Stability, along with parity, best describes the Southern League scene as the 1966 season took shape with all 4 teams returning and with each having highly competitive personnel.
(May 22) The Swift Current Indians, defending Southern League pennant-winners and league champions, began the 1966 season on a winning note as they harpooned the visiting Moose Jaw Regals 11 - 4 in the league opener at Mitchell Field. Veteran portsider Jackie McLeod went the full 9 innings on the slab for the Tribe, fanning 6. Moose Jaw's rookie-laden infield had the starting jitters and booted the ball all over the lot, making life difficult for loser Jim Pettapiece. Meanwhile, McLeod simply threw strikes and the Indians fielded all chances perfectly. Bob Lewis held the big stick for the Redskins, drilling a double and 2 singles. Third baseman Rich Sentes, outfielder Ron Meyers and catcher Harvey Nybo each cracked a pair of singles. For the Regals, outfielder Tim Young along with Pettapiece and catcher Larry Tollefson all singled twice.
Pettapiece (L), Heron and Tollefson
McLeod (W) and Nybo
(May 23) A Victoria Day crowd, gathered at Ross Wells Park in Moose Jaw, saw the home-town Regals roar back from their opening night loss to lambaste the Swift Current Indians 10 - 1. Moose Jaw's Wayne LeBere rang up 14 strikeouts and walked only one while his Regal teammates pounced on Indian starter and loser Wayne Commodore early, sending him to the showers in the 4th. Reliever Wayne Meyers went the rest of the way but he couldn't do much to mend the damage. Outfielder Barrie Day and third baseman Garry Andrews paced the Mill City hitting attack with a double and single each. Brian Keegan slammed out a pair of singles. Catcher Harvey Nybo was the top Swift Current hitter with a brace of one-baggers.
Commodore (L), W. Meyers (4) and Nybo
LeBere (W) and Tollefson
(May 27) Sophomore chucker Fred Cardwell fanned 9 while handcuffing the Moose Jaw Regals on four hits as the visiting Regina Red Sox took an eight-inning 6 - 0 victory from their hosts at Ross Wells Park. Lefty Stu Heron, who worked 5 2/3 innings on the hill for Moose Jaw before giving way to right-hander Paul Longmore, took the loss. Rookie backstop Andy Logan and outfielder Warren Kivell provided ample offensive support for Cardwell. Logan hammered out three singles while Kivell drilled a pair of one-baggers and had three RBI's.
Cardwell (W) and Logan
Heron (L), Longmore (6) and Tollefson
(May 28) The Melville Millionaires got their first taste of 1966 Southern League action when they drubbed the visiting Swift Current Indians 13 - 4 to begin a weekend series with the Tribe in Melville. The Moneymen jumped on loser and former teammate, Cliff Mein, for a half-dozen tallies in the 2nd stanza and were never headed after that. Pete Rieben tossed five-hit ball to pick up the complete game win in his Southern League debut. Last season's home run king Bob Lewis of the Indians picked up where he left off last year by slamming his first round-tripper of the campaign, a 2-run shot. Homering for the Millionaires was import catcher Ira McKnight who also had 2 singles. Don Gelowitz, Dan Roach, Gord Nelson and Harvey Whittmire all collected 2 hits apiece in the 14-hit Melville attack.
Mein (L) and Nybo
Rieben (W) and McKnight
(May 29) In the second weekend battle between the Swift Current Indians and the Melville Millionaires, this time the Tribe prevailed in another high-scoring affair. After the dust had settled, the visitors had scalped the Millionaires 10 - 5 as playing-manager Paul Springer made his Southern League mound debut to pick up the win over Melville starter Dave Stelmack. Although winding up on the short end of the score, the Moneymen out-hit the Frontier City contingent 12 to 10. Former Millionaire Cliff Mein provided the big bat against his old mates as he slugged a homer and added 2 singles to pace the Redskins' ten-hit offense. Bob Lewis chipped in with a brace of singles. Swift Current's Ron McKechney, as well as Ira McKnight and Dan Roach of Melville, all had four-baggers. Roach also came through with a double and single to emerge as the best for the Millionaires at the dish. McKnight added a one-bagger to go along with his circuit-clout. Bev Hickie's totals showed a three-bagger and single. Rounding out the hit parade for the Moneymen were Gord Nelson and Wayne Thompson who both singled twice.
Springer (W) and Nybo
Stelmack (L), Luscombe (4), Thompson (9) and McKnight
(May 29) The Regina Red Sox paid a return visit to Moose Jaw's Ross Wells Park after their win there 2 days ago but this time the hosts weren't nearly as generous. The Regals ran up an early 4 - 0 lead and hung on to take the contest 6 - 4. Southpaw Keith Parker hurled the first six innings for the Friendly City gang to pick up the win. Regina's Ken Simon was battered from the hill after only 1 2/3 innings and was saddled with the defeat. Rookie Moose Jaw outfielder Ivan Gutfriend had a great start in the Southern League as he poled a bases-empty homer plus a double. Backstop Larry Tollefson contributed a pair of singles. Warren Kivell and Andy Logan had 2 hits each for the Sox with one of Kivell's going for 2-bases.
Simon (L), Clarke (2), Homme (3) and Logan
Parker (W), Longmore (7) and Tollefson
(June 1) The Melville Millionaires smacked six back-to-back singles in the 3rd frame and chased across five important runs in the process while taking a 10 - 7 Southern League victory over the Regina Red Sox. In total, the Moneymen out-hit the visiting Reginans 14 to 11. Dan Roach, one of those involved in the sextet of consecutive one-baggers, turned out to be the Millionaires' top hitter for the night, finishing with a double and 2 singles. Bev Hickie, Don Gelowitz, Wayne Thompson and Pete Rieben hit 2 singles apiece. Thompson, a right-hander, picked up the mound win in a relief stint. Rookie lefthander, Randy Sawa, in his first start, took the loss. The Sox were far from stagnant at the plate. Larry Bachiu and Warren Kivell smacked back-to-back homers in the 3rd inning. Jim Paisley and Sawa each had a double and single while Gene Yellowega kicked in with a brace of singles.
Sawa (L), Homme (5) and Logan
Rieben, Thompson (3) (W) and McKnight
(June 4) The Swift Current Indians won their 3rd game of the Southern League campaign as they clipped the visiting Melville Millionaires 10 - 7 in the opener of a weekend set-to. An eight-run outburst in the 8th inning lifted the defending champion Indians from a 7 - 2 deficit into the lead for good and pinned the loss on Wayne Thompson, the 3rd Melville chucker. Wayne Meyers toiled for the Tribe in a complete game role to pick up the win. Rich Sentes, Ron McKechney and Ron Meyers laced a double and single each for the Speedy Creekers. Outfielder Gord Nelson led the Millionaires at the plate with 2 singles and a double.
Rieben, B. Sobkow (8), Thompson (8) (L) and McKnight
W. Meyers (W) and Nybo
(June 5) Reliever Ken Simon walked Larry Tollefson to lead off the 9th inning and it turned out to be the biggest baseball sin committed. After recording strikeouts against the next 2 batters, a Simon pitch to the next hitter, John Fisher, was slashed deep into the outfield, bounced off the wall and allowed Tollefson to romp home with the winning run as the Moose Jaw Regals delved into their bag of ninth-inning heroics to nip the Regina Red Sox 2 - 1. Wayne LeBere picked up his 2nd mound win for the Regals in going the distance. Moose Jaw's Garry Andrews had a double and triple and took top honors as the game's leading hitter.
Cardwell, Simon (9) (L) and Logan
LeBere (W) and Tollefson
(June 5) The Melville Millionaires came back from yesterday's setback to win the second game of their weekend series with the Swift Current Indians 5 - 4 in spine-tingling fashion. Melville lefthander Bill Sobkow, a College of Sequoia student, served up ten hits to the Redskins but still managed to win. The Millionaires used the home run weapon against a stiff outfield breeze and veteran portsider Jackie McLeod to pull out the victory. Gord Nelson smacked a 2-run circuit-clout while Dan Roach belted a solo homer and 2 singles. With the bases loaded in the 9th, Sobkow got McLeod on an infield grounder to end the game. Bob Lewis hit three singles for the Indians and rookie Ryan Bozak came through with a double and single.
B. Sobkow (W) and McKnight
McLeod (L) and Nybo
(June 8) Outfielder Dan Roach smashed 2 key hits and scored the winning run as the Melville Millionaires defeated the Moose Jaw Regals 8 - 5 in a Southern League game in Melville. It was Melville's 4th win in six starts. Roach, a 21 year old rookie from Nova Scotia, belted his 3rd home run in six games to start things off in the 1st inning then applied the finishing touches by opening the 7th with a double. Ted Hargreaves then singled him home with the counter that put the Moneymen ahead to stay. The Millionaires went on to score 2 more runs before the game was called due to darkness. Right-hander Wayne Thompson, in a relief appearance, was credited with the win. Paul Longmore, who entered the game in the 3rd frame, was hit with the loss. Melville's Bev Hickie had three hits to lead all swatters. Rookies Tim Young and Lloyd Hackel hit 2 singles apiece for the Regals.
Heron, Longmore (3) (L) and Hunchuk
Luscombe, Thompson (3) (W) and McKnight
(June 10) On a hotly contested play at the plate, Andy Logan of the Regina Red Sox allegedly slid home safely on Larry Bachiu's squeeze bunt which gave the Regina Red Sox a narrow 4 - 3 win over the Moose Jaw Regals. To most observers, it appeared as though Regals' catcher Larry Tollefson had easily beaten Logan to the plate on a force play after fielding Bachiu's bunt. Heading into the 9th frame, the Regals had a 3- 2 lead but the Sox then loaded the bases with none out. Winning pitcher Doug Homme then popped out to first base for the initial out, setting the stage for Bachiu's bunt. Regals' manager Mike Dayne was incensed with the plate umpire's call and stormed from the dugout to voice his displeasure and a shouting match ensued even though the game had ended. The losing pitcher was Regals' ace, Wayne LeBere, who had the Red Sox dropping like flies until the fateful 9th. Bachiu was credited with two singles as the Red Stockings played their first game ever on their new home diamond at Mount Pleasant Park.
Pettapiece, LeBere (6) (L) and Tollefson
Homme (W) and Logan
(June 15) Playing-manager Mike Dayne of the Moose Jaw Regals has been handed a five-game suspension by the Southern League following a meeting of the league's administrative executive. The suspension is effective today and will involve the next five consecutive league games. The suspension resulted from Dayne's actions in disputing a call at home plate during a game between the Regals and the Regina Red Sox.
(June 15) Warren "Smokey" Kivell drove in four runs with a double and single as the Regina Red Sox recorded an important 8 - 3 Southern League win over the Melville Millionaires at Mount Pleasant Park. Sharing the hero's role with Kivell was Ken Simon whose strange assortment of overhand and sidearm curves, cross-fires and fastballs kept Melville at bay. Simon threw an eight-hitter, rang up five strikeouts and also belted a 2nd inning double which drove in a pair of runs. Melville starter Pete Rieben was the loser.
Rieben (L), Thompson (2) and McKnight
Simon (W), Ash (9) and Logan
(June 15) Centerfielder Ron Meyers drilled a bases-loaded single in the 7th inning to provide the Swift Current with the necessary ammunition to defeat the Moose Jaw Regals 8 - 5. Wayne LeBere, ace of the Moose Jaw pitching staff, suffered his second consecutive loss in a relief role. Normally a control artist, LeBere lost command and walked three batters in the 7th and final frame of the abbreviated contest. Meyers' single chased home two runs, breaking a 5 - 5 tie and making a winner out of Paul Springer, working in relief of Meyers' brother, Wayne. Meyers and Ron McKechney stroked two singles apiece for the winners. Rookie outfielder Tim Young collected two singles for Moose Jaw.
W. Meyers, Springer (6) (W) and Nybo
Parker, Longmore (3), LeBere (4) (L) and Hunchuk
(June 18) The Melville Millionaires, currently sitting in top spot in a very tight Southern League race, defeated the Regina Red Sox 5 - 2 in Melville. Newcomer Pete Rieben picked up the mound win. He also laced out three singles as did shortstop Ted Hargreaves of the Melvillians. Warren Kivell was Regina's leader at the plate with two singles. Teammate Danny Fink had a double. The Moneymen laced out nine hits compared to seven for the Redlegs. Right-hander Gord Clarke of the Red Sox was tagged with the loss. Both chuckers turned in complete game performances.
Clarke (L) and Logan
Rieben (W) and McKnight
(June 18) The Moose Jaw Regals unloaded rallies of six and seven runs to smother the Swift Current Indians 15 - 8 in the first of a three-game weekend series in the Frontier City. The Regals managed 15 hits off three Swift Current pitchers, the key blow being a grand-slam home run by catcher Larry Tollefson in the 6th inning. Brian Keegan hit three doubles and newcomer Roy Rowley, who played with the North Battleford Beavers of the Northern Saskatchewan League last season, added three singles.
Commodore (L), Mein (3), W. Meyers (6) and Nybo
Pettapiece, Longmore (2) (W) and Tollefson
(June 19) The Regina Red Sox seem to be adjusting nicely to their new home at Mount Pleasant Park. In three games within the confines of their new facility, the Crimson Hose have yet to lose. But their latest effort at home produced even more, and a rarity in baseball circles to boot, namely a triple play. The unexpected triple-killing came at the expense of the Melville Millionaires who were defeated 4 - 2 by the Reginans. Winning pitcher Ken Simon was the central figure in the 2nd inning anomaly which occurred when the game was scoreless and with Melville runners, Brian Hicke and Harvey Whittmire, at 2nd and 1st, respectively. Randy Munch, the next Millionaire batter, blooped a short pop-up between Simon and the 3rd base line. Simon, who had committed an error the play before, dove into the turf and made a backhand catch. Hicke was at least two strides off 2nd base when shortstop Al Herback took Simon's relay for the second out. Whittmire, who thought the pop-up was well beyond Simon's reach, was off and running at the crack of the bat, was easy prey as he arrived in the arms of Herback to complete the triple play. Warren "Smokey" Kivell, the voice of the Red Sox' outfield from his centerfield spot, came through with another clutch hit in this contest, lighting up losing pitcher Bill Sobkow for a 3rd inning dinger which drove in the first two Regina counters. Larry Bachiu drove in run number three with a 5th inning single and clean-up hitter singled in the other in the same frame. Bev Hickie was the top batter for the Highway #10 entry with two doubles and a single. Catcher Ira McKnight, the Millionaires' imported playing-manager, displayed his great arm from the backstop position by throwing out three would-be Regina base-stealers.
B. Sobkow (L) and McKnight
Simon (W), Ash (8) and Logan
(June 19) Moose Jaw manager Mike Dayne sat out the 3rd and 4th games of his five-game suspension in obvious pleasure as the Regals took a Sunday doubleheader from the Swift Current Indians by 9 - 7 and 5 - 4 scores to emerge with a three-game weekend sweep of their Speedy Creek hosts.
The Monarchs constructed an opening game 9 - 0 lead before the Tribe was able to mount a comeback. A rally resulting in seven runs in the last two innings fell short when the Regals sent Dick Mandzuk and Roy Rowley to the mound to rescue starter and winner Keith Parker. Import manager Paul Springer was the loser. Ron McKechney smashed a grand-slam homer for the Indians in the bottom of the 9th. Barrie Day drove in three of the Regals' runs with a bases-loaded double.
Parker (W), Mandzuk (8), Rowley (9) and Tollefson
Springer (L) and Nybo
In the finale, Wayne LeBere got back on the winning track again after taking two quick losses. He got the decision over fellow-southpaw, veteran Jackie McLeod. Ivan Gutfriend's two-run homer in the 4th was the decisive blow for the winners.
LeBere (W) and Tollefson
McLeod (L) and Nybo
(June 21) It's getting mighty crowded in the Southern League standings these days. People are stepping on people's toes, and it's becoming more of a foot race than a baseball race. The Swift Current Indians pussy-footed past the Regina Red Sox 3 - 2 to move within a game of the league-leading Melville Millionaires in this parity-studded circuit. Cliff Mein picked up his first mound triumph of the campaign, surrendering seven hits and walking one. His forte was in the strikeout department where he sent nine batters down swinging. Loser Doug Homme tossed a fine four-hitter but loose play on the part of his teammates led to Regina's undoing. The Red Stockings committed five errors, two of which led directly to runs. The Tribe's Glen Ward plated the winning run in the 7th frame after reaching base on a Sox' miscue and scoring on an overthrow. The Queen City's Mel Puscas was the only batter from either squad to manufacture a brace of base raps.
Homme (L) and Logan
Mein (W) and Nybo
Standings (end of June 21) W L Pct. GBL
Melville Millionaires 5 4 .556 ----
Moose Jaw Regals 6 5 .545 ----
Swift Current Indians 5 6 .455 1
Regina Red Sox 4 5 .444 1
(June 26) For a brief spell Sunday afternoon, the Moose Jaw Regals led the Southern League. Then, they played the second game of a doubleheader and the Melville Millionaires won to once again create a tie for first place. With 1,000 fans watching, the Regals won the opener 9 - 7 on a timely 8th inning single by Fergie Olver but the Millionaires rebounded to win the second contest 4 - 2 as the normally light-hitting Harvey Whittmire homered for the winning run.
Olver had a double to go along with his game-winning single in the matinee event. Garry Andrews also had a double and single while Roy Rowley contributed two singles. Right-hander Jim Pettapiece, who throws a knuckleball, recorded the mound win, coming on in relief of Regals' ace starter, Wayne LeBere, in the 8th. The loser was newly acquired import chucker Lionel Travis who was making his Southern League debut.
Travis (L) and McKnight
LeBere, Pettapiece (8) (W) and Tollefson
Pete Rieben's six-hit pitching and Whittmire's 7th inning homer led the Moneymen in the second game. Bev Hickie hit two singles and a pair of doubles for the Millionaires, finishing the evening going 4 for 5. Gord Nelson had a single and double while Ted Hargreaves and Brian Hicke hit two singles apiece. Garry Andrews and Fergie Olver accounted for four of the Regals' hits off Rieben, splitting four singles. Mike Dayne, the Regals' playing-manager whose five-game suspension expired after the opener, was tagged with the loss.
Rieben (W) and McKnight
Dayne (L) and Hunchuk
(June 26) A 14-inning thriller in the opener highlighted the day's proceedings as the Regina Red Sox and Swift Current Indians divided a twin-bill at the new Mount Pleasant Park, the homesters finally prevailing when a bottom of the 14th single provided the only run of the game to give the Red Sox a 1 - 0 win. The Indians, with their pride stung following the first game loss, took the second game behind the nifty three-hit pitching of veteran lefthander Cliff Mein.
It was strictly a duel between the opposing pitchers, two from each club, and their team's respective defensive play that best described the opener. Hitting was at a premium. The Red Sox garnered six hits in total, two of them coming in the 14th when a bounding single off the bat of Jim Paisley scored Stu Willison from second base. Willison had previously beat out a soft infield roller and took possession of the keystone sack following a sacrifice bunt by Jack Buch. Al Ash, now a reliever after several years as a Red Sox starter, replaced rookie starter Lorne Davis in the 8th and picked up the win. The loser was Wayne Meyers who entered the game in the 11th when playing-manager Paul Springer tired.
Springer, W. Meyers (11) (L) and Nybo
Davis, Ash (8) (W) and Cooke
The follow-up game was much more wide open. Catcher Harvey Nybo teamed with Mein to lead the Tribe. Nybo drove in four runs with three singles. Mein was extremely stingy, fanning seven batters and walking only three. Regina starter and loser Mike Fischer, making his first Southern League start, had control problems and walked five before getting the hook in favor of Ken Simon in the 5th. Up until the 7th, the game was close with the Redskins clinging to a 2 - 1 lead. The Tribe, however, salted the game away with a three-spot at that point.
Mein (W) and Nybo
Fischer (L), Simon (5) and Logan
(June 28) The Regina Red Sox rapped a total of ten hits off four Moose Jaw pitchers and claimed an 8 - 6 victory over the Moose Jaw Regals in Southern League action in Regina. Gene Yellowega, previously fighting the throes of a batting slump, banged out a triple and single to lead the Sox at the dish. His 6th inning three-bagger knocked the lid off the Redlegs' recent batting blues and four teammates of his singled in succession. Of the game's six pitchers, Regina's Ken Simon, who took the hill in the 3rd, was the most successful and drew credit for a well-deserved win. Paul Longmore, the second Moose Jaw hurler, was the loser. The winning run, however, was scored on a balk called against his replacement, Jim Pettapiece, in the 7th inning. Warren "Smokey" Kivell drove in three Crimson Hose runs with a 2nd inning double. Simon did his part too as he came up with a single, double and two RBI's. Roy Rowley's two triples led the Mill City contingent. Tim Young and Garry Andrews had two singles apiece.
Parker, Longmore (1) (L), Pettapiece (7), Rowley (7) and Tollefson
Ash, Simon (3) (W) and Cooke
(June 29) The Moose Jaw Regals climbed into sole possession of first place in the tightly-contested Southern League by defeating the pre-game leaders, the Melville Millionaires, 2 - 1 at the home of the Highway #10 franchise. Wearing the hero's mantle as a result of the proceedings was Moose Jaw's Wayne LeBere who threw seven perfect innings before allowing a hit by the Moneymen. LeBere, the top dog in the Regals' pitching kennel, allowed only two hits, both singles, and posted nine strikeouts. He walked only one Melville batter. Second sacker, Lorne "Scooter" Humphreys, playing in only his 2nd game of the season after recovering from a pre-season shoulder surgery, led the Royals at the plate with three singles. Roy Rowley banged out a pair of one-baggers as part of the Regals' nine-hit offensive production. The Friendly City nine broke a scoreless tie with their only two runs in the 5th inning.
Thompson (L) and McKnight
LeBere (W) and Hunchuk
(July 2) Gene Yellowega stole the spotlight as the Regina Red Sox collaborated for 15 hits and drubbed the hosting Swift Current Indians 12 - 2 in the opener of a weekend series in the Frontier City. Yellowega, a converted pitcher now patrolling the outfield for the Crimson Hose, had a perfect cycle - a home run, triple, double and single - plus three RBI's to easily walk away as the player-of-the-game. Ken Simon, the winning hurler, smacked a double and two singles in aiding his march to victory. Rookie first baseman Richard Gergley of the Red Stockings drilled a three-run homer in the 8th off loser Wayne Commodore. For the Speedy Creekers, playing-manager Paul Springer was at the forefront of their offensive attack, coming through with a home run and two singles.
Simon (W) and Cooke
Commodore (L) and Nybo.
(July 3) Larry Tollefson curled a home run around the leftfield foul pole to score three runs and consolidate the Moose Jaw Regals' slim hold on first place in the Southern League. The fiery young catcher, a wicked pull-hitter, tagged the timely blow in the 4th inning as the Regals beat the slumping Melville Millionaires 5 - 3 in the opener of a twin-bill in the Highway #10 town. The second half of the scheduled doubleheader ended in a 2 - 2 stalemate when darkness forced the teams to retire after ten innings.
Keith Parker, a lefthander, drew credit for the Regals' important game 1 win. Parker's biggest booster, besides Tollefson, was rookie centerfielder Tim Young who had a triple and two singles. Playing-manager Ira McKnight had two doubles for the Millionaires. Pete Rieben, McKnight's teammate last season with the Saskatoon Commodores, was the losing pitcher.
Parker (W), Rowley (8) and Tollefson
Rieben (L) and McKnight
The follow-up contest was a tight, defensive tussle that saw scoring confined to two innings. Lionel Travis, an import right-hander, had seven scoreless innings and a 2 - 0 lead behind him when he twisted a leg running to first base and couldn't pitch any longer. The Regals scored their only two runs in the next frame off the combined offerings of Wayne Thompson and Bill Sobkow. Moose Jaw's Tim Young had another fine outing in this encounter with a double and two singles. Roy Rowley added two doubles and a single. Travis drove in Melville's only two runs with a 2nd inning single.
Pettapiece, Rowley (8) and Tollefson
Travis, Thompson (8), B. Sobkow (8) and McKnight
(July 3) The Swift Current Indians evened the score with the Regina Red Sox in their weekend affair by clobbering the visitors 10 - 3 at Mitchell Field. Veteran Jackie McLeod sprinkled 13 hits successfully for the Indians' win. Ron Meyers led the Tribe at the plate with two singles, a double and triple, driving in two runs. Wayne Commodore hit a two-run homer and brought in another two runs with a single. Bob Lewis, the Southern League's home run champ with eight last year, hit his 2nd of the current campaign. Al Herback was the Red Sox' top hitter with four singles. Warren Kivell had a double and a pair of singles while Larry Bachiu drilled a trio of one-baggers. Jim Lane, used primarily in pinch-hitting roles by the Crimson Hose, smashed one of McLeod's offerings nearly 400 feet, easily clearing the centerfield fence.
Fischer (L), Ash (4) and Ruhr
McLeod (W), Springer (9) and Nybo, Ward (8)
(July 6) It's safe to say that Wayne LeBere has recovered. The smoothie of the Moose Jaw pitching corps was just as deadly as ever as he scattered seven hits in the Regals' 4 - 1 win over the Swift Current Indians. In picking up his 5th win of the season, LeBere struck out ten of the defending champions on route to the triumph. Right-hander Paul Longmore applied the finishing touches for LeBere, pitching the last 1 2/3 innings. Lorne Humphreys had two of the six Moose Jaw his, both being singles, off loser Wayne Meyers. Wayne Commodore of the Tribe had the game's only extra-base hit, a double.
W. Meyers (L) and Nybo
LeBere (W), Longmore (8) and Tollefson
(July 6) The Regina Red Sox squeezed the very most out of but five hits to beat the Melville Millionaires 7 - 3 in a Southern League game at Mount Pleasant Park. Leading by a scant 2 - 1 margin in the 4th inning, the Sox blended three walks, a sacrifice fly and a triple into three runs to virtually tie the knot on another victory. The man who best struck the Red Sox mood was Larry Bachiu. The canny catcher-turned-outfielder leaned heavily on his hard-hitting reputation and worked a bases on balls from the Melville hurlers in each of his five appearances at the plate. Doug Homme, a lefthander bound for the University of Oregon with teammate Fred Cardwell on baseball scholarships, was far from dominating in his eight innings of relief work. In being credited with the win, Homme survived seven Millionaire hits and escaped only two innings without allowing a runner on base. Jim Paisley was best at the dish for the Redlegs, coming through with a double and single. Two key triples hit by Richard Gergley and Jack Buch of the Sox drove in two runs and one tally respectively in crucial situations. Touted as the youngest team in the circuit, the Moneymen were tough from the batter's box as usual with Randy Munch, Gord Nelson and Wayne Thompson each lashing out a pair of singles.
Thompson (L), B. Sobkow (5) and McKnight
Cardwell, Homme (2) (W) and Logan
Standings (end of July 6) W L Pct. GBL
Moose Jaw Regals 10 7 .588 ---
Regina Red Sox 8 7 .533 1
Swift Current Indians 7 9 .438 2 1/2
Melville Millionaires 6 8 .429 2 1/2
(July 8) Mike Dayne was hotter than the sun which roasted more than 2,000 spectators at Mount Pleasant Park, as the old master stymied the Regina Red Sox in the Moose Jaw Regals' 8 - 2 win over their hosts. Dayne washed away a lot of his bitter memories of Mount Pleasant by retiring 15 of the 16 Sox batters he faced, surrendering not a solo hit, after relieving Paul Longmore in the 5th inning. The canny southpaw, who once started a spring training game for the Washington Senators against the New York Yankees in the early 50's, threw a vast assortment of pitches, including a buzzing fast ball and darting curve which kept the Regina batters off-balance and frustrated. Larry Tollefson's 3rd homer of the season, a two-run shot off rookie lefthander Richard Gergley, was the key blow for the Regals. Warren Kivell had two of the five Red Sox hits, both singles.
Heron, Longmore (1), Dayne (5) (W) and Tollefson
Gergley (L), Simon (4) and Logan
(July 9) The Melville Millionaires, generously endowed with snappy, young players and two imports, buried their fangs into a gaunt outfit of Regina Red Sox players at Melville and completely destroyed the Reginans, hanging an 18 - 1 shellacking on the visitors. In this first game of a weekend home-and-home series, the Red Stockings lost not only the game and their pride, but also starting pitcher Gord Clarke who suffered a serious leg injury when, after being driven from the slab in the 2nd frame, assumed a position in right field and, later in the game, collided with a vehicle parked along the right field foul line while chasing a fly ball. The Moneymen had nine runs on the scoreboard after a pair of innings were in the books and simply coasted from there. Dan Roach picked up his 4th home run for the Millionaires, a league high, with a three-run shot. Winning pitcher Pete Rieben also had a homer. Warren Kivell slammed a 4th inning round-tripper for Regina's only run. Aside from the four-baggers, Ira McKnight of the Moneymen had three hits including a double while Brian Hicke checked in with a brace of singles. Harvey Johnson was the only Redleg batter to hit safely twice off Rieben, garnering a two-bagger and a single.
Clarke (L), Bachiu (2), Ruhr (7) and Ruhr, Bachiu (7)
Rieben (W), B. Sobkow (8) and McKnight
(July 10) A gallant but in cohesive group of Regina Red Sox were unable to successfully take advantage of the change in venue to their home turf and dropped a 6 - 5 decision the Melville Millionaires in a 13-inning encounter which gave the Moneymen a sweep of the home-and-home weekend match-up. Dan Roach sliced a single down the right field line in the 4th extra frame to score Randy Munch with the winning run. The Red Sox, fighting desperately to gain a split in the series, waged a strong comeback, scoring four late runs to tie Melville 5 - 5 and send the game into overtime. Lefthander Bill Sobkow, on a scholarship at Fresno State, entered the game as a reliever in the 7th and went the rest of the way to pick up the win for Melville. Al Ash pitched 9 2/3 innings of brilliant relief for the Red Sox but was denied the one run necessary for the win. Roach finished the game with a total of four singles to lead all batters with the willow.
Travis, B. Sobkow (7) (W) and McKnight
Sawa, Ash (4) (L) and Ruhr
(July 12) A masterful two-hitter by lefty Wayne LeBere led the Moose Jaw Regals to a 1 - 0 Southern League victory over the Swift Current Indians at Mitchell Field. LeBere, who was never any sharper, sent the Indians and their fans home muttering to themselves. He struck out ten Redskins, walked none and came out the bold winner of a classic pitching joust. To boot, he scored the only run of the game in the top of the 9th when Brian Keegan singled off losing reliever Paul Springer. It was LeBere's 4th straight win and the 6th in a row for the streaking Monarchs who now have 2 1/2 games of breathing room at the top of the Southern League pack. Keegan, aside from his game-winning hit, emerged as the contest's top batsman with a pair of singles. The Mill City nine only had five hits in total off the slants of a pair of Tribe chuckers.
LeBere (W) and Tollefson
Walmsley, Springer (8) (L) and Nybo
(July 13) The Melville Millionaires dropped a narrow 6 - 5 decision to the Regina Red Sox in Southern League action in Melville. The Reginans scored all six of their runs in the 3rd inning, a lead which stood up for the entire game and the victory. Doug Homme pitched the win for the Capital City crew, giving up five runs and ten hits before being relieved by playing-manager Lionel Ruhr in the 9th. Wayne Thompson started on the slab for Melville and was followed to the hill in the 3rd frame by Bill Sobkow who shut down the Red Sox for the remainder of the game. Catcher Andy Logan had three hits for the Crimson Hose, all singles, with Rich Gergley collecting a pair. Jim Lane had the Redlegs' only extra-base blow, a double in the Sox' big 3rd stanza. Pete Rieben, playing the outfield for Melville, checked in with three singles to lead the Moneymen' batters. Gord Nelson had a double and single.
Homme (W), Ruhr (9) and Logan
Thompson (L), B. Sobkow (3) and McKnight
(July 13) The front-of-the-pack Moose Jaw Regals were harpooned 8 - 2 by the Swift Current Indians in a Southern League game at Ross Wells Park. The Regals looked anything but front-runners in the circuit as they committed six errors, received poor pitching and generally couldn't get things going at all. Moose Jaw starter Keith Parker was knocked from the hill in the 4th and was hit with his first loss of the year. Jackie McLeod hurled the Indian victory. He went the distance after falling behind 2 - 0 in the 1st inning. The Tribe connected for eight hits off Regal pitching including doubles by McLeod and Wayne Commodore. The Regals had nine hits with Tim Young, Garry Andrews and Barrie Day collecting two each. One of Andrews' raps went for two bases.
McLeod (W) and Nybo
Parker (L), Pettapiece (4), Heron (5) and Tollefson
Standings (end of July 13) W L Pct. GBL
Moose Jaw Regals 12 8 .600 ------
Regina Red Sox 9 10 .474 2 1/2
Melville Millionaires 8 9 .471 2 1/2
Swift Current Indians 8 10 .444 3
(July 14) As current leaders in the Southern League, the Moose Jaw Regals had their first opportunity to stage the circuit's All-Star game. The event turned out to be highly entertaining as the loop-leaders from the Friendly City tied with the group of selects from the other three teams, the score ending at 3 - 3. Right-hander Jim Pettapiece went the distance on the mound for the hosts, allowing the All-Stars nine hits. Moose Jaw connected for five safeties off the combined slants of Ken Simon of the Regina Red Sox and Cliff Mein of the Swift Current Indians. The top hitter of the game was Gord Nelson, All-Star right fielder from the Melville Millionaires. He cracked out two doubles, the only extra base hits of the contest. Regina Red Sox' shortstop Al Herback had a pair of singles.
Simon, Mein (5) and McKnight
Pettapiece and Tollefson
(July 15) Eight fielding miscues, three of them coming on dropped fly balls, cost the Regina Red Sox considerable face plus an important Southern League game. Mike Dayne, a down-to-earth farmer who dabbles in the investment game and manages the Moose Jaw Regals, coupled his five-hitter with the Red Sox' boobs for an easy 8 - 1 verdict. It was the Regals' 3rd straight win at Mount Pleasant Park after dropping their opening two games there. Dayne pitched the entire game for Moose Jaw, relying heavily on his fielders. He recorded only two strikeouts but had near perfect control. The losing pitcher was Al "Crash" Ash, the victim of the Regals' unearned five-run spree in the 6th inning. Brian Keegan's three singles and Garry Andrews double and single led the Royals. Tim Young and Barrie Day had two singles apiece. Andy Logan and Larry Bachiu both singled twice for the Sox.
Dayne (W) and Tollefson
Ash (L), Simon (6) and Logan
(July 16) The Melville Millionaires arrived in Swift Current for a three-game weekend series and promptly stoned the Indians 13 - 3 in the opener. Bill Sobkow went the distance on the hill for Melville, limiting the homesters to eight hits while his teammates roughed up three Frontier City hurlers for a total of 14 safeties, three of which were homers. Lighting up the Tribe chuckers for four-baggers were Sobkow, Pete Rieben and Bev Hickie.
B. Sobkow (W) and McKnight
W. Meyers (L), Springer (3), Wall (3) and Nybo
(July 16) Statistics published today indicate that a pair of Moose Jaw Regals, Wayne LeBere and Roy Rowley, lead the Southern League in the pitching and hitting departments respectively.
Batting Leaders (including games of July 12) AB R H Aver.
Roy Rowley (Moose Jaw Regals) 41 7 16 .390
Bev Hickie (Melville Millionaires) 75 14 29 .387
Ron McKechney (Swift Current Indians) 50 11 18 .360
Dan Roach (Melville Millionaires) 72 12 25 .347
Gord Nelson (Melville Millionaires) 71 12 23 .324
Ira McKnight (Melville Millionaires) 59 13 19 .322
Tim Young (Moose Jaw Regals) 72 12 23 .319
Garry Andrews (Moose Jaw Regals) 66 14 20 .303
Al Herback (Regina Red Sox) 61 5 18 .295
Larry Bachiu (Regina Red Sox) 59 14 17 .288
Harvey Nybo (Swift Current Indians) 67 4 19 .284
Bob Lewis (Swift Current Indians) 60 12 17 .283
Rich Sentes (Swift Current Indians) 51 12 14 .275
Ron Meyers (Swift Current Indians) 56 9 15 .268
Warren Kivell (Regina Red Sox) 76 5 20 .263
Gene Yellowega (Regina Red Sox) 57 10 15 .263
Runs - Hickie (Melville), Andrews (Moose Jaw) and Bachiu (Regina) - tied with 14
Hits - Hickie (Melville Millionaires) - 29
Doubles - Hickie (Melville Millionaires) - 7
Triples - Hickie (Melville Millionaires) - 3
Home Runs - Roach (Melville Millionaires) - 4
Team Batting
Melville .286
Moose Jaw .240
Regina .239
Swift Current .237
Pitching (including games of July 12) IP HO RO SO BB W L CG Pct.
Wayne LeBere (Moose Jaw Regals) 63 2/3 43 19 70 14 6 2 5 .750
Pete Rieben (Melville Millionaires) 52 2/3 48 27 32 21 4 2 4 .667
Ken Simon (Regina Red Sox) 41 2/3 34 21 38 20 4 2 1 .667
Keith Parker (Moose Jaw Regals) 24 2/3 21 12 10 16 3 0 0 1.000
Doug Homme (Regina Red Sox) 33 24 13 16 14 2 1 1 .667
Cliff Mein (Swift Current Indians) 28 29 24 22 17 2 1 3 .667
Bill Sobkow (Melville Millionaires) 30 1/3 26 13 20 20 2 1 2 .667
Jackie McLeod (Swift Current Indians) 35 42 17 21 15 2 2 3 .500
Paul Springer (Swift Current Indians) 32 30 15 31 14 2 2 2 .500
Wayne Thompson (Melville Millionaires) 30 2/3 28 19 13 18 2 3 1 .400
Fred Cardwell (Regina Red Sox) 17 10 1 17 3 1 0 1 1.000
Mike Dayne (Moose Jaw Regals) 14 14 4 9 1 1 1 1 .500
Jim Pettapiece (Moose Jaw Regals) 24 1/3 32 22 3 12 1 1 0 .500
(July 17) The Regina Red Sox hammered out 16 hits off three Moose Jaw pitchers and thoroughly whipped the pace-setting Regals 10 - 8. The Sox laid the lumber to loser Wayne Lebere's offerings and drove him to the showers in the 6th frame. Ken Simon, who took the hill in the 3rd in relief of Red Sox' starter Doug Homme, copped the victory, his 5th of the season. Simon also shone at the dish as he drilled a two-run dinger off LeBere in the 6th and wound up with three RBI's. Regina's Larry Bachiu was the fellow who did the most damage to the Regals. Always regarded as a sharp hitter, Bachiu knocked out four doubles in six trips. Shortstop Al Herback also had a fine day at the plate with three singles and two RBI's. Rich Gergley and Ed Stefureak both managed two singles. LeBere and shortstop Garry Andrews blasted solo homers for the Moose Javians while Roy Rowley and manager Mike Dayne, handling first base duties in this contest, cracked out a pair of singles apiece.
Homme, Simon (3) (W) and Logan
LeBere (L), Longmore (6), Rowley (8) and Tollefson
(July 17) Although out-hit 6 to 4, the Swift Current Indians dusted off the Melville Millionaires 4 - 3 in the seven-inning opener of double-dip. The Millionaires took the second contest 17 - 2 to lay claim to victory in two of the three weekend tussles.
The opening triumph for the Speedy Creekers squared the weekend match-up at one game each. Playing-manager Paul Springer took over for Bill Walmsley in the 7th to pick up the win for the Indians. Walmsley and import Lionel Travis of the Millionaires had been locked in a tight pitching duel. Wayne Commodore of the Redskins was the hero of the game as he connected for a two-base swat with the bases full in the bottom of the 7th to drive home the equalizer and the winner.
Travis (L) and McKnight
Walmsley, Springer (7) (W) and Nybo
The wrap-up game of the series was just a light workout for the visitors as they smothered the Indians with a 17-hit barrage. To add to their woes, the Tribe committed six miscues. Pete Rieben went the route for his 5th win. Hitting stars for Melville were Dan Roach with a home run and a pair of singles while Ira McKnight pounded out three singles and a two-base clout. Rich Sentes had a home run and a single for Swift Current.
Rieben (W) and McKnight
Mein (L), Martinson (7), W. Meyers (8) and Nybo
(July 19) Fireballing Fred Cardwell, bound for Oregon State University on a baseball scholarship, whiffed 13 batters and scattered seven hits as the Regina Red Sox defeated the Melville Millionaires 8 - 4 in a Southern League game. Encountering trouble only twice in the game, Cardwell managed to escape once, in the 4th, but took his lumps the second time, in the 9th, when Ira McKnight thumped a 3 - 2 pitch up against the centerfield fence, driving in three runs. In addition to his steady mound performance, Cardwell also starred at the plate with two singles which drove in a couple of runs. Stu Willison of the Sox also had a pair of singles. Lefthander Bill Sobkow, much improved over last season, pitched the entire game for Melville. The Moneymen did nothing to destroy their reputation of the hardest hitters in the league. McKnight finished the game with three doubles.
B. Sobkow (L) and McKnight
Cardwell (W) and Logan
(July 20) Doug Homme pitched one of his finest games ever for the Regina Red Sox, halting the Swift Current Indians on a three-hitter as the Reginans beat down the Tribe 6 - 2. For six innings, Homme worked on a no-hitter. Just to prove he came to play, he smacked a single and double, scored two runs and drove in another to help the Red Sox score their 3rd straight win. His biggest booster was Larry Bachiu who ripped three singles. Clean-up hitter Rich Gergley also had a good night, collecting a double and single. The Red Sox, still swinging their most potent bats of the season, turned six of their eight hits off losing pitcher Jackie McLeod, into six runs by the end of the 3rd inning.
McLeod (L), W. Meyers (4) and Nybo
Homme (W), Simon (9) and Logan
(July 22) Outfielders Tim Young and Barrie Day collected seven hits between them as the Moose Jaw Regals trounced the Regina Red Sox 9 - 3 at Ross Wells Park. The Regals hammered out 14 hits as they increased their lead to 2 1/2 games over the short-handed Sox. Young erupted out of a mild slump to crack out four singles off Red Sox' playing-manager Lionel Ruhr. Day followed him with three singles. Mike Dayne, who replaced Moose Jaw starter Jim Pettapiece in the 3rd inning, was the winner. George Hunchuk, patrolling the outfield for Moose Jaw, had a double and single. The Red Stockings wound up with six hits in total, four coming off Dayne. Al Herback had two singles to pace the Regina hitters.
Ruhr (L) and Bachiu
Pettapiece, Dayne (3) (W) and Tollefson
(July 23) The Melville Millionaires started their weekend on a good note as they defeated the Swift Current Indians 5 - 1 to lock up the initial encounter in a three-game set. Each club had seven hits. Lionel Travis picked up the hill win over Dale Tourney who was making his first start for the Indians. The Millionaires went ahead to stay in the 3rd inning when catcher Ira McKnight drilled a two-run single.
Tourney (L) and Nybo
Travis (W) and McKnight
(July 23) The Regina Red Sox hammered the lack-luster Moose Jaw Regals 10 - 1 at Mount Pleasant Park as veteran pitcher Al Ash of the Sox breezed to victory on a seven-hitter. The Queen City nine hammered out 13 hits, eight of them in the first two innings. Ash, Gene Yellowega, Larry Bachiu and Jack Buch each contributed two singles for the Red Stockings. Playing-manager Mike Dayne was the top hitter for Moose Jaw with a double and a bunt single. Infielder Jim Booth singled twice.
Parker (L), Longmore (1), Rowley (2) and Tollefson
Ash (W) and Bachiu
(July 24) The Melville Millionaires jumped into 2nd spot in the Southern League as they took a pair from the visiting Swift Current Indians by 8 - 2 and 8 - 5 margins. In sweeping the three-game weekend series, the Moneymen edged into the runner-up position, one full game behind the league-leading Moose Jaw Regals. Rich Sentes of the Tribe had a circuit-clout in the nightcap.
Commodore (L), Walmsley (4) and Ward
Thompson (W), S. Sobkow (7) and McKnight
W. Meyers (L), Walmsley (8) and Ward
Rieben (W), S. Sobkow (9) and McKnight
(July 30) The Regina Red Sox won a close 5 - 4 decision over the last-place Swift Current Indians in the start of a weekend set-to with their Speedy Creek hosts. Fireballer Fred Cardwell of the Red Sox was inconsistent on the hill but still managed to go the route for the win in the seven-inning encounter which was shortened by darkness. Three runs in the top of the 6th, highlighted by Larry Bachiu's single which plated the winner, gave the Red Sox the triumph. Jim Paisley had a bases-empty home run for the winners.
Cardwell (W) and Logan, Bachiu (5)
W. Meyers (L), Mein (6) and Nybo
(July 31) The Moose Jaw Regals, responding to manager Mike Dayne's juggling of the batting order, completed a doubleheader sweep of their closest pursuer at game time, the Melville Millionaires, dumping the Moneymen back into 3rd spot with wins of 6 - 0 and 5 - 1. Brian Keegan's two doubles and a single helped Wayne LeBere become the league's first seven-game winner. Rookie Jim Booth had a double and a pair of singles while Tim Young rapped a two-bagger and single.
Rieben (L), B. Sobkow (6) and McKnight
LeBere (W) and Tollefson
Jim Pettapiece chalked up his 2nd win of the campaign in the finale as he threw a five-hit shutout. Both teams went scoreless through five innings but the Regals picked up a single tally in the 6th and put the game on ice with four insurance runs in the 7th. Brian Keegan continued his torrid day at the dish, stroking out three more safeties. Back-to-back singles by Barrie Day, Tim Young and Keegan highlighted the Regals' four-run outburst in the 7th which gave the homesters the triumph and the sweep.
Travis (L) and McKnight
Pettapiece (W) and Hunchuk
(July 31) The Swift Current Indians have clinched last-place in the Southern League. The riches-to-rags Redskins, last season's champions, were dumped 9 - 3 by the Regina Red Sox as the Capital City contingent swept the weekend series and relegated the Tribe to a sentence in the basement. Ken Simon pitched a four-hitter for the Sox to notch his 6th victory of the campaign. Stu Wilison had a triple and single to lead the Redlegs' hit parade. Harvey Nybo of the Tribe matched Willison's output. The Sox remained 1 1/2 games behind the Moose Jaw Regals but moved past Melville into 2nd place in the standings.
Simon (W) and Logan, Bachiu (5)
Walmsley (L), Wall (3), Mein (8) and Ward
Standings (end of July 31) W L Pct GBL
Moose Jaw Regals 16 10 .615 ----
Regina Red Sox 15 12 .556 1 1/2
Melville Millionaires 13 13 .500 3
Swift Current Indians 9 18 .333 7
(August 1) As if they didn't have enough troubles, the Swift Current Indians were forced to forfeit a Southern League game to the Regina Red Sox. The Indians were left short-handed at Mount Pleasant Park when a vehicle in transit from Swift Current and carrying playing-manager Paul Springer and infielder Bill McKerdiak was marooned about 1/3 of the way to Regina with car trouble. The tainted win moved the Red Sox within one game of the top-spot Moose Jaw Regals.
(August 2) Jim Booth lashed a double and single, knocking in the tying and winning runs, besides making the outstanding defensive play of the night at 3rd base, to steal more than his share of the spotlight as the Moose Jaw Regals laid a 6 - 3 defeat on the Swift Current Indians. Keith Parker stopped the Tribe on five hits to earn credit for the victory. Ivan Gutfriend and Garry Andrews each had two hits for the Royals off loser Jackie McLeod.
McLeod (L) and Nybo
Parker (W) and Tollefson
(August 2) The Regina Red Sox kept their chances for a first-place finish alive as they clobbered the Melville Millionaires 13 - 4 in a Southern League game played in the Highway #10 town. Riding the crest of their hitting power, the Crimson Hose collected 13 hits including homers by Gene Yellowega and Ed Stefureak. It was the Sox 6th straight win and kept them well entrenched in 2nd place. Al Ash was credited with the win in relief of Doug Homme. Steve Sobkow, knocked from the hill in the opening frame, was the loser. Larry Bachiu with a double and two singles and Warren Kivell with three singles were best with the lumber for the Red Stockings. Catcher Andy Logan wasn't far behind with a three-bagger and single. For Melville, Bev Hickie had three one-baggers while Dan Roach hit a single and double.
Homme, Ash (3) (W) and Logan
S. Sobkow (L), B. Sobkow (1), McKnight (2) and McKnight, Nelson (2)
(August 4) Bill Walmsley's 6th inning single ruined Fred Cardwell's no-hit bid as Regina Red Sox clobbered Swift Current 12-1 in a crucial Southern Baseball League game Thursday. The win kept the Sox, now just a game back of league-leading Moose Jaw Regals, in contention for the league pennant. Cardwell compiled eight strikeouts and walked a pair. Swift Current scored its only run in the third inning on a walk and an error. Danny Fink belted a two-run triple and single for the Red Sox. Moe Fleischhaker had a two-run double. Cliff Mein took the loss.
Mein (L) (2-3) and Ward
Cardwell (W) (4-0) and Bachiu
(August 7) Masterful Wayne LeBere fired a brilliant three-hitter at the Melville Millionaires as the Moose Jaw Regals clinched the 1966 Southern League pennant with a tight 1 - 0 squeaker over the Moneymen in the opener of a twin-bill. In a meaningless second encounter, the complete replay of a tie which lasted 11 innings, the Millionaires won 8 - 2.
The clinching Moose Jaw triumph in the matinee came at the expense of Melville's Bill Sobkow who matched LeBere's performance with an outstanding three-hitter. The only Regal run was of the unearned variety and came in the 1st inning. The victory for LeBere lifted his record to nine wins against three losses.
LeBere (W) and Tollefson
B. Sobkow (L) and McKnight
Ira McKnight, Melville's All-Star backstop, took to the hill in the finale and tossed a five-hitter for the win. Dan Roach had a three-bagger for the Millionaires while McKnight contributed a single and double.
Pettapiece (L), Heron (6) and Tollefson
McKnight (W) and Nelson
Final Standings W L Pct. GBL
Moose Jaw Regals 19 11 .633 -----
Regina Red Sox 18 12 .600 1
Melville Millionaires 14 16 .467 5
Swift Current Indians 9 21 .300 10
Semi-final playoff pairings will pit the Moose Jaw Regals against the Swift Current Indians in one series while the Regina Red Sox will tangle with the Melville Millionaires in the other bracket. Both semi-final series are to be the best-three-out-of-five.
PLAYOFFS :
(August 8) The Regina Red Sox were blessed with fine fielding, near-perfect pitching and hefty hitting in their playoff opener. Among the rewards were a 12 - 2 win over the Melville Millionaires and a 1 - 0 lead in the best-of-five Southern League semi-final series. The game saw the Reginans blend their finest baseball of the season at the most appropriate time. Ken Simon, a straight-overhand right-hander, pitched a three-hitter over seven innings for one of his easiest wins of the season. Simon also starred offensively as he smacked a two-run homer over the right field fence in the 2nd inning as the Red Sox charged into a 6 - 2 lead. Larry Bachiu also drilled a homer, a three-run shot in the 3rd inning which put the Crimson Hose ahead by a 9 - 2 margin. Jim Paisley, Al Herback and Warren Kivell had three hits apiece. Paisley's trio of raps included a triple and double. Outfielder Gordie Nelson with a double and single had two of the three hits garnered by the Moneymen. Loser Wayne Thompson was driven to the showers in the initial stanza as he was unable to retire a single Regina batter.
Thompson (L), Rieben (1), S. Sobkow (2), B. Sobkow (5) and McKnight
Simon (W), Homme (7) and Logan
(August 11) The pennant-winning Moose Jaw Regals and their fancy left-handed ace, Wayne LeBere, won their playoff opener by narrowly defeating the Swift Current Indians 3 - 0 at Ross Wells Park. LeBere took a hard bounder on the shoulder off the bat of losing chucker Jackie McLeod in the 1st inning, then resorted to his savvy and repertoire of "stuff" to beat the Tribe with a four-hitter. The telling blow of the game came in the 6th inning when switch-hitter Ivan Gutfriend, batting right-handed against southpaw McLeod, homered with Brian Keegan on base. LeBere faced trouble only once, in the 7th frame, but escaped with no damage by fanning two straight Redskins. Chris Berger had half the Indians' four hits, both singles.
McLeod (L) and Nybo
LeBere (W) and Tollefson
(August 10) Outfielder Gord Nelson went on a hitting binge that merited seven runs in the Melville Millionaires' 18 - 8 win over the Regina Red Sox at Melville in a Southern League semi-final playoff tilt. The muscular but squat Nelson, who earned the nickname "Squeak" from his teammates, enjoyed his finest hour since joining the Millionaires a year ago last spring. He smashed a three-run homer in the 1st inning, came up again in the 3rd and drilled another, then tripled in one more run in the 5th and, finally, settled down with a single in the 6th. Nelson's heroics were closely followed by playing-manager Ira McKnight, who had a homer, double and single. Rookie Randy Munch kept the pot boiling with three singles. Right-hander Pete Rieben, who came to the Moneymen via the Saskatoon Commodores, was credited with the win. Despite the loss, the Red Sox continued to hit with authority and power. Jim Paisley and Danny Fink blasted round-trippers in the Redlegs' ten-hit attack. Fink also had two singles and Paisley one. The losing pitcher was Fred Cardwell who bore the brunt of the Millionaires' early ferocity with the lumber and saw himself trailing 10 - 2 after three innings.
Cardwell (L), Ash (3) and Logan
Rieben (W), B. Sobkow (7) and McKnight
(August 11) Jim Paisley drove in two runs with a 1st inning double as the Regina Red Sox handed the stubborn Melville Millionaires a 2 - 0 defeat at Mount Pleasant Park. With the victory, the Red Sox now lead the best-of-five semi-final series two games to 1. Winning chucker Doug Homme, scattering eight hits, pitched nine strong innings for the Redlegs, using his curveball with great authority. The young Regina lefthander, with the high leg kick, had some scary moments. The 9th inning was filled with dramatics but, with no outs and the tying runs on base, Homme bailed himself out with a force out, a fly out and a strikeout. Bill Sobkow, the loser, pitched well enough to win, allowing only four hits. Stu Willison smashed a double and single for the Red Stockings. Gord Nelson singled twice for the Moneymen.
B. Sobkow (L) and McKnight
Homme (W) and Bachiu
(August 12) A strong pitching performance by playing-manager Mike Dayne went for naught as the Swift Current Indians bunched their hits to defeat the Moose Jaw Regals 2 - 0 in Southern League playoff action. Dayne, who allowed only four singles, struck out nine as Swift Current tied the best-of-five semi-final series at one win apiece. Scattering ten hits over nine innings, Paul Springer fanned nine in pitching the win. He was backed up by some fine defensive play. The Tribe plated the only two runs of the game in the 6th. Ron Meyers started things off with a single. He advanced to 2nd base when Moose Jaw catcher Larry Tollefson dropped Bob Lewis' pop-fly. Both runners crossed the plate later in the inning when Rich Sentes slapped a single over the infield. Lorne Humphreys was the top batter for the Regals with a pair of doubles. Tollefson drilled a double and single while Ivan Gutfriend came through with a brace of one-baggers.
Dayne (L) and Tollefson
Springer (W) and Nybo
(August 13) The Moose Jaw Regals moved into a commanding position in their semi-final series with the Swift Current Indians as they beat the Tribe 4 - 1 in the Frontier City. Trailing after six complete innings, the Regals staged a late rally with three in the 7th and another 8th inning tally to erase a 1 - 0 lead held by the Indians. Jim Booth, a rookie, tied the game with a mammoth leadoff home run in the 7th off losing pitcher Wayne Meyers. Ivan Gutfriend plated the go-ahead run, and ultimate winner, when his fly ball fell in safely following the collision of Swift Current outfielders Wayne Commodore and Chris Berger. Big Jim Pettapiece tossed a six-hitter for the visitors in picking up the hill triumph.
Pettapiece (W) and Tollefson
W. Meyers (L), Wall (7), Walmsley (7) and Nybo
(August 14) Scoring four runs before their hosts had an opportunity to bat, the Regina Red Sox swamped the Melville Millionaires 9 - 3 to wrap up their semi-final series in four games. Winning pitcher Al Ash and reliever Fred Cardwell combined to limit the Moneymen to eight hits. It was the Red Sox 9th win in their last ten games. The Crimson Hose collected five straight hits to open the game, chasing starting pitcher and loser Wayne Thompson off the mound. Warren "Smokey" Kivell went wild at the plate for the Reginans, collecting two doubles and a pair of triples plus driving in four runs. Al Herback, normally a singles hitter, drilled a home run off Thompson that signaled his exit. Jim Paisley continued his torrid playoff pace, stroking a double and single. Playing-manager Ira McKnight and Pete Rieben each stroked two singles for Melville.
Ash (W), Cardwell (8) and Logan
Thompson (L), S. Sobkow (1), B. Sobkow (9) and McKnight
(August 14) The pennant-winning Moose Jaw Regals moved into the Southern League finals as they bumped off the Swift Current Indians 6 - 5 to take their semi-final round three games to one. The Regals battled from behind to nip the Tribe in spite of an off-day for ace hurler Wayne LeBere who, though not at his best, was still good enough to pick up his 2nd playoff win. The Indians pounced on LeBere for four runs in the 3rd frame and held the lead up until the 8th when, three Moose Jaw hits, a stolen base, a fielder's choice, an error and a sacrifice, accounted for three big runs and a one-run lead which stood up. Lefthander Cliff Mein, plagued by control difficulties, issued seven free passes in taking the loss. The Moose Javians out-hit the Tribe ten to seven and left 14 runners stranded compared to the Indians' five. Barrie Day and Brian Keegan both picked up a trio of singles for the winners while Garry Andrews laced out a double and single. Bob Lewis drilled a bases loaded double plus a single for the Wigwam Dwellers. Fellow Redskin Ron Meyers contributed a pair of singles.
Mein (L) and Nybo
LeBere (W) and Tollefson
(August 16) Final statistics published this date in the Regina Leader-Post indicate that a first-time winner, Bev Hickie, and a man who's won twice before, Wayne LeBere, reign as the Southern League's champion batter and pitcher, respectively. Hicke, the 22-year old centerfielder for the Melville Millionaires won everything but the home run title, relinquishing it to teammate Dan Roach, as he marched to his championship with a dazzling .372 average. LeBere's 9 - 3 record was three wins better than his nearest challenger, Ken Simon of the Regina Red Sox.
Top 12 Batters AB R H Avg.
Bev Hickie (Melville Millionaires) 121 24 45 .372
Ira McKnight (Melville Millionaires) 103 23 37 .359
Larry Bachiu (Regina Red Sox) 108 27 37 .343
Dan Roach (Melville Millionaires) 108 19 36 .333
Rich Sentes (Swift Current Indians) 87 21 27 .310
Garry Andrews (Moose Jaw Regals) 101 19 31 .307
Gene Yellowega (Regina Red Sox) 79 14 24 .304
Gord Nelson (Melville Millionaires) 116 21 35 .302
Pete Rieben (Melville Millionaires) 78 12 23 .295
Tim Young (Moose Jaw Regals) 109 20 31 .284
Al Herback (Regina Red Sox) 100 11 27 .270
Harvey Nybo (Swift Current Indians) 112 10 30 .268
Runs - Hickie (Melville Millionaires) - 24
Hits - Hickie (Melville Millionaires) - 45
Doubles - Hickie (Melville Millionaires) and Nelson (Melville Millionaires) - tied with 10
Triples - Hickie (Melville Millionaires) and Yellowega (Regina Red Sox) - tied with 3
Home Runs - Roach (Melville Millionaires) - 5
Team Batting Averages
Melville .276
Regina .263
Moose Jaw .245
Swift Current .211
Pitching IP SO BB W L
Wayne LeBere (Moose Jaw Regals) 94 93 21 9 3
Ken Simon (Regina Red Sox) 61 55 32 6 2
Pete Rieben (Melville Millionaires) 75 38 28 6 3
Fred Cardwell (Regina Red Sox) 39 45 17 4 0
Doug Homme (Regina Red Sox) 51 2/3 31 29 4 1
Keith Parker (Moose Jaw Regals) 37 2/3 18 24 4 2
Mike Dayne (Moose Jaw Regals) 28 2/3 22 4 3 1
Al Ash (Regina Red Sox) 47 23 12 3 2
Paul Springer (Swift Current Indians) 33 1/3 31 15 3 2
Jackie McLeod (Swift Current Indians) 53 29 24 3 4
Bill Sobkow (Melville Millionaires) 64 1/3 41 32 3 4
Wayne Thompson (Melville Millionaires) 48 17 34 3 4
Strikeouts - LeBere (Moose Jaw Regals) - 93
Complete Games - LeBere (Moose Jaw Regals) - 8
Wins in Relief - Dayne (Moose Jaw), Thompson (Melville) and Ash (Regina) - tied with 2
Most Appearances - LeBere (Moose Jaw Regals) and Sobkow (Melville Millionaires) - tied with 13
(August 17) The Regina Red Sox opened a 1 - 0 lead in the best-of-5 Southern League final with a thrilling 5 - 4 victory over the Moose Jaw Regals at Ross Wells Park but it wasn't the vaunted Red Sox hitting attack that did it. Regal manager and losing pitcher Mike Dayne blamed himself for the four-run 2nd inning which paved the way to the Regina triumph. Dayne issued two walks to start the stanza, then the Regal defense committed a pair of errors and the Red Stockings ate it right up, to the tune of three unearned runs. It was another tough loss for Dayne to swallow. He pitched a five-hitter and struck out nine while walking four. The Regals put the heat on the winners right to the end. In the 9th, they tallied a brace of runs and had both the tying and winning runs on base before right-hander Fred Cardwell came in and rescued winner Ken Simon. Only one player on either squad, Larry Bachiu of the Crimson Hose, had more than one safety in the contest. Bachiu singled twice. Switch-hitter Ivan Gutfriend of the Royals belted a solo homer.
Simon (W), Cardwell (9) and Logan
Dayne (L) and Tollefson
(August 18) Grease-pit conditions couldn't Moose Jaw Regals' hurler Wayne LeBere as he slipped and slid his way to a ten-strikeout 4 - 0 win over the Regina Red Sox during a steady drizzle at Mount Pleasant Park. LeBere, a probable shoo-in for the Southern League's MVP award, pitched a smart six-hitter as the Regals evened the best-of-five Southern League final at one game apiece. Rain fell softly from the 2nd inning on, then darkness compounded problems, and finally with only one inning to go, a halt to the proceedings was called. Losing chucker Doug Homme gave up only five hits but two throwing muffs, on his part, were costly. Twice, he threw wildly to 3rd base in attempted pickoffs, allowing Moose Jaw runners to trot home with counters. Not a single player on either squad was able to pick up more than one hit. The game's most telling blow was a two-run double by the Regals' Brian Keegan in the 3rd inning.
LeBere (W) and Tollefson
Homme (L) and Logan
(August 23) A wide throw from 3rd base allowed Brian Keegan to scoot home with the tying run in the 8th inning as the Moose Jaw Regals earned a 2 - 2 saw-off with the Regina Red Sox in the 3rd game of the Southern League championship final. Keegan's run was scored in darkness and the game was promptly called off when the Regals unsuccessfully tried to score the winning run too, in the bottom of the 8th. The best-of-five final remains deadlocked at one game apiece. In this exciting game, the pitchers were ahead of the hitters most of the time but the batters had their moments. Regina's Fred Cardwell rang up 16 whiffs in his eight-stanza mound outing. A towering 390 foot home run by rookie Jim Booth broke Cardwell's string of scoreless innings in the 5th. The visiting Red Stockings out-hit their Friendly City hosts 8 to 5. Warren Kivell drilled a pair of singles for the Sox off the slants of Regals' sweeping side-arm twirler, Jim Pettapiece.
Cardwell and Logan
Pettapiece and Tollefson, Hunchuk (5)
(August 24) Pitcher Mike Dayne knocked in two runs with his bat and scattered five hits on the hill to lead the Moose Jaw Regals to a 4 - 1 win and a 2 - 1 lead in their best-of-five Southern League final against the Regina Red Sox. The veteran lefthander, whose control seems to improve with time, had the Redlegs on the run through most of the game and sent them down in order five times. A scintillating defense helped, too, as was the case in a diving, somersaulting catch by outfielder Tim Young with two runners on base in the 7th. Dayne fanned seven, walked only three, two of which were intentional to the Sox' Larry Bachiu, and yielded just one extra-base hit. Dayne's hitting prowess rose to prominence in the 2nd when his long sacrifice fly drove home Moose Jaw's first run. In the final frame, he wacked a single to bring home an insurance tally after the Regals had taken a one-run lead in the 8th on Brian Keegan's double. Regina right-hander Al Ash was tagged for ten hits and took the loss. Regals' backstop Larry Tollefson had a double and single in support of his battery mate. Lloyd Hackel chipped in with a brace of one-baggers. Moe Fleischhaker was best at the dish for the Crimson Hose, slamming a double and single.
Dayne (W) and Tollefson
Ash (L) and Bachiu
(August 25) A home run in the top of the 8th inning by pitcher Ken Simon gave the Regina Red Sox a come-from-behind 3 - 2 victory over the Moose Jaw Regals and forced a deciding game in their final series. The lead changed hands regularly in this tension-packed game which was finally decided when winning chucker Simon blasted Wayne LeBere's first pitch over the right field fence in the 8th and final frame. The Regals out-hit the Reginans 6 to 5. Tim Young and Garry Andrews of the Monarchs, both with a brace of singles, were the only players on either roster to register more than one hit.
Simon (W) and Logan
LeBere (L) and Tollefson
(August 30) Ross Wells Park in Moose Jaw rocked with glassy-eyed frenzy as a wise old veteran, Mike Dayne, and an unearned run in the 7th inning teamed to bring the Moose Jaw Regals the Southern League championship on the strength of a 1 - 0 win over the Regina Red Sox. Responding to the chants of their highly-partisan fans, the Regals pushed across the game's only run as a result of two Red Sox errors and a fielder's choice. Dayne threw a masterful game but hard-luck Regina chucker, Fred Cardwell, was brilliant in defeat. Cardwell pitched the finest game of his Southern League career, but a two-hitter and 13 strikeouts couldn't wrestle the ultimate championship out of Moose Jaw's hands. Although the Sox managed six hits, only two came in the same inning as Dayne kept them off balance and recorded ten strikeouts. The savvy southpaw displayed pin-point control and didn't walk a single Regina batter. Danny Fink with a double and single and Al Herback with a pair of one-baggers were the only Crimson Hose batters to pose a threat for Dayne. The Regals only run was scored when Red Sox' catcher Andy Logan lost a Cardwell strikeout pitch that allowed Jim Booth to reach first. After one batter was retired, Ivan Gutfriend laid down a bunt toward 1st base which Cardwell fielded but his hurried throw to first struck Gutfriend in the back as Booth raced to 3rd. Larry Tollefson's bounding grounder was nabbed by Sox' first sacker Jack Buch, but his throw to the plate was late and Booth slid home safely. The championship was extremely satisfying for Dayne who, after a four-year absence, guided Moose Jaw to their first championship in four years, the last time he was at the helm.
Cardwell (L) and Logan
Dayne (W) and Tollefson