NEW DENVER VICTORIA DAY TOURNAMENT
(May 20) The Nelson Outlaws whipped New Denver-Silverton 6 to 2 and then followed up with an 11 to 1 victory over Nakusp to win the annual Victoria Day baseball tournament. Nakusp qualified for the final with a 14 to 8 triumph over Fruitvale. The big blow of the Outlaws’ matinee scuffle was Don Hoffman’s two-run double in the sixth frame. Nelson’s Ken White drove home a brace of counters in the third round with a booming triple, later scoring on a two-bagger by Austin “Bo” Gillis. Stan Grill, with relief help from Les Hufty, earned the mound decision. Feature of the tourney finale was the chucking of lanky righthander Walt Avis of the Lakesiders who limited Nakusp to just two hits. White picked up two safeties in each game.
LACOMBE TOURNAMENT
(June 27) Granum White Sox whipped Grand Centre 8-3 to win top prize in the Lacombe tournament. White Sox got four runs, three on a homer by John Vaselenak, in the first inning and coasted to the victory. Dave Gambee went the distance on the hill. The Sox won the Lacombe event in 1955 and shared top prize last year when the final was rained out.
Gambee and Koentopp
Furibondo and Demeriez
Sox made the final with an 8-3 victory over Sandpoint, Idaho. John Vaselenak provided the big blow, a grand slam homer in the 7th.
Walasko and Koentopp
Bloxom and Eilmes
Grand Centre scored three in the bottom of the 9th to shade Campion 7-6 in the other semi-final.
Babiuk, Doucette (6) and Kulka
Molyneaux, Makos (5), Furibondo (8) and Demeriez
An estimated 45-hundred fans sat in for each of the final two games with about 35-hundred taking in the opening semi-final. While rains and hail were pouring down just a few miles on all sides of Lacombe, the tournament experienced near perfect baseball weather. A windstorm blew up in the seventh inning of the final with a few drops arriving in the ninth. Minutes after the game ended, rain came down in streaks.
(June 26) Two upsets marked the opening day of the Lacombe tournament. Campion Pipeliners topped Picture Butte 3-1 and Grand Centre downed Calgary 6-2. Granum remained in the title hunt with a 7-0 win over Moose Jaw Lakers and the only American entry, Sandpoint Beavers from Idaho, shutout the Central Alberta All-Stars 3-0.
John Doucette, former hurler with the Edmonton Eskimos of the Western Canada League, stranded 12 men in going the distance for the Pipeliners. Fred MacDonald paced Campion with three hits. Hans Pung had a pair of doubles for Picture Butte.
Harrison, Motley (4) and Pung
Doucette and Kulka
Grand Centre scored three in the 2nd and coasted to their 6-2 win over Calgary. Jim Ryan led off the frame with a homer. Pete Furibondo tossed a three-hitter for the winners.
Nagle, Ikeda (7) and Abel
Furibonda and Demeriez
Don Nieland tossed a seven-hitter for Sandpoint. The Beavers got just four hits off Red Schneck. They got the only run they needed in the first inning on a walk, stolen base and a single by Nick August.
Neiland and Eilmes
Schneck and Dana, Mantle (7)
Granum also scored early to beat Moose Jaw. White Sox got three walks and a double by Gord Wesley in the opening frame to plate two runs.
Burns and Koentopp
Dane, and Hunchuk, Lyscek (5)
LOREBURN TOURNAMENT
(June 28) Davidson took top money at the Loreburn Tournament beating Elbow Cranes 5-2 in the final. Moe Phillips was the winning pitcher. The club earlier blanked Lawson 2-0 in 11 innings behind the shutout hurling of Cuban Roberto Bouza.
KELOWNA DOMINION DAY TOURNAMENT
Oliver OBCs, strengthened with imports from Penticton, Summerland and across the border, took top money in the eight-team, $1,000 Kelowna Dominion Day Tournament outslugging the favoured Kelowna Orioles 17-14 in the final game. OBCs blew a 9-2 lead but rebounded with a four-run seventh inning to down the powerful Orioles. Trailing by seven, Kelowna erupted for eight runs in the fifth, highlighted by Bill Martino's grand slam homer to take the lead for the first time, 10-9. But the Oliver rally in the seventh proved enough for the victory. Sam Drossos rapped a two-run homer for Oliver in the first and Rich Wickenheiser had a circuit clout for Kelowna in the second.
Martino, Schaefer (L) (3), Radies (7) and xxx
Snyder, Driessen (W) (5) and xxx
In the tournament's highlight game, Bob Seaman of Trail pitched a no-hitter, but lost, 1-0 in 10-innings to Kelowna Orioles in a tournament semi-final, when he walked in the only run. Ed Kielbiski drew a walk to open the tenth and with one out, Joe Kaiser got a free pass and Seaman hit Johnny Culos to load the bases. Seaman fanned Frank Fritz for the second out but threw four straight balls to Bill Martino to force in the game's only run. In the bottom of the tenth, Bob Radies, who went the route for the win, fanned two pinch-hitters and got a ground out to end the game.
Seaman (L) and xxx
Radies (W) and xxx
In the other semi-final, Oliver got by Summerland Macs 6-4 in a game without errors.
In the playoff for third-place money, Summerland took 12 innings to shade Trail 4-3.
Hooker (W) and xxx
Ferguson, DeRosa (L) (8) xxx
In opening round action, Summerland took advantage of a ninth inning error by Almira, Washington, to take a 3-1 victory.
Oliver OBS upset the South Burnaby Athletics. The Vancouver team had some of the top senior amateur hitters, Canadian or American, in their lineup.
Kelowna Orioles advanced with a win over the Rutland Adanacs and the Trail Smoke Eaters surprised by downing Maillardville.
Al Hooker of Summerland was voted Most Valuable Player for his all-around play, in the field, at the plate and on the mound. He hurled 15 consecutive innings allowing just four hits.
KAMLOOPS DOMINION DAY TOURNAMENT
(June 30 - July 1) The Quesnel Clippers captured $200 top prize money in the Kamloops Dominion Day weekend tournament when they handed the Kamloops Okonots of the Okanagan-Mainline Baseball League a stinging 8 to 1 defeat in the tourney final. The Okonots had defeated the Kamloops Jay-Rays of the Interior Baseball League 5 to 2 to enter the finals while the Clippers eked out a narrow 3 to 2 triumph against the North Kamloops Mohawks in the other semi-final match.
A brace of booming back-to-back solo homers in the fifth panel broke up the finale. With the Okonots leading 1 to 0 at the time, losing pitcher Len Gatin served up dingers to Gene Plamondon and Gary Tuttle which launched the Clips on to victory. Quesnel ran up the score in the sixth combining five hits and an error for six runs, all with two out. Tommy Bryan picked up the win in relief of starter Lorne Robonets.
Rodonets, Bryan (W) (3) and xxx
Gatin (L), Geefs (7) and xxx
In the semi-final, Quesnel Clippers slipped by North Kamloops Mohwaks 3-2. Gary Tuttle’s timely single in the seventh inning drove in Don Gale with the winning counter against North Kamloops after catcher Stan Kato of the Mohawks had tied the game with a sixth-inning solo homer.
Lay, Bryan (W) (6) and xxx
Motokado (L) and Kato
The Okonots reached the final with a 5-2 triumph over the Kamloops Jay-Rays. Okonots plated the winner in the fourth frame when Buck Buchanan gained life on a dropped fly ball in centre, went to second on a passed ball, advanced to third on a fielder's choice and stole home. Buchanan's single and a two-bagger by catcher Bob Anderson accounted for two insurance runs in the sixth. Jack Olson notched the win with help from southpaw Bill Geefs in the ninth. Paul Prehara took the loss.
Olson (W), Geefs (9) and Anderson
Prehara (L), Schollen (8) and xxx
SASKATOON OPTIMIST TOURNAMENT
(July 1) A seven-run explosion in the 10th inning handed the Davidson Cardinals top money at the 8th annual Saskatoon Optimist Dominion Day Tournament at Cairns Field. The Cards topped Delisle 14-7 as workhorse right-hander Roberto Bouza went four innings in relief for the pitching victory, his second of the day.
In a game in which the lead bounced back and forth, Delisle jumped into an early lead with four runs in the bottom of the opening frame. Davidson came right back with five runs in the top of the second before Delisle again went in front, 6-5, with a pair in the bottom of the inning. The Cardinals knotted the count with a run in the 4th, but fell behind when Delisle scored in the 8th. In the top of the 9th, Davidson plated the tying marker on a double by Jose Rodriguez, an error and infield out.
In the extra frame, reliever Jerry Duffus - superb in Delisle's opening game win - got into trouble with successive walks. Before he managed to quiet the uprising, fanning three straight, seven runs had crossed the plate. Bouza fanned the side in the bottom of the 10th to ensure the win.
More than 4-thousand fans took in the tournament final.
Davidson reached the final with a 7-3 win over Prince Albert with Jose Tarabull's three-run homer in the 6th the key blow. Bouza went the distance for the win. Bob Slonski allowed just five hits but wildness hurt his cause.
Duffus was a hero in Delisle's 13-6 victory over Rosetown. As Delisle fell behind 3-0 in the first frame, he replaced starter Murray Coben and went the rest of the way giving up just two hits while fanning 11. Chuck Holdaway belted a homer for Rosetown.
Davidson 7 Prince Albert 3
Bouza (W) and I. Gullickson
Slonski (L), Skalicky (9) and Dutka
Delisle 13 Rosetown 5
M. Coben, Duffus (W) (1) and B. Coben
Genge (L), Holdaway (2) and Snyder
Davidson 14 Delisle 7
G. Gullickson, Philips (6), Bouza (W) (7) and I. Gullickson
Farley, M. Coben (3), Duffus (L) (9) and B. Coben
CALGARY TOURNAMENT
(July 12) Calgary received outstanding pitching from Leroy Gregory and Gerry Knutson to capture top prize of $700 in the second annual Calgary Buffalo tournament.
Gregory pitched a two-hitter in the final as the Dodgers bounced Picture Butte 9-1. Harold Noble's 5th inning grand slam was the major blow.
Harrison, Motley (5), Sedoo (6) and Pung
Gregory and Abel
Dodgers reached the final with an 8-1 triumph over Kimberley as Knutson tossed a four-hitter. Marty Hurd's three-run homer in the 3rd provided enough for the victory.
Johnson, Gehringer (6) and McCarthy
Knudson and Abel, Heffel (5)
Picture Butte won a final berth with a 16-4 win over Medicine Hat. The Indians erased a 4-2 deficit with eight runs in the 7th and added six more in the 8th. Owen Goto's three-run homer keyed the Indians 7th inning explosion.
Davidson, Leonard (7) and Adams
Harrison, Lovewell (6) and Pung
(July 11) Calgary exploded for five runs in the 9th to score an 8-6 win over Granum, the defending tournament champions. The contest featured a 19-strikeout performance by Calgary's Don Kirk and six homers. Harold Noble's single to centre drove in the winning run. Calgary got circuit blows from Ken Mitchell, Dave Abel and Kirk. Larry Koentopp, Darwin Walkingshaw and Jim McDonald poked homers for the White Sox. Kirk, who recorded four strikeouts in the 9th as Abel allowed a third strike to get past him, fanned John Vaselenak five times.
Kirk and Abel
Walasko, Burns (9) and Koentopp
Picture Butte also came from well behind to notch a tournament victory, 8-7 over Vulcan. The Indians, who trailed 7-1 at one point, scored the winner in the bottom of the 9th as Hans Pung singled with the bases loaded. Marty Norman homered for the Elks.
Dailey, Houck (7)
Harrison, Motley (4)
Medicine Hat ousted Gleichen Indians 4-2 behind the pitching of Don Schwedelsky.
Schwedelsky
Koshuba
Kimberley Dynamos whipped Edmonton Outlaws 7-1.
Holliston
M Yeske
SASKATOON EXHIBITION TOURNAMENT
The Saskatoon Star-Phoenix published a feature July 30, 1957 on Perley Fennell (left), one of the veterans of the Exhibition Tournament.
Perley Fennell of Melfort, who must hold a record for the Saskatoon Exhibition baseball tournament. He played here last week and made his debut in the Exhibition tournament 33 years ago.
One of the highlights of the Saskatoon Exhibition baseball tournament last week was to see veteran Perley Fennell of the Melfort team back as a competitor and playing so well.
Fennell came to his first Exhibition tournament in 1924 with the Lac Vert team, which included the hockey-famous Cook brothers Bill and Bun.
Now in his 51st year, Fennell can't remember the exact number of tournaments he has attended here, but says the minimum is about 10. Over the years he has played in the Exhibition baseball show with Lac Vert, Moose Range, Watson, Melfort and Lanigan.
His only championship came in the 1940 tournament while playing for Lanigan. He caught that final against Delisle and his battery mate was Denny Evanson, present owner of the Regina Braves of the WCBL.
"We brought Denny in from Liberty," said Perley. "I was the third baseman for Lanigan, but our catcher was injured in a previous game, so I went behind the bat."
Don Conklin of Eston was playing with the Delisle team in the 1940 tournament.
Fennell, incidentally, played a bang up game at third for Melfort in the 1957 tournament and also hit well. He clouted a long double in the game against Delisle and figured in the Melfort scoring in the win over Sceptre.
(July 22) Rosetown Cardinals exploded for ten runs in the seventh inning to wallop Meota Monarchs 14-1 in the opener of the 1957 Exhibition Tournament. Chuck Holdaway fashioned a four-hitter to stymie the Cardinals and helped power the offense with with five runs batted in with a double and two singles. Don Snyder also had three hits for the winners, including a two-bagger.
Holdaway (W) and Shirley
Tesch (L), Stinski (7) and Demans
(July 23) Eatonia came from behind a 2-0 deficit with four runs in the eighth inning to down Richlea 4-2 and advance to the semi-finals of the Exhibition Tournament. Ollie Harris was working on a two-hitter before giving up three straight hits and a walk in the eighth. Lyle Jackson and Ken Dahl opened with singles and Irl Flanagan knocked in the first Eatonia run with another safety. Herb Stevenson relieved Harris and walked Gary Anderson to tie the score. Two outfield errors allowed another two counters. Gene Graves held Richlea to four hits in going the distance for the winners.
Harris (L), H.Stevenson (8) and Ellis
Graves (W) and Dahl
(July 24) Bev Bentley powered Delisle with a double, homer and two singles, driving in three runs, as the defending champions whipped Langham 10-7. Bev's uncles, Max and Doug supported his efforts. Max Bentley added three hits and brother Doug had a pair. Langham, out-hit 13 to 8, hurt its chances by making seven errors. Jerry Duffus, an 18-year-old hurler from junior ball in Saskatoon, gained the win with relief help from veteran Murray Coben.
Denbow (L) and K.Dear
Duffus (W), M.Coben (8) and B.Coben
(July 25) Melfort scored four in the first inning and held on to top Sceptre 4-2. A walk, two costly errors and three hits, including a booming double by second sacker Art Strueby, were all Melfort needed for the victory. Harold Knutson held Sceptre to five hits and whiffed 11 in going the distance for the winners. Losing pitcher Ted Kovich allowed just four singles after the disastrous first frame to blank Melfort for the rest of the contest.
Knutson (W) and Arnold Strueby
Kovich (L) and Felch
(July 26) Rosetown settled down after giving up three runs in the top of the first inning to shutout Eatonia the rest of the way in a 7-3 victory and a berth in the final of the Exhibition Tournament. Veteran Johnny Folk replaced starter Chuck Holdaway with just one out, one run in and the bases loaded in the first inning. He gave up a single to Gary Anderson which scored two but then blanked Eatonia the rest of the way on two hits while fanning ten and walking just one. Reg Pendleton and Gary Franklin each drove in two runs for Rosetown. Steve Bohachik collected three hits for the losers.
Embree, Graves (L) (4), Flanagan (7) and Dahl
Holdaway, Folk (W) (1) and Shirley
(July 27) Delisle took a 5-0 lead after three innings and held on to dump Melfort 5-3 to win a place in the tournament final against Rosetown. John Farley, a pitcher from the Delisle juniors, gained the pitching win teaming with Keith Murray on a six-hitter. Jack Eisner took the loss for Melfort. Three double plays highlighted the Delisle defense. Delisle had nine hits, the one a triple by Max Bentley.
Eisner (L), Maroniuk (2), Stroeder (3) and Arnold Strueby
Farley (W), Murray (7), Farley (8), Murray (9) and B.Coben
(July 27) In a slugfest, Rosetown Cardinals outlasted Delisle 16-12 before 3,000 fans in the final of the Saskatoon Exhibition Tournament. In dethroning the 1956 champions, Rosetown picked up its first exhibition tournament title since 1927. Cardinals settled the issue with an eight-run splurge in the sixth inning to grab a 16-8 lead. Chuck Holdaway, who played at four positions, was the winning pitcher after taking over from Lefty Massey in the fourth inning. Holdaway helped his own cause with a two-run triple to cap the huge 8th inning rally. Murray Coben and Jerry Duffus each clouted a two-run homer for Delisle. With the win, Reg Pendleton, the playing manager of the Cardinals, realized a long-standing ambition. It's his first tournament victory after playing in the event for 15 years.
Leavins, Snyder (3), Stone (4), Massey (4), Holdaway (W) (4) and Shirley
Murray, MacEwen (2), Duffus (4), M.Coben (L) (6) and B.Coben, J.Goodwin (4)
KIMBERLEY TOURNAMENT
(July 31, Aug 1-2) Michelli Brothers of Spokane downed Kimberley Hobos 6-3 in the final to win the Kimberley Tournament. The visitors took an early lead with an unearned run in the first and a pair in the third. Elgin Smith came to the rescue for the Hobos and slammed a three-run homer in the third. But the Americans went ahead again in the fifth on a homer by playing manager Bob Palmer. They added a pair in the seventh. Hobos created some excitement in the ninth getting two runners on base with none out but Spokane's Earl Stoner bore down to retire the next three batters to end the game and the tournament.
In the tournament opener Friday night, Cranbrook Cubs teed off on the offerings of Ike Bodin and Rick Steadman for 10 hits in a 9-5 victory over Kimberley Dynamos who managed just six hits off Vern Doll and booted the ball six times.
Kimberley Hobos got the winner in the bottom of the ninth to edge Calgary Rockets 7-6. Bob Fisher started for the Hobos with Mel Johnson and Elgin Smith coming on in relief. Smith got the win.
Michelli Bros. had no trouble in crushing Creston Cruisers 10-1.
St. John, Washington, down 9-1 to Nelson, roared back to down the Outlaws 11-9. The comeback featured back-to-back-to-back home runs to come within a run of Nelson then two singles and a homer in the eighth for the win.
Strong hurling by Elgin Smith helped the Hobos to a 4-1 semi-final win over Cranbrook. Smith yielded just four hits and fanned 14.
In the other semi-final, Michelli's took an early 4-0 lead over St. John but a homer by shortstop Bill Johnson helped St. John get three in the second frame. The teams were tied 4-4 after six but Michelli's broke the game open with a three-spot in the seventh. St. John had the crowd on the edge of their seats in the ninth, loading the bases with none out, but managed just one run as a double play and a strikeout ended the game. St. John 7, Michelli Bros. 4.
LETHBRIDGE ROTARY TOURNAMENT
(August 10) Bob Blakeslee hurled a three-hitter to lead Sandpoint to a 5-1 win over Spokane Michielli Brothers and top prize of $1,400 in the Lethbridge Rotary Tournament. More than 35-hundred fans attended the final.
Angstrom and Chalich
Blakeslee and Heintz
Spokane edged the Lethbridge-Vulcan All-Stars 5-3 and Sandpoint beat Granum 5-2 in semi-final action. Sandpoint got a three-hitter from Socky Red for their victory and Spokane won with a three-run seventh inning.
Davidson, Walasko (6) and Koentopp
Red and Heintz
Baker and Chalich
Dailey, Weremy (8) and Scornaienchi
(August 9) Two of the four Alberta clubs advanced in opening round play at the seventh annual Lethbridge Rotary Tournament.
The Lethbridge-Vulcan All-Stars got four-hit pitching from Al Warnick and upended the Trail Smoke Eaters 11-0. Mitch Sztaba had a triple and two singles for the Stars.
Warnick and Scornaienchi
Seeman, DeRosa (1), Mohoruk (6) and Russell
Bentley MacEwen held Billings to three hits in a game called after six innings as Granum topped the Mustangs 6-2.
Bolingbroke, Mountie (4) and Bryson
MacEwen and Koentopp
Calgary Dodgers were hammered 12-2 by the Spokane Michielli Brothers. Winning pitcher Gary Barnes was also a star at the plate with a triple, double and single.
Gregory, McIntosh (6) and Noble
Barnes and Chalich
Don Nieland of Sandpoint and Orv Motley of Picture Butte put on a pitching display in the other opening match as the Americans won, 2-1. Neiland won on a four-hitter while Motley allowed just six hits in dropping the decision.
Nieland and Heintz
Motley and Pung
WINDERMERE TOURNAMENT
(August 17-18) Kimberley Dynamos captured top prize in the $1,000 Windermere Tournament edging out Trail 6-5 in an exciting final contest.
Dynamos had a 4-1 lead going into the 9th only to see Trail rally for four runs to go ahead 5-4. In the bottom of the 9th, Mike Jantze and Ken McTeer both reached and after Jantze was out at third on a fielder's choice, Elmer Garinger cracked a double to bring in McTeer to knot the count. Red Matthews was walked intentionally to load the bases and Harvey Nash came through with a hard grounder up the middle to bring in the winning run. Jantze, who relieved starter Les Lilley in the 9th, was credited with the win.
Dynamoes, after downing Golden 10-6 in their opening game, moved on to the final with a 14-8 win over Wilders’ Warriors of Radium Hot Springs in a semi-final matchup.
Trail whipped Oyen, Alberta, 10-1 and tripped up the Kimberley Hobos scoring two unearned runs in the fifth inning for a 2-0 win behind the five-hit, shutout pitching of veteran Andy Bilesky. Ron Brown allowed just six hits in taking the loss. Hobos threatened in the eight with runners on first and third with two out and in the ninth with runners at first and second and none out but could not break through.
In other games, the Wilders thumped Canal Flats 13 to 4, and Oyen beat Cranbrook 8-3.
MEDICINE HAT TOURNAMENT
(August 24) Medicine Hat Superiors won their own tournament and prize money of $1,000 with a 4-0 win over the Calgary Dodgers in the tourney final. Roy Cleland, a pickup from Vauxhall, tossed a three-hitter for the win.
Superiors made the final with a 7-1 victory over Grand Centre Braves while Calgary set down the Libby Loggers 5-4.
Pat Gillick, another pickup by the Superiors, pitched a five-hitter to dump the Braves in the semi-final.
(August 23) The Libby, Montana, Loggers ousted pre-tournament favourite Granum White Sox from further play in the Medicine Hat Rotary Tournament. Bob Blakeslee was a pitching and batting star as the Loggers scored an 8-2 victory. He held the Sox to eight hits while helping his own cause with a double and single.
The Calgary Dodgers moved into the semi-final round with an 8-0 win over Billings as Marty Hurd went 4-4 and Joe Weremy tossed a three-hitter.
Medicine Hat Superiors downed St. Regis War Chiefs 2-1 while Grand Centre sidelined Picture Butte 6-4.
PACIFIC NORTHWEST TOURNAMENT. SPOKANE
(August 29) In the opening game of the Pacific Northwest semi-pro tournament, The Dalles of Oregon erupted for six runs in the first inning and coasted to a 15-3 win over Ritzville. Second sacker Davidson and third baseman Sallee each drove in three runs with a pair of hits.
Schoessler (L), Grams (1) and Danekas
Olson (W) and Fandrey
The host club, the Spokane Orioles, crushed the Pasco-Kennewick Merchants 12-0 as lefty Ted Falk fired a one-hitter in a six-inning contest. He had a perfect game through five innings and ended with eight strike outs. In the first inning Falk retired the side on three pitches. Rich Carlo, who had an inside-the-park homer, drove in four runs. Catcher Bill Heath went three-for-four.
McDougal (L), Harter (1), Nelson (5) and Wyrick
Falk (W) and Heath
(August 30) Willie Walasko tossed a four hit shutout as Granum topped St. Regis Montana 12-0 in the Spokane Invitational Tournament. Walasko had a no-hitter through five innings. White Sox exploded for nine runs in the 9th to break open what had been a close contest. Bill Fennessey, on a home run tear, belted another for the Sox and added a double. Bobby Lee drove in three runs with a triple and two singles.
Walasko (W) and Koentopp
Fornall (L) and Bennett
Sandpoint Packers trounced Everett 13-1 in six innings behind the three-hit pitching of Don Nieland who struck out 14 batters. The Idaho club took a 6-0 lead through the first five innings and salted away the victory with seven runs in the 6th. Cal Humphries allowed the Packers only seven hits but handed out 12 bases on balls before being relieved in the 6th. Frank Barnes drove in four runs with a pair of hits.
Nieland (W) and Eilmes
Humphries (L), Friend (6) and Atkinson
Bellingham Bells, two-time state champions, wasted little time in knocking Yakima out of the tournament. The Bells sent 18 men to the plate in the first inning, scoring 13 of them en route to a 15-1 triumph. Bellingham had just two hits in the big inning but Yakima hurlers allowed nine walks and hit two batters.
Randall (W), Hansen (4) and Anderson, Martin (4)
Dexter (L) Zickle (1), Dabiquist (1) and Day
(August 31) Spokane Orioles advanced to the quarter-final round of the Pacific Northwest International tournament by trouncing Granum 10-0 in a game ended after six innings. Tilbert Neal fired a four-hitter for the shutout.
Neal (W) and xxx
xxx and xxx
Bellingham was declared forfeit winner over Granum in a consolation round game. With Bellingham leading 8-7 in the 5th inning, the umpires handed the contest to the Bells because of what they termed "abusive language from the field and the Granum bench."
xxx and xxx
xxx and xxx
Spokane reached the final undefeated by routing Sandpoint 21-2 Sunday after shaded The Dalles 3-1 and whipping Granum 10-0 Saturday. Bellingham came through the losers' bracket having lost 12-8 to Sandpoint on Saturday but later gaining the 8-7 decision over Granum. The Bells nipped The Dalles 7-6 in 11 innings Sunday and then rallied to down Sandpoint 4-2.
Bill Heath had a homer and two singles, drove in three runs and score three to lead an 18-hit Spokane attack in the 21-2 thumping of Sandpoint. The game was called after six innings. Hendry allowed just four hits in recording the win.
Hendry (W) and Holding
Johnson (L), Bloxom (2), Richardson ((6) and Eilmes
Catcher Don Anderson and shortstop Jim Hobbs each had three hits in the Bellingham win over The Dalles. Earl Silverthorne went the distance for the win.
Silverthorne (W) and Anderson
Aronson, E. Urness (L) (9) and Fandrey
Bells scored a pair in the top of the 9th for the win over Sandpoint. Bob Hansen and Carl Rounds combined on a six-hitter for Bellingham.
Hansen, Rounds (W) (8) and Anderson
G. Barnes (L) and Eilmes
(September 2) Spokane Orioles won their own Pacific Northwest Tournament Monday downing the Bellingham Bells 5-2 in the final at Ferris Field. Winning pitcher Ray Washburn doubled home Spokane's first two runs in the 6th. The Orioles sewed up the contest with a three-run 8th. Rich Carlo knocked in the winning run with a single.
Earl Silverthorne scored both runs for the Bells. He doubled in the 4th inning and scored on Jerry Reimer's single and in the 6th he reached on an error, advanced on a walk and scored on another error. Silverthorne was named the most valuable player of the tournament as he held down centre field for the Bells, hit over .400 and was the winning pitcher in Bellingham's 7-6 win over The Dalles. Bill Heath of Spokane was the leading hitter with seven hits in eleven official times at bat. He also drew 10 bases on balls.
Randall (L) and Anderson
Washburn (W) and Holding
KAMLOOPS LABOUR DAY TOURNAMENT
(September 1-2) The Vancouver Young Liberals powered their way to the championship of the 1957 Kamloops Labor Day weekend baseball tournament by defeating the Trail Smoke Eaters 10 to 5 in the tourney final, and in the process, earning first money of $500. Trail reached the finals and took home second prize of $300 by virtue of a 6 to 5 cliff-hanger conquest of the Vancouver Boilermakers. The Grits ousted the South Burnaby Athletics 15 to 5 in the other semi-final. In elimination games, South Burnaby edged the Kamloops Jay-Rays 5 to 4, Trail routed the Vancouver Firemen 15 to 6, the Liberals ousted Oliver 6 to 1 and the Boilermakers defeated the Kamloops Okonots 4 to 2.
First baseman Jim Andrews cracked a pair of home runs to pace the Young Liberals to the podium with the 10-5 triumph.. Ed Lorenz added a three-run shot and Keith Miles had a solo blast. Wally Russell, the Trail catcher, rapped a two-run homer for the losers. The Liberals came from behind with a four-run uprising in the fourth inning. Ron Curby, in his second relief effort of the day, picked up the win allowing only three hits after taking over in the third.
Wakabayashi, Curby (W) (3) and xxx
Ferguson, Bilesky (L) (4) and xxx
Trail advanced to the final with a 6-5 cliff-hanger over the Vancouver Boilermakers. The Smoke Eaters had trailed 2-0 before rebounding and then holding off a determined rally by the Boilermakers in the ninth. Frank Kozak gave Vancouver the early lead with a second-inning home run. They added another in the fifth on three walks, an error and a sacrifice. Trail got back in the game with a singleton in the eighth and then exploded for four hits and five runs and a 6-2 lead in the ninth. The big city crew went wild in their half of the ninth with four hits and three walks to produce three runs before Keith Watley was thrown out trying to steal home to end the game.
xxx and xxx
Tony DeRosa (W) and xxx
In the other semi-final, the Young Liberals coasted to an easy 15 to 5 victory over South Burnaby taking a four-run lead in the first inning on back-to-back home runs by Ray Hammond and Keith Miles. Burnaby got homers from Jack Wheelhouse and Ivan Spees.
Bernie Zender cracked a solo homer in the bottom of the ninth to break a 4-4 tie and give South Burnaby a 5-4 decision over Kamloops Jay-Rays. The Rays has taken a 4-3 lead in the seventh inning but Dick Zender drove in Gary Pennington in the top of the eighth to bring the teams even.
xxx and xxx
xxx and xxx
In the opening elimination game Sunday, Boilermakers overcame a 2-1 first inning deficit with a three-run sixth inning to sink the Kamloops Okonots, 4-2. Reliever Al Mayervitch picked up the win after taking over from starter Gary Winbow.
J.Knutson (L), Gatin (6) and xxx
Winbow, Mayervitch (W) and xxx
In other first round games, Trail ousted the Vancouver Firemen 15-6 and the Liberals had an easy time in a 6-1 romp over Oliver.
QUESNEL LABOUR DAY TOURNAMENT
(September 1 – 2) The Kelowna Orioles of the Okanagan-Mainline Baseball League repeated as champions of the Quesnel Labor Day weekend tournament, defeating league counterpart, the Summerland Macs, 12 to 8 in the final to capture first-prize money of $1,000. The Orioles captured top money in spite of leaving several regulars at home nursing injuries. Rich Wickenheiser was shelved after a knee operation and two players -- Greg Jablonski and Cec Favell -- were hurt in an auto accident. To help fill the void, the Orioles picked up Bob Campbell from Kelowna softball wars.
The seven-inning finale was a see-saw event in which neither club was able to establish lasting offensive momentum. After six innings, the combatants were deadlocked 8 – 8. In the top of the seventh and final canto, the Birds broke through for four big counters to sew up the triumph. Winning pitcher Jack Denbow doubled in the first two counters, Hromi Ito singled in a third and Denbow touched home with the fourth marker on an infield error. Kelowna’s Bob Campbell, with a two-run shot, and Doug Kilburn of the Macs, with a three-run dinger, both launched four-baggers.
L. Schaefer, Denbow (W) (6), Martino (7) and Culos
Cristante, Gould (L), Stefureak (7) and Egely
The Terrace Loggers knocked off the Willow River Red Sox 7-1 to claim the third-place prize. Paul/Neil Sauve fired a two-hitter for the win. The run against him was unearned.
Preliminary games saw Kelowna best the Terrace Loggers 8 to 1 and Willow River dump the Quesnel Clippers 6 to 4 with Mike Church handling the mound work for the winners besting lefty Mike Bakaway of the Vancouver senior league. Summerland took out the Quesnel Lumbermen 5 to 2 and Terrace, given a second opportunity by way of a draw after an eighth entry, the St. Paul AB Bears, failed to show up, eliminated the Prince George Athletics.
The semi-finals pitted the Orioles against Terrace, for a second time, while the Macs faced Willow River. The Loggers fell to Kelowna 5 to 4 as Bob Campbell slugged a late homer for the win.
Radies, Schaefer (W) (6), Martino (7) and xxx
Ray Scott (L) and xxx
The Red Sox were bombarded 10 to 1 by Summerland as Ed Stefureak held the Sox to two hits.
FERNIE LABOUR DAY TOURNAMENT
(September 1) Creston Cruisers vs Cranbrook Lumbermen
Kimberley Hobos vs Kimberley Dynamos
Invermere vs Nelson Outlaws
Michel-Natal Red Sox vs Fernie Falcons
(September 2) The Cranbrook Lumbermen scored six runs in the fifth inning to register a 10 to 3 win over the Fernie Falcons to take first prize money in the Fernie Labor Day weekend tournament. The Lumbermen knocked off the Kimberley Hobos 9 to 4 in semi-final action while the hosting Falcons defeated Inveremere 22 to 10.