BEAVERLODGE TOURNAMENT
(May 24) Grande Prairie Athletics beat Sexsmith Rainiers 7-4 to win the final of the Beaverlodge tournament. Rainers had reached the final with an 8-7 win over the US Air Force Eagles. Oscar Tesch and Bill Ulmer handled the mound duties for Sexsmith.
LLOYDMINSTER LEGION TOURNAMENT
(June 16) In a miracle finish, the Meridians won the Lloydminster Legion Tournament with a thrilling 4-3, 13 inning victory over Saskatoon. A brilliant relief effort by Max Weekly was the key as the Meridians won their home tournament for the first time. Weekly came on in the fifth with the bases loaded and one out. He allowed just two hits over the final 8 2/3s innings and struck out seven batters.
Lloydminster was down 3-1 with two outs in the 9th. Second baseman Chuck McGuigan started the comeback with a single. Johnny Ford also singled. A third consecutive single, by Vincente Diaz, scored McGuigan and Ford notched the tying run when Leopoldo Reyes threw into the dirt at first on a drive off the bat of Rick Herrera.
In the13th, Gems' veteran Bennie Griggs lost control, walking Len Pyne and McGuigan then hitting Ford to load the bases. A hit and run play backfired with Pyne caught in a "hot box" between home and third. Pyne, however, scrambled to the plate as the throw went to third and the Meridians had top prize money of $1,450. The Lloydminster Times described the action as
" . . . by far the best of six Canadian Legion tournaments ... the tournament, which finished Wednesday in the smart Lloydminster park was amongst the best Alberta or the prairies has ever know."
MacEwen, Garcia (7), Griggs (11) and Shirley
Rosell, Weekly (5) and Quane
Ron Webb pitched a six-hitter and fanned 11 as the Meridians reached the final beating the Lloydminster Pirates 9-3. Chuck McGuigan knocked in three runs.
Gibbons, McGale (3) and Hamlin
Webb and Quane
For Saskatoon, Ted Wills allowed just six hits and fanned 11 as the Gems edged Rosetown 3-2 in the other semi-final game.
Wills and Bennett
Summers and Henderson
In the opening round, the Lloydminster Pirates surprised favoured Colonsay. Eddie Barrack held the Monarchs to six hits and fanned 12 as the Pirates pulled off a 6-2 victory. Ray Hamlin had the key blow, a first inning triple for the winners. Saskatoon knocked Indian Head out of the tournament setting down the Rockets 6-4, Percy Trimont had a homer for the Gems. Rosetown put the Beavers on the sidelines with a 4-3, 10 inning victory. Howard Warfield, who had singled with two out in the 10th, scored the winner for the Phillies on an error by Beaver outfielder Lee Landrum.
Koroluk, Coben (2) and Folk
Barrack and Hamlin
Bessicks, BBrown (3) and Henderson
LDean and Green
Kirk, Griggs (4) and Shirley, Bennett (2)
George and Miranda
Johnson, Hopkins (3) and Green
Weekly and Quane, Douzas (5)
There were some red faces in Lloydminster over one of the tournament entries, the Harlem Clowns. It turned out they were a softball team. They were eliminated early losing to the Meridians 12-1 in a game called after 4 1/2 innings. Max Weekly gave up just one hit and fanned nine in the abbreviated contest. The Meridians got just four hits, but Clowns' pitchers issued 14 walks in the four innings.
" ... the Lloydminster Meridians who were thrashing the Harlem Clowns 12-1, when the game was called no contest in the fifth.
This last touch, which got so funny it became the only sad note in the tourney, made Edmonton's John Ducey look good. Uncle Jawn always snorts when fastballers are referred to as ball players. Well, the Harlem Clowns were a softball touring team that got into a hardball tourney. And they were as helpless and hopeless as new born babes in a commando battle.
Only the fact they called it off and staged their famed shadow ball act sent almost 3,000 fans home anyways happy. Had they continued the fiasco against the Meridians, the fans, who for four years now have cursed tournament rains in Lloydminster, would have been praying for rain that night." (Lloydminster Times)
NORTH BATTLEFORD TOURNAMENT
(June 23) North Battleford whipped Moose Jaw 12-3 to win their own tournament. Jackie McLeod tossed a four-hitter to lead the Beavers to the $1,000 top prize. He had 11 strikeouts.
Gardiner, Garrett (7), Gray (8) and Loe
McLeod and Green
Jesse Blackman/Blackmon went the distance as the Beavers dumped the Kamsack Cyclones 7-2 in one of the semi-final games, the Mallards topped Lloydminster 12-5 in the other.
Holowaty, Ellis (6), Alvarez (7) and Shultz
Blackman/Blackmon and Green
Rosell, Barton (2), Herrera (3), Pyne (5) and Quane
Garrett, Seymour (2) and Loe
Two of the favourites were ousted in the opening round. Saskatoon Gems lost 9-8 in 10 innings to Moose Jaw while Indian Head was beaten by Kamsack 9-7. North Battleford got by Colonsay 9-7 and Lloydminster trounced Rosetown 10-2.
Wills, Kirk (7), Griggs (8) and Shirley
Psome, Gray (8) and Loe
Smith, Fabre (3) and Miranda
Ellis, Kosteniuk (3) and Shultz
Ellyson, LDean (7) and Green
Koroluk, Folk (7) and Rosher
Hill, Brown (5) and Henderson
Webb and Quane
Pancho Gray, the winner pitcher for Moose Jaw, also drove in the deciding run for the Mallards. Collins Jones had a homer. Dave Kosteniuk was the hero for the Cyclones. He came on in relief of starter Ted Ellis and also belted a pair of homers. The Beavers needed three runs in the ninth to beat the Monarchs. A sparkling 2-hit, 13 strikeout pitching performance by Ron Webb led the Meridians to their win over Rosetown
LACOMBE TOURNAMENT
(June 23-24) The Brooks Buffaloes, bolstered by six former members of the defunct Calgary Stampeders of the Western International League, won the 5th Annual Lacombe Lions Tournament and $1,000 top money Thursday downing the Lacombe All-Stars 5-2 in the final. The game was called in the seventh inning because of darkness. Former Stamps in the lineup were Jim Wert, Ed Kapp, Dennis Luby, Gayle Taylor, Gus Strathos and pitcher Bill Stites who fired a five-hitter to win the championship game.
Robertson (L), Don Martin (3) and S.Martin
Stites (W) and Harrigan
Lacombe reached the final beating Edmonton Athletics 7-5. A five-run third inning proved to be decisive.
In the other semi-final, Brooks took advantage of seven errors by Great Falls Jet Liners in a 9-0 romp. Gus Strathos cracked a bases-loaded homer to highlight the Buffs victory.
Brooks 9 Great Falls 0
White (W) and John Harrigan
Barnes (L), Boyd (2) and Zaremba
Great Falls had a wild fifth inning in their 11-4 triumph over the Donnelly-Peace River All-Stars. Reliever Ron Gates hit three batters, walked two, allowed two hits and was further hurt by an error as the Americans scored five times.
Great Falls 11 Donnelly 4
Gordy (W) and Zaremba
J.Doucette (L), Gates (4), Boulier (7) and R.Maisonneuve
Eddie Kapp gave up 11 hits but managed to go the distance as Brooks eliminated Carstairs 13-7 rallying with four runs in the fourth and three more in the fifth after falling behind. Gale Taylor went three-for-three for the winners.
Carstairs 7 Brooks 13
Devost (L) and Abel
Kapp (W) and John Harrigan
Edmonton's P & G's blew a 5-1 lead in dropping a 9-7 decision to Lacombe. The host team scored three in the bottom of the fourth to pull within one run before catcher Stan Kulka gave Edmonton a 7-4 advantage with a two-run homer. But Lacombe notched four in the fifth and another in the sixth for the win, although out-hit 14 to 10. Veteran Charlie Morris was outstanding in relief for the winners.
P&G 7 Lacombe 9
Tookey, Yeske (L) (4) and Kulka
Stephenson, Morris (W) (1) and S.Martin
The Edmonton Athletics clobbered the Ligon All-Stars 18-1. The game had been rescheduled as the travelling team ran into car troubles on the way to the tournament. Edmonton rapped 16 hits and capitalized on eight Ligon errors. The game was called after six innings.
SASKATOON OPTIMIST TOURNAMENT
(July 1) Roy Taylor's college kids beat North Battleford 6-4 to win top prize of $1,2000 at the Saskatoon Optimist Tournament. Tony Levaggi hit a three-run homer and a two-run bomb to account for five of the Kamsack runs. 19-year-old Bob Holowaty, of Melfort, came on in relief in the sixth and blanked the Beavers the rest of the way before some 5,000 spectators at Cairns Field. In the 7th inning playing coach Roy Taylor laid down a bunt to squeeze home an insurance run.
Kosteniuk (W), Holowaty (6) and Schulz
Holdaway (L), Stites (2) and Green
Kamsack made the final beating Saskatoon 7-2 behind the seven-hit pitching of Ted Ellis. Taylor's 6th inning bunt scored the tie-breaking run and set the stage for a big inning. The Beavers whipped Lloydminster 8-0 banging out ten hits, including a homer by Chico O'Farrill. Ed Kapp pitched two-hit ball over five and two-thirds innings of relief to register the win.
Wills (L), Griggs (6), Doig (6) and Bennett
Ellis (W) and Schulz
Blackman/Blackmon, Kapp (W) (2) and Green
Martin (L), Rosell (4), Rodness (6), Barton (7) and Quane
There were a pair of pitching gems in opening round action. Lloydminster's Max Weekly allowed just five hits over 11 innings and struck out 11 as the Meridians shaded Indian Head 2-1. Jose Hernandez of the Rockets also went the distance, allowing just six hits. Rick Herrera had a homer for the Meridians. Saskatoon's Bentley MacEwen pitched a three-hitter and struck out 13 in the Gems' 13-0 victory over Rosetown. Max Bentley had three hits. Ted Ellis and Bob Holowaty held Colonsay off the scoreboard in Kamsack's 9-0 victory. Ellis allowed just two hits in four innings of work and Holowaty hurled hitless ball for three frames. Roy Zivanich had a triple and single for the winners. The Beavers took 10 innings to beat Moose Jaw 6-5. Curtis Tate knocked in the winner.
Weekly (W) and Quane
Hernandez (L) and Miranda
MacEwen (W) and Shirley
Hill (L), King (6), Brown (7) and Price, Henderson (7)
Koroluk (L), Worth (2) and McKenzie
Ellis, Holowaty (W) (5) and Schulz
McLeod, Stites (W) (8) and Green
Garrett, Gardiner (6), Gray (L) (9) and Loe
COURTENAY DOMINION DAY TOURNAMENT
(July 1-4) Courtenay Legion downed Victoria's Farmer Construction 4-2 Sunday to win the annual Courtenay Dominion Day baseball tournament and take $600 first prize money. With the scored tied 2-2 after eight frames, Legion won it in the top of the ninth as Junior Chalmers singled and was brought home on Lyle McKenzie's game-winning blow. Legion added an insurance run on two errors. In the last of the ninth Jim Harford delivered his fifth hit of the game but was stranded. Southpaw Bob McIvor scattered ten hits in going the distance for the Legion. Norm Forbes gave up eight hits and six walks in his first start for Victoria. Only one of the runs was earned.
McIvor (W) and xxx
Forbes (L) and xxx
In semi-final action Sunday, Farmers whipped Campbell River 11-4 and Courtenay blanked the Comox Tigers 4-0. The Legion and the Tigers battled through six scoreless innings before Legion capitalized on an error and Dorohoy's single to score Jackie Younger with the first run. Going into the eighth, Tigers brought in Gordon Pratt to relieve brother Ron Pratt, who had pitched outstanding ball, allowing just three hits and the lone run. Legion got to Pro Pratt for three runs in the eighth to put the game on ice. Dick Downey's triple was the highlight of the big inning. Earl Woods hurled the shutout, holding the Tigers to three hits. The entertaining contest featured a humorous moment when Bill Moore successfully pulled of the hidden ball trick on his brother Roy Moore of the Tigers.
Woods (W) and xxx
R.Pratt (L), G.Pratt (8), Schilling and xxx
Farmers gathered 12 solid safeties off a pair of Campbell River hurlers to take an 11-4 decision in their semi-final. The game produced five triples, Charlie Boyd had a pair and singletons went to Ronnie Martin, Lyle Cornett and Ron Karademis. Cornett also had a double and single. Bill Garner, who relieved starter Lowell Hodges in the third, pitched shutout ball the rest of the way.
D.Marshall, R.Lund and xxx
L.Hodges (W), Garner (3) and Harford
In opening round action, Farmers won a semi-final berth drubbing Powell River 15-6 Saturday before a crowd of about 2,000. Southpaw Don Donahue started for Farmers but needed help from Bill Garner in the fourth when the Mainland team scored five times. Jim Harford led a 15 hit attack with a pair of two-baggers.
Donahue, Garner (W) (4) and Harford
Martin, Courtenay (4), Sommerville (8) and McDermott
Courtenay Legion snuck past the powerful Parksville Loggers 5-4 in a thrilling 10-inning affair beating their old nemesis, Baz Nagle. Earl Woods had the game winning single scoring Bill Moore Shorty McIvor, who took over in the second inning, pitched seven and two-thirds innings of brilliant relief. He allowed just three hits. Freddie Orr was the top swatter with four hits for the Loggers.
Woods, McIvor (W) (2) and xxx
Nagle (L) and xxx
The Tigers advanced into the money round with a 5-2 win over Nanaimo behind the hurling of Pro Pratt. Down 1-0 in the first, Tigers had runs handed them on a silver platter, drawing three consecutive walks before Adrian Smith, who had four hits, cracked a single to score two of the three runs in the stanza. They added singletons in the fourth and fifth.
G.Pro Pratt (W) and xxx
Earl Robinson (L) and xxx
The Campbell River Cougars blanked Chemainus 8-0 as Ron Lund played the hero, pitching the shutout and gaining a pair of hits.
R.Lund (W) and xxx
English (L), Wolfe, Williams and xxx
Victoria catcher Jim Harford was the individual batting star of the four-day tournament slamming 11 hits in 15 at bats. Charlie Boyd of Farmers cracked three triples for the most extra base hits and teammate Lyle Cornett drove in the most runs, seven.
CAMROSE MOOSE LODGE TOURNAMENT
(July 7) Delisle Gems and Edmonton Athletics split top prize money as rain washed out the final of the Camrose Moose Lodge tournament. Edmonton had an 8-3 lead in the third inning when the rains came. Each team took home $950. Jim Ryan belted a pair of homers, driving in five runs, to give the Athletics a big lead.
Lefty Belter and Ken Ing
Bennie Griggs, Don Kirk (3) and Reg Bentley
The Athletics advanced to the final by whipping the Great Falls Jet Liners 12-2. Edmonton pounded out 14 hits. Lefty Belter tossed a five-hitter for the win.
Boyd, Zaremba and Shappanus, Barnes.
Belter and Ken Ing
Delisle topped Lacombe 9-3. Bennie Griggs paced the Gems with two hits, including a homer. Dick Latiff and Pat Chapman had two-base blows for Lacombe.
Bentley MacEwen and Shirley, Reg Bentley
Robertson, Dave Martin and Sam Martin
In opening round action, Edmonton Athletics downed the Eastern Alberta All-Stars 9-4. Bill Gadsby's grand slam homer in the fifth inning proved to be the winning blow.
John Gordy belted a ground-rule double in the ninth inning to score two runs as Great Falls shaded P&G Motors 5-3.
Lacombe had 13 hits and took advantage of four Carstairs' errors to post an 8-4 victory. P. Chapman picked up the mound win over John Makos.
Don Kirk tossed a four-hit shutout to pace Delisle to a 3-0 win over Leduc Oilers. Kirk fanned ten and walked just one. Max Bentley belted a homer for the winners. Alf Molyneaux went the distance for the losers giving up ten hits.
KAMSACK TOURNAMENT
July 9) Jim Williams' Florida Eagles, a Cuban team from Jacksonville, Florida squeezed out a 2-0 win Friday over Kamsack Cyclones to take top prize in the Kamsack Elks fourth annual baseball tournament.
Ross Washington's double drove in both runs.
Sergio Fabre fired the shutout for the win in a pitching duel with Kamsack's Dave Kosteniuk. Fabre allowed eight hits, Kosteniuk took the loss yielding just five.
Cyclones threatened in the ninth with two runners on bases with just one out, but Fabre bore down to whiff both the next two batters.
Tom Higa, a heavy hitter for the host team, was forced from the game when injured in the fourth inning.
In semi-final action, Eagles topped Bowsman while the Cyclones downed Quill Lake.
PEACE RIVER TOURNAMENT
(July 14) Donnelly trounced Athabasca 11-0 Wednesday to take $500 first prize money at the Peace River Tournament.
Joe Hutton, in his first game of the event, tossed a three-hit shutout. Donnelly raked a pair of Athabasca hurlers for 16 hits. $200 went to the losers. Fahler and Fairview each claimed $75 as third and fourth place teams.
8TH ANNUAL INDIAN HEAD TOURNAMENT
(July 15) The Indian Head tournament was one of the biggest. The 1954 gathering was the 8th annual event.
"Ted Ellis, a blonde, 19-year-old right-hander with an ailing back and a great desire to pitch, hurled the Kamsack Cyclones to a 4-1 victory over North Battleford Beavers and top prize of $1,100 ... " (Saskatoon Star Phoenix, July 16, 1954)
The right-hander, pitching in pain from a bruised back muscle, allowed seven hits and helped his team at the plate with a run-scoring double. Ed Kapp took the loss for the Beavers. Kapp started the final less than a hour after firing a 4-hit complete game as North Battleford advanced with a 9-2 win over Indian Head.
Kapp, Blackman/Blackmon (6) and Green
Ellis and Schulz
Cyclones defeated Saskatoon 2-1 and the Beavers whipped Indian Head 9-2 in semi-final action. Cyclone's centre fielder Bill Findley made a game-saving catch in the ninth inning to preserve Kamsack's 2-1 margin. Both pitchers went the distance -- Ted Wills allowed four hits for Saskatoon, Ruben Alvarez five for Kamsack. Ed Kapp tossed a four-hitter in the Beavers win over the Rockets.
Wills and Bennett
Alvarez and Schulz
In second round action, North Battleford's Bill Stites allowed just two hits as the Beavers shutout the Moose Jaw Lakers 7-0. Dave Kosteniuk went the distance in Kamsack's 9-3 win over Moose Jaw Mallards. The Rockets' S. Martinez gave up just five hits as Indian Head beat the Regina Caps 10-2. A highlight of the quarter-finals was a pitching duel between Saskatoon's Don Kirk and Hap L'Heureux of Notre Dame. Both gave up just three hits.
Stites and Green
J.Devine, Thorseth (6) and Peterson
Weldon, Psome (7), Gray (8) and Loe
Kosteniuk and Schulz
L'Heureux and Ross
Kirk and Bennett
S.Martinez and Miranda
Wall, Heidt (5) and McNabb
Saskatoon's Bob Doig provided one of the highlights of first round action. Doig tossed a three-hitter as the Gems beat the Texas Jasper Stars 1-0. Alvin Jackson (a future major leaguer) tossed a five-hitter for the losers. Kamsack's Bob Holowaty allowed just five hits in shutting out Weyburn 9-0. The Indian Head Rockets downed the Florida Eagles 12-4.
Crane Valley 1 Moose Jaw Lakers 3
Hobbs and Sterling
White and Peterson
Mainline All-Stars 7 Notre Dame 14
Endle, Brierly (8), Kydd (8) and Moss
Dombowsky, L'Heureux (7) and Ross
Regina Red Sox 1 Moose Jaw Mallards 8
Richardson, Mitchell (4) and Abel
King and Loe
Texas Jasper Steers 0 Saskatoon 1
Alvin Jackson and Powdrill
Doig and Bennett
North Battleford 7 Rosetown 5
Stites, McLeod (4) and Green, Nelson (7)
Hill and Henderson
Regina Caps over Wynyard by default
Kamsack 9 Weyburn 0
Holowaty and Schulz
Hogg, Hoff (2) and O'Brien
Sergio Fabre, who started the season with Indian Head, jumped the team after just three games to suit up with the Jacksonville, Florida, Eagles, the team which had originally played as the Indian Head Rockets. He was the losing pitcher in this game as the Rockets ran up the score. Fabre would go on to rejoin the Rockets and finish the season with a 10-0 record, best in the league.
Florida Eagles 4 Indian Head 12
Fabre, Coleman (2) and Johnson
Hernandez and Miranda
The All-Tournament team:
c Bob Bennett Saskatoon Gems, c Lou Green North Battleford Beavers, 1b A. Eglesias Florida Eagles, 2b Roy Taylor Kamsack Cyclones, 3b Juan Garcia Indian Head Rockets, ss Esquiel Diaz Saskatoon Gems, lf Jim McMahon North Battleford Beavers, cf Tom Daly Notre Dame Hounds, rf Tony Levaggi Kamsack Cyclones, u Jesse Blackman/Blackmon North Battleford Beavers, u Jack McLeod North Battleford Beavers, p Ted Ellis Kamsack Cyclones, p Dave Kosteniuk Kamsack Cyclones, p Don Kirk Saskatoon Gems, p Ted Wills Saskatoon Gems, p Dave White Moose Jaw Lakers
SHAUNAVON TOURNAMENT
(July 20-21) The leaders of the Southern League, the Moose Jaw Lakers, have won top prize of $1,000 in the annual Shaunavon Baseball Tournament. Lakers shaded Weyburn Beavers 4-3 in a thrilling, 10-inning final.
Singles in the extra inning by Bob Chapman, Bill Hennenfent and Ralph Petersen pushed across the winning run. Right-hander Dave White went the route for the mound victory. Lefty Dave Hoff took the loss.
Moose Jaw won a berth in the final upsetting the Florida Eagles 4-3 while Weyburn downed the US Air Force nine from Great Falls, Montana, 4-2.
Earlier Weyburn crushed Sceptre 10-1 and Swift Current defaulted to Great Falls.
Rain interrupted play on the opening day of the $2,500 Shaunavon Baseball tournament Tuesday as only two games were completed.
Jim William's Florida Eagles outlasted Shaunavon 14-13 in the tourney's first game and the Moose Jaw Lakers out slugged Gull Lake 18-10.
Great Falls and Swift Current managed just two innings, with the Americans up 4-0, before rain washed out further play including Weyburn Beavers and Sceptre.
Len Pyne of Lloydminster scores in the first inning of the opening game of the Exhibition Tournament.
The catcher is Saskatoon's Bob Bennett who made a close play on a good throw from right fielder
Percy Trimont. The game ended in a 5-5, 12-inning tie. The umpire is Moe George.
SASKATOON EXHIBITION TOURNAMENT
(July 24) Saskatoon's Ted Wills allowed just three hits and fanned 13 as the Gems smashed Lloydminster 10-0 to win the Saskatoon Exhibition Tournament. Wills also knocked in three runs with a homer and a single. It was the first time in the long history of the event that a Saskatoon team had claimed the title. Bev Bentley had four of Saskatoon's 12 hits. Catcher Bob Bennett added two hits, two runs batted in and two runs scored. Johnny Ford had all three hits for the Meridians.
Rosell (L), Weekly (5) and Tanner
Wills (W) and Bennett
(July 24) Lloydminster had lost an earlier game Saturday as Colonsay shaded the Meridians 5-4 in 11 innings as veteran Johnny Folk fanned 15. The 40-year-old right-hander had a no-hitter for six innings.
Pyne (L) and Quane, Tanner (9)
Folk (W) and McKenzie
(July 23) Saskatoon won twice on Friday to win a slot in the tournament final. Gems scored a 3-1 victory over Colonsay before topping Kamsack 7-1. Both games featured outstanding pitching for Saskatoon. Jim Morrow pitched a seven-hitter with 13 strikeouts in the win over Kamsack while Bentley MacEwen allowed just three hits and fanned 13 in the victory over the Monarchs.
First baseman Bev Bentley provided the offense against Colonsay with a homer, double, two singles and two runs batted in. He threw in a stolen base for good measure.
Coben (L) and McKenzie
MacEwen (W) and Bennett
Jose Valladares, Cliff Pemberton and Bob Bennett each had two hits in the evening victory. Bob Findlay slammed a homer for the only run for the Cyclones.
Morrow (W) and Bennett
Kosteniuk (L), Holowaty (4), Alvarez (7) and Schulz
(July 21) The Cyclones got a brilliant relief effort from Bob Holowaty as they beat Colonsay 5-2. Holowaty came on in the fourth and allowed only one base runner, on a walk, in his 5 1/3 innings on the hill. Junior star Lew Hobson had 10 strikeouts in going the distance for the Monarchs. Third baseman Tom Higa paced the winners with a triple and single and two runs scored.
Hobson (L) and McKenzie
Alvarez, Holowaty (W) (4) and Schulz
(July 20) Lloydminster was assured of a berth in the final after a 3-2, seven-inning, win over Kamsack. Rick Herrera allowed just five hits in a route-going performance for the winners. Arne Thunander's single scored Ed Tanner with the winning run. First sacker Roy Zivanich drove in both Kamsack runs in the third inning with a double to left after Ted Ellis and Bill Findlay had reached with back-to-back singles. Chuck McGuigan got the Meridians rolling in the bottom of the third with a single up the middle. Roberto Zayas drove one to left and pulled into second when the Cyclones tried to nab McGuigan at third. Len Pyne belted a single to right to score both base runners to tie the game.
Ellis (L) and Schulz
Herrera (W) and Tanner
(July 19) A coin flip decided the opening game of the tournament. Lloydminster and Saskatoon had tied 5-5 after 12 innings when darkness forced umpires to call the game. Ron Webb pitched into the 10th inning for the Meridians. Saskatoon had tied the game 5-5 in the top of the 9th on a two-run double by Leopoldo Reyes who led all batters with four hits, two of them doubles, three runs batted in and added a steal of home. Lloydminster gained the early lead with three runs in the first inning taking advantage of Bobby Doig's wildness. They combined three walks with Len Pyne's double and Ed Tanner's single. Gems closed the margin to 3-2 in the fourth on Percy Trimont's single, an error and back-to-back doubles by Reyes and Bob Bennett. Rick Herrera singled to knock in two more runs for the Meridians in the fifth. Gems thrilled the crowd in the sixth as Reyes stole home on the front end of a double steal.
Doig, Morrow (6) and Bennett
Webb, Rosell (10) and Tanner
KIMBERLEY TOURNAMENT
(July 24-25) Bouten Coonstruction of Spokane downed Kimberley Dynamos 6-3 Sunday to take top money of $850 in the four-team double round-robin tournament. Dynamos had earlier dumped the Boutens 11-10. Before a crowd of 2,000, Boutens scored twice in each of the first three innings to take a 6-0 lead. Dynamos got one in the fourth, two more in the fifth and threatened in the seventh with two on and one out but Eddie Fallon, Boutens' centre fielder made a sensational shoe string catch of Jim McDonald's fly ball and doubled Ted Robb off second base to end the threat. Bob Bourbeau and Bill Frazier pounded homers for the winners. McDonald had a four-bagger for the Dynamos. Don Parrott went the route for Spokane.
Bodin, Tench (2) and xxx
Parrott (W) and xxx
Dynamos reached the final by topping Nelson Maple Leafs 6-4. Leafs held a 4-1 lead in the seventh when Kimberley erupted for five hits and five runs. The Leafs were handcuffed by Pete Boisvert who replaced starter Elgin Smith in the fifth. Dunc Kennedy and Deeths belted homers for Nelson while Tony Brummet replied for Kimberley.
McKinnon (L), L.Hufty and xxx
Smith, Boisvert (W) (5) and xxx
Boutens trounced Trail 9-2 to advance to the final.
Saturday morning Boutens dumped Nelson Maple Leafs 11-5 in a free hitting affair as Spokane collected 18 hits off Les Hufty and the Leafs rapped 11 off Terry Cossette.
Hufty (L) and xxx
Cossette (W) and xxx
Trail Smokies edged Nelson 2-0 Saturday afternoon behind import hurler Bob Weilep who held the Leafs to five hits. Bob Blair allowed just six hits but had seven errors committed behind him.
Blair (L) and xxx
Weilep (W) and xxx
Saturday night, Gordie Tench blanked Trail on three hits as Kimberley notched a 6-0 decision.
Mohoruk (L) and xxx
Tench (W) and xxx
To kick off the tournament, the host club notched a victory in the opening game downing Spokane Boutens 11-10. The visitors jumped into a 4-0 lead in the first inning but the Dynamos replied with four of their own in the bottom of the initial frame. Catcher George Chalick got to Kimberley starter Eric Bodin for two homers before Pete Boisvert relieved in the third inning. Gordon Palm, former Spokane Indians' hurler, started for the Boutens but ran into trouble in the second and gave way to Don Parrott. Parrott crushed a homer for Spokane in the third. Ted Robb slugged a two-run inside-the-park homer for the Dynamos in the fifth. Tony Brummet, voted the MVP in the Okanagan League last year, sparked Kimberley at the plate with a double and two singles.
Palm (L), Parrott (2) and xxx
Bodin, Boisvert (W) (3) and xxx
ROSETOWN TOURNAMENT
(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. Rick Herrera was the hitting star for the Meridians, scoring the first run and knocking in the second with the single.
Hill and Henderson
Webb and Tanner
Lloydminster advanced to the final with a 10-4 win over Kamsack. Tom Mulcahy went the distance on the mound and added a triple at the plate. Roberto Zayas and Chuck McGuigan each had a pair of triples. In the other semi-final, Rosetown shaded Moose Jaw 4-3 in 12 innings. Cy Morton tripled and scored the winner for the Phillies.
Holowaty, Kosteniuk (2) and Schulz
Mulcahy and Tanner
Psome, Gray (8) and Loe, Jones (11)
Coleman, Brown (8) and Henderson
Jackie McLeod, fired by the Beavers the previous day, beat his old teammates as he suited up with Moose Jaw and beat the Beavers 5-4 in one of four first round matches. McLeod went the distance on the hill for the Mallards. The Meridians trounced Indian Head 15-4 with Max Weekly going the distance and hitting the game's only homer. In the seven inning contest Weekly struck out 13. Rosetown's Benny Hill allowed just four hits as the Phillies shutout Colonsay 4-0. Murray Coben and Lew Hobson gave up only three hits in a losing cause. Ted Ellis tossed a five-hitter as Kamsack beat Saskatoon 7-2.
Kapp and Green
McLeod and Loe
Coben, Hobson (4) and Rosher
Hill and Henderson
Weekly and Tanner
Hernandez, Fabre (6), Arango (7) and Johnson
Ellis and Schulz
Morrow, Doig (4) and Bennett
PARKSVILLE KINSMEN TOURNAMENT
(July 30 - August 1) The old hidden ball trick helped the Parksville Loggers bring home top honours in their own tournament Sunday. Loggers edged Chemainus Red Sox 2-1 in the thrilling final of the Parksville Kinsmen $1,500 baseball tournament. The Loggers got two early runs and held on for the win. The Red Sox had the bases loaded and none out in the ninth. Lyel Rodgers, of Duncan, imported by Parksville for the tourney, bore down and fanned the next batter. Then the most outrageous ending to the event. Rodgers picked off a runner at third base for the second out and then second baseman Ron Gray, with the hidden ball trick, tagged Neil Kelly off second to end the game.
Loggers won a berth in the finals ousting Alberni Athletics 5-2 behind lefty Jack Charlesworth. They mastered Campbell River Cougars 8-3 behind 19-year-old import Bob Reimer, from the Bellingham Bells. Cougars had topped the Vancouver Nisei nine 15-8.
Chemainus made the final by downing the Legion 7-4 and whipping the powerful Farmer Construction nine 11-8 in a contest that had everything including the finest catch of the series, made by Farmers Bernie Anderson. The bases were loaded when Anderson raced across centre field to make a leaping catch of Brooks' drive. Farmers blew a five-run lead as Charlie Boyd led the early Farmer's attack with a bases-clearing double. Neil Kelly started the Red Sox on the comeback trail with a two-run homer. Ron Gray, the Loggers shortstop was voted the most valuable player of the tournament.
4TH ANNUAL LETHBRIDGE ROTARY TOURNAMENT
(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
GOLDEN JUNIOR TOURNAMENT
(August) The Kimberley Junior Hobos fought their way to top money in the 1954 Golden baseball tournament, winning both of their games. Playing errorless afield behind the steady four-hit pitching of Derrel Dixon, the Hobos clobbered Edgewater 11 to 1 to begin the tourney. A second-round bye landed Kimberley in the tournament final against Golden where they prevailed 3 to 1 as winning pitcher Bill Truswell fashioned a four-hitter and struck out 14.
GLENBORO TOURNMENT.
(August 2) Neil Cline pitched Glenboro to top prize of $200 at the annual Glenboro Sports Day Tournament. The host team beat highly-rated Killarney Shamrocks 7-1 in a 7-inning contest. Cline had a shutout until the final frame when Grant Stevenmson doubled to score Steve Lynes with the lone Killarney tally.
PORTAGE LA PRAIRIE TOURNAMENT
(August 2) Fort Whyte put on an offensive show Monday to bang out a 12-5 victory over Plumas to win the Island Park Tournament. The winners blasted three home runs with another nullified as the batter had come up out of turn.
In the semi-finals, Fort Whyte crushed Neepawa 9-1 and Plumas topped St. James 5-4. Twelve teams competed.
MISSION BASEBALL TOURNAMENT
(September 5-6) Langley Prairie, an after-thought entry in the Mission Tournament, walked off with first prize of $300 Monday blanking Coquitlam 7-0.
Jim Johnston gave up a single to Larry Walker, the second man up in the first inning, then pitched no-hit ball the rest of the way. He walked eight, but managed to get the shutout. He had five strikeouts.
Langley put the game away with a five-run fourth inning.
In the first round, Langley topped the host, Mission, club 8-4, taking a 6-0 lead after two innings. Jack Driediger iced the win with a homer in the ninth. It was his fourth hit of the game. Merv Hunter scattered seven hits to get the mound victory and helped at the plate with three of Langley's 13 hits.
Coquitlam defeated Chilliwack 5-3, Western Bridge over Princeton 8-6 and Coquitlam beat Western Bridge 8-3.
Langley 8 Mission 4
Hunter (W) and Nielsen
Matheson (L), Nees (2) and Johnston
Langley 7 Coquitlam 0
Johnston (W) and Nielson
Clarke (L) and Cameron
FERNIE LABOUR DAY TOURNAMENT
(September 5-6) Fernie Tournament Granum won the $400 top prize in the Fernie Labour Day Tournament 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.
In semi-final games, Granum whipped Creston 12-0 and Kimberley crushed Eureka 18-2.
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. Kimberley rapped two Fernie hurlers for 16 hits. Eureka defeated Natal 16-10 and Creston edged Coleman Ravens 8-7 in other contests.
COURTENAY LABOUR DAY TOURNAMENT
(September 5-6) Parksville Loggers erupted for six runs in the ninth inning to break a 6-6 draw and notch a 12-6 victory over Chemainus for top money of $500 at the Courtenay Labour Day Tournament.
In the first inning, Loggers took the lead on Jack Mosdell's two-run single. After Chemainus got one back in their half of the first, Parksville took a 5-1 lead with three in the second highlighted by Ron Gray's triple with two aboard. The Red Sox battled back, helped by two Logger errors, to plate four runners for a 5-5 draw. The clubs ended the eighth tied 6-6. After the Loggers got three hits in the top of the ninth, Chemainus manager Jim Webster decided to replace reliever Doug Webb with Allan Goldie, who was hammered by the Loggers.
Reimer, L.Rodgers (W) (7) and xxx
Webb (L), Goldie (9) and xxx
Parksville reached the final with an 8-5 victory over Maillardville. Fans barely had time to get settled when the Loggers got rolling with three runs in the first inning, two coming home on Bob Prior's single. Maillardville quickly responded to tie on solid base hits by Ribbsey Bowyer and Bedard. Loggers went up 5-3 in the third but it was 5-5 in the fifth as Bowyer single plated a pair of runners. Parksville capitalized on two errors in the fifth to take the lead for good.
Charlesworth, L.Rodgers (W) and Caljouw
U'ren
(L) and xxx
Chemainus downed Campbell River 5-1 to advance to the final. A four-run eighth inning was the difference. Allan Goldie held the Cougars to six hits in handling the mound work for the Red Sox.
Goldie (W) and xxx
Fiscus (L), Lund (8) and xxx
In first round action, Campbell River dumped Farmer Construction 4-2, Loggers beat Courtenay 8-2, Chemainus bested Comox Valley Tigers 5-0 and Maillardville ousted Powell River 3-2.
The opening game ended in controversy as Umpire Len "Gummy" Leach called the game on account of darkness in the ninth inning as Courtenay, down 8-2 launched a comeback. With one out, Earl Woods, Dick Downey and Dorohoy all singled to fill the bases. After a strikeout, Ray Downey drew a walk to bring in a run and Bill Moore was safe on an error delivering two more markers. Junior Chalmers smacked a single and the Legion had cut the lead to 8-6 with two runners on base and the potential winning run at the plate. At that point, Leach called the game as fans voiced their disapproval.
Reimer (W) and xxx
xxx and xxx
Doug Webb had a six-hit shutout to lead Chemainus into the money round with a 5-0 win over the Comox Tigers. Lefty Brooks provided the game's highlight with a two-run homer in the ninth inning.
R.Pratt (L) and xxx
Webb (W) and xxx
Maillardville took advantage of Powell River errors to notch a 3-2 win to eliminate the Rodmays from further play. The Athletics took a 2-0 lead in the fourth inning on three errors and a pair of walks. Rodmays, led by veteran Andy Telosky, got one marker in the fifth and tied the count 2-2 in the sixth on three straight singles. Maillardville plated the winner in the sixth as Bannerman's safety brought in the runner from second. Mike Bakaway held the Rodmays to five hits and fanned seven.
Bakaway (W) and xxx
H.Martin (L) and xxx
The Campbell River Cougars pulled an upset Sunday evening, downing Victoria's Farmer Construction 4-2 in a thriller. Cougars jumped into a 4-0 lead in the fifth loading the bases with none out as Don Marshall singled, Ty Conti drew a free pass and Jimmy Garrett crossed up the Farmers infield with a beautiful bunt single. Skip McDonald's long fly brought in the first run and after Ron Cameron reached on an error, Harry Thulin brought in the second run with a one-bagger. With Bill Prior replacing Bill Garner on the hill for Victoria, Vern Ferguson lashed one up the middle to bring in two more. The Farmers got one back in their half of the fifth when a balk was called against Ron Lund with the bases loaded. Then, in the ninth, Farmers loaded the bases with one out and got one run on a wild throw to the plate. But Lund got out of trouble when Lyle Cornett hit into a game-ending double play. Farmers left 14 runners on base. Victoria's Norm Forbes led the hitters with a three-for-four effort. Lund and Thulin each had a pair for the Cougars.
R.Lund (W) and xxx
Garner (L), Prior (5) and xxx
KAMLOOPS LABOUR DAY TOURNAMENT
(September 5) Held to a single run through four innings, Kelowna Orioles erupted for 11 runs in the 5th and wallopped Kamloops Jay-Rays 12-0. The game was called after five innings as one team had at least a 10-run advantage. Gary Driensen, imported from Brewster, Washington, for the tournament, allowed just five hits in throwing the shutout for the Orioles. Kelowna sent 16 batters to the plate in the big inning. First baseman Hank Tostenson led an 11-hit attack with three safeties. Brian Roche had two hits and scored twice. Kamloops starter Nick Craig took the loss.
Driensen (W) and Roche
Craig (L), Mackie (5), Varanai (5), Prehara (5) and Bellamy
The Whalley Chiefs managed just two hits but upset South Burnaby 5-2 in the opening round of the Kamloops Labour Day Tournament. Through five innings, South Burnaby's Johnny Ruck had given up just one hit and an unearned run as the Athletics led 4-1. In the 6th, the Chiefs took advantage of four walks, an error and Harry Robinson's single to plate four runs for the lead and the game. Ron Curby allowed nine hits, three by shortstop Bill Kinder, in registering the win. Ivan Spees and Jerry Hallgren belted homers in a losing cause. Three Athletics' hurlers gave up ten bases on balls and hit two batters.
Curby (W) and Yanchuk
Ruck (L), Wakabayashi (6), K.Spees (6) and I.Spees
Import Charlie Drummond, from McChord Air Base in Washington, fired a three-hitter and fanned 15 for the Kamloops Okonots in a 7-0 win over Oliver Elks. Jack Fowles and Bill MacDonald crushed homers for the winners while Buck Buchanan had three hits, one of them a three-bagger. Buchanan also brought applause and some chuckles from the crowd when he was successful on a double steal in the 6th inning. The first sacker, who already had one stolen base, got a favourable decision on a close play at second and then as Oliver players protested the call, Buchanan snuck down the basepath to third.
C.Drummond (W) and Slater
Clifton (L) and Rades
(September 6) Larson Air Base Sabres got homers by first baseman Luke Scesa and catcher Ken Nelson and a six-hitter from Ralph Mason in a 2-1 victory over Vancouver CYO. 18-year-old Mason rang up 11 strikeouts and walked just one in his outstanding effort. Art Bull allowed just four hits in taking the loss.
Mason (W) and Nelson
Bull (L) and Mulhern
Whalley scored four in the 1st inning and were never headed in moving into the tourney final with a 12-4 victory over Kelowna Orioles. Right fielder Mike Trotzuk highlighted an 11-hit attack with a grand-slam homer in the 6th inning. Earlier, Gordie Mundle had a bases-empty blast. Lorne Drummond held Kelowna to six hits in going the distance on the hill for the Chiefs.
L.Drummond (W) and Yanchuk
Ingram (L), Wishlove (1) , Driensen (1), Kielbiski (6) and Roche
Charlie Drummond fired his second shutout in two days as the Okonots beat Larson Sabres 6-0 to win a berth in the tourney final. The right-hander held the Sabres to just four hits. He walked three and set down nine by strike out. Third baseman Ron Evensen clouted a homer for the only run Kamloops needed. Evensen, Buck Buchanan and Bill MacDonald each had two hits.
Mason (L) and Nelson
C.Drummond (W) and Slater.
Before the biggest crowd to ever watch a baseball game in Kamloops - well over 2,000 - the home-town Okonots won top money in their $1,500 tournament downing Whalley Chiefs 10-6 in the final. Again, it was import Charlie Drummond who figured prominently in the victory. Twice he was called in from his outfield post ion to take the mound to get Kamloops out of jams. The Okonots started fast with four runs in the first inning and coasted until the 9th when the Chiefs, fighting back from a 10-3 deficit, rattled the Okonots. With two on, Harry Robinson knocked one into the trees to make it 10-6. Again, Drummond was summoned in from right field to replace starter Alan Garrett, the import hurler from Tacoma. Drummond's first pitch was smacked for a hit by Roy Hammond and the right-hander proceeded to load the sacks with two walks. Then he got down to work and struck out one, two, three and the Okonots had the tourney title. Garrett gained credit for the win. Jack Connell was saddled with the loss. Joe Yanchuck also had a circuit clout for the Chiefs.
Garrett, Drummond (3), Garrett (4), Drummond (9) and Slater
Connell (L), Curby (7) and Yanchuk
PENTICTON LABOUR DAY TOURNAMENT
(September 5-6) Collingwood Legion, champions of the Vancouver and District League, captured top money at the two-day invitational tournament at Penticton riding a power-packed offense and steady hurling. Gary Pennington, the Vancouver & District batting leader, belted a pair of homers for the Legion while Kerry Parsons, Al Davis and Elliott chalked up the pitching victories.
In the opening game, Larry Jordan twirled a four-hitter as Penticton downed Summerland 3-2. Bill Raptis smacked a two-run homer in the seventh inning for the win. In the second game,
Jordan (W) and Powell
Cristante, Eyres (L) (5) and Weitzel
Collingwood scored seven of their eight runs in the first two innings on five walks, three errors, two passed balls and just two singles in pasting Penticton 8-1. The A's ran out of pitchers and had to borrow Walter Shamro from the visitors to finish the game. Sam Drossos accounted for the lone Penticton run with a homer in the fifth. Each team had just five hits.
Apolzer (L), Shamro (2) and Powell
Parsons (W) and Sparrow
In Monday's opener, Summerland battled all the way but dropped a 10-8 decision to Collingwood. The winners pounded out 16 hits in the victory.
Day (L), Hooker (3) and Weitzel
Davis (W) and Sparrow
In the final contest, the mainland visitors took advantage of eight Penticton errors to whip the A's 12 to 4. Kim Elliott, the Collies big right-hander, fired a five-hitter for the win. Collingwood scored three in the top of the first and were never headed.
Elliott (W) and Sparrow
Cousins (L) and Powell
QUESNEL LABOUR DAY TOURNAMENT
(September 5-6) Quesnel Lumbermen defeated Willow River 5-3 in a thrilling tournament final to take top money of $200 in the Labour Day Tourney. Sox were in front 3-0 after five innings but the Lumbermen tied it in the seventh and scored twice in the 8th for the win.
Red Sox reached the final with a 6-3 victory over Prince George Athletics. A four-run first inning, on Andy Kuchurian's grand slam homer, provided enough for the triumph. Sid Delano held the A's for four hits for the pitching win.
Delano (W) and xxx
D.Young (L) and xxx
Lumbermen overcame ten errors to upset the Clippers 13-7 in the other semi-final.
Slack (W) and xxx
Dion, Melnichuk (1), Koppa (5) and xxx
The Clippers had earlier defeated the Mohawks, a Japanese team from Kamloops, 13-8. Clippers slammed two Kamloops hurlers for 14 hits while Johnny Koppa tossed an eight-hitter for the winners.
Stan Kato, Ken Kichi (5) and xxx
Koppa (W) and xxx