SOUTHERN LEAGUE
Preamble
Seven member clubs remain as part of the 1958 Southern loop although, for the first time ever, Regina will officially be without representation. In reality, however, the defending champion Southey entry is made up almost entirely of players who reside in the Queen City. Replacing the Regina Cardinals are a new entry, the Marquis Wheat Kings.
(May 21) The defending champion Southey Red Sox started the 1958 season off on a winning note by downing the Moose Jaw Lakers 6 - 3. Lefthander Vic Wall, who topped the loop with six wins and no losses last year, hurled a six-hitter at the Lakers. Dick McNaughton was the loser, giving up 12 hits. Ken Mohr was the big hitter for the Red Sox, rapping out four singles in five times at bat. Wall proved valuable with the bat, as well as on the mound, pounding out a double and single. The Lakers' Wally Blaisdell hit the only home run of the game and also contributed a single.
Wall (W) and McNabb
McNaughton (L) and Hunchuk
(May 23) The Estevan Maple Leafs pounded out four home runs at Weyburn to beat the home-town Beavers 9 - 5 in the first Southern League encounter of the campaign for both Soo-Line clubs. Two Leafs' homers came in the 7th inning on consecutive pitches to a pair of brothers. Gary McKechney opened the 7th frame with a 4-bagger and then brother Ron came to bat and belted the next pitch, by losing hurler Dave Hoff, for another circuit clout. Weyburn's three runs came in the first inning with Chick Springer's two-run homer igniting the drive. Bob Jackson had Estevan's first homer, a two-run blast in the 2nd. Harold Schnell pounded a three-run job in the 5th to account for Estevan's second circuit shot. The McKechney brothers and Jackson led the Maple Leafs in hitting. This potent trio all had two singles in addition to their homers. Springer and Keith Covert both had a pair of hits for Weyburn. Gary McKechney, who relieved starter Merv Sanderson in the 3rd inning, picked up the pitching win.
Sanderson, G. McKechney (W) (3), Thompson (8) and Kreuger
Hoff (L), Covert (7) and Garinger
(May 24) The Notre Dame Hounds spoiled the Southern League debut of the Marquis Wheat Kings by tripping the loop's newcomers 14 - 6. Dick Griffin worked the first five innings for Notre Dame and picked up the win over Marquis starter and loser George Guillaume. Vern Glazier, Jim Lyons and Ed Doetzel belted home runs for the winners.
Griffin (W), Townsend (6) and Doetzel
Guillaume (L), Difley (7), Linnell (8) and Anderson
(May 25) The Assiniboia Aces edged the Moose Jaw Lakers 12 - 11 in a 10-inning Southern League contest featuring 28 base-hits, 15 by the Aces. Al Lowes was the starter and winner for Assiniboia. Jack Devine, the first of three Moose Jaw chuckers, took the loss. The winning run was unearned and was plated in the bottom of the extra frame when Gord Skjerven came home on a muffed infield pop-up. Skjerven with three singles, Reg Waterton with two doubles and Ossie Booth with with a single and double topped the hitting charts for Assiniboia. Ray Nutzhorn paced the Lakers with three singles. George Hunchuk had a home run and double while Baldy Smith and Mel Hennenfent came through with two singles each.
J. Devine (L), Genge (6), Nutzhorn (6) and Hunchuk
Lowes (W), Skjerven (5), Lowes (9) and Kyle, Waterton (5)
(May 25) The Notre Dame Hounds reeled off their second weekend victory, stopping the Southey Red Sox 6 - 3. Phil Resch threw a great nine strikeout, three-hitter at the defending league titlists to earn the win. Ken "Blackie" Kober and Ron Hall handled the Southey chucking with Kober taking the loss. Jim Lyons had two doubles and a single for Notre Dame. Ken Townsend came up with a triple and double and Ed Doetzel connected for a double and single.
Kober (L), Hall (8) and Schell
Resch (W) and Doetzel
(May 28) The Hounds of Notre Dame tucked away their third straight victory of the young Southern League campaign by edging the Marquis Wheat Kings 12 - 11 in ten innings. Phil Resch, normally a starter, picked up the win for the Dogs in a relief role. Marquis out-hit the Hounds 16 - 13 and lost the game in the bottom of the extra inning when Jim Lyons singled with one out, stole second, moved to third on a ground out and trotted home with the winner on Vern Glazier's single off loser Jim Linnell. Glazier enjoyed a huge night at the dish, slamming a pair of homers as well. Bob Donald also connected for a Notre Dame 4-bagger and had a single as well. Eddie Bearss, Ken Townsend and Richie Dukes had a double and single apiece. Dalton Skeoch paced the Wheat Kings, singling twice and poling a home run. Close behind were George Guillaume with two doubles and a single and Linnell with a 2-bagger and single.
Linnell (L) and Anderson
Jankowich, Carr (5), Resch (W) (9) and Doetzel
(May 28) The Weyburn Beavers recorded their first win of the Southern League season, taking down the Estevan Maple Leafs 12 - 3. Keith Covert hurled Weyburn to its win with a six-hitter. Estevan starter Fred Bittner took the loss. Jerry Wenman, Buzz Bent and Ivan Gerski each hit a double and single for the Beavers. Ron McKechney smashed a double and single for Estevan while Dale Wetsch had a 3-bagger.
Covert (W) and Garinger
Bittner (L), Berg (2), G. McKechney (3) and Kreuger, Kraychy (6)
(May 30) The Southey Red Sox blasted Moose Jaw hurlers for 19 hits in slamming the Lakers 14 - 9 and handing the visitors their 3rd straight Southern League loss. Portsider Vic Wall picked up his 2nd win of the season for the Sox as Moose Jaw starter Jack Devine took the loss. Luke Moser led the Southey hitting with two triples and a pair of singles while Morris McNabb had a 3-bagger and two singles. Ed Heidt pitched in with two doubles. Wall helped his own cause with a double and single and Al Schell and Arnie Floyd both had a brace of singles.
J. Devine (L), McNaughton (4), Nutzhorn (5) and Smith
Wall (W), Heidt (9) and McNabb
(May 30) Al Lowes went the distance while his mates struck for 16 base raps as the visiting Assiniboia Aces blew out the host Weyburn Beavers 13 - 5. Rube Erfle led the Aces' offensive output with five hits in six at bats. Weyburn starter Dave Hoff was pasted for the loss as he was shelled from the mound in the 2nd frame.
Lowes (W) and Shanks
Hoff (L), Ballance (2), McCarron (9) and Garinger
(May 31) The Marquis Wheat Kings, the new kids on the block in the Southern League, recorded their first-ever circuit victory by downing the Estevan Maple Leafs 6 - 5 in a 10-inning thriller. Tied 4 - 4 entering the extra frame, the visiting Leafs scored the go-ahead run in the top of the inning only to see the Wheat Kings counter with a pair in the bottom of the frame to steal the victory. Jim Linnell went the entire ten innings to post the win for Marquis. Estevan's Merv Sanderson pitched 9 2/3 innings and was saddled with the loss. George Guillaume had four hits, three singles and a double, to lead the Wheat Kings' offense. George Cannon recorded three singles while Gordon Dougherty and Gene Herle each had a brace. Wayne North and Gary McKechney both had two hits for Estevan.
Sanderson (L), Verreau (10) and Kreuger
Linnell (W) and Anderson
(June 3) The Moose Jaw Lakers picked up their first win in Southern League play and, in the process, dropped the Notre Dame Hounds from the ranks of the undefeated when they knocked off the home-town Dogs 5 - 3. Southpaw Ray Nutzhorn gave up nine hits in hurling the complete game victory for the Lakers. Moose Jaw went ahead in the 6th by scoring four times off loser Phil Resch and were never headed thereafter. Herb Lovett had a bases-loaded double and a single for the Mill City squad. Wally Blaisdell and Don Devine picked up two singles each. Vern Glazier, Ken Townsend, Denny Messier and Jim Lyons each had a pair of singles for the Hounds.
Nutzhorn (W) and Hunchuk
Resch (L) and Doetzel
(June 4) The Marquis Wheat Kings handed the Assiniboia Aces their first loss of the Southern League season by whipping them 13 - 5 behind the seven-hit pitching of George Guillaume. John Hall, relieved by former Southey Red Sox standout Charlie Peerless in the 6th, took the loss for Assiniboia. Dalton Skeoch had a double and single for Marquis while Gord Dougherty and Gord Difley each had three singles. Rube Erfle contributed a brace of one-baggers for the losing Aces.
Hall (L), Peerless (6) and Lowes, Shanks (6)
Guillaume (W) and Anderson
(June 6) Veteran Keith Covert fashioned a snappy two-hitter as the Weyburn Beavers beat the Marquis Wheat Kings 5 - 1. The Beavers got to loser Gord Dougherty for ten hits, two being doubles off the bat of Buzz Bent.
Dougherty (L) and Anderson, Linnell (8)
Covert (W) and Garinger
(June 7) The Moose Jaw Lakers, current cellar-dwellers in the Southern League, played heads-up ball to upset the Moose Jaw Mallards of the semi-pro Western Canada League 6 - 4 in an exhibition contest that was called after eight innings because of darkness. Mike Dayne, who took over from Lakers' starter Bob Bell in the 6th frame with the count knotted at 2 - 2, went the rest of the way to pick up the win over the highly-rated Mallards. Jim Stevens, the third Mallards' chucker, who was tagged for four of the Lakers' runs, was charged with the loss. Ray Nutzhorn, with a double and two singles, was the top marksman for the Lakers with Baldy Smith notching a triple and Murray Smail a pair of singles. For playing-manager Cliff Pemberton's Mallards, Homer Garner had three safeties.
Bell, Dayne (W) (6) and Hunchuk
Kosteniuk, Riggs (4), Stevens (L) (7), Pemberton (8) and Strother
(June 7) The Estevan Maple Leafs pounded out 13 hits in manhandling the Notre Dame Hounds 15 - 5. Winner Gwen Woodruff, an import pitcher playing in his first game for the Maple Leafs, struck out ten and set the Hounds down on four hits. Phil Resch started for Notre Dame and took the loss. Bob Jackson led Estevan's hit parade with two singles and a double while Gary McKechney, Dale Wetsch, Nasie Schnell and Harold Schnell all had two hits. Wally Becker swatted a triple and single for Notre Dame.
Resch (L), Carr (4) and Doetzel
Woodruff (W) and Kreuger
(June 8) Rebounding from the previous day's drubbing at the hands of the Estevan Maple Leafs, the Notre Dame Hounds rebounded nicely and extracted revenge by edging the Soo-Liners 4 - 3. Two Estevan errors in the 7th inning gave Notre Dame the tying and winning runs and allowed Ken Townsend to pick up the pitching win over Maple Leafs' starter Merv Sanderson. Richie Dukes had four singles in five at-bats for the Dogs. Estevan's Gary McKechney and Bob Jackson each ripped out a trio of base raps.
Townsend (W) and Doetzel
Sanderson (L), Woodruff (8) and Kreuger
(June 8) Rube Erfle belted the first pitch delivered by Weyburn pitcher Barry Ballance for a home run to spark the Assiniboia Aces to their third triumph, a 4 - 1 win over the Beavers. John Hall was the starter for Assiniboia and got the win, although handing over the pitching chores to Al Lowes in the 6th. Ballance went the route for the Beavers in tasting defeat. Besides Erfle's first inning blast, Charlie Peerless also connected for an Assiniboia home run. The Beavers' Chick Springer belted one out for Weyburn.
Ballance (L) and xxxx
Hall (W), Lowes (6) and xxxx
(June 8) The Moose Jaw Lakers blanked the Marquis Wheat Kings 9 - 0 to move out of the Southern League basement. Dick McNaughton hurled five-hit ball to lead the Lakers to their second victory against three loses. Loser Jim Linnell went the distance for Marquis. Wally Blaisdell and Herb Lovett slammed a home run each for Moose Jaw while Dalton Skeoch had two singles for the Wheat Kings.
McNaughton (W) and xxxx
Linnell (L) and xxxx
(June 10) The Southey Red Sox came up with a 10-inning, 6 - 5 win over the Moose Jaw Lakers when Lionel Ruhr's single in the extra frame drove in Morris McNabb with the winning tally. Both chuckers, loser Jack Devine of the Lakers and Southey's Ed Heidt pitched the entire ten innings. Ruhr had a particularly good night in the batter's box, singling four times. Art Rennie followed Ruhr's success, poking out a pair of singles. Devine and Ray Nutzhorn had two singles each for Moose Jaw. George Hunchuk belted a triple for the Lakers.
J. Devine (L) and Hunchuk
Heidt (W) and McNabb
(June 10) The Notre Dame Hounds picked up their fifth win of the campaign, defeating the Weyburn Beavers 9 - 7. Notre Dame catcher Ed Doetzel hit 3 for 4 off losing pitcher Dave Hoff to lead the Hounds' offense. Phil Resch went the distance to pick up the win and contributed to his own victory with two hits and three RBI's. Bob Donald and Phil Headley also poked out a pair for the Dogs. For Weyburn, Baldy Garner, Cece McCarron and Dan Garinger all had three hits. Chick Springer of the Beavers had a brace of knocks, including a bases-empty home run.
Resch (W) and Doetzel
Hoff (L) and Garinger
(June 11) The Moose Jaw Lakers received a magnificent two-hit pitching effort from Ray Nutzhorn to blank the Assiniboia Aces 3 - 0. The Aces' Charlie Peerless was no slouch on the mound either, surrendering but six hits in tasting defeat. Wally Blaisdell and George Hunchuk had two singles each for the winners.
Nutzhorn (W) and Hunchuk
Peerless (L) and Shanks
(June 11) The pitchers took their lumps, surrendering a total of 31 hits, as the Weyburn Beavers out-slammed the Notre Dame Hounds 17 - 9. Despite the parade of hits and runs, both pitchers went the distance with Weyburn's Keith Covert being declared as the winner. Chick Springer of the Beavers had a banner evening at the plate in this 8-inning affair, blasting two home runs and two singles off loser Ken Townsend. Jim Burge also came up with a stellar performance with a home run, triple and two singles. Dave Hoff and Covert had three singles apiece and Cece McCarron came through with a 4-bagger. Leading the Hounds' batsmen were Gene Lambert with three singles, and two singles apiece to Vern Glazier, Ed Bearss and Phil Headley.
Covert (W) and Garinger, Wenman (7)
Townsend (L) and Doetzel, Headley (7)
(June 13) The Southey Red Sox increased their margin atop the Southern League by defeating the Moose Jaw Lakers 12 - 10 in a contest that featured eight home runs. Vic Wall picked up his third win of the season for Southey and also contributed in significant fashion with the bat, poking out a double and two singles. His battery mate, Morris McNabb, flexed his power by slamming a pair of homers. Mark Genge, in relief of Moose Jaw starter Bob Bell, was stung with the loss. Wally Blaisdell was a major thorn in Wall's side as he belted three homers off the Red Sox' portsider, to up his season's total to 5. Mel Hennenfent and Murray Smail of the Lakers and Ed Heidt of the Sox also had home runs.
Wall (W) and McNabb
Bell (L), Genge (9) and Hunchuk
(June 13) Gary McKechney allowed six hits and went the distance in pitching the Estevan Maple Leafs to a 13 - 5 win over the Weyburn Beavers. Jerry Wenman, who started on the hill for the Beavers, took the loss. McKechney slashed out a double and single for Estevan while Bob Jackson, Nasie Schnell, Dale Wetsch and Harold Schnell each had two singles. Cece McCarron led Weyburn with a home run, double and single in four trips to the plate.
G. McKechney (W) and Kreuger, Kraychy (5)
Wenman (L), McCarron (8) and Garinger
(June 14) Phil Resch relieved Jim Jankowich in the 8th inning and picked up the win as the Notre Dame Hounds scored a 9th inning tally to edge the Marquis Wheat Kings 6 - 5. George Guillaume went the distance for Marquis and was tagged with the loss. Vern Glazier led the Hounds in hitting with three singles. Ed Doetzel hit a double and single while Jim Lyons and Hugh Carr each had two singles.
Jankowich, Resch (W) (8) and Doetzel
Guillaume (L) and Anderson
(June 15) Gwen Woodruff, the Estevan Maple Leafs import pitcher, turned in a dazzling two-hitter to lead the Maple Leafs to a 6 - 1 victory over the Assiniboia Aces in the opener of a Southern League double-dip. In the second encounter, Woodruff relieved Gordie McDonald in the 8th inning and was hit for his first loss of the season as the Aces scored a pair off of his offerings in prevailing 4 - 2. Woodruff struck out ten in easily winning the matinee over Assiniboia's Bill Martindale. Bob Jackson and Harold Schnell both had two singles for the winners.
Martindale (L) and Cowie, Shanks (8)
Woodruff (W) and Kreuger
Charlie Peerless hurled Assiniboia to its victory in the nightcap, sending ten batters down on strikes. Lyle Thompson slammed three singles for Estevan while Barry Wolstencroft and Nick Lawrick singled twice for the Aces.
Peerless (W) and Kyle
McDonald, Woodruff (L) (8) and Kraychy, Kreuger (7)
(June 15) Phil Resch won his second decision in two days as the Notre Dame Hounds up-ended the Southey Red Sox 4 - 3. Shortstop Ed Bearss paced Notre Dame to its victory, banging out three hits off loser Ed Heidt. Morris McNabb had a productive afternoon at the dish for Southey, blasting out two doubles and two singles.
Heidt (L) and McNabb
Resch (W) and Doetzel
(June 17) The Moose Jaw Lakers climbed past the Weyburn Beavers into sole possession of 5th place in the Southern League by pasting their Soo-Line hosts 7 - 2. Home run power played a prominent role in the Lakers win. Catcher George Hunchuk unloaded a two-run blast in the first inning to put them into the lead and then Mel Hennenfent and Herb Lovett added bases-empty shots in the 6th and 7th respectively to pad their lead and give the win to moundsman Art Miller. Loser Dave Hoff was belted from the hill in the 2nd and took the loss. Hunchuk, Hennenfent and Ray Nutzhorn all wound up with two hits for Moose Jaw.
Miller (W), McNaughton (9) and Hunchuk
Hoff (L), Covert (2) and Garinger
(June 18) The Southey Red Sox crept back into first place in the Southern League, only a few percentage points ahead of the runner-up Notre Dame Hounds, by downing the Weyburn Beavers 8 - 5 in a seven inning tilt. Arnie Floyd relieved Vic Wall in the 6th inning to get credit for the win while Weyburn's Jerry Wenman was the complete game loser. Denny Cochrane had a bases-empty home run and double to lead Southey's hitting. Ken McEachern, Morris McNabb and Lionel Ruhr all had two hits for the victorious Redlegs. Wenman hit three singles for Weyburn.
Wenman (L) and Garinger
Wall, Floyd (W) (6) and McNabb
(June 22) Shifty shortstop Lionel Ruhr sparked the Southey Red Sox to a pair of wins over the Assiniboia Aces as the front-running Crimson Hose took the opener 9 - 4 and the owl encounter 4 - 3. Ruhr swatted a two-run homer and two singles in the first game to provide southpaw Vic Wall with the ammunition for his 4th victory against no losses. Wall limited the Aces to three hits, one a homer by Lorne Shanks, in out-performing loser Bill Martindale. Denny Cochrane had a double and single for the Sox.
Wall (W) and McNabb
Martindale (L) and Waterton, Kyle (6)
Ruhr picked up a pair of singles in the seven inning, second encounter off loser, and former Red Sox' teammate, Charlie Peerless, helping Arnie Floyd to the pitching win. Second sacker Luke Moser poked a three-run homer for the Sox to tie the game at 3 - 3 in the 5th and Southey counted the winning tally in the 6th to squeak out the win. Lorne Shanks cranked out a homer for Assiniboia, his second of the twin-bill.
Floyd (W) and McNabb
Peerless (L) and Kyle
(June 22) Gwen Woodruff spearheaded the Estevan Maple Leafs to a 12 - 8 win over the Marquis Wheat Kings, tossing a six-hitter and picking up his 3rd victory against one loss. Jim Linnell was hit with the loss after being driven from the mound in the 3rd inning. Nasie Schnell hit three doubles for the Maple Leafs while Dale Wetsch chipped in with a triple and single. Woodruff and Lyle Thompson singled twice for Estevan. For Marquis, Gord Dougherty had two singles and Gord Thul hit a two-run homer.
Linnell (L), Guillaume (3) and Anderson
Woodruff (W) and R. McKechney
(June 22) The Weyburn Beavers bounced the Moose Jaw Lakers 14 - 6 as Chick Springer, Dave Hoff and Jerry Wenman blasted homers to lead the Soo-Liners to their 4th triumph in 11 starts. Jack Devine pitched the entire nine innings for Moose Jaw and took the loss.
Wenman (W) and Garinger
J. Devine (L) and Hunchuk
(June 24) Keith Covert, a veteran of Southern League action for a decade and a half, chalked up his 4th victory of the season by pitching the Weyburn Beavers to an 11 - 10 win over the Southey Red Sox. Ron Hall, the first of three Southey pitchers, was nailed with the loss. Jerry Wenman belted a double and two singles for the winners. Dan Garinger swatted three singles. Covert and Buzz Bent each singled twice. Morris McNabb was the power at the plate for the Red Sox. The starry catcher hit two home runs and two singles in four times at bat. Luke Moser hit a two-run homer and a single while Denny Cochrane doubled twice.
Hall (L), Kober (4), Ash (7) and McNabb
Covert (W) and Garinger
(June 25) The Weyburn Beavers vaulted from 6th to 4th place in the Southern League when they trounced the cellar-dwelling Marquis Wheat Kings 16 - 11. Newcomer Ed Stefureak gave up seven hits in pitching the Beavers to victory. Loser Gordon Dougherty left the hill in the 2nd and Jimmy Linnell finished up. Stefureak proved to be potent with the bat as he stroked four singles in six trips. Buzz Bent had three singles for Weyburn. Jack Shupe, Cece McCarron and Bill Garner had two hits each. Dave Hoff slammed a bases-empty circuit clout for the Beavers. Dougherty was the Wheat Kings' best hitter with a double and single.
Stefureak (W) and Wenman
Dougherty (L), Linnell (2) and Anderson
(June 26) The Southey Red Sox broke a first-place tie with the Notre Dame Hounds in the Southern League by downing them 7 - 2. Al Ash went the distance for the Red Sox, throwing a four-hitter at the Dogs, for his initial win of the season. He struck out five and walked 4. Phil Resch took the loss, striking out four and walking 3. Morris McNabb belted a home run and double and Ed Heidt hit a double and single with Southey. Vic Wall homered while Larry Bachiu blasted a triple and Ash doubled.
Resch (L) and Doetzel
Ash (W) and McNabb
(June 28) Infielder Rube Erfle took to the mound for the visiting Assiniboia Aces and hurled a complete game 8 - 1 no-hitter against the host Marquis Wheat Kings in Southern League action. Nick Lawrick had two singles for Assiniboia off loser Gord Dougherty while Ossie Booth hit a home run.
R. Erfle (W) and Kyle
Dougherty (L) and Anderson
(June 28) The Notre Dame Hounds took the measure of the Weyburn Beavers 18 - 8 to keep hot on the heels of the pace-setting Southey Red Sox. Hugh Carr registered four singles in six trips to spearhead Notre Dame's offense off loser Keith Covert and three relievers. Phil Resch picked up the win for the Hounds. Vern Glazier had a home run and two singles for the Dogs and Bernie Saucier clubbed a triple, double and single. Ed Bearss showed power with a home run and triple. Weyburn's big hitter was Jerry Wenman who came through with two singles and a double. Dave Hoff, Dan Garinger and Cece McCarron all had two hits.
Covert (L), Wenman (4), Stefureak (4), Franks (4) and Garinger, Wenman (7)
Resch (W), Townsend (8) and Saucier
(June 29) After being a no-hit victim the previous night, the Marquis Wheat Kings journeyed to Assiniboia and, in the opener of a doubleheader, laid a 12 - 5 pasting on the Aces to gain some measure of revenge for the previous night's drought. The Aces came back to completely humiliate the Wheat Kings 21 - 0 in the second game. Jim Linnell went the distance in the opener for Marquis to gain the decision over Gord Skjerven. Linnell, Gord Dougherty and Gene Herle all banged out a trio of base knocks for the Wheat Kings. George Cannon wasn't far behind with a brace. Rube Erfle led the Aces with the bat, slugging a triple, double and two singles. Nick Lawrick contributed a pair of hits and Jim White homered for Assiniboia.
Linnell (W) and Anderson
Skjerven (L), Lowes (4) and Cowie, Kyle (4)
In the second game, Charlie Peerless limited Marquis to three hits while fanning 15 to easily take the decision from Wheat Kings' starter Gord Miller. Ossie Booth, Jim White and Gord Skjerven all had a trio of hits for the Aces. Lorne Shanks, George Ciocia and Peerless had two hits each, one of Shanks being a 4-bagger.
Miller (L), Guillaume (3), Gordon (5) and Anderson
Peerless (W) and Kyle
(June 29) The Southey Red Sox swept a pair of Southern League games from the Estevan Maple Leafs, defeating them 5 - 2 in the first game and 3 - 2 in the second. Vic Wall posted his 5th win of the campaign in the opener, hurling a two-hitter. Gwen Woodruff was the loser. Wall and Luke Moser each had a double and single for the Sox.
Woodruff (L) and Kreuger
Wall (W) and McNabb
Southey's Ed Heidt won the pitcher's joust in the second match squeaker, with a six-hitter, in besting Estevan's Merv Sanderson. Lionel Ruhr registered four singles in five at bats for the Sox. Al Schell hit a double and two singles while Harvey Johnson swatted two singles. Bob Jackson had two hits for the Maple Leafs.
Sanderson (L) and Kreuger
Heidt (W) and McNabb
Standings as of June 30
Southey Red Sox 10 - 3 .769
Notre Dame Hounds 8 - 4 .667
Assiniboia Aces 6 - 6 .500
Moose Jaw Lakers 5 - 6 .455
Estevan Maple Leafs 5 - 6 .455
Weyburn Beavers 6 - 8 .429
Marquis Wheat Kings 3 - 10 .231
(July 3) The Marquis Wheat Kings, resting in the basement of the Southern League, toppled the league-leading Southey Red Sox 10 - 7. Jim Linnell went the distance for the winners giving up 11 hits. Southey's Ed Heidt took over for Al Ash in the 2nd inning and was charged with the loss. Linnell swatted three singles for the Wheat Kings while Bernard Cannon and George Guillaume each had two hits. The Red Sox were led by Heidt and Larry Bachiu both of whom laced a double and a pair of singles. Al Schell pounded two singles for the Red Stockings.
Ash, Heidt (L) (2) and McNabb
Linnell (W) and Anderson
(July 4) The front-running Southey Red Sox increased their league margin to two full games as they trampled the second-place Notre Dame Hounds 15 - 1. Arnie Floyd scattered five hits to get credit for the pitching win. He aided his own cause with a brace of doubles and a single. Ken Townsend, the first of three Notre Dame chuckers, was saddled with the loss. Denny Cochrane and Brian Dutkowski socked a double and single each for Southey while Ed Prosofsky added a pair of singles. Phil Headley had two hits for Notre Dame.
Townsend (L), Resch (2), Carr (5) and Doetzel
Floyd (W) and McNabb, Schell (7)
(July 4) The Assiniboia Aces made the most of 12 Beaver errors to coast to an easy 14 - 4 win over the Weyburn crew. Aces' Lefty Erfle made his season's debut on the mound a winning one as he bested Weyburn's Jerry Wenman. Catcher Farrell Kyle led the Aces' attack with four singles. Charlie Peerless went 3 for 5 and Ossie Booth slammed a two-run circuit clout for Assiniboia. Jack Shupe, Dan Garinger and Baldy Garner each had a brace of safeties for the Beavers. Ernie Franks also contributed a bases-empty homer in the 4th.
A. Erfle (W) and Kyle
Wenman (L), Ballance (6) and Garinger
(July 8) The Estevan Maple Leafs rung up an easy 9 - 0 win over the Weyburn Beavers as Estevan hurler Gwen Woodruff shut down Weyburn on three hits. Nary a Beaver advanced beyond second base as Woodruff fashioned his shut-out in the 8-inning game. Nasie Schnell paced the Leafs with a two-run homer and a single while Woodruff ripped out a pair of singles. Loser Dave Hoff gave up seven hits but was consistently hurt by his mates' poor defense.
Hoff (L) and Garinger
Woodruff (W) and Kreuger
(July 8) Veteran Cy Thorseth made his return to the Southern League a successful venture as he pitched the Moose Jaw Lakers to a 14 - 4 hammering of the Assiniboia Aces. Charlie Peerless took the pitching defeat for the Aces. The Lakers took a commanding lead in the early innings and coasted to the win. Four home runs were hit in this contest, two by Assiniboia's Ossie Booth. Ray Nutzhorn and George Hunchuk connected for Moose Jaw.
Peerless (L) and Kyle
Thorseth (W) and Hunchuk
(July 11) The Weyburn Beavers scored eight runs in the first inning and then had to come from behind to defeat the Moose Jaw Lakers 12 - 11 in a Southern League game. Moose Jaw used three pitchers in the initial frame including Ray Nutzhorn who completed the mound chores and took the loss. Jerry Wenman, in relief of starter Elmer Franks, picked up the win. Dan Garinger and Jim Burge had three hits for the Beavers while Jack Shupe, Baldy Garner and Cece McCarron each had a pair. Charlie Elsom was the leading hitter for Moose Jaw, belting a home run, two doubles and a single. Wally Blaisdell and Wayne North, who was recently obtained from the Estevan Maple Leafs, had a home run and single each for the Lakers.
McNaughton, Miller (1), Nutzhorn (L) (1) and Smith
Franks, Wenman (W) (3) and Garinger
(July 11) The Notre Dame Hounds picked up their 9th win of the season by downing the Estevan Maple Leafs 5 - 3. Phil Resch allowed eight hits in gaining the win over Estevan's Gary McKechney. Richie Dukes poked out two doubles and Ken Townsend came through with a double and single for Notre Dame. Harold Schnell had a double and single for the Leafs. Estevan's Gwen Woodruff socked a pinch-hit home run.
G. McKechney (L) and Kreuger
Resch (W) and Doetzel
(July 12) The Estevan Maple Leafs set down the front-running Southey Red Sox 9 - 5 in the first of two weekend games against the Redlegs. Gwen Woodruff , with bullpen help from Merv Sanderson, picked up the win for Estevan. Vic Wall took it on the chin for Southey, tasting defeat for the initial time this season as the Maple Leafs pounded him in the two plus innings that he worked. Ron McKechney, Dale Wetsch, Erwin Kreuger and Woodruff all had a brace of hits for Estevan. Harvey Johnson belted a home run for the Crimson Hose.
Wall (L), Heidt (3) and McNabb
Woodruff (W), Sanderson (6) and Kreuger
(July 13) Gwen Woodruff, the Estevan Maple Leafs' pitching ace, improved his record to five wins and two losses as he picked up his second win in consecutive games over the Southey Red Sox, leading his team to a 3 - 2 triumph. Bob Jackson's bases-loaded double in the bottom of the 9th off loser Arnie Floyd plated the tying and winning runs for Estevan. Jackson also had a single. First baseman Brian Dutkowski led Southey hitters with two singles.
Floyd (L) and McNabb
Woodruff (W) and Kreuger
(July 15) The Southey Red Sox regained their composure after a pair of weekend loses and consolidated their hold on top spot in the Southern League when they blasted a short-handed Weyburn Beavers outfit 13 - 3. Southey's Al Ash struck out five and gave up three hits in his five innings of work to pick up the win over Keith Covert. Brian Dutkowski and Larry Bachiu had three hits apiece for the Red Stockings with Harvey Johnson socking a two-run homer. Jerry Wenman hit a brace of doubles for the Beavers who played without five of their regulars.
Ash (W), Leverick (6) and Schell, McNabb
Covert (L), Wenman (8) and Garinger
(July 15) The Moose Jaw Lakers moved into a tie with the Assiniboia Aces for the 4th and last Southern League playoff spot as they dumped the cellar-dwelling Marquis Wheat Kings 7 - 1. Bob Bell struck out ten in picking up the win for Moose Jaw. Loser Jim Linnell whiffed an even dozen but his mates let him down committing nine miscues. Baldy Smith, Wayne North and Murray Smail each had two hits for Moose Jaw while Dalton Skeoch and Clare Anderson reciprocated for the Wheat Kings.
Bell (W) and Smith
Linnell (L) and Anderson
(July 16) The tail-end Marquis Wheat Kings clipped the second-place Notre Dame Hounds 4 - 1 in a Southern League encounter. The game was called after six innings because of rain and darkness. Marquis pitcher George Guillaume handcuffed the Hounds on two hits. Hugh Carr gave up four safeties, two of them by Guillaume, and was the loser. Six Notre Dame errors aided the Wheat Kings who sewed up the spoils early with a three-run burst in the first inning.
Guillaume (W) and Anderson
Carr (L) and Doetzel
(July 17) Vic Wall, ace southpaw of the Southey Red Sox of the Southern League, moved up into faster company and pitched the Regina Braves of the Western Canada Baseball League to a 5 - 4 win over the front-running Saskatoon Commodores. Wall pitched the complete game victory, surrendering eight hits along the way and also picked up a single in three at bats.
Yates (L), Popkin (7) and Johnson
Wall (W) and Walling
(July 17) The Moose Jaw Lakers and Notre Dame Hounds battled to a 10 - 10 stalemate that featured powerful hitting by both teams. Each club used two chuckers whose offerings were ineffective, for the most part, in silencing the opposition bats. Eddie Bearss pounded three singles for the Hounds and Ken Townsend added a home run and single. Bob Donald ripped two singles. For Moose Jaw, Wally Blaisdell was the top hitter with a home run and a single. Ray Nutzhorn had three singles while Herb Lovett and Dennis Williams each had a double and single.
Nutzhorn, Genge (7) and xxxx
Townsend, Resch (5) and xxxx
(July 18) The first-place Southey Red Sox put the screws to the last-place Marquis Wheat Kings and came away with a 10 - 5 victory. Both teams had a dozen hits. The Red Sox plated all their runs in the first four innings and put it into overdrive the rest of the way as Al Ash gained the win over Jimmy Linnell. Harvey Johnson and Al Schell belted homers for the Sox. Johnson also had a double while Larry Bachiu had a double and single and Lionel Ruhr, two singles. George Cannon led the Wheat King batsmen with a triple and two singles while Gord Dougherty and Clare Anderson poked out a double and single apiece.
Linnell (L) and Anderson
Ash (W) and McNabb
(July 18) The Notre Dame Hounds swept over the Weyburn Beavers by the tune of 12 - 6 in a Southern League fixture. The Hounds started quickly as Eddie Bearss cranked a three-run homer in the first inning and they kept the lead throughout the contest. Hugh Carr, who replaced Bob Dagelman in the 3rd inning, got credit for the win while Beaver starter Dave Hoff was hit with the loss. Richie Dukes was Notre Dame's leading batter with two doubles and a single. Garnet Campbell, Ed Doetzel and Bob Donald all had a brace of singles. Ed Luterbach led the Beavers with a bases-empty home run and two singles while Buzz Bent had three singles and Keith Covert a pair.
Dagelman, Carr (W) (3) and Doetzel
Hoff (L), Wenman (6) and Garinger
(July 20) The Assiniboia Aces upset the front-running Southey Red Sox twice in Southern League action, defeating them 3 - 1 in the first game and 7 - 5 in the second. Al Lowes pitched the Aces to their win in the opener, besting Southey's Ed Heidt.
Lowes (W) and xxxx
Heidt (L) and xxxx
Heidt suffered his second setback of the day as he ran out of gas after eight frames in the finale. Charlie Peerless, the former Red Sox star, took the win for Assiniboia.
Peerless (W) and xxxx
Heidt (L), Wall (9) and xxxx
(July 20) The last-place Marquis Wheat Kings picked up their sixth win of the campaign as they pummeled the Weyburn Beavers 11 - 1. Gord Dougherty four-hit the Beavers to pick up the win over Weyburn's Elmer Franks. Jim Linnell sparked Marquis by clubbing a single, double and triple. George Guillaume and Bernard Cannon had a double and single each while Dougherty had two singles.
Franks (L) and Garinger, Thomas (6)
Dougherty (W) and Anderson
(July 20) The Notre Dame Hounds tripped up the Moose Jaw Lakers 7 - 3 to move into sole possession of first place in the Southern League. Phil Resch out-dueled veteran chucker Cy Thorseth to give the Dogs the important win. Garnet Campbell of the Hounds and Moose Jaw's Ray Nutzhorn, both with two singles, led their respective club's offense.
Resch (W) and xxxx
Thorseth (L), Genge (4) and xxxx
Standings as of July 21
Notre Dame Hounds 11 - 6 .647
Southey Red Sox 13 - 8 .619
Assiniboia Aces 9 - 7 .563
Estevan Maple Leafs 9 - 7 .563
Moose Jaw Lakers 7 - 9 .438
Weyburn Beavers 7 - 13 .350
Marquis Wheat Kings 6 - 12 .333
(July 22) The standout pitching and hitting of Bob Bell ignited the Moose Jaw Lakers to a 9 - 1 win over the Marquis Wheat Kings. Bell allowed the Wheat Kings only three hits while going the route for the Lakers. He also nailed three singles in four at bats. Ray Nutzhorn and George Hunchuk had a double each for the winners. Moose Jaw took a quick lead against loser George Guillaume, scoring six runs in the first inning.
Guillaume (L), Dougherty (4) and Anderson
Bell (W) and Hunchuk
(July 23) The Estevan Maple Leafs moved into a tie for second place in the Southern League by sweeping a doubleheader from the Moose Jaw Lakers, scoring an impressive 11 - 2 win in the matinee and following it up with a 6 - 1 win in the nightcap. Gary McKechney limited the Lakers to just three hits in game 1 as his mates battered loser Jack Devine for eight runs in the first frame, providing McKechney with loads of cushion. The winning hurler and his brother, Ron, led Estevan from the batter's box, each coming through with a double and two singles. Catcher Erwin Kreuger and outfielder Nasie Schnell slugged homers and Kreuger kicked in with a single as well. Lyle Thompson and Jonas Fornwald each had a pair of singles.
J. Devine (L) and Hunchuk
G. McKechney (W) and Kreuger
Merv Sanderson was even stingier than McKechney in the second game as he gave up only two hits. Dick McNaughton was the complete game loser. Sanderson helped his own cause with two doubles and a single while Ron McKechney hit three singles. Lyle Thompson contributed a pair of one-baggers.
McNaughton (L) and Hunchuk
Sanderson (W) and Kreuger
(July 23) The Assiniboia Aces retained their hold on third place in the Southern League as they downed the top-place Notre Dame Hounds 7 - 3. Albert "Lefty" Erfle earned his second win of the season as he prevailed in the pitching joust over Notre Dame's Ken Townsend. Gord Skjerven was the top hitter for Assiniboia with a double and two singles. Rube Erfle had three singles for the Aces. Ed Bearss and Denny Messier each had two singles for the Dogs.
A. Erfle (W) and Kyle
Townsend (L) and Doetzel
(July 24) The Notre Dame Hounds maintained their grasp on the Southern League's top spot by routing the Estevan Maple Leafs 13 - 0. Phil Resch pitched the four-hit shutout win for Notre Dame. The Hounds knocked loser Gary McKechney from the hill in the 5th after they had piled up an enormous lead. Ken Townsend was the Dogs' main offensive threat picking up a double and three singles in four at bats. Vern Glazier, Bob Donald, Hugh Huck and Jin Lyons all had two hits for the Collegians, one of Glazier's being a 4-bagger.
G. McKechney (L), Peterson (5) and Kreuger
Resch (W) and Doetzel
(July 25) The Assiniboia Aces lowered the boom on the Moose Jaw Lakers 7 - 4 and put the Lakers' chances of making the Southern League playoffs in serious jeopardy. The Aces said it with homers as Charlie Peerless belted out two round trippers off loser Bob Bell while Lorne Shanks and Farrell Kyle pasted one apiece. Allan Lowes went the route for the win. Wally Blaisdell led the Lakers with three safeties in four trips.
Lowes (W) and Kyle
Bell (L) and Lovett
(July 25) The Marquis Wheat Kings downed the Weyburn Beavers 9 - 4 as winning chucker Jimmy Linnell fanned 11 in taking the decision over Keith Covert. George Guillaume paced the winners at the plate with three doubles and a single while Linnell socked a two-run homer . Clare Anderson and Gene Herle each had a brace of raps. Buzz Bent and Barry Greaves each had a trio of knocks for the Beavers while Dan Garinger and Jerry Wenman both had a pair, with one of Wenman's being a two-run homer.
Linnell (W) and Anderson
Covert (L), Allen (7) and Garinger
(July 26) Bob Peterson of Estevan and Gord Dougherty of Marquis had themselves an old-fashioned pitcher's duel as Peterson and his Maple Leaf teammates skimmed by the host Wheat Kings 3 - 1. Peterson surrendered only two hits in chalking up the win while Dougherty threw a superb three-hitter but had to endure five miscues by his defense. Bob Jackson had a single and double for the Maple Leafs.
Peterson (W) and Kreuger
Dougherty (L) and G. Cannon
(July 27) The Assiniboia Aces took over first place by a narrow half game margin when they trimmed the Estevan Maple Leafs 9 - 2 and 11 - 2 in a Sunday twin-bill. The double-boost sent the Aces past the Notre Dame Hounds and Southey Red Sox and put them in the position, at least temporarily, of being the top banana in the Southern loop. Lefty Erfle won his third decision in three starts as Assiniboia took the opener, handing Gary McKechney the loss. Charlie Peerless was the big man with the bat, slamming out a triple, double and single for the Aces. Lorne Shanks had two doubles. Barry Wolstencroft added a double and single.
G. McKechney (L) and Kreuger
A. Erfle (W) and Kyle
Charlie Peerless stymied the Leafs on three hits in picking up the easy game two victory over Merv Sanderson. Jim White and Rube Erfle spear-headed the Aces' offensive drive in the nightcap each coming through with two doubles and a single. Barry Wolstencroft clubbed two singles.
Sanderson (L) and Kreuger
Peerless (W) and Kyle
(July 27) The Southey Red Sox had little trouble in getting past the Marquis Wheat Kings 13 - 4. The Sox jumped on loser George Guillaume for five markers in the first frame and were never headed, making things comfortable for winner Al Ash. Denny Cochrane had four singles for the Crimson Hose. Wayne Mang hit a home run and single while Lionel Ruhr, Luke Moser and Larry Bachiu each had two singles. Clare Anderson drilled a brace of singles for Marquis.
Ash (W) and McNabb
Guillaume (L), Linnell (1) and Anderson
(July 27) The Notre Dame Hounds kept things crowded near the top of the Southern League heap as they downed the Moose Jaw Lakers 5 - 3. The loss eliminated the Lakers from any chance of making the playoffs. In a battle of right-handers, Notre Dame's Phil Resch came out on top over Moose Jaw's Wally Blaisdell. Ed Bearss lashed out a home run for Notre Dame while Mel Hennenfent topped the Lakers' offense with a single and double.
Resch (W) and Doetzel
Blaisdell (L) and Hunchuk
(July 29) The Assiniboia Aces lost to the Notre Dame Hounds 4 - 3, a defeat which dropped them from first place into third in the Southern League standings. Veteran Hughie Carr completed his first game of the year, throwing a five-hitter at the Aces while fanning 6. The loser was Allan Lowes who allowed eight hits and whiffed 4. Ken Townsend was the leading hitter for the Collegians, belting a two-run homer and single in three appearances at bat. Rube Erfle pounded a single and double for Assiniboia while Barry Wolstencroft added a double.
Lowes (L) and Kyle
Carr (W) and Doetzel
(July 29) The Southey Red Sox moved up a notch into second spot in the Southern League as they defeated the tail-end Marquis Wheat Kings 5 - 4. The Sox trail the Notre Dame Hounds by a scant .015 percentage points. Al Ash relieved Southey starter Ken "Blackie" Kober in the 7th to get credit for the win. Gord Dougherty took the complete game loss. Catcher Morris McNabb singled with two out in the 9th inning to drive in the winning run for Southey. Marquis' Gene Herle had two singles, the only player on either team to have more than one hit.
Dougherty (L) and Anderson
Kober, Ash (W) (7) and McNabb
(July 30) The Notre Dame Hounds and Assiniboia Aces, both of whom are closely grouped on or near the top of the Southern League, split a doubleheader as the Hounds prevailed in the opener 4 - 2 and the Aces roared back to win the second encounter 6 - 5. Hugh Huck, Richie Dukes and Jim Lyons each had two singles for Notre Dame in the matinee event as Phil Resch took the win over Lefty Erfle.
Resch (W) and Doetzel
A. Erfle (L), Peerless (7) and Waterton
Assiniboia came back from a 4 - 0 deficit in the first inning to take the nightcap. Catcher Farrell Kyle blasted two doubles for the winners while Lorne Shanks had two singles. The winning pitcher was Gord Skjerven who took over for Charlie Peerless in the 6th inning. Ken Townsend started for Notre Dame and took the loss. Phil Headley hit a double and two singles for the Hounds. Hugh Huck and Richie Dukes belted three singles each and Ed Bearss singled and doubled for the Dogs.
Townsend (L), Carr (7) and Doetzel
Peerless, Skjerven (W) (6) and Kyle
(July 30) The Estevan Maple Leafs edged the Marquis Wheat Kings 9 - 8 as winning pitcher Bob Peterson, out of the bullpen in the 2nd frame in relief of Merv Sanderson, swatted a double and two singles to help propel Estevan's offensive punch along with his pitching prowess. The Wheat Kings' George Guillaume went the distance in taking the loss. Bob Davis hit a single and double for Estevan and Harold Schnell singled twice. Bernard Cannon was the power at the dish for Marquis with a triple, double and single. Gord Dougherty singled twice.
Guillaume (L) and Anderson
Sanderson, Peterson (W) (2) and Kraychy
(July 31) Southey Red Sox took over the top spot in the Southern League standings with a default win over Weyburn Beavers. It was the final game for the Red Sox. Notre Dame Hounds, a half-game back, have one game left to play, a replay of a 10 - 10 tie with the Moose Jaw Lakers. Should Notre Dame win and tie for first place, then a coin toss will be held to decide the issue rather than a sudden-death showdown.
( August 1) The Notre Dame Hounds decided to forego a replay of an earlier season tie game with the Moose Jaw Lakers, skipping an opportunity to gain a first place tie with the Southey Red Sox, and instead opted to settle for second place so that the playoff brackets can begin immediately. With that issue out of the way, the Hounds will take on the third place Assiniboia Aces in one semi-final while the Red Sox will oppose the Estevan Maple Leafs in the other.
PLAYOFFS :
(August 3) The Southey Red Sox opened defense of their Southern League title with a convincing 13 - 7 win over the Estevan Maple Leafs in the first game of their best-of-three semi-final series. 13 of the 30 base-hits in this slugfest went for extra bases. The Redlegs bombarded three Leaf pitchers for 17 hits, scoring 11 times in the final three innings to pin the pitching loss on starter Gary McKechney. Southey's Ed Heidt picked up the win, coming to the aid of starter Vic Wall in the 4th. Second baseman Luke Moser clubbed three singles and a double to lead the Red Stockings offensively. Lionel Ruhr and Denny Cochrane added a double and two singles each while Larry Bachiu had three singles and catcher Morris McNabb a home run and single. For Estevan, center fielder Bob Davis belted two triples and a single while Dale Wetsch had two doubles and a triple. Nasie Schnell came through with two singles and Gary McKechney a home run.
Wall, Heidt (W) (4) and McNabb
G. McKechney (L), Peterson (8), Thompson (9) and Kreuger
(August 3) The Notre Dame Hounds took a one-game lead in their best-of-three semi-final against the Assiniboia Aces by taking down their hosts 8 - 4. Notre Dame's ace chucker, Phil Resch, hurled a complete game 10-hitter for the win. Charlie Peerless started on the hill for Assiniboia and took the loss. Ken Townsend was the main cog for the Hounds at the plate with a two-run homer and two singles. Hugh Huck clubbed two doubles. Gord Skjerven paced the Aces in the hitting department with two doubles and a single. Barry Wolstencroft added a double and two singles and Peerless a home run.
Resch (W) and Doetzel
Peerless (L), Lowes (7) and Kyle, Waterton (6)
(August 5) The Estevan Maple Leafs and Southey Red Sox fought to a 4 - 4 tie in their second playoff meeting with the game being called after ten innings because of darkness. Merv Sanderson of Estevan and Arnie Floyd of Southey hurled complete games. Sanderson allowed five hits and struck out eight while Floyd gave up six safeties and fanned 4. Dale Wetsch hit a single and double for the Maple Leafs and Erwin Kreuger added a double. Floyd had a triple for Southey.
Sanderson and Kreuger
Floyd and McNabb
(August 5) The Notre Dame Hounds advanced into the Southern League final by defeating the Assiniboia Aces 6 - 3 to take their half of the semi-finals in two straight games. Lefthander Hughie Carr registered the pitching win for Notre Dame, allowing eight hits while whiffing 4. Lefty Erfle went the route for the losers, sending six down on strikes and giving up nine hits. Vern Glazier clouted a triple and single for the Hounds, while Richard Dukes and Ed Bearss chipped in with two singles each. Ken Townsend smashed a three-run homer and catcher Ed Doetzel hit a triple. Reg Waterton had a home run and single for the Aces while teammate Barry Wolstencroft belted a double and triple.
A. Erfle (L) and Waterton
Carr (W) and Doetzel
(August 6) The Estevan Maple Leafs forfeited the third game of their semi-final series to the Southey Red Sox as five of their junior-aged players advised team management that they would be partaking in the junior baseball playoffs, thus leaving the Maple Leafs without sufficient manpower to continue.
(August 6) The Southern League final got underway ahead of schedule, following the surprise withdrawal of the Estevan Maple Leafs, and saw the Southey Red Sox jump into a one-game lead in the best-of-five series by edging the Notre Dame Hounds 3 - 2. Ken "Blackie" Kober was the winning pitcher, taking over from Al Ash in the 6th inning. Phil Resch hurled the complete game for Notre Dame and took the loss. Lionel Ruhr stroked out two doubles for the Red Stockings and Larry Bachiu kicked in with a triple.
Resch (L) and Doetzel
Ash, Kober (W) (6) and McNabb
(August 8) The Southey Red Sox won their second straight game in the best-of-five final by drubbing the Notre Dame Hounds 12 - 4. In a match-up of lefthanders, Vic Wall went the route for Southey, giving up seven hits, while Notre Dame's Hugh Carr suffered the setback, surrendering 14 safe blows to the Sox. Shortstop Lionel Ruhr had three doubles in six times at bat for the winners. Luke Moser added two doubles and a single while Wayne Mang had three singles and Larry Bachiu a pair. Ken Townsend paced Notre Dame with a two-run homer and single. Carr rapped out a brace of singles.
Wall (W) and McNabb
Carr (L) and Doetzel
(August 10) The Notre Dame Hounds stayed alive in the fight for the Southern League championship by downing the Southey Red Sox 3 - 1. Phil Resch, Notre Dame's 22 year old right-hander, effectively spaced six hits , all singles, in frustrating the Sox and going the route for the victory. Big Ed Heidt opposed him on the hill, allowing eight hits in taking the loss. Shortstop Ed Bearss had two singles for Notre Dame while Lionel Ruhr and Larry Bachiu had the same production for the Redlegs. Ed Doetzel of the Hounds had the only extra base hit of the game, a double.
Resch (W) and Doetzel
Heidt (L) and McNabb
(August 11) Vern Glazier's bottom of the 9th two-run homer with two out saved the Notre Dame Hounds from elimination and allowed the Dogs to breathe for another day when they avoided execution by earning a 6 - 6 tie with the Southey Red Sox. It was the second round-tripper of the thriller for Glazier who also had a single. The game ended after the 9th inning as darkness had enveloped the skies. Arnie Floyd pitched the entire game for Southey while Notre Dame used three chuckers. Besides Glazier's hitting spree, Ed Doetzel added two singles for the Hounds. Luke "Spook" Moser and Wayne "Charlie" Mang led the Crimson Hose at the dish with two singles each.
Floyd and McNabb, McEachern (7)
Townsend, Gord Campbell (5), Resch (8) and Doetzel
(August 12) The Southey Red Sox turned the tables on the Notre Dame Hounds by posting three runs with two away in the 9th inning to take a 5 - 3 victory and capture the Southern League crown for the second straight season. The Red Sox blasted Notre Dame pitcher Ed Bearss for three hits in the 9th to win the series three games to 1. Bearss, making his first pitching start of the season, had the Sox under control up until the fateful 9th. He fanned 12 and gave up eight hits. Lefthander Vic Wall tossed a three-hitter and struck out eight in a standout chucking performance for Southey. Wayne (Charlie) Mang was the leading hitter for Southey with a double and single. Notre Dame catcher Ed Doetzel had two of his team's three blows, a double and a single.
Wall (W) and McNabb
Bearss (L) and Doetzel
(August 18) Morris McNabb of the Southey Red Sox has captured the Dave Dryburgh memorial trophy emblematic of the Southern League batting championship. The burly catcher batted .388 collecting 31 hits in 80 times at bat. Teammate Lionel Ruhr placed second with a .372 average and had the most hits, 35. In third place, with a .371 average, was Gord Skjerven of the Assiniboia Aces.
Top Ten Batters
Morris McNabb (Southey Red Sox) 31 - 80 .388
Lionel Ruhr (Southey Red Sox) 35 - 94 .372
Gord Skjerven (Assiniboia Aces) 23 - 62 .371
Ed Bearss (Notre Dame Hounds) 26 - 73 .356
Buzz Bent (Weyburn Beavers) 26 - 73 .356
Rube Erfle (Assiniboia Aces) 33 - 93 .355
Harold Schnell (Estevan Maple Leafs) 25 - 76 .329
Luke Moser (Southey Red Sox) 27 - 84 .321
Gary McKechney (Estevan Maple Leafs) 27 - 84 .321
Ken Townsend (Notre Dame Hounds) 27 - 85 .318
Phil Resch of the Notre Dame Hounds, with an 11 - 3 record in regular season action, captured the "Doc" Hughes memorial trophy as the Southern League's top pitcher for 1958.
Lionel Ruhr, Southey Red Sox shortstop, has been selected as the Southern League's most valuable player for 1958.