1954 Alberta Game Reports     

(May 16)  Granum White Sox swept an exhibition double-header from Lethbridge Cubs, 13-4 and 4-3.  The games provided a tune-up for the 1954 Foothills-Wheatbelt Baseball League which kicks off on Wednesday. 

White Sox scored early and often in the opener, notching three in the 1st inning and and pair in the second to coast to the victory.  Joe Jankola, who starred with Vulcan last season, went five innings for the win.  In the second game, Bill Kucheran allowed just one hit in five innings to register the win for the White Sox.  Kucheran, John Kelly and Frank Stone combined on a four-hitter. John Gordy, ace righthander of the Great Falls Airlifters, went the distance in a losing cause.  He allowed just seven hits and fanned 12.  Bill Fennessey and Ron McPherson each had a triple and double for the winners. 

Jankola (W), Stone (6) and Zemrau
Van Buskirk (L), Wilson (2) and J Vaselenak

Gordy (L) and Woolfe
Kucheran (W), Kelley (6), Stone (9) and Tarnava

(May 19)   Willie Walasko fired a two-hitter and struck out seventeen in an eight inning contest as Carmangay kicked off the 1954 Foothills-Wheatbelt season with an 8-2 win over the defending champion Claresholm Meteors.  Benny White sparked the Eagles' attack with a pair of triples and a double.

Walasko (1-0) and Andrekson
Gordichuck (L), Kujala (3), MacDonald (8) and Parker

(May 19)  Vulcan Elks erupted for five runs in the 8th inning to score a 10-7 win over Nanton in their opening game of the 1954 season.  Benny Dann, with a two-run homer and a single paced the Elks attack.  Dick Hawk was on base five times for Nanton with two doubles, two singles and a walk. Bob Stevenson went the distance for the win.

Stevenson (W) and Weaver
Thrun, Scott (L) (6) and D. Hawk

(May 19)  Danny Fredericks tossed a four-hitter and fanned ten as Stavely topped Champion 4-2. Glen Boazyan's bases-loaded double in the first inning provided enough for the victory.  Al Buchan had a solo homer for Champion in the 7th inning.

S. Pasolli (L), Smith (8) and Jensen
Fredericks (W) and Woodham

(May 21)   Lethbridge Cubs kicked off the season with a 21-5 trouncing of Claresholm RCAF.  Second baseman Bob Lindsay and playing manager Clarence Yanosik led the 18-hit attack with home runs. Lindsay also had a double and single.  Les Colwill added a triple, double and single and Mitch Sztaba contributed a triple and two singles. The game was called after six innings because of rain.  Bill Van Buskirk, a rookie from Medicine Hat, started for the Cubs giving way to Mike Vaselenak in the 5th inning.

VanBuskirk (W), M Vaselenak (5) and Wolfe
Miller (L) and Langley

(May 23)  Lethbridge Cubs whipped Carmangay 15-4 to move into a tie for top spot with Stavely.  Rookie righthander Mel Wilson held the Eagles to one run over six innings to register the win.  He fanned nine.  John Vasenelak paced the Cubs attack with a triple and two singles.  Veteran Glen Rhodes was touched for 14 hits in taking the loss.

Rhodes (L) and Andrekson
Wilson (W), Godlonton (7) and Wolfe

(May 23)  Stavely had homers from Farrar, Danny Fredericks and Bob Woodham in a 24-6 victory over Claresholm RCAF.  Hans Sagstuen fired a six-hitter over six frames for the win.

McCready (L), Miller (5), Carter (7) and xxx
Sangsten (W), Kazanstek (6), Woodham (7) and xxx

(May 23)  In a wild one at Vulcan, Champion outlasted Vulcan 25-17 for the Red Sox first win.  Sev Pasolli gave up 18 hits but managed to go the distance for the win. Champion collected 18 hits off four Vulcan pitchers.

S. Pasolli (W) and xxx
Stevenson (L), Mitchell, Jantze, Clarkson and xxx

(May 23)  Bill Kucheran and Frank Stone combined on a four-hitter as Granum whipped Claresholm Meteors 14-0.  Gord Wesley's bases-loaded triple was a key hit for the White Sox.  Harold Jones had four hits, including a pair of doubles.  Ward McDonald allowed 12 hits in taking the loss. His teammates committed nine errors.

Kucheran (W), Stone (6) and Zemrau
McDonald (L) and Parker


(May 24)  Nanton Palominos downed Stavely 5-3 to take top prize at the Claresholm tournament.  Nanton reached the final with an 8-5 win over Claresholm Meteors while Stavely edged RCAF 12-11.  Jake Berger and Jack Scott combined on a five-hitter for the win in the title game.  Dick Hawk belted a two-run homer in the 5th inning and Stan Hawk drove in three with a bases-loaded triple in the 7th.  Hans Sangsten had a solo homer for Stavely. 

Berger (W), Scott (7) and D. Hawk
Fredericks (L) and Woodham

Stan Hawk's homer was the big blow as Nanton downed the Meteors 8-5.  Jack Scott was the winning pitcher allowing seven hits.  Wally McKenzie had a double and single. 

Scott (W) and D. Hawk
Long (L), R. Parker (3) and W. Parker

In an error-filled contest, Stavely exploded for ten runs in the 4th inning then held off an RCAF rally to pull out a 12-11 win.  The teams combined for 11 errors.  Bob Yorgason allowed just six hits to get the win. Glen Boazyan had a triple and single for the winners.

Yorgason (W) and Woodham
Klysen (L) and Langley


(May 24)   Champion downed Carmangay 5-3 to take top money in the inaugural May Day tournament at Champion.  Merv Smith fired a three-hitter with 12 strikeouts to take the win.  Willie Walasko gave up nine hits in a losing cause. Roger Jensen paced the winners with a homer and single. Sev Pasolli had a double and single.

Smith (W) and McPherson
Walasko (L) and Andrekson

In the opening game, Joe Jankola set down Vulcan on three hits while chalking up 15 strikeouts as Champion won 7-3 with a four-run 9th inning.

Jankola (W) and McPherson
Bev Banks, Clayton Clarkson (L) (9) and Weaver

Carmangay took a 6-1 lead in the 2nd inning then needed a run in the 8th to shade Lomond 7-6.  Willie Walasko picked up the win in relief of starter Merlin "Dusty" Rhodes.

Rhodes, Walasko (W) (7) and McLeod
Ost (L) and Domeliski


(May 26)  Nanton at Champion,  Claresholm at Lethbridge,  Stavely at Vulcan rained out.

(May 26)  Granum at RCAF, forfeited to Granum.

(May 28)   Lethbridge Cubs clobbered Claresholm 18-5 at Henderson Park to move into sole possession of first place in the Foothills-Wheatbelt League.  It was the third straight win for the Cubs, third consecutive loss for the Meteors.  Playing manager Clarence Yanosik led the way with three triples and a single in four trips to the plate.  Les Colwill and Bob Lindsay belted inside-the-park homers for the winners.  Each added a single.  Mitch Szaba drove in a pair of runs with a triple.  Arnie Godlonton, in his first start in two seasons, Vic Stasiuk picked up the win in relief. 

Gordichuck (L), Heilmen (4) and Parker
Godlonton, Stasiuk (W) (4) and J Vaselenak

(May 29)  Bill Kucheran twirled a no-hitter as Granum White Sox downed Claresholm RCAF 13-0 in an abbreviated affair at Claresholm.  The game was called after six innings because of darkness. Kucheran walked one batter and hit another.  He fanned 12.  First baseman Darwin Walkingshaw paced the Sox with a triple and two doubles.  Bill Fennessey and Jocko Tarnava each clubbed a triple and two singles.  Stan Acton pitched into the fifth inning for RCAF giving way to Moose McCready.

Kucheran (W) and Zemrau
Acton (L) , McCready and Langley

(May 30)   Lethbridge Cubs jumped into a 4-0 lead in the first inning and never looked back in downing Stavely 13-4 behind the six-hit pitching of John Gordy, the import from Great Falls Airlifters.  The key blow for the Cubs in the first was a three-run triple off the bat of Mike VaselenakLes Colwill led the Cubs attack with a two-run homer, two-run triple and a single.  Clarence Yanosik belted a three-run homer in the 2nd.  Roy Perry had a two-run triple and single for Stavely.

Gordy (W) and Wilson
Sangsten (L) , Fredericks (3) and Wooddham

(May 30)  Nanton Palominos struck for three runs in the first inning and went on to down Claresholm RCAF 7-4.  Wally Thrun drove in four runs for the winners with a double and single.  Randy Dunham added a triple and single.  Jack Scott went the distance for the win allowing eight hits.  Robinson had a homer for Claresholm.

Klysen (L) and Langley
Scott (W) and Hawk

(May 30)  Wayne Berg clubbed a pair of home runs to lead Claresholm Meteors to a 6-3 win over Champion.  Jim Powers and Orie Gordichuck also had four-baggers for the winners.  Roger Jensen had a double and single for the losers.  Allie MacDonald pitched a four-hitter for the win.

S Pasolli (L) and Siler
A MacDonald (W) and Gordichuck

(May 30)   Carmangay took advantage of a pair of 4th inning errors to plate two runs and shade Granum 2-1 in a sparkling pitchers' duel in Carmangay.  Rookie Willie Walasko pitched a five-hitter with 13 strikeouts for the win while Joe Jankola allowed just two hits and fanned fourteen in a losing cause.  Clarence Rhodes and Benny White cracked out singles in the 4th and came around to score on Granum errors.

Jankola (L) and Zemrau
Walasko (2-0) and Andrekson

Lethbridge  4-0
Granum      2-1
Stavely     2-1
Carmangay   2-1
Vulcan      1-1
Nanton      1-1
Champion    1-2
Claresholm  1-3
RCAF        0-4

(June 2)  Joe Ybanez pitched seven strong innings and helped at the dish with three hits as Vulcan picked up its second win in three starts, a 14-4 decision over RCAF.   Ybanez and reliever Jack Altman combined to record 13 strikeouts.

Ybanez (W), Altman (8) and xxx
xxx and xxx

(June 2)  Carmangay 8 Stavely 0   

(June 2)  Champion 4 at Granum  5,   

Smith and xxx
xxx and xxx

(June 4)  Fresno State import Jack Altman tossed a four-hit shutout as Vulcan blanked Stavely 8-0.  Altman fanned nine.  Don Jantze led the offense with a double and two singles. 

Sangsten (L) and Yorgason
Altman (W) and Winn

(June 4)  Jack Scott fired a seven-hit shutout as Nanton Palominos ruined Champion's home opener with a 3-0 victory.  Scott also singled in a run in the 9th inning.  Dick Hawk and Wally McKenzie each had a double and single for the winners. 

Scott (W) and Hawk
S Pasolli (L) and Siler

Lethbridge  4-0
Vulcan      3-1
Granum      3-1
Carmangay   3-1
Nanton      2-1
Stavely     2-3
Claresholm  1-3
Champion    1-4
RCAF        0-5

(June 6)   Granum White Sox took a 12-3 lead after five innings then held off a late Stavely rally to scored a 12-9 victory.  Darwin Walkingshaw paced the winners with a double and two singles.  Bill Kucheran pitched into the 8th inning for the win. 

Fredericks and Woodham
Kucheran, Jankola (8) and Zemrau

(June 6)  Champion Red Sox knocked off the league-leading Lethbridge Cubs 8-6.  Bob Fath clubbed a homer, two doubles and a single to lead the Sox offense.  Bob Lindsay poked a homer for the Cubs.  Merv Smith scattered ten hits to gain the win.  Mel Wilson went the route for Lethbridge.

Wilson (L) and J. Vaselenak
Smith (W) and Jensen

(June 6)  Vulcan Legionaires notched their 4th win in five games with a 5-4 victory over Claresholm Meteors.  Joe Ybanez, the Fresno import, was touched for 13 hits but managed to go the distance for the win.  Vulcan had just five hits off Allie MacDonald but bunched two of them with three walks, an error and a hit batsman in the 5th inning for five runs.  Benny Dann's bases-loaded double and Mike Jantze's two-run single were the key hits.  Dutch Dodds had a double and two singles for the losers.

A MacDonald (L) and W McDonald
Ybanez (W) and Winn

(June 6)  Willie Walasko tossed a three-hit shutout as Carmangay downed Nanton 6-0.  Walasko also starred at the plate with a two-run double in the 5th and a run-scoring single in the 7th.  Walasko struck out nine and walked three. Carmangay collected ten hits off Jake Berger Merlin Rhodes had three hits in four trips. 

Berger (L) and Hawk
Walasko (3-0) and Andrekson

(June 6)    In an exhibition match, Lethbridge downed Vulcan 7-4 behind the seven-hit pitching of Vic Stasiuk.  A crowd estimated at 1,200 took in the contest.

Stasiuk (W)  and xxx
Altman (L) and xxx

Lethbridge  4-1
Granum      4-1
Carmangay   4-1
Vulcan      4-1
Nanton      2-2
Stavely     2-4
Champion    2-4
Claresholm  1-4
RCAF        0-5

(June 9)  Vulcan scored eleven runs in the first two innings and coasted to a 13-2 victory over Carmangay.   Six Eagles' errors contributed to the Vulcan onslaught.  Skip Winn blasted a homer, double and a single for the winners while Benny Dann and Don Jantze each had a double and two singles.  Joe Ybanez went the distance for the win allowing eight hits.  He had seven strikeouts and walked just one. Ben White belted a triple and a pair of doubles for the Eagles.  Roy McLeod had three hits, including a double.

Ybanez and Winn
M Rhodes, Ganger (2), Walasko (2) and Andrekson

(June 9)  RCAF at Champion, & Stavely at Nanton rained out

(June 9)  Lethbridge Cubs shaded Granum 4-3 in spite of blowing a 3-0 first inning lead.  Cubs plated the winner in the 6th as Johnny Klem singled, stole second and roared home on an overthrow and an error.  Vic Stasiuk took a took on the hill for Lethbridge and held the White Sox to six hits in going the distance.  Outstanding defensive play saved the day in the 7th inning.  Gord Wesley singled to open the frame and Harold Jones blasted a high outside pitch deep into left centre.  Bob Lindsay raced far to his left and made a diving stab, tossing the ball to Klem in mid flight. Klem fired to first baseman Mitch Szaba to double up Wesley.

Jankola, John Kelly (3) and Zemrau, Tarnava (5)
Stasiuk and J Vaselenak


(June 11 )  Carmangay Tournament : Nanton Palominos took first prize in the Carmangay tournament with a 13-4 thrashing of Vulcan in the final.  Jake Berger had a three-run homer for Nanton. Jack Scott held Vulcan to six hits.

Scott (W) and D Hawk
Dann (L) and Winn

The semi-finals featured two high-scoring affairs.  Vulcan beat Champion 20-10 as Joe Ybanez clubbed a pair of homers and added three singles. Jack Altman registered the win in relief. Nanton got by Carmangay 15-10 with Jack Scott getting the win, in relief. 

Banks, Altman (W) (4), Clarkson (8) and Winn
Matthews (L), Smith (6) and Jensen

Berger, Scott (W)(4) and D Hawk
M Rhodes (L), Ganger (4), Shearer (5) and Andrekson


(June 13)  19-year-old Willie Waslasko fired a no-hitter as Carmangay trounced Claresholm RCAF 10-0.  Only a walk and an error kept Walasko from a perfect game.  He fanned ten in gaining his 4th straight win.  Walasko retired the first eighteen batters before allowing a base on balls in the 7th inning.  

Acton (L) and Miller
Walasko (4-0) and Andrekson

(June 13)  Iron man Jack Altman was the hero as Vulcan topped the powerful Granum White Sox 4-2 in 13 innings.  Altman went the distance fanning 17 and helped at the plate with two hits.  Joe Ybanez' 13th inning single knocked in the winning run.  Skip Winn had a double and two singles for the winners.

Altman (W) and Winn
Kucheran, Stone (L) (8) and Zemrau

(June 13)   Shortstop Jim Cattoni belted three triples and a single and added a steal of home as Lethbridge Cubs pounded out 23 hits in a 20-8 triumph over Nanton.  Mike Vaselenak and Les Colwill also had four hits apiece for the Cubs.  Catcher Dick Hawk of Nanton had the longest blast, a third inning homer.

Thrum, Scott (7), Berger (7) and D. Hawk
Wilson and Bishop, J. Vaselenak (4)

(June 13)   In a game which featured 40 hits, Stavely crushed the Claresholm Meteors 20-12.  Danny Fredericks, who finished on the hill for the winners, was the big gun at the plate with four triples and a double. Jim MacDonald had two doubles and two singles. Dal Perry had Stavely's only homer. Boyd Whitehead had one of three homers for Claresholm.  Hubert Glenn and Lefty Huddle also had circuit blows.

Sangsten, Fredericks (9) and Woodham, Yorgason (9)
Glenn, A. MacDonald (7) and W. McDonald

Lethbridge  6-1
Vulcan      6-1
Carmangay   5-2
Granum      4-3
Stavely     3-4
Nanton      2-3
Champion    2-4
Claresholm  1-5
RCAF        0-6

(June 14)  Leonard Rhodes and Keith Groves each had two-run doubles in a four-run 6th inning as Champion took a 12-9 lead and held on to shade Claresholm RCAF 12-11.  Sev Pasolli picked up the win in relief.

Miller (L) and Robinson
Smith, S. Pasolli (W) (3) and Jensen

(June 16)  Vulcan notched three, first-inning runs and coasted to an 8-4 win over Lethbridge to take over sole possession of first place in the Foothills-Wheatbelt league.  Roy Lattimore paced the Elks with four hits.  Joe Ybanez went all the way for the win.

Stasiuk (L) and J Vaselenak
Ybanez (W) and WInn

(June 16)  Willie Walasko won his fifth game as Carmangay downed Champion 4-1.  He allowed six hits and fanned eight in a route-going performance.  Sev Pasolli allowed just five hits in a losing cause.

S Pasolli (L) and Jensen
Walasko (5-0) and Andrekson

(June 16)  Granum White Sox erased an early 4-0 deficit with an 11-run 4th inning and went on to crush Nanton 24-8 in a game which featured 22 hits and 17 errors, 10 by Nanton.  Joe Tarnava led the Sox with four singles while Bill Fennessey had a double and two singles in three official trips to the plate.  Ed Zemrau doubled and had a pair of singles.  John Kelly worked the first six innings for the win.

Scott (L), Berger (6) and Hawk
Kelly (W), Walkingshaw (7) and Zemrau

(June 16)  Claresholm RCAF dropped their 8th straight decision as Claresholm Meteors whipped the Flyers 14-2 with a 19-hit attack.  Cecil London had a homer and single for the Meteors. Allie MacDonald was the winner.

Acton (L), Miller (5) and Robertson (Robinson?)
A MacDonald (W) and Parker

Vulcan      7-1
Lethbridge  6-2
Carmangay   6-2
Granum      5-3
Stavely     3-4
Claresholm  2-5
Champion    3-5
Nanton      2-4
RCAF        0-8


(June 18 )  Granum Tournament : A brilliant pitching duel highlighted first round play In the first annual Granum Baseball Tournament.  Rookie Mel Wilson, a high school product of Sceptre, Saskatchewan, held Vulcan to four singles as Lethbridge upset the Elks 2-0.  Smooth-working southpaw Jack Altman fired a three-hitter for Vulcan while fanning 13 in the seven-inning contest.  Cubs scored in the opening frame when John Klem singled in Les Colwill.  Lethbridge added an insurance marker in the third on two errors and a single.

Wilson and xxx
Altman and xxx

Granum moved into the semi-finals with a 4-0 win over Foremost as Bill Kucheran tossed a two-hitter.  Champion beat Picture Butte 5-1, behind the sterling pitcher of Merv Smith, and Spring Coulee upset Carmangay 6-0 as Don Johnson pitched a two-hitter with 13 strikeouts. 

Kucheran and xxx
Wally Granberg and xxx

Merv Smith and xxx
H Richards and xxx

Johnson and xxx
Steve Ganger and xxx


(June 20)  Fireballing right-hander Joe Ybanez pitched a two-hit shutout as Vulcan topped Nanton 5-0.  Ybanez, with a no-hitter after six innings, ended with nine strikeouts with no free passes.   Jake Berger and Randy Dunham produced back-to-back singles in the 7th inning to rob Ybanez of a no-hitter.  Vulcan took the lead in the first inning as Jack Scott issued a bases-loaded walk.  Doubles by Kliewer and Skip Winn brought in a run in the 3rd and Vulcan made it 3-0 in the 5th when Don Jantze singled in Jack Altman.  Elks rounded out the scoring with a pair in the 7th on a triple by Roy Lattimore and an infield out.

Scott and D Hawk
Ybanez and Winn

(June 20)  Sev Pasolli was the star on the mound and at the plate for Champion as the Red Sox edged Stavely 5-4.  Pasolli pitched an eight-hitter and his 7th inning double drove in the winning run.  Sox trailed 4-2 with two outs in the 7th inning when Bill Wolfe doubled and pinch-hitter Tino Pasolli singled.  Bob Fath tied the score with a double and notched the winner on Sev Pasolli's safety.  Hans Sangsten went the distance for Stavely giving up 11 hits.

Sangsten and Woodham
S Pasolli and Jensen

(June 20)   Claresholm RCAF got off to a good start then the roof caved in.  The Flyers plated a run in the top of the first inning then witnessed a massacre as Lethbridge Cubs exploded for 10 runs in the bottom of the first and another 12 runs in the second inning on the way to a 36-6 spanking at Lethbridge.  The Cubs collected 33 hits and took advantage of 10 errors.  The game was called after five and one-half innings.  Playing manager Clarence Yanosik hit for the cycle - a three-run homer, triple, double and single. John Vaselenak blasted six hits, a triple, double and four singles.  Jim Cattoni added a double and four bunt singles.  John Klem had a pair of doubles and two singles.  Arnie Godlonton started on the hill for the Cubs, giving way to Mitch Sztaba in the 4th. It was the 9th straight loss for the hapless Flyers.

Howie Klysen, Acton (2), Don Carter (3), Klysen (5) and Robinson
Godlonton, Sztaba (4), and Wilson, Vaselenak (4)

(June 20)  Carmangay remained in a tie for second in the Foothills-Wheatbelt League downing Claresholm Meteors 6-4 behind the six-hit, sixteen strike out performance of Willie Walasko.  It was the Eagles' sixth win of the season against two loses with Walasko registering all six wins.  Hubert Glenn gave up just five hits in a losing cause.

Glenn and Parker, McDonald (7)
Walasko (6-0) and Andrekson

(June 23)   Rookie right hander Willie Walasko picked up his seventh win as Carmangay scored four runs in the 8th inning to top Lethbridge 11-9.  Walasko gave up just seven hits but was victimized by seven errors by the Eagles.  The righthander fanned 13 and walked just two. He was also the hitting star of the contest with a homer, triple and double, driving in four runs. Clarence Yanosik and a homer and double for the Cubs.  Merlin Rhodes had a homer for the Eagles.

Stasiuk, J Vaselenak (3) and J Vaselenak, Colwill (3)
Walasko (7-0) and Andrekson

(June 23)  Jack Altman was just too much for the Champion Red Sox.  Altman rapped out a pair of doubles and a single and went the distance on the hill as Vulcan trampled the Sox 19-4.  The lefty fanned 10.  Merv Smith took the brunt of the Elks offensive, taking the loss.  Sox made eight errors. Skip Winn and Stu Clarkson had homers for the winners. Allan Buchan had three hits for Champion.

Altman (W) and Winn
Smith (L), Pasolli (8) and Jensen

(June 23)  Claresholm Meteors upset Granum White Sox 9-4 as Hubert Glenn led the offense with four hits, including a double and knocked in three. Allie MacDonald fired a five-hitter for the win.

MacDonald and Ganske
Kelly, Kucheran (4) and Zemrau, Tarnava (4)

[With RCAF games removed]

Vulcan       8-1
Carmangay    7-2
Lethbridge   5-3
Granum       4-4
Stavely      3-5 *
Claresholm   3-6
Champion     3-6
Nanton       1-6 *


(June 25)   Vulcan Tournament : League rivals Granum and Vulcan powered their way into the final of the three-day Vulcan Tournament.   Vulcan Elks moved into the final with a pair of convincing victories, 19-2 over Carmangay and 11-2 against Spring Coulee.  Because of rain, the final had to be posponed until July 14th.

Skip Winn blasted a pair of homers and Joe Ybanez pitched nine-hit ball in the win over Spring Coulee. Jim Pruden also had a homer for the Elks. 

Pashuk (L), Roy Johnson (5) and Somoya
Ybanez (W) and Winn

In the second game, Ben Dann, in his first starting assignment of the season, fired a six-hitter as Vulcan rolled 19-2 against the Eagles.  Vulcan collected 19 hits in the win. 

Dann (W) and Winn
Ganger (L) and Andrekson

Spring Coulee topped Champion 13-11 in Friday's tourney opener. 

Nish (W), Roy Johnson (6) and xxx
Sev Pasolli (L), Siler (3), Smith (7) and xxx

On Thursday, Granum whipped Foremost Braves 11-2 and Picture Butte 16-9.  Picture Butte had advanced with a 6-2 win over the Carlsand All-Stars.  Joe Jankola was the winner over the Indians while Frank Stone took the mound decision against Foremost. Wally Granberg was on the hill for Foremost.


(June 26-27)   Lacombe Tournament :  Brooks Buffaloes won top prize.

Carstairs Cardinals, Ligon's California All-Stars, Great Falls Jet Liners, Peace River (Donnelly) All-Stars, Central Alberta All-Stars, Lethbridge Niseis, Edmonton Athletics


(June 27)   Jack Altman, a slender lefthander from Fresno, California, added to his laurels with a no-hitter as Vulcan whipped Stavely 15-0 to take a two-game lead atop the standings.  

"Altman's control was letter-perfect as he failed to give up a base on balls in the nine innings while he hopped his tricky assortment of sliders, hooks, curves and fast balls past the locals for 15 strikeouts."   (Lethbridge Herald)

It was Altman's fifth win without a loss and the third no-hitter in the circuit this season.  Willie Walasko and Bill Kucheran both pitched no-hitters against the Claresholm RCAF who later dropped out of the league.

(June 27)   Merv Smith scattered nine hits to pace Champion to a 5-3 win over Nanton.  Jack Scott took the loss. Tinio Pasolli belted a triple and single for the winners. Dick Hawk, Jake Berger and Gus Jensen each had two hits for Nanton,

Smith and S. Pasolli
Scott and D. Hawk

(June 27)   Lethbridge Cubs exploded for 28 hits, including five home runs, to trounce Claresholm 22-2.  Les Colwill wielded the big stick belting a pair of homers and a single.  Johnny Klem had a grand slam homer while Bob Lindsay had four hits, one of them a homer and Mitch Szaba added a homer and single. Clarence Yanosik chipped in with two doubles and a pair of singles. Merv Wilson went the distance for the win.

Wilson and J. Vaselenak
Glenn, W. McDonald (7) and Ganske

(June 27)   Bill Kucheran fired a three-hitter as Granum blanked Carmangay 8-0. Gord Wesley led the offense with four hits, including a triple.  Eagles' rookie Willie Walasko suffered his first loss of the season.

Walasko (7-1) and McLeod
Kucheran and Tarnava

In the second game of the twin-bill, Granum and Lethbridge fought to a 7-7, 10 inning draw.

George Hurst and xxx
John Kelly, Jankola (6) and xxx

(June 27)  Pitcher-outfielder Joe Ybanez was the Elks leading hitter through games of June 27th.  Ybanez led the team with a .387 average with Clayton Clarkson right behind at .384.  Jack Altman, at .370, and Skip Winn, .366, followed.  

(June 30)  Playing-manager Clarence Yanosik belted a three-run homer and a double to lead the Lethbridge Cubs to a 9-2 win over Stavely.  George Hurst pitched a four-hitter for the win.

Fredricks (L) and Woodham
Hurst (W) and Vaselenak

(June 30)  Claresholm at Champion was rained out and rescheduled for Sunday.


(July 3)  Barons Tournament : Granum White Sox took top prize in the Barons tournament scoring a 12-5 victory over the Picture Butte-Barons Combines in the final of the two-day tournament.  Sox got homers from Harold Jones, Steve Odney and Darwin WalkingshawJohn Gordy, who came on in relief in the second inning, pitched shutout ball the rest of the way allowing just four hits and fanning eleven.

Scott, Richards (5), Shearer (6) and Hawk, B Gillies
Brook, Gordy (2) and McPherson

Lethbridge Cubs trounced Carmangay Eagles 10-3 in the consolation final.  George Hurst was the winning pitcher with 9th inning relief from George Vaselenak.

Hurst, G Vaselenak (9)
M Rhodes, Andrekson 

In opening day action, lefty John Kelly out dueled Willie Walasko as Granum downed Carmangay 3-1 and the Barons-Picture Butte Combines upset Lethbridge Cubs 8-5. 

Walasko and Andrekson
Kelly and Zamrau

Wilson, J Vaselenak (8) and J Vaselenak, Klem (8)
Scott, MacDonald (3) and B Gillies


(July 4)  Joe Jankola turned in a solid five-hitter as Granum toppled Champion 12-5.  Steve Odney and Bill Fennessey slammed back-to-back homers in the eighth.  Fennessey's blast was a 400-foot drive to dead centre field. 

Jankola and McPherson, Zemrau (7)
Smith, S Pasolli (6) and S Pasolli, Jensen (6)

(July 4)  Willie Walasko posted his eighth win against a single setback as he pitched Carmangay to a 5-3 win over Stavely.  

Sangsten, Fredricks (7) and Woodham
Walasko (8-1) and Andrekson

(July 4)  Claresholm Meteors sent Nanton to its seventh straight loss with a 13-10 victory.  Ron Davidson and Boyd White each had four hits for the winners.

Klyson, A MacDonald (9) and Ganske, W MacDonald (4)
Scott, Berger (4), S Hawk (8) and D Hawk

(July 4)  In an exhibition game, Lethbridge Cubs topped Vulcan 12-10.

Wilfley, T Thomas (W) (6) and xxx
Ybanez, Altman (L) (9) and xxx

(July 7)  Granum clinched a playoff spot in the Foothills-Wheatbelt League with a 14-5 trouncing of Stavely.  First baseman Darwin Walkingshaw took to the mound in the fourth and went the rest of the way for the win.  Gordon Wesley led the White Sox attack with two doubles and a single.  Sox got homers from Bill Fennessey and Gord Vejprava.

Stone, Walkingshaw (4) and Zemrau
Woodham, Fredericks (4) and Yorgason, Woodham (4)

(July 7)  Lethbridge pounded out 13 hits to swamp Champion 18-1.  Rookie lefthander George Hurst went the distance for the win. Cubs lost playing-manager Clarence Yanosik who was beaned and suffered a concussion.  He was taken to hospital.

Smith and Pasolli
Hurst and J Vaselenak

(July 7)  Steve Ganger picked up his first win of the season as he held Nanton to eight hits and Carmangay scored a 9-4 win.

Ganger and Andrekson
Berger, Scott (7), Ellenton (7) and D Hawk

(July 7)  A Fresno State connection led Vulcan to an 18-1 thumping of Claresholm.  The win moved the Elks to within one game of clinching top spot in the Foothills-Wheatbelt League.  Stylish southpaw Jack Altman tossed a seven-hitter, with 14 strikeouts to register his seventh straight victory.  Shortstop Roy Lattimore belted two homers and a double.

Altman (W) and WInn
A MacDonald (L), Kujala (7), A MacDonald (9) and W MacDonald, Berg (7)

Vulcan      10-1
Carmangay    9-3
Lethbridge   8-3
Granum       7-4
Claresholm   5-7
Champion     4-8
Stavely      3-9
Nanton       1-10

(July 9)   Baseball team owners on the prairies were, quite obviously, in it for the love of the game, not the money.  

" ...  (Lethbridge) Cubs have received meagre support at the gate this year during their week-night encounters.  On Sunday dates the crowds have increased but on the Sabbath it's only a silver collection that pays the freight and the team is lucky to pick up 10 cents a head.

Actually, it's fortunate the Cubs aren't shelling out salaries as some of the other teams in the loop are doing.  If they were, the kitty would have been drained long ago.  With the locals, it's strictly a player-pool basis.  The boys will split what is left at the end of the season.  Other than possibly a pitcher or two -- vitally necessary equipment -- no one is drawing down a set wage.

The Cubs' plight is nothing new.  Baseball clubs the country over are singing the cash-register blues as customers refuse to click through the turnstiles.

Nowadays drive-in theatres are the popular spots. Pop can come home from work, sit down and enjoy his supper and then load the family into the car and take 'em to the movies.  There's nothing of this business of gulping down a few bites and heading for the ball park at 6:30 and having the missus complain that he never stays home and plays with the kids.

... This is the era of the automobile and people, at least the majority of them, refuse to go anywhere without having the comforts of their car at their immediate disposal.

Take for instance the soccer folks.  In Lethbridge they're drawing the biggest crowds simply because the fans can park their autos a few feet from the playing field.  They don't have to budge a step from the time they leave the house until they return if they don't wish to.

Possibly our cars have made us all a bit lazy.  But the fact remains that baseball teams are suffering and, like a lot of others, we're inclined to think the drive-in movies and after-supper drives are two of the determining factors. 

Scotty Melville of the Regina Leader-Post suggested a while back that maybe the day when the stands at the ball parks will be replaced by auto ramps is not as far away in the future as some seem to think.

Scotty could be right.  If the ball fan is able to take the family to the game in his car, teams may once again be in a position to erase the red ink on the books.

In district points, for instance, 70 per cent of the fans watch proceedings from their autos."  (Don Pilling, Lethbridge Herald, July 9, 1954)
 


(July 9)  Carmangay tournament : Hubert Glenn, Claresholm's veteran Negro star, switched uniforms Friday and pitched Carmangay Eagles to top prize in their own tournament.  Glenn pitched a seven-hitter and also provided the offense by driving in all three runs in the Eagles 3-2 win over Lethbridge Cubs.

J Vaselenak and Colwill
Glenn and McLeod

The Eagles reached the final with a 13-6 win over Champion.  George Hurst held Granum to six hits as Lethbridge beat Granum 6-3 in the other semi-final. 

M Rhodes and Andrekson
Smith, Matthews (8) and S Pasolli

Hurst and J Vaselenak
Jankola and McPherson, Tarnava (7)

In first round play,  Lethbridge upset Vulcan 5-3 as rookie George Vaselenak pitched a five-hitter.  Joe Ybanez took the loss.  Vic Stasiuk and John Vaselenak had homers for the Cubs.  

G Vaselenak (W) nd J Vaselenak
Ybanez (L) and Winn

Willie Walasko was the winner as Carmangay shaded Vauxhall 4-3.  Granum whipped Picture Butte 14-4 and Champion scored five runs in the first inning and went on to trounce Lomond 13-5.

Batter (L), Clelland (3) and Blaney
Walasko (W) and Andrekson

Stone (W) and Tarnava
F Gillies (L), Branch (4), Scarlet (6) and B Gillies

Ost (L), Verastek (4), Oseen (6) and Domileski
S Pasolli (W) and Buchan


(July 11)  Jack Altman, the California southpaw, pitched a brilliant three-hit shutout for his eighth win as Vulcan clinched first place with a 5-0 win over Carmangay. Altman, who tossed a no-hitter earlier in the season, fanned 13 and walked two. Willie Walasko gave up nine hits in going the distance for the Eagles. He fanned six and walked one.  Don Jantze led the Elks with a double and single.  

Walasko (8-2) and Andrekson
Altman (W) and Wynn

(July 11)  Frank Stone notched a four-hitter to lead Granum to an 8-2 win over Lethbridge.  

Hurst and J Vaselenak
Stone and Zemrau

(July 11)  Claresholm broke loose for five runs in the 11th inning to top Champion 11-7.  Bud Whitehead led the Meteors with three hits.

MacDonald and Ganske
Smith and Buchan

(July 11)  Nanton snapped a 10-game losing streak with an 11-5 win over Stavely. Palominos broke loose for seven runs in the 4th inning thanks to five errors by the home club.  Jack Scott went the route for the win.

Scott and D Hawk
McInnis and Woodham

Vulcan      12-1
Carmangay   10-3
Lethbridge   8-4
Granum       7-5
Claresholm   5-8
Champion     4-9
Stavely      3-10
Nanton       2-11  
                                                             


(July 14)  The hometown Elks and Granum split a twin-bill in Vulcan, but it was the Elks who came away with the prize money.  The teams played both a regular league contest and the final of the Vulcan tournament (rained out three weeks previous).

Skip Winn belted a pair of homers to lead Vulcan to a 7-6 win in the tournament final.  Jack Altman scattered ten hits to get the win.

Altman (W) and Winn
Stone (L) and Tarnava

Gordon Vejprava had four hits to lead the White Sox to an 11-9 win in the opener, overcoming a 4-0 deficit after one inning.  Benny Dann had two homers for the Elks and Jack Altman also cracked out a "Ruthian rap". 

Kucheran, Jankola (W) (6) and Zemrau
Ybanez (L) and Winn


(July 14)  Glen Olsen had four hits, including a two-run homer, as Claresholm trounced Stavely 18-4. 

Klyson (W) and Ganske
Woodham (L), D Yorgason (7) and Cyr

(July 14)  John Vaselenak knocked in four runs with three doubles and a single to pace Lethbridge Cubs to an 8-3 win over the Nanton Polominos.  Clarence Yanosik had three RBI for the winners.  George Vaselenak went the distance on the hill for the Cubs.

G Vaselenak and J Vaselenak
Thrun and D Hawk

(July 14)  Carmangay pounded out 23 hits in trouncing Champion 16-4.  Willie Walasko held Champion to seven hits in gaining the victory, his 9th of the season.

Walasko (9-2) and xxx 
xxx and xxx 

Vulcan      12-2
Carmangay   10-3
Lethbridge   9-4
Granum       8-5
Claresholm   6-8
Champion     4-9
Stavely      3-11
Nanton       2-12


(July 17)  Taber Tournament : A four-run outburst in the bottom of the eighth inning gave the Granum White Sox a 13-9 win over Carmangay in the final of the first annual Taber tournament.  The Sox pounded out 16 hits, including a two-run homer by Joe TarnavaDarwin Walkingshaw had a double and three singles.  Hubert Glenn and Frank Mayor had circuit blows for the Eagles.

M.Rhodes (L), Glenn (8) and Andrekson, Mayor (2)
Kucheran (W), Walkinshaw (6), Kelly (7) and Tarnava, Zemrau (8)

Gord Vejprava, Bill Fennessey and Walkingshaw homered as Granum whipped Taber 15-4 in semi-final action.  Frank Stone held Taber to eight hits and fanned eleven.

Stone (W) and Zemrau
Granberry (L), McMurchie (3), Tanaguchi (6), Crumley (7) and B Laurie, Thompson (3)

Carmangay made the finals with a 5-2 win over Champion as Glenn pitched an eight-hitter and chipped in with a homer and a single.

Glenn (W) and McLeod
Allie MacDonald (L) and A Buchan

In the opening round, Joe Jankola pitched six-hit ball as Granum dumped Lethbridge. Bill Fennessey had a homer and a pair of singles.  

Jankola and xxx
Hurst and xxx

Taber Merchants overwhelmed Warner 10-1. 

B McMurchie
Coskey, xxx, xxx

Hubert Glenn drove in five of the seven Carmangay runs as the Eagles bested Vauxhall.  Willie Walasko allowed just six hits in picking up the win and had four singles in four trips to the plate.

Walasko
Wiggings, Bob Stevenson (2)

Champion, behind the five-hit pitching of Merv Smith, whipped Picture Butte 13-4.  Keith Groves had a three-run homer for the winners.

M Smith
xxx


(July 18)  Granum White Sox put on an awesome hitting display to highlight the final day of the regular season in the Foothills-Wheatbelt League.  Sox pounded out 30 hits in clubbing Nanton 31-1.  Harold Jones had five hits with Gord Wesley, Darwin Walkingshaw and Bill Fennessey each blasting four.  Joe Jankola and Bill Kucheran combined to limit Nanton to six hits.

Jankola (W), Kucheran (6) and Zemrau
Scott (L), Berger (6) and D Hawk

The pennant-winning Vulcan Elks wound up the regular season with a 6-3, 10-inning win over Lethbridge Cubs.  Jack Altman held the Cubs to just four hits in going the distance.  Sloppy fielding by the Elks accounted for all three of the Cubs' runs. 

Altman (W) and Winn
G Vaselenak, Stasiuk (2), G Vaselenak (L) (3) and J Vaselenak

(July 18)  Champion shaded Carmangay 4-3 as five fielding miscues did in the Eagles.  Sev Pasolli tossed a six-hitter for the win.

Andrekson (L) and McLeod
S Pasolli (W) and A Buchan

(July 20)  Mel Hansen, secretary-manager of the Foothills-Wheatbelt League, announced that both the Lethbridge Cubs and Carmangay Eagles had been suspended from further play until an investigation is complete into the sudden-death playoff game between the teams.  Mr. Hansen said a report from the game's umpires suggested neither team was playing to win and the caliber of play was disgusting.  The reports said no effort was made by either team to win the game, played to break a tie for third place.  The Eagles won the contest 11-8.  It seemed both teams were trying to line up against Vulcan rather than Granum in the playoffs. The playoff schedule had the 1st and 4th place teams and the 2nd and 3rd place teams meeting in the first round. 


(July 23)  Champion Tournament : Skip Winn's lead-off homer in the top of the seventh was the winner as Vulcan topped Champion 6-5 to win the Lions' Baseball Tournament in Champion.  Ben Dann pitched a five-hitter over eight innings to get the win.  Lefty Jack Altman took over in the 9th with none out and a runner on second.  Altman proceeded to strikeout the side to preserve the win.  It was the Elks third tournament victory.

Dann, Altman (9) and Winn
MacDonald and A Buchan

Champion reached the final by pounding out an 18-1 triumph over the Stavely-Nanton All-Stars.  Sev Pasolli tossed a four-hitter for the win.

S Pasolli and A Buchan
Fredericks, Scott (8) and Woodham

Jack Altman, "lanky lefthander with a jerky delivery and sharp-breaking curve" led Vulcan into the final holding Carmangay to seven hits as the Elks won 5-2.  Altman fanned 14.  Willie Walasko fanned 11 in a losing cause for the Eagles.

Walasko and McLeod
Altman and Winn

Rookie Warren Banks pitched a six-hit shutout as Vulcan topped Enchant 6-0 in first round action.  Merv Smith's two-hit shutout gave Champion a 3-0 victory over Picture Butte and the All-Stars got by Lomond 3-1.

M Wiest, Skretting (3) and R Wiest
Banks and WInn

Uhryn and B Gillies
M Smith and Buchan

Scott and Woodham
Degenstein and Domeleski


(July 25)  The top two finishers in the regular season opened the Foothills-Wheatbelt playoffs with victories.  At Vulcan, Jack Altman continued his sparkling season with a seven-hit, 12 strikeout performance as the Elks beat Lethbridge 8-3.  Don Jantzie's two-run homer was the key blow.  While the Elks were celebrating the victory they suffered a huge loss with the news that Joe Ybanez had to return to California.

Stasiuk, G Vaselenak (6) and J Vaselenak
Altman and Winn

(July 25)  Gord Vejprava had three hits as Granum beat Carmangay 8-3.  Frank Stone went the distance for the win.

Walasko and Andrekson
Stone and Zemrau

(July 28)  Vulcan, held scoreless for six innings, broke loose for four runs in the eighth inning to top Lethbridge 5-1 and win their semi-final series in two straight games.   Elks got 8th inning hits from Skip Winn, Ken Gattenby, Benny Dann, Don Jantzie and Jim Pruden to take a 4-1 lead.  Starry Jack Altman was again the story on the hill as he held the Cubs to six hits, fanned eight and issued just one base on balls.

Altman (W) and Winn
G Vaselenak (L), Stasiuk (8) and J Vaselenak

(July 28)  Granum overcame a 3-0 deficit to edge Carmangay 4-3 to advance to the league final against Vulcan.  White Sox scored the winner in the eighth as Joe Tarnava singled, stole second and scored on a bunt. 

Kucheran, Kelly (W) (5) and Zemrau
Walasko (L) and Andrekson


(July 28)  Lethbridge Rotary Tournament : A Foothills-Wheatbelt All-Star team was chosen to represent the league in the 4th Annual Lethbridge Rotary Tournament.  Included in the lineup: Harold Jones, Gordie Vejprava, Steve Odney, Joe Jankola, Frank Stone, Darwin Walkingshaw, Bill Fennessey and Gord Wesley of Granum; Hubert Glenn and Willie Walasko of Carmangay; Clarence Yanosik, Les Colwill and Jim Cattoni of Lethbridge; Skippy Winn and Jack Altman of Vulcan; Roger Jensen of Champion. George Wesley of Granum and Ken Loucks of Vulcan were selected to handle the field duties.

(July 31)  Gordie Tench was the hero on the hill and at the plate as the Spokane Builders won $1,500 first prize money in the 4th Annual Lethbridge Rotary Tournament with a thrilling 4-1 victory over Spokane Boutens in an All-American final.

Tench, who pitched the Builders into the final earlier in the day, broke a 1-1 tie in the bottom of the seventh with a two-run triple.  He also came on in relief in the seventh with one out and the bases loaded and promptly retired the next two hitters.  Tench then hurled hitless ball in the 8th and 9th.  He was named the tourney's Most Valuable Player.

B Blair (L) and Chalich
Bloomquist, Tench (W) (7) and Heinz

The Builders reached the final with an 8-4 win over the Spokane Fairchild Flyers. Boutens topped the Foothills-Wheatbelt All-Stars 7-2 in the other semi-final.

Dunlap (L), Kelly (6) and Johns
Tench (W) and Heinz

Gordie Palm (W) and Chalich
Walasko (L) and Winn

The All-Stars and Boutens had scored upsets in opening round play.  Boutens surprised the heavily-favoured Worland, Wyoming, Indians 3-1 while the All-Stars posted a 5-3 victory over Nampa, Idaho, Clippers.  Jack Altman was the key for the All-Stars holding the American club to eight hits in his third complete game of the week.  Clarence Yanosik gave the All-Stars an early lead by belting a homer on the first pitch of the game.  Don Parrott, a 19-year-old right-hander, held Worland to five hits in the Boutens triumph.

Brown, Stark (6) and xxx
Parrott and Chalich

Altman and Winn
Sereduk, McFadden (9) and Makini

Spokane Builders eliminated the Great Falls Airlifters 9-5 behind a route-going performance by Curt Bloomquist and the Spokane Fairchild Flyers topped Missoula Veterans 4-0.   Earl Enos led the Builders at the plate with four hits.  Bob Gagney pitched a two-hit shutout for the Flyers in their win over Missoula. He fanned 12 and issued just one walk.

Bloomquist and Heinz
Gordy, Barnes (6) and Zaremba

Marshall and Soure
Gagney and Johns


(August 4)  Granum White Sox shaded Vulcan 5-2 in the opener of the best-of-five final series for the Foothills-Wheatbelt championship.  The encounter featured a pitching duel between Granum's Joe Jankola, who pitched for Vulcan in 1953, and the Elks' workhorse, Jack AltmanJankola held the Elks to five hits to take the win.  He fanned 12 and allowed 10 bases on balls.   A tired Altman gave up 12 hits, including a two-run homer by Jankola in the sixth inning and a solo shot by Harold Jones in the first frame.  The crafty southpaw got poor support from his mates who make four errors accounting for two unearned runs.  Altman fanned 12 without issuing a free pass.

Jankola and McPherson
Altman and WInn

(August 8)  The White Sox moved to within a game of the league title with a 4-2 win over Vulcan.  Frank Stone checked the Elks on four hits.  Bill Fennessey had a homer for the winners.  Jack Altman again went the distance for the Elks allowing eight hits. 

Altman (L) and Winn
Stone (W)and McPherson

(August 11)  Granum bounced back from a 4-2 deficit to shade Vulcan 7-6 to win the best-of-five final in three straight games.  Earl Ingarfield's three-run homer in the fourth inning was the key blow for the White Sox.  Joe Jankola and Frank Stone combined to hold the Elks to seven hits.  Workhorse Jack Altman went all the way for Vulcan allowing 10 hits.

Jankola, Stone (2) and McPherson
Altman and WInn

(August 17)  In an exhibition match, Granum warmed up for their Southern Alberta final series with a 13-4 win over Pincher Creek.  Gord Wesley, Bill Fennessey, Earl Ingarfield and Ron McPherson each had a homer and single for the White Sox.  Bill Kucheran was the winner in relief.  Willie Walasko went the route for the losers.

Stone, Kucheran (W) (4), Kelly (7) and McPherson
Walasko (L) and Cyr

(August 22)  Granum took first blood in the Southern Alberta championship series with a 15-4 win over the defending champion JCCA Niseis.  Gord Wesley paced the 14-hit White Sox attack with a double and two singles.  Harold Jones had a two-run triple and a single.  Frank Stone went the distance on the hill for the victory.

Stone and Zemrau
Tateishi, Takenada (5) and Hirotsu

In an exhibition game, Granum trounced the Niseis 12-1 as Bill Kucheran pitched an eight-hitter.  Steve Odney slammed a homer, triple and single.

Kucheran and McPherson
Kitaguchi and Hirotsu

(August 29)  In a wild affair, Granum captured the Southern Alberta baseball title with a 13-11 win over JCCA Niseis.  The White Sox were to meet the Northern Alberta champions, either Stettler or Westlock for the provincial crown.  Gordon Vejprava's two-run homer in the 8th inning provided the winning margin.  Steve Odney had a two-run homer in the 7th. 

Kimoto and Hirotsu
Stone and Tarnava


(September 6)  Fernie Tournament   Granum won the $400 top prize with an 8-4 win over Kimberley Dynamoes in the final.  Bill Fennessey's three-run homer in the first inning put the White Sox in the lead to stay.  Willie Walasko went the distance for the win. 

xxx and xxx
Walasko (W) and xxx

In semi-final games, Granum whipped Creston 12-0 and Kimberley crushed Eureka 18-2. 

xxx and xxx
xxx and xxx

White Sox had earlier scored a 13-2 win over Blairmore-Pincher Creek.  Frank Stone pitched the victory while his mates pounded out 19 hits, including a homer by Earl Ingarfield, the first over the newly-constructed right field fence.  Kimberley shutout Fernie 14-0 with Gordie Tench tossing a two-hitter.  Tench, pitching for Spokane, was the hero of the Lethbridge Rotary Tournament. 

Stone (W) and xxx
xxx and xxx

Tench (W) and xxx
xxx and xxx


(September 12)   Steve Odney pounded a pinch-hit triple to drive in the tying and winning runs as Granum topped Edmonton Clothiers 6-5 Sunday to win the Alberta Senior Baseball championship in two straight games.  Nine Edmonton errors contributed heavily to the Sox victory.  Bill Kucheran went the distance for the win.

On Saturday, close to one thousand fans turned out in chilly weather as Granum downed the Northern Alberta champs 5-2 behind Frank Stone's two-hitter.   Stone fanned ten without allowing a single base on balls.  Stan Kulka had a homer for Edmonton.

Forss, Al Smith (7) and Kulka
Stone and McPherson

Kucheran and McPherson
Lakenham and Kulka 


NORTHERN ALBERTA

WHEATBELT LEAGUE

Sexsmith Rainiers, Beaverlodge Royals, USAF Eagles, Grand Prairie Athletics, Rycroft Pontiacs, Dawson Creek Canucks

(May 30) Lefty Oscar Tesch scattered seven hits and fanned eighteen as Sexsmith won its league opener 6-5.  Bill Ulmer had two hits, including a homer. Bus Brown had two doubles in four trips and scored the winner. 

(June 2)  Al Peterson had four hits, including a double and a homer, to pace Sexsmith to a 10-5 win over Dawson Creek.  Oscar Tesch picked up the win in relief of starter Ed Blenderra who went six frames, leaving with the score knotted at 4-4.  Tesch pitched no-hit ball, allowing one unearned run.


From the Fairview Post, August 12, 1954

Manning and Warrensville have advanced to the final of the Battle River Baseball League.

Manning whipped North Star 28-3 and 6-5 in their semi-final while Warrensville topped Deadwood 15-4 and 5-4.

Harold Dzaman tossed a six-hitter for Manning in the first game of the twin bill.  Cliff Spence led the offense with a pair of homers  Manning had 19 hits off North Star's Pete and Johnny Proskurniak 

Billy Yahrm was the winner in the second game over George Hominuik

Warrensville pushed across seven runs in the first inning of the opener and never looked back. Jim Diebert went the distance for the win. Ronnie Diebert got the win in the second tilt.

(August 15)  Manning edged Warrensville in the sudden-death final 8-7.


NORTH PEACE BASEBALL LEAGUE

(June 24)  PEACE RIVER  In a game postponed from June 20th, Peace River clobbered Berwyn 16-0 as Adkin shutdown Berwyn striking out 16 in the seven inning game.  Al Adair bashed a homer for the winners.

Brich, Dave Johnson and Richards
Adkin (W) and xxx

(June 25)  PEACE RIVER a 12-run outburst in the 5th inning broke open a close game and Peace River trounced Whitelaw 21-4.  Zahara handled the mound duties for the winners.

Watchorn, Walker, Uhling and McKen
Zahara (W) and xxx

(June 25)  FAIRVIEW The hometown Imperials downed Grimshaw 10-3. The contest featured a towering, two-run homer by John Smart for Fairview and a two-run blast by Roger Cowles for Grimshaw. Zinselmeyer tossed a tossed a four-hitter for the winners. 

Zinselmeyer (W) and Hemstock
Bob Swanson, Don Palmer and Del Roberts

(June 27)  WHITELAW  Peace River made it two in a row over Whitelaw. The Dodgers, who won on Friday, edged the home club 8-7 on Sunday. The scored was tied until the 4th when Al Boomer Adair belted a three-run homer for the visitors.  Whitelaw bounced back with three, but the Dodgers got one in the 6th for the win.

Adkin, Hutton (7) and Kellington
Watchorn to McKen

(June 27) HINES CREEK  Big Joe Hutton hurled a no-hitter as Peace River trounced Hines Creek 16-0 Sunday in the abbreviated, seven-inning contest.  Hutton fanned 17 of 21 batters. 

Hutton (W) and xxx
Wolski (L), Purshke and Andy Radzick

(June 27)  BERWYN Fairview had two home runs after just six pitches and went on to thump Berwyn 21-3 on Sunday. Leadoff batter Spud Steinke belted the fourth pitch from Dave Johnson over the left field fence. Joe Hemstock followed with a blast over the centre field fence on the second pitch he saw. Zinselmayer held Berwyn to five hits and fanned nine.

Zinselmeyer (W) and Hemstock
Johnson (L), Brich, McDougall and Richards, Walters

(June 27)   HINES CREEK  Farirview clinched first place in the Western Division of the North Peace League with a 5-4 win over Hines Creek scoring the winner in the top of the final frame, the seventh, on hits by Joe Hemstock, Zinselmeyer and John Smart. The Imperials had taken an early lead with two runs in the first inning on a single by Shaw, triple from Zinselmeyer and double by Smart.  They added singletons in the second and third. Hines Creek responded with four in the third to tie.  Smart blanked Hines Creek over the last four innings to register the pitching win.

Mike Koshieff, Zinselmeyer (3), Smart (4) and xxx
Mike Radzick, Herman Wolski (4) and Lester Coon

(June 27)  Grimshaw Imperials split a regular-season ending double-header winning an afternoon game from Whitelaw and losing to Berwyn in the evening.

Grimshaw whipped Whitelaw 19-2 behind the strong hurling of McPhillemy

Uhlig (L) and McKan
McPhillemy (W) and Robers

Berwyn took the second game 8-6.

Palmer (L), McFaddin and Swanston, Del Roberts
xxx and xxx

               GP  W  L  PTS
Fairview       10  9  1  18
Peace River    10  8  2  16
Hines Creek    10  5  5  10
Grimshaw       10  3  7   6
Whitelaw       10  2  8   4
Berwyn         10  1  9   2

Best-of-five playoffs are scheduled to begin Sunday with Hines Creek at Fairview and Grimshaw at Peace River. Whitelaw and Berwyn finished out of the running.