Semi-Finals:
(August 31) The arm of Gentry Jessup and the bat of Gene Smith carried Carman to a 2-1 victory over Brandon in the opening game of a best-of-seven semi-final series. Jessup allowed just four hits and fanned 11 while Smith knocked in both runs with a triple and a double. Pedro Naranjo tossed a six-hitter in a losing cause.
Jessup (W) and McKerlie
Naranjo (L) and Bassett
(September 1) OB Robison pitched a three-hit gem as Winnipeg Buffaloes battered Minot 11-0 in the opener of their semi-final series. Zell Miles drove in three runs for the Buffaloes. Mallards had a dreadful time in the field making eight errors, three by manager Wally Jako, who took over at shortstop for the absent Zoonie McLean.
Nip Bruton (L) and Kempf
Robison (W) and Robinson
(September 2) Carman Cardinals delighted a home crowd of 35-hundred with a 4-1 win over Brandon and a 2-0 game lead in their semi-final series. The Cards got only three safeties but a clutch hit and daring base running in the 4th inning resulted in all four runs. Bob Johnson's single scored two runs then Johnson moved to third and stole home. Sonny Andrews reached on a fielder's choice and proceeded to steal second, third and home for the final run. Lefty Al Jacowski went the distance for the Cardinals.
McKinnis (L), R Valentine (8) and Bassett
Jacowski (W) and McKerlie
(September 3) Carman whipped Brandon 6-0 to move to within one game of a berth in the ManDak League final. Willie Hutchinson, with brilliant defense behind him, scattered eight hits in gaining the shutout victory. Twice Brandon runners were cut down at the plate on throws from the outfield. Herb Souell, Bob Johnson, Joe Wiley and Hutchinson each had two hits for the Cards. Clarence King had a double and single for Brandon. His two-bagger in the 9th was the only extra-base hit of the game.
Hutchinson (W) and McKerlie
Suarez (L), R Valentine (6) and Rodriguez
(September 3) The hometown Mallards and Winnipeg Buffaloes split a playoff double-header. Buffaloes won the five-inning opener 7-5 while Minot took a 9-8 slugfest in the nightcap.
John Kennedy had three hits to lead the Buffaloes in the first game. Willie Wells, Pee Wee Butts, Frazier Robinson and Buddy Owens each had a pair as Winnipeg outhit the Mallards 15 to 6.
Wilmore (W), O Strong (4) and Robinson
Schacker (L), Cathey (5) and Kempf
Sugar Cain had five hits, including two doubles and a triple, to lead the Mallards to the second game victory. He also went the distance on the hill. Each team had 15 hits. Jack Bruton had a triple and double for the winners. Lyman Bostock and Butts each had three hits for the Buffaloes.
O Strong, Barnes (L) (2) and Robinson
Cain (W) and Kempf
It was Cain's final appearance for the Mallards. He left the club for the Dominican Republic where he had reportedly been signed to pitch ten games for a salary of $1,500. He left by plane for New York on the first leg of his journey South.
(September 4) Brandon Greys, who finished atop the standings during the regular schedule, finally got a win in their semi-final with Carman. Greys squeezed by the Cards 2-1 in 10 innings. Ramon Rodriguez singled in the top of the 10th inning to drive in Pepper Bassett, who had doubled, with the winning run. Greys had taken the lead in the 2nd inning when Joe Mitchell scored on a single by Ian Lowe. Carman tied it in the 5th when Bob Johnson's single plated Sonny Andrews. Pedro Naranjo went the distance, holding Carman to eight hits. Gentry Jessup took the loss, in spite of a five-hit performance.
Naranjo (W) and Bassett
Jessup (L) and McKerlie
(September 4) Wally Jako belted a three-run homer and a double to pace Minot to a 6-4 win over Winnipeg Buffaloes to tie their semi-final series at two games apiece. Zoonie McLean added three hits for the Mallards. The game was called in the top of the 6th because of rain.
OB Robison, Jenkins (L) (3) and Robinson
Cathey (W) and Turner
(September 5) Brandon Greys pounded out 14 hits to crush Carman 10-3 and force a 6th game in their semi-final series. The largest crowd of the season in Brandon, more than 4-thousand, watched the Greys jump into a 2-0 lead in the initial frame and never look back. Clarence King led the assault with a triple, double and single in three official trips to the plate. Skeeter Watkins and Rafe Cabrera each had a double and two singles. Lefty McKinnis went the distance for the Greys, scattering seven hits for the win.
Smith (L), Spearman (4) and Thomas
McKinnis (W) and Rodriguez
(September 5) Gerry MacKay's two-run homer in the 7th inning proved to be the winning blow as Minot downed Winnipeg Buffaloes 6-2 to take a 3-2 game lead in the semi-final series. Bob Turner also homered for the Mallards. Othello Strong and John Kennedy had four-baggers for the Buffaloes. Frank Watkins went the distance for Minot, scattering eleven hits for the win.
Watkins (W) and Turner
Wells (L) and Robinson
(September 6) Playing-manager Ian Lowe drove in Rafe Cabrera with the winning run in the 8th inning as Brandon squeezed by Carman 3-2 to force a seventh and deciding game in the semi-final series. Cabrera, who had three hits, had led off the 8th with a double and moved to third on an infield out. Although tagged for 13 hits, Armando Suarez managed to strand 15 base runners in going the distance for the win.
Suarez (W) and Rodriguez
Jacowski, Jessup (L) (5) and McKerlie
(September 6) Winnipeg evened its semi-final series with Minot at three games apiece with a 10-6 victory at Minot. Buddy Owens clubbed a three-run homer in the 4th inning and the Buffaloes sealed the issue with four runs in the 9th. Pee Wee Jenkins allowed 12 hits but went the route for the Buffs. Gerry MacKay led the Mallards with three hits. Willie Cathey had a homer.
Jenkins (W) and Robinson
Cathey (L) and Turner
(September 7) An 18-year-old Cuban southpaw, without a win during the regular season, pitched Brandon into the ManDak League finals as he shutout Carman 1-0 in the deciding game of the semi-final series. Amancio Ferro allowed just four hits, fanned seven and walked just two before leaving the game with two outs in the 9th when hit on the leg by a line drive. Lefty McKinnis got the final out. Ed Finney, who missed much of the season with a broken leg, drove in Joe Mitchell with the game's only run in the 7th inning. Willie Hutchinson, who allowed just four hits, was the tough-luck loser. A crowd, estimated at 45-hundred, watched the thriller at Brandon.
Hutchinson (L) and McKerlie
Ferro (W), McKinnis (9) and Rodriguez
(September 7) Before more than 25-hundred fans at Winnipeg, the Buffaloes plated three runs in the 1st inning and went on to down Minot 5-2 in the deciding game of their best-of-seven semi-final series. Othello Strong had three hits and knocked in three for the Buffs. A sparkling relief chore by Al Wilmore highlighted the contest. Wilmore came on for starter OB Robison in the 7th inning with two on and two out and didn't allow a hit the rest of the way.
Bruton (L) and Turner
Robison (W), Wilmore (7) and Robinson
Final Series:
(September 10) A pair of teenage Cuban southpaws combined to give Brandon the opening game of the ManDak League's best-of-seven final series. Greys took a 3-1 victory over Winnipeg Buffaloes. Pedro Naranjo scattered eight Winnipeg hits over the first five innings and punched out two hits and scored twice before leaving with a sore arm. Armando Suarez came on and allowed just one hit the rest of the way. Brandon opened the scoring in the 2nd inning when Rafe Cabrera led off with a triple and scored on Ian Lowe's long drive to right field. Bus Vasquez singled to drive in Naranjo in the 3rd and Naranjo scored in the 5th on a wild pitch.
Jenkins (L) and Robinson
Naranjo (W), Suarez (6) and Rodriguez
(September 11) Brandon Greys hammered Winnipeg 17-8 to take a two game lead in the ManDak league's final series. Greys pounded out 15 hits and took advantage of 17 walks. Brandon blew leads of 5-0 and 7-6 before erupting for three runs in the 6th and another seven in the 7th to put the game away. Ian Lowe and Skeeter Watkins each had three hits to pace the Greys. Clarence King drove in four. Rafe Cabrera had two hits including a homer. Lyman Bostock, with three hits, was the leader for the Buffs.
Wilmore, Barnes (2), Strong (L) (4) and Robinson
Valentine, Ferro (3), McKinnis (W) (3) and Rodriguez
(September 12) Ian Lowe drove in three runs with a single and double as Brandon downed Winnipeg 5-4 to move to within a game of the ManDak League title. The 33-year-old playing manager singled home Rafe Cabrera in the 3rd inning after the Buffaloes had taken a 1-0 lead in the 1st on John Kennedy's homer. In the 7th, Lowe doubled to score both Cabrera and Clarence King. Greys beat Leon Day, who rejoined the Buffs from Toronto Maple Leafs of the International League.
Ferro (W), McKinnis (9) and Rodriguez
Day (L) and Robinson
(September 14) Brandon Greys edged Winnipeg 5-3 to sweep the ManDak final series in four games. With the game tied 2-2 in the 8th inning, the Greys scored twice on a walk, an error and a fly ball which manager Willie Wells lost in right field. Joe Mitchell provided the clincher with a homer in the 9th. Buffaloes rallied for a run in the bottom of the 9th but it wasn't enough as Brandon claimed the 1951 title. Skeeter Watkins had given the Greys the lead with a homer in the 4th inning but Frazier Robinson tied it for the Buffs with a circuit smash in the 7th. Armando Suarez went the distance for Brandon.
Suarez (W) and Bassett
Robison (L) and Robinson