(May 19) Medicine Hat Orphans blew a 6-0 lead Saturday before rallying with a run in the ninth to down Lethbridge Niseis 7-6 in the opener of the Big Five Baseball League. Orphans took the lead scoring twice in each of the first, third and fifth innings. Down 6-4 after eight innings, Niseis scored a pair in the ninth to tie when Dick Kanashiro doubled to bring in pitcher Jerry Kjelgaard and Yosh Kumimoto. Then in the bottom of the ninth, Medicine Hat second sacker Bill Chacalias walked and rounded the bases on a long drive by Vic Link to give Orphans the victory. Losing hurler Kjelgaard hurled a two-hitter but walked nine and the Niseis made five errors. Don Schwedelsky allowed ten hits, walked six, and set down 13 by strikeouts.
Kjelgaard (L) and Hirotsu, Nakagawa (5)
Schwedelsky (W) and Tingley
(May 20) Lethbridge Niseis pounded out 26 hits Sunday and capitalized on 15 Taber errors in taking both ends of a Big Five double-header, 12 to 4 and 13 to 5 even though Taber took 4-0 leads in the second inning of both games. After a shaky first inning when he gave up three hits and all four Taber runs, Roy Davis pitched no-hit ball the rest of the way and helped at the plate with a triple and two singles. Right fielder Tom Asato added three hits and scored three times.Rookie Ladik Tymchyna, anf 18-year-old from Coleman, held Taber to seven hits in the second game. Asato again led the winners with a pair of hits and three more runs scored.
McMurchie (L), Wenz (4), Anderson (7) and Laurie
Davis (W) and Hirotsu
Anderson (L), McMurchie (6), McKay (8) and Laurie
Tymchyna (W) and Hirotsu
(May 26-27 ) Granum took a pair of exhibition games in Kimberley as they continued to tune up for the 1956 season. Sox won the opener 12-2 on Saturday as Willie Walasko fired a three-hitter. The Alberta nine rapped a dozen hits off a pair of Spokane imports, Curt Bloomquist and Andy Aoki.
Walasko (W) and xxx
Bloomquist (L), Aoki and Brummet
OIn Sunday, the Dynamos came out of the gate quickly putting up a five spot against Granum left-hander Joe Weremy in the first inning. However the White Sox steadily crawled back into contention and eventually prevailed, 7-5 as reliever Bentley MacEwan blanked Kimberley the rest of the way.
Granum fell behind 5-0 in the first inning but the Sox roared back to notch a 7-5 win behind outstanding relief pitching by Bentley MacEwan.
Weremy, MacEwen (W) (2) and xxx
E.Garinger, Aoki (L) and Brummet, McCarthy
(May 27) Vulcan Elks topped Picture Butte 11-4 in an exhibition match in Vulcan. Pat Gillick and Jerry Burcher pitched for the Elks while Bill Johnson, Barry Reiter and Gary Harrison handled the mound work for the Indians.
(June 3) In the season opener of the Foothills-Wheatbelt league, Lethbridge Miners took advantage of the short-handed Vulcan Elks taking both ends of a double-header, 19-2 and 14-7. The Elks' six imports didn't arrive until midway through the second contest. By then the Miners had salted away two wins to begin the season. Lethbridge pounded out 17 hits in the first game including a bases-loaded triple by John Vaselenak in the opening frame which provided the Miners with all the runs they'd need. Mitch Sztaba drove in four runs with a homer and two singles. Don Jantzie's 4th inning homer for the Elks averted a shutout. Len Cooper held Vulcan to five hits while fanning twelve.
Cooper (W) and Moore
M Jantzie (L), Dann (4), D Jantzie (7), Pruden (8), Hrabel (9) and Burley
Miners had 18 hits in the second contest and again got a jump in the opening frame as Clarence Yanosik belted a three-run homer. John Vaselenak added a three-run blast in the 3rd. Jocko Tarnava had five hits and stole five bases. Roy Davis went the route for the win.
Davis (W) and Moore
Ost (L), Davidson (5) and Burley, Scornaienichi (5)
(June 3) The defending champion Granum White Sox opened the season with a double-header sweep of Picture Butte, 10-2 and 18-4. As in the case in Vulcan, the Indians played short handed as six American imports were late in arriving.
Darwin Walkingshaw led the Sox in the first game with four hits while Gord Vejprava belted a three-run homer. Willie Walsko started and picked up the win. Walasko and Joe Weremy held the Indians to four hits.
Reiter (L) and Okawa
Walasko (W), Weremy (6) and Bogal, Wilson (8)
Bill Fennessey powered the Sox to the second game win with a pair of homers, a two-run shot in the 3rd and a grand slam in the 4th. Vejprava added a two-run homer, his second of the day.
Johnson (L), Bosnak (5) and Okawa
MacEwen, D Johnson (W) (5), R Johnson (8) and Wilson
(June 3) The Alberta Nisei returned to the field after a two-week layoff and suffered twin defeats, 5-3 and 16-6, at the hands of the Vauxhall Jets, the leaders of the Southern Alberta Big Five League. In the opener, Vauxhall ran up a 4-0 lead in the first two innings and were never headed. Howard Jenson's three-run homer in the first frame and John Hougen's circuit blast in the second were the key blows. Dusty Rhodes scattered nine hits to post the win for the visitors.
Dusty Rhodes (W) and John Hougen
Tymchyna (L) and Hirotsu
Vauxhall jumped into a 11-0 lead in the second game and coasted to a 16-8 triumph behind a 15-hit attack.
Floyd Anderson (W), Roy Clelland (9) and Ted Kerkhoff
Bob Furukawa (L), Gerry Kjeldgaard (4), Stumpo Kimoto (7) and Tak Hirotsu
(June 6) A fluke hit in the 8th inning robbed Willie Walasko of a no-hitter as Granum whipped Lethbridge 11-1. Walasko had not allowed a hit through 8 1/3 innings when John Vaselenak popped up near the third base line. The wind blew the ball back into fair territory where it landed about ten feet in front of home plate before catcher Tedd Bogal could make a play. The right-hander, who pitched a no-hitter for Carmangay Eagles two years ago, fanned 13 and walked two.
New third baseman Jim Lester made his first start for the Sox and made an impression with a double and two singles. Bill Fennessey and Earl Ingarfield each had homers for the White Sox.
Cooper (L) and Moore
Walasko (W) and Bogal
(June 6) Vulcan registered its first win, a 13-4 trouncing of Picture Butte. High winds hampered play as the Indians made eight errors and the Elks, four. Augie Scornaienichi had two doubles and a single to lead the Elks. Bill Davidson picked up the win with a six-hitter. Indians played without their import recruits who had yet to arrive.
Davidson (W) and Scornaienichi
Branch (L), Johnson (6) and Oikawa, Ferguson (6)
(June 10) Lethbridge Miners blasted out 30 hits on the day to sweep a twin-bill from Picture Butte, 18-14 and 8-7. Mitch Sztaba led the Miners with a three-run homer and a double. Clarence Yanosik had a two-run homer and a two-run single. For the Indians, second baseman Mako Tashima had a homer and a single and scored five times. Howard Branch also homered for Picture Butte. Gary Harrison took a beating on the hill for the Indians allowing 15 runs on 16 hits and 8 walks in six innings.
Harrison (L), Johnson (7) and Takamoto
Davis, Mudhenk (W) (4), Cooper (7) and Moore
Miners took the second game 8-7 with a run in the bottom of the 9th. Hec Negrello walked, stole second and third and crossed the plate on Vic Stasiuk's single to left field.
Garcia (L) and Takamoto
Cooper(W) and Moore
(June 10) Granum White Sox came from behind in both games against Vulcan to remain unbeaten in Foothills-Wheatbelt play. Sox plated two in the bottom of the 9th to beat the Elks in the opener 5-4, then scored three in the 7th to emerge with a 4-4 tie in the second game.
Bill Fennessey's two-run homer was the winning blow in the first game. Greg Seastrom belted a homer for the Elks.
Burcher (L) and Scornaienichi
MacEwen (W) and Bogal
In the second game, Bill Davidson checked the Sox on four hits and fanned 14, while Don Johnson pitched a four-hitter with eight strikeouts for Granum. Tedd Bogal homered for the Sox.
Davidson and Scornaienichi
D Johnson and Wilson, Bogal (7)
(June 10) The Lethbridge Nisei smacked 23 hits, including four home runs, to crush Magrath 24-3 in the first game of Sunday's double dip. Magrath rebounded to take the second game 11-5. Jim Nakagawa led the Nisei attack in the first game with three singles, a double and a two-run homer. Yosh Kunimoto added a pair of singles, two doubles and a triple. Jim Kitaguchi, Jackie Ohno and LadikTymchyna had the other circuit blows. Tymchyna alowed eight hits in going the distance for the pitching win.
Tymchyna (W) and Hirotsu
Balderson (L), Saga (5) and Rice
An eight-run fourth inning was the difference as Magrath took the second game 11-5 behind a four-hitter by right-hander Norm Hillmer who also led the winners at the plate with a three-run homer and a single.
Lawler (L), Tymchyna (4) and Hirotsu
Hillmer (W) and Rice
(June 13) Behind 7-0 before having a turn at bat, Picture Butte Indians rallied for a 14-13 victory over the Lethbridge Miners. There were five homers in the contest including Mike Garcia's three-run, pinch-hit homer for the Indians in the 6th. George Menzies and Howard Branch also hit for the distance for the winners while John Vaselenak and Clarence Yanosik had homers for the Miners.
Kucheran, Davis (L) (5), Gingrich (7) and Tarnava
Reiter, Johnson (W) (5), Harrison (7) and Tashima
(June 13) Granum won its fifth straight, 10-8 over Vulcan. Elks had taken a 4-2 lead after the first inning on homers by Greg Seastrom and Don Birkle. But the Sox roared back with four in the 4th and three more in the 5th to send the Elks to their fourth loss in five games. Birkle had a double and two singles in addition to his four-bagger. Joe Weremy got credit for the win.
Weremy (W), B Johnson (5), Walasko (7) and Bogal
Burcher, Davidson (L) (5) and Scornaienichi
(June 20) Foothills-Wheatbelt, Granum Tournament
(June 23) F-W Vulcan Tournament
(June 24) Lethbridge Miners sent Granum to its first league defeat 12-7 in the first game of a twin-bill in Granum. White Sox bounced back to take the second contest, 13-8.
Playing-manager Clarence Yanosik bashed a pair of homers to lead the Miners in the opener. John Vaselenak also had a four-bagger. Bill Fennessey had a two-run homer and a pair of singles for the White Sox.
Warnick (W) and Tarnava
Walasko (L) and Bogal
Granum punched out 17 hits to win the second game, 13-8. Gord Wesley homered and added two singles for the Sox while Gord Vejprava, Darwin Walkingshaw and Jim Lester each had three hits.
Cooper (L), Warnick (2), Cooper (3) and Tarnava, Cooper (2), G Vaselenak (3)
MacEwen (W) and Wilson
(June 24) Jerry Burcher was the story as Vulcan topped Picture Butte 4-1 in the first of two at Picture Butte. Burcher tossed a two-hitter and helped out at the plate with three hits.
In a wild second game, the Indians scored three in the bottom of the 9th to claim a 13-12 win. Vulcan had plated seven runs in the top of the inning to take a 12-10 lead. First baseman Bobby Lee had four hits for the winners. Don Jantzie poked a two-run homer for the Elks.
Burcher (W) and Scornaienichi
Chavez (L) and Pung
Gillick, Davidson (4), Burcher (L) (5) and Scornaienichi
Reiter, Johnson (6), Snowden (W) (9) and Pung
(June 24) Taber Merchants swept both ends of Sunday's doubleheader, an 8-7 thriller in the opener and an 18-1 runaway in the second. Bud McMurchie picked up the win in the first game in relief of starter Wentz. Nisei out-hit the winners 11-8. Jack Ohno of the Nisei led the hitters with two home runs and a double.
Tymchyna, Lawler (2), Kimoto (5) and Hirotsu
Wentz, McMurchie (4) and Laurie
In the second game, John Phillips fired a four-hitter, pitching shutout ball until the ninth, as Taber crushed the visitors 18-1.
Davis, Furukawa (3) and Hirotsu
Phillips and Laurie, Gross (9)
(June 27-29) Lacombe Tournament
(July 1) Granum whipped Kimberley Dynamiters, 10-4 and 14-6, in exhibition games before 800 fans at Claresholm. Lefty Joe Weremy pitched a five-hitter for the White Sox in the opening game to get the win while Willie Walasko and Bentley MacEwen shared mound duties in the second contest.
Darwin Walkingshaw and Gordon Vejprava each blasted two homers for the Sox with Tedd Bogal also connecting for a circuit blow. Bill Fennessey hit for the cycle in the nightcap with a homer, triple, double and single.
Boiservert (L) and Kunitz
Weremy (W) and Bogal
Lilly (L), Gerringer (6) and Kunitz
Walasko, D Johnson (4), MacEwen (W) (4) and Bogal
(July 1-2) The Lethbridge Nisei were no match for the powerful West Coast Nisei of the Vancouver Industrial League losing all three games over the Dominion Day weekend. The Vancouver squad swept the Sunday double-header 16-3 and 2-1, before besting the Alberta nine 9-3 on Monday. Toru Nishi knocked in five runs for the Vancouver Nisei in the first game with a homer, double and single. Frank Kika, the one-time Winnipeg star, smacked a two-run homer in the first inning to begin the rampage and Azu Oikawa added a double and two singles. Ron Montgomery held the Alberta visitors to six hits.
Tymchyna (L), Kimoto, Lawler, Furukawa, Ohno and Kirotsu
Montgomery (W) and Okano
After the offensive outburst in the first game, the second was a pitchers' duel between Jerry Kjeldgaard who gave up four hits and winner Roy Wakabayashi who yielded just two and lost a shutout bid on a seventh inning error.
Kjeldgaard (L) and Hirotsu
Wakabayashi (W) and Oikawa
Toru Nishi brought with three runs with three hits in leading Vancouver to its 9-3 Monday victory. Catcher Dan Okano drove in three with a pair of singles.
Tymchyna (L), Kimoto (8) and Hirotsu
Franks (W), Homma (5) and Okano
(July 2) Vulcan topped Picture Butte 11-4 in an exhibition game called after eight innings by darkness.
Bill Johnson (L), Reiter, Harrison and xxx
Burcher (W), Gillick and xxx
(July 6) Vulcan Elks put two more in the win column. Elks beat Granum 6-4 in the completion of a suspended game, then shutdown the White Sox 5-0 in the regularly scheduled encounter.
In the delayed contest, Greg Seastrom tripled in the 11th inning and Augie Scornaienichi followed with a homer to give the Elks the victory. Bill Davidson, winner of both games, picked up where he left off on June 10th when the game was called at the end of nine innings at a 4-4 draw. Davidson tossed a three-hitter in the second contest. Scornaienichi also had a homer in the nightcap.
Davidson (W) and Scornaienichi
D Johnson, Weremy (L) (10) and Wilson, Bogal (7)
Davidson (W) and Scornaienichi
Weremy (L) and Bogal
(July 6) The scheduled game between Picture Butte and Lethbridge was rained out.
(July 7) F-W Lethbridge Tournament
(July 8) Vauxhall Jets took a pair from the Lethbridge Nisei, 9-5 and 15-11, coming from behind in both contests. Vern Baker picked up the wins in both games. Doug Erskine topped the hitters in the opener with three hits, one of them for two bases. John Haugen added a double and single. Jim Kitaguchi and losing hurler Roy Davis each had two hits for Lethbridge.
In the second game, the Jets were down by six going into the bottom of the eighth when they exploded for 13 runs on five hits, eight walks and three errors.
Davis (L) and xxx
Wiggins, Baker (W) (6) and xxx
Tymchyna (L), Asato, Davis, Stumpo Kimoto, Ohno, C.Kitaguchi and xxx
R.Clelland, D.Rhodes (1), Baker (W) and xxx
(July 8) Picture Butte knocked off the Lethbridge Miners twice, 13-5 and 10-3 to tighten the race for second spot in the Foothills-Wheatbelt league. The Indians, with a 4-6 record, were just a half game back of the Miners and Vulcan, who are tied for second with 5-6 marks. Granum, with 7 wins in 11 games, continued to lead the circuit.
Picture Butte had 12 hits, just one for extra bases, in winning the opener. Tom Snowden scattered 11 hits to get the win. Hans Pung, Dick Takamoto and Larry Yogi each produced a pair of hits for the winners. John Vaselenak had a three-run homer for the Miners.
G Vaselenak (L), Cooper (2) and Moore
Snowden (W) and Pung
Gary Harrison pitched a five-hitter as Picture Butte coasted to a 10-3 win in the second game. Hans Pung and Howard Branch poked homers for the Indians. Harpo Moriyama had a triple and two singles. John Vaselenak had four hits for the Miners.
Gingrich (L), Warnick (6), Bosnak (6) and Moore, Tarnava (6)
Harrison (W) and Pung
(July 8) Granum scored twenty runs but came away with just one win in their twin-bill in Vulcan. White Sox won the first game 10-3 behind a combined five-hitter by Roy Johnson and Joe Weremy.
R Johnson, Weremy (W) (3) and Carlson
Davidson (L) and Scornaienichi
Vulcan won the second game 11-10 as Granum send two infielders to the hill and the Elks responded with 14 hits. Don Birkle led the Elks with a triple, double and single. Earl Ingarfield had two doubles and a single for the Sox.
Lester (L), Walkingshaw (6), Walasko (8) and Bogal
Burcher (W) and Scornaienichi
Granum 7 4
Lethbridge 5 5
Vulcan 5 6
Picture Butte 4 6
(July 9) In an exhibition match, Granum topped the Medicine Hat Orphans 10-7. Jimmy Walasko made the start for the Sox but gave way to brother Willie in the 3rd. Willie proceeded to no-hit the Orphans the rest of the way while fanning 17.
J Walasko, W Walasko (W) (3) and xxx
xxx and xxx
(July 11) Vic Stasiuk's 9th inning single plated the winning run as Lethbridge shaded Vulcan 7-6. Clarence Yanosik belted a three-run homer for the Miners. It was his 6th home run, tops in the league. Les Colwill had three hits for Lethbridge while Don Birkle had a triple and two singles for the Elks. Len Cooper fanned 10 in picking up the win.
Burcher (L) and Scornaienichi
Cooper (W) and Tarnava
(July 11) Granum scored five runs in the 3rd inning, with the help of four Picture Butte errors, and held on to top the Indians 7-5. Bobby Lee had a grand slam homer in a losing cause for the Indians. Earl Ingarfield homered for the White Sox.
MacEwen (W) and Bogal
Chavez (L), Snowden (7) and Pung
(July 14) F-W Picture Butte Tournament
(July 15) Granum erupted for three runs in the 9th to edge Lethbridge 5-4 in the first game of a double-header in Lethbridge. The winning run scored on a wild pitch. The clubs played to a 4-4 tie in the second contest.
Willie Walasko went the distance to pick up the win in the opener. He allowed just six hits, two of them homers by Vic Stasiuk and Mitch Sztaba.
Walasko (W) and Bogal
Cooper (L), Warnick (9) and Moore
Bill Fennessey's 8th inning homer gave Granum the tie in the second contest. John Vaselenak had a homer for the Miners.
Weremy and Carlson
Warnick, Bosnak (9) and Moore
(July 15) Picture Butte and the Elks split a pair at Vulcan. Bill Davidson was the hero for Vulcan in the opener, pitching all 12 innings and knocking in the winning run with a 12th inning single. Gary Harrison went the distance to take the loss for the Indians. Augie Scornaienichi slammed a triple and single for the Elks.
Harrison (L) and Pung
Davidson (W) and Scornaienichi
In the second game, Picture Butte built up a 6-0 lead and held on for an 8-7 win. Hans Pung, Harpo Moriyama and Ron Nolan each had two hits for the Indians. Don Jantzie had three hits for the Elks. Tom Snowden, with relief from John Chavez picked up the win. Pat Gillick walked ten in taking the loss.
Snowden (W), Chavez (9) and Pung
Gillick (L) and Scornaienichi
(July 15) Lethbridge Nisei and Magrath split a pair Sunday to wrap up the regular season for the two clubs. Norm Hillmer tossed a five-hitter in the opener as Magrath topped the home club 8-7, Fred MacKay led the Eagles with three hits. In the second game, Lethbridge scored four times in the first inning and went on to an 8-4 triumph. Roy Davis held the Eagles to six hits in going the route for the pitching win. Jack Ohno led the winners with a double and single, duplicating Tom Karren of the Eagles.
Hillmer (W) and Rice
Tymchyna (L), Asato (2) and Hirotsu
Saga (L), Balderson (6) and MacKay
Davis (W) and Hirotsu
(July 18) Import righthander John Chavez went the distance leading Picture Butte to a 6-4 win over Granum. A two-run single by Harpo Moriyama was the key blow for the Indians. Darwin Walkingshaw of Granum had the only homer.
Chavez (W) and Pung
MacEwen (L), Walasko (6) and Bogal
(July 18) Vulcan and Lethbridge fought to an 11-11 tie in a game called after eight innings by darkness. Lethbridge rebounded with two runs in the 9th to tie. John Bosnak, who came on in relief for the Miners, was the games' hitting star with four hits, one of them with the bases loaded in the 9th to drive in the two runs to tie. Import Bill Davidson was ejected in the 6th inning after he tossed his bat over the screen after striking out. Fortunately the bat missed the grandstand and landed on a car windshield. The game is to be completed on Sunday with play resuming in the top of the 9th.
Cooper, Warnick (2), Bosnak (4) and Tarnava
Burcher and Scornaienichi
Granum 9-5
Lethbridge 6-6
Picture Butte 6-8
Vulcan 6-8
(July 21) Taber Tournament
(July 22) Vulcan took two of three games from the Miners in Lethbridge. Elks won the completion of Wednesday's tie as Greg Seastrom scored the winner on Jim Pruden's double as Vulcan won 12-11. Jerry Burcher got the win, John Bosnak was the loser.
Cooper, Warnick (2), Bosnak (L) (4) and Tarnava
Burcher (W) and Scornaienichi
The clubs then split two high-scoring affairs, 15-12 and 12-10. Don Birkle was the Elks' star in the opener, won by Vulcan 15-12, as he belted a grand slam homer and two singles. Marty Norman added a two-run homer. Clarence Yanosik was the big man at the plate for the Miners with a homer, two doubles and a single.
Davidson (W), Gillick (7) and Scornaienichi
Cooper (L), G Vaselenak (3) and Moore
In the second contest, Lethbridge took advantage of wildness by Vulcan starter Pat Gillick to plate eight runs in the 3rd inning and go on to score a 12-10 victory. Gillick gave up three walks and four hits in the inning to go along with two errors. Greg Seastrom, of the Elks, led the hitters with four safeties.
Gillick (L), Burcher (3) and Scornaienichi
Warnick (W), Kucheran (6) and Moore
(July 22) Lethbridge Miners dumped Picture Butte 11-8 to consolidate their hold on second place in the Foothills-Wheatbelt league standings. Miners trailed 3-0 after the top of the first as Hans Pung slammed a three-run homer. But the Miners came back with three in the 3rd and four more in the 4th to take a lead they never relinquished. Catcher Jocko Tarnava sparked the Miners with three hits. Les Colwill had a bases-empty homer. George Menzies and Larry Yogi homered for the Indians.
Harrison (L), Snowden (5)
Warnick, Bosnak (W) (1), Cooper (7)
(July 22) Big Five Baseball Tournament
(July 26) Worland Baseball Tournament
(July 29) The hometown Indians and Granum split a pair at Picture Butte. Tom Snowden and Gary Harrison teamed up to hold the White Sox to four hits in the opener as the Indians won, 7-5. George Menzies had a homer for the winners.
MacEwen (L) and xxx
Snowden (W), Harrison (7) and xxx
Lefty Joe Weremy tossed a five-hitter to lead Granum to a 6-2 victory in the second contest.
Weremy (W) and xxx
Chavez (L), Snowden (9) and xxx
(July 31) Lethbridge Miners clinched second place in the Foothills-Wheatbelt League with a 9-4 win in the second game of a twin-bill. Granum won the opener 10-4 in 11 innings. It was the continuation of a 4-4 tie of two weeks previous. Lefty Al Warnick allowed only three hits in the regular contest, abbreviated to six innings. John Vaselenak drove in three runs for the Miners with a triple and a sacrifice fly.
Weremy (W) and Carlson, Bogal (10)
Warnick, Bosnak (L) (9) and Moore, Cooper (10)
R Johnson (L), Walasko (5) and Bogal, Carlson (3)
Warnick (W) and Tarnava
Granum finished the regular season in top spot with an 11-7 record, two games up on Lethbridge (9-9). Picture Butte and Vulcan finished at 8-10.
(August 4) Lethbridge Rotary Tournament
(August 5) Fresh from a victory in the Lethbridge Rotary Tournament, Granum White Sox began a successful defense of their Foothills-Wheatbelt title with an 8-4 win over Vulcan in the first game of a best-of-three semi-final series. Darwin Walkingshaw led the Sox with a two-run homer. Don Birkle had a four bagger for the Elks. Roy Johnson, with 9th inning relief help from Joe Weremy, picked up the win. Pat Gillick took the loss.
Gillick (L) and Norman
R Johnson (W), Weremy (9) and Bogal
In a seven-inning exhibition, Vulcan topped the Sox 9-8 as Don Birkle belted a pair of homers. Marty Norman also homered for the Elks. Jerry Burcher went the distance for the win.
(August 5) Lethbridge Miners rallied with two runs in the bottom of the 9th to edge Picture Butte 5-4 in the opening game of the best-of-three Foothills-Wheatbelt semi-final series. Jocko Tarnava's infield single drove in Mitch Sztaba with the winner. Len Cooper went the distance for the win. Tom Snowden was the loser. Each gave up nine hits.
Snowden (L) and Pung
Cooper (W) and Tarnava
In an exhibition game, Al Warnick went the route for the win as the Miners won 6-5.
Warnick (W) and xxx
xxx and xxx
(August 5) The defending Southern Alberta intermediate champion Vauxhall Jets advanced to the Big Five League final crushing Lethbridge Niseis 13-2 to take the best-of-three series in two straight games. Vern Baker and Dusty Rhodes combined to hold the Nisei to five singles in gaining the victory. Murray Wiggins and Doug Erskine cracked homers for the winners. Jets also won an exhibition game, 9-8, to sweep the day. Vauxhall won the series opener 13-5 at home.
Baker (W), Rhodes and xxx
Tynchyna (L), Ohno and xxx
(August 5) Taber Merchants shaded Medicine Hat Orphans 5-4 in 10 innings Sunday to take the best of three series in two straight games having won the opener In Medicine Hat a week ago. Taber moves on to the Southern Alberta final against Vauxhall. Merchants got the winning marker when George Gross singled, moved to second on a sacrifice and scored on Bill Tanaguchi's single. Bud McMurchie went the distance for Taber giving up ten hits. Zeke Ziebart took the loss for the Orphans.
Ziebart (L) and Tingley, Miller (10)
McMurchie (W) and Laurie
Taber also won the exhibition nightcap 10-5 with Mac Crumley the winning hurler and Warren Back the loser.
(August 8) Granum advanced to the Foothills-Wheatbelt final with a 4-2 win over Vulcan as Joe Weremy pitched a five-hitter and led the hitters with a triple and single. Sox won the best-of-three series in two straight games. Steve Odney drove in three runs for the Sox. Marty Norman and Bill Davidson accounted for the Elks' runs with homers.
Weremy (W) and Bogal
Davidson (L) and Burley
Vulcan won the exhibition contest 4-3 as Jerry Burcher pitched a three-hitter for the Elks. Jim Lester of the Sox had the games' only homer.
(August 8) Lethbridge and Picture Butte battled to a 7-7, 10 inning tie in the second game of their best-of-three semi-final series. Mitch Sztaba led the Miners with a three-run homer and three singles. Hans Pung and Larry Yogi hit home runs for the Indians. Bobby Lee had a double and three singles.
Cooper and Tarnava, Colwill (8)
Harrison, Snowden (8) and Pung
(August 9) Picture Butte stayed alive in the Foothills-Wheatbelt semi-final with a 6-4 victory over Lethbridge in a game called at the end of the sixth inning because of rain. Indians scored four in the fifth inning on two hits, two walks and a sac fly to secure the victory. John Chavez got the win. Vic Stasiuk had three hits for the Miners.
Chavez (W) and Pung
Warnick (L) and Tarnava, Colwill (5)
(August 11) Medicine Hat Tournament
(August 12) Darwin Walkingshaw's three-run homer in the fifth gave Granum a lead they never relinquished as the White Sox beat Lethbridge 9-6 in the opener of the Southern Alberta Baseball Association semi-finals. Vic Stasiuk had a homer and single to lead the Miners. Joe Weremy gave up 14 hits in registering the win. Al Warnick allowed 13 hits in a losing cause.
Warnick (L) and Tarnava
Weremy (W) and Carlson
In an exhibition game, Sox whipped the Miners 23-7. Gord Vejprava, Jim Lester and Steve Odney had homers for the Sox as did John Vaselenak and Clarence Yanosik for the Miners. Roy Johnson picked up the win.
(August 12) A three-run 9th inning led Picture Butte to a 9-7 win over Vulcan in the opening game of a best-of-three Southern Alberta senior baseball semi-final. A double by Bob Lee, triple by Hans Pung, double by George Menzies and Larry Yogi's single accounted for the three markers. John Chavez went all the way for the win.
Chavez (W) and Pung
Davidson (L) and Burley
In an exhibition game, Vulcan down the Indians 4-1 with Jerry Burcher tossing a five-hitter.
(August 19) Earl Ingarfield belted two homers, one a grand slam, and a double to lead Granum past Lethbridge 14-5 to capture the semi-final series in straight games. Darwin Walkingshaw had a three-run blast. Sox had 14 hits and took advantage of seven Miners' errors. Willie Walasko went the distance for the win.
Walasko (W) and Bogal
Warnick (L), Cooper (7) and Tarnava
In an exhibition contest, Granum clobbered the Miners 26-4 as winning pitcher Joe Weremy blasted a grand slam homer and Willie Walasko and Bill Fennessey added four baggers.
(August 19) Picture Butte won a spot in the Southern Alberta final as they sidelined the Vulcan Elks with a 15-10 win in the second game of a twin-bill. Elks had extended the series with an 8-5 win in the opener.
The final contest featured 17 hits, 24 walks and 11 errors. Elks handed the game to Picture Butte with three costly errors which led to eight Indians' runs in the second inning. George Menzies and Bobby Lee each had three hits for the winners. Don Jantzie led the Elks with a double and two singles. Tom Snowden, who pitched the final three innings for the Indians, was the only hurler not to issue a free pass. Gary Harrison went the first six innings for Picture Butte. Vulcan sent Pat Gillick, Jerry Burcher and Greg Seastrom to the hill.
Gillick (L), Burcher (2), Seastrom (5) and Burley
Harrison (W), Snowden (7) and Pung
Vulcan had forced a deciding game in the series by scoring three runs in the top of the 9th of the first game to win 8-5. Elks plated the runs on two errors, a wild pitch, two walks and Mike Jantzie's single. Jerry Burcher went the distance for the win. Bill Davidson smashed a homer and two singles for the Elks while playing-manager Don Jantzie bashing a homer and a single.
Burcher (W) and Burley
Chavez, Harrison (L) (7) and Pung
(August 22) Earl Ingarfield knocked in the winner with an 8th inning double as Granum shaded Picture Butte 4-3 in the first game of the best-of-three Southern Alberta final. Bentley MacEwen pitched a five-hitter for the win. Tom Snowden was the loser.
MacEwen (W) and Bogal
Snowden (L) and Pung
(August 24) Picture Butte Indians escaped with a 5-2 win in the deciding game of the best-of-three Foothills-Wheatbelt League semi-final. The game was called in the middle of the sixth inning because of rain after Lethbridge had scored three times to take a 6-5 lead. But, the score reverted to the last complete inning and Picture Butte had the victory. Gary Harrison held the Miners to four hits. Al Warnick allowed just three hits but his defense committed six errors.
Warnick (L) and Tarnava
Harrison (W) and Pung
(August 26) Calgary Tournament
(August 29) Bow Island Combines captured the championship of the Southern Irrigation League. The Combines shaded the Red Cliff Red Sox 5-4 to take the best-of-five series with three straight victories.
(August 30) Third baseman Jim Lester was the hero as Granum edged Picture Butte 4-3 to win the Southern Alberta baseball crown. Lester's single in the bottom of the 9th drove in the winning run. Lester had belted a two-run homer in the first inning to give the Sox the lead. Indians, who scored single runs in the first and seventh, plated another in the top of the eighth to take a 3-2 edge. Bill Fennessey's homer in the eighth knotted the score and set the stage for Lester's game-winning blow. Bentley MacEwen went the distance for the win.
Snowden, Chavez (9) and Pung
MacEwen (W) and Bogal
In a following exhibition match, Indians beat the Sox 4-3. Gary Harrison was the winning pitcher in relief of John Chavez. Willie Walasko, the second of three Granum pitchers, took the loss. George Menzies had a homer for Picture Butte while the White Sox had homers from Fennessey, Darwin Walkingshaw and Steve Odney.
(September 2) Willie Walasko was close to perfect as he pitched Granum to a 4-0 win over Cold Lake RCAF in the opening game of the best-of-three Alberta senior baseball finals. Walasko hurled a no-hitter, the fifth of his career, fanning 13 and allowing just a single base on balls. Sox got just seven hits off Al Beaugrand who went the distance for the losers. Gordie Vejprava had two hits to lead the Sox.
Beaugrand (L) and Yamanez
Walasko (W) and Bogal
(September 3) Granum White Sox coasted to their third straight Alberta senior baseball title by bombarding Cold Lake RCAF 28-1 to take the final series in two straight games. Sox scored in every inning of the seven-inning affair blasting out 23 hits. Gord Vejprava led the winners with two homers and a double. Darwin Walkingshaw had five hits. Joe Weremy held Cold Lake to six hits and fanned nine.
Dickson (L), Sandberg and Beaugrand
Weremy (W) and Carlson
Sox were now scheduled to meet Picture Butte in the Foothills-Wheatbelt final.
(September 3) Fernie Tournament
(September 5) Willie Walasko pitched a one-hitter and helped his cause with a three-run homer and a double as Granum topped Picture Butte 9-2 in the opening game of their best-of-five series for the Foothills-Wheatbelt League championship. A six run outburst in the 5th inning carried the White Sox to the victory. Key blow in the inning was Bill Fennessey's grand slam homer.
Walasko (W) and Bogal, Lester (2)
Chavez (L) and Pung
(September 9) Granum swept a double-header from Picture Butte to capture their third straight Foothills-Wheatbelt league title. Willie Walasko won the opener 5-2 on a seven-hit performance while Bentley MacEwen went the distance with 13 strikeouts to take the second contest 14-3. Tedd Bogal had two homers for the Sox in the second game. Jim McDonald added a two-run blast and Gord Vejprava had a solo shot. Bobby Lee paced the Indians with a three-run homer.
In completing their best season, Granum won 51 of 66 league, tournament and exhibition games.
Chavez (L) and Pung
Walasko (W) and Bogal
Yahiro (L), Reiter (7) and Pung
MacEwen (W) and Bogal
(September 23) With Glen Gorbous in the lineup, George Brookman's Calgary Dodgers swept a pair from Medicine Hat, 2-0 and 10-0. Gorbous, who spent most the season with Miami of the International League, had a double and two singles in the opening game and a towering, three-run homer and single in the second contest. Dodgers had six members of the Alberta champion Granum White Sox in their lineup. Willie Walasko and Bentley MacEwen shutout the Orphans on a total of seven hits over the two games.
Ziebart, Cooper (1) and Tingley
Walasko (W) and Bogal
Schwedelsky (L) and Tarnava, Tingley (9)
MacEwen (W) and Abel
(September 30) Calgary's Brookman Dodgers wound up their season with a pair of wins over the Medicine Hat Orphans, 11-7 and 1-0.
In the opener, Dodgers scored four times in the opening frame and built up an 11-3 lead in the 8th to coast to the victory. Frank Stone went the distance for the win.
Stone (W) and H Noble
Schwedelsky (L), Z Ziebart (9) and Tingley
Willie Walasko and Len Cooper hooked up in a pitching duel in the seven inning second game. Walasko pitched a two-hitter for the win while Cooper allowed just four hits in a losing cause. The only run came in the 6th as Bill Fennessey, who had doubled, scored on Pete Scott's single. Walasko fanned 14 in picking up his 21st win in 23 starts this season.
Walasko (W) and Dave Abel
Cooper (L) and Tingley