SASKATCHEWAN LEAGUE
(May 15 North Battleford Beavers kicked off the 1952 Saskatchewan Baseball League season by nudging the Saskatoon Gems 9 - 8 in a 10 inning game. Third baseman Curtis Tate's extra inning single off the third Gems' pitcher, Chuck Holdaway, drove home Bob Herron with the winning marker. Both teams banged out 11 hits as the Beavers' Steve Wylie got credit for the win. Cliff Jacobson, in relief of starter Bob Singleton, was tagged with the loss.
Coleman, Wylie (W) (7) and Green
Singleton, Jacobson (L) (7), Holdaway (10) and Shirley
(May 16) The North Battleford Beavers made it two straight in two nights as they blanked the Moose Jaw Maples 4 - 0 behind the brilliant four-hit pitching of Bob Herron. Jackie McLeod's two-run single in the 3rd inning gave Herron all the runs he needed in fashioning the win.
Herron (W) and Green
Worth (L) and Harford
(May 17) Louis Green's homer in the 6th inning, with Bob Herron aboard, proved to be the difference as North Battleford topped Moose Jaw Maples 4-2. Roy Dean added an insurance run with a homer in the 7th. Don Hinchberger had two hits for the Maples.
Alex Palica (L) and Harford
Les Dean (W), Lefty Coleman (8) and Green
(May 18) Ken Nelson's three-run homer in the 5th inning paced North Battleford to its 4th straight win 8-4 over Moose Jaw Maples. Bob Herron had led off the frame with a solo homer. Nelson and Emile Francis each had three hits for the Beavers. Don Hinchberger led the Maples with a pair. Jimmy Linnell picked up the win in relief of starter Steve Wylie. Henry Pippen took the loss.
Pippen, (L), Art Worth (6) and Harford
Wylie, Linnell (W) (4) and Green
(May 20) The Moose Jaw Maples finally crashed the win column, chalking up a decisive 8 - 4 victory over the Saskatoon Gems. Maples' hurler Berlyn Hodges gave up 8 hits while fanning 6 in fashioning the win. Moose Jaw catcher Jim Harford belted a home run off loser Cliff Jacobson.
Jacobson (L), Coben (9) and Shirley
B. Hodges (W) and Harford
(May 21) The North Battleford Beavers suffered their first loss of the Saskatchewan League season as the Saskatoon Gems edged them 3 - 2 in a great pitcher's duel between the Beavers' John Coleman and the Saskatoon's Chuck Holdaway. Both chuckers surrendered but five base hits. North Battleford went ahead 2 - 0 in the top of the 7th but the Gems roared back with three in the bottom half of the same inning to cement the triumph.
Coleman (L) and Green
Holdaway (W) and Shirley
(May 25) The Regina Caps were clipped 9 - 3 by the North Battleford Beavers as they made their Saskatchewan Baseball League debut. Les Dean went the route for the Beavers and, even though he was credited with the win, he let the Caps rap out 12 hits. The Reginans, however, couldn't come through in the clutch and left 14 runners stranded. North Battleford knocked Caps' starter and loser Jack Denbol off the hill in the 1st frame. Playing manager Bob Linck went the rest of the way.
Denbol (L), Linck(1) and Kyle
Les Dean (W) and Green
(May 26) Lefty Doug Dodd tossed a five-hitter and fanned 12 as Saskatoon Gems beat Regina Caps 4-1 at Saskatoon. The win evened the Gems record at 3-3 while the Caps dropped their second straight. Reg Pendleton's two-run homer in the first inning proved to be the difference.
Pete Bruni (L) and Kyle
Dodd (W) and Shirley
(May 28) Moose Jaw Maples made seven errors, accounting for nine unearned runs, in handing an 11-8 win to Saskatoon Gems. Len Breckner led the Gems' offense with a three-run homer. Cliff Jacobson had a solo shot. Archie Templeton had a four-bagger for the Maples. Art Worth, the losing pitcher, had three hits. Murray Coben, with four shutout innings, in relief, picked up the win.
Singleton, Holdaway (2), Coben (W) (6) and Shirley
Worth (L), Hodges (8) and Harford
(May 28) Regina Caps thrilled a home crowd of 2-thousand with an 8-7 win over North Battleford in the home opener of the 1952 season. Caps jumped into an early lead then held off a large charge by the Beavers to take the victory. Catcher Gus Kyle drove in three with a bases-loaded double in the first inning and winning pitcher Lou Tost had a bases-loaded single in the 3rd to drive in a pair. Roy Dean had a triple and double for the winners.
Herron (L), Linnell (8) and Green
Tost (W), Maze (7), Vogt (9) and Kyle
(May 29) The Regina Caps took to the road and pounded the Estevan Maple Leafs 20 - 5 in the Soo Line team's first taste of Saskatchewan Baseball League action. Estevan managed only four hits against Regina starter and winner Walter Buttgereit and mop-up reliever Jack Denbol. Andy Lillie was scorched for 19 hits and had to endure six Leaf errors in suffering the loss.
Buttgereit (W), Denbol and Kyle
Lillie (L) and Monroe
(May 30) A three-run outburst in the 8th inning handed Saskatoon Gems a 7-5 win over Moose Jaw Maples. Gems were behind 5-4 when Jim Shirley belted a one-out double. A walk and a throwing error tied the score. After a groundout, another error led to a run and Doug Bentley stole home with another insurance marker. Shirley led the Gems with a triple and double. Bob Singleton picked up the win in relief.
Palica, B Hodges (L) (8) and Harford
Jacobson, Singleton (W) (4) and Reg Bentley, Shirley (4)
(May 31) In the initial joust of a two game weekend set-to, the North Battleford Beavers whisked by Lefty Lauer and the Saskatoon Gems 1 - 0. Lefthander Johnny Coleman and his Beaver mates narrowly edged out the Gems in this exciting pitching duel.
Lauer (L) and Shirley
Coleman (W) and Green
(June 1) The finale of the two game weekend series was equally as thrilling and saw the Beavers again prevail, this time by a 3 - 2 margin. In this mound battle, North Battleford's Steve Wylie outlasted the Hub City's Chuck Holdaway.
Holdaway (L), Dodd (8) and Shirley
Wylie (W) and Green
(June 2) Saskatoon Gems exploded for eight runs in the bottom of the 7th inning to erase a 6-2 Estevan lead and went on to down the Maple Leafs 12-7. Winning pitcher Murray Coben started the uprising with a two-run homer. After Max Bentley beat out a bent and Jimmy Shields singled the Leafs intentionally walked Gordie Howe to load the bases. Len Breckner's bases-loaded single scored two. Catcher Jim Shirley had two hits in the inning. Reliever Pete McLeod was the loser.
Torgenrud, McLeod (L) (7) and Munroe, Patterson (8)
Dodd, Coben (W) (4) and Shirley
(June 3) The Moose Jaw Maples swept a double bill from the Regina Caps as two of the Mill City's southpaws stymied the Reginans. In comparatively easy fashion, the Maples put away their trans-Canada highway rivals by scores of 8 - 4 and 7 - 0. It was a quiet day for Cap hickory as the most the Queen City crew could muster in each fixture was three scattered safeties. In the afternoon tilt, Archie Templeton went the route for the Maples, besting the Caps' Pete Bruni. Moose Jaw recorded six 1st inning markers in cruising to victory. Wayne Brock slugged a two-run homer in the 6th for the Maples.
Bruni (L) and Kyle
Templeton (W) and Harford
Shortstop Don Hinchberger belted two round trippers as the Maples coasted in the nightcap. Jackie Harbourne shared the batting spotlight collecting a double and three singles in four trips. Berlyn Hodges pitched shutout ball, striking out 7, in earning the win over Walt Buttgereit.
Buttgereit (L), Linck (7) and Kyle
B. Hodges (W) and Harford
(June 3) Les Dean pitched brilliant two-hit ball to spark the North Battleford Beavers to a 4 - 0 whitewash of the Estevan Maple Leafs. The Beavers scored single tallies in the 1st and 8th to go along with their brace in the 7th. off loser Pete McLeod.
McLeod (L) and Patterson
L. Dean (W) and Green
(June 4) The Saskatoon Gems squeezed out a 2 - 1 decision over the Estevan Maple Leafs in a closely contested Saskatchewan Baseball League game. Orest Hryniuk, with 8th inning relief help from Cliff Jacobson, got the win over complete game loser Wayne Stephenson. Seventh inning RBI's by Len Breckner and Doug Bentley brought in both Saskatoon tallies.
Stephenson (L) and Patterson
Hryniuk (W), Jacobson (8) and Shirley
(June 4) The Regina Caps climaxed a wild, come-from-behind struggle by scoring 9 runs in the 7th and 8th innings to register an 11 - 8 victory over the Moose Jaw Maples. With 2 players from the Southern League Regina Royal Caps in their line-up, the Caps fell behind on Al Vogt's first pitch of the game which Moose Jaw's Berlyn Hodges slugged for a home run. "Butch" Buttgereit's hefty 8th inning triple off loser Art Worth drove in the winning counters. Bob Linck led the Caps offensively with a 3 for 3 evening while Buttgereit, Gus Kyle, Cy Thorseth and Jimmy Ross, up from the Royal Caps, all had a pair. Archie Templeton paced Moose Jaw with 3 safeties while Hodges and Wayne Brock had a pair.
Palica, Pippen (7), Worth (L) (7) and Harford
Vogt (W) and Kyle
(June 5) Young lefthander Bob Singleton fanned 19 and allowed only three hits as the Saskatoon Gems nudged the Regina Caps 3 - 2. Despite the pitching masterpiece, it appeared that Singleton might finish as a loser as a combination of four Saskatoon errors and a double by Neil Decker, who had two of the Reginans three safeties, had the Caps in front 2 - 0 after 8 1/2 innings. But the Gems kicked through with a belated bottom of the 9th rally for three runs to snatch victory from defeat. Reg Pendleton's bloop single into left field off loser Cy Thorseth with the score deadlocked plated Gordie Howe with the winning tally.
Thorseth (L) and Kyle
Singleton (W) and Shirley
(June 5) The Estevan Maple Leafs chalked up a 6 - 3 victory over the league leading North Battleford Beavers. Ray Patterson pitched six-hit ball for the Leaf win while his mates tagged loser Bob Herron and reliever Jim Linnell for ten safeties.
Patterson (W) and Monroe
Herron (L), Linnell (4) and Green
(June 5) Florida Cubans downed the Indian Head 8-0 for their second straight shutout win over the Rockets. First baseman Pedro Seoane went 4 for 4 while shortstop Marcelino Arozarena belted a homer and a triple. Julio Bonilla and Roberto Ledo each had three hits. Rockets' manager Jim Williams is reported to have seven more players on the way to join his club.
Forten (W) and Ledo
Donaldson (L) and Ford
(June 6) Two large sized, solidly built fellows who earn their living in the winter playing in the National Hockey League displayed their off-ice ability on the diamond as the Saskatoon Gems and Regina Caps split a twin bill. Gordie Howe, the Detroit Red Wings' scoring star, whacked the horsehide hard as the Gems dropped the Caps 12 - 3 in the afternoon tilt. Howe collected three singles and a triple in five trips off loser Bob Linck while winning pitcher Chuck Holdaway went 3 for 4. Gus Kyle pounded out a home run for the losers.
Holdaway (W), Jacobson (8) and Shirley
Linck (L) and Kyle
The picture changed in the nightcap as hefty Gus Kyle, a defenseman with the Boston Bruins, sparked the Caps with three hits and two RBI's off loser Lefty Lauer and two relievers as the Regina squad triumphed 9 - 3. Walter Buttgereit scattered eight hits for the win and picked up two hits, both doubles, along the way. Catcher Bob Shirley had a pair of hits for Saskatoon.
Lauer (L), Jacobson (6), Dodds (7) and Shirley
Buttgereit (W) and Kyle
(June 6) The Estevan Maple Leafs and the league pace-setting North Battleford Beavers divided a doubleheader with the Leafs losing the opening game 14 - 7 and then taking the nightcap 7 - 5. The Beavers greeted starter Chuck Manning with nine runs in the 1st inning of the matinee which essentially put the game on ice. Lefty Coleman went the route for the Beavers in the seven inning contest. Leading hitters for North Battleford were Curtis Tate and Bob Herron with three knocks apiece, one of Herron's being a 7th inning homer.
Coleman (W) and Green
Manning (L), Stephenson (1) and Dickey
The Maple Leafs bunched their ten hits to beat Steve Wylie in the night game which was called at the end of the 8th. Doug Dickey had two doubles and Charlie Selph a pair of singles for the winners.
Wylie (L) and Green
Torgenrud (W), McLeod (6) and Dickey
(June 7) The Estevan Maple Leafs held the classy Saskatoon Gems to a 5 - 5 tie in a Saskatchewan Baseball League game. The nip-and-tuck contest had the Leafs swatting eleven hits off four Saskatoon chuckers while the Gems came through with seven safeties off a pair of Estevan hurlers. Charlie Selph with 3 for 5 and George Montz with 2 for 4 led the Estevan hitters. Max Bentley had a brace for Saskatoon.
Coben, Singleton, Dodd, Lauer and Shirley
Patterson, Manning and Dickey
(June 8) The Saskatoon Gems nudged closer to the pace setting North Battleford Beavers as they defeated the Regina Caps 12 - 8 in a slugfest that produced 23 hits. The Gems ran up a 9 - 0 lead after three innings off loser Pete Bruni. The Caps roared back scoring eight times during the next two frames but were never able to forge ahead. Orest Hryniuk, in relief of Jack Eisner, got the win. Jimmy Shields set the pace for the Saskatoon swatters with a triple and two singles in five trips.
Bruni (L) and Kyle
Eisner, Hryniuk (W) (4) and Gary
(June 9) Dave Hammermeister was credited with an 8th inning, two-run inside-the-park home run when Moose Jaw outfielder Jackie Harbourne slipped on the grass in attempting to field the ball, twisting his ankle, and allowing the Regina shortstop to circle the paths behind lead runner Bob Linck to provide the Caps with the tying and winning runs in an 8 - 7 victory over the Maples. Al Vogt, who pitched to only five batters in relief, got the win. Regina pounded out a total 13 hits off lefty Berlyn Hodges who went the distance. Southern League call-ups Doug Hingley and Jimmy Ross joined Cap regulars Gus Kyle, Walter Buttgereit and Hammermeister as the offensive pace-setters, each banging out a brace of base raps, one of Hingley's being a triple. For Moose Jaw, shortstop Don Hinchberger turned in an amazing batting performance, banging out five consecutive hits off starter Cy Thorseth including two doubles. Harbourne, Archie Templeton, Art Worth and Jim Harford all had two hits for the Maples.
B. Hodges (L) and Harford
Thorseth, Vogt (W)(8) and Kyle
(June 9) Moose Jaw shortstop Don Hinchberger topped the hitters in the Saskatchewan Baseball League with a .421 mark and tied with Bob Herron and Roy Dean of North Battleford for the lead in homers, with three. Gordie Howe of Saskatoon was third in average, at .386. Saskatoon's Len Breckner topped the circuit with 14 runs batted in, one more than Hinchberger. Les Dean of North Battleford was the top chucker with three wins.
(June 9) In an exhibition game at Cairns Field, Saskatoon, the Florida Cubans blanked the Gems 5-0. Roberto Barbon, the Cuban's regular left fielder, came on to handle the pitching for the visitors and shutout Saskatoon on five hits. He fanned four and walked one. Cliff Jacobson allowed ten hits in taking the loss. The well-played contest took just an hour and 25 minutes.
Barbon (W) and Yzquierdo
Jacobson (L) and Shirley
(June 10) Bev Bentley doubled in Pete Prediger with the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning to give Saskatoon a 3-2 victory over Morinville at the Lloydminster Tournament. Chuck Holdaway scattered seven hits to register the win. The Morinville squad featured college players from the Seattle area. The contest drew 2,500 fans.
Morinville 2 Saskatoon 3
Lynch (L), Lee (9) and Clark
Holdaway (W) and Shirley
Jim Morrow held Edmonton to six hits as Indian Head romped to an 11-2 win over the Edmonton All-Stars.
Indian Head 11 Edmonton 2
Morrow (W) and Landrum
Bacon (L), Lakeman (5) and Kulka
Florida Cubans trounced the Edmonton Pontiacs of the Edmonton City League 17-3 with a 16-hit attack. Edmonton helped the Cubans by making 12 errors. Jose "Hippy" Hernandez allowed 11 hits but cruised to the complete-game victory.
Edmonton 3 Florida Cubans 17
Arnold (L) and Macnab
Hernandez (W) and Yzquierdo
North Battleford and Great Falls were rained out with play in the second inning.
(June 11) At the Lloydminster Tournament, Johnny Coleman tossed a five-hitter with 12 strikeouts to lead North Battleford to a 11-2 triumph over Great Falls, Montana, Airlifters and a berth in the tourney semi-finals. Coleman allowed no walks and just two hits after the first inning.
Coleman (W) and xxx
xxx and xxx
(June 12) Rain washed out the finals of the Lloydminster Tournament. Three teams - Florida Cubans, Saskatoon Gems and Indian Head Rockets - divided the top prize money. Florida made the final with a 10-5 win over North Battleford. Marcelino Arozarena led the way with a grand slam homer in the first inning. Roy Dean, the Beavers' playing manager, had a two-run blast for the losers. The Saskatoon - Indian Head match was called off with play in the first inning.
Florida 10 NB 5
Arango (W), Hernandez (5) and Yzquierdo
Wyllie (L), Porter (5) and Green
(June 12) A five run outburst in the 8th inning wiped out a big Regina Cap lead and gave the Estevan Maple Leafs a 9 - 7 victory over the Caps. Catcher Doug Dickey's bases-loaded triple was the payoff blow in Estevan's big inning . Credit for the pitching win went to Harry Coe who made his first league appearance in the 7th to relieve Wimpy Stephenson. Big Ray Bolger, who attempted to extinguish the 8th inning fire, was saddled with the loss. The only home run of the contest was a two-run shot by Regina's Fred Sommers. Shortstop Dave Hammermeister went 3 for 5 for the Caps.
Warren, Wills (5), Bolger (L) (8) and Bennett
Stephenson, Coe (W) (7) and Dickey
(June 13) Righthander Ray Bolger twirled a seven-hit shutout as the Regina Caps, fortified with additions from Fresno State University, downed Estevan 4-0. Bolger fanned eight and had no free passes. Caps took a 3-0 lead in the first inning on a pair of bunt singles, a walk and Gus Kyle's triple. Fred Bartels doubled in the 5th to drive in Kyle with the final run. Charlie Manning allowed just six hits in taking the loss.
Manning (L) and Dickey
Bolger (W) and Clevenger
(June 13) The North Battleford Beavers improved their position at the head of the Saskatchewan Baseball League standings by scoring twice in the top of the 9th to snap a 3 - 3 tie and go on to knock off the Saskatoon Gems 5 - 3. Left fielder Andy Porter singled sharply to drive in both big 9th inning runs and pin the loss on Lefty Lauer who had battled winner Jackie McLeod on even terms for eight frames.
McLeod (W) and Green
Lauer (L) and Shirley
(June 14) Big "Butch" Buttgereit's three-run homer in the 6th accounted for all the Regina runs as the Caps played a 3 -3 tie with the league leading North Battleford Beavers in a game called at the end of 10 innings when darkness set in. For the Beavers, the big hitter was third baseman Curtis Tate who had 3 for 5 at the dish and doubled home the tying run.
Hinckley and Bennett
Les Dean and Green
(June 14) The Moose Jaw Maples received stellar pitching from Archie Templeton and Jack Harbourne to register a pair of wins over the Estevan Maple Leafs in a double dip. Templeton, with relief help in the 8th from Art Worth, held the Leafs to a three spot as the Maples rallied for five in the 8th to win the opener 7 - 3. Moose Jaw's Jerry Parker led all hitters going 3 for 4. Teammate Jim Harford and Estevan's Pete McLeod each hit twice in four attempts.
Templeton (W), Worth (8) and Harford
xxx and xxx
At night, little Jackie Harbourne scattered four hits for a 5 - 1 winning verdict. Harbourne and battery-mate Jim Harford had two hits apiece. The longest blows of the game were triples by the Maples' Alex Palica and Estevan pinch hitter Wayne "Wimpy" Stephenson.
Harbourne (W) and Harford
xxx and xxx
(June 15) The North Battleford Beavers blanked the Moose Jaw Maples 9 - 0 in a rain shortened five inning game. Bob Herron and Art Stone homered for the Beavers who scored six times in the 1st inning of this blow-out.
Palica (L), Worth (1) and Harford
Coleman (W) and Prediger
(June 16) A four-run 4th inning carried Regina Caps to an 8-4 win over Estevan as the bottom of the Caps batting order provided the offensive punch. Bob Linck, batting 7th, reached base five times on a double, single, walk and two errors. Bill Clevenger drove in three runs with a double and single before leaving with a knee injury and pitcher Pete Bruni had a triple and single. Bruni went the route for the win. Outfielder Pete McLeod was the big gun for the Maple Leafs with three hits, a homer, a two-run double and a single.
Coe (L), Stephenson (4) and Dickey
Bruni (W) and Kyle
(June 16) Indian Head Rockets announced the addition of five players who've joined the club on their Alberta swing. Three of the players -- Pumpsie Green, Nat Bates and Willie Reed --were on the prairies last summer with the Medicine Hat Mohawks. Two more newcomers - Winters Calvin and Emmett Neal -- have just finished college programs in California.
(June 17) Big Bob Herron poked a two-run homer in the 10th inning to give North Battleford Beavers an 8-6 win over Regina Caps. Herron, who worked out briefly with the Roughriders football team last fall, blasted a Truman Clevenger fastball into the stands in left-centre to plate Jackie McLeod, who had walked. Caps out-hit the Beavers 10 to 8, but the visitors took advantage of seven walks. Herron and Johnny Coleman each had two hits for the winners. Art Shahzade and Gus Kyle each had three safeties for the Caps. Butch Buttgereit poked a homer for Regina. Andy Porter went the route for the win. He fanned a dozen.
Porter (W) and Green
T Clevenger (L) and Kyle
(June 17) Jim Morrow set down Estevan Maple Leafs on four hits as Saskatoon Gems took the opening game of the Moose Jaw Tournament, 4-1. Gems recently obtained Morrow from the Indian Head Rockets. Gordie Howe drove in Doug Bentley with a run in the first inning and Max Bentley notched what proved to be the winner with a steal of home in the 3rd inning. Bentley singled and moved to third on a single by Howe and scored on the front end of a double-steal. Len Breckner drove in a pair in the 6th inning with a drive to centre field after Howe had walked and Chris Makras doubled. Lou Pesce accounted for the only Estevan run with a homer in the 9th. Jimmy Shields had two doubles and a single for the Gems.
Morrow (W) and Shirley
Coe (L) and Monroe
(June 19) Johnny Coleman held Estevan to four hits as North Battleford down the Maple Leafs 6-2 behind a 15-hit attack. Coleman fanned 12. Art Stone led the attack with three hits. Curtis Tate added a triple and double.
Coleman (W) and Green
Manning (L), Patterson and Monroe, Dickey
Len Breckner tripled and scored on a wild throw in the 6th inning as Saskatoon Gems shaded Regina Caps 2-1. Gems had taken the lead in the first inning as Jimmy Shields tripled and scored on Max Bentley's single. Caps tied in the 4th as Frank Ball's single plated Fred Sommers. In the 8th, losing pitcher Larry Bolger led off with a triple but was thrown out at home trying to stretch it into an inside-the-park homer. Murray Coben was the winner with 9th inning relief by Chuck Holdaway.
Coben, Holdaway (9) and Shirley
Bolger and Kyle
(June 20) Indian Head Rockets downed Pincher Creek Dominoes 11-7 in an exhibition match at Pincher Creek.
" ... the outcome of the comedy-filled session was unimportant. Rockets stuck to their knitting for seven innings, building up a comfortable lead ... and then proceeded to unload numerous antics on the diamond that had the fans howling with laughter. The colored team introduced a new invention from their bag of tricks, a dice game back of the mound, while the pitcher himself was in the process of throwing to a bewildered batter, with one player losing his glove, spikes, socks and almost his pants and shirt. Even the umpire got into the game, pinch-hitting for a Domino batter while a Negro player called the balls and strikes ... During the half-way of the game, 65-year-old Upton Williams, who has only one arm, entertained the paying customers with an imitation of a famous step dance routine by the late Bill Robinson, Negro tap-dancer." (Lethbridge Herald, August 14, 1952)
(June 20) The Saskatoon Gems captured a Saskatchewan Baseball League doubleheader from the Moose Jaw Maples with both games going into extra innings. Gems won the opener 3 - 2 in 10 frames as three Saskatoon hurlers held the Maples to just five hits. Bob Singleton, the last of the trio, got the win over Art Worth.
Worth (L) and Harford
Rubcic, Lauer (6), Singleton (W) (8) and Shirley
It took 12 stanzas before the Gems could cop the aftermath 6 - 5 as Jim Morrow hurled 11 innings for the Gems with Lefty Lauer relieving in the 12th and picking up the win. Southpaw Art Worth, coming to the aid of Jimmy Linnell, was tagged with the loss, his second of the day.
Linnell, Worth (L) (9) and Harford
Morrow, Lauer (W) (12) and Shirley
(June 20) The Regina Caps fell just short of a first game victory, falling 5 - 4, but made sure of an even break in the spoils by nipping the North Battleford Beavers 2 - 1 in the evening encounter of a twin-bill. In the afternoon, the Caps lagged behind 5 - 1 and their three-run rally in the bottom of the 9th was simply a case of too little, too late as Steve Wylie's 8 2/3 innings on the hill was good enough to best Pete Bruni. Fred Sommers and Larry Bolger each whacked three safeties for the Caps while Curtis Tate with a triple and single and Louie Green with a double and single were the best stick swingers for the Beavers.
Wylie (W), Les Dean (9) and Green
Bruni (L) and Kyle
In the nightcap, rival pitchers Jackie McLeod of the Beavers and Cless Hinkley of the Caps both surrendered 7 hits as they went toe-to-toe in a tense, thrilling struggle which was scoreless for the last six frames. Fred Sommers' fly ball out in the 3rd inning plated the winning run for the Caps. Regina's Earl Huffman and North Battleford's Curtis Tate each had two hits.
J. McLeod (L) and Green
Hinkley (W) and Kyle
(June 21) After presenting the North Battleford Beavers with a 7 - 5 gift triumph in the matinee, the Moose Jaw Maples rallied for a brace of markers in the last of the 9th to gain a 2 - 1 nod in the night game and a split of the double dip. The afternoon tilt had the Maples comfortably in front 5 - 2 going into the 8th but Moose Jaw's defenses collapsed in that frame, handing the Beavers 5 unearned runs and hanging the defeat on John Bilbrey. Lanky Andy Porter of North Battleford handed out 15 hits to the Maples, three each to Don Hinchberger and Archie Templeton, but was still able to pick up the hollow victory. Top hitter in the game was Bob Herron with a double and three singles . Ken Nelson's 4th inning home run was the only North Battleford earned run.
Porter (W) and Green
Bilbrey (L) and Harford
The evening affair saw Herron and Moose Jaw's Berlyn Hodges hook up in a duel which was scoreless after 7 innings of play. A pair of Maple miscues gave North Battleford a 1 - 0 8th inning lead. In the 9th, Herron loaded the bases and Les Dean was summoned from the bullpen. Art Worth's one out base hit drove in the tying marker. Gerry Parker later ended things once and for all with a solid two-out single to left field.
Herron (L), Les Dean (9) and Green
B. Hodges (W) and Harford
(June 21) In exhibition action at Saskatoon, Kamsack Cyclones came away with a win and a tie in a twin-bill with the Gems. In the opener, Len Tucker keyed a five-run 3rd inning with a booming triple as the Cyclones went on to an 11-3 victory. Len Breckner belted a homer for the Gems. Mike Berezowski and John Zeeben worked the mound for the Kamsack win. Each team had ten hits.
Berezowski, Zeeben (7) and Garcia
Eisner, Breckner (3), Rubicic (4), Jacobson (9) and Reg Bentley
Len Tucker rapped homers in his first two trips in the second game as the teams fought to a 5-5 draw in 12 innings. Cyclones John Carlson had a no-hitter into the 7th inning before the Gems came to life with three hits including a two-run double by Cliff Jacobson. Kamsack out hit Saskatoon 11-6.
Carlson and Garcia,
Achtymichuk (6)
Jacobson and Shirley
(June 23) The Estevan Maple Leafs defeated the Moose Jaw Maples 9 - 3 behind the six-hit pitching of Harry Coe who struck out 6 and set the rival Maples down in order in 5 of the 9 frames. Moose Jaw starter Archie Templeton was the loser. Coe, Charlie Selph, Pete McLeod and Doug Dickey each collected two hits for Estevan while Berlyn Hodges had a pair of singles for Moose Jaw.
Templeton (L), Harbourne (4), Palica (7) and Harford
Coe (W) and Patterson
(June 24) Pete McLeod was the story as Estevan upended Moose Jaw 8-1. McLeod, with a no-hitter into the 7th inning, finished with a brilliant two-hitter while belting a two-run homer and scoring three times. The only run against him was unearned. Charlie Selph had a two-run triple for the Maple Leafs.
P. McLeod (W) and Monroe
Linnell (L) and Harford
(June 24) Jim Morrow topped Truman Clevenger 1-0 in a 10-inning thriller at Saskatoon as the hometown Gems shaded Regina Caps. Morrow allowed just three hits and had 14 strikeouts in capturing his second win of the season. Clevenger had allowed just five hits in getting the first two outs in the bottom of the 10th. Three straight singles, by Jimmy Shields, Doug Bentley and Max Bentley accounted for the winning marker.
Clevenger (L) and Lewis
Morrow (W) and Shirley
North Battleford 16 7
Saskatoon 13 8
Regina 8 11
Estevan 6 10
Moose Jaw 7 14
(June 25) Saskatoon Gems, blanked for eight innings, erupted for three in the bottom of the 9th to edge Moose Jaw 3-2 in the opening game of the North Battleford Tournament. A sharp single by Jimmy Shields knocked in the winner after losing pitcher John Bilbrey had walked in the tying marker. Bob Singleton fired a three-hitter for the win.
Bilbrey (L) and Harford
Singleton (W) and Garcia, Shirley (4)
Regina Caps scored a pair in the top of 9th and held off an Estevan rally in the bottom of the frame to take a 3-2 decision. Bob Linck made a sensational catch in centre field to end the Maple Leafs uprising. Butch Buttgereit was the winner with relief help from Frank Warren.
Buttgereit (W), Warren (9) and Lewis
Patterson (L) and Monroe
(June 26) Regina Caps took top money in the Saskatchewan League Tournament at North Battleford shading Saskatoon 4-3 in the final after dumping North Battleford 10-4 in the semi-final round.
Gus Kyle's 7th inning double scored Fred Sommers with the winning run in the title game. Gems took the lead in the 3rd frame when Doug Bentley doubled and brother Max drove him home with a triple. Regina took the lead in the bottom of the 3rd on Larry Bolger's double, a walk to Earl Huffman and singles by Fred Sommers and Kyle. Saskatoon again went in front in the 4th on Jim Shirley's two-run homer. Caps rebounded with a run in the bottom of the inning on singles by Glen Lewis and Fred Bartels and Bob Linck's sacrifice. Cless Hinckley was the winner.
Holdaway (L), Coben (8) and Shirley
Bolger, Hinckley (W) (6) and Lewis
In the semi-final, Caps battered three North Battleford pitchers for 11 hits to take an easy 10-4 victory. Jack Hannah held the Beavers to four hits in registering the victory. Beavers pulled an unusual double-play in the 8th inning as catcher Pete Prediger, replacing an injured Louis Green, tagged out two runners on the same play. With Bob Linck and Fred Sommers aboard, Gus Kyle belted a double to centre and both base runners took off for home. Ken Nelson threw to second baseman Art Stone who relayed the ball to Prediger with both runners nearing the plate. Prediger tagged Linck then Sommers in quick order.
Porter (L) Wylie (4), L Dean (5) and Green, Prediger (6)
Hannah (W) and Kyle
(June 27) The Regina Caps had to hang on for a difficult 5 - 4 win over the Moose Jaw Maples. After pinch hitter Larry Bolger had come through with a base hit to spark a three-run rally in the 8th that had pushed the Caps into a temporary 5 - 2 lead, the Maples came roaring back with two of their own in the 9th and had the potential tying and lead runs in scoring position. At this point, reliever Cless Hinkley was able to get Moose Jaw's Berlyn Hodges to pop up and end the game. Caps' starter Ted Wills got credit for the win. Alex Palica went the route for the Maples and absorbed the loss. Don Hinchberger had a triple and two singles in five trips for the Mill City nine. Hank Weaver helped out with a pair of hits. For the Reginans, Gus Kyle, Art Shahzade and Walter Buttgereit all went 2 for 4.
Palica (L) and Harford
Wills (W), Bruni (9), Hinkley (9) and Lewis
(June 27) The Saskatoon Gems needed 10 innings to nose out the Estevan Maple Leafs, 4-3. Lefty Lauer picked up the win in relief of starter Cliff Jacobson while Harry Coe was charged with the defeat.
Stephenson, Coe (L) (5) and Monroe
Jacobson, Lauer (W) (9) and Garcia
(June 29) Gordie Howe's three-run homer and outstanding relief pitching from Chuck Holdaway led the Saskatoon Gems to top prize of $700 in the Prince Albert tournament. The Gems beat the Regina Caps 9-1 before 5-thousand fans in the final of the third annual Kinsmen event.
Holdaway came on with the bases loaded and one out in the fourth. He shutdown the Caps on one hit the rest of the way and aided the Gems cause with a pair of hits. Starter Truman Clevenger took the loss for Regina.
George Read, Coben (4), Holdaway (W) (4) and xxx
Clevenger (L), Sommers (7) and xxx
Saskatoon reached the final with a 6-3, 11-inning win over the Great Falls Montana Army Airforce Airlifters. Bob Garcia had a homer for the Gems.
Saturday night, Roy Taylor's Kamsack Cyclones beat Gull Lake 8-3 to move into the semi-finals only to lose to Regina 8-2.
(July 2) A seventh inning splurge which produced four runs off the offerings of Regina's Frank Warren propelled the Saskatoon Gems to a 6 - 1 triumph over the Caps. Bob Singleton picked up the complete game victory for the Hub City brigade, shutting down the Caps in five-hit fashion. Cless Hinkley started on the hill for the Queen City crew but left the game after three innings with the score knotted at 1 - 1. The Gems' Max Bentley was the potent man at bat, slapping out three hits in five trips. Gus Kyle was Regina's top gun at the plate with a brace of raps.
Singleton (W) and Shirley
Hinkley, Warren (L) (4) and Kyle
(July 3) The Saskatoon Gems swept a doubleheader from the Estevan Maple Leafs 6 - 5 and 3 - 2. The lowly Leafs didn't go down without a fight as they extended Saskatoon to 13 frames in the opener, a replay of a previously tied encounter. Lefty Lauer who came on in relief for the Gems was the winner while Harry Coe took the loss. Lauer also scored the winning tally after singling in the 13th and eventually and eventually romping home when Max Bentley was safe at first base on an error. Bob Garcia and Len Breckner each had three hits for the Gems.
Read, Jacobson (6), Lauer (W) (8) and Garcia, Shirley (10)
Frady, Coe (L) (3) and Patterson, Monroe (8)
Murray Coben hurled a three-hitter for Saskatoon in the owl encounter while losing twirler Pete McLeod fashioned a six-hit job. With the game tied at 1 - 1 in the 4th, Coben also delivered at the plate with a two-run double to give the Gems the lead for good.
Coben (W) and Shirley
McLeod (L) and Dickey
(July 6) The North Battleford Beavers split a doubleheader with the Saskatoon Gems and, in doing so, remained in top spot in the Saskatchewan Baseball League standings by one percentage point. In the matinee game, Saskatoon defeated North Battleford 7 - 6 as reliever Lefty Lauer notched the win over complete game loser Andy Swota. Max and Doug Bentley topped the Saskatoon hitters as each rapped out 2 for 4. Barney Fox had a 2 for 5 day for the Beavers.
Read, Lauer (W) (5) and Shirley
Swota (L) and Green
The Beavers scored five times in the bottom of the 9th to pull out the victory in the evening tilt by a 9 - 8 count. Lauer, again in relief, was this time tagged with the loss while Johnny Coleman notched the win. Jackie McLeod and Ken Nelson both belted three-run homers for the Beavers. Bob Garcia propelled a two-run shot for the Gems.
Jacobson, Lauer (L) (9) and Shirley
Les Dean, Coleman (W) (4) and Green
(July 7) Jackie McLeod hurled four-hit ball as the North Battleford Beavers downed the Saskatoon Gems 7 - 3. Jim Morrow started on the mound for Saskatoon but didn't get out of the 4th after giving up four counters in that inning alone. George Read of the Gems had a triple and double to lead all swatters.
McLeod (W) and Green
Morrow (L), Singleton (4) and Shirley
(July 7) The Moose Jaw Maples were drubbed by the Regina Caps, falling by an 8 - 2 count in a game which was deadlocked 1 - 1 after four innings but then quickly became a Regina runaway. Both chuckers, southpaw winner Pete Bruni of the Caps and Moose Jaw's loser Johnny Bilbrey went all the way. Leadoff hitter Art Shahzade slammed out a single and 2 doubles for the Caps.
Bruni (W) and Kyle
Bilbrey (L) and Harford
(July 10) The North Battleford Beavers built up an impressive lead and then weathered a belated bid by the Moose Jaw Maples in the bottom of the 9th to walk off the diamond with a 6 - 4 triumph in an afternoon joust. The Beavers were breezing by with a 6 - 0 lead when Moose Jaw came to life in their last turn at bat, chalking up all of their tallies. Southpaw Andy Swota got the win and would have had a complete game except for being inserted temporarily in right field while reliever Les Dean faced dangerous Don Hinchberger in the 9th. Archie Templeton lasted into the 7th for the Maples and took the loss. A second fixture, slated for the evening, was rained out.
Swota (W), Dean (9), Swota (9) and Green
Templeton (L), Bilbrey (7) and Harford
(July 11) Jim Shirley's solid single scored Jimmy Shields in the bottom of the 10th as the Saskatoon Gems squeezed past the Estevan Maple Leafs 3 - 2. Ray Patterson's two-run homer in the top of the 1st inning shot the Maple Leafs into an early lead. The Gems narrowed the margin to one by counting a single tally in the bottom of the same inning and tied the game in their half of the 9th. In the extra frame, Jimmy Shields drew a walk, was sacrificed to second by Bev Bentley and came around to tally on Shirley's drive. George Read fired a five-hitter, fanning 12, for the Gems, besting Estevan's Bill Frady whose 10th inning walk of Shields could not be cancelled out by reliever Harry Coe's pitching.
Frady (L), Coe (10) and Dickey
Read (W) and Shirley
(July 11) The Regina Caps withstood a last-ditch North Battleford rally to chalk up a 4 - 2 victory over the Beavers. Husky right-hander Cless Hinkley, with 9th inning help from Cy Thorseth, was able to dispose of the Beavers who threatened to pull the game out of the fire. Loser Johnny Coleman lasted into the 5th when the Caps drove him from the mound while plating their four tallies. Regina's Fred Bartels paced all hitters with three. With two safeties were Earl Huffman and Fred Sommers of the Caps and Ken Nelson of the Beavers.
Coleman (L), McLeod (5) and Green
Hinkley (W), Thorseth (9) and Bennett
(July 12) Exploding for a trio of tallies in the 10th frame, the Regina Caps downed the Moose Jaw Maples 7 - 4. It was a see-saw battle over regulation play but the Caps made no mistake about it in the extra inning, hanging the defeat on Alex Palica who gave up 10 hits while striking out 3. Lefty Ted Wills yielded 8 safeties and fanned 5 in registering the win. He also aided his cause at the dish by contributing a double and single. Lowell Hodges led the Maples' offense with two doubles.
Wills (W) and Bennett
Palica (L) and Harford
(July 12 ) In a novel approach, the Americans topped the Canadians 7-2 at the All-Star game before 3,000 fans at Saskatoon's Cairns Field. Nursing a 3-2 lead, the Americans broke out with four runs in the 8th inning to put the game on ice. Fred Bartels and Bob Herron belted doubles to kick off the frame and Doug Dickey, Bill Shea and Curtis Tate followed with singles. Walter Buttgereit had opened the scoring for the Canadians with a homer in the second inning. A three-run outburst in the fourth inning, on three hits and an error, gave the Americans a lead they never relinquished. Chuck Holdaway was a star for the Canadian squad holding the Americans without a hit for 3 2/3s innings of relief. He fanned five.
Bob Singleton, Berlyn Hodges (3), Chuck Holdaway (4), Les Dean (8) and Shirley
Andy Swota, Pete McLeod (3), John Coleman (6), Harry Coe (9) and Green, Dickey (4)
Americans - Bill Shea (Estevan), Curtis Tate (North Battleford), Don Hinchberger (Moose Jaw), Glen Patterson (Estevan), Fred Bartels (Regina), Pete McLeod (Esteven), Charlie Selph (Estevan), Louis Green (North Battleford), Doug Dickey (Estevan), Bob Herron (North Battleford), Johnny Coleman (North Battleford), Harry Coe (Estevan)
Canadians - Barney Fox (North Battleford), Jim Shields (Saskatoon), Ken Nelson (North Battleford), Roy Dean (North Battleford), Buttgereit (Regina), James Shirley (Saskatoon), Jackie McLeod (North Battleford), Art Stone (North Battleford), Bob Singleton (Saskatoon), Berlyn Hodges (Moose Jaw), Chuck Holdaway (Saskatoon), Les Dean (North Battleford), Len Breckner (Saskatoon)
(July 13) The North Battleford Beavers gained an even share in their doubleheader against Estevan, dropping the opener 10 - 9 and winning the nightcap 8 - 4. As a result, the Beavers are now tied for the league lead with the Saskatoon Gems. Both teams have 20 - 10 records. A home run by Lou Pesce in the 8th gave Estevan the cushion they needed to maintain their earlier lead and ultimate afternoon victory. Wimpy Stephenson got the win over the Beavers' Jackie McLeod. Barney Fox had a 4 for 5 afternoon and teammate Andy Lillie went 4 for 6 for the Maple Leafs. Leading the Beavers offensively were Roy Dean with 3 for 5 and Curtis Tate with a home run.
Stephenson (W), Frady (7) and Dickey
McLeod (L), Les Dean (6), Strickland (6), Coleman (7) and Green, Prediger (8)
Home runs by Doug Dickey, George Montz and Pete McLeod got Estevan rolling in the second game but the Beavers fought back to eventually deadlock the score. Then, in the 8th, Barney Fox jolted a grand slam homer to push the Beavers over the top and, in the process, made a winner out of Andy Swota while hanging the defeat on Ray Patterson.
Patterson (L), Stephenson (8) and Monroe, Dickie (8)
Swota (W) and Green, Prediger (8)
(July 13) Moose Jaw announced two players had left the team. The league's leading hitter, Don Hinchberger and pitcher-outfielder John Bilbrey had returned to their homes in the Los Angeles area. The pair claimed they were "dissatisfied with the way things were going on in the club." Manager Clint Hodges explained he had a feeling about dissension on the club for weeks but, "it wasn't until recently that I was able to put my finger on the main sources of trouble."
(July 14) The Saskatoon Gems finally climbed in front of the North Battleford Beavers in the Saskatchewan Baseball League standings when they set down the Estevan Maple Leafs 4 - 1. The triumph, well earned on 10 hits off the Leafs' Harry Coe, shoved the Gems in front of the idle Beavers by half a game. Lefty Lauer, who this season has become a bullpen specialist for the Gems, picked up the win in relief of Bob Singleton.
Coe (L) and Dickey, Monroe (6)
Singleton, Lauer (W) (4) and Shirley
(July 14) Notorious all season for blowing big leads, the Moose Jaw Maples came close to tossing another one away but finally regained their composure and hung on for a 9 - 8 victory over the Regina Caps. The Reginans kept pecking away at the early Moose Jaw 9 - 3 advantage and had the tying run on base in the 9th before Art Worth, who staggered through the entire 9 innings, doused the flickering Queen City flame. Worth gave up a total of 12 hits but his offensive production, 3 singles in 5 at bats, helped to make up for his mediocrity on the hill. Losing chucker Pete Bruni didn't get out of the 3rd inning. The Maples were without the league's leading hitter, Don Hinchberger, who left the club and returned to the United States. For the Caps offensively, Gus Kyle had a trio of hits. Walter Buttgereit hit a bases empty homer. Catcher Jim Harford nailed a pair of triples for Moose Jaw.
Worth (W) and Harford
Bruni (L), Thorseth (3) and Bennett
(July 15) For nine full innings, the rival elbowers were in control of proceedings as the Moose Jaw Maples and Estevan Maple Leafs were deadlocked 1 - 1. Come the extra frame, however, there was a complete reversal of form and the two twirlers found themselves in hot water. The Soo Line gang got the best of the new turn of events when they eventually prevailed 5 - 2 as a 10th inning double play snuffed out the flickering Maples' candle. Estevan's Bill Frady outdueled Moose Jaw's Berlyn Hodges to earn the hard fought victory. Maple Leafs' second sacker Bill Shea enjoyed a perfect afternoon at the plate collecting four safeties in as many tries. The evening contest of the scheduled doubleheader was rained out.
Frady (W) and Monroe
B. Hodges (L) and Harford
(July 16) The Saskatoon Gems moved a game and a half in front of the North Battleford Beavers when they defeated their northern rivals 6 - 3. Max Bentley belted a triple and double to ignite the Gems' offense against loser Jackie McLeod. George Read picked up the victory in relief of starter Murray Cohen.
J. McLeod (L), Coleman (5) and Green
Coben, Read (W)(5) and Shirley, Garcia (5)
(July 16) The Moose Jaw Maples defeated the Estevan Maple Leafs 7 - 5 in a Saskatchewan Baseball League encounter which pushed the Maples into 4th place and dropped Estevan into the basement. Moose Jaw pitcher Archie Templeton limited the Leafs to seven hits in his complete game win. Pete McLeod was nicked for ten safeties in taking the loss.
Templeton (W) and Harford
P. McLeod (L) and Monroe
(July 17) Proving handier with the willow than their opponents, the Saskatoon Gems turned back the Moose Jaw Maples 7 - 2. While the Gems only outhit the Maples 12 to 10, their blows came when they needed them the most as they racked up a decisive victory. Saskatoon's Chuck Holdaway, pitching out of some bad holes but receiving fine defensive support from his mates, staggered through the full nine to get the win. Shortstop Jack Walker was the biggest thorn in the side of loser Alex Palica as he slammed out a home run, double and single in three official trips to the plate. Doug Bentley boomed out a trio of singles in five turns. The Maples' Wayne Brock had a triple and double off Holdaway while Jim Harford collected a triple and single.
Holdaway (W) and Garcia
Palica (L), Weaver (8) and Harford
(July 17) A bunch of players from faraway Havana, Cuba and its' environs, who speak only broken English, better known as "Spanglish," but who can put plenty of "English" on a baseball, walked off with the $1,300 first prize money in Indian Head's annual baseball tournament, a competition which has been described as the greatest baseball classic on the prairies.
The happy, excitable Cubans, playing under the banner of the Florida Cubans, defeated an all-colored club that is also playing a long way from home - the Hardwood Sports - from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The final score was 6 - 4 in this classically played final. The Cubans had to come from behind with 2 runs in the top of the 8th inning to gain the verdict. That gave them a 5 - 4 lead and they added an insurance marker in the 9th to sew it up. Their victory was a popular one in Indian Head as the pretty, tree-lined town has been their operational base for much of the time since they came to Canada via Lakeland. Florida in June.
In a semi-final round, the Cubans, behind the shutout pitching of Roberto "Chico" Barbon, blanked the Indian Head Rockets 4 - 0 while the Baton Rouge crew knocked off the Regina Caps. The fleetness afoot of the young Cubans delighted the throng of about 6,000 that encircled diamond #1 for the final game. They ran the bases and outfield like scared deer and it was their speed and boundless enthusiasm that helped them turn apparent defeat into an uplifting victory in the 8th inning. They left the older and slower Hardwoods a weary lot at the finish. With the Louisianans leading 4 - 3, Juan Prats led off the 8th with a base hit to center field and, without missing a beat, stretched it into a double with some daring base running. He came all the way home from there as Baton Rouge pitcher, O. B. Robison, threw wildly to first base on a bunt by Cubans' shortstop Ezequiel Diaz who subsequently moved to third base when the Hardwoods' catcher was guilty of a passed ball and then scored the eventual winner when catcher Roberto Ledo socked a long fly out to center field. Both teams used more than a single chucker. Jose "Hippy" Hernandez started for the Cubans and gave way to Carlos Forten in the 4th. Workhorse Frank Pickens, the Hardwoods' starter, and 2 relievers toiled on the hill for Baton Rouge. Center fielder Mario Herrera made a number of outstanding catches in this final. The Cubans had one other advantage in this showdown - besides their speed, aggressiveness, intensity and enthusiasm, they were also able to communicate many of their signals orally in Spanish without the fear of their rivals catching on. At the conclusion of the tournament, Gilberto Yzquierdo, Cubans' manager accepted the Coca-Cola trophy and briefly thanked the organizers and fans in broken English.
Hernandez, Forten (4) and Ledo
Pickens, Robison (4), Jefferson (9) and Jackson
(July 18) A ninth inning rally by the Estevan Maple Leafs gave them a 5 - 4 victory over the Saskatoon Gems. After 8 1/2 frames, Estevan trailed 4 - 3. With one out and two runners on base, Saskatoon second baseman Max Bentley committed two consecutive errors, sending in the tying run. Then with the sacks full and two out, Ray Patterson drew a walk to force in Bill Shea with the winning tally. Bob Singleton suffered his first loss of the season for the Gems, bowing to Estevan's Harry Coe.
Singleton (L) and xxxx
Coe (W) and xxxx
(July 18) The Regina Caps finally reached the .500 percentage mark in the Saskatchewan Baseball League standings when they swept a doubleheader from the North Battleford Beavers by scores of 4 - 3 and 6 - 2. In the first game, Jack Hannah tossed a four-hitter and out-pitched Andy Swota. Big Bob Herron did his best to pull the game out of the fire for the Beavers, going 3 for 3 with a homer and triple included. The game was limited to seven innings by mutual agreement as the Caps arrived late as one of the vehicles they were travelling in overturned in transit. Fortunately, no injuries were sustained.
Hannah (W) and xxxx
Swota (L) and xxxx
Regina pitcher Frank Warren was the big noise of the second game. Not only did he pitch five-hit ball for the Caps but he also collected 3 hits in 4 tries. Beaver errors proved costly in this affair as only one of Regina's runs was earned. Johnny Coleman, the Beavers' starter was replaced by Les Dean in the 6th. Ken Nelson accounted for both North Battleford runs when he belted a homer with Louie Green aboard.
Warren (W) and xxxx
Coleman (L), Les Dean (6) and Green
(July 19) The Saskatoon Gems defeated the Regina Caps 6 - 2 on the strength of a four-run, 5th inning outburst which featured a hotly disputed base umpiring decision. Cliff Jacobson outdueled southpaw Ted Wills to get the win. Fred Sommers had a circuit clout for the Caps.
Wills (L) and Bennett
Jacobson (W) and Garcia
(July 19) The North Battleford Beavers had things to their own liking in outclassing the visiting Moose Jaw Maples 10 - 0 as Jackie McLeod tossed a two-hitter. The Beavers scored early and often, chalking up a 13 hit attack against the Maples' Hank Weaver.
Weaver (L) and Harford
J. McLeod (W) and Green
(July 20) Life was made miserable for the Regina Caps when the North Battleford Beavers hung a double defeat on them by scores of 14 - 8 and 2 - 0. Pete McLeod, recently obtained in a trade from Estevan for Carl Strickland, was the winner of the matinee affair. It was pretty much all Regina for six innings and the Caps were ahead 8 - 3 when the Beavers erupted for eight runs in the 7th to shackle Walter Buttgereit with the loss. Bob Herron started the big comeback with a three-run homer. Earlier in the game, Roy Dean cranked out a two-run shot for the Beavers.
Buttgereit (L), Thorseth (7) and Bennett
P. McLeod (W), L. Dean (8) and Green
The pitchers took over in the owl affair of this twin bill as North Battleford's Les Dean three-hit the Queen City contingent to best Fred Bartels.
Bartels (L) and Bennett
L. Dean (W) and Green
(July 23) Sloppy fielding by the Moose Jaw Maples combined with seven Leaf safeties gave the Estevan Maple Leafs a 10 - 2 victory. Harry Coe, toiling on the mound for the Soo Liners, was never in trouble after the 1st when Moose Jaw notched both of their markers. Coe scattered seven safeties in recording the complete game win. Jim Harford, the Mill City catcher, leaned into two of Coe's slants for triples.
xxxx (L) and Harford
Coe (W) and xxxx
(July 24) The Estevan Maple Leafs pounded out 18 safeties off loser Berlyn Hodges and his relief help to demolish the Moose Jaw Maples 11 - 8. Bill Frady pitched 8 innings of solid relief to score the victory. Leafs' Lou Pesce with a double and two singles wielded the most authoritative willow while teammate Charlie Selph collected a trio of singles in five trips. Catcher Jim Harford was best at the dish for the Maples, clouting a triple and a pair of singles in five at bats. Jackie Harbourne socked a two-run homer for Moose Jaw.
Strickland, Frady (W) (1) and Monroe
B. Hodges (L), Weaver (7) and Harford
(July 25) Left fielder George Montz's 2 RBI single in the 1st supplied the Estevan Maple Leafs with all the runs they needed to shade the Moose Jaw Maples 2 - 1, a win which kept Estevan ahead of the cellar dwelling Maples. Ray Patterson went the route for Estevan allowing 6 scattered hits, including Jim Harford's double and Jackie Harbourne's 9th inning triple which produced Moose Jaw's only run. Lowell Hodges pitched a stellar 2 hitter for the Maples but just couldn't get any run support.
L. Hodges (L) and Harford
Patterson (W) and Monroe
(July 25) North Battleford dropped pitchers Steve Wylie and Andy Porter. It appears the pair's training methods didn't meet with the approval of Beavers' manager Emile Francis. The two players have moved on to lineup with clubs in the Manitoba-Saskatchewan League.
(July 27) The North Battleford Beavers let loose with enough runs to do them for a week as they humiliated the Moose Jaw Maples 27 - 5. Using a combination of 22 hits and 7 Moose Jaw miscues to the best advantage, the Beavers scored in every inning except the 1st and 5th. Bob Herron and Pete Prediger homered for the winners.
Worth (L), Devine (3), Brock (6), Parker (7) and Harford
J. McLeod (W), L. Dean (8) and Green, Prediger (6)
(July 28) Walks proved to be the difference as the Estevan Maple Leafs squeezed by the North Battleford Beavers 4 - 3. Beaver chucker John Coleman filled the bases with two free passes in the 9th after an error allowed a runner at first. Then George Montz was the recipient of another base on balls, forcing in a run. Estevan's Harry Coe gave up nine hits in garnering the win while Coleman, who was pinned with the loss, and starter Pete McLeod were touched for ten blows by the Leafs.
Coe (W) and xxxx
P. McLeod, Coleman (L) and Green
(July 28) Lanky Fred Bartels took personal charge to escort the Regina Caps to a 9 - 8 victory over the Saskatoon Gems. Besides pitching steady relief work, Bartels also won his own game by slamming a two-run homer in the 8th inning. At one stage of this game, the Caps trailed 7 - 1 but the Reginans stayed the course and ultimately prevailed. The losing pitcher, the Gems' George Read, also had a home run in this tussle. Art Shahzade with three hits sparked the Caps' offense before Bartels' winning blow. Bob Garcia had a trio of base knocks for the Gems.
Holdaway, Jacobson (5), Read (L) (8) and Shirley
Hinkley, Bartels (W) (5) and Bennett
(July 29) Successive 9th inning home runs off the bats of Barney Fox and Ken Nelson turned apparent defeat into an exciting 6 - 5 victory for the North Battleford Beavers over the Regina Caps. Both blasts came off the offerings of loser Frank Warren who was then replaced by Cless Hinkley. Lefthander Andy Swota of the Beavers set down the Caps on six hits to register the win in complete game fashion. North Battleford's Ken Nelson was the game's leading hitter going 3 for 5.
Swota (W) and Green
Warren (L), Hinkley (9) and Bennett
(July 29) Aided by the six-hit twirling of 17-year-old Lowell Hodges and abetted by the hitting of Gerry Parker and Jackie Harbourne, the Moose Jaw Maples ended a drought by whipping the Saskatoon Gems 5 - 1. For five innings, the fixture was a tight pitching duel between Hodges and Saskatoon's Murray Coben. In the 6th, the Maples began to find their batting eyes and went on to score a pair off the Gems' rangy lefthander. Parker pulled out of his long slump, rapping out four singles in as many tries. In the 8th, Harbourne slammed Coben's first pitch over the right field fence for a home run, a blast which drove Coben from the slab.
Coben (L), Pickens (8) and Shirley
L. Hodges (W) and Harford
(July 30) The Saskatoon Gems carried the day in winning both ends of a doubleheader from the Estevan Maple Leafs, 12 - 4 and 6 - 1, to take a firmer hold on the top rung in the S.B.L. standings. In the opener, both teams were hard on the pitchers with the Gems cranking out 15 hits and the Leafs managing 11. Estevan used four pitchers in the fray. Ray Patterson was nicked for the loss while the Gems' Frank Pickens got credit for the win. Saskatoon's top hitters were Jim Shields who went 4 for 5 and Jim Shirley who had a 3 for 5 game. Lou Pesce led the Soo Liners going 3 for 4.
Pickens (W) and xxx
Patterson (L), xxx, xxx, xxx and xxx
The second contest featured no-hit twirling by two Saskatoon moundsmen until the 8th. Bob Singleton and Lefty Lauer blanked the Maple Leaf stickmen up to that point but, in the 8th, the Maple Leafs struck for 3 of their 4 hits. Mel Torgenrud was the losing hurler. Shields and Shirley once again were at the forefront of the Gems' offense with Shields going 3 for 5 while Shirley came through with two base blows in five attempts.
Singleton (W), Lauer (6) and Shirley
Torgenrud (L) and xxxx
(July 30) The 9th inning blues continued to haunt the Regina Caps as, for the second night in a row, the Reginans dropped a game in the last frame. This time it was the improved Moose Jaw Maples that turned the trick, clicking for two runs in the top of the 9th and then holding the Caps to one in their half, for an 8 - 7 victory. Bobby Knight, a newcomer from the touring Hardwood Sports club of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, delivered the big 9th inning blow with a two-run single off Pete Bruni. Tall southpaw O. B. Robison, another recruit from the Hardwoods, went all the way on the Moose Jaw mound to pick up the win. Both the tying and lead runs were charged to Caps' loser Ted Wills. Fred Sommers, Fred Bartels and Art Shahzade all belted round trippers for the Caps. Rip Collins and Jackie Harbourne both had three hits for the Maples, one of Harbourne's being a triple.
Robison (W) and Harford
Wills (L), Bruni (9) and Kyle
(July 31) After dropping the first tilt by an 8 - 4 count, the Moose Jaw Maples managed to gain a split with the North Battleford Beavers when they squeezed out a 4 - 3 triumph over the northern squad in the second game of a doubleheader. In the opener, winning chucker Bob Herron, with the Maples leading 3 - 1 in the 4th and given a reprieve after Moose Jaw catcher Jim Harford dropped his foul pop-up, hit the next pitch over the right field fence. Moose Jaw's Jack Devine yielded 10 Beaver blows in taking the loss. Curtis Tate with a double and three singles was North Battleford's leading swatman. For the Maples, Art Worth went 3 for 5.
Herron (W) and Green
Devine (L) and Harford
Brothers Berlyn and Lowell Hodges shared the limelight as the Mill City crew garnered the spoils in the owl contest. Berlyn handcuffed the Beavers giving up but four blows while Lowell singled in the bottom of the 9th off Jackie McLeod to drive in the tie-breaking marker. Big Bob Herron's first inning three-run circuit clout had staked the Beavers to an early lead but that was all they could muster off the offerings of the elder Hodges.
J. McLeod (L) and Green
B. Hodges (W) and Harford
(July 31) Regina Caps pounded out 16 hits including a grand slam homer by Art Shahzade to clobber Estevan Maple Leafs 14-0. Gus Kyle had four hits in five trips for the Caps and newcomer Johnny Lloyd, obtained from the touring Baton Rouge Hardwoods, had three hits and scored three times. Jack Hannah and Frank Warren combined on the shutout.
Ray Patterson (L), Glen Patterson (2) and Monroe
Hannah (W), Warren (6) and Kyle
(August 1) In a darkness shortened 7 inning battle, the Moose Jaw Maples made a remarkable comeback to earn an 11 - 11 stalemate with the Saskatoon Gems. After just an inning and a half, the Gems were out in front 11 - 0 and no one could imagine that the greatest comeback of the season was in store. Batters who shone in this game were Moose Jaw's Ray Nutzhorn who had a triple and a single as well as the Maples' Wayne Brock and Jim Harford who each had a double and single. Those with two singles were the Mill City's Bobby Knight and Bob Garcia along with Jimmy Shields of the Gems.
Singleton, Lauer (2), Holdaway (5) and Shirley
Worth, Robison (2), B. Hodges (3) and Harford
(August 1) First baseman Fred Bartels pounded out a pair of four-baggers, the second one in the 6th inning providing the winning margin, as the Regina Caps edged the Estevan Maple Leafs 3 - 2. In this tight battle of lefthanders, Pete Bruni of the Caps doled out only five hits in picking up the win while Regina nicked loser Harry Coe for only one more. As for Coe, it might have been a different story had he not grooved the two home run pitches to Bartels. Ray Patterson had two hits for Estevan.
Coe (L) and Monroe
Bruni (W) and Kyle
(August 2) The Moose Jaw Maples pulled out of the S.B.L. cellar when they swept a twin bill from the Estevan Maple Leafs . The vastly improved Maples nudged the Leafs by a close 4 - 3 count in the afternoon tilt and then hammered out a decisive 9 - 3 win in the night game, a contest which was shortened to 8 frames once darkness set in. O. B. Robison hurled four-hit ball at the Soo Liners as the Mill City nine tallied in the bottom of the 9th to break a 3 - 3 deadlock and garner the spoils in the initial fixture. Rip Collins raced home with the winning run when Estevan catcher Doug Dickey heaved the ball into left field in a vain attempt to prevent the Ripper from pilfering third. Bill Frady, who was nicked for eight safeties while fanning 12, was the loser.
Frady (L) and Dicker
Robison (W) and Harford
Lowell Hodges got credit for the nightcap win but needed bullpen help from Art Worth. The Maple Leafs' Glen Patterson was the losing pitcher of record. Wayne Brock and Jackie Harbourne of the Maples each had a double and single in four trips.
G. Patterson (L), Frady (6) and Dickey
L. Hodges (W), Worth (5) and Harford
(August 3) The North Battleford Beavers improved their position in the S.B.L. ladder as they turned back their two closest threats in the five-team circuit, edging the league leading Saskatoon Gems 5 - 4 in the afternoon and the dumping Regina's third place Caps 4 - 1 in an abbreviated nightcap which ended prematurely after 5 innings because of a Sunday curfew. In the opener, the Beavers' winning margin came from Bob Herron's triple and Jackie McLeod's follow-up single in the bottom of the 6th. Winning pitcher Johnny Coleman was strong down the stretch to preserve the lead.
Pickens (L) and Shirley
Coleman (W) and Green
As the Reginans arrived late for the evening tilt, they were fortunate that the Beavers didn't just take a forfeiture win. It didn't matter, however, as Les Dean fanned 7 and retired the side in order in all but the 4th inning.
Wills (L) and Ball
L. Dean (W) and Green
(August 4) The Saskatoon Gems regained their winning ways with a 6 - 4 victory over the Regina Caps. The Hub City squad collected 13 hits off the offerings of two Regina pitchers. Chuck Holdaway went the distance for Saskatoon and held the Caps to 8 hits. Caps' starter Jack Hannah was tagged with the loss. Jim Shirley had three hits for the victorious Gems. Fred Bartels of the Caps had a triple and single while reliever Ted Wills socked a home run.
Hannah (L), Wills (6) and Bennett
Holdaway (W) and Shirley
(August 5) The Regina Caps pretty well assured themselves of a playoff berth when they slipped by the Moose Jaw Maples 4 - 3 in a game called after 8 frames because of darkness amidst a storm of protest from the Mill City players and supporters. Maples' management lodged an official protest over an apparent 8th inning theft of third base that was negated by the base umpire who thought that time had been called. Caps broke up a 3 - 3 stalemate with a single tally in the 7th, making Frank Warren a winner over Moose Jaw's Berlyn Hodges. Regina's Gus Kyle, the league's top hitter, fattened his batting average with a double and three singles. Coming up with a brace of safeties each were the Maples' Art Worth and Jim Harford as well as the Caps' Fred Bartels.
Warren (W), Bruni (8) and Kyle
B. Hodges (L) and Harford
(August 6) Umpire E. C. Terry forfeited a S.B.L. game to the Estevan Maple Leafs because of stalling tactics employed by the North Battleford Beavers. With the score knotted at 10 - 10 and playing in the bottom of the 9th, Estevan had one man on base with two out when stalling was alleged to have occurred in hopes that the game would be called because of darkness. which would have then negated Estevan's tying marker in the bottom of the 9th. Harry Coe, the Maple Leafs' winning chucker, also had a field day at the dish going 4 for 5. Doug Dickey, Andy Lillie and Ray Patterson all had home runs for Estevan.
P. McLeod, J. McLeod, Coleman and Green
Coe (W) and Monroe
(August 6) Pete Bruni hurled his second consecutive five-hitter to pace the Regina Caps to a 4 - 0 blanking of the Moose Jaw Maples. The Caps managed only six hits off loser O. B. Robison, two by Dave Hammermeister who had an RBI single in the 1st and a run scoring double in the 6th. Bobby Knight and Ray Nutzhorn each bagged two hits for Moose Jaw. The longest blow of the night was a triple off the bat of the Maples' Berlyn Hodges.
Robison (L) and Harford
Bruni (W) and Kyle
(August 6) The classy Florida Cubans, winners of the prestigious Indian Head tournament, rode roughshod over the Indian Head Rockets in the first game of a best-of-3 provincial final conducted by the National Baseball Congress. The hard hitting Cubans took a liking to the home-town Rocket' hurlers and walked off with a 9 - 2 victory. The second game of the series is scheduled for Moose Jaw's Exhibition Park one week from tonight.
(August 7) The Moose Jaw Maples improved their chances of landing the final playoff spot in the Saskatchewan Baseball League as they defeated the Saskatoon Gems 8 - 3. Young Lowell Hodges limited the league leaders to 5 scattered hits, including 2 doubles by shortstop Johnny Walker, in picking up the win. Gems' starter Lefty Lauer was ineffective in his 3 1/3 innings on the hill and took the loss. Berlyn Hodges, younger brother and winning hurler Lowell, Bob Knight and Jack Harbourne all contributed two hits to the Moose Jaw cause.
L. Hodges (W) and Harford
Lauer (L), Holdaway (4) and Shirley
(August 7) A strong pitching performance by Cless Hinkley gave the Regina Caps a 4 - 0 S.B.L. victory over the Estevan Maple Leafs in the first game of a scheduled double dip. The evening encounter didn't get the required number of innings in to become official as rain brought the affair to a premature ending. Hinkley limited the Maple Leafs to three hits in the 7-inning opener and fanned 11 batters. Bill Frady worked on the hill for Estevan and took the loss. The Caps' Dave Hammermeister led the hitters with two doubles.
Hinkley (W) and xxxx
Frady (L) and xxxx
(August 8) The Estevan Maple Leafs kept their hopes of landing fourth in the S.B.L. and a resulting playoff spot in tact when they came away with a 4 - 3 win over the Saskatoon Gems. Saskatoon had 10 runners stranded and their inability to hit with runners in scoring position cost them the game. Down 3 runs to 2, the Maple Leafs tied the score in the 6th on Andy Lillie's home run and then scored the winning run in the 9th on a Saskatoon infield error and a double by Charlie Selph. Ray Patterson started for Estevan but was replaced in the 6th by winning pitcher Harry Coe.
Patterson, Coe (W) (6) and xxxx
Pickens (L) and Shirley
(August 9) The North Battleford Beavers walloped the Estevan Maple Leafs 19 - 2 to move a half game behind the league leading Saskatoon Gems. Ken Nelson and Curtis Tate belted homers in the 5th inning when North Battleford scored eight times. Every Beavers' player got into the scoring column and each had at least one safety, with Andy Swota and Art Stone each with three hits. Lefty Johnny Coleman fanned ten in hurling a four-hitter in the seven inning contest called because of darkness.
xxx and xxx
Coleman (W) and xxx
(August 9) Prior to the start of the regularly scheduled Regina - Moose Jaw encounter, the two teams took the field to continue with the last part of the August 5th tilt wherein Moose Jaw's potential tying run had been sent back to second base from third, a decision which led to a Moose Jaw protest, one which was upheld. For the Maples, Lady Luck was finally at their doorstep as they pulled this one out of the fire by plating a bottom-of-the-ninth-inning run to tie it and scored the winner in the extra frame to snatch triumph from defeat, reversing the previous Regina win. The crux of the dispute centered around Art Worth of the Maples taking 3rd base in the bottom of the 8th as Caps' catcher Gus Kyle was conveying his difference of opinion with the plate umpire. Thinking that time had been called, the base umpire sent Worth back to second where he died on the base paths as the Moose Jaw rally fizzled. The league moguls, however, upheld the Mill City protest that time hadn't been called and the fixture was replayed starting in the bottom of the 8th with Worth at third and Jackie Harbourne at first. Worth then raced home on a double steal to deadlock the issue before Jerry Parker, who had been fanned by Pete Bruni in the original game, grounded out. The Regina nine were set down in order in the top of the 10th and the Maples clicked for a tally in their half to win 5 - 4. Lowell Hodges crossed the plate on a one-out fielder's choice to sew it up for the Maples. Berlyn Hodges was now declared the winning pitcher while Ted Wills was tagged with the loss.
Warren, Bruni (8), Wills (L) (9) and Kyle
B. Hodges (W) and Harford
In the regular scheduled contest, both Berlyn Hodges and Ted Wills remained on the hill as starters, with Hodges nailing his second victory of the day and Wills his second defeat, as the Maples registered a 7 - 5 win over the Caps. Art Worth sparked the Moose Jaw gang with a double and two singles in four trips while teammate Jim Harford and the Caps' Gus Kyle both rapped out a double and single.
Wills (L), Bruni (6) and Bennett, Kyle (8)
B. Hodges (W) and Harford
(August 10) Certainly not losing their hitting touch over 24 hours, the North Battleford Beavers came right back after their win of the previous night and again dumped the Estevan Maple Leafs, this time by a 12 - 3 count. The victory moved the Beavers 3 percentage points in front of the Saskatoon Gems and, unless the league's brain trust orders all postponed and tied games to be played, this could clinch first place in the S.B.L. standings for North Battleford. Beavers clubbed three homers in the victory. Bob Herron led the offensive with a pair of homers and six runs batted in. Other four-baggers went to Louis Green of the Beavers and Charlie Selph and Ray Patterson of Estevan. Herron and Ken Nelson each had three hits.
Harry Monroe (L), xxx and xxx
xxx and xxx
(August 11) The Saskatoon Gems scored in the last half of the 9th to gain a 4 - 3 victory over the Moose Jaw Maples. In the top half of the inning, the Maples had come from behind 3 - 1 to tally twice and deadlock the contest. The third Gem tosser, Chuck Holdaway, was the winner. George Read, Lefty Lauer and Holdaway held the Moose Jaw crew to seven hits. Saskatoon whacked seven safeties off lefthander O. B. Robison.
Robison (L) and Harford
Read, Lauer (4), Holdaway (W) (7) and Shirley
(August 11) There was some high class hurling when the Regina Caps nipped the Estevan Maple Leafs 1 - 0 in S.B.L. play. Cless Hinkley allowed only two hits and struck out six in his four inning whirl on the hill for Regina. Then Jack Hannah took over pitching chores and set down the Leafs with three hits while fanning four. Southpaw Harry Coe struck out 11 and threw a very effective five-hitter for Estevan. Hannah was the winning pitcher of record and won his own game in the 7th when he ripped a double that plated Frank Ball with the game's only run. Gary McKechney, a homebrew Leaf, collected three hits in four trips to spark the batters.
Hinkley, Hannah (W) (5) and Kyle
Coe (L) and Monroe
(August 12) The Regina Caps wound up the S.B.L. schedule by defeating the Estevan Maple Leafs 10 - 7. The game, called after the 7th inning because of darkness, had no effect on league standings. The Caps had already clinched third place while Estevan had no chance of escaping the cellar. Most of Regina's scoring came in the 4th and 5th when they plated a total of 9 runs. The Caps' Frank Warren, in relief of Fred Bartels, picked up the win.
Bartels, Warren (W) (4), Bruni (7) and xxxx
xxx and xxx
(August 13) For four innings the Indian Head Rockets appeared well on the way to forcing a deciding game in their provincial championship series with the Florida Cubans. The Rockets had built a 7-0 lead. It looked liked a complete reversal of the series' opener when the Cubans trounced Indian Head 9-2.
But, Florida scored five in the fifth and nine in the eighth to whip the Rockets 16-11 and claim the Saskatchewan title. There were 28 hits in the game, 14 of them for extra bases. The Rockets committed nine errors. Indian Head's Percy Trimont was the leading hitter with a pair of homers, two doubles and a single in five trips. Hiram Marshall and Winters Calvin also homered for the losers.
Barbon (W), Hernandez (9) and Yzquierdo. Seoane (8)
Bates, Donaldson (5), Trimont (8) and Green, Ford (8)
Semi Final Series :
(August 13) Regina Caps downed Saskatoon 8-1 in the opening game of the Saskatchewan League semi-final series. Cless Hinckley fired a four-hitter for the win. Johnny Lloyd led the Caps' offense with a triple and two singles. Gems made seven errors. Johnny Walker had a single and double for the Gems.
Hinckley (W) and Ogle
Singleton (L), Pickens (6) and Shirley
(August 14) Johnny Coleman and Berlyn Hodges hooked up in a sparkling pitching duel in the opening game of their semi-final series. Coleman fired a two-hitter as North Battleford topped Moose Jaw 4-0 as the Beavers scored four unearned runs in the 8th inning for the victory. Hodges, who had allowed just two base runners through seven innings, allowed singles to Barney Fox and Ken Nelson to lead off the 8th. After a pair of groundouts, Bob Herron was handed an intentional pass to load the bases. As Curtis Tate broke for third, catcher Jim Harford fired the ball to shortstop Bobby Knight who fired back to Harford as Roy Dean broke for home. As Dean held up, Harford's throw to third sailed into left field as Dean romped home with the game's first run. Jackie McLeod walked and Tate stole home. Art Stone then poked a double to plate Herron and McLeod to put the contest out of reach.
Coleman (W) and Green
B Hodges (L) and Harford
(August 14) Saskatoon evened its semi-final with Regina at a game apiece with a 2-1 victory in a contest forfeited to the Gems after a rhubarb in the 9th inning. The outburst followed Fred Sommers long blast leading off the top of the 9th inning. Caps claimed it had cleared a low fence for a game-tying homer but it was declared a ground-rule double. After a verbal assault on the umpiring crew and the appearance of Regina owner Denny Evenson on the playing field, the game was called. Earlier in the game, Evenson had been ordered off the field.
Regina scored first. In the 4th inning Dave Hammermeister walked, stole second, advanced to third on a groundout and scored on an error. In the 7th, Gems took the lead as Bev Bentley knocked in Jimmy Shields and Jim Shirley made it home on an error. George Read tossed a four-hitter for the win.
Hannah (L), Bruni (7) and Bennett
G Read (W) and Shirley
(August 15) Lefty Ted Wills scattered seven hits as Regina Caps beat Saskatoon 6-1 to take a 2-1 game lead in their best-of-seven semi-final series. Caps took advantage of three hits, a walk and two errors to notch four runs in the 3rd inning.
Coben (L), Holdaway (3) and Shirley
Wills (W) and Ogle
(August 16) North Battleford Beavers had 16 hits in trouncing Moose Jaw 12-4 to take a 2-0 game lead in their best-of-seven semi-final series. Andy Swota scattered seven hits to register the win. Beavers pounded out 16 hits against O.B. Robinson and Art Worth. Barney Fox and Roy Dean each had three hits for the winners. Bobby Knight led Moose Jaw with three safeties.
Swota (W) and Green
Robison (L), Worth (4) and Harford
(August 17) In another sterling pitching matchup, Frank Pickens stopped Regina on three hits as Saskatoon posted a 1-0 win to square the series at two games each. Before a crowd of more than 4,000 at Delisle, Gems turned singles by Max Bentley and Johnny Walker and an error into the only run of the contest. Hard-luck loser Pete Bruni allowed just five hits.
Pickens (W) and Shirley
Bruni (L) and Bennett
(August 17) North Battleford Beavers downed Moose Jaw 9-3 and 8-2 to take the semi-final series in four straight games. Ken Nelson belted two homers, a triple, two doubles and a single to lead the Beavers to the sweep. Jackie McLeod fired a three-hitter to get the win in the second game. In the first game, Moose Jaw's Bobby Knight knocked in Jimmy Harford three times to account for all the Maples' scoring. In the second game, Knight scored the first Moose Jaw run and Harford belted a homer for the other.
Hodges (L) and xxx
xxx and xxx
Robison (L), Worth and xxx
Jackie McLeod (W) and xxx
(August 18) Frank Warren held Saskatoon to four hits in pitching the Regina Caps to a 6-1 win and a 3-2 lead in their semi-final series. Warren also starred on offense. He drove in a pair with a bases loaded single in the 2nd inning. Fred Sommers, Dave Hammermeister and Fred Bartels each had two hits for the winners. The match featured sensational defense.
" ... JohnnyLloyd's circus catch in right centre field was the best of them all, and the most outstanding fielding play of the baseball season in Regina ... Pitcher Bob Singleton was on first with the Gems' second hit of the game and one was out. Veteran Jim Shields lashed a drive almost over second base and it appeared in there for extra bases. But Lloyd, who can run like a deer, came from nowhere in right field and stuck up his glove hand on the run and the ball stayed put. If he could have stopped in time, the starry Negro might have doubled Singleton who was around to second when the ball was caught." The Leader-Post, Regina, August 19, 1953.
Singleton (L), Holdaway (3) and Shirley
Warren (W) and Bennett
(August 19) Max Bentley scored the winner in the eleventh inning as Saskatoon forced a seventh and deciding game in their semi-final series with a 2-1 victory before 3-thousand fans at Saskatoon. Bentley, who had singled to centre, moved to third on a sacrifice and an infield out and scored on an error. Doug Bentley had plated the Gems' first run in the second inning on a single by pitcher George Read. Frank Pickens, who relieved Read in the eleventh, got the win. Johnny Lloyd had four hits in five at bats for the Caps. Cless Hinckley went the distance for the losers allowing just six hits.
Hinckley (L) and Bennett
Read, Pickens (W) (11) and Shirley
(August 20) Right-hander Frank Pickens tossed a six-hit shutout and the Saskatoon Gems beat Regina 6-0 to move into the Saskatchewan Baseball League final series against North Battleford. George Read was the star at the plate with three hits, including a double. Ted Wills, the first of three Regina pitchers took the loss. 5-thousand fans turned out for the game at Cairns Field.
Wills (L), Bruni (5), Warren (7) and Bennett
Pickens (W) and Shirley
Final Series:
August 22 : Len Breckner raced home with the winning run in the bottom of the eleventh inning as Saskatoon edged North Battleford 2-1 in the first game of the best-of-seven final series.
Lefty Lauer gave up just three hits and fanned eleven in going the distance for Saskatoon. Johnny Coleman pitched into the eleventh, giving way to Les Dean after having loaded the bases with just one out. Bob Herron had given the Beavers the lead with a homer in the second. George Read drove in the tying run in the third. 4-thousand fans watched the action at Cairns Field.
Coleman (L), Dean (11) and Green
Lauer (W) and Shirley
August 23 : North Battleford pounded out 17 hits and whipped the Gems 10-1 at home to even their series at a game apiece. Andy Swota pitched a six-hitter for the win. Murray Coben, Bob Singleton and Max Bentley worked on the hill for Saskatoon.
Coben (L), Singleton (7), Max Bentley (7) and Shirley, Garcia (7)
Swota (W) and Green, Prediger (9)
August 23) The Saskatchewan Baseball League today announced that Gus Kyle, veteran Regina Caps' catcher, had tucked away the 1952 league batting crown with a .368 average. Kyle was followed by a pair of North Battleford Beavers, Curtis Tate who stroked the ball at a .349 clip and Ken Nelson who was one percentage point behind at .348.
Other individual leaders were:
Runs scored - 50 - Nelson, North Battleford Beavers
Hits - 72 - Nelson
Doubles - 12 - Nelson and Ray Patterson, Estevan Maple Leafs (tied)
Triples - 6 - Jim Harford, Moose Jaw Maples
Home Runs - 12 - Bob Herron, North Battleford Beavers
Runs Batted In - 46 - Herron
Stolen Bases - 14 - Jimmy Shields, Saskatoon Gems and Bill Shea, Estevan Maple Leafs (tied)
Les Dean of the North Battleford Beavers wound up as the top hurler with a record of 6 - 1. Bob Singleton of the Saskatoon Gems was runner-up with 5 - 1. Singleton with 70 had the most strikeouts.
August 24 : Saskatoon scored three runs in the top of the 12th inning and held on to beat the Beavers 7-4. Gems were outhit 14-7 but walked away with a 2-1 game lead in the series. Frank Pickens was the winner in relief.
Holdaway, Pickens (W) (9) and Shirley
L. Dean (L) and Green
August 25 : George Read, Saskatoon's "blond pitching ace", allowed just five hits as the hometown Gems beat the Beavers 5-3 to take a 3-1 lead in the final series. Read fanned eleven and allowed just one base on balls.
xxx and xxx
Read (W) and xxx
August 26 : Johnny Coleman pitched a 4-hit shutout as the Beavers staved off elimination with a 2-0 win over Saskatoon in a game at North Battleford. Beavers scored in the third on a triple by Art Stone and an error. Curtis Tate drove in Ken Nelson with an insurance run in the sixth. Lefty Lauer went the distance for the Gems allowing just five hits. The game featured a triple-play by Saskatoon. In the first inning, a walk and a single put Barney Fox on second and Ken Nelson on first. Roy Dean's hard liner toward first base was caught by Len Breckner who tagged Nelson and threw to Walker at second to nip Fox.
Lauer (L) and xxx
Coleman (W) and xxx
August 28 : North Battleford hammered out 18 hits and trounced the Gems 12-3 before 6-thousand fans at Cairns Field in Saskatoon to sent their final series to a seventh and deciding game. The Beavers scored three in the first and five in the second to put the game out of reach. They drove starter Frank Pickens and reliever George Read from the hill before the end of the second inning. Andy Swota went all the way for the Beavers. Bob Herron was the hitting star for the winners. The league's home run champion during the regular season, had four hits including a homer and a double. He had six RBI.
Swota (W) and Prediger
Pickens (L), Read (1), Holdaway (2) and Shirley
August 31 : The Beavers capped a remarkable comeback with an offensive outburst to captured the Saskatchewan Baseball League championship. North Battleford handed the Gems an early 5-1 lead then roared back to whip Saskatoon 22-9 in the deciding game of the best-of-seven final series before 47-hundred fans at Abbott Field. It was the largest crowd ever at the ball park, which normally seats about 26-hundred.
Bob Herron, who had four hits, belted a pair of homers and knocked in five runs for the Beavers. Art Stone had a grand slam. Max Bentley had two homers for the Gems. Les Dean, who relieved starter Johnny Coleman in the third, went the rest of the way for the victory. The Gems used six pitchers -- Lefty Lauer, Frank Pickens, Bob Singleton, Murray Coben, Jimmy Shields and Max Bentley.
Lauer, Pickens (L) (4), Singleton (5), Coben (5), Shields (7), M. Bentley (8) and Shirley
Coleman, L. Dean (W) (3) and Green