(June 3) The defending champion Medicine Hat Superiors got a rude reception in Calgary as the teams kicked off the 1959 season. Dodgers exploded for five runs in the 4th inning to break a scoreless tie and go on to whip the Superiors 10-3. Gord Vejprava paced the Dodgers with three hits. Hank Szostak and Bentley MacEwen combined on a seven-hitter for Calgary.
Bartylla (L), Bailey (4) and Kerrick
Szostak (W), MacEwen (8) and D Abel
(June 3) Lethbridge scored eight runs in the first inning and defeated Vauxhall 14-6. Bob Bourbeau's grand slam was the big blow for the White Sox. Bourbeau and John Vaselenak, fresh from a stint in pro ball, each had four runs batted in.
McClure (W), Wilson (6) and Koentopp
Cleland (L), Cliffe (1), Escke (5) and Eilmes
(June 5) Playing-manager Dick Little belted a bases-loaded double in the 6th inning to pace Medicine Hat to a 7-4 win over Vauxhall. Buzz Bartylla picked up the win after taking over the hill for starter Max Sluga in the 2nd inning. Bob Mosteller of the Jets had the only homer.
Jordan (L), Escke (7) and Eilmes
Sluga, Bartylla (W) (2) and Kerrick
(June 7) Bob Mosteller tossed a four-hitter as Vauxhall downed Medicine Hat 7-1 in the first game of a twin-bill. Paul Haney led the Jets with three hits while Jim Pierson poked a homer and Glen Rediger had two hits. The Superiors came back to win the second game, 10-9 as Rediger led the offensive with a two-run homer in the 3rd and a three-run blast in the 5th.
Moore (L), Sluga (6) and Kerrick, Little (4)
Mosteller (W) and Pierson
Bailey (W) and Kerrick, Little (5)
Escke, Mosteller (L) (5) and Pierson
(June 7) Calgary swept a double-header from Lethbridge, 5-1 and 19-5. Dave Centi, a pitcher and part-time outfielder, bashed two homers, a double, and three singles to pace the Dodgers' offensive. Bill Casanova also had six hits on the day, including a homer, and drove in seven runs. Marty Hurd had a homer and six RBI in the second contest. Gord Vejprava went 4-4 in the nightcap.
Morris (L) and Koentopp
Miller (W) and W Abel
Jamieson (L), Wilson (3) and Tarnava
MacEwen (W) and D Abel
(June 10) Vauxhall Jets gave Lethbridge a three-run first inning advantage then roared back to trounced the White Sox 10-4. Jack Jordan settled down after a shaky first inning and finished up with a five-hitter. Shortstop Hugh McMillan and third baseman Tom Gonzalez each had three hits for the Jets. Sox committed six errors.
Jordan (W) and Pierson
Washburn (L), Creighton (7) and Koentopp
(June 12) Lethbridge knocked Calgary from the undefeated ranks with a 6-4 win before 800 fans at Buffalo Stadium. Jerry McClure pitched into the 9th for the win. Dick Creighton got the final out with the bases loaded. Bill Fennessey of the Dodgers had the only homer. Marcel Lachemann went the distance for Calgary allowing just seven hits but was undermined by five Calgary errors.
McClure (W), Creighton (9) and Koentopp
Lachemann (L) and D Abel
(June 12) Hugh McMillan's grand slam homer in the 7th gave Vauxhall a 9-8 win over Medicine Hat. Winning pitcher Bob Mosteller and catcher Jim Pierson also had homers for the Jets. Ron Mertus had two hits, including a homer for the Superiors.
Tillotson (L), Bolingbroke (7) and Crook
Mosteller (W) and Pierson
(June 14) Left-hander Bob Bolingbroke tossed a six-hitter and fanned 14 as Medicine Hat topped Vauxhall 8-2 in the first game of a twin-bill. Jets scored three in the top of the 11th inning to win the second contest 9-7. Bob Mosteller had a homer for Vauxhall.
Jordan (L), Cliffe (7), C Moore (8) and Pierson, Eilmes ( )
Bolingbroke (W) and Mannini
C Moore (W), Schulz (11) and Pierson
Bailey, Bartylla (L) (10) and Mannini
(June 14) Calgary and the White Sox split an error-filled double-header at Henderson Park at Lethbridge. The home club scored an easy 16-4 win in the first game while the Dodgers bounced back to take a 13-10 decision in the nightcap. Calgary committed 14 errors on the day, eight in the first game.
Ray Washburn went the distance for the Lethbridge win aided by a sloppy Calgary defense and John Vaselenak's homer.
Bill Fennessey had a homer, triple and single to pace the Dodgers in the second game. Marty Hurd also had three safeties as Calgary punched out 18 hits. On the day, Gord Vejprava and Marve Marchbanks each had six hits.
Washburn (W) and xxx
Centi (L), MacEwen (2) and xxx
Morris, Creighton (L) (5), Carlson (7), Jamieson (9) and Koentopp
Szostak, Miller (W) (3) and D Abel, W Abel (7)
(June 16) Lethbridge broke a scoreless tie with four runs in the top of the 10th to beat Medicine Hat 4-0. Brack Bailey singled and scored on an error to plate the winning run. Larry Koentopp added some insurance with a two-run homer. Steve Schott went the distance for the shutout. He allowed just seven hits.
Schott (W) and Koentopp
Bartylla (L) and Mannini
(June 17) Calgary built up a 15-6 lead then held on in the bottom of the final frame to top Vauxhall 15-12. Dodgers had 11 hits including homers from Marve Marchbanks and Marty Hurd. Marcel Lachemann, the 18-year-old high school right-hander, was touched for just six hits but walked 13 and hit two batters before giving way to Hank Szostak with two out in the 8th. The Jets committed eight errors.
Lachemann (W), Szostak (8) and D Abel
Schulz (L), Cliffe (7), Moore (8) and Pierson
(June 17) Medicine Hat erupted for three runs in the top of the 9th to turned back Lethbridge 9-8. Glen Rediger was the key man for the Superiors with two home runs and a single. Sherwood Brewer added three hits. Earl Ingarfield had a three-run homer for the Sox. Catcher Larry Koentopp of Lethbridge accomplished an unusual cycle -- he picked off runners at first, second and third. Ken Bailey picked up the win with 3 1/3 innings of hitless relief. Bailey also belted a double which scored the tying and winning runs.
Smith, Powell (6), Bailey (W) (6) and Mannini
McClure, Jamieson (L) (4), Creighton (9) and Koentopp
CALGARY 5 2
LETHBRIDGE 4 5 2
MEDICINE HAT 4 5 2
VAUXHALL 4 5 2
(June 19) Jack Jordan tossed a three-hitter as Vauxhall clubbed Medicine Hat 13-1. The Jets pounded out 15 hits. Jordan aided his own cause with a towering home run blast in the 9th. Playing-manager John Haynie whacked a two-run homer and single for the Jets before being ejected in the third inning. Tom Gonzales also had a homer for the Jets. Bob Mosteller contributed three hits, Chuck Charlton punched out a triple and a single, and Tom Wilcox had a double and single. Superiors helped out the Jets by committing nine errors.
Jordan (W) and Pierson
F Moore (L), Smith (2), Tillotson (8) and Mannini.
(June 19) Ray Washburn gave up a run in the first then shutdown the Dodgers the rest of the way as Lethbridge scored a 7-1 win in Calgary. The big right-hander also belted a homer. John Vaselenak had a three-run clout to pace the Sox.
Washburn (W) and Koentopp
Szostak (L), Miller (7) and D Abel
Calgary announced it had acquired pitcher Jerry McClure from Lethbridge. McClure had tossed a four-hitter against the Dodgers a week previous.
(June 21) Tom Kennedy's squeeze bunt in the 11th inning scored Tom Wilcox with the winner as the Jets beat Calgary 6-5 in the first of two in Vauxhall. Calgary's Jerry McClure had loaded the bases on three successive walks. Wilcox had earlier driven in Tom Gonzalez with a double in the bottom of the 9th inning to force the extra frames. Kennedy blasted a two-run homer in the 4th inning. Bob Mosteller went the distance for the win. He fanned eleven and walked three. Dave Centi homered for the Dodgers.
Larry Schultz, with one batter relief from Jack Jordan, picked up the pitching win in the second contest as the Jets won 6-3. Chuck Charlton, Paul Haynie and Hugh McMillan each had two hits for Vauxhall. Dave Abel, of Calgary, had the only homer.
McClure (L) and W Abel
Mosteller (W) and Pierson
Miller (L) and D Abel
Schulz (W), Jordan (7), Schulz (7) and Pierson
(June 21) Medicine Hat erased a 3-0 deficit with a four-run 8th inning and held on to defeat Lethbridge 4-3 in the opener of a twin-bill in Lethbridge. A two-run, pinch-hit double by Max Sluga was the winning blow. Dave Biggers had a homer for the White Sox. Taylor Smith picked up the win in relief. In the second game, Earl Morris scattered six hits as the Sox won the nightcap 4-2. Lethbridge managed just three hits off Thad Tillotson and Taylor Smith. Pinch-hitter Ray Washburn drove in the winning run with a single in the 6th inning.
Bailey, Smith (W) (7), Bartylla (8) and Crook
Carlson (L), Wilson (8) and Koentopp
Tillotson (L), Smith (7) and Mannini
Morris (W) and Koentopp
(June 21) Ponoka Tournament : Rain washed out the final day of the Ponoka tournament. Cold Lake, Grande Prairie and Ponoka had won first round matches, while Delisle Gems and Spokane Builders battled to a 2-2 tie. The tournament also featured the Beverley Drakes, Colfax and Fairchild Air Force. Satchel Paige was to have been in the lineup for Ponoka.
(June 22) Medicine Hat whipped Calgary 10-3 as Bob Bolingbroke went the distance holding the Dodgers to eight hits. Sherwood Brewer slammed a homer for Medicine Hat with Ron Mertus adding a double and a single.
Lachemann (L), Szostak (3) and D Abel
Bolingbroke (W) and Mannini
(June 22) Calgary shortstop Gord Vejprava jumped into the lead in the Southern Alberta Baseball league batting race. The totals, through games of June 17th, showed Vejprava with a mark of .451, well ahead of teammate Bill Casanova, at .413. Sherwood Brewer of Medicine Hat was third, at .410. John Vaselenak of Lethbridge was at .407, while Dave Centi of Calgary rounded out the top five, at .370. Glen Rediger of Medicine Hat had the most homers, 4.
Lacombe Tournament (June 25) Lethbridge White Sox took top prize with a 5-0 victory over Vauxhall in the final as Mountie Bedford pitched a four-hit shutout. Homers did the trick for the Sox. Darwin Walkingshaw had a solo shot in the 3rd and Stan Busch wrapped up the title with a three-run blast in the 6th.
Bedford (W) and Koentopp
Mosteller (L), Cravens (6) and Pierson
Earlier in the day, the Sox whipped the Eatonia All-Stars 12-1 and, in the semi-final, trampled Medicine Hat 14-4.
Bob Bourbeau, Brack Bailey and Steve Schott had homers against Eatonia. Schott pitched a five-hitter for the win.
Schott (W) and xxx
xxx and xxx
Sloppy field work led to Medicine Hat's downfall in the semi-final. The Superiors had a 2-1 lead in the 4th when Jim Valentine's error opened the floodgates for six unearned runs. Ray Washburn, with relief from Dick Creighton, picked up the win. Brack Bailey had a homer and Jim Lester belted a triple and a double to lead the Sox offense.
Bolingbroke (L), Smith (4), Tillotson (6) and Mannini
Washburn (W), Creighton (6) and Koentopp
Medicine Hat had ousted Fairchild Air Base 6-0 in first round activity as Frank Moore tossed a four-hitter for the Superiors. Glen Rediger had a homer and double to lead the 'Hatters.
Moore (W) and xxx
xxx and xxx
Tom Gonzalez and Tom Kennedy bashed homers to lead Vauxhall to a 6-4 win over Calgary in the other semi-final match. Bill Casanova bashed a pair of solo homers and Marty Hurd contributed a two-run blast to account for all the Dodgers' scoring. Reliever Jack Craven picked up the win. Hank Szostak was the loser.
Schulz, Cravens (W) (7), Jordan (8) and Pierson
Szostak (L), Miller (9) and D Abel
Lacombe Tournament (June 24) Calgary and Vauxhall advanced to the semi-final round as rain cut short the opening day program at the10th Annual Lacombe Tournament.
Vauxhall whipped Cold Lake 10-2 as Tom Gonzalez bashed a grand slam homer, triple and double in three trips to the plate. Jack Jordan held the Cardinals to just four hits and both runs against him were unearned.
Gates (L), Howard (8), Lappen (8) and Snow
Jordan (W) and Pierson
Calgary scored three in the first and went on to a 7-2 victory over the Central Alberta All-Stars as Dave Abel and Marve Marchbanks supplied home run power. Jerry McClure tossed a four-hitter for the win.
Martin (L), Vold (1) and Morris
McClure (W) and D Abel
Lethbridge White Sox, Vauxhall Jets, Medicine Hat Black Sox, Calgary Dodgers, Fairchild (Spokane) Air Force Base, Eatonia All-Stars, Cold Lake Cardinals, Central Alberta All-Stars
(June 28) There were a few surprises as SABL teams cut to the 15-player limit for the remainder of the season. Calgary cut Jim McDonald and signed Hank Bassen, AG Johnson and Bentley MacEwen. Johnson was on the roster just one day before being dropped in favour of Frank Amaya, a slick fielding shortstop who played with Lethbridge in 1958. Vauxhall dropped Doug Erskine while Medicine Hat cut Ken Bailey and added Aaron Jones. Lethbridge had earlier dropped Tom Jamieson.
(June 28) Calgary Dodgers went from worst to first in sweeping a double-header from Vauxhall, 9-1 and 8-6. Sparkling relief work by Bentley MacEwen was key in both games. He came on to douse a Jets rally in the 7th inning of the opener and, in the second game, stopped the Jets in the 8th while the Dodgers rallied for three runs to give him the victory.
Jerry McClure was working on a two-hitter into the 8th inning of the nightcap when the roof caved in. Five walks, a homer by Tommy Gonzalez, a single by Jim Pierson and two errors gave the Jets five runs and a 6-5 lead. MacEwen halted the visitors and was the beneficiary of the Dodgers three-run 8th inning. Marty Hurd had a three-run homer for Calgary in the 1st and McClure added a solo smash in the 4th. Dave Abel contributed three hits.
Dave Centi powered the Dodgers in the first game with two homers and a single. The Jets pulled off a triple play in the opening frame. Paul Haney caught Bill Casanova's bases-loaded liner and relays to first and third erased Frank Amaya and Gord Vejprava.
Dodgers came up with a surprise in shortstop Amaya, the league's fielding sensation last season with Lethbridge. He spent six weeks in the Spring with the Seattle Rainiers of the Pacific Coast League.
Miller (W), MacEwen (7) and W Abel
Cliffe, Jordan (L) (4) and Pierson
McClure, MacEwen (W) (8) and D Abel
Schulz, Mosteller (L) (8) and Pierson
CALGARY 7 6
LETHBRIDGE 6 6 0.5
VAUXHALL 7 7 0.5
MEDICINE HAT 6 7 1.0
(July 1) Calgary Tournament : Lethbridge White Sox captured their second straight tournament title by taking top prize of $1,000 in the 2nd Annual Calgary Elks event. Sox whipped Calgary Dodgers 13-2 in the final, called after seven innings because of the 10-run tournament rule. The contest drew more than 22-hundred people to Buffalo Stadium. Dick Creighton held the Dodgers to four hits and helped out at the plate with a three-run homer. Creighton fanned 12 and walked none. Dave Abel's homer had given Calgary a 2-1 lead in the 4th before the Sox exploded for eight runs in the 6th.
Creighton (W) and Koentopp
MacEwen (L), Miller (6), McClure (7) and D Abel
Dave Biggers two-out, two-run homer in the bottom of the 10th gave Lethbridge a 7-5 win over Medicine Hat in semi-final action. Don Carlson, Mountie Bedford and Steve Schott combined to hold the Superiors to six hits, two of them homers by Bob Mannini and Glen Rediger. Bob Bolingbroke started for the Superiors but a blister on his pitching hand forced him to the sidelines in the 3rd.
Bolingbroke, Jones (L) (3) and Mannini
Carlson, Bedford (7), Schott (W) (10) and Koentopp
White Sox whipped Red Deer Dodgers 11-1 in first round action as Earl Morris tossed a two-hitter. One of the hits was a homer by Bill Service.
Morris (W) and xxx
Pete Malowany, John Makos and xxx
Calgary made the final with an 11-1 victory over Vauxhall. Hank Szostak allowed eight hits in picking up the win. Bill Fennessey had a two-run homer.
Mosteller (L), Schulz (2) and Pierson
Szostak (W) and D Abel
The Dodgers had trounced Ponoka Stampeders 14-4 in opening round action. Marty Hurd led the offense with a grand slam homer. Bob McClure also had a circuit blow. Marcel Lachemann handled the mound duties for Calgary.
Lachemann (W) and xxx
xxx and xxx
Paced by Bob Mannini's homer Medicine Hat whipped Swift Current Indians 11-1.
McLeod, Olmstead, Holdaway, xxx and xxx
xxx and xxx
Vauxhall had won its opener, 5-3 over the Beverley Drakes thanks to a wild streak by the Drakes' Don Glover who walked across four runs in the 6th inning.
xxx and xxx
Glover (L) and xxx
(July 3) Lethbridge scored four runs in the 5th inning without a hit and beat Medicine Hat 4-2 in a game called after six innings by rain. Three errors accounted for the Sox outburst. Ray Washburn went the distance for the win. Bob Mannini of the Superiors had the only homer. Stan Busch had two hits for the Sox.
Tillotson (L) , Smith (5) and Mannini
Washburn (W) and Koentopp
(July 3) Bill Cliffe pitched five innings of shutout relief to lead Vauxhall to a 10-5 win over Calgary. Jim Pierson had three hits for the Jets while Bill Fennessey had three for the Dodgers.
McClure (L), Centi (4) and D Abel
Cravens, Cliffe (W) (3) and Pierson
(July 4) Don Pilling, Lethbridge Herald :
" ... George Wesley's Lethbridge White Sox pitching staff continues to sparkle in tournament play ... In winning the Calgary do the other day White Sox twirlers gave up only 12 hits in three games with Earl Morris, Don Carlson, Monte Bedford, Steve Schott and Dick Creighton doing the elbowing ... In six tournament tussles the Sox mound brigade has limited the opposition to 28 hits ... Breaking it down Bedford has pitched 12 innings, allowing one run and six hits, Schott eight innings, one run and five hits, Morris seven innings, one run and two hits, Creighton 11 innings, two runs and six hits, Carlson six innings, four runs and five hits ... And third sacker Jim Lester, off to a slow start in league play, is pounding the ball at a .423 clip along the tourney trail ... Catcher Larry Koentopp -- and he's a jim-dandy -- leads the team with a lusty .473 mark in six games in Lacombe and Calgary." (The Lethbridge Herald, July 4, 1959)
(July 5) Lethbridge widened its lead atop the Southern Alberta league standings with a double-header sweep in Vauxhall. White Sox took the opener 10-8 as Dave Biggers paced the winners with a double and two singles. Bob Bourbeau had three singles. Newcomer Johnny Price had four hits for the Jets and Tom Wilcox produced a grand slam homer and a double.
Bourbeau had a homer and two singles to lead the Sox to an 11-9 win in the second game. Jim Lester and John Vaselenak also had round-trippers. Bob Mosteller belted a pair of homers for the Jets.
Morris, Carlson (W) (3), Bedford (8) and Koentopp
Mosteller (L), Schulz (4), Cliffe (9) and Pierson
Schott, Creighton (W) (6) and Koentopp
Jordan (L), Mosteller (8) and Eilmes
(July 5) Medicine Hat took a pair from Calgary, both by 11-7 scores. Thad Tillotson, who relieved in both games, picked up the win in the second contest. Sherwood Brewer had two homers for the Superiors with Aaron Jones and Glen Rediger also blasting four-baggers.
MacEwen (L) Centi (4) and D Abel
Jones (W), Tillotson (7) and Mannini
Miller (L), MacEwen (6) and D Abel
Smith, Tillotson (W) (5) and Mannini
LETHBRIDGE 9 6
MEDICINE HAT 8 8 1.5
VAUXHALL 8 9 2.0
CALGARY 7 9 2.5
(July 6) Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian-American League defeated Calgary Dodgers 9-5 in an exhibition match before a crowd of 34-hundred at Renfrew Park at Edmonton. Dale Eikerman, the winning pitcher, was taken to hospital with undetermined injuries after being hit by a pitch in the 7th inning. The only homer of the game was hit by Brack Bailey, on loan to Calgary from Lethbridge.
Vold, Eikerman (W) (7), Yaryan (8) and Heath
Szostak, Centi (L) (6), Lachemann (7) and D Abel
(July 7) Calgary took a 6-0 lead and held off the Lethbridge White Sox for a 6-5 win at Buffalo Stadium. Pitcher Jerry McClure provided the winning blow, a three-run homer in the 4th inning. Bob Bourbeau knocked in four runs for the Sox with a pair of homers and a single.
Washburn (L) and Koentopp
McClure (W), MacEwen (8), Lachemann (9) and W. Abel
(July 7) Medicine Hat exploded for fifteen runs in the 2nd inning to demolish Vauxhall 21-4. Superiors had seventeen hits and capitalized on eight Jets' errors. Dick Rautman, with a double and two singles, and Carson Oldham and Bob Bolingbroke, with three singles apiece, paced the Medicine Hat onslaught. Aaron Jones gave up thirteen hits in winning his second game in three days.
Cravens (L), Cliffe (2), Jordan (8) and Pierson
Jones (W) and Mannini, Crook (6)
(July 8) Sherwood Brewer of Medicine Hat was the leading hitter in the Southern Alberta League with a .358 average, just ahead of three Calgary Dodgers, Marve Marchbanks at .357, Gord Vejprava .351 and Bill Fennessey .345. John Vaselenak of Lethbridge rounded out the top five with a .342 average. Dave Centi of Calgary had the lead in homers with 5, and another Dodger, Marty Hurd was tops in RBIs with 18.
(July 8) Lethbridge had 12 hits and took advantage of six Calgary errors to trounce the Dodgers 15-1. Dick Creighton pitched a five-hitter for the win. Catcher Larry Koentopp had three hits, stole two bases and drove in four runs. John Vaselenak also had three hits for the Sox.
Lachemann (L), Miller (4), Centi (6) and D Abel
Creighton (W) and Koentopp
(July 8) Taylor Smith of Medicine Hat came on in relief in the 9th with the bases loaded and none out and promptly set down the next three hitters to save a 6-3 win for the Superiors over Vauxhall Jets. Ron Mertus led the offense with three hits.
Tillotson (W), Smith (9) and Mannini
Mosteller (L) and Pierson
(July 10) Hank Szostak fired a four-hitter and fanned eleven to lead Calgary to a 3-0 win over Vauxhall. Marve Marchbanks had a double and single for the Dodgers. he had the only extra base hit of the game.
Jordan (L) and Pierson
Szostak (W) and D Abel
(July 10) Mountie Bedford was the story as Lethbridge downed Medicine Hat 12-7. Bedford went the distance on the hill for the win, but it was his hitting that drew the most attention. He had four hits, including a bases-loaded triple. Catcher Larry Koentopp added a double and two singles and Brack Bailey chipped in with three singles.
Bedford (W) and Koentopp
Bailey (L), Smith (4), Jones (7) and Mannini, Crook (5)
(July 12) Lethbridge White Sox swept both ends of a double-header from Vauxhall, 7-6 and 14-5. Sox needed a run in the bottom of the 9th to take the opener after Bob Mosteller's two-out, two-run homer had tied the game in the top of the final frame. Earl Morris, who pitched to just one batter, picked up the win for the Sox. Morris drew a walk in the 9th to push Brack Bailey home with the winning run. Jim Lester, Ray Washburn and Bob Bourbeau each had two hits for the Sox. For the Jets, Tom Wilcox blasted a towering home run.
Sox pounded out 15 hits to whip the Jets 14-5 in the second game. Steve Schott, with relief help from Morris, was the winner. Bourbeau and Stan Busch each had three hits for the White Sox. John Vaselenak knocked in four runs with a homer and a double. Lethbridge announced the release of pitcher Don Carlson.
Schulz, Jordan (L) (1), Cliffe (9) and Pierson, Eilmes (2)
Washburn, Carlson (7), Morris (W) (9) and Koentopp
Mosteller (L), Schulz (7) and Pierson
Schott (W), Morris (8) and Koentopp
(July 12) Calgary and Medicine Hat split a pair. Linn Wallace was the hero for the Superiors in the opener as he singled in Bob Bolingbroke with two outs in the 10th inning to give Medicine Hat a 4-3 victory. Wallace had earlier belted a homer and a double. Bolingbroke had reached first when hit by one of Marcel Lachemann's pitches and advanced to second on a bunt by Ron Mertus. Glen Rediger also homered for the Superiors. Thad Tillotson held Calgary to six hits over 9 1/3 innings before getting relief help from Taylor Smith.
Dodgers exploded with 17 hits in the second game to take a 12-6 decision. Bill Fennessey had four hits, including a homer for Calgary. Marty Hurd and Frank Amaya each had three hits, including a homer. Glen Rediger had a circuit blow for the Superiors.
Tillotson (W), Smith (10) and Mannini
Miller, Lachemann (L) (9) and W Abel
Jones (L), Bailey (3), Smith (5) and Crook
McClure (W) and D Abel
(July 14) Vauxhall Jets snapped a seven-game losing streak by coming back from a 3-0 first inning deficit with eleven runs in their half of the first and coasting to a 16-4 victory over Lethbridge. It was Roy Cleland's first game as manager of the Jets. A grand slam homer by shortstop Hugh McMillan highlighted the barrage. Tom Gonzalez and Bob Mosteller each blasted a homer, double and single for the Jets. Brack Bailey had a homer for the Sox. Jack Cravens settled down after a rough first inning to go the distance for the win.
Bedford (L), Morris (1) and Koentopp
Cravens (W) and Eilmes
(July 14) Calgary rallied for four runs in the top of the 9th to edge Medicine Hat 9-8. Frank Amaya and Bill Fennessey socked homers for the Dodgers. Hank Szostak picked up the win in a route-going performance.
Szostak (W) and D Abel
Bartylla, Bailey (6), Smith (L) (9) and Crook
(July 15) The Superiors were out-hit 13-6 but walked away with a 6-5 win over the Jets in Vauxhall. Taylor Smith was the winner in relief. Tom Wilcox of the Jets had the only homer.
Bolingbroke, Smith (W) (6) and Crook
Jordan (L) and Eilmes
(July 16) Calgary rallied for seven runs in the 9th but it wasn't enough as the Dodgers dropped a 13-9 decision to Lethbridge. Jim Lester paced the Sox with four hits, including a pair of doubles. Bob Bourbeau, the league's leading hitter, had three hits, as did Stan Busch while Brack Bailey knocked in three runs with a pair of doubles. Dave Biggers drove in two with a pinch-hit double in the 7th. Dick Creighton had held Calgary to three singles through eight innings. He survived the 9th to post the win. He chalked up 13 strikeouts.
Creighton (W) and Koentopp
McClure (L), MacEwen (8) and D Abel
(July 16) Bob Bourbeau of Lethbridge moved to the top of the batting race in the Southern Alberta Baseball League. Bourbeau, with a .390 mark, topped Glen Rediger of Medicine Hat by 19 percentage points. John Vaselenak of Lethbridge was third at .363.
(July 16) Vauxhall Jets announced the acquisition of two pitchers to bolster their mound staff. John Harmon and pitcher-outfielder played with the club last season. John Paul, a right-hander, started the season with Lloydminster-North Battleford of the Canadian-American League.
(July 17) Brack Bailey's three-run homer in the 8th carried Lethbridge to a 13-12 comeback win over Vauxhall. After six innings, the Sox trailed 10-2. It was Bailey's second homer of the game. John Vaselenak crushed a grand slam for the Sox and Stan Busch connected for three hits. Tom Gonzalez and Ron Laughlin drilled homers for the Jets while Ken Eilmes had four singles.
Washburn (W), Schott (8) and Koentopp
Cravens, Schulz (L) (8) and Eilmes
(July 17) Medicine Hat scored four runs in the 3rd inning and held on to beat Calgary 7-6. Two-out singles by Ron Mertus and Glen Rediger were key blows in the inning. Thad Tillotson pitched into the 7th to pick up the win. Bill Fennessey of the Dodgers had the only homer.
Tillotson (W) Smith (7) and Mannini
Miller, Centi (L) (3) and W Abel
(July 19) Calgary gave up 10 runs in the first inning but came back to shade Vauxhall 13-12 in the first game of a twin-bill. Dodgers pounded out 14 hits to take the second game 11-2.
In the opener, Dodgers' starter Marcel Lachemann was shelled for 10 runs in the opening frame, but Calgary's five-run 9th climaxed the Dodgers comeback. Marv Marchbanks led the Dodgers at the plate with a double and three singles. Ken Eilmes and Hugh McMillan each had a grand slam homer for the Jets.
In the nightcap, Hank Szostak scattered 11 hits as the Dodgers built up an 8-1 lead after two innings and coasting to the victory. Marty Hurd had a homer for Calgary.
Lachemann, MacEwen (1), McClure (W) (5) and W Abel
Mosteller (L), Schulz (6) and Eilmes
Szostak (W) and D Abel
Schulz (L), Jordan (2) and Eilmes
(July 19) Outstanding pitching highlighted a double-header at Lethbridge as the White Sox beat Medicine Hat by 3-2 scores in both games.
Mountie Bedford tossed a seven-hitter for the win in the opener and Steve Schott pitched a four-hitter for the win in the second game. Bob Bolingbroke allowed just four hits in taking the loss for the Superiors in the first game. Brack Bailey singled, stole second and raced home with the winning run on Larry Koentopp's single in the bottom of the 8th.
An error proved costly for the Jets in the nightcap. Sox got the eventual winning run on base on a 6th inning error and the run scored on a bases-loaded walk.
Bolingbroke (L) and Mannini
Bedford (W) and Koentopp
Bartylla (L), Smith (7) and Mannini
Schott (W) and Koentopp
LETHBRIDGE 17 8
CALGARY 13 13 4.5
MEDICINE HAT 13 13 4.5
VAUXHALL 9 18 9.0
(July 21) Calgary Dodgers upset the Edmonton Eskimos of the Can-Am League 14-13 in 10 innings in an exhibition game at Buffalo Stadium. Marty Hurd, who had two homers and two singles, plated the winner in the 10th on an infield grounder that the Esks failed to turn into a double play. Calgary also got homers from Frank Amaya and Marve Marchbanks. Art Ersepke paced the Eskimos with a homer and two doubles while Bill Heath responded with three hits.
Vold, Eikerman (4), Yaryan (L) (7) and Campise
Centi, MacEwen (W) (6) and D Abel
(July 21) Newcomer John Harmon crushed a grand slam homer and Bob Mosteller had a homer and two singles to lead Vauxhall to an 11-4 triumph over Medicine Hat. Jack Cravens went the distance for the win allowing six hits, one of them a homer by Dick Rautman.
Cravens (W) and Eilmes
Bailey (L), Smith (6), Jones (6) and Mannini, Crook (7)
(July 22) Bob Bourbeau belted a grand slam homer and two singles to lead Lethbridge to a 19-12 win over Vauxhall. Jets took an early 4-0 lead only to have the Sox bounce back with six runs in the 2nd inning and seven more in the 3rd.
Mosteller (L), Schulz (3), Gonzalez (3) and Eilmes
Morris (W), Creighton (7) and Koentopp
(July 22) Frank Amaya stole home in the bottom of the 9th to hand Calgary a 7-6 win over Medicine Hat. Dodgers trailed 6-5 going into the final frame but tied the contest when Bill Casanova's squeeze bunt scored Marve Marchbanks. Calgary manager Dave Abel tried the same strategy with Dave Centi at the plate. Centi missed the ball, but Amaya scored before catcher Pat Crooks could put the tag on him. Casanova paced the Dodgers with three hits while Gord Vejprava contributed two doubles. Ron Mertus, Sherwood Brewer and Dick Rautman belted homers for the Superiors.
Tillotson, Jones (L) (6) and Crook
McClure (W) and W Abel, D Abel (8)
(July 22) Don Maclean, in his Lethbridge Herald column, made his picks for Southern Alberta All-Stars:
"With the Southern Alberta Baseball League half gone and no all-star game in the schedule this year, we will pass on the picks we'd have to make if anyone asked us.
Behind the plate there's only one choice, Larry Koentopp of the Lethbridge White Sox. The best receiver in the league, he displays steady hustle and a pretty good bat. His third year in the league, and he's better every time around.
At first base castoff Tom Wilcox of the Vauxhall Jets gets the nod. Adequate with a glove, he's one of the best hitters in the league. Both Lethbridge and Calgary let him get away. He came to both camps looking for a job.
At second it has to be Marv Marchbanks of Calgary Dodgers. He has a better glove than Sherwood Brewer of Medicine Hat Superiors but no better a bat.
Third base has to go to Glen Rediger of the 'Hat. He supplies most of the power for the Superior lineup and can make the necessary plays at third base.
The league is fattest at shortstop. Every club in the loop has a good one but the big bat of Bob Bourbeau of Lethbridge gives him a slight edge over the other three who are close as peas in a pod. Frank Amaya, Hugh McMillan and Carson Oldham give the loop the best shortstopping it's ever seen.
Left field belongs to Brack Bailey of the White Sox and centre to John Vaselenak of the White Sox. Bill Fennessey ranks a close second to Vaselenak but isn't producing the base hits like he should. Stan Busch of the White Sox completes the best outfield in the league by a country mile. Good bat and steady fielding. Bailey, the lean lad from the deep south, has just come into his own as a hitter. He's now hovering at the .300 mark and makes plenty of circus catches.
The pitching stays in two cities. Lethbridge contributes right-hander Steve Schott and lefty Dick Creighton to our dream team while Medicine Hat has Thad Tillitson (sic) and Bob Bolingbroke." (Lethbridge Herald, July 22, 1959)
(July 23) In an exhibition match, Lethbridge topped the Drain Black Sox 8-4. Ray Washburn tossed a seven-hitter for the win. Dave Biggers belted a homer and a triple for the Sox. Drain, one of the entries in the Rotary Tournament, captured the US semi-pro title in 1958.
Montee (L) and Olson
Washburn (W) and Koentopp
(July 24) Lethbridge sent Medicine Hat down to its fifth straight defeat, 8-5, as Dick Creighton scattered 10 hits to get the win.
Creighton (W) and Koentopp
Bolingbroke (L), Jones (7) and Mannini
(July 24) Vauxhall Jets, under their third manager of the season, whipped Calgary 10-5 in a game called after eight innings because of darkness. John Harmon, an outfielder with the Jets, handled the club for the first time. Tom Wilcox had a double and single to pace the Jets. John Price had a homer.
Miller, Szostak (L) (1) and W. Abel, D. Abel (7)
Cravens, Jordan (W) (8) and Eilmes
(July 24) Tom Wilcox of Vauxhall was the new leader in the batting race according to the latest statistics released from league headquarters. Wilcox, who started the season with Calgary, was hitting at a .397 clip well ahead of runner-up Marty Hurd of Calgary, at .359. Glen Rediger of Medicine Hat was third at .357. Bob Bourbeau and John Vaselenak of Lethbridge rounded out the top five with averages of .355 and .348.
Rediger topped the circuit in homers, with 9 and Hurd continued to lead in runs batted in with 34.
(July 25) Drain, Oregon, Black Sox clubbed the Calgary Dodgers 17-2 in an exhibition game at Buffalo Stadium.
(July 26) Lethbridge continued hot. The White Sox trounced Calgary in both ends of a double-header, 10-4 and 12-1.
Steve Schott scattered 11 hits to win the opener and contributed at the plate with three hits. Darwin Walkingshaw also had three safeties and Jim Lester added a pair.
Mountie Bedford held Calgary to five hits in the second game and the Sox got homers from Jim Lester, John Vaselenak and Bob Bourbeau.
Schott (W) and Koentopp
Miller (L), MacEwen (4) and W. Abel
Bedford (W) and Koentopp
McClure (L), Centi (8) and D Abel
(July 26) Vauxhall Jets took a pair from Medicine Hat, 9-7 and 4-3. Playing-manager John Harmon paced the Jets in the first game with a homer and single. Glen Rediger had a pair of four-baggers for the Superiors. Ron Mertus and Sherwood Brewer also had homers. Harmon had another homer in the second game as the Jets scored in the bottom of the 9th to take the 4-3 decision. Tom Gonzalez also poked a homer for the Jets. Bob Mosteller bested Thad Tillotson in a pitcher's duel.
Bailey (L), Smith (5) and Mannini
Jordan (W) and Eilmes
Tillotson (L) and Crook, Mannini (7)
Mosteller (W) and Eilmes
(July 27) Ray Washburn tossed a no-hitter as Lethbridge downed Medicine Hat 9-2 in a game tainted by allegations of racial taunts. Washburn threw 152 pitches striking out eight and walking eight. Both Medicine Hat runs came as a result of walks. John Vaselenak wielded the big stick for the Sox with a grand slam homer in a six run 8th inning. Jim Lester added a triple and single.
Washburn (W) and Koentopp
Bartylla (L), Jones (4), Smith (8) and Crook
"The big eighth inning was an explosion in more ways than one. It touched off a half-hour riot caused by remarks which filtered out of the Lethbridge dugout all during the contest.
With Superiors slated to bat in the bottom of the inning, Medicine Hat second baseman SherwoodBrewer appealed to plate umpire Zeke Ziebert (sic) and Lethbridge manager George Wesley to call a halt to remarks which apparently regarded Brewer, a Negro. Before Superiors began the inning, Brewer had charged the Lethbridge dugout with several Superiors giving chase and had slugged White Sox pitcher Monty (sic) Bedford who had emerged from the dugout with a bat.
A milling mass of uniformed players engaged in the hassle which resulted in both Brewer and Bedford being ejected from the contest.
Several fans who attempted to get into the act were herded to the sidelines by umpires and team officials, and police escort was provided to usher the Wesleymen from the park following the game." (Lethbridge Herald, July 28, 1959)
The Canadian Press filed the following story on the melee:
Pitcher Dick Creighton of the Lethbridge White Sox denied Tuesday that he passed remarks concerning the race or color of Negro player Sherwood Brewer during Monday night's Southern Alberta Baseball League game in Medicine Hat.
Players with both the Medicine Hat and Lethbridge teams brawled after Brewer, second baseman from Birmingham, Ala., complained to game officials that Lethbridge players were making remarks about his race.
The Medicine Hat Superiors said Tuesday they would request that Creighton, an import from California, be deported to the United States because of the incident. Brewer claimed Creighton made most of the remarks.
Brewer and pitcher Mounty (sic)Bedford of the Superiors were ejected from the game for fighting. Several players suffered bloody noses.
(July 28) Officials of the Medicine Hat Superiors announced that had applied to the Canadian immigration office to have Lethbridge pitcher Dick Creighton sent back to the United States for alleged remarks made to Sherwood Brewer, a Negro second baseman with the Superiors.
It was reported from Medicine Hat that Creighton had "cast aspersions at Brewer and Brewer, in trying to get to Creighton in the Lethbridge dugout, instead wound up in a fight with Mountie Bedford.
Creighton stressed, "I never made any remarks concerning Brewer's race or colour at any time." The Sox pitcher said he would ask the league to have whoever was responsible for branding him in the "race calling" incident to retract the statement.
The league's chief umpire, Tim Miller, had been calling plays at first base and was the closest official to the Lethbridge dugout. He said, "At no time did I hear anything regarding race from the White Sox dugout and neither did the other two umpires who worked the game."
(July 28) Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian-American league shaded Drain Black Sox 2-1 in an exhibition game at Edmonton. Esks scored twice in the bottom of the 9th for the win.
Lane (L) and Olson
Withers, Sims (W) (6) and Heath
LETHBRIDGE 22 8
CALGARY 14 16 8.0
MEDICINE HAT 13 19 10.0
VAUXHALL 13 19 10.0
(July 29) Bob Bolingbroke tossed a neat four-hitter as Medicine Hat shaded Calgary 2-1. He fanned six and walked one. Playing manager Dick Little had two hits for the Superiors.
Later, by league order, the contest was given to the Dodgers.
Centi and D Abel
Bolingbroke and Mannini
(July 29) Lethbridge ran its winning streak to 10 games as they dropped Vauxhall 6-3. Earl Morris pitched a five-hitter for the win. Bob Bourbeau and Stan Busch each had a double and single for the Sox. Jim Lester of the Sox was involved in the fielding gem of the day and an unusual stolen base. Lester got credit for a steal when the throw to second by Jets' catcher Ken Eilmes hit umpire Ira Bourne in the back of the head as he raced to cover the play.
Cravens (L) and Eilmes
Morris (W) and Koentopp
(July 30) Drain Black Sox downed Vauxhall 9-4 in an exhibition tilt in preparation of the Lethbridge Rotary Tournament. Don Lane, a pitcher seeing action at first base, paced the Sox with a homer and three singles. Ray Stratton also poked a homer. Dennis Peterson went the distance for the win.
Peterson (W) and Olson
Schultz (L) and Eilmes
Lethbridge Tournament :
(August 2) In an All-American final, the Kansas City Monarchs took $1,500 top prize in the Lethbridge Rotary Tournament with a spectacular 9-5 victory over the Drain, Oregon, Black Sox. Monarchs trailed 5-1 after seven innings. The touring club exploded for five runs on homers by Paul Gilbert, Willie Washington and Jesse Mitchell. They added three insurance tallies in the 9th. Sugar Cain was the winner, with 9th inning relief from Ben Adams.
Cain (W), Adams (9) and McKnight
Dmochowsky (L), Lane (8) and Olson
Monarchs reached the final with a 13-7 win over Calgary in a rhubarb-filled affair as Gilbert had a two-run homer for the Monarchs and Palmer Hubbard added a solo shot.
Winston, Adams (7)
McClure, Centi (5), MacEwen (6), Lachemann (8), Shultz (8)
Drain whipped Lander 10-3 in the other semi-final. Elwood Hahn tossed a five-hitter for the win.
Hahn (W) and xxx
Carls (L), Glenn ( ), Rogers ( ) and xxx
(July 31) Calgary was the only Alberta club to advance in the Lethbridge tourney. Dodgers withstood an error-aided four-run outburst by Bellingham Bells in the 8th to notch a 5-4 victory. Hank Szostak, who beat the tournament favourite in the opening round of the 1958 tournament, did it again with a sparkling pitching performance. Bentley MacEwen helped out in the 9th.
Szostak (W), MacEwen (9) and Abel
Repoz, Tilbert Neal (6) and Garay
The Lander Pioneers ousted the Lethbridge White Sox, 4-2. The Sox, who had won earlier tournaments in Calgary and Lacombe, were beaten by former pro, Bill Francis who held the Sox to nine hits and helped at the plate with three hits. John Koehler had a homer and single for the Pioneers. Steve Schott turned in a masterful relief job for the Sox, coming on in the third and holding Lander off the board until they notched an unearned run in the 8th.
Francis (W) and Rex
Bedford (L), Schott (3) and Koentopp
Medicine Hat's Thad Tillotson was the hard-luck loser of opening day. He tossed a three-hitter but lost, 1-0, to Kansas City on a Bob Herron homer in the 4th inning. Tommy Taylor gave up eight hits in gaining the win.
Tillotson (L) and Mannini
Taylor (W) and McKnight
The Drain Black Sox had just seven hits but took advantage of wildness by Vauxhall starter Jack Jordan to score an 8-1 victory. The Oregon club piled up five runs in the second inning on six walks and a double by Kim Bradshaw. Dick Montee went the distance for the win.
Montee (W) and Olson
Cravens (L) , Jordan (2), Mosteller (2) and Eilmes
(August 2) The first game under the lights in Lethbridge drew 18-hundred fans to Henderson Park, the largest ever crowd to watch baseball at the facility. Lethbridge White Sox celebrated with a 14-2 exhibition win over the Kansas City Monarchs. Dick Creighton set down the Monarchs on nine hits and fanned fourteen. Bob Bourbeau had a homer and drove in three runs for the Sox. John Vaselenak knocked in four with a triple and single.
Easley (L) Adams (5) and McKnight
Creighton (W) and Koentopp
(August 3) Jerry McClure picked up his 7th win of the season as Calgary downed Vauxhall 13-7. Marty Hurd had three hits and four runs batted in to lead the Dodgers. Gord Vejprava chipped in with three safeties. John Harmon and Jack Cravens each had homers for the Jets. Tom Gonzalez had a pair of doubles and a single.
Bill Collins (L), Cravens (2) and Eilmes
McClure (W), Szostak (8) and W Abel
(August 4) The White Sox trounced Medicine Hat 19-3 before 900 fans in the first league game under the lights at Lethbridge. Brack Bailey had four hits to pace the winners. Ray Washburn allowed just four hits in going the distance for the win. Superiors were fined $200 for using regulars as pitchers. Third baseman Glen Rediger and first baseman Linn Wallace took turns on the hill as the Sox piled on the runs. Neither was registered with the league as a pitcher.
Jones (L), Smith (2), Rediger (5), Wallace (5) and Mannini
Washburn (W) and Koentopp
(August 5) Stan Busch drove in Brack Bailey with the winning run in the bottom of the 9th inning as Lethbridge shaded Calgary 8-7 for their 20th win in their last 22 league games. John Vaselenak had tied the count earlier in the frame with his ninth homer of the season. Steve Schott picked up the win in relief.
Szostak (L) and D Abel
Wilson, Morris (7), Schott (W) (8) and Koentopp
(August 5) Medicine Hat broke a ten-game losing streak blasting Vauxhall 16-4. Glen Rediger and Aaron Jones each had three hits for the Superiors, while Bob Mannini had a homer and a double. John Harmon had a homer for the Jets. Vauxhall committed nine errors, seven by shortstop Hugh McMillan.
Jordan (L), Mosteller (3), Locke (7) and Eilmes
Bolingbroke (W) and Mannini
(July 5) The SABL announced a fine of $200 against Medicine Hat for using players as pitchers not registered as such. In the game, which Lethbridge won 19-3, Superiors used third baseman Glen Rediger and first baseman Linn Wallace on the mound.
LETHBRIDGE 25 8
CALGARY 16 17 9.0
MEDICINE HAT 14 21 12.0
VAUXHALL 13 22 13.0
(August 7) Mountie Bedford had a three-hitter and Stan Busch had five hits, including two triples as Lethbridge shutout Medicine Hat 7-0. Larry Koentopp added four hits, including a triple.
Tillotson (L), Smith (7) and Mannini
Bedford (W) and Koentopp
(August 7) Left-hander Larry Schulz came back to haunt his former team as he pitched Calgary to a 7-5 win over Vauxhall Jets. Schultz went the distance giving up eight hits.
Schultz (W) and W Abel
Cravens (L), Jordan (8) and Eilmes
(August 8) Calgary won its exhibition series with Edmonton Eskimos by taking a 5-4 win at Renfrew Park at Edmonton. Bentley MacEwen hurled four-hit ball for eight innings to pick up the win. Shortstop Frank Amaya came on in the 9th to preserve the win.
MacEwen (W), Centi (9), Amaya (9) and D Abel
Yaryan (L), Vold (6) and Campise
(August 9) Lethbridge extended its winning streak to 15 games by taking a pair from Vauxhall, 10-4 and 5-4. Dick Creighton scattered nine hits to win the opener while Ray Washburn got the decision in the nightcap. Washburn left in the 7th inning with arm trouble. Bob Mosteller threw a two-hitter for the Jets in the second game but four errors proved costly.
Locke (L), Jordan (2), Collins (7) and Eilmes
Creighton (W) and Koentopp
Mosteller (L) and Eilmes
Washburn (W), Wilson (7), Bedford (9) and Biggers
(August 9) Calgary pounded out 25 hits on the day to sweep a twin-bill from Medicine Hat, 10-1 and 6-3. Hank Szostak shutdown the Superiors in the opener while Jerry McClure and Larry Schulz combined on a three-hitter in the second game.
Bill Fennessey and Gord Vejprava each had three hits for the Dodgers in the opener while Marty Hurd belted a homer. Ron Mertus and Bob Mannini each had three hits in a losing cause for the Superiors. Fennessey clubbed a homer for Calgary in the nightcap.
Bailey (L), Bartylla (2) and Mannini
Szostak (W) and W Abel
Bolingbroke (L) and Mannini
McClure (W), Schulz (8) and D Abel
(August 10) The Superiors stopped the Lethbridge winning streak at 15 games with a 7-3 win in Medicine Hat. Ken Bailey held the Sox to seven hits to pick up the win. Steve Schott suffered his first loss of the season for Lethbridge. Sherwood Brewer, back in the Medicine Hat lineup after serving a three-game suspension, had a bases-loaded double in the 7th inning to clinch the win for the Superiors. It was his second double of the game.
Schott (L) and Koentopp
K Bailey (W) and Mannini
(August 12) Brack Bailey broke up a tight contest with a 6th inning grand slam to lead Lethbridge to an 11-4 win over Medicine Hat. Right-hander Mountie Bedford went all the way for the win.
Bedford (W) and Koentopp
Tillotson (L), Bartylla (6), Smith (9) and Mannini
(August 14) Calgary's Marve Marchbanks took over the batting lead in the Southern Alberta Baseball League. With a .368 average, Marchbanks led Stan Busch of Lethbridge by six percentage points. John Vaselenak of the Sox was third, at .358 while previous leader, Tom Wilcox of Vauxhall, slipped to fourth with a .354 mark. Glen Rediger of Medicine Hat had 11 homers to lead the circuit. Vaselenak took over the RBI lead with 47.
Medicine Hat Tournament :
(August 16) Superiors won their own tourney with a 6-4 win over Kansas City Monarchs in the final of the $3,500 affair. Ken Bailey scattered six hits and fanned eight to give Medicine Hat $1,000 first place money. The contest was originally scheduled for Saturday night but heavy rains forced a postponement. Glen Rediger had a two-run homer and single for the Superiors while Dick Rautman added a four-bagger. Gord Easley went the distance on the hill for the Monarchs allowing nine hits. He paced Kansas City at the plate with a homer and single.
Easley (L) and McKnight
Bailey (W) and Mannini
Kansas City got an 11th inning homer by Paul Gilbert to beat Lethbridge 6-4 to gain a spot in the final. Previous to the homer, Dick Creighton had fanned Gilbert five straight times. Lethbridge forced extra innings with a two-run rally in the 9th. Jim Lester drove in Bob Bourbeau for the first marker and Dave Biggers' single scored Lester with the tying run. Ben Adams went the distance for the win. He gave up ten hits, fanned twelve and walked two. Creighton had fifteen strikeouts.
Creighton (L) and Koentopp
Adams (W) and McKnight
Superiors whipped Cold Lake 13-0 to gain the match up against the Monarchs. Buzz Bartylla tossed the seven-inning shutout.
Tisch (L), Glover (1) and Snow
Bartylla (W) and Mannini
(August 14) Lethbridge and Medicine Hat advanced to the semi-finals of the $3,500, 4th Annual, Medicine Hat Tournament. The Sox came from behind with four runs in the 7th and two more in the 9th to shade Vauxhall 9-7.
Schott, Creighton (W) (7) and Koentopp
Cravens, Jordan (L) (9) and Eilmes
Lefty Aaron Jones fired a one-hitter over the seven inning contest and fanned 18 as Superiors had an easy time, blasting Kimberley 14-0. Medicine Hat erupted for 10 runs in the 6th.
Jones (W) and Mannini
Smith (L), Brown (4), Johnson (6), Fitzgerald (7) and Rachfie
Kansas City Monarchs blasted out 15 hits to thump Calgary Dodgers 14-5.
Taylor (W) and McKnight
Szostak (L), Tilbert Neal (3) and D Abel
Cold Lake Cardinals scored twice in the 8th to take a 7-5 victory over the Southeastern Alberta All-Stars.
Schwedelsky, Plante (6), Carlson (L) (7) and Tingley, Pollard (9)
Glover, Tisch (W) (2) and Snow
(August 16) Vauxhall moved into a third-place tie with Medicine Hat with 5-4 and 10-6 wins over Calgary. Tom Wilcox blasted a homer in the top of the 9th to give the Jets the win in the opener. In the bottom of the inning, Bob Mosteller threw out Dave Centi at home when he attempted to score on a single by Dave Abel. Jim Pierson also had a homer for Vauxhall in the first game.
Jets got homers from John Harmon, Hugh McMillan and Jack Jordan in the second contest while Jordan tossed a strong seven-hitter for the pitching win.
Locke, Collins (W) (8) and Eilmes
Schulz, Szostak (L) (7) and D Abel
Jordan (W) and Eilmes
McClure (L), MacEwen (4) and D Abel
(August 17) Glen Rediger blasted a triple, two doubles and a single to pace Medicine Hat to a 10-3 triumph over Vauxhall. Bob Bolingbroke held the Jets to eight hits to pick up the win.
Mosteller (L), Locke (5) and Eilmes
Bolingbroke (W) and Mannini
(August 17) Calgary scored two in the 8th and held on to shade Lethbridge 3-2. Tilbert Neal went the distance with a six-hitter for the win and drove in the key runs with a two-out double in the 8th. Mountie Bedford had a complete-game six-hitter for the Sox.
Tilbert Neal (W) and D Abel
Bedford (L) and Koentopp
LETHBRIDGE 29 10
CALGARY 20 19 9.0
MEDICINE HAT 16 25 14.0
VAUXHALL 15 26 15.0
(August 21) Vauxhall pulled into a tie with Medicine Hat for the third and final playoff spot with a 7-3 win over the Superiors. Jack Cravens was the hero for the Jets, pitching a five-hitter and belting a pair of homers. Bob Mosteller also had a homer for the winners. Linn Wallace had three hits for the Superiors.
Bailey (L), Tillotson (3) and Mannini
Cravens (W) and Eilmes
(August 21) Lethbridge clinched the pennant with a 5-4 win over Calgary. Larry Koentopp paced the Sox with a homer and single. Lethbridge got the winner in the 8th when John Vaselenak, moved to second on a sacrifice and kept on going when third base was left uncovered. A throwing error allowed Vaselenak to scamper all the way home.
Szostak (L) and D Abel
Creighton (W) and Koentopp
(August 22) Lethbridge scored three in the 7th inning to top Calgary 8-6. Dodgers had taken a 6-1 lead into the 3rd. Steve Schott went the distance for the win.
Centi (L) and D Abel
Schott (W) and Koentopp, Biggers (7)
(August 23) Medicine Hat moved into the final playoff spot with a double-header sweep of Calgary, 6-4 and 12-9. Superiors overcame a 9-1 deficit to win the second contest. Bob Bolingbroke and Buzz Bartylla picked up the mound victories. Bob Mannini of the Superiors had the only homer.
Tilbert Neal (L) and Abel
Bolingbroke (W) and Mannini
Schultz, Szostak (L) (6), Amaya (7) and Abel
Jones, Bartylla (W) (3) and Mannini
(August 23) Vauxhall kept its playoff hopes alive with a split of a double-header with Lethbridge. Jets won the opener 3-0 behind the steady pitching of Ron Locke. Sox won the nightcap, 8-4 as Brack Bailey had four hits. Tom Gonzalez had a three-run homer for the Jets. First baseman Darwin Walkingshaw picked up the pitching win taking over the mound work in the 4th inning after starter Earl Morris had to leave the game after being hit on the head with the ball running from first to second in the 4th frame.
Wilson (L) and Koentopp
Locke (W) and Eilmes
Morris, Walkingshaw (W) (4) and Biggers
Jordan (L) and Eilmes
(August 24) Lethbridge came from behind a 5-0 deficit to defeat Calgary Dodgers 8-5. Sox committed four errors in the first two innings as the Dodgers got away to a 5-0 start. But the Sox plated one in the 3rd then erupted for five runs in the 4th to take the win. Mountie Bedford went all the way for the win and led the Sox at the plate with three hits.
MacEwen (L), Amaya (4), Szostak (5) and Centi
Bedford (W) and Koentopp
(August 25) Bill Casanova's long drive to the left field screen scored Bill Fennessey from second base in the bottom of the 12th inning to give Calgary a 4-3 win over Medicine Hat. The win assured the Dodgers of at least a tie for second place in the Southern Alberta Baseball League. The Dodgers had tied the contest in the bottom of the 9th as Marty Hurd's two-out single scored Gord Vejprava. Tilbert Neal, pitching with just one days rest, went the distance scattering 10 hits. Aaron Jones was the tough-luck loser for the Superiors, giving up just nine hits in a route-going performance. Frank Amaya, who made several outstanding defensive plays, led the Dodgers at the plate with three hits. Medicine Hat's Sherwood Brewer was ejected in the 10th inning after having words with chief umpire Jim Prior.
Jones (L) and Mannini
Tilbert Neal (W) and D Abel
(August 25) Bob Bourbeau and Dave Biggers each cracked out three hits as Lethbridge whipped Vauxhall 12-5. Bourbeau broke out a batting slump with a homer, his 7th, a double and single. Biggers, who has played the outfield, third, second, first and catcher, had a double and two singles. Darrell Wilson went the distance for the win, his second complete game in three days.
Cravens (L), Jordan (2) and Eilmes
Wilson (W) and Koentopp
(August 26) Vauxhall took a 12-2 lead over Lethbridge then barely held on for a 12-10 win. Jets smashed 19 hits including two homers from Bob Mosteller and another by Tom Gonzalez. Mosteller went all the way on the hill to get the win. Jim Lester poked a homer and two singles for the Sox and Bob Bourbeau had a double and a pair of singles.
Mosteller (W) and Eilmes
Walkingshaw (L), Bedford (7) and Biggers
(August 26) Medicine Hat scored four times in the bottom of the 8th to notch a 10-6 win over Calgary. Glen Rediger and Sherwood Brewer each had a double and single for the Superiors while Bob Mannini blasted a homer. Bill Casanova led the Dodgers with a two-run homer and two singles.
Centi and Abel
Tillotson and Mannini
Later, league governor Bill McKay announced that the win would be taken from Medicine Hat because of Sherwood Brewer's presence in the Superiors' lineup. Brewer had been suspended after a pushing incident with umpire Jim Prior. Medicine Hat had been notified of the suspension but insisted on playing Brewer.
(August 27) Dick Rautman tied the game with a three-run homer in the 8th, then singled in the winning run in the 12th as Medicine Hat shaded Lethbridge 6-5. Ken Bailey was the hero on the mound as he pitched a 12-inning three-hitter. However, Medicine Hat's use of second baseman Sherwood Brewer, suspended earlier in the week, caused them to forfeit the game to the White Sox.
Creighton and Koentopp
Bailey and Mannini, Crook (3)
(August 27) Calgary Dodgers were probably never happier to feel the rain. Their contest with Vauxhall was called after five innings but by then the Jets had already crossed the plate twenty-five times in crushing the home club 25-5. Jets blasted out 23 hits including four each by Tom Gonzalez and Bob Mosteller. Tom Wilcox and Ken Eilmes each had three.
Cravens (W) and Eilmes
MacEwen (L), Schulz (2), Centi (5) and D Abel
(August 27) The league's acting governor, Bill MacKay, confirmed that Medicine Hat's Sherwood Brewer had been suspended for the rest of the season. MacKay said the Superiors would not be fined for using Brewer in the remaining games but "would simply lose them." Superiors had Brewer in the lineup for Wednesday game when they defeated Calgary. The game was awarded to the Dodgers.
(August 28) A poll of sportswriters named Larry Koentopp as the leagues Most Valuable Player. Koentopp finished one vote ahead of teammate John Vaselenak.
(August 28) Brack Bailey belted a 1st inning grand slam homer and Lethbridge went on to a 7-2 win over Medicine Hat in their final game of the regular season. Steve Schott held the Superiors to six hits to gain the win. Superiors' Bob Bolingbroke was presented with the Tony Arnold Trophy as the club's Most Valuable Player.
Schott (W) and Koentopp
Bartylla (L), Bolingbroke (5) and Little
(August 28) In a slugfest in Calgary, the Dodgers wound up their regular schedule with a 19-18, 13-inning win over Vauxhall. Marve Marchbanks had the big blow for the Dodgers, a three-run homer. Jets got homers from John Price, Tom Gonzalez, Bob Mosteller and Jack Jordan. Bill Casanova added three doubles and a single for Calgary.
Locke, Jordan (L) (2) and Eilmes
Szostak, MacEwen (W) (5) and Centi
SOUTHERN ALBERTA LEAGUE
Lethbridge 36 12
Calgary 23 25 13.0
Vauxhall 19 29 17.0
Medicine Hat 18 30 18.0
Semi-finals :
(August 30) Calgary scored early and held on to beat Vauxhall 8-6 in the opening game of their best-of-five semi-final series. Dodgers plated four in the first on an error, doubles by Bill Fennessey and Marty Hurd and a homer by Bill Casanova. Calgary added two more in the second inning with Hurd and Casanova picking up the RBIs. Tilbert Neal went the distance to pick up the win. He gave up three homers -- to Jim Pierson, Tom Wilcox and John Price. Fennessey led the Dodgers with three hits.
Locke (L) and Eilmes
Tilbert Neal (W) and D Abel
(August 31) Jack Cravens pitched a five-hitter and belted a homer and a double to pace Vauxhall Jets to a 9-1 victory over Calgary to square their semi-final series at a game apiece. Jets scored four runs in the third inning on three hits and three Calgary errors to plate all the runs they needed. Tom Wilcox, the league's leading hitter, knocked out two safeties for the Jets.
Szostak (L) and D Abel
Cravens (W) and Eilmes
(September 1) Calgary scored 14 runs in the first three innings and went on to paste Vauxhall 18-8 to gain a berth in the Southern Alberta final series against Lethbridge. Marty Hurd led the Dodgers with a grand slam homer in the third. Frank Amaya also had a circuit blow for the winners. Bob Mosteller homered for the Jets. Tilbert Neal, who won the opener, tossed eight relief innings to pick up the win.
Mosteller (L), Locke (3), Cravens (6) and Eilmes
MacEwen, Tilbert Neal (W) (2) and D Abel
Finals :
(September 2) Steve Schott held Calgary to seven hits as Lethbridge won the first game of the final series, 13-4. Schott who gave up all the Dodgers' runs in the first three innings, retired 22 straight batters before Marve Marchbanks broke the string with two out in the 8th. Bob Bourbeau was the hitting hero for the White Sox with a three-run homer and a double. Schott aided his own cause with a double and a single.
Schulz (L), Centi (2) and D Abel
Schott (W) and Koentopp
(September 3) Brack Bailey's two-run double in the 8th proved to be the difference as Lethbridge downed Calgary 4-3 to take a 2-0 game lead in their best-of-seven Southern Alberta final series. White Sox had taken the lead in the 7th on Larry Koentopp's two-run single. Dodgers came back with a pair in the bottom of the 9th but Dick Creighton fanned Frank Amaya to end the threat. Creighton pitched a six-hitter for the win. Hank Szostak tossed a five-hitter in a losing cause. He also helped at the plate with a triple and double.
Creighton (W) and Koentopp
Szostak (L) and D Abel
(September 4) Lethbridge moved to within one game of the Southern Alberta League title with a 5-4 win over Calgary. Darryl Wilson scattered 10 hits to pick up the win. Tilbert Neal was the hard-luck loser for the Dodgers. He allowed just eight hits. A Calgary error was instrumental in the Sox scoring the winning run in the 7th. Bob Bourbeau paced the winners with three hits. Brack Bailey had a triple and a single.
Tilbert Neal (L) and D Abel
Wilson (W) and Koentopp
(September 6) Calgary shaded Lethbridge 8-7 at Buffalo Stadium to extend the final series to at least a fifth game.
xxx xxx
xxx xxx
(September 7) Lethbridge crushed Calgary 15-6 to capture the Southern Alberta baseball championship. White Sox took the best-of-seven final in five games. Shortstop Bob Bourbeau again led the White Sox at the plate hitting for the cycle. Bourbeau had five hits, a homer, triple, double and two singles. Darwin Walkingshaw chipped in with a triple and single and Stan Busch belted a homer. Mountie Bedford went the distance for the win. White Sox ended the season with 48 wins in 64 games in league, exhibition and tournament play.
Centi (L), MacEwen (7) and Abel
Bedford (W) and Koentopp
ALBERTA BIG SIX LEAGUE
(May 24) Lethbridge Niseis kicked off the Big Six League schedule trouncing the Pincher Creek Chinooks 18-2 in the first game of a double header. Chinooks bounced back to win the night game 12-8.
Rick Steadman fired a three-hitter, with 14 strikeouts, to pace the Niseis in the first game. Jack Ohno led the offense with a home run and a single. Dick Remple added a triple and single and Harpo Moriyama and Steadman each contributed a double and single. Dusty Rhodes had a homer and single for Pincher Creek. Jim Marshall was the losing hurler. He was sent to the showers in the first frame as Lethbridge scored 11 times.
Dennis Cleland was the hometown hero in the second game as he belted a homer, triple and single to lead the Chinooks' offensive. Vic Anderson helped with a homer and single while H. Gwyn had three hits. Rhodes, who went the distance on the mound, added a double and single at the plate. Bernie Haywood singled twice. Tricky Oikawa belted a triple and double for Lethbridge. Chris Bonnie, knocked out of the game in the fourth inning, took the loss for the Niseis. Spackman finished up.
At New Dayton, the home club took both ends of a double header, winning 17-11 and 15-4 over the Wateron Cardinals. The Gorrill brothers were stars for the winners. Harry Gorrill bashed a pair of home runs and Clem Kaupp added a singleton. Jerry Gorrill picked up the pitching win finishing up for brother Harry. Hilmer, in relief of starter Reed Chipman, took the loss for Waterton. New Dayton outhit the Cardinals 17-12. Waterton committed eight errors.
Jerry Gorrill hurled a two-hitter in the nightcap to pick up his second win of the day. Three errors behind him led to the four runs against the Ramblers. The winners got homers from Ken Reid, Harry Gorrill and Lee Minion. Les Lehr was the starter and loser for Waterton. Kay Nish relieved in the second inning.
Fort Macleod at Granum
(May 31) Tragedy struck Sunday in Big Six baseball action at Henderson Park. Jack Ohno of the Lethbridge Niseis was beaned by a pitch in the seventh inning. The 26-year-old center-fielder fell to the ground unconscious after being hit by a ball thrown by Waterton hurler Kay Nish. Ohno was revived and taken to hospital where he was x-rayed and later released. Monday morning he was rushed back to hospital where an operation was performed to remove pressue on the brain. He never regain consciousness. Ohno died June 9th. An inquest ruled the death to be accidental and recommended that all batters wear helmets.
Lethbridge took both games of the twin bill from Waterton, 9-5 and 17-1. At the time, Ohno's condition was not thought to be serious. Ken Heaton pitched a three-hitter in the first game for the win over Nish who gave up 12 hits in taking the loss. Wes Rice led the attack with three hits while Harry Blacker and Harpo Moriyama each had a pair.
Chris Bonnie fired another three-hitter in the second game while the Niseis were pounding out 14 hits. Dick Remple led the offensive with four hits - two triples and a pair of doubles - while Dennis Kosaka added three singles and Bert Nyrose had a triple and double. Reed Chipman was the losing pitcher.
Granum at Pincher Creek, New Dayton at Fort Macleod
(June 7) By scores of 8-1 and 8-0, Pincher Creek Chinooks took both games of a double-header from the hometown Fort Macleod Chiefs. Chinooks received outstanding pitching, a five-hitter by Dusty Rhodes in the first game and a five-hit shutout by Jim Marechal in the second. Chiefs' Ken Holcomb gave up 12 hits and his teammates committed six errors in the opener. Dennis Cleland pounded out a triple, double and single for the winners. Alvin Cyr contributed a double and single for the Chiefs. Marechal fanned eight in his complete game performance in the second contest. Eugene McCarthy took the loss.
Granum at Waterton, Lethbridge at New Dayton
(June 14) Bert Nyrose fired a no-hitter as Lethbridge Niseis trounced the Warriors 16-0 in the first of two at Granum. Nyrose was far from masterful as he walked seven and fanned six in the seven-inning contest. Dick Remple led a 13-hit attack with a double and two singles. Don Douglas took the loss for Granum. Ken Heaton fired a three-hitter in the second game as Lethbridge won, 4-1. Niseis managed eight hits off Al Munro, two apiece by Heaton and Remple.
Pincher Creek at New Dayton, Fort Macleod at Waterton
(June 21)
Waterton at Pincher Creek, New Dayton at Granum, Fort Macleod at Lethbridge
(June 28) Fort Macleod took a pair from Granum Sunday, 9-3 and 10-2. Ken Holcomb was the winner pitcher in both games. He fanned eight in the opener and 12 in the second game. Mike Jantzie provide relief pitching in the first game while Lloyd Kanewischer saw mound action in the second. Chiefs collected 13 hits in the first game against losing pitcher Al Munroe. Marvin O'Sullivan, Al Cyr and Jantzie each had two safeties. MacIntosh had a pair for Granum. Don Douglas went the route for the Warriors in the second game. Bernie Sparks and Fenton Sharpe each had two hits for Fort Macleod. Doug Phillips replied with a pair for Granum.
Pincher Creek at Lethbridge, Granum at Fort Macleod, New Dayton at Waterton
(July 1) Lethbridge Niseis captured the Jack Ohno Memorial Trophy with a 6-2 victory over New Dayton Ramblers in the final at Henderson Park. The tournament was an effort to raise funds for Ohno's family. Ohno, the Niseis centerfielder, died last month after being beaned during a Big Six League game.
Niseis broke a 2-2 tie with a run in the 8th and three in the 9th to win. Jim Kitaguchi doubled in Dick Remple with the winning marker. Jerry Lawlor tossed a seven-hitter, with 11 strikeouts, in going the distance for Lethbridge. Jerry Gorrill, who pitched into the 9th inning, took the loss for the Ramblers. Lee Minion banged out three hits for New Dayton.
Niseis downed Pincher Creek 13-4 to reach the final as Ken Heaton held the Chinooks to five hits. Dusty Rhodes took the loss. Kitaguchi, Jim Giachetta, Bert Nyrose and Heaton all had two hits for Lethbridge. Dennis Cleland belted a home for Pincher Creek.
Ramblers reached the final with an 8-7 win over Granum. Gary Oswald picked up the win in relief of starter George Rodzinyak. Marv O'Sullivan, the third hurlder for the Warriors, took the loss. Rodzinyak led the attack for the winners with a triple and two singles.
Granum got by Fort Macleod 6-2 to advance in the tournament. Reg O'Sullivan went the distance for the win over Doug Walker. Alf Dunlop had three hits for Granum. Lloyd Kanewischer had a four-bagger in a losing cause.
New Dayton won the tournament opener, 9-1 over Waterton, as Harry Gorrill fired a two-hitter and collected three hits. Ken Reid added a homer and a single.
(July 5)
Pincher Creek at Granum, Fort Macleod at New Dayton, Lethbridge at Waterton (Rain)
(July 12) Lethbridge and the Ramblers split a pair of slugfests at New Dayton Sunday. Ramblers won the first game 16-5 while the Niseis took the second, 16-7. Both clubs have now lost two but New Dayton has won two more than Lethbridge. August Kaupp and George Rodzinyak each had three hits for the winners in the opener while Jerry Gorrill slugged a homer and triple and Ken Reid and Harry Gorrill each collected a homer and single. Harry Gorrill gave up 12 hits but went the distance for the pitching win. Ken Heaton was clobbered for 18 hits in taking the loss. Jim Giachetta had three hits for the Niseis and Harry Blacker and Wes Rice each had two.
Jerry Lawlor held New Dayton to eight hits in the second game as the Niseis won, 16-7, taking advantage of nine Ramblers' errors. The Niseis had six miscues in the error-filled contest. Jerry Gorrill took the loss as Lethbridge pounded out 20 hits. Dan Tessari led the attack with four singles. Les Mason, Rice and Blacker each had three. One of Blacker's blows was a homer. Reid had two triples and a single for the Ramblers.
(July 12) At Pincher Creek, the Chinooks and Fort Macleod split a twin bill. The Chiefs took the first 17-4 with the Chinooks rebounding for a 14-11 win in the second game. Ken Holcomb went the distance in the opener to notch the victory over Larry Davis of Pincher Creek. Lloyd Kanewischer powered the offense with a pair of homers. Doug Walker collected four safeties while Holcomb and Bernie Sparks each had three. Tapay was best for the losers with three singles.
Al Schneider chalked up the victory in the second game over Kanewischer. Tapay again was the big gun for the Chinooks with four hits. Vic Anderson and Giacomozzi each banged out three safeties. Sparks had a homer and two singles for the Chiefs.
Waterton at Granum
(July 19) Fort Macleod took both ends of a double-header from Waterton, 13-10 and 7-6. Ken Holcomb fanned 16 in picking up the win in the first game. Floyd Spackman was the loser. Mike Jantzie drilled a double and two singles to lead the winners at the dish. Jantzie hurled a three-hitter to win the second game. Les Lehr was tagged with the loss. Bernie Sparks paced the hitters with two triples and a single.
New Dayton at Pincher Creek, Granum at Lethbridge
(July 26) Ken Holcomb tossed a two-hitter as Fort Macleod shaded Lethbridge 3-2 in the first of two. Niseis roared back to win 11-1 in the second. While Holcomb was stingy with the hits in the opener, he issued 12 free passes. Les Mason allowed just seven hits in taking the loss. Ken Heaton fired a three-hitter in the second game. Niseis erupted for 14 hits, two apiece from Heaton, Dick Remple, Jim Kitaguchi, Harpo Moriyama and Dan Tessari. Mike Jantzie took the defeat.
Pincher Creek at Waterton, Granum at New Dayton(August 6) Fort Macleod is to be the site of the remaining four games in the Big Six League's double knockout tournament to decide a representative for the Southern Alberta Intermediate championship. The Big Six winner will advance against the winnter of the Brooks - Medicine Hat series.
(August 10) Lethbridge Niseis and New Dayton Ramblers are headed for a sudden death playoff to determine the Big Six representative in the Southern Alberta Intermediate playoffs. Each club each finished with one loss in the double-knockout tournament and will face each other tomorrow in Lethbridge. Niseis and Fort Macleod entered the weekend undefeated, while New Dayton had been defeated once in opening play.
Ken Heaton pitched Lethbridge to an 18-9 win over Fort Macleod. Doug Walker took the loss. Dick Remple belted a homer and two singles for the winners and scored six times.
New Dayton bested Waterton and Fort Macleod to advance against the Niseis. The Ramblers then upended Lethbricge 11-8 to force a sudden-death contest. Harry Gorrill went the distance to top Jerry Lawlor in the final. Ken Reid smashed a homer and Clem Kaupp had three singles to pace the Ramblers. Jim Giachetta had a double and two singles for the losers.
(August 12) The game between Lethbridge and New Dayton was postponed because of rain.
(August 13) Lethbridge Niseis defeated New Dayton 10-7 at Henderson Park to advance against Brooks for the Southern Alberta Intermediate title. Ken Heaton tossed a five-hitter for the win. Harry Gorrill took the loss. Ramblers took an early lead as August Kaupp led off the game with a triple and scored on an infield error. Jerry Gorrill followed with a single and Harry Gorrill doubled as New Dayton plated three runs. Niseis came back with a pair in the second on Harry Blacker's triple and Jim Giachetta's run-scoring single. Ken Reid doubled and scored for New Dayton in the third but Lethbridge tied the count in the bottom of the frame helped by hits from Tricky Oikawa, Dick Remple and Wes Rice. Niseis stormed in front 7-4 in the 5th inning and clinched the decision in the 7th on a two-run triple by Bert Nyrose.
(August 16) Pincher Creek took a pair of one-run victories from Waterton Sunday in Big Six Baseball League action. Al Schneider went the distance to capture the pitching win in the opener as the Chinooks prevailed, 7-6. Vic Anderson and Bernie Haywood each had three hits to pace the attack. Les Lehr and Sanders each had three safeties for the Cardinals. Floyd Spackman took the loss.
In the second game, Dennis Cleland led the Chinooks to a 9-8 triumph with three hits. Anderson picked up the win in a relief role. Kay Nish took the loss. Sanders had three more hits for Waterton.
(August 16) Doug Marquardt pitched the Brooks Buffaloes to a 7-1 victory in the first game of the best-of-three series for the Southern Alberta Intermediate Baseball championship. John Charleton led the Brooks offensive with a homer and a single. Harry Blacker belted a homer for the only Lethbridge run. Jerry Lawlor took the loss. In an exhibition match, Niseis won 10-6 as Les Mason picked up the win.
(August 23) Brooks Buffaloes broke a 7-7 tie with a run in the top of the 9th to down Lethbridge 8-7 and take the best-of-three Southern Alberta Intermediate baseball series in two straight games. Buffs had taken the first game in Brooks last Sunday, 7-1. Doug Marquardt survived ten hits to go the distance for the win. He fanned eight and walked four. Ken Heaton, who allowed just seven hits was tagged with the loss. Heaton walked the first batter in the 9th and, after a sacrifice bunt by Marquardt, Bill Stratton drove in the winning marker with a single. Stratton led Brooks with a triple to go along with his game winning hit. Jerry Oswald, a pickup player from New Dayton, knocked out a pair of two-baggers to lead Lethbridge at the plate. In an exhibition game, Niseis downed Brooks 10-7 as Jerry Lawlor, with relief from Les Mason, picked up the win.
(October 9) Lethbridge Niseis, who captured the Big Six Baseball League title and won the Jack Ohno Tournament, held their year-ending banquet at the Shanghai Restaurant. Highlight of the night was the presentation of a Most Valuable Player trophy to Ken Heaton and trophy for player with the highest batting average to Dick Remple.
NORTHERN ALBERTA INTERMEDIATE "A"
PLAYOFF FINALS
Edmonton City Police (North Division) vs Tofield (South Division) Best-of-three series
(August 23) Tofield snared the Northern Alberta “A” Intermediate baseball crown, thrashing the Edmonton City Police 7-2 to sweep the best-of-three finals series in two straight games. Ed Williams bagged the mound decision over Jerry Seaman. Bob Solinger’s two-run dinger was the clinching blow for the winners. Dale Barrow belted a tater with one aboard to account for all the City Police scoring.