PENTICTON VICTORIA DAY TOURNAMENT
(May 23) The home town Red Sox captured top money at the Penticton Victoria Day Tournament nipping Oliver 8-7 on Charlie Preen's single with the bases loaded and two out in the bottom of the ninth inning. Oliver pushed across three runs in the 8th inning to take a 7-5 advantage going into the final inning. With one out in their last at bat, George Drossos drew a walk for the Sox and, after Wendell Clifton flied out for the second out, Sam Drossos reached on an error at shortsop. Doug Moore loaded the sacks with his third hit of the game and Elmer Mori worked Richie Schnider for a walk to bring in the first run. Preen followed with his winning smash scoring Sam Drossos and Moore. The game featured three homers with Buddy Russell connecting for the Sox and Vanderburgh and Frank Fritz for the OBCs. Clifton was credited with the win while Snyder took the loss.
Earlier Penticton trounced Summerland 17-4 as Eddie John, normally a second baseman, took to the mound and pitched a six-hitter. The Sox scored nine runs in the third inning and coasted to the easy win.
GRIFFIN TOURNAMENT
(June 15) Griffin Cubs defeated Midale 19-6 to win first money at the Griffin Sports Day Tournament. The Cubs were presented with the Wally Shupe Trophy. Earlier Griffin had beaten Torquay 10-0, Yellow Grass 8-0 and Halbrite 10-3.
LACOMBE TOURNAMENT
(June 23 ) 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 All-Stars lost in the final for the second straight year, having lost to Brooks last summer.
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 and Pung
Weremy and Abel
All-Stars 2 Granum 10
Pat Chapman, Guff Chapman, Megus and Martin
Johnson, 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 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, Simpson (8) and R Brown
Jacobson 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 (4) and Johnson
Kirk and Abel
Central Alberta All-Stars edged Great Falls 7-6. Dave Martin went the distance for the win.
D Martin 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, Wynn (2), Stanoline (4) and Emberg
Walasko and Pung
Granum White Sox, Central Alberta All-Stars, Sceptre Indians, Carstairs Cardinals, Daysland, Great Falls Jet Liners, Delisle Indians, Edmonton P & G Motors
FORT ST. JAMES TOURNAMENT
(July 1) Prince George Chevrolets captured first prize at the Dominion Day Tournament over teams from Vanderhoof and Fort St. James. Second prize was split when rain halted play.
WINDERMERE TOURNAMENT
(July 1) Kimberley Dynamos and Invermere Wilders split top money at the Windermere Tournament as the teams fought to a 3-3 draw in a game called because of darkness. In the first game, Derrel Dixon fired a no-hit shutout as the Dynamos whipped Golden 8-0 in a game called after five innings because of rain. Invermere got an opening round bye. Kimberley reached the final by virtue of a 14-0 trouncing of Cranbrook as Dixon pitched shutout ball for another seven innings. In the final, Dynamos led 3-2 going into the final frame but gave up an unearned run for the tie.
SASKATOON OPTIMIST TOURNAMENT
(July 1) Delisle, which had won the first two Optimist tournaments and reached the final in the third, was back on top with a 7-3 win over Langham in the final of the 1955 event. The game was called after 4 1/2 innings because of rain. Bentley MacEwen, who had pitched 11 innings the previous day in Delisle's 4-3 win over the junior Moore's, picked up his second win of the tournament. Delisle erupted for seven runs in the second inning, highlited by Johnny Sirota's two-run homer, to pretty well put the game on ice. Jackie Wood and Bev Bentley added doubles in the big inning while Danny Ens had a pair of singles and Doug Bentley one. Langham rebounded with three runs in the top of fourth on a single by Don Komstedt, double by Pete Shertisbitoff, and a pair of Delisle errors.
Leipzig jumped ahead in semi-final play with a pair of runs in the first inning, one coming on a Pete Prediger homer, but Langham rallied with eight unanswered runs to take an 8-2 lead before Leipzig scored another two in the ninth. Jerry Knutson gave up four hits in the first inning then hurled hitless ball until the final frame for the win. Delisle wrapped up its semi-final with Marysburg in the first inning, scoring ten times en route to a 17-0 triumph. Doug Bentley led the winners with five hits, one of them a triple. Max Bentley had three safeties. Keith Murray held Marysburg to six hits in tossing the shutout.
In opening day action, Johnny Rippen fired a shutout and belted a three-run triple and a single as Langham topped Colonsay 7-0. MacEwen hurled a three-hitter and fanned 16 as Delisle shaded Moores. Johnny Sirota's 11th inning single drove in Danny Ens with the winning marker.
In an exhibition game, Saskatoon Gems edged North Battleford Beavers 6-5. About 3,500 fans watched the holiday contests.
Moores 3 Delisle 4 (11 innings)
Genereux (L) and T. McKenzie
MacEwen (W) and J. Goodwin
Langham 7 Colonsay 0
Rippen (W) and K. Dear
Campbell (L) and Folk
Marysburg and Leipzig with byes
Marysburg 0 Delisle 17
Hryniuk (L), H. Bauml (1), J. Stroeder (1) and P. Stroeder
Murray (W) and J. Goodwin
Leipzig 4 Langham 8
Klotz, N. Vassen (L) (1), Duft (5) and Prediger
Knutson (W) and K. Dear
Langham 3 Delisle 7
Dodd (L), Johnson (3) and K. Dear
MacEwen (W) and J. Goodwin
COURTENAY TOURNAMENT
(July 1-3) Farmer Construction, with a 13-0 record in the Lower Island Senior Amateur Baseball League, won the $600 top prize at the Dominion Day Tournament at Courtenay over the weekend. Behind the six-hit pitching of Bill Garner, Farmers trounced Campbell River 8-2 in the final. The Victoria nine plated three runs in the first inning and were never threatened. After Ron Martin walked and was advanced to second, Charlie Boyd singled in the first run. Jim Harford smacked a triple for run number two and a sac fly brought in the third. The Cougars battled back for a singleton in the second as Johnny Haramboure singled and eventually scored on Skip McDonald's one-bagger. Farmers added three more in the fourth with Martin's three-bagger the highlight blow and two more in the fifth. Campbell River added one in the seventh but it was too little, too late. Lefty Bill Garner held the Cougars to five hits.
Garner (W) and xxx
Ron Pratt (L), L.Rodger (4)
and xxx
Bill Prior pitched Farmers to an 8-2 victory over Chemainus Red Sox in the semi-final round. The big right-hander held the Sox to six hits. The Victoria nine broke open a tight game with four runs in the fifth inning.
K.Williams, D.English (5), Webb (6) and xxx
Prior (W) and xxx
In one of the best games of the tournament, Campbell River Cougars won a finals berth by a 4-3 margin over Courtenay Legion. Ray Downey got the Legion off to a flying start when he singled off lefty Larry Walker to open the first inning. An error and Ron Gray's single brought in the first run. Cougars responded quickly as Johnny Haramboure drove in Ty Conti who had singled. In the fourth, Campbell River went ahead as Ron Cameron plated Harry Thulin who reached on an error. The Legion took a 3-2 lead in the sixth scoring on three hits and an error. It was a tie game again in the bottom of the sixth as Bill Palek smacked a two-bagger to bring Thulin home. The seventh frame saw Joe Kanic deliver the game winner with Conti on base.
LWalker and xxx
xxx and xxx
The tournament champions had their toughest game in the opening round against Comox RCAF winning 6-5. Farmers wiggled out of trouble in the final inning as Bill Prior relieved with two men on and one out and retired the side. The Victoria nine had a 6-3 lead after eight frames but the Knights made it interesting in the ninth. Pinch hitter Bill Kolybaba singled to lead off and Joe L'Oiseau smacked a two-bagger. With one out, Vic Burtt laced a single up the middle to drive in both runners and bring the Airmen to just a run back. There was bedlam at the ball park as manager Ed Ash called time and walked towards the bullpen to bring in Prior. The right-hander got a fly ball to right and an infield grounder to end the game.
Cass (L) and xxx
Beck (W), Prior (9) and xxx
The Cougars had an easy time in their first round action against Alberni. The Athletics took a 3-0 lead in the first inning but Campbell River responded with seven in the second and romped to the victory. Jergen Schilling settled down after the rough first frame to coast to the win. He allowed eight hits.
Conn (L) and Bailey
Schilling (W) and McDonald
Courtenay Legion advanced by defeating Parksville Loggers 6-1. A four-run sixth inning proved to be the difference. Earl Robinson started the splurge when he rapped his third straight single. A walk and a hit batter loaded the bags and a walk to Skip Montgomery brought in the first run. A free pass to Ray Downey scored another before Ron Gray singled for the third marker and Ron Lund's fly ball accounted for the fourth.
Lund (W) and xxx
Charlesworth (L) and xxx
Chemainus Red Sox broke open a tight 3-1 game with eight runs in the last three innings for an 11-1 triumph over Cumberland Cubs behind the solid five-hit pitching of Bert Webb. Smith led the winners with three hits including a bases-loaded triple in the seventh.
Webb (W) and Jansch
Roses (L), Bulatovich (8) and O'Neill
Prior captured the tournament's Most Valuable Player award, Jim Harford won the title for the most RBIs and Charlie Boyd had the most extra-base hits.
KELLIHER TOURNAMENT
(July 13) Frank Germann's Notre Dame Hounds took top money at the Annual Kelliher Sports Day downing Lestock in the final. About 2,000 fans took in the championship game. Theodore finished third and Balcarres fourth.
MELFORT TOURNAMENT
(July 13) The host Melfort nine won their own tournament Wednesday trouncing Birch Hills 11-2 in the final. An outstanding feature of the tourney was the one-hit pitching of Al Knutson who sparked Melfort to an 8-2 victory over Annaheim in a semi-final contest. Birch Hills sidelined Marysburg in the other.
CAMROSE MOOSE LODGE TOURNAMENT
(July 14-16) Don Kirk fired a five-hitter and battery-mate Dave Abel belted a three-run homer to lead Red Deer Dodgers to a 9-1 victory and first prize money of $800 in the Camrose Tournament. Dodgers had 12 safeties and were helped by six Camrose miscues. Del St. John, Red Deer shortstop, was outstanding for the winners with seven hits in eleven at bats over the two days.
Red Deer 9, Camrose 1
Kirk and Abel
McGregor, Mussleman (6) and Broen
Dodgers made the final with a 13-3 win over Vauxhall. The Jets, coming into the tourney with a 20-0 mark in league play, had a rude awakening against Red Deer who erased an early 2-1 deficit with a three-run 4th inning and cruised to the win under sunny skies and with temperatures near the 90-degree mark. Camrose pulled off the upset of the tournament with a 9-1 semi-final victory over Beverely. Terry Lomnes held the Drakes to just four hits while racking up 12 strikeouts.
Vauxhall 3, Red Deer 13
Baker, R. Clelland (4), Kirkhoff (6) and Haugen
Gazely, Martin (4) (W) and Abel
Beverely 1, Camrose 9
Babiuk, Yeske (3) and Mullins
Lomnes and Broen
In operning round action, Vauxhall took advantage of four errors to top Battle River All-Stars 6-2. Roy Clelland tossed a six-hitter for the win. Al Charles allowed just eight hits in taking the loss. Gord Root had four hits for the Jets.
Vauxhall 6, Battle River 2
Roy Clelland (W) and Haugen
Charles and McLennan
Camrose Jubilee All-Stars blew a 4-1 lead in the bottom of the 9th inning but bounced back with a singleton in the 12th to edge the Eastern Alberta All-Stars 5-4. In the 12th, Palechuck doubled and scored on a bunt and an error for the win. Jimmy Pon had been a hero for the Eastern All-Stars in the 9th driving in a pair of runs with a double and scoring the tying marker on a Camrose error.
Camrose 5, E. Alberta 4
McGregor, Schneck (9) and Bertamini, Emmerling (2)
Simpson, R. McNabb (8) and Malik
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.
Keith McGregor, Rod Schneck (W) (9) and Bertamini, Emmerling (2)
Simpson, R McNabb (L) (8) and Malik
Lefty Joe Weremy pitched and batted the Beverly Drakes to an upset 6-1 victory over the tournament favourites, the Granum White Sox. Weremy tossed a six-hitter allowing just an unearned run while his three-run homer in the second inning proved to be the winning blow.
Beverley 6, Granum 1
Joe Weremy and Mullins
Walasko, Johnson and xxx
Don Martin held Leduc Oilers to six hits as Red Deer Dodgers scored an 11-3 victory. Larry Kadatz and Ernie Ressler belted homers for the losers.
Red Deer 11, Leduc Oilers 3
Martin (W) and Umari
Resler, Kashuba (3) and Hamilton, Roberts (3)
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.
INDIAN HEAD TOURNAMENT
(July 14) Notre Dame Hounds rallied for a 4-4 tie with Brandon Cloverleafs in the final of the Indian Head Tournament. The contest was called at the end of nine innings because of darkness. Each team received $700. Hugh Carr went the distance for the Hounds while former Notre Dame student Les Lilley started for Brandon, giving way to Morley MacFarlane. Carr allowed just four hits, two by Bill Cobb. It was Carr's second route-going effort of the day. In the quarter-finals, he fired a six-hitter as the Hounds won 4-3. Notre Dame reached the final downing Regina Red Sox 9-3. Cloverleafs tagged Riverside 12-1 as Mort Wright tossed a three-hitter.
Les Lilley, Morley MacFarlane (8) and Slevin
Hugh Carr and Germann
Royal Caps 2 Brandon 3
Harrison (L) and Lysack
McFarlane (W) and Slevin
Red Sox 13 Avonlea 4
Mohr (W) and McNabb
Reyes (L), Martin (1), Hall (9) and Schnell
Shaunavon 9 Riverside 10
Willins, Martindale (L) (1), Wilton (9) and Jensen
Patterson, D. Mealy (4), B. Mealy (W) (7) and C. Seafoot
Notre Dame 4 Moose Jaw 3
Carr (W) and Germann
Erfle (L) and Peterson
Semi-Finals :
Notre Dame 9 Red Sox 3
Bearss (W) and Saucier
Richardson (L), Wall (6), Leverick (8), Kober (9) and McNabb, Manz (8)
Brandon 12 Riverside 3
Wright (W) and Slevin
G. Seafoot (L), K. Seafoot (3), Gene Cory (7) and C. Seafoot
(July 24) The Great Falls Air Force Base Jetliners downed Opheim Radar 18-0 in the tournament for the Montana semi-pro championship. George Hume tossed the shutout allowing just four hits. Had had 12 strikeouts.
Opheim had moved into the title round with a 6-5 win over Sidney after scoring a 5-4 win over Great Falls and downing Shelby 5-3. Great Falls dropped Shelby 13-2 and Sidney 16-2. John Gordy was the winner in each game. He fired a one-hitter against Shelby with the only safety a first inning homer.
The winner advances to the National Baseball Congress tournament in Wichita.
SASKATOON EXHIBITION TOURNAMENT
(July 26) A pitcher's duel highlighted the opening game of the Saskatoon Exhibition Tournament as Langham shaded Birch Hill 3-1. Johnny Reppin topped Merv Verreau as each allowed just three hits. Reppin fanned 11 and walked one while Verreau had 12 strikeouts and three free passes. The game was re-scheduled from Monday night because of wet grounds.
Reppin (W) and K.Dear
Verreau (L) and Dutka
(July 26) A pair of three-run innings carried the Leipzig Comets over the Wakaw Gems 7-4 as Ollie Harris rang up 15 strikeouts. Shortstop Flanagan had two hits and scored twice for the winners.
Becker (L), Rainey (5) and Kulerich
Harris (W) and Betz
(July 27) Doug and Max Bentley smacked back-to-back doubles in the 11th inning to plate the winning run as Delisle nipped Colonsay 3-2. After giving up a two-run homer to Lloyd Coffin in the first inning, winning hurler Bentley MacEwen was brilliant allowing just one more hit in blanking Colonsay the rest of the way ringing up 18 strikeouts. 41-year-old Johnny Folk gave up only seven hits in the extra inning affair and handled 13 chances in the field, two putouts and 11 assists. Jim Cosgrove belted a homer for Delisle.
MacEwen (W) and R.Bentley
Folk (L) and Rosher
(July 28) Marysburg Royals edged Notre Dame 8-7 to advance to the semi-final round of the exhibition tournament. Reliever Herb Bauml was prominent in the Royals' victory taking over in the 8th after Vern Glazier had belted a two-run homer for the Hounds to bring Notre Dame to within a run of Marysburg. Bauml didn't allow a hit in shutting down Notre Dame over the last two innings. Bud Hobbs went the first seven innings for the win. Dean Bell knocked in three runs for the losers with a double, sacrifice fly and a bases-loaded walk.
Hafford, Carr (L) (2) and Saucier, Germann
Hobbs (W), Bauml (8) and Arnold Strueby
(July 29) Langham broke up a tight 3-3 game with five runs in the seventh inning and went on to top Leipzig 9-3 to make the final of the tourney. Jerry Knutson, the former Melfort junior star, turned in a five-hit pitching effort with 14 strikeouts. Irl Flanagan and Ollie Harris worked for Leipzig. Catcher Ken Dear clouted a four-bagger for the winners.
Knutson (W) and K.Dear
Irl Flanagan (L), Harris and Keller
(July 30) Delisle dumped Marysburg 8-0 to reach to make the final against Langham. The game was held to five innings. Bentley MacEwen allowed just one hit and fanned seven in the shortened affair. Delisle had six hits including a triple by Doug Bentley and a double by Johnny Sirota who scored twice and drove in a pair.
Arngrimson (L) and
MacEwen (W) and
(July 30) The Bentleys, backed a strong pitching performance by Murray Coben, led Delisle to an 8-2 triumph over Langham in the final of the Saskatoon Exhibition Tournament. Coben fired a six-hitter and fanned 14 while Max Bentley led a 14-hit attack with a double, three singles and three runs. Doug and Bev Bentley each had two hits. Doug scored twice and Bev drove in three. Second baseman Jack Dear had two hits for Langham.
M.Coben (W) and B.Coben
Reppin (L) and K.Dear
LETHBRIDGE ROTARY TOURNAMENT
(August 5) 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 Reg Waterton doubled and scored on Gordon Skjerven's single. Skjerven led batters with a double and two singles. Jim White's sacrifice bunt scored Lorne Shanks with the second run in the 6th inning. Pearson, with three strikeouts and no walks, bested Spokane ace Curt Bloomquist.
Pearson and Waterton
Bloomquist 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 (8) and Sulzman
Burcher 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, Marshall (8) and Loving
Walasko 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 and Biron
Jacobson, 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 MacDonald 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.
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.
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 went the distance for the win.
PARKSVILLE KINSMEN TOURNAMENT
(August 5-7) The Parksville Loggers repeated as champions of the Parksville Kinsmen Tournament. Close to 3,000 fans watched the exciting final as the Loggers topped Chemainus Red Sox 7-4. Red Sox had taken a 4-3 lead into the ninth after Joe Copp had tripled in the tie-breaking marker. But, the host nine roared back with four runs in the top of the ninth to take top money.
Charlesworth (W) and xxx
Williams (L) and xxx
The Loggers had advanced to the final on the brilliant, two-hit pitching of Victoria import, Don Donahue. Parksville blanked Courtenay Legion 4-0.
Garner (L), Prior (5) and S.McDonald
Donahue (W) and Caljouw
Chemainus slipped by Nanaimo 5-4 in spite of home runs by Red Naylor and Don Smith for the Sport Centres. Red Sox hurler Alan Goldie recovered from a rough first inning when he allowed three runs to pitch solid ball the rest of the way for the win. Doug Brinham and Don Brooks each had two hits for the Sox.
Clair Bonner (L) and xxx
Goldie (W) and xxx
In their opening round action, Chemainus topped Campbell River 8-3 as Ron Gibbons and Don Brooks had four-baggers. Joe Copp went the distance for the pitching win. The losers had an imported battery from the Vancouver White Spots, Art Bull pitching to Neil Kelly.
Copp (W) and xxx
Art Bull (L) and Neil Kelly
Courtenay Legion notched an 8-5 decision to advance to the semi-final round. Roy Moore belted a two-run double in the fifth inning to break a 5-5 tie and provide the margin of victory.
R.Lund (W) and R.Moore
xxx and xxx
Nanaimo trounced the Alberni Athletics and Parksville downed Port Alberni Cubs in spite of an outstanding effort by Cubs' first sacker Pete Ashdown who had a triple and three singles. A handsome trophy and a cheque for $500 was presented to Loggers' team manager Jean LaRocque by Kinsmen Club president Mike Malone. Eight teams competed in the three day event
DAWSON CREEK TOURNAMENT
(August 6-7) Willow River Red Sox, riding outstanding pitching, captured top money of $1,000 at the Dawson Creek Tournamernt. Mike Church fired a no-hit shutout in one of the early games and old reliable Sid Delano was solid as the Red Sox notched a 13-4 victory in the final.
EDGEWATER TOURNAMENT
(August 13) Fine pitching by Derrel Dixon, solid infield defensive play and clutch hitting combined to give the Kimberley Junior Hobos top money in the Edgewater baseball tournament on Sunday. The Hobos chalked up three victories in impressive fashion over the best clubs in the Columbia valley. The tournament opener lasted only one inning because of the ten-run mercy rule and saw the Kimberley squad trample the overmatched Parson club 11 to 0. Darrel Dixon needed only 11 pitches to subdue the young valley nine from Parson, striking out all three batters that he faced. Jim Putsey of the Hobos banged out a triple and single in his two turns at bat while catcher Elmer Garinger, picked up from the Kimberley Dynamos for the event, slammed a home run. Golden, fresh from a close 5 to 4 victory over Edgewater, met Kimberley in the second round while the Wilder’s balltossers, with a opening-round bye, moved into the tourney final after clubbing the Fernie seniors 7 to 2. Kimberley had to overcome a 4 – 1 deficit to finally eliminate Golden in their semi-final clash. Dixon, after coming on as a third-inning reliever for starter Dave Blayney, earned the pitching win. Bob Pearson’s seventh-stanza safety drove in Vern Kuntz with the winning run. Hobo manager Don Rollheiser called upon Dixon to hurl the final game and his Kimberley mates helped him out by staking him to a 2 – 0 first-inning lead on Garinger’s two-run double. The Hobos prevailed 5 to 2 in this tilt as Dixon chalked up his third heaving triumph of the day. Putsey and Pearson both wound up with four hits in nine at-bats over the course of the three contests.
CARSTAIRS TOURNAMENT
(August 17) Carstairs erupted for four runs in the eighth inning to break a 3-3 tie and went on to top Red Deer 8-3 to take top money at the Carstairs Tournament.
The final contest was termed the best of the season locally with Pete Gazely on the mound for Red Deer and Don Kirk for the host team. Carstairs dumped Penhold RCAF 10-3 in their opening game behind the strong hurling of Don Loewen. Red Deer downed Crossfield 6-3.
LIBBY LABOR DAY TOURNAMENT
September 3-4-5) With six games in 48 hours, the Kalispell Chiefs wound up their season in a blaze of glory winning the Libby Labor Day Tournament with a 3-2 victory over the Spokane Georges in the final.
"Playing his first games with the Chiefs, Tom Mulcahy, former Gonzaga University mound ace ... put on a display of pitching and hitting that has probably never been equalled or surpassed in Northwest Montana baseball circles. (The Inter Lake, Kalispell, September 6, 1955)
Mulcahy pitched a six-hitter and fanned 14 as the Chiefs, in their third game of the day, upset the tourney favourites in the championship game. Ronnie Overby's three-run homer in the first inning accounted for all the Chiefs' scoring. His blast, to far left field, followed an error allowing Bil Redmond on base, and a walk to catcher Keith Gustin. Spokane plated single runs in the 4th and 6th frames. Centrefielder Gil Kuhns had three hits and scored both runs for the Georges. It was Mulcahy's second complete-game victory in less than 24 hours.
Omelia, Cossette (2) and Hinz
Mulcahy and Gustin
Chiefs were forced to take the long route to the title in the double elimination tourney. They dropped their opener on Saturday evening, 4-3 to Libby as the Loggers overcame a 3-2 deficit with a run in the 8th and another in the 9th to win. Schneider tossed a two-hitter. He walked eight and fanned 14. Chiefs had taken the lead on Ronnie Overby's three-run homer in the 7th inning. Tom Mulcahy's double was the only other hit for Kalispell. Noel Aronson took the loss, allowing 11 hits.
Schneider and Chalich
Aronson and Gustin
Keith Gustin and Mulcahy each scored three times and knocked in three as Kalispell trounced the St. Regis Warriors 16-5 Sunday afternoon for their first win. Jim Sweeney, who went the route on the hill for the victory, had three hits and scored twice. Fornall allowed 15 hits and walked 10 in taking the loss.
Sweeney and Gustin
Fornall and Bennett
Tom Mulcahy fired a four-hit shutout and set down 20 by strikeouts as Kalispell trounced Missoula AmVets 12-0 Sunday evening. The righthander didn't allow an exta-base hit and walked just two. First baseman Zip Rhoades drove in five runs with a triple and two singles. Catcher Keith Gustin had three hits and scored a pair. Chiefs exploded for four runs in the 7th and six in the 8th to salt away the victory.
Mulcahy and Gustin
Fortune, Pleasant (8), Odegaard (8) and Walterskitchen, Fortune (8)
Monday afternoon, the Chiefs got another crack at the Libby Loggers who had dropped a 10-5 decision to Spokane Georges Sunday evening. Tom Mulcahy's two-run homer in the 8th gave Kalispell a 6-4 victory. Earlier, his 3rd inning blast had given the Chiefs a 4-3 lead. Altogether, Mulcahy knocked in four runs and scored twice. Noel Aronson scattered 12 hits to pick up the win.
Shelton, Gehring (3), Schneider (8) and Chalich
Aronson and Gustin
With a break of a little more than an hour, Kalispell was back on the field Monday in a do-or-die effort against Spokane Georges. In addition to their win over Libby, Spokane had topped St. Regis 9-4 and Missoula 5-3. Tom Mulcahy's 6th inning, two-run double was the difference as the Chiefs shaded Spokane 3-1. Zip Roades' homer in the 5th had given Kalispell a 1-0 lead. Georges scored their only run in the 9th on three singles. Wilson Managhan, youngest member of the Chiefs' staff went the distance for the win holding the Georges to seven hits. Losing pitcher Curt Bloomquist allowed just seven hits and fanned 10 in taking the loss. He also had two hits and knocked in the lone run for Spokane. The Chiefs' win forced a second Kalispell - Spokane contest to decide the tournament champions.
Managhan and Gustin
Bloomquist and Hinz
Mulcahy, who had come to the Chiefs after pitching in the ManDak League with Williston Oilers, finished the tournament with two pitching wins as he tossed 17 innings allowing just two runs with seven walks and 34 strikeouts. At the plate he went 8-24 with 2 homers, 3 doubles, 7 runs scored and 10 batted in.
QUESNEL LABOUR DAY TOURNAMENT
(September 4-5) Port Moody whipped Quesnel Clippers 9-2 to take top money of $500 at the Quesnel Labour Day Tournament. Hefty Jerry Payne held the locals to nine hits in going the distance for the win. The visitors opened with a pair of runs in the first inning and put the game on ice with four runs in the fifth on just two hits and three costly Clipper errors. Yauger, borrowed from the Yankees for the tourney, started and took the loss for Quesnel.
Payne (W) and xxx
Yauger (L), Wyatt (5) and xxx
Port Moody Hotels collected the Quesnel Jewellers' Trophy presented by Harvey Copeland. The pitching award for the best individual performance went to Sid Delano of Willow River who lost in one of the top games of the tourney. Top batting honours went to Johnny Kuzak of the Clippers who got five hits in nine trips to the plate, two of them doubles against Port Moody. Jack Younger was awarded the Mule Train wrist watch for the first homer of the event.
In a playoff for third money, Dawson Creek edged the Prince George Athletics 5-4 in a seven inning contest. Both teams scored twice in the first and finished their scoring in the fifth. Ken Larsen, on the hill for the Athletics, fell apart in the fifth giving up two hits and three walks before he was relieved by Makechuk who promptly walked in two runs. Down 5-2, pitcher Fred Kapphahn pinch-hit for the Athletics and smashed a triple and scored as Cruickshank followed with a homer.
Larsen (L), Makechuck and xxx
xxx and xxx
Port Moody made the final by notching a thrilling 2-1, 11 inning, victory over Prince George Athletics. Lefty Pat Collins of Port Moody and Fred Kapphahn hooked up in the sweetest pitching duel seen locally in many seasons. Collins allowed just two hits, one of them a homer by Barry McDowell that tied the scored in the fifth. He racked up 14 strikeouts and walked four. Kapphahn gave up a homer to the first batter he faced but quickly settled down to keep the coast crew handcuffed until the 11th yielding just a hit in the sixth and another in the ninth. In the 11th, he walked Denny Parker who was sacrificed to second by Irv Follack. Then, with one out, Jack Urquart singled to centre to plate the winner.
Collins (W) and xxx
Kapphahn (L) and xxx
Clippers crushed Dawson Creek Canucks 17-5 to win a berth in the final. They took an early 8-3 lead and coasted to the easy triumph. The gake was called after six innings.
xxx and xxx
xxx and xxx
Port Moody hammered Sam Aura from the hill with a five-run barrage in the first inning and went on to a 12-5 win over the North Kamloops Mohawks. One of the first inning hits was a homer by Jack Younger, who won a wrist watch for connecting for the first four-bagger of the tournament. Johnny Koppa went the route for the winners giving up six hits.
Koppa (W) and xxx
Aura (L), Varanai (1), S.Motokado (7) and xxx
Jack Heaton pitched Dawson Creek to a 3-2 victory over the Willow River Red Sox. He gave up six hits but kept the Sox off the scoreboard for seven innings after they scored both their runs in the second frame. Three successive hits, one a double by Frank Bencher, accounted for the Willow River runs. Dawson Creek had opened the scoring in the top of the second and evened the count in the fourth when Tipton was hit by a pitch and came around to score on Garigan's long single. The deciding run in the eighth was unearned. Catcher Mike Makarenko was safe on an error, moved to second on a sacrifice and raced home on Ken Wood's sharp single to centre. It was a tough loss for southpaw Sid Delano who fired five-hit ball and twice got around to third base but was stranded both times.
Heaton (W) and M.Makarenko
Delano (L) and xxx
Prince George Athletics struck early against the Lumbermen in Sunday's second game. They took a 5-1 lead in the second inning and built it up to 9-1 in the 8th before the Lumbermen came to life with three markers. Albert Johnston started for the Lumbermen and had control troubles and was replaced by Jerry Dodge in the seventh. While he allowed just five hits, he walked five and those coupled with three costly errors paved the way for eight of the Athletics' runs. Lumbermen began hitting Terres in the 8th and scored three times. In the ninth, Terres gave up a double to Al Harris and walked a pair but Don Young relieved to put out the fire.
A.Johnston (L), Dodge (7) and xxx
Terres (W), D.Young (9) and xxx
Quesnel Clippers whipped Rutland Adanacs 12-3 in the opening round of the Quesnel Labour Day Tournament. It was a tight contest for seven frames with the Clippers leading 3-2 but Quesnel broke the game wide open with four runs in the seventh on five errors, one hit and a walk and added five more runs in the eighth as the Adanacs booted the ball four more times. Clare Sproule allowed just six hits in taking the loss. The mound winner Oscar Festerling yielded eight hits.
Festerling (W) and Swain, Wyatt
Sproule (L) and Culos
KAMLOOPS LABOUR DAY TOURNAMENT
(September 4-5) The hometown Jay-Rays were sitting pretty behind the hurling of coast import Ron Curby for five innings of the seven-inning first round encounter with Maillardville leading 5-1. Then, the roof caved in as the visitors from the coast romped home 13 times in the last two innings to whip the Rays 14-7. Catcher Vince Bellamy crushed a three-run homer in the sixth and Mike Trotzuk added another run to tie the count at 5-5. Jay-Rays regained the lead with a pair in the bottom of the sixth, but Maillardville poured it on in the final frame to advance. Gordie U'Ren picked up the win in relief of starter Mike Bakaway. Faucher led the winners with three hits and three runs.
Bakaway, U'Ren (W) and Bellamy
Curby, P.Prehara (L) (6), J.Olson (7) and Anderson
Vancouver White Spots took advantage of a bases-loaded bloop single in the bottom of the final inning to score the game's only run in eliminating the Kamloops Okonots 1-0. Import hurler Charlie Drummond, from the Negro Leagues, walked two and allowed a single to load the bases in the seventh. He got two strikes on McIntyre before the second sacker's pop-up fell between shortstop Len Fowles and second baseball Bill MacDonald to hand the win to the visitors. Art Bull fired a six-hitter for the win. Drummond, who also yielded six safeties, fanned 14.
Drummond (L) and Slater
Bull (W) and Yanchuk
U.S. import Gary Driesen fired a five-hit shutout for Oliver OBC in a 7-0 win over Penticton Red Sox. Doug Kilburn, of hockey fame, cracked the big blow of the game a towering homer to left field that cleared the fence by twenty feet or more. Frank Fritz also belted a four-bagger for the winners. Wendell Clifton slugged a pair of doubles for the Red Sox. Second inning fisticuffs resulted in the eviction of Sam Drossos of Penticton and John Vanderburg of Oliver.
Eyre (L), Getz (3) and S.Drossos, Posnikoff (2)
Driesen (W) and Radies
Johnny Ruck and Ken Spees combined on a four-hitter for South Burnaby Athletics in a 7-3 victory over Trail-Fruitvale Athletics.
DeRosa (L), Seaman (5) and Russell
Ruck (W), K.Spees and I.Spees
Oliver pounded out 12 hits, three each by Ron Weeks and Bruno Ceccon in downing Maillardville 8-2 in the first semi-final. Import pitchers Taber and Gary Driesen combined to hold off the coast squad. While Taber got credit for the win, Driesen allowed just three hits in his seven innings of work after Taber had walked six batters in the first two frames.
Sabitine (L), Fredricks (8) and Bellamy
Taber (W), Driesen (3) and Radies
Vancouver White Spots advanced to the tournament final trouncing South Burnaby 8 to 1 as Earl Keeley twirled a four-hitter and powered the offense with three hits, one of them a two-run homer. Brother George Keeley got the White Spots on the board in the first inning belting his first pitch out of the park. Ken Mitchell cleared the fence for South Burnaby in the second.
McKay (L), K.Spees (2), Bannerman, I.Spees (2)
E.Keeley (W) and Yanchuk
Oliver OBCs and Vancouver White Spots battled to an 11-inning 7-7 draw and split top money at the Kamloops Labour Day Tournament. With three runs in the first inning and another in the third, the White Spots had grabbed a 4-0 lead before Oliver bounced back to take the lead with a run in the fourth, four in the fifth and singletons in the sixth and seventh. Vancouver plated a pair in the ninth on McIntyre's four-bagger with Les Brown aboard to tie and neither team could score in extra innings. Bruno Ceccon had a homer for Oliver. McIntyre led the winners with a homer, double and single and three runs scored.
Bonner, White (5), Bull (7) and Yanchuk
Taber, B.Martino (2), Driesen (11) and Radies
COURTENAY LABOUR DAY TOURNAMENT
(September 4-5) Courtenay Legion wrapped up a highly successful season Monday evening downing Farmer Construction of Victoria 16-14 to take top money of $400 in the Courtenay Labour Day Tournament. The Legionnaires had earlier won the pennant in the Comox District Baseball League and defeated Farmers for the Vancouver Island Senior title and Vancouver White Spots for the Provincial Senior A championship.
The tournament final was a wild affair featuring 19 bases on balls. Legion started quickly scoring three runs in the top of the first inning, the third coming home on a bases loaded walk. Unfazed by the Courtenay offense, Farmers combined four walks, a single by Bernie Anderson and a double from Art Worth in the first to plate five runs to take the lead. In the second inning the hits and walks continued and Courtenay scored five more times to make the count 8-5, Legion. They added one more in the third as Farmers went to their third hurler of the day. In the last of the fourth, Ron Martin and Worth crossed the plate for Victoria, but an inning later the Legion was up 11-7 when Freddie Orr and Moore scored for Courtenay. Stu Mitchell slugged a homer with a man board in the bottom of the seventh and the lead was cut to 11-9. Legion went on a hitting spree in the eighth, the final frame, to plate five runs and lead 16-9. Orr and Ray Downey poled doubles, Moore, Ron Gray and Woods added singles. Victoria kept the pressure on in the bottom of the final stanza as Charlie Boyd clouted a run-scoring triple and scored himself on an error. Jim Harford singled and Bernie Anderson received the 19th and last walk of the game. Ron Karadimis reached on an error, which scored Harford and Stu Mitchell smacked a double to bring in Anderson and Karadimis. All of a sudden it was 16-14 with none out. Then, to the huge relief of Courtenay fans, Ray Downey effected a double play and Ron Lund fanned Bill Prior to end the game.
Woods, XXX, Lund (W) and xxx
Beck, Prior (L) (1), Worth (3), Prior (8) and xxx
Courtney reached the final by crushing Chemainus 9-1. Farmers demolished the Victoria Eagles 17-4.
Farmers had an easy time in their first rounder, whipping Campbell River 12-5, belting four homers. Stu Mitchell put the winners on the scoresheet with a blast over the cars in right field in the second inning. Winning pitcher Bill Prior clouted a three-run homer in the fourth. Art Worth and Charlie Boyd smacked four-baggers in the sixth. Vern Ferguson had the big blow for the Cougars a bases-loaded triple. Bill Prior yielded seven hits in pitching the win. Larry Walker took the loss.
Prior (W) and
Walker (L), Schilling (7) and xxx
Victoria Eagles advanced with a 6-4 victory over the Comox Valley Tigers. Des Mosley scattered nine hits in a winning effort. Pro Pratt took the loss.
Pro Pratt (L) and xxx
Mosley (W) and xxx
Right-hander Ron Lund was a star on the mound and at the plate to lead Courtenay Legion past Parksville Loggers 6-3. Lund's three-run homer in the seventh inning broke a tie game and provided the winning margin. Lund allowed just four hits and fanned six. Ken Mosdell gave up nine hits and walked three in taking the loss.
Lund (W) and xxx
Mosdell (L) and xxx
Chemainus Red Sox had a field day in their opening game clobbering the RCAF Knights 15-1 on 10 hits, four errors and seven walks. Joe Copp allowed just four hits, one a home run to Garnie Currie, as the winning hurler. Copp and Red Naylor poked three baggers for the winners.
Cass (L), L.Rodgers (3) and xxx
Copp (W) and xxx
FERNIE LABOUR DAY TOURNAMENT
(September 4-5) The Granum White Sox of Alberta's Foothills-Wheatbelt League, whipped the Kimberley Dynamos 7-1 Monday to repeat as champions of the Fernie Tournament.
Jack Altman, the import lefty from California, held the Dynamos to three hits and fanned ten. All the Granum runs came in the first three innings before Elmer Garinger relieved to blank the Albertans the rest of the way. Bill Fennessey's three-run homer in the third put the game on ice.
Boisvert, E.Garinger (3) and xxx
Altman (W) and xxx
In preliminary action, Fernie Falcons clobbered Eureka, Montana 18-2, Coleman downed the Yaak Air Base of Troy, Montana 6-1.
Dynamos reached the final by crushing Fernie Falcons 11-4 behind the pitching of Pete Boisvert and Rusty Wynn.
Willie Walasko, fired a no-hitter for Granum in a 14-0 win over Coleman. The right-hander struck out 10 in the seven inning contest.
AMERICAN BASEBALL CONGRESS, NORTHWEST PLAYOFFS
(September 11) Ted Berner fired a two-hit shutout as Watertown, SD (Dick's Sports Shop) whipped Troy, Montana, Boosters 8-0. The 6-foot 4-inch Berner had 12 strikeouts while allowing six bases on balls. Kenny Wight and Gene Furness each drove in three runs for the winners. Ken McCormick had the only homer. The Montana club arrived late after two days and 13-hundred miles of travel. A crowd of more than 2-thousand waited out an hour's delay as Troy experienced car trouble enroute. The Montana club arrived with just nine players. New recruit Morrie Mulcahy (later to be revealed as Tom Mulcahy) had one of the hits for Troy.
Cain and Joirman
Berner and Furness
(September 12) Dick Miller and Morrie Mulcahy cominbed on a five-hitter as Troy ousted Lemmon, SD from the ABC tournament with a 5-1 victory. Miller had a three-hit shutout going into the 9th but allowed a run and loaded the bases on two hits, an error and a hit batsman. Mulcahy took over and got out of the jam with a double play and a ground out. Clint Humble had a homer and single for Troy while Mulcahy, who started in left field, had a triple, single and stolen base.
Miller, Mulcahy (9) and Joirman
Mowry, Hasche (7) and Maher
(September 13) Morrie Mulcahy tossed a four-hitter to lead Troy to an 11-1 triumph over Eureka, the South Dakota champions. The game was halted in the 7th inning due to the tourney's eight-run rule. Mulcahy, who escaped a bases-loaded jam in the first frame, fanned 10 in picking up the win. The former Gonzaga University star also paced the hitters, driving in three runs with a double and single.
Gunderson and Kary
Mulcahy and Joirman
(September 13) Troy was disqualifed from the ABC playoffs after it was learned that Morrie Mulcahy was really Tom Mulcahy, who had played semi-pro ball with Williston Oilers earlier in the summer. Mulcahy was ruled ineligible for the tournament. Troy had lost to St. Regis in the Montana playoffs but answered a last minute appeal to make the trek as a replacement.