(May 21) Dan Royer, Lethbridge Cardinals general manager, announced Ralph Young, 27-year-old baseball coach from Stanford University, as the team's playing-manager. The Western Canada Baseball League begins play June 11th. Spero Leakos heads the Saskatoon entry, Clark Rex in Edmonton and John Carbray in Calgary.
(June 3) WCBL teams in the new league reported no roster problems. Philadelphia Phillies are to supply the entire 17-man Saskatoon roster. Edmonton Oilers are affiliated with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Lethbridge with the St. Louis Cardinals and Calgary with the San Francisco Giants.
(June 9) Lethbridge held its first workout in preparation for their date with the Edmonton Oilers in the opening game of the serason. Manager Dan Royer revealed the Cardinals had signed two new pitchers -- righthander Art Groza from San Francisco State and lefty Barry Krohn from San Mateo College -- and shortstop Craig Heimbigner of Washington State University,
"Meanwhile shortstop Heimbigner, described by St. Louis Cardinal scout Bill Sayles as the best shortstop prospect to come of the Washington area in 10 years, was reported to be on his way here for the opener." (Lethbridge Herald, June 10, 1963)
(June 11) Edmonton Oilers had 17 hits and took advantage of five errors to down Lethbridge Cardinals 13-9 in the season opener for both clubs. Gary Sutherland and Dwane Adams each had four hits to pace the Oilers. Sutherland had two triples and Adams one. Catcher Harry Laiola bashed a triple and double for the Cards. Don Ross, in relief of starter Jerry Nyman, picked up the win.
Nyman, Ross (1-0) (3), Peterson (8) and Rex
Christman (0-1), Steadman (2) and Laiola
Lefthander Larry Loughlin fired a five-hit shutout as Calgary Giants kicked off the new season with a 4-0 win over Saskatoon Commodores. Loughlin fanned nine and walked three. Tim Cullen, a former Commodore, had three hits and drove in a run for the winners. Mike Gallagher took the loss. Saskatoon's playing-manager Lyle Olsen belted a towering double for the only extra base hit of the contest.
Loughlin (1-0) and Beasley
Gallagher (0-1), Lamb (5) and Ruth
(June 12) Nelson Briles tossed a two-hitter as Calgary trounced the Commodores 11-0 at Saskatoon. Gary Malvini and John Elik each had three hits to lead the Giants. Charlie Marcenaro, Dick Allan and John Wheeler each had a pair. Tim Cullen added a triple. Lefty Norman Marr took the loss.
Briles (1-0) and Beasley
Marr (0-1), Lamb (5) and Ruth
Barry Krohn allowed just four hits as Lethbridge topped Edmonton Oilers 5-2 to gain the Cardinals first win of the season. The southpaw had 10 strikeouts without issuing a base on balls. Shortstop Craig Heimbigner's two-run homer was the big blow for the winners. Ray Young added a triple and two singles. Gary Sutherland had a four-bagger for Edmonton. Dennis Lindstrand took the loss.
Pearce, Lindstrand (0-1) (4) and Rex
Krohn (1-0) and Laiola
(June 13) A pair of lefthanders put on a pitching clinic at Henderson Stadium in Lethbridge as Edmonton Oilers notched a 3-0 victory. Tom Pederson, who got the win on a five-hit shutout, and Peter Mauritsen, who allowed just seven hits, each fanned 12 batters in route-going performances. Pederson had a no-hitter into the 6th inning. Lethbridge players described Pederson's curve as the best they've seen. Dwayne Adam paced the Oilers with a double and two singles.
Pederson (1-0) and Rex
Mauritsen (0-1) and Laiolo
Paul Edmondson allowed just two hits but needed relief in the 9th as Saskatoon Commodores escaped with a 5-4 win over Calgary. Edmondson, who walked nine and hit a batter, had a shutout until the 9th when the Giants, helped by three walks and two errors, scored four times. Bill Brasher came on to quell the uprising. Playing-manager Lyle Olsen had two hits, a sacrifice and a walk for the Commodores. Paul Coleman gave up just six hits in taking the loss.
Coleman (0-1) and Beasley
Edmondson (1-0), Brasher (9) and Ruth
(June 14) A four-run eighth inning carried the Giants to a 6-2 win over Lethbridge Cardinals before a crowd of more than 2,000 at Buffalo Stadium in Calgary. Newcomer Lonnie Raymond had a one-hitter for the Cards going into the 8th frame. The lefthander had given up a two-run homer to Dave Holt in the first inning then faced 22 batters without allowing a hit until mound opponent Larry Loughlin led off the 8th with a double. Giants' Tim Cullen blasted a two-run homer to provide some insurance markers. Harry Laiolo had a homer and two singles for the Cards.
Raymond (0-1), Groza (8) and Laiolo
Loughlin (2-0), Foss (9) and Beasley
Saskatoon Commodores dumped the Oilers 9-2 before 2,200 fans at Edmonton. 20-year-old righthander Bill Brasher allowed just four singles in going the distance for the win. He fanned twelve and walked four. Gary Fancher, Fergy Oliver and Leo Ruth shared the hitting honours. Francher had a double and single while Oliver and Ruth each had two safeties.
Brasher (1-0) and Ruth
Fowlkes (0-1), Nyman (3), Ross (4) and Rex
(June 15) Ray Lamb tossed a three-hitter as Saskatoon shutout the Oilers 5-0 at Edmonton. Lefty John Pearce allowed just seven hits in being saddled with the loss.
Lamb (1-0) and Ruth
Pearce (0-1) and Kulka
Lethbridge Cardinals rode home runs by Harry Laiolo, Craig Heimbigner and George Thatcher to a 7-2 victory over Calgary. Ken Hutton pitched into the 8th inning, scattering five hits, to register the win.
Hutton (1-0), Groza (8) and Laiolo
Marcenaro (0-1), Foss (6) and Beasley
(June 16) Edmonton salvaged a split of its weekend series as George Fowlkes tossed a three-hitter as the Oilers shaded the Commodores 4-3 to move into a four-way tie for first place. Gary Sutherland drove in a pair for Edmonton with a double and single.
Marr (0-2), Brasher (6) and Ruth
Fowlkes (1-1) and Rex
Lethbridge Cardinals rallied for three runs in the 9th inning to down Calgary 7-5. The winning markers scored on a hit batsman, two walks and singles by Harry Laiolo and Terry Christman. Playing-manager Ray Young picked up the pitching win in a relief effort. Nelson Briles took the loss. The result left all four WCBL teams with 3-3 records.
Krohn, Groza (5), Young (5) (1-0) and Hibbs
Briles (1-1), Walasko (9) and Beasley, Holt (6)
(June 17) Harry Laiolo, with three singles, laid down a bases-loaded squeeze bunt in the bottom of the 9th inning to score pinch-runner Art Groza with the winner as Lethbridge shaded Calgary 6-5. The Cardinals had tied the score at 5-5 with three runs in the 6th. Southpaw Terry Christman scattered eight hits to take the win. Shortstop Craig Heimbigner had a double and single for the Cards and second baseman George Thatcher added a double. Dave Holt had a double and two singles for Calgary.
Coleman, Foss (4), Marcenaro (0-2) (9) and Holt
Christman (1-1) and Laiolo
A three-run 6th inning carried Saskatoon to a 3-1 triumph over Edmonton. Norm Marr, who came on for sore-armed Paul Edmondson in the first, picked up his first win of the season. Tom Pederson went the distance for the Oilers, compiling 10 strikeouts. Jim Vickers and Tony Davila had run-scoring singles for the Commodores. Clark Rex had three hits for the Oilers.
Pederson (1-1) and Rex
Edmondson, Marr (1-2) (1), Brasher (7) and Ruth
(June 17) OMAHA, Nebraska - Bud Hollowell smashed his 4th homer of the tournament and Walt Peterson put on a sparkling pitching performance as Southern California downed Arizona 5-2 to capture the College World Series. Hollowell was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player.
(June 18) Righthander Bob Ross held Saskatoon to three hits as Edmonton blanked the Commodores 10-0. Oilers had nine hits, including a triple, double and single by John Allison and doubles by Gary Sutherland and Dwayne Adams. Ross fanned ten and walked two.
Ross (2-0) and Rex
Lamb (1-1), Marr (7) and Ruth
Reliever Larry Loughlin snuffed out a 9th inning rally by Lethbridge as Calgary scored a 2-1 victory. With a run in and runners at second and third, Loughlin got the last two outs to preserve the win for Jan Dukes. Tim Cullen, with a double and single, paced the Giants. Craig Heimbigner had two hits for the Cards and Terry Christman added a triple.
Dukes (1-0), Loughlin (9) and Hold
Mauritsen (0-2) and Laiolo
(June 19) Bill Brasher scattered seven hits in going the distance to pick up his second win of the season as Saskatoon topped Edmonton 5-3. Brasher had nine strikeouts and four walks in besting Jerry Nyman who allowed just five hits in a losing cause. Gary Sutherland, Terry Murphy and Dwayne Adams each had two hits for the Oilers. Tony Davila belted a run-scoring double for the Commodores.
Nyman (0-1) and Rex
Brasher (2-0) and Ruth
With his work on the mound and the plate, Charlie Marcenaro led the Calgary Giants to a 6-2 win over Lethbridge. Marcenaro pitched into the seventh, allowing just four hits, to pick up the win and drove in a pair with a single in the fifth. Jan Dukes drove in two with a double in the 7th. Lonnie Raymond took the loss.
Marcenaro (1-2), Foss (7) and Holt
Raymond (0-2), Steadman (7), Hutton (8) and Laiolo
(June 20) Bill Wylie's 4th inning grand slam homer highlighted a 9-run inning as Calgary whipped Saskatoon 10-4. The big inning also featured a home run by Tim Cullen, Gary Malvini's triple and a double by Jan Dukes. Calgary had fallen behind 4-0 in the third frame on three walks, an error and a pair of singles. The Giants got on the board in the bottom of the third on a walk to Willie Walasko, single by Wylie and Cullen's sacrifice fly. Walasko picked up the win in relief of starter Larry Loughlin. He allowed just four hits and fanned eight in registering his first win. Commodores ended up using catchers Buddy Hollowell and Leo Ruth for mound duty.
Edmondson (1-1), Hollowell (4), Ruth (7) and Ruth, Hollowell (7)
Loughlin, Walasko (1-0) (3) and Holt, Beasley (9)
Edmonton Oilers managed just four hits but chalked up a 3-2 win over Lethbridge. Left fielder John Allison drove in two runs with a triple and Gary Sutherland had a double and single. John Pearce was the winner. Tug McGraw took the loss. Catcher Jim Hibbs had a triple and single for Lethbridge.
McGraw (0-1), Krohn (6) and Hibbs
Pearce (1-1), Fowlkes (6) and Rex, Lacheman (7)
In an exhibition match, sponsored by the Lethbridge Cardinals, the Indianapolis Clowns downed the Brooklyn Stars at Henderson Park before around 450 fans.
CALGARY 6-4
EDMONTON 5-5
SASKATOON 5-5
LETHBRIDGE 4-6
(June 21) Catcher Harry Lailolo punched out four hits, including a two-run homer, and knocked in four to lead the offensive charge as Lethbridge Cardinals downed the Oilers 11-8 at Edmonton. The Cards scored four in the top of the 9th then held off an Oilers' rally in the bottom of the frame to take the win. Art Groza, who went the distance for the win, helped his own cause with a double and two singles. Groza struck out thirteen and walked five. Jim Hibbs had a triple and single and Craig Heimbigner added a triple for the winners while Gary Sutherland and Rene Lacheman belted homers for Edmonton. Lefty Tom Pederson took the loss.
Groza (1-0) and Laiolo
Tom Pederson (2-1), Ross (8), Stewart (9) and Lacheman
(June 21) Edmonton outfielder Dwayne Adams is setting a blistering pace in the WCBL batting race. Adams, at .480, is well ahead of George Thatcher of Lethbridge who sits at .417. Cardinals' play-manager Ray Young is third at .409. Tim Cullen and John Elick, both of Calgary, sit at .400. Harry Laiolo and Craig Heimbigner, both of Lethbridge, each have two homers to lead in that category. Lefty Tom Pederson of Edmonton tops the ERA standings having pitched shutout ball for nine innings and Nelson Briles of Calgary is tops in strikeouts with 22.
(June 21) Saskatoon at Calgary rained out.
(June 23) Lefthander Terry Christman was the story as Lethbridge Cardinals eked out a 1-0 win over Saskatoon Commodores. Christman fired a three-hitter with eight strikeouts and scored the only run on Jim Hibbs' single in the 5th inning.
Edmondson, Lamb (1-2) (3) and Piscovich
Christman (2-1) and Laiolo
After giving up John Allison's three-run homer in the first, Nelson Briles settled down to pitch shutout ball the rest of the way as Calgary downed Edmonton 6-3. Briles allowed just seven hits overall while registering 12 strikeouts and the righthander drove in a pair of runs with a double and a single. Newcomer Jack Hare, from Birmingham, Alabama, went all the way to take the loss.
Briles (2-1) and Holt
Hare (0-1) and Lacheman, Rex (7)
Calgary 7-4
Lethbridge 6-6
Saskatoon 5-6
Edmonton 5-7
(June 24) George Fowlkes went the distance on the mound for the win and drove in three runs with a double a two singles to lead Edmonton Oilers to a 9-5 victory over Calgary Giants. Ed Gagle had a homer and single and Virgil Howe a triple and single for the Oilers. Jan Dukes led the Giants with four singles. Ken Washington, of USC, walked as a pinch-hitter in the 8th inning.
Fowlkes (2-1) and Lacheman
Coleman, Foss (0-1) (6) and Holt
Bill Brasher fired a four-hitter and fanned ten to pace Saskatoon to a 9-2 win over Lethbridge. Brasher also had two hits, including a double. Tony Davila had four hits and Marty Piscovich three for the winners. Greg Post had a double and two singles for the Cardinals.
Brasher (3-0) and Piscovich
Mauritsen (0-3), Krohn (7), Steadman (8) and Laiolo
(June 25) Centre fielder Kenny Washington drove in four runs, three of them with a first inning homer, to lead Edmonton to an 8-4 victory over Calgary. Washington also had a triple and single. Orville Franchuk, of Lac La Biche, Alberta, gained a win in his first appearnce with the Oilers. Franchuk allowed only three hits but walked nine. Jan Dukes gave up 11 hits in going the route for the Giants.
Dukes (1-1) and Beasley
Franchuk (1-0), Pearce (8) and Lacheman
Saskatoon Commodores moved into a tie for first place with a 7-3 victory over Lethbridge. First baseman Buddy Hollowell blasted a 420-foot homer and a single, stole a pair of bases and scored three times. Marty Piscovich and Tony Davila each had triples. Craig Heimbigner led the Cardinals with a pair of doubles. George Thatcher drove in a pair for Lethbridge. Norm Marr registered the win, pitching into the 9th inning.
Marr (2-2), Gallagher (9) and Piscovich
Raymond (0-3), Young (4) and Laiolo
(June 26) Edmonton used the long ball to notch a 10-5 win over the Giants at Calgary. The Oilers had four homers - by Kenny Washington, Ed Gagel, Dwayne Adams and Virgil Howe. Gary Sutherland added three singles and Washington also had a double and two walks. For Calgary, Tim Cullen knocked in three runs with a double and three singles. Lefty Tom Pederson had 12 strikeouts for the Oilers.
Tom Pederson (2-2) and Lacheman
Walasko (1-1), Marcenaro (2) and Holt
Saskatoon Commodores erupted with 17 hits to trounce Lethbridge 14-0. Fergie Olver belted a double and four singles to led the winners. Jim Vickers added a double and two singles, Gary Francher a homer and single and Buddy Hollowell had a triple and double. Larry Fisher allowed just four hits over seven innings for the win and had a double and single at the plate. Tug McGraw took the loss.
McGraw (0-2), Krohn (3) and Laiolo
Fisher (1-0), Gallagher (8) and Piscovich
(June 27) Edmonton Oilers belted 15 hits including four home runs to come away with a 13-12 victory over the Giants in a slugfest at Calgary. It was the 4th straight win for the Oilers. Dwane Adams had a pair of homers with singletons to Virgil Howe and Ed Gagel. Calgary, which had homers by Tim Cullen and Gary Malvini, had scored a pair in the bottom of the 9th and had the bases load with one out before Walt Peterson fanned Cullen and Dave Holt to preserve the victory for John Pearce. Larry Loughlin went the route for the Giants.
Ross, Pearce (2-1) (4), Peterson (9) and Lacheman
Loughlin (2-1) and Holt
Saskatoon rallied with three runs in the bottom of the 9th inning to shade Lethbridge 5-4. The result spoiled a sterling performance by Cardinals' starter Art Groza who had 14 strikeouts entering the final frame. Commodores loaded the bases with one out against Groza who gave way to reliever Tug McGraw who walked in a run and was replaced by Lonnie Raymond who proceeded to hit the next batter to tie the game at 4-4. A sacrifice fly by winning pitcher Steve Cahoon scored Buddy Hollowell with the deciding marker.
Groza (1-1), McGraw (9), Raymond (9) and Hibbs
Lamb, Gallagher (5), Cahoon (1-0) (6) and Piscovich
(June 27) Spero Leakos, Saskatoon general manager, confirmed the Commodores would be shifting to Medicine Hat for the remainder of the season. Leakos said the move would help to reduce travel expenses and the city has offered cheaper park rental and lights. The team would also cut costs as Alberta has no amusement tax.
Saskatoon 9-6
Edmonton 9-7
Calgary 7-8
Lethbridge 6-10
(June 28) Terry Christman allowed just three singles as Lethbridge Cardinals trounced Saskatoon Commodores 10-1 in the final game at Saskatoon before the franchise shifts to Medicine Hat for the rest of the season. Christman fanned five and didn't issue any walks and helped out at the plate with a triple. Jim Hibbs and Craig Heimbigner also had three-base hits for the Cardinals.
Christman (3-1) and Hibbs
Edmondson (1-2), Marr (1), Gallagher (5), Ruth (7) and Piscovich, Hollowell (8)
Calgary Giants exploded for four runs in the first inning and five more in the second en route to a 10-3 win over Edmonton Oilers. A three-run homer by Stan Beard and a solo shot by Gary Malvini were the key hits for the winners in a game called after 5 1/2 innings because of rain. Nelson Briles gave up just three hits and one earned run in registering the win. He struck out 11, including eight in a row. Jack Hare was the loser.
Hare (0-2) and Lacheman
Briles (3-1) and Holt
(July 01) With late inning heroics, the hometown Cardinals swept a pair from Calgary, 4-3 and 5-4, in Western Canada Baseball League action at Lethbridge. Down 3-1 in the 8th inning of the opener, catcher Harry Lailolo's triple tied the match and the Cards got a bases-loaded walk in the 9th to take the win. Although he allowed nine bases on balls, lefty Tug McGraw held Calgary to five hits to claim the win.
In the nightcap, catcher Jim Hibbs drove in Greg Post in the bottom of the 10th with the winning run. Post, who had three hits, had single, stole second and moved to third on a sacrifice. Calgary manager John Carbray performed an on-filed juggling act in an attempt to pull out a victory. He finished the game with three pitchers patroling the outfield. Lethbridge newcomer Jerry Daniele poked a 400-foot double in his first plate appearance.
Dukes, Coleman (0-2) (8) and Holt
McGraw (1-2) and Laiolo
Foss, Coleman (7), Marcenaro (1-3) (9), and Holt, Beasley (2)
Mauritsen, Groza (2-1) (9) and Hibbs
The Commodores marked their move to Medicine Hat with a 5-1 win Monday over Edmonton Oilers before a crowd of 1,075. The teams were rained out Saturday and Sunday and played a on rut covered field. Bill Brasher went the distance for his 4th straight win. John Pearce took the loss. Second baseman Tony Davila scored a pair for the winners who took advantage of nine Edmonton errors.
Pearce (2-2) and Lacheman
Brasher (4-0) and Piscovich
Medicine Hat 10-7
Edmonton 9-9
Lethbridge 9-10
Calgary 8-10
(July 2) No-hit for five innings, the Lethbridge Cardinals rebounded for 10 hits to down the Giants 8-7 at Calgary. A two-out, two-run homer in the 9th inning by Bob Cox proved to be the difference. Winning pitcher Terry Christman had a homer and a two-run single for the Cards and Jim Hibbs added a homer. Calgary starter Larry Loughlin had a two-run homer for the losers.
Christman (4-1), Young (9) and Laiolo
Loughlin, Foss (0-2) (7), Walasko (9) and Beasley
Dwayne Adams' bases-loaded single in the bottom of the 11th inning gave Edmonton Oilers a 4-3 win over Medicine Hat before 1,200 fans at Edmonton. The Oilers had tied the score in the bottom of the 9th on Ed Gagel's single. The Oilers had just six hits, including triples by Rene Lacheman and Gary Sutherland. Gary Francher had a triple, double and single for the Commodores.
Fisher, Lamb (1-3) (6), Marr (11) and Hollowell
Walt Peterson, Fowlkes (3-1) (10) and Lacheman, Rex ( )
Medicine Hat 10-8
Edmonton 10-9
Lethbridge 10-10
Calgary 8-11
(July 3) Nelson Briles fired a six-hitter and compiled 12 strikeouts to lead Calgary to an 8-1 victory over Lethbridge. Tim Cullen blasted a pair of homers and Charlie Marcenaro had a singleton for the Giants. Bill Fennessey, a long time star in South Alberta baseball, suited up for Giants and added a double and single.
Krohn (1-1), Raymond (5) and Laiolo
Briles (4-1) and Beasley
Edmonton Oilers moved into first place in the Western Canada Baseball League with a 6-3 victory over Medicine Hat before 1,700 fans at Edmonton. Righthander George Fowkles picked up the win with relief help from Bob Ross. Gary Sutherland had a double and two singles for the Oilers. Jim Vickers poked a homer for Medicine Hat while Gary Fancher had three singles.
Cahoon (1-1), Edmondson (6) and Hollowell
Fowlkes (4-1), Ross (7) and Lacheman, Rex (5)
(July 4) Lethbridge Cardinals took advantage of eight Calgary errors to dump the Giants 9-5 at Calgary. Art Groza and reliever Ray Young combined to hold the Giants to six hits. Young induced Stan Beard to hit into a double play with the bases loaded in the eighth inning to preserve the Cards' win. The double play was a masterpiece engineered by shortstop Craig Heimbigner.
Groza (3-1), Young (8) and Hibbs
Marcenaro (1-4), Coleman (1), Foss (6), Macenaro (9) and Beasley, Kagy (4)
In a night of miscues, Edmonton Oilers made nine errors to help Medicine Hat to an 8-4 victory. Commodores' starter Norm Marr picked up the win although he needed relief help in the seventh inning when the Oilers scored all their runs. Buddy Hollowell had a homer for the winners. Rene Lacheman had a double and single for the Oilers. Tom Pederson was the losing pitcher.
Marr (3-2), Lamb (7), Brasher (7) and Piscovich
Tom Pederson (2-3), Hare (8) and Lacheman, Rex (3)
Medicine Hat 11-9
Edmonton 11-10
Lethbridge 11-11
Calgary 9-12
(July 5) Calgary pitchers Jan Dukes and Nelson Briles combined for 23 strikeouts as the Giants shaded Edmonton Oilers 4-3 in 11 innings at Calgary. Dukes, a 17-year-old high schooler from California, fanned 19 before being removed with two on and two out in the tenth inning. Briles fanned all four batters he faced to pick up his fifth win. Bill Fennessey scored the winning run on a passed ball after the Giants had loaded the bases on a pair of singles and a fielder's' choice. Orville Franchuk was the hard luck loser, having allowed just five hits before the fateful 11th frame.
Franchuk (1-1), Ross (11) and Lacheman
Dukes, Briles (10) (5-1) and Beasley, Kagy (8)
Medicine Hat Commodores scored five runs in the first inning and held on to beat Lethbridge Cardinals 10-9. The Cards lost more than a game. St. Louis scout Bill Sayles announced he had signed slick fielding shortstop Craig Heimbigner to a pro contract and would be leaving to join Billings of the Pioneer League. Harry Laiolo blasted a grand slam homer for the Cards who out hit the Commodores 14 to 11. Jim Hibbs and Bobby Cox each had three hits. Bud Hollowell belted a pair of doubles for the winners. Larry Fisher picked up the win.
Fisher (2-0), Cahoon (7), Edmondson (9) and Piscovich
Hutton (1-1), McGraw (1) and Laiolo
(July 6) Gary Sutherland the Edmonton Oilers shortstop holds the lead in the batting race in the Western Canada Baseball League. Sutherland's .406 mark is nearly 50 points ahead of the runner-up, Tim Cullen of Calgary who sits at .360. Dwayne Adams of the Oilers is third at .338. Sutherland also tops the league in hits, 29, doubles, 8, and runs batted in, 21.
Bill Brasher of Medicine Hat leads the pitchers with an ERA of 1.11. Brasher and Nelson Briles, who is second in ERA, along with Terry Christman of the Cards each have three wins.
The Top 10 AB R H AVG
Sutherland, E 71 12 29 .406
Cullen, C 75 17 27 .360
Adams, E 65 9 22 .338
Malvini, C 71 15 23 .324
Laiolo, L 73 9 23 .315
Post, L 48 6 15 .313
Young, L 65 13 19 .293
Thatcher, L 61 3 17 .279
Dukes, C 40 10 11 .275
Heimbigner, L 77 12 21 .273
(July 6) Lethbridge Cardinals erupted for six runs in the third inning and survived a late rally to edge the Commodores 8-7 at Medicine Hat. Pete Mauritsen pitched into the 9th to pick up his first win of the season after three defeats. He also drove in the winning run with a sacrifice fly in the 6th inning. Jim Hibbs poked a homer for Lethbridge. Bud Hollowell replied for the Commodores.
Mauritsen (1-3), Young (9) and Laiolo
Brasher (4-1), Ruth (3) and Piscovich
(July 7) Lethbridge Cardinals built up an 8-0 lead and again held off a late Medicine Hat rally to down the Commodores 8-5. Ray Young drove in four runs for the Cardinals with a pair of triples. Lyle Olsen produced a triple and two singles. Terry Christman went the distance for his fourth win.
Christman (4-1) and Hibbs
Edmondson (1-3), Ray Lamb (7) and Piscovich
(July 7) Stan Beard's two-out homer in the 10th inning gave the Giants a 6-5 win over Edmonton in the opening game of a double header at Calgary. Mark Foss picked up the win in relief of Larry Loughlin. Rene Lacheman and Ken Washington blasted home runs for Edmonton.
Fowlkes, Pearce (2), Hare (9) (0-3) and Rex
Loughlin, Foss (8) (1-2) and Kagy
Walt Peterson fired a four-hit shutout as Edmonton downed Calgary 3-0 in the second game of the twin bill. Nelson Briles was the loser in spite of holding the Oilers to five hits and one earned run.
Walt Peterson (1-0) and Lacheman
Briles (5-2) and Kagy
Medicine Hat 12-10
Lethbridge 12-12
Edmonton 12-12
Calgary 11-13
(July 8) Bud Hollowell scored the winner in the top of the 9th inning as Medicine Hat Commodores edged Calgary Giants 5-4. Steve Cahoon, whose single plated Hollowell, picked up the win in relief. Giants got homers from Nelson Briles, playing the outfield, and Marty Piscovich.
Brasher, Cahoon (2-1) and Piscovich
Marcenaro (1-4) and Kagy
(July 9) Fergie Olver and Lyle Olsen each drove in two runs in the 8th inning as Medicine Hat downed Calgary 7-3. Ray Lamb was the winner allowing just one hit after relieving starter Norm Marr in the 6th.
Dukes, Coleman (1-3) (6), Foss (8) and Kagy, Ruth (6)
Marr, Lamb (2-3) (6) and Piscovich
George Thatcher tripled in a run in the top of the 9th to give Lethbridge a 3-2 win over Edmonton Oilers. Art Groza fired a three-hitter for the win. He fanned 11 and walked 4. Tom Pederson, hampered by six Edmonton errors, took the loss.
Groza (4-1) and Hibbs
Tom Pederson (2-4) and Lacheman
(July 10) Edmonton Oilers and Lethbridge Cardinals split a twinbill at Edmonton. Cards took the opener 13-9 in 12 innings. Oilers bounced back to take the nightcap 7-4. Catcher Harry Laiolo knocked in seven runs in the first game as Lethbridge broke loose for five runs in the 12th to notch the win. Lailolo had a homer, two singles and a sacrifice fly. Barry Krohn, who relieved in the first inning, went the rest of the way for the win.
Gary Sutherland, who had a double and three singles, drove in Rene Lacheman with the winning run in the 7-4 Oilers win in the second game. George Fowlkes went the distance to register his fifth win. Tug McGraw was the loser. Jim Hibbs had a homer and two singles for the Cards.
Raymond, Krohn (2-1) (1) and Hibbs
Ross, Hare (2), Pearce (9), Franchuk (1-2) (10), Washington (12) and Rex, Lacheman (10)
McGraw (1-3) and Raymond
Fowlkes (5-1) and Rex
Medicine Hat 14-11
Lethbridge 15-13
Edmonton 13-14
Calgary 11-15
(July 11) Rained out
(July 12) A squeeze bunt by Leo Ruth scored John Elick with the winning run in the seventh inning as Calgary shaded Lethbridge 3-2. Tim Cullen had given the Giants the lead with a two-run homer in the first inning, his league-leading 6th circuit blast. The Cardinals got one back in the bottom of the first and another in the third. Lefty Larry Loughlin went the route for the win, allowing nine hits. Peter Mauritsen gave up just five hits in a losing cause but walked nine. Cullen, recently shifted from third base to shortstop, was outstanding in the field. Cardinals announced the released of pitcher Ken Hutton and the signing of catcher - outfielder Hans Pung.
Loughlin (3-1) and Ruth
Mauritsen (1-4) and Hibbs
Medicine Hat at Edmonton was rescheduled because of a scheduling conflict with an Edmonton football intra-squad game.
Medicine Hat 14-11
Lethbridge 15-13
Edmonton 13-14
Calgary 11-15
(July 13) The game at Edmonton, between the Oilers and Medicine Hat was rescheduled due to a scheduling conflict at Renfrew Park.
(July 13) The Giants and Cardinals split a twin-bill at Lethbridge. The home team took the opener 6-3 with Calgary rebounding for a 9-8 decision in the second contest.
Harry Laiolo`s grand-slam homer in the first game erased a 3-1 Calgary lead and sparked the Lethbridge victory. The blast came off reliever Mark Foss. Lefty Terry Christman was the winner with his sixth triump, tops in the league.
Dukes, Foss (L) (8) and Ruth
Christman (W) and Laiolo
In the second game, it was Calgary who came from behind. Down 6-1, the Giants rallied for two in the 4th, two in the 5th and four in the 7th to hand Dave Holt the pitching win in his first appearance on the hill. Charlie Marcenaro led the Giants at the plate with two triples and a single.
Briles, Holt (W) (3), Foss (8) and Ruth
Groza (L), Magahen (8), Raymond (9) and Hibbs
Commordores received bad news when the team`s top hitter, Bud Hollowell was hospitalized with infectious hepatitis which may sideline the first sacker for the remainer of the season.
(July 14) Lefty Tim McGraw fired a shutout over 10 innings as Lethbridge scored an unearned run in the 10th for a 1-0 victory over Edmonton. Walt Peterson took the hard-luck loss. Peterson threw a wild pitch with the bases loaded in the extra frame to allow Greg Post to plate the only run. McGraw gave up just five hits and fanned 12 in going the distance. He walked six. Peterson gave up ten hits and had 10 strikeouts.
Walt Peterson (1-1) and Rex
McGraw (2-3) and Hibbs
(July 14) The Commodores doubled up on Calgary 8-4 Sunday at Buffalo Stadium. Larry Fisher pitched into the 7th inning to register his third win without a loss. Second baseman Ron Theobold led the offense with a triple, double and single in five trips.
Fisher (W), Lamb (8) and Piscovich
Marcenaro (L), Coleman (7) and Ruth
(July 15) Barry Krohn fired a three-hitter to pace Lethbridge to a 3-1 victory over Edmonton. Oilers plated the first run on Dwayne Adams' triple in the 4th inning. George Thatcher and Terry Christman drove in runs in the bottom of the inning to give the Cardinals the lead. Jim Hibbs' sacrifice fly in the 7th provided an insurance run. Tom Pederson took the loss.
Tom Pederson (2-5) and Rex
Krohn (3-1) and Hibbs
Medicine Hat 15-11
Lethbridge 18-15
Edmonton 13-16
Calgary 13-17
(July 16) Lyle Olsen doubled in Norm Marr in the 8th inning to give Medicine Hat a 4-3 win over Calgary. Marr, who relieved in the first inning, registered the win.
Brasher, Marr (4-2) (1), Cahoon (8) and Piscovich
Briles, Holt (0-1) (6), Foss (9) and Ruth
Lethbridge beat Edmonton for the third straight night taking an 8-3 verdict at Henderson Stadium. Lefty Pete Mauritsen held the Oilers to six hits in picking up the win. He fanned nine and walked six. Ray Young had a double and two singles, Jim Hibbs a homer and single for the Cardinals. Greg Post added a triple and single and Terry Christman a double and single. George Thatcher drove in three runs with a pair of singles. Gary Sutherland, the second-ranked hitter in the league, produced two hits, including a double.
Fowlkes (5-2), Franchuk (6) and Rex
Mauritsen (2-4) and Hibbs
(July 17) Paul Edmondson fired a two-hit shutout as Medicine Hat whipped Calgary 7-0. Commodores jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first on run-scoring hits by Lyle Olsen and Marty Piscovich and an error. Ron Theobald added two more runs with a homer in the fifth. Commodores collected 15 hits off Larry Loughlin.
Loughlin (3-2) and Ruth
Edmondson (2-3) and Piscovich
Medicine Hat 16-11
Lethbridge 19-15
Edmonton 13-16
Calgary 13-17
(July 18) Edmonton Oilers plated seven runs in the first two innings and coasted to a 9-5 verdict over Calgary. Home runs by Ken Washington, Gary Sutherland and Rene Lacheman were the key hits for the Oilers. Walt Peterson scattered nine hits for the win.
Walt Peterson (2-1) and Rex
Coleman (0-4), Foss (2) and Ruth, Kagy (2)
Medicine Hat 17-11
Lethbridge 19-15
Edmonton 14-16
Calgary 13-19
(July 19) Edmonton Oilers made good use of eight hits to down Calgary Giants 6-3. Rene Lacheman's two-run homer was a key blow. Dick Allan clubbed a three-run homer for Calgary. Tom Pederson, with relief from John Pearce, got the win.
Tom Pederson (3-5), Pearce (8) and Lacheman
Dukes (1-2) Ruth (9) and Kagy
Ray Young's two-run homer in the fifth inning provided Lethbridge with a 3-2 win over Medicine Hat Commodores. Greg Post scored the Cards' first run in the third on a wild pitch. Fergie Olver doubled in the first run for Medicine Hat and scored the second on Lyle Olsen's single. Terry Christman won his 7th game in 8 decisions.
Christman (7-1) and Hibbs
Lamb (4-7), Brasher (6), Cahoon (9) and Piscovich
Medicine Hat 17-12
Lethbridge 20-15
Edmonton 15-16
Calgary 13-20
(July 20) Nelson Briles broke Calgary's five-game losing streak with a four-hit shutout as the Giants topped Edmonton 1-0. Briles fanned 18. He had a strikeout in every inning and fanned the side in both the fifth and ninth innings.
Fowkles (L), Hare (3) and Rex
Briles (W) and Kagy
Medicine Hat scored a pair in the first inning on Ron Theobald's double and coasted to a 5-2 win over Lethbridge. Larry Fisher went six shutout innings to capture the win. Art Groza was the loser.
Groza (L) and Hibbs
Fisher (W), Brasher (7) and Piscovich
(July 21) Edmonton Oilers shaded Calgary 4-3 as reliever George Fowlkes preserved the win getting out of a bases-loaded, none-out jam in the 9th inning. Orville Franchuk picked up the win, Larry Loughlin took the loss.
Loughlin (L), Ruth (8) and Kagy
Franchuk (W), Fowlkes (9), and Rex
Lefty Tug McGraw, fresh off a 1-0, 10-inning shutout performance, failed to retire a batter as Medicine Hat trashed the Cardinals 14-2. The Commodores belted out 17 hits and took advantage of five Cardinals' errors. They plated six runs in the first inning as McGraw opened with a walk to Howie Martin, hits to Lyle Olsen, Jim Vickers and Marty Piscovich, walk to Ron Theobald and a hit to Tony Davila. Olsen led the attack with a triple and two singles. Theobald offered a double and two singles. Winning pitcher Steve Cahoon had three singles. George Thatcher was the lone bright light for the Cards with three hits.
Cahoon (W), Edmondson (8) and Piscovich, Beasley (6)
McGraw (L), Mauritsen (1), McGahen (2), Raymond (5) and Hibbs
Medicine Hat 19-12
Lethbridge 20-17
Edmonton 16-17
Calgary 14-21
(July 22) Calgary Giants spotted Edmonton two runs, on Rene Lacheman's first inning homer, then roared back to dump the Oilers 7-2. Leo Ruth, the former Medicine Hat catcher, picked up the pitching win tossing five shutout innings in relief. Nelson Briles finished up with three scoreless innings. Giants plated a run in the 4th then went ahead in the 7th on a two-run double by Charlie Marcenaro. Back to back doubles by Tim Cullen and Bill Kagy produced two more runs. Giant manager John Carbray was ejected from the game in the 8th inning for protesting an umpire's call.
Foss, Ruth (W) (2), Briles (7) and Kagy
Pearce (L), Ross (7), Washington (8) and Lacheman
Lethbridge Cardinals stranded 15 runs and made five errors in the field in dropping a 3-2 decision to Medicine Hat. Norm Marr allowed just a run over six innings to register the win. Barry Krohn was the hard-luck loser.
Marr (W), Brasher (7) and Piscovich
Krohn (L), McGraw (8) and Laiolo
Medicine Hat 20-12
Lethbridge 20-18
Edmonton 16-18
Calgary 15-21
(July 23) At Lethbridge, Medicine Hat scored the winning run on a comedy of errors in the 8th inning in a 4-2 triumph over Lethbridge. Tony Davilla reached on an error and moved to third on Gary Fancher's sacrifice and an overthrow when catcher Harry Lailolo tried to nab Davilla at second. Outfielder Greg Post retrieved the errant throw and fired toward first, trying to pick off Fancher. The throw soared over Terry Christman's head and Davilla scampered home. Commodores added an insurance run in the 9th. Bill Brasher was the winner in relief.
Edmondson, Brasher (W) (5) and Piscovich
Mauritsen (L) and Laiolo
It was another sloppily played match in Edmonton as the Oilers and the Giants combined for eleven errors in Edmonton's 9-5 win over Calgary. Ed Gagle's two-run double in the sixth inning proved to be the winning blow. George Fowlkes was the winner with relief help from Walt Peterson.
Dukes (L), Ruth (7), Coleman (8) and Kagy
Fowlkes (W), Peterson (8) and Rex
(July 24) Edmonton Oilers whipped the league-leading Medicine Hat Commodores 11-2. Tom Pederson tossed a five-hitter for the win. Kenny Washington had a two-run homer for the winners.
Marr (L), Lamb (7) and Piscovich
Pederson (W) and Rex
(July 25) Medicine Hat Commodores punched out 14 hits and took advantage of five Edmonton errors to dump the Oilers 12-4 at Edmonton. Marty Piscovich blasted a grand slam homer in the second inning to give the Commodores a lead they never relinquished. Gary Fisher won his fifth game for the Commodores.
Fisher (W) and Piscovich
Franchuk (L), Hare (2) and Rex
Lethbridge and Calgary were rained out for the second straight night. The Cards are coming off four consecutive defeats to Medicine Hat.
(July 26) Gary Fancher's two-run homer in the 9th provided Medicine Hat with a 5-3 win over Edmonton Oilers. The Commodores, no-hit for six innings by Walt Peterson, broke loose for a single runs in the 7th and 8th and three in the 9th. Ron Theobald's double in the 7th spoiled Peterson's no-hit bid. Virgil Howe homered for the Oilers.
Cahoon, Marr (W) (6), Brasher (9) and Piscovich,
Peterson (L), Pearce (8) and Rex
Nelson Briles had another outstanding effort, a five-hitter with 15 strikeouts, as Calgary nipped Lethbridge 2-1 on homers by Tim Cullen and Stan Beard. George Thatcher's double had driven in the Cards run in the 4th. Cullen tied it in the 6th and Beard's blast ended a brilliant pitching duel between Briles and Terry Christman.
Christman (7-2) and Laiolo
Briles (7-2) and Kagy
(July 27) The Commodores thumped Edmonton 16-6 at Medicine Hat as Bill Brasher registered his 6th win in seven decisions. The Oilers used five pitchers in trying to stem the Commodores attack. One of them, playing-manager Clark Rex, normally a catcher, was ejected in the 8th inning for arguing a call.
Ross (L), Pearce (4), Franchuk (4), Rex (6), Gagle (8) and Lacheman
Brasher (6-1) and Piscovich
Lethbridge split a double header with Calgary, taking the first game 4-1 before dropping a 3-0 decision in the nightcap. Art Groza tossed a five-hitter for the win. Cardinals got three unearned runs against lefty Larry Loughlin.
Groza (W) and Laiolo
Loughlin (L), Ruth (8) and Holt
17-year-old lefty Jan Dukes handcuffed the Cardinals on six hits as Calgary notched a 3-0 victory before 1,200 fans in the second game of the twin bill. Bill Fennessey provided all the offense Duke would need with a steal of home in the 6th inning.
McGraw (L) and Hibbs
Dukes (W) and Kagy
(July 28) Lethbridge Cardinals jumped into a 6-0 lead in the second inning then needed a run in the 13th inning to shade Calgary 7-6 in the opener of a double header. Two out singles by Ray Young, Bob Cox and Jim Hibbs provided the winning marker. Young got the win in relief. Dave Holt, who went the distance, was the loser.
Cavalli, Young (W) (5) and Hibbs
Holt (L) and Kagy
In the second game, Calgary trailed 3-1 before erupting for four in the 5th frame en route to a 9-4 triumph. Leo Ruth, with relief from Nelson Briles, picked up the win.
Ruth (W), Briles (7) and Kagy
Mauritsen (L), Young (9) and Laiolo, Hibbs (9)
Edmonton Oilers blew a 4-0 lead but bounced back with two runs in the 11th inning to score a 6-4 win over Medicine Hat in the opener of a double header. Lyle Olsen's based-loaded double in the bottom of the 9th had drawn the Commodores into a 4-4 tie. In the 11th Gary Sutherland doubled in the winning run and scored an insurance run on Dwyane Adam's single.
Fowlkes (W) and Lacheman
Edmondson, Cahoon (L) and Piscovich
Lefthander Tom Pederson held Medicine Hat to six hits and compiled 15 strikeouts to pitch the Oilers to a 5-1 victory over the Commodores to gain a sweep of the twin bill. Edmonton jumped into a 3-run lead in the 4th inning on hits by John Allison and Ed Gagle and a passed ball. Oilers added a pair in the 5th as Allison singled in Kenny Washington and Gary Sutherland stole home.
Tom Pederson (W) and Lacheman
Marr (L), Lamb (4) and Beasley
(July 29) Lonnie Raymond fired a five-hit, complete game as Lethbridge topped Calgary 8-1. The southpaw struck out seven and walked two. Bob Cox had three hits for the winners and Greg Post added a double and single.
Coleman (L), Ruth (6), Cullen (8) and Kagy, Ruth (4), Holt (6)
Raymond (W) and Hibbs
Larry Fisher allowed just four hits and struck out ten as Medicine Hat downed Edmonton 6-0. Ron Theobald provided the offense with a homer in the first and two-run double in the 7th.
Hare (L) Holt (7) and Lacheman
Fisher (W) and Piscovich
(July 30) Lethbridge Cardinals booted the ball six times to give up five unearned runs in a 6-3 loss to Calgary. Lefty Tug McGraw allowed just seven hits but walked away with a loss. Nelson Briles, the league's strikeout king, gave up nine hits and fanned 12 in taking the victory. He helped his cause with a pair of singles.
Briles (W) and Kagy
McGraw (L) and Laiolo
(July 31) Harry Laiolo's 13th inning single drove in Bob Cox with the winning run as Lethbridge captured a 5-4 victory at Edmonton. Terry Christman, who settled down after a rough first few innings, got the win.
Christman (W), Young (13) and Hibbs
Peterson, Coleman (9), Pearce (10), Hare (L) (13) and Lacheman, Rex (9)
(August 1) Dwayne Adams drove in Kenny Washington in the third inning with what proved to be the winning run as Edmonton went on to down Lethbridge 4-1 before 1,000 fans at Edmonton. George Fowlkes went the distance on a five-hitter for the win.
Groza (L) and Laiolo
Fowlkes (W) and Lacheman
(August 2) John Allison's bases-loaded triple in the 8th inning gave Edmonton a 6-2 victory over Lethbridge. Tom Pederson was the winner on a five-hitter. He struck out 11 in going the distance.
Mauritsen (L) and Laiolo
Tom Pederson (W) and Lacheman
A five-run 6th inning carried Medicine Hat to a 9-5 victory over Calgary. Commodres got home runs from Gary Fancher and Tony Davila. Virgil Howe belted one for the Giants.
Loughlin (L), Holt (6) and Ruth
Brasher (W) and Beasley
(August 3) Medicine Hat jumped into a 5-0 lead after two innings and held on to shade Calgary 5-4. Tony Davila got the Commodores off on the right foot with a two-run single in the first inning. Paul Edmondson pitched into the 8th inning for the win. Calgary's Virgil Howe has the only homer.
Edmondson (W), Lamb (8) and Piscovich
Briles (L) and Kagy
(August 3) Edmonton Oilers scored on an error on Clark Rex`s ground ball in the bottom of the 9th inning to shade Lethbridge 7-6. The Cards had knotted the count in the top of the 9th as Greg Post knocked in Harry Laiola who had doubled. Edmonton had jumped into a lead in the first inning as the leadoff batter Louis Smith tripled and Ken Washington followed with a home run. Jack Hare picked up the win in relief.
Raymond, Young (L) (2) and Hibbs
Franchuck, Hare (W) (6) and Rex
(August 4) Lefty Tug McGraw pitched in and out of trouble all night but ended up with a 4-2 win as Lethbridge Cardinals downed Edmonton Oilers. McGraw stranded 13 base runners as he allowed nine hits and walked eight. Bob Cox had a triple and two singles to lead the Oilers' attack. John Allison belted a 9th inning homer for Edmonton.
Coleman (L), Pearce (5) and Rex
McGraw (W) and Laiolo
The arm of Jan Dukes and the big bat of Tim Cullen carried Calgary to an 8-1 win over Medicine Hat and a split of their twinbill at Calgary. Cullen provided a pair of homers and a double while Dukes held the Commodores to seven hits and struck out eleven. Bill Fennessey and Bill Kagy also had circuit clouts for the Giants.
Marr (L) and Beasley
Dukes (W) and Kagy
Calgary blew a 4-0 lead in the first game as the Commodores exploded for five runs in the 4th inning en route to an 8-5 triumph. Medicine Hat had just five hits off Dave Holt and Leo Ruth but capitalized on five Calgary errors. Larry Fisher got the win with relief help from Ray Lamb.
Fisher (W), Lamb (6) and Piscovich
Holt (L), Ruth (7) and Kagy
Medicine Hat 28-16
Lethbridge 25-26
Edmonton 22-26
Calgary 21-28
(August 4) Gary Sutherland of Edmonton Oilers and Tim Cullen of Calgary Giants continued to lead the Western Canada Baseball League in most categories. Sutherland topped the batting race with a .377 mark with Cullen second at .337. Kenny Washington of Edmonton was next at .318. Cullen led the loop in hits, 60, runs, 35, and home runs with 8. Sutherland was tops in doubles with 14, runs batted in, 33, and tied for the lead in triples, with 5. Greg Post of the Cardinals had 10 stolen bases to top the circuit. Nelson Briles of Calgary and Terry Christman of Lethbridge each had seven wins to top the pitchers. Briles had the lead in innings pitched, 81 1/3, and strikeouts, 120. Christman has the most complete games with 8.
(August 5) Right hander Walt Peterson of Edmonton tossed a two-hit gem with 15 strikeouts as the Oilers beat Lethbridge 2-0. Opposing hurler Terry Christman allowed just six hits in taking the loss. Oilers scored both runs in the fourth on a Dwayne Adams double and a single by Ed Gagle.
Walt Peterson (W) and Rex
Christman (L) and Laiolo
Bill Kagy's double brought home Virgil Howe in the bottom of the 10th inning to give Calgary and extra-inning victory over Medicine Hat Commodores. Giants had erased an 8-2 deficit with a seven-run 4th inning highlighted by Tim Cullen's grand slam homer. Bill Fennessey knocked in five runs with a two-run homer in the 2nd and a three-run blast in the 4th. Nelson Briles registered the win in relief.
Cahoon (L), Brasher (10) and Piscovich
Loughlin, Ruth (3), Briles (W) (8) and Kagy
(August 6) Calgary Giants bashed out 19 hits to trounced Medicine Hat Commodores 16-2. Tim Cullen drove in seven runs with two homers and a sacrifice fly. Medicine Hat starter Bill Brasher was knocked out in the second inning after Gary Malvini belted a two-run homer and Bill Kagy followed with another. Playing-manager Lyle Olsen, an infielder, took over on the hill and shutdown the Giants for two innings before he gave up 12 runs on 12 hits over the next three innings. Willie Walasko, pitching his first game in six weeks because of a shoulder injury, tossed an eight-hitter and fanned seven to pick up the easy win.
Brasher (L), Olsen (2), Davila (8) and Piscovich, Beasley (3)
Walasko (W) and Kagy
(August 6) Gary Sutherland belted a two-run homer in the 8th inning to give Edmonton a 3-2 win over Lethbridge. Tom Fowlkes, with 9th inning relief help from John Pearce, got the win. Art Groza allowed just four hits in his 7 1/3 inning stint but took the loss.
Fowlkes (W), Pearce (8) and Rex
Groza (L), Cavalli (8) and Laiolo
Medicine Hat 28-18
Edmonton 24-26
Lethbridge 25-28
Calgary 23-28
(August 7) Rene Lachemann had three hits, including a two-run homer and a triple, to lead Edmonton to an 8-1 win over Calgary. Tom Pedersen fanned 11 in posting his 7th win of the season. Nelson Briles dropped to 10-4 with the loss.
Briles (10-4) and Kagy
Tom Pedersen (7-5) and Lachemann
Ray Lamb had a no-hitter for six innings before giving up a homer to Bob Cavalli as Medicine Hat whipped Lethbridge 9-2. Lamb finished up with a three-hit, complete game.
Mauritsen (L), Krohn (4), Raymond (7) and Laiolo
Lamb (W) and Piscovich
(August 8) Pinch-runner Ed Gagle scored on an error in the bottom of the 9th inning to enable Edmonton to squeeze by Calgary 3-2 in WCBL action at Edmonton. Giants had taken an early lead with runs in the 2nd and 3rd innings but Dwayne Adams' two-run double tied it in the 8th.
Dukes, Holt (L) (8) and Kagy
Franchuk, Hare (2), Pearce (W) (9) and Rex
Commodores' playing-manager Lyle Olsen punched out three singles, scoring Howie Martin each time, to lead Medicine Hat to an 8-4 win over Lethbridge. Paul Edmondson was the winning pitcher.
McGraw (3-7) and Hibbs
Edmondson (4-3), Marr (6) and Piscovich
(August 9) Edmonton took advantage of two Calgary errors in the 6th inning to score three runs and beat the Giants 4-1. Walt Peterson tossed a four-hitter for the win. Giants' Bill Kagy had the only homer.
Loughlin (L) and Kagy
Walt Peterson (W) and Lachemann
Lethbridge Cardinals held off a 9th inning rally by the Commodores to register a 2-1 win at Medicine Hat. Trailing 2-0, Commodores scored in the 9th as Lyle Olsen's single scored Howie Martin who had doubled. But, with two on, Ray Young got Tony Davila to bounce into a double play to end the game. Giants took the lead in the 3rd as Terry Christman walked and moved to third on Harry Lailolo's double and crossed the plate as Jim Hibbs poked out a single. Bob Cavalli notched the second run in the 8th on a wild pitch after reaching base on a base on balls and moving to third on a sacrifice.
Young (W) and Hibbs
Fisher (L) and Piscovich
(August 9) Edmonton's Gary Sutherland and Calgary's Tim Cullen continue to dominate the batting race in the WCBL. Sutherland tops the circuit with a .363 mark while Cullen is second at .346. Cullen clubbed three homers last week to increase his league-leading total to 11. The Giants' star also leads in hits with 71, runs scored with 40 and doubles with 17.
Harry Laiolo, the Cardinals' catcher-infielder, is third with a .315 average and leads in runs batted in with 36. Howie Martin of Medicine Hat is 4th at .299 and is tops in stolen bases with 12.
Walt Peterson of Edmonton is the top pitcher with an earned run average of 1.71. Nelson Briles of Calgary is second at 2.12. Briles has the most wins, 9, and is tied with Tom Pederson of the Oilers in innings pitched at 93 1/3. Terry Christman of Lethbridge has the most complete games, 9.
HITTERS AB R H AVG.
Sutherland, Edm 190 35 69 .363
Cullen, Cal 204 40 71 .348
Laiolo, Leth 197 25 62 .315
Martin, MH 177 31 53 .299
Post, Leth 169 29 49 .290
Washington, Edm 126 31 36 .281
Fancher, MH 152 22 42 .276
Olsen, MH 170 31 46 .271
Adams, Edm 181 20 48 .265
LETHBRIDGE HITTING
AB R H AVG.
Laiolo 197 25 62 .315
Groza 55 8 16 .291
Post 169 29 49 .290
Young 177 26 46 .259
Cox 197 22 50 .254
Christman 159 18 40 .252
Thatcher 177 13 44 .249
Hibbs 189 28 42 .222
Cavalli 43 5 9 .209
Raymond 71 6 11 .155
Mauritsen 29 2 3 .103
McGraw 24 2 2 .083
LETHBRIDGE PITCHING
CG BB SO ERA
Young 0 12 24 2.17
Christman 9 32 66 2.91
Mauritsen 6 51 59 3.15
McGraw 5 54 53 3.78
Groza 5 60 86 4.00
Raymond 1 21 22 4.79
Krohn 2 19 30 4.81
(Lethbridge Herald, August 10, 1963)
(August 10) Terry Christman scattered nine hits to register his 9th victory as Lethbridge topped Edmonton 4-2. Christman also provided a spark at the plate driving in the winning run and an insurance marker in the 7th inning.
Fowlkes (L) and Lacheman
Christman (W 9-3) and Laiolo
(August 10) The first-place Commodores swept a twinbill at Calgary downing the Giants 4-3 and 9-5. The top three in the Medicine Hat lineup, Howard Martin, Lyle Olsen and Ron Theobold each had two hits for the winners in the opener. Tim Cullen belted a homer for the Giants. Lefty Steve Cahoon pitched into the 7th inning to register the win.
In the second game, Marty Piscovich and Jim Vickers each had three hits, three runs batted in and two runs scored as the Commodores knotched the 9-5 win. One of Piscovich`s hits was the game`s only homer. Lyle Olsen added three runs and three runs. Charlie Marcenaro had four hits for Calgary.
Cahoon (W), Marr (7), Lamb (9) and Piscovich
Holt (L), Ruth (6) and Kagy
Brasher (W). Lamb (9) and Piscovich
Foss (L), Walasko (4), Holt (7) and Ruth
(August 11) Calgary Giants bounced back from twin losses on Saturday to take a pair from Medicine Hat, 6-5 and 9-5. Nelson Briles who plated the winning run in the 10th inning of the first game, pitched his way to the victory, his 10th, in the nightcap. Tim Cullen had the big bat for Calgary sending the first game into extra innings with a two-run homer in the 9th inning. He belted another, his 16th of the season, in the 3rd inning of the second game.
Marr, Lamb (L) (9) and Piscovich
Dukes (W) and Ruth
Piscovich, Olver (L), Vickers and Beasley
Briles (10-4) and Kagy
Lefty Tom Pederson held the Cardinals to just three singles in hurling Edmonton to a 7-0 win at Lethbridge. He had seven strike outs and just two walks. Rene Lacheman had a double and single for the winners, Ken Walker added a pair of singles and Gary Sutherland had a triple. The Oilers had just nine hits against Pete Mauritsen and Barry Krohn but capitalized on five Lethbridge errors.
Tom Pederson (W) and Rex
Mauritsen (L) , Krohn (8) and Hibbs
(August 12) Charlie Marcenaro's grand slam homer capped an eight-run, 4th inning as Calgary trounced Medicine Hat 14-6. Bill Fennessey and Dick Allan added a two-run shots for the Giants. Commodores' manager Lyle Olsen was forced to juggle his lineup when Jim Vickers came down with the flu. Pitcher Ray Lamb played the infield while three regulars took turns on the hill. Ron Theobald held the Giants hitless for the firs three frames before an error opened the floodgates in the 4th.
Theobald (L), Fancher (5), Martin (7) and Beasley
Loughlin (W) and Kagy
Lethbridge Cardinals received an outstanding relief job by lefty Tug McGraw but it was too little, too late as Edmonton walked away with a 7-1 victory at Henderson Stadium. Starter Bob Cavalli gave up five hits and five walks and had two errors behind him in his inning and two-thirds before McGraw came on to put out the fire allowing just two hits the rest of the way. Jack Hare scattered seven hits for the win. Rene Lacheman had a double and single for the Oilers. Harry Laiolo doubled and singled for the Cards.
Hare (W) and Rex
Cavalli (L), McGraw (2) and Laiolo
Medicine Hat 32-22
Edmonton 29-27
Lethbride 27-32
Calgary 25-33
(August 13) Ace righthander Walt Peterson blanked Medicine Hat on four hits as Edmonton downed Medicine Hat 3-0 to move to within three games of the first-place Commodores in the WCBL standings. Louis Smith gave the Oilers the lead with a 3rd inning homer. Rene Lacheman's double scored Gary Sutherland and John Allison with the last two runs in the 6th inning. Ray Lamb took the loss.
Walt Peterson (5-2) and Lacheman
Lamb (L) and Piscovich
Calgary Giants captured their 4th straight win, 5-3 over Lethbridge, as ace starters Jan Dukes and Nelson Briles worked in relief to preserve the win. Dukes, who drove in a run and scored what proved to be the winner, got credit for the victory. Jim Hoyt had a two-run homer for Calgary. Jim Hibbs replied for Lethbridge.
Groza (L), Cox (8) and Laiolo
Ruth, Dukes (W) (6), Briles (8) and Kagy
Medicine Hat 32-23
Edmonton 30-27
Lethbride 27-33
Calgary 27-33
(August 14) Ron Theobald cracked out four hits and drove in three to lead Medicine Hat to a 5-1 triumph over Edmonton and bring an end to a four-game losing streak. Steve Cahoon held the Oilers without a hit for five innings before finishing with a six-hitter. Commodores took a lead in the 2nd inning as Fergie Olver doubled in Tony Davila. Howie Martin singled in Jim Vickers to start a three-run 6th inning and scored with Cahoon on a Theobald single. Another Theobald single plated Martin with the final run in the 8th inning. Gary Sutherland knocked in Louis Smith with the lone marker for the Oilers.
Fowlkes (9-5), Pearce (8) and Lacheman
Cahoon (5-3) and Piscovich
Lethbridge Cardinals used the long ball to dump Calgary 7-4. Harry Lailolo had a three-run homer, Bob Cox a two-run shot and Terry Christman a solo blast to account for all the Cardinals' scoring. Bill Kagy belted a four-bagger for the Giants. Ray Young went the distance for the win.
Young (W) and Hibbs, Laiolo (9)
Holt (L), Loughlin (4), Ruth (8), Walasko (9) and Kagy
Medicine Hat 33-23
Edmonton 31-27
Lethbridge 28-33
Calgary 26-35
(August 15) Medicine Hat swept a pair for Edmonton, 2-1 in 13 innings and 4-0, to increase their WBCL lead to five games. Tony Davila singled in Howie Martin with the winner in the opener. Bill Brasher picked up wins in both games. He came on in relief in the 9th inning of the first game and tossed a four-hitter in the second game to gain the shutout.
Coleman, Walt Peterson (L) (7) and Rex
Marr, Edmondson (7), Brasher (W) (9) and Piscovich
Tom Pederson (L) and Rex
Brasher (W) and Beasley
Calgary Giants, trailing 6-0 in the 3rd inning, roared back to shade Lethbridge 7-6, scoring the winning run with the help of a pair of errors in the bottom of the 9th. The Cardinals had taken an early lead with runs in the 1st and 2nd innings. They scored four in the 3rd on a solo homer by Bob Cavalli and a three-run blast by Jim Hibbs. Tim Cullen's three-run homer in the 3rd started the Giants on the comeback trail. It was Cullen's 17th homer. Nelson Briles went the distance for the win, his 11th of the season.
McGraw, Franchuk (L) (8) and Laiolo
Briles (W) and Kagy
Medicine Hat 35-23
Edmonton 31-29
Lethbridge 28-34
Calgary 27-35
(August 16) Calgary Giants edged Medicine Hat 1-0 as Jan Dukes and Nelson Briles combined for the shutout. With the bases loaded and one out in the 9tn, Briles fanned the next two hitters to preserve the win. The only run came in the 4th inning when Ken Hoyt singled to drive in Virgil Howe who had singled and moved to third on two fielder's choiceys.
Dukes (W), Briles (9) and Ruth
Marr (L), Edmundson (9) and Piscovich
Calgary's Tim Cullen has moved into a tie with Gary Sutherland of Edmonton for the batting lead in the Western Canada Baseball League. Both now sport .360 marks. Cullen leads the league in homers, 16, hits, 86, runs, 48, doubles, 19, and runs batted in, 47. Sutherland is tops in triples with 6 and Howie Martin of Medicine Hat leads in stolen bases with 15. Nelson Briles of the Giants tops the pitchers in wins, 10, strikeouts, 169, innings 119 1/3, and complete games, 11.
HITTERS R H HR AVG.
Cullen, Cal 48 86 16 .360
Sutherland, Edm 43 81 4 .360
Martin, MH 41 67 0 .313
Laiolo, Leth 27 69 6 .301
Olsen, MH 39 62 0 .300
Kagy, Cal 20 34 2 .279
Post, Leth 33 51 0 .274
Adams, Edm 22 57 3 .273
Washington, Edm 28 59 1 .262
(Lethbridge Herald, August 16, 1963)
(August 17) At Edmonton, the Lethbridge Cardinals took a pair from the Oilers, 4-2 in 10 innings and 10-8. Bob Cavilla and Harry Laiolo scored for the Cards in the extra frame to provide the win in the first game. Terry Christman allowed 13 hits but managed to go the distance for the win.
Christman (W) and Laiolo
Pearce, Coleman (L) (10), Fowlkes (10) and Lacheman
In the second game, Cardinals blew a 4-0 lead then rebounded with a four-run 8th inning to top the Oilers 10-8. Harry Laiolo belted a three-run homer for Lethbridge. Rene Lacheman had a circuit clout for Edmonton.
Mauritsen, Franchuk (W) (4) and Hibbs
Neiman, Rex (7), Tom Pederson (L) (7) and Lacheman
Medicine Hat Commodores rode Ray Lamb's four-hit shutout to a 6-0 victory over Calgary. Commodores scored in the 2nd as Marty Piscovich drove in Tony Davila who had singled. In the 3rd, Medicine Hat added two more on Lyle Olsen's homer, scoring Howie Martin. Ron Theobald, Piscovich and Davila scored runs in the 8th to complete the scoring.
Loughlin (L) and Kagy
Lamb (W) and Piscovich
(August 18) Medicine Hat completed a sweep of a weekend series with Calgary taking both ends of a Sunday double header, 5-4 in 15 innings and 3-2.
Jim Vickers gave the Commodores the 5-4 win driving in Marty Piscovich in the 15th with a sacrifice fly. Medicine Hat scored first as Fergie Olver came home on a single by Lyle Olsen in the 2nd inning. Giants bounced back with four in the 3rd on hits by Tim Cullen, Jan Dukes and Gary Malvini. Howie Martin and Olsen had run-scoring hits in the 6th and Tony Davila drove in Martin in the 8th to tie at 4-4. Paul Edmondson, who relieved starter Larry Fisher in the 10th, picked up the win.
Ruth, Holt (L) (8) and Kagy
Fisher, Edmondson (W) (10) and Piscovich
In the second game, Ron Theobald drove in Howie Martin with the winning run in the 6th inning as the Commodores edged the Giants 3-2. Theobald had also driven in the Commodores' second marker.
Carbray (L), Cullen (4) and Ruth, Kagy (4)
Cahoon (W) and Beasley
Art Groza fired a five-hitter for a shutout as Lethbridge downed the Oilers 4-0 at Edmonton. Jim Hibbs provided all the runs needed with a two-run triple in the first inning. Edmonton had the bases loaded with one out in the 9th but Groza fanned Ken Walker and got Kenny Washington to ground out.
Groza (W) and Laiolo
Fowlkes (L) and Lacheman
Medicine Hat 38-24
Edmonton 31-32
Lethbridge 31-34
Calgary 28-38
(August 19) Calgary Giants fell behind 5-0 after two innings but came storming back to edge Edmonton 7-6 in 11 innings. Gary Malvini, who walked, scored the winning run on a sacrifice and two of the Oilers' nine errors. Giants were out-hit 14 to 7. Bill Kagy and Virgil Howe each had two hits for Calgary, Dwayne Adams had four safeties for the Oilers and John Allison had three. Dave Holt picked up the win. Tom Pederson was the loser.
Carbray, Cullen (3), Holt (W) (7) and Kagy
Peterson, Pederson (L) (9) and Lacheman, Rex (7)
Lethbridge made it four in a row with a 5-4 win over the league-leading Medicine Hat Commodores. A three-run 6th inning provided enough for the triumph. Bob Babki and Bob Cox each drove in a run and another scored on an error. Earlier, pitcher Barry Krohn helped his cause working Bill Brasher for walks in the 3rd and 5th innings. He scored both times, on a double by Terry Christman and a single by Bob Cavalli.
Brasher (L), Lamb (8) and Piscovich
Krohn (W), McGraw (8) and Hibbs
Medicine Hat 38-25
Lethbridge 32-34
Edmonton 31-33
Calgary 29-38
(August 20) Medicine Hat brought the Cardinals four-game win streak to an abrupt stop with a 20-4 drubbing of the Cards at Henderson Stadium as Lethbridge gave up 23 hits and committed six errors. Winning pitcher Norm Marr sparked the offensive outburst with five hits and five runs. Tony Davila had three doubles and a single and Marty Piscovich, who didn't enter the game until the 5th inning, had a triple and two singles. Both Fergie Olver and Howie Martin had three hits. Cards fear Bob Cavalli might be lost for the season after suffering a hand injury on an attempted pickoff play.
Marr (W) and Beasley
Young (L), Franchuk (2), Cox (3) and Hibbs
(August 20) Calgary Giants were awarded a 9-0 forfeit decision following a dispute over a called third strike against an Edmontonb atter in the 8th inning. At the time the Oilers were leading 2-1. The early wind-up spolied a dandy pitching duel between Calgary`s Nelson Briles, bidding for his 12th win, and the Oilers`
Jack Hare who had allowed the Giants just a single run on seven hits. Briles, the league`s strikeout king had fanned 17 in the 7 1é3 innings played. Edmonton had scored in the first inning ona walk, infield error, stolen base and wild pitch. Rene Lacheman opened the fourth with a home run to left field.
Hare and Lacheman
Briles and Kagy
Medicine Hat 39-25
Edmonton 31-33
Lethbridge 32-35
Calgary 29-38
(August 21) A six-run 2nd inning was the Cardinals offense and it stood up for a 6-2 win over Medicine Hat. The Lethbridge outburst included doubles by winning pitcher Tim McGraw and Terry Christman and singles by Bob Cox, Ray Young, Harry Laiolo and Lonnie Raymond. McGraw allowed seven hits and struck out ten in gaining the mound victory. He walked four. Commodores biggest threat came in the 5th inning when they loaded the bases with none out but failed the score. Singles by Ray Lamb and Lyle Olsen plated the Medicine Hat runs in the 3rd frame.
Edmondson (L) , Piscovich (3), Theobald (6), Martin (8) and Beasley
McGraw (W) and Laiolo
The Giants and Oilers split a doubleheader, both seven inning affairs, at Calgary. The hometown Giants fell behind 5-0 in the first inning but rebounded for a 12-11 victory in a game which featured homers by Ed Gagle and Kenny Washington for the Edmonton and Tim Cullen for Calgary.
A four-run 6th inning carried Edmonton to a 6-4 victory in the second game. Rene Lacheman homered for the winners.
Nyman, Pearce (2), Fowlkes (L)(6) and Lacheman
Loughlin, Holt (3), Ruth (W) (5), Briles (7) and Kagy
Rex, Pearce (W) (4) and Lacheman, Rex (4)
Dukes (L) and Kagy
Medicine Hat 39-26
Lethbridge 33-35
Edmonton 32-35
Calgary 31-39
(August 22) Edmonton Oilers moved into second place in the WCBL standings with a 6-5 win over Calgary while Lethbridge dropped a pair to Medicine Hat. Ed Gagle put the Oilers on the board in the 3rd with a homer - his second in as many days. Rene Lacheman poked his third homer in three days in the 4th, a two-run blast which scored Louis Smith ahead of him. Tom Pederson picked up his 9th win in going the distance on a six-hitter. Charlie Marcenaro was the loser. Slugger Tim Cullen finished up on the mound for the Giants.
Marcenaro (L), Cullen (5) and Ruth, Kagy (7)
Tom Pederson (9-7) and Lacheman
The Commodores took a pair from Lethbridge, 5-1 and 9-4 in WCBL action at Medicine Hat. Larry Fisher tossed a two-hitter to cop the win in the first game. A five-run 7th inning was enough in the second game for the Commodores' victory. The game featured 17 hits, 5 errors and 10 walks by each of the starting pitchers, Art Groza for the Cardinals and Ray Lamb for Medicine Hat.
Krohn (L) and Hibbs
Fisher (W) and Piscovich
Groza ( L), Raymond (7) and Laiolo
Lamb (W), Brasher (8) and Beasley
John Scolinos, the Commissioner of the WCBL, announced the indefinite suspension of Edmonton outfielder John Allison. Allison objected to an umpire's call in the 7th inning of a game at Calgary Tuesday and was ejected from the game. Clark Rex, Edmonton manager and Allison argued with the officials for 15 minutes. When the officials ordered the Oiler players to take their positions and the players did not comply, the game was ordered forfeited to Calgary. At the time, the Oilers were leading Calgary 2-1.
Medicine Hat 41-26
Edmonton 33-35
Lethbridge 33-37
Calgary 31-40
(August 23) Medicine Hat got a seven-hit pitching performance from Steve Cahoon to down Lethbridge 4-1. Gary Fancher had three hits for the winners.
Christman (L) and Laiolo
Cahoon (W) and Beasley
Medicine Hat 42 26
Edmonton 33 35 9.0
Lethbridge 33 38 10.5
Calgary 31 40 12.5
(August 24) With the regular season winding down, Edmonton's Gary Sutherland and Calgary's Tim Cullen remain in a battle for the WCBL batting title. Sutherland remains atop with a .346 mark with Cullen, at .343, close behind. Medicine Hat outfielder Howie Martin, 14 for 41 this past week, has moved into third spot at .329. Cullen retained his lead in most of the individual categories. he leads in hits, 95, runs, 51, doubles, 19, and home runs, 17. Sutherland's 7 triples top the circuit while Martin leads in stolen bases, with 17. Harry Laiolo leads in runs batted in, with 57. The Oilers' Walt Peterson is the leader in earned run average with a 1.45 mark. Nelson Briles of Calgary leads the pitchers in innings, 131 1/3, strike outs, 184, complete games, 12, and is tied with Bill Brasher of the Commodores for most wins, 11.
(August 24) Calgary at Edmonton, rained out
(August 25) Medicine Hat vs Edmonton (2), rained out
PLAYOFFS :
(August 27) Edmonton Oilers plated two early runs and made them stand up for a 2-1 victory over Calgary in the opening game of their semi-final series. In the third inning, Oilers' Ken Walter walked before singles by Ken Washington, Gary Sutherland and Rene Lacheman plate a pair. Calgary got its only run in the sixth on a double by Jan Dukes and Virgil Howe's single. Jack Hare got the win with relief help from Walt Peterson. Nelson Briles fanned 13 and allowed just six hits in taking the loss.
Briles (L) and Kagy
Hare (W), Peterson (7) and Lacheman
Medicine Hat Commodores erupted for five runs in the first inning and coasted to a 12-4 win over Lethbridge in the opener of the semi-final series. Tony Davila and Fergie Olver each drove in a pair as the Commodores jumped out to an early lead. Lethbridge got on the board in the second but Davila singled home another run in the bottom of the inning. Cards cut the margin to 6-4 in the seventh frame but Medicine Hat plated six in their half of the seventh to salt away the decision. Larry Fisher was the winning pitcher. Harry Laiolo had three hits for the Cardinals.
Mauritsen (L), Franchuk (1), Raymond (7) and Hibbs
Fisher (W), Edmondson (8) and Piscovich
(August 28) Calgary Giants built up a 3-0 lead then held on to shade Edmonton 3-2 and knot their semi-final series at a game apiece before about 1,000 fans at Edmonton. In the third inning, Tim Cullen tripled to score both Jim Hoyt and Leo Ruth who had walked. In the fourth, Bill Kagy's single scored Gary Malvini who had reached as a hit batsmen and advanced to second on a passed ball. The Oilers made it close with a pair in the eighth. Ed Gagle walked and moved to third on a fielder's choice by Ken Walker. Gagle scored on the front end of a double-steal and Walker crossed the plate on a single by Gary Sutherland. Ruth, with relief help from Nelson Briles, received credit for the win. Walt Peterson gave up just four hits in taking the loss.
Ruth (W), Briles (8) and Kagy
Peterson (L) and Lacheman
Medicine Hat Commodores rebounded from an early 3-0 deficit to whip Lethbridge Cardinals 12-5 to take a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven semi-final series. Ron Theobald's double and a sacrifice fly by Tony Davila scored the first two runs for the Commodores and they scored another three in the third on a Jim Vickers' two-run homer and a single by Gary Francher. Medicine Hat put it out of reach with three in the seventh on a wild pitch, an error and Fergie Olver's double. Bill Brasher went the distance for the win. Tug McGraw gave up nine hits and walked ten in taking the loss.
McGraw (L) and Laiolo
Brasher (W) and Beasley
(August 29) Calgary Giants rode outstanding pitching by Jan Dukes to down Edmonton Oilers 4-1 for a 2-1 game lead in their semi-final series. The 17-year-old lefthander had a no-hitter for 7 1/3 innings before Dwayne Adams beat out an infield single. Dukes allowed four hits before tiring in the ninth. He fanned eight and didn't give up a walk. Dukes also doubled and scored a run in the third. Giants scored in the first inning on singles by Charle Marcenaro and Tim Cullen and two wild pitches. They added two more in the third on a double by Dukes, a walk, two errors and Virgil Howe's single. Calgary's final run came in the fifth on a walk, infield out and an error. George Fowlkes was the loser.
Fowlkes (L) and Lacheman
Dukes (W), Holt (9) and Kagy
Medicine Hat moved to with a win of a semi-final series victory with a 6-4 victory over Lethbridge behind Ray Lamb's five-hit pitching. The win gave the Commodores a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven series. Lamb fanned ten in going the distance while adding three hits at the plate. Fergie Olver and Lyle Olsen each had a double and single for the Commodores
Lamb and Beasley
Christman, Mauritsen (4) and Laiolo
(August 30) Tim Cullen and Jan Dukes powered the Calgary Giants to a 6-3 win over Edmonton to take a 3-1 lead in the Western Canada Baseball League semi-final series. Dukes, with a two-run shot, and Cullen, belted homers for the winners. One run scored on three walks and a wild pitch. A double by Cullen scored Dukes with another run and Cullen's single and stolen base in front of Ken Hoyt's single was good for the game's final tally in the seventh. Leo Ruth got the win in relief of Larry Loughlin. Ken Washington had a homer for the Oilers.
Peterson (L), Pearce (4) and Lacheman, Rex (5)
Loughlin, Ruth (W) (2), Holt (7) and Kagy
Medicine Hat Commodores downed Lethbridge 6-4 in 14 innings to sweep their semi-final series with Lethbridge. Playing-manager Lyle Olsen's homer off Tug McGraw in the 14th proved to be the winning blow. Commodores added an insurance run when Ron Theobald walked and score on a passed ball and an error. Gary Francher's homer gave Medicine Hat its first run in the fifth inning. Commodores went up 3-0 in the sixth as Theobald tripled in Olsen and Howie Martin who had walked. Lethbridge took the lead in the seventh inning as Harry Laiolo doubled in a pair and Lonnie Raymond's single scored another. Laiolo scored the Cardinals' fourth run on a passed ball. McGraw came into the game in the ninth inning with the bases loaded and two balls on the hitter and proceeded to retire the side and pitch superbly until Olsen's extra inning blast. Paul Edmondson picked up the win in relief.
Cahoon, Marr (8), Edmondson (W) (9) and Beasley
Groza, McGraw (L) (9) and Laiolo
(August 31) Calgary Giants took a 7-0 lead after three innings and coasted to a 9-5 win over Edmonton to win their semi-final series in five games. Nelson Briles scattered ten hits and fanned 13 to gain the pitching win and helped at the plate driving in three runs. Bill Kagy put the Giants in front to stay with a 2nd inning homer against loser Jack Hare. In the 3rd, Calgary exploded for six runs on six hits and three Edmonton errors. Kagy, Jan Dukes, Charlie Marcenaro, Gary Malvini and Bill Fennessey each contributed two hits to the Giants' 14-hit attack. John Allison rapped a solo homer for the losers and Ken Washington touched Briles for three singles.
Hare (L), Coleman (5) and Lacheman
Briles (W) and Kagy
(September 2) Medicine Hat downed Calgary 7-5 in the opening game of the Western Canada Baseball League final series. Bill Brasher overcame a shaky start, allowing three runs in the first inning, to scatter nine hits in going the route for the win. Jan Dukes took the loss.
Dukes (L), Holt (8) and Kagy
Brasher (W) and Beasley
(September 3) Fergie Olver singled in Jim Vickers with what proved to be the winning run as Medicine Hat Commodores edged Calgary 4-3 to take a 2-0 game lead in the best-of-seven final series. Larry Fisher went the distance to get the win.
Loughlin (L) and Kagy, Ruth (8)
Fisher (W), Marr (8) and Beasley
(September 4) Calgary Giants rebounded from a 4-1 deficit with four runs in the 8th inning to edge Medicine Hat 5-4 for their first win in the final series. A two out, bases-loaded single by Charles Marcenaro was the key hit. Nelson Briles pitched a five-hitter and struck out 14 in gaining the win.
Lamb (L), Edmondson (8) and Beasley
Briles (W) and Kagy
(September 5) Medicine Hat edged Calgary 9-8 to take a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven Western Canada Baseball League final series. Commodores had 14 hits including Tony Davila's homer. Tim Cullen homered for Calgary. Steve Cahoon picked up the win.
Cahoon (W), Marr (9) and Beasley
Ruth (L), Holt (3), Loughlin (7) and Kagy
(September 6) Aided by four unearned runs, Medicine Hat Commodores edged Calgary Giants 6-5 to win the Western Canada Baseball League title. Commodores took the best-of-seven final in five games. The Giants had roared back from a 6-2 deficit with three runs in the bottom of the ninth inning but Norm Marr fanned Tim Cullen, with a man on second and two out, to preserve the win for starter Paul Edmondson. Cullen had earlier rapped out three hits. Giants had called upon ace Nelson Briles to start the game but he tired in the 4th inning and gave way to Dave Holt who suffered the loss.
Edmondson, Marr (9) and Beasley
Briles, Holt (4), Ruth (8) and Kagy