Foothills - Wheatbelt League :
(May 29) Lethbridge Miners geared up for the opening of the Foothills -Wheatbelt Baseball League with a split of an exhibition double-header with Great Falls Jetliners. Great Falls won the opener 12-5, Lethbridge took the twilight fixture 9-7. John Gordy hurled a six-hitter, with 10 strikeouts and no walks, to lead Jetliners to the afternoon victory. Gordy also starred at the plate with a first inning homer. Great Falls' catcher Moore also had a four-bagger.
Gordy (W) and xxx
G Vaselenak (L), Stasiuk (5) and xxx
Miners spotted Jetliners a 4-0 lead in the first frame but roared back with three in their half of the first and another four in the second to take the lead. Great Falls tied at 7-7 in the 4th inning but Mitch Sztaba's two-run triple in the 5th proved enough for the win. Sztaba also had a double. Mike Vaselenak knocked in four runs with three singles.
Fred Friemuth, Welch (W) (5) and xxx
Bob Barnes, Vic Zaremba (L) (2) and xxx
(May 29) At Granum, the White Sox took a pair from Picture Butte, 8-1 and 11-7 in exhibition action. Frank Stone and Bill Kutcheran combined on a four-hitter in the first game.
Stone (W), Kucheran and xxx
Bosnak (L), Al West (8) and xxx
In the nightcap, Granum twice came from behind to down the Indians. Gord Wesley had a double in the opener and a double and single in the second game.
Walasko, John Peterson (W) (4), Don Johnson (7) and xxx
Leonard (L), West (8) and xxx
(June 1) Howard Branch drove in Rudy Leonard in the 10th inning to give Picture Butte a 2-1 victory over Vulcan in the opening game of the 1955 season for both clubs. The contest featured brilliant pitching from both sides. Leonard, an import from Ottawa, scattered six hits to get the win. Jack Altman allowed just five hits in a losing cause.
Elks threatened in the bottom of the ninth when Altman led off with a double and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. But Leonard got the next two batters on fly balls.
Leonard (W) and G. Rice
Altman (L) and Bugg
(June 1) The Miners whipped Granum 13-8 in their league opener in Lethbridge. Mitch Sztaba delighted the home crowd with a 425-foot homer over the centre field barrier. He also had a single. Les Colwill added a two-run double and a single. Johnny Klem drove in three runs and had a steal of home. Darwin Walkingshaw led the White Sox with a homer, double and single. Gordie Vejprava and Tedd Bogal also had homers for Granum.
Stone (L), Kucheran (6), Don Johnson (6) and Bogal
Welch (W), Fred Friemuth (8) and H Yanosik
(June 5) The Elks dumped the Lethbridge Miners, 8-6 and 13-3, in a twin-bill in Vulcan. Jerry Burcher gave up 14 hits in the opener but went all the way for the win. Jack Altman scattered nine hits to win the second game.
Miners got homers from Johnny Vaselenak, Vic Stasiuk and Mitch Sztaba in the first game while playing-manager Clarence Yanosik added three singles. Dick Bugg had three hits for the Elks.
Marty Norman was the big gun for Vulcan in the second game with a pair of homers and two singles.
Friemuth, G. Vaselenak (L) (6) and Yanosik
Burcher (W) and Bugg
Koskoski (L), Henderson (3), Davis (3) and Yanosik
Altman (W) and Bugg
(June 5) It was the wild west at Granum as the White Sox crushed Picture Butte Indians 11-0 and 28-19 in a double-header. On a day for hitters, White Sox pitcher Willie Walasko stole the show with a five-hit shutout in the opener. He fanned eleven and walked just one. Walasko also helped at the plate with a double and three singles. Bill Fennessey belted a homer and two doubles. Al Malarchuk had a two-run homer. Gord Vejprava and Fennessey each had five hits in the second game. Vejprava bashed a pair of homers and had three singles, Fennessey homered and had four singles. Darwin Walkingshaw and MacDonald added homers for the White Sox who blew a 16-6 lead when Picture Butte exploded for 10 runs in the top of the 6th inning. George Menzies highlighted the rally with a grand slam homer. He also had a double and single. Tom Karren also had a four-bagger for the Indians.
Leonard (L), Bosnak (7) and G Rice
Walasko (W) and Bogal
Hillmer, Richards (2), Bosnak (L) (4), Pashuk (8) and G Rice
Pederson, Don Johnson (6), Kucheran (W) (6) and Bogal
(June 8) Right-hander Jerry Burcher held Picture Butte to seven hits while Vulcan took advantage of 10 hits and 8 Indians' errors to post a 12-3 victory. Ben Dann provided the Elks with the early lead with a three-run homer in the first inning. Marty Norman had three hits for the winners while Hans Pung had a triple, double and single for the Indians.
Burcher (W) and Bugg
Leonard (L), Bosnak (1), Pashuk (7), Yahiro (7) and Pung
(June 8) Granum pasted Lethbridge 16-9 for their third straight victory. After falling behind 4-0 after just half an inning, back-to-back homers by Tedd Bogal and Bill Fennessey produced three runs in the bottom of the first. Bogal belted another homer in the 2nd as the White Sox added five more. Vic Stasiuk led the Miners with four hits, including a pair of doubles.
Welch (L), Davis (6) and Yanosik
Stone (W) and Bogal
(June 12) Vulcan ran its winning streak to five games with a double-header sweep of the Granum White Sox, 7-6 and 6-5.
In the opener, Jack Altman blasted a 10th inning homer to break up a tense battle. The lefty hurler went the distance to pick up his second win of the season. He allowed 13 hits while fanning 13 and walked only one. Earl Ingarfield of the Sox led the hitters with a homer, double and single.
Elks erupted for four runs in the eighth inning of the second game to capture a 6-5 victory. Marty Norman and Benny Dann had fourbaggers for Vulcan. Jerry Burcher picked up this third straight complete game victory.
Altman (W) and Bugg
Walasko (L) and Bogal
Burcher (W) and Bugg
Kucheran (L), D Johnson (9) and Bogal
(June 12) In Lethbridge, the Miners and Picture Butte Indians split a pair. In the opener, Miners got their first look at Hawaiian pitcher Wilfred Yahiro. The Coalinga College student held Lethbridge to five hits over eight before weakening in the final frame to allow four more safeties. The Indians won, 13-5 as Hans Pung drove in five runs with a pair of triples.
In the second half of the twin-bill, Miners sent 16-year-old Jerry Kjelgaard to the hill and the right-hander scattered 10 hits as Lethbridge pulled out an 11-4 win. Johnny Klem led the Miners with four hits and Mitch Sztaba contributed a homer and a double.
Yahiro (W) and Pung
Friemuth (L), Davis (3) and H Yanosik
Leonard (L) and Pung
Kjelgaard (W) and H Yanosik
Vulcan 5 1
Granum 3 3
Lethbridge 2 4
Picture Butte 2 4
(June 15) Mitch Sztaba's 5th inning grand slam homer carried Lethbridge Miners to a 12-9 win over Picture Butte. Sztaba's blow came after rookie reliever John Bosnak had walked the first three men to face him. Clarence Yanosik had a circuit blow for the Miners and Willie Yahiro was the leading hitter for the Indians with two doubles and a single.
Welch (W) and Rice
Richards (L), Bosnak (4), Leonard (5) and Pung
(June 15) Two boyhood chums from Hawaii, via Fresno State, led the Vulcan Elks to a 9-6 win over Granum White Sox. It was the Elks sixth straight victory and third against the Sox this season.
Lanky southpaw Jack Altman won for the third consecutive time. He allowed 11 hits and piled up 14 strikeouts. Outfielder Greg Seastrom pounded out four hits in four trips to the plate. He drove in a pair and scored twice. Marty Norman had a homer and single for the Elks. Bill Fennessey led the Sox with a homer, and two doubles.
Stone (L), D Johnson (5) and Bogal
Altman (W) and Bugg
(June 17) Granum scored two runs in the bottom of the 9th to edge Picture Butte 6-5. White Sox scored on two hits, an infield out, walk, wild pitch and hit batsman. Steve Odney's two-run homer in the 1st inning had given Granum an early lead. Willie Walasko went the distance for the win. The win evened the Sox record at 4-4, 2 1/2 games behind the league-leading Vulcan Elks (6-1).
Leonard (L) and Pung
Walasko (W) and Bogal
(June 19) Granum White Sox swept a twin-bill from the Indians in Picture Butte, 10-7 and 5-4. The win gave the Sox a 6-4 mark on the season while the Indians dropped to 2-10.
Granum punched out 19 hits, including four homers, to capture the opener. John Gordy scattered 13 hits for the win in his first game with the White Sox. Earl Ingarfield led the Sox attack with a pair of homers while Bill Fennessey and Jim McDonald each had one. Gordy had four singles.
Gordy (W) and Bogal
Yahiro (L) and Pung
Granum needed two runs in the 9th to shade the Indians 5-4 in the second game. Two walks and singles by Joe Tarnava and Gord Vejprava pushed across the deciding runs.
Pederson, R Johnson (W) (4), D Johnson (9) and Bogal
Richards (L) and Pung
(June 19) Vulcan Elks stretched their winning streak to eight games downing Lethbridge Miners in both ends of a double-header, 5-4 and 19-3. Don Jantzie belted a homer in the 9th inning to give Vulcan the winning margin in the opener as Jack Altman held the Miners to four hits for the pitching win. Jerry Burcher racked up his 4th straight win in the second game as his teammates had 12 hits and took advantage of seven Lethbridge errors in the 19-3 victory. Shortstop Marty Norman clubbed a grand slam homer to pace the Elks. Dick Bugg and Jack Altman each had three singles and Greg Seastrom added a pair of safeties.
Altman (W) and Bugg
Welch (L) and Rice
Burcher (W) and Bugg
Davis (L), Friemuth (7), Vaselenak (8) and Rice
Vulcan 8 1
Granum 6 4
Lethbridge 3 6
Picture Butte 2 8
(June 22) Vulcan Elks downed Lethbridge Miners 14-6 for their 9th straight victory. Outfielder Greg Seastrom had his first starting assignment of the season and scattered ten hits in going the distance for the win. He had eight strikeouts and walked five. Marty Norman provided the offensive punch for the Elks with a three-run homer, two doubles and two singles. Dick Bugg, Benny Dann and Orie Gordichuk each had a double and single. Clarence Yanosik and Johnny Vaselenak poked home runs for Lethbridge. Miners dressed just nine men and Les Colwill was forced to catch the final six innings with a broken finger.
Friemuth (L), J Vaselenak (3) and J Vaselenak, Colwill (3)
Seastrom (W) and Bugg
(June 23 ) Lacombe Tournament : Granum trounced the Central Alberta All-Stars 10-2 to win the top prize in the annual Lacombe Tournament. 65-hundred fans packed the bleachers for the final. Carstairs Cardinals finished 3rd, ahead of Sceptre.
The White Sox bombarded Edmonton 20-0 then advanced to the final with a 4-3 win over Carstairs.
Don Johnson and Bill Kucheran combined on a five-hitter in the final. Sox salted away the win with a five-run 3rd inning, three coming on Steve Odney's homer. Earl Ingarfield had 3 hits in 4 trips. Frank Stone tossed a four-hitter in the semi-final victory over Carstairs.
Granum 4 Carstairs 3
Stone (W) and Pung
Weremy (L) and Abel
All-Stars 2 Granum 10
Pat Chapman (L), Guff Chapman, Megus and Martin
Johnson (W), Kucheran and Pung
All-Stars won a spot in the final with a 5-3 win over Sceptre as Charlie Morris scattered ten hits for the win.
Gulley, Jacobson (2) and Grant
Morris (W) and S Martin
In the opening round, Sceptre took a 5-1 lead after three innings and were never headed as they ousted Daysland 7-4.
McNabb (L), Simpson (8) and R Brown
Jacobson (W) and Snyder
Catcher Dave Abel had three hits, scored three times and knocked in a pair as Carstairs upset Delisle 8-6. Cy Ing's 8th inning triple plated the winning run. Don Kirk went the distance for the win. Max Bentley and John Sirota belted homers for the Gems.
Coben, MacEwen (L) (4) and Johnson
Kirk (W) and Abel
Central Alberta All-Stars edged Great Falls 7-6. Dave Martin went the distance for the win.
D Martin (W) and S Martin
Gordy, Barnes (6) and Twite
Granum walloped Edmonton 20-0. White Sox batted around in both the 2nd inning, when they plated six runs, and the 4th, when they added another ten runs. Darwin Walkingshaw and Earl Ingarfield had homers. Willie Walasko pitched a five-hit shutout.
Lakeman (L), Wynn (2), Stanoline (4) and Emberg
Walasko (W) and Pung
(June 24) Foothills Wheatbelt Vulcan Tournament : Ending in a 13-13 tie
(June 26) Vulcan Elks ran their winning streak to 11 games with a thrilling double-header sweep of Picture Butte, 5-4 and 9-8. Elks won the opener on an error in the bottom of the 10th and took the second contest with a run in the bottom of the ninth.
The Indians took a 4-3 lead into the bottom of the ninth in the first game. Elks' Marty Norman singled and move to third on two infield outs. He sent the game into extra innings when he scored on an outfield error. In the 10th, Wally Franks raced home with the winner on another Indians' error. Norman added a triple and a two-run homer for the Elks.
Picture Butte had tied the second contest 8-8 with a three-run uprising in the eighth inning. But, Jack Altman's double and Dick Bugg's single won it for the Elks in the ninth. Bugg had four hits including a three-run homer in the first inning.
Altman went the distance for the win in the first game. Jerry Burcher picked up his fifth win in a relief role in the second game.
Richards (L) and Pung
Altman (W) and Bugg
Leonard, Yahiro (L) (6) and Pung
Gordichuk, Burcher (W) (7) and Bugg
(June 26) Earl Ingarfield socked four home runs to pace Granum to a double-header sweep of Lethbridge, 16-9 in 11 innings and 16-11 in 10 innings. The victories allowed the White Sox to keep in step with the league-leading Vulcan Elks, three games off the pace. The Sox are five games ahead of the third-place Miners.
Ingarfield's third homer of the opening game, a two-run shot in the 11th inning, was the winning blow as Granum scored seven times in the inning. John Gordy, an import from Great Falls, went the distance for the win. Gord Vejprava and Darwin Walkingshaw also had circuit blows for the Sox while Bob Laurie, in his first league action, had four singles. Ben Moore led the Miners with a three-run homer in the first and a pair of doubles.
Granum erupted for five runs in the 10th inning of the second game to down the Miners 16-11. Ingarfield homered for the Sox and Clarence Yanosik had a four-bagger for Lethbridge.
Gordy (W) and Laurie
Welch (L), Hurst (4), Moore (11) and H Yanosik
Stone, R Johnson (W) (9) and Laurie
Moore, Davis (L) (2) and Rice
(June 29) Granum Tournament : The Vulcan Elks again showed they were the class of Southern Alberta by capturing top prize money in the Granum Tournament. Elks beat Picture Butte 7-4 in the 10-inning final.
The Indians, who trailed 4-3, knotted the score in the bottom of the ninth on two errors and Willie Yahiro's run-scoring double. But a three-run homer by Mike Jantzie in the 10th gave the Elks the victory. Jack Altman tossed a six-hitter for the win.
Altman (W) and Bugg
Yahiro (L) nd Pung
Vulcan advanced to the final as Jerry Burcher hurled a 4-hit shutout to beat Granum 3-0. Marty Norman was the offensive star with a two-run homer in the third and a run-scoring double in the fifth. Willie Walasko allowed just three hits but took the loss.
Burcher (W) and Bugg
Walasko (L) and Laurie
Hy Richards stopped Lethbridge on five hits as Picture Butte won its semi-final 8-1.
Welch (L), Friemuth (4) and H Yanosik
Richards (W) and Pung
In the consolation fine, Granum overwhelmed the Miners, 19-2 getting home runs from Gord Vejprava, Steve Odney and Darwin Walkingshaw.
Friemuth (L), J Vaselenak (3) and H Yanosik
D Johnson (W) and Laurie
Vulcan 11 1
Granum 8 4
Lethbridge 3 9
Picture Butte 2 10
(July 4) In a contest billed as the "battle of champions" the Seattle Cheney Studs edged Granum White Sox 3-2 in an exhibition game "that turned out to be one of the best baseball games played in modern times in central Alberta." (Hal Pawson, Edmonton Journal)
"A 'small' home run -- just inside the foul line flag 270 feet out in short left field" was enough to give Seattle the victory. Dick Naish's eighth inning blow scored brother Ed, a catcher, ahead of him. The White Sox, Alberta senior champions, had won the Lacombe Tournament, which the Cheney Studs had hoped to enter but were forced to withdraw to protect the eligibility of three Olympic prospects on their roster.
"It was a heartbreaking smash for Jack Altman, who went all the way for Granum and gave up only five hits. But it was some sort of justice for 17-year-old Ron Georger, speedy southpaw, who pitched the last seven innings for the Studs and gave up only two hits while striking out 15 White Sox."
Granum opened the scoring in the second inning as Hans Pung's single drove in Earl Ingarfield who had reached on an error. Studs knotted the scored in the top of the fifth on a run-scoring double by George Kritsonis. Sox bounced back with a run in the bottom of the fifth as Bill Fennessey drove in Gord Wesley who had walked.
That set the stage for Naish's dramatic blast.
Altman (L) and xxx
Monte Geiger, Geo Kritsonis (2), Ron Georger (3) and xxx
(July 13) Picture Butte Tournament : Granum got a measure of revenge in the Picture Butte Tournament beating Vulcan 6-2 to take top prize in the one-day affair. Veteran Bill Kucheran set the Elks down on seven hits. He fanned eight and walked six. The White Sox beat Vulcan ace Jack Altman. Joe Tarnava had three hits for the Sox.
Kucheran (W) and Laurie
Altman (L) and Bugg
The White Sox reached the final with an 8-1 win over the host Indians. Roy Johnson, an import from Spring Coulee, held Picture Butte to five hits. Earl Ingarfield's three-run homer was a key to the victory.
Richards (L) and Pung
R Johnson (W) and Bogal
Elks beat Lethbridge Miners 9-6 as Jerry Burcher, undefeated in league and exhibition play, scattered 11 hits.
Davis (L) and Colwill
Burcher (W) and Bugg
In the consolation final, the Indians took a 6-1 lead in the second inning then held on to shade Lethbridge Miners 7-6. Rudy Leonard worked five innings to capture the win.
Leonard (W), Yahiro (6) and xxx
Hurst (L), Welch (3) and xxx
(July 15) Camrose Tournament : Red Deer Dodgers, behind Don Kirk's five-hitter, won the Camrose Tournament with a 9-1 victory over Camrose Jubilee All-Stars. Catcher Dave Abel highlighted the offense with a three-run homer in the 5th inning.
Kirk (W) and Abel
McGregor (L), Mussleman (6) and Brown
Red Deer advanced to the final trouncing Vauxhall Jets 13-3 in the semi-final.
Baker (L), R Clelland (4), Kirkhoff (6) and Haugen
Gazely, Martin (W) (4) and Abel
Camrose took a 9-1 win over Beverly Drakes in the other semi-final as Terry Lomnes fired a two-hitter. He fanned 12.
Babiuk (L), Leske (3) and Mullins
Lomnes (W) and Broen
In opening round action, Vauxhall Jets beat Battle River All-Stars 6-2 with Roy Cleland on the hill for the victory. Gord Root had four hits for the Jets.
Roy Clelland (W) and Haugen
Charles (L) and McLennan
Red Deer Dodgers downed Leduc Oilers 11-3 in the opening round. Don Martin fired a six-hitter for the win. Larry Kadatz and Ernie Ressler belted homers for the Oilers.
Martin (W) and Umarl
Resler (L), Kashuba (3) and Hamilton, Roberts (3)
Camrose All-Stars shaded the Eastern Alberta All-Stars 5-4 in a 12-inning thriller opening day. The Eastern crew scored three in the 9th inning to send the game into extra innings. In the 12th, Palechuck doubled and scored on a bunt and an error for the win.
Keith McGregor, Rod Schneck (W) (9) and Bertamini, Emmerling (2)
Simpson, R McNabb (L) (8) and Malik
Drakes had upset the 1954 Alberta champion Granum White Sox 6-1 in the opening round as Joe Weremy pitched a five-hitter and hit a three-run homer.
Weremy (W) and Mullins
Walasko (L) and Johnson
The event ended with a deficit of more than $1,600 on revenue of $2,392.25 and expenses of $4,079.52, including $2,600 in prize money. 1090 $1.50 tickets were sold along with 808 at 75-cents, 235 at 50-cents and 135 at 25-cents.
(July 17) The Elks ran their blistering win streak to 13 games with a double-header sweep of Granum before the home fans. Elks dumped the White Sox 9-8 and 4-3.
In the opening game, Vulcan scored three in the bottom of the ninth, on a single and three errors, to take the victory. Jerry Burcher won his sixth game without a defeat. Marty Norman had a double and a homer for the Elks.
Elks won the second game on Don Jantzie's third inning grand slam. Jack Altman pitched a six-hitter for his 6th win of the season.
Stone, R Johnson (4), Kucheran (L) (6) and Bogal
Burcher (W) and Bugg
D Johnson (L), Walasko (6) and Laurie
Altman (W) and Bugg
(July 17) Picture Butte Indians snapped a seven-game losing streak sweeping a double-bill from Lethbridge Miners, 13-6 and 5-3. Willie Yahiro handcuffed the Miners for seven innings in the opener before tiring in the 8th to allow four runs. In going the distance he gave up nine hits, fanned ten and didn't issue a base on balls. Wes Rice led the offense with a pair of doubles and a single. Mitch Sztaba cracked a two-run homer and single for the Miners. Johnny Klem added three hits. In the second game, Rudy Leonard allowed just five hits to pick up the win.
Davis (L) and H Yanosik
Yahiro (W) and Pung
Welch (L) and H Yanosik
Leonard (W) and Pung
Vulcan 13 1
Granum 8 6
Lethbridge 4 10
Picture Butte 3 11
(July 20) Picture Butte exploded for six runs in the 2nd inning and added two more in the 3rd to down Lethbridge 8-6 in an error-filled contest at Lethbridge. Each team was charged with six miscues. A bases-loaded triple by Barry Gillies highlighted the Picture Butte 2nd inning. Rudy Leonard picked up the win with a solid relief effort.
Bosnak, Leonard (W) (4) and Pung
Welch (L), G Vaselenak (4) and H. Yanosik
(July 20) Granum finally stopped the high-flying Vulcan Elks. White Sox topped Vulcan 7-1 to halt the Elks' winning streak at thirteen games. Willie Walasko picked up his third win scattering ten hits, including a homer, triple and single by Marty Norman.
Seastrom (L), Burcher (5) and Bugg
Walasko (W) and Bogal, Laurie (6)
(July 22) Frank Stone pitched a three-hitter as Granum downed Picture Butte 5-3. Willie Yahiro gave up just seven hits in a losing cause. Bill Fennessey gave the White Sox an early lead with a two-run single in the first inning. Gordie Vejprava led the winners with a triple and a single. Hans Pung belted a homer for the Indians. It was Granum's 10th win in 16 games. Vulcan continued to lead the circuit with a 13-2 record.
Stone (W) and Bogal
Yahiro (L) and Pung
Vulcan 13 2
Granum 10 6
Picture Butte 5 11
Lethbridge 3 12
(July 23) Lethbridge Jubilee Tournament : Vulcan Elks grabbed top prize in the fourth Foothills-Wheatbelt Jubilee Tournament in Lethbridge downing Picture Butte 8-2 in the final Jack Altman's five-hit, 14 strikeout pitching was too much for the Indians. Elks were led at the plate by Pete Scott who had three singles and Greg Seastrom who had a double and a single.
Richards, (L) Yahiro (7) and Pung
Altman (W) and Bugg
For the third time in four tournaments, Vulcan dumped Granum in the semi-finals. The Elks got four-hit pitching from Jerry Burcher to top the White Sox 3-1. Elks scored what proved to be the winner in the second inning when Altman was hit by a pitch, stole second and romped home on Marty Norman's double.
Kucheran (L), D Johnson (8) and Bogal
Burcher (W) and Bugg
Picture Butte build up a 4-0 lead then held on for a 4-3 win over Lethbridge in the other semi-final. Hans Pung had a homer for the Indians, Clarence Yanosik for the Miners.
Richards, Leonard (W) (4) and Pung
Davis (L), G Vaselenak (4), Welch (6) and H Yanosik
In the consolation final, Lethbridge scored five times in the final frame to top Granum 8-7. Earl Ingarfield had a two-run homer for the Miners.
R Johnson, D Johnson (L) (7) and Bogal
Welch (W) and H Yanosik
(July 24) Granum wound up the regular schedule with a split in a twin-bill with Lethbridge. White Sox won the opener 8-2 while the Miners bounced back for a 12-11 win in the second game. Granum wound up with an 11-7 record for second place, behind Vulcan.
Willie Walasko tossed a five-hitter and the Sox took advantage of four Lethbridge errors to take the 8-2 win. Miners scored their runs on homers from Mitch Sztaba and John Vaselenak.
Lethbridge exploded for eleven runs in the 8th inning to come back from a 6-1 deficit and shade the Sox 12-11. Included in the outburst were three-run homers by Frank Deak and Sztaba and solo shots by Vic Stasiuk and Clarence Yanosik. Granum also had four homers, by Earl Ingarfield, Bob Laurie, Darwin Walkingshaw and Tedd Bogal.
Davis (L), Friemuth (4) and G Vaselenak
Walasko (W) and Bogal
Stasiuk, G Valselenak (W) (7) and Deak
D Johnson (L), Stone (6), Walasko (8) and Laurie
(July 27) Vulcan Elks and the Indians split a twin-bill in Picture Butte. Jack Altman's three-hitter led the Elks to a 3-1 win in the opener while the Indians bounced back for a 9-8 triumph in the second game.
The first game featured a brilliant pitching match up between Altman and Hy Richards who gave up just five hits in dropping the decision. Elks won it in the sixth when Dick Bugg walked, stole second and scored on a throwing error. Greg Seastrom added the clincher in the eighth when he doubled and scored on another infield error.
Altman (W) and Bugg
Richards (L) and Pung
The second contest was a loosely played affair which had 21 hits and 10 errors. Pitcher Rudy Leonard singled in the winning run in the bottom of the 9th. He went the distance for the win and had three hits. Elks were forced to start Greg Seastrom with Jerry Burcher out with an injured pitching hand. Seastrom lasted until the sixth when Marty Norman took the mound for the first time this season. Don Jantzie led the Elks with a two-run homer and two singles. Seastrom added a fourbagger for Vulcan.
Seastrom, Norman (L) (6) and Bugg
Leonard (W) and Pung
(July 29) Vulcan Elks wrapped up the regular season with a 6-4 win over Lethbridge. The game was called after six innings because of darkness. Sharp relief hurling by Jack Altman snuffed out a potential Miners' rally in the final inning. With two men on base, Altman struck out the side to preserve the victory for rookie Orie Gordichuk. Don Jantzie powered the Elks with a home run and two singles.
Gordichuk (W), Altman (6) and Bugg
Davis (L) and G Vaselenak
Vulcan 15 3
Granum 11 7 4.0
Picture Butte 6 12 9.0
Lethbridge 4 14 11.0
PLAYOFFS
(July 31) Vic Stasiuk's first inning grand slam launched the Lethbridge Miners on a 12-4 upset of the Vulcan Elks in the opening game of their best-of-three Foothills-Wheatbelt semi-final series. The Elks, who finished 15-3 in the regular season, played their worst game of the campaign committing eight errors. The Miners added a run in the second then went scoreless until the ninth when they broke loose for seven runs, three on Mike Vaselenak's homer. The Miners won just four of 18 games in the regular season.
Welch (W), G Vaselenak (6) and H Yanoski
Burcher (L) and Bugg
(August 2) Bill Fennessey slammed two homers and Earl Ingarfield and Steve Odney also clubbed round trippers as Granum trounced Picture Butte 12-3 in the opening game of a best-of-three Foothills-Wheatbelt League semi-final. Frank Stone picked up the win in relief.
Roy Johnson, Stone (W) (3) and Bogal
Rudy Leonard (L), Hy Richards (7) and Pung
(August 3) Jack Altman pitched a two-hitter with 13 strikeouts to lead Vulcan to a 7-2 win over Lethbridge to even their semi-final series 1-1. The California lefty, who allowed just one earned run, had a no-hitter for five innings. Marty Norman paced the Elks offensive with two doubles and a single in four trips to the plate.
Altman (W) and Bugg
Welch (L) , G Vaselenak (5) and H Yanosik
(August 5) Lethbridge Rotary Tournament : The favourites took a beating in opening day action at the 5th Annual Lethbridge Rotary Tournament.
Assiniboia Aces shocked the defending champion Spokane Builders 2-0 while the Foothills-Wheatbelt All-Stars sidelined the Fairchild Flyers of Spokane 7-5. Granum White Sox topped Libby, Montana 6-1. Worland Indians of Wyoming gained the remaining spot in the semi-finals beating the Sceptre-Delisle Combines 8-5.
Assiniboia's Paul Pearson shutdown the Builders on three hits. The Aces scored the only run they needed in the first when Red Waterton doubled and scored on Gordon Skjervin's single. Skjervin led batters with a double and two singles.
Pearson (W) nd Waterton
Bloomquist (L) and Hinz
The All-Stars dropped behind 3-0 in the first inning but bounced back with a run in the fourth on Clarence Yanosik's single and two more in the fifth on an error and singles by Wes Rice and Greg Seastrom. Three Flyer errors in the eighth allowed the All-Stars to plate the winners.
Gagne, Hatfield (L) (8) and Sulzman
Burcher (W) and Bugg
Earl Ingarfield drove in four runs with a double and two singles to lead Granum over Libby. Willie Walasko tossed a three-hitter and had a shutout going into the ninth until Libby scored on a single and an error.
Fines (L), Marshall (8) and Loving
Walasko (W) and Bogal
Worland erupted for five runs in the sixth inning to down the Bentley brothers' Combines. Paul Stark, who pitched a no-hitter in the first Rotary Tournament in 1952, held the Combines to eight hits.
Stark (W) and Biron
Jacobson (L), MacEwen (6) and Grant
(August 6) The Foothills-Wheatbelt All-Stars made history at the fifth annual Lethbridge Rotary Tournament. The All-Stars became the first Canadian club to win the event in staging a stirring comeback to topple Granum 7-4 in the final and walk off with the $1,500 first prize.
The Stars, down 3-0 after five innings, scored three in the top of the ninth to break a 4-4 tie and take the title. Willie Yahiro was the star of the Stars. The southpaw set down the White Sox on eight hits and fanned 10. He also led the Stars at the plate with two doubles and a single and scored what proved to be the winning run.
Granum took a 2-0 lead in the first on a Jim McDonald triple, Gordie Vejprava's single and an error. The Sox added a run in the fifth on two errors, a single and a sacrifice fly. The All-Stars roared back in the seventh to score four times and take the lead. A walk to Dick Bugg, Clarence Yanosik's single, a walk to Floyd Gillies and Greg Seastrom's single produced two runs and a throwing error netted two more. Bill Fennesey's eighth inning homer knotted the count at 4-4 heading into the final inning.
Yahiro led off the ninth for the Stars with a double. After Marty Norman was given an intentional walk, pinch-hitter Benny Dann plated a run with a single to right. Bugg's fly ball drove in Norman and Dann scored on a passed ball.
Yahiro (W) and Bugg
Gordy, Kucheran (L) (7), Johnson (9) and Bogal
The All-Stars reached the final with a 12-2 win over Assiniboia. Jack Altman walked the first two men he faced but then settled down to hold the Aces to five hits while fanning 13. The lefthander also knocked in three runs with a pair of singles. Outfielder Johnny Klem, who made the most spectacular play of the tournament with a diving catch in the seventh inning which nearly resulted in a triple play, punched out a double and two singles. Greg Seastrom had a double and a single.
Skjerven (L), Carr (4) and Waterton
Altman (W) and Bugg
Granum won a spot in the final with a 15-3 trouncing of Worland. The White Sox scored four in the opening frame on two walks, an error and Earl Ingarfield's inside-the-park homer and never looked back. Tedd Bogal had three hits for the winners. Joe Weremy held the favoured Indians to eight hits and fanned 14 to set a tournament strike out record.
Weremy (W) and Bogal
Newkirk (L), McIntosh (4) and Biron
(August 7) Lethbridge Miners upset Granum 4-3 in the opening game of the best-of-three Southern Alberta senior baseball semi-final. Roy Davis, who pitched a four-hitter for the victory, scored the winning run in the top of the ninth on a sacrifice fly. Granum's Bill Fennessey had the only homer.
Davis (W) and Powers
D Johnson (L) and Bogal, Laurie (3)
(August 8) Lethbridge Miners, down 5-0 after three innings, exploded in the fourth, sixth and ninth innings to upset Vulcan 13-5 in the deciding game of the semi-final series. It was the second straight season the Elks had won the regular season title but failed in the playoffs. Miners came to life in the fourth with a lead-off homer by Johnny Klem, a single from Vic Stasiuk, double by George Vaselenak and homer off the bat off Les Colwill. Lethbridge went ahead with four runs in the sixth and wrapped up the series with a five-run ninth. In addition to his homer, Klem had a triple, double and two singles. Dick Bugg homered for the Elks. Jerry Burcher, undefeated during the regular season, suffered his second straight playoff defeat.
G Vaselenak (W) and Powers
Burcher (L), Altman (7) and Bugg
(August 8) Granum White Sox scored four runs in the opening frame and went on to down Picture Butte 9-6 to advance to the Foothills-Wheatbelt final series. Sox got only six hits but took advantage of eight walks and Indians' errors to claim the victory. Frank Stone allowed just four hits in going the distance for the Sox. Bill Fennessey had a two-run homer for the winners.
Leonard (L), Richards (7) and Pung
Stone (W) and Laurie
(August 10) Earl Ingarfield's three-run homer in the eighth inning carried Granum to a 6-4 comeback win over Lethbridge in the opening game of the Foothills-Wheatbelt League final series. It was Ingarfield's 17th homer of the season. Joe Tarnava also had a fourbagger for the White Sox. John Vaselenak homered for the Miners. Willie Walasko survived a shaky start to go all the way for the win
Walasko (W) and Bogal
R Davis (L) and Powers
(August 12) Granum White Sox won a berth in the South Alberta baseball final taking both ends of a playoff twin-bill from Lethbridge, 9-2 and 10-4.
Jack Altman, who joined Granum after Vulcan was eliminated from further play, scattered eight hits and struck out 12 as the Sox took the opener. Earl Ingarfield homered for the Sox.
A first inning grand slam by Darwin Walkingshaw paced the Sox in the second contest. Walkingshaw added a double and a single. Tedd Bogal clouted a solo homer and had a single.
Altman (W) and Bogal
Friemuth (L), Davis (6) and Deak
Johnson (W) and Bogal
Welch (L), G Vaselenak (3) and Deak
(August 14) Granum White Sox pounded out 31 hits in a playoff double-header to take the lead in both the Foothills-Wheatbelt final and the Southern Alberta championship.
White Sox trounced Lethbridge 17-4 in the first game to take a 2-0 lead in the league final. Darwin Walkingshaw led the Sox' 17-hit attack with a triple and three singles. Jim McDonald drove in five runs with a double and two singles. Willie Walasko, who tossed a three-hitter, belted a two-run homer.
Davis (L), Stasiuk (3) and Powers
Walasko (W) and Bogal
In the nightcap, Tedd Bogal broke up a tight contest with an eighth inning grand slam homer as the Sox beat Picture Butte 10-3 in the opening game of the Southern Alberta final. Frank Stone went six innings to pick up the win. Jack Altman finished up with three innings of one-hit ball.
Yahiro (L) and Pung
Stone (W), Altman (7) and Bogal
(August 17) Tedd Bogal drove in six runs with a pair of homers and Darwin Walkingshaw had five RBI from two homers, a double and a single as Granum White Sox won the Foothills-Wheatbelt title for the second straight season with a 20-10 victory over Lethbridge in a game called after seven innings because of darkness. Sox won the best-of-five series in three games. Earl Ingarfield had four hits and scored four times. Mitch Sztaba blasted a 420-foot homer for the Miners. Vic Stasiuk knocked in four runs with a triple and single.
Friemuth, Davis (L) (1) and H Yanosik
D Johnson, Walasko (W) (4) and Bogal
(August 21) For the second straight season, Granum won a spot in the Alberta senior baseball finals as they finished off the Picture Butte Indians 10-1 to win the best-of-three Southern Alberta title in two straight. The White Sox, who earlier captured the Foothills-Wheatbelt title, scored twice in the top of the first and were never headed.
Fireballing lefty Jack Altman, a star with Vulcan during the regular season and acquired for the playoffs, scattered seven hits while fanning nine and allowed just one base on balls. Sox blasted three homers. Tedd Bogal crushed a two-run shot in the first, Bill Fennessey homered in the fourth, and Steve Odney had a leadoff blast in the eighth. Gord Vejprava had three hits. Willie Yahiro went the distance for the Indians allowing 11 hits. He was victimized by five Indians' errors.
Altman (W) and Bogal
Yahiro (L) and Pung
(August 27) Jack Altman tossed a gem, a two-hit shutout, to give Granum a 3-0 triumph over the Cold Lake Stars in the opening game of the Alberta senior baseball championship series. Steve Odney was the hero at the plate driving in all three runs with a two-run homer in the seventh and a sacrifice fly in the eighth. Al Mulleneux gave up just six hits in going the distance for the Stars.
Altman (W) and Bogal
Mulleneux (L) and Demeriez
(August 28) The Granum White Sox retained their Alberta senior baseball title edging the hometown Cold Lake Stars 2-1 to take the best-of-three series in two straight games. Steady pitching by Willie Walasko and clutch hits from Gord Wesley and Jim McDonald were enough for the victory. Wesley gave the Sox the early lead blasting a homer on the second pitch of the game. After the Stars had tied the contest with a run in the fifth, Tedd Bogal drew a sixth inning walk, stole second and scored on McDonald's line-drive double. McDonald led the Sox with three hits. Walakso spaced out nine hits effectively while registering 10 strikeouts and two walks. Al Mulleneux, who went the distance Saturday, was touched for seven hits and allowed five free passes.
Granum also won an exhibition game, trouncing Cold Lake 12-4 behind the pitching of Don Johnson.
Walasko (W) and Bogal
Mulleneuz (L) and Demeriez
D Johnson (W) and xxx
xxx and xxx
(September 5) Fernie Tournament : Granum took top prize in the Labour Day tournament in Fernie defeating Kimberley Dynamos 7-1 in the final as lefty Jack Altman pitched a three-hitter. Altman struck out ten. Bill Fennessey's three-run homer in the third was the key blow for the White Sox. The only run against Altman came in the first inning as a result of an error.
Altman (W) and xxx
Boisvert (L), F Geringher (3) and xxx
In the semi-finals, Willie Walasko hurled a no-hitter, with ten strikeouts, as the Sox whipped Coleman 14-0 in a game called after seven innings. Kimberley downed Fernie 11-4.
Walasko (W) and xxx
xxx and xxx
xxx and xxx
xxx and xxx
In opening round games, Fernie Falcons trounced Eureka, Montana 18-2, Coleman downed Yaak air base of Troy, Montana 6-1.
(September 11) Darwin Walkingshaw's sacrifice fly scored Steve Odney in the bottom of the ninth to give Granum a 2-1 victory in a challenge match against the Vauxhall Jets, runners-up in the Alberta intermediate baseball championship. Granum, winners of the provincial senior title, scored a 9-0 win the second game of the twin-bill. Close to 800 fans, best local crowd of the season, watched the action in Granum.
The opener was a pitching duel between lefties Roy Cleland of the Jets and Granum's Jack Altman. Cleland tossed a two-hitter with six strike outs and four walks. Altman had a no-hitter into the seventh and blanked the Jets until the top of the ninth when three singles loaded the bases and a run scored on a wild pitch. He fanned seven and allowed just one base on balls. Bill Fennessey's run-scoring single in the fourth and Jim McDonald's double in the fifth were the only hits off Cleland.
Willie Walasko pitched a sizzling two-hitter in the seven-inning second game as the White Sox prevailed, 9-0. Gord Wesley belted the game's second pitch for a homer to get the Sox on the board.
Cleland (L) and Hougen
Altman (W) and Bogal
Anderson (L), Stevenson (4) and Hougen
Walasko (W) and Bogal
(September 18) Willie Walasko allowed just one hit, a 3rd inning single by Doug Erskine, as Granum battered Vauxhall 17-0 in the first game of an exhibition double-header. White Sox also won the nightcap, 9-7.
Bill Fennessey and Jim McDonald had homers in the first game, while Al Marlarchuk had four singles. Marlarchuk added three more hits in the second game. In was the second twin-bill sweep over the Jets in two weeks.
Walasko (W) and Tarnava
Cleland (L), Rhodes (2) and Hougen
Kucheran, D Johnson (6) and Tarnava
Rasmussen, Anderson (9) and Blaney
FOOTHILLS BASEBALL LEAGUE
Barons
Carmangay
Champion
Claresholm
Claresholm RCAF
Nanton
Stavely
(August 31) Nanton Palominos captured the 1955 Foothills Baseball League title with a 6-3 win over Champion Red Sox. Nanton won the final in two straight games, taking the opener 8-4. Wally Thrun, who also registered the win in the first game, held Champion to six hits. Merv Smith toojk the loss giving up eight hits. Palominos reached the final by downing Claresholm Meteors in the semi-final.
Smith and xxx
Thrun and xxx