MANITOBA SENIOR BASEBALL LEAGUE
No change in composition of league members took place in 1965.
Brandon Cloverleafs
Dauphin Redbirds
Hamiota Red Sox
Riverside Blues
Souris Cardinals
St. Lazare Athletics
Virden Oilers
(May 16) The homestanding St. Lazare Athletics received excellent performances from imports Mike Torres and Dave Pearson in soundly whipping the Virden Oilers 17 to 0 as the 1965 MSBL got underway. The A’s shelled the Oilers right from the beginning as the club packed in ten counters after four frames were in the books. With a huge lead, Torres was pulled from action after three innings on the knoll and was credited with the pitching win after yielding one hit and fanning six. Pearson, the last of three St. Lazare twirlers, was deadly with the lumber, banging out a triple, double and two singles. Ron Falloon was another top swatter for the victors with two singles and a double while catcher Bruce Underwood delivered three one-base blows. Bob Attwood, who hurled the first three innings for Virden, was nailed with the loss. Dale Lund had two of the three Oiler safeties.
Attwood (L), Tayler (4), Bridgett (7) and Doug Lund
Torres (W), Thompson (4), Pearson (7) and Underwood
(May 16) At Riverside, the Blues rode the scoring power of two homers in registering a narrow 7 to 6 decision over the Dauphin Redbirds. Winning tosser Ed Evans, who toiled the first six innings on the hillock, allowed seven hits and breezed six. As well, he aided his own cause by slamming a two-run dinger in the second spasm. Losing heaver Pat Fitzgerald was derricked in the seventh stanza. Barry Moffatt paced the Blues with the baton, spanking the sphere for three safeties including a two-run tater in the opening panel. Gene Cory, Garth Seafoot and Ross Kinsley of the Riversiders as well as Dauphin’s Armand O’Kell and Chick Lintick all clipped the horsehide for a brace of bingles.
Fitzpatrick (L), Geekie (8) and Lintick
Evans (W), Fisher (7), Lilley (9) and Kinsley, C. Seafoot
(May 17) A bases-empty round-tripper by Tommy Town in the fourth frame was all that winning chucker Gary Keating needed as the Brandon Cloverleafs blanked the Hamiota Red Sox 3 to 0 in a five-inning, darkness-shortened opener at Kinsmen Stadium. Bill Chapple doubled home a second Cloverleaf counter later in the same frame while a third Brandon tally, an unearned marker, crossed the dish in the fifth. Keating allowed four hits and walked three while swishing six in the brief encounter. Starter Mel Smith of the Sox was nicked with the loss.
M. Smith (L), Denbow (5) and Don Smith
Keating (W) and Borotsik
(May 19) The Virden Oilers were gifted with four runs and went on to defeat the Souris Cardinals 4 to 1 in a Manitoba Senior Baseball League contest at Virden. The game was called after eight innings because of darkness. Bill Taylor went the distance on the bump for the Oilers, surrendering five hits, walking four and striking out seven. Losing heaver Don Gullett ran into big trouble in the second inning when he couldn’t find the plate and walked four runners home. Taylor and Frank Navosel had two singles each for Virden.
Gullett (L), Alderson (2) and Martin, Gullett (2)
B. Taylor (W) and Hemstad
(May 21) The Riverside Blues picked up their second straight win of the season with a 12 to 4 victory over the Souris Cardinals. Barry Diller punched out eight in a winning mound cause although he had relief aid in the sixth stanza. Bill Carpenter was charged with the loss. Garth Seafoot punched out two singles and a double for the Blues while Cliff Seafoot went long distance with a tater. Al Roney was best at the dish for the Cards with a triple and two-bagger.
Carpenter (L), Dawley (5) and Gullett
Diller (W), Cruickshank (6) and C. Seafoot
(May 21) The hosting Hamiota Red Sox defeated the St. Lazare Athletics 9 to 5 in a seven-inning MSBL tilt, shortened by darkness. Both clubs stroked five safeties as Jack Denbow nabbed the pitching verdict over Bob Thompson as neither starter was around at the finish. Dave Pearson and Oscar Walker drilled four-ply clouts in a losing cause while Lynn Caldwell went yard with a dinger for the Sox. Gord Lyall slapped out a double and single for the victors while the Athletics’ Ross Jamieson singled twice.
Thompson (L), Pearson (5) and Underwood
Denbow (W), M. Smith (6) and Don Smith
(May 28) The Souris Cardinals broke into the win column by blanking the Virden Oilers 4 to 0 at Souris. Bill Carpenter was the victorious heaver in a complete-game effort, yielding but two hits, walking an equal number and ringing up 11 punchouts. Bill Tayler was charged with the loss, surrendering all four tallies in the six innings that he worked. Don Hunter drove in three runs for the Cards in the fifth inning when he crashed a triple off the left-field fence with the bases loaded. Carpenter helped his own cause by hitting a double.
Tayler (L), Attwood (7) and Doug Lund
Carpenter (W) and Gullett
(May 28) Bobby Ash went four-for-five at bat, knocked in five runs, stole two bases and was the key offensive cog for the Riverside Blues who whitewashed the Brandon Cloverleafs 8 to 0 at Kinsmen Stadium. While Ash’s performance was instrumental in the win, it was the solid pitching of winning flinger Lorne Lilley and reliever Ed Evans that crushed the Leafs. The Riverside duo choked the Brandonites on just one hit, a line-drive single in the sixth stanza by Warren Veale. The undefeated Blues, in the meantime, collected 11 hits as third baseman Gene Cory and catcher Cliff Seafoot followed Ash with two singles each. Cloverleaf starter Jerry Page suffered his second loss.
Lilley (W), Evans (7) and C. Seafoot
Page (L), Powers (5), Hutton (9) and Borotsik
(May 30) The Hamiota Red Sox trampled the Dauphin Redbirds 13 to 4 in a one-sided MBSL weekend clash. Former Brandon left-hander Jack Denbow hurled a five-hitter in his seven-inning stint on the mound for the Sox. Terry Moore started on the hill for the Redbirds and was charged with the loss. The Crimson Hose had a 11 to 8 advantage in base hits but Dauphin outfumbled the victors by an 8 to 4 count.
(May 30) The St. Lazare Athletics tripped the hosting Virden Oilers 6 to 1 in MSBL action. Both teams had seven hits but the A’s were errorless afield while the Oilers were charged with one error. Mike Torres picked up his second win of the season for the visitors while Ted Bridgett suffered the defeat. Dave Pearson was the leading hitter for the Saints with a triple, single and four RBI’s. Doug Lund and Norm Hemstad each had two hits for the Oilers.
(May 30) The hosting Riverside Blues and the Brandon Cloverleafs battled to a 7 – 7 tie in a game that was curtailed after seven stanzas because of rain. Gord Hunter saved the Blued from their first defeat when he stepped in to pinch hit in the bottom-of-the-seventh and rapped out a single to drive in the tying run. Bob Wilson led the Brandon offensive punch with a single and a two-run homer in the third inning. Tommy Town and starting southpaw Gary Keating also had two hits each for the Cloverleafs. Bobby Ash dialed long distance with a solo dinger for Riverside.
Keating, Hodgson (7) and Wright
Cruickshank, Fisher (4) and C. Seafoot
(June 3) What started out as a pitching duel soon turned into a hitter’s delight as the Souris Cardinals fashioned a 5 to 2 win over the Brandon Cloverleafs at Kinsmen Stadium. Former Winnipeg Goldeye Bill Carpenter went the distance on the hill for the Cards, fanning seven, allowing five hits and issuing a pair of free passes. The big right-hander aided his cause when he hammered a towering four-ply clout over the left-field fence in the eighth episode. He also had a pair of singles and a walk to go along with his round-tripper. Southpaw Brian Hodgson went the first seven frames on the bump for the Leafs and was stung with the setback. Doug Armour and Don Hunter laced two safeties apiece for the Cards. Second baseman Gerry MacKay picked up two hits, one of them a double, for Brandon.
Carpenter (W) and Martin
Hodgson (L), Page (8) and Wright
(June 4) The Hamiota Red Sox scored nine runs in the third inning and went on to whip the Virden Oilers 16 to 10 at Hamiota. Reliever Brian Smith was credited with the win in the slugfest while Doug Fowler was charged with the loss. Starting pitcher Mel Smith of the Red Sox slapped out four hits while teammate Dallas Smith ripped a brace. Dale Lund led Virden’s batters with two singles while brother Dale cracked out a home run.
Wilton, Fowler (L) (3), Lund (5) and Hemstad
M. Smith, B. Smith (W) (4) and Don Smith
(June 6) A solo home run by Lynn Caldwell in the top-of-the-seventh inning gave the Hamiota Red Sox a 4 to 3 decision over the Virden Oilers. The hosting Oilers outswatted the Scarlet Stockings by a wide 10 to 4 margin but weren’t as adept in cashing in their opportunities. Southpaw Jack Denbow went the route for Hamiota while Virden’s Bill Taylor was saddled with his second defeat. Mel Smith and Al Robertson had a double each for the Sox while Ted Bridgett, Alex Martynowicz and Doug Lund led the Oilers with two singles each.
Denbow (W) and Don Smith
B. Taylor (L) and Hemstad
(June 6) At St. Lazare, right-hander Bob Thompson and Oscar Walker were the big keys as the Athletics swept a twin-bill from the Riverside Blues. Thompson was the winning tosser in both games while Walker picked up seven hits in the two-game set. Coming on in relief in the seventh inning of the opener with the Saints in arrears by a single tally, Thompson hurled three scoreless innings while his mates surged back for an 8 to 7 win. He aided his own cause in this narrow win by blasting a pair of four-baggers, one of them with the sacks full while Walker laced three singles. Ed Evans was charged with the defeat after coming to the aid of Blues’ starter Mark Fisher in the fifth frame. Barry Moffatt and Gene Cory had two hits each for Riverside.
Fisher, Evans (L) (5) and C. Seafoot
Pearson, Redman (5), Thompson (W) (7) and Simms, Pearson (5)
Thompson pitched the first four frames of the concluding tilt, in which the A’s prevailed 12 to 5, and then ascended the hillock once again in the ninth in relief for a five-inning stint altogether. Walker hit for the cycle in this skirmish, connecting for a single, double, triple and home run, as Lorne Lilley was nailed with the loss. Garth Seafoot drilled a homer in a losing cause for the Riversiders.
Lilley (L), Cruickshank (4), Diller (4) and Moffatt
Thompson (W), D. Fleury (5), Fenez (7), Johnston (8), Thompson (9) and Pearson
(June 6) The Souris Cardinals blanked the Dauphin Redbirds 5 to 0 in the first game over a doubleheader at Dauphin but the Redbirds rebounded for a 3 to 2 win after a ten-inning second contest.
(June 7) The Brandon Cloverleafs took advantage of six errors and 11 timely hits to clip the Virden Oilers 12 to 5 at Kinsmen Stadium. Right-hander Ron Powers picked up his first victory of the campaign after coming to the aid of starter Gary Keating in the second inning. Bob Attwood was charged with Virden’s loss. Newcomer Bill Chapple, a former Oiler, paced the Cloverleafs at the plate with a bases-empty inside-the-park home run and a single. Gerry MacKay, Bob Wilson and Ross Brownlee had two singles each. Alex Martynowicz was best with the lumber for the Oilers, rapping out three singles. Teammate Henry Palk followed with a brace of one-base hits.
Attwood (L), Bridgett (7) and Hemstad
Keating, Powers (W) (2) and Borotsik
(June 9) The Souris Cardinals scored eight runs in the final three innings for a 9 to 7 come-from-behind MSBL victory over the hosting Riverside Blues. The win was the Cards’ fourth of the season. Behind 7 – 1, the Cards began their winning effort in the top-of-the-seventh canto with a four-spot, added one more in the eighth and capped things off with a trey in the ninth. Dick Limke, who came on in relief in the fourth frame, picked up the win while Garth Seafoot, the last of three Riverside hurlers, took the loss. Skipper Don Hunter had two hits for the victors while Wes Rathwell, with a double and single, led the Blues at the plate.
Dawley, D. Limke (W) (4) and Gullett
Fisher, Lilley (7), G. Seafoot (L) (7) and C. Seafoot
(June 9) The St. Lazare Athletics picked up their fifth triumph of the campaign, a 10 to 7 conquest of the Dauphin Redbirds, to jump into top spot in the MSBL standings ahead of Hamiota. Import Mike Torres picked up the pitching win while Pat Fitzpatrick suffered the loss. Americans Bob Thompson and Oscar Walker led a potent St. Lazare offence which was responsible for 16 base hits. Thompson banged out a triple and three singles while Walker had a three-bagger and a brace of one-base hits. Fellow import Dave Pearson was another big hitter for the A’s with a double and two singles. Bill Berezinski paced the Redbirds with the willow, slamming a double and two singles.
Fitzpatrick (L), Kutzan (1), Amy (8) and Oakes
Torres (W), Johnson (8) and Simms
(June 10) A screaming line-drive blow to the middle pasture by Brian Hodgson drove in three eighth-inning runs, breaking a 5 – 5 tie, which set the Brandon Cloverleafs on the path to a 9 to 5 conquest of the invading St. Lazare Athletics. Hodgson scored a fourth tally in that canto when a fly ball off the bat of teammate Gerry MacKay was lost in the lights by Saints’ flychaser Ray Simms. The A’s hammered out 11 hits to nine for the Leafs in the affair. Reliever Gerry Keating earned the mound verdict over Bob Thompson who went the distance for the visitors. MacKay had three singles and two RBI’s for the winners while Mike Torres drove in three counters for St. Lazare with a third-inning two-bagger.
Thompson (L) and Pearson
Allen, Keating (W) (4) and Borotsik
Standings W L Pct. GBL
Hamiota 4 1 .800 ----
St. Lazare 5 2 .714 ----
Souris 4 3 .571 1.5
Riverside 3 3 .500 2.0
Brandon 3 3 .500 2.0
Dauphin 2 4 .333 3.0
Virden 1 6 .162 4.5
(June 11) The Brandon Cloverleafs pounced on the openings afforded them by 11 Hamiota errors to trip the host Red Sox 11 to 9 in a darkness-shortened seven-inning MSBL encounter. The loss for the Scarlet Stockings dropped them into second place, a half-game behind the idle St. Lazare Athletics. Southpaw Brian Hodgson picked up the mound win while Jack Denbow was charged with his first loss. Newcomer Bill Chapple paced the five-hit Brandon attack with a two-run homer and a double. Bryan Smith, Al Robertson and Don Smith each secured two singles for the Red Sox.
Hodgson (W), Keating (6), Powers (7) and Borotsik, Wright (6)
Denbow (L), M. Smith (5) and Don Smith
(June 11) The Souris Cardinals reeled off their fifth victory of the campaign with a 12 to 7 conquest of the cellar-dwelling Virden Oilers. Bill Carpenter registered his third win of the season for the Cards and helped matters by blasting a home run and a double. Import Bill Tayler of the Oilers, kayoed from the hill during a disastrous first inning, was stung with his fourth setback. Dick Lemke was another big hitter for Souris, clouting a four-bagger and two singles. Murray Zuk chipped in with three singles. Norm Hemstad clipped the orb for a single, double and triple in pacing Virden offensively while teammate Ted Taylor added three one-baggers.
Tayler (L), Wilton (1) and Hemstad
Carpenter (W), Dawley (6) and Gullett
(June 11) The visiting Riverside Blues trounced the Dauphin Redbirds 9 to 4 to keep pace with the Brandon Cloverleafs in third place in the MSBL. The Blues tapped the Redbirds for 16 base knocks and vaulted into a three-run lead after the opening inning. Barry Diller hurled the mound win but gave way to Ross Kinsley in the eighth episode. Losing flinger Neil Amy started for Dauphin and came back to pitch in the eighth after relievers Pat Fitzpatrick and Bob Kutzan failed to stymie the visitors’ offensive outbreak. Gene Cory, Gord Hunter and Cliff Seafoot each smacked three hits for the winners. Maurice Oakes and Rollie Secord had two safeties apiece for the Redbirds.
(June 13) The Hamiota Red Sox blasted four home runs off five Riverside pitchers to dump the hometown Blues 18 to 11 in an Manitoba Senior Baseball League slugfest. Southpaw Jack Denbow hurled his fourth win of the season for the Red Sox after coming to the aid of starter Bryan Smith in the fourth frame. Mark Fisher was charged with the Riverside defeat. Al Robertson blasted a grand-slam homer for Hamiota in the eighth chapter when the Sox pulled away after securing a seven-spot. Mel Smith was best at the dish for the victors with four safe blows, a cycle, his dinger coming with one mate aboard. Lynn Caldwell followed with a two-run tater and a pair of one-baggers. Bryan Smith also went yard for the victors, a two-run shot, to go along with a single. Cliff Seafoot slapped out three doubles for the Blues.
B. Smith, Denbow (W) (4) and Don Smith
Fisher (L), Diller (5), G. Seafoot (6), Evans (8), Diller (8), Cruikshank (9) and C. Seafoot
(June 13) The invading St. Lazare Athletics mounted a 5 to 3 win over the Souris Cardinals for their sixth win of the season. The victory for the Saints maintained their slim edge over Hamiota for the league lead. Keith Redman hurled the first five innings for the Athletics and was credited with the win. Hard-luck loser Dick Lemke gave up only two hits and struck out 13 but was plagued with an outbreak of Cardinal errors in the fifth frame when the Saints poured across four tallies.
Redman (W), Torres (6) and Walker, Simms
Limke (L) and Gullett
(June 14) Veteran first baseman Tommy Town broke a batting slump and drove in the winning run for the Cloverleafs as the Brandon club edged the Dauphin Redbirds 8 to 7 in a Manitoba Senior Baseball League encounter. The Leafs stumbled back from an early 5 to 1 deficit to salvage the ninth-inning victory. Outfielder Bob Wilson nailed a solo homer in the seventh stanza to lift the Brandonites into a 5 – 5 tie but Dauphin forged ahead once more as the Leafs came to bat in the bottom-of-the-ninth facing a 7 – 5 deficit. Third baseman Warren Veale hit a bases-loaded single to close the gap to 7 – 6 and then Town ended the proceedings with a two-RBI hit. Southpaw reliever Brian Hodgson picked up the twirling triumph while Neil Amy was tagged with the defeat.
(June 15) The Virden Oilers picked up just their second win of the campaign by edging the visiting Riverside Blues 4 to 1. Bill Taylor went the nine-inning stint to register his first pitching triumph of the season with the Oilers. He allowed six hits, struck out four and walked three. Taylor aided his win by cracking a two-run double in the second inning. Garth Seafoot also went the route in suffering the loss. He was nicked for seven safeties, fanned nine and issued five bases-on-balls. Virden’s Henry Polk and Ian Whyte as well as Barry Moffatt of the Blues all stroked a pair of safe swats.
G. Seafoot (L) and C. Seafoot
B. Taylor (W) and Hemstad
(June 15) The front-running St. Lazare Athletics continued to set the pace in the MSBL when they pounded the homestanding Dauphin Redbirds 14 to 4. Dave Pearson earned his first pitching win of the season but needed relief help from Don Fleury. Starter Bob Kutzan was charged with the Redbirds’ defeat. The A’s tagged Kutzan and two relievers for 19 base knocks. Oscar Walker and Mike Torres were best at the plate for the Saints with four singles each. Teammate Keith Redman hammered out three one-baggers, a production replicated by Bill Berezinski of the Redbirds.
(June 16) The Hamiota Red Sox moved back to within a half-game of the pace-setting St. Lazare Athletics with a 7 to 3 triumph over the hosting Souris Cardinals. Jack Denbow improved his pitching record to 5 – 1 with the complete-game win. Cec Dawley, who also went the route, was charged with the loss. Both chuckers were nicked for nine hits. Al Robertson led the Hamiota attack with two doubles. Best with the baton for Souris were Dawley and Don Hunter, who both had a brace of bingles, as well as Don Gullett who belted a solo homer.
Denbow (W) and Don Smith
Dawley (L) and Gullett
(June 18) The Hamiota Red Sox crumpled the visiting Souris Cardinals 9 to 4 to move into a tie with the St. Lazare Athletics atop the Manitoba Senior Baseball League. Mel Smith went the distance to register the Red Sox win while Bill Carpenter was clipped with the loss following his seven-inning stint on the hill. The Crimson Hose collected 13 base raps as Al Robertson led the way with two doubles and a single. Gord Lyall followed with a two-bagger and one-base hit. Carpenter also stroked a double and a single to pace the nine-hit Souris offense.
Carpenter (L), Hunter (8) and Gullett
M. Smith (W) and Don Smith
(June 18) The Riverside Blues annexed a one-sided 13 to 4 verdict over the Virden Oilers to remain in the middle of the pack while the loss for the Virdenites dropped them back into the MSBL cellar. Ron Cruikshank hurled the first five frames for the Riverside win, besting Bob Atwood who went all the way on the hillock for the Oilers. Barry Moffatt led the Blues at bat with four hits while teammate Bob Ash drilled a triad of safeties. Adding to the offense for the Riversiders was Barry Diller who slammed a two-run dinger. Ted Taylor launched a bases-empty tater for the Oilers while clubmates Ted Bridgett, Jack Day and Norm Hemstad chipped in with two hits each.
Attwood (L) and Hemstad
Cruikshank (W), Kinsley (6) and C. Seafoot
(June 20) The Hamiota Red Sox nudged the visiting Riverside Blues 3 to 2 behind the five-hit pitching of Bryan Smith. It was a see-saw battle that wasn’t settled until the bottom-of-the-ninth canto. An inability to find the plate cost Blues’ reliever Mark Fisher the verdict. The winners had just four hits with Gord Lyall singling on two occasions to lead the way. No player from the Riverside line-up managed to acquire more than one safety.
Miller, Fisher (L) and C. Seafoot
B. Smith (W) and Don Smith
(June 20) Tangling with two different teams in one day proved just a little more than the St. Lazare baseballers could handle. They dropped both ends of their rather unique three-team doubleheader and, as a result, slipped 1-1/2 games behind the MSBL-leading Hamiota Red Sox. The Brandon Cloverleafs were quick to take advantage of five Athletic errors in the first game and held on for a 5 to 4 win. Then, Dick Limke served up a masterful two-hitter in the second game of the twin-bill as the Souris Cardinals blanked the Saints 2 to 0.
The Wheat City visitors started quickly and were ahead 4 – 0 after three innings but had to stem a late rally by the A’s to post the win in the curtain-raiser. Brian Hodgson went the route and scattered 11 hits in garnering the mound decision. Southpaw Mickey Torres gave up just six hits but went through three catchers before suffering the loss. Greg Borotsik collected a single and double while Bill Chapple ripped a pair of singles to lead Brandon. Ron Falloon and Oscar Walker banged out three safeties for St. Lazare while Garth Sarasas chipped in with a pair. Not to be outdone, Dave Pearson launched a circuit-drive.
Hodgson (W) and Wright
Torres (L) and Walker, Pearson (3), Jamieson (5)
Limke completely baffled the Athletics for the first eight innings of the twilight tilt. He had a no-hitter going for him with two out in the ninth before Walker and Falloon finally found the range to rap out a single each. St. Lazare heaver Keith Redman was solid in defeat, surrendering only six hits. Doug Armour paved the way for the Redbirds as he hit safely on three occasions.
D. Limke (W) and Gullett
Redman (L) and Jamieson
(June 20) The homestanding Virden Oilers gained a split in their double-dip with the Dauphin Redbirds, winning the opener 9 to 1 but dropping the nightcap 16 to 10. The Oilers struck for three tallies in the opening frame of the lid-lifter and never looked back. Bill Taylor went all the way on the hillock and choked the Redbirds on just three hits while walking an equal number. Dauphin used a trio of tossers with starter Bob Kutzan absorbing the loss. Norm Hemstad, Ted Bridgett, Frank Novasel and Ted Taylor all launched four-ply clouts for Virden with Taylor’s blow being a three-run shot. Jack Day, Hemstad and Bridgett all had two safeties as part of the Oilers’ ten-hit attack. Maurice Oakes collected two of Dauphin’s three safe raps.
Kutzan (L), Lynch (3), Mullen (6) and Lintick
B. Taylor (W) and Hemstad
The finale was a slugfest with the Redbirds picking up 16 of the 30 base blows acquired during the tilt. Oakes emerged as the hitting hero for Dauphin as he slashed out four hits including three homers to drive in seven counters. Teammate Neil Amy collected three safeties. Pat Fitzpatrick needed relief help from Kutzan to post the knoll victory over Turner Wilton. Day, Ian Whyte, Taylor and Henry Palk all banged out a pair of hits for the Oilers.
Fitzpatrick (W), Kutzan (8) and Lintick
Wilton (L), Bridgett (2), Attwood (5) and Hemstad
Standings W L Pct. GBL
Hamiota 8 2 .800 ----
Brandon 6 3 .667 1.5
St. Lazare 7 4 .636 1.5
Souris 6 6 .500 3.0
Riverside 6 6 .500 3.0
Dauphin 3 9 .250 6.0
Virden 3 9 .250 6.0
(June 21) The invading St. Lazare Athletics scored three unearned runs in the first inning and held on to blank the Souris Cardinals 3 to 0. Dave Pearson tossed a five-hitter and fanned ten in going the route for the Athletics’ victory. The Cards’ Jim Limke, younger brother of Dick, hurled a seven-hitter and fanned an equal number in a losing cause. Bob Thompson rapped out a double and single for the Saints with clubmate Ron Falloon adding two singles.
Pearson (W) and Lowes
J. Limke (L) and Gullett
(June 21) The Brandon Cloverleafs clipped the league-leading Hamiota Red Sox 8 to 7 in a spirited come-from-behind effort at Kinsmen Park. It was a hitter’s delight for the best part of the game as each club went through three pitchers. The Leafs outslugged the Sox by a 17 to 10 margin but were forced to score three times in the bottom-of-the-ninth inning to pull off the victory. Trailing by a 7 to 5 count, the Wheat City gang narrowed the deficit to one on an RBI-triple by Tommy Town that drove in Bob Wilson, who had doubled. Mort Wright followed with a single to drive in Town with the equalizer. Later in the frame, Bill Chapple laid down a perfect bunt to score Wright who had reached third following a single and walk. Ron Powers picked up his second relief win of the season while Al Robertson was nicked with the defeat. Leading the winners at the plate was Wilson who collected a triple and two singles in addition to his crucial leadoff two-bagger in the ninth. Town clipped the orb for a double and single to go along with his three-bagger in the late rally. Bryan Smith had two singles and a triple to lead the Hamiota offensive punch.
Denbow, Don Smith (7), Robertson (L) (8) and Don Smith, Dallas Smith (7)
Keating, Page (2), Powers (W) (8) and Borotsik, Wright (5)
(June 22) The St. Lazare Athletics moved to even terms with the leading Hamiota Red Sox by toppling the Virden Oilers 11 to 5 at St. Lazare. Gord Johnston picked up the mound win with relief assistance from Don Fleury. Bill Tayler, driven from the hill in the opening canto, was nailed with the setback. Catcher Dale Lowes was best at the plate for the A’s with three singles. Oscar Walker and Keith Redman added two hits apiece. Henry Palk led the Oilers offensively with a double and a brace of one-baggers.
Tayler (L), Bridgett (1) and Hemstad
Johnston (W), D. Fleury (8) and Lowes
(June 23) Energized by the two home run performance of veteran Bob Wilson, the Brandon Cloverleafs edged the Dauphin Redbirds 8 to 7 to move into a three-way tie with Hamiota and St. Lazare atop the MSBL standings. The loss for the Redbirds dropped them into the circuit’s cellar with Virden. Gary Keating picked up his third pitching win of the year for Brandon but needed relief help from Ron Powers in the latter stages. Dauphin starter Bob Kutzan was charged with the defeat.
(June 23) The Riverside Cardinals tripped the Souris Cardinals 3 to 2 to move into sole possession of fourth place in the Manitoba Senior Baseball League. Garth Seafoot went the route on the bump for the Blues in earning his second knoll triumph and also belted the game-winning homer in the ninth. Reliever Dick Limke, who was touched for all three Riverside tallies, was charged with the loss. Cliff Seafoot had two safeties for the victors while Doug Armour, Lynn McEvoy and Limke stung the sphere for a brace of bingles each with one of Limke’s being a four-ply clout.
Dawley, D. Limke (L) (5) and Gullett
G. Seafoot (W) and C. Seafoot
(June 25) The Hamiota Red Sox knocked off St. Lazare 9 to 3 to drop the Athletics one-game off the pace in the pennant chase. The triumph was paced by the hitting talent of Dallas Smith and won by the pitching arm of his younger brother Bryan. Import Mike Torres was charged with the setback after toiling the first seven stanzas on the knoll for the Saints. Keith Redman relieved in the eighth but the Scarlet Stockings teed off on him for a five-spot to put the game on ice. The NHL blueliner belted a single, double and two-run homer in support of his kid brother. Lynn Caldwell also had a hot hand with the lumber, slamming out two singles and a double.
(June 25) The soaring Brandon Cloverleafs rolled to their eighth straight win, a 4 to 2 decision over the hosting Souris Cardinals, to keep pace with Hamiota for top spot in the MSBL. Brandon southpaw Brian Hodgson limited the Cards to two hits, fanned seven and walked two in a pitching duel with losing flinger Bill Carpenter who gave up seven hits, struck out eight and issued one free pass. Gerry MacKay and Marv Robinson, a call-up from the junior Greys of the South-Central League, starred for the Leafs both offensively, with two hits each, and in the outer pasture where the duo made several outstanding catches.
Hodgson (W) and Wright
Carpenter (L) and Gullett
(June 27) Taking advantage of three unearned runs in the first inning, the Hamiota Red Sox improved their record to 10 – 3 and moved into sole possession of first place in the MSBL by downing the Souris Cardinals 6 to 1. Hamiota’s Jack Denbow picked up his sixth win of the season in the Souris encounter, effectively scattering six hits while whiffing four. Losing heaver Dick Limke rang up nine punchouts while giving up eight safeties. Bryan Smith, along with brother Don Smith and cousin Mel Smith, paced the Red Sox from the batter’s box with a double and single each. Bill Carpenter homered and singled for the Cards.
Denbow (W) and Don Smith
D. Limke (L) and Gullett
(June 27) The Virden Oilers lost at home 13 to 5 to the hard-hitting St. Lazare Athletics. No game details were found in print.
(June 27) The Riverside Blues plated a pair of seventh-inning counters to get past the Dauphin Redbirds 7 to 5 at Riverside. Reliever Lorne Lilley gained the pitching win and aided his own cause by driving in the tying run in the sixth stanza. Bob Kutzan, who took over hurling chores for Dauphin in the eighth chapter, was charged with the loss. Bob Ash was best at the plate for the winners with four hits in as many trips. Lilley contributed two hits as did catcher Cliff Seafoot. Bill Berzinski starred for the Redbirds, slamming three hits including a grand-slam round-tripper while accumulating five RBI’s.
Fitzpatrick, Kutzan (L) (8) and Lintick
Diller, Lilley (W) (2) and C. Seafoot
(June 28) Bob Wilson belted his fifth and sixth home runs of the season, driving in four runs, in leading the Brandon Cloverleafs to a 7 to 3 victory over the Dauphin Redbirds at Kinsmen Stadium. The win for the Leafs moved them into a first-place tie with the Hamiota Red Sox. Brian Hodgson tossed the entire game for the Leafs, allowing eight hits while fanning nine and walking seven. Hodgson also laced a pair of singles. Redbird starter Dwight Veech, rocked from the bump after a 3-1/2 inning stint, was nailed with the loss. Roland Secord and Maurice Oakes both singled twice for Dauphin, now mired by themselves in the basement.
Veech (L), Kutzan (4) and Fitzpatrick, Lintick (7)
Hodgson (W) and Wright
Standings W L Pct. GBL
Hamiota 10 3 .769 ----
Brandon 10 3 .769 ----
St. Lazare 10 5 .667 1.0
Riverside 8 6 .571 2.5
Souris 6 10 .375 5.0
Virden 3 11 .214 7.5
Dauphin 3 12 .200 8.0
(June 29) With southpaw Bryan Smith twirling a sparkling three-hitter and registering a dozen strikeouts, the Hamiota Red Sox fought off the third-place Athletics 5 to 1 at St. Lazare. It was a hard-fought battle that wasn’t settled until an extra inning of play. The teams went through nine innings tied at 1 – 1 but the Sox exploded for a four-spot in the top-of-the-tenth to put a bow on things. Hamiota managed seven safeties off loser Mike Torres and overtime-reliever Don Fleury as Gord Lyall and Dallas Smith led the way with two singles each.
B. Smith (W) and Don Smith
Torres (L), D. Fleury (10) and Lowes
(June 29) The travelling Brandon Cloverleafs kept abreast with Hamiota by belting the Virden Oilers 12 to 8 in a seven-inning darkness-shortened affair. For Brandon, newcomer Stan Furman worked his inaugural game of the campaign on the knoll, leading the Leafs to their tenth straight win. In the sixth spasm, he turned the horsehide over to Ron Powers who went the rest of the way. Virden starter Bob Attwood was stung with the hillock defeat. The Wheat City nine had a 13 to 9 advantage in base hits. Bill Chapple drilled four singles for the winners while Greg Borotsik had a single and a triple. Brian Hodgson, southpaw chucker playing the outfield, drilled a bases-empty home run. Dale Lund led the Oilers at the plate with a double and single while Ted Bridgett managed two singles. Gord Johnston singled twice for the Athletics.
Furman (W), Powers (6) and Veale
Attwood (L), Bridgett (4) and Hemstad
(July 1) 1965 Birtle Canada Day $1,500 baseball tournament
(July 4) The Hamiota Red Sox nosed out a 6 to 5 home victory over the Riverside Blues, plating the winning tally in the bottom-of-the-eighth panel. Ellis Woods, the last of three Hamiota chuckers, earned the pitching victory while sixth-inning reliever, Barry Diller, was tagged with the defeat. Dallas Smith and Red Sox starting heaver Jack Denbow had a double and single each for the victors while teammates Lynn Caldwell, Don Smith and Al Robertson picked up a pair of one-base hits apiece. Garth Seafoot singled twice for the Blues.
Fisher, Diller (L) (6) and C. Seafoot
Denbow, G. Smith (8), Woods (W) (8) and Don Smith
(July 4) The Brandon Cloverleafs kept up their torrid pace and racked up their 11th straight win, a 20 to 2 shellacking of the Virden Oilers, to share first place in the MSBL with Hamiota. The Leafs rapped out 20 base hits against three Oiler pitchers and rode to the easy victory on the seven-hit pitching of Gary Keating who improved his record to 4 – 0. Virden starting hurler Bill Tayler was the loser. The verdict was virtually decided after the Cloverleafs struck for 11 big counters in the fourth frame. Lloyd Brown stepped out of retirement for the Brandonites and slugged a home run to go along with three singles. Bill Chapple contributed a triple, double and single while Brian Hodgson and Bob Wilson cracked out two doubles and a single each. Tayler blasted a bases-empty dinger and a single for the Oilers.
Keating (W) and Furman
Tayler (L), Attwood (4), Hemstad (8) and Hemstad, Attwood (8)
(July 4) The third-place St. Lazare Athletics fell further behind the leaders by dropping a 9 to 5 ten-inning contest to the visiting Souris Cardinals. The A’s managed to send the tilt into overtime when Garth Sarasas smacked a solo homer in the bottom-of-the-ninth frame to knot the count at 5 – 5. In the top-of-the-bonus round, however, the Cardinals exploded for a four-spot, handing reliever Mike Torres his fourth loss of the campaign. Dick Limke, who pitched an eight-hitter, went the distance for his fourth victory of the season. Doug Armour led the winners with a two-run homer and a pair of singles while Limke slapped out a single and double. Sarasas had a one-bagger in addition to his round-tripper while Torres singled twice.
D. Limke (W) and Gullett
Thompson, Torres (L) (5) and Pearson
(July 5) Bob Kutzan hurled a five-hitter and fanned five while his teammates took advantage of seven errors as the Dauphin Redbirds trounced the Souris Cardinals 10 to 4 in a Manitoba Senior Baseball League game. The Dauphin victory was never threatened after they jumped into a 5 – 0 lead in the second inning and collected eight unearned runs off Cards’ starter and loser Bill Carpenter. Gerry Shumanski paced the Redbirds at the plate with five hits in as many appearances. Four were singles and the other a double. Maurice Oakes followed on the hit parade with a triple and single while Bill Berezinski, Chick Lintik and Kutzan chipped in with two singles apiece. Doug Armour and Gary Fallis ripped a brace of one-base hits each for the hosting Souris nine.
Kutzan (W) and Lintick
Carpenter (L), Hunter (8) and Gullett
(July 6) The hometown Hamiota Red Sox finally solved the mystery of the Brandon Cloverleafs as they walloped the visitors 15 to 6 in MSBL action. The win for the Red Sox vaulted them into undisputed possession of first place in the circuit while snapping the 11-game win streak by the Leafs. Bryan Smith checked the Brandonites on ten scattered hits to improve his pitching record to 5 – 0. Brian Hodgson, the first of three Wheat City heavers, was nicked with the loss. The Sox tied a bow on things with an eight-run barrage in the third stanza. Mel Smith led the 14-hit Hamiota attack with a triple and a pair of singles and Ellis Woods followed with a two-bagger and a brace of one-base hits while Don Smith contributed a two-run homer and a single. Bob Wilson lashed out his seventh home run of the season and added a single to lead the Cloverleafs while Stan Furman delivered a pair of doubles.
Hodgson (L), Furman (3), Brownlee (5) and Wright
B. Smith (W) and Don Smith
(July 7) The Virden Oilers belted 14 hits off four pitchers and went on to annex a 13 to 6 win over the Riverside Blues, just their fourth triumph in 17 games. Route-going winner Ted Bridgett gave up ten hits, fanned five and walked seven. Riverside starter Ron Cruikshank, derricked from the knoll in the second panel, absorbed the defeat. Catcher Norm Hemstad got the Oilers off on the right foot with a two-run homer in the first inning and then added two more singles later on in the contest which plated an additional brace of tallies. Henry Palk also had three hits for the winners while Ian Whyte, Turner Wilton and Bridgett chipped in with two safeties each. Gene Cory and Barry Diller had two hits apiece for the Blues.
Bridgett (W) and Hemstad
Cruikshank (L), Lilley (2), Mealy (5), Fisher (7) and C. Seafoot
(July 8) The visiting Souris Cardinals banged out 16 hits off two Hamiota chuckers to dump the league-leading Red Sox 10 to 7. Winning tosser Dick Limke gave up six hits, six walks and fanned six in picking up his fifth triumph of the campaign. Hamiota starter Jack Denbow was clipped with his second defeat. Doug Armour, Don Hunter and Limke each raked Denbow and reliever Ellis Woods for two singles and a double while Lynn McEvoy added a brace of singles. Murray Zuk hammered a solo homer in the second spasm. Lynn Caldwell led the Scarlet Stockings with the baton, creaming the orb for a double and triple.
D. Limke (W) and Gullett
Denbow (L), Woods (4) and Don Smith
(July 8) The invading St. Lazare Athletics stomped all over their Brandon hosts, whitewashing the Cloverleafs 15 to 0. Winning pitcher Dave Pearson, one of the Athletics’ three prized imports, checked the Leafs on two hits, fanned nine and gave up no walks in blanking the inept Brandonites. He also nailed a double and single, driving in a pair of tallies as the Saints lashed out 17 base knocks. Southpaw Gary Keating was nicked with his first loss of the season. Garth Sarasas had three singles for the victors, Oscar Walker a triple and single and Ron Falloon and Bob Thompson a two-bagger and single apiece.
Pearson (W) and Knight
Keating (L) and Wright, Furman (6)
(July 9) The visiting Riverside Blue scored ten times in their first turn at bat and went on to crush the Virden Oilers 18 to 5. The fumble-fingered hosts didn’t help their chances by committing ten errors. Garth Seafoot went the distance on the mound for the Blues, squaring his record at 2 – 2 with the win. Oilers’ starter Norm Hemstad was shelled after only one-third of an inning. Wes Rathwell started the ball rolling for the Riversiders with a grand-slam homer in the first inning. Gene Cory aided the winners at the dish with four singles and Brian Moffatt delivered a double and two singles. Jim Wright paced the vanquished nine offensively with a single, double and a two-run circuit-clout in the sixth stanza.
G. Seafoot and Kinsley
Hemstad (L), Wilton (1), Tayler (1) and T. Taylor, Hemstad (1)
(July 9) The St. Lazare Athletics coasted to a 10 to 4 MSBL triumph over the league-leading Hamiota to reduce the Red Sox’ lead atop the loop to a half-game. Mickey Torres was credited with the twirling triumph but needed relief help from Keith Redman in the eighth chapter. Crimson Hose starter Mel Smith was nicked with the defeat. Bobby Thompson had a triple and two doubles for the A’s while Oscar Walker slammed out a pair of triples. Torres helped the offense by delivering a three-bagger and single. The Sox managed only five hits with Bryan Smith collecting two of them.
M. Smith (L), Robinson (6) and Woods
Torres (W), Redman (8) and Knight, Parton
(July 11) The Brandon Cloverleafs snapped a two-game losing streak and moved back into a tie for the league lead with Hamiota by romping over the hosting Souris Cardinals 7 to 2. Six Cardinal errors made things easier for the Leafs. Brian Hodgson went the distance and scattered seven hits to pick up his sixth victory against one defeat. He rang up eight punchouts and gave up six bases-on-balls. Young Jim Limke lasted five frames on the hill for Souris and was charged with the loss. Hodgson aided his own cause by banging out a double and single. No batter from the Cards produced plural hit totals although Gary Fallis collected their lone extra-base hit, a double.
Hodgson (W) and Furman
J. Limke (L), Carpenter (6) and Gullett
(July 11) The plucky St. Lazare Athletics moved back into pennant contention at Riverside when they swept both ends of a doubleheader from the host Blues. The A’s clipped the Riversiders 11 to 7 in the matinée fracas but were stretched to the limit in coming out on top 3 to 2 in the nightcap event. Ed Evans, who hasn’t pitched for a couple of months because of a badly bruised arm, was valiant in defeat for Riverside. The fireballer pitched eight innings in relief in the first game then toiled on the hill for the entirety of the follow-up match.
Bob Thompson was the opening-game winner, fanning nine, walking three and yielding nine hits. Evans took over in the second inning, facing a 6 to 1 deficit, after losing heaver Mark Fisher had been yanked. Dave Pearson paved the way for the A’s in this contest as he belted a grand-slam homer in the fifth while adding a double and single. Thompson and Keith Redman added four-ply clouts while Ray Simms blasted a double and two singles. Gene Cory showed the way for the Blues with four safeties including a two-run round-tripper and a double. Cliff Seafoot also launched a dinger with one aboard to go along with a two-bagger.
Thompson (W) and Knight
Fisher (L), Evans (2) and C. Seafoot
Riverside appeared as though they might extract a measure of revenge in the sunset encounter as they led 2 – 1 with two out in the top-of-the-ninth. But a couple of errors and a pair of doubles gave the Saints two counters and the ball game. Pearson went all the way on the hill for the A’s in his mound duel with Evans. The big right-hander checked the Blues on four hits while whiffing eight and walking four. Evans scattered nine hits, breezed three and didn’t issue a free pass. Ray Simms was the big gun for St. Lazare in this one with three safeties while Ron Falloon clicked with a double and a one-bagger. Deb Mealy, up from the Elgin Cubs of the South-Central League, was the lone Riversider to acquire an extra-base hit as he touched Pearson for a double.
Pearson (W) and Knight
Evans (L) and C. Seafoot
Standings W L Pct. GBL
Hamiota 13 5 .722 ----
Brandon 13 5 .722 ----
St. Lazare 15 7 .682 ----
Riverside 9 10 .474 4.5
Souris 8 12 .400 6.0
Dauphin 4 13 .235 8.5
Virden 4 14 .222 9.0
(July 12) The St. Lazare Athletics tripped the Dauphin Redbirds 4 to 1 in Manitoba Senior Baseball League action to take over sole possession of first place in the circuit by a half-game. Keith Redman hurled a four-hitter for the Saints, holding the Redbirds scoreless until the eighth inning when Maurice Oakes checked in with a solo homer. Oakes earlier had laced a double. Bob Kutzan, the loser, was lit up for eight safeties including two singles each by Oscar Walker and Gordie Johnston.
Kutzan (L) and Lintick
Redman (W) and Knight
(July 13) The Riverside Blues inched closer to clinching a payoff berth in the Manitoba Senior Baseball League when they swamped the Hamiota Red Sox 12 to 3 at Riverside. The Blues rocked Hamiota’s ace starter Jack Denbow for 15 of their 16 hits in the six innings he worked off the slab. Veteran Lorne Lilley, who ascended the bump in the third panel for the Riversiders, posted the win. Cliff Seafoot and Deb Mealy both clouted three hits for the victors including a double each. Bob Ash slammed a three-run homer to go along with a single while Garth Seafoot, Wes Rathwell and Ross Kinsley all laced a brace of bingles. Denbow paced the Red Sox hitting attack with a double and single while Mel Smith chipped in with a pair of safeties.
Denbow (L), Robinson (7) and Woods
Diller, Lilley (W) (3) and C. Seafoot
(July 14) Although out-hit over the course of the game, the Souris Cardinals bunched five of their eight hits in the third inning in rolling to a 6 to 1 triumph over the third-place Brandon Cloverleafs. Right-hander Bill Carpenter copped the complete-game win. Despite being combed for ten Brandon safeties, he effectively spaced them and punched out a dozen batters in the process. Fiery Stan Furman, touched for eight hits while fanning seven, was the loser. The Cards’ Al Roney had the most decisive blow of the game, a bases-loaded triple in the third when Souris sent ten batters to the plate and ran across all six of their tallies. Doug Armour’s second single of the inning then plated Roney. Bill Chapple was best with the baton for the Leafs with a pair of singles and a triple. Third sacker Greg Borotsik followed with two singles.
Carpenter (W) and Gullett
Furman (L) and Wright
(July 14) The Hamiota Red Sox moved to within a half-game of the front-running St. Lazare Athletics by trouncing the visiting Dauphin Redbirds 15 to 3 in a 25-hit slugfest. The Crimson Hose greeted three Dauphin hurlers with 17 hits while winning tosser Bryan Smith was rolling along to victory with an eight-hitter. Jack Ashley, who worked the first 2-1/3 innings on the slab for the Redbirds, was charged with the loss. Mel Smith doubled and singled twice for the victors while brother, Bryan, aided his own cause on the hill by nailing three singles. Lynn Caldwell delivered a brace of doubles and Dallas Smith and Ellis Woods both connected for a pair of one-baggers. Gerry Shumanski paced the Dauphinites with the lumber, drilling two doubles while Neil Amy singled on two occasions.
Ashley (L), Kutzan (3), Amy (5) and Lintick, Murray (3)
B. Smith (W) and Don Smith
(July 15) Dick Limke rang up a dozen punchouts while twirling a two-hitter in leading the Souris Cardinals to a 3 to 0 victory over the Riverside Blues. The win for the Cards moved them to within a half-game of the fourth-place Blues. Garth Seafoot suffered the loss in the tense mound duel with Limke. He fanned 11, walked a pair and gave up eight hits in going the route. Limke allowed three free passes and had a no-hitter going until one had been retired in the sixth when Gene Cory and Bobby Ash hit back-to-back singles. Doug Armour cuffed a pair of doubles for the winners while Lynn McEvoy stroked a brace of singles. A two-out, two-run double by Don Hunter in the fifth frame was the impactful blow of the skirmish.
G. Seafoot (L) and Kinsley
D. Limke (W) and Gullett
(July 16) The Brandon Cloverleafs split a doubleheader with the Riverside Blues at Riverside although the teams played only one nine-inning game. The clash was unique in league play as the first two innings of a scheduled solo game were to count as the final two frames of a previous tilt which was halted by rain after seven innings with the score knotted at 7 – 7. The winning run in the suspended game of May 30 came in the second stanza when Riverside’s Bob Ash scampered home on a wild pitch by losing chucker Brian Hodgson to give the Blues an 8 to 7 conquest. Ed Evans got credit for the hillock triumph.
Brandon bounced back to garner the split as they rallied for two runs in the top-of-the-ninth inning to snap a 6 – 6 deadlock and post an 8 to 6 victory. Hodgson tossed the first eight stanzas but wasn’t around to collect the mound decision as Gary Keating came on in the ninth to grab the win in relief. Evans went four innings on the knoll in this encounter before giving way to Mark Fisher who, in turn, was replaced by veteran Lorne Lilley, the eventual loser. Gerry MacKay cuffed a double and a pair of singles to lead Brandon with the stick. Hodgson slammed a two-run circuit-clout and added a double while Bill Chapple cracked a two-bagger and single. Garth Seafoot collected three singles for Riverside while teammates Ash, Barry Moffatt, Ross Kinsley and Barry Diller each hit safely twice.
Hodgson, Keating (W) (8) and Furman
Evans, Fisher (5), Lilley (L) (5) and C. Seafoot
(July 16) The Hamiota Red Sox grabbed a share of top spot in the MSBL with the idle St. Lazare Athletics by whipping the homestanding Virden Oilers 9 to 1. The Red Sox rocked their hosts with three runs in the first inning then coasted to their win. Gord Lyall went all the way on the hill for the winners as he limited the Oilers to four hits, struck out six and did not walk a single batter. Ted Bridgett worked the first eight innings on the knoll for Virden and was nailed with the loss. He was tagged for all seven Hamiota hits, walked seven and fanned five. Mel and Don Smith paved the way for the Sox, cranking out a pair of singles each. Teammate Al Robertson hammered a solo home run. Bridgett had a two-bagger for the vanquished nine.
Lyall (W) and Don Smith
Bridgett (L), Palk (9) and Hemstad
(July 18) The Dauphin Redbirds needed 12 innings to upset the hometown Souris Cardinals 6 to 4. Relievers Pat Fitzpatrick of Dauphin and the Cards’ Cec Dawley were the pitchers of record. The Redbirds had an 8 to 6 edge in base hits as Maurice Oakes and Neil Amy led the way with two safeties each.
Kutzan, Fitzpatrick (W) (6) and Lintick
Carpenter, Dawley (W) (4) and Gullett
(July 18) The hosting Hamiota Red Sox hung on to a piece of the MSBL lead by hammering the Virden Oilers 19 to 3, smashing the slants of loser Ken Seafoot and reliever Norm Hemstad for 23 base knocks. Hamiota’s Jack Denbow picked up his seventh pitching victory despite surrendering 13 hits in the slugfest. Mel Smith had two singles, a double and a bases-empty homer for the winners. Dallas Smith followed with two singles and a homer while Denny Smith hit three singles and a double. Not to be outdone, Gord Lyall chipped in with a pair of singles and a two-bagger. Hemstad and Seafoot led Virden with three singles each.
K. Seafoot (L), Hemstad (5) and T. Taylor
Denbow (W) and Don Smith
(July 18) The St. Lazare Athletics scored three runs in the seventh inning and coasted to a 6 to 3 victory over the Brandon Cloverleafs in their last scheduled game of the MSBL season. Dave Pearson picked up his sixth win of the season, holding to Leafs to four hits while whiffing nine before giving way to Bob Thompson in the eighth inning. Gary Keating suffered the loss. Garth Sarasas crushed a leadoff homer to start the game for the A’s and added a single later in the game. Oscar Walker also hit a solo dinger and a single.
McFarlane, Keating (L) (3), Furman (7) and Wright
Pearson (W), Thompson (8) and Knight
(July 19) The Brandon Cloverleafs scored an unearned run in the bottom-of-the-seventh stanza to edge the visiting Virden Oilers 6 to 5 in a Manitoba Senior Baseball League tilt. The game was called after seven innings due to extremely wet playing conditions. The Leafs jumped out to a 4 – 0 first inning lead and added one more in the fourth to go ahead by five runs. A deuce in the fifth frame and a three-spot in the sixth spasm pulled the Oilers out of their early hole and put the game on even terms. The winning run scored when Cloverleaf baserunner Don Pottinger, caught in a rundown between third base and home, escaped a hotbox situation on a throwing error. Rookie southpaw Brian Hodgson copped the victory, his seventh of the campaign, at the expense of hard-luck loser Ted Bridgett. Both chuckers yielded seven hits. Infielders Bill Chapple and Greg Borotsik had a pair of singles each for the winners while Virden’s Frank Novasel also hit safely twice.
Bridgett (L) and Hemstad, Doug Lund (2)
Hodgson (W) and Wright
(July 22) The Riverside Blues held off a bases-loaded scoring threat in the bottom-of-the-ninth inning with two retired to edge the Brandon Cloverleafs 6 to 5 and grab fourth place in the standings and the final playoff berth. A pair of second-inning relievers, Riverside’s Lorne Lilley and Gary Keating of the Cloverleafs, were the pitchers of record with Lilley copping the verdict. The Blues, who held a 9 to 8 margin in base hits, were led at the plate by Garth Seafoot who stroked three singles, one of which drove in the winning run. Tommy Town drove in three markers for the Brandon nine with a double and single. Second baseman Wes Rathwell of the Riversiders snared a line drive off the bat of Bob Wilson to end the tension-filled last-half of the ninth after Lilley had got himself into a jam with a series of free passes.
Evans, Lilley (W) (2) and C. Seafoot
Hodgson, Keating (L) (2) and Wright
(July 22) The Souris Cardinals swamped the cellar-dwelling Virden Oilers 20 to 1 in the last scheduled league game for both teams. Jim Limke held the hosting Oilers to three hits in taking the lopsided triumph. Bill Carpenter and Don Hunter had a field day with the bat for the Cards against a quartet of Oiler hurlers. Both had four hits including solo homers with Carpenter also lacing a double and two singles while Hunter’s sum of swats included a triad of one-baggers.
J. Limke (W) and Gullett
Palk (L), Bridgett (2), K. Seafoot (6), Hemstad (8) and T. Taylor
(July 23) The Hamiota Red Sox battled through 14 innings and two games to win their second Manitoba Senior Baseball League pennant at Dauphin. With Bryan Smith on the mound, Hamiota tripped up the Redbirds 7 to 3 in the opener and then used Jack Denbow to win the second game 14 to 6.
Mel Smith helped brother Bryan cop his seventh win in the matinée contest with a three-run homer and a double. Gord Lyall, Don Smith and Buck Mathison each collected two hits off loser Bob Kutzan. Bill Berzinski, Gerry Shumanski and Chick Lintick all stroked a brace of hits for the Redbirds.
Denbow went the route to win his eighth of the campaign in the pennant-clincher and aided his own cause with a pair of hits. Mel Smith clouted a triple and single while Lyall, Don Smith and Mathison each chipped in with two hits. Maurice Oates, Shumanski and Berezinski had two safeties apiece in a losing cause.
Final standings W L Pct. GBL
Hamiota 18 6 .750 ----
St. Lazare 17 7 .708 1.0
Brandon 15 9 .625 3.0
Riverside 12 12 .500 6.0
Souris 11 13 .458 7.0
Dauphin 5 17 .227 12.0
Virden 4 18 .182 13.0
PLAYOFFS
SEMI-FINALS Riverside vs Hamiota & Brandon vs St. Lazare (best-of-seven series)
(July 28) The Riverside Blues rallied for four runs in their last trip to the plate and edged the pennant-winning Hamiota Red Sox 13 to 12 in the offensively-charged opener of their semi-final series. The visiting Riversiders used four slabsters in their come-from-behind victory that was reduced to seven innings when darkness intervened. Hamiota had taken an 11 to 1 lead before starter Bryan Smith developed a knotted muscle in his flipper and the Blues were quick to take advantage with a seven-run outburst in the third inning against losing reliever Jack Denbow. Ross Kinsley, the third Riverside tosser, was credited with the win. Gene Cory and Brian Moffatt each doubled and singled in the winning Riverside cause and Garth Seafoot added a brace of one-base hits. Dallas Smith had a big night at the plate for the Red Sox as he slammed a two-run homer and three singles. Mel Smith connected for a double and two singles and brother Bryan added three more one-baggers.
Lilley, Diller (1), Kinsley (W) (2), G. Seafoot (7) and C. Seafoot
B. Smith, Denbow (L) (3) and Don Smith
(July 28) The Brandon Cloverleafs knocked over the St. Lazare Athletics 7 to 5 behind the solid mound effort of fiery Stan Furman. The versatile 18-year old pitched himself out of some real jams which seemed to energize his teammates. Import Mike Torres was charged with the loss. Tommy Town was the big noise with the lumber for the Leafs as he doubled and cracked a pair of singles. Bill Chapple added a brace of one-baggers. Bobby Thompson belted a home run and a single for the A’s.
(July 29) The St. Lazare Athletics pulled even in their MSBL semi-final series with a 3 to 2 victory over the Brandon Cloverleafs at Kinsmen Stadium. Lanky Dave Pearson fanned eight, walked three and allowed six hits in taking the complete-game victory. Cloverleafs’ Gary Keating, who toiled 6-1/3 innings on the bump, was charged with the setback. Import Oscar Walker sored the winning run in the sixth stanza on a throwing error by Brandon shortpatcher Bill Chapple. Bobby Thompson slammed a brace of doubles and a single to lead the Athletics at the plate. Mike Torres and Walker added two safeties each. Tommy Town smashed a pair of triples for the Leafs.
Pearson (W) and Knight
Keating (L), Hodgson (7) and Wright
(July 30) Three-run homers by Mel Smith and Don Smith powered the Hamiota Red Sox to a come-from-behind 10 to 7 triumph over the Riverside Blues, putting the two combatants of an equal footing in their semi-final showdown. Eilis Woods, who only pitched one game during the regular season was credited with the hurling conquest at Riverside. Garth Seafoot was tagged with the loss. Riverside out-hit the Sox 13 – 10 and were superior defensively but their pitching let them down in the later stages of the scuffle. In addition to their round-trippers, Mel Smith also hit a double and Don Smith added two singles. Gord Lyall had a double and single. Barry Diller paced the Blues at bat with three singles while Brian Moffatt, Wes Rathwell, Bobby Ash and Ross Kinsley each singled twice.
(August 6) The Brandon Cloverleafs rambled to a surprisingly easy 7 to 1 triumph over the St. Lazare Athletics to take a two-games-to-one lead in their semi-final series. 18-year old right-hander Stan Furman picked up his second victory of the series by limiting the Saints to five hits. Losing heaver Dave Pearson was replaced after 5-1/3 innings by Bobby Thompson who went the rest of the way. Between them, they surrendered six Brandon safeties. A five-spot in the fifth frame broke a scoreless deadlock and propelled the Leafs to the victory. Gerry MacKay’s two-run inside-the-park homer in the eighth episode sealed the deal. The Athletics couldn’t seem to unwind at all and, in the process of trying, committed four errors, three of which allowed eventual runs. Pearson, along with Brandon’s Bobby Wilson, rapped a pair of singles.
Pearson (L), Thompson (6) and Knight
Furman (W) and Wright
(August 6) The Hamiota Red Sox struggled to a ten-inning, 8 – 8 tie with the Riverside Blues in the third game of their playoff series. After a see-saw beginning, the hosting Sox were forced run across a counter in the bottom-of-the-ninth stanza in order to force overtime but, after one bonus round of play, the game was called because of darkness. Jack Denbow and Gord Lyall shared Hamiota’s mound duties while Mark Fisher went the distance for Riverside. The hosting Scarlet Stockings held an 11 to 8 advantage in base hits. Bryan “Porky” Smith paced the Sox offensively with a double and two singles while Lynn Caldwell blasted two doubles and Don Smith added two singles. Barry Moffat was the big gun for the Blues with a two-run homer and a single.
Fisher and C. Seafoot
Denbow, Lyall (8) and Don Smith
(August 8) The Riverside Blues belted the visiting Hamiota Red Sox 8 to 3 to take a 2 – 1 lead in their best-of-seven series. Winning pitcher Barry Diller lasted 8-1/3 innings on the bump before Ross Kinsley was summoned to retire the side with the final two outs. Gordie Lyall went the distance for the losers. Deb Mealy provided the bombshell for Riverside when he unloaded a grand-slam homer in the fifth inning which vaulted his club into a commanding 7 – 1 lead. Gene Cory aided the winners with three safeties while Bobby Ash and Gord Hunter added a pair of one-baggers each. Dallas Smith collected two of the Red Sox’ seven hits, a single and a double.
Lyall (L) and Don Smith
Diller (W), Kinsley (9) and C. Seafoot
(August 8) Following a close 2 to 1 loss to the invading Brandon Cloverleafs, the St. Lazare Athletics found themselves of the brink of elimination in their semi-final series. Southpaw Brian Hodgson twirled a sparkling four-hitter in stifling the A’s. He fanned eight and gave up no walks. Import Mike Torres, nicked for seven safeties while fanning nine and walking four, was stung with the loss. Doug Ross paced the Cloverleaf hitters with a single and double while teammate Tommy Town singled twice. No batter from the Saints was able to produce more than one base rap.
Hodgson (W) and Wright
Torres (L) and Knight
(August 10) Outhit by a 7 to 5 margin, the hosting St. Lazare Athletics dodged a bullet and came through with a 7 to 5 conquest of the defensively-challenged Brandon Cloverleafs to remain alive in their playoff round. The trio of slabsters used by the Leafs was hampered by the six errors, all of which proved costly. Gary Keating, who never made it through the first inning, was charged with the loss. Third-inning reliever Bobby Thompson picked up the win for the Saints. Tommy Town blasted a two-run circuit-clout for Brandon and Gerry MacKay added a double and a single. Mike Torres had the Athletics’ longest blow, a double.
Keating (L), Powers (1), MacKay (8) and Wright
Redman, Thompson (W) (3) and Parton
(August 10) The Riverside Blues relinquished and early 2 – 0 lead and eventually fell to the homestanding Hamiota Red Sox 6 to 2, evening the series at two games for each team. Bryan Smith, seemingly recovered from a pinched muscle in his arm, went the distance for the pitching win. He allowed seven hits and two walks while whiffing four. Riverside’s Mark Fisher lasted 6-1/3 innings on the hill and was nicked with the loss. Buck Mathison broke out of a slump and hammered three singles for the pennant-winners. Barry Moffatt topped the Blues’ slugging brigade with a double and single while Bobby Ash singled twice.
Fisher (L), Lilley (7), Kinsley (7) and C. Seafoot
B. Smith (W) and Don Smith
(August 12) The St. Lazare Athletics waltzed all over the Brandon Cloverleafs in 10 to 0 fashion, putting themselves on even terms with the Leafs in the best-of-seven series. Dave Pearson held the Leafs in check with a four-hit shutout while his clubmates battered losing heaver Stan Furman and reliever Brian Hodgson for 14 base knocks. Pearson belted two doubles and a single to drive in three runs in the one-sided match. Oscar Walker added to the Saints’ batting splurge with three singles. Also hot with the willow were Bobby Thompson who ripped a two-run triple to go along with a single and Ron Falloon who delivered a double and single. Hodgson slashed two singles for the Cloverleafs.
Pearson (W) and Parton
Furman (L), Hodgson (5) and Wright
(August 12) Hometown Riverside dealt the Hamiota Red Sox an 8 to 4 setback to forge ahead three-games-to-two in their playoff series. The Blues ran up a 5 – 0 lead before the Red Sox got on the scoreboard with a deuce in the fifth frame compliments of a two-run homer by Dallas Smith. Barry Diller hurled the first five innings for the Riversiders and was credited with the win. Hamiota starter Jack Denbow, driven from the hill in the fourth, suffered the loss. Catcher Cliff Seafoot was the top willow wielder for the Blues, clouting a solo homer, a double and a single. Ross Kinsley and Brian Moffatt each singled twice. Dallas Smith added a one-bagger to his dinger to share hitting honors for the Crimson Hose with Ellis Woods who lashed a double and a one-base blow.
Denbow (L), Lyall (4) and Dallas Smith, Don Smith (4)
Diller (W), G. Seafoot (6) and C. Seafoot
(August 15) The St. Lazare Athletics gained their third MSBL final berth in as many years as they came up with a spine-tingling comeback to eke out a slender 10 to 9 win over the Brandon Cloverleafs. The Athletics trailed 8 – 4 after seven innings and, at one point in the series, were down 3 – 1 in games. A six-run rally in the eighth episode put the A’s in front to stay. Ten errors left them behind the eight ball throughout most the game and somewhat tinged their victory. Mike “Mickey” Torres clouted a single, double and home run for the winning Saints while Oscar Walker was close behind with a triple and two-run circuit-clout. Also going yard with a tater for the Athletics was Bobby Thompson while shortpatcher Garth Sarasas delivered three singles. Lloyd Brown paced the Cloverleafs with a triad of one-baggers while Tom Town smashed a triple and double.
Furman, Keating (6), Hodgson (6), Furman (L) (8), Powers (8) and Borotsik, Wilson (8), Furman (8)
Torres, Thompson (W) (5) and Parton, Jamieson (9)
(August 15) The Manitoba Senior Baseball League will have a new champion this year. This was assured as the Riverside Blues eliminated the defending title-holding and pennant-winning Hamiota Red Sox 7 to 3 to annex the best-of-seven series four-games-to-two with one game tied. 15-year old chucker Mark Hunter checked the hard-hitting Hamiota sluggers on seven hits and went all the way to chalk up the mound decision. The youthful right-hander issued four walks and sent five batters down swinging. Losing chucker Bryan Smith was kayoed from the knoll in the fourth after giving up five runs on seven hits. Leading the 13-hit assault on the two Red Sox flingers was veteran Ross Kinsley who collected a double and single. Barry Moffatt, Bob Ash, Gene Cory, Wes Rathwell and Barry Diller each had a brace of singles as part of the balanced Riverside attack. Ellis Woods was the top gun with the baton for the dethroned Scarlet Stockings as he ripped a solo home run and a single while clubmate Dallas Smith had a double and triple.
Fisher (W) and C. Seafoot
B. Smith (L), Don Smith (4) and Don Smith, Dallas Smith (4)
FINALS Riverside vs St. Lazare (best-of-seven series)
(August 18) The Riverside Blues combined eight hits with four St. Lazare errors to trip the hosting Athletics 5 to 4 as the MSBL finals got underway. The visiting Blues, who barely made it into the playoffs, erased a 2 – 0 deficit and gathered in a quartet of fourth-inning counters when the Saints committed two costly fielding miscues. The A’s had a 10 to 8 edge in safe swats. Garth Seafoot went the distance for the win while St. Lazare starter, Bob Thompson, was nicked with the defeat. Bobby Ash waved the big bat for the Blues as he belted a triple and single while teammate Barry Diller followed closely with a double and single. Thompson was best with the baton for the A’s, clubbing two doubles and a one-bagger. Oscar Walker nailed the longest blow of the contest, a bases-empty circuit clout.
G. Seafoot (W) and C. Seafoot
Thompson (L), Torres (4) and Parton
(August 20) Dave Pearson fanned eight and allowed six hits as the St. Lazare Athletics tied up their best-of-seven series with Riverside by blasting the hosting Blues 12 to 5. Entering the seventh inning, the A’s trailed 5 to 3 but came to life with a seven-run splurge then added two more in the eighth which turned out to be the final frame because of darkness. Three slabsters toed the rubber for the vanquished Blues with starter Mark Fisher being subdued with the setback. The Saints turned on the beleaguered trio for 20 base blows as Mike Torres, Ray Simms and Ron Falloon led the way with three each. All were singles except for a double by Torres. Garth Sarasas, Oscar Walker, Keith Redman, Elgin Knight and Pearson all hit safely twice. Fisher laced out a brace of singles for the Riversiders while Barry Moffatt slugged a leadoff home run in the opening panel.
Pearson (W) and Parton
Fisher (L), Evans (7), G. Seafoot (7) and C. Seafoot
(August 22) Cliff Seafoot rapped out two doubles and three singles to pace the invading Riverside Blues to an 11 to 10 squeaker over the St. Lazare Athletics and a 2 – 1 edge in games. Barry Diller was credited with the hurling triumph but needed relief help from Ross Kinsley in the fifth frame of the offensively-charged tussle. Mike Torres, derricked from the knoll after a four-inning stint, was nailed with the loss. The Saints went ahead once in the game when they rallied for four runs in the bottom-of-the fifth for a slim 7 – 6 margin but the Blues replied with a four-spot in the top-of-the-sixth and never relinquished the lead again. Other than Seafoot’s heroics with the lumber, Gordie Hunter contributed a double and single for the victors. League batting champion Oscar Walker clouted a solo four-bagger and a single to pace the Athletics while Keith Redman doubled and singled.
Diller (W), Kinsley (5) and C. Seafoot
Torres (L), Redman (5) and Knight
(August 25) A ten-run outburst in the third inning knocked the punch out of the visiting St. Lazare Athletics as the Riverside Blues laid a 12 to 4 lacing on the Saints to take a 3 – 1 lead in the best-of-seven MSBL finals. Mark Fisher went the distance on the bump for the Blues, struck out six, gave up six hits and a pair of walks, into registering the victory. Gord Johnston, driven to the showers in the disastrous third chapter, took the loss for the pitching-strapped Athletics who were abandoned by Dave Pearson for the rest of the playoffs while recently-married Bob Thompson is away on a honeymoon. Barry Moffatt had a two-run homer and a single for the winners while Fisher delivered a two-run double and one-bagger. St. Lazare’s Oscar Walker slugged a three-run circuit-jack and a brace of one-base raps in a losing cause.
Johnston (L), Redman (3) and Jamieson
Fisher (W) and C. Seafoot
(August 28-29) A two-game sweep of weekend games by the St. Lazare Athletics squared the Manitoba Senior Baseball League finals at three games each and set up a sudden-death seventh game. The Athletics stayed alive with a slim 4 to 3 decision in a seven-inning stand at home Saturday then squared the series with a 5 to 2 romp at Riverside Sunday. Mike Torres went the route to garner the win in Saturday’s game which was abbreviated by darkness. The curveballing import checked the Blues on three hits, punched out 11 and issued four walks while his mates booted the ball on three occasions but made up for it with a solid eight-hit attack. Barry Diller, who was kayoed from the bump in the sixth, suffered the loss. Garth Sarasas and Keith Redman stroked two hits each for the winners with a two-bagger included in Sarasas’ total. Ross Kinsley had two of the three Riverside hits, a double and a single.
Diller (L), G. Seafoot (6) and C. Seafoot
Torres (W) and Knight
Ray Simms and Oscar Walker hit back-to-back homers in a three-run fifth inning to give the Athletics the series’ equalizer. Simms’ shot came with a mate aboard and Walker followed with a solo blast. Both players added singles. Redman tossed the complete-game triumph, surrendering six safeties while fanning six and walking four. Loser Mark Fisher was touched for five of the nine St. Lazare hits and all five runs before departing in the fifth frame. Bob Ash continued to carry a big bat as he led the Blues with three safe swats.
Redman (W) and Parton
Fisher (L), G. Seafoot (5) and C. Seafoot
(September 5) The St. Lazare Athletics capped a three-game comeback with a 14 to 5 romp over the Riverside Blues to snare the 1965 Manitoba Senior Baseball League championship. Holding a 9 to 8 margin in base hits wasn’t sufficient for the vanquished Blues who experienced a defensive meltdown by committing 11 errors. Mike Torres, who relieved A’s starter Keith Redman in the fifth frame, was credited with the win while starter Ed Evans, one of four chuckers used by the Riversiders, was charged with the loss. Bobby Thompson and Elgin Knight of the Saints stung the sphere for two safeties each. Bobby Ash led the Blues with a pair of singles.
Evans (L), Diller (3), G. Seafoot (3), Fisher (6) and C. Seafoot
Redman, Torres (W) (5) and Parton
1965 WINNIPEG METRO SENIOR BASEBALL LEAGUE
A wholesale change in composition of the six-team circuit took place in 1965 with only two of the 1964 entries, the Balmoral Orioles and Transcona Atomics, returning while four new entries joined the fray. The Winnipeg area loop was often referred to in the print media of the Capital City as the eastern division of the Manitoba Senior Baseball League.
Balmoral Orioles
CUAC Blues
St. Boniface Maple Leafs
Transcona Atomics
Warren
Winnipeg Orioles
(June 3) Gerry Brisson’s three-run homer in the first inning powered the St. Boniface Maple Leafs to a 4 to 0 victory over hosting Warren. The Leafs other tally was also a result of a four-bagger, a solo shot by Archie Curtis in the fifth frame. Bruce Houston tossed a four-hitter in earning the shutout win while Chris Riddell was tagged with the loss.
(June 5-6) The St. Boniface Maple Leafs won two close weekend games at Winnipeg Stadium. The Leafs edged the Transcona Atomics 2 to 1 Saturday night and CUAC Blues 6 to 5 on Sunday. Saturday, Bill Predenchuk kept the Atomics off the scoreboard for seven innings before being relieved by Don Wylie. Barry McFarlane absorbed the loss. The Maple Leafs scored their runs in the eighth on a walk, a hit batter and a double by Jack Ritchie.
Wylie was Sunday’s winning pitcher. He came on in the sixth after starter “Curly” Leclerc and reliever Bruce Houston had failed to stop the Blues. Leon McClinton suffered the knoll setback. St. Boniface’s winning counter was chased home on a triple by Archie Curtis.
(June 6) Transcona bombed the hosting Balmoral Orioles 12 to 2 as Larry Hart grabbed the pitching decision over John Holt. The offensive stars for the Atomics were Ron Twerdochlib, Can Hurst and Jack Seitz. Art Vandel had a single and double for Balmoral.
(June 6) Gary Baxter came within out out of pitching a no-hit, no-run game as he hurled the Winnipeg Orioles to a narrow 1 to 0 win over the CUAC Blues. Leon McClinton, who had taken over mound duties from starter and loser Wayne Sorby in the fifth inning, lined a single up the middle with two out in the ninth inning to spoil Baxter’s bid for the gem. The O’s right-hander had eight strikeouts while walking five in a masterful performance. In addition, he singled off Sorby in the fifth and scored the winning run on the first of two hits garnered by shortstop Buzz Lamond. Danny Lenoski had a long triple and Larry Chapman a double among the six Oriole hits.
(June 8) Despite their incompetence afield, the Transcona Atomics struggled to a 17 to 12 victory over Warren at Transcona Field. Warren’s 12 runs were contrived on no more than four hits. Transcona starter Frank Hersel lasted five innings and was credited with the win. He relinquished his duties to Bob Audette who was clipped for five runs in the first inning he worked. Hersel returned to the hillock in the seventh and retired the side. Claude Lambert, who toed the rubber for the ambitious Warren club until the third inning, was forced to leave the game when he was struck by a batted ball. His successor, Mac Richardson, met with little success against the Atomics. After 1-1/3 innings, he gave way to Reg Studler. Jack Seitz led the 17-hit Transcona barrage with a double and two singles. Ron Twerdochlib followed closely with three singles. Brian Isbister picked up half of the Warren hitting output with two singles.
(June 9) The CUAC Blues literally walked their way to their first victory in three outings with a 4 to 1 decision over the Balmoral Orioles at Sinclair Park. Free passes provided the winners with all their runs. Even the Orioles’ lone marker was contrived when their leadoff hitter in the ninth walked and came around to score. Leon McClinton worked the first four innings on the rubber for the Blues but was forced to leave the game. Joe Psooy followed for another four frames and Wayne Sorby worked the ninth. Losing heaver Doug Marks was relieved by George White in the third chapter.
(June 13) The St. Boniface Maple Leafs used a trio of chuckers in successfully nosing out the Warren baseballers 9 to 8. Don Wylie, Bruce Houston and Bill Predenchuk toiled on the bump for the Leafs with starter Wylie claiming the win. Chris Riddell, the first of two heavers for Warren, was nicked with the loss. Claude Lambert and Laurie Langrell slammed consecutive home run for the losers.
(June 13) CUAC swamped the Balmoral Orioles 7 to 1 as former Winnipeg Goldeye Leon McClinton scattered seven hits, all singles, in chalking up the knoll triumph. Opposing him was George White who was nicked for eight safeties. Ed Chesko had a triple and single for the Blues while McClinton smashed a home run.
(June 15) The Transcona Atomics won their third game in five decisions when they belted the Winnipeg Orioles 15 to 3. Bob Audette, who hurled the first seven frames, gained the victory while Rollie Kruchak, the first of two chuckers employed by the Birds, was the loser. Cam Hurst and Ken Ingram both slammed a home run and two singles for the Atomics with Hurst’s sum of swats accounting for five RBI’s. Danny Lenoski had a two-bagger for the Orioles.
(June 16) Claude Lambert tossed a four-hitter and whiffed eight as hosting Warren clipped the CUAC Blues 5 to 1. Besides starring on the mound, Lambert belted a home run and a single as Warren touched losing heaver Leon McClinton for six hits.
(June 17) Balmoral defeated Transcona 8 to 5 in Metro League action, outhitting their rivals 11 to 10. George Ledochowski cooped the pitching decision over Terry Moore. Jim White paced the Orioles at the plate with three hits and four RBI’s. Peter Genyk and Art Vandel has three and two hits respectively. Gerry Mercier, Len Harvey and Cam Hurst were best with the lumber for the Atomics.
(June 22) The Winnipeg Orioles evened their record at 3 – 3 in Metro Senior League action with a 6 to 3 victory over their namesakes from Balmoral. It was Bob Hunter’s fine relief pitching that held Balmoral at bay and provided the younger Orioles with the win. With Winnipeg trailing, he came to the aid of Gary Baxter in the fifth and handcuffed the Balmoral nine the rest of the way, allowing not a single hit. He also struck out nine of the 16 batters he faced. The Baby O’s wrapped things up with a four-run rally in the eighth frame. A triple by Brian Stastook, a single by Cliff Dyck and a homer by Ron Kruchak was all the Winnipegers needed to win.
(June 22) The Transcona Atomics upset the front-running St. Boniface Maple Leafs 6 to 3 behind the six-hit pitching of Bob Audette. The Transcona twirler struck out seven, walked the same number and helped himself offensively with a pair of singles. Losing heaver Bill Predenchuk was kayoed from the hill in the seventh as Don Wylie came to his assistance. Between them, they fanned three, walked three and gave up eight hits. Doug Lund drove in two runs with a bases-loaded single and Gerry Mercier had an RBI with a double. He also scored the winning run for Transcona. Ray Brunel had a double and two singles for St. Boniface.
(June 24) Ace fireman Bob Hunter bailed the Winnipeg Orioles out of trouble with another fine relief effort, enabling them to edge past hosting Warren 3 to 2. The fireballing Hunter replaced Pat Robson in the sixth spasm and completely handcuffed the home team, preserving the win. The Oriole duo yielded seven safeties while accounting for a dozen punchouts and five free passes. Claude Lambert was heroic in defeat. The Warren slab artist fanned 17 Orioles, walked only three and gave up six hits. He also connected for a round-tripper off Robson. Rick Cordey led the Birds with the baton, slapping out a single and double, the last of which drove in the winning tally. Larry Chapman also clipped the horsehide for a single and two-base hit.
(June 24) The homestanding Balmoral Orioles bounced the St. Boniface Maple Leafs 8 to 2. Doug Marks pocketed the pitching win, allowing four hits, walking two while fanning four. Merv Matiowsky and Bob Wosselin starred at the plate for Balmoral. Matiowsky went four-for-five while Wosselin contributed the game’s key hit, a three-run triple.
(June 24) The Transcona Atomics jumped all over CUAC’s Leon McClinton in taking a 12 to 5 decision and a share of first place with St. Boniface. Norm Rogosky launched a brace of circuit-jacks, one a grand slam, for the winners. He also lit McClinton up for a brace of single. Barry McFarlane picked up the knoll triumph, stifling the Blues on four hits while breezing six and issuing an equal number of base-on-balls. Jack Shuba and McClinton each had a double for the Blues.
(June 29) The Transcona Atomics eased into first place with a 5 to 3 win over the Balmoral Orioles. Ken Highmoor gave up only four hits, walked three and fanned ten for the victory. George DeMeyer absorbed the loss. He was touched for six hits, walked nine and whiffed five. Bob Audette had a two-run single, Tom Trosky two singles and Doug Lund a double for the Atomics. Len Manko had a two-run single for the Orioles.
(June 30) Ron Jeremy’s timely three-run homer in the bottom-of-the-eighth inning lifted the Balmoral Orioles to a 10 to 8 victory over the CUAC Blues in Metro League action. George Ledochowski took the pitching verdict in a battle with losing heaver Leon McClinton. Ross McKenzie had three singles and a double for the victors and teammate Bob Marks delivered a brace of singles. John Kosowan and Ed Chesko both went three-for-five at the dish for the Blues while Gary White came through with a triple and single.
(June 30) The Winnipeg Orioles defeated the St. Boniface Maple Leafs 5 to 1 at Winnipeg Stadium.
(July 4) Transcona blanked Warren 7 to 0 behind the four-hit pitching of Bob Audette. The Atomics’ flinger rang up ten punchouts and walked four in posting the shutout. Losing heaver Chris Riddell was combed for a dozen hits while walking five and swishing four. Cam Hurst nailed a two-run dinger for the winners.
(July 5) The Winnipeg Orioles climbed back into a tie for first place with the Transcona Atomics after downing the CUAC Blues 7 to 2. The winning heaver was Bob Hunter who allowed four hits while ringing up 20 punchouts. The Blue’s Joe Psooy was stung with the setback.
(July 5) The St. Boniface Maple Leafs defeated Warren 7 to 1 at Provencher Park. Winning pitcher Don Wylie allowed three walks and fanned 11 batters. Losing hurler Claude Lambert whiffed four and issued five free passes.
Standings W L Pct. GBL
Transcona Atomics 8 3 .727 ----
Winnipeg Orioles 8 3 .727 ----
St. Boniface Maple Leafs 7 4 .636 1.0
Balmoral Orioles 5 7 .417 3.5
Warren 4 8 .333 4.5
CUAC Blues 2 9 .182 6.0
(July 6) A 6 to 0 whitewashing of the CUAC Blues boosted the Transcona Atomics back into sole possession of first place. Terry Moore worked the first five innings on the hill for the ’Sconas, allowing one hit and striking out ten, before he was withdrawn with a sore arm, Ken Highmoor finished up the final four frames, surrendering four safeties. The Atomics got to losing flinger Leon McClinton for ten base knocks. A solo homer by Moore highlighted their offensive output. Bob Audette added two doubles and a single while Ken Ingram delivered a pair of singles. Blues’ playing-manager Bill Fosty collected three one-base hits in support of McClinton.
(July 7) The Winnipeg Orioles again moved into a tie for top spot in the Metro circuit after winning their sixth consecutive game, a 5 to 3 decision over Warren at Winnipeg Stadium. Winning slabster Gary Baxter stopped the visitors on four hits, issuing two free passes and whiffing eight. Losing twirler Chris Riddell was nicked for nine safeties while fanning four and walking one.
(July 7) The St. Boniface Maple Leafs bombed the Balmoral Orioles 13 to 2 at Provencher Park. The winning pitcher was Rick Shurko while Roger Shurko took the loss. Jack Ritchie, Ray Brunel and Les Maunder of the Leafs were credited with two, three and five RBI’s respectively.
(July 8) For the second time this week, the Transcona Atomics moved past the red-hot Winnipeg Orioles into the penthouse position in the Metro loop. The ‘Sconas doubled the stubborn Warren nine 4 to 2 to leapfrog a half-game past the Birds in the see-saw pennant race. Bob Audette scored what turned out to be the winning counter in the top-of the overtime session after reaching base on a single. He moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and crossed the pan on an infield error. Audette had worked the first eight episodes on the bump for the Atomics before giving way to Larry Hart who emerged as the winning heaver. Paul Chartrand toiled the entire ten frames on the knoll for the vanquished Warren club. Norm Rogoski of the victors had a two-run double while Warren’s Laurie Langrell drove in both his team’s runs with a single. Chris Riddell drilled a brace of two-baggers for the losers.
(July 9) The front-running Transcona Atomics dumped the cellar-dwelling CUAC Blues 8 to 4 as Larry Hart picked up his third pitching win of the campaign. Experiencing issues in finding the strike zone, Hart walked 11 while giving up five hits and fanning five, but persevered through the wildness to grab the mound decision over CUAC’s John Kosowan who was raked for 13 hits while walking one and whiffing eight. Jack Seitz led the ’Sconas with the lumber, stroking five safeties, including a double, in five attempts.
(July 10) Utilizing the competent left wing of Bob Hunter, the youthful Winnipeg Orioles feathered their nest with another victory, a 9 to 0 shellacking of their namesakes from Balmoral. Hunter improved his record to 5 – 0 with a one-hitter, a first-base dribbler that Wayne Otley beat out in the third inning. He claimed 18 punchouts in the Winnipeg Stadium joust to run his total to 38 in his last 18 innings of mound work. Pete Stemkowski paced the O’s 11-hit attack with three singles. Teammate Danny Lenoski added a double and single.
(July 11) The St. Boniface Maple Leafs bounced back with an 8 to 7 victory over CUAC in the evening portion of a three-team double-dip after falling 7 to 5 to the Transcona Atomics in the afternoon. A five-run sixth inning provided Transcona with their 11th win of the season in the lid-lifter. Terry Moore, in relief of Ken Highmoor, was credited with the twirling triumph. Jack Seitz, Cam Hurst, Doug Lund and Ken Ingram provided two-hit performances for the Atomics.
Ray Brunel found the range for the Maple Leafs in the 32-hit evening swatfest, connecting for a pair of two-base hits and a single. “Curly” LeClerc picked up the hurling decision while Wayne Sorby was tagged with the loss.
(July 12) The CUAC Blues broke a nine-game losing streak by swamping the Balmoral Orioles 13 to 4 in Metro League play. Leon McClinton gave up six hits and struckout seven in pitching the Blues to victory. Losing hurler Jack McDougall was hammered for 15 base knocks during his three-inning stint on the hillock. CUAC’s Ed Chesko hit the only home run of the game.
(July 13) A flock of Winnipeg Orioles fluttered their way to with a half-game of the league lead with a home-run-studded 10 to 5 victory over the St. Boniface Maple Leafs at Provencher Park. In assisting Gary Baxter to his fourth pitching victory, the Birds went deep on four occasions for four-ply clouts. Don Wylie, the first of three Leaf tossers, absorbed the loss. Dialing long distance for the quartet of Oriole taters were “Buzz” Lamond, Danny Lenoski, Brian Stastook and Ron Knowles. A triple and single by Ray Brunel were tops offensively for the Leafs.
(July 14) Doug Marks hurled the Balmoral Orioles to a 9 to 2 victory over Warren in Metro Senior action at Balmoral. Marks allowed eight hits and had seven strikeouts. Losing twirler Claude Lambert was rocked from the bump after 3-1/3 innings and replaced by Chris Riddell. Top Balmoral hitters were Peter Genyk, who had two safeties and a pair of RBI’s, Ron Jaremy with two singles and a double, and Merv Matiowsky with a single and two-bagger.
(July 14) The Transcona Atomics increased their first-place lead to a full game over the Winnipeg Orioles by defeating the lowly CUAC Blues 3 to 1. Bob Audette gave up eight hits and struck out 11 for the Atomics. Losing twirler John Kosowan was raked for nine hits and two walks while whiffing ten.
(July 15) The Warren band of baseballers, led by the fine twirling of reliever Claude Lambert, shaded the visiting Winnipeg Orioles 10 to 9 in a seven-inning, darkness-shortened clash. 19-year old Lambert, ascended the bump in the fourth frame, relieving starter Stewart Forbes, with his team in arrears by a 9 to 6 mark. He held the Winnipegers scoreless during his four-inning stint, limiting them to two hits. The winning run was scored when Brian Isbister walked, stole both second and third and romped home on a passed ball. Laurie Langrell and Lambert led the winners at the plate. Langrell poked four singles while Lambert stroked three one-baggers. Brian Stastook and losing hurler Bob Hunter hit home runs for Winnipeg. Hunter took over mound chores from Pat Robson with two innings left.
(July 17) The Transcona Atomics put a bit more breathing room between them and the second-place Winnipeg Orioles by struggling to a 1 to 0 victory over the youthful Birds. The win for the Atomics fattened their bulge to two-and-a-half games. Terry Moore worked the full 11 frames for the ‘Sconas, allowing but two hits while ringing up 19 punchouts. He also walked one and hit one Oriole batter. Only two Winnipeg baserunners reached second base. Portsider Bob Hunter worked five innings on the knoll for the O’s before giving way to losing flinger Gary Baxter. A bunt single down the first-base line by Ken Ingram in the second session of overtime led to Baxter’s downfall. The roller advanced Cam Hurst, who had walked, to the hot corner station from where he scored on a sharp single by Ron Twerdochlib.
Standings W L Pct. GBL
Transcona Atomics 13 3 .813 ----
Winnipeg Orioles 10 5 .667 2.5
St. Boniface Maple Leafs 9 6 .600 3.5
Balmoral Orioles 6 9 .400 6.5
Warren 5 10 .333 7.5
CUAC Blues 3 13 .188 10.0
(July 20) The St. Boniface Maple Leafs overcame an early 3 to 0 deficit to register a 6 to 3 victory over the Balmoral Orioles. Norm Rogers was credited with the pitching victory, yielding but three hits. Jack Ritchie had a single and double for the winners.
(July 27) The pace-setting Transcona Atomics increased their lead atop the Metro League by defeating the Winnipeg Orioles 10 to 3 at Transcona Park. The loss for the Birds, dropped them into third spot in the circuit, a half-game behind the St. Boniface Maple Leafs. Fours were wild for winning slabster Barry McFarlane who gave up four hits, walked four and obtained four strikeouts. Losing flinger Glen Corme pitched for six innings and was replaced by Pete Stemkowski. The Oriole duo gave up eight hits and seven walks between them. McFarlane, Len Harvey and Gerry Bolin of the victors were each credited with two RBI’s.
(August 6) The Balmoral Orioles clinched the fourth and final playoff spot in the Metro Senior circuit by defeating Warren 6 to 2. Winning heaver Doug Marks gave up six hits and one walk while recording seven strikeouts. Losing flinger Reg Studler was also nicked for six safeties while issuing four bases-on-balls and punching out four. Marks and Pete Genyk both went two-for-four at bat for Balmoral while Chris Riddel had the same number of hits for Warren.
PLAYOFFS
SEMI-FINALS Balmoral Orioles vs St. Boniface Maple Leafs & Winnipeg Orioles vs Transcona Atomics (best-of-five series)
(August 8) The pennant-winning Transcona Atomics got off on the right foot in their playoff series with the Winnipeg Orioles, blanking the Birds 5 to 0 in the first game. Transcona’s Bob Audette punched out 13, gave up five hits and issued three walks . Southpaw Bob Hunter fanned nine and was combed for nine safeties and three walks in taking the loss. Len Harvey was the leading batter for the ‘Sconas, hitting a double and a single.
(August 8) The Balmoral Orioles surprised the runner-up St. Boniface Maple Leafs by doubling the homesters 4 to 2 in the opener of their semi-final set. George Ledochowski, pitching for the fourth-lace O’s, gave up nine hits and one walk while recording seven strikeouts. Balmoral lit up losing flinger Bill Predenchuk and eighth-inning reliever “Curly” LeClerc for nine safeties. A triple off the bat of Bob Wasslen drove it what turned out to be the winning run for the Orioles. Ledochowski helped his own cause by going three-for-four at the plate. Predenchuk drove in both Maple Leaf counters with a second-inning single. Les Maunder singled twice for the Saints.
(August 9) The St. Boniface Maple Leafs squared their series with the Balmoral Orioles by blanking the Birds 6 to 0 in the second game. Don Wylie copped the shutout pitching win and Gord Boiter/Bolter/Botter took the loss. Ray Brunel had three hits for the victors and drove in a pair of tallies.
(August 10) Rallying for a five-spot in the seventh spasm, the Transcona Atomics overcame a 2 – 0 deficit to trim the Winnipeg Orioles 5 to 2 and take a stranglehold on their best-of-five semi-final series. Terry Moore rang up 13 punchouts in going the route for the hillock verdict. He gave up six hits and didn’t walk a batter. Losing flinger Gary Baxter was shelled for ten base raps while issuing two free passes. The Birds scored their deuce in the sixth stanza when Baxter singled home Andy Suga, who had tripled, and later touched home on an RBI-single by Brian Stastook. Moore started the comeback rally for the ‘Sconas with a single and later scored on a one-bagger by Jack Seitz. A two-run double by Bob Audette followed later in the frame as did a single by Gerry Bolin that drove in a pair.
(August 12) The St. Boniface Maple Leafs blanked the Balmoral Orioles 2 to 0 to forge ahead two-games-to-one in their semi-final playoff series. The winning pitcher was Norm Rogers while Doug Mark suffered the setback. Ray Shuel and Ray Brunel each batted in one of the two Leaf counters.
(August 13) The Winnipeg Orioles trounced the Transcona Atomics 9 to 2 in the third game of their playoff series to stay alive and force a fourth meeting. The Orioles Bob Hunter choked the ‘Sconas on three hits and two walks while posting ten strikeouts. Losing pitcher Barry McFarlane yielded seven hits and walked one before being replaced by Larry Hart who was shelled for five runs and five hits in the eighth episode.
RESULTS OF THE REMAINING GAMES IN BOTH SEMI-FINAL SERIES NOT REPORTED TO WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FOR PUBLICATION.
FINALS St. Boniface Maple Leafs vs Transcona Atomics (best-of-seven series)
(August 17) The St. Boniface Maple Leafs edged the Transcona Atomics 4 to 3 in the opener of the Metro League finals. Don Wylie gave up seven hits and one free pass in earning the pitching decision over Barry McFarlane who was nicked for six hits and six walks. After stealing second and third base, Ray Shuel touched home with the winning counter on an Atomic error. Jack Ritchie doubled and singled for the Leafs while teammates Les Maunder and Archie Curtis had two singles apiece.
(August 19) The Transcona Atomics deadlocked the Metro League finals by downing the St, Boniface Maple Leafs 8 to 6 at Provencher Park. Winning pitcher Larry Hart gave up six hits and five walks while whiffing two. The Leafs’ hurling duo of Bill Predenchuk and Norm Rogers were lit up for 16 base blows and three free passes. Len Harvey drilled three singles for the Atomics while clubmates Bob Audette and Gery Bolin delivered a double and single each. Ron Twerdochlib and Gerry Mercier both added a pair of one-baggers. Les Maunder replied with three singles for St. Boniface.
(August 22) The Transcona Atomics have the St. Boniface Maple Leafs on the ropes after taking both ends of a split-venue doubleheader. The ‘Sconas edged the Leafs 3 to 2 before 1,200 fans in the afternoon game on their home turf and then bombed the Saints 7 to 0 in the evening match at Provencher Park.
Bob Audette fired a six-hitter and fanned six to cop the knoll win in the early encounter. Bruce Houton/Huston and “Curly” LeClerc shared the heaving for St. Boniface, surrendering just five hits and one walk. Trailing 2 - 1 in the fifth inning, the Atomics tied the score on an unearned tally by Ken Ingram and plated the ultimate winner on an RBI-single by Len Harvey.
Terry Moore hamstrung the Leafs on just two hits in the evening tilt. With a comfortable lead, he handed the ball over to Larry Hart to finish things off in the seventh spasm. The ‘Sconas had their way with losing flinger Don Wylie and reliever Ray Brunel, clubbing 17 hits off the beleaguered duo. Moore, Ron Twerdochlib and Gerry Bolin each went yard for a home run. Len Harvey added three singles.
(August 24) A 3 to 1 win over the Transcona Atomics kept the St. Boniface Maple Leafs still in the running for playoff championship. Bill Predenchuk pitched the first eight innings to earn the win, surrendering but one run on eight hits. Losing heaver Barry McFarlane was nicked for all three Leaf runs on six hits. Ray Brunel drove in the winning run with a seventh-inning single.
(August 31) The St. Boniface Maple Leafs defeated the Transcona Atomics 8 to 5 to deadlock the league finals at three games each. Don Wylie, the second of three Leaf slabsters got the nod on the mound over Bob Audette of the ‘Sconas. The Saints had a 10 to 8 edge in base hits. For the second consecutive contest, Ray Brunel connected for a timely hit that scored the deciding marker.
(September 1) The Transcona Atomics broke open a 1 – 1 tie with a six-spot in the fourth inning and went on to demolish the St. Boniface Maple Leafs in the seventh and final game of the Metro senior playoffs and the eastern division title in the MSBL. Terry Moore, with a splendid five-hitter earned the win while Don Wylie was nicked with the defeat. Gerry Bolin drilled a home run, double and single for the ‘Sconas, good for five RBI’s. Teammate Bob Audette connected for a round-tripper and a single, driving in three tallies. Ray Brunel poled in a brace of one-base hits for the Leafs.
1965 MANITOBA SENIOR BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES St. Lazare Athletics vs Transcona Atomics (best-of-five series)
(September 12) The invading Transcona Atomics from the Winnipeg Metro League, also referred to from time-to-time as the eastern division of the MSBL, and the Manitoba Senior Baseball League champion St. Lazare Athletics divided the spoils as they opened a best-of-five series for the overall Manitoba senior crown. St. Lazare staged a late rally to pull out a 5 to 3 win in the curtain raiser but ran into stiff pitching and dropped the second encounter 3 to 1.
Bob Thompson went all the way as he recorded the mound decision over Bob Audette in the opening tilt. Thompson checked Transcona on eight hits while punching out six and walking three. Audette also went the route and limited the A’s to six hits while whiffing eight. The seven bases-on-balls he issued, however, cost him in the end. Garth Sarasas set the plate pace for the winners with a pair of singles. Terry Moore of the Atomics duplicated that hitting output.
Audette (L) and Ingram
Thompson (W) and Jamieson
Moore, who had a brief fling in pro ball a couple of years ago, came back with a masterful mound performance in the finale, stifling the Saints on four scattered hits while he racked up 11 strikeouts and issued a half-dozen free passes. Keith Redman started on the bump for the hosts and was tagged with the loss. He lasted until the fourth frame when Mickey Torres took over. Norm Rogoski was the big gun for Transcona as he belted a double and a pair of singles. Moore aided his cause with a brace of one-base hits. Thompson led the Athletics with a double and single.
Moore (W) and Ingram
Redman (L), Torres (4) and Jamieson
(September 20) The St. Lazare Athletics claimed the Manitoba senior baseball championship by default when the Transcona Atomics failed to not only turn up for a scheduled doubleheader but also neglected to notify St. Lazare officials they wouldn’t be in attendance for the games, leaving 1,000 fans out in the cold.
1965 MANITOBA BASEBALL ASSOCIATION SENIOR AMATEUR BASEBALL PLAYOFFS
NORTH DIVISION FINALS Angusville Cardinals vs Carberry Royals (best-of-three series)
(September 10) The Angusville Cardinals captured the north division title in Manitoba Baseball Association playdowns at Kinsmen Stadium as they eked out a slim 5 to 4 decision over the Carberry Royals. The best-of –three series was extended to four games as one game was tied. Leighton Kachur took over mound duties from Larry Mann in the first inning and went the rest of the way to record the win for Angusville. Loser Brian Owens started on the hill for Carberry, was relieved temporarily, and returned after one out by Rick Hanke to finish the game. The Cards had a substantial 10 to 3 margin in base hits as Peter Onofrychuk paved the way with a double and two singles. Teammate Merle Kiliwnik rapped a pair of singles.
Owens (L), Hanke (3), Owens (4) and Hanke, Gates (3), Hanke (4)
Mann, Kachur (W) (1) and M. Kiliwnik
SOUTH DIVISION FINALS Rivers Comets vs Pilot Mound Pilots
The Pilot Mount Pilots advance the the MBA finals by ousting the South-Central League champion Rivers Comets in the south division finals.
NORTH-SOUTH FINALS Angusville Cardinals vs Pilot Mound Pilots
(September 12) The Angusville Cardinals drew first blood in the Manitoba Baseball Association senior finals by downing the Pilot Mound Pilots 8 to 2. Brian McCauley held the hosting Pilots to six hits in registering the victory. Dave Pinkerton, who gave way to Rich Cruise in the eighth inning, was charged with the loss. Barry Wowk, Leighton Kachur and Richard Gallant each tripled for the Cards while Harley Munro bashed two singles for Pilot Mound.
(September 26) Despite cold weather and a determined group of Pilot Mound diamond pastimers, the Angusville Cardinals won the Manitoba Baseball Association senior title by eking out a narrow 4 to 3 decision over the visiting Pilots in a 13-inning marathon before 400 enthusiastic fans at Angusville. Reliever Brian McCauley earned the pitching victory after coming to the aid of starting heaver Leighton Kachur in the eighth episode. Walter Mueller went all the way on the knoll for the Pilots. Both teams registered six base hits. Pilot Mound opened the scoring in the top-of-the-first inning when leadoff hitter Bill Legary belted the second pitch of the game out of the ball park. The game was nip-and-tuck the rest of the way and required four sessions of overtime before a winner was declared. In the bottom-of-the-thirteenth stanza, Curnie Chuchmuch of the Redbirds ended proceedings by clouting a round-tripper over the right-field fence to give Angusville the championship in walkoff fashion.
Mueller (L) and Gwynne
Kachur, McCauley (W) (8) and M. Kiliwnik
1965 SOUTH-CENTRAL BASEBALL LEAGUE
Boissevain Border Kings
Brandon Junior Greys
Elgin Cubs
Glenboro
Oak River
Rivers Comets
Treesbank
(May 30) The Brandon Junior Greys opened their South-Central Baseball League schedule with an 8 to 7 victory over hosting Oak River. Winning tosser Russ Reid allowed two hits and fanned ten before turning the horsehide over to Murray Sothern in the eighth episode, nursing a 7 to 5 lead. Dave Bender, catcher Bill Gray and Jack Borotsik all had two hits for the Greys with one of Bender’s blows being a triple. In addition, Bender and Borotsik stole four bases each.
(June 4) The invading Rivers Comets trimmed Treesbank 13 to 10 in South-Central League play. Wayne Kaplar was the winning pitcher.
(June 6) Boissevain and the Rivers Comets battled to a 3 – 3, 12-inning tie in a South-Central League game which was called because of darkness. Ed Collinson and Dennis Wiebe shared the mound duties for the Comets while Bob Goulding went the distance for the Border Kings. Wes Walker had three of Rivers’ ten safeties.
(June 8) Southpaw Russ Reid fanned a dozen batters and surrendered just three hits in pitching the Brandon junior Greys to a 5 to 4 victory over the visiting Elgin Cubs. Dave Bender paved the way for the Greys at bat a triple and two singles. Bill Fairbairn singled and doubled while Randy Earl and Bill Gray picked up two one-baggers each. Elgin starter Lawrence Reid was stung with the defeat.
L. Reid (L), Mealy (2) and Couvier
R. Reid (W) and Gray
(June 9) Pace-setting Oak River doubled the Rivers Comets 10 to 5. Jim Wood went the distance in picking up the win. Scott Wareham of the Comets collected two hits, one a triple.
(June 10) Scoring twice in the top-of-the-tenth inning on the strength of a clutch hit by Scott Wareham, the Rivers Comets earned a hard-fought 3 to 1 victory over hosting Glenboro. It was Wareham’s third safety of the game. Carl Cunningham went the route to earn the pitching decision, striking out eight and limiting Glenboro to six hits. Loser Charlie Hilhorst was raked for a dozen base raps including two doubles and a pair of singles by Wes Walker. Don Barr was best with the baton for Glenboro with a triple and single.
Cunningham (W) and Lees
C. Hilhorst (L) and Thornborough
(June 13) Neil Reeves and Larry McCulloch/McCullough had three safeties each in pacing the Rivers Comets to a 14 to 4 pasting of invading Glenboro. Wayne Kapler, with relief help from Cam White and Carl Cunningham, copped the hillock triumph. Garth McIntyre was nailed with the defeat.
(June 15) The Rivers Comets blew into Brandon, slapped out 13 hits and stole seven bases in laying an 8 to 2 thumping on the junior Grays at Kinsmen Stadium. Comets’ starter Art Birch/Burch grabbed the pitching win while Brandon southpaw Russ Reid absorbed his first setback of the season. Bill Whitton collected three hits for Rivers while Bob Lees and Ed Collinson each had a pair. Collinson also swiped four bases. Dave Bender doubled and singled for the Greys while Ben Harper singled twice.
Birch/Burch (W), Kaplar (5), Collinson (8) and Lees
Reid (L), Southern (7) and Gray, Robinson
(June 16) Boissevain collected 17 hits off Glenboro pitchers but the hosting Glenboro nine capitalized on adept base-running to post an 8 to 4 victory in a South-Central League tilt. Charlie Hilhorst went seven innings of the bump for the win before giving way to reliever Harry Lalonde. Border King starter George Finkbinder, kayoed from the knoll after two innings, was charged with the loss. Earl Johnson and catcher Walt Hilhorst blasted home runs for the winners. Johnson also added a single and a double. Boissevain’s Ken Duncan led his squad at the plate with three singles and a double. Teammates Vic Rayner and Clair Burton chipped in with two singles and a two-bagger while George Hall and Del Pringle had three singles each in a losing cause.
Finkbinder (L), Duncan (3)and Rayner
C. Hilhorst (W), Lalonde (8) and W. Hilhorst
(June 20) The Rivers Comets moved into second-place in the South-Central Baseball League by doubling the visiting Brandon junior Greys 10 to 5. By improving their record to five wins, two losses and a tie, the Comets now trail only the front-running Oak River nine in the standings. Cam White, with relief aid from Dennis Wiebe and Scott Wareham, was the winning twirler in the game hampered by high winds. Bill Whitton, Neil Reeves and Darryl Brandon had two hits each for the winners.
(June 22) Southpaw chucker Russ Reid and catcher Bill Gray were the main cogs in motion for the Brandon Junior Greys who pulverized the visiting Treesbank nine 15 to 0. Reid, making his fourth start, went the distance, yielded just two hits, fanned 12 and lashed out five hits in as many trips to the plate. Included in his quintet of base knocks were a two-run inside-the-park homer and a triple. Gray contributed to the winning cause with two hits, one of which was a solo homer, and a pair of thrown-out runners attempting to steal the keystone sack. The Greys hammered two Treesbank tossers for 21 hits with third baseman Roy McLaughlin picking up three singles.
Otto (L), Everard (6) and Boneham, Coulen (8)
Reid (W) and Gray
(June 24) The Rivers Comets leap-frogged Oak River into top spot in the South-Central Baseball League by thumping their SCBL foe 10 to 6. Trailing 6 to 5 in the seventh spasm, the Comets unleashed a five-run attack against losing chucker Jim Woods highlighted by a three-run circuit-jack off the bat of Dennis Wiebe. Teammates Scott Wareham and Ed Collinson both stung the horsehide for three safeties. Carl Cunningham, in relief of Wayne Kaplar, was the winning heaver. Woods hit a triple for Oak River.
(June 25) The Brandon Junior Greys dumped Elgin 13 to 4 in a South-Central League tussle played on the home turf of the losing nine. Right hander Jack Wells picked up the pitching win for the Greys.
(June 25) Treesbank blew an early 9 – 2 lead and went down to a 15 to 10 defeat at the hands of Glenboro in a South-Central League fracas. Charlie Hilhorst registered the pitching win while Dean Otto was nailed with the loss. Don Barr was the big gun for the winners with six RBI’s accumulated through a three-run homer, a bases-loaded triple and a single. Earl Jackson checked in with a triple, double and two singles while Harry Lalonde singled four times. Jim Rodgers had three safeties for Treesbank.
(June 27) A rain-shortened 6-1/2 inning tilt at Rivers saw the homestanding Comets erase a 4 to 0 deficit and beat out Treesbank 7 to 4. Wayne Kaplar registered the pitching victory after coming to the rescue of starting flinger Cam White.
(June 29) Glenboro and the hosting Brandon Junior Greys battled to a 4 – 4 draw in a hard fought, ten-inning South-Central League game called for darkness. Neither club sparkled at the plate as three chuckers from the Brandonites held the visitors to five hits while the Greys were only able to muster up six safeties against a pair of Glenboro tossers. Charlie Hilhorst and Harry Lalonde shared mound duties for the South Cypress nine while the Wheat City gang used a trio of flingers with portsider Murray Sothern toiling for the longest stretch. Hilhorst had a brace of one-base hits for the invaders.
C. Hilhorst, Lalonde (4) and McNivin
Andrews, Southern (4), Reid (10) and Gray
(July 6) The Brandon Junior Greys hammered out 20 base blows and rumbled to a 19 to 6 South-Central League romp over the Boissevain Border Kings at Kinsmen Stadium. A pair of southpaws from the Greys, starter Russ Reid and Murray Sothern, toiled on the hill and limited the Border Kings to just three hits. Reid, who hurled six innings while allowing but one safety, was the winning heaver of record. Boissevain used three chuckers to no avail with starter Brian Gates taking the loss. Bill Fairbairn rattled two triples and a double off the slants of the trio. Shortstop Jack Borotsik laced out two singles and a double while Ben Harper and Roy McLaughlin both registered a triple and single. First baseman Randy Earl tagged three singles and Marv Robinson belted a bases-loaded three-bagger. A double by Murray Duncan was the longest blow delivered by the Kings.
Gates (L), Pugh (2), K. Duncan (5) and Rayner
Reid (W), Sothern (7) and Gray
(July 8) Darkness prevented play beyond six innings as the Brandon Junior Greys chalked up a 5 to 2 South-Central League triumph over the Glenboro band of pastimers. Neil Andrews picked up the win while Charlie Hilhorst was shackled with the setback. Marv Robinson, replacing injured Bill Gray behind the plate, had a triple, double and single for the victors. Ben Harper belted a solo homer and a single while Bill Fairbairn and Roy McLaughlin chipped in with a double and one-bagger each.
(July 13) Oak River rallied for three runs in the eighth episode to triumph 7 to 5 over the hosting Brandon Junior Greys. Darkness prevented further play after the Greys had batted in their portion of the eighth. A pair of relievers, veteran portsider Harold Pollock of the Rivermen and Brandon’s Russ Reid, were the pitchers of record. Pollock, who entered the fracas in the third inning, took the verdict over Reid, who also ascended the bump in the third panel. Both fanned seven during their tenure toeing the rubber as Pollock allowed one hit to Reid’s four. Larry McReady led the visitors offensively with a double and single which accounted for two runs. Doyle Bailey followed with two singles. Ben Harper paced the Greys at the platter with three singles while Bill Fairbairn slashed out a double and single and Jack Borotsik singled twice.
PLAYOFFS
SEMI-FINALS pennant-winning Rivers Comets vs third-place Boissevain Border Kings and runner-up Oak River vs fourth-place Brandon junior Greys (best-of-three series)
(July 18) The Rivers Comets knocked over Boissevain 6 to 1 in the opening game of their South-Central Baseball League semi-final series.
(July 23) Oak River Edged the Brandon junior Greys 5 to 4 as their South-Central League semi-final series finally got underway.
(July 27) The Brandon junior Greys shellacked Oak River 14 to 4 at Kinsmen Stadium to push their semi-final series to a third game. Russ Reid chalked up eight strikeouts and limited the visitors to three hits in taking the pitching win while loser Harold Pollock was combed for 14 hits. Bill Gray stroked three singles for the winners while Randy Earl spanked an inside-the-park homer to go along with a brace of one-baggers.. Marv Robinson hammered out two triples, stole two bases and put in a solid defensive effort in the right pasture for the Greys. Fellow flychaser, Bill Fairbairn, cracked a triple and single and swiped three bases while Reid doubled and singled.
(July 29) Bob Lees drove in two runs and then tallied the winning marker as the Rivers Comets edged the Boissevain Border Kings 3 to 2 to take their semi-final series in two straight games. Art Birch/Burch was credited with the pitching win after coming to the aid of starter Wayne Kaplar. Mark Pugh, who toiled the route for the Border Kings, was nailed with the loss. Top swatsmith in the tilt was Boissevain’s Murray Duncan who collected four of his club’s nine hits, three singles and a double.
(July 31) Brandon eliminated Oak River. Final score, game details and batteries not found in print.
FINALS Brandon Junior Greys vs Rivers Comets (best-of-three series)
(August 5) The hometown Rivers Comets began the defense of their South-Central Baseball League crown on a successful note as they held on to chalk up a slim 5 to 4 decision over the Brandon Junior Greys. Art Birch/Burch, the second of three chuckers used by the Comets, posted the mound verdict. Big Russ Reid went the route for the Greys and yielded seven hits in taking the loss. A two-run homer by Dennis Wiebe in the seventh stanza lifted Rivers to the win. He also clouted a double earlier in the game. Jim Madder drove in a pair of runs with a second-inning double and Larry McCulloch/McCullough drilled a pair of singles. Neil Andrews and Ben Harper were the lone Brandon players to collect two hits.
Reid (L) and Gray
Cunningham, Birch/Burch (5), Kaplar (9) and Harvey
(August 9) A superb relief job of 7-2/3 innings by right-handed pitcher Neil Andrews invigorated the Brandon Junior Greys to a 3 to 1 victory over the pennant-winning Rivers Comets, a result which tied the South-Central League finals at a game apiece. Facing a 1 – 0 deficit, Andrews allowed only one hit, a single, in his tenure on the knoll and held the Comets scoreless while the Greys picked up single tallies in each of the sixth, seventh and eighth innings to pull out the win. Wayne Kaplar, who came into relieve Rivers starting flinger Carl Cunningham in the sixth spasm, was charged with the loss. Russ Reid of the Greys slammed three singles, one of which drove in the third Brandon run. Andrews also delivered a run-scoring base rap to aid his mound cause.
Cunningham, Kaplar (L) (7) and Harvey
Palidwar, Andrews (W) (2) and Gray
(August 11) Taking full advantage of the opportunities presented them by six fielding miscues on the part of their foes, the pennant-winning Rivers Comets rolled to an 8 to 3 conquest of the Brandon Junior Greys to capture the 1965 South-Central Baseball League championship. Winning heaver Art Birch/Burch of the Comets went the first six innings on the knoll before turning the ball over to Carl Cunningham who closed things out. The duo were touched for six Brandon safeties. Russ Reid went the distance for the losers, giving up seven base hits. Rivers opened the scoring with four runs in the third inning and never gave the Greys a chance to close the gap. Jim Madder slammed a pair of hits for the winners while Bill Gray and Dave Bender reciprocated for the feat for the Wheat City nine. The Comets now advance to the provincial playdowns.
1965 PIPESTONE-ALBERT BASEBALL LEAGUE
BellegardeCromer *
Elkhorn
Grand Clariere
Restn
Sinclair
* 1965 pennant winner
1965 BRANDON & DISTRICT COMMERCIAL BASEBALL LEAGUE
Brandon Metal Industries
Brandon Saito Construction
Cornwallis
Douglas
Kemnay
Roseland
1965 NEEPAWA & DISTRICT BASEBALL LEAGUE
ArdenCarberry Royals
Eden
Neepawa Cubs
Neepawa Farmers
PLAYOFFS
SEMI-FINALS Arden vs Neepawa Cubs & Eden vs Carberry Royals (best-of-three series)
(July 28) The defending champion Neepawa Cubs shaded Arden 7 to 5 in the opener of their best-of-three semi-final playoff series. Cubs’ starting right-hander Ron McKinnon was the winning pitcher but he needed eighth-inning relief help from Bill Fraser. The duo surrendered eight hits to the Arden club. Youthful southpaw Garry Foreman went all the way for the visitors and was raked for 11 hits. He struck out eight and walked two.
FINALS Carberry Royals vs Neepawa Cubs (best-of-three series)
(August 11) After being extended to three games in their semi-final series with Eden, the Carberry Royals took care of business in the opener of the finals by edging the pennant-winning Neepawa Cubs 8 to 6. Carberry right-hander Brian Owens, who came on in relief in the fifth frame, subdued the Cubs, who had swept Arden in their semi-final set, on three hits for the remainder of the contest. The Royals roughed up two Neepawa tossers for a dozen safeties.
MANITOBA JUNIOR BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS
(August 28-29) Lefty Russ Reid was a hero for the Brandon Greys over the weekend pitching the Greys to the Manitoba Junior Baseball championship. Brandon downed Flin Flon in two straight to take the crown.
Reid went the distance with a five-hitter on Saturday as Brandon crushed their foes 11-3 then relieved in the ninth on Sunday and picked up the win in a 10-9 triumph. Greys now advance to the Western Canadian championship, a round-robin affair. The Saturday match was a walkathon as the hurlers allowed a total of 17 bases on balls.
Reid and Gray
Brown, Ford (8) and Ziemer, Garinger (8)
Sunday's game was a see-saw battle as the clubs exchanged the lead several times. Greys entered the ninth with a 9-7 lead but Flin Flon took advantage of two singles and an error to tie at 9-9. Greys loaded the bases in the bottom of the ninth and with one out, Marv Robinson slashed a fly to right field to bring in the winning run. Reid was credited with the mound decision in relief of Stan Furman who had given up eight hits and fanned ten.
Don Osmond, a southpaw, was tagged with the loss. He was the third pitcher used by Flin Flon as Gary Davies started, giving way to Anderson in the seventh.
Davies, Anderson (7), Osmond (9) and Brown
Furman, Reid (9) and Gray