(May 24) The 1967 Northern Saskatchewan Baseball League season kicked off with two games, the Saskatoon Commodores whipped Kindersley 12-7 and Unity blanked Biggar 3-0.
At Unity, Ross Stone and Larry Haylor combined on a three-hitter to shutout the Nationals. Haylor relieved Stone in the 8th and set down six in a row. Stone had fanned 13 in his seven innings of work. Wayne McKee took the loss, allowing just six hits as he walked three and struck out seven. Unity scored a pair in the second as Ervin Boehm led off with a double and stole third. After a walk to Jim Shaw, Irl Flanagan knocked in the first run with a single and Hank Ostrosky's ground out scored Shaw. They added a run in the 7th when Dick Schmidt tripled and came home on a pinch-hit single by Bud Fehr.
McKee (L) and Martin
Stone (W), Haylor (8) and Flanagan
Bob Lewis and Murray Richardson led the attack as Saskatoon tripped up Kindersley. Al Hebert went all the way for the win. Chick Thompson, relieved in the 6th by Rick Johnstone, took the loss. Klippers hit five doubles, but all came from leadoff men.
Hebert (W) and xxx
Thompson (L), Johnstone (6) and xxx
(May 28) Saskatoon Commodores scored three in the top of the 9th inning but needed an outstanding catch by centre fielder Ed Gosselin to halt a Biggar rally in the bottom of the 9th to notch an 8-6 victory. With two on and two out in the 9th, Gosselin tracked down Bob Panser's long drive to end the game. Ron Martinson picked up the win in relief of Bryan McCauley. Bob Hoult, who came in for starter Wayne McKee, took the loss. Third baseman Al Leurer led the offense with three hits. Hoult, who played in left, before taking over on the mound, had two hits, including a homer. Murray Richardson, and Jerry Knipfel each had a pair for the winners. Dennis Martin and Mel Swyryda each had two for the Nationals.
McCauley, Martinson (W) (5), Hebert (9) and Heit, Dutka (5)
McKee, Hoult (6) (L) and Martin
(May 28) North Battleford and Kindersley each picked up a one-run victory in a twin-bill at Kindersley. Beavers managed a 5-4 win in the opener behind Morris Wilson's eight-hit pitching. He whiffed seven and walked just one. Loser Rich Johnstone gave up just five hits in taking the loss. Morris Stefaniw belted a two-run homer for the Beavers and Jack Rowley had a pair of hits. Brian Boyd drove in two for the Klippers with a homer and double.
Wilson (W) and Johnston
Johnstone (L) and Leslie
Klippers notched a 6-5 win the second game with a three-run outburst in the 6th inning of the seven inning contest. Lane Jackson led the attack with two hits, three runs scored, two stolen bases and an RBI. Chick Thompson scattered nine hits in going the route for the win. Neil Lampitt took the loss.
Lukowich, Lampitt (L) (6) and Wandler, Moore (6)
Thompson (W) and D. Jackson
(May 28) Unity and Neilburg also divided the spoils. Cardinals brought out the heavy artillery to take the first game 17-5. Dick Schmidt walloped two home runs and a single to pace a 15-hit attack. Jim Shaw also rapped a homer while winning pitcher Ross Stone helped out with a double and single. Stone relieved starter Larry Haylor in the second to pick up the win.
Haylor, Stone (W) (2) and xxx
D. McIntyre (L), B. McIntyre and xxx
Bob and Brian McIntyre combined to lead Neilburg to a 6-4 win in the nightcap. Bob scattered eight hits for the win while Brian belted a homer. Glen Thompson had a double and single for the Monarchs. Schmidt had another homer for the Cardinals. Jim Delaney took the loss.
Delaney (L), xxx (1) and xxx
B. McIntyre (W) and xxx
(May 31) Kindersley had two big innings, a five-run 4th and a three-run 8th, and that proved enough as the Klippers downed Saskatoon 8-5. Don Poindexter, traded to the Klippers in a deal announced just 24 hours before the game, pitched and batted Kindersley to the victory. He scattered six hits, fanned nine and collected two hits and knocked in two runs. Klippers had ten hits, all singles, three by Zenon Markowsky and a pair by Lane Jackson. Randy Munch had three hits, one a triple, for the Commodores.
Poindexter (W) and D. Jackson
Fyfe (L), Hebert (4), Martinson (9) and Dutka
(May 31) Harold Hunchak won an outstanding pitching duel as North Battleford Beavers blanked Unity 1-0. Hunchak fired a five-hitter for the win while Ross Stone took the loss while allowing just three hits. Don Hilsendager scored the only run in the 5th inning on a fielding error after a double, his second of the game. Beavers saved a run in the top of the 5th as Bud Fehr, who had singled and advanced to second, was thrown out at the plate on a double by Ervin Boehm. Hunchak struck out eight and walked three. Stone fanned 11 and walked two.
Stone (L) and Flanagan, Doerksen (2)
Hunchak (W) and Johnston
(May 31) Neilburg Monarchs notched a 12-10 win over the Nationals at Biggar. Don McIntyre struggled, giving up 11 hits, but managed to go the distance for the win. Larry Flicek led the 12-hit Neilburg attack belting a homer.
McIntyre (W) and xxx
Larry Bojarski, Proctor (L) (2), W. McKee (4) and xxx
Saskatoon 2 1 ---
North Battleford 2 1 ---
Neilburg 2 1 ---
Kindersley 2 2 0.5
Unity 2 2 0.5
Biggar 0 3 2.0
(June 2) Ron Martinson, in what could be his last game for the Commodores, fired a four-hitter to lead Saskatoon to a 6-2 win over Biggar. Martinson, who is being transferred to Prince Albert, had ten strikeouts. Wayne McKee fanned 15 in a losing cause for the Nationals. Randy Munch, Jerry Knipfel, Don Heit and Bob Bjornson each had two hits for Saskatoon.
McKee (L) and D. Martin
Martinson (W) and Heit
(June 4) In a wild day at Cairns Field, Saskatoon Commodores swept a pair from Neilburg, 13-12 and 11-3, to take sole possession of first place in the NSBL standings. The teams combined for 25 runs, 28 hits and 14 errors in the first game and continued the sloppy play with 11 errors in the second.
Randy Munch led the Commodores in the opener punching out five hits, knocking in three, including the winning run in the bottom of the 9th inning. Catcher Don Heit had a triple and two singles. Murray Richardson, the fourth Saskatoon hurler, picked up the win.
Bob McIntyre, Brian McIntyre (L) (7) and Tradewell
Hebert, McCauley (5), Breckner (6), Richardson (7) (W) and Heit
Ron Fyfe racked up 15 strikeouts in winning the second game. Bob Bjornson led the 12-hit attack with a triple, single and three runs batted in. Murray Richardson added two doubles. Chick Kennedy had three hits for Neilburg
Don McIntyre (L) and Tradewell
Fyfe (W) and Dutka
(June 4) North Battleford took both games of a double-header from Biggar, 6-5 and 14-9. Beavers took the first game even though they were out hit 11-5 and made four errors to none for the Nationals. They did take advantage of 12 bases on balls from the two Biggar hurlers. Morris Wilson picked up the win, over Larry Bojarski.
Bojarski (L), Proctor (3) and D. Martin
Wilson (W) and Johnston
Beavers made another four errors in the second game, but managed a 12-hit attack for the 14-9 victory. North Battleford had a six-run 1st inning and a 14-1 lead before the Nationals rallied in the 7th and final frame for 8 runs. Cameron Sternig had a double and single for the winners and Jack Rowley slugged a triple. Bojarski had a triple and single for Biggar. Harold Hunchak captured the win.
Hawes (L), Haud (1), Proctor (1), Clemence (3) and Martin
Hunchak (W), Lukowich (6) and Johnston, Moore
(June 4) Unity Cardinals took two from Kindersley, 5-0 and 12-1. Ross Stone fired a five-hit shutout in the opener helped to the win by Jim Shaw who belted a homer and single. Chick Thompson took the loss.
Stone (W) and xxx
Thompson (L) and xxx
In the second game, Larry Haylor had a five-hitter while the Cardinals rapped 18 hits off two Klippers' pitchers. Hank Ostrosky collect four safeties, two of them doubles.
Haylor (W) and xxx
Poindexter (L), Johnstone and xxx
(June 7) It took 36 games but the Biggar Nationals finally notched a win. After 30 straight losses in 1966 and another six this summer, the Nats came up against the first place Saskatoon Commodores with just one loss in six games. Result - a no-doubt, 12-5 whipping of the Commodores before the home fans. Lefty Wayne McKee, a new arm for the Nationals this season from Red Deer, scattered 14 hits to claim the victory. The Nats got to three Saskatoon hurlers for 11 hits and 12 bases on balls. Larry Bojarski led the Nats attack with three hits and three runs driven in. Dave Kondra and Dennis Martin each had three hits while Murray Richardson and Jerry Knipfel both had a pair of doubles. A highlight for Saskatoon came in the 6th inning when the Commodores pulled off a triple play. With the bases loaded, Len Breckner made a diving catch in right field and runners were nabbed off second and first base.
Hebert (L), Breckner (3), Knipfel (6) and Dutka
McKee (W) and D. Martin
(June 7) Neilburg Monarchs used the long ball to crush Kindersley 12-6. A grand slam homer by Pat Gibbons and two solo shots by Larry Flicek led the Monarchs' attack. Gibbons and Flicek each had four hits and Flicek contributed five runs batted in. Don McIntyre went the route for the win, fanning six. Chick Thompson took the loss allowing 12 hits and 10 runs in his six innings.
D. McIntyre (W) and Tradewell
Thompson (L), Johnston (7) and D. Jackson
(June 7) Unity Cardinals scored five in the first inning and ran up an 8-0 lead after three en route to a 10-5 win over North Battleford and a share of first place. Ross Stone and Larry Haylor combined on a six hitter for the win. Jim Shaw opened the game for Unity with a triple and came home on Irl Flanagan's double. Hank Ostrosky walked and crossed the plate with Shaw as Erwin Doerksen walloped a homer. Mel Dahlseide doubled and scored the 5th run in the opening frame on Ed Ralston's triple. Trailing 8-0, the Beavers rallied in the 6th with four runs helped by singles from Ed Lukowich and Cameron Sternig and a double by Morris Stefaniw.
Hunchak (L) and Johnstone
Stone (W), Haylor (8) and Flanagan
(June 11) Unity received outstanding pitching from Vince Rucobo and Tom Sharpe in downing the Nationals in both ends of a twin-bill at Biggar. Rucobo fired a five-hitter and fanned ten as Cards took the opener 8-1 and Sharpe held the Nats to just three hits in Unity's 11-1 win in the second game.
Cards broke a scoreless tie with three runs in the 5th inning of the first game. A walk to Lyle May, a single by Rucobo, double from Ervin Boehm and a single by Ross Stone produced the tallies. A five-run 7th inning put the game on ice.
Rucobo (W) and Doerksen
Hoult (L), Proctor (6), Hoult (7) and Martin
Cards scored four in the first inning of the second game and coasted to the win behind a 14-hit attack. Jim Shaw had four hits, one a triple. Boehm and Stone each had triples. Wayne McKee took the loss.
Sharpe (W) and Doerksen
McKee (L) and Martin
(June 14) Tom Sharpe fired a three-hit shutout as Unity trounced Saskatoon 8-0 to take a one and one-half game lead atop the standings. It was the Cardinals sixth straight victory. Sharpe, in his second start since arriving from Fresno State University, rang up 12 strikeouts and walked three. Newcomer Ron Coleman, also from California, took the loss. Cliff Koroll, Dale Zeman and Don Thiessen made their debuts for Saskatoon.
Sharpe (W) and Doerksen
Coleman (L), Hebert (6) and Heit, Thiessen (7)
(June 14) Kindersley Klippers ended the Biggar winning streak at ... one game. After the Nationals had ended a 36 game drought with a win over Saskatoon a week ago, the Nats were crushed 15-8 by the Klippers. Biggar out hit Kindersley 14-12, but made nine errors. Ernie Syrota and Zenon Markowsky each had a double and single for the winners while Garnet Hannon and Wally Jackson each had a pair of safeties. Dave Kondra had four hits, including two doubles, for the Nats. Dennis Nicholson had three hits. Don Poindexter managed to go the distance for the win. Import pitcher Travis Simpson took the loss.
Poindexter (W) and D. Jackson
Simpson (L), Nicholson (4) and D. Martin
(June 14) North Battleford moved into second place blasting Neilburg 13-3 behind the hurling of Harold Hunchak who scattered nine hits and fanned 13. Monarchs played sloppy ball allowing a total of 14 passed balls and wild pitches and seven stolen bases. Catcher Jim Johnston led the Beavers with a double and two singles. Import Bill Borning took the loss.
Borning (L) and Barclay, N. Urlacher (4)
Hunchak (W) and Johnston
Unity 8 2 ---
North Battleford 5 2 1.5
Saskatoon 5 3 2.0
Neilburg 3 4 3.5
Kindersley 3 5 4.0
Biggar 1 9 7.0
(June 18) The first place Unity Cardinals swept a pair from the tail-end Biggar Nationals 4-2 and 2-0. In the opener, the Cards scored all their runs in the third inning, two coming home on bases loaded walks. Vince Rucobo tossed a six-hitter for the win while Wayne McKee allowed just five hits, all singles, in taking the loss.
McKee (L) and xxx
Rucobo (W) and xxx
Ross Stone blanked the Nats with a two-hitter in the second game. It was his 5th win in six decisions. Clarence Proctor pitched a seven-hitter in being saddled with the defeat.
Proctor (L) and xxx
Stone (W) and xxx
(June 16) Newcomer Rich Stillinger had an impressive debut, hurling a three-hitter with 17 strikeouts as Neilburg shutout North Battleford 5-0. The import hurler walked five in the 8-inning contest. Brian McIntyre was the big bat for the Monarchs with a homer and two singles. Jim Grant had three singles and Larry Flicek chipped in with a triple and single. Don Frolek, in North Battleford on holidays, took the loss. He gave up ten hits, and had 13 strikeouts.
Frolek (L) and xxx
Stillinger (W) and xxx
(June 18) The league's leading hitter, Larry Flicek clouted his fourth homer of the season in pacing Neilburg Monarchs to a 4-1 victory over Kindersley. Import hurler Bill Borning held the Klippers to seven hits in taking the win. He fanned ten and walked four. The Klippers' import moundsman, Norm Angelini, took the tough loss allowing just five hits while compiling 12 strikeouts and just two walks.
Angelini (L) and xxx
Borning (W) and xxx
(June 19) Saskatoon scored two runs in the first inning and that proved enough as the Commodores downed Kindersley 3-1 in game which had just nine hits but 19 bases on balls. New import Scott Simon went seven and one-third innings for the win. He gave up just four hits, but walked 11 and fanned 10. Ron Coleman finished up. Mike Young went the distance for the Klippers allowing five hits and six walks. He had 11 strikeouts. The Commodores got their first run in their first at bat as Randy Munch scored on a passed ball. Bob Bjornson's bloop single scored Dale Zeman with the second. Don Heit drove in Bjornson with the third run in the 6th frame. Kindersley got their only run in the 4th inning when Garnet Hannon doubled in Don Jackson, who had reached on a fielder's choice and advanced to third on two passed balls.
Young (L) and D. Jackson
Simon (W), Coleman (8) and Thiessen
(June 21) A first baseman in the outfield and a rookie catcher led Saskatoon to a 6-2 win over Biggar Nationals. Murray Richardson was a defensive star with three sparkling catches in left field while Don Thiessen had a pair of hits and scored three times. Richardson drove in the first Commodores' run. Lefty Ron Fyfe held Biggar to five hits and fanned 13 in taking the win. Wayne McKee took another tough loss, giving up nine hits. He was the best hitter for the Nats with a triple and double.
McKee (L) and D. Martin
Fyfe (W) and Thiessen
(June 21) Tom Sharpe blanked Neilburg on one-hit as Unity downed the Monarchs 9-0. Sharpe fanned 13, giving up the only safety to Pat Gibbons. Cards ran wild on the base paths running up 17 stolen bases. Cards got two hits apiece from Ervin Boehm, Larry Haylor and Erwin Doerksen. Rich Stillinger took the loss.
Sharpe (W) and xxx
Stillinger (L), Kennedy (6) and xxx
(June 21) Kindersley Klippers trounced North Battleford 8-0 behind a combined three-hitter by Don Poindexter and Dale Schultz. Norm Angelini led the attack with a homer and single and four runs batted in. Bill O'Sullivan drove in a pair with a single. Harold Hunchak took the loss.
Hunchak (L) and xxx
Poindexter (W), Schultz (6) and xxx
Unity 11 2 ---
Saskatoon 7 3 2.5
North Battleford 5 4 4.0
Neilburg 5 5 5.5
Kindersley 4 7 6.0
Biggar 1 12 10.0
(June 25) The Jackson brothers highlighted a running game as Kindersley swept a double-header from Neilburg, 13-2 and 5-2 in an extra inning. In the opener, Don Jackson stole six bases while brothers Wally and Lane pilfered two apiece as did Norm Angelini. Jerry Flanagan added one. In the nightcap, Lane stole two more and Don added a singleton. Angelini tossed a four-hitter and went two for three to win the opener. Rich Stillinger took the loss. Zenon Markowsky had a triple and double for the Klippers to drive in three runs while Ernie Syrota had a triple, double and single in four trips.
In the second game, Mike Young of the Klippers and Bill Borning of the Monarchs hooked up in a tight pitching duel before Kindersley scored two in the 8th on a homer by Lane Jackson. Young allowed five hits while Borning gave up six. Catcher Jim Tradewell had a double and single for Neilburg.
Stillinger (L), D. McIntyre and Tradewell
Angelini (W) and D. Jackson
Borning (L) and Tradewell
Young (W) and O'Sullivan, D. Jackson (6)
(June 25) Unity Cardinals rolled to their 10th and 11th straight wins Sunday downing Saskatoon 12-2 and 4-2 to increase their league-leading margin to four and one-half games over the Commodores. In the opener, Unity scored four in the first frame and coasted to the 12-2 victory behind the six-hit pitching of Ross Stone who whiffed a dozen. Lyle May led the offensive knocking in three runs with three doubles.
Stone (W) and Doerksen
Coleman (L), Fyfe (8) and Heit, Thiessen (9)
Vince Rucobo put on a pitching clinic in the second game fanning the first seven batters he faced and 17 overall as the Cards won 4-2. He allowed just five hits and walked one. Scott Simon gave up just six hits while fanning 12 in taking the loss. He did, however, issue six bases on balls. Unity broke a scoreless tie with a run in the 3rd following an error and a passed ball. They added two in the 4th when Erwin Doerksen beat out an infield hit, moved to second on a passed ball and came home on a triple by first game batting hero Lyle May, who also had a single.. May then stole home for the third Cardinals' marker. Commodores got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the 4th when Bob Lewis reached on an error, stole second, advanced to third on Len Breckner's single and scored on another error. May scored the fourth Unity run in the 6th when he reached on a fielder's choice and raced home on Mel Dahlseide's double. Ron Coleman belted a homer for Saskatoon in the 7th.
Rucobo (W) and Doerksen
Simon (L) and Thiessen
(June 25) Newcomer Don Guerrero was a breath of fresh air for the Biggar Nationals pitching and hitting the Nats to their second win of the season, 8-2 over the Beavers in the second game of a double-header. North Battleford won the opener 6-3. Guerrero held the Beavers to five hits while driving in four runs with a double and two singles, scoring three times and stealing a pair of sacks. North Battleford workhorse Harold Hunchak took the loss after registering the win in the first game in a relief role. Jim Johnston led the Beavers in their win with a double and single. Guerrero had the only extra base hit for Biggar, a double. Al Paganucci took the loss.
Arnot, Hunchak (W) (5) and Johnston
Paganucci (L) and D. Martin
Guerrero (W) and xxx
Hunchak (L), N. Lampitt (4) and Johnston
(June 26) Saskatoon Commodores crushed North Battleford 21-5 Monday with a 23-hit attack on three Beavers' hurlers. After the Beavers had taken a 4-0 lead, Saskatoon erupted with 11 runs in the 4th inning to put away the home team. Dale Zeman paced the offensive with a home run and three singles. Cliff Koroll added a homer and single as all but two of the Commodores had more than one safety. Winning pitcher Al Hebert clouted a double and three singles while Randy Munch, Murray Richardson and Ed Gosselin each had three hits. Hebert, and Ron Fyfe who relieved in the 8th, combined on a five-hitter.
Hebert (W), Fyfe (8) and Heit
Wilson (L), Arnot (4), Lampitt (4) and Moore
(June 28) Unity Cardinals made it 12 straight wins Wednesday night whipping Saskatoon 10-7 before the home fans. A five-run 4th inning was key for the Cards who survived five errors to capture the win. Commodores made six miscues. Jim Shaw, with a double, had the only extra base hit for Unity. Erwin Doerksen poked a two-run single. Ed Gosselin had three singles for Saskatoon. Tom Sharpe, the first of three Unity pitchers, picked up the win. Ron Coleman was tagged with the loss.
Coleman (L), Simon and xxx
Sharpe (W), Rucobo (6), Stone (8) and xxx
(June 28) At Kindersley, the Klippers clobbered North Battleford 14-2. It was 2-2 after five innings when Dale Schultz, pinch-hitting for winning pitcher Chick Thompson, belted a two-run homer to set the Klippers on the road to victory. Mike Young connected for a three-run homer in the 9th inning as Kindersley erupted for six runs. Lane Jackson, Don Jackson and Jerry Flanagan each had a double and single. For the Beavers, Cam Sternig had a pair of doubles and Jim Johnston added two singles.
Hunchak (L), xxx and xxx
Thompson (W), xxx and xxx
(June 28) Neilburg Monarchs shutout Biggar 4-0 behind the hurling of Rich Stillinger who had ten strikeouts and helped the offense with a homer and single.
xxx and xxx
Stillinger (W) and xxx
Unity 14 2 ---
Saskatoon 8 6 5.0
Kindersley 7 7 6.0
Neilburg 6 7 6.5
North Battleford 6 7 6.5
Biggar 2 14 12.0
(July 1 & 2 ) Unity Tournament
(July 5) Kindersley Klippers halted Unity's winning streak at 12 games, downing the Cardinals 5-1. Mike Young scattered nine hits and issued just a single base on balls to capture the win. Lane Jackson had a double and single for the winners. Young and Don Parenteau each had two hits for Kindersley while Lyle May had a double and single for the Cards.
Young (W) and xxx
Haylor (L), Rucobo (4), Stone (8) and xxx
(July 5) The Biggar Nationals had their biggest offensive output of the season in pounding four North Battleford hurlers for 16 hits in a 12-5 victory over the Beavers. Dan Guerrero fired a four-hitter for the win. He fanned 11, but 10 walks kept runners on the bases. Al Paganucci led the hitters with four hits, one a triple, and two runs batted in. Chuck Martin had three hits. Don Swyryda and Jim Elliot each had a double and a single. Dennis Martin and Mel Swyryda each knocked in two runs with a pair of hits.
Arnot, Hunchak (L) (1), Johnston (3), Hilsendager (7) and xxx
Guerrero (W) and xxx
(July 5) Saskatoon Commodores edged the Monarchs 10-9 at Neilburg. Import pitcher Scott Simon was outstanding for the Commodores holding the Monarchs to one hit while fanning 12 in five and two-thirds innings of relief. He also had a double in Saskatoon's 12-hit attack. Four Commodores managed two hits apiece. Bob Brown, a juvenile player picked up to round out a complement of nine players, had a double and single as did Bob Marik, seeing his first action of the season, and Dale Zeman. Len Breckner had two singles. Rich Stillinger led the Monarchs with a homer. Larry Flicek added a double and two singles.
xxx, Simon (W) (4) and xxx
xxx and xxx
(July 9) Kindersley Klippers trounced North Battleford Beavers 13-2 and 21-15 to move into second place in the NSBL standings, a game up on Saskatoon and five games back of league-leading Unity. Lane Jackson was the man as Kindersley whipped the Beavers. He had seven hits in the two games, three singles in the opener and a grand slam homer and three singles in the nightcap. He drove in seven runs in the second game.
In the first game, Klippers got three-run homers by Mike Young and Jerry Flanagan in an eight-run fourth inning en route to the 13-2 triumph. Zenon Markowsky helped with a double and two singles and Don Hilsendager added a triple. Don Poindexter went the distance for the pitching win. Harold Hunchak took the loss.
Hunchak (L), xxx and xxx
Poindexter (W) and xxx
Norm Angelini had a double and two singles in the second game for the Klippers while Manny Primeau, seeing his first action of the season for the Beavers, belted a homer, triple and double. Ron Erne added four singles. Dale Schultz picked up the win for the Klippers in the nightcap in relief of Chick Thompson. Gary Logozzo had a rough initiation to the league as he gave up nine runs before giving way to Don Arnot.
Thompson, Schultz (W) (4) and xxx
Logozzo (L), Arnot and xxx
(July 9) Neilburg and the improving Biggar Nationals split a twin-bill. Nats took the opener 5-3 riding the arm and bat of Al Paganucci. He fired a five-hitter in his mound duties with eight strikeouts and no walks. At the plate he belted a pair of homers. Larry Flicek had a four-bagger and single for the Monarchs. Rich Stillinger took the loss.
Stillinger (L) and xxx
Paganucci (W) and xxx
Bill Borning twirled a one-hitter in blanking the Nationals 5-0 in the second game. He had 11 strikeouts and just one base on balls. Loser Dan Guerrero also pitched well, allowing but four hits while setting down ten via strikeouts and walking three. Larry Flicek hit his second homer of the day and drove in all five runs. Jim Elliot broke up Borning's no-hit bid with a double.
Borning (W) and xxx
Guerrero (L) and xxx
(July 9) Unity Cardinals moved to 16-3 on the season with a double-header sweep of Saskatoon, 8-4 and 2-1. Cards jumped on Commodore starter Al Hebert for six runs in the first inning of the opener and never looked back. Jim Shaw led the Cards with a homer and single.Tom Sharpe won his fifth without a loss holding the Commodores to eight hits.
Sharpe (W) and xxx
Hebert (L), Coleman (1) and xxx
It was a pitching duel in the second game as Vince Rucobo fired a four-hitter for his 4th victory and Ron Fyfe and Scott Simon combined for just four in a losing cause. Ed Gosselin of Saskatoon was the only batter to manage more than one hit.
Rucobo (W) and xxx
Fyfe (L), Simon (7) and xxx
Unity 16 3 ---
Kindersley 10 7 5.0
Saskatoon 9 8 6.0
Neilburg 7 9 7.5
North Battleford 6 10 8.5
Biggar 4 15 12.0
(July 12) Scott Simon had a one-hitter as Saskatoon swamped North Battleford 11-1 in a game called after eight innings because of darkness. Don Hilsendager, with a fourth inning double, had the only hit off Simon, who had five strikeouts. Commodores had 12 hits, all singles, off losing pitcher Harold Hunchak. Saskatoon plated four runs in the 2nd inning on consecutive singles by Bob Bjornson, Randy Munch, Al Leurer, Ed Gosselin and Dale Zeman. Gosselin had quite a night on the base paths stealing seven bags.
Simon (W) and xxx
Hunchak (L) and xxx
(July 12) Kindersley Klippers took a pair from Biggar, 6-1 and 5-1, getting outstanding pitching from Norm Angelini and Mike Young. Angelini fired a two-hitter for the win in the opener. Ernie Syrota led the offense with a homer, double and single and Zenon Markowsky added a double and single.
Angelini (W) and xxx
Paganucci (L) and xxx
Mike Young held the Nationals to three hits in the second game while Don Poindexter provided much of the punch with two doubles and a single off loser hurler Dan Guerrero. Young's only trouble came from Don Swyryda who rapped a homer and single for the Nats.
Young (W) and xxx
Guerrero (L) and xxx
(July 12) Unity Cardinals kept rolling along with their 17th win in 20 games, a 12-3 spanking of the Monarchs in Neilburg. Cards jumped into a 3-0 lead in the first inning and never looked back. Ross Stone, with late relief from Erwin Doerksen, picked up the win. Jim Shaw rapped three hits for the winners while Doerksen and Lyle May each had a double and single. Art Wieliczko and Chick Kennedy had run-scoring singles for the Monarchs.
Stone (W), Doerksen (7) and xxx
Borning (L), D. McIntyre and xxx
(July 14) Canada's National Team at the Pan Am Games
(July 16) For the first time in seven seasons of play in the NSBL, Biggar Nationals took both games of a double-header. The team which lost all 30 of its games last season and its first six this season, downed Kindersley 4-3 and 9-8 before the home fans. Al Paganucci was the winning pitcher in both games, going all the way in the eight-inning opener and hurling in relief in the second game. He bested Don Poindexter in a pitching duel in the first game. Paganucci allowed six hits and fanned 12 while Poindexter gave up just four safeties and had 8 strikeouts. Jim Chatham, with a triple, and Dave Kondra, a double, had the extra base hits for Biggar in the first game. Dan Guerrero led the way in the second with a homer and double. Jim Elliot also had a four-bagger.
Poindexter (L) and xxx
Paganucci (W) and xxx
Poindexter, Schultz (L) (3) and xxx
Guerrero, Paganucci (W) and xxx
(July 16) Strong pitching helped Saskatoon Commodores to a double-header sweep of Neilburg Monarchs 2-1 and 6-3. Ron Coleman fired a two-hitter in the first game while Ron Fyfe allowed just four hits in the second. All the hits were singles. Cliff Koroll belted a homer for Saskatoon in the nightcap. Larry Flicek led the Monarchs in the second game with a homer and double.
Coleman (W) and xxx
Borning (L) and
Fyfe (W) and xxx
Bob McIntyre (L) and xxx
(July 16) Unity Cardinals crushed North Battleford 12-3 and 12-5 at Unity. Ross Stone was the story in the first game as he pitched a nine-hitter for the win and helped at the plate with a grand slam homer and a single. Jim Shaw and Irl Flanagan added two hits apiece. Larry Haylor held the Beavers to nine hits in winning the second game. Erwin Doerksen had a triple and single to lead the attack. Doerksen, Stone and Lane Jackson left right after the game to join the Canadian National team in Brandon to prepared for the Pan American Games.
Logozzo (L) and xxx
Stone (W) and xxx
xxx and xxx
Haylor (W) and xxx
Unity 19 3 ---
Saskatoon 12 8 6.0
Kindersley 12 9 6.5
Neilburg 7 12 10.5
North Battleford 6 13 11.5
Biggar 6 17 13.5
(July 17) Saskatoon's Scott Simon and Kindersley's Norm Angelini put on a pitching display at Cairns Field as the Commodores notched a 1-0 victory. Simon gave up six hits and compiled ten strikeouts in taking the win. Angelini tossed a five-hitter with twelve strikeouts in taking a tough loss. Randy Munch blooped a single into centre field in the 8th inning to score Simon with the only run. It was unearned as Simon reached on an error.
Angelini (L) and D. Jackson
Simon (W) and Zeman
(July 19) Lyle May of the Unity Cardinals, who lost the batting title in 1966 .405 to .400, is the leader in statistics through July 12th. With a .439 mark, May is well ahead of Lane Jackson of Kindersley who sits at .409. Larry Flicek of Neilburg is third at .404. Jackson has the most hits, 27, runs batted in, 21, and is tied with Jim Shaw of Unity in runs scored, each with 23. Flicek is tops in total bases, 47, and with six home runs, leads in slugging percentage, .904. Murray Richardson has the lead in doubles, with 8, and is tied with Ervin Boehm of Unity with three triples. Boehm is the top base stealer with 17.
Mike Young of Kindersley has taken over the lead in pitching with an earned run average of 0.72, a shade ahead of Ross Stone of Unity at 0.75 and Vince Rucobo, also of the Cardinals, at 0.76. Stone leads in wins, 7, and strikeouts, 81. Tom Sharpe of Unity has the best winning percentage having won five straight without a loss. Harold Hunchak of the Beavers is the workhorse with 82 innings to his credit.
AB R H PCT
May, Unity 41 16 18 .439
Jackson L., Kindersley 66 23 27 .409
Flicek, Neilburg 52 16 21 .404
Zeman, Saskatoon 43 10 17 .395
Flanagan, I., Unity 40 5 15 .375
Doerksen, Unity 72 13 26 .361
Markowsky, Kindersley 67 12 24 .358
Schmidt, Unity 60 13 21 .350
Stone, Unity 51 9 17 .333
Hannon, Kindersley
34 8 11 .324
(July 19) Saskatoon Commodores won their 5th straight, an easy 10-2 triumph over Neilburg Monarchs. Ron Coleman held the visitors to four hits while the Commodores used a 13-hit attack. Third baseman Cliff Koroll drove in four runs for Saskatoon as he reached base in all five plate appearances, a triple and two singles, a walk and on a passed ball on a third strike call. Coleman had a shaky start allowing two runs on three hits, a fielder's choice and a wild pitch in the first inning. He didn't allow another hit until the 9th. Coleman helped out the offense with a triple and a run scored. Dale Zeman drove in a pair with a triple and single. Randy Munch knocked in two with a double.
Stillinger (L), Borning (6) and Wanner
Coleman (W) and Thiessen
(July 19) Matt Young pitched a seven-hitter as Kindersley upset the league-leading Unity Cardinals 7-5 and handed Tom Sharpe his first loss of the season after five victories. Zenon Markowsky was the best of the Klippers' hitters with a double and single while Jim Shaw had a triple and double for the Cardinals.
Young (W) and D. Jackson
Sharpe (L) and May
(July 19) North Battleford halted its losing streak at nine games by trouncing Biggar Nationals 11-3 behind the hurling of Harold Hunchak who tossed a five-hitter. He fanned 11 and walked 5. Dan Guerrero took the loss. Morris Stefaniw had a homer for the Beavers and Larry Bojarski belted one for the Nats.
Guerrero (L), Proctor (8) and D. Martin
Hunchak (W) and J. Johnston
(July 21) Saskatoon made it six in a row with a 5-2 victory over the cellar-dwelling Biggar Nationals as Randy Munch and Ron Coleman each rapped a double and two singles to support the solid pitching of Scott Simon.The left-hander held the Nationals to seven hits while setting down 11 by strikeout. Bob Hoult went the distance for Biggar to take the loss.
Simon (W) and Zeman
Hoult (L) and Martin
(July 23) With yet another sparkling pitching performance, Saskatoon Commodores chalked up their seventh consecutive victory Sunday, a 2-0 shutout of Biggar Nationals. Ron Fyfe had a two-hitter for the win, the seventh straight complete game victory for the Saskatoon pitching staff. Ed Gosselin rapped three doubles in five trips to the plate to lead the Commodore hitters. Len Breckner added a double and single. Al Paganucci took the loss.
Paganucci (L) and D. Martin
Fyfe (W) and Thiessen
(July 23) Unity's Vince Rucobo won his fifth straight game hurling a four-hitter and whiffing 14 in blanking Kindersley 11-0. Tom Sharpe led the offense with four hits, one a double, to drive in three runs. Glen Miller added three hits while Ervin Boehm, Lyle May and Mel Dahlseide each had a pair. Don Poindexter took the loss.
Rucobo (W) and May
Poindexter (L) , Schultz (8) and D. Jackson
(July 23) North Battleford Beavers moved closer to a playoff berth taking a pair from Neilburg 11-4 and 5-4. Beavers were out hit 12 to 8 in the first game, but managed five extra base blows to take the victory. Dick Kennedy ripped a pinch-hit homer in the 5th inning, Cam Sternig had two doubles, one of which drove in three runs, Morris Stefaniw cracked a bases-loaded triple and Ron Erne had a double to go with his single. For the Monarchs, Al Wanner had a double and three singles. Harold Hunchak went the route for the win.
Borning (L) and Bob McIntyre (6) and Wanner
Hunchak (W) and Johnston
Neilburg got an early jump on the Beavers in the second game scoring four times in the first inning. Singles by Brian McIntyre, Wanner and Glen Thompson, two walks and a fielder's choice gave Monarchs a 4-0 lead. North Battleford rallied with five in the 7th and final inning to escape with the win. Erne singled to lead off and came home on Sternig's homer. After Don Hilsendager and Gary Logozzo had singled, Jim Johnston knocked them in with a double. Camen Keller then plated Johnston with the winning marker with another single. Sternig had two singles in addition to his four-bagger.
Stillinger (L) and Wanner
Logozzo (W) and Johnston
Unity 20 4 ---
Saskatoon 16 8 4.0
Kindersley 13 11 7.0
North Battleford 9 13 10.0
Neilburg 7 15 12.0
Biggar 6 20 15.0
(July 24) Saskatchewan Senior Baseball Championship
(July 26/27) Lacombe Tournament
(July 29/30) Kindersley Tournament
(July 30) North Battleford and the Monarchs split a twin-bill at Neilburg. The home team took the opener 8-2 and the Beavers bounced back to take the second game 3-0. Larry Flicek homered in the first game while Brian McIntyre had three hits and Glen Thompson added two singles and a double. Bill Borning picked up the win.
xxx and xxx
Borning (W) and xxx
Harold Hunchak had a five-hit shutout in the second game and the Johnstons led the offense. Rich had three singles and Jim had two. Gary Logozzo and Dick Kennedy had doubles for the Beavers.
Hunchak (W) and xxx
xxx and xxx
(July 31) North Battleford moved closer to clinching a playoff slot and in the process stopped Saskatoon's seven game winning streak with a 3-1 triumph behind a five-hitter by Gary Logozzo who rang up a dozen strikeouts. Manny Primeau had two doubles for the Beavers and Morris Stefaniw and Dick Kennedy each had a double and single. Murray Richardson took the loss in his second start of the season.
Logozzo (W) and Johnston
Richardson (L0 and Zeman
(July 31) Mel Dahlseide threw an eight-hitter in his first start of the season to help Unity to a 5-3 win over Neilburg to clinch at least a tie for first place. Lyle May with a double and two singles and Vince Rucobo with three singles led the Cardinals attack. Rich Stillinger took the loss.
Stillinger (L) and Tradewell
Dahlseide (W) and May
(August 2) Scott Simon fired a three-hitter for his 6th win in seven decisions as Saskatoon Commodores trounced North Battleford 9-1 in a game called after seven innings because of rain. Cliff Koroll led the offense driving in three runs with three hits and also scored a pair. Bob Bjornson had a double and single and Dale Zeman helped with a run-scoring triple.
Hunchak (L) and Johnston
Simon (W) and Thiessen
(August 2) Unity Cardinals clinched first place with a 3-2 win over the Nationals at Biggar. The victory maintained the Cards five game lead over Saskatoon with each team having just four games left to play.
xxx and xxx
xxx and xxx
(August 2) Kindersley took both ends of a double-header with Neilburg, 4-3 and 11-5. Mike Young gave up just five hits in winning the first game, helped by a Norm Angelini homer. Wally Jackson added a double and single.
Young (W) and xxx
xxx and xxx
Don Poindexter was the winning pitcher in the second game as he tossed a nine-hitter and was a force at the plate with a homer and double. Jerry Flanagan and Don Jackson each had a double and single. Jim Tradewell had a double and two singles for the Monarchs.
Poindexter (W) and xxx
xxx and xxx
(August 4) The South beat the North 6-1 in the NSBL All-Star Game. A five-run 7th inning broke open a tight ball game. Four hurlers combined on a three-hitter for the South, led by starter Norm Angelini who went three innings allowing just one hit while racking up 7 strikeouts and no walks.
Sharpe, Borning (4), Rucobo (L) (6), Hunchak (8) and Doerksen
Angelini, Paganucci (4), Coleman (W) (7), Simon (9) and D. Jackson, Thiessen (7)
(August 6) Harold Hunchak pitched the North Battleford Beavers into the NSBL playoffs, firing a three-hit shutout over league-leading Unity Cardinals. The 2-0 victory in the second game of a double-header assured the Beavers of a 4th place finish. Morris Stefaniw knocked in the winning run with a triple. Tom Sharpe took the loss despite a five-hitter.
Sharpe (L) and xxx
Hunchak (W) and xxx
Ross Stone threw a five-hitter in the opener to help Unity win, 4-3. Dick Schmidt clouted a two-run homer and double for the Cardinals. Jim Shaw knocked in the winner with a sacrifice fly.
Stone (W) and xxx
xxx and xxx
(August 6) Saskatoon and Kindersley split a pair. Klippers won 6-5 in the first, Commodores 5-3 in the second. Norm Angelini registered the win in the first game helped by homers from Don Poindexter and Zenon Markowsky. Cliff Koroll blasted a towering three-run homer in the first inning for the Commodores. He also had two singles. Ron Coleman was the loser.
Angelini (W) and xxx
Coleman (L) and xxx
In the second game, Saskatoon rebounded from a 3-0 deficit with a pair in the 6th and three in the 7th to shade the Klippers. Scott Simon picked up the win. Zenon Markowsky belted his second homer of the day for the Klippers and Don Poindexter rapped a double and single. Cliff Koroll with three hits in the first game, added a double in the second.
xxx and xxx
Simon (W) and xxx
(August 6) At Biggar, the Nationals took two from Neilburg, 4-3 and 9-4. Al Paganucci drove in the winner in an extra frame in the opener as Dan Guerrero fired a two-hitter for the victory and helped at the plate with a two-run double. Guerrero fanned 11.
Borning (L) and xxx
Guerrero (W) and xxx
Bob Hoult's homer and Mel Swyryda's double paced the Nats in the second game. Al Paganucci was the winning hurler. Pat Gibbons, Glen Thompson and Jim Grant each had two hits for the Monarchs.
xxx and xxx
Paganucci (W) and xxx
(August 7 to 12) Saskatoon Exhibition Tournament
(August 9) Saskatoon clinched second place in thumping the Beavers 11-3 at North Battleford. The game was called after five innings because of darkness. Al Hebert got the win for the Commodores helped by Cliff Koroll who had a double and triple. Don Arnot was the loser.
Hebert (W) and xxx
Arnot (L) and xxx
(August 9) At Kindersley, the Klippers ran wild for eight runs in the 3rd inning then had to hold on to top Biggar Nationals 15-12. Norm Angelini knocked in four for the Klippers and scored a pair. Don Poindexter belted a three-run homer. For Biggar, Don Swyryda had three hits, one a homer, Dan Guerrero drove in four runs with a pair of hits and Al Paganucci had two hits and three RBI. Dale Schultz, in relief of starter Chick Thompson, picked up the win.
Thompson, Schultz (W) (4) and xxx
Guerrero (L), xxx and xxx
(August 13) Saskatoon Commodores scored seven runs in the 3rd inning and went on to crush the short-handed North Battleford Beavers 11-1 Sunday. With a car load of players not able to make the game because of auto troubles, the Beavers filled with juvenile-age players. Winning hurler Ron Coleman drove in two runs with a double to spark the 3rd inning outburst. Don Heit led the Commodores at the plate with three hits, one a triple. Don Thiessen had a double and single.
Johnston (L), Dave Moore (6) and Bob Brown
Coleman (W), Fyfe (7) and Thiessen
(August 13) Unity Cardinals knocked off KIndersley 9-2 getting home runs from Ross Stone and Jim Shaw. Mel Dahlseide was the winner over Norm Angelini.
Dahlseide (W) and xxx
Angelini (L) and xxx
(August 14) Unity wrapped up the regular season with their 25th win in 30 games, a 9-2 triumph over Neilburg Monarchs. Ervin Boehm, the regular shortstop, took to the mound and was solid in pitching the win striking out 11 batters. He was a force at the plate as well with three hits. Larry Flicek had an inside-the-park homer and a single. Erwin Doerksen and Larry Safronetz each had three hits. For the Monarchs, Pat Gibbons rapped three singles.
xxx and xxx
Boehm (W) and xxx
Unity 25 5 ---
Saskatoon 20 10 5.0
Kindersley 16 14 9.0
North Battleford 12 18 13.0
Neilburg 8 22 17.0
Biggar 8 22 17.0
Playoffs
(August 16) Import hurler Scott Simon was front and centre as Saskatoon won it's playoff opener 3-1 over Kindersley. The left-hander held the Klippers to just three singles and rang up 15 strikeouts. In the 7th inning, Simon reached on a walk, stole second and scored what proved to be the winning run on an error. KIndersley took the lead in the top of the 6th as Don Poindexter drove in Don Jackson. Len Breckner tied it in the bottom of the 6th with a long homer to centre. Commodores notched an insurance run in the 8th as Cliff Koroll got a free pass, stole second, made it to third on a wild pitch and scored on passed ball. Saskatoon had just three hits off MIke Young but took advantage of seven bases on balls.
Young (L) and Don Jackson
Simon (W) and Thiessen
(August 16) A three-run 3rd inning proved decisive as Unity Cardinals dumped North Battleford Beavers 5-2. Vince Rucobo held the Beavers to five hits in claiming the pitching win. Cards had 11 hits off loser Harold Hunchak. Jim Shaw led the winners with three singles.
Hunchak (L) and Johnston
Rucobo (W) and Doerksen
(August 19) Kindersley Klippers shaded Saskatoon 4-3 in a controversial finish to tie the playoff series at a game apiece. The Commodores had taken a 5-4 lead with two runs in the top of the 9th inning when the game was called because of darkness and the score reverted to the last full inning, giving Klippers the victory. Don Poindexter belted a homer for the winners and Dale Zeman had one for Saskatoon. Norm Angelini picked up the win over Al Hebert.
Hebert (L) and xxx
Angelini (W) and xxx
(August 20) Len Breckner's 8th inning single drove in Bob Marik with the winning run as Saskatoon edged Kindersley 3-2 to take a 2-1 game lead in their semi-final series. Marik had reached on a fielder's choice and advanced on a wild pitch. He had tied the game 2-2 with a homer in the 6th. Ed Gosselin belted a homer in the 3rd for the first Saskatoon run. Wally Jackson doubled in Don Jackson in the 3rd and again in the 5th to account for the Kindersley scoring. Scott Simon was the winning pitcher with a five-hitter.
Simon (W) and Thiessen
Young (L) and D. Jackson
(August 21) Cam Sternig belted a triple and three singles, good for three runs batted in, to lead North Battleford to an 12-7 win over Unity to tie their semi-final series at one game each. Jim Johnston had a pair of singles to drive in three. Beavers had 12 hits and were helped by eight Unity errors in beating Vince Rucobo, who had gone unbeaten during the regular season. Harold Hunchak went all the way for the pitching win and belted a triple in the 6th inning which broke a 6-6 tie.
Rucobo (L) and xxx
Hunchak (W) and xxx
(August 21) Former Saskatoon Commodore Don Poindexter had his best pitching performance of the season Monday night firing a three-hitter to shutout the Commodores 3-0 as Kindersley tied the semi-final series at two games apiece. The import hurler set down 12 by strikeout and walked just one. Second baseman Zenon Markowsky led the Klippers with three hits while scoring once and driving in another. Shortstop Mike Young reached base four times, twice on walks, twice on doubles. He drove in one and scored one.
Poindexter (W) and D. Jackson
Fyfe (L), Hebert (9) and Thiessen
(August 22) Lefty Ross Stone blanked the Beavers on five hits as Unity took a 2-1 game lead in their semi-final series with a 6-0 win over North Battleford. Stone, who fanned 12, also provided some help on the offense with a triple. Ervin Boehm led the attack with a double and a pair of singles. Erwin Doerksen's triple in the 3rd inning drove in catcher Lyle May with what proved to be the winning run. Morris Stefaniw had a double and single for the Beavers. Gary Logozzo took the loss.
Logozzo (L) and Johnston, Moore (7)
Stone (W) and May
(August 23) Right fielder Bob Lewis singled in Don Thiessen in the bottom of the 9th inning to give Saskatoon a hard-fought 5-4 victory in their semi-final series with Kindersley. Commodores now lead the series 3 games to 2. Thiessen reached on a fielder's choice and advanced to second on a single by winning pitcher Scott Simon. It was a wild affair which saw Saskatoon manager Spero Leakos and Al Leurer ejected in the 8th inning after a disputed call at first base. In the 4th inning, Leakos had announced Saskatoon was playing the game under protest because of a controversial call on a ball hit down the third base line. In the 6th inning Len Breckner slid into first baseman Don Poindexter when thrown out by shortstop Mike Young. Poindexter appeared to be hurt on the play but recovered quickly to put in another strong game. Saskatoon scored a pair in the 8th - on three walks, two passed balls and a wild pitch - to take a 4-3 margin, but the Klippers rallied in the 9th to tie as Zenon Markowsky doubled and came around to score on Don Jackson's bloop single. Simon allowed nine hits in registering the win. Norm Angelini gave up just five in taking the loss.
Angelini (L) and D. Jackson
Simon (W) and Thiessen
(August 23) Jim Shaw and Lyle May each had four hits to pace a 14-hit attack as Unity downed North Battleford 10-6 to take a 3-1 game lead in their semi-final series. Shaw belted a triple and three singles while May knocked in three with two doubles and a pair of singles. Erwin Doerksen and Dick Schmidt each knocked in a pair with a double and single. Morris Stefaniw had a pair of RBI for the Beavers. Tom Sharpe gave up eight hits and had 14 strikeouts in gaining the win.
Sharpe (W) and May
Hunchak (L), Morris Wilson (5) and Johnston
(August 25) Unity Cardinals won a berth in the league final knocking off North Battleford 5-2 to take their semi-final series in five games. Vince Rucobo fired a four-hitter, with 13 strikeouts, for the win. He drove in two runs for the Cards with a double in the 6tth inning. Dick Schmidt plated a pair in the first inning with a double. Don Arnot allowed just four hits in being saddled with the loss.
Arnot (L) and xxx
Rucobo (W) and xxx
(August 25) Kindersley Klippers scored two runs in each of the first four innings and cruised to an 11-5 win over Saskatoon to force a seventh and deciding game in their semi-final series. Mike Young scattered nine hits for the win. He whiffed 12 and walked four. Al Hebert took the loss. Jerry Flanagan and Norm Angelini each had a double and single for the winners. In a mid-game ceremony, league statistician Eldon Elliott made a special presentation to Angelini as the league's top hitter during the 1967 season.
Hebert (L), Coleman (4), Koroll (7) and Thiessen
Young (W) and D. Jackson
(August 27) Saskatoon Commodores downed Kindersley 3-1 to capture a berth in the NSBL final series against the Unity Cardinals. Scott Simon won his fourth game of the semi-final series blanking the Klippers until the 7th inning when shortstop Mike Young reached on an error, advanced on a single by Don Poindexter and came around to score on a throwing error by right fielder Bob Lewis. An error by Young in the first inning led to the first Saskatoon marker. Commodores scored what turned out to be the winner in the second frame on doubles by Simon and left fielder Ron Wallace. Norm Angelini took the loss.
Angelini (L) and xxx
Simon (W) and xxx
Final Series
(August 28) Saskatoon Commodores took a 4-0 lead after three innings and managed to hold on for a 4-3 victory over Unity Cardinals in the opening game of the NSBL final series. Commodores jumped on Unity ace Ross Stone for a run in the first inning. Second baseman Dale Zeman tripled and scored on an error. Saskatoon added three in the 3rd inning as Don Thiessen singled and Zeman reached on a fielder's choice. Four successive singles by Bob Lewis, Cliff Koroll, Len Breckner and Ed Gosselin followed before Stone got out of the inning. Cardinals responded with one in the 4th as Jim Shaw reached on an error and scored on singles by Erwin Doerksen and Dick Schmidt. They narrowed the count to 4-2 in the 7th inning on singles by Larry Haylor and Mel Dahlseide and Stone's double. Tom Sharpe belted a pinch-hit homer in the bottom of the 9th to bring Unity to within a run but Al Hebert pitched out of trouble to claim the mound victory.
Hebert (W) and Thiessen
Stone (L) and May
(August 29) Third baseman Dick Schmidt blasted a three-run homer in the first inning to set Unity Cardinals on a path to a 7-2 triumph to tie their final series at one game apiece. Schmidt later added two singles. Tom Sharpe was just that, sharp. He allowed just five hits, two in the 6th inning when the Commodores scored both their runs. Ron Fyfe was tagged with the loss giving up five runs in five innings.
Sharpe (W) and May
Fyfe (L), Coleman (6) and Thiessen
(August 30) Vince Rucobo shut down Saskatoon on five hits and registered 13 strikeouts as Unity Cardinals took a 2-1 game lead in the NSBL final series, thumping the Commodores 6-0. Rucobo helped at the plate with a two-run double in the 8th inning. Erwin Doerksen had a run-scoring double in the first inning, the only run, it turned out, the Cardinals needed. Scott Simon took the loss, despite a fine seven-hitter. All the Unity runs were unearned thanks to five Commodores' errors.
Simon (L) and Thiessen
Rucobo (W) and May
(September 1) Unity Cardinals again got off to a quick start with a five-run 2nd inning en route to a 10-5 victory over Saskatoon and a 3-1 game lead in their final series. It was deuces wild for the Cards in their big second frame as they combined two hits with two walks, two errors and two wild pitches for their five-spot. They added another run in the 3rd, what turned out to be the winning marker, when Vince Rucobo belted one over the left field fence. Cliff Koroll made it close with a three-run homer for the Commodores in the 5th, but the Cardinals scored another four in the 8th - on two hits, two errors, three walks and a passed ball - to salt away the victory. Ross Stone, with relief help from Tom Sharpe in the 6th, picked up the win.
Stone (W), Sharpe (6) and May
Hebert (L), Coleman (3) and Thiessen
(September 3) Vince Rucobo pitched Unity Cardinals to the Northern Saskatchewan Baseball League title Sunday giving up just five hits in shutting down the Saskatoon Commodores 2-0 to take the best-of-seven series in five games. Cards lost the opener then roared back with four straight wins. Rucobo set down 16 by strikeout and walked just two in his complete game performance. Lyle May scored the first Cards' run in the 4th inning when he led off with a single, took second on an error on an attempted pick off, moved to third on a passed ball and scored on a sacrifice fly by Erwin Doerksen. In the 5th, Jim Shaw doubled in Ervin Boehm to complete the scoring. Scott Simon again pitched well but ended up with a loss. He allowed just nine hits and walked one.
Simon (L) and Thiessen, Zeman (7)
Rucobo (W) and May