(May 16) Veteran Bennie Griggs was the story in the inaugural game of the Saskatchewan Baseball League. Griggs pitched a 7-hitter and belted a two-run homer as Saskatoon beat North Battleford 5-4 to open the 1954 season. The contest drew 25-hundred fans at North Battleford. Les Dean was the hard luck loser, allowing the Gems just three hits. Saskatoon scored a pair in the 4th inning on a bases-loaded infield grounder and added one in the 9th on a walk to Leopoldo Reyes, Max Bentley's single and an error. Curtis Tate supplied the North Battleford offense with a homer and two singles.
Griggs (W) and Trimont
LDean (L) and Green
(May 17) Percy Trimont belted a 3-run, first inning homer and it was all the Gems needed as they beat North Battleford for the second straight day, 6-2. Don Kirk went five innings for the win and Rolando Garcia shutout the Beavers over the last four innings. Skeet Griggs, Len Breckner and Ezequiel Diaz each had two hits for the winners. Chico O'Farrill clouted a triple and two doubles for North Battleford. 24-hundred fans attended the Saskatoon homer opener.
Blackman/Blackmon (L), Holdaway (4) and Green
Kirk (W), Garcia (6) and Trimont
(May 18) The hometown Phillies delighted one-thousand fans at their home opener with a 6-2 win over the Beavers. Benny Hill went the distance for the win. Rosetown, out-hit 10-7, put the game away with a four-run 5th inning. Cy Morton, who had a triple, and Randy Cisco each knocked in a pair of runs for the winners. Rosetown centre fielder Howard Warfield was a crowd favourite with his outstanding defensive play which included six putouts and two assists, including a long throw to home to catch Curtis Tate.
McLeod (L), Burks (5) and Green
Hill (W) and Henderson
(May 19) Lloydminster got its first taste of semi-pro action. It was sour. The Meridians were hammered 13-3 before about 800 fans at Sportsman's Park. The home club made 10 errors. The Dean brothers pitched and batted the Beavers to the win. Les Dean worked five innings on the hill, allowing just two hits, while Roy Dean had a pair of hits including a grand slam homer. Les Dean, Louis Green and Curtis Tate each added two hits for the Beavers. Max Weekly had a rough debut for the home side. He gave up 9 hits and six walks in just three innings of work. The Beavers scored six runs off Weekly in each of the second and third innings. Don Wingfield had a pair of safeties for Lloydminster.
LDean (W), Carlson (6) and Green
Weekly (L), Gibbons (4) and Prediger
(May 19) Rosetown pounded out 13 hits, scoring three times in the 9th inning, to edge the Saskatoon Gems 7-6. A long sacrifice fly by Arlington Henderson plated the winning marker. Randy Cisco led the Phillies' offense with four hits in five trips to the plate. Cy Morton banged out a triple and two doubles and Reg Jackson drove in a pair with two singles. Len Breckner had three hits for the Gems. Reliever Preston Bessicks picked up the win. Rolando Garcia suffered the defeat.
Summers, Bessicks (W) (6), King (9) and Henderson
Morrow, Garcia (L) (5 ), MacEwen (9) and Trimont
(May 20) A six-run 7th inning carried the Beavers to an 8-4 win over the Meridians at North Battleford. Lloydminster's Rick Herrera had a no-hitter into the 6th inning when the Beavers scored their first run. Five Meridian errors contributed to the defeat. Roy Dean's three-run homer was the big blast for the winners. Cliff Beisel knocked in a pair with a double. Johnny Ford had three hits for Lloydminster. Jackie McLeod registered the pitching victory, in a relief role.
Herrera (L), Weekly (8) and Douzas
Holdaway, Burks (3), McLeod (W) (7) and Green
(May 20) Gems scored 10 runs in the first two innings and held on to beat Rosetown 11-6. Bennie Griggs, who came on in relief in the first inning when the Phillies score three times, picked up the win. Phillies out-hit the Gems 10-9 with Felton Morrison adding three hits, including a triple and double. Harold Johnson and Randy Cisco each had two. Jim Shirley, back catching for Saskatoon after an injury, had two hits for the winners.
Koroluk, Griggs (W) (1) and Shirley
Bessicks (L), Gray (1), Hill (2) King (8) and Henderson
(May 24) Five games were featured on the holiday card. North Battleford scored five runs in the ninth to beat Saskatoon 5-2 in the first game of a twin-bill. Gems' lefty Bentley MacEwen carried a 2-0 lead into the ninth inning only to see a pair of errors help the Beavers post the comeback win. Curtis Tate led off the 9th with a single and, after Roy Dean struck out, an error on Chico O'Farrill's grounder left the Beavers with runners at second and third. Pinch-hitter Jackie McLeod singled to drive in both runners. With two out, an error on Art Stone's grounder set the stage for Jesse Blackman/Blackmon who singled to knock in the third run. Louis Green and Ken Nelson drove in insurance counters. Percy Trimont's towering homer over the centre field wall was the big blow for the Gems. Trimont had three hits. Jesse Blackman/Blackmon went the distance for the win.
Blackman/Blackmon (W) and Green
MacEwen (L), Griggs (9) and Shirley
Bennie Griggs allowed just four hits in the second game as the Gems won 5-1. A three-run, first inning double by Jim Shirley was the big hit for Saskatoon. Bev Bentley and Max Bentley each had a double and single for the Gems.
LDean (L) and Green
Griggs (W) and Shirley
(May 24) Larry Isbell's Moose Jaw Mallards defeated the Indian Head Rockets 6-2 in their debut at Moose Jaw. First baseman Walt Tyler led the winners with three hits, a stolen base, and three runs scored. Wilbur Greene had a pair of safeties. Mario Penalver poked a homer for the Rockets. Joe Searcie fired a four-hitter for the win. He fanned seven and walked four. Armando Martinez took the loss.
Martinez (L) and Yzquierdo
Searcie (W) and Loe
(May 24) The Meridians and Rosetown split a holiday doubleheader at Lloydminster. Max Weekly tossed a 2-hit shutout as the border city squad won the first game 2-0. Weekly compiled 10 strikeouts without issuing a free pass. Lefty Summers and Benny Hill allowed just five hits in a losing cause. Rick Herrera tripled in the 4th inning and came around to score on a single by Pete Prediger. In the 5th, Don Gibbons walked and scored on Herrera's double.
Summers (L), Hill (9) and Price
Weekly (W) and Douzas
Rosetown scored a 7-4 win in 10 innings in the second game. With two out in the extra frame, two walks and an error loaded the bases. Reg Jackson cleared the sacks with a triple and came around to score the 4th run of the inning on a single by Ben Brown. Benny Hill was the winner in a relief role. Johnny Ford had four hits, including a triple and two doubles for the Meridians.
Bessicks, Hill (W) (8) and Henderson
Barrack, Douzas (L) (10) and Douzas, Bruce (10)
(May 25) Third baseman Curtis Tate had a huge day driving in 10 runs as North Battleford won a slugfest, 18-15 over Rosetown. Trailing 16-5 after 7 innings, Rosetown put a scare into the Beavers with four runs in the 8th and six more in the 9th. Each team had 17 hits. Tate had five hits in six trips, including a grand slam homer and a double and scored three times. First sacker Reg Jackson drove in five runs with a pair of doubles and a single for Rosetown. Shortstop Ben Brown and catcher Dick Price each had a homer and knocked in three runs for the Phillies. Brown also added a triple as did Howard Warfield. Art Stone punched out two doubles and a single for the Beavers and Louis Green and Ken Nelson each had two safeties.
LKing (L), Gray (3), BBrown (8) and Henderson
Carlson, Holdaway (W) (5), Nelson (9) and Green
(May 25) The Rockets and Moose Jaw played to a 4-4 tie at Indian Head. Pitcher Jose "Hippy" Hernandez homered in the fifth for what proved to be the tying run for the Rockets. The game was called at the end of nine innings because of darkness. Hernandez went the distance on the mound for Indian Head. Al Seymour went the first six frames for the Mallards. Seymour and reliever Willie Wilson chalked up 12 strikeouts. Catcher Dick Loe of Moose Jaw and outfielder Juan Prats of the Rockets each had three hits.
Seymour, WWilson (7) and Loe
Hernandez and Yzquierdo
(May 28) Bev Bentley drove in three runs with a triple and a single as Saskatoon beat Moose Jaw 6-2.
Searcie (L) and Loe
Morrow (W) , Kirk (7) and Shirley
(May 28) Ben Brown had a grand slam homer to lead Rosetown over North Battleford 9-4. Brown was one of four Phillies with two hits. Winning pitcher Ben Hill, Harold Johnson and Cy Morton joined Brown with a pair. Hill pitched fine ball to win his third game. Rosetown came up with several sharp fielding plays. Centre fielder Howard Warfield raced to the centre field wall to stab a drive and turn it into a double play. Johnson made a back hand catch of a hot grounder to bring applause from the stands and Buddy Burbage cut off two liners labeled for extra bases.
Hill (W) and Henderson
Burks (L), Scott (3), McLeod (7) and Green
(May 31) Eric George pitched a tidy 4-hitter and Indian Head scored twice in the ninth to shade Saskatoon 4-3. The Gems' Charlie Peerless and Ernie Koroluk, who relieved in the 5th inning, combined to hold the Rockets to just two hits, but issued 12 bases on balls and the Saskatoon defense made five errors. George also had command trouble, allowing six walks.
George (W) and Yzquierdo
Peerless, Koroluk (L) (5), Garcia (9) and Shirley
Jack Scott's three-run homer was a key blow in the Beavers 10-4 win over Lloydminster. North Battleford jumped into a 10-0 lead before the Meridians scored a run in the 6th inning. Art Stone had a pair of two-baggers for the winners. Jesse Blackman/Blackmon scattered eight hits to register the win. Lloydminster had three new players, Roberto Zayas, Vincente Diaz and Oswald Garcia, with more on the way.
Blackman/Blackmon (W) and Green
Gibbons (L), Ford (5) and Prediger
(June 01) Meridians lost a heartbreaker, 4-3 in 10 innings. North Battleford's Ken Nelson, who had doubled, moved to third on a passed ball and came around to score on another pitch which got passed the catcher. Max Weekly gave up just six hits and fanned nine in a route-going performance, but the defense, in addition to the passed balls, made five errors. Chuck Holdaway picked up the win in relief of starter Gerry Ellyson. Ellyson was a force at the plate with a triple.
Weekly (L) and Douzas
Ellyson, Holdaway (W) (6) and Green, Nelson (4)
Leopoldo Reyes had three hits as Saskatoon whipped Moose Jaw 10-7. Bentley MacEwen struck out 12 in gaining the win. The Gems were out-hit, 10-8, but took advantage of eight errors by the Mallards. Wilbur Greene had three hits for Moose Jaw.
Gardiner (L) and Loe
MacEwen (W) and Shirley
(June 02) Meridians took a drubbing. Twice. Saskatoon Gems beat up on the Meridians 12-1 and 14-0 in a twin-bill at Cairns Field. Percy Trimont drove in six runs in the first game. He had a perfect night at the plate, 5-5, with three triples and a homer. Gerry Parker also homered for the Gems and catcher Jim Shirley had three hits in four trips. Bennie Griggs went the distance for the win and tallied 12 strikeouts. Vincente Diaz and Osvaldo Garcia each had two hits for the Meridians.
Dodd (L), Zayas (3) and Prediger
Griggs (W) and Shirley
In the second game, Don Kirk held the Meridians to just three hits and struck out 10 as the Gems exploded for seven runs in the 7th inning to bury the Meridians, 14-0. Len Breckner led the offense with two hits and scored four times. Percy Trimont and Jim Shirley each had two hits and three runs scored.
Herrera (L), Dodd (7), Bruce (7) and Douzas
Kirk (W) and Shirley
Lefty Summers was the winning pitcher in relief and belted a three-run triple in the seventh as Rosetown beat the Mallards 10-8 in the first game of a doubleheader. Summers' triple put Rosetown in the lead 8-5, but Moose Jaw roared back to tie in the 8th. With two out, two singles and a walk loaded the bases and Willie Greene cleaned the sacks with a triple to knot the count. In the bottom of the 8th, Randy Sisco was hit by a pitch and Cy Morton tripled to bring him home. Howard Warfield added an insurance run scoring Morton with a sacrifice fly.
Seymour (L), Wilson (8) and Loe
Brown, Summers (W) (5) and Henderson
Moose Jaw won the second game 7-5 behind the hurling of Joe Searcie. Reg Chopp belted a triple for the winners and Harvey Allen and Andy Lillie poked doubles. For Rosetown, Buddy Burbage had a triple and Howard Warfield a double.
Searcie (W) and Loe
King (L), Hill (1), Bessicks (9) and Price, Henderson (8)
(June 03) Willie Wilson tossed a five-hitter as Moose Jaw beat Indian Head Rockets 8-4. Third baseman Reg Chopp drove in three runs for the Mallards with a triple, double and single. Walt Tyler and Collins Jones had two hits apiece for Moose Jaw. Wilson had control trouble, walking six batters and hitting three batsmen. He also made a costly error in the 5th inning which led to three Indian Head runs. Sammy White was the losing pitcher.
White (L), Martinez (7) and Sullivan
Wilson (W) and Loe
(June 04) Pedro Seoane had a pair of homers and a double to led Indian Head to a 4-1 win over the first place Saskatoon Gems. Lloyd Smith went the distance on the hill for the Rockets allowing seven hits. Mario Penalver with two doubles and Jose Valladares with a double and triple aided the Rockets attack. Former Rocket Leopoldo Reyes had three hits for the Gems.
Morrow (L), Garcia (6) and Shirley
Smith (W) and Sullivan
The Dean brothers were all the Beavers needed in a 2-1 win over the Phillies. Les pitched a five-hitter and had a homer while Roy knocked in Ken Nelson with the winning run in the eighth. Les Dean pitched out of a bases-loaded jam in the 6th inning. Howard Warfield, Reg Jackson and Buddy Burbage singled to load the sacks and Dean walked Arlington Henderson to force in a run but Dean fanned Boyd Brown on a 3-2 pitch to end the inning. Brown and reliever Lionel King gave up just seven hits.
Brown (L), King (8) and Henderson
LDean (W) and Landrum
(June 05) A trio of Moose Jaw Mallards topped the batting race. Third baseman Reg Chopp had a .556 average in his first five games, but didn't have enough at bats to qualify for the top spot which fell to first baseman Walt Tyler with a .423 average. Left fielder Collins Jones took the runner-up spot, at .409. Saskatoon's Percy Trimont, third in average at .361, had the most runs, 19, triples, 3, walks, 18 and was tied with Roy Dean of North Battleford for the home run lead, with three. Beavers' Curtis Tate had 14 runs batted in to lead the circuit.
AB R H AVE
Tyler, MJ 26 9 11 .423
Jones, MJ 22 5 9 .409
Trimont, SK 36 19 13 .361
Brown, RT 35 8 12 .343
Tate, NB 57 11 19 .333
Jackson, RT 36 8 12 .333
Green, MJ 21 3 7 .333
Ford, LM 30 4 10 .333
Cisco, RT 39 8 12 .308
H Johnson, RT 23 6 7 .304
O'Farrill, NB 46 6 14 .304
(June 05) Rosetown scored six times in the first inning and went on to crush the Meridians 9-3. Shortstop Ben Brown had a two-run triple for the Phillies. Howard Warfield and Reg Jackson chipped in with two hits apiece. Preston Bessicks went the distance for the win. Max Weekly, who pitched 7 2/3s innings, had ten strikeouts in relief.
Barrack (L), Weekly (1) and Douzas
Bessicks (W) and Henderson
At North Battleford, the Mallards made it easy for the Beavers. Moose Jaw made seven errors and Don Gardiner allowed 10 walks as the Beavers won 14-6. Collins Jones had a two-run homer for the Mallards. Jackie McLeod scattered nine hits and fanned 12 in capturing the win. The 12 strikeouts tied a league record, set by the Gems' Bentley MacEwen and tied by teammate Bennie Griggs.
Gardiner (L) and Loe
McLeod (W) and Landrum
(June 06) With just one win in their first nine games, Lloydminster Meridians bolstered their lineup with10 new players . The newcomers included Bob Rodness, a shortstop formerly with North Battleford; Chuck McGuigan, second base, with Moose Jaw last season until he suffered a broken leg; Bob Rosell, Ron Webb, Gary Barton, Ken Armstrong, Len Pyne and Darrell Martin, pitchers, Jerry Quane, catcher, and Arne Thunander, outfield and first base. Bob Linck, the regular manager, severely injured in an auto accident in the Spring, was expected to report for duty during the week.
(June 06) In a game which produced 17 errors, seven by Rosetown shortstop Ben Brown, the Indian Head Rockets walked away with a 13-6 victory over the Phillies. The Rockets took a 3-0 lead in the top of the 1st inning and were never headed. Left fielder Mario Penalver bashed a two-run homer and two singles for the winners. Second baseman Jose Valladares, who made four errors, punched out three hits as did right fielder Miguel Miranda. Brown had a homer and single for Rosetown. Jose "Hippy" Hernandez scattered nine hits to gain the win.
Hernandez (W) and Sullivan
Hill (L), Summers (6) and Henderson
(June 12) Rainy weather plagued the league. 14 games were postponed between June 6th and 12th.
(June 12) Rosetown roared back from a 6-0 deficit after two innings to score a 10-8 win over Moose Jaw. Harvey Allen had a pair of two-run homers for the losers. The Star Phoenix reported the home runs as "456-foot" blasts.
Summers, Brown (W) (8), King (8) and Henderson
Seymour, Wilson (L) (7) and Loe
(June 13) The Beavers and the Rockets split a pair at North Battleford. The Rockets got a pair of unearned runs in the ninth to win the opener 4-2. In the second game, Curtis Tate had three hits including a homer as the Beavers prevailed 10-4.
Martinez (W), White (9) and Yzquierdo, Sullivan
Blackman/Blackmon (L) and Green
White (L), Miranda (7) and Sullivan
Ellyson (W) and Green
The Phillies took another from Moose Jaw. This time Rosetown scored early -- six in the first, two in each of the second and third innings. They won 11-6. Lionel King scattered ten hits and helped at the plate with three RBI.
Gardiner (L), Gray (1) and Loe
King (W) and Henderson
(June 14) Meridians went down to their 9th loss in 10 games as Indian Head picked up a 5-2 win before about 450 fans at Lloydminster. The home team had five new players in the lineup -- second baseman Chuck McGuigan, pitcher Darrell Martin, catcher Jerry Quane, shortstop Bob Rodness, and outfielder Arne Thunander.
Seoane (W) and Miranda
Martin (L) and Quane
(June 14) Saskatoon held onto the lead atop the SBL with an 8-4 win over Moose Jaw. Percy Trimont homered for the winners. Mallards' centre fielder, Harvey Allen, had a pair of towering home runs for Moose Jaw, his 3rd and 4th in his last two games.
Searcie (L) and Loe
Doig, Garcia (W) (5) and Bennett
(June 14) League officials voted to extend the schedule in an effort to makeup for games postponed by poor weather. The revised scheduled had the regular season extended until the 22nd of August. Officials also decided that Walt Tyler, released by Moose Jaw, would be free to join another league but wouldn't be signed by any of the Western Canada League teams.
There was no explanation for Tyler's release. In the last set of league statistics, Tyler was the loop's top hitter with a .423 average.
(June 16) In a miracle finish, the Meridians won the Lloydminster Legion Tournament with a 4-3, 13 inning victory over Saskatoon. (See the Tournament Report)
(June 17) Rick Herrera pitched 8 effective innings to lead the Meridians to a 6-5 win over Rosetown. Chuck McGuigan and Vincente Diaz each had two hits.
Herrera (W), Barton (9) and Douzas
Bessicks (L), BBrown (7) and Henderson
Saskatoon and Moose Jaw played to a 7-7 tie in a game called at the end of nine innings because of darkness. Gems had taken a 7-6 lead with a five-run 8th inning which included a leadoff homer by Percy Trimont. Mallards tied the count in the bottom of the 8th as Reg Chopp's double scored Bill Conroy.
Morrow, Doig (4), Garcia (8) and Shirley, Bennett
Seymour and Loe
At Regina, Jose Hernandez pitched and batted Indian Head to a 3-2 win over North Battleford. Hernandez tossed a six-hitter and allowed no earned runs while batting in all three of the Rockets' runs with a double and a single.
Holdaway (L), Ellison (10) and Green
Hernandez (W) and Miranda
(June 18) Left-hander Don Kirk won his 3rd straight as the Gems beat Lloydminster 8-2. Kirk went the distance allowing just eight hits.
Martin (L), Webb (7) and Quane
Kirk (W) and Shirley
Indian Head scored with two outs in the bottom of the ninth to beat Rosetown 7-6.
Burbage, King (L) (9) and Henderson
Smith, White (9), Hernandez (W) (9) and Miranda
North Battleford beat Moose Jaw 13-7. Curtis Tate had three hits for the Beavers before leaving the game with a spike wound to his ankle. Collins Jones was the hitting star for the Mallards with a homer and two doubles.
Scott (W), Ellyson (6), McLeod (8) and Green
Psome (L), Isbell (5) and Loe
(June 19) Collins Jones of Moose Jaw took over the batting lead with a .386 average through games of June 18th. Catcher Miguel Miranda of Indian Head jumped into second spot with a .378 mark, ahead of Curtis Tate of North Battleford, at .366. Tate continued to lead the league in RBI, with 18, and had the most stolen bases, eight. Bennie Griggs of Saskatoon, with a 4-0 mark, was tops among the pitchers. Teammate Don Kirk had three straight wins.
AB H AVE
Jones, MJ 44 17 .386
Miranda, IH 37 14 .378
Tate, NB 82 30 .366
Trimont, SK 43 15 .349
Chopp, MJ 37 12 .324
Conroy, MJ 41 13 .317
Hill, RT 19 6 .316
Jackson, RT 61 19 .311
Brown, RT 58 18 .310
Morton, RT 65 20 .308
Ford, LM 43 13 .302
Allen, MJ 40 12 .300
(June 19) The Meridians notched their third win of the season as Bob Rosell held North Battleford to eight hits as Lloydminster beat the Beavers 3-2, scoring the winner on a single by Chuck McGuigan in the bottom of the ninth.
McLeod, Blackman/Blackmon (L) (6) and Green
Rosell (W) and Quane
Bennie Griggs allowed just three singles and struck out nine as Saskatoon edged Indian Head Rockets 2-1. Armando Martinez gave up nine hits in going the distance for the Rockets.
Martinez (L) and Miranda
Griggs (W) and Bennett
In Moose Jaw, the Mallards came back from a 9-3 deficit to beat Rosetown 10-9. Mallards exploded for five runs in the 6th and two more in the 8th to chalk up their first win since June 3rd when they topped Indian Head 8-4. Don Gardiner gave up three hits in the opening frame when the Rockets scored four times but allowed just four hits the rest of the way to pick up the win. Harvey Allen had three hits and drove in a pair to lead the Mallards. Howard Warfield, of the Rockets, had the game's only homer. He also had a double and drove in four runs.
King, Bessicks (L) (6) and Price
Gardiner (W) and Loe
(June 20) Chico O'Farrill homered as North Battleford won 7-6 over Lloydminster.
Weekly (L) and Quane
LDean (W) and Green
Arlington Henderson had a triple and a homer as Rosetown beat Indian Head 9-4. Boyd Brown scattered nine hits to gain the win. Juan Rene Garcia punched out three hits, a triple and double included, for the Rockets.
White (L), Seoane (6) and Miranda
BBrown (W) and Price
(June 21) Two-run doubles by Chuck McGuigan and Bob Rodness were the key blows in an eight-run outburst in the fourth inning as the Meridians beat Rosetown 11-4. Gary Barton picked up the win allowing just two hits in 5 1/3 relief innings.
Morton (L), King (4) and Price
Herrera, Barton (W) (3) and Quane
Jim Morrow tossed a five-hitter for Saskatoon as the Gems beat the Rockets 4-1 in the rain at Indian Head. Bob Bennett had a pair of hits and two runs batted in for the Gems.
Morrow (W) and Bennett
Hernandez (L) and Miranda
The Beavers scored six in the eighth but it wasn't enough as the Mallards hung on for a 10-9 win at Moose Jaw. Collins Jones had two doubles and a triple for the Mallards and Harvey Allen had the games' only homer.
Scott (L), McLeod (3), Ellyson (7) and Green
Seymour (W), Gray (8) and Loe
(June 22) Meridians scored six runs in the eighth inning in a 8-3 win over Rosetown. Vincente Diaz had a triple for the winners while Chuck McGuigan and Jerry Quane belted doubles. Darrell Martin allowed nine hits in picking up the pitching victory. He struck out seven and walked two.
Martin (W) and Quane
Summers (L) and Henderson
The Beavers beat Indian Head 4-1 in 10 innings scoring three times in the final frame. Pedro Seoane homered in the first for the Rockets' only run.
Holdaway (W) and Green
Martinez (L) and Miranda
(June 24) Top prize in the North Battleford Tournament went to the Beavers as they whipped Moose Jaw 12-3 before about 2-thousand fans. (See the Tournament Report)
(June 25) Max Weekly struck out 14 as the Meridians whipped Moose Jaw 11-0. Weekly gave up six hits and walked four. Chuck McGuigan had three hits, scored twice and batted in a pair for the Meridians. Johnny Ford had three RBI.
Weldon (L), Gray (8) and Loe
Weekly (W) and Quane
Saskatoon lefthander Bentley MacEwen allowed just four hits and struck out 12 as Saskatoon blanked Indian Head 6-0.
Smith (L), White (7) and Miranda
MacEwen (W) and Shirley
(June 26) Moose Jaw topped the Meridians 5-1 in a game called at the end of seven because of darkness. Pancho Gray pitched a six-hitter to gain the victory. Collins Jones and Russ Stuart each had two hits for the Mallards. Moose Jaw lost outfielder Bunt Hubchick who was injured with a possible broken leg sliding into second base in the 6th inning.
Gray (W) and Loe
Martin (L), Pyne (7) and Quane
(June 26) A pair of California kids put on a sparkling pitching duel in Saskatoon Saturday in an exhibition tilt at Cairns Field. Kamsack's Ted Ellis tossed a four-hitter to best Saskatoon's Bobby Doig as the Cyclones notched a 2-1 victory. Doig allowed just five hits before being lifted for a pinch-hitter in the bottom of the 8th. Bill Findley's 5th inning double drove in Roy Taylor and Bill Schulz for the Kamsack runs. Gems scored in the 4th inning as Mario Herrera scooted home on Percy Trimont's infield single.
Ellis (W) and Schulz
Doig (L), Morrow (9) and Bennett, Shirley (9)
(June 27) Saskatoon and North Battleford split a twin-bill. Ken Nelson led the Beavers to a 15-4 win in the opener. Nelson had three hits including a two-run homer. Percy Trimont had a homer for the Gems. Saskatoon won the second game 8-5.
Wills (L), Garcia (7) and Shirley
Holdaway (W) and Green
Griggs, Morrow (5), Kirk (W) (7), Doig (8) and Bennett
LDean, Stites (L) (7), McLeod (8) and Green
In Rosetown, Armando Martinez went the distance allowing six hits as Indian Head trounced the Phillies 11-2.
Martinez (W) and Miranda
BBrown (L) and Henderson
(June 28) Meridians blew a 6-2 lead and handed the Gems a 7-6 win at Cairns Field at Saskatoon. In the eighth the Gems scored the winning run when a fly ball, which the Meridians' centre fielder lost in the sun, fell for a hit. Lefty Ron Webb allowed only five hits over 7 1/3 innings but was charged with the loss. Webb had two hits, including a double, good for two RBI.
Webb (L), Martin (8) and Quane
Kirk, Morrow (W) (6) and Bennett, Shirley (8)
Indian Head scored three in the bottom of the ninth to shade Rosetown 5-4. Sergio Fabre went the distance for the win giving up six hits.
King, Hill (5), Bessicks (L) (8) and Henderson
Fabre (W) and Miranda
(June 29) Collins Jones, the captain of the Moose Jaw Mallards, belted the ball at a .471 clip over the past ten days to increase his league-leading average to .410. Hot on his heels, however, was Lloydminster second baseman Chuck McGuigan who climbed to an even .400 to move into second spot ahead of North Battleford's Curtis Tate, at .378. Tate, with 21 runs batted in, continued to top the league. Percy Trimont of Saskatoon, Harvey Allen of Moose Jaw and Jesse Blackman/Blackmon of North Battleford tied for most homers, each with five. Bennie Griggs extended his unbeaten record to 5-0 to lead the pitchers. Max Weekly of Lloydminster had the most strikeouts, 48. The statistics included games through June 28th.
AB H AVE
Jones, MJ 61 25 .410
McGuigan, LM 40 16 .400
Tate, NB 90 34 .378
King, RT 8 3 .375
Summers, RT 22 8 .364
Ford, LM 67 23 .343
Conroy, MJ 54 18 .333
Allen, MJ 57 19 .333
Shirley, SK 46 15 .326
Morrison, RT 64 20 .313
Price, RT 29 9 .310
Valladares, SK 65 20 .308
Chopp, MJ 49 15 .306
Trimont, SK 59 18 .305
M Bentley, SK 46 14 .304
Jackson, RT 83 25 .301
Morrow, SK 10 3 .300
J Garcia, IH 68 20 .294
Burbage, RT 48 14 .292
O'Farrill, NB 93 27 .290
Morton, RT 80 23 .288
Hernandez, IH 14 4 .286
Garcia, SK 7 2 .286
Holdaway, NB 21 6 .286
Hill, RT 21 6 .286
(June 29) Newcomer Ed Kapp made an auspicious debut for the Beavers. Kapp, from the defunct Calgary club of the Western International League, tossed a five-hit shutout as North Battleford beat the Meridians 6-0. Kapp struck out nine and walked only one. Chico O'Farrill had the only homer. Johnny Ford had three hits for Lloydminster.
Rosell (L) and Quane
Kapp (W) and Green
Rosetown took 11 innings to beat Moose Jaw 8-5. Creon Psome allowed a single and three walks in the 11th to hand the win to the Phillies.
Summers (W) and Price
Psome (L), Seymour (11) and Loe
(June 30) Gerry Ellyson tossed a four-hit shutout as the Beavers beat Lloydminster 4-0. Gary Barton gave up just seven hits but walked seven and saw his defense commit five errors. It was a day for the hitters at Regina as Moose Jaw prevailed, 13-10, over Indian Head. Pedro Seoane had a homer and two singles for the Rockets, catcher Dick Loe had a homer for the Mallards.
Ellyson (W) and Green
Barton (L) and Quane
Seymour, Gray (W) (3), Garrett (8) Gardiner (9) and Loe
George, Martinez (L) (7), White (8) and Miranda
(July 01) Roy Taylor's college kids took the top prize in the Saskatoon Optimist Tournament. (See the Tournament Report)
(July 02) Lefty Don Kirk pitched and batted the Gems to an 8-5 win over Rosetown. On the hill, Kirk went the distance allowing nine hits and at the plate he went 3 for 4 . Harold Johnson had a single, double and triple for the Phillies. Gems collected 15 hits off Lefty Summers.
Kirk (W) and Shirley
Summers (L) and Price
Collins Jones had four of Moose Jaw's 14 hits as the Mallards pounded Indian Head 13-1. Reg Chopp had a pair of doubles, while Red Pendleton and Dick Loe each tripled. Ken Weldon held the Rockets to three hits. Weldon lost a shutout bid in the 5th when Sammy White tripled to drive in Pedro Seone.
Weldon (W) and Loe
White (L) and Miranda, Yzquierdo ( )
(July 02) Saskatoon Gems purchased infielder Jose Valladares from the Indian Head Rockets.
(July 03) Bob Linck made his first appearance as the Meridians' manager and it seemed to make a difference as the club won two weekend games. Linck was seriously hurt in an auto accident in February. Ron Webb held the league-leading Gems to seven hits as Lloydminster scored a 3-1 victory. Johnny Ford, Rick Herrera and Oswaldo Garcia each had two hits for the winners. Percy Trimont had a triple for Saskatoon.
Griggs (L) and Bennett
Webb (W) and Quane
North Battleford blew an 8-3 lead in the ninth then came back with a run in the bottom of the inning to shade Rosetown 9-8. A single by Jesse Blackman/Blackmon drove in Jackie McLeod with the winner. Buddy Burbage hit a three-run homer for the Phillies in their five-run ninth. Ben Brown also homered for the losers.
Bessicks, King (7), Brown (L) (9) and Henderson
Holdaway, Ellyson (9), Blackman/Blackmon (W) (9) and Green
Reg Chopp had three hits, including a homer, as Moose Jaw shaded Indian Head 5-4. Southpaw Creone Psome went the distance for the win.
Smith (L), Fabre (6) and Yzquierdo
Psome (W) and Loe
(July 04) Pinch hitter Darrell Martin singled home pinch runner Ron Webb in the 11th inning as Lloydminster beat Rosetown 7-6. Arne Thunander had three of the Meridians' 14 hits. Rick Herrera and Jerry Quane each knocked in two runs for Lloydminster. Bob Rosell was the winner tossing 7 2/3s innings of relief. Howard Warfield and Harold Johnson had homers for the Phillies.
King, Brown (3), Bessicks (L) (8) and Henderson
Barton, Rosell (W) (4) and Quane
North Battleford and Saskatoon split a doubleheader. In the opener, Jesse Blackman/Blackmon held the Gems to nine hits and hit the games' only homer as the Beavers won 9-6. Ted Wills had three hits and four RBI for Saskatoon.
MacEwen (L), Morrow (4) and Shirley
Blackman/Blackmon (W) and Green
In the second game, Bob Doig held the Beavers to five hits and fanned nine as Saskatoon won 4-1. Wills had two more hits, including a homer, and two runs batted in.
Doig (W) and Bennett, Shirley ( )
Ellyson (L), Stites (1) and Green
(July 05) Bev Bentley homered and Ted Wills pitched seven-hit ball to power the Gems to a 5-3 win over Rosetown. Ben Brown had a homer for the Phillies.
Summers (L), Hill (5) and Henderson
Wills (W) and Bennett, Shirley
Indian Head scored five in the sixth inning and held on to beat Moose Jaw 9-5. The game was completed just before a major storm hit and left Indian Head in darkness.
Martinez (W), White (9) and Miranda
Seymour (L), Pemberton (6) and Loe
(July 06) Five Meridian errors accounted for six unearned runs as Lloydminster dropped a 12-7 decision to the Rockets. Miguel Miranda had three hits for Indian Head. Rick Herrera had a three-run homer and two singles for Lloydminster.
Martin (L), Webb (4), Barton (5) and Quane
Fabre (W) and Miranda
Newcomer Cliff Pemberton, on loan from Moose Jaw, had a triple and two singles in Saskatoon's 7-6 win over Moose Jaw. Pemberton was expected to be traded to the Gems with pitching going back to Moose Jaw.
Koroluk, Morrow (W) (2) and Bennett
Weldon (L) and Loe
Rosetown beat North Battleford 6-5 as Boyd Brown went all the way on the hill for the Phillies allowing nine hits.
Ellyson, McLeod (L) (5) and Green
Brown (W) and Henderson
(July 07) Meridians' Max Weekly suffered another tough loss. The big lefty had a shutout until the seventh when a solo homer by Collins Jones and a run-scoring single by Harvey Allen gave the Mallards a 2-1 lead. Moose Jaw scored an insurance run in the eighth and won 3-1. Johnny Ford had three hits for Lloydminster. Creon Psome was outstanding on the mound for Moose Jaw. He allowed just six hits and a walk.
Weekly (L) and Quane
Psome (W) and Loe
Len Breckner's pinch hit single in the bottom of the ninth scored Bob Bennett with the winner as Saskatoon edged the Beavers 3-2. Bennett, who had doubled with one out, had driven in the Gems second run with a single in the fourth inning. Percy Trimont started the scoring with a second inning homer. Bob Doig, for the Gems, and Ed Kapp for the Beavers both went the distance.
Kapp (L) and Green
Doig (W) and Bennett
Behind Sammy White's seven-hitter on the hill, and 3 for 4 at the plate, the Rockets beat Rosetown 7-2.
Bessicks (L), Hill (8) and Henderson
White (W) and Miranda
(July 08) Mario Herrera and Bob Bennett each had three hits in Saskatoon's 14-9 win over Rosetown. Ted Wills had four RBI on a bases-loaded triple in the second and a single in the first. Gems scored eight times in the first three innings. Felton Morrison collected three hits for the Phillies. Bennie Griggs picked up the win.
King (L), Hill (2) and Henderson
Griggs (W) and Bennett
Meridians plated four runs in the top of the ninth and hung on for an 8-8 tie with Indian Head. Arne Thunander had a triple and two singles for Lloydminster. Rick Herrera, who started on the hill for the Meridians, had three singles.
Seoane, Martinez (9) and Miranda
Herrera, Martin (5) and Quane
"Screwiest play of the game came in the seventh when Johnny Ford executed the hidden ball trick with such adroitness that even the umpires were deceived. Juan Prats had reached third on the only two Meridian miscues in the game when he was caught napping. Ford's deception was so dextrous, however, that neither umpire saw Prats tagged a good three feet off base. So Prats remained on third and scored Rockets' fifth run when Yzquierdo lashed out a lusty triple." (Saskatoon Star Phoenix, 09 July, 1954)
(July 09) Lloydminster's speedy third baseman Johnny Ford hit a blistering .455 over his last six games to challenge Collins Jones of Moose Jaw for the batting lead. Ford increased his average to .371, just eight points back of Jones, the leader for most of the season. Curtis Tate of North Battleford maintained his hold on third spot, at .361. Reg Chopp of Moose Jaw moved into fourth spot, with a .329 mark. Len Breckner of Saskatoon had a .429 average but, with just 21 at bats did not qualify for the leader board. Jesse Blackman/Blackmon of North Battleford took over the home run lead, with seven. Tate continued to lead in RBI, with 23, one more than Harvey Allen of Moose Jaw.
AB R H RBI AVE
Breckner, SK 21 5 9 3 .429
Jones, MJ 95 19 36 20 .379
Rodness, LM 37 6 1 4 .378
Ford, LM 89 14 33 17 .371
Tate, NB 108 26 39 23 .361
White, IH 14 1 5 4 .357
L Dean, NB 17 3 6 3 .353
Wills, SK 38 8 13 9 .342
Chopp, MJ 79 12 26 20 .329
Bennett, SK 37 6 12 8 .324
Stuart, MJ 34 3 11 4 .324
Holdaway, NB 28 7 9 2 .321
Valladares, SK 98 15 31 13 .316
B Brown, RT 98 23 31 20 .316
Allen, MJ 86 17 27 22 .314
Conroy, MJ 81 21 25 6 .309
Trimont, SK 78 27 24 20 .308
Morrison, RT 91 14 28 13 .308
McGuigan, LM 66 14 20 7 .303
King, RT 10 1 3 1 .300
M Bentley, SK 50 8 15 13 .300
Jackson, RT 97 22 29 19 .299
Garcia, IH 94 12 28 12 .298
Hill, RT 34 6 10 3 .294
Herrera, LM 76 9 22 11 .289
Burbage, RT 73 16 21 9 .288
Morton, RT 80 13 23 14 .288
B Bentley, SK 87 11 25 14 .287
Summers, RT 42 4 12 6 .286
McLeod, NB 63 14 18 8 .286
Girado, MJ 56 7 16 2 .286
Miranda, IH 77 11 22 10 .286
Shirley, SK 53 13 15 13 .283
(July 09) Bill Stites, a newcomer to the Beavers from Calgary, allowed just three hits and stuck out 13 as North Battleford handed the Rockets a 6-1 defeat. Stites also picked up two hits at the plate. Stites and Kenny Nelson were on base in the third when Jesse Blackman/Blackmon blasted a homer. Moses Darby had a pair of hits for Indian Head.
Martinez (L) and Miranda
Stites (W) and Green
(July 10) A brilliant pitching performance by Ted Wills carried the Gems to a 6-0 win over Moose Jaw. Wills allowed only 2 hits and fanned 13. He gave up two walks. Wills and his battery mate, Bob Bennett, each had two hits for Saskatoon.
Gray (L) and Loe
Wills (W) and Bennett
(July 11) At Lloydminster, Gilberto Yzquierdo's single in the top of the 10th drove in what proved to be the winner in the Rockets 3-2 victory. It was the completion of the game halted by rain after six innings the night before. Juan Prats went the distance for the win. Bob Rosell was the complete-game loser for the Meridians. Arne Thunander had a triple and single for Lloydminster and Roberto Zayas chipped in with two hits. Indian Head went on to win the regularly scheduled contest 5-4. Prats, who had two hits in the completion game, had three more in the second contest. .
Prats (W) and Miranda
Rosell (L) and Quane
Seoane, Hernandez (W) (2) and Miranda
Webb (L), Weekly (6) and Tanner
In a slugfest at Rosetown, Moose Jaw scored three in the 10th to down the Phillies 13-10. Mallards pounded out 21 hits with third baseman Andy Lillie cracking out five -- a triple, double and three singles in six times at the plate. Collins Jones, Ed Girado and Dick Loe each had three hits. Russ Stuart had a homer for the Mallards. Reg Jackson had the only homer for Rosetown. Buddy Burbage and Felton Morrison each had three hits for the Phillies
Seymour, Weldon (W) (3) and Loe
Summers, Bessicks (L) (6) and Henderson
In exhibition play, Saskatoon swept a twin-bill from the touring Jacksonville Eagles, 5-0 and 9-0. Don Kirk and Bobby Doig combined on a three-hitter in the first game while Bentley MacEwen and Ernie Koroluk allowed just four hits in the second game. Saskatchewan hurler Doug Dodd pitched for the Eagles in the second game.
Arango (L), EColeman (5) and Johnson
Kirk (W), Doig (6) and Bennett
Dodd (L) and Johnson
MacEwen, Koroluk (W) (6) and Bennett
(July 12) Newcomer Ed Tanner paced the Meridians to a 5-2 win over Rosetown. Tanner, a catcher, hit two triples and a single. The game featured an outstanding relief effort from Darrell Martin who came on with just one out and two runs across in the first and pitched shutout ball the rest of the way. Meridians scored four runs in the third inning on singles by Vincente Diaz and Chuck McGuigan, a double by Bob Rodness and the first of Tanner's triples.
Barton, Martin (W) (1) and Tanner
Hill (L) and Henderson
Sammy White was the story for the Rockets. He tossed a brilliant three-hitter at North Battleford and helped out at the plate with a two-run homer as Indian Head won, 9-2.
White (W) and Miranda
LDean (L), Kapp (4) and Green
Saskatoon whipped Moose Jaw 11-3 with Cliff Pemberton leading the way with three hits - a triple, double and single. He knocked in three runs. Dick Loe had a homer, double and single for the Mallards. Jim Morrow picked up the win for the Gems.
Morrow (W) and Bennett
Psome (L), King (8) and Loe
(July 12) Saskatoon acquired pitched Ted Ellis and outfielder Tony Levaggi for the remainder of the season. Both had starred with the Kamsack Cyclones.
(July 13) Bennie Griggs threw a three-hitter and struck out nine as the Gems shutdown Indian Head 7-0.
Griggs (W) and Bennett
Martinez (L) and Miranda
Pancho Gray pitched and batted Moose Jaw to a 10-9 win over North Battleford. Gray, who came on in relief in the 8th, singled and scored the winning run in the 10th. Penn Weldon, who drove in the winner, had earlier clouted a two-run homer. Reg Chopp had three hits for the Mallards.
Holdaway, Ellyson (L) (5) and Green
Seymour, Gray (W) (8) and Loe
Tom Mulcahy pitched an 11-inning, six-hitter and fanned 14, and had the games' only extra base hit -- a double -- but was the losing pitcher as the Meridians dropped a 3-1 extra inning affair to Rosetown. Mulcahy, a new recruit for the club, had just arrived in town the night previous. A pinch-hit single by Cy Morton drove in the winner for the Phillies. Boyd Brown went the distance for Rosetown allowing seven hits.
BBrown (W) and Henderson
Mulcahy (L) and Tanner
The Lloydminster executive announced that Bob Rodness would be leaving the club for business reasons. Rodness was hitting .378 just a percentage points behind the leader, Collins Jones of Moose Jaw. Two new players were expected to join the Meridians.
(July 15) Right-hander Ted Ellis led the Cyclones to victory in the 16-team Indian Head Tournament. Ellis allowed just seven hits and added a run-scoring double as Kamsack beat North Battleford 4-1 in the final. (See the Tournament Report)
(July 16) At Lloydminster, the Meridians beat Moose Jaw 7-5. Arne Thunander doubled and singled for the winners. Len Pyne was back in the Lloydminster lineup after a business trip to the U.S.
EColeman (L) and Loe
Rosell, Martin (W) (5) and Tanner
The hometown Rosetown Phillies defeated the Beavers 6-4 as Howard Warfield delivered a bases-clearing triple in the fourth inning. In his debut with Rosetown, Major Coleman held the Beavers to nine hits in registering the win.
Holdaway (L) and Green
MColeman (W) and Henderson
Bentley MacEwen and Jim Morrow combined on a seven-hitter as the Gems beat the Rockets 5-1.
Prats (L) and Yzquierdo
MacEwen (W), Morrow (6) and Bennett
(July 17) It was a day for the pitchers. Three games, all won by a single run, a total of eleven runs on the day. The bullpens got the day off as all six pitchers went the distance. Bennie Griggs allowed just four hits to win his 8th game as the Gems shaded the Beavers 2-1.
McLeod (L) and Nelson
Griggs (W) and Trimont
Max Weekly tossed a six-hitter to get the win as the Meridians beat Moose Jaw 3-2. Creon Psome allowed just five hits in a losing cause for the Mallards. Russ Stuart of Moose Jaw and Chuck McGuigan of the Meridians had the only extra base hits, each with a double. Johnny Ford and Reg Chopp each had two hits.
Psome (L) and Loe
Weekly (W) and Tanner
Boyd Brown was the winner as Rosetown beat Indian Head 2-1.
Martinez (L) and Yzquierdo
BBrown (W) and Henderson
(July 18) Saskatoon's Ted Wills allowed just one-hit in the Gems' 9-1 win over Lloydminster in the first game of a doubleheader. An eighth inning triple by catcher Jerry Quane was the only safety for the Meridians. The run scored on an error. Wills struck out seven and walked two. Percy Trimont had a two-run homer, a triple and single for the Gems.
Wills (W) and Bennett
Webb (L), Martin (2), Ford (5) and Quane
Lloydminster won the second game 4-2 behind a complete-game, seven-hitter from Tom Mulcahy. Len Pyne and Ed Tanner each had two hits for the Meridians while Bob Bennett and Bev Bentley each had two safeties for the Gems.
Kirk (L), Morrow (7) and Bennett
Mulcahy (W) and Tanner
Moose Jaw and North Battleford split their twin-bill. The Mallards scored five times in the first inning of the opener and went on to crush the Beavers 18-9. The contest featured eight home runs, five from the Mallards -- Collins Jones and Dick Loe each had a pair while George Lipscomb had a homer and three singles. Jones added a double and single. Jackie McLeod had two homers for the Beavers and Bill Stites had the other. Reg Chopp had four singles for the Mallards.
Weldon (W), Gray (7) and Loe
Blackman/Blackmon (L), L Dean (8) and Nelson
North Battleford got homers from Kenny Nelson and Curtis Tate in the second game and went on to a 6-4 victory.
Gray (L), L King (2) and Loe
Ellyson (W) and Nelson
In a single game, Rosetown topped Indian Head 9-7. Miguel Miranda belted a homer and a triple for the Phillies.
Seoane, Arango (L) (6) and Yzquierdo
Hill, Bessicks (W) (2), BBrown (9) and Henderson
(July 19) Bill Stites held Moose Jaw to six hits as the Beavers won 6-3. Reg Chopp of the Mallards had the lone homer, a three-run blast in the 8th inning.
King (L), Gray (1) and Loe
Stites (W) and Nelson
Lefty Summers spun a three-hitter and his teammates pounded out 12 hits as Rosetown thumped the Rockets 13-1 at Indian Head. Buddy Burbage had four hits for the winners and Arlington Henderson added three.
Summers (W) and Henderson
White (L) and Yzquierdo
(July 20) The Gems won the Saskatoon Exhibition Tournament whipping Lloydminster 10-0 in the final. (See Tournament Report)
(July 20) Collins Jones of Moose Jaw regained the lead in the Saskatchewan Baseball League's batting race. In statistics through games of July 19th, Jones boosted his average to .382. He had briefly slipped to second spot behind Saskatoon's Ted Wills. Among his 47 hits, Jones had five home runs, three triples and nine doubles. Another Mallard, outfielder Reg Chopp hit .436 over his last nine games to increase his average from .326 to .365 to climb from seventh to the runner-up spot. Chopp was the league-leader in doubles, with ten. Saskatoon's Percy Trimont and Jesse Blackman/Blackmon of North Battleford shared the home run lead, each with seven. Cliff Pemberton, who moved to the Gems from Moose Jaw, batted at a .447 clip after seeing action in ten games but didn't have enough at bats to qualify for the league lead.
AB H AVE
Jones, MJ 123 47 .382
Chopp, MJ 118 43 .365
Bennett, SK 58 20 .345
Tate, NB 146 50 .342
Wills, SK 65 22 .338
Ford, LM 119 40 .336
Rodness, LM 57 19 .333
Hill, RT 40 13 .325
Morton, RT 100 32 .320
Girado, MJ 91 29 .319
Valladares, SK 125 39 .312
B Bentley, SK 113 34 .301
M Bentley, SK 50 15 .300
Morrison, RT 131 39 .298
Jackson, RT 131 39 .298
Stuart, MJ 65 19 .292
J Garcia, IH 132 38 .288
Burbage, RT 104 30 .288
Thunander, LM 63 18 .286
McLeod, NB 91 26 .286
Lillie, MJ 113 32 .283
Trimont, SK 104 29 .279
Summers, RT 58 16 .276
Shirley, SK 58 16 .276
(July 20) Saskatoon and Moose Jaw played to a 9-9 draw. Mallards scored in the bottom of the 9th to tie after the Gems had plated three runs in the top of the inning. Percy Trimont was the big gun for the Gems with a homer, double and single. Reg Chopp, George Lipscomb and Russ Stuart each had a double and single for Moose Jaw. Eddie Girado had a three-run double. Cliff Pemberton led the Saskatoon rally in the 9th with a single and Trimont followed with his two-bagger. Both scored on a single by Leopolo Reyes, who came home on an error. Penn Weldon, who singled, scored the tying run for Moose Jaw on Stuart's single to centre.
Doig, Griggs (3) and Bennett
EColeman, Gray (3) and Loe
(July 21) A scheduled double-header between the Gems and Rockets at Regina turned into a farce as Indian Head was unable to field a team and filled in with replacements from the touring Texas Jasper Steers. The first game was called after 4 1/2 innings with the Rockets ahead 14-4, then rain washed out the second contest with Saskatoon leading 2-0 in the second inning. Gem manager Ralph Mabee lodged a protest (which was upheld). Saskatoon had infielder Cliff Pemberton and outfielders Percy Trimont and Mario Herrera on the mound. Orlando Arango set the Gems down on five hits. Roy Williams of the Steers, who had played in 1953 with the Regina Caps, had 2 singles and 4 RBI's as a replacement player for the Rockets. Catcher Miguel Miranda had three walks in three trips and scored three times.
Pemberton (L), Trimont (3), Herrera (4) and Bennett
Arango (W) and Miranda
(July 22) The game between Indian Head and Moose Jaw had 21 runs, 28 hits and 13 errors. Indian Head won 15-6. Antonio Iglesias and Sylvio Mesa had homers for the Rockets. Shortstop Juan Garcia punched out four hits and drove in three. Winning pitcher Sergio Fabre had three hits. Eddie Girado had three for the Mallards.
Fabre (W) and Yzquierdo
Psome (L), Gray (4) and Loe
The Rockets added five players -- Ross Washington, Robert Johnson, Clarence York, Silvio Rodriguez and Jim Williams, all identified as former members of the Jacksonville Eagles. The club had run short of players after firing Marcelino Arozarena, Pedro Seoane, Mario Penalver, Moses Darby and Armando Martinez.
The League allowed Moose Jaw's signing of pitchers Bob Holowaty and Dave Kosteniuk, infielders Roy Zivanich and Tom Higa and outfielder Bill Findley from the Kamsack Cyclones. Saskatoon was denied permission to sign Kamsack pitcher Ted Ellis.
(July 23) North Battleford crushed the Meridians 10-2 as Ed Kapp allowed just two hits and helped at the plate with a pair of hits and three runs batted in. Art Stone and Roy Dean had homers for the Beavers who had 16 hits. Dean added a double and single. Roberto Zayas had a homer for Lloydminster.
Weekly (L), Webb (3) and Tanner
Kapp (W) and Nelson
Moose Jaw took advantage of eight Indian Head errors to score an 8-6 win. Penn Weldon scattered 10 hits to gain the mound decision over Rod Rodriguez. Dick Loe, Russ Stuart and George Lipscomb each had two hits for the winners. Ross Washington poked out three safeties for the Rockets.
Weldon (W) and Loe
Rodriguez (L), Pilato (7) and Johnson
(July 24) Curtis Tate and Chico O'Farrill had homers as Beavers topped Indian Head 8-5. Jesse Blackman/Blackmon added a triple and single. Chuck Holdaway held the Rockets to eight hits through seven innings to pick up the win. Jackie McLeod hurled the last two frames for the Beavers. Sammy White took the loss.
White (L), Arango (8) and Johnson
Holdaway (W), McLeod (8) and Nelson
Rosetown Phillies out-hit Moose Jaw 13-12 but made 11 errors, walked six and allowed five stolen bases in going down to a 13-4 defeat to the Mallards. Third baseman Andy Lillie had three hits from the leadoff spot to spark the winners. Collins Jones, Bill Conroy and George Lipscomb each had a pair of hits. Lipscomb had three stolen bases and Conroy had two. Howard Warfield and Cy Morton had three hits apiece for the Phillies. Creon Psome went the distance for the win.
Summers (L), Bessicks (6), Hill (6) and Henderson
Psome (W) and Loe
(July 25) Jesse Blackman/Blackmon pitched a one-hitter to lead North Battleford to a 3-1 victory over Rosetown in the first of two. He walked three and fanned four. Catcher Arlington Henderson had a single to break up Blackman/Blackmon's no-hit bid. Beavers' catcher Ken Nelson, who allowed the only Rosetown run to score on a passed ball, had four hits to lead the North Battleford offense.
Blackman/Blackmon (W) and Nelson
BBrown (L) and Henderson
In the second game, Phillies pounded out 17 hits to win 12-7. Cy Morton, Ben Brown and Buddy Burbage each had three hits. Brown and Burbage had triples and Morton a double. Jesse Blackman/Blackmon had three hits for the Beavers.
LDean (L), Ellyson (3), McLeod (7)and Nelson
MColeman, Hill (W) (5), Bessicks (8) and Henderson
Meridians made four costly errors and went down to a 5-1 defeat to Indian Head. Each pitcher -- Jose Hernandez for the Rockets and Darrell Martin for the Meridians -- scattered eight hits. Jerry Quane had three hits for Lloydminster. Juan Garcia and Sylvio Mesa each had two safeties for the winners.
Hernandez (W) and Johnson
Martin (L) and Tanner
(July 26) Indian Head edged Lloydminster 4-3. A fourth inning triple by Ross Washington was the key blow for the Rockets. Francisco Pilato stopped the Meridians on seven hits to gain his first win. Rick Herrera, playing shortstop, had two doubles for Lloydminster. Tom Mulcahy started and finished for the Meridians giving up 10 hits, fanning eight and allowing one walk.
Pilato (W) and Johnson
Mulcahy (L) and Tanner
Bennie Griggs got his 9th win, against a single defeat, as the Gems got by the Beavers 3-2. Catcher Bob Bennett drove in two runs for Saskatoon. Bill Stites limited Saskatoon to just seven hits in a losing cause.
Stites (L) and Nelson
Griggs (W) and Bennett
Howard Warfield stole the show in Rosetown. The Phillies' centre fielder knocked in three runs, including the winner in the 10th as Rosetown shaded Moose Jaw 5-4. On defense, Warfield made eight putouts in centre. In route-going performances, Preston Bessicks bested Lionel King on the hill. Andy Lillie, with two doubles and a single, led the Mallards.
King (L) and Loe
Bessicks (W) and Henderson
(July 27) North Battleford was in the market for a new manager after dumping Jackie McLeod.
(July 27) Saskatoon battered Moose Jaw pitchers for 17 hits in an 11-5 triumph. Ted Wills had a homer, double and two singles for the Germs. He drove in two runs, scored three times and added a stolen base. Bob Bennett and Ezequiel Diaz each had three. Collins Jones had three hits, including a pair of doubles for the Mallards. Andy Lillie also had three hits. Don Kirk went all the way for the win. Mallard reliever Lionel King pitched six innings of shutout ball after allowing a homer to Wills in the 3rd.
Kirk (W) and Bennett
Weldon (L), Gray (2), King (2) and Loe
Chuck Holdaway and Bill Stites combined on a four-hitter as the Beavers scored all their runs in the first inning and coasted to a 5-1 win over the Rockets. Beavers combined three walks with singles by Chico O'Farrill, Jesse Blackman/Blackmon and Art Stone for their five markers. Juan Prats relieved Indian Head starter Orlando Arango in the first and blanked the Beavers the rest of the way.
Arango (L), Prats (1) and Johnson
Holdaway (W), Stites (7) and Green
(July 28) Moose Jaw outfielder Collins Jones opened up a 36-point lead atop the Saskatchewan Baseball League batting race. Jones, at .367, topped teammate Reg Chopp who took over the lead in runs batted in, with 33. Percy Trimont of Saskatoon led in homers, with eight. Jose Valladares of Saskatoon had 14 stolen bases, the most in the loop. Bennie Griggs of Saskatoon, with a 9-1 record, continued to lead the pitchers.
Saskatoon had four hitters with averages of .365 or better, but none of them with enough at bats to qualify among the leaders. Red Pemberton had a .420 mark for 50 trips, Len Breckner .385 in 26 at bats, Ted Wills .373 for 75 at bats, and Bob Bennett .365 for 71 at bats.
AB H AVE
Jones, MJ 150 55 .367
Chopp, MJ 148 49 .331
Tate, NB 170 55 .324
Morton, RT 118 38 .322
Lillie, MJ 141 45 .319
Girado, MJ 113 36 .319
Ford, LM 126 40 .317
J Garcia, IH 156 49 .314
Valladares, SK 137 41 .299
O'Farrill, NB 148 44 .297
Trimont, SK 115 34 .296
Burbage, RT 120 35 .292
Allen, MJ 104 30 .288
Jackson, RT 146 42 .288
B Bentley, SK 122 35 .287
Morrison, RT 148 42 .284
B Brown, RT 150 42 .280
Reyes, SK 150 41 .273
Stone, NB 158 43 .272
Herrera, LM 119 32 .269
McLeod, NB 101 27 .267
Diaz, SK 135 36 .267
Blackman/Blackmon, NB 160 42 .263
Henderson, RT 142 37 .261
(July 29) Ron Webb threw a 3-hit shutout as Lloydminster won the $1,100 top prize in the Rosetown Tournament with a 2-0 win over the hometown Phillies. (See Tournament Report)
(July 30) Bob Rosell allowed just three hits as Lloydminster scored a 6-2 win over Indian Head. Catcher Ed Tanner had a double and three singles to drive in three runs for the Meridians. Second baseman Chuck McGuigan knocked in a pair. Manola Rodriguez was the losing pitcher.
Rodriguez (L), Arango (6) and Johnson
Rosell (W) and Tanner
Jesse Blackman/Blackmon went the distance on the hill and had three hits and drove in a pair as North Battleford Beavers turned back Moose Jaw 7-3. Pitcher Bill Stites, playing right field, added three hits and Jim McMahon and Art Stone each had two. Emery Coleman was the loser. The Beavers' new playing manager, Ken Nelson, has ejected in the 6th inning after protesting a thrid strike call.
Blackman/Blackmon (W) and Green
EColeman (L) and Loe
W L GB
Saskatoon 29 8 --
North Battleford 25 20 8
Indian Head 18 21 12
Rosetown 18 23 13
Moose Jaw 15 22 14
Lloydminster 13 24 16
(July 31) Three errors in the ninth deprived Rosetown's Lefty Summers of a shutout, but the Phillies still picked up a 4-2 win against Moose Jaw. Summers also helped at the plate with a double and a single. Shortstop Harold Johnson added two safeties for Rosetown. Dave Kosteniuk, a newcomer to the Mallards from Kamsack Cyclones, allowed just seven hits and fanned nine, but came away the loser. Andy Lillie had three hits for the Mallards.
Summers (W) and Henderson
Kosteniuk (L) and Loe
In Regina, a costly error by North Battleford first baseman Jesse Blackman/Blackmon resulted in three unearned runs as Indian Head beat the Beavers 6-4. Sergio Fabre went the distance for the win, scattering nine hits. Clarence York belted a two-run double for the winners while Art Stone drove in three runs for North Battleford with a triple, double and single. Chuck Holdaway allowed just seven hits in taking the loss.
Holdaway (L) and Green
Fabre (W) and Johnson, Miranda (7)
(August 2) Left-hander Ted Wills threw a five-hit shutout and had a big day at the plate with a pair of doubles and a single as Saskatoon whipped Lloydminster 7-0. Wills had ten strikeouts. Meridians had only one good scoring opportunity. In the 3rd inning, Oswaldo Garcia tried to score from second base on Chuck McGuigan's single to right but was cut down at the plate on a throw by Percy Trimont. Gems' catcher Bob Bennett was hit in the throat by a foul tip in the 8th inning and temporarily kayoed. He wanted to continue catching but Gem's management took him out.
Herrera (L), Mulcahy (4) and Tanner
Wills (W) and Bennett, Trimont (8)
Rosetown and the Beavers battled to a 6-6 tie in a game called because of darkness. Trailing 6-3 in the bottom of the 9th, Reg Jackson began the Rosetown rally with a double, his second of the game. Ben Brown plated the run with a single then Harold Johnson's four-bagger tied it for the Phils. Johnson also had a pair of singles. Chico O'Farrill knocked in four runs for North Battleford with a two-run double in the first and a two-run single in the 9th.
Stites and Green
Brown and Henderson
Sylvio Mesa belted two homers, driving in four runs, to lead Indian Head past Moose Jaw 6-4. His three-run blast in the ninth proved to be the winning margin. Rockets overcame an early 4-0 deficit to capture the victory. Right fielder Reg Chopp had three of the five Moose Jaw hits. Reliever Orlando Arango picked up the win in relief of starter Sammy White. Lionel King took the loss.
White, Arango (W) (7), Fabre (9) and Johnson
King (L) and Loe
W L GB
Saskatoon 30 8 --
North Battleford 25 21 9
Indian Head 20 21 11 /2
Rosetown 19 23 13
Moose Jaw 15 24 15 1/2
Lloydminster 13 25 17
(August 3) Moose Jaw Mallards stopped Saskatoon's home winning streak at 16 games with a 5-4 win over the Gems in a 10 inning contest at Cairns Field. The loss was just Saskatoon's 10th in 40 league games. In the 10th, Eddie Girado walked, moved to third on Russ Stuart's single and scored when the Gems tried to nab Stuart on a steal of second. Reliever Dave Kosteniuk, who blanked the Gems on one hit for the final three innings, picked up the win. After the Mallards had taken a 1-0 lead in the first inning, the Gems jumped into the lead in the 3rd as Mario Herrera belted a bases-clearing triple. Collins Jones drove in runs for Moose Jaw in the 3rd and 5th innings to knot the score at 3-3 and Moose Jaw took the lead in the 7th on Dick Loe's sacrifice fly. Saskatoon bounced back in the bottom of the 7th as Cliff Pemberton walked and scored on an error and wild pitch.
EColeman, Kosteniuk (W) (7) and Loe
MacEwen, Doig (L) (4) and Bennett
Ed Kapp held Indian Head to just three hits and North Battleford scored an 8-1 decision over the Rockets. Chico O'Farrill sparked the Beaver offensive with four hits. a triple and three singles. Art Stone had three hits and Kapp contributed a double and single. Indian Head pitcher Juan Prats accounted for the lone run for the Rockets with a homer.
Kapp (W) and Green
Prats (L) and Johnson
Rosetown got a combined three-hitter from Preston Bessicks and veteran Benny Hill to shade the Lloydminster Meridians 4-2. Centre fielder Howard Warfield provided the offense for the Phillies, driving in Buddy Burbage with the game's first run in the second inning then, after Lloydminster had tied the score in the 7th, he blasted a bases-loaded triple to put Rosetown ahead 4-1. Meridians loaded the bases in the 9th with just one out. Benny Hill came on in relief and allowed one run on a wild pitch but then got Arne Thunander on a pop out and fanned pinch hitter Darrell Martin to end the game. Max Weekly went the distance for Lloydminster and took the loss in spite of a six-hit performance. He fanned 11 and walked just one.
Weekly (L) and Tanner
Bessicks (W) , Hill (9) and Henderson
W L GB
Saskatoon 30 9 --
North Battleford 26 21 8
Indian Head 20 22 11 /2
Rosetown 20 23 12
Moose Jaw 16 24 141/2
Lloydminster 13 26 17
(August 4) In the All-Star game, Saskatoon Gems scored a 5-2 victory. Bennie Griggs, 9-1 on the season for the league-leading Gems, held the All-Stars to five hits in a route-going performance. Bob Bennett's two-run double in the sixth was the key blow.
Kapp, Weekly (4), Brown (7) and Green, Loe ( )
Griggs and Bennett
(August 5) In an unusual exhibition match, Saskatoon Gems beat the Senior Men's All-Stars 18-5 in a contest which combined baseball and softball. Gems scored all their runs during the four innings of baseball. Against the pitching of Len Breckner, Gems pushed across four in the 1st, six in the 2nd and eight in the 3rd. They had nine hits and had help from eleven walks and six errors. All-Stars notched three runs in the 3rd on six straight walks from starter Ernie Koroluk and reliever Bentley MacEwen. Cliff Pemberton pitched the softball portion for the Gems.
(August 5) Bob Holowaty pitched one-hit ball as Kamsack downed Winnipeg Jays 2-0 in the first game of an exhibition series at Madge Lake. Jim McDonald's safety in the 9th broke up Holowaty's no-hit bid. Art Shahzade drove in both Cyclones' runs with a double in the 4th inning. Bill Finley led Kamsack to a win in the second game with a homer and a single while Tom Higa punched out a triple and two singles. Harold Moffitt hurled a five-hitter for the Cyclones.
(August 7) Moose Jaw took a four-run lead after the first inning and held on to shade Indian Head 7-6. Second baseman Russ Stuart was the star for the Mallards turning in a brilliant defensive show and blasting a two-run homer and adding a pair of singles. Creon Psome held the Rockets to seven hits in a route-going effort. First baseman Antonio Iglesias belted a homer for Indian Head and Leo Xiques had three hits.
Washington (L), Arango (1), Rodriguez (7) and Miranda
Psome (W) and Loe
(August 8) Saskatoon had just four hits but shutout Rosetown 1-0 to sweep a double-header from the Phillies. Gems won the opener 5-3. Ted Wills was instrumental in both wins. His first inning triple gave Saskatoon its first run in the opening game and an eighth inning double in the second game drove in the game's only run. Don Kirk and Bob Doig had the complete-game wins for the Gems. Boyd Brown allowed just nine hits in losing the opener and Major Coleman fired a four-hitter, with 12 strikeouts, in registering the defeat in the second game.
Kirk (W) and Bennett
Brown (L) and Henderson
Doig (W) and Bennett
MColeman (L) and Price
W L GB
Saskatoon 32 9 --
North Battleford 26 21 9
Indian Head 20 23 13
Rosetown 20 25 14
Moose Jaw 17 24 15
Lloydminster 13 26 18
(August 9) Again Ted Wills was a one-man band as Saskatoon Gems blanked Rosetown 5-0. Wills tossed a three-hitter for his 5th mound victory and clouted a triple and two singles for the winners. Preston Bessicks gave up nine hits in taking the loss.
After the game the teams staged a novelty program in front of the grandstand and it turned out to be a major hit. Rosetown's Dick Price, Major Coleman, Harold Johnson, Lefty Summer and Felton Morrison sang for the crowd of 1,400 and drew round after round of applause. Buddy Burbage did as well for his tap dancing. The evening also featured a walking race and a wheelbarrow race with blindfolded racing teams.
Bessicks (L) and Henderson
Wills (W) and Bennett
Moose Jaw scored three in the sixth to squeeze out a 6-5 win over Lloydminster. Meridians had taken a 5-3 lead in the third on a single by Roberto Zayas, a triple by Chuck McGuigan, a base on balls and Rick Herrera's three-run homer. Bill Findley, a recent addition to the Mallards' roster from the Kamsack Cyclones, led Moose Jaw with three hits and three RBI. Zayas had three hits for Lloydminster. Dave Kosteniuk went the route for the win.
Webb (L), Weekly (4) and Tanner
Kosteniuk (W) and Loe
Indian Head scored three runs in the final inning to best North Battleford 10-7. Miguel Miranda and Clarence York led the Rockets; offense each with three hits. Miranda drove in four runs with a double and two singles while York knocked in three with two doubles and one single. Sergio Fabre was the winner, in relief of starter Jose Hernandez. Bill Stites poked out three hits for North Battleford.
Blackman/Blackmon (L) and Green
Hernandez, Fabre (W) (4) and Miranda
(August 10) Jesse Blackman/Blackmon drove in three runs and scored the fourth as the Beavers got by Moose Jaw 4-2. Blackman/Blackmon had a triple and a homer for North Battleford. Bill Stites pitched into the 7th inning to gain the win. Bob Holowaty took the loss.
Stites (W), Holdaway (7) and Green
Holowaty (L) and Loe
Felton Morrison's single in the bottom of the final frame knocked in the winner as Rosetown upset the league-leading Gems 6-5. The game was called after seven innings because of darkness. Morrison's safety, his second of the game, came with the bases loaded and two out. Lefty Summers, with three innings of no-hit relief, was the winning pitcher over Bennie Griggs.
MacEwen, Griggs (L) (5) and Bennett
Hill, Summers (W) (3) and Henderson
(August 11) Moose Jaw teammates Collins Jones and Reg Chopp remained atop the batting race in statistics through games of August 10th. Jones, although down to .341, maintained a healthy lead on Chopp, at .327. Jones also took over the league lead in RBI, with 37. A hot streak by North Battleford's Orlando Chico O'Farrill moved him into third place, at .324. Bennie Griggs of Saskatoon had the most wins, nine, but Sergio Fabre of Indian Head Rockets took over the pitching lead with a perfect 5-0 record. Lloydminster's Ed Tanner had a .436 average but did not have enough at bats to qualify. In a similar position were Ted Wills of Saskatoon, at .396, and the Gems' Cliff Pemberton at .352.
AB H AVE
Jones, MJ 182 62 .341
Chopp, MJ 168 55 .327
O'Farrill, NB 173 56 .324
Tate, NB 196 62 .316
Lillie, MJ 174 55 .316
Stuart, MJ 127 40 .315
Ford, LM 144 43 .299
Stone, NB 183 54 .295
Morton, RT 149 43 .289
Valladares, SK 161 46 .286
Burbage, RT 147 42 .286
Trimont, SK 134 38 .284
Blackman, NB 181 51 .282
B Brown, RT 175 49 .280
Girado, MJ 141 39 .277
Garcia, IH 183 50 .273
Reyes, SK 173 47 .272
Jackson, RT 177 48 .271
Morrison, RT 176 47 .267
W L PCT
Fabre, SK 5 0 1.000
Kirk, SK 7 1 .875
Wills, SK 5 1 .833
Hernandez, IH 5 1 .833
Griggs, SK 9 2 .818
Morrow, SK 4 1 .800
Doig, SK 3 1 .750
Kapp, NB 3 1 .750
Holdaway, NB 6 3 .667
Hill, RT 3 2 .600
Rosell, LM 3 2 .600
MacEwen, SK 3 2 .600
Gray, MJ 3 3 .500
Brown, RT 5 5 .500
Blackman, NB 5 5 .500
(August 11) Darrell Martin and Francisco Pilato hooked up in a brilliant pitching duel which was decided by errors. None of the runs were earned as Lloydminster edged Indian Head 2-1. Each pitcher gave up six hits. Each team scored in the first inning. Chuck McGuigan scored for the Meridians when he singled then came around to score on a pair of miscues as he tried to steal second. For the Rockets, Mario Penalver reached on an error and scored on consecutive singles by Sylvio Mesa and Clarence York. In the ninth, the Meridians loaded the bases on a walk, and infield error and a single. Rick Herrera scored the winner on a ground out by pinch-hitter Bob Rosell.
Martin (W) and Tanner
Pilato (L) and Miranda
Lefty Summers picked up the win as Rosetown beat Moose Jaw 5-3. He held the Mallards to seven hits. Arlington Henderson scored what proved to be the winning marker in the 5th inning when he drew a walk, stole second and came home on a single by Buddy Burbage. Ben Brown added an insurance run in the 8th with a homer. Russ Stuart had a double and single for Moose Jaw. Creone Psome and Pancho Gray gave up just five hits in a losing effort.
Summers (W) and Henderson
Psome; Gray (L) (4) and Loe
(August 11) An unusual inside-the-park homer by Len Breckner broke a 2-2 tie and carried Saskatoon to a 5-2 exhibition win over Kamsack Cyclones before 15-hundred fans at Saskatoon. Cyclones' right fielder Hal Moffitt lost sight of Breckner's high drive and it landed close to the fence, rolling down behind a bench. While Kamsack players looked feverishly for the ball, Breckner circled the bases. Jim Morrow went the distance for the Gems holding Kamsack to six hits. Ted Ellis was the loser, allowing 12 hits. Mario Herrera had two doubles and a single for the winners. The start of the game was delayed about twenty minutes as Kamsack had car trouble on the way to Saskatoon. Cyclones arrived without their regular catcher Bill Schulz who, early Wednesday, sustained a bad cut on his foot while chopping wood at Madge Lake. It was the final action of the season for the Cyclones with most of the players heading back to their homes in California.
Ellis (L) and Bennett
Morrow (W) and Trimont
W L GB
Saskatoon 33 10 --
North Battleford 27 22 9
Indian Head 21 24 13
Rosetown 22 26 14
Moose Jaw 18 26 15
Lloydminster 14 27 18
(August 12) Collins Jones broke out of a batting slump with three hits including a game-winning, 10th inning double as Moose Jaw swept a twin-bill from the Meridians with a 4-3 win in the second game. Mallards won the opener 7-5. Jones knocked in Andy Lillie, who had walked and advanced on an error. Meridians' Johnny Ford had tied the game 3-3 with a pinch-hit homer in the ninth. Dave Kosteniuk went all the way for the win giving up nine hits. Max Weekly and Tom Mulcahy, who came on in relief in the ninth, allowed just seven hits. In the first game, Emery Coleman went the distance on the hill and punched out a three-run triple for the Mallards. Roberto Zayas had a lead-off homer for Lloydminster in the first game.
Rosell (L) and Tanner
EColeman (W) and Loe
Weekly, Mulcahy (L) (9) and Tanner
Kosteniuk (W) and Loe
Louis Green had three hits, including a triple, as North Battleford won 6-5 over Indian Head. Beavers plated a pair in the 7th inning to come from behind for the victory. Ed Kapp went the distance for the win, besting Sammy White. Juan Garcia had three hits, including a double, for the Rockets. The game was played at Fort Qu'Ap;pelle.
Kapp (W) and Green
White (L) and Johnson
Rosetown's Major Coleman allowed but three hits but ended up on the short end of a 3-2 score as Saskatoon beat the Phillies. Gems' Don Kirk fanned fifteen to set a Saskatchewan Baseball League strikeout mark. Max Weekly had held the mark with fourteen. Kirk allowed ten hits and walked five in his winning performance. Gems won the match with a two-run 6th inning as Bev Bentley singled to score both Cliff Pemberton and Percy Trimont. Trimont had received an intentional pass.
MColeman (L) and Henderson
Kirk (W) and Bennett
(August 13) Percy Trimont's towering seventh inning homer broke a tie as the Gems went on to beat the Rockets 4-2 in the second game of a double header at Indian Head. Bentley MacEwen went the distance for the win and aided the offense with a two-run double. Orlando Arango gave up just five hits in taking the loss.
MacEwen (W) and Bennett
Arango (L) and Johnson, Miranda (7)
In the opener, unbeaten Sergio Fabre held the Gems to three hits while the Rockets pounded out eleven hits off Bennie Griggs to win 7-1. Leopoldo Xiques led the Rockets with a double and two singles. Clarence York added a double and single. Leopoldo Reyes of the Gems had two of the three hits off Fabre.
Griggs (L) and Bennett
Fabre (W) and Johnson
Rosetown beat Moose Jaw 6-4. Phillies used a five-run outburst in the 3rd inning, helped by three Moose Jaw errors, to secure the victory. A spectacular catch in centre field by the Phillies' Howard Warfield likely saved the day for Rosetown. In the 8th inning, with a man on base, the Mallards' Pancho Gray belted one to centre which appeared destined to fall in safely, but Warfield pulled it in to get Boyd Brown out of trouble. Brown scattered 11 hits to capture the mound win. Lionel King and Gray allowed just five hits in taking a loss.
King (L), Gray (3) and Loe
Brown (W) and Henderson
North Battleford scored seven in the seventh to top Lloydminster 11-8. The Meridians had jumped into a 6-1 lead in the 2nd inning helped by Rick Herrera's four-bagger. The Beavers battled back with three in the third inning as Chico O'Farrill homered but Lloydminster went up 8-4 in the 4th on Johnny Ford's two-run blast. The Beavers had six hits in their big 7th frame. Chuck Holdaway, who relieved starter Gerry Ellyson in the 2nd, went the rest of the way for the win.
Mulcahy (L) and Tanner
Ellyson, Holdaway (W) (2) and Green
(August 14) A three-run third inning carried the Lloydminster Meridians to a 4-3 win over Saskatoon. In a battle of lefthanders, the Meridians' Ron Webb bested the Gems' Bob Doig. Third baseman Johnny Ford had two hits and drove in a pair to pace the border-city crew.
Doig (L) and Bennett
Webb (W) and Tanner
Bob Holowaty, an addition to the Mallards from Kamsack, pitched a four-hitter and Moose Jaw banged out 13 hits to whip North Battleford 9-1. Three times the Mallards' infield pulled off bases-loaded double plays. The league's top hitter, Collins Jones of the Mallards, had two hits.
Holowaty (W) and Loe
Stites (L) and Green
(August 14) Rosetown Phillies shutout Indian Head Rockets 5-0 in a game played at Tisdale. Ben Hill hurled the shutout for the Phillies.
xxx and xxx
Hill (W) and xxx
(August 15) After being held scoreless for eight innings, Saskatoon exploded for five runs in the ninth to beat the Meridians 5-1 in the second game of a double-header to clinch top spot in the Saskatchewan Baseball League. Gems had only six hits off Max Weekly, but took advantage of five Lloydminster errors. Don Kirk held the Meridians to five hits in gaining the decision, his 9th win against just one loss. Big blows in the game were triples by Percy Trimont of the Gems and Bob Rosell of the Meridians.
Kirk (W) and Bennett
Weekly (L) and Tanner
Gems won the first game 3-1 behind the five-hit pitching of Jim Morrow. Darrell Martin allowed seven hits in going the distance for the Meridians. Jose Vallarades and Ted Wills each had two hits.
Morrow (W) and Bennett
Martin (L) and Tanner
Moose Jaw topped North Battleford 4-2. Andy Lillie and George Lipscomb belted home runs for the Mallards. In the weekend series, the league's top hitter, Collins Jones, went five-for-nine while teammate Lillie had six hits in ten at bats. The Moose Jaw infield continued its outstanding defense with another pair of double plays.
Psome (W) and Loe
Kapp (L) and Green
Rosetown scored four runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to shade the Indian Head Rockets 6-4. With two out in the 8th, Lefty Summers tripled to score Reg Jackson and Cy Morton followed with another three-base hit to plate the second run of the inning. A wild pitch and singles by Ben Hill, Felton Morrison and Buddy Burbage scored two more. Morrison and Burbage each had three hits. Preston Bessicks and Hill combined to hold the Rockets to six hits.
Rodriguez (L), Fabre (8), Hernandez (8) and Miranda
Bessicks, Hill (W) (7) and Henderson
W L GB
Saskatoon 37 12 --
North Battleford 29 24 10
Rosetown 25 27 14
Moose Jaw 22 27 15
Indian Head 22 28 15
Lloydminster 15 32 21
(August 17) Juan Garcia belted a three-run homer as the Rockets edged the Meridians 13-12 in 10 innings in the completion of the July 8th 8-8 tie. Lloydminster appeared to have the game in hand after scoring four times in their at bat on a double by Arne Thunander, singles by Bob Rosell and Rick Herrera, an error and a walk. But the Rockets replied with singles by Leo Xiques and Sylvio Mesa, a walk, an error and Juan Garcia's three-run homer. In the regularly scheduled game, Indian Head won 4-2 with each side being held to five hits. Sergio Fabre got both wins, his 7th and 8th without a defeat. Darrell Martin suffered both defeats. Lloydminster made four costly errors in the second game.
Seoane, Martinez (9), Fabre (W) 10) and Miranda
Herrera, Martin (L) (5) and Quane, Tanner (10)
Martin (L) and Tanner
Fabre (W) and Yzquierdo
(August 17) Moose Jaw Mallards, held to one hit through the first six innings, had three hits in the 7th, singles by George Lipscomb, Dave Kosteniuk and Andy Lillie to plate two to break a scoreless tie en route to a 3-1 win over Saskatoon. Bill Findley, Ed Girado and Russ Stuart poked singles in the 8th to add another marker. Gems' got their lone run when Kosteniuk walked pinch-hitter Len Breckner with the bases loaded. Koseniuk scattered nine hits to gain the win. Bennie Griggs was the loser in relief. Starter Bentley MacEwen of the Gems fanned 11 in his seven innings of work.
Kosteniuk (W) and Loe
MacEwen (L), Griggs (8) and Bennett
(August 17) Rosetown took two out of three from North Battleford. Harold Johnson, Howard Warwick and Ben Brown had homers as the Phillies won the first game 10-2 behind Boyd Brown's six-hitter. Johnson knocked in three runs and Boyd Brown helped the offense with a double and two singles. Curtis Tate banged out three hits for the Beavers.
Brown (W) and Henderson
Blackman/Blackmon (L) and Green
In the second game, Major Coleman and Preston Bessicks combined on a three-hitter to shutout the Beavers 4-0. Coleman went the first eight innings for the win. He had 9 strikeouts and 7 bases on balls. The Phillies did all their scoring in the second inning. Cy Morton drove in two runs with a single. Chuck Holdaway allowed just five hits in taking the loss. he fanned 12 and walked 3. Beavers had the bases loaded in the 9th with nobody out but couldn't score.
MColeman (W), Bessicks (9) and Price
Holdaway (L) and Green
And, in the completion of the August 2nd 6-6 tie, the Beavers salvaged a win for the day pushing across a run in the first extra frame on a hit and two errors. Bill Stites received credit for the win with relief help by Jesse Blackman/Blackmon.
Stites (W), Blackman/Blackmon (10) and Green
Brown (L) and Henderson
(August 18) Francisco Pilato was the star as the Rockets took two from Lloydminster. Pilato pitched both games holding the Meridians to five hits in each as Indian Head won 1-0 and 8-1. Sylvio Mesa doubled and scored the only run in the opener and slammed a two-run homer in the nightcap. Mario Penalver had two doubles and a single in the second game for the Rockets. Leo Xiques and Antonio Iglesias each has two hits. Bob Rosell lost a heartbreaker in the first game, allowing just three hits. He also suffered the loss in the second game, giving up six runs before being relieved in the sixth.
Rosell (L) and Tanner
Pilato (W) and Yzquierdo
Rosell (L), Quane (6) and Tanner
Pilato (W) and Yzquierdo
(August 19) Lefty Ron Webb allowed just four hits and a pair of earned runs but ended up with a loss as the Meridians split a double-header with Moose Jaw. The Mallards beat Webb 5-2 as Lloydminster committed four miscues. Bob Holowaty fired a four-hitter, with ten strikeouts, for the win. Mallards broke a 2-2 tie with a three-run 6th inning. Right fielder George Lipscomb drove in two with a double.
Webb (L) and Tanner
Holowaty (W) and Loe
Meridians scored early and often in the opener to post a 15-5 victory. Roberto Zayas had the first of Lloydminster's seventeen hits, a homer on the game's first pitch. Ed Tanner drove in five runs with a double and a pair of singles. Rick Herrera had three hits. Tom Mulcahy picked up the complete game victory.
Mulcahy (W) and Tanner
EColeman (L), Gray (5) and Loe, Jones (8)
North Battleford overcame the pitching and hitting of Ted Wills to shade Saskatoon 4-3. Wills pitched a six-hitter, with eleven strikeouts and had a two-run homer. Errors hurt the Gems. Trailing 3-2, the Beavers knotted the count in the 6th inning when Curtis Tate singled, advanced to third on an error and promptly stole home. In the bottom of the 7th, Ken Nelson doubled and came in to score the winner on a single by Louis Green. Mario Herrera account for the second Saskatoon run with a homer. Jose Valladres had three hits for the Gems. Ed Kapp was the winner in relief.
Wills (L) and Bennett
Stites, Kapp (W) (5) and Green
Pitcher Benny Hill's two-run double in the 7th inning proved to be the difference as Rosetown topped Indian Head 4-3. Hill went the distance allowing nine hits and fanning nine. Rockets' second baseman Leo Xiques went 4 for 4 with two doubles and two singles. Juan Garcia had a homer for the losers. Jose Hernandez took the loss.
Hill (W) and Price
Hernandez (L), White (8) and Yzquierdo
W L GB
Saskatoon 37 14 --
North Battleford 31 26 9
Rosetown 28 28 11 1/2
Indian Head 26 29 13
Moose Jaw 24 28 13 1/2
Lloydminster 16 37 22
(August 20) Max Weekly out pitched Bennie Griggs as the Meridians beat the Gems 5-2. Arne Thunander of the Meridians and Percy Trimont of the Gems each had three hits. Gems broke a scoreless tie in the 4th inning on a walk and singles by Trimont, Len Breckner and Ezequiel Diaz. The Meridians bounced back with four in the 5th as Weekly, Roberto Zayas and Rick Herrera drove in runs. Singles by Herrera and Thunander produced another marker in the 8th.
Weekly (W) and Quane
Griggs (L) and Bennett
Indian Head picked up two wins from the Mallards. Rockets scored four in the 1st inning of the regularly scheduled game and held on to beat Moose Jaw 7-4. Leo Xiques, who had four hits Thursday, paced the 12-hit Indian Head attack with two doubles and a single. Miguel Miranda and Sylvio Mesa had homers for the winners. Reg Chopp clouted a two-run homer for Moose Jaw. Sergio Fabre picked up another win, his 9th of the season without a loss.
Seymour, WWilson (7), Psome (L) (10) and Loe
Hernandez, Fabre (W) (10) and Miranda
Rockets picked up a second win, 5-4, in the completion of a 4-4 tie on May 25th. Mesa led off the 11th with a triple and scored on Miranda's single. Right-hander Sergio Fabre picked up the win, his second of the day and 10th of the season, although giving up 14 hits and four runs.
Psome (L), Gray (1) and Loe
Fabre (W), White (8) and Miranda
(August 21) Meridians swept a twin-bill from Moose Jaw as Darrell Martin tossed a brilliant two-hit shutout and Jerry Quane, normally a catcher, pitched a five-hitter. Lloydminster won the opener 3-0 behind Martin. The Meridians had just five hits including a double by Rick Herrera and triple by Chuck McGuigan.
EColeman (L) and Loe
Martin (W) and Quane
Lloydminster scored in every inning in taking the seven-inning, second game 8-3. Meridians collected 12 hits off Dave Kosteniuk and Andy Lillie while Jerry Quane moved from behind the plate to the mound and held the Mallards to just five hits. Lloydminster ran wild on the bases with six thefts, three by Roberto Zayas.
Kosteniuk (L), Lillie (6) and Jones
Quane (W) and Tanner
(August 22) Lloydminster took its second twin-bill in two days with 3-1 and 5-4 victories over North Battleford. Tom Mulcahy picked up both victories, a complete game victory in the opener and a win in relief in the second game. First baseman Arne Thunander pitched the first four innings for the Meridians in the second game, giving way to catcher Ed Tanner before Mulcahy finished up. Lloydminster won the second game in the bottom of the 9th on back-to-back doubles from Bob Rosell and Thunander.
Holdaway (L) and Nelson
Mulcahy (W) and Tanner
Blackman/Blackmon, Stites (L) (7) and Nelson
Thunander; Tanner (5); Mulcahy (W) (8) and Quane
The Saskatoon Gems played four games Sunday, three at home, one on the road. They ended with two wins, a loss and a tie. The Gems split up the club, sending half the squad to Rosetown for an afternoon game while the other half hosted Indian Head in a twin-bill. The Phillies won 6-5 in 10 innings in Rosetown in spite of a six-hit, 14 strikeout performance by Bentley MacEwen. Reg Jackson singled in Buddy Burbage with the winner. Bennie Griggs had the big stick for the Gems with two triples and two singles in five trips to the plate. The makeshift lineup featured Percy Trimont catching, Griggs at first, Bev Bentley at second, Ezequiel Diaz at shortstop, Doug Bentley at third, and Don Kirk, Ted Ellis and Arlo Goodwin in the outfield.
MacEwen (L) and Trimont
Bessicks, Summers (5), Hill (W)(8) and Price
At Cairns Field, the Gems shaded the Rockets 2-1 in the first game as Bob Doig tossed a five-hitter. The teams tied 2-2 in the second game. In the opener, the Gems had just three hits and won the final frame as Len Breckner tripled and Mario Herrera singled to send him home with the winner.
Arango, Rodriguez (L) (6) and Miranda
Doig (W) and Bennett
The second game was cut short by the Sunday curfew. The Gems came from behind with two runs in the 5th to tie at 2-2. Jose Valladares drove in both Saskatoon markers. Mario Penalver had a triple for Indian Head and Juan Garcia and Ross Washington had doubles. Jim Morrow and Sammy White both went the distance.
White and Miranda
Morrow and Bennett
In the evening game, at home, the Gems fielded most of their regular lineup and proceed to trounced Rosetown 11-4. An eight-run explosion in the 5th inning put the game on ice. Saskatoon had 12 hits, but just one for extra bases - a triple by Cliff Pemberton. Rosetown had just six hits, but four went for extra bases. Harold Johnson and Howard Warfield belted homers for the Phillies with Johnson adding a double and Cy Morton a triple. Don Kirk registered his 10th win of the season.
MColeman (L), Bessicks (5), Summers (5), Hill (7) and Price
Kirk (W) and Bennett
W L GB
Saskatoon 39 16 --
North Battleford 31 28 10
Rosetown 29 29 11 1/2
Indian Head 28 30 12 1/2
Moose Jaw 24 32 15 1/2
Lloydminster 21 37 19 1/2
(August 23) Max Weekly had a two-hitter and a four-hitter but came away with just one victory as the Meridians wound up the season splitting a pair of five-inning encounters with with Rosetown. Meridians, who won six of their final seven games, scored three times in the first inning of the opener and went on to a 5-1 win. Roberto Zayas had two hits and Tom Mulcahy had the lone extra base hit, a double.
Brown (L) and Henderson
Weekly (W) and Tanner
The Phillies put three on the board in the first inning of the second game and held on to a 3-1 victory. Preston Bessicks tossed a three-hitter for the win. Reg Jackson has a pair of singles for Rosetown while Howard Warfield and Weekly rapped out doubles.
Bessicks (W) and Henderson
Weekly (L) and Quane
(August 23) Saskatoon which had probably set a standard with four games in a single day on Sunday, tried for five games on the closing day of the season.
In Saskatoon, the Gems split a double-header with Indian Head, winning 6-5 as Bennie Griggs went the distance, then losing 4-2 in the completion of Sunday's 2-2 tie. The first game was a replay of an earlier contest in which the Rockets had used ineligible players. The Gems had only nine players and used three pitchers in the outfield. Ross Washington and Francisco Pilato drove in the winning runs.
White, Pilato (W) and Miranda
Morrow, Griggs (L) and Bennett
In the nightcap, Saskatoon erupted for five runs in the first inning and held on for the 6-5 triumph. Griggs victory was his 10th of the season, against 5 losses. Ross Washington had a homer for the Rockets.
Pilato (L) and Johnson, Miranda (7)
Griggs (W) and Bennett
The rest of the team went to Moose Jaw to meet the Mallards in a triple-header. They won all three, but the victories were protested. Ted Ellis was credited with all three pitching wins. In the regular contest, the Gems won 13-8, then Saskatoon picked up two more victories, 11-8 and 8-4, in the completion of earlier tied games.
Ezequiel Diaz doubled in Mario Herrera and Percy Trimont bashed a two-run homer to give the Gems an 11-8 victory on the completion of an earlier tie game.
Morrow, Doig (4), Garcia (8), Ellis (W) and Shirley, Bennett
Seymour, Kosteniuk (L) and Loe
Saskatoon Gems erupted for four runs, on two hits, two walks and two errors, in the first extra inning to down Moose Jaw 8-4 in another completion game. Again, Ted Ellis picked up the win and Dave Kosteniuk was the loser.
Doig, Griggs (3), Ellis (W) and Bennett
EColeman, Gray (3), Kosteniuk (L) and Loe
In the final contest, Saskatoon broke an 8-8 tie with a five-run 7th inning to take the win. Mario Herrera started the rally with a walk followed by consecutive singles by Ezequiel Diaz, Percy Trimont and Jim Morrow. With a run in and the bases-loaded, Bev Bentley tripled to right to clear the sacks and came around to score on a Moose Jaw error. Diaz led the attack driving in four runs with a triple, double and single. Herrera had three hits. Collins Jones belted a homer and single for the Mallards and Russ Stuart drove in three runs with a double and single. Andy Lillie punched out three hits. Ted Ellis allowed ten hits but hung in for the complete game win, his third of the day.
Ellis (W) and Trimont
Lillie, Holowaty (L) (3) and Loe
W L GB
Saskatoon 43 17 --
North Battleford 31 28 11 1/2
Rosetown 30 30 13
Indian Head 29 31 14
Moose Jaw 24 35 18 1/2
Lloydminster 22 38 21