BASIN LEAGUE
(May 01) At a meeting at Chamberlain, South Dakota, official announced the formation of a new, five-team semi-pro baseball league to be known as the Basin League. Teams from Mitchell, Chamerlain, Pierre, and Winner, South Dakota and Valentine, Nebraska will play a 16-game "home and home" schedule calling for league play on Sunday and Tuesday nights, beginning June 14th. The schedule calls for ten weeks of play with the final regular season games on August 18th. A five-man board of directors was named to administer the league's affairs. Jerry Shoemaker will represent Winner and serve as the league's secretary. Other members include Leo Harmon of Mitchell, Ralph Greig of Chamberlain, W.W. Ferris of Valentine and Charles Allen of Pierre.
(June 14) Pierre Cowboys won the opening game of the newly-formed Basin League Sunday night, downing the Mitchell Kernels 5-2. Ed Cook hurled a four-hitter in going the distance for the pitching win against Ron Schaeffer who allowed eight hits, including a double by Carroll Hardy.
Cook (W) and xxx
Schaeffer (L) and xxx
(June 16) Bert Beckman fired a three-hitter Tuesday as Pierre shaded Chamberlain Chiefs 2-1 for their second straight victory. Emil Kammer tripled in the fifth to score Jerry Schoonmaker with the Cowboys' first run and they added another in the sixth on consecutive doubles by Beckmann and Carroll Hardy. Chiefs got their only run in the seventh when Dan Jackson, the Cuban third sacker, reached on an error, stole third and streaked home on a long fly ball.
Cingaloni (L) and Hauschild
Beckman (W) and Welch
(June 16) In a slugfest at Winner, the home squad came from behind to whip Mitchell 20-12 behind a 19-hit attack. The teams combined for 13 errors.
Noland, Andresen, Howard, Schaeffer, Sweeney and Smith
Northup (W) and Fletcher
(June 21) Behind a 14-hit attack, Pierre Cowboys registered their third straight win, 10-4 over Winner Pheasants. Ed Cook and Bert Beckman combined on an eight-hitter for the winners. Pete Fox took the loss.
Fox (L), Pell and Fletcher
Cook (W), Beckman and Welch
(June 21) Mitchell Kernels rallied for five late runs to top Valentine Hearts 9-5. John Sabalaskey got credit for the win with relief from Ron Schaeffer in the eighth.
Sabalaskey (W), Schaeffer (8) and Smith, Feiner
DiLorenzo (L), Spoo and Kellogg
(June 23) Wendell Hill set down Chamberlain on seven hits Tuesday as Winner Pheasants pulled out a 6-1 triumph. Pheasants collected ten hits off loser Dino Cingolani.
Cingolani (L) and Hauschild
Hill (W) and Fletcher
(June 28) Bob Ridenour scattered five hits in pitching Valentine to a 5-1 victory over Winner. Johnny Regidero, the Hearts' shortstop, belted a two-run homer in the eighth to cinch the contest. Ridenour racked up 14 strikeouts and loser Harry Northrup whiffed ten.
Northrup (L) and Fletcher
Ridenour (W) and Kellogg
(June 28) Chamberlain Chiefs capitalized on five Mitchell errors and downed Mitchell 4-1 behind the strong hurling of Nino Cingolani who allowed just five hits.
(Sabalaskey (L) and Wragg
Cingolani (W) and Hauschild
(June 30) Jack Schaefer and Ray Fletcher combined for eight hits to lead Winner Pheasants over Valentine 11-6 Tuesday. Schaeffer, the left fielder, blasted a homer and three singles to drive in four runs while Fletcher, the playing-manager, clubbed a triple and three singles, good for 4 RBI. Only seven of the 17 runs were earned as the teams combined to make 10 miscues. Pete Fox managed to get the distance for the win in spite of allowing 14 hits. Hearts' starter John Huffstetler took the loss.
Huffstetler (L), Spoo (2) and Kellogg
Fox (W) and Fletcher
(June 30) Chuck Cebuhar was the hero as Mitchell came from behind a 4-0 deficit to shade Chamberlain 5-4. Down 4-0, the Kernels loaded the bases in the 7th on two singles and a walk. Jerry Harmon then drove in Guy Wellman with Mitchell's first run drawing a base on balls. Cebuhar then drove one deep to left to score three and tie the contest. He came around to plate the winner Don Waldron's double. It was one of three hits for the Kernels' second baseman.
Ron Schaefer, with just two days' rest after his two-hit shutout over Winner, went the distance for the win, allowing nine hits. Only two of the markers against him were earned. Jerry Miller, an emergency starter for the Chiefs, took the loss. Miller, the second sacker, moved over to the mound after Bob Graves, who was scheduled to start, come up with a sore arm.
Miller (L), Cingolani (7), Miller (7) and Hauschild
Schaefer (W) and Wellman
Standings End of June 30
Pierre Cowboys 4 - 0
Winner Pheasants 3 - 2
Mitchell Kernels 2 - 3
Valentine Hearts 1 - 3
Chamberlain Chiefs 1 - 2
(July 1) Ray Fletcher's two-run double in the 9th inning carried Winner to a 3-2 victory over Pierre Cowboys in a non-league matchup at Pierre. Cowboys scored in the first frame as Sox Walseth raced home on a triple by Bobby Musgrave. Pheasants knotted the count in the 7th when Al Moore tripled and scored on Paul Burns' single. Fletcher long blast scored both Chuck Ellis and Moore.
Hull, Northrup and Fletcher
Quayle (L) and Welch
(July 5) Art "Homer" Moore blasted a grand slam homer in the 6th inning to tie and Ray Fletcher doubled in Chuck Ellis with the winning marker in the 8th as Winner shaded Chamberlain Chiefs 5-4. Wendell Hill picked up the win in relief of starter Pete Fox. Nino Cingolani allowed just five hits, but seven walks, in taking the loss. He fanned ten. Fred Leeney and Wayne Hauschild belted triples for the Chiefs.
Cingolani (L) and Hauschild
Fox, Hill (W) (3) and Fletcher
Left fielder Bill Dodds, who had four hits, tripled in the 10th inning and scored on a sacrifice fly to give Valentine a 2-1 victory over Pierre Cowboys. Pierre loaded the bases, with two out, in the bottom of the 10th but couldn't produce a run. Left hander Bob Ridenour went nine innings to gain the win. John Huffstetler finished up. Don Quayle went the route to take the loss for the Cowboys.
Ridenour (W), Huffstetler (10) and Kellogg
Quayle (L) and Welch
(July 7) Vince Deffley belted a homer, with two mates aboard, in the 8th inning to help Winner to a 5-4 victory over Pierre. The blast gave Pheasants a 4-1 margin and they added another in the 9th before holding off a Cowboys rally in the bottom of the final frame. Milt Welch had a homer for Pierre. Harry Northrup held the Cowboys to seven hits, before needing help in the 9th. Chuck Ellis, Art Moore and Ray Fletcher each had two hits for Winner.
Northrup (W), Hill (9) and Fletcher
Beckman (L) and Welch
(July 7) John Huffstetler put on a pitching clinic Tuesday night at Valentine hurling a three-hit shutout with 16 strikeouts and just one walk in blanking Mitchell 4-0. The Hearts scored one run in each of the first four innings for the win. First baseman Jim Cisternelli tripled in the first inning and scored on a wild pitch for what proved to be the winning marker. The last three Valentine runs were all unearned as Mitchell committed seven errors. Ronnie Wiblemo, in his first start of the season, yielded just five hits and fanned seven.
Wiblemo (L), Nolan (8) and Sabalaskey
Huffstetler (W) and Kellogg
(July 8) Chamberlain Chiefs knocked off Huron the first half winners in the State League 3-2 scoring the deciding marker in the bottom of the ninth. Chuck Bodary doubled, went to third on a fly ball and came home on a wild pitch. Nino Cingolani scattered seven hits for the win. Andy Swota took the loss.
Swota (L) and Forsythe
Cingolani (W) and Hauschild
(July 9) Mitchell Kernels loaded the bases with two out in the seventh inning and watched their own pitcher, John Sabalaskey, draw a base on balls for the winning run in a 3-2 decision over Chamberlain. Sabalaskey tossed four-hit ball and walked just one. Carl Ahrens gave up eight hits and six walks while whiffing 13 in taking the loss
Ahrens (L) and Hauschild
Sabalaskey (W) and Wellman
.
(July 12) Pierre Cowboys rallied for three runs in the 8th inning and held on to top Chamberlain 7-6. Two hits and a walk loaded the bases before playing manager Johnny Thiel, who had four hits, knocked in a pair with a single and Milt Welch drove in the winner with another safety. Chiefs' first baseman Bob Williams had earlier belted a pair of homers, including a three-run shot in the 7th. For Pierre, Sox Walseth and Jerry Schoonmaker added solo homers. Bert Beckman was the winning pitcher, with help from Don Quayle.
Beckman (W) , Quayle (8) and Welch
Cingolani, Ahrens (L) (5) and Hauschild
Winner Pheasants pounded out 14 hits, seven of them for extra bases, in dumping Mitchell Kernels 13-2 Sunday. In a non-league tilt Saturday, Winner had 16 hits in whipping the Kernels 16-3. Art "Homer" Moore, who stunned the crowd with successive grand slam homers, a triple and 10 runs batted in Saturday, crushed a homer in his first at bat on Sunday. Ray Fletcher added three doubles. Dick Burkley had three hits, one a double, scored twice and knocked in three. Harry Northup fired a six-hitter for the win. He fanned eight and walked five. Mitchell committed six errors.
Schaefer (L), Andresen (5) and Wellman
Northrup (W) and Fletcher
(July 14) Mel Jensen and Nino Cingolani combined on an eight-hit shutout as Chamberlain Chiefs shaded Valentine 1-0. Jensen's 5th inning double knocked in Chuck Bodary with the games' only run. Bob Ridenour tossed a six-hitter in taking the tough-luck loss.
Ridenour (L) and Kellogg
Jensen (W), Cingolani (7) and Hauschild
Don Quayle allowed just five hits and fanned 13 in leading Pierre Cowboys to an 8-0 win over Mitchell. Third baseman Jerry Schoonmaker had the big blow for the Cowboys, a three-run homer in the 5th inning. Pierre's Sox Walseth fanned twice and walked twice in his first four times to the plate. He then exchanged jerseys with Bob Bishop, sending number 13 to the left fielder. Next time up, Walseth belted a triple. Bob Musgrave added two hits and two RBI for the Cowboys.
Quayle (W) and Welch
Sabalaskey (L) and Wellman
(July 14) Winner Pheasants pounded three Yankton hurlers for 15 hits Tuesday and woin their non-league game with the Yankton Terrys 9-2. Wendell Hill went the route for the Pheasants scattering 11 hits. Homer Moore had another circuit blow for Winner with a two-run shot in the sixth inning.
Puga, Davis (7), Sievers (8) and Marges
Hill (W) and Fletcher
(July 16) In a non-league encounter at Chamberlain, the Chiefs buried the Mitchell Kernels 15-4. Trailing 4-0, Chiefs erupted for five runs in the sixth inning, highlighted by Bob Williams' three-run homer, to take the lead for good. They added two more runs in the seventh and eight in the eighth. Williams ended up with four RBI for the winners with Kenny Kessinger and Nino Cingolani each driving in a pair. John Sabalaskey knocked in all four runs for the Kernels.
Sweeney (L), Noland (8) and Wellman
Ahrens (W) and Hauschild, Leeney
(8)
(July 19) Chuck Bodary singled in winning pitcher Nino Cingolani from second in the 11th inning to give Chamberlain a 5-4 win over Valentine. The Hearts had scored in the bottom of the 9th to send the game into extra innings. B.B. Hopkins singled, moved to second on an infield out and came around to score on Don Kellogg's double. For the Chiefs in the 11th, Cingolani and Jerry Miller reached on errors before Bodary lifted a single to left for the winning marker. Bodary and Kenny Kessinger each had three hits for the Chiefs. Cingolani allowed six hits and 7 walks in going the distance. Bob Ridenour fanned 17 in a losing effort.
Cingolani (W) and Leeney
Ridenour (L) and Kellogg
(July 21) Pierre moved back into sole possession of top spot in the Basin League with an 8-6 victory over Chamberlain. Cowboys scored four in the first inning before dropping behind 5-4 as the Chiefs rallied for one in the second and four in the 3rd. Johnny Thiel knocked in four runs with two hits, one a triple. Bob Musgrave had three RBI with three hits. He also had a three-bagger. Don Quayle went the distance for the win scattering 12 hits, all singles. Carl Ahrens took the loss.
Quayle (W) and Welch
Ahrens (L), Cingolani (6) and Lenney
John Sweeney's 8th inning sacrifice fly drove in Don Waldron with the winning run as Mitchell Kernels edged Winner 3-2. Waldron had walked to open the inning, moved to second on a single by Chuck Cebuhar and to third as Jim Phipps drove one to right. The Kernels had taken a 2-0 lead in the 2nd inning as Bob Feiner's triple scored both Sweeney and Ron Schaefer. In an exciting finish, reliever John Sabalaskey fanned Homer Moore, the Pheasant's top slugger, with the bases full in the 9th inning. Paul Burns took the loss, allowing just four hits.
Burns (L) and Fletcher
Schaefer, Sabalaskey (W) (8) and Wellman
(July 22) Winner topped Pierre 9-4 in a non-league tilt at Winner banging out 11 hits including a first inning homer by Ray Fletcher. Pete Fox held the Cowboys to five hits in going the route for the win. Homer Moore had three safeties for the winners.
Cook (L) and Welch
Fox (W) and Fletcher
(July 23) In a non-league affair, Pierre Cowboys scored four runs in the first inning en route to a 6-3 victory over Winner. Bob Musgrave smacked a homer for the Cowboys and Ray Fletcher did likewise for the Pheasants.
Hill (L) and Fletcher
Beckman (W) and Welch
(July 26) Ron Schaefer fired a one-hitter to lead Mitchell to a 4-0 victory over Valentine. A 7th inning, two-out, single by Sonny Ratzlaff was the lone safety for the Hearts. Schaefer faced just 28 batters, fanning seven and allowing a single base on balls. Bob Ridenour of the Hearts also pitched a strong game allowing but four hits with nine strikeouts. Two of the hits, however, were homers, by Guy Wellman and John Sweeney.
Ridenour (L) and Kellogg
Schaefer (W) and Wellman
A four-run 8th inning carried Winner to a 6-2 victory over Pierre and a share of first place with the Cowboys. Chuck Ellis opened the frame with a walk and scored when Homer Moore's single got through left fielder Bob Musgrave and rolled to the fence. After Ray Fletcher drew an intentional walk, Dick Burkley's triple scored two more and Burkley came home with the 4th run on a pair of errors. Harry Northrup tossed a six-hitter for the win. Don Quayle was the loser.
Quayle (L) and Welch
Northrup (W) and Fletcher
Winner 7 - 3
Pierre 7 - 3
Mitchell 4 - 6
Valentine 3 - 6
Chamberlain 3 - 6
(July 27) Merle Jensen fired a three-hit shutout Monday night as Chamerblain set down Mitchek Kernals 5-0 in a non-league encounter. Doubles by Chuck Bodary and Mike Boettcher and a triple by Ken Kessinger highlighted the Chiefs' attack.
Jensen (W) and Fitzgerald
Sweeney (L), Marvel (9) and Wellman
(July 28) Winner edged Chamberlain 3-1 Tuesday to take over first place in the Basin League standings. Pierre and Valentine battled to a 4-4 draw in a game cut short by rain. It is to be finished August 9th before the two teams play a regularly scheduled tilt. Pheasants scored all three runs in the third inning and held on for the win. Pete Fox was the winner over Carl Ahrens.
Fox (W), Hill and Fletcher
Ahrens (L) and Fitzgerald
(July 28) Mitchell, idle in league play, downed Yankton 10-2.
(August 1) Mitchell dropped a non-league contest to Huron Saturday night, 5-4 after giving up three runs in the first inning. Kernels out-hit Huron 11 to 8. Al Kulig went the distance for the win besting Harvey Noland.
Noland (L) and Feiner
Kulig (W) and Lee
(August 2) Guy Wellman knocked in three runs with a double and a homer to pace Mitchell to a 5-2 triumph over Chamberlain. John Sweeney also homered for the Kernels. John Sabalaskey fired a three-hitter for the win. Merle Jensen took the loss while allowing just four hits.
Jensen (L) and Fitzgerald
Sabalaskey (W) and Wellman
(August 4) Chamberlain topped Mitchell 7-5. The Kernels starter Ron Schaefer retired eight straight before running into trouble with two outs in the 3rd. A walk, two singles, a double, a triple and a wild pitch added up to four runs. Carl Ahrens pitched into the 9th to gain the mound victory. He scattered 11 hits, walked two and fanned ten. Chuck Bodary had a triple and two RBI for the Chiefs.
Schaefer (L), Marvel (7) and Wellman
Ahrens (W), Jensen (9) and Fitzgerald
Winner Pheasants trounced Valentine 9-1 to drop the Hearts to the league basement. Pete Fox fired a five-hitter, striking out 11. John Huffstetler took the loss giving up 10 hits, three to left fielder Jack Schaefer, who scored a pair and contributed an RBI.
Fox (W) and Fletcher
Huffstetler (L) and Kellogg
(August 4) Behind the five-hit pitching of Andy Swota, Huron Elks edged Pierre Cowboys 3-2 in 10 innings of a match between the Basin and State League teams. Pete Mish's single to left centre plated Hack Murphy with the winning run. Swota fanned 10 and walked one to win the pitching battle with Bert Beckmann who gave up nine hits, struck out three and walked five. Jerry Schoonmaker betled a homer for Pierre.
Beckmann (L) and Johnson
Swota (W) and Lee
(August 5) Big Ed Lindsey put the frosting on Mitchell's cake when he poled a long four-bagger , one of three hits, to climaz the Kernels' 9-2 win over Huron Elks. John Sabalaskey went the route allowing but six hits. Ernie Reimers took the loss. Jim Phipps also had a homer for the winners.
Reimers (L), McNellis (8) and Lee
Sabalaskey (W) and Wellman
(August 5) Yankton Terrys scored three in the top of the 11th to down Pierre 8-5. A double by Bernie Schreiber and a single by Branson knocked in the three counters. Jerry Shoonmaker paced the Cowboys with a two-run homer in the first inning. Angel Toledo rapped a homer for the winners.
Puga (W) and Marges
Applegate, Oliver (L) (10) and Welch
(August 5) Mitchell's Daily Republic noted additions to Chamberlain Chiefs lineup, including Clarence "Soddy" Groat, a full-blood Mohawk from Brantford, Ontario, Canada. Listed at 32 years of age (but carrying 37 years) Groat was reported to be in his 16th year of baseball. In the off-season, Groat was said to be a lacrosse player. He had also suited up for football. Groat had a record in pro ball going back to 1938.
(August 6) Wendell Hill fired a five-hit shutout and Winner downed Mitchell 4-0. Losing hurler Jerry Marvel surrendered just seven hits but one was a two-run homer by Joe Ciminello.
Marvel (L) and Wellman
Hill (W) and Fletcher
(August 6) Pierre Cowboys whipped Yankton 9-0 Thursday night as Dan Quayle held the visitors to six hits and powered the offense with a fourth inning homer. Carroll Hardy also had a four-bagger for the Cowboys.
Hertz (L) and Marges
Quayle (W) and Welch
(August 7) John Huffstetler was the pitching and hitting star leading Valentine Hearts out of the Basin League cellar with a 10-1 spanking of Chamberlain. Huffsteler hurled a six-hitter with 19 strikeouts while contributing three hits, including a homer, to the offense. The Chiefs, who made eight errors in the contest, fell to the basement with a record of 4-9, while Valentine moved up to 4th with a 4-7 mark. It was a makeup game of a previously rained-out encounter. Catcher Don Kellogg was a spark for the Hearts with four hits, four runs batted in and a pair of steals.
Jensen (L), Ahrens (8) and Fitzgerald
Huffstetler (W) and Kellogg
(August 9) Winner edged Chamberlain 5-4 in 11 innings.
(August 9) Pierre and Valentine split a pair. The Cowboys took the opener 7-5. It was a two-inning affair, the completion of a July 28th game, halted by rain. Hearts bounced back to capture the regular contest, 6-0. In the first game, Pierre scored a pair in the top of the 9th for the win. Johnny Thiel led the offense with three hits, one a double.
Oliver, Quayle (W) (6) and Johnson
Huffstetler (L), Ridenour (9) and Kellogg
In the regularly scheduled contest, the Hearts erupted for four runs in the first inning and coasted to a 6-0 triumph behind Bob Ridenour's one-hitter. The lone safety off the left-hander was a single over second base with two out in the 8th inning. He fanned 14 and walked just one. Third baseman B.B. Hopkins had three of the eight Valentine hits.
Quayle (L), Beckman (2) and Johnson
Ridenour (W) and Kellogg
(August 10) Winner Phesants maintained their lead atop the standings downing Valentine Hearts 5-3 in a makeup of a fogged out contest August 2nd. Harry Northrup had a 5-0 shutout until three errors and three hits gave Hearts their three runs in the eighth inning. Pete Fox relieved and finished up in the ninth. Right-fielder Vince Deffley had three of Winner's eight hits.
R.Smith (L) and Kellogg
Northrup (W), Fox (8) and Fletcher
(August 10) In a game which featured 17 walks and 18 strikeouts, Pierre built a 5-1 lead and held off an eighth inning rally by the Kernels to post a 5-3 victory in a makeup game for a July 10th rain out. Loren Oliver, a University of Arizona hurler, walked nine and fanned nine allowing three-hits in seven plus innings to pick up the win. John Salalaskey took the loss yielding nine hits and eight walks. All three Mitchel runs came on bases-loaded walks. Cowboys scored a pair in the 1st inning as Carroll Hardy reached when struck by a pitch. He moved to third on Sox Walseth's single to right and scored on Bob Musgrave's single. Walseth came home on a single by Johnny Thiel. Pierre added three in the 5th. Don Quayle's two-run single was the key blow.
Sabalaskey (L) and Wellman
Oliver (W), Quayle (8) and Johnson
(August 11) Mixing a sharp curve with his famed fastball, John Huffstetler tamed the Mitchell Kernels on a six-hitter Tuesday as Valentine captured a 6-2 triumph. Huffstetler was a force at the plate as well with a 6th inning homer and two runs scored. He was aboard for Jim Cisternelli's 3rd inning blast. Ron Schaefer took the loss.
Huffstetler (W) and Kellogg
Schaefer (L), Marvel (8) and Wellman
Pierre Cowboys are within a half game of the first place Winner after downing the Pheasants 3-0 at Leahy Bowl. Gideon Applegate fired a three-hitter besting Wendell Hill, who allowed just five hits.. Applegate is a recent addition to the Cowboys from the Three-I League. Outfielder Bob Musgrave had two hits and drove in a pair for the Cowboys. Pierre's Carroll Hardy failed to get a safety, going 0 for 3. He had at least one hit in each of the Cowboys first 13 games.
Applegate (W) and Johnson
Hill (L) and Fletcher
W L GB
Winner 11 4
Pierre 10 4 0.5
Valentine 6 9 5.0
Mitchell 5 9 5.5
Chamberlain 4 10 6.5
(August 12) Jerry Marvel hurled a two-hitter Wednesday night to pace Mitchell Kernels to a 6-3 win over the Elks at Huron. The young Georgetown University product had a no-hitter for seven and two-thirds innings before opposing pitcher Bob Moeller picked up the first Huron hit. Kernels pounded out 13 hits but just one for extra bases, a double by first baseman Bob Feiner who was one of four Kernels to register two hits.
Marvel (W) and Wellman
Moeller (L) and Lee
(August 12) Pierre Cowboys rode the arm and bat of Don Quayle to sink the Valentine Hearts 4-1 in a non-league contest at Pierre. Quayle smashed a two-run homer in the seventh inning to erase a 1-0 Valentine lead. On the mound, he allowed just four hits and struck out nine. A triple by Emil Kammer with a man aboard resulted in two runs for the Cowboys as Kammer raced home on the same play on an error.
White (L) and Kellogg, Karthawser (4)
Quayle (W) and Johnson
(August 12) In a non-league game at Chamberlain, the Chiefs squeezed by Winner 5-4. Pheasants rallied for three runs in the top of the ninth inning but fell just short. Paul Burns, the regular Winner first baseman, tried his luck on the mound and held the Chiefs to eight hits but was hurt by five errors. Merle Jensen hurled an eight-hitter for the win.
Burns (L) and Fletcher
Jensen (W) and Fitzgerald
(August 16) Merle Jensen's two-hit, shutout pitching kept alive Chamberlain's playoff hopes as the Chiefs edged Pierre 1-0. The only run came in the 6th inning as Chuck Bodary drew a walk to open the frame. With one out, Soddy Groat single to centre and the ball got away from Carroll Hardy and Jerry Schoonmaker as Bodary scored all the way from first. Don Quayle was the hard-luck loser, giving up just four hits.
Jensen (W) and Fitzgerald
Quayle (L) and Johnson
An outfield error also was the difference as Mitchell downed Winner 2-0. With the bases loaded and two out in the 6th inning, right fielder Vince Deffley had a high fly drop out of his glove as Ed Lindsey and Guy Wellman came scurrying home. John Sabalasky hurled a six-hitter for the shutout. He fanned eight and walked one. Wendell Hill was tagged with the loss.
Hill (L) and Fletcher
Sabalaskey (W) and Wellman
(August 17) With a 15-hit attack, three each by Bob Feiner, Bob Burns and Bob Phipps, Mitchell Kernels globbered Chamberlain 11-0. Jim Andresen held the Chiefs to five hits in tossing the shutout.
Andresen (W) and Feiner
Miller (L), Fair (6) and Fitzgerald, Leeney
(August 18) Valentine knocked Chamberlain out of playoff competition with a 17-hit offensive resulting a a 10-1 victory. B.B. Hopkins drove in five runs with a homer and two singles. Larry Prather and Bill Beecher each also contributed three hits. Bob Williams' 7th inning homer accounted for the lone run for the Chiefs. John Huffstetler and John Buck combined on a seven-hitter for the Hearts. Carl Ahrens went the distance for the Chiefs allowing the 17 hits and 5 walks.
Ahrens (L) and Fitzgerald
Huffstetler (W), Buck (8) and Kellogg
Mitchell Kernels upset Pierre Cowboys 5-4 scoring the winning run on a passed ball in the 9th inning. Bob Feiner, who had walked, came in from third as a pitch got away from catcher Fred Johnson. On the previous play, right fielder Jerry Schoonmaker had thrown out Ron Utles at the plate as he tried to score from second on a single by Jim Phipps, one of three hits by the Kernels' centre fielder. In the 4th inning, three errors by Schoonmaker led to a pair of runs by the Kernels. An error also contributed to the first Mitchell run in the top of the 1st. Don Quayle was the offense force for the Cowboys with three hits, including a triple and homer, two RBI and two runs scored. Ed Lindsey was the winner, in relief.
Marvel, Lindsey (W) (7) and Wellman
Applegate (L), Beckman (9) and Johnson
Playoffs :
(August 19) Pierre Cowboys roared back from a 6-0 deficit to top Mitchell Kernels 9-7 in the opening game of their best-of-three semi-final series. First baseman Don Quayle led the offense with four hits, including a triple and double, accounting for three runs batted in. Right fielder Jerry Shoonmaker added three hits. Mitchell scored five in the first inning on two singles, three walks and an error. Kernels added another in the second, helped by a pair of Cowboys errors. Down 6-0, Pierre responded with two in the bottom of the second on a hit, two walks and an error. They knotted the count in the third scoring four times on a walk, two singles and triples by Quayle and playing-manager Johnny Thiel. Pierre took a 7-6 lead in the 6th inning on a walk, a force out and a single. They plated the eventual winner in the 6th on a single and Quayle's double. Each team scored in the 7th. Bert Beckman, who relieved with two out in the first inning, went the rest of the way for the win allowing just six hits and a single run.
Schaefer, Marvel (L) (2), Andresen (6) and Wellman
Oliver, Beckman (W) (1) and Johnson
Winner Pheasants got a two-run homer from playing-manager Ray Fletcher and capitalized on four Valentine miscues to down the Hearts 8-2 in the opening game of their semi-final series. Pete Fox went the route on the hill for Winner, holding the Hearts to nine hits. Fletcher's homer, with Homer Moore aboard in the 2nd inning, gave the Pheasants an early lead. They added two more in the frame on Paul Burns' single, a double by Dick Burkley and an error. It was 5-0 in the 3rd as Moore walked, stole second, advanced to third on a bad throw and came home on a passed ball. In the 4th, Winner added a pair as Fox knocked in Vince Deffley who had doubled and came around to score on a single by Joe Ciminello and an error. Winner scored its final marker in the 7th when Jack Schaefer walked and scored on a triple by Chuck Ellis. Valentine scored in the 5th as Larry Prather doubled and came home on an error. The second Hearts' run came in the 9th on a a pair of singles and a fielder's choice. Prather, a newcomer in the Valentine lineup, led all hitters with three safeties.
Ridenour (L), Buck (3) and Kellogg
Fox (W) and Fletcher
(August 20) John Huffstetler was a one-man show for Valentine as the Hearts overcame a 6-4 deficit to dump Winner 10-6 and even their series at a game apiece. The big lefty, hobbling on an injured leg, belted a game-winning, three-run homer in the 8th inning while allowing just one hit in a 5 1/3 inning relief stint. Shortstop B.B. Hopkins led the Hearts' 17-hit attack going 3 for 3 with a homer and double. Dave Brown also had a homer and Sonny Retzlaff drove in four with a pair of singles. Ray Fletcher had a two-run homer for the Pheasants. Pete Fox took the loss.
Northrup, Fox (L) (6) and Fletcher
Brown, Huffstetler (W) (4) and Kellogg, Karthauser
Guy Wellman's bases-loaded double in the bottom of the 6th inning score all three Mitchell runs as the Kernels shaded Pierre Cowboys 3-2 to even their best-of-three set at one game each. Down 2-0, Wellman's drive to deep left centre drove in Jim Phipps, Don Waldron and Ed Lindsey. Pierre had left the bases-loaded in the top of the 6th inning after scoring a single run to make it 2-0. John Sabalaskey fired a four-hitter for the win. He fanned nine. Don Quayle allowed just six hits, three to Waldron, in taking the loss.
Quayle (L) and Johnson
Sabalaskey (W) and Wellman
(August 21) Mitchell Kernels erupted for three runs in the 1st inning and held on to down Pierre Cowboys 8-5 to win a berth in the Basin League final series. Before a crowd of 1,300, the Kernels launched a 13-hit attack which included homers by Guy Wellman, Ron Ultes and Don Waldron, the latter an inside-the-park effort. Carroll Hardy and Loren Oliver blasted four-baggers for the Cowboys. Jim Phipps had three hits, one a double, and scored twice for the winners. Emil Kammer had three hits and drove in three for Pierre. Ed Lindsey pitched into the 7th inning to capture the win. Gideon Applegate lasted just an inning and a third in starting for the Cowboys.
Applegate, Oliver (L) (2), Beckman (5) and Marges
Lindsey (W), Salalaskey (7) and Wellman
Winner Pheasants advanced to the Basin League final with a decisive 12-4 victory over Valentine as third baseman Chuck Ellis paced the attack with four hits, a homer and triple included, three runs scored and five batted in. Homer Moore added a single, homer and three runs batted in. Wendell Hill went the distance on the hill holding the Hearts to nine hits in registering the win. He had nine strikeouts. Bill Beecher had three hits for the Hearts.
Uber (L), Ridenour (2), Brown (3), Buck (6) and Karthauser
Hill (W) and Fletcher
(August 22) Playing-manager Ray Fletcher scored from third on a squeeze play in the bottom of the 9th inning to give Winner a 3-2 victory over Mitchell and the first game of their best-of-three final series. With the count knotted a 2-2, Fletcher singled and moved to third on a double by Ron Bennett. Dick Burkley filled the sacks on an intentional pass. Paul Burns laid down a bunt along the third base line and Fletcher came home to notch the winning score. Fletcher had given the Pheasants a 2-0 lead in the 4th with a four-bagger with Homer Moore on base. Kernels got a run back in the 8th as Don Waldron doubled in Jim Phipps. Mitchell tied the count in the 9th. Guy Wellman reached on an error and moved to second on an overthrow. Chuck Cebuhar's single advanced Wellman to third and the run scored on John Sweeney's long ball to centre field. Veteran pitcher Ed Stanek, flown in from Fremont, Nebraska and the semi-pro Pioneer Night League, went the distance, holding the Kernels to seven hits. Bennett, another recent recruit--from the semi-pro team in Lexington, Nebraska--had three hits.
Schaefer (L), Marvel (9) and Wellman
Stanek (W) and Fletcher
(August 23) Winner Pheasants scored a pair in the top of the first inning, on two hits and four walks, and cruised to a 10-4 victory over Mitchell Kernels to capture the league title in the inaugural season of the Basin League. A two-run homer by Chuck Ellis in the 2nd frame helped Winner to a 5-0 lead. B.B. Hopkins, a pickup from Valentine, knocked in five runs with three hits, including a double and triple, for the Pheasants. Ellis, Ray Fletcher and Jack Schaefer each had a pair. Pete Fox pitched into the 8th inning for the win.
Fox (W), Northrup (8) and Fletcher
Marvel (L), Andresen (2), Sabalaskey (9) and Wellman
(August 28) The Mitchell Daily Republic announced its 1953 Basin League All-Stars as recommended by the league's managers.
Batting champion Ray Fletcher of Winner was named catcher/manager of the squad, one of four Pheasants chosen as all-stars. Jim Cisternelli of Valentine won the first base job with an even .300 average over the season and just two errors in the field. Joe Ciminello of Winner was selected for second base. Don Waldron of Mitchell, who came to the club as a third baseman, became a sensation at shortstop. Slugger B.B. Hopkins of Valentine nailed down the third base slot. Chosen for the outfield were Art Moore of Winner, Carroll Hardy of Pierre and Jerry Schoonmaker of the Cowboys. Pitchers named were Wendell Hill of Winner, John Sabalaskey of Mitchell, Bob Ridenour of Valentine and John Huffstetler of Valentine.