BIRTLE, MANITOBA, TOURNAMENT

(July 1) Hamiota Red Sox were awarded top money as rain washed out the completion of the annual Birtle Sports Day Saturday. All seven of the teams of the Manitoba Senior League were entered in the event.

In the opener, Dauphin Red Birds shaded Riverside Blues 9-7, Ray Strable was the winning pitcher over Garth Seafoot in one of the few games not interrupted by rain. Souris Cardinals then ousted the Virden Oilers 7-3 behind Cece Dawley. Ted Bridgett took the loss. Gary Debenedetti of St. Lazare hurled the Athletics to a 5-1 victory over Brandon Cloverleafs. Rain also hit the semi-final between Hamiota and Dauphin with the Red Sox coasting to a 7-2 win with Glennis Scott on the hill topping Neil Geekie. The second semi-final, between Souris and St. Lazare never got underway. Hamiota was declared champions and took home $312.50.

UNITY TOURNAMENT

(July 1&2) Unity Cardinals took top money in their own tournament blanking Kindersley 7-0 in the final as Tom Sharpe hurled a four-hitter and Erwin Doerksen rapped a homer, double and single. Doerksen was the star of the show as he won the most valuable player, most hits in one game, and first homer awards. Two runs in the first inning proved enough for the win. Jim Shaw doubled and Doerksen slammed an inside-the-park homer. Shaw also had a single and Lyle May added a triple and single.

Sharpe (W) and xxx
Angelini (L) and xxx

Cards reached the final whipping Neilburg 10-3 while the Klippers shaded North Battleford 7-6 in a first round match and then received a bye.

Kindersley's Norm Angelini singled in the 11th inning and scored the winning run when Zenon Markowsky's single got by the Beaver centre fielder.

Unity beat Saskatoon 5-0 in the opening round as Ross Stone tossed a four-hitter and fanned a dozen. Doerksen led the attack with two singles and a double.

Stone (W) and xxx
Simon (L) and xxx

Neilburg edged Biggar 2-1 as Bill Borning compiled 14 strikeouts.

Borning (W) and xxx
xxx and xxx

SWIFT CURRENT TOURNAMENT

(July 2) The Southern League's Moose Jaw Regals won first prize money of $1,100 at the first annual Swift Current Shrine invitational baseball tournament defeating Kamloops Lelands 7 to 5 in the final before 5,000 fans. Paul Longmore, in relief, won both the semi-final and final games. In the final, he bailed out starter Jim Pettapiece in the first inning. Regals opened fast with four runs in the first inning and a pair in the third.

Pettapiece, Longmore (W) (1), LeBere (3) and xxx
Wayne McKee (L), Bud Atkins (1), Gary McGilverey (3) and xxx

Kamloops had reached the final with an 8-2 victory over Regina Red Sox. Barry Elsom went the distance for the win. Doug Homme took the loss.

In the 7-2 semi-final victory over the Central Alberta All-Stars, Longmore was brilliant in relief tossing three and one-third innings of one-hit ball after taking over for LeBere, who had control problems. Gerry Howard took the loss.

LeBere, Longmore (3), Terry Moore (6) and xxx
Howard (L), xxx and xxx

In a sparkling pitching duel, Regals upset the favoured St. Johh, Washington, Indians 2-1 in an opening round match. Terry Moore, a pickup from Transcona of the Manitoba Senior League, fired a four-hitter with 12 strikeouts for the win while Rick Jaggers took the loss in spite of a four-hit, 15-strikeout performance.

St. John took the lead with an unearned run in the top of the first inning and held the lead until Moose Jaw got an unearned marker in the sixth. Regals plated the winner in the 7th when first baseman Brian Keegan singled, stole second and came home on a single by centre-fielder Tim Young. Indians threatened in the top of the 9th loading the bases with none out. Moore fanned one and got out of trouble when the Regals made a double play on a bunt attempt.

Saturday, in opening round action, Kamloops downed Medicine Hat 12-1, Regina got by Swift Current 5-4, and Central Alberta beat Trail 10-2.

The Trail Smoke Eaters of the West Kootenay Senior Baseball League were shelled out of the first annual Swift Current Shrine invitational baseball tournament when they went down 10 to 2 to the Central Alberta All-Stars in their first game of the single knockout event. Winning pitcher Bob Troutman fanned eight Trail batters, surrendered an equal number of hits and walked three. Trail moundsman Terry McGruder, added to the tournament roster from Spokane, whiffed six and walked four. Second baseman Wayne Kew and Ed Legare, a pickup from Rossland, had two hits each for the Smokies.

Troutman (W) and xxx
McGruder (L), Duthie (9) and Bird

PAN AMERICAN GAMES, WINNIPEG

1967 marked the debut of Canada in international baseball. It was a monumental task to organize and field a team and things did not go smoothly, but in the end Canada had its first national team. Wheat Province Diamonds, by Dave Shury and Paul Hack, has a chapter with a behind-the-scenes look at the formation of the Pan Am team.

(July 14) The Manitoa All-Stars downed Canada's Pan Am team 4-1 at Dauphin in the first of seven exhibition games for Canada's representatives at the Winnipeg games. The All-Stars scored two in the first inning and added a pair in the 6th in a sloppy exhibition that featured ten errors, six by the Pan Am squad. There were only eight hits in the game, five by the All-Stars. Gailand Henard worked the first five innings for the win. Lefty Ken Ewasiuk was the loser

Henard (W), Strable (6) and Payne
Ewasiuk (L), Hamilton (6), Stead (7) and Tollefson, McKillop (5)

(July 15) At Virden Saturday, Canada's Pan Am team jumped into a 6-0 lead and managed to hold on to edge the Manitoba Senior League All-Stars 7-6 . Winnipeg's Bob Hunter, who went the first seven innings, picked up the win. Bob Thompson took the loss. Bob McKillop of Kitchener belted a pair of homers and a single while both pitching and catching during the game. Lynn Caldwell had a three-run homer for the All-Stars.

Hunter (W), McKillop (8) and McKillop, Tollefson (8)
Thompson (L), Torres (4), Smith (7) and Gardner

(July 16) Sunday, Ron Stead of the Ontario Intercounty League blanked the All-Stars 5-0 on three-hitter. Mickey Torres of the St. Lazare Athletics was the loser.

Torres (L), Bridgett (7) and xxx, Gardner (7)
Stead (W) and Tollefson

(July 16) Sunday night Canada defeated the Yorkton Cardinals 6-3 at Grandview behind the hurling of Glennis Scott of Hamiota who went the distance. Don Krick took the loss. The Pan Am squad fell behind 2-0 in the first inning before rallying to take the lead with three in the 6th inning. Larry Bachiu and Bob McKillop each had two hits for the winners. Ed Stefureak, playing manager of the Yorkton Cards, had a double and single in a losing cause.

Krick (L), S. Sobkow (5), B. Sobkow (7) and Johnson
Scott (W) and C. Seafoot, Tollefson (5)

(July 17) Canada's Pan Am team won its fourth game in five exhibition starts defeating the Manitoba Senior All-Stars 6-4 at Souris. Ken Ewasiuk held the All-Stars to three hits in registering the win. Dick Limke was saddled with the loss. Mel Smith of Hamiota crushed a three-run homer for the Stars. Three Saskatchewan recruits for the Canadian team - Lane Jackson, Erwin Doerksen and Ross Stone - arrived just 30 minutes before game time after driving for 200 miles.

Ewasiuk (W) and xxx
Limke (L), xxx and xxx

(July 18) Larry Wilson of Hamilton rapped a two-run homer in the 8th inning to give Canada a 7-6 win over the Manitoba Senior All-Stars. The All-Stars had taken a 6-5 lead with a three-run outburst in the 6th inning. Ron Stead picked up the win in relief of starter Bob McKillop. Ted Bridgett, the third of three All-Star hurlers took the loss. Mel Smith led the All-Stars at the plate with three singles.

McKillop, Stead (W) (6) and Doerksen, McKillop (6)
Henard, DeBenedetti (5), Bridgett (8) and Don Smith

(July 19) At Brandon, the Manitoba All-Stars upended the Pan American team 5-1 after being blanked for seven innings. The Stars erupted for four runs in the 8th and added another in the 9th for the win. The contest wrapped up a seven game exhibition series for the squad in preparation for the Pan Am Games. The Stars were aided by two errors and two passed balls in their big inning. Gary DeBennedetti was the winner in a relief role. Pan Am starter Ross Stone took the loss. Bob Wilson of the Brandon Cloverleafs led the Stars' attack with the triple and double. Bob Payne of the Souris Cardinals added a pair of dobules.

Strable, DeBenedetti (7), Everard (9) and Payne
Stone, Hunter (8) and McKillop

By 1963 the Cubans had things well enough in hand to upset the U.S. amateur team at the Pan-American Games. John Curtis, the California Angels left-hander, who pitched against the Cubans at the 1967 Pan-American Games, recalls the Cuban National Team of this period well. "They were without a doubt the best talent I ever saw at the amateur level," Curtis says. "There wasn't any big difference in their style of play -- the big difference was that they were a much more talented club. They could hit, hit and run, steal, and execute all the fundamentals very well. If I had to type them, I'd say they were a team of good fastball hitters and very good curve-ball pitchers."

Before the first Cuban-American contest at the 1967 Pan-American Games the Cuban players came over to the American dugout and gave their opponents small gifts of friendship. "It was a nice gesture, and I remember it caught us kind of flat-footed since we didn't have anything to give them back," says Curtis, who was also surprised that the Canadian crowds (the games were played in Edmonton that year) "were cheering the Cubans, not the Americans." Rising to the occasion, Curtis and Ray Blosse each beat the Cubans once that year, and the American amateurs took the title.

[Cuban Baseball by Bruce Brown, Atlantic Monthly, Jujly, 1984]

Canada's roster : Bachiu Larry 3B, Cory Gene 3B-OF, Doerksen Erwin C-1B, Doiron Phil OF, Elias John LHP, Ewasiuk Ken LHP-1B, Hodgson Brian LHP, Hunter Bob LHP, Hurst Cam OF, Jackson Lane OF, McKenzie Tommy SS, McKillop Bob C, Oaks Maurice INF, Robertson Al 2B, Scott Glennis RHP, Smith Ron INF, Stead Ron LHP, Stone Ross LHP, Wilson Larry OF

(July 24) Three errors in the 4th inning surrounded by infield singles by Arturo Navarro and Nicolas Conteras led to all three Mexican runs as the visitors downed Canada 3-1 in first day action at the Pan Am Games. The defensive breakdown spoiled a strong outing by Ron Stead who held the heavily-favoured Mexicans to five hits in his seven innings of work. Stead fanned ten. Al Robertson of Hamiota and Bob McKillop of Kitchener each had two hits for Canada. The only run for the host club came in the 7th inning on a double by Erwin Doerksen of Eston, a single by Ron Smith of Kitchener, a walk and a infield out by Maurice Oakes of Brandon.

Stead (L), G. Scott (8) and xxx
Bernardo Moncayo (W), Juan Palofax (9) and xxx

(July 24) Cuba's defending champions downed the United States 4-3 in opening round action in Pan Am baseball played at Carman before a standing-room only crowd of 6,548, three times the population of the southwestern Manitoba town. Winning pitcher Manuel Alarcon, the hero of the 1963 games in Sao Paulo, rang up 14 strikeouts. Catcher Steve Sogge of the American squad went four-for-four with a homer, triple and two singles. John Curtis, a 19-year-old left-hander, allowed nine hits and fanned 11 in taking the loss.

Alarcon (W) and Lazo
Curtis (L) and Sogge

(July 25) The United States took advantage of a shaky Mexican defense and Tim Plodinec's five-hit pitching to down Mexico 4-1 to get back in the medal chase at the Pan Am baseball tourney. Plodinec, a right-hander from the University of Arizona, went the distance. The U.S. broke a 1-1 tie with three runs in the 6th inning. The big blow in the frame was a double by George Greer.

xxx and xxx
Plodinec (W) and xxx

(July 25) Ross Stone held Puerto Rico to four hits as Canada evened its record at 1-1 at the Pan Am Games with a 3-2 victory at Carman, Manitoba. Tonight they meet the United States, 4-1 winners over Mexico Tuesday. Undefeated Cuba, the defending champions, meet Mexico in another game tonight. Canada rapped nine hits off Francisco Mercado scoring single runs in the 3rd, 5th and 8th innings. Ron Smith of Kitchener, Ontario, socked a homer for Canada. Puerto Rico got both its runs in the 2nd inning, one on a homer by Pedro Pacheco.

Mercado (L) and xxx
Stone (W) and xxx

(July 26) Left-hander Rigoberto Betancourt rang up 18 strikeouts for Cuba in a 4-1 win over Mexico to leave the Cubans as the only undefeated team at the Pan Am Games baseball tournament. Betancourt allowed just four hits as Cuba won its second straight.

(July 26) The United States downed Puerto Rico 8-3.

(July 27) Canada's baseball squad put on gritty performance Thursday against the United States just hours after learning four of its star players had been declared ineligible for the event because they had, at one time, played professional baseball. Canada lost Bob McKillop and Ron Smith from Kitchener, Ron Stead from Guelph and John Elias from Granby. The Canadians filled the gaps the best they could on short notice but went down 14-10 to the Americans after having trailed 11-2 early in the contest. They fell behind 14-6 in the 9th but rallied for four in the bottom of the 9th off reliever Paul Splittorff sparked by Ross Stone's run-scoring single and a three-run homer by Larry Wilson. Pinch-hitter Phil Doiron knocked in three runs with a bases-loaded double in the 8th for Canada. Second baseman Mike Lisetski was the big bat for the Americans, driving in four runs with a homer, two doubles and a single. Catcher Steve Sogge also had a homer.

Sadelfeld (W), Debolt (6), Splittorff (8) and Wright, Carlson (6)
Hunter (L), Ewasiuk (9) and Doerksen

(July 27) Cuba 3 Puerto Rico 0

(July 28) Canada out hit Cuba 12-7 but made eight errors in dropping a 6-4 decision to the defending champions. Cuba plated three runs in the 3rd inning on two singles, two sacrifice bunts, an infield error and a double to left. Three more came in the 7th on two singles, a fielder's choice and two errors. Canada scored all four runs in the 7th off a Cuban error, three singles and Larry Wilson's double. In two previous innings Canada got lead-off men on base with singles but they failed to advance. In the 6th, Wilson tripled with one out but was stranded at third. A 9th inning rally with two on and two out also ended without a run. Alfredo Street, driven from the box in Canada's 7th inning outburst, picked up the win with relief from Gaspar Perez. Glennis Scott went the distance for the short-handed Canadians. Second baseman Al Robertson collected four singles in five trips.

Street (W), Perez (7) and xxx
Scott (L) and xxx

(July 28) Puerto Rico defeated Mexico 9-5 Friday.

(July 29) Felix Isai clouted a two-run homer in the 6th inning to spark Cuba to a 9-2 win over the United States before 9,000 fans at Winnipeg. The blast over the centre field stands broke a 2-2 tie and gave the Cubans their second win over the Americans and a 5-0 mark in the tournament. The Cubans turned it into a rout with two in the 7th and another three in the 8th. 19-year-old John Curtis from Clemson was the losing pitcher.

Curtis (L), Toomey (7) and Wright
Torriente and Loza, Perez (6)

(July 29) Juan Palafax had a no-hitter until the last of the 9th as Mexico topped Canada 7-3 for their second win at the Pam Am Games baseball tournament. Mexico scored four runs in the fourth inning and added singles in the 3rd, 6th and 8th to take a 7-0 lead before Canada rallied in their last at bat. Ross Stone of Saskatoon, replaced in the 3rd by Ken Ewasiuk of Edmonton, took the loss.

Palafax (W) and xxx
Stone (L), Ewasiuk (3) and xxx

(July 30) A four-run 4th inning carried the United States to its fourth win of the Pan American Games baseball tournament, 6-3 over Mexico. Catcher Daniel Carlson's homer was the big blow. Right-hander Timothy Plodinec went all the way for the win. Rafael Garcia took the loss.

Garica (L), Eduardo Acosta (4) and xxx
Plodinec (W) and Carlson

(July 30) Canada left 15 base runners stranded in dropping a 5-2 decision to Puerto Rico. Bob Hunter gave up just six hits in taking the loss. Luis Medina belted a homer for the Puerto Ricans in the 9th. Cam Hurst had a four-bagger for Canada. Francisco Mercado was the winner.

Mercado (W), Angel Dabila (7) and xxx
Hunter (L) and xxx

(July 31) Cuba 6 Mexico 5, USA 7 PR 3

(August 1) The United States thumped Canada 14-2 to clinch at least a silver medal at the Pan Am baseball tournament. Steve Sogge, the leading US hitter belted a double and three singles while Marc Marquess and George Greer each had three hits in the 19-hit attack. The Canadians made seven errors, three passed balls and several misjudged fly balls that fell in for doubles. Only four of the American runs were earned. Joe Sadelfeld went seven innings for the win, giving up six hits and striking out 12. He walked four. Ross Stone gamely went the distance for Canada.

Stone (L) and Bachiu
Sadelfeld (W), Splittorff (8) and xxx

(August 1) Cuba 6 PR 5

(August 2) Last place Canada stunned the defending champions Wednesday, handing Cuba its first loss of the Pan Am tournament, 10-9. The Canadian squad, plagued by erratic fielding throughout the tourney gave up four early unearned runs and Glennis Scott of Carman, Manitoba, issued seven walks, but they banged out 13 hits, six of them for extra bases to overcome the miscues. Maurice Oakes of Brandon led the attack with a homer, double and single to drive in four runs. Scott had four hits, including a pair of doubles and Larry Wilson added a homer. Scott worked the first seven innings to receive credit for the win.

Fermin Lofitta (L), xxx and xxx
Scott (W), xxx (8) and xxx

(August 2) Puerto Rico 7 Mexico 6

(August 3) The United States upset Cuba 8-3 in the first game of the best-of three final. A four-run 2nd inning proved enough for the triumph. Down 8-0, the Cubans staged a rally in the 8th for three runs helped by walks and errors, but Ray Blosse relieved starter John Curtis to halt the uprising. They held the Cubans to just four hits. The USA collected 13 off five Cuban hurlers. George Greer led the way with a homer and single and Mike Marques added three doubles and a single.

Alarcon (L), xxx, xxx, xxx, xxx and xxx
Curtis (W), Blosse (8) and Wright

(August 4) Cuba has forced a third and deciding game for the gold medal in baseball at the Pan Am Games. In a contest marred by rhubarbs and arguments the Cubans fought back to down the Americans 7-5 Friday before more than 8,000 fans at Winnipeg Stadium. After Cuba had taken an early 2-0 lead on a single by Rigoberto Betancourt, the Americans stormed back with three in the 3rd inning on a two-run homer by Ken Smith and a solo shot by Jim Spencer. The Americans made in 4-2 in the top of the 4th as a double error by by second baseman Felix Isasi led to an unearned run. Cuba responded with one in the bottom of the 4th before the US got one more in the 5th to make it 5-3. But, reliever Jesus Torrientes shut down the Americans the rest of the way as Cuba rallied to tie with a pair in the 5th off starter Tim Plodinec. Cuba plated the winner in the 6th as reliever Taylor Toomey, brother of decathalon star Bill Toomey, gave up a leadoff walk to Arturo Gonzales who was sacrificed to second and came home on a double by Pedro Chavez. They added an insurance run on Elpidio Mancebo's single.

Plodinec, Toomey (L) (6) and xxx
Betancourt, Torrientes (W) (4) and xxx ay.

(August 5) George Greer, from the University of Connecticut, singled home the winning run in the bottom of the 9th inning Saturday to give the United States its first ever Pan-American Games baseball championship with a 2-1 upset of defending champion Cuba. The triumph came immediately after rain had threatened to wipe out the game. The USA had gone into the last half of the 9th tied 1-1, with just one hit off Cuba's ace Manuel Alarcon, and pitcher Ray Blosse of High Point, N.C., College had drawn a walk when rain halted play. When the game resumed 15 minutes later, Mark Marquess of Stockton, California, sacrificed Blosse to second. Alarcon handed Jack Kraus of San Antonio, Texas, an intentional walk to set up a possible double play. The next batter, Mike Lisetski, of Northampton, Mass., singled to left, loading the bases, with Blosse at third. With one out, Greer belted Alarcon's first pitch through the right side of the infield to plate the winning run. Blosse went the distance holding the Cubans to four hits. The Americans notched their first run in the 4th inning as Steve Sogge of Gradena, California, singled in Greer who had walked with two out and advanced on a passed ball. Cuba tied the count in the 6th as Urbano Gonzales reached on an error by Sogge, advaned to third on two infield outs and scored on another error by Sogge.

Alarcon (L) and xxx
Blosse (W) and xxx

SASKATCHEWAN BASEBALL ASSOCIATION MAJOR SENIOR PROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIP

(July 24) The Regina Red Sox are the first major senior baseball champions of Saskatchewan and there is no argument about that. The Red Sox scored six times in the top of the ninth inning to overcome a 6 to 4 deficit and post a 10 to 6 victory over the Moose Jaw Regals in the all-Southern League final. The victory gave the Red Sox possession of the Harry Hallis memorial trophy, emblematic of senior baseball supremacy in the province.

The Southern League dominated the one-day affair at Mitchell Field in Swift Current starting with the Regals' come-from-behind 9 to 8 decision over the Unity Cardinals in the first semi-final game. Unity currently leads the Northern Saskatchewan Baseball League while the Saskatoon Commodores are in second place. Posting two runs in the bottom of the ninth, the Regals knocked the Cards to the sidelines. Left-hander Terry Moore, who pitched only the ninth inning, was the winner. Moore went into the game in the eighth as a pinch-hitter, slammed a home run and then took to the hill in the final session. Tom Sharpe, who went the distance, was the Unity loser. Ned Andreoni and Brian Keegan also hit four-baggers for the Regals while Jim Shaw and Dick Schmidt poled out dingers for the Redbirds.

LeBere, Longmore 6), Moore (9) (W) and Tollefson
Sharpe (L) and xxx

Right-hander Fred Cardwell of the Red Stockings handcuffed the Saskatoon Commodores in the other semi-final as the Reginans blanked the Hub City crew 8 to 0. He allowed only five hits including a double and two singles to Commodore catcher Don Thiessen. The Sox' hurler fanned ten and didn't issue a single walk. Al Hebert, the Saskatoon starter, was the loser. The big blast in this affair was a solo homer by Regina's Andy Logan. Jim Paisley added two singles to the Regina attack.

Hebert (L), Simon (8) and Thiessen
Cardwell (W) and Logan

Catcher Andy Logan singled in the winning run with the bases loaded to provide the Red Sox with the 10 to 6 victory over Moose Jaw in the finale. The Scarlet Hose collected 17 hits and pasted Wayne LeBere, the Southern League's winningest pitcher, with the defeat. Lefty Doug Homme, who toiled the distance, got the win. He allowed only six Moose Jaw hits while ringing up nine strikeouts. Shortstop Ned Andreoni of the Regals lit up Homme for a bases-empty four-bagger in the first.

Homme (W) and Logan
LeBere (L), Longmore (9) and Tollefson

LACOMBE TOURNAMENT

(July 27) Just hours after he was shelled in a semi-final game, Jim Pettapiece pitched Moose Jaw Regals to the title at the Lacombe Lions Tournament. The right-hander threw a three-hitter as the Regals trounced Unity 11-1 in the final. Pettapiece also helped the offense with two hits, scored a pair and drove in the go-ahead run.

Dennis Williams led the attack with four hits in five trips to the plate. The final was played just twenty minutes after Moose Jaw had rallied to down Kindersley Klippers 10-8 in semi-final action.

Pettapiece was pulled in the first inning for Ernie Moser after giving up four runs. Ned Andreoni relieved in the third with the Regals down 7-0. Harvey Nybo's three-run double with two out in the 8th was the winning blow. Larry Tollefson homered for the Regals.

Pettapiece (W) and Tollefson
Harold Hunchak (L), Larry Haylor(8) and May

Pettapiece, Moser (1) Andreoni (W) (3) and Nybo
Mike Young (L) and McKnight

Unity had reached the semi-final round with a 10-5 win over Saskatoon Commodores, thanks to a seven-run outburst in the 9th inning.

Sharpe, Hunchak (W) (8), Haylor (9) and May
Fyfe, Paganucci (L) (2), Simon (9), Coleman (9) and Zeman

(July 26) In opening round action, Unity got a three-hitter and two home runs from Vince Rucobo and downed Calgary 7-2. The 20-year-old left-hander belted a three-run homer and a solo shot. On the mound, Rucobo rang up 14 strikeouts.

Sedran (L), McRae (8) and Longmore
Rucobo (W) and May

Scott Simon, a 24-year-old lefty import fired a three-hitter and fanned 13 in Saskatoon's 6-1 victory over the Central Alberta All-Stars.

Simon (W) and Zeman
Howard (L) and Greenlee

Wayne Morgan belted a two-run homer to help Moose Jaw Regals to a 3-2 win over the St. John Indians of Washington.

Moore (W) and Tollefson
Gray (L) and Williams

Norm Angelini tossed a three-hitter and struck out 13 Edmonton batters as Kindersley began its defense of its tournament title with a 5-1 victory over the Edmonton All-Stars. Don Poindexter led the offense with a two-run homer and double.

Chahley (L), Boyd (8) and Waddle, Kulka (5)
Angelini (W) and McKnight

KINDERSLEY TOURNAMENT

(July 30) The Regina Red Sox of the Southern League exploded for four runs in the second inning and six more in the sixth to trounce the Saskatoon Commodores of the N.S.B.L. 15 to 4 in the final game of the Kindersley Elks baseball tournament. The Reginans had earlier defeated the St. John, Washington Indians 5 to 0 before edging the Unity Cardinals 3 to 2 in a semi-final match. Al Ash was the winning pitcher in the final and was given solid offensive support by Sox' second sacker Jim Paisley who went a perfect five-for-five including two home runs. Dale Zeman led the Commodores with two doubles and a single.

Al Ash (W), Doug Homme and xxx
Coleman (L), Fyfe (5), Hebert (6) and xxx

Saskatoon reached the final with a 4-3 win over Kindersley as Scott Simon scattered eight hits for the win and Cliff Koroll knocked in all the Commodores' runs with a pair of homers. Simon had a double and single while Ira McKnight had a double and single for the Klippers.

Simon (W) and xxx
Angelini (L) and xxx

Koroll was the hitting star, with a homer and single, as Saskatoon got by the Central Alberta All-Stars 8-6 in 10 innings in earlier action. Ed Gosselin knocked in the winning run with a triple and also had two singles. Al Leurer added four singles. Bob Trembecky had a homer and three singles for the Stars. Bob Troutman took the loss.

Troutman (L) and xxx
Coleman, Fyfe (W) (6) and xxx

In other games Saturday, Kindersley dumped the Moose Jaw-Swift Current Combines 6-1 and Unity ousted Edmonton Seals 7-4.

NATIONAL BASEBALL CONGRESS TOURNAMENT

(August 5-6) The Trail Smoke Eaters, using a number of pickups from most parts of the province as well as a few recruits from Spokane, placed third in the six-team 30th annual Washington state National Baseball Congress tournament held in Bellingham. Trail won their first game 2 to 1 over Richland WA in a 12-inning thriller but were blanked 4 to 0 by the Yakima Indians in their second contest as ex-pro Jack Briggs got the pitching decision over Bob Ashcroft. An 8 to 0 whitewashing at the hands of Bellingham Bells eliminated the West Kootenay club from the finals. Al Roemer of the Trailites went 6-for-12 in the tournament, a torrid .500 pace, but Bellingham’s Dana Halvorson was awarded the batting crown on his 7-for-15 (.467) because he hit for more bases and drove in more runs.

The Smokies held an 8 to 4 advantage in base hits in their opening clash with Richland and won the contest in walk-off style in the bottom-of-the-third-overtime session after Mel Dorey and Al Roemer had one-out singles, moved up 90 feet when winning pitcher Murray Gage-Cole was plunked by a pitch to load the sacks. Richland right hander Russ Smith, who came on in relief in the 11th, then jammed a fastball against the ribs of Keith Wilson to force in the winning run.

Fowler, Smith (L) (11) and Wyrick
Gage-Cole (W) and Keller

The leading hitter for Yakima, the ultimate tournament winner, in the Smokies’ second game was Trail native Larry Kissock who went 2-for-4 at the dish. Kissock was voted as having the best throwing arm amongst the catching brigade in the tourney.

Ashcroft (L) and Keller
Briggs (W) and Kissock

The Bells ran away with the semi-final game, scoring a four-spot in the opening panel. The Smokies managed just four hits, the longest of which was a double by infielder Bill Martin.

Monger (W) and Randall
Webster (L), Gage-Cole (1) and Dorey, Keller

SASKATOON EXHIBITION TOURNAMENT

(August 7) Asquith Braves, behind some clutch pitching by Marcel Richard, shaded Colonsay 4-3 Sunday in the opening game of the $2,000 Saskatoon Exhibition Tournament. Les Stack scored in the 2nd and 4th innings and drove in Bev Brooks with the winner in the 8th. Richard gave up six hits, walked five and along with four Braves' errors meant Colonsay had its opportunities. But with the bases loaded and one out in the 2nd inning, Richard fanned Richard Hanson and Lloyd Coffin to end the threat. Again in the 3rd, Monarchs loaded the sacks with two out only to have Richard whiff Robert McLean. In the 4th, Colonsay had two aboard with one out when Richard got another strikeout and a ground out to end the inning. Richard ended with 12 strikeouts.

Johnson (L), Folk (8) and Russell
Richard (W) and Brooks

(August 8) Kenaston, bolstered by players from the Saskatoon Commodores shaded Eston 3-2 to win a semi-final berth at the Saskatoon Exhibition Tournament. Paced by Len Breckner, who had four safeties, Kenaston out hit Eston 11-3 but had to battle for the victory. Randy Munch added three hits, one a double. Ron Fyfe, with help from Scott Simon in the 9th, registered the win. He fanned 11, but had control troubles as he issued six free passes. Ernie Moser took the loss.

Moser, Burnetti (7) and Fetch
Fyfe (W), Simon (9) and Thiessen

(August 9) Kindersley Klippers broke loose for four runs in the 9th inning to down the North Central All-Stars and win a semi-final berth at the Saskatoon Exhibition Tournament. The Klippers rally began with two outs. Bill O'Sullivan drew a walk and stole second. Lane Jackson, just back from a stint with Canada's Pan Am team, doubled to plate O'Sullivan with what proved to be the winning run. It was one of three hits for the Klippers centre fielder. Wayne Morgan and Norm Angelini followed with singles and Don Poindexter belted a double to cap the four-run outburst. Mike Young allowed just five hits in claiming the mound victory. He fanned 15 and walked a pair. Jerry Fouhse took the loss.

Young (W) and O'Sullivan
Fouhse (L), Korte (9) and Braun

(August 9) Dick Schmidt laid down a perfect squeeze bunt in the 10th inning to score Lyle May with the winning run in a 4-3 victory over Neilburg Monarchs. May reached first on a free pass, stole second and went to third when catcher Jim Johnston overthrew second. The game featured the first home run of the tournament, as Ross Stone belted one onto the race track in deep centre field in the 7th inning. After Ed Ralston reached base, winning pitcher Vince Rucobo tripled to tie the score at 3-3. Rucobo, who also had a double and single, held the Monarchs to five hits and rang up 14 strikeouts. Pete Prediger was in the lineup for the Monarchs, it was his 35th Exhibition Tournament.

Rucobo (W) and Doerksen
Borning (L) and Johnston

(August 10) Norm Angelini fired a two-hitter and racked up 14 strikeouts to lead KIndersley to a 4-1 victory over Asquith and a slot in the final of the tournament. Wayne Morgan's two-run homer in the first inning proved enough for the win. Mike Young had a triple and double for the Klippers. Al Paganucci gave up just six hits in taking the loss.

Paganucci (L) and Chatham
Angelini (W) and D. Jackson

(August 11) Ross Stone pitched Unity Cardinals into the final of the Saskatoon Exhibition Tournament holding Kenaston to five hits in a 5-1 Unity triumph. The only run off the left-hander came on Cliff Koroll's towering home run in the top of the 9th inning. Erwin Doerksen ripped a pair of doubles for the winners.

Simon (L) and Thiessen
Stone (W) and Doerksen

(August 12) Before an overflow crowd, Unity Cardinals took $650 top money at the Exhibition Tourney defeating Kindersley Klippers 11-7 in a sloppy encounter which produced 14 errors, 8 by the Klippers. Unity took a 4-0 after two innings and were never headed. Jim Shaw, Erwin Doerksen and Lyle May each had two hits for the Cards. Tom Sharpe went the distance for the win with a seven-hitter.

Pitcher Mike Young of Kindersley won $50 for the most strikeouts in a single game, 15, and Lane Jackson of the Klippers won the $50 award for the most total bases. Jackson and Len Breckner tied for the most hits, six, but Jackson had nine total bases to seven for Breckner.

Sharpe (W) and Doerksen
Poindexter (L), Young (5) and D. Jackson

CANADIAN JUNIOR BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

(August 20) Left-hander Mark Fisher, chosen as the Most Valuable Player of the tournament, fired a five-hitter and struck out 17 Sunday as Manitoba's Brandon Parklanes defeated Saskatchewan's North Battleford Junior Beavers 7-1 to win the Canadian junior baseball championship.

Fisher had fanned 18 in a 17-5 win over Edmonton Blue Willow Angels on Friday night. He spotted the Beavers a run in the first inning and two hits in the fourth then retired 17 of the last 19 batters. A pair of singles by Jack Borotsik and Bill Fairbairn and a pair of North Battleford errors gave Brandon four unearned runs in the first inning. Jim McLachlan knocked in a run in the seventh and Marv Robinson clouted a double and Fisher a single to account for runs in the eighth.

Earlier Brandon downed Ontario's Sarnia Drawbridge 5-1 as Mel Smith blasted a three-run homer and Fisher delivered a key, pinch-hit double. .

In Saturday's action, Sarnia whipped the Saskatoon T'Birds 15-1 while North Battleford, behind Morris Wilson's three-hit pitching upset Newfoundland Terra Novas, the defending champs, 2-1. Terra Nova had earlier trounced BC's Nelson Texans 11-3.

Also see the reunion story in the Brandon Sun of July, 2018

PENTICTON LABOUR DAY TOURNAMENT

(September 1-2-3-4) A beefed-up Trail Smoke Eaters nine won three games and first prize money of $400 in the annual Penticton Labor Day weekend tournament. In their first match, the Smokies defeated host Penticton Molsons 3 to 1 with Bob Ashcroft taking the hillock win. Keith Healey and Bob Cox had homers in this game. In Trail’s second encounter, they faced Vancouver CYO and won 6 to 1. Dennis Zinio was the winning pitcher and received offensive help from John Drysdale who belted a round-tripper.

Sunday, Trail won a close 2 to 1 decision over St. John’s WA. Jazz Rosa went the distance for the Smokies with Mel Dorey nailing a four-bagger.

The Silver City squad lost one game, 9 to 7 against the Vernon Luckies in the finals on Monday but since the tournament was a double-knockout affair, Trail was still in contention for the top prize. Vernon had lost their first game of the tourney to St. John’s.

In the final game of the event, the Trailites swamped the Okanagan-Mainline League club 14 to 4 behind the four-hit pitching of John Drysdale. Of the ten homers hit in the tournament, Trail batters collected eight of them.

KAMLOOPS LABOUR DAY TOURNAMENT

(September 2-4) Vancouver Longshoremen rallied from a 6-2 deficit to down Kamloops Lelands 10-6 Monday to take the top prize in the annual Kamloops Labour Day Tournament. An eight-run fourth inning provided the margin of victory.

Kamloops started fast in the final posting single runs in the first and second frames, adding one in the fourth on pitcher Mike Young's towering homer run, and three in the seventh while Vancouver managed single markers in the third and seventh.

The Longshoremen broke through in the eighth as John Kochan knocked in two runs with a single and Gord Webster followed with a walk. Rich McPhee greeted reliever Don Clovechok with a single to plate two more runs. Buddy Atkins took over mound duties for Kamloops but the onslaught continued. Vancouver collected 12 hits off the four Kamloops hurlers while the Lelands were good for nine safeties. Each team made three errors.

A huge inning took Kamloops from a 3-2 deficit to a 13-3 victory over the South Burnaby Merchants. Lelands collected seven hits and five, bases-loaded, walks in the outburst. Young capped the charge with a three-run double. Randy Rota and Al McKee each had two hits in the inning. The Longshoremen advanced to the final with a 6-1 win over Haney-Hammond.

On Saturday, Haney-Hammond got a two-run homer by Don Wiseman to top North Shore 5-3. Longshoremen tripped up Vancouver Caterers Club 3-1. On Sunday, Kamloops got three-hit pitching by Norm Angelini to beat the Peace River All-Stars 4-2. Burnaby got homers by Terry Schuss and Keith Commons in a 4-2 victory over Victoria.