NEW DENVER VICTORIA DAY TOURNAMENT
(May 21) Tom Pearson fired a no-hitter against Nakusp, relieved to shutdown a Nelson rally in the final game and excelled at the plate as New Denver-Silverton won the Victoria Day Tournament. The right-hander collected his third career no-hitter as the home club whipped Nakusp 17-0. Two brilliant catches saved the no-hit effort, one by Kenje Hayashi in centre field and the other by third baseman Elmer Bay on a hard smash down the line.
xxx, xxx, xxx and xxx
Pearson (W) and xxx
In the second game of the tourney, Nelson Outlaws ran rough shod over Creston, 12-2 as Wendy Keller hurled an outstanding game for the Outlaws.
Keller (W) and xxx
xxx, xxx and xxx
In the tournament final, Outlaws jumped into an early 2-0 lead in the first inning but barley had time to enjoy the advantage as New Denver-Silverton roared back to go ahead with three runs in the second frame. In the sixth, Len Erickson singled, stole second and third and came home on a squeeze play for an insurance run. Outlaws loaded the bases with two out in the seventh but Pearson came in to end the threat. Pearson was the tournament's top hitter with a homer, triple and three singles.
K.Gordon (W), Pearson (7) and xxx
Storgaard (L) and xxx
FRUITVALE VICTORIA DAY TOURNAMENT
(May 21) Eighty-six runs were scored in three games that saw only 19 innings of baseball played as the Fruitvale/Trail Athletics claimed top prize in the 1956 Fruitvale Victoria Day tournament, downing the Rossland Capilanos 19 to 3 in the final game. The A’s had captured their first game by edging the Trail Smoke Eaters 15 to 14 while the Caps gained a slot in the final after rocking the Nelson Maple Leafs 22 to 12.
The tourney opener, in which the lead changed hands three times before the A’s came through with two counters in the bottom of the last inning for the win, was the only exciting and the most controversial clash of the tournament. Fruitvale runner Billy Johnson’s collision at the plate with Smokie catcher George McIntyre plated the winner but, in the process, ignited a heated argument..
Ferguson, B. McIntyre (1), Weilep (5), B. McIntyre (L) (5) and G. McIntyre
xxx (W) and xxx
Bourchier (W), Lavorato (7) and Price
L. Hufty (L) and Larsen
Laatsch (L), Mohoruk (3) and Price
Truswell (W) and Russell
FOOTHILLS-WHEATBELT, GRANUM TOURNAMENT
(June 20) Granum beat Lethbridge 7-0 to capture the first of a series of Foothills-Wheatbelt tournaments, this one at Granum. Bentley MacEwen tossed a four-hitter. Steve Odney's two-run single in the first inning was all the Sox needed.
MacEwen (W) and Bogal
Warnick (L) and Tarnava, Cooper (5)
Willie Walasko of the Sox won a tight pitching duel with Pat Gillick of Vulcan as Granum reached the final with a 2-1, 10-inning win over the Elks. Walasko allowed just two hits. Walasko drove in the first Sox run with a sacrifice fly in the 7th. The winning run scored on a sac fly by Jim Lester. Don Birkle accounted for the only Elks' run with a homer in the 4th.
Gillick, Davidson (L) (7) and Scornaienichi
Walasko (W) and Bogal
Vic Stasiuk belted a three-run homer in the 8th and drove in the winning run in the 10th as the Miners edged Picture Butte 5-4.
Chavez (L) and Takamoto, Okawa (3)
Cooper (W) and Tarnava
(June 22) Medicine Hat Orphans strengthened their hold on first place in the Big Five loop Friday at Henderson Park by trouncing Lethbridge Nisei 10-2. Don Schewdelsky hurled five-hit ball for the mound triumph. He fanned nine and walked a pair. Orphans rapped a dozen hits off a pair of Nisei hurler.
Schwedelsky (W) and Miller
Voss (L), Tymchyna (5) and Hirotsu
FOOTHILLS-WHEATBELT, VULCAN TOURNAMENT
(June 23) : Picture Butte Indians scored four times in the opening frame and coasted to a 9-4 win over Lethbridge in the final of the Foothills - Wheatbelt tournament in Vulcan. Fred Garcia had a homer for the Indians.
Harrison (W) and Pung
Bosnak (L) and Tarnava
Miners reached the final with a 4-3 win over Vulcan, scoring twice in the bottom of the 9th. Len Cooper picked up the win in relief of starter George Vaselenak.
Davidson (L), Gillick (9) and Scornaienichi
G Vaselenak, Cooper (W) (9) and Tarnava
The Indians upset Granum 11-5 in the day's opening game taking advantage of 11 hits and six Granum errors. Tom Snowden went the distance for the win holding the Sox to five hits. Mako Tashima connected for a double and single for the winners.
D Johnson (L), R Johnson (5) and Bogal
Snowden (W) and Pung
Granum shaded Vulcan 4-3 in the consolation final as Joe Weremy went the route for the win.
Weremy (W) and Wilson
Gillick (L) Burcher (7) and Scornaienichi
LACOMBE TOURNAMENT
(June 29) Granum White Sox and the Southern Alberta All-Stars were declared co-winners of the 1956 Lacombe tournament as rain forced the cancellation of the final game. The teams split first and second prize money. Granum was leading 5-4 after 4 1/2 innings when the final was halted by rain.
(June 28) Two Southern Alberta teams reached the final in the Lacombe tournament. The Southern Alberta Elks scored five, first inning runs without a hit and shaded Sceptre-Delisle 7-6.
Burcher, Chavez (6) and Pung
Anderson, Jacobson (1) and Grant
Granum also notched five runs in the opening frame and held off the Central Alberta All-Stars, 5-4 in a game called after 4 1/2 innings by rain.
Arnold, Vold (1) and Noble
MacEwen and Bogal
(June 27) Willie Walasko tossed a four-hitter and Earl Ingarfield went 3-4 as Granum whipped the Edmonton Eskimos 11-1 in the opening round of the seventh annual Lacombe Tournament. The game was halted after seven innings by the tourney's "10-run" rule. The Edmonton club was comprised of players from the city's football team.
Walasko and Bogal
Mobra, Forss and Dean, Walker (5)
Ralph Vold held Assiniboia to five hits as the Central Alberta All-Stars trounced the Aces 13-1. Fraser Ferguson and Bill Hunter belted homers for the Stars.
Hall, Skjeruen (2) and Sampson
Vold and Noble
Bill Davidson pitched a gem, a two-hit shutout, and had three hits as the Southern Alberta Elks topped Notre Dame 10-0. Catcher Hans Pung drove in four runs. Elks scored two runs in the 7th and seven in the 8th to salt away the victory.
Martindale, Resch (8), Carr (8) and Saucier
Davidson and Pung
Sceptre-Delisle beat Cold Lake 7-4 with Murray Coben on the hill and the Bentleys, Max, Doug and Bev, in the lineup. Bert Olmstead and George Mahaffy each had two hits for the winners.
Molyneaux, Gaetz (1), Martin (8) and Demariez
Coben and Grant
KAMLOOPS TOURNAMENT
(July 1) The North Kamloops Mohawks erupted for six runs in the second inning to take an 8-3 lead but barely held off the Vancouver Longshoremen to take the opening game of the tourney, 8-7. The local nine took the lead with a pair in the first frame but Vancouver roared back with three in the top of the second. But the the six-run haul for the Mohawks proved too much to overcome although the Longshoremen came within a run with one in the third and three in the seventh. They out-hit Kamloops 11 to 8 with Gordon Webb knocking in three runs with three hits. Ken Kochi, with late relief by Joe Motokado, picked up the win. Nick Craig pitched brilliantly in relief for the losers giving up just two hits over seven scoreless innings.
Kochi (W), Motokado (7) and Kato
Shamaro (L), Craig (2) and Miller
(July 1) Quesnel held off a late charge by Kamloops Okonots to notch a 9-7 victory in the second game of the tournament. The Clippers had run up an 8-4 advantage through seven innings helped by a pair of three-run frames. But Kamloops rallied for two in the eighth and another in the ninth to make it close. Right-fielder John Kuzek paced the winners with a homer and a run-scoring two-bagger. Irv Follack, Frank Stevenson and Otto Munk each added a pair of hits. Johnny Koppa picked up the pitching win in a relief role. Len Fowles and Bob Saklofsky belted homers for Kamloops.
Bryan, Koppa (W) (4) and Swain
Gatin (L) and Anderson
(July 2) In a thrilling climax to the Kamloops tournament, the North Kamloops Mohawks eked out a 6-5 victory over Quesnel Clippers to claim the $175 top prize. Before another large gathering, Mohawks held a one-run lead into the final frame. Joe Motokado quickly disposed of the first two batters but Andy Lay worked him for a free pass. A passed ball allowed Irv Follack to reach and Frank Stevenson singled to load the bases. After fouling off a pair of pitches, Otto Munk lifted a long fly ball to left centre field and the crowd burst into applause as Miyahara, the speedy centre fielder made the catch to give Mohawks the title. Dave Kuromi's seventh inning single drove in the winning marker. Irv Follack poked a homer for the Clippers.
Motokado (W) and Kato
Bryan, Rhodonets (L) (3), Koppa (7) and Swain
SASKATOON OPTIMIST TOURNAMENT
(July 1-2) It was an All-American final with Williston taking top prize of $1,300 in the $4,600 event defeating Dickinson 5-4 before 7-thousand fans at Cairns Field. Williston tallied the deciding run on an error by Buddy Afremow in the seventh inning. Dickinson had rallied in the sixth with four runs to tie the contest after Williston had grabbed a 4-0 lead over the first three innings helped by Dickinson errors. Packers out-hit the winners 9-6 with Dan Chepkauskas collecting three of the Oilers' safeties, a double and two singles. Ray Berns belted a triple for the Oilers. Preston Elkins went the route for the pitching win. James Michalec took the loss.
Michalec (L) and E Johnson
Elkins (W) and Leavitt
In a thrilling consolation final, Saskatoon beat Regina Braves 4-3 in 14 innings. The Gems out hit the Braves 13-5. Regina took a 3-0 lead over the first three innings but the Gems fought back with one in the fifth, another in the sixth before Jim Shirley drove in Cliff Pemberton with the tying run in the bottom of the ninth. In the 14th, Pemberton singled to right and came home with the deciding marker on Ed Garay's double to left-centre. In the top of the 14th, Gem right fielder Len Breckner made an outstanding throw to nab Norm Huletz at third base on Tony Levaggi's single. Levaggi had earlier smacked a homer for Regina. Jim Stevens was the pitching winner in relief.
Loepp, Cavillan (9), Halsey (L) (11) and Cameron
Bowes, Hobson (9), Stevens (W) (11) and Garay
In the tournament opener, Williston Oilers pulled away with three runs in the fifth inning en route to a 7-2 win over Regina. Ed Williams fired a four-hitter for the win.
Burgess (L), VanderLaan (8) and Cameron
Williams (W) and Moore
Dickinson beat the Gems 5-3. Ev Johnson's two-run homer over the left field fence gave Dickinson a 2-1 edge over Saskatoon and they made it 5-1 in the third before Saskatoon thrilled the crowd with a triple play. With the bases full, three runs home and nobody out, Gem second sacker Jose Valladares snared Earl Johnson's liner, stepped on second to nab Ev Johnson and tossed to Charlie Neal at first to complete the triple on Dan Chepkauskas. Fred Brenzel went the distance for the winners with an eight-hitter.
Gostlin (L), Button (3) and Garay
Brenzel (W) and Ev. Johnson
KELOWNA DOMINION DAY TOURNAMENT
(July 2) Bernie Roberts brought in Lloyd Hayes with the winning run with an 11th inning, bases-loaded bunt to give Summerland top money at the Kelowna Dominion Day Tournament. Macs shaded Kelowna Orioles 4-3. Hayes had reached on a single and advanced to third as Summerland filled the sacks. Second baseman Sandy Jomori gave Summerland the lead in the first inning knocking in the game's initial marker. Kelowna jumped ahead with a three-run rally in the fifth. Pitcher Jack Power and shortstop Roamy Ito reached with singles and Johnny Culos was safe on an error as Power scored. Cec Favell poked another single to bring in both runners. Summerland got one run back in the bottom of the sixth and Geordie Taylor smacked a homer in the seventh to tie the contest at 3-3. Each team had eight hits and played errorless ball. Jomori led the winners with three hits. Ron Trites had a trio of singles for Kelowna.
Flichel, Cristane, Eyre and Egely
Power (W) and Blinston
Pitcher Les Schaeffer hurled a one-hit shutout and scored the winning run as Kelowna defeated the Interior League All-Stars 4-0 to advance to the tourney final. After six scoreless frames, Schaeffer launched a double in the seventh and scooted to third on an error. Ed Kielbiski brough him home with a single. Orioles added three more on a single by Joe Kaiser, a fielder's choice and an error.
Schaeffer (W) and Blinston
May (L) and Holitski
In the second game, a six run fifth inning carried Summerland to a 9-6 victory over Oliver OBC's. Macs pounded out 15 hits in the seven inning contest highlighted by Geordie Taylor's four-bagger. Bruno Ceccon and Frank Fritz smacked home runs fro Oliver. Billy Eyre picked on the pitching win in a relief effort.
Cristane, Eyre (W) (1) and xxx
Martino (L), Radies (6) and Radies, Fritz (6)
FOOTHILLS-WHEATBELT, LETHBRIDGE TOURNAMENT
(July 7) Granum pounded Lethbridge 14-2 in the final to capture the Lethbridge tournament. Bill Fennessey powered the Sox offense with five hits, including two homers and a double. Bentley MacEwen tossed a four-hitter for the win.
Warnick (L), Cooper (7) and Moore
MacEwen (W) and Bogal
Earlier, the White Sox dumped Vulcan 8-2 as Willie Walasko pitched a four-hitter and Jim Lester had two doubles and a single and Tedd Bogal poked a homer and a single.
Walasko (W) and Bogal
Gillick (L) and Scornaienichi
Vic Stasiuk blasted a homer, his second of the game, in the bottom of the 9th inning to give Lethbridge a 7-6 win over Picture Butte. The previous batter, Clarence Yanosik had belted a two-run homer to tie the contest. There were seven home runs in all as George Menzies had a pair for the Indians and Bobby Lee had a singleton as did Les Colwill for the Miners.
Chavez (L) and Pung
Cooper (W) and Moore, Tarnava (9)
DAWSON CREEK TOURNAMENT
(July 8) Willow River edged the host Dawson Creek Colonels 5-4 Sunday to win top money in the $2,000 Dawson Creek Tournament for the second straight year. In a thrilling conclusion before 2,500 fans the visitors scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning after two were out to grab the victory. Pitcher Bill Martino was credited with his second victory of the day having hurled the club to their 7-4 semi-final win over Edson, Alberta. Dawson Creek reached the final with an 8-7 11-inning triumph over Grande Prairie.
FOOTHILLS-WHEATBELT, PICTURE BUTTE TOURNAMENT
(July 14) Tom Snowden held Granum to just four hits as Picture Butte won its own tournament with a 13-2 victory in the final. White Sox used third baseman Jim Lester and first sacker Darwin Walkingshaw on the hill in order to save their regular hurlers for a playoff contest with Lethbridge. Larry Yogi and George Menzies paced the Indians with homers.
Snowden (W) and Pung
Lester (L), Walkingshaw (5) and Bogal
In the consolation final, Lethbridge dumped Vulcan 9-4 with Vic Stasiuk getting the win on the hill and blasting a homer, double and single at the plate. Johnny Klem and Les Colwill also had homers for the Miners. Don Birkle had a circuit smash for the Elks.
Stasiuk (W) and xxx
Davidson (L) and xxx
Granum reached the final with a 13-3 win over Lethbridge getting homers from Lester, Walkingshaw, Bill Fennessey and Gord Vejprava. Mike Vaselenak homered for the Miners. Bentley MacEwen tossed a four-hitter for the win.
MacEwen (W) and Bogal
Cooper (L) and Tarnava, Colwill (4)
Picture Butte won its final berth with an 8-4 victory over Vulcan. Gary Harrison limited the Elks to three hits.
Harrison (W) and Pung
Gillick (L) and Burley
TABER TOURNAMENT
(July 21) Vauxhall Jets downed Taber 6-5 to take top prize money in the Taber Baseball Tournament. Doug Cleland belted a three-run homer for the Jets. Floyd Anderson, who fanned 12, was the winning hurler besting Tom Snowden. Taber advanced to the final by whipping Brooks Buffaloes 10-0 as John Chavez tossed the shutout and Garth Legerwood smacked a pair of doubles. Vauxhall scored a 4-2 win over Medicine Hat Orphans in the other semi-final with Roy Cleland picking up the win and Dusty Rhodes leading the attack with a double and two singles. Bill Sailer had a triple and single for the Orphans.
Floyd Anderson (W) and xxx
Tom Snowden (L) and xxx
John Chavez (W) and xxx
xxx and xxx
Roy Cleland (W) and xxx
xxx and xxx
BIG FIVE TOURNAMENT
(July 22) Taber trounced Magrath Eagles 14-4 to capture the Big Five Baseball Tourney. Bob Laurie led the offensive with three doubles and a single. Clarence Wentz went the route allowing five hits, with nine strikeouts, to pick up the win. Forrest Balderson took the loss. Taber smacked 17 hits with Bob Laurie leading the onslight with three doubles and a single. Bill Sinclair, Gordon Laurie, George Gross and Ross McGibben each had three singles. Wes Rice and Gordie Rice each slugged a two-bagger.
Magrath won a final berth with a 9-3 win over Medicine Hat behind the combined mound work of Norm Hillmer and Forrest Balderson. Bill Sailer took the loss. Magrath got three hits apiece from Wes Rice and Fred MacKay. Warren Back was a bright spot for the losers with a homer.
Taber beat Vauxhall 15-11 as Gordon Laurie slugged a two-run homer and a single. John Haugen had a solo homer in the first inning. Mac Crumley, the fourth hurler for Taber, picked up the win. Dusty Rhodes was the loser.
In opening action, Medicine Hat downed Lethbridge Niseis 10-3. A bases loaded homer by Elroy Schaufele in the first inning set the Orphans on the way to the easy victory. Don Schwedelsky was the winning hurler. Jerry Kjedlgaard took the loss.
SASKATOON EXHIBITION TOURNAMENT
(July 23) Max Bentley went from goat to hero Monday in the opening game of the Saskatoon Exhibition Week Tournament to lead Delisle over Colonsay 6-5. Two of his three infield errors had figured in Colonsay's four-run outburst in the eighth inning giving the Monarchs a 5-4 lead. But Max came through in the bottom of the ninth inning belting a triple to score brother Doug and Johnny Goodwin to capture the win. George Genereux picked up the win in relief of starter Murray Coben. Veteran Johnny Folk went the distance giving up ten hits in taking the loss. Doug Bentley led the winners with two hits and three runs.
Folk (L) and Rosher
M.Coben, Genereux (8) and B. Coben
(July 24) Kindersley was out-hit 11 to 9 but took advantage of nine Wakaw errors and 13 walks to notch an 11-7 victory Tuesday. Irl Flanagan led the attack with four hits and a walk in six trips to the plate and scored a pair. He also helped on the mound taking over from starter Ollie Harris in the sixth inning. Orest Hryniuk, first of five Wakaw hurlers, took the loss. Ken Hagen had three hits for the losers. Kindersley catcher Allan Mills drew walks on his first four plate appearances and then reached base on a fielder's choice and a single.
Hryniuk (L), Folk (5), Hagen (5), Lott (7), Sloboda (8) and Kulrich
Harris (W), I.Flanagan (6) and Mills
(July 26) Langham blew an early 5-0 lead but rallied with five runs in the ninth inning to down Sceptre 12-8. Trailing 7-2 in the 7th, big George Mahaffy, Sceptre first baseman, cracked a three-run homer to bring his mates within hailing distance. In the eighth, Bert Olmstead sparked a three-run Sceptre rally with a triple to put Sceptre ahead 8-7. But Langham bunched five hits with two walks and an error to chase five runs home in the ninth for the victory. In the bottom of the ninth reliever Mort Wright walked two but struck out the side to end the game. Third baseman Bob Robertson had three singles and a double for Sceptre. Ken Dear was the big hitter for Langham with a homer and two singles.
Knutson, Wright (W) (8) and K.Dear
Jacobson, Martindale (L) (8), Olmstead (9) and Fetch, Cory
(July 27) Delisle fell behind 7-0 before roaring back with 11 unanswered markers to win a berth in the tournament final with an 11-7 victory over Kindersley. Doug Bentley had two hits, two runs batted in and stole three bags for the winners. Young Gary Anderson allowed just one hit through six innings and only two until the eighth when he yielding three more during Delisle's seven-run rally. Anderson fanned 11 but had trouble with his control walking nine. John Farthing, second of four Delisle hurlers, picked up the win. Each club had just six hits. Delisle combined four hits, three walks, two stolen bases, an error, two wild pitches and a passed ball in their big inning.
Anderson (L), I.Flanagan (8) and Mills
Murray, Genereux (3), Farthing (W) (5), Worth (9) and
B.Coben
(July 28) Langham advanced to the final edging Mayfair-Maymont 2-1 behind Mort Wright's five-hitter. Ken Dear, Les Stack and Alex Tarasoff each had two hits for the winners. Chuck Strautman, the left-handed catcher for Mayfair-Maymont, had two safeties, one of them a double.
J.Linnell (L) and Strautman
Wright (W) and K.Dear
Roly Howes (right), chairman of the Saskatoon Exhibition Tournament, presents the J.F. Cairns trophy to Doug Bentley, playing-manager of champion Delisle. It was a repeat win for Delisle with Langham the runner-up for the second straight year.
(July 28) Delisle stunned the exhibition tourney crowd with an unusual play leading to the only run in the bottom of the ninth inning in 1-0 win for Delisle to take top money in the annual tournament.
With one out, Jim Cosgrove drew a walk with Bert Coben coming to the plate. Cosgrove took off the second and catcher Ken Dear attempted to nab him at second. But Dear's throw hit Coben in the back of the head and bounded all the way to left field as Cosgrove scurried to third from where he scored the game's only run when pitcher Murray Coben singled to left. Coben and former Brandon Grey Jack Denbow put on a pitching clinic with Coben firing a three-hitter and Denbow yielding just four.
Denbow (L) and K.Dear
M.Coben (W) and B.Coben
WORLAND BASEBALL TOURNAMENT
(July 26) Catcher Tedd Bogal belted a three-run homer in the top of the 9th to give Granum a 7-6 win over Worland and top prize in the Worland, Wyoming Tournament. Bogal's blast came with two out and the Indians on top by a 5-4 count. Indians came back with a run in the bottom of the 9th on Gus Polous' homer but Willie Walasko bore down to win his third game of the event. White Sox had opened up a 4-0 lead in the 5th on back-to-back homers by Jim Lester and John Vaselenak.
Walakso (W) and Bogal
Stiner, Stark (L) (4) and Muffick
(July 25) Worland Indians came through with two wins to force a sudden-death playoff with Granum for top prize in the Worland Tournament. Indians shaded Fort Warren 11-10 and whipped Granum 13-4.
Indians pounded out 14 hits to beat the White Sox. Lee Troseth led the attack with a triple and four singles.
MacEwen (L), Weremy (6), Walkingshaw (7) and Bogal
Sinner (W) and Muffick
(July 24) Johnny Vaselenak, on loan to Granum from Lethbridge, blasted a run -scoring triple in the bottom of the 11th to give the White Sox a comeback 9-8 win over Worland Indians in the Worland Tournament. Worland had taken an 8-7 lead in the top of the 11th and had retired the first two Granum batters in the bottom of the inning. Then, Jim Lester blasted a triple to left centre and scored as Worland's centrefielder dropped an easy fly ball off the bat of Gord Vejprava. Vaselenak's blow plated Vejprava with the winner. Gord Wesley led the Sox with a homer and a triple. Willie Walasko picked up the win in relief of starter Joe Weremy.
Weremy, Walasko (W) and xxx
xxx and xxx
(July 22) Granum won its initial game in the Worland Baseball Tournament trouncing Billings Mustangs 13-5. Willie Walasko was the winning pitcher and hero at the plate as he belted a bases-clearing double in the 7th inning as the White Sox scored eight times to salt away the victory. Gord Wesley had a triple and two singles
Walasko (W) and xxx
xxx and xxx
Magic City Mustangs shaded Ellsworth Air Force 5-4. Mustangs had earlier outlasted Lander 20-17 in a game in which each club scored eight runs in the 9th inning.
LETHBRIDGE ROTARY TOURNAMENT
(August 4) Granum White Sox went on a hitting spree to take the $1,500 top prize in the Lethbridge Rotary Tournament. Sox whipped Mountain Home Air Base from Idaho 14-4 in opening round action then overcame Worland Indians 16-13 in a semi-final slugfest before dumping two-time champion Spokane Builders 9-5 in the final before 4-thousand fans.
White Sox got an early jump in the final scoring three runs in the first inning and five more in the fourth. Sox took advantage of eight Spokane errors. Gordie Vejprava led the Sox with three hits. Gil Kuhns homered for the Builders. Bentley MacEwen allowed just four hits, but walked seven.
MacEwen and Bogal
G Barnes, Tinsley (4) and Heinz
Willie Walasko was the winner in the victory over Mountain Home as the Sox erupted for 11 runs in the sixth inning, and he came back in relief against Worland to get his second win of the day. Jim Lester had two hits and three RBIs for the White Sox.
Walasko and Bogal
Askland, Ferrer (5) and Golding
In a wild affair, Granum almost blew a 9-0 lead before outlasting Worland 16-13. A seven-run 7th inning gave Worland a 13-12 lead, but the White Sox bounced back with three in the 8th and another in the 9th to take the win. Gord Wesley led the Sox at the dish with a triple, two singles and four runs batted in. Wesley reached base in all seven plate appearances.
Weremy, Thrun (7), Cleland (7), Walasko (7) and Bogal
Stark, Stiner (1), Gordy (3), Ballentine (6), Sinner (8) and Muffick
Builders had advanced to the final for the third time in six years scoring four in the 9th to down the Foothills-Wheatbelt All-Stars 14-10. Builders were outhit 12-10 but took advantage of 16 bases on balls. Hans Pung was the games' top hitter with four safeties.
Soki, Tinsley (7) and Heinz
Cooper, Burcher (5), Harrison (7), Davidson (7), Chavez (8) and Pung
(August 3) The defending champs from Alberta, the Foothills-Wheatbelt All-Stars, beat the Libby, Montana, Athletics 6-1 in the opening game of the sixth annual Lethbridge Rotary Tournament. Right-hander John Chavez of Picture Butte Indians tossed a five-hitter for the Stars while John Vaselenak hit a homer and Marty Norman and Bob Lee were key to the offense. Shortstop Norman, of Vulcan Elks, belted a double and single and drove in two. First baseman Lee, of Picture Butte, banged out a pair of doubles.
Carr, Snider (2) and Estes
Chavez and Pung
Spokane Builders built up a 9-1 lead and held on to beat Billings Mustangs 9-6. Veteran right-hander Curt Bloomquist went the distance for the Builders despite tossing the last four innings with a broken finger on his hurling hand. He suffered the injury in the fourth inning trying to knock down a hard smash through the box. Bob Bolingbroke went the distance for the Mustangs.
Bolingbroke and Brautigan
Bloomquist and Heinz
Wally Sinner fired a four-hitter for the Indians as Worland defeated Sandpoint Beavers 4-2 in an extra inning affair. Outfielder Jack Jensen was the hero for the Indians rapping out a two-run single for the win.
Sinner and Muffick
Lieland, Cosette (8) and Koentopp
MEDICINE HAT TOURNAMENT
(August 11) Granum White Sox upped their tournament winnings to $5,150 by taking top prize in Medicine Hat's first annual Rotary tournament. Sox defeated Picture Butte 1-0 in the final behind the four-hit, twelve strike out, pitching of Willie Walasko. Walasko was also a hero at the plate with a 2nd inning triple and scored the only run on Gord Wesley's single to centre. Willie Yahiro, who allowed just four hits, was the tough-luck loser. More than 35-hundred fans took in the final. It was the Sox third straight tournament triumph having won the Worland, Wyoming event two weeks ago and the one in Lethbridge last week.
The White Sox mound corps allowed just six hits in winning their three contests. Pat Gillick had a no-hitter against Medicine Hat, Bentley MacEwen pitched a two-hitter against Cold Lake, and Walasko held Southern Alberta Elks to four.
Walasko (W) and Carlson
Yahiro (L) and Pung
There was just one hit in the game as lefty Pat Gillick tossed a seven-inning no-hitter as Granum edged Medicine Hat 2-0 in semi-final action. Gillick fanned eight and faced just three over the minimum. Granum had just one hit, Bill Fennessey's run-scoring single in the first inning.
Cleland (L), Schwedelsky (7) and Tarnava
Gillick (W) and Bogal
Picture Butte reached the final with a 10-2 win over Edson as Gary Harrison pitched a four-hitter.
Harrison (W) and Pung
Yeske (L), Hodson (3), Gerlitz (4) and L Truckey
Medicine Hat won a berth in the semi-final with a 4-3 win over Billings Mustangs as Don Schwedelsky drove in the winner with a pinch-hit single in the Orphans final bat bat.
Davies (L) and Haugen
Cooper (W) and Tarvana
In first round matches, Edson shaded Libby 1-0 in ten innings behind the four-hit pitching of Max Yeske, Picture Butte trounced Sceptre-Delisle 14-0 as Tom Snowden tossed a four-hitter, Granum topped Cold Lake 9-1 as Bentley MacEwen tossed a two-hitter.
Schneider (L) and Estes
Yeske (W) and L Truckey
Snowden (W) and Pung
Anderson (L), Stevenson (3), Jacobson (3), Mahaffy (5) and Fitch
MacEwen (W) and Bogal
Molyneaux (L), Barton (4) and Demierz
CALGARY TOURNAMENT
(August 26) Rookie lefthander Pat Gillick, who pitched a no-hitter for Granum in the Medicine Hat Tournament, tossed a four-hit, 17 strikeout gem to lead Granum past Stettler 6-3 and top money in the Calgary Buffalo Tournament. White Sox increased their season's winnings to more than $6,000 with the $500 first prize. Gillick blanked the Oilers for eight of nine innings and all three runs against him were unearned. Bill Fennessey and Tedd Bogal slammed homers for the Sox. Bud Kelts, Dave Martin and Mac Yesky combined for 17 strikeouts for the Oilers.
Gillick (W) and Bogal
Kelts (L), Martin (2), Yesky (4) and Wilson
Sox made the final by shading Picture Butte 2-1 in a pitching duel between Willie Walasko and the Indians' Willie Yahiro. Each gave up just six hits. Mako Tashima had given Picture Butte an early lead with a first inning homer. Sox scored both their runs in the fourth on a singles by Earl Ingarfield and Walasko.
Yahiro (L) and Pung
Walasko (W) and Bogal
Stettler won a berth in the championship tilt dumping Calgary Dodgers 9-0. Cy Ing had a homer and single to pace the Oilers.
Martin (W) and Wilson
Stone (L), Leonard (8) and Abel, Noble (3)
Earlier, Granum thumped Kindersley 13-0 on Joe Weremy's three-hitter, John Chavez held Taber to four-hits as Picture Butte topped Taber 4-2, Stettler beat Nanton 9-0 and Calgary defeated Gleichen 7-3.
Weremy (W) and Bogal
Anderson (L), Rachel (8) and Hogarth
Chavez (W) and Pung
Warnick (L) and Tarnava
KAMLOOPS LABOUR DAY TOURNAMENT
(September 2-3) Oliver OBC dumped South Burnaby 4-1 Sunday in the opening game of the 1956 Kamloops Labour Day Tournament. American import Gary Driessen, in his third successive appearance at the tourney, fired a two-hitter and fanned seven in the seven inning contest. Doug Weeks gave Oliver the lead with a leadoff homer in the second inning. South Burnaby evened the count in the third when Mundle drew a free pass, advanced on a throwing error and a wild pitch and romped home on another throwing error. The OBCs took over for good in the fourth with a pair of runs on a single by Paul Eisenhut and two fielding miscues. Don Coy rapped a pinch-hit double to drive in Frank Fritz with the final marker in the fifth.
Barton (L) and Thurston
Driessen (W) and Radies
Alan Collier's first homer run of the season, a grand slam in the sixth inning, provided Kamloops Okonots with a storybook ending to their matchup with the Trail Smoke Eaters at the Kamloops Tournament. After Trail broke loose with three runs in the top of the first inning, highlighted by Len Gatin's circuit smash, Trail not only held the Okonots scoreless but without a hit through five innings. However, in the sixth with one out, Jack Fowles reached on an error and Buck Buchanan and Bill McDonald followed with singles to load the bases setting the stage for the dramatic homer by Collier.
L.Hufty (L) and Larsen
Gatin (W) and Stewart
Summerland Macs rapped 12 hits while allowing just two in trouncing Western Bridge of Vancouver 12-6 in Sunday's final game. Don Cristante paced the winners with a one-hitter for five innings while smacking three hits, including a two-run homer, a two-run double and a single. He scored three times. Cristante started for the Macs but gave way to Billy Eyre and Morley Flichel in the third but came back in the fifth to finish up.
Cristante (W), Eyre (3), Flichel (3), Cristante (5), and Egely
Curby (L), Wilson (4), Zailo (5) and Taylor
In Monday's opening game, the Trail-Fruitvale Athletics downed North Kamloops Mohawks 6-2 as Bob Seaman fired a three-hitter and racked up 14 strikeouts. The Athletics broke a 2-2 draw with a pair in the fifth inning, scoring on three straight bunts. They added two more in the sixth on a pair of bunt singles, Hugh McIntyre's one-bagger, his third hit of the day, and an error in centre field.
Joe Motokado (L) and Kato
Seaman (W) and Russell
Summerland Macs got back-to-back homers in the eighth inning by Bill Eyre and Geordie Taylor to put away the Kamloops Okonots 6-2 in the first semi-final of the Kamloops Tournament. Okonots had a chance in the ninth as Morley Flichel filled the sacks on three walks and had three balls on another before Don Cristante took over with two out. After tossing ball four to Jack Fowles he got Buck Buchanan to fly out to right field to end the game. Flichel, allowed seven hits and walked eight in gaining the pitching win. He helped at the plate as well with a third inning double and was driven home by Bob Weitzel.
Olson (L), Gatin (8) and Anderson, Stewart (8)
Flichel (W), Cristante (9) and Egely
Doug Weeks' dramatic 10th inning, three-run homer, put Oliver OBCs in the final of the Kamloops Tournament. After Trail-Fruitvale Athletics had tied the game 4-4 in the bottom of the ninth as Andy Bilesky rapped a double to score Ernie Dark. Bob McKinnon was thrown out at home trying to notch the winning run. In the tenth, Micky Martino and Dick Cleveland both smacked singles but reliever James McKay fanned the next two. However, on McKay's first pitch, Weeks sent one soaring over the wire netting in right field to send Oliver into the tournament final.
T.DeRosa , Seaman (3), McKay (L) (9) and Russell
Taber, Driessen (8), Taber (W), Driessen (10) and Radies
Oliver crushed Summerland 10-4 Monday to capture top money at the Kamloops Labour Day Tournament. Import hurler Gary Driessen again was a key for the winners. Driessen, who hurled the OBCs opening game win, protected starter Corky Taber's semi-final victory and posted the win in relief in the final. Oliver took the lead for good in the sixth inning with a pair of runs on hits by Dick Cleveland and Bob Radies and a sacrifice fly by Driessen who again displayed his hitting talents in the seventh with a two-run single. Summerland, which played errorless ball in its first two games fell apart in the final, booting the ball six times. Paul Eisenhut led the winners with three hits. Parker and Bob Weitzel each had three safeties for the Macs.
Cristante, Gould (L) (2), Flichel (7) and Egely
Taber , Driessen (W) (5) and Radies
QUESNEL LABOUR DAY TOURNAMENT
(September 2-3) The Kelowna Orioles returned home early Tuesday with a haul from the $1,500 Quesnel Labour Day Tournament. They took top money of $600, the Quesnel Jewelers Trophy, three individual awards and invitations to two more big tournaments. Orioles fashioned a 4-3 come-back win over Terrace in the tourney final. They got the winning marker in the bottom of the ninth inning as Bud Russell reached on an outfield error and Ricky Wickenheiser slammed a three-bagger to deep centre to plate the deciding run. Doug Hay, lefty from the Vernon Silver-Stars, held Terrace to five hits in going the route for Kelowna.
Jack Power of the Orioles was named for the best pitching performance, Wickenheiser for game winning hitting, and Roamy Ito for his three stolen bases. Willie McDermid of Willow River was the individual hitting star with five hits in nine trips and won a wrist watch for his his final game homer.
Jack Dunbow (L) and Don Shirk
Doug Hay (W) and Johnny Culos
Willow River won third prize by shading Quesnel Clippers 2-1.
The Orioles reached the final with a 9-2 victory over the Willow River Red Sox. Kelowna ran up a 9-0 count, with two in the third, three in the fifth and four more in the sixth, before the Sox broke through with a pair in the eighth. Schaeffer surrendered nine hits in going the distance for Kelowna. Willie McDermid spoiled the shutout bid with a homer. Roamy Ito, who was beaned by Bill Martino in the fifth, got up and drove in the winning run.
Schaeffer (W) and Culos
Martino (L), Church (5) and McDermid
Terrace downed Quesnel Clippers 5-2 to win a spot in the finals.
Kelowna kicked off the tournament on Sunday with a 4-2 win over Port Moody Hotel. Jack Power allowed eight hits and just one earned run in going the route for the Orioles. Roamy Ito clouted a two-run homer for the winners. Cec Favell and Ed Kielbiski accounted for the other two counters.
Bill Gillespie (L) and Arnie Bannerman
Jack Power (W)
and John Culos
Willow River downed the Prince George Athletics 6-3, Terrace defeated Quesnel Lumbermen 8-5 and the Clippers advanced with a win over the Dawson Creek Colonels.
FERNIE TOURNAMENT
(September 3) Picture Butte finally got the best of the White Sox. The Indians whipped Granum 13-2 in the final of the Fernie Labour Day Tournament. Willie Yahiro limited the Sox to five hits while the Indians pounded out 16. Sox starter Bentley MacEwen took the loss.
Yahiro (W) and xxx
MacEwen (L), xxx, xxx and xxx
Picture Butte beat Kalispell 12-5 in the first game with Granum eliminating Fernie 18-1. Gary Harrison won the mound decision for the Indians while Pat Gillick pitched the Sox to their win over the host club.
Harrison (W) and xxx
xxx and xxx
Gillick (W) and xxx
xxx and xxx