brace of singles apiece for the victorious Dogs were Norm Brown, Ralph Beattie, Walt Becker and Germann.
Germann (W) and Richardson
Abel (L), Grisenthwaite (8) and Mitton
(June 13) The undefeated Weyburn Beavers dropped the Regina Clippers out of that class by coming from behind a two-run deficit in the bottom of the 9th to win 5 - 4. Winning chucker Ralph Hogg drove in the tying and go-ahead runs by clouting one of Lloyd Woolley's slants over second base. A two-out throwing error followed by three walks set the stage for Hogg's batting feat. Up to that point, Woolley had fanned 13 Beavers. Hogg and Gayle Shupe of Weyburn both had two hits as did Regina's Ernie Franks.
Woolley (L) and Smith
Hogg (W) and White
(June 14) Coming through with a 5 - 3 Southern League triumph over the Moose Jaw Canucks, the Wilcox Cardinals kept their undefeated record intact and kept pace with the Weyburn Beavers in the Southern Division of the circuit. Each has three wins. Canucks' hurler "Lefty" Straub was off his usual form and was lit up for 14 hits including a homer, triple and two doubles. Moose Jaw pounded nine hits off the slants of Aub Downton. He gained some additional satisfaction, however, by drilling a two-run homer in the 2nd inning. Cards' Bob Metz and Carl Weisschaar shared the batting honors for the winners as each had three singles in five trips to the plate. Ernie Downton and Nick Metz followed with a brace each. Neil Mitchell, catcher Wally Smith and Bill Emerson all had a pair of raps for the Moose Javians.
A. Downton (W) and Clements
Straub (L) and Smith
(June 14) An improved Regina Pontiacs club saw victory elude them when the Regina Red Sox came from behind to score twice in the 7th inning for a 3 - 2 decision. The win for the Sox pulled them out of a three-game losing streak. Gord Donaldson and "Lefty" Harrison shared hill chores for the Redlegs, the latter giving up the only hit that the Pontiacs mustered all evening, a single over first base by Bob Cunning. The tying run was plated in the 7th on a fielder's choice and Jim Hooper crossed the dish with the winner on an infield out. Harry Glaister whiffed four and threw five-hit ball for the Pontiacs with Sox outfielder Jackie Fulton registering two of those.
Donaldson, Harrison (3) (W) and McFarland
Glaister (L) and Ross
(June 15) The Regina Clippers pounded out a 9 - 0 verdict over the Notre Dame Hounds as Dick Terry limited the Collegians to three hits. The Clippers scraped up eight safeties off loser Steve "Lefty" Jones with Sully Glasser and Ernie Franks accounting for a pair each. Jones had two of the three Notre Dame base knocks.
Terry (W) and Smith
Jones (L) and Richardson
(June 15) The Long Lake Eagles came through with a big rally after two were away in the bottom of the 9th inning to score a close 4 - 3 win over the Regina Pontiacs. It was the youthful Pontiacs 4th loss in as many Southern League starts. In the tight game, played in a drizzle at Stalwart, Eagles' backstop "Shorty" McLane singled and stole 2nd with two away and scampered home with the winner when Warren Martin's ground ball to shortstop Bill Neumiller wasn't fielded cleanly. The Big Birds out-hit the visitors 9 to 2.
Leader (L) and Ross
McIntosh, Evenson (5) (W) and McLane
(June 16) Before more than 1,200 fans, the Ligon Colored All-Stars trounced the Weyburn Beavers 12 - 4. The colored boys jumped into a 4 - 0 first inning lead and coasted the rest of the way. Three Beaver chuckers shared mound chores with starter Les Wilder taking the loss.
(June 17) The Regina Clippers picked up their 4th triumph in five starts by walloping the lowly Regina Pontiacs 13 - 3 at Tech Park. The Clips tucked the game in their kit bag in the first inning, scoring seven times. "Muttsy" Schmidt had three of the 13 Clipper hits off loser Harry Glaister, one of which was an inside-the-park four-bagger. Winner Vern Huggins and newcomer Ed Smith split the pitching duties for the Clips. Frank Smith of the winners as well as Bob Cunning, Fred Cudmore and Wally Smith of the Pontiacs each collected a pair of base raps.
Glaister (L) and Ross
Huggins (W), E. Smith (5) and F. Smith
(June 17) The Wilcox Cardinals took the measure of the Moose Jaw Canucks 8 - 4 at Wilcox, coming from behind and scoring six times in the 7th inning. Winning hurler Don Metz limited the Canucks to four hits and also had a big night at the plate, batting three for five. Brother Nick matched Don's batting performance with an identical three for five. Clint Squires was the top Wilcox gun, however, drilling four safeties out of five attempts. Carl Weisshaar slugged a homer for the Redbirds. Normie Dunne was best with the lumber for Moose Jaw, registering a pair of raps.
Straub (L), Emerson (7) and Smith
D. Metz (W) and Clements
(June 17) Reliable Ralph Hogg came to the mound in relief in the 6th inning and squelched potential uprisings in the 7th and 9th frames to steer his Weyburn Beaver mates to a close 5 - 4 decision over the persistent Long Lake Eagles. Doug Shupe's RBI double in the 6th provided the winning margin for the Dam Builders. The Long Lakers out-hit the Soo-Liners 12 to 8 as Eagle catcher "Shorty" McLane drilled a triple and two singles to pace his team. Les Wilder, Don White and Blaine Shupe of Weyburn as well as Cy Thorseth, Warren Martin and McIntosh of Long Lake all collected two bingles.
Arnold (L) and McLane
G. Shupe, Hogg (6) (W) and White
(June 18) Weyburn's eager Beavers were still the team to beat in the Southern League after their first showing at Regina's Tech Park this season. Bunching seven of their 10 hits in a big 8th inning, the Beavers scored six times and walked off with a 7 - 2 triumph over the Regina Red Sox for their 5th win in as many league starts. Up until the 8th, it was a tight battle which had the Soo-Liners leading 1 - 0 as loser Cliff "Lefty" Harrison had given up only two hits to that point. Every Beaver got into the hit parade with Blaine Shupe the only one to pick up a pair. Jackie Fulton and Spear Salloum nicked winner Keith Covert for a brace each. Weyburn's Johnny Norman and Jack McFarland of the Sox hammered out triples.
Covert (W) and White
Harrison (L) and McFarland
(June 18) Bolstered by five top players from other teams in the Southern League, the Notre Dame Hounds chalked up a 2 - 1 exhibition triumph over the touring Ligon All-Stars. Frank Germann was the hero for the Hounds, limiting the Negro stars to four bingles and scampering home with the winning tally in the 9th. The Hounds nicked Ray Woosley of the All-Stars for six hits with Ralph Beattie leading the way with three for four. The Collegians were aided by Frank Smith and Ernie Franks of the Regina Clippers and the Metz brothers, Nick, Don and Bob of the Wilcox Cardinals.
(June 21) Suiting up for the first time this season, John "Smokey" Reynoldson earned the resounding cheers of Ross Park fans as he hurled the Moose Jaw Canucks to a narrow 1 - 0 victory over the Notre Dame Hounds in a Southern League game. The slim right-hander allowed only four scattered hits and struck out 12. But for Reynoldson's masterful hurling, honors would certainly have gone to Frank Germann. The Notre Dame pitcher made Reynoldson work for the shutout win as he gave up but three hits to the Canucks. Moose Jaw's Neil Mitchell crossed the plate, scoring the game's lone run, on a 1st inning error. Barry Wolstencroft gathered two of the Hounds' four hits.
Germann (L) and McCann
J. Reynoldson (W) and Smith
(June 24) George Ligon's Colored All-Stars proved too big a challenge for the Moose Jaw Canucks as they downed the Southern League entry 7 - 1 in an exhibition game before more than 1,500 Ross Park customers. The All-Stars bagged three runs in the opening frame, added three more in the 4th and finished off with one in the 9th. The Canucks' lone run came as a result of a 1st inning squeeze play with Lloyd Carr laying down a nifty bunt to score Neil Mitchell. Roy White went the route for Ligon's, giving up five singles and striking out 10. "Lefty" Straub, "Smokey" Reynoldson and Ron Reynoldson each hurled three innings for the Canucks.
(June 29) With playing-coach Frank Germann tossing a neat five-hitter, the Notre Dame Hounds toppled the powerful Wilcox Cardinals from their undefeated perch with a thrilling 3 - 2 decision. The loss dropped the Cards into a 2nd place tie with the Regina Clippers in the Southern Division of the Southern League, one full game behind the leading Weyburn Beavers. Wilcox held a 2 - 1 lead heading into the bottom of the 8th. Barry Wolstencroft's single drove in Ralph Beattie with the winner. Beattie and teammate Lem Albers as well as Nick Metz of the Redbirds all had a brace of base raps.
A. Downton, D. Metz (6) (L) and Clements
Germann (W) and McCann
(July 1) The Regina Clippers took over 2nd spot in the Southern Division of the Southern League when they handed the Long Lake Eagles a 4 - 1 setback in a 7-inning tussle at Manitou Beach. Ernie Franks was the big gun in the Clipper attack with a triple and a two-base hit in four times at bat. Teammates John Helfrick and Fred Weist also contributed a pair of hits. The Eagles managed only four hits off three Regina hurlers.
Huggins, Woolley (4) (W), Frank (6) and Smith
McIntosh (L), Kyle (7) and McLane
(July 1) A total of 10,000 fans attended the Dominion Day Indian Head closed tourney which saw the Notre Dame Hounds trim the Weyburn Beavers in the final game.
(July 2) The Weyburn Beavers breezed to an easy 11 - 3 triumph over a woefully overmatched band of Regina Pontiacs. The win was the 6th in a row for the Soo-Liners as they inflicted the 6th consecutive defeat upon the young Reginans. Winning chucker Keith Covert had three hits while fellow Beavers Les Wilder, Doug Shupe, Johnny Norman and Blaine Shupe all had a pair with one of Blaine Shupe's going for two-bases. Jake Klassen had a double and single for the Pontiacs.
Covert (W), Wilder (5) and White
Neumiller (L), Leader (5) and Ross
Standings as of end of July 2
South Division W L Pct.
Weyburn Beavers 6 0 1.000
Regina Clippers 5 1 .833
Wilcox Cardinals 4 1 .800
Regina Pontiacs 0 6 .000
North Division W L Pct.
Moose Jaw Canucks 3 2 .600
Regina Red Sox 2 4 .333
Notre Dame Hounds 2 5 .286
Long Lake Eagles 1 4 .200
(July 3) The Moose Jaw Canucks, leaders in the North Division, knocked over the Long Lake Eagles 3 - 1. The Canucks picked up a pair of two-out runs in the opening frame off loser Archie Arnold, who fanned 15, and never lost the lead. Moose Jaw's Art "Lefty" Straub yielded seven hits to the Eagles in going the distance for the win. Art Ryall, Wally Smith and Lou Cronk all had two hits for the winners. Jack Gebhard was the top batter for the Long Lakers as he smashed a triple and single. Warren Martin contributed a pair of singles.
Arnold (L) and McLane
Straub (W) and Smith
(July 3) The Regina Clippers pounced on the Regina Red Sox for an 8 - 2 decision at Tech Park. The Clips teed off on loser Gord Donaldson for four first inning runs and were never headed. Lloyd Woolley struck out seven while giving up five hits in earning the win. Bob Donald, "Muttsy" Schmidt and Fred Weist each had a brace of base knocks for the winners. Donald, along with Tony Righetti and Johnny Helfrick belted three-baggers. Jim Hooper's two singles led the Red Stockings.
Woolley (W) and Smith
Donaldson (L), McCleneghan (6) and McFarland, Mitton (6)
(July 3) The Wilcox Cardinals had a huge 13-run lead after six innings but had to hold on to take down the Notre Dame Hounds 14 - 10. After falling far behind in this all-Wilcox contest, the Hounds made things interesting but just couldn't overcome the enormous deficit. Notre Dame's Walt Becker with three base knocks led all batters. Winning pitcher Aub Downton, brother Ernie Downton, Clint Squires and Carl Weisshaar all had two raps for the victorious Cards with Weisshaar's total including a triple. Bob Metz also ripped a three-bagger for the Redbirds.
A. Downton (W), Drew (6), D. Metz (8) and Clements
Dombowsky (L), Germann (1), Becker (2) and McCann
(July 4) With chunky Bill Emerson serving up a two-hitter, the Moose Jaw Canucks bounced further out in front of the North Division by swamping the circuit's doormats, the Regina Pontiacs, 9 - 1 at Tech Park. Harry Glaister gave up 10 base blows, including a double and triple by Don Gillies, in going down to defeat. Emerson also had a three-bagger for Moose Jaw.
Emerson (W) and Smith
Glaister (L) and Ross
(July 5) The Wilcox Cardinals hopped back into 2nd place in the South Division of the Southern League when they clipped the wings of the Regina Clippers 6 - 3 behind the steady hurling of Don Metz. Although allowing 10 hits, Metz spaced them well and was superb in the clutch, enticing the Reginans to hit into two double plays. The Cards' offense provided him with a six-run cushion after 5 complete innings and it was lights out for the Clips after that. From the batters' box, Metz also pounded out a pair of doubles. The Redbirds' duo of Carl Weisshaar and shortstop Yackel both had a pair of raps. Clipper first sacker Bob Donald had a three-bagger and single to lead the Regina crew. "Muttsy" Schmidt came through with a double and single.
D. Metz (W) and Clements
E. Smith (L), Frank (3) and F. Smith
(July 5) The Regina Red Sox took a 9 - 4 lacing from the Moose Jaw Canucks at Ross Park. The Canucks jumped into an early lead and never looked back. The Redlegs found winner "Lefty" Straub a tough nut to crack as the southpaw shut them out for the first four innings. Straub also had a three for four night at the dish. Lloyd Carr and Don Gillies added two singles each for the Mill City brigade. Jim Hooper with three base blasts, one being a double, and Spear Salloum with a triple and single were at the forefront of the Crimson Hose offensive production.
McCleneghan (L) and Mitton
Straub (W) and Smith
(July 6) Those Cardinals from Wilcox increased their South Division margin by slapping down Regina's winless Pontiacs 9 - 7 in an erratically played contest in which both teams left much to be desired defensively. The Redbirds led all the way as the Pontiacs' late comeback attempt fell short. Irv Wiebe with a double plus a brace of singles led the Cards offensively. Clint Squires and George Drew both slapped out a pair of singles. Outfielder Wally Smith had two singles for the Pontiacs. The game's longest blow was a three-bagger off the hickory of Regina's Bill Neumiller.
Sanders (L) and Ross
A. Downton (W), Chadwick (8), A. Downton (8) and Weisschaar
(July 6) Although out-hit 8 to 6, the Moose Jaw Canucks wrapped up their second triumph of the weekend with a 7 - 3 win over the Long Lake Eagles in a contest played at Manitou Beach. "Smokey" Reynoldson" chalked up his 2nd mound win of the season in going the route for the Canucks. Loser Cy Thorseth of the Eagles gave up fewer base hits than his hill opponent but was simply too generous in handing out the bases on balls. He did, however, have a good night with the willow, pumping out two hits, a feat duplicated by teammate Warren Martin. Johnny Hryciuk with a triple and two singles was best from the batters' box for the Mill City nine. Canuck catcher Wally Smith came through with a brace of one-baggers.
J. Reynoldson (W) and Smith
Thorseth (L) and Prosofsky
(July 7) Pitcher Cliff "Lefty" Harrison worked himself out of a serious 9th inning jam to give the Regina Red Sox a 5 - 2 win over the Notre Dame Hounds in a corker of a Southern League game at Tech Park. The Sox victory hoisted them into 2nd place in the loop's North Division. Entering the final frame with a four-run cushion on a three-hitter, Harrison temporarily lost his control as the Hounds filled the bags with nobody out. A hit batsman forced in a run but then Harrison regained his mound composure to choke off the rally. Ritchie Eisler had a four-hit evening for the Redlegs, slamming out a pair of doubles as well as two singles. In a supporting offensive role, Sox outfielder Gord Knutson contributed a brace of one-baggers.
Becker (L), Germann (7) and McCann
Harrison (W) and Mitton
(July 8) There's a mile of daylight between them in the South Division standings, but those not in the know would never have suspected it had they watched the Wilcox Cardinals struggle to snare a 7 - 4 decision from the Regina Pontiacs. Winless wonders in the Southern League, the Pontiacs came up with by far their best effort in dropping their 9th straight. After eight full innings, the pesky Reginans were deadlocked with the veteran Cards' contingent. The youthful Pontiacs out-hit the Redbirds 10 to 9 but fell apart in the 9th as two hits, a walk and error cost loser Wilf Leader three runs and the game. Brothers Aubrey and Ernie Downton of the Cardinals as well as Bob Cunning, Owen and Young of the Reginans all had a duo of base knocks.
Drew, D. Metz (8) (W) and Clements
Leader and Ross
(July 9) Ralph McCleneghan came up with his best mound performance of the campaign as the Regina Red Sox hammered out a 5 - 3 decision over the Moose Jaw Canucks, thereby trimming the Canucks' lead in the North Division. McCleneghan chucked a pip of a game, allowing but four bingles as all the Moose Jaw tallies were unearned. Jim Hooper with three RBI's, off a double and single from the offerings of loser "Lefty" Straub, was the Sox' strongest batsman of the evening. Teammates Gord Knutson and "Red" Staley both had two singles for the Redlegs.
Straub (L) and Smith
McCleneghan (W) and Mitton
(July 10) The Moose Jaw Canucks looked like anything but the leaders of the North Division of the Southern League as the Regina Clippers spanked them 11 - 0 before a good-sized Ross Park crowd. Moose Jaw got a bad one out of their system as they booted the ball 11 times. Highlight of the game was the brilliant pitching of portsider Lloyd "Schoolboy" Woolley. The slim lefthander gave up only three scattered hits as he went the route for the winners. The Clips accumulated 13 base blows off loser Ron Reynoldson and his brother "Smokey". Regina's Tony Righetti carried the night's big stick with a two-run circuit clout and a single. He was followed closely by Frank Smith with a triple and single. Teammates Sully Glasser, Johnny Helfrick, "Muttsy" Schmidt and Ernie Franks each counted two singles.
Woolley (W) and F. Smith
R. Reynoldson (L), J. Reynoldson (7) and W. Smith
(July 11) Wilcox's sizzling Cardinals knocked the Weyburn Beavers from the ranks of the undefeated as they handed them a 6 - 5 setback in an 8-inning Southern League encounter halted early when an electrical storm hit the Wilcox area. Nick Metz' pinch-hit single in the bottom of the 8th off reliever Gayle Shupe drove home the winning marker. The win for the Redbirds boosted them into top place in the South Division. Don Metz with a triple and two-bagger led the Cards at the dish. Les Wilder and Doug Shupe both poked a pair of singles for the Beavers.
Covert (L), G. Shupe (8) and Thompson
A. Downton (W) and Clements
(July 11) Regina's hot and cold Red Sox chalked up their 3rd straight triumph of the week when they edged the luckless Long Lake Eagles 5 - 4 at Tech Park. Sox starter Gord Donaldson, aided by a solid relief performance from Ralph McCleneghan, picked up his first mound win of the season. The Redlegs' four-run 4th inning off the slants of loser Archie "Lefty" Arnold put them in front to stay. Jackie Fulton and Gord Knutson both had a pair of singles for the Red Stockings. The Eagles were led at the plate by Cy Thorseth who came through with a three-bagger and single. Clarence Levere chipped in with a brace of singles.
Arnold (L) and McLane
Donaldson (W), McCleneghan (6) and Mitton
(July 12) Bagging nine runs in the first three innings, the Wilcox Cardinals romped to an easy 11 - 1 verdict over the Regina Red Sox. The Cards' Irv Wiebe carried the big stick in this Tech Park show, slamming a double and three singles. Clint Squires with a trio of one-baggers and Bob Metz with a pair followed. For the Crimson Hose, Ritchie Eisler had a double and single while teammate Fred Evans drilled a brace of singles.
D. Metz (W), Drew (4) and Clements
Harrison (L), McCleneghan (2) and Mitton
(July 12) The Notre Dame Hounds and Long Lake Eagles hooked up in a North Division battle at Manitou Beach with the home-club Eagles taking the spoils 10 - 6.
xxx and xxx
xxx and xxx
(July 13) The Regina Clippers cooled down the Wilcox Cardinals in Southern League play as they dropped the Metz aggregation into 2nd spot in the South Division by routing them 7 - 0 in Wilcox. Tony Righetti and Fred Weist headed the Clipper hit parade, each banging out a trio with one of Righetti's going for three-bases. Clint Squires of the Cards also picked up three base knocks off winner Chris Gerein.
Gerein (W) and Smith
D. Metz (L), Buttgereit (7) and Clements
(July 15) Weyburn's battling Beavers got back into their winning ways before home town fans by edging out a 5 - 4 victory over the Wilcox Cardinals. Keith Covert was the Weyburn offensive star as he scored the winning run in the bottom of the 9th after lashing out his 4th hit of the game, advancing to 2nd base on a sacrifice, moving to 3rd on Harry O'Brien's infield single and racing home when Don Metz failed to snare Elmer Ekdahl's pop fly over 2nd base. One of Covert's hits went for three bases. Young Jack Shupe, latest Beaver addition from the Shupe clan had a perfect night at the plate with three singles in three tries. For the Redbirds, Carl Weisshaar had a two-run circuit-blast and a single off winner Ralph Hogg.
D. Metz, A. Downton (8) (L) and Clements
Hogg (W) and White
(July 15) The Notre Dame Hounds came through with two big runs in the bottom of the 10th inning to down the Regina Red Sox 6 - 5 in one of the better games of the season. After Doug Mearns had put the Red Stockings ahead 5 - 4 with a booming home run in the top of the 10th, Doc Hughes' men got loose in the field and the Hounds were quick to take advantage by racking up two runs to annex the spoils. With the sacks full and nobody out, Notre Dame's Lem Albers drilled a ball back to Red Sox' hurler "Lefty" Harrison who juggled it momentarily and, instead of playing for the force out at home, threw to 1st base allowing the tying run to score. One out later, Walt Becker's single sent in the winner. Redlegs' catcher Gord Mitton led all hitters with three singles. Harrison and Jim Hooper of the Sox both had a brace of raps with one of Harrison's going for two bases. Six different players in the Dogs' line-up came up with a pair of base knocks in support of winning hurler Frank Germann. The sextet included Albers, Norm Brown, Del Kines, Ralph Beattie, Barry Wolstencroft and Becker.
Harrison (L) and Mitton
Germann (W) and McCann
Standings as of the end of July 15
South Division W L Pct.
Weyburn Beavers 7 1 .875
Regina Clippers 8 2 .800
Wilcox Cardinals 10 3 .769
Regina Pontiacs 0 9 .000
North Division W L Pct.
Moose Jaw Canucks 7 4 .636
Regina Red Sox 5 8 .385
Notre Dame Hounds 3 8 .273
Long Lake Eagles 2 7 .222
(July 17) The Moose Jaw Canucks dropped their 3rd straight game when they bowed to Notre Dame's up-and-coming Hounds by a 6 - 3 count at Ross Park. The Hounds broke a 3 - 3 deadlock with three runs in the 8th that gave them the ball game. Southpaw Steve Jones and 16-year old Wayne Stevenson held the Canucks to four hits with Stevenson, hurling in his first Southern League game, picking up the win. Notre Dame backstop "Corky" McCann was the only batter on either squad to come up with two hits.
Jones, Stevenson (5) (W) and McCann
Straub (L) and Smith
(July 18) Teeing off on Cliff Harrison's southpaw slants for 11 hits and 10 runs in the first four innings, the hard-hitting Regina Clippers ran roughshod over their city cousins, the Regina Red Sox, 12 - 1 at Tech Park. The mighty Clips pounded out a total of 17 base knocks, six coming off Crimson Hose reliever Doug "Lefty" Mearns, who was rushed to the mound with none out in the 4th inning. Every Clipper, with the exception of Johnny Helfrick, got in on the hit parade. Tony Righetti, who only played four innings, and "Muttsy" Schmidt both blasted three hits with one of Schmidt's going for two-bases. Sully Glasser and Frank Smith both had a three-bagger and single. Hefty Sox' catcher Gord Mitton and outfielder Jackie Fulton with two hits apiece led the losers at the dish.
Harrison (L), Mearns (4) and Mitton
Gerein (W), Silverman (5) and Smith
(July 19) The Wilcox Cardinals had an easy time at Tech Park trouncing the winless Regina Pontiacs 17 - 5. The Cards batted around on two occasions and wound up with 17 hits. Bob Metz with two triples and a single led the way. Carl Weisshaar with a three-bagger and two singles followed. Irv Wiebe was next in line with a double and a pair of one-baggers. George Drew kicked in three singles to the overpowering offensive barrage. For the downtrodden Pontiacs, first sacker Owen came through with three singles.
Drew, A. Downton (4) (W), Drew (7) and Weisshaar
Sanders (L), Leader (5), Glaister (7) and Ross
(July 20) The Long Lake Eagles, currently in the basement of the North Division of the Southern League, came up with a surprising 5 - 4 verdict over the Weyburn Beavers in a game staged at Liberty. Archie "Lefty" Arnold struck out 10 and had a two-hit pitching job against the Soo-Liners. Cy Thorseth had four hits for the Big Birds, one going for two-bases.
Hogg, Covert (4) (L) and xxxx
Arnold (W) and xxxx
(July 20) The Wilcox Cardinals eked out a 3 - 2 triumph over the Regina Clippers in a 10-inning struggle at Wilcox. Picking off their second win of the weekend, the Redbirds regained leadership of the South Division in the Southern League. Walt Buttgereit led off the bottom of the extra-frame with a sharp single. Don Metz followed with a two-bagger which sent Buttgereit in with the payoff tally and settled the issue. Metz had another double to emerge as the top man with the stick for the winners. Winning chucker Aubrey Downton followed with a double and single. The Reginans out-hit the Redbirds 9 to 7 as Fred Weist topped the Clips from the batters' box with a two-bagger and a brace of singles. Tony Righetti, Johnny Helfrick and "Muttsy" Schmidt each had a pair of one-baggers.
Gerein (L) and Smith
A. Downton (W) and Clements, Weisshaar (9)
(July 22) The Weyburn Beavers tightened the South Division race on their home diamond by nosing out the Regina Red Sox 7 - 5. The game was close until the 4th when the Beavers put five runs on the board. Les Wilder came through with a triple and double to pace the Weyburnites although the Beavers were out-hit 11 to 10 by the Queen City visitors. Collecting two hits each off winner Gayle Shupe were Ralph McCleneghan whose total included a two-bagger, losing hurler Doug Mearns, Jackie Fulton and Jim Hooper.
Mearns (L), McCleneghan (4) and Mitton
G. Shupe (W) and Langadahl
(July 22) The Regina Clippers bunched their hits in telling fashion to knock off the Moose Jaw Canucks 8 - 3. Tony Righetti gave Moose Jaw chucker "Smokey" Reynoldson a major headache as he smacked a home run, double and single off the Mill City right-hander. Lefthander Lloyd Woolley of the Clippers gave up five hits, two to Neil Mitchell, and fanned six in posting the victory. Woolley's battery mate, Frank Smith, had a pair off singles for the winners.
J. Reynoldson (L) and W. Smith
Woolley (W) and F. Smith
(July 24) The Weyburn Beavers and Bert Shepard's North Dakota All-Stars battled to a 10-inning 1 - 1 tie in an exhibition game in Weyburn. Both pitchers went the route with Gayle Shupe of the Beavers fanning seven and giving up seven hits while Shepard, ex-Washington Senators' one-legged hurler, yielded nine hits and struck out six. Harry O'Brien of Weyburn led his team with a double and triple. Elmer Ekdahl of the Beavers as well as the Dakotans' Brazer and McNary all had three-baggers.
Shepard and xxxx
G. Shupe and xxxx
(July 24) George Ligon's colored All-Stars made their second appearance of the summer in the Friendly City and tucked another victory in their travel-worn bags as they eked out a 6 - 5 win over the Moose Jaw Canucks in an exhibition game. The win gave the Los Angeles club an impressive record of 23 wins against six losses in their barnstorming tour of western Canada.
(July 24) Rapidly gaining fame as the giant-killers of the Southern League, Denny Evenson's Long Lake Eagles cut their fanciest capers at Tech Park and earned a rousing hand from the bleacherites for knocking off the powerful Regina Clippers 2 - 1. It was a pip of a ball game with Cy Thorseth, a husky chucker with a side-arm delivery, in the role of a hero and fleet Sully Glasser of the Clippers, the goat. The teams were locked in a 1 - 1 tie in the top of the 9th when Thorseth set out to win his own game by smashing out his 2nd double of the night. Evenson followed to coax one right through Glasser's legs at shortstop and Thorseth lumbered home with the winner. That wasn't Glasser's only humiliating moment, either. Earlier on in the contest, he was caught by Evenson on the ancient hidden ball trick. About the only consolation Sully got was cashing in for two doubles to lead the Clips at the plate. The win helped the Eagles sprint all the way from the cellar to 2nd place in the North Division. Loser Max Silverman whiffed 11 Long Lakers to seven for Thorseth and he was Thorseth's equal in that both gave up but six hits, the big difference being that the Eagles' chucker contributed substantially more while in an offensive role.
Thorseth (W) and McLane
Silverman (L) and Smith
(July 25) The Weyburn Beavers zoomed into sole possession of first place in the South Division of the Southern League by taking the hapless Regina Pontiacs for a 13 - 5 ride. It was Weyburn's 9th triumph against two defeats and gave them a slight lead over the Wilcox Cardinals in the race for top honors in that section. The loss was the Pontiacs 11th straight. Gayle Shupe with a triple, double and single and Les Wilder with three singles were the top lumbermen for the Dam Builders. Ralph Hogg and Jack Shupe, both with a two-bagger and a single, also had hot bats for the Soo-Liners.
Neumiller (L) and Ross
Hogg (W), Covert (6) and Ekdahl
(July 25) The Ligon All-Stars, a band of colored barnstormers, took a 7 - 4 win from the Southern League's Regina Red Sox by a 7 - 4 count. Ligon's sewed up the game by counting five times in the opening two frames. Spotty fielding by the Red Sox contributed much to their defeat as no fewer than eight miscues were charged against them. Outfielder U. C. McCowan, first baseman Claude Williams and winning hurler Ray Woosley each picked up three hits for the tourists. Doug Mearns was the Sox' top swatter with a triple and single.
Woosley (W) and Underwood
McCleneghan (L) and Mitton
(July 26) With the South Division an apparent three-way fight to the finish, the Wilcox Cardinals marched into Regina and took care of business, giving Tech Park fans a demonstration of their skill and determination as they overwhelmed one of their close pursuers, the Regina Clippers, for a 7 - 2 victory. The Cardinals played the role of opportunists in shaping the win, cashing in for three runs after two were out in the 4th. Two were away in the 7th when they struck again for four runs. While Clippers' twirler Ernie Franks was being troubled by wobbly support, Aubrey Downton was getting all the best of it from his mates as he toiled on the Wilcox mound. Downton held the heavy-hitting Reginans to just five hits, three by Johnny Helfrick as the Cards never trailed. He also shared hitting honors for the Redbirds with outfielder Clint Squires. Both had a pair with one of Downton's going for two-bases.
A. Downton (W) and Clements
Frank (L) and Smith
(July 27) In North Division play, the Regina Red Sox beat the Long Lake Eagles 4 - 3 in 14 innings at Liberty. The win leap-frogged the Redlegs past the Big Birds and back into 2nd spot behind the Moose Jaw Canucks.
xxx and xxx
xxx and xxx
(July 27) The top dogs in the Southern League this season were bedded down in Wilcox after the Cardinals left another close rival, the Weyburn Beavers, in a cloud of dust. The Metz brothers of hockey fame and their Redbird teammates staged an uprising in the last of the 9th to nose out the Beavers 5 - 4. Up 4 - 1 entering the bottom of the 8th, the Weyburnites allowed the Cards to counter one to make it 4 - 2. Then, in the bottom of the 9th, the wheels fell off for the Beavers as the persistent Wilcox nine fought back and finally won it when Irv Wiebe tagged up at 3rd and scored on Carl Weisshaar's long fly-out. Bob Metz with a two-bagger and single paced the Wilcox attack while Wiebe and Weisschaar both had two singles. For the Dam Builders, Elmer Ekdahl led the way with a trio of one-baggers. Teammates Gayle Shupe and Ralph Hogg both kicked in with a deuce of singles.
G. Shupe, Covert (7) (L), G. Shupe (9) and White
D. Metz (W) and Clements
(July 28) The grandstand experts who figured that Ralph Hogg couldn't go the route anymore were made to eat their words at Tech Park when the heady Weyburn right-hander pitched a brilliant 10-inning stint as the Beavers and Regina Clippers battled to a 3 - 3 tie to leave the race for playoff positions in the South Division just as tight as ever. Other than in the 2nd and 3rd innings, Hogg pretty well set the Clippers down in order and seemed to get stronger as the game progressed, striking out 14 in total while surrendering six hits. Hogg's performance shaded a particularly fine mound effort by youthful southpaw Lloyd Woolley who gave up nine hits and struck out seven. Hogg and battery-mate Don White as well as Les Wilder accounted for two singles each for the Beavers. Frank Smith and "Muttsy" Schmidt reciprocated for the Regina crew.
Hogg and White
Woolley and Smith
(July 29) The Hounds of Notre Dame had little trouble in walloping the winless Regina Pontiacs 8 - 2 in a 7-inning contest before the smallest crowd of the season at Tech Park. The Hounds' pitching tandem of winner Steve Jones and mop-up reliever Wayne Stevenson was superb, limiting the Pontiacs to a single hit. Normie Brown led the winners at the plate with three singles while Frank Germann with a triple and single as well as catcher John McCann with a pair of singles followed. Del Kines drilled a two-run homer for the Dogs.
Jones (W), Stevenson (6) and McCann
Sanders (L) and Ross
(July 29) Backing up Keith Covert's five-hit pitching chore with some fine fielding and hefty slugging, the Weyburn Beavers strengthened their grip on 2nd place in the South Division by getting past the Moose Jaw Canucks 3 - 1. Covert struck out 10 Moose Jaw batters and came through with a triple, the only extra-base hit of the game. Loser "Lefty" Straub was lit up for an even dozen base knocks including two singles each by Don White, Blaine Shupe, Mel Langadahl and Les Wilder.
Straub (L) and Smith
Covert (W) and White
(July 30) Making their first appearance in Moose Jaw's Ross Park this season, the Weyburn Beavers made it two wins in as many nights over the slipping Canucks as they rolled to a 5 - 3 win, a victory which moved them closer to the leadership of the highly competitive South Division in the Southern League. Despite their 5th straight loss, the Canucks still cling to a narrow lead in the comparatively weak North Division. Deadlocked at 3 - 3 after six full frames, the Soo-Liners tallied once in the 7th to take the lead and added an insurance marker in the 9th. Doug Shupe's double and single spearheaded the Weyburn production off loser Jack Devine. Keith Covert and Harry O'Brien followed with a brace of singles each while Blaine Shupe had the game's longest blow, a triple. Moose Jaw's Normie Dunne and Ray Nutzhorn each picked up two singles off the offerings of winner Gayle Shupe.
G. Shupe (W) and White
Devine (L) and Smith
(July 31) There weren't very many fans in the Tech Park stands but those who went to the ball park in preference to the Regina Exhibition sat in on a story book finish as the Regina Red Sox nosed out the Moose Jaw Canucks 2 - 1 by rallying for three consecutive hits and both runs in the bottom of the 9th inning. Hard-luck loser Ron Reynoldson had a one-hit shutout entering the final frame but ended up on the short end of the stick as Jim Hooper greeted him with a lead-off double followed by Gord Mitton's single. Doug "Lefty" Mearns then drove both runners home with a hard one over shortstop. The win for the Sox moved them to within clawing distance of the Canucks who lost for the 6th straight time. As a consolation, Reynoldson went three for three to lead the Mill City seven-hit offense.
R. Reynoldson (L) and Smith
Harrison (W) and Mitton
(August 1) Playing on their home lot, the Weyburn Beavers failed in a third attempt against the top-place Wilcox Cardinals and went down 10 - 6. Ralph Hogg started for the Beavers but 11 Cardinal hits, good for nine runs, sent him to the showers by the time the 6th inning had rolled around. Bob Metz checked in with a three-run homer for the Cards in the 4th frame.
xxxx (W) and xxxx
Hogg (L), xxxx (6) and xxxx
(August 1) The heavily-favored Regina Clippers made mincemeat out of their lowly city brethren, the Regina Pontiacs, by trouncing the South Division doormats 14 - 0. With the win, the Clippers landed smack on the tail of the Weyburn Beavers, precariously perched in the South Division's 2nd slot. The Clips had an easy time at Tech Park with winner Dick Terry giving up only two hits to the youthful Pontiacs who were jittery afield. The 4th frame was the Clippers' big one as they scored five times as every man in the line-up had a turn at the plate.
xxxx and xxxx
Terry (W) and xxxx
(August 1) The up-and-coming Long Lake Eagles handed the Moose Jaw Canucks their 7th consecutive loss by triumphing 4 - 3 over their hosts at Ross Park. The Eagles, behind Archie "Lefty" Arnold who struck out five, led all the way although Moose Jaw made it close by scoring once in the 8th and twice in the 9th before the balloon burst. Lou Cronk and Normie Dunne had triples for the Canucks. Gene Brenholen started for Moose Jaw, getting nicked for five hits while fanning seven, before being yanked in the 6th in favor of "Lefty" Straub.
Arnold (W) and xxxx
Brenholen (L), Straub (6) and xxxx
(August 2) In one of the season's tightest contests, the Notre Dame Hounds nosed out the Regina Red Sox 1 - 0, providing the Tech Park fans with a thriller. Frank Germann tossed five-hit ball to pick up the shutout win. The Collegians scored the game's only run in the 6th frame when Ralph Beattie singled through the infield off Ralph McCleneghan to drive home Norm Brown. Beattie, Barry Wolstencroft and Brown all had two hits for the winners with one of Brown's raps going for two-bases.
Germann (W) and McCann
McCleneghan (L) and Mitton
(August 3) The Wilcox Cardinals had little trouble padding their South Division lead by trouncing the winless Regina Pontiacs 10 - 0. The victory assured the Cards of a playoff berth and left the Weyburn Beavers and Regina Clippers to fight it out for the other South Division post-season slot. The hapless Pontiacs managed only one hit off the Wilcox tandem of Walter Buttgereit and George Drew. Buttgereit pounded the Pontiac duo of loser Bill Neumiller and Joe Sanders for a triple, double and two singles. Larry Lawrence had a double and single for the Redbirds while Nick and Bob Metz both ripped a pair of singles.
Neumiller (L), Sanders (4) and Ross
Buttgereit (W), Drew (6) and Weisschaar
(August 3) Slow starters in the Southern League, the Eagles from Long Lake have come along with a rush in last week or so and are now sharing top-place with the Notre Dame Hounds in the North Division of the circuit. The snappy Eagles climaxed their drive at Liberty by defeating the horribly slumping Moose Jaw Canucks 3 - 1, tagging the Canucks with their 8th straight loss. Cy Thorseth of the Long Lakers was the big gun for his squad as he turned in a four-hit show on the hill, struck out seven and poled the game's longest blow, a triple that was good for a pair of 2nd inning runs. Eagles' outfielder R. McNabb was the only batter to come up with two hits in the contest.
Devine (L), J. Reynoldson (4) and Smith
Thorseth (W) and McLane
(August 4) Even their wives, sweethearts, uncles and aunts had given up hope for them when the Regina Clippers exploded in the semi-darkness at Tech Park and blasted out a 6 - 5 triumph over Weyburn's business-like Beavers to stay in the running for a South Division playoff berth. Victory actually lifted the Clippers a notch above the Beavers in the standings for the first time this summer. The Clips wobbled all over the park until they set dead aim on Ralph Hogg for five runs in the last two frames of the abbreviated seven-inning affair. With two out in the bottom of the 7th, reliever Lloyd Woolley drove home the tying maker to get Clipper starting hurler Max Silverman off the hook. Frank Smith then made Woolley the winner as he followed with a long fly ball that plated Johnny Helfrick with the tie-breaker. Helfrick was the night's hitting star with three for four, including a two-bagger. Sully Glasser and Silverman both had a pair of singles for the Reginans. Weyburn's only extra-base blow was a booming triple by catcher Don White.
Hogg (L) and White
Silverman, Woolley (5) (W) and Smith
Standings as of end of August 4
South Division W L Pct.
Wilcox Cardinals 16 3 .842
Regina Clippers 12 5 .706
Weyburn Beavers 11 5 .688
Regina Pontiacs 0 14 .000
North Division W L Pct.
Notre Dame Hounds 6 8 .429
Long Lake Eagles 6 8 .429
Regina Red Sox 7 11 .389
Moose Jaw Canucks 7 11 .389
(August 5) More than 2,000 rabid baseball fans crowded Ross Park to witness an exhibition game between the Delisle Commodores and the Moose Jaw Canucks. The score, 3 - 2 for the Canucks, was incidental. What fans really cheered for was the appearance of the five fabulous Bentleys of the hockey family. Max, Doug, Roy, Bev and Reg all made an appearance in the game. The night's honors, however, didn't go to the hockey brethren. Canucks' "Lefty" Straub and Lloyd Carr were heroes of the piece, Straub with a great pitching chore and Carr with his powerful bat. Straub went the route for Moose Jaw, allowing only six scattered hits while whiffing eight. Carr poled out a long 3rd-inning circuit clout with one on that put the Canucks two ahead and he also figured in the winning marker in the 5th, romping home from 2nd on Bill Emerson's single.
M. Bentley (L), Maroniuk (6) and Reg Bentley
Straub (W) and Smith
(August 5) The Weyburn Beavers bounced back into 2nd spot in the South Division of the Southern League on their home turf by edging the Regina Clippers 4 - 3 in a thrilling contest played before one of the largest crowds of the season. Hero of the game, which dropped the Clippers back into 3rd place, was the veteran Gayle Shupe. Following a shaky first inning in which the Clippers scored all their runs on four hits, the big right-hander settled down to whiff nine Regina batters, surrendering only one hit the rest of the game, a scratch single in the final frame. After falling behind, the Beavers clawed their way back, scoring one in their half of the first, another in the 4th and then picking up the tying and lead tallies in the 5th. Chris Gerein, on the mound for the Clippers, gave up nine hits and fanned three. Clippers' backstop, big Frank Smith drove in all three Regina runs, drilling a first inning homer with two aboard. Johnny Helfrick, with a double and single, had two of the five hits the Clips garnered off Shupe. For the victorious Weyburnites, Harry O'Brien had a two-bagger and single while Shupe and his brother, Blaine, both added a pair of singles.
Gerein (L) and Smith
G. Shupe (W) and White
(August 6) The Moose Jaw Canucks came roaring out of their eight-game losing streak when they scored an overwhelming 12 - 1 victory over the victory-starved Regina Pontiacs. "Lefty" Straub rang up 13 Pontiacs on strikeouts, while allowing only four hits. Lanky first sacker Don "Slugger" Gillies of the Canucks was the night's heavy sticker with a home run, triple and single, all good for 4 RBI's. Lou Cronk wasn't far behind with a triple, double and single. Norm Dunne and Wally Smith followed with two hits apiece, one of Dunne's being a triple while Smith's total included a two-bagger.
Glaister (L), Sanders (8) and Ross
Straub (W) and Smith
(August 7) While an estimated 10,000 rooters jammed around the diamond until there wasn't space for even the circus Thin Man, George Ligon's Colored All-Stars whacked out enough base hits to make Indian Head's enormously successful $2,000 baseball tournament a runaway show, tacking a crushing 13 - 0 setback on the Metz brothers and the Wilcox Cardinals in a disappointing final. The colored boys were extended only once in romping to four victories as they copped first money of $1,000 with something to spare.
(August 8) The Notre Dame Hounds stepped into Weyburn and came away with a surprise 10 - 4 triumph over the Beavers, a win which enabled them to move a notch ahead of the Long Lake Eagles at the top of the North Division heap. Southpaw Steve Jones went the route for the Collegians, giving up eight scattered hits to the Beavers, three by Elmer Ekdahl, while his mates pounded loser Keith Covert and reliever Les Wilder to the tune of 16 safe blows. Norm Brown, switching from his normal shortstop role to don the "tools of ignorance", came through with three singles to share hitting laurels with Bill Hryciuk in pacing the Dogs at the dish. Barry Wolstencroft, Frank Germann, Ralph Beattie and Jack McLeod all came through with a pair of hits with one of Wolstencroft's being a triple.
Jones (W) and Brown
Covert (L), Wilder (6) and White
(August 8) A juggled line-up of Regina Clippers came through with an expected 13 - 2 win over the winless Regina Pontiacs to slip past the Weyburn Beavers into 2nd spot in the South Division of the Southern League. Lloyd Woolley fanned 10 and held the luckless Pontiacs to but a pair of hits in garnering the mound win. Bob Donald, Johnny Helfrick, Frank Smith and Ernie Franks all had two hits off loser Wilf Leader.
Wooley (W) and Frank
Leader (L) and Ross
(August 8) No sooner had both Southern League games ended when a shocker of an announcement came out of the league office. The first-place Wilcox Cardinals, enjoying their best season ever in the Southern League as easy top placers in both the South Division and overall standings, again decided to withdraw from playoff competition with impending harvesting operations on the horizon. Such a move automatically sent the Weyburn Beavers and Regina Clippers, previously in a fierce struggle for the second and last playoff spot in the South, both into the charmed circle but left Wilcox supporters mighty disappointed at the turn of events.
Standings as of end of August 8
South Division W L Pct.
Wilcox Cardinals 16 3 .842
Regina Clippers 13 6 .684
Weyburn Beavers 12 6 .667
Regina Pontiacs 0 16 .000
North Division W L Pct.
Notre Dame Hounds 7 8 .467
Long Lake Eagles 6 8 .429
Moose Jaw Canucks 8 11 .421
Regina Red Sox 7 11 .389
(August 9) The lowly Regina Pontiacs battled on even terms for 5 1/2 innings with their Queen City cousins, the Regina Red Sox, before succumbing 7 - 0 to the Red Stockings. Loser Wilf Leader held the Sox in check until the bottom of the 6th when they picked up a single tally to break a scoreless deadlock. The following frame, however, caused Leader nothing but grief as the Redlegs garnered six runs on as many hits, an error and a walk. Winner Ralph McCleneghan struck out 11 and spun a four-hitter on the hill. Pontiac shortstop Diamond's three-bagger in the 7th was the only big blow off him. Jim Hooper and shortstop Francis had a double and single each for the winners. McCleneghan and battery mate Gord Mitton both slapped out a brace of singles.
Leader (L) and Ross
McCleneghan (W) and Mitton
(August 10) The wheels came off for the Long Lake Eagles in the 7th inning of their contest with the Notre Dame Hounds at Liberty as the homesters gave the Dogs three runs on a flock of errors and finally went down 4 - 1 to land in the basement of the North Division, a few percentage points behind the Regina Red Sox and Moose Jaw Canucks. The victory gave the Hounds top rating in the section with an 8 and 8 showing for 16 games played. The Long Lakers appeared headed for a win, carrying a slim 1 - 0 lead after six full stanzas behind the solid chucking of Cy Thorseth. The Eagles' defense collapsed in the 7th, however, as the roadsters went ahead to stay. In spite of throwing a two-hitter, Thorseth was saddled with the defeat. Both hits off him, a double and single, came off the bat of Jack McLeod. Frank Germann threw a commendable game for the Collegians, giving up six hits and fanning six, the same number of whiffs that Thorseth registered. Eagles' catcher "Shorty" McLane and D. Levere both nicked Germann for a brace of safeties, one of McLane's going for two-bases.
Germann (W) and Brown
Thorseth (L) and McLane
(August 11) Lacking the usual pep associated with youth, the Regina Pontiacs went down to defeat for the 19th straight time when they fell 9 - 0 to the Long Lake Eagles at Tech Park. Portsider Archie Arnold handcuffed the Pontiacs, sending nine of them back to the dugout after striking out and giving up but one hit. The Long Lakers only managed to muster up four hits but eight bases on balls issued by Pontiac hurlers aided their cause. Third sacker Bill Kyle of the Big Birds was the only batter with a pair of hits, both being singles.
Arnold (W) and McLane
Glaister (L), Sanders (3) and Ross
(August 11) The North Division of the Southern League has become a four-team race as only a game and a half separates the top and bottom teams after the Moose Jaw Canucks took out the Notre Dame Hounds 13 - 5. The Friendly City nine purred along on all cylinders as they took an early lead and scored in every inning but two in the eight-inning encounter. The Hounds actually out-hit the Canucks 11 to 7 but Moose Jaw's power hitters were the big difference. Lloyd Carr and Bill Emerson smashed home runs for the winners, Carr's being a two-run shot and Emerson's plating a trio. Carr also wound up with a single to his credit as he was the only batter from the winners to have more than one hit. Ralph Beattie stroked a double and two singles off winner "Smokey" Reynoldson to lead the Dogs at the plate. Lem Albers followed with a two-bagger and single while Frank Germann and Barry Wolstencroft contributed a pair of singles each.
J. Reynoldson (W) and Smith
Jones (L), Stevenson (5) and Brown
(August 15) Bert Shepard and his State Line All-Stars appeared at Tech Park and settled for a 3 - 3 tie with the Regina Red Sox of the Southern League. Working for the second night in a row in this exhibition match, Shepard fanned 12 with his tantalizing drops and curves, but the Sox got to him for six bingles and piled up all their runs in one inning, the 5th, when they discovered the flaw in his armor. Bunts were too much for him. It was a southpaw duel all the way because Cliff Harrison of the Redlegs yielded only eight hits in a nifty hill chore. Shepard came close to being the whole show for his club, driving in two runs on two hits, one of them a double. Jackie Fulton and Jim Hooper touched the ex-major leaguer for a pair of singles each.
Shepard and McNary
Harrison and Mitton
(August 17) Picking off both ends of a double-bill with the Notre Dame Hounds by scores of 4 - 3 and 9 - 1, the Long Lake Eagles soared into top place in the Southern League's North Division and made the race for the two playoff berths more interesting than ever. The double setback left the Hounds in a 3rd place tie with the Regina Red Sox, half a game behind the 2nd place Moose Jaw Canucks. The Long Lakers have two more games to play, the Canucks are all through while the Hounds and Sox each have one game left.
The Eagles' Cy Thorseth and Frank Germann of the Hounds each gave up eight hits in the opening game. Archie Arnold provided the batting punch for Long Lake, going three for four. Thorseth fanned 12 and was stung for a pair of hits by Notre Dame's Bill Hryciuk. Clarence Levere of the Long Lake nine as well as Germann and Barry Wolstencroft of the Collegians all had three-baggers.
Thorseth (W) and D. Levere
Germann (L) and Brown
In the second tilt, Bill Kyle came up with three for five at the plate as lefthander Archie Arnold struck out eight in the one-sided win. He limited the Hounds to three meagre hits.
Arnold (W) and D. Levere
Jones (L), Germann (3), Jones (7) and Brown
Standings as of end of August 17
South Division W L Pct.
Wilcox Cardinals 16 3 .842
Regina Clippers 13 6 .684
Weyburn Beavers 12 6 .667
Regina Pontiacs 0 18 .000
North Division W L Pct.
Long Lake Eagles 9 9 .500
Moose Jaw Canucks 9 11 .450
Notre Dame Hounds 8 11 .421
Regina Red Sox 8 11 .421
(August 19) George Ligon and his Negro barnstormers dropped into Tech Park on their way to warmer climes and tarried long enough to defeat the Regina Red Sox 5 - 2 in an exhibition baseball tilt. Only a medium-sized crowd was on hand for the farewell appearance of the tourists but they sat in on a pretty good show as the All-Stars' Laddie White came through with a five-hit pitching chore to best Regina's "Lefty" Harrison who yielded only one more. Shortstop Art Bryant was the only Star batter to get two hits off Harrison, one being a rousing triple. U. C. McCowan slashed out a double for the only other extra-base blow. Sox outfielder "Bucky" Walters had two singles and drove in both Regina runs.
White (W) and Underwood
Harrison (L) and Mitton
(August 20) Slamming out 10 base knocks including two booming home runs and a pair of doubles, the Notre Dame Hounds trounced the bottom-feeding Regina Pontiacs 11 - 0 to move into a 2nd place tie with the Moose Jaw Canucks in the North Division. The Hounds scored in every stanza except the 1st in this seven-inning encounter. Playing-coach Frank Germann belted the first homer in the 6th with one on and Jack McLeod bagged the second in the 7th. Lefthander Steve Jones, on the mound for the Dogs, allowed no runner beyond 2nd base despite four walks and six hits. Bill Hryciuk and Dick Kerley both singled twice for the winners. Bob Cunning reciprocated for the Pontiacs.
Sanders (L) and Ross
Jones (W) and Brown
(August 21) Life in the North Division of the Southern League was anything but easy after the Long Lake Eagles and Regina Red Sox battled to a 1 - 1 draw in seven innings at Tech Park. The result of the game left the race for the two playoff slots still a four-team affair and had league officials scurrying to find a means of speeding things up so that a winner could be declared to meet the Weyburn Beavers in the league final. This was the outcome: A postponed game between Long Lake and the disbanded Wilcox Cardinals was wiped off the board. Long Lake and the Red Sox will replay the tie game. At the same time, the Notre Dame Hounds and Moose Jaw Canucks will meet in a sudden-death game for one playoff spot. If Long Lake defeats the Red Sox, the Regina team goes to the sidelines. Should the Sox prevail, they will meet the winner of the Notre Dame - Moose Jaw tie-breaker with the ultimate winner going into the final round against Long Lake. The tie-game itself was a corking good match. Cy Thorseth and Ralph McCleneghan came out of the deal on fairly even terms . Each whiffed six and walked one. with the Reginan giving up four hits to three for Thorseth.
Thorseth and McLane
McCleneghan and Mitton
(August 23) In a replay of the deadlock of two nights ago, the Long Lake Eagles , already having clinched one North Division playoff berth, downed the Regina Red Sox 3 - 1 and sent the last Regina club to the sidelines. Despite a high wind and sticky field, a real battle ensued . It was close to the vest baseball all the way with the Sox grabbing a big run in the 6th only to lose everything in the next inning as the Eagles bunched three of their 10 hits, along with a walk, to come up with a trio of counters." Lefty" Arnold was in rare form on the Long Lake mound, limiting his foes to three hits while whiffing nine. Loser "Lefty" Harrison, the Regina stalwart, struck out four. Bill Kyle had the game's only extra-base hit, a double, to go along with a one-bagger. Long Lake teammates Denny Evenson and "Shorty" McLane both came through with two safeties and Evenson also contributed a pair of sacrifices.
Arnold (W) and McLane
Harrison (L) and Mitton
(August 23) The hunt for the last playoff berth in the North Division of the Southern League came to a sudden end when the fighting Notre Dame Hounds dropped the Moose Jaw Canucks 6 - 3 in a sudden-death tie-breaker. Effective hitting gave the Hounds the edge at Ross Park as they smashed out a total of 14 safeties. Moose Jaw managed to gather 10 hits off winning hurler Frank Germann, including two triples by Bill Emerson, a three-bagger by Lloyd Carr and a double by "Smokey" Reynoldson, but they failed to group them effectively. 17 year old Jackie McLeod led the Collegians at the dish slamming a triple and single, good for a pair of RBI's. Four of his teammates, Lem Albers, Barry Wolstencroft, Norm Brown and Bill Hryciuk, each slapped out a brace of singles.
Germann (W) and Brown
J. Reynoldson (L) and Smith, R. Reynoldson (5)
Final Standings
South Division W L Pct.
Wilcox Cardinals 16 3 .842
Regina Clippers 13 6 .684
Weyburn Beavers 12 6 .667
Regina Pontiacs 0 19 .000
North Division* W L Pct.
Long Lake Eagles 10 9 .526
Notre Dame Hounds 10 11 .476
Moose Jaw Canucks 9 12 .429
Regina Red Sox 8 12 .400
* North Division standings includes 2nd place tie-breaker
The playoff pairings will see the Long Lake Eagles facing the Notre Dame Hounds in the North Division and, since the Wilcox Cardinals disbanded, the Regina Clippers will meet the Weyburn Beavers in the South Division. Both Divisional playoff series will be the best-three-out-of-five. The Southern League final will pit the two divisional winners in a best-of-five showdown.
PLAYOFFS :
(August 18) The South Division playoffs, in unusual fashion, got underway before the North Division teams had all completed their regular schedule and with the playoff teams from that section yet to be determined.
Coming from behind a three-run deficit in the last of the 8th inning to ram home an even half-dozen runs, the Weyburn Beavers up-ended the Regina Clippers 10 - 8 in the opening game of a best-of-three series for the Southern League's South Division title. Down 7 - 4 entering the bottom of the 7th, the Soo-Liners scored a pair to narrow the gap and, with two out, knotted the count when Mel Langadahl singled off loser Lloyd Woolley to drive home Don White. Ernie Franks took over on the hill for the Reginans at that point but he couldn't retire anyone. Ralph Hogg singled and then Beaver chucker Gayle Shupe won his own game with a double. Shupe wound up with two hits as did White and Hogg. The Clips out-hit their hosts 12 to 11. Tony Righetti had a great game with the stick, going four for five with a homer included. Frank Smith went two for four with a three-bagger.
Woolley (L), Frank (8) and Smith
G. Shupe (W) and White
(August 20) Knocked out of the Southern League playoffs by the Regina Clippers a year ago, the Weyburn Beavers found revenge sweet at Tech Park by sending their old rivals to the sidelines on the strength of a 6 - 3 triumph. The win gave the Beavers the South Division playoff title in straight games and they'll now take it easy until a winner emerges from the tight scuffle in the North Division. The Beavers pounced on loser Lloyd Woolley for four runs in the 2nd frame and two in the 3rd, driving him from the hill, but they failed to get anywhere against relievers Vern Huggins and Johnny Helfrick. In the meantime, winning chucker Ralph Hogg looked like a million for the first three innings as his mates backed him up flawlessly but they fell apart with the veteran right-hander in the next two as the Clippers came in with their three tallies. The Weyburnites tossed in double plays in the 5th and 6th and each time got Hogg out of hot water with a Reginan scurrying for home. Hogg struck out six and gave up eight hits to the Clips all told. Keith Covert and Mel Langadahl both singled twice for the winners. Catcher Don White had a double and two RBI's. Frank Smith topped Regina's offensive production with a three-bagger and single which produced a pair of RBI's. Third sacker Ernie Frank had a brace of one-baggers.
Hogg (W) and White
Woolley (L), Huggins (3), Helfrick (8) and F. Smith
(August 25) Jumping on starting pitcher Cy Thorseth for three runs over the first three innings, Frank Germann's Notre Dame Hounds got the jump in the opening game of the best-of-three North Division playoff series by blanking the Long Lake Eagles 4 - 0 at Liberty. Lefthander Steve Jones went the route for the Dogs, giving up five safe blows and striking out four. Losing chucker Thorseth was the only player on either side to come up with two hits. Ralph Beattie of the Hounds and Denny Evenson of the Eagles had triples.
Jones (W) and Brown
Thorseth (L), Arnold (4) and McLane
(August 26) The Southern League became an all Soo-Line affair when the peppery Notre Dame Hounds came through with a 1 - 0 triumph over the Long Lake Eagles to win the North Division title in straight games. The Collegians will now take on the Weyburn Beavers in a best-of-five series for the Southern League title. With "Lefty" Arnold unfit for hurling chores, the Eagles sent regular second baseman Denny Evenson to the hill and he came through with a sterling seven-hitter after a wobbly start. At that, the lone run of the game was unearned. In the 2nd, Barry Wolstencroft singled, stole 2nd and after moving over to 3rd on Lem Albers' single, trotted home when the Long Lakers muffed a play at 2nd base in attempting to throw out Albers. Winner Frank Germann lived a charmed life during this intense battle as his mates pulled him out of the hole on more than one occasion, including the execution of a 7th inning triple play. In the 2nd frame, the Eagles' Warren Martin clouted a healthy three-bagger with none away, but was hung out to dry when a squeeze play backfired. The Dogs chalked up a double play in the 3rd and, in the 5th, Cy Thorseth was left stranded after whacking out a double. Wolstencroft and Norm Brown both had two hits for the winners, one of Wolstencroft's going for two-bases. Martin and Thorseth each had a pair of bingles for the Big Birds.
Evenson (L) and McLane
Germann (W) and McCann
(August 27) Playing with the State Line All-Stars, Bert Shepard made a great hit with the large Ross Park crowd when his team battled the Moose Jaw Canucks to a 6 - 6 deadlock in an exhibition game called at the end of the 8th inning because of darkness. The Canucks, recently eliminated from playoff contention in the Southern League, and the Dakotans put on a good show for the fans. Shepard, a former pitcher with the Washington Senators, lost a leg in the war but the fact that he plays with an artificial limb was barely noticeable. The smooth-working southpaw still has plenty on the ball. Lou Taylor relieved Shepard in the 6th with the Stars leading 6 - 4 but the ex-major leaguer returned to the hill in the 8th after the Canucks had picked up two runs to tie the game. Although he gave up nine hits, Ron Reynoldson of the Canucks was steady on the mound, striking out 12.
Shepard, Taylor (6), Shepard (8) and Howen
R. Reynoldson and Smith
(August 28) Backing up veteran Gayle Shupe with some adept fielding, including a pair of clean double plays, the Weyburn Beavers went one up in their best-of-five final series for the Southern League championship by squeezing past the Notre Dame Hounds 1 - 0. Shupe was nicked for seven safeties, three of them coming in the last inning, but struck out seven in gaining the shutout. Lefty Steve Jones tossed a five-hitter for the Hounds and whiffed three. Shortstop Harry O'Brien led the Beavers with a triple and double. His two-base knock drove in the only run. The Collegians staged an uprising in the 9th when they loaded the sacks on three straight singles, with only one away, but Shupe settled down and struck out the next two batters to snuff out the rally. Outfielder Ralph Beattie of the Dogs found Shupe's slants to his liking and banged out three hits in four attempts.
Jones (L) and McCann
G. Shupe ) and White
(August 28) Although they smacked one-legged Bert Shepard for 10 safeties, the Regina Red Sox took a 7 - 4 lacing from the State Line All-Stars in an exhibition game at Tech Park. The Redlegs, eliminated from advancing to the North Division playoffs five days ago, had two more base hits than the visitors but failed to support their hurler, Ralph McCleneghan, and contributed five errors. Shepard did not issue a single walk and, with his pin-point control, he put on a great show, almost toying with the Sox at times by directing his outfield to the exact spots for fly balls. The former Washington Senator was cat-like on the mound and gobbled up plenty of ground balls for a total of eight assists. Lefty Doug Mearns was the hitting star for the Crimson Hose, coming through with three singles in four at bats. Otis Strand was best for the Stars, collecting two for four.
Shepard (W) and Howen
McCleneghan (L) and Mitton
(August 29) Giving pitcher Ralph Hogg about as much support as a Greek premier receives trying to form a government, the Weyburn Beavers fell apart at the seams, committing no fewer than eight miscues, to hand the Notre Dame Hounds the second game of the Southern League final series on a platter. The score was 3 - 2 and the win gave the Hounds an even break in the first pair of matches. The Beaver defense wasted a good six-hit job by their veteran moundsman. On the other hand, the Collegians fielded flawlessly and the Dam Builders had to sweat for their two runs and the nine hits they garnered off winner Frank Germann. Barry Wolstencroft picked up a pair of singles for the winners while Del Kines belted a triple. Gayle Shupe had three singles off Germann while Hogg had a single and double and Blaine Shupe a three-bagger.
Hogg (L) and White
Germann (W) and McCann
(September 2) Harry O'Brien, who has been wielding a potent stick most of the season, came through with a sharp 9th-inning single to drive in the winning run as the Weyburn Beavers stopped the Notre Dame Hounds 5 - 4. The victory gives the Beavers a 2 to 1 edge in the best-of-five final for the Southern League title. Both teams started out quickly, each plating a pair of opening stanza counters. The Hounds took a 4 - 2 lead in the 3rd, the final time that they would score in this contest. In the 7th, the Weyburnites cut the margin to one run as Blaine Shupe doubled and scored on Les Wilder's single. They tied the count in the 8th on some fine base running by Elmer Ekdahl. In the final frame, Blaine Shupe reached the base paths on an error, went to 2nd base on a sacrifice and counted the winning run when, with two out, O'Brien blazed a long single to center field. Don White had a brace of hits for the victorious Soo-Liners while losing hurler Steve Jones and Jackie McLeod both contributed a pair of knocks for the Dogs off the offerings of winning hurler Gayle Shupe.
Jones (L) and McCann
G. Shupe (W) and White
(September 3) They rang down the curtain on Southern League play for 1947 before a bumper crowd and the show was top-flight all the way with the Oscars going to reliable Ralph Hogg and his reformed Weyburn Beaver fielders. Hogg, who much like fine wine, seems to get better with age, hurled seven-hit ball, finishing strongly as the Beavers triumphed 5 - 3 over the scrappy Notre Dame Hounds to win the Southern League championship three games to one. His mates, who let him down defensively in his first start of the series, backed him superbly in the tight spots and cinched the game in a big 6th inning by scoring four runs and driving Hounds' starter and loser Frank Germann to the showers. "The Hounds," Hogg once remarked, "are like gremlins. They're everywhere. When they get on base, they're dynamite and they patrol the outfield like nobody's business!" They did their fair share of both in this contest but the veteran right-hander struck out eight of them with most of the whiffs coming in payoff spots. Heading into the 6th in a 1 - 1 ball game, the Beavers lit into Germann for a walk, a hit batsman, four hits and as many runs. The Collegians came back for a pair in the 7th to end the scoring for the night as Hogg settled down to business. Hogg was no slouch at the plate either as he and fellow Beavers, Elmer Ekdahl and Doug Shupe, all drilled a pair of singles. Del Kines and Bill Hryciuk of the Dogs also had a brace of raps each with both of Hryciuk's going for two-bases, the only extra-base knocks of the tussle.
Hogg (W) and White
Germann (L), Jones (6) and McCann