(May 26) Cliff Mein put on quite a show at North Battleford in pacing the Lloydminster Greencaps to a doubleheader victory over the Beavers as the N.S.B.L. season opened. The Greencaps won the first game 2 - 1 and then followed up by taking the nightcap 8 - 2. In the opening contest, Tommy Taylor held North Battleford hitless until pitcher Harold Hunchak singled in the 6th. Carmen Keller homered for the losers. Mein and Dave Murray each had a double for Lloydminster.
Mein pitched and batted the Greencaps to their 2nd game victory. He gave up only four hits and won his own game with a grand-slam homer in the 4th and a two-run dinger in the 6th. The losing pitcher was Don Stynsky.
(May 26) The Kindersley Klippers opened the new campaign by slamming the Biggar Pontiacs twice, 8 - 0 and 8 - 5. Lloyd Rachul fired a one-hit shutout in copping the opening game win. Bob Hoult was the loser.
Wayne Thompson took the pitching decision in the 2nd game with the loss going to Clarence Proctor.
(May 26) The Unity Cardinals and Neilburg Monarchs split an opening-day double-dip as Unity took the first event 5 - 2 and Neilburg the second 7 - 1. Marcel Richard held Neilburg to three hits as the Cardinals took the matinee game, pinning the loss on Nap Krysak.
The Monarchs came back strong in the 2nd game as 16-year old Don McIntyre limited Unity to three hits while his mates claimed 12, one of those being a home run by Glen Thompson. The losing pitcher was Hank Ostrosky.
(May 29) The Lloydminster Greencaps defeated the Kindersley Klippers 3 - 2 at Kindersley to take over undisputed possession of 1st place in the N.S.B.L. It was Kindersley's first loss in three games. Lloydminster's Cliff Mein hit his 3rd home run of the young season in the 2nd frame as Tommy Taylor took the close win over Lloyd Rachul.
(May 29) The Unity Cardinals defeated the North Battleford Beavers 13 - 8 in a N.S.B.L. match in Unity. Jerry Burcher was the winning pitcher with the loss going to Matt Holowatuk. Ken Nelson slammed a grand-slam home run for the Beavers.
(May 29) Neilburg at Biggar
(June 2) The Lloydminster Greencaps defeated the Biggar Pontiacs 12 - 1 and 11 - 0 to run their winning streak to five games. Cliff Mein and Tommy Taylor recorded the winning mound decisions . Mein had eight strikeouts in the opener as Curly Williams belted a homer in support of the big southpaw. Carson Ramsay was the losing pitcher.
Taylor bested the Pontiacs' Ken Esler in the late game. Clarence Proctor relieved for Biggar in the 6th inning of each game. Mein and Taylor each held the Pontiacs to three hits while the Greencaps collected nine hits in the opener and eight in the finale.
(June 2) At Neilburg, the Monarchs defeated the North Battleford Beavers twice, 2 - 1 and 7 - 5. A home run by Neil Urlacher was the big blow for the Monarchs in the opener. Nap Krysak picked up the win over Harold Hunchak.
In the 2nd game, Bob McIntyre was the winning pitcher with the loss going to Matt Holowatuk who was driven from the hill in the 2nd frame. North Battleford out-hit the Monarchs 7 to 3 but lack of control by the Beaver chuckers was the major factor in Neilburg's win. Don Drummond hit a home run and double for North Battleford in this contest, driving in three runs.
(June 2) The Kindersley Klippers swept a twin-bill from the home-standing Unity Cardinals by scores of 4 - 3 and 11 - 4. Glenn Uzelman shaded Mel Dahlseide in the opener as the Klips out-hit the Cards 9 to 5.
In the 2nd event, Kindersley's Lloyd Rachul took the pitching win over Jerry Burcher. Kindersley had 11 hits to eight for the Redbirds.
(June 5) Unity at Biggar, Kindersley at NB, Neilburg at Lloydminster
(June 9) Roy Rowley, making his first appearance of the season, fired a seven-inning no-hitter to give the North Battleford Beavers their 2nd N.S.B.L. victory, a 7 - 0 rout of the Biggar Pontiacs. Rowley struck out 11 in the abbreviated contest, the second of a double-dip. Biggar starter Ken Esler was hit with the loss. Glen Bellegarde wielded the heavy lumber for the Beavers, coming up with three hits in three attempts. His heaviest blow was a two-run homer. North Battleford's Bennie Griggs hit safely three times in four appearances.
Griggs, also making his initial pitching start this season struck out 11 and picked up the victory as North Battleford shaded the Pontiacs 4 - 3 in the first game of the doubleheader. The Beavers had to come from behind to record the win, scoring three times in the 7th and final inning. Losing hurler Bob Hoult gave up seven hits including a two-run double to Griggs.
(June 9) The Lloydminster Greencaps suffered their first defeat in seven starts as the Unity Cardinals won 5 - 3 in the opener of a doubleheader behind the steady pitching of Marcel Richard. Although plagued by some inconsistent defense, the Cardinals rallied behind Richard's five-hitter to hand the loss to Lloydminster's Tommy Taylor.
The Greencaps came back to win the second half of the twin-bill, whipping the Redbirds 3 - 0 behind the four-hit pitching of lefthander Cliff Mein. Erwin Doerksen gave up seven hits in taking the loss.
(June 9) Neilburg at Kindersley
(June 12) The Neilburg Monarchs trimmed the North Battleford Beavers 6 - 2 as Danny Crisco hurled a seven-hitter. The Monarchs claimed 10 hits off losing pitcher Bennie Griggs and reliever Roy Rowley. Lyle Thom homered for Neilburg while Neil Urlacher pasted three doubles.
(June 12) The Unity Cardinals came from behind to defeat the Kindersley Klippers 6 - 4 in a N.S.B.L. game at Kindersley. Trailing 4 - 2 entering the 5th frame, the Cards lit up loser Lloyd Rachul for four runs which was all the margin that winning pitcher Jerry Burcher needed.
(June 12) The Lloydminster Greencaps drubbed the cellar-dwelling Biggar Pontiacs 17 - 1 in a game played in the Border City. Tommy Taylor breezed to an easy mound win for the victors.
(June 13) The Neilburg Monarchs, riding the three-hit pitching of Pete Krysak, moved into first place in the N.S.B.L. with a 3 - 0 victory over the Lloydminster Greencaps. Neil Urlacher was the top dog at the dish for the Monarchs, driving in two runs with a bases-loaded double in the 3rd inning. Krysak held Lloydminster in check throughout the contest and was never in trouble. Losing chucker Cliff Mein struck out 11 batters but control problems in the 3rd frame spelled disaster for the big lefthander.
(June 16) The North Battleford Beavers laid a double-defeat on the Unity Cardinals by 7 - 2 and 4 - 1 counts. A six-run outburst in the 2nd inning was all North Battleford needed to dispose of unity in the opener at Abbott Field. Winning hurler Harold Hunchak had a no-hitter in the making until the 6th when Unity garnered three of their four hits including a single by John Repin which drove home both of their runs. Marcel Richard, hammered from the hill in the 2nd frame, took the loss.
In game 2, Johnny Ford, making his first appearance of the season for the Beavers, clouted a homer in the 6th to spark the North Battleford attack. Bennie Griggs struck out four in picking up the win while Richard whiffed six in suffering his 2nd defeat of the day.
(June 16) The Lloydminster Greencaps defeated the Kindersley Klippers 6 - 0 in the opening game of a double-bill while the Klippers rebounded to take the second affair 6 - 3. A triple by winning pitcher Tommy Taylor plus two double plays lifted Lloydminster to victory in the Border City. Gene Graves gave up six hits in taking the defeat. Kindersley fielders were guilty of seven errors in the 7-inning opener.
In the follow-up contest, Graves came back and scattered nine hits to earn Kindersley a split. Losing hurler Cliff Mein of the Greencaps was tagged for seven hits including a double by Irl Flanagan.
(June 16) The Neilburg Monarchs maintained their slim lead atop the N.S.B.L. by splitting a wild doubleheader with the Biggar Pontiacs, winning the first one 15 - 14 and dropping the second 13 - 7. A 3-run homer by Danny Crisco in the 3rd inning and an inside-the-park circuit clout by Neil Urlacher in the 4th carried Neilburg to victory in the opener. Pete Krysak, who came on in the 7th, received credit for the win while the loss went to Carson Ramsey, the 2nd of three Biggar pitchers.
Wayne Barton's bases-loaded home run in the 4th inning sparked the Pontiacs to their first win in nine starts in the second half of the double-bill. Sam Herceg took the win in relief. Monarchs' starter Don McIntyre was the loser.
(June 19) The North Battleford Beavers edged a suddenly-pesky Biggar Pontiacs squad 9 - 8. The Beavers scored the winning run with two out in the 9th inning. Harold Hunchak, the last of three Beaver pitchers, was the winner with the loss going to Bob Hoult, the 3rd of a trio of Biggar hurlers. The Pontiacs led 7 - 1 after four innings but, after tallying three in each of the 5th and 6th, the Beavers went ahead 8 - 7. John Maybuck homered for Biggar in the 9th to tie the score. Don Drummond of North Battleford and Wayne Barton of the Pontiacs led their respective teams with the lumber, each stroking out three singles.
(June 19) The Neilburg Monarchs dropped into 2nd place in the N.S.B.L. following a 6 - 3 loss to the Kindersley Klippers. Lloyd Rachul, although requiring bullpen help from manager Gene Graves, got credit for the win. Monarch's Danny Crisco took the loss. Irl and Jerry Flanagan each hit a double for the Klippers while Neil Urlacher tripled for the Monarchs. Neilburg executed two double plays.
(June 19) The Lloydminster Greencaps moved into first place in the N.S.B.L. with a 4 - 3 win over the Unity Cardinals. Trailing 3 - 0 in the 3rd inning, Lloydminster rallied for four runs to claim the victory on their home turf. Winning chucker Cliff Mein struck out eight Unity batters. Cardinals' starter Erwin Doerksen took the loss. Curly Williams and LeRoy Close each had a two-bagger for the winners.
(June 21) Ross Stone, making his first appearance of the campaign for Unity, tossed a four-hitter at the Biggar Pontiacs as the Cardinals posted a 6 - 1 win in a N.S.B.L. game. Stone fanned 10 and walked four . Unity broke up a close game scoring four runs in the 5th inning, the igniting hit of that frame being a two-run triple by Ross Morrison. Ken Esler, relieved by Clarence Proctor in the 5th, took the loss. Ken Hoyt, Marcel Richard, Mike Repin, Lyle May and Stone all had two singles for the Redbirds. Corky McNaught led the losers at the dish with a brace of one-baggers.
(June 22) The Saskatoon Star-Phoenix reports that Dave Hallis of the North Battleford Beavers leads N.S.B.L. hitters after three weeks of action with a .400 batting mark. Unity's Marcel Richard is the runner-up with .375 while his teammate Johnny Repin has a .364 average. Cliff Mein of the Lloydminster Greencaps leads in home runs with 3. In the pitching department, Pete Krysak of Neilburg has three straight wins. Tommy Taylor of Lloydminster has the most wins five, but has one loss.
(June 23) The Kindersley Klippers moved to within a half game of the first place Lloydminster Greencaps in the N.S.B.L. by posting 4 - 0 and 14 - 3 wins over the North Battleford Beavers. Gene Graves hurled a four-hit shutout and fanned six to win the opener at Kindersley. Bennie Griggs was the loser, allowing five hits. Lane Jackson hit a pair of doubles for the Klippers.
In the second encounter, winning pitcher Chuck Holdaway hurled a six-hitter and helped himself at the plate with a double and single. Roy Rowley, the first of three North Battleford pitchers, took the loss. The Klips managed 12 hits altogether.
(June 23) Neilburg at Unity, Lloydminster at Biggar
(June 26) The North Battleford Beavers edged the Lloydminster Greencaps 5 - 4 at Abbott Field in North Battleford. A 10th inning single by Ervin Boehm drove in the deciding run. It was Boehm's 3rd hit of the game. He homered in the 8th. Curly Williams hit a four-bagger for the Greencaps in the 4th inning. Bennie Griggs picked up the win while Tommy Taylor suffered the loss.
(June 26) Neilburg's Jerry Nyman tossed an eight-inning no-hitter as the Monarchs edged the Kindersley Klippers 3 - 2 in the first half of a N.S.B.L. double-bill. Kindersley came back in the 2nd game to nip the Monarchs 6 - 5 in 11 innings and moved into a first-place tie with the Lloydminster Greencaps. Nyman struck out six batters but an error and six walks enabled the Klippers to score two runs and force the regularly scheduled seven-inning contest into an extra frame. The loss was pinned on Gene Graves who relieved Chuck Holdaway in the 6th. Pete Prediger homered for Neilburg.
Graves was the winning pitcher in the 2nd game, taking over mound chores in the 8th. Danny Crisco started on the hill for the Monarchs but was taken to hospital after being struck on the leg by a line drive off the bat of Wayne Morgan. Brian McIntyre, the 3rd Neilburg chucker, was hit with the loss. Jim Wiley drove home the winning run in the 11th with a single. Ivan Prediger, Pete Krysak and McIntyre hit homers for the Monarchs.
(June 26) The Unity Cardinals bounced the Biggar Pontiacs 10 - 2 at Unity. The Cards out-hit the visitors 13 to 5. Ken Hoyt of the Redbirds was the top batter with a triple, double and two singles in five trips to the plate. Corky McNaught had a home run and single for Biggar. Erwin Doerksen was the winning pitcher, striking out nine Pontiac batters while giving up four hits in his six innings of work. Biggar starter Bob Hoult, driven from the mound in the 3rd, took the loss.
(June 30) Neilburg at NB, Unity at Lloydminster, Kindersley at Biggar
(July 1) The North Battleford Beavers trounced the Biggar Pontiacs 12 - 1 in the final game of Unity's six-team Dominion Day tournament. Roy Rowley had a three-hitter in locking up the win over Clarence Proctor. Dave Hallis was the Beavers' leading hitter with two doubles and a single.
(July 3) Neil Urlacher hit two home runs as the hometown Neilburg Monarchs defeated the Unity Cardinals 6 - 3 in a N.S.B.L. game. Winning pitcher Danny Crisco hurled a four-hitter and struck out eight. Erwin Doerksen, with five innings of mound work, was tagged with the loss. Urlacher also hit a single to go along with his pair of four-baggers. Ken Hoyt homered for Unity.
(July 3) Bentley MacEwen blanked the Lloydminster Greencaps as the Kindersley Klippers captured a 6 - 0 decision at Lloydminster. MacEwen pitched no-hit ball until two were out in the 6th inning. He settled for a four-hitter. Irl Flanagan had a two-run homer for the winners.
(July 3) The North Battleford Beavers shutout the Biggar Pontiacs 4 - 0 , scoring all four of their runs in the last three innings to break up a tight pitching battle between the Beavers' Harold Hunchak and Biggar's Carson Ramsay. Retiring 11 batters in succession at one stage of the game, Ramsay weakened in the later innings and was nailed with the loss. Dale Jones homered for the Beavers while Ervin Boehm had a double and single and Don Drummond three singles. John Maybuck hit two doubles and a single for Biggar.
(July 7) The Kindersley Klippers dropped into 2nd place in the standings following their split of a twin-bill with the Lloydminster Greencaps. The Klips lost the opener 4 - 1 but took the late encounter 3 - 1. Tommy Taylor pitched a three-hitter while striking out 14 to record the Greencaps' win in the matinee. Gene Graves was the loser.
The four-hit pitching of Bentley MacEwen gave Kindersley the split. Lefthander Cliff Mein was tagged with the loss.
(July 7) The Neilburg Monarchs moved into first place in the N.S.B.L. with 12 - 1 and 7 - 3 wins over the last-place Biggar Pontiacs. Bob McIntyre and Jerry Nyman recorded the pitching victories for the Monarchs at Biggar. In the first game, Ivan Prediger hit a three-run homer for Neilburg off losing pitcher Bob Hoult.
Nyman struck out 10 Pontiac batters for the 2nd game win. Loser Bob Adams fanned 13. Phil Herle had a pair of singles for Neilburg.
(July 7) The North Battleford Beavers swept a doubleheader from the Unity Cardinals by 6 - 2 and 4 - 2 margins. Johnny Ford led the Beavers with the bat in the opener, drilling a pair of doubles off loser Ross Stone in support of winning pitcher Harold Hunchak. Erwin Doerksen had two singles for the losers.
Dave Hallis singled home the tying and winning runs during a four-run 7th inning of the finale to give the Dam Builders the sweep. Johnny Ford had a pair of singles for the Beavers as Bennie Griggs decisioned Jerry Burcher. Doerksen once again had a brace of one-baggers for the Cards.
(July 9) Jim Wiley of the Kindersley Klippers, last season's batting champion of the N.S.B.L., has again forged into the lead at the halfway mark of this campaign's schedule according to today's edition of the Saskatoon Star-Phoenix. Wiley has 15 hits in 30 at bats for a .500 average. Neil Urlacher, the slugging leader, is second with a .394 mark. Pat Gibbons, his Neilburg teammate, comes in next with a .379 percentage. Dave Hallis of the North Battleford Beavers leads in hits with 16. Urlacher leads in total bases with 29 and he has scored the most runs, 14. Cliff Mein of the Lloydminster Greencaps and Urlacher share the honors for RBI's with 12 apiece. Mein still holds the lead in home runs with three. There is a four-way tie for stolen bases leader with Ervin Boehm of North Battleford, Lane Jackson of Kindersley and both Ivan Prediger and Larry Flicek of Neilburg all having swiped six.
Pitching records show Pete Krysak of Neilburg still leading with three victories and no losses, Tom Taylor and Cliff Mein of Lloydminster have won the most games, five each.
(July 10) The Kindersley Klippers dropped a 6 - 4 game to the Unity Cardinals to lose their position atop the N.S.B.L. Losing pitcher Gene Graves of the Klippers and his battery mate blew a tire in allowing the Cardinals to plate what turned out to be the winning run. Graves, in relief of Lloyd Rachul, fanned Unity's Dave Reinager but the ball got away from the catcher, allowing Reinager to reach 1st base. A passed ball then put him in scoring position. Two wild pitches by Graves followed which allowed him to score. Marcel Richard picked up the victory for Unity with some excellent relief help from Ross Stone. Ken Hoyt had a double and single for Unity and Erwin Doerksen two singles. For Kindersley, Wally Jackson hit a two-run triple and the Flanagan brothers, Irl and Jerry, both had two singles.
(July 10) The Neilburg Monarchs pulled a half game ahead of the Kindersley Klippers by defeating the Biggar Pontiacs 4 - 1. Danny Crisco, the winning pitcher for Neilburg, and Bob Adams, on the hill for Biggar, each allowed five hits but walks got the latter into constant hot water. Sam Herceg belted a double for Biggar while Pat Gibbons and Glen Thompson had two singles each for Neilburg.
(July 10) The hometown Lloydminster Greencaps and the North Battleford Beavers battled to a 4 - 4 deadlock in a game cut short to six innings because of darkness. Lloydminster's Tommy Taylor and Bennie Griggs of the Beavers were on the hill for their respective clubs in the stalemate. Jack Stewart's two-run double was the most significant blow of the shortened contest which will be completed at a later date.
(July 14) The Lloydminster Greencaps knocked the Neilburg Monarchs out of top spot in the N.S.B.L. by taking a doubleheader from the Monarchs on their own home turf by 6 - 4 and 14 - 5 counts. Cliff Mein and Tommy Taylor were the winning pitchers at Neilburg, both limiting the Monarchs to five hits. The Greencaps had five safeties in the opener but slammed out 17 in the nightcap. including homers by Mein and Taylor. Jerry Nyman took the first game defeat and Bob McIntyre lost the second.
(July 14) The North Battleford Beavers squeezed by the Biggar Pontiacs 2 - 1 in the first half of a double-bill and then trounced the hapless Pontiacs 11 - 0 in the nightcap. Harold Hunchak edged past Biggar's Bob Adams in a first-game pitcher's battle which saw the Pontiacs out-hit the Beavers 6 to 5. Bennie Griggs collected a double and single for the winners while Ervin Boehm had a pair of singles. Fred Clemence drilled a brace of one-baggers for Biggar.
Bennie Griggs gave up only one hit in hurling six innings for the Beavers in the nightcap victory. He also homered. Teammate Johnny Ford had a double and a pair of singles while Darryl Thompson kicked in with two one-baggers.
(July 14) The Kindersley Klippers swept a doubleheader from Unity at Kindersley to move into first place in the N.S.B.L. The Klippers won the 1st game 5 - 2 and took the second encounter 6 - 5. Gene Graves pitched five-hit ball to record the opening-game win for Kindersley. Jim Wiley's 2nd inning home run was the big blow for the Klips. Losing pitcher Ross Stone also hurled a five-hitter but the Cards' defense let him down, committing three errors. Lyle May hit a double and single for Unity.
Bentley MacEwen registered his 3rd consecutive triumph for the Klippers in the second game. Jerry Burcher, who took over Unity mound duties in the 2nd frame, was the loser. Dave Torrens had three singles for Kindersley and Erwin Doerksen hit a home run for Unity.
Standings as of end
of July 14 W L Pct. GBL
Kindersley Klippers 15 6 .714 ----
Neilburg Monarchs 12 6 .677 1 1/2
Lloydminster Greencaps 13 7 .650 1 1/2
North Battleford Beavers 11 8 .579 3
Unity Cardinals 8 13 .381 7
Biggar Pontiacs 1 20 .048 14
(July 17) One of the most powerful hitters in the N.S.B.L., Neil Urlacher of the Neilburg Monarchs, pounded three home runs in leading his mates to a pair of victories over the North Battleford Beavers. The strong-armed centerfielder started a three-run uprising with a solo homer that led Neilburg to a 4 - 2 decision in the opener and sparked the 2nd victory, a 6 - 4 win, with a pair of homers. Jerry Nyman received credit for the Neilburg opening-game mound win as Harold Hunchak was stung with the loss.
Danny Crisco, the winning hurler in the 2nd game, had a homer off loser Bennie Griggs who was also lit up for the pair of Urlacher dingers. Three of the four North Battleford runs came on a Ron Brooks' 7th-inning tater.
(July 17) The Kindersley Klippers got to losing pitcher Bob Adams for eight hits as they set down the bottom-feeding Biggar Pontiacs 6 - 3. Wayne Thompson, with relief help from Bentley MacEwen, was the winner.
(July 17) Lloydminster at Unity
(July 21) Pete Prediger clouted a home run and single to lead the Neilburg Monarchs to an 8 - 0 victory over the league-leading Kindersley Klippers in the opening game of a twin-bill. Nap Krysak got the pitching decision for the Monarchs over the Klippers' Bentley MacEwen.
Kindersley came back to take the nightcap 4 - 1 behind the pitching of Lloyd Rachul.
(July 21) At Biggar, the Unity Cardinals swept a doubleheader from the hapless Pontiacs. Ross Stone was the winner in the opener while the loss was tagged on Ken Esler.
In the 2nd contest, Marcel Richard out-pitched Wayne McAlpine for the victory.
(July 21) Bennie Griggs came on in relief to give the North Battleford Beavers a 4 - 3, 10-inning triumph over the Lloydminster Greencaps in the first of three games played in the border town. Griggs then tossed a three-hitter to pace the Beavers to a 2 - 1 decision in the 2nd contest. Tom Taylor was hit for the loss in the opener and Cliff Mein suffered the same fate in the sandwich game.
In the completion of a game that was suspended after six innings on July 10 with the teams tied 4 - 4, Lloydminster got some fine pitching from Mein to win 7 - 6. Roy Rowley was charged with the defeat in this one.
(July 24) The league-leading Kindersley Klippers humbled the basement-tenant Biggar Pontiacs 9 - 2 as Wayne Thompson scattered 10 hits to pick up the win over Clarence Proctor of the hometown Pontiacs. Irl Flanagan had three singles and Don Jackson a pair of doubles to pace the Klippers who increased their lead to two full games over Neilburg.
(July 24) A two-run double by Jack Stewart and six innings of no-hit pitching by Cliff Mein carried the Lloydminster Greencaps to a 4 - 1 victory over the Neilburg Monarchs in N.S.B.L. play. Mein held the Monarchs in check throughout the contest which was halted by darkness after six frames were in the books. Danny Crisco was charged with the defeat.
(July 24) Unity at North Battleford
(July 27) Gene Graves allowed only one hit as the Kindersley Klippers blanked the Unity Cardinals 2 - 0 to win the $1,600 Saskatoon Exhibition baseball tournament. The loss ended a two-year reign for the cards as tourney kings. Wade Jackson had two hits for the winners off loser Ross Stone.
(July 28) Johnny Ford was a one-man wrecking crew for the North Battleford Beavers, hitting three home runs and driving in 10 as the Beavers swept a doubleheader from the Kindersley Klippers 7 - 1 and 18 - 3. Bennie Griggs and Harold Hunchak were the two winners while the losses went to Wayne "Chick" Thompson and Bentley MacEwen. Ford went 7 for 9 at the dish in the two games.
Two of Ford's homers came in the 2nd game as the Klippers paraded six pitchers to the rubber. Roy Rowley also hit a pair of circuit-clouts for the Beavers in the owl encounter while Ken Nelson homered and doubled. Dave Hallis had a dinger for North Battleford in the opener as did Jim Wiley of the Klippers. Jerry Flanagan lit Hunchak up for a four-bagger in the closing game.
(July 28) The Unity Cardinals tightened their grip on 5th place in the N.S.B.L. by taking out the lowly Biggar Pontiacs twice by 3 - 1 and 7 - 0 scores. Erwin Doerksen and Marcel Richard each tossed three-hit ball for the Cards. Carson Ramsay and Clarence Proctor of the Pontiacs were each losers. Ross Morrison had three singles for Unity in the opener while Biggar's Ramsay had a double and single.
Richards had a double and single for Unity in the 2nd game while the Pontiacs' Fred Clemence had two singles.
(July 28) The Neilburg Monarchs took over first place in the N.S.B.L. as they defeated the Lloydminster Greencaps twice, 3 - 2 and 4 - 0. Neilburg pitchers Jerry Nyman and Bob McIntyre threw three-hitters at the Caps in the sweep. Nyman singled home the winning run in the top of the 7th of the first game. The Monarchs plated all their runs in the late game in the top of the 7th. Lloydminster's Tom Taylor and Cliff Mein were the losing pitchers.
Standings as of
end of July 28 W L Pct
Neilburg Monarchs 17 8 .680
Kindersley Klippers 18 9 .667
Lloydminster Greencaps 15 11 .577
North Battleford Beavers 15 11 .577
Unity Cardinals 12 13 .480
Biggar Pontiacs 1 26 .037
(July 30) The North Battleford Beavers took over 3rd place in the N.S.B.L. and assured themselves of at least a tie for 4th place in the final standings by defeating the Unity Cardinals 6 - 4 at North Battleford. Bennie Griggs went the distance to post his 9th victory, best in the league. He had lost three times. Jerry Burcher suffered the loss. The Cardinals out-hit the winners 11 to 7 with Ken Hoyt picking up a triple and single. Griggs was best with the stick for North Battleford with a double and single.
(July 31) The North Battleford Beavers edged the Kindersley Klippers 2 - 1 in a N.S.B.L. game at Kindersley. The loss for Kindersley dropped them a half game behind the league-leading Neilburg Monarchs. Harold Hunchak was the winning pitcher, allowing only five hits while fanning a pair. The loss went to Bentley MacEwen who gave up nine hits while striking out seven. Johnny Ford's single and Dave Hallis' double drove in the North Battleford runs. The lone Kindersley tally was unearned.
(July 31) Lloydminster at Biggar, Neilburg at Unity
(August 2) Gene Graves' Southern representatives from Kindersley, Unity and Biggar won the very first N.S.B.L. all-star game by defeating Curly Williams' Northern selects from North Battleford, Lloydminster and Neilburg 4 - 1. The only player in the game with more than one hit was Jim Wiley of Kindersley who had a single and double. Erwin Doerksen of Unity was the winning pitcher and Jerry Nyman of Neilburg took the loss.
(August 4) Three teams, the North Battleford Beavers, Lloydminster Greencaps and Kindersley Klippers, were deadlocked for 2nd place, mere percentage points behind the Neilburg Monarchs following weekend action.
Lloydminster took advantage of the hapless Biggar Pontiacs and the pitching of Cliff Mein to score 12 - 5 and 5 - 2 victories. Mein came on in relief to pick up both pitching wins. He took over for Tom Taylor in the opener and Red Adair in the second game, pitching one-hit ball for the remainder of both games. LeRoy Close homered for the Greencaps in the opener while Lawrence Gilewich blasted a two-run homer and single for the Pontiacs, driving in all their runs. Carson Ramsay suffered the first game setback while Larry Bajarski took the loss in the second encounter.
North Battleford kept pace by shading the Kindersley Klippers 2 - 1 in a single game at North Battleford. John Ford continued to wield the big bat as he drove in both North Battleford runs with a single and homer. Lane Jackson accounted for the lone Kindersley tally with a 3rd inning home run off winning pitcher Bennie Griggs. Gene Graves was the losing hurler.
At Unity, the 5th place Cardinals took a pair from the league-leading Neilburg Monarchs 7 - 6 and 2 - 0. Winning chucker Marcel Richard clouted a two-run homer in the bottom of the 7th to give the Redbirds their first-game win. Neil Urlacher had a home run and single in a losing cause on behalf of Monarchs' pitcher Danny Crisco. In the nightcap, Vern O'Donnell and Russ Morrison each hit a double and single to pace the Unity attack. Jerry Burcher unfurled a two-hitter in picking up the victory while Bob McIntyre took the loss.
Standings as of
end of August 4 W L Pct.
Neilburg Monarchs 17 10 .630
Kindersley Klippers 18 11 .621
Lloydminster Greencaps 18 11 .621
North Battleford Beavers 18 11 .621
Unity Cardinals 14 14 .500
Biggar Pontiacs 1 29 .033
(August 5) The Lloydminster Greencaps moved into first place in the N.S.B.L. with a 5 - 3 victory over the Unity Cardinals in Unity. Cliff Mein came on in relief to win his 12th game of the season. Mein won his own game with a two-run homer in the 5th inning off losing chucker Erwin Doerksen. Curly Williams also homered for the Greencaps. For Unity, Ernie Lawton had a double and two singles. Both teams collected seven hits.
(August 6) The North Battleford Beavers defeated the Neilburg Monarchs 15 - 8 to move into a first place tie in the N.S.B.L. with the Lloydminster Greencaps. Each team has 19 wins and 11 losses. In the loosely-played contest, the Beavers committed five errors and the Monarchs seven. North Battleford out-hit the Neilburg nine 14 to 12. Roy Rowley, the 3rd pitcher for the Beavers, was the winner. The loss went to Monarchs' starter Nap Krysak. The Beavers had a litany of heavy swatters in this contest. Ken Nelson cracked a triple and two singles. Both Glen Bellegarde and Carmen Keller came away with a double and single. Don Drummond and John Ford each laced out a pair of singles. Ivan Prediger and Neil Urlacher both collected three singles for Neilburg.
(August 7) The Kindersley Klippers got by the Neilburg Monarchs 5 - 4 as Lane Jackson singled home Irl Flanagan with the winning run in the bottom of the 9th. The Klips' Jim Wiley had previously stolen home to tie the score. Flanagan had three hits in the game as Kindersley's Bentley MacEwen out-lasted Neilburg's Jerry Nyman for the win. Three teams now have 19 - 11 records.
(August 9) The Unity Cardinals shaded the Neilburg Monarchs 5 - 4 in the final game of the regular schedule in the N.S.B.L. The game meant nothing in the standings which has North Battleford first, Lloydminster in second, Kindersley third, Neilburg fourth, Unity fifth and Biggar sixth. The first three teams all ended the season with identical 19 - 11 won - lost records. However, the final standings and playoff positions were based on the records of the three clubs in head-to-head clashes. Ross Stone gave up nine hits in going the distance for the Unity victory. Loser Pete Krysak gave up only three hits.
The best-of-five semi-finals open with Neilburg facing North Battleford in one set-to and Kindersley going up against Lloydminster in the other.
FINAL STANDINGS W L Pct.
North Battleford Beavers 19 11 .633
Lloydminster Greencaps 19 11 .633
Kindersley Klippers 19 11 .633
Neilburg Monarchs 17 13 .567
Unity Cardinals 15 15 .500
Biggar Pontiacs 1 29 .033
PLAYOFFS :
(August 11) The North Battleford Beavers, taking advantage of the hitting of Johnny Ford and Carmen Keller plus a rash of opposition errors, jumped into a one-game lead in the N.S.B.L semi-finals with a 10 - 7 victory over the Neilburg Monarchs. Playing at Abbott Field in North Battleford, Ford hit a single, double and triple to drive in four runs for the Beavers. But it took Keller's home run blast to spark a four-run outburst in the 8th that subdued the Monarchs. Neilburg had gone ahead in the 7th on veteran Pete Prediger's three-run homer. The Monarchs had trouble in the field, committing five errors while the Beavers played errorless ball. Harold Hunchak, in relief of Bennie Griggs, received credit for the win. Jerry Nyman, who took over from Bob McIntyre, was the loser.
(August 11) The Lloydminster Greencaps manufactured a run in the bottom of the 9th that gave them a 4 - 3 decision and a one-game lead in their series with the Kindersley Klippers. Playing in the Border City, the Greencaps had to overcome a 3 - 0 deficit with three runs in the 8th and one in the 9th. Dave Murray's line single drove in Don Stewart, who had just doubled, with the winning run. Winning hurler Tom Taylor had a solo home run for the Caps. He gave up seven hits and fanned 10. Loser Gene Graves was tagged for 11 hits while whiffing nine. Dave Torrens accounted for all the Kindersley runs with a bases-loaded triple in the 2nd inning.
(August 12) The North Battleford Beavers took a two games to none lead in their semi-final playoff with a 3 - 2 win over the Neilburg Monarchs at Neilburg. Johnny Ford's two-run single in the opening frame helped stake North Battleford to an early 3 - 0 lead but the Monarchs fought back with two of their own in the bottom of the the 1st. That was it for the scoring as winning pitcher Bennie Griggs and loser Jerry Nyman put up zeros the rest of the way. Griggs gave up five hits and Nyman six. Both pitchers struck out six batters. The game's only extra-base blow was a double by North Battleford's Ken Nelson.
(August 13) The Kindersley Klippers tied the best-of-five round with the Lloydminster Greencaps as Lane Jackson's three-run homer in the 7th gave the Klips a 5 - 2 win. Bentley MacEwen struck out 14 while yielding five hits to pick up the win over Cliff Mein who surrendered four safeties. Jackson's dinger was his 3rd hit of the game.
(August 14) The Lloydminster Greencaps unleashed a 10-hit attack against Gene Graves and his successor Lloyd Rachul as they shelled the Kindersley Klippers 7 - 2 to take a two games to one lead in their semi-final series. Tommy Taylor went the distance, giving up six hits and whiffing eight for the victory. Cliff Mein had three hits for the winners, a bases-loaded double plus two singles. Kindersley bagged both their runs on a two-run double by Garnet Hannon.
(August 14) The red-hot North Battleford Beavers exploded for six big runs in the 2nd inning and went on to defeat the Neilburg Monarchs 8 - 2 to win their best-of-five semi-final series in straight games. Harold Hunchak struck out eight in picking up his 2nd win of the series. Loser Danny Crisco, the first of three Neilburg hurlers, was lit up for 7 of the 8 Beaver tallies. Neil Urlacher and Brian McIntyre each rapped two singles for the Monarchs while Ken Nelson did the same for North Battleford.
(August 16) The Lloydminster Greencaps blew a 6 - 0 lead at Kindersley as the Klippers tied the best-of-five semi-final series at two games each with a 7 - 6 victory. The winning run was plated in the bottom of the 9th. With one out, Kindersley's Wally Jackson laced his 5th single of the game. He then stole 2nd base and continued around to score when the throw to the keystone sack went into centerfield. Bentley MacEwen picked up the pitching verdict, allowing eight hits while fanning eight. Cliff Mein, the loser, gave up 10 hits and whiffed nine. Mike Bellas had a home run for Lloydminster as well as two singles while Jackson, with his quintet of raps, and Garnet Hannon with a pair were best for the winners.
(August 18) The Lloydminster Greencaps fought their way to a 5 - 4 victory over the Kindersley Klippers in game five of their semi-final showdown. The game, however, has been protested by the Klippers. The protest arose over Lloydminster's use of Neil Urlacher, power-hitting outfielder from the Neilburg Monarchs, eliminated in their semi-final round with the North Battleford Beavers. Urlacher drove in three runs for Lloydminster with a triple, double and single. Pick-up players are only eligible in a series following that in which their own team has been sidelined. Kindersley's claim is that Urlacher would only be eligible to be picked up for the final series. Lloydminster had to come from behind with single runs in the 8th and 9th to win. The winning marker was plated when Willard Kondro's screaming liner off the glove of 2nd baseman Wally Jackson allowed Curly Williams to touch home plate. Tom Taylor went all the way, giving up seven hits, for the win. Gene Graves was the loser. He was tagged for 12 hits. Sharing the hitting spotlight with Urlacher was Don Stewart who had three singles. For Kindersley, Jerry Flanagan had an inside-the-park home run and Jim Wiley slammed a double and single.
(August 20) A protest lodged by the Kindersley Klippers has been upheld by the N.S.B.L. The protest arose over Lloydminster's use of an ineligible player in the 5th and final game of the semi-final series with the Klippers. The game will not be replayed and the series has been awarded to Kindersley who will now meet the North Battleford Beavers in the league final.
(August 21) Bennie Griggs and Johnny Ford, a couple of dependable veterans, combined forces to lead the North Battleford Beavers into a one-game lead in the opener of the N.S.B.L. final series. The Griggs - Ford combination carried the Beavers to a 9 - 4 victory over the Kindersley Klippers in North Battleford. Griggs, winning his 3rd straight playoff decision, checked the Klippers on nine hits and collected three safeties at the dish, one going for two-bases. Ford powered a pair of home runs and added a double. Right-hander Gene Graves suffered the loss, his 4th in a row in the playoffs. Don Drummond contributed a pair of doubles to the North Battleford arsenal as did Roy Rowley with an inside-the-park home run. Dave Hallis chipped in with two hits. The Klips got to Griggs for five extra-base hits, one a home run by Garnet Hannon. Jim Wiley and Graves each had two doubles and a single.
(August 23) Lefthander Bentley MacEwen fashioned a stellar two-hitter to lead the Kindersley Klippers to a 2 - 0 victory over the North Battleford Beavers, knotting the best-of-seven N.S.B.L. final at one game each. The two hits off MacEwen were both singles by North Battleford's Kenny Nelson. Losing pitcher Harold Hunchak also turned in a fine performance, scattering eight hits. Garnet Hannon plated one of Kindersley's markers with a solo home run. Pete Prediger, picked up from the Neilburg Monarchs as a playoff addition, pounded out a double and single while Irl Flanagan had a brace of singles.
(August 25) The North Battleford Beavers moved ahead of the Kindersley Klippers two games to one in their N.S.B.L. final series as they swamped the Klippers 7 - 1 in game three. Three Kindersley players were ejected from the game as a result of a 6th inning rhubarb at home plate. Irl Flanagan and Jim Wiley got the heave-ho in the 6th and losing chucker, playing-manager Gene Graves, was ejected later. Bennie Griggs posted the pitching decision, scattering seven hits. His mates collected 13 hits. Kindersley's only run came as a result of a bases-empty home run by Lane Jackson. Ken Nelson hit a home run and single for North Battleford, driving in four runs. Don Drummond collected a pair of doubles plus a single while John Ford and Jack Rowley each had two singles.
(August 28) A run-producing single down the first-base line by playoff addition Pete Prediger moved the Kindersley Klippers back into a tie in the N.S.B.L. final series as the Klippers took a 3 - 2 decision from the North Battleford Beavers in 10 innings. The series is now even at two games each. The single by Prediger, picked up from the Neilburg Monarchs, was fair by only inches and allowed pinch-runner Lloyd Rachul to romp to the plate with the winning tally. Gene Graves went all the way for Kindersley, striking out eight, to get the hard-fought win. He scattered seven hits, three by first baseman Dave Hallis. Kindersley got to loser Harold Hunchak for eight safeties.
(August 30) The North Battleford Beavers edged the Kindersley Klippers 4 - 3 at North Battleford to take a three games to two lead in the best-four-out-of-seven N.S.B.L. final. A double by Dave Hallis drove in John Ford from 2nd base with the winning run. Ford opened the inning with a single and was sacrificed to 2nd base by Ken Nelson. Bennie Griggs registered his 3rd victory of the series for the Beavers while Chuck Holdaway suffered the loss. Carmen Keller had three singles for North Battleford while Hallis had a single to go along with his game-winning double. Jerry Flanagan hit a double and two singles for the Klippers and Lane Jackson followed with a pair of singles.
(August 30) A final statistical summary was published this date in the Saskatoon Star-Phoenix and revealed that Ken Hoyt of the Unity Cardinals had won the batting championship for the 1963 season, finishing with a .413 percentage on 26 hits in 63 official trips to the plate. Curly Williams, playing-manager of the Lloydminster Greencaps, was second at .391 and last year's champion, Jim Wiley of the Kindersley Klippers, was third with a .384 mark. Two North Battleford Beavers finished fourth and fifth. Bennie Griggs had a .348 average and Roy Rowley came in at .329. Other batters over the .300 mark included Neil Urlacher of the Neilburg Monarchs .308, Irl Flanagan of the Kindersley Klippers .302 and Pete Prediger, playing-manager of the Neilburg Monarchs, .301.
Urlacher dominated most of the individual departments.
Runs - Urlacher (Neilburg Monarchs) - 27
Hits - Urlacher (Neilburg Monarchs) and Jim Wiley (Kindersley Klippers) - tied with 33
Doubles - Wiley (Kindersley Klippers) - 8
Triples - Lane Jackson (Kindersley Klippers) - 3
Home Runs - Urlacher (Neilburg Monarchs) - 8
RBI - Urlacher (Neilburg Monarchs - 23
Total Bases - Urlacher (Neilburg Monarchs) - 66
Stolen Bases - Larry Flicek (Neilburg Monarchs) - 11
Most Walks - Pat Gibbons Neilburg Monarchs) - 16
Carmen Keller of the North Battleford Beavers had the dubious distinction of leading the league in both the number of times a batter struck out (23) as well as the number of times hit by a pitch (6).
North Battleford's Bennie Griggs was the leading pitcher with 10 wins and 3 losses for a .769 average. Cliff Mein of Lloydminster had the most wins with 12 and figured in the most decisions, 18. Carson Ramsay of the Biggar Pontiacs lost the most games, 7.
(September 1) The North Battleford Beavers won the 1963 N.S.B.L. championship in Kindersley, posting a 9 - 7 decision in 10 innings over the Kindersley Klippers. The win gives the Beavers the best-of-seven final series four games to 2. North Battleford took a 6 - 2 lead in the final game after 7 1/2 innings only to have the Klippers fashion a five-run rally in the bottom of the 8th to take a 7 - 6 lead. After the Beavers scored the tying run in the 9th, Bennie Griggs took over hurling duties from Roy Rowley and pitched two innings of perfect ball, retiring all six batters he faced, to take the victory. A walk to Ervin Boehm, and singles by Johnny Ford, Dave Hallis and Rowley, provided the winning margin for North Battleford in the 10th.