MANITOBA SENIOR LEAGUE
An alliance of five teams came together in 1961 to form the Manitoba Senior Baseball League. Spearheading the genesis of this association were the two strongest entries from the deflated South-Central League, the Brandon Cloverleafs and Riverside, who were seeking stronger competition. Also joining the circuit were clubs from Binscarth, previously in the North-Central League, Hamiota of the Mid-West League and Dauphin which played as an independent club with no league affiliation in 1960.
Notably absent from the circuit was representation from Winnipeg which, for the second successive campaign, was void of any senior-level intra-city loop.
Binscarth Buffaloes
Brandon Cloverleafs
Dauphin Red Birds
Hamiota Red Sox
Riverside Blues
(May 18) An old nemesis from the South-Central loop, the Riverside Blues, spoiled things for the perennial-champion Brandon Cloverleafs in the inaugural game of the newly-formed Manitoba Senior Baseball League, doubling the hosting Leafs 6 to 3 at Kinsmen Stadium. The Blues pecked away for single counters in the second and sixth cantos but Brandon plated a deuce to knot the count in the sixth. Riverside promptly came back to blast four markers across in the eighth and a lone tally by the Wheat City nine in the ninth was too little, too late. Youthful, 17-year old Carl Cunningham toiled on the bump for the winners for the first five frames and left with a 2 to 0 lead. Hard-throwing Garth Seafoot took over mound chores in the sixth but couldn’t find the plate. After walking four and hitting one batter, he was decked in favor of Ross Kinsley who put out the fire and ultimately received credit for the pitching win. Three Brandon hurlers also shared hillock chores with Lorne Lilley, the second of the trio, being nailed with the defeat. Catcher Cliff Seafoot paced the Blues at the dish with three hits while Wes Rathwell and Garth Seafoot both had a pair. Ron Baryluk had a perfect evening from the batter’s box for the Leafs with three safeties and two walks.
Cunningham, G. Seafoot (6), Kinsley (W) (6) and C. Seafoot
MacFarlane, Lilley (L) (4), Smith (8) and Lees, Wright (7)
(May 19) The Hamiota Red Sox came from behind to nose out the Dauphin Redbirds 5 to 4 as both teams got their first taste of Manitoba Senior Baseball League action. A bevy of last-inning fielding miscues by the Redbirds allowed Hamiota to pick up three unearned counters and the win.
(May 21) The Binscarth Buffaloes unloaded an 18-hit attack that included three home runs and five triples in crushing the invading Brandon Cloverleafs 26 to 8. Pat Angers and Ray Dunham shared the pitching duties for the Buffs with starter Angers taking the win and handing over the ball to Dunham with a sizeable 11 to 6 lead. The Wheat City squad played poor defensively, committing six errors, while a quartet of their chuckers added to the woes by issuing 11 walks. Eric Ireland paced the Binscarth batters with four hits while Ted Woods, Ross Jamieson and Del Stainer all had three. Stainer, Bill Berezinski and Bob Wasslen each clouted a four-bagger. Lloyd Brown had three hits for Brandon while Ron Baryluk connected for a four-ply clout.
Groulette (L), Gallinger (3), Hunter (4), Lilley (5) and Lees, Wright (3)
Angers (W), Dunham (5) and Wasslen
(May 21) A 10 to 9 extra-inning victory over the Riverside Blues left the Hamiota Red Sox as the lone undefeated team in the Manitoba Senior Baseball League after the first weekend of action. Boston Bruin’s rookie rear-guard Dallas Smith gave Hamiota their road win when he slammed a solo dinger over the centre-field fence in the top-of-the-tenth inning. Opposing catcher Cliff Seafoot had had forced overtime when he smacked a round-tripper in the eighth. Bob Brooks, Neil Amy and Gary Van Buskirk all saw action on the bump for Hamiota with Van Buskirk picking up the win for the last four innings of relief. Carl Cunningham started on the knoll for Riverside but gave way to Lorne LePoudre who, in turn, was replaced by the eventual loser Garth Seafoot in the eighth. Cliff Seafoot, Orv Shaw and LePoudre all clipped the orb for two Riverside safeties while Dallas Smith, Denny Smith, Jim Grant and Van Buskirk each collected a brace of base raps for the Scarlet Stockings.
Brooks, Amy (3), Van Buskirk (W) (7) and Don Smith, Dallas Smith (5)
Cunningham, LePoudre (4), G. Seafoot (L) (8) and C. Seafoot
(May 22) Southpaw Dennis McAuley tossed a five-hit shutout in leading the Dauphin Redbirds to a 5 to 0 whitewashing of the Binscarth Buffaloes. McCauley fanned ten and walked four in going the route. Stan McPhee drove in two runs for Dauphin in the opening inning and the score remained 2 to 0 until the eighth episode when catcher Bob Kabel tripled to spark a three-run outburst to put the game on ice. McPhee added a third RBI during the late uprising. Knuckleballer Bob Attwood was dinged with the setback.
Attwood (L), Berezinski (7) and Wasslen
McAuley (W) and Kabel
(May 25) The Brandon Cloverleafs recorded their first win in the Manitoba Senior Baseball League by doubling the Dauphin Redbirds 6 to 3 at Kinsmen Stadium. Big Morley MacFarlane fanned eleven and went the route on the hill for Brandon in posting the seven-hit victory. He had some trouble in the opening frames and had to pitch himself out of jams in the final two episodes but, in between, he was superb. Meanwhile, the Leafs pecked away at three Dauphin hurlers for nine hits and the win. Tommy Town, Don Hunter and Bob Wilson all had two hits for the Cloverleafs while shortstop Jerry Shumanski banged out a trio of safe swats for the Redbirds.
Verbiwski (L), Fitzpatrick (6), McAuley (7) and Kabel
MacFarlane (W) and Lees
(May 26) Pushing four runs across in the bottom-of-the-ninth inning, the Hamiota Red Sox rolled to their third straight Manitoba Senior Baseball League victory, a 12 to 11 triumph over the visiting Brandon Cloverleafs. 17-year old Don Smith was the individual star for Hamiota. He tossed three innings of relief late in the game and boomed out three hits, good for five RBI’s, in four trips. The Cloverleafs out-hit the Crimson Hose 10 to 7 as Gerry MacKay and Tommy Town both laced out a triad of safeties. Neil Amy, the fourth Hamiota chucker, received credit for the uphill victory. Jack Denbow was saddled with the loss.
(May 28) Riverside and Binscarth divided the spoils in a Sunday doubleheader played on the home turf of the Blues. The invading Buffaloes came up with an 11 to 7 win to start the proceedings but the home crew rebounded for a 10 to 5 decision in the nightcap.
Binscarth erased a 7 – 6 deficit in the seventh spasm of the opener by plating a pair and then salted it away with three more in the ninth. Roy Cuthill was the outstanding swatsmith for the Buffaloes in this tilt with a home run and three doubles. Teammate Bill Berezinski followed with three safeties including a circuit-clout. Wes Rathwell was dynamite with the baton for Riverside, clouting a brace of dingers and a single.
Angers (W) and Wasslen
Kinsley (L), Cunningham (9) and C. Seafoot
The Blues used an eight-run fourth frame to put a bow on the late encounter. Cliff Seafoot smashed a three-run round-tripper for Riverside while Berezinski once again went yard for the Buffs, connected for a tater, one of his two hits in this contest.
Ireland (L) and Wasslen
Seamer (W), Cunningham (6) and C. Seafoot
(May 28) The visiting Hamiota Red Sox squeezed out another narrow victory, prevailing 10 to 8 in an 11-inning battle with the Dauphin Redbirds. In recording their fourth straight win, the Red Sox were forced into double overtime when the Redbirds scored a three-spot in the bottom-of-the-ninth to deadlock the score. Dallas Smith doubled in the winning and insurance runs after Dauphin had committed two errors to begin the eleventh. Glennis Scott went the distance on the slab for the Hamiota triumph, fanning eight while yielding eight safeties. Dauphin starting flinger Dennis McCauley struck out 11 until he was replaced in the ninth by Jerry Verbiwski who was nailed with the loss. Frank McKinnon and Lynn Caldwell slammed out three hits each for the winners with Don Smith and Gladwyn Scott both drilling a pair.
Scott (W) and Dallas Smith
McAuley, Fitzpatrick (9), Verbiwski (L) (10) and Yerama
(June 1) Still smarting from a 26 to 8 humbling suffered at Binscarth, the Brandon Cloverleafs belabored the visiting Buffaloes with a barrage of base blows at Kinsmen Park and came away with a 13 to 4 triumph. The win moved the Leafs into a third-place tie with their opponents with both squads sporting 2 – 3 records. The Wheat City nine tagged three Binscarth hurlers for 13 hits, six of them for extra bases, in their best offensive performance of the season. The Buffaloes collected ten safeties off the slants of complete-game winner Les Lilley who was tight in the pinches, leaving 12 Binscarth runners stranded. Both Tommy Town and Gerry MacKay banged out three hits to go along with two walks for the Cloverleafs. Binscarth batters stinging the pill for a triad of safeties each were shortpatcher Del Stainer and first sacker Roy Cuthill.
Ingelson (L), Dunham (4), Martino (8) and Wasslen
Lilley (W) and Wright
(June 2) The Riverside Blues handed the Hamiota Red Sox their first setback of the Manitoba Senior Baseball League season, trimming the hosting Scarlet Stockings 5 to 3. Appearing twice on the hill for the Blues, and both times requiring relief, George Seamer still managed to pick up the pitching win. Gene Cory was the leading Riverside hitter, collecting three base knocks. Riverside had a 6 to 3 margin in base hits.
Seamer, Rathwell (1), Seamer (W) (2), Kinsley (6) and C. Seafoot
Amy (L), Van Buskirk (5) and Don Smith, Dallas Smith (5)
(June 4) The Hamiota Red Sox used six pitchers and banged out 23 hits in outlasting the Riverside Blues 24 to 17 in a second sloppy encounter between the adversaries over a 48-hour span. Riverside was gifted with 17 walks given up by Hamiota pitchers who were all plagued with control issues. Denny Smith came out of a batting slump in great style as he collected five hits for the victors. Clubmates Frank McKinnon, Gladwyn Scott, Lynn Caldwell and Al Robertson all banged out three safeties. Caldwell’s total of swats included a grand-slam ding-dong. Going yard with dingers for the vanquished nine were Wes Rathwell, Garth Seafoot and Orv Shaw.
Cunningham, G. Seafoot (L) (2), Kinsley (6), Shaw (8) and C. Seafoot
Brooks, Don Smith (1), Van Buskirk (3), Kidd (W) (4), Amy (7), Gladwyn Scott (9) and Dallas Smith
(June 4) A five-run outburst in the final frame lifted the Dauphin Redbirds to a thrilling 8 to 7 conquest of the invading Brandon Cloverleafs. Trailing 7 to 3 as they came to bat for the final time, the Redbirds got on the comeback trail with a leadoff pinch-hit single by Arnie Staub. A double off the bat of Jerry Verbiwski followed and then Del Anderson ripped a scorcher up the middle to plate both runners, reducing the deficit to a pair. Dick LaFramboise and Jerry Shumanski both reached base on Brandon errors and Bill Murray singled home LaFramboise while Stan McPhee replicated the feat to plate Shumanski, tying the score. After a strikeout, Lloyd Yerama strode to the plate and put the icing on the cake with a two-bagger off losing twirler Jack Denbow who went the route. McPhee, winning tosser Verbiwski, who took over mound chores in the fourth frame, and LaFramboise all raked Denbow for a brace of safeties. Denbow, in turn, spanked the offerings of Dauphin starter Pat Fitzpatrick and Verbiwski for four base knocks while Cloverleaf sidekicks Dennis Mendyk, Mort Wright and Tommy Town all clipped the horsehide for a triad of knocks.
Standings W L Pct. GBL
Hamiota Red Sox 5 1 .833 ----
Riverside Blues 4 3 .571 1.5
Binscarth Buffaloes 2 3 .400 2.5
Brandon Cloverleafs 2 4 .333 3.0
Dauphin Redbirds 2 4 .333 3.0
(June 5) The Riverside Blues maintained their hold on second place in the Manitoba Senior Baseball League by scoring four runs in their final turn at bat in taking a 9 to 7 decision from the Dauphin Redbirds. George Seamer recorded his second mound victory for the hosting Blues although he needed relief help from Carl Cunningham in the seventh when the Redbirds rallied for two runs. Dennis McAuley suffered the defeat. Gene Cory, Garth Seafoot and Orv Shaw all collected two hits for the winners with Seafoot hammering a home run. Stan McPhee and Lawson dominated the Dauphin with three hits apiece.
McAuley (L), Anderson (6) and Judd
Seamer (W), Cunningham (7) and C. Seafoot
(June 8) In spite of holding the Brandon Cloverleafs to just four base hits, Gary Van Buskirk and the pace-setting Hamiota Red Sox came out on the short end of a 3 to 0 score in a game hosted by the Wheat City crew. The Scarlet Stockings were able to nick winning flinger Morley MacFarlane for seven hits but were never able to register more than one safety in any inning. Denny Smith led the Hamiota hitters with three base knocks while Dennis Mendyk was the lone Brandonite to hit safely twice.
Van Buskirk (L) and Dallas Smith
MacFarlane (W) and Slevin
(June 9) Neil Amy earned his third pitching win against one defeat as he went the route in a 7 to 5 victory by the Hamiota Red Sox over the Binscarth Buffaloes. Losing chucker Bob Attwood got the hook in the third panel as Pat Angers mounted the slab for the remainder of the tilt. Lynn Caldwell was the big gun at the plate for the Sox, collecting three safe swats while Frank McKinnon followed with a brace.
Attwood (L), Angers (2) and Wasslen
Amy (W) and Dallas Smith
(June 9) The Dauphin Redbirds, outhit by a 13 to 8 margin, vacated the cellar in the Manitoba Senior Baseball League after rallying for six runs in the last two innings to edge the visiting Riverside Blues 9 to 8. Bob Kabel sparked Dauphin to the win as he nailed a single, double and homer, driving in four runs. His eighth-inning two-bagger drove in the tying markers and led to his scoring the winner. Al Evason also had two safeties for the Redbirds. Riverside was led at the dish by Wes Rathwell who clipped the horsehide for three base raps. Teammates Morris Seafoot, Cliff Seafoot and Gord Hunter each chipped in with a brace. Dennis McAuley, with two scoreless innings of relief, was credited with the hurling verdict.
Seamer, Kinsley (L) (8) and C. Seafoot
Anderson, Fitzpatrick (5), McAuley (W) (7) and Yerama, Kabel (5)
(June 11) The Brandon Cloverleafs evened their record at 4 – 4 and jumped into second place in the Manitoba Senior Baseball league by handing the slumping Riverside Blues a third successive defeat. Five runs in the fifth inning erased a 3 to 2 Riverside lead, propelling the Wheat City diamondeers to an eventual 10 to 6 triumph. Lorne Lilley’s route-going performance on the bump and the power-hitting of Dennis Mendyk and Bob Wilson paced Brandon to the win before a large crowd at Riverside. Lilley let the Blues down with six hits and pitched himself out of a few jams by stranding ten baserunners. Mendyk and Wilson both slammed out three hits including four-baggers. The duo drove in eight of the ten tallies with Wilson recording five RBI’s. Cliff Seafoot was the only Riverside batter to acquire two hits.
Lilley (W) and Ballance
Cunningham (L), LePoudre (5), Seamer (5), Rathwell (5) and McLean
(June 11) The Binscarth Buffaloes moved into a virtual tie for third place as they scored a narrow 11 to 10 verdict at home against the Dauphin Redbirds. The Bisons scored in bunches, plating five in the second, a singleton in the third and another five-spot in the fourth. After Dauphin rallied for four markers in the sixth, Binscarth heaver Ray Dunham slammed the door in the final three stanzas. Del Anderson turned in a fine relief effort for the Redbirds with four scoreless innings. Bill Berezinski continued his prolific hitting by collecting three hits for the winners. Del Stainer and Ross Jamieson also had a trio of safeties while Eric Ireland belted a double and triple. Al Evanson and Stan McPhee both had three blows for Dauphin. Evanson’s triad included two triples while McPhee’s sum incorporated one.
Verbiwski (L), Anderson (4) and Yerama
Dunham (W) and Wasslen
Standings W L Pct. GBL
Hamiota Red Sox 6 2 .750 ----
Brandon Cloverleafs 4 4 .500 2.0
Riverside Blues 4 5 .444 2.5
Binscarth Buffaloes 3 4 .429 2.5
Dauphin Redbirds 3 5 .375 3.0
(June 15) Trailing 7 to 2, the Brandon Cloverleafs rallied for five runs in the seventh spasm and two more in the eighth to steal a 9 to 7 decision from the invading Dauphin Redbirds. It was the third win in a row for the Leafs and moved them to within 1-1/2 games of the pace-setting Hamiota Red Sox. Tall southpaw Gerry Smith was the hero of the tussle at Kinsmen Stadium. He came on in relief of Jack Denbow in the seventh to douse a Dauphin fire and hurled three innings of shutout ball. With the willow, he provided the decisive blow after the Brandonites had tied the count. His two-run triple to the middle pasture in the eighth drove in the winning and insurance tallies. Al Evason bagged a brace of bingles for the vanquished nine who outhit their hosts by an 8 to 7 margin.
McAuley, Anderson (L) (7) and Judd
Denbow, Smith (W) (7) and Wright
(June 16) The front-running Hamiota Red Sox came from behind to snatch a 9 to 7 verdict from the second-place Brandon Cloverleafs. Three-spots in both the seventh and eighth panels lifted the Red Stockings out of a huge hole they had dug for themselves earlier in the contest. Singles by Frank McKinnon and Gord Lyall started the seventh-inning rally which was climaxed by Dallas Smith’s three-run tater. The eighth-inning outburst came on two base hits, a walk, two Cloverleaf errors and another RBI by Smith, this time on a sacrifice fly. Third-inning reliever Neil Amy copped the hillock decision while Gerry Smith, brother of the Hamiota triad of Don, Denny and Dallas, was nicked with the loss. Gord Lyall led the Red Sox swatsmiths with a quartet of safeties while clubmates Amy and Denny Smith each bagged a brace. Playing-manager Mort Wright led the Brandon batters with three hits while ex-Winnipeg Blue Bomber Dennis Mendyk and Bob Wilson each checked in with a pair.
MacFarlane, G. Smith (W) (7), Lilley (8) and Slevin
Van Buskirk, Amy (W) (3) and Dallas Smith
(June 18) Piling up an early lead, the Dauphin Redbirds hung on long enough to salvage a 20 to 14 slugfest from the invading Binscarth Buffaloes at Newton Park. No less than four round-trippers and three triples were recorded by the combatants in this pitching-challenged affair. Catcher Bob Kabel was the big man with the stick for the Feathered Flock, stinging the sphere for five safeties including a three-bagger and double, in six official trips to the plate. Teammate Al Evason drove in five runs with a homer and two singles. Jerry Verbiwski and Stan McPhee also went long distance with taters for the Redbirds while Eric Ireland launched a dinger for the Bisons. Flychaser Bill Berezinski led Binscarth at the dish with five safe swats, one of which was a double. Buffaloes’ starting pitcher D’Arcy Loster, driven to the showers in the second stanza, was saddled with the loss. Verbiwski, the second of a trio of Dauphin slabsters, was credited with the hillock verdict and picked up four RBI’s with the baton.
Loster (L), Woods (3), Jamieson (8) and Wasslen
Fitzpatrick, Verbiwski (W) (2), Menzies (8) and Kabel
(June 18) For the second game in succession, the first-place Hamiota Red Sox showed their mettle by storming from behind to secure a victory, this time a 9 to 6 conquest of the third-place Riverside Blues. Six solid innings of scoreless relief pitching by Gary Van Buskirk enabled the Sox to cop the win. Allan Robertson led Hamiota with the willow, stroking three safeties, while Denny Smith chipped in with two base raps. Gene Cory and Cliff Seafoot slapped out a brace of safe swats each for the Riversiders.
Brooks, Van Buskirk (W) (3) and Dallas Smith
G. Seafoot, K. Seafoot (L) (2) and C. Seafoot
(June 20) The Riverside Blues edged the Brandon Cloverleafs 6 to 5 at Riverside to climb into a second-place tie with the Leafs in the Manitoba Senior Baseball League. Once again, it was a late rally that won the exciting contest. Brandon had just grabbed a 5 to 3 lead in the top-of-the-eighth when the Blues fought back to even the count in their half of the inning. Stocky shortstop Gene Cory then drove in the tie-breaking counter in the bottom-of-the-ninth for a walkoff Riverside victory. It was his fourth hit of the game. Riverside pulled a surprise by going to outfielder, but little-used pitcher, Orville Shaw for the starting assignment. Shaw did an adequate job on the hill, scattering ten hits, striking out seven and walking two. Jack Denbow started on the slab for Brandon, surrendering eight of the nine Riverside hits before giving way to Lorne Lilley in the eighth. Lilley was nicked with the knoll setback as he walked one and was tagged for Cory’s winning blow in the ninth. Up until the final canto, Brandon’s most prolific weapon had been the circuit-jack as Tommy Town, Bob Wilson and Don Sumner had all slammed fence-clearing blows.
Denbow, Lilley (L) (8) and Wright
Shaw (W) and C. Seafoot
(June 22) The Binscarth Buffaloes had the Brandon Cloverleafs running all over spacious Kinsmen Stadium as the humiliated the homesters 16 to 4 to nose a half-game ahead of their victims in the standings. The Buffaloes lashed out 15 base blows against three Brandon hurlers. They also got a standout pitching job from Pat Angers who bailed himself out of several jams on the strength of a 17-strikeout performance. Wild as a March hare, he walked ten and also gave up nine hits but the Leafs didn’t have it in the clutch and left 13 runners stranded. A six-spot by the Buffs in the second panel set the tone for the game and pretty well decided the issue. Roy Cuthill paced Binscarth with the hickory, slamming three hits which included a three-run, inside-the-park homer. Bill Berezinski, the circuit’s leading hitter to date, along with clubmates Ted Woods, Del Stainer, Eric Ireland and Angers, all notched a pair of safeties for the victors. Tommy Town was tops with the baton for the Wheat City nine, lashing four base raps including a triple, while fellow Leaf Lloyd Brown delivered a double and two singles..
Angers (W) and Wasslen
MacFarlane (L), Lilley (2), Denbow (9) and Charambura
(June 23) Despite being outhit by a healthy 10 to 5 margin, the homestanding Hamiota Red Sox continued their roll atop the Manitoba Senior Baseball circuit with a 7 to 5 conquest of the Dauphin Redbirds in a game that was limited to eight innings because of darkness. Hamiota’s Neil Amy improved his pitching record for the season to 5 – 1 although he needed relief assistance from Gary Van Buskirk in the final frame to preserve the win. Dauphin starting tosser Dennis McAuley was stung with the defeat, relinquishing mound duties to Don Menzies in the seventh spasm. The Red Sox were able to make the most of the ten bases-on-balls afforded them by McCauley. Don Smith was the only Hamiotan to acquire a plural hit figure, booming a triple to go along with a one-bagger. Stan McPhee and Al Evason each successfully hit three times for Dauphin.
McAuley (L), Menzies (7) and Kabel, Judd (5)
Amy (W), Van Buskirk (8) and Dallas Smith
(June 25) Pounding out 15 base blows, the hosting Binscarth Buffaloes halted the nine-game winning streak of the Hamiota Red Sox by dumping the Crimson Hose 10 to 8. Eric Ireland went the distance on the knoll to record the Binscarth victory, surrendering nine hits in the process while his mates were collecting 15 base knocks off losing moundsman Gary Van Buskirk and Glennis Scott. The league’s top hitter to date, Bill Berezinski, hit safely four times in five trips for the Bisons. Teammates Del Stainer, Roy Cuthill, Bob Wasslen and Larry Gilchrist all came through with two safeties. For the vanquished nine, Dallas Smith was the lone swatsmith to chalk up a two-hit batting performance with one of his blows being a grand-slam four-ply clout in the sixth spasm. In the same stanza, Scott also delivered a four-bagger, although with the bases empty. The win was an important one for the Buffaloes and gave them a temporary three-way tie in the standings with Riverside and Brandon. Despite the setback. the Scarlet Stockings remain far in front of the loop with a 9 – 3 record.
Van Buskirk (L), Glennis Scott (3) and Don Smith
Ireland (W) and Wasslen
(June 26) A four-run fifth inning plus 6-1/3 innings of no-hit, no-run relief pitching dished up by Gerry Verbiwski gave the Dauphin Redbirds a 5 to 2 win over the Riverside Blues in an error-filled contest played at the DMCC ball park. The win for the Redbirds draws them even in the standings with both Riverside and the Brandon Cloverleafs, each sporting a 5 – 7 record in league play. After coming to the aid of starting flinger Del Anderson in the third episode, Verbiwski slammed the door on the visiting Blues the rest of the way. Both teams managed only four base hits in the affair with Dauphin’s Bob Kabel supplying the most timely knock with a fifth-frame three-bagger. Riverside starter George Seamer was nailed with the loss.
Seamer (L), G. Seafoot (5), Rathwell (7) and C. Seafoot
Anderson, Verbiwski (W) (3) and Yerama
(June 29) Virden invitational baseball tournament
(June 29) With Lorne Lilley snapping off his assortment of breaking balls, the Brandon Cloverleafs handed league-leading Hamiota their second consecutive loss., doubling the Red Sox 8 to 4 at Kinsmen Stadium. Lilley recovered from a shaky start when he was tagged for a pair of first-inning counters but, for the remainder of the tussle, Hamiota couldn’t mount a concerted attack against him and no one in their lineup was able to connect more than once for a safety off his slants. A two-bagger by Don Smith was the longest swat achieved by the visitors. Meanwhile, the Leaf batters were coming up with a solid effort as Gerry MacKay, Mort Wright, Lloyd Brown, Bob Wilson and Don Hunter all stung the horsehide for a pair of base knocks.
Van Buskirk (L), Amy (3) and Dallas Smith
Lilley (W) and Wright
(June 29) The Dauphin Redbirds blasted the hosting Binscarth Buffaloes 13 to 3 to move into a second-place tie with the Brandon Cloverleafs while the Bisons were relegated to fourth spot, a few percentage points behind. Redbird hurler Don Menzies easily coasted to the pitching victory with an eight-hitter. The Dauphin total of 14 base blows included round-trippers by Stan McPhee and Al Evason. Roy Cuthill responded with a tater for the Buffs. Evason finished with three hits while fellow Redbirds’ Jerry Shumanski, Bob Kabel and Johnny Lesyshen all hit safely twice. Cuthill and losing hurler Larry Gilchrist collected a brace of bingles for Binscarth.
Menzies (W) and Kabel
Gilchrist (L), Ireland (1), Berezinski and Wasslen
(July 1) The sizzling Dauphin Redbirds continued their late-season surge by nipping the hosting Riverside Blues 5 to 4 in a 12-inning thriller. Occupants of the cellar for a good part of the campaign, Dauphin won their third in succession to move into a tie for second spot in the closely-bunched Manitoba Senior Baseball League standings. Don Menzies won his second hillock decision in a row as he slammed the door on Riverside after ascending the bump in relief in the fifth frame. The Blues had just taken a 4 to 2 lead but Menzies proceeded to hurl seven shutout innings while his mates were mounting a comeback. Laddie Hutchison, hurling against his old club, was stung with the defeat. Both sides were aided defensively by snappy double plays, four by the Redbirds and three by Riverside. A walk and an error put Hutchison in a 12th inning jam that allowed Arnie Staub to deliver the game-winning single. Johnny Lesyshen provided Dauphin’s first two counters with a fifth-inning dinger while Jerry Shumanski, Bob Kabel and Menzies all hit safely twice.
Fitzpatrick, Anderson (2), Menzies (W) (5) and Kabel
Hutchison (L), Seamer (12) and C. Seafoot
(July 1) After building up an early 6 to 1 lead, the Brandon Cloverleafs fell behind 7 to 6 and had to stage a last-ditch rally to emerge as 10 to 7 victory over the homestanding Binscarth Buffaloes. Lorne Lilley, who relieved Brandon starter Gerry Smith in the third episode, copped the pitching triumph while Ray Dunham, who came to the aid of Pat Angers in the fourth frame, suffered the loss. Lloyd Brown’s big bat carried the Cloverleafs as he belted a homer, triple and two doubles. Teammate Gerry MacKay followed with a triple, double and single. Larry Gilchrist, Del Stainer and Garth Sararas all stroked a brace of bingles for the Bisons.
Smith, Lilley (W) (3) and Lees
Angers, Dunham (L) (4) and Wasslen
Standings W L Pct. GBL
Hamiota Red Sox 9 4 .692 ----
Brandon Cloverleafs 7 7 .500 2.5
Dauphin Redbirds 7 7 .500 2.5
Binscarth Buffaloes 5 7 .417 3.5
Riverside Blues 5 8 .385 4.0
(July 4) The Hamiota Red Sox clinched first place and the 1961 Manitoba Senior Baseball League regular-season pennant as they broke loose for five runs in the seventh inning to dump the slump-ridden Binscarth Buffaloes 11 to 6. The loss dropped the Buffs into a fourth-place deadlock with Riverside, both teams having identical 5 – 8 records. The game was a topsy-turvy affair with Hamiota taking the lead three times. They went ahead to stay in the seventh with a five-run barrage that broke a 5 – 5 deadlock. Young 14-year old Brian Smith, elevated from Hamiota’s minor baseball ranks, was credited with the pitching win although Neil Amy had to save it for him in the final three innings. Smith, the younger brother of Red Sox’ teammates Dallas and Don, was the beneficiary of the Hamiota five-spot in the seventh. Gary Van Buskirk started on the bump for the Birds but lasted only four innings. Ray Dunham went all the way for Binscarth but was betrayed by some shoddy fielding on the part of his mates who committed seven errors. Bob Brooks was the lone Crimson Hose swatsmith with more than one hit as he smacked out a pair, including the game’s only extra-base hit, a triple. Bill Berezinski, well on his way to the league batting title, banged out three safeties for the Buffs while clubmates Eric Ireland, Garth Sararas and Dunham each punched out a brace.
Van Buskirk, B. Smith (W) (5), Amy (7) and D. Smith
Dunham (L) and Wasslen
(July 5) The Dauphin Redbirds missed a chance to take over sole possession of second place in the Manitoba Senior Baseball league as they booted away an 8 to 3 decision to the Hamiota Red Sox who have already clinched the pennant. The Redbirds committed six errors as the first five Hamiota runs were all unearned. Neil Amy went the route in posting his sixth win for the Sox and did a fine job in scattering 11 hits. Dennis McAuley, nicked for eight safeties, was tarred with the setback. Amy was rocked for a pair of solo homers in the ninth, one each by Johnny Lesyshen and Jerry Shumanski. Dallas Smith and Frank McKinnon both had two hits for Hamiota with a double included in Smith’s total.
Amy (W) and Don Smith
McAuley (L) and Kabel
(July 6) Fighting for their playoff lives, the Riverside Blues battered the Brandon Cloverleafs 9 to 4 at Kinsmen Stadium to move a half-game in front of Binscarth for the final playoff berth in the Manitoba Senior Baseball League. The loss for Brandon prevented them from clinching second place in the standings. The Cloverleafs held a 3 to lead going into the seventh spasm when the Blues began to batter starter Morley MacFarlane’s offerings and sent him to the showers en route to collecting a four-spot. Ross Kinsley went all the way on the hill for the victors and was roughed up in only one inning, the third, when the Leafs bunched four hits for three runs. Every Riverside player had a had in the 14-hit attack with Wes Rathwell, Garth Seafoot, Gene Cory, Gord Hunter and Jack Medd all hitting safely twice. Bob Wilson and Bob Lees were the lone Wheat City batters to acquire two safeties with Wilson connecting for an inside-the-park tater with one aboard.
Kinsley (W) and C. Seafoot
MacFarlane (L), Denbow (7) and Lees, Wright (9)
(July 7) The pennant-winning Hamiota Red Sox completed their part of the Manitoba Senior Baseball League schedule by toppling cellar-dwelling Binscarth 11 to 6. The loss dropped the Buffaloes a full game behind Riverside for the final playoff spot with just two games remaining. Once again Binscarth outhit their opposition but couldn’t match the bunched blows of Hamiota. Glennis Scott turned in a complete-game performance to snatch the mound win. Buffaloes’ starter Larry Gilchrist was saddled with the loss. The Smith boys paced Hamiota with the baton, collecting seven of their ten hits. Dallas punched out three while Don and Denny each had a pair. Roy Cuthill had a trio for the Buffs including a mammoth home run in the sixth with two mates aboard. Bill Berezinski and Pat Angers both checked in with a brace.
Gilchrist (L), Angers (3) and Wasslen
Glennis Scott (W) and D. Smith
(July 9) A comedy of errors wiped out a 35-run offense and dropped Riverside to the bottom of the final standings, eliminating the Blues from the playoffs. The Binscarth Buffaloes copped both one-run battles, the first 24 to 23 and the nightcap 13 to 12. Hitters from both clubs had a field day in the wind-up doubleheader while those on the elevated portion of the diamond were in constant torment.
Roy Cuthill of Binscarth had six hits in the matinée tussle while clubmate Bob Wasslen slammed two home runs. Cliff Seafoot with four safeties and Gene Cory with a home run led the Riverside attack. Larry Gilchrist got the win in relief while Wes Rathwell took the loss.
In the second game, Riverside took a two-run lead into the bottom-of-the-ninth but proceeded to boot their playoff hopes away with three errors which allowed the Buffs to plate a triad of unearned counters and steal the final playoff spot. Larry Gilchrist once again snatched the win in relief while Orville Shaw was nailed with the tough loss.
(July 9) The Dauphin Redbirds took an 11 to 5 verdict from the visiting Brandon Cloverleafs to snare the runner-up spot in the final standings. The hometown Birds ran up a barrage of base swats in overwhelming the Brandonites. Gerry Verbiwski, touched for eight hits, was the winner while Brandon’s Lorne Lilley was tagged with the loss. Al Evason checked in with three hits for the winners while Verbiwski and Jerry Shumanski had a pair. Lloyd Brown went long distance with a four-ply clout for the Leafs.
Final Standings W L Pct. GBL
Hamiota Red Sox 12 4 .750 ----
Dauphin Redbirds 8 8 .500 4.0
Binscarth Buffaloes 7 9 .438 5.0
Brandon Cloverleafs 7 9 .438 5.0
Riverside Blues 6 10 .375 6.0
THIRD PLACE TIE-BREAKER Binscarth Buffaloes vs Brandon Cloverleafs
(July 13) In one of the best, and certainly the most exciting, Manitoba Senior Baseball League fixture of the season, the Binscarth Buffaloes edged the Brandon Cloverleafs 2 to 1 at Kinsmen Stadium in a sudden-death match to break their third-place tie. The Cloverleafs broke a scoreless tie by pushing across a run in the bottom-of-the-eighth inning only to have the Buffaloes come back with their two in the top-of-the ninth. Singles by Bob Wasslen and Joe Ingelson in the ninth drove in the tying and winning markers. Brandon’s bid for the equalizer was nipped in the bottom-half of the canto when Gerry MacKay, who had doubled and moved to third on a sacrifice, was nailed at the plate on a squeeze play. Binscarth’s Ray Dunham and Morley MacFarlane of the Wheat City nine hooked up in a brilliant pitching duel and methodically mowed down opposition batters throughout the fracas, both going the route with five-hitters.
Dunham (W) and Wasslen
MacFarlane (L) and Wright
PLAYOFFS
SEMI-FINALS Binscarth Buffaloes vs Dauphin Redbirds & Brandon Cloverleafs vs Hamiota Red Sox (best-of-five series)
(July 16) The pennant-winning Hamiota Red Sox opened the Manitoba Senior Baseball League semi-finals with a tense, 10-inning 5 to 4 verdict over the Brandon Cloverleafs. After blowing an early 3 to 0 lead, the Red Sox had to come back with the tying run in the eighth before breaking the deadlock in the overtime frame, Hamiota’s Glennis Scott and Lorne Lilley of the Cloverleafs hooked up in a tight duel that had Scott giving up seven hits and Lilley nine. Scott won his own ball game after Brandon’s only error proved their undoing. Lynn Caldwell was safe on the miscue in leading off the tenth and Scott promptly creamed a triple to drive him in with the winner. Scott had also plated the tying marker in the eighth as brother Gladwyn doubled him home. The two Scotts and Dallas Smith had a pair of hits for the Crimson Hose while Gerry MacKay and Lloyd Brown both banged out a brace for the Leafs.
Lilley (L) and Wright
Glennis Scott (W) and Dallas Smith
(July 16) Second-place Dauphin took a 10 to 6 decision from Binscarth as their playoff series got underway. The combatants were deadlocked 4 – 4 entering the eighth episode when the Redbirds opened the floodgates with six tallies. The Buffaloes mad a belated bid by scoring a pair in the ninth but winning heaver Denny McAuley was able to set down the uprising. Al Evason paced Dauphin’s 12-hit offensive thrust with a trio of base knocks while John Lesyshen and Del Anderson both hit twice. Stan McPhee socked a homer in the fifth and Bob Kabel sparked the big eighth with a double. Bob Stainer, Bill Berezinski, Garth Sararas and Ted Woods all punched out a brace of bingles for the Bisons while catcher Bob Wasslen dialed long distance with a second-inning tater.
McAuley (W) and Yerama
Cosinan, Ireland (8), Angers (8) and Wasslen
(July 18) The Brandon Cloverleafs hung on for a 5 to 3 verdict over the pennant-winning Hamiota Red Sox to even their best-of-five playoff at a game apiece. Morley MacFarlane, with his sizzling fastball and snapping curve working well, limited Hamiota to six hits in snatching the mound triumph over Neil Amy who fired a five-hitter only to be betrayed by four unearned runs. The hard-luck heaver, who posted the best pitching record of 7 – 1 in league play, simply ran into a Brandon squad that remembered how to take advantage of breaks. An error in the first inning gave the Cloverleafs their first chance and they quickly cashed in with two runs as Gerry MacKay drove in both. Hamiota pushed across the first tally in the seventh but Brandon quickly came back with a three-spot before the Red Sox died hard by plating a deuce in the eighth. Lynn Caldwell of the Scarlet Stockings was the lone swatsmith in the fracas to hit safely twice with his double in the seventh driving in a tally. Two walks and an error gave the Leafs their opening in the seventh and Ron Baryluk promptly ripped out a triple to put a trey on the scoreboard. Hamiota finally bunched some blows in the eighth as the three Smith boys accounted for the final two runs. Denny and Dallas singled while youthful Don launched a long triple.
Amy (L) and Don Smith
MacFarlane (W) and Wright
(July 18) Roaring to an early 8 to 0 lead, the Binscarth Buffaloes squared their Manitoba Senior Baseball League semi-final at a game each by dumping the host Dauphin Redbirds 10 to 6. Pat Angers was the individual star for Binscarth as he went the route on the bump for the victory, contributed the most impactful blow of the contest and was the only hitter to collect two hits. Don Menzies, relieved by Dennis McAuley in the third panel, took the loss. Angers broke the game open in the second stanza when he came to bat with the bases loaded and slammed a triple. For the Redbirds, Bob Kabel belted a double with the sacks full.
Angers (W) and wasslen
Menzies (L), McAuley (3) and Yerama, Kabel (6)
(July 21) The hosting Hamiota Red Sox took a 12 to 5 decision from the Brandon Cloverleafs to pull ahead of the Wheat City nine two games to one in their best-of-five semi-final series. Neil Amy surrendered ten base hits in copping the knoll verdict. The Red Sox acquired 13 hits off Brandon pitching. Lorne Lilley was the losing pitcher. Dallas Smith led the Hamiota swatsmiths, claiming three hits in five trips. Tommy Town of the Cloverleafs also banged out a triad of safeties.
(July 21) In a wild affair at Dauphin, the Redbirds emerged as 12 to 11 victors over the Binscarth Buffaloes to take a two-to-one lead in the series. At one point in the battle, the Birds led the Buffs 10 to 4, only to see the margin erased as the visitors tied the affair 11 – 11 in the top-of-the-ninth canto on a triple by Bill Berezinski and a four-ply wallop by Pat Angers. After winning heaver Jerry Verbiwski was able to douse the fire, the Birds were able to snatch the win in walkoff fashion in their half of the chapter when Bob Kabel banged out a base knock, pilfered both second and third, then romped home on a safety by Stan McPhee.
(July 23) The Brandon Cloverleafs were unceremoniously dethroned as Manitoba senior baseball kings when a hustling band of Hamiota Red Sox took advantage of every offensive opportunity and gave nothing away in the field in annexing a 7 to 2 triumph to capture the semi-final showdown in four games. Glennis Scott chalked up his second win of the series for Hamiota and was their sparkplug both on the mound and at the plate. He was touched for 11 hits but was unbeatable in the clutch. He struck out eight, walked four and left 14 Leafs languishing on the bases. Scott also slammed out three hits to share batting honors with catcher Dallas Smith who also spanked out a trio. Scott’s double in the sixth spasm, that extended the Sox’ lead to 4 to 2, sent Brandon starting tosser Morley MacFarlane to the showers. Lynn Caldwell’s run-scoring triple just before Scott’s two-bagger had broken a 2 – 2 deadlock and sent the winning marker across the pan. Denny Smith and Al Robertson bagged two hits each as part of the victors’ 14-hit attack. Mort Wright paced the Brandonites with three hits while Don Hunter and Ron Baryluk had a pair each.
Glennis Scott (W) and Dallas Smith
MacFarlane (L), Lilley (6) and Wright
(July 23) The Dauphin Redbirds moved into the Manitoba Senior Baseball League finals by scoring a slim 6 to 5 victory over the Binscarth Buffaloes in the fourth game of the best-of-five semi-final. The Redbirds were never headed after they went in front 3 to 0 in the third inning. They maintained at least a one-run edge throughout and were successful in staving off a ninth-inning Buffaloes’ rally that loaded the bases. Southpaw Denny McAuley went the distance for the win as he scattered six hits. His biggest problem was locating the strike zone and he issued ten bases-on-balls which forced him to continually to pitch out of jams. John Kosowan, nicked for ten safeties, was the loser. Bill Murray paced Dauphin’s offense with three hits while Johnny Lesyshen and Bob Kabel connected for two each. Lesyshen’s triple was the only extra-base hit of the contest. Binscarth’s reliable Bill Berezinski came through with a not uncommon brace of bingles.
McAuley (W) and Kabel
Kosowan (L) and Wasslen
FINALS Dauphin Redbirds vs Hamiota Red Sox (best-of-seven series)
(July 28) Glennis Scott fired a three-hitter as Hamiota downed Dauphin 3-1 in the opening game of the best-of-seven playoff final. Hamiota collected just five hits. Gladwyn Scott and Lynn Caldwell each had a pair.
McAuley (L) and xxx
Glennis Scott (W) and xxx
(July 30) Dauphin Red Birds erupted for five runs in the 8th inning to top Hamiota 8-1 to even their series at one game apiece. Winning pitcher Gerry Verbiwski belted a three-run homer in the big frame to highlight the offensive.
Amy (L), Van Buskirk (7) and xxx
Verbiwski (W) and xxx
(August 1) Hamiota Red Sox scored a pair of runs in the first inning and were never headed in taking a 7-2 decision from Dauphin and a 2-1 game lead in their best-of-seven final series. Dennis Smith proved the big blow for the winners, a two-run triple in the 4th inning. Glennis Scott went the distance for the win.
McAuley (L) and Kabel
Glennis Scott (W) and xxx
(August 4) Bob Kabel thrilled the home crowd with a sensational show of base-stealing in the 7th inning to give Dauphin a 5-4 win over Hamiota to tie the playoff series at two games each. After Hamiota had scored three runs in the top of the 7th to tie at 4-4, Kabel singled then stole second, third and home with what proved to be the winning run. Denny McAuley scatted seven hits for the win and helped at the plate with a 6th inning homer.
Van Buskirk, Gladwyn Scott (L) (7) and Don Smith
McAuley (W) and Kabel
(August 6) Don Smith belted a pair of homers to lead Hamiota to a 7-3 win over Dauphin to move to within a game of capturing the Manitoba Senior League title. Glennis Scott held the Red Birds to five hits in registering the win. Gerry Verbiwski took the loss.,
Verbiwski, Fitzpatrick (7) and Kabel
Glennis Scott (W) and Dallas Smith
(August 8) Dauphin Red Birds took a 2-0 lead in the first inning and held on to shade Hamiota 4-3 and force a seventh and deciding game in the Manitoba Senior League playoffs. Catcher Bob Kabel drove in three of the Dauphin runs and scored the other. Lefty Denny McAuley stopped Hamiota on six hits for the mound victory. Gordie Lyall took the loss.
Lyle (L) and Don Smith
McAuley (W) and Kabel
(August 11) Dauphin Red Birds rode home runs by Gerry Shumanski and Bob Kabel to a 6-3 triumph over Hamiota to capture the championship in the inaugural year of the Manitoba Senior Baseball League.
Dauphin scored on a squeeze bunt in the 3rd inning to take an early lead, but Hamiota came back in the bottom of the frame to tie. Shumanski's two-run homer in the 4th made it 3-1 for Dauphin. In the 6th, Johnny Lesyshen singled and Al Evanson's double added another marker. Kabel then clouted a homer to left-centre for a 6-1 margin. Hamiota fought back to load the bases in both the 6th and 7th innings but could manage just one run each time. Dennis McAuley picked up the win over Glennis Scott.
McAuley (W), Verbiwski (7) and Kabel
Scott (L), Amy (7) and Dallas Smith
(August 13) Hamiota Red Sox won their town invitational tournament downing Binscarth Buffaloes 12-8 in the final. Sox won a spot in the final with a 17-2 trouncing of Dauphin. Buffs rallied in the final frame to edge Riverside 8-7. Dauphin topped Brandon 8-6 in the opener.
SOUTH–CENTRAL BASEBALL LEAGUE
With the departure of the Brandon Cloverleafs and Riverside to the newly-formed Manitoba Senior Baseball League, the South–Central loop filled the void by adding entries from Boissevain and Glenboro to join the returning Brandon Canucks, Oakland Braves and Souris Cardinals. The schedule in this short-season circuit consisted of 20 games with each team participating in eight matches.
Newspaper coverage of league games diminished during the final part of the schedule, eventually disappearing altogether and, although no evidence was found of any playoff results, the Oakland Braves apparently emerged as 1961 league champions.
Boissevain
Brandon Canucks
Glenboro
Oakland Braves
Souris Cardinals
(May 14) The Oakland Braves defeated Boissevain in the South-Central Baseball League’s 1961 opener. The other scheduled contest featuring Brandon at Souris was postponed.
(May 16) Riding the strong pitching performance of right-hander Deb Mealy, the Glensboro band of diamond pastimers made an auspicious debut in the South-Central Baseball League as they downed the Brandon Canucks 5 to 1 at Kinsmen Stadium. Glensboro wasted little time in settling the issue as they piled up four runs in the first inning and added their other tally in the second. Mealy saw to the rest as he whiffed nine, walked just one and tamed the youthful Canucks on five hits. Bob Allen, the first of three Canuck tossers, took the loss. Catcher Gord McWilliams paced the winners at the plate as he tabbed two of their six hits and started both run-producing innings, the first coming on a two-bagger. Brandon’s Barry Diller picked up two of the five hits yielded by Mealy and had his team’s only RBI.
Mealy (W) and McWilliams
Allen (L), Seamer (4), B. Josephson (7) and Pottinger
(May 23) The Brandon Canucks got on the winning track in the South-Central Baseball League as they shelled the Souris Cardinals 11 to 5 at Kinsmen Stadium. Brian Hutton went the route on the hill for the Canucks, breezing seven along the way. He was stingy with hits, allowing only four, but wildness that cost him ten walks kept him in continual hot water. Ed Stetch started on the knoll for Souris but was given the hook in the second panel as Cliff Hinks took over and went the rest of the way. Brandon started fast with three runs in the first and five more in the second. They added the final trio of tallies in the fourth while Souris counted twice in the second, once in the fourth and a pair in the fifth. Don Pottinger and Don Cornell both laced out three hits for the Canucks with Pottinger’s triad of bingles including a three-bagger while a double was part of Cornell’s sum of swats. Gary Fallis garnered two of the Cards’ four base raps.
(May 28) The homestanding Boissevain nine suffered their second straight loss in South-Central Baseball League play, blowing a huge lead in falling to the Brandon Canucks 13 to 9. Boissevain piled up seven runs in the first inning and led 8 to 0 until the top-of-the-sixth inning when the Canucks fought back with four counters and then grabbed the lead with a five-spot in the seventh. The Border Towners squared the count with a singleton in their half of the canto but Brandon put the game on ice with deuces in both the eighth and ninth panels. Jerry Page, with eight innings of brilliant relief, was the winning moundsman. Bill Fuller, in relief of starter Russ Pugh, was saddled with the hillock setback. The Josephson brothers, Al and Brian, both had three hits for Brandon while Barry Diller, Page and Ross Brownlee had two safeties apiece which included triples. Jack Houston, Vic Rayner, Bill Lonsdale and Al Robinson all hit safely twice for the vanquished nine.
Hutton, A. Josephson (1), Page (W) (2) and Pottinger
Pugh, Fuller (L) (6) and Rayner
(June 2) The Glenboro senior baseballers won their second South-Central League game 5 to 1 against the Souris Cardinals.
(June 4) It took eleven innings for homestanding Glensboro to break a 4 – 4 tie and nip the Brandon Canucks 5 to 4. Winning pitcher Harry LaLonde, who came on in relief of starter Carl Myers, doubled home the winning marker in the bottom-of-the second overtime session. Al Josephson, who hurled the final five innings after replacing starter Bruce Smith, was saddled with the loss. LaLonde and Dan Hyrich both had two hits for league-leading Glensboro while Jerry Page with three safeties and Bob Ash with a pair paced the Canucks.
(June 4) Invading Boissevain dropped their third game in succession, falling to the Souris Cardinals.
Smith, A. Josephson (L) (7) and Edwards, Pottinger (2)
Myers, LaLonde (W) (8) and McWilliams
(June 6) The Brandon Canucks jumped into second place in the South-Central Baseball League as they downed the Oakland Braves 6 to 3 at Kinsmen Stadium. Stylish southpaw Jerry Page, who has posted two of the team’s three victories, went the route for the Canucks and scattered eight hits. With Bill Edwards and Ross Brownlee both clubbing two hits, including two-baggers, Brandon settled the issue with successive two-run outbursts in the second, third and fourth innings. Eddie Evans, in relief of Oakland starting heaver Mel Bridges, was finally able to neutralize the Wheat City nine the rest of the way. Bruce Gullett slammed out three hits for the Braves.
Bridges (L), Evans (4) and Martin
Page (W) and Edwards
(June 9) The Oakland Braves registered their second victory of the campaign over Boissevain.
(June 13) The Brandon Canucks strengthened their grip on second place in the South-Central Baseball League as they topped winless Boissevain 8 to 6 at Kinsmen Stadium. It was a tight, scoreless battle for three innings before both clubs broke out in a rash of offense over the next three. Brandon’s Bruce Smith went the distance on the hill for the victory, scattering six hits. Difficulty in finding the strike zone was his biggest problem and the issuance of several walks kept him in peril although he pitched well in tight spots and was the beneficiary of two double plays that pulled him out of hot water. Bill Fuller went all the way for Boissevain, surrendering nine hits and walking four in absorbing the loss. Warren Veale paced the Canucks at the plate with three hits while Don Pottinger and Smith both clouted a triple and single.
Fuller (L) and Porter
Smith (W) and Pottinger
Standings W L Pct. GBL
Glenboro 4 0 1.000 ---
Brandon Canucks 4 2 .667 1.0
Souris Cardinals 2 2 .500 2.0
Oakland Braves 2 3 .400 2.5
Boissevain 0 5 .000 4.5
(June 16) The Oakland Braves soundly trimmed front-running Glensboro in a game played at Nesbitt.
(June 20) Homestanding Glensboro defeated Boissevain by a wide margin in a South-Central League contest.
NORTH-WESTERN BASEBALL LEAGUE (MANITOBA)
AngusvilleErickson
Rossburn
Russell
Sandy Lake
Shoal Lake
Strathclair
THE POLAR LEAGUE
This 1961 five-team circuit of four northern Manitoba and one Saskatchewan border-town entries played a short 16-game schedule centered around the summer solstice of June 21 and scheduled night games that were played up until 11 pm without the benefit of artificial lighting.
Cranberry Portage Kings
Creighton Braves
Flin Flon Cardinals
Flin Flon Stylers
The Pas Teepees
The league was home to several athletes more familiar with the ice rink than the diamond - Mel Pearson, in the New York Rangers system who played in the Eastern League last season; Phil Headley, goalie for Brandon Wheat Kings in the Manitoba Junior League; and Vic Poirier with the Maple Leafs of Nelson, B.C. Ed Mack, the 18-year-old Chicago White Sox bonus pitcher hurled for Cranberry in two exhibition games. He was in the area on a fishing trip.
In 1961, the same two teams reached the Polar League final with Stylers coming out on top in the best-of-seven series 4–1. Stylers Al Longmore was named league MVP. The following season the league expanded to six teams when a second team from The Pas called Trappers was accepted. The second team provide an opportunity for graduates from the minor ball program in The Pas to compete at a higher level. Coached by Marv Hill and George Hiatt, the young Trappers included Ted and Gerry Rock, Jack Ashely, Norm Engen, Gerry Foster, Paul Bayda, Wally Kowbuz and Gerry Yee. Several later played for the TeePees.
That year the TeePees won their third Polar League crown in four years beating Johnny’s Cardinals in the best-of-seven final. The series was tied 2–2, but the Cardinals won a 4–3 battle on Labour Day Sunday to move ahead. The TeePees then fought back the following day in game six to beat the Cardinals 10–5. Don Miller was the winning pitcher with Ron Cox, Harvey Beech, Barry Rowley and Millar leading the way at the plate with two hits. Orest Strocel contributed to the attack with two RBI. The Pas then captured the title with a 7–3 win in the second game of the doubleheader. Millar was the winner in relief of Wally Hausknecht while Rowley and Bill Donaldson led the attack with two hits.
The Northern Mail reported that “the fleet-footed Donaldson scored five runs in the DH and played solidly in the outfield” and “second baseman Ron Cox was at his peak Monday. He was particularly brilliant in the second game.”