SOUTHERN LEAGUE
The circuit dropped to seven teams from eight as the Avonlea Arrows withdrew from competition, citing lack of player personnel as the reason. In other developments, the Regina Royal Caps dropped the Royal Caps designation to become the Regina Cardinals while the Estevan club reverted from the Coalers nickname to return to that of the Maple Leafs.
(May 18) Last season's cellar-dwellers, with a new name this time out, the Estevan Maple Leafs, made good in their Southern League opener when they trimmed their Soo-Line rivals, the Weyburn Beavers, 9 - 8 in a 6-inning darkness-shortened encounter. Tied 3 - 3 entering the 3rd inning, the Leafs shelled Weyburn rookie southpaw John Sharpe from the mound, pinning the loss on him. Estevan's Jack Harbourne worked the first four innings to pick up the win. Nasie Schnell topped the Maple Leafs at the dish with a 2 for 4 evening including a two-run first inning homer. No other batter from either team managed more than a single hit.
Harbourne (W), G. McKechney (5) and Kreuger
Sharpe (L), Hoff (4) and Springer, Covert (3)
(May 19) A tight mound joust featured the Moose Jaw Lakers' Southern League home opener as the Mill City nine dropped a close 2 - 0 decision to the Notre Dame Hounds. Only five hits were registered in this battle, three by the Lakers and two by the Dogs off the slants of loser Wally Blaisdell who went the distance. Ray Nutzhorn had the only extra-base hit of the game, a 3rd inning double off winning pitcher Phil Resch. Notre Dame picked up both of their tallies in the 2nd frame when Blaisdell's lack of control cost him.
Resch (W) and Saucier
Blaisdell (L) and Hunchuk, Rosenbaum (5)
(May 23) In a sloppily played home opener, the defending champion Regina Red Sox walked off the field with a 15 - 7 decision over the Weyburn Beavers. Following a 9-run Regina explosion in the 3rd, the Beavers were never in the game. Reliable Tom Leverick started for the Sox but gave way to rookie Luke Moser in the 5th who was given credit for the win for his work in the final five frames. The defeat was hung on veteran Keith Covert who toiled only 2 1/3 ineffective innings during which time his mates booted the ball no less than seven times. Al Manz had a pair of triples for the Redlegs. Ed Prosofsky had a double and single while Ken McEachern and Sam Goodhue chipped in with two singles each. Second sacker Buzz Bent led the Beavers at the dish, going three for five.
Covert (L), Hoff (3) and Greaves
Leverick, Moser (W) (5) and Manz
(May 23) The Notre Dame Hounds posted their second straight Southern League victory as they took the measure of the host Estevan Maple Leafs 11 - 4. Right-hander Phil Resch picked up his second win of the infant season by spacing six hits in this contest called after six innings were completed because of darkness. Notre Dame managed only six hits off three Estevan chuckers but all came at opportune moments. Orval Verpe started on the hill and was charged with the Estevan loss. Outfielder Eddie Magis of the Hounds and Gary McKechney of the Maple Leafs each had two hits, the only players to do so.
Resch (W) and Doetzel
Verpe (L), Falk (3), G. McKechney (4) and Kreuger
(May 24) Paced by a solid six-hit mound performance from veteran right-hander Jack Devine, the Moose Jaw Lakers downed the Regina Red Sox 9 - 5. Southpaw Charlie Peerless, who replaced starter Luke Moser in the 2nd inning, was the loser. Deadlocked at 5 - 5 entering the bottom of the 5th, the Lakers plated two on a costly Regina error and added two more in the 7th to salt away the victory. Garth Hayes, Ted Pasch and Glen "Baldy" Smith each collected two hits for the winners. Third baseman Jake McLean was the only Redleg hitter with a brace off Devine.
Moser, Peerless (L) (2) and Manz
J. Devine (W) and Smith
(May 25) The Notre Dame Hounds hustled to their 3rd victory in as many Southern League tilts with a convincing 10 - 0 whitewashing of the Weyburn Beavers. Starter Dick Griffin of the Hounds picked up the win while Weyburn newcomer John Rusnak was tabbed with the defeat. Batting laurels went to the Collegians' Eddie Bearss who went 2 for 3, including a home run, and drove in 4 runs. Keith Covert and Jack Shupe of Weyburn also had two hits.
Griffin (W), McPherson (4) and Saucier
Rusnak (L), Hoff (6) and Greaves
(May 25) Making their debut, the newly-named Regina Cardinals divided a twin-bill with the visiting Assiniboia Aces as the Redbirds, behind Ed Heidt's steady pitching, took the opener 5 - 2 while the Aces came back with some heavy hitting to capture the nightcap 13 - 8. Heidt spaced five hits effectively in earning the first game over Skuli Bjorneson. Doug Hingley, Ron Dundas and Bill Kowula each slammed out two hits for the Cards in support of Heidt.
Bjorneson (L) and Shanks
Heidt (W) and Lysack
The second match was strictly for the hitters as the Aces slapped around three Regina hurlers for 16 hits and gave John Hall his first pitching win. George McFadyen was knocked from the hill after 3 1/3 innings and took the loss. Wes Edwards was Assiniboia's top man at the plate with three singles and a double. Gord Skjerven, Norm Logan and Jim White each added a brace. Ron Dundas was the only Reginan to crack out two hits.
Hall (W), Skjerven (4) and Shanks
McFadyen (L), Bey (5), Heidt (7) and Ebel
(May 27) Afflicted with a sore arm last season, Notre Dame's Phil Resch has new life in his pitching wing this campaign. The young right-hander stymied the Regina Cardinals on seven hits and picked up his 3rd win in as many tries in leading the Hounds to a 7 - 3 decision. George McFadyen was hit with his second loss as Notre Dame took a 4 - 0 first inning lead and were never headed. First baseman Bobby Donald led the Hounds with three hits in 4 trips. Shortstop Eddie Bearss went 2 for 2 while Ken Townsend of the Dogs and Ed Heidt of Regina had triples.
McFadyen (L), Bey (1) and Lysack
Resch (W) and Saucier
(May 29) After three straight losses, the Weyburn Beavers hit the win column by edging the Assiniboia Aces 3 - 2 behind Dave Hoff's fine five-hitter. Keith Covert's 7th inning single drove in the tying and winning runs off loser Paul Pearson and made a winner of Hoff who struck out 10.
Pearson (L), Hall (7) and Shanks
Hoff (W) and Springer
(May 29) Gary McKechney stymied the Regina Red Sox on six singles as the Estevan Maple Leafs took a 7 - 4 come-from-behind decision over their hosts. Loser Charlie Peerless, in relief of starter Vic Wall, was the victim of Estevan's four run 7th inning barrage which was the difference in the game. Nasie Schnell of the Maple Leafs had a three-run triple plus a single to lead the visitors while teammate Wayne North singled twice to drive in two runs.
G. McKechney (W) and Kreuger
Wall, Peerless (L) (6) and Manz
(May 30) right-hander Phil Resch came through for the Notre Dame Hounds again. A brilliant two-hit relief chore by Resch enabled the unbeaten Collegians to make it five straight victories and the pitching decision, an 8 - 3 victory over the Regina Cardinals, was Resch's fourth of the season. He entered the game after Hounds' starter Dick Griffin ran into trouble with two out in the 2nd inning and, except for his occasional lack of control during his 6 1/3 innings on the mound, had things well in hand in the 8-inning darkness-shortened game. Notre Dame's timely hitting against loser Cliff Harrison allowed them to overcome an early 3 - 1 Regina lead. The Dogs rapped 10 safeties off Harrison, three by third baseman Hugh Huck and two each by Vern Glazier and Bob Donald with Huck and Donald's totals including a double each. Eddie Magis and the Cardinals' Ed Heidt had triples.
Griffin, Resch (W) (2) and Saucier
Harrison (L) and Lysack, Schell (2)
(May 30) The Moose Jaw Lakers unloaded 13 hits and took advantage of 13 Weyburn errors to defeat the Beavers 16 - 6. Ray Bernard, a 16 year old product of Moose Jaw's Pony and Juvenile divisions, pitched into the 5th to get credit for the win in his Southern League debut. Val Allen, the first of three Weyburn pitchers, was tagged with the loss. Mel Hennenfent paced the Lakers at the plate with three singles and three RBI's in four official times at bat. Ray Nutzhorn collected a double and single while Ted Pasch slammed out a brace of singles. Keith Covert was the only Weyburn player to collect more than one safety, a pair of singles in four trips.
Allen (L), Rusnak (5), Sharpe (6) and Springer
Bernard (W), Johnson (5) and Rosenbaum, Smith (5)
(June 1) The defending champion Regina Red Sox drew first blood in their intra-city match-up with the Regina Cardinals, by stopping the Redbirds 11 - 2. Redlegs' winner Charlie Peerless, who had been disappointing in dropping his first two starts, was tagged for 9 hits but the Cards couldn't get them when they counted most. The Red Sox, on the other hand, rapped out 15 hits and made them pay dividends in the 8-inning affair. Handyman Ed Heidt was the victim of the Red Sox' offense and took the loss. Ed Prosofsky of the Sox was the night's big batter collecting four hits in five at bats, one being a towering triple. Denny Cochrane, last year's batting champion, had three hits including a double. Doug Hingley went 3 for 4 for the Cards while Ron Dundas added a triple and single.
Peerless (W), Mohr (8) and Manz
Heidt (L) Vogt (5) and Ebel
(June 2) The Notre Dame Hounds fell from the ranks of the unbeaten as the Moose Jaw Lakers, behind Wally Blaisdell's neat five-hitter, took the measure of the Dogs 14 - 6. The Lakers pounded loser Hugh Carr for 16 hits, erupting for 6 runs in the initial frame to walk away with the win. Veteran Moose Jaw right fielder Don Devine had a brace of doubles plus two singles in five trips to the plate. First sacker Mel Hennenfent contributed a three-run double and two singles.
Carr (L) and Saucier
Blaisdell (W) and Hunchuk
(June 3) Regina's defending champion Red Sox moved into fourth place in the Southern League after taking a pair of games from the Assiniboia Aces, edging the Aces 3 - 2 in the opener and then shutting them out 3 - 0 in the second encounter. The first game went 11 innings as Bill Martindale out-dueled Gord Skjerven.
Martindale (W) and McNabb
Skjerven (L) and Shanks
Tommy Leverick picked up the complete game, 7-inning shutout win in the nightcap, besting John Hall.
Leverick (W) and Manz
Hall (L) and Shanks
(June 3) The Moose Jaw Lakers made it two in a row over the Notre Dame Hounds, this time by a 9 - 4 count. The Lakers scored four times in the 1st inning but the Hounds pecked away to make it 5 - 4 entering the 9th. A five-run explosion sank the Hounds for good. Jack Devine was the winner, unfurling an effective seven-hitter. Ed Bearss, making hid first start as a hurler this year, was charged with the loss. Mel Hennenfent led Moose Jaw with three hits, including two doubles while Herb Lovett unloaded a single and a three-run homer in the 9th. Jim Quinn and Vern Glazier each had two of Notre Dame's hits.
J. Devine (W) and Hunchuk
Bearss (L), Resch (6) and Saucier
(June 3) The Estevan Maple Leafs swept a doubleheader from the visiting Regina Cardinals, taking the opener 11 - 2 then blanking the Redbirds 2 - 0 in the second game. Miller limited the visitors to three hits in winning his Southern League debut.
Harrison (L), Bey (4) and Ebel
Miller (W) and Kreuger
Jackie Harbourne hurled a three-hit shutout in the nightcap to help the Maple Leafs complete the sweep.
Bey (L) and Ebel
Harbourne (W) and Kreuger
(June 5) The Regina Red Sox took advantage of six Notre Dame fielding miscues to score four unearned runs as they defeated the Hounds 6 - 5 for their fourth straight triumph. Winner Charlie Peerless gave up 10 hits and struck out 10 in squaring his record at two wins and two losses as the Sox hung the defeat on Phil Resch, his first of the campaign. Catcher Morris McNabb was the only Reginan to get more than one hit off Resch, coming through with a pair of singles. Jim Quinn had three base blows for the Hounds in five trips while Eddie Bearss drove in four runs with a triple and single.
Resch (L) and Saucier, Doetzel (8)
Peerless (W) and McNabb
Southern League Batting Leaders to June 5
Mel Hennenfent (Moose Jaw Lakers) 10 - 21 .476
Keith Covert (Weyburn Beavers) 9 - 20 .450
Wayne North (Estevan Maple Leafs) 7 - 18 .389
Nasie Schnell (Estevan Maple Leafs) 7 - 18 .389
Ted Pasch (Moose Jaw Lakers) 6 - 16 .375
Don Devine (Moose Jaw Lakers) 6 - 16 .375
Jim Quinn (Notre Dame Hounds) 11 - 32 .344
Garth Hayes (Moose Jaw Lakers) 7 - 21 .333
Erwin Kreuger (Estevan Maple Leafs) 5 - 15 .333
Ed Prosofsky (Regina Red Sox) 10 - 31 .322
Eddie Bearss (Notre Dame Hounds) 8 - 25 .320
Buzz Bent (Weyburn Beavers) 7 - 22 .318
Ken McEachern (Regina Red Sox) 6 - 19 .316
Bobby Donald (Notre Dame Hounds) 6 - 19 .316
Hits - Quinn (11)
Runs Scored - Bearss (10)
Home Runs - Schnell (2)
Triples - Ed Heidt (Regina Cardinals) and Ken Townsend (Notre Dame Hounds) - tied with 3
Doubles - Hennenfent, Dale Wetsch (Estevan Maple Leafs) and Ray Nutzhorn (Moose Jaw Lakers) - tied with 3
Southern League Pitching Records to June 5 (minimum 2 wins)
Tommy Leverick (Regina Red Sox) 2 - 0 1.000
Jackie Harbourne (Estevan Maple Leafs) 2 - 0 1.000
Jack Devine (Moose Jaw Lakers) 2 - 0 1.000
Phil Resch (Notre Dame Hounds) 4 - 1 .800
Charlie Peerless (Regina Red Sox) 2 - 2 .500
Innings Pitched - Resch (43 2/3)
Strikeouts - Wally Blaisdell (Moose Jaw Lakers) - 24
Bases on Balls - Resch (21)
(June 6) Lefty Lloyd Woolley made his first start of the season for the new-look Regina Cardinals, sporting new uniforms, a winning one as he threw a very impressive five-hitter at the Weyburn Beavers, shutting them out 1 - 0. The game's lone run was scored by Owen Gillstrom whom the Cards acquired from the Regina's other entry, the Red Sox. In his auspicious debut for his new club, Gillstrom tripled in his first at bat and then scored on Doug Hingley's sacrifice fly. Gillstrom also singled for the Cards to bring his hit total to two. The balance of the game was a mound duel between Woolley and Weyburn lefthander Dave Hoff who also surrendered but five safeties. Bill Garner of the Beavers gave Woolley the most trouble collecting two hits including a double.
Hoff (L) and Springer
L. Woolley (W) and Lysack
(June 6) Right-hander Wally Blaisdell hurled and batted the Moose Jaw Lakers into sole possession of first place in the Southern League after a 9 - 5 decision over the Assiniboia Aces. Blaisdell came on in relief of rookie Art Miller in the 1st inning and went on to post his second straight win, chalking up 10 strikeouts. Skuli Bjorneson was charged with his second loss. Bob Davis hit a bases-empty homer for Assiniboia in the 8th. Shortstop Rube Erfle collected 2 of the four Assiniboia hits off Moose Jaw pitching. Blaisdell sparked the Lakers 10-hit attack with a pair of triples that drove in four runs. Left fielder Murray Smail added a triple and single.
Bjorneson (L), Hall (6) and Shanks
Miller, Blaisdell (W) (1) and Hunchuk
(June 8) A two-out, three-run error in the 7th inning by the Regina Cardinals' right fielder Jackie Fulton allowed the Moose Jaw Lakers to pull ahead of their hosts for good and post a 9 - 6 win. The victory gave Moose Jaw a one-game lead over the Estevan Maple Leafs for top spot in the Southern League. Jack Devine went the route for Moose Jaw, surviving a 14-hit pounding, for his third win. Veteran Ed Heidt started for the Cardinals and was the unfortunate victim of the 7th inning miscue and took the loss. Heidt was a standout at the dish, clouting three doubles and a triple in four tries. Owen Gillstrom had three hits for the Reginans. Moose Jaw's evenly-balanced batting power was evident as six Lakers each had two hits - Ray Nutzhorn, Garth Hayes, Ted Pasch, Herb Lovett, Mel Hennenfent and Devine.
J. Devine (W) and Hunchuk
Heidt (L), Vogt (7) and Lysack
(June 8) At Weyburn, the home-town Beavers chalked up their second win, a 5 - 1 triumph over the Regina Red Sox as Keith Covert spun a neat five-hitter and kept the usually hard-hitting Crimson Hose on their heels all evening. He allowed the Red Sox to score a single tally in the opening frame but shut the door on them thereafter. Luke Moser was the losing hurler. Cece McCarron was the leading hitter of the game, swatting 3 for 4 including two doubles. No other hitter managed more than a single hit.
Moser (L) and McNabb
Covert (W) and Springer
(June 9) The Regina Cardinals up-ended the Moose Jaw Lakers 7 - 5 to gain sweet revenge for their loss to the Lakers the previous night. Ed Heidt, who worked the full 9 innings on the hill, was the winning chucker. Bob Bell was tagged with the loss. The Regina club was trailing 4 - 3 going into the 8th but came up with four big tallies to come through in fine style. Heidt led his club at the plate, slapping out four singles in five trips while Larry Ives had a 2 for 4 production. Mel Hennenfent was once again a potent force for the Lakers, rapping out two doubles and two singles in four tries while Ted Pasch contributed four singles in five times at bat.
Heidt (W) and Lysack
Bell (L), Blaisdell (8) and Hunchuk
(June 9) The surprising Estevan Maple Leafs latched onto top place in the Southern League by thumping the Notre Dame Hounds 11 - 4. Ed Kalinski got the pitching win with six innings of mound work while Notre Dame starter Vern Glazier was driven from the hill in the 2nd inning and took the loss. Shortstop Dale Wetsch and outfielder Nasie Schnell led the Leafs 12-hit ambush with three base blows each.
Glazier (L), Carr (2) and Saucier
Kalinski (W), G. McKechney (7) and R. McKechney
(June 10) After getting out of the gate with five consecutive wins, the Notre Dame Hounds continued to skid by dropping their fifth straight, this time 7 - 3 to the Assiniboia Aces. Assiniboia built up an early 7 - 0 lead and put it in cruise control as Paul Pearson breezed to victory. Errors gravely hurt the Hounds as Phil Resch suffered his second setback. Center fielder Nick Lawrick led the 12-hit Assiniboia attack with three blows. Pearson, Skuli Bjorneson and Lorne Shanks added two apiece. Vern Glazier and Hugh Huck stroked out a pair each for the Dogs. Ken Townsend contributed a solo home run in the 8th.
Pearson (W), Hall (9) and Shanks
Resch (L), Bearss (3), Carr (4) and Saucier, Doetzel (4)
(June 11) Six hurlers sputtered on the hill as the two Regina entries battled with the Red Sox claiming victory 15 - 8 over the Cardinals. The Sox spanked out 19 hits to 12 for the Redbirds in this offensively tilted contest. Tommy Leverick, the only chucker showing some efficiency, picked up the win in relief while Ray Bey, the second of three Cardinal pitchers, took the loss. The big hitter for the Sox was Ken Mohr who cracked out a triple and three singles. Sam Goodhue had a three-run single among his three hits and Al Manz added a three-run triple. Ed Heidt had a triple, double and single in five times up for the losers. Left fielder Don Woolley also had three hits while catcher Walt Ebel had two doubles.
Wall, Mohr (4), Wall (5), Mohr (5), Leverick (W) (6) and Manz
Harrison, Bey (L) (5), Heidt (7) and Ebel
(June 13) The Moose Jaw Lakers went 10 innings before edging the Assiniboia Aces 5 - 4. Mel Hennenfent's two-out double in the extra frame sent Murray Smail scampering home with the winning tally for the Lakers. Aces' Gord Skjerven gave up only six hits and struck out 11 but it was Moose Jaw's Wally Blaisdell who prevailed in the end for the pitching decision. Ted Pasch of the Lakers proved to be a valuable cog as he slammed the game's only home run. Hennenfent ended up with three hits to lead the winners in that department. Rube Erfle clouted a triple for Assiniboia while catcher Jim Lidster added a double.
Blaisdell (W) and Smith
Skjerven (L) and Lidster
(June 13) The hustling Estevan Maple Leafs, lowly cellar-dwellers last season, leveled off a 15-hit attack to club the Weyburn Beavers 13 - 8 and moved into the lead in the Southern League. Winning pitcher Gary McKechney went the full distance for the Leafs, giving up 9 hits and striking out three. Loser Dave Hoff surrendered 14 Estevan safeties and fanned five in his six innings on the mound. Dale Wetsch and Nasie Schnell were the top hitters for the Maple Leafs, each going three for four. Wetsch's three hits included a double and triple. Harold Schnell hit 3 for 5 including a triple and Wayne North, in a catching role, came through with two hits. For Weyburn, Hoff had three hits and Jack Shupe a pair.
Hoff (L), Rusnak (7) and Springer
G. McKechney (W) and North
(June 15) The Weyburn Beavers surprised the heavy-hitting Moose Jaw Lakers 10 - 3 and jumped into 5th place in the Southern League. Keith Covert effectively spaced seven hits to ring up his 2nd win for Weyburn this season. Ralph Johnston went all the way for Moose Jaw in absorbing the loss. Catcher Chick Springer and Hugh McMillan led Weyburn's eight-hit assault with home runs. Charlie Elsom of the Lakers also homered.
Johnston (L) and Hunchuk
Covert (W) and Springer
(June 15) The Regina Red Sox climbed into a tie for second place with the Moose Jaw Lakers as southpaw Charlie Peerless twirled a six-hitter to steer his mates to a 10 - 3 pasting of the Assiniboia Aces. The loss was charged to Paul Pearson who lasted 4 1/3 innings before being chased. Denny Cochrane of the Red Sox blasted a mammoth two-run homer into the center field stands and also belted a long triple. Catcher Morris McNabb had three singles. Cochrane, Ken McEachern, Ken Mohr and Joe Moroz all had two hits to back up Peerless who won his third.
Pearson (L), Hall (5) and Lidster
Peerless (W) and McNabb
Southern League Standings as of the end of June 15
Estevan Maple Leafs 6 - 1 .857
Moose Jaw Lakers 7 - 3 .700
Regina Red Sox 7 - 3 .700
Notre Dame Hounds 5 - 5 .500
Weyburn Beavers 3 - 6 .333
Regina Cardinals 3 - 8 .273
Assiniboia Aces 2 - 7 .222
(June 17) The Estevan Maple Leafs won their 7th game in eight starts when they hung a 3 - 2 defeat on one of their closest pursuers, the Moose Jaw Lakers. The Leafs bunched all of their runs in the top of the 1st inning and held on for the victory. Ken Allen, ace pitcher for the Weyburn Beavers last campaign, made his first start of the season for the Maple Leafs and picked up the win. Jack Devine took the loss, his first after three straight triumphs.
Allen (W) and Kreuger
J. Devine (L) and Hunchuk
(June 17) The Notre Dame Hounds stopped their five-game Southern League skid by cooling off the Regina Red Sox 5 - 3. Phil Resch of the Hounds won his 5th game, halting the Reginans on 8 hits. Red Sox' Tommy Leverick tasted his first defeat of the campaign after posting three earlier wins. Jim Quinn had two hits for Notre Dame, one being a double. Ed Bearss laced out a triple for the winners.
Leverick (L) and Manz
Resch (W) and Saucier
(June 17) The Assiniboia Aces and Regina Cardinals divided a double-dip as Regina pitcher Ed Heidt both won and lost in hurling one complete game and most of the other. The Cards won the 7-inning opener 13 - 6 while the Aces rebounded to take the 7-inning nightcap 3 - 2. In the first event, the Cardinals poled out 14 hits to easily manhandle the Aces and pin the loss on starter Skuli Bjorneson. Heidt had three singles as did Walt Ebel. Rookie Wayne Mang homered for the Redbirds.
Heidt (W), Bey (5) and Ebel
Bjorneson (L), Skjerven (5) and Lidster
In the second encounter, Heidt gave up only seven hits but his mates only managed three off 19 year old John Hall as the Reginans suffered their 9th setback in 13 games. George Ciocia helped Hall by blasting out a two-run homer in the 3rd and also added two singles later to account for three hits off Heidt.
Heidt (L) and Ebel
Hall (W) and Lidster
(June 19) The Estevan Maple Leafs continued on their merry way in the Southern League but they had to come from behind before defeating the Weyburn Beavers 4 - 3. Trailing 3 - 1 entering the 8th, the Leafs plated a pair to deadlock the contest and then scored the winner in the 9th. Gary McKechney was the winning hurler, limiting the Beavers to a mere three hits, one of them a homer by Cece McCarron. Keith Covert was the loser.
G. McKechney (W) and Kreuger
Covert (L) and Springer
(June 19) The Moose Jaw Lakers trounced the cellar-dwelling Assiniboia Aces 17 - 3, pounding out 17 base blows off losing southpaw John Hall. The teams battled on even terms for the first five innings but then the wheels came off for the Aces in the 6th, 7th and 8th frames. right-hander Wally Blaisdell yielded 9 hits and struck out 10 in going the route for the winners. Ted Pasch had a double and three singles, driving in five runs, for Moose Jaw. Murray Smail, Garth Hayes and George Hunchuk each chipped in with a double and two singles. Outfielders Nick Lawrick and Bob Davis each had a double and two singles for Assiniboia.
Hall (L) and Lidster
Blaisdell (W) and Hunchuk
(June 19) Red Sox' chucker Vic Wall prevailed in the battle of southpaws between he and Lloyd Woolley of the Cardinals as the two Regina teams squared off with the Sox emerging as 5 - 1 winners. Wall pitched a five-hitter and struck out six as both hurlers went the distance. Ken McEachern, Charlie Peerless and Denny Cochrane each had three hits for the Red Stockings. Ed Heidt had two of the Cardinals' hits. Wall lost his shutout bid in the 9th after Ron Dundas cracked out a 390 foot triple and then scored on an infield out.
L. Woolley (L) and Lysack
Wall (W) and McNabb
(June 24) The Regina Red Sox put an end to the Estevan Maple Leafs' seven-game win streak by taking a tight 2 - 1 tussle in the seven-inning opener of a doubleheader while the Maple Leafs bounced back in the nightcap, registering a 3 - 2 win. In the matinee, the Red Sox scored all the runs that lefty Charlie Peerless needed in the 2nd inning, jump-starting him to his fourth victory. Gary McKechney was tagged with his first loss. Red Sox' outfielder Art Rennie and Estevan's Nasie Schnell each had two hits to lead their respective squads.
Peerless (W) and Manz
G. McKechney (L) and Kreuger
A two run uprising in the 8th inning of the second game against loser Tommy Leverick gave Estevan its split. Four Regina errors in that frame sent Leverick into arrears and saddled him with his second setback. Ken Allen won his second of the year for the Maple Leafs in pitching a four-hitter. Sam Goodhue of the Sox picked up two of those with a brace of singles.
Leverick (L) and McNabb
Allen (W) and Kreuger
(June 27) The Moose Jaw Lakers scored an unearned run in the bottom of the 6th inning to break a 5 - 5 deadlock and made it stand up as they narrowly took a 6 - 5 decision from the Weyburn Beavers. Despite pitching no-hit ball over the last four innings, Weyburn's Dave Hoff was stung with the loss on the basis of the unearned winner. Veteran right-hander Jack Devine picked up the win in a relief role. Catcher Glen "Baldy" Smith led Moose Jaw's six-hit attack with a triple, double and single. Second baseman Ted Pasch contributed a two-run triple. Weyburn catcher "Chick" Springer had a two-run double for the losers.
Covert, Hogg (1), Hoff (L) (5) and Springer
Johnston, J. Devine (W) (6) and Smith
(June 30) The Moose Jaw Lakers crept to within a game of the pace-setting Estevan Maple Leafs by edging the Regina Red Sox 3 - 2. Jack Devine stymied the Crimson Hose by fashioning a three-hitter. Ken Mohr, Regina's regular second baseman, made a rare mound appearance by starting on the hill for the Sox and, although he pitched credibly giving up only six hits, took the loss. Mel Hennenfent cracked a two-run homer off Mohr. The Lakers scored the winning run in the 4th. A double by Garth Hayes and back-to-back singles by Hennenfent and Herb Lovett did the trick. Hennenfent led the Moose Jaw contingent with three hits while Lovett had a pair.
J. Devine (W) and Hunchuk
Mohr (L) and McNabb
(July 1) The Estevan Maple Leafs kept their winning ways in tact by thumping the Notre Dame Hounds 8 - 2. Gary McKechney scattered four hits for the Maple Leafs to register his 4th victory. Shortstop Dale Wetsch paced Estevan offensively with three hits.
G. McKechney (W) and xxx
xxx (L) and xxx
Southern League Batting Leaders to June 30
Ed Heidt (Regina Cardinals) 20 - 42 .476
Dale Wetsch (Estevan Maple Leafs) 14 - 31 .452
Ted Pasch (Moose Jaw Lakers) 22 - 49 .449
Mel Hennenfent (Moose Jaw Lakers) 26 - 61 .426
Nasie Schnell (Estevan Maple Leafs) 18 - 43 .418
Ken McEachern (Regina Red Sox) 12 - 34 .353
Keith Covert (Weyburn Beavers) 12 - 35 .343
Wayne North (Estevan Maple Leafs) 15 - 44 .341
Jim Quinn (Notre Dame Hounds) 15 - 41 .341
Garth Hayes (Moose Jaw Lakers) 16 - 51 .314
Cece McCarron (Weyburn Beavers) 10 - 32 .313
Eddie Bearss (Notre Dame Hounds) 11 - 36 .306
Ken Mohr (Regina Red Sox) 11 - 36 .306
Herb Lovett (Moose Jaw Lakers) 14 - 46 .304
Ray Nutzhorn (Moose Jaw Lakers) 15 - 50 .300
Runs Scored - Hayes (21)
Hits - Hennenfent (26)
Home Runs - Heidt and Pasch (tied with 2)
Triples - Heidt (5)
Doubles - Heidt (8)
Southern League Pitching Leaders to June 30
Ken Allen (Estevan Maple Leafs) 2 - 0 1.000
Jack Devine (Moose Jaw Lakers) 5 - 1 .833
Wally Blaisdell (Moose Jaw Lakers) 4 - 1 .800
Gary McKechney (Estevan Maple Leafs) 3 - 1 .750
Charlie Peerless (Regina Red Sox) 4 - 2 .667
Phil Resch (Notre Dame Hounds) 5 - 3 .625
Tom Leverick (Regina Red Sox) 3 - 2 .600
Keith Covert (Weyburn Beavers) 2 - 2 .500
Ed Heidt (Regina Cardinals) 2 - 2 .500
Innings Pitched - Resch (55 2/3)
Hits Given Up - Resch (45)
Strikeouts - Blaisdell (53)
Bases on Balls - Resch (28)
(July 6) The Moose Jaw Lakers cemented their hold on second place in the Southern League by whipping the Weyburn Beavers 6 - 0 in a game called because of rain with five innings in the books. Youthful Ray Bernard was the winning hurler for Moose Jaw, limiting the Beavers to only one hit, that being a single by Keith Covert. Newcomer Bernie Schneider worked the first three innings on the hill for the Beavers, allowing all six Moose Jaw runs, and took the loss. Herb Lovett had a perfect night at the plate for the Lakers with two singles and a double in three at-bats. Veteran Ray Nutzhorn had three singles in four trips while Mel Hennenfent came through with a two hit game.
Bernard (W) and Hunchuk
Schneider (L), Covert (4) and Springer
(July 6) Southpaw Vic Wall effectively spaced seven hits as the Regina Red Sox shut-out the Assiniboia Aces in a game called after 7 1/2 innings because of darkness. The Red Sockers got to loser Johnny Hall for eight safeties, including four for extra bases. Ken McEachern homered for Regina while teammate Denny Cochrane smashed a triple and double. Also contributing were Ed Prosofsky with a double and single and Ken Mohr with a pair of singles. Lorne Shanks and Wes Edwards each collected a brace for the losers.
Hall (L) and Sampson
Wall (W) and McNabb
(July 8) right-hander Phil Resch picked up his 6th victory of the season as he pitched the Notre Dame Hounds to an 11 - 4 thumping of the Regina Cardinals. Ron Hall, who was replaced by Ed Bobowski in the 7th, took the loss for the Cardinals. Right fielder Ken Townsend sparked the Hounds' 12-hit assault with a single and two triples. Catcher Bernie Saucier also went 3 for 4. Veteran Ed Heidt, the loop's leading hitter, was a standout for the Redbirds hitting 4 for 4, including a double.
Resch (W) and Saucier
Hall (L), Bobowski (7) and Ebel
(July 8) The front-running Estevan Maple Leafs divided a doubleheader with the last-place Assiniboia Aces, winning the 8-inning opener 3 - 2 but dropping the second encounter 14 - 4. Gary McKechney was Estevan's hero in the first game. He went the route on a seven-hitter for his 4th win and helped his own cause with a two-run homer to tie the score 2 - 2 in the 5th. Nasie Schnell's double in the 8th scored Dale Wetsch with the winning run. Assiniboia's Jim Linnell was hit with the loss.
G. McKechney (W) and Kreuger
Linnell (L) and Sampson
The Aces slugged Ken Allen for 13 hits and handed him his first defeat in their bounce-back second game win. Paul Pearson was the winner on a nifty four-hit job.
Allen (L) and Kreuger
Pearson (W) and Sampson
(July 10) The Regina Red Sox strengthened their hold on third place in the Southern League when they beat the Weyburn Beavers 6 - 2. The Beavers out-hit the Redlegs but couldn't find a scoring combination, leaving 14 runners stranded on the base. Red Sox' Charlie Peerless went all the way for the pitching victory while Dave Hoff took the loss. Weyburn's six errors were costly and led to Hoff's downfall. Regina's Ken McEachern was the leading man with the stick, hitting two for five. For the Beavers, Jim "Baldy" Garner and Jack Shupe both had a duo of raps.
Peerless (W) and Manz
Hoff (L) and Springer
(July 11) The Estevan Maple Leafs took a tighter grip on the Southern League lead, coming from behind to dump the basement dwelling Weyburn Beavers 10 - 4. Losing chucker Dave Hoff had the Maple Leafs handcuffed for 5 1/2 innings but then blew a tire and in the 6th, with the assistance of his mates' shoddy defense, fell behind for good. Winner Gary McKechney went the route for the Leafs allowing six hits and striking out 9. The big hitter of the game was Estevan catcher Erwin Kreuger who had four hits in five tries. Wayne North and Nasie Schnell added a pair each. Bill Garner with a trio and Buzz Bent with a brace shared five of Weyburn's six hits.
Hoff (L), McCarron (5) and Greaves
G. McKechney (W) and Kreuger
(July 12) The Notre Dame Hounds made it four of their last five by taking a pair from the hapless Assiniboia Aces 6 - 3 and 16 - 5. With Hugh Carr on the hill spinning his first win of the season in the opener, the Hounds made the most of five hits off loser John Hall and bullpen helper Gord Skjerven.
Hall (L), Skjerven (5) and Sampson
Carr (W) and Saucier
The Hounds' heavy artillery gave them the wrap-up win and put the seventh win in the books for right-hander Phil Resch. Paul Pearson was the loser. Bernie Saucier with two doubles and two singles, Jim Quinn with a pair of doubles plus a single and Eddie Bearss with a triple and two singles led Notre Dame's bombardment. Wes Edwards had a two-run homer for the Aces.
Resch (W), Griffin (6) and Saucier
Pearson (L), Bjorneson (3) and Sampson
(July 13) The Weyburn Beavers replaced the Regina Cardinals in 5th place in the Southern League by defeating them 4 - 2. Forty-seven year old Ralph Hogg made his first mound starting assignment of the season a complete success as he retired 14 hitters in a row during one stretch and limited the Reginans to just five hits. Loser Lou Lysack, normally a catcher, toiled on the hill for the Cards, giving up hits including homers. Dave Hoff and Buzz Bent lit up Lysack for the round-trippers. Catcher Walt Ebel had a bases-empty shot for the Redbirds. Hoff finished the evening with three hits to his credit plus three RBI's. Baldy Garner of knocks for Weyburn as did Regina's Ebel.
Lysack (L) and Ebel
Hogg (W) and Greaves
(July 15) Any hopes that the Regina Cardinals may have had about making the Southern League playoffs pretty well fluttered out the window as they dropped a twin-bill to the front-running Estevan Maple Leafs by counts of 4 - 3 and 16 - 3. Bases-on-balls killed the Cardinals in the 7-inning opener. Trailing 3 - 2 in their last turn at bat, the Maple Leafs loaded the bases as Regina losing pitcher Ed Bobowski issued three walks, setting the scene for Ron McKechney's two-run single which provided brother Gary with the close victory.
G. McKechney (W) and Kreuger
Bobowski (L) and Ives
The nightcap, called at the end of eight innings because of a Sunday curfew, was close until Nasie Schnell broke a 3 - 3 deadlock in the 7th with a two-run homer and then the Maple Leafs ran away with things, scoring 11 in the 8th. Ken Allen picked up the pitching win. Wayne North, Schnell and Ron McKechney each had three hits for the winners, one of North's being a bases-loaded triple off loser Ed Heidt.
Allen (W) and Kreuger
Heidt (L) and Ives
(July 16) The Regina Red Sox continued to press the Moose Jaw Lakers in the battle for second spot in the Southern League as they struck for four runs in the 5th inning to clip their city cousins, the Regina Cardinals, 5 - 2 to move within a half game of the Lakers. The Sox brought out their heavy firepower, slamming out 12 hits to help winner Ken Mohr, normally an infielder, to his first pitching victory. Ron Hall suffered the defeat. Every Red Sox player in the line-up had at least one hit. Denny Cochrane and Ed Prosofsky had two apiece. Harold Cowan and Ken McEachern had triples. Hall and battery-mate Walt Ebel each stroked out a pair for the Redbirds.
Hall (L) and Ebel
Mohr (W) and McNabb
(July 17) The Weyburn Beavers had the lumber working to perfection as they overwhelmed the Notre Dame Hounds 14 - 9 in a free-scoring contest. A total of 28 hits were pounded out including two homers. Both sides used a pair of pitchers with Weyburn reliever Dave Hoff gaining the nod over Notre Dame starter Hugh Carr. Jim Quinn of the Dogs was the game's elite hitter going three for five with a bases-empty homer. Bob Donald also had a trio of raps for Notre Dame while Ed Magis had a duo. For Weyburn, Hoff had two hits including a two-run homer. Buzz Bent and Jack Shupe each went three for five while catcher Barry Greaves had a 2 for three game.
Carr (L), Resch (6) and Saucier
Covert, Hoff (W) (3) and Greaves
Southern League Standings as of the end of July 17
Estevan Maple Leafs 14 - 3 .824
Moose Jaw Lakers 11 - 4 .733
Regina Red Sox 12 - 6 .667
Notre Dame Hounds 9 - 7 .563
Weyburn Beavers 5 - 11 .313
Assiniboia Aces 4 - 13 .235
Regina Cardinals 4 - 15 .211
(July 18) The Weyburn Beavers came from behind with a 9th inning rally to clip the Assiniboia Aces 10 - 7. Five runs in the 9th aided by three costly errors gave Dave Hoff, in a relief role, the victory over the Aces. Hugh McMillan's single with the score knotted sent Skuli Bjorneson down to defeat. Keith Covert, Chick Springer and Barry Greaves all had a brace of singles for Weyburn. Bob Weekes. Jim Lidster and Rube Erfle each had a pair of base blows for Assiniboia.
Covert, Hoff (W) (8) and Greaves
Bjorneson (L) and Sampson
(July 18) The Estevan Maple Leafs stretched their Southern League lead to three full games over the Moose Jaw Lakers by dumping the runner-up Lakers 7 - 4. Ken Allen picked up his 4th win against one loss. Wally Blaisdell, who struck out 10, was charged with the loss. The Maple Leafs broke a 3 - 3 tie with three runs in the 4th for their victory. Wayne North highlighted the rally with a two-run single.
Allen (W) and Kreuger
Blaisdell (L) and Hunchuk
(July 20) The Weyburn Beavers drive for a Southern League playoff berth ran into a roadblock when the Assiniboia Aces snapped Weyburn's three game win streak by marking up a 4 - 1 triumph. The Aces counted a pair of markers in the second frame and remained in front for the balance of the game. Winner Jim Linnell went all the way for Assiniboia, limiting the Beavers to seven hits while fanning five. Workhorse Dave Hoff pitched the entire game for Weyburn, also giving up seven hits plus striking out 9, but defensive lapses by his defense, resulting in four errors, caused his downfall. Offensively, Hoff did just fine in picking up a pair of hits but it was his teammate Buzz Bent who was the game's top batsman with a 3 for 4 night. Jim Lidster had a pair of raps for Assiniboia.
Linnell (W) and Sampson
Hoff (L) and Greaves, Springer (5)
(July 22) The Estevan Maple Leafs all but wrapped up top spot in the Southern League by sweeping a doubleheader from the lowly Assiniboia Aces. The setbacks, 5 - 0 and 3 - 1, knocked the Aces out of playoff contention. Estevan's Ken Allen allowed only two hits in blanking Assiniboia in the opener. Dale Wetsch collected a triple and single off loser Jimmy Linnell to lead the Maple Leafs' offense.
Linnell (L) and Sampson
Allen (W) and Kreuger
Lanky Gary McKechney struck out eight and limited the Aces to three hits in picking up the second game victory. Nasie Schnell and Wally Becker each had a pair of hits off loser Norm Logan. Two of the three hits surrendered by McKechney, a double and single, were garnered by the Aces' Jim Lidster.
Logan (L) and Sampson
G. McKechney (W) and Kreuger
(July 22) The third place Regina Red Sox nipped the Notre Dame Hounds 4 - 3 as triples by Denny Cochrane and Harold Cowan off loser Phil Resch provided winning pitcher Tommy Leverick with the run support he needed for victory. Cochrane had a pair of hits for the Sox and it was his 1st inning three-bagger that knocked in Regina's first two runs. Cowan's 6th inning triple drove in the 3rd marker and crossed the plate later in the same inning with the winning run. Jim Quinn and Ed Bearss had a brace of hits each for the Dogs.
Leverick (W) and McNabb
Resch (L) and Saucier
(July 22) In a doubleheader played in Marquis, the Moose Jaw Lakers crushed the Regina Cardinals twice, throttling the Reginans 20 - 7 in the matinee affair and then taking the second encounter 11 - 7.
xxx and xxx
xxx and xxx
xxx and xxx
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(July 24) The Assiniboia Aces clipped the Weyburn Beavers 13 - 5, further dimming any playoff aspirations that the Soo-Liners had. The Aces pounded out 18 hits and plated at least one marker in each and every inning. Both Gord Skjerven, the winner who struck out 11, and loser Dave Hoff went the full route. Wes Edwards was the top gun offensively for Assiniboia with four hits in five trips. Rube Erfle and Sampson each had three hits, one of Sampson's being a two-run homer in the 7th. Big Skuli Bjorneson and Jim Linnell added two apiece. Keith Covert and Jack Shupe each hit safely twice for the Beavers.
Hoff (L) and Springer
Skjerven (W) and Sampson
(July 24) The Notre Dame Hounds solidified their hold on fourth place, the last playoff slot in the Southern League, by tripping up the Moose Jaw Lakers 6 - 4. Four big runs in the 5th inning by the Hounds spelled the difference in this one and wrapped up the pitching win for Eddie Bearss who struck out six and doled up seven hits to keep the usually heavy-hitting Lakers in check. Ralph Johnston went all the way for Moose Jaw and took the setback. Garnet Campbell, Glen Moren, Hugh Huck and Bearss all chipped in with two hits for Notre Dame while Herb Lovett of the Lakers also had a pair. The loss for Moose Jaw dropped them into a second place tie with the Regina Red Sox.
Johnston (L) and Smith
Bearss (W) and Saucier
(July 25) Pint-sized lefty Charlie Peerless came through with a sparkling two-hitter and batted in three runs to lead the Regina Red Sox to an easy 7 - 0 whitewashing of the Moose Jaw Lakers, a win that boosted the Crimson Hose into sole possession of 2nd place in the Southern League. Peerless, who played the bulk of last season with the semi-pro Regina Braves of the Western Canada League, struck out five, facing only 32 batters over the route and never allowing a runner past second base. Loser Wally Blaisdell was chased to the showers in the 6th. Peerless singled home Regina's opening run in the 1st and then, in the 3rd, cranked out a two-run homer to give himself plenty of cushion. Overall, he finished with three hits by adding a 5th inning double. Ed Prosofsky of the Sox had a pair of hits in aiding the Redlegs' offense.
Peerless (W) and McNabb
Blaisdell (L), Bell (6), Nutzhorn (8) and Smith
(July 25) The Weyburn Beavers kept their extremely slim playoff hopes flickering with a 9 - 3 victory over the lowly Regina Cardinals. Veteran Keith Covert was the winning hurler, striking out 10 in spinning an eight-hitter. Youthful Ed Bobowski gave up 10 hits in taking the loss. Weyburn's Jack Shupe had two hits and drove in three runs. Covert and Chick Springer also had a pair. For the woeful Redbirds, outfielder Ron Gilbert and Bobowski picked up a brace each while Don Woolley blasted out a bases-empty homer.
Bobowski (L) and Ives
Covert (W) and Springer
(July 26) The Moose Jaw Lakers moved back into a share of second place in the Southern League by turning back the Regina Red Sox 6 - 5. Veteran Jack Devine, in trouble most of the route yet tough in the clutch, managed to hurl the Lakers to victory, striking out eight along the way. It was Devine's 7th triumph against a single loss this campaign. The Red Sox had plenty of opportunities but stranded 12 runners. Regina starting pitcher Vic Wall, who was bounced by umpire Lloyd Woolley, a former pitching adversary, in the 4th inning for commenting on the aforementioned arbiter's decisions, was the loser. Moose Jaw's hitting was well distributed with Herb Lovett, Garth Hayes, Don Devine and Baldy Smith each coming up with a pair of base knocks. Red Sox' Denny Cochrane, Al Manz, Ed Prosofsky and reliever Tommy Leverick also collected a brace each.
J. Devine (W) and Lovett
Wall (L), Leverick (5) and Manz
(July 27) The Weyburn Beavers remained on life-support but still had a faint breath as they clobbered the pursued Notre Dame Hounds 12 - 6 to maintain only the slimmest of mathematical chances of overhauling the Dogs for the fourth and last playoff slot. Trailing 4 - 3 going into the 8th, Weyburn tied the count on Jim Burge's homer and forged ahead in the same frame. The lead was padded in the 9th, in large measure to Chick Springer's three-run circuit clout. Southpaw Hugh Carr, in relief of Phil Resch, was the loser while another portsider, Weyburn's Dave Hoff, gained credit for the win. Burge had three hits in total for the Beavers as did teammate Keith Covert. Garnet Campbell, formerly of the defunct Avonlea Arrows, was Notre Dame's offensive star with a trio of raps while Hugh Huck added a solo home run in the 8th.
Hoff (W), Hogg (8) and Springer
Resch, Carr (L) (3), Bearss (6), Carr (6) and Doetzel, Saucier (8)
(July 27) The Assiniboia Aces, out of the playoff race, dropped the Moose Jaw Lakers back into third spot in the Southern League by taking a 10 - 8 decision through a strange twist of fate. A sharp relief chore by Paul Pearson helped the Aces to their 7th triumph. Pearson came on in the 2nd to put the fire out and limited the Lakers to only two more counters in the remainder of the game. Ray Bernard, Moose Jaw's impressive 16 year old hurler, was the unfortunate victim of the loss. He held an 8 - 7 edge when an infield relay to the plate struck him in the head, rendering him unconscious with the ball resting in the infield, as the tying and winning runs scored. Gord Skjerven paced the Aces with the bat, pounding out four hits. Murray Smail and Herb Lovett each had three hits for the Lakers.
Bernard (L), Bell (8) and Rosenbaum
Skjerven, Pearson (W) (2) and Sampson
(July 29) The Estevan Maple Leafs climaxed their rags-to-riches ascent when they clinched first place in the Southern League by polishing off the Moose Jaw Lakers 3 - 1 in the opener of a double-dip. The Lakers came back to squeeze out a 6 - 4 triumph in the second encounter. Moose Jaw's Jack Devine and Estevan's Gary McKechney, both sporting identical 7 - 1 pitching records, faced each other in the matinee as McKechney's four-hitter sealed the pennant drive and earned him his 8th win. Wayne North's triple in the 3rd inning drove in the Maple Leafs' first two counters, all that McKechney would eventually need. North then plated the final Estevan run on Ron McKechney's single. Ray Nutzhorn had 3 of the four Lakers' hits given up by McKechney.
J. Devine (L) and Hunchuk
G. McKechney (W) and Kreuger
Right-hander Wally Blaisdell picked up his 6th victory against three losses in the 8-inning owl encounter. Orval Verpe was stung with the loss. Moose Jaw's Herb Lovett with 3 for 4 was their top batsman. Gary McKechney had a bases-empty homer and two singles in leading the Maple Leafs offensively.
Blaisdell (W) , Nutzhorn (7), Blaisdell (7) and Hunchuk
Verpe (L), Allen (3) and Kreuger
(July 30) The Regina Red Sox cemented their hold on second place in the Southern League when they capitalized on a glaring throwing error in the 7th inning to edge the Notre Dame Hounds 9 - 8. Hounds' third sacker Hugh Huck's wild throw allowed three Regina runs to score, giving the Sox their margin of victory. Bill Martindale, in relief of Red Sox' starter Tom Leverick, was the winner while Phil Resch absorbed the loss. Ken Mohr and Martindale each rapped out a pair of singles for the winners while Denny Cochrane had a triple. For the Hounds, Bob Donald had a double and single while Huck and Ken Townsend each had a pair of singles.
Resch (L) and Doetzel, Saucier (6)
Leverick, Martindale (W) (5) and McNabb
(August 2) Refusing to concede anything, the Weyburn Beavers again avoided imminent execution as they edged the 4th place Notre Dame Hounds and thus prevented the Hounds from officially wrapping up the last playoff position. Weyburn veteran Keith Covert, who fanned five, gained the nod in a pitcher's duel with Notre Dame's Ed Bearss who struck out six. Jim Burge led the winners with a triple, double and two singles. Buzz Bent contributed a pair of safeties. Garnet Campbell socked three hits for the Dogs while Hugh Huck clubbed a three-bagger.
Covert (W) and Greaves
Bearss (L) and Doetzel
(August 3) The Notre Dame Hounds finally clinched at least a tie for the 4th and final playoff spot by edging the Regina Cardinals 6 - 5. Phil Resch gave up seven hits in picking up the win in the 7 inning encounter with Doug Hingley and Owen Gillstrom of the last-place Cards tagging him for two hits apiece. Loser Lee Gatlin and reliever Ed Bobowski limited Notre Dame to five hits but two errors, five walks and three hit batsmen helped the Collegians along. Gord Campbell had a triple and single in his first game for the Dogs. Other extra base hits were garnered by the Hounds' Ed Magis who had a double and Ed Bearss who hit a triple.
Gatlin (L), Bobowski (4) and Ebel
Resch (W) and Doetzel
(August 3) The Regina Red Sox were prevented from clinching second place in the Southern League when the top-rung Estevan Maple Leafs held them to a 6 - 6, eight inning stalemate. Rookie Red Sox chucker Luke Moser had a 6 - 3 lead heading into the 8th and final inning but his two errant pick-off throws, bases on balls and a wild pitch allowed Estevan to knot the count on Wall Becker's single. Ken Allen, although not at his best, was the lucky recipient of Moser's collapse and picked up the win. Gary McKechney had two doubles for Estevan and teammate Becker had two singles. The Sox offense featured a triple and single by Jake McLean and a brace of one-base knocks by Sam Goodhue, Morris McNabb, Ed Prosofsky and Moser.
Allen and Kreuger
Moser and McNabb
(August 5) Notre Dame Hounds clinched the final playoff berth downing Estevan Maple Leafs 8 - 5 at Avonlea. Hounds will meet the Leafs in one semi-final. Regina Red Sox and Moose Jaw Lakers tangle in the other series.
Notre Dame battered Ron McKechney for nine hits and took advantage of five errors. Garnet Campbell and Ed Bearss each had three hits in the victory. Hugh Carr tossed a seven-hitter, with five strikeouts, for the win. Gary McKechney had a pair of hits for the Leafs.
Ron McKechney (L) and Kreuger
Carr (W) and Doetzel
Final Standings
Estevan Maple Leafs 18 - 5 .783
Regina Red Sox 15 - 7 .682
Moose Jaw Lakers 15 - 9 .625
Notre Dame Hounds 12 - 11 .522
Weyburn Beavers 9 - 13 .409
Assiniboia Aces 7 - 16 .304
Regina Cardinals 4 - 19 .174
PLAYOFFS :
(August 7) The pennant-winning Estevan Maple Leafs scored all of their runs in the first inning to beat the Notre Dame Hounds 4 - 1 in the 6-inning opener of their best-of-three semi-final series. Rain and darkness forced an early completion of the match in which lanky Gary McKechney, the league's leading hurler during the regular schedule, allowed only five hits in picking up the victory. The Leafs only managed five hits off loser Phil Resch as well but made the most of their blows.
Resch (L) and Doetzel
G. McKechney (W) and Kreuger
(August 8) Eddie "Chief" Bearss threw a four-hitter which allowed the Notre Dame Hounds to prevail 6 - 2 over the Estevan Maple Leafs and force a third and deciding game in their best-of-three semi-final playoff. 18 year old Bearss struck out 10 in his winning mound performance and also figured prominently at the plate by lining a two-run homer over the right field fence during Notre Dame's five-run third inning. Minutes later, Ken Townsend cracked another two-run blast off loser Ken Allen. Garnet Campbell and Archie Sanderson, both ex-Avonlea Arrows, as well as Hugh Huck each banged out two hits for the Dogs.
Allen (L) and Kreuger
Bearss (W) and Doetzel
(August 9) The Moose Jaw Lakers came from behind an early 4 - 0 deficit to score a 7 - 5 victory over the Regina Red Sox in the initial game of their best-of-three semi-final. The Red Sox were only able to bunch hits together off winner Jack Devine in one inning, the 3rd, when they plated four of their five tallies. Little Charlie Peerless took the loss despite giving up only eight hits and striking out 12. Ray Nutzhorn led the Lakers' offense with three singles, two of them of the bunt variety. Red Sox left fielder Ken McEachern belted out a double and a pair of singles off Devine. Regina shortstop Lionel Ruhr had a brace of singles.
Peerless (L) and McNabb
J. Devine (W) and Smith
(August 10) The Estevan Maple Leafs rolled into the Southern League final series by defeating the Notre Dame Hounds 3 - 2 in their best-of-three semi-final rubber-match. Gary McKechney effectively scattered 9 Notre Dame hits to pick up the win. Workhorse Phil Resch of the Hounds gave up only six hits but had to settle for the loss. Leafs' Hank Dornstauder was responsible for both the tying and winning runs, the equalizer coming on a 5th inning single which plated McKechney who, in the 7th, also scored the lead and ultimate winning tally when Dornstauder drove him home on a sharp rap to shortstop. Archie Sanderson had a triple for the Dogs.
Resch (L) and Doetzel
G. McKechney (W) and Kreuger
(August 12) The Regina Red Sox squared their best-of-three semi-final series with the Moose Jaw Lakers at one game each when they thumped the Mill City boys 10 - 2. The Reginans exploded for six runs in the bottom of the 6th to put away the game. Veteran Tommy Leverick went all the way for the victory, spacing 9 hits. right-hander Wally Blaisdell was shelled from the mound in the disastrous 6th and took the loss. Vic Wall was best with the bat for Regina in their 15-hit outburst as he lashed out four singles. Catcher Morris McNabb had a single and a three-run homer. Ed Prosofsky connected for a single, double and triple. Denny Cochrane had two hits, a double and a triple. Ken Mohr also had a duo of raps, one being a double. Ted Pasch was Moose Jaw's top hitter, going 3 for 4. Shortstop Garth Hayes had two singles. Blaisdell's double, the only extra base hit mustered by the Lakers, knocked in both Moose Jaw runs.
Blaisdell (L), Bell (6) and Smith
Leverick (W) and McNabb
(August 14) The Regina Red Sox, the defending champions, and the Estevan Maple Leafs, the Cinderella squad, will battle it out for 1956 supremacy in the Southern loop. The Red Sockers moved into the final by defeating the Moose Jaw Lakers 7 - 3 to wrap up the best-of-three set, two games to 1. Diminutive portsider Charlie Peerless limited the potent Moose Jaw offense to eight hits in chalking up the complete game victory. The loss went to Jack Devine who was tagged for 11 Regina hits. The Red Sox were up 6 - 0 entering the 6th when Peerless weakened temporarily and allowed the Lakers to pick up their only tallies of the match. Catcher Morris McNabb topped all hitters going 3 for 4. Lionel Ruhr had a two-hit performance for the Sox. Devine and Ray Nutzhorn each picked up two hits for the eliminated losers.
J. Devine (L) and Smith
Peerless (W) and McNabb
(August 15) The Estevan Maple Leafs, hitting early and with authority, stopped the defending champion Regina Red Sox 9 - 6 to grab a one game edge in the best-of-five Southern League final series. right-hander Ken Allen survived one bad inning, the 4th, to gain the pitching decision. The Leafs collected 9 of their 14 hits in the first three frames to chase rookie starter and loser Luke Moser and then Tommy Leverick from the hill. Dale Wetsch and Hank Dornstauder each picked up three hits to lead the Maple Leafs while Wally Becker, Ron McKechney and Erwin Kreuger had a pair apiece. Redlegs' Ken McEachern had three singles in a losing cause. Ken Mohr and Vic Wall cracked out a brace each with one of Mohr's being a three-bagger. Denny Cochrane also unloaded a triple for the Reginans.
Allen (W), G. McKechney (7), Allen (8) and Kreuger
Moser (L), Leverick (2), Wall (3) and Manz
(August 18) The host Estevan Maple Leafs and the visiting Regina Red Sox played to a 2 - 2 saw-off in game two of their Southern League final series. The 8-inning contest, shortened by darkness, saw the Reginans tie the score in their half of the 8th and final frame. Charlie Peerless and Gary McKechney both toiled on the hill for the full eight innings with Peerless tossing a six-hitter while McKechney limited the Red Sox to but four safeties.
Peerless and McNabb, Manz (7)
G. McKechney and R. McKechney
(August 19) The Regina Red Sox evened the best-of-five final series at one game each with a 5 - 2 triumph over the Estevan Maple Leafs. Lefty Vic Wall tossed a four-hitter at the pennant-winners to pick up the win. Ken Allen gave up seven hits, including two each by Sam Goodhue and Ken Mohr, to get saddled with the loss. Charlie Peerless slugged a bases-empty homer in the 1st frame for the Red Sox.
Wall (W) and McNabb
Allen (L) and R. McKechney
(August 21) Right-handed chucker Gary McKechney of the pennant-winning Estevan Maple Leafs has won the "Doc" Hughes Memorial Trophy as the Southern League's top pitcher. McKechney had an outstanding campaign in winning eight and tasting defeat only once.
Big Ed Heidt, the Regina Cardinals' handyman, captured the 1956 Southern League batting crown with a hefty .435 average. Heidt collected 30 hits including 11 for extra bases in 69 times at bat.
Top Southern League hitters
Ed Heidt (Regina Cardinals) 30 - 69 .435
Ted Pasch (Moose Jaw Lakers) 22 - 55 .400
Herb Lovett (Moose Jaw Lakers) 34 - 88 .386
Nasie Schnell (Estevan Maple Leafs) 33 - 90 .362
Eddie Bearss (Notre Dame Hounds) 28 - 78 .359
Keith Covert (Weyburn Beavers) 24 - 69 .348
Dale Wetsch (Estevan Maple Leafs) 22 - 64 .344
Mel Hennenfent (Moose Jaw Lakers) 34 - 101 .337
Denny Cochrane (Regina Red Sox) 23 - 71 .324
Ken Mohr (Regina Red Sox) 17 - 53 .321
Jim Quinn (Notre Dame Hounds) 28 - 88 .318
Garth Hayes (Moose Jaw Lakers) 27 - 86 .314
Buzz Bent (Weyburn Beavers) 27 - 87 .310
Sam Goodhue (Regina Red Sox) 16 - 53 .302
Runs Scored - Murray Smail (Moose Jaw Lakers) - 30
Hits - Herb Lovett (Moose Jaw Lakers) and Mel Hennenfent (Moose Jaw Lakers) - tied with 34
Doubles - Mel Hennenfent (Moose Jaw Lakers) - 9
Triples - Ed Bearss (Notre Dame Hounds) - 6
Home Runs - Nasie Schnell (Estevan Maple Leafs) - 3
(August 22) The Estevan Maple Leafs moved to within one game of winning Southern League laurels when they dumped the defending champion Regina Red Sox 7 - 5. The Sox bobbled the ball seven times in the 8 inning contest, called because of darkness, and that was the obvious difference in this otherwise highly competitive game. Estevan held a 7 - 1 lead entering the bottom of the 6th but the Redlegs fought back, scoring a brace in both the 6th and 8th off winner Gary McKechney to make it reasonably close. McKechney and both Regina hurlers, loser Tommy Leverick and reliever Charlie Peerless, were touched for seven hits by the opposing hitters. McKechney and battery-mate Erwin Kreuger both had two hits for Estevan while Lionel Ruhr and Ed Prosofsky did likewise for the Sox. Prosofsky, in particular, swung a potent bat and drove in Regina's last four runs with a two-run homer in the 6th and a two-run single in the 8th.
G. McKechney (W) and Kreuger
Leverick (L), Peerless (8) and Manz
(August 24) The Estevan Maple Leafs climaxed their outhouse-to-the-penthouse ascent in the Southern League, coming from behind a 4 - 0 deficit to edge the Regina Red Sox 5 - 4 and capture the Southern League championship by a 3 games to 1 count. right-hander Ken Allen, pitching for last season's doormats, stopped the Crimson Hose on four hits during the seven inning game which was called when darkness enveloped the skies, sending the Maple Leafs to the the title. Regina southpaw Vic Wall was nailed with the loss. Estevan's Ron McKechney drove in the tying markers for the Leafs in the 5th as Allen overcame a shaky start to settle into a groove. The winning run, plated in the 6th, came as a result of a two-out bases-loaded walk to Wayne North, forcing in Hank Dornstauder from third base. Dornstauder sparked his Estevan charges with a perfect three for three plate performance that contained a triple, double and single. Nasie Schnell and Wally Becker each had two base blows for the new Southern League titleholders.
Wall (L), Leverick (6) and Manz
Allen (W) and Kreuger