ALBERTA MAJOR BASEBALL LEAGUE
The Calgary entries were reduced to two in 1969 with the dissolution of the Cascades but the composition of the circuit remained at six entries with the addition of the Drumheller Miners.
Calgary Giants
Calgary Odeons
Drumheller Star Miners
Edmonton Baldwin & Knoll Oilers
Edmonton Blue Willow Angels
Edmonton Martin Estate Tigers
(May 18) The Edmonton Blue Willow Angels kicked off their Alberta Major Baseball League season with a two-game sweep over the visiting Calgary Odeons. The Cherubs scored seven runs in the second inning to win their opener 11 to 5 at Renfrew Park and lost no momentum by taking the second game 5 to 3. The Odeons ran into pitching problems early in their first game and were plagued by it all day.
Starting heaver Terry Prokopy of the Cow Towners ran into trouble in the second spasm of the lid-lifter. After filling the sacks on three consecutive bases-on-balls, he served up a meatball to Gerry Walker who lashed it out for a three-run double. That started a seven-run Halo rally that spelled defeat for the Odeons. Malcolm Lynn tossed a steady five-hitter for Blue Willow, ringing up ten punchouts. Walker, a fine addition at the hot corner, led the Angels in hitting with two doubles and a single, good for four RBI’s. Don Darling at second base had two safeties and knocked in three tallies. Ron Ernie was best with the baton for the Odeons with a brace of bingles.
Prokopy (L), Pushkarenko (2), Miller (4) and McGeachie
Lynn (W) and Hodgson
Wayne McKee toed the rubber for the Angels in the second scuffle and struck out a dozen Calgarians. He tired in the eighth and Jim Poelzer came in to finish. Alf Sedran, last season’s ace chucker for the Odeons, lasted on the bump until the seventh. Both clubs had five hits with Harry Hodgson of the victors and Rod White of the vanquished nine each accumulating a pair.
Sedran (L), Prokopy (7) and McKeachie
W. McKee (W), Poelzer (8) and Hodgson
(May 18) In the Dinosaur Valley town, the new kids on the block, the Drumheller Star Miners, got off to a rousing start by downing the invading Baldwin & Knoll Oilers from Edmonton 4 to 2 in a ten-inning opener and then following up with a 12 to 9 conquest in the twilight tussle.
Harold Hunchak gave up five hits in copping the first-game victory while George McCarthy, who gave up eight base raps, was nicked for the loss in the overtime affair. The Drumheller squad scored once in the ninth to force extra-play then won it in the bonus round by plating a deuce. Frank Losoncy homered for Drumheller while Dave Kosteniuk replied with a dinger for the Capital City nine.
McCarthy (L) and Thompson
Hunchak (W) and Greenlee
The sunset skirmish was a slugfest with each squad slamming the sphere for a dozen base blows. Bill Bester and catcher Gary Greenlee went yard with taters for the conquering Miners.
Brimacombe (L), Littlechild (1), Daley (6) and Thompson
Remillard, Brandenburg (W) (4), Zaichowsky (5) and Roger Pozzo
(May 18) Meanwhile at Foothills Stadium in the Stampede City, the visiting Edmonton Martin Estate Tigers took both ends of a twin-bill by clipping the Calgary Giants 4 to 2 and 2 to 1.
Snapping off his bender as if in mid-season form, righthander Bill Chahley of the Bengals handcuffed the Giants on two hits after pitching six shutout innings of the matinee match. The Giants managed their only two runs against reliever Ross Marian after Chahley retired with a 4 – 0 lead. Losing heaver Dave Twa struggled with control problems and gave up all six Tiger hits before departing in the seventh spasm.
Chahley (W), Marian (7) and Waddle
D. Twa (L), Erhardt (7) and Bjerke
Hard-throwing Al Taylor of the Behemoths deserved a better fate in the nightcap. He scattered six hits and was scored upon only in the fifth frame when an infield error opened the gates for the winning run. Winning tosser Ernie Leeck stymied the Calgarians on only three hits and aided his own cause by stroking a pair of safeties.
Leeck (W) and Dawson
Taylor (L) and Sidle, Bjerke (4)
(May 20) The Edmonton Blue Willow Angels scored an unearned run in the seventh inning to defeat the Baldwin & Knoll Oilers 1 to 0 in a clash of Capital City foes at Renfrew Park. Rick Curtis fashioned a two-hitter in tossing the shutout victory, whiffing 13 along the way. Hard-luck loser Don Katatz yielded just five safeties and rang up 14 punchouts. Rod Gauf doubled home Bill Schur, who had reached base on an error, with the game’s lone counter in the seventh inning.
Curtis (W) and Harry Hodgson
Kadatz (L) and Thompson
(May 21) Lanky righthanded veteran Wally Cross, displaying pinpoint control, surrendered just three hits, fanned nine and walked only one in spearheading the Calgary Odeons to a narrow 2 to 1 win over their inter-city rivals from the Cow Town, the Calgary Giants. For a while, it appeared as though that one walk, to opposing chucker Rick Horb, might be the undoing of Cross. The Giants’ righthander advanced to score a third inning run on Greg Donnelly’s single and Al Johnson’s sacrifice fly for the losers’ lone marker. Both Odeon runs, in the seventh and eighth innings, were unearned but it was walks that killed Horb. He gave up eight of them, struck out the same number and scattered five safeties. Odeons’ tying counter in the seventh, scored by Cross, came courtesy of a walk, passed ball, single and sacrifice fly. The winner, in the eighth, was strictly a Giant gift with rookie catcher Grant Bjerke making the presentation. Following a dropped third-strike, Bjerke threw well-wide of first base and the horsehide sailed far into the right-field corner as Ed Muchowsky, who had fanned, scooted all the way around the base paths.
Horb (L) and Sidle, Bjerke (6)
Cross (1-0) (W) and McGeachie
(May 21) A five-run fifth-inning sent the Blue Willow Angels on the way to a 6 to 1 trimming of their Edmonton rivals, the Martin Estate Tigers. Jim Poelzer won his first of the campaign for the Halos, giving up four hits while swishing eight in a route-going performance. The Bengal tandem of loser Larry Murray, who was yanked in the seventh stanza, and Ernie Leeck, were tagged for 11 hits. A two-run triple by middle pasture patroller Wayne Samis and catcher Harry Hodgson’s single that drove in a pair were the big blows of the Cherubs’ fifth-frame uprising. Hodgins had an earlier RBI to finish the game with three.
Murray (L), Leeck (5) and Dawson
Poelzer (W) and Hodgson
(May 22) The Drumheller Star Miners made their first appearance at Foothills Stadium a winning one, ploughing through the dust and sand for a 5 to 1 victory over the winless Calgary Giants. Jim Belando’s Big Country boys were outhit by the Gargantuans but righthander Harold Hunchak was tough in the clutch with ducks on the pond as he cruised the distance for his second knoll triumph. Hunchak had control going for him, issuing only two free passes, and was immense from the sixth inning on, retiring 12 of the final 13 batters. The Calgarians connected for ten hits but managed only one tally, in the second spasm on singles by Grant Bjerke, Al Swinehart and losing heaver Dave Twa. Derricked in the seventh, Twa gave up all five Drumheller runs and seven of their nine hits. Catcher Laverne Bonham waved the most potent bat for the Miners. He socked a pair of doubles to the dark corners of the Foothills ballyard and added a single. Clubmate Gary Trogan chipped in with a brace on one-base hits while Bjerke, Twa and Doug Chilton stroked two singles each for the losers.
Hunchak (W) and L. Bonham
D. Twa (L), Erhardt (7) and Bjerke, Sidle (8)
(May 23) The winless Edmonton Baldwin & Knoll Oilers had a 6 to 5 edge in base hits but were guilty of six costly errors which resulted in a 9 to 0 loss to the Martin Estate Tigers of Edmonton. The victory pushed the Bengals into third spot in the AMBL, a full game behind the pace-setting Blue Willow Angels, the Capital City’s third representative in the loop. After three scoreless innings, the Tigers broke loose for a four-spot in the fourth frame and added a fifth counter in the next panel on back-to-back doubles by Ross Speers and Ron Watamaniuk. Another quartet of tallies were gifted in the seventh on three errors. Ross Marian won his first mound verdict of the campaign, pitching six complete innings before giving way to Trann Dawson in the seventh. Loser George McCarthy was also replaced in the seventh stanza, exiting in favor of Willie Littlechild. Playing-manager Andy Skujins led the Tigers’ swat brigade with three singles while Dave Kosteniuk, with a brace of one-baggers, was best with the baton for the Oilmen.
McCarthy (L), Littlechild (7) and Thompson
Marian (W), Dawson (7) and Waddle
(May 25) In a two-game set between winless clubs at Edmonton’s Renfrew Park, both the hosting Baldwin & Knoll Oilers and the invading Calgary Giants managed to annex their first victories of the season. The Stampede City nine broke into the win column with a 5 to 4 first-game triumph and the Oilers took the follow-up match 3 to 1.
The Giants took advantage of three unearned runs to record their conquest in the opener. Errors cost the Oilers a pair of third-inning tallies and another in the sixth. Heading into the eighth episode with the score deadlocked at 4 – 4, Al Swinehart, who had ascended the bump in the sixth spasm in relief of starter Al Taylor, singled and was later driven home by Doug Chilton with the winning run. Don Kadatz, combed for eight safeties, was nicked with the setback. Al Johnson of the Giants and the Oilers’ Henry Hodgson each had three base raps for their respective teams. Hodgson’s sum of swats included a two-bagger.
Taylor, Swinehart (W) (6) and Sidle
Kadatz (L) and Thompson
The visitors failed to score an earned run against winning tosser Ed Ashton in the sunset skirmish while Calgary righthander Rick Horb was stung with the defeat, failing to get past the second inning when he was plagued with a plethora of walks which translated into two runs. The Behomeths tallied their lone counter in the top-of-the-third panel, an unearned marker wherein Ed Chala, who had singled, touched home after two passed balls. In the bottom half of the frame, Dave Kosteniuk greeted reliever Reg Erhardt with a solo round-tripper to up the count to 3 – 1 in favor of the Oilmen and that was the extent of the scoring. Kosteniuk added a single to go along with his circuit-jack.
Horb (L), Erhardt (2) and Bjerke
Ashton (W) and Thompson
(May 25) Meanwhile at Drumheller, the second-place Miners lost their first game of the season en route to a split with the Calgary Odeons. The Badlanders of the Dinosaur Valley dropped the curtain-raiser 13 to 9 but came back to win the twilight tilt 9 to 1.
The Odeons assumed a 13 to 4 lead in the first bout then had to hung on for the win in the bottom-of-the-ninth episode when the Miners exploded for five tallies against three chuckers. Righthander Alf Sedran lasted until the sixth spasm and was credited with the pitching win while rookie Ron Pozzo, the second of three Drumheller slabsters, was clipped with the loss. The battle was replete with heavy hitting. Miner third sacker Bob Rawlusyk clouted two taters and shortstop Gord Tucker tagged a third. Odeons’ backstop Bob McGeachie also belted a dinger while first sacker Ron Moffat was credited with five RBI’s.
Sedran (W), Miller (6), Prokopy (9), Cross (9) and McGeachie
Pasutto, Ron Pozzo (L) (3), D. Bonham (5) and Greenlee
Righthander Harold Hunchak shackled the Odeons on six hits in the owl encounter for his third pitching victory in eight days. The defeat was hung on southpaw Ernie Pushkarenko, the first of three Calgary twirlers. Shortpatcher Tucker had the hot bat for the victors in this encounter, driving in four tallies.
Pushkarentko (L), Prokopy (6), Cross (8) and McGeachie
Hunchak (W) and L. Bonham
(May 27) The Calgary Giants appear to have solved their early-season hitting woes but it hasn’t helped them to score more runs. The AMBL tail-enders lost their sixth game in seven starts at a chilly Foothills Stadium, out-hitting but not out-scoring their rival Cow Town entry, the Odeons. It ended 5 to 1 on the scoreboard for the steadily-improving Cinemas who rode the right arm of Alf Sedran as well as the bats of Don Maxwell and Bob McGeachie. The Giants lashed out 10 of the game’s 17 hits but couldn’t amass an offensive of more than one run for the fifth time this campaign. They had four runners shot down at the plate, two of them coming in the second stanza when they filled the bases against Odeon starter Rich Antoniuk but couldn’t score once Sedran arrived on the scene. He yielded six hits and no runs in his eight episodes on the knoll. Maxwell socked three singles for the victors while backstop McGeachie belted his second dinger of the season off the slants of losing heaver Dave Twa.
Antoniuk, Sedran (W) (2) and McGeachie
D. Twa (L), Shorthouse (90 and Sidle
(May 28) The front-running Edmonton Blue Willow Angels won their fifth straight game and remained the only unbeaten team in the AMBL by dumping their city brethren, the Edmonton Baldwin & Knoll Oilers, 7 to 2 at Renfrew Park. The Cherubs broke open a 2 – 2 deadlock in the sixth spasm by putting together four base raps with a costly Oilers’ error which produced a quartet of tallies. Overall the B & K’s booted the ball on five occasions while the Halos played flawless afield. Ken Ewasiuk saw mound duty for the first time this season and went the distance, allowing nine hits and five walks while fanning ten in a winning effort. Doug Brimacombe, the second of three hurlers for the Oilmen, was nicked with the defeat. Gerry Walker and Bill Schur picked up a double and single each for the winners while Ewasiuk chipped in with a pair of one-base hits. Dave Kosteniuk and Ken Michalchuk led the vanquished nine with a brace of singles each.
Neilson, Brimacombe (L) (3), McCarthy (7) and Thompson
Ewasiuk (W) and Harry Hodgson
(May 29) Righthander Harold Hunchak threw a four-hitter and racked up his fourth straight win against no defeats in leading the Drumheller Star Miners to a 5 to 2 victory over the Calgary Odeons at Foothills Stadium. The hosting Cinemas got to him for three singles and an earned run in the opening panel thanks to an RBI-hit by Don Maxwell but, after that, Hunchak held the Cow Towners hitless with the exception of a lone sixth-stanza single. He walked two and punched out 11 in attaining gem number four for the campaign. Starter Wally Cross of the Stampede City nine was nicked with the knoll setback. Gary Trogan had three singles for the Coalers while teammate Gord Tucker clipped the horsehide for a double and one-bagger.
Hunchak (W) and L. Bonham
Cross (1-1) (L), Reed (3), Miller (8) and McGeachie
Edmonton Angels 5 0 ---
Drumheller Miners 5 1
0.5
Edmonton Tigers 3 1 1.5
Calgary Odeons 3 4 3.0
Calgary Giants 1 6 5.0
Edmonton Oilers 1 6
5.0
(June 1) Calgary Giants received strong pitching to send Edmonton Blue Willow Angels to a twin-bill defeat at Calgary, 5-2 and 2-1. Giants' relievers registered the wins in both games, Al Taylor in the opener and Andy Shorthouse in the second. Doug Chilton rapped three hits in the first game for the winners and Al Johnson and Ed Chala had doubles. In the second game, a single by Dave Twa drove in the winning run with two outs in the 9th inning. Chilton, who had doubled, scored the winner.
Lynn (L) and Hodgson
Earhardt, Taylor (W) (6) and Bjerke
Curtis (L) and Hodgson
Horb, Shorthouse (1) and Sidle
(June 1) Edmonton Tigers had a big inning in each game in handing the Drumheller Miners 5-2 and 10-5 defeats at Edmonton. Tigers erupted for five runs in the 2nd inning of the opener and had a seven-run 4th inning in the second. Tigers punched out 11 hits in the first game to beat Harold Hunchak who had entered the game with a 4-0 record. Bill Chahley picked up the win in the first game, Ernie Leeck took the second. The big blow in the five-run inning was Ross Speers' two-run triple. Tigers lashed out 12 hits in the second contest.
Hunchak (L) and L. Bonham, Pozzo (6)
Chahley (W), Murray (9) and Waddle
Torgan (L), D. Bonham (4), Pozzo (6) and Greenlee
Leeck (W), Murray (9) and Waddle
(June 3) Drumheller MIners scored three runs in the 7th inning to down Calgary Odeons 7-4. Right-hander Don Pasutto survived 13 hits to go the distance for the win. Catcher Laverne Bonham had a double and single for the Miners, his counterpart Rich Dawson of Calgary connected for a single, double and triple.
Sedran (L), Pushkarenko (6), Cross (7), Reed (8) and Dawson
Pasutto (W) and Bonham
(June 3) Edmonton Tigers took an early 3-0 lead then needed a run in the 7th to nip the Oilers 4-3. Third baseman Zen Chaba tripled and came around to score the eventual winning run on a single by second sacker Fred Seyer who had three hits. Larry Murray evened his record at 1-1 twirling a six-hitter. Don Kadatz lost his third in a row allowing ten hits.
Kadatz (L) and Thompson
Murray (W) and Waddle
(June 4) Calgary Giants used a 13-hit attack and six Odeons`errors to notch an 8-4 victory Wednesday. Giants rolled to an 8-1 lead before the Odeons managed a three-run rally in the 8th. Dave Twa scattered ten hits for the win. Wayne Miller took the loss.
D. Twa (W) and Sidle
Miller (L), Cross (5) and McGeachie
(June 4) Wayne McKee held the Oilers to five hits as the Angels scored a 7-2 victory. Third baseman Gerry Walker collected three of the Angels 12 hits. Harry Hodgson, who caught for seven innings, also had three hits. Bud Morrison rapped a long double in the 7th to spark a three-run uprising.
McKee (W) and Hodgson, Symington (8)
McCarthy, Ashton (L) (4) and Thompson
(June 5) Harold Hunchak threw a no-hitter Thursday as Drumheller Miners blanked the Calgary Giants 4-0 in Alberta Major Baseball League action at Calgary. The right-hander allowed three base-runners, two on walks and another on an error. He fanned 11 for his 5th victory in six games. Rick Horb took the loss. Catcher Laverne Bonham had two hits for the Miners.
Hunchak (W) and L. Bonham
Horb (L), Taylor (7) and Bjerke
(June 8) The Edmonton Oilers and the Odeons split a double-header at Calgary with the visitors taking the opener 6-5 and the home team rebounding with a 10-3 victory in the second. In the 9th inning of the 1st game, pinch-hitter Dave Robson drove in two runs with a single to help the Oilers to the 6-5 victory. Don Kadatz drove in another with a double and second baseman Chuck Moser had three singles. Right-hander Alf Sedran hurled an eight-hitter for the Odeons' win in the 2nd game as the Oilers helped give away the contest making five errors.
McCarthy, Littlechild (W) (8) and Thompson
Reed, Cross (1-2) (L) (1) and McGeachie
Ashton (L), Littlechild (3), Daley (8) and Thompson
Sedran (W) and McGeachie
(June 8) Edmonton Blue Willow Angels took a pair from the Calgary Giants, 6-5, with a run in the bottom of the 9th, and 11-3. With the score tied 5-5 in the 9th inning of the first game, pitcher Ken Ewasiuk doubled and an error on Don Darling's infielder grounder allowed the winning run to cross the plate. Giants committed eight errors in total. Ewasiuk held the Giants to eight hits in claiming the mound victory. Dave Twa took the loss. In the second game, Angels scored three runs in the 1st and 2nd innings and added five in the 6th. Each team had 13 hits. Malcolm Lynn managed to go the distance for the win.
Erhardt, Webb (6), D. Twa (L) (6) and Bjerke
Ewasiuk (W) and Hodgson
Taylor (L), Shorthouse (1), Swinehart (6) and Bjerke, D. Twa (1), Keefer (7)
Lynn (W) and Hodgson
(June 8) Edmonton Tigers had 25 hits on the day in sweeping a twin-bill from the Drumheller Miners 8-3 and 11-5. Larry Murray, who pitched a six-hitter in the 1st game, helped the offense with a triple and shortstop Ron Watamaniuk had three singles and drove in a pair. Watamaniuk belted a 5th inning homer and also had a double in the second game while second baseman Julie Owchar bashed a homer and scored three times.
Murray (W) and Waddle
Roger Pozzo (L), Berlando (8) and L. Bonham
Leeck, Dawson (W) (2) and Waddle, Bradshaw (6)
Pasutto (L), Berlando (2), Rawlusyk (7) and L. Bonham, Greenlee (7)
(June 10) Calgary Odeons trounced the Giants 8-0 behind the shutout pitching of Ernie Pushkarenko who picked up his first win of the season throwing a six-hitter. Murney Nellis led the attack with three singles and two runs batted in. Bob McGeachie knocked in two runs with a pair of singles. Don Maxwell also had two hits for the Odeons.
A. Taylor (L), D. Twa (4), Duncan (8) and Sidle, G. Taylor (8)
Pushkarenko (W) and McGeachie
(June 10) Catcher Wally Waddle singled in pitcher Bill Chahley in the 3rd inning and the Edmonton Tigers made it stand up for a 1-0 victory over the Oilers in a well-played game at Edmonton. Chahley held the Oilers to five hits while striking out 11 and allowing just one base on balls. For the Oilers, Don Kadatz also tossed a five-hitter but took the loss, his third.
Kadatz (L) and Thompson
Chahley (W) and Waddle
(June 11) Don Kadatz and Ed Ashton combined to scored the winning run in the bottom of the 11th inning Wednesday as the Edmonton Oilers upended the Blue Willow Angels 4-3. Kadatz, playing first base, doubled, advanced on an error and scored on Ashton's single for this third run of the game. George McCarthy registered his first win in three starts in tossing a five-hitter.
Poelzer, Lynn (L) (2-2) (9) and Hodgson
McCarthy (W) (1-2) and Thompson
(June 12) Calgary Odeons scored five runs in the 1st inning and cruised to an 11-3 victory over Drumheller Thursday. Ron Moffat knocked in three runs for the winners with a pair of hits. Wally Cross scattered nine hits for the pitching win. Harold Hunchak allowed 11 hits in going the distance for the Miners.
Hunchak (L) and Bonham
Cross (2-2) (W) and McGeachie
(June 13) Al Symington, in a rare appearance in the lineup this season, was the story for the Edmonton Angels in an 8-7, 10-inning, victory over Edmonton Tigers. Symington belted a homer in the 8th inning to knot the count at 7-7 then reached on a bunt in the bottom of the 10th, advanced on an error and came around to score the winning run on Don Darling's single. Down 4-0 in the 3rd inning, Bud Morrison's homer for the Angels sparked a four-run uprising and a tie after three innings. Tigers went ahead 7-4 in the 5th before the Angels fought back with a pair in the 5th and Symington's blast in the 8th to again pull into a tie. Bill Schur led the Angels with three hits, one a double. Malcolm Lynn picked up the win in relief.
Dawson, Leeck (L) (5) and Waddle
A. McKee, Lynn (W) (5) and Hodgson
Edmonton Tigers 9 2 ---
Edmonton Angels 9 3 0.5
Drumheller Miners 7 6
3.0
Calgary Odeons 6 7 4.0
Calgary Giants 4 10 6.5
Edmonton Oilers 3 10 7.0
(June 15) Drumheller Miners took a pair of one-run decisions from the Calgary Giants in play at Drumheller. Right fielder Laverne Bonham hit a two-run single in the bottom of the 9th inning Sunday to give the Miners a 7-6 win in the second game of the double-header. In the opener, shortstop Bill Bester led the Miners' attack with a two-run homer and a single as Drumheller notched an 8-7 victory. Bob Trembecky also had a homer for the winners and Gordon Tucker hit a double and two singles. Bonham had the second of two triples on the day. Calgary catcher John Sidle belted a homer for the Giants.
Erhardt, D. Twa (L) (3) and Sidle
Torgan, Pasutto (W) (3) and Bonham
Taylor, Duncan (L) (8) and Keeler, Sidle (6)
Zaichowsky, Hunchak (W) (4) and Greenlee
(June 17) A seven-run sixth inning carried the Drumheller Miners to an 8-6 victory over Calgary Odeons. Harold Hunchak survived 11-hits to post his seventh win of the season. Miners rapped 13 hits in the win.
Hunchak (7-2) (W) and Bonham
Sedran (3-3) (L), Pusharenko (6) and McGeachie
The Oilers finally got enough runs to get hard-luck hurler Don Kadatz his first win of the season. They pounded out 11 hits in an 8-4 decision over the Edmonton Angels. Kadatz had lost four straight one-run games, two of them by 1-0 scores. Outfielder Ed Ashton, who had three hits including a double, plated the winner in the eighth inning on a passed ball.
Kadatz (1-4) (W) and Thompson
Poelzer (1-1) (L), Lynn (8) and Hodgson
(June 18) After blowing an early lead, Calgary Giants rallied from a 7-6 deficit with a five run outburst in the sixth and went on to topple the Odeons 14-7. High winds helped the teams put on a 25-hit show. Lyle Moffat had put the Giants in fron with a two-run homer in the first inning, his second homer in three games. Al Johnson and Dave Twa each socked three hits. Doug Chilton poked a pair of two-baggers. Al Swinehart picked up the win in relief blanking the Odeons over the last four innings.
Cross (2-3) (L), Reed (6), Prokopy (6), Sim (8) and MacRae, McGeachie (6)
Shorthouse, Swinehart (2-0) (6) and Bjerke
Before the largest crowd in years, 3,800 on Little League night, the Edmonton Tigers were handed two gift runs in the bottom of the 10th inning to edge the Angels 8-7. With two out and runners on second and third, Trann Dawson reached on an error as the two runners romped home. Five of the Tigers' runs were unearned. They were out hit 14 to 5. Dawson picked up the win in relief.
W.McKee (L( (2-1) and Hodgson
Leeck, Chahley (2), Dawson (W) (2-0) (9) and Franchuk
(June 20) Larry Proctor rapped a two-run single in the bottom of the ninth inning Friday to give Edmonton Oilers a 10-9 victory over the Edmonton Tigers after the Tigers had taken the lead with three runs in the top of the final frame. Reliever Don Kadatz picked up the win, with Trann Dawson saddled with the loss. Catcher Dick Thompson blasted a three-run homer in the seventh for the Oilers, who out-hit the tigers 16-14.
Murray, Dawson (2-1) (L), (5) and Franchuk
Wilson, McCarthy (6), Kadatz (2-4) (W) (8) and Thomson
(June 24) Edmonton Oilers posted their four straight win Tuesday beating Edmonton Tiger ace Bill Chahley 2-1. Chahley had given Tigers the early lead in the fifth inning as he singled and came around to score on a two-bagger by catcher Orville Franchuk. But hits by second baseman Chuck Moser, pinch-hitter Dave Robson and right fielder Dave Kosteniuk plated two runs for the victory. George McCarthy held the Tigers to five hits in going the distance for the win. Ed Ashton had two of the Tigers' hits, one for three bases.
Chahley (3-1) (L) and Franchuk
McCarthy (W) (2-2) and Thompson
(June 25) Malcolm Lynn pitched and batted the Edmonton Angels to an 8-2 win over the Tigers Wednesday night. He hurled a seven-hitter for his fourth win in six decisions and had three hits including a two-run single in the Angels' five-run second stanza. Larry Murray took the loss.
Lynn (W) (4-2) and xxx
Murray (L), Leeck (2) and xxx
(June 27) The rain and and cold couldn't suprress the screams from Pony Night crowd of 2,110 Friday as the Calgary Odeons downed the Giants 7-2 in an abbreviated contest at Foothills Stadium. The win kept the Odeons in fourth place, a half game ahead of the surging Oilers who won their fifth straight at Edmonton. The game was called after seven innings. Giants starter Dave Twa didn't give up a hit in 1 2/3s innings but allowed two runs on three walks, a hit batsman and two wild pitches. Reliever Bob Duncan yielded just four hits. Right-hander Alf Sedran scattered seven hits in going the route for the win, his fourth in seven decisions. He fanned nine. At the plate, Sedran had two hits and drove in a pair.
Sedran (W) (4-3) and McGeachie
D.Twa (L) (1-6), Duncan (2) and Sidle
After an 0-4 start to the season, Don Kadatz won his third consecutive decision holding the Angels to just five hits as the Oilers prevailed 2-1. Third sacker Dennis Michaelchuk scored both runs. He walked in the first and Ed Ashton singled him home and drew another free pass in the eighth when Dave Kosteniuk brought in the marker. The lone run against Kadatz came on a wild pitch. Harry Hodgson, usually catching, took over mound duties and took a tough loss allowing just five hits.
Kadatz (W) (3-4) and Thompson
Hodgson (L) (0-1) and Walker
(June 29) Edmonton Tigers swept a twin-bill from the Calgary Giants, 10-9 in 10-innings, then 7-2. Catcher Wally Waddle singled in the winning run in the extra frame in the opener as the Tigers roared back from an 8-2 deficit with two in the seventh, three in the eighth and a singleton in the bottom of the ninth. Giants got one in the top of the tenth before Zen Chaba and winning hurler Bill Chahley scored in the bottom of the stanza.
Trann Dawson went the route in the second game holding the Giants to six hits.
Taylor, Swinehart (L) (9) and Sidle
Marian, Chahley (W) (5) and Waddle
Shorthouse (L), Horb (7) and Heatley
Dawson (W) and Waddle
(July 1) Edmonton Angels took an early 6-0 lead and coasted to a 6-3 win over the Oilers. Jim Poelzer replaced starter Rick Curtis in the 5th inning and captured the win. George McCarthy took the loss. Playing manager Al Symington belted a pair of doubles for the winners. Angels had just 11 players in the lineup. Regular catcher Harry Hodgson, out with an injured arm, watched from the stands. Oilers were short on pitching. Their ace starter Don Kadatz showed up halfway through the game just in time to make a pinch-hitting appearance. Kadatz was pitching for Grande Prairie Eskimos at the St. Paul tournament. He fired a one-hitter earlier in the day as Eskimos trounced Barrhead 11-1 to reach the semi-finals. Centre fielder Ed Ashton hammered a double and triple for the losers while Dick Thompson got a three-bagger.
Curtis, Poelzer (W) (5) and Symington
McCarthy (L), Brimacombe (7) and Thompson
(July 1) At Drumheller, the Miners and Calgary Odeons split a double-header. Don Pasutto fired a five-hitter for the win as Miners prevailed 2-1 in the opener. Ernie Pushkarenko who matched Pasuotto allowing just five hits was saddled with the tough loss.
Pasutto (W) and Greenlee
Pushkarenko (L) and McGeachie
A five-run 8th inning for the Odeons, on three hits and a pair of Drumheller errors, proved decisive in the second game. Wally Cross scattered ten hits in going the distance for the victory.
Cross (3-3) (W) and McCrae
Rawlusyk (L), Trogan (8) and Bonham
(July 2) Edmonton Angels downed the Tigers 9-7 at Renfrew Park to gain a share of first place with the Tigers, each with 12-6 records. After falling behind 7-6 when the Tigers scored four in the 6th inning, Angels rebounded with three in the 7th to gain the win. Al McKee was credited with his first win of the season in a relief role. Larry Murray, the third of three Tiger pitchers, took the loss. Frank Ketcham rapped an inside-the-park homer for the Tigers in the 3rd inning.
Leeck, Dawson (1), Murray (L) (3) and Franchuk
Walker, A. McKee (W) (6) and Symington
(July 8) Edmonton Tigers regained sole position of first place with an 8-3 win over Edmonton Angels getting back to back homers in the inning from catcher Orville Franchuk and outfielder Frank Ketcham. Ross Marian went the distance, with a seven-hitter, for the win. He helped the offense with three hits. Wayne McKee took the loss.
W. McKee (L) and Hodgson
Marian (W) and Franchuk
(July 8) The last-place Calgary Giants trampled the Calgary Odeons 12-1 as Al Taylor tossed a five-hitter. Stu Heron and Bob Duncan each had two of the 11 Giant hits. Alf Sedran took the loss.
Sedran (L), Prokopy (7), Miller (8) and McGeachie
Taylor (W) and Sidle
(July 9) Edmonton Blue Willow Angels fell behind 2-0 in the top of the 1st inning then woke up to trounce the Oilers 11-4 behind Malcolm Lynn who tossed a six-hitter for the win and went three for four at the plate. Rod Gauf also had three hits for the Angels. The win moved the club a half-game ahead of the Tigers atop the league standings.
McCarthy, Littlechild (L) (4), Brimacombe (6) and Robson
Lynn (W) and Symington
(July 9) Harold Hunchak held the Odeons to eight hits as the Drumheller Miners scored a 7-2 win at Calgary. It was Hunchak's 8th win against just two losses. A four-run 4th inning proved to be the difference.
Hunchak (W) and Bonham
Reed (L), Davies (4), Pushkarenko (8) and McGeachie
(July 10) Playing manager Andy Skujins laid down a squeeze bunt with the bases loaded in the top of the 11th inning to score Zen Chaba with the winning run as Edmonton Tigers edged the Angels 4-3. Larry Murray evened his record at 3-3 with the mound victory. He scattered nine hits including a triple to Al McKee in the 10th.
Murray (W) and Franchuk
Curtis, Poelzer (5), Ewasiuk (L) (10), Lynn (11) and Hodgson
(July 10) At Calgary, Giants' right-hander Rick Horb fired a one-hitter but lost, 1-0, to Drumheller. The only run came in the 3rd inning on a walk, sacrifice and two Giants' errors. Winning pitcher Don Pasutto had the only hit off Horb, a 4th inning single. Pasutto allowed just five hits in taking the win.
Pasutto (W) and Bonham
Horb (L) and Bjerke, Heatley (8)
(July 11) Edmonton Oilers scored five runs in the late innings to down the front-running Edmonton Tigers 8-4. Oilers took a 5-4 lead with a pair in the 7th and put the game away with Dave Kosteniuk's three-run homer in the 8th. Centre fielder Ed Ashton had four hits, including a triple, and scored three times. Don Kadatz picked up his 4th win in going the distance.
Leeck (L), Dawson (7) and Franchuk
Kadatz (W) and Thompson
(July 13) At Drumheller, the Miners took both ends of a double-header from the Edmonton Angels, 3-1 and 8-7 to move into a tie for first place in the AMBL standings. In the opener, Harold Hunchak scattered nine hits for his 9th win of the season. Lefty Ken Ewasiuk gave up just six hits in taking the loss.
Ewasiuk (L) and Hodgson
Hunchak (W) and Greenlee
Miners scored five times in the 1st inning of the second game then had to battle to notch an 8-7 win, scoring the winner in the bottom of the 8th inning. Don Pasutto picked up the win in a relief role. Ernie Pushkarenko, who had signed with the Odeons, started for the Miners and drew an indefinite suspension from AMBL president Keith Barber. Odeon manager Bob Norton said Pushkarenko had been given a conditional, one day, release so he could play in a game at Vulcan, not line up to pitch with another team in the AMBL.
Poelzer, Lynn (L) (1) and Hodgson
Pushkarenko, Pasutto (W) (6) and Bonham, Greenlee
(July 13) At Foothills Stadium in Calgary, the Edmonton Oilers and the Giants split a pair. The home team took the opener 4-3 scoring the winning run in the bottom of the 9th inning while the visitors took the second game 5-2 in 11 innings. Rookie Wayne Thomas drove in two runs in the 6th inning with a single and scored the winner in the 9th on Al Johnson's single as Giants took the first game. Bob Duncan threw a seven-hitter for the win. Ron Wilson was the loser.
Wilson (L) and Thompson
Duncan (W) and Healthy
In the nightcap, the Giants again came from behind in the bottom of the 9th, this time to tie 2-2 as Al Johnson drove in Bob Duncan with the tying marker. But George McCarthy halted the rally and ended up with the win as the Oilers scored three in the 11th to nail down the victory. Dick Thompson's sacrifice fly accounted for the eventual winner and a two-run single by Don Kadatz provided some insurance runs. Oilers out hit the Giants 17-6.
McCarthy (W) and Thompson
Taylor, Erhardt (L) (9) and Sidle
(July 13) Calgary Odeons and Edmonton Tigers divided their twin-bill at Edmonton. Odeons took the first game 12-10 in 10 innings, Tigers won the second game 6-2. Singles by Ron Moffat and Bob McGeachie plated the two crucial runs in the 10th inning of the opener, a game which produced 31 hits. Odeons had grabbed a 6-0 lead in the first inning but Tigers rallied with three in the 8th and three in the bottom of the 9th to tie.
Cross, W. Horb (4), Davies (5), Prokopy (W) (9) and McGeachie
Chahley, Murray (1), Dawson (L) (9) and Franchuk
Ross Marian tossed a five-hitter to lead the Tigers to the second game triumph. Tigers scored two in the first and three more in the second and never looked back.
Miller (L), Prokopy (2), Cross (7) and Johnson
Marian (W) and Waddle
(July 15) Drumheller Miners defeated Calgary Odeons 7-4 but found themselves dropping to second place, a half-game back of the Edmonton Tigers. While they won on the field, AMBL commissioner Bill Mann stripped the Miners of an earlier win because of the use of an ineligible player, pitcher Ernie Pushkarenko. Don Pasutto scattered nine hits in gaining the win Tuesday. Miners had just seven hits, but Odeons' starter Ian Reed gave up eight walks before giving way to Wayne Miller in the 6th inning. Odeons also made six errors. Playing manager Jim Berlando and Bob Trembecky each had two hits for the winners. Rich Dawson stuck out for Calgary with three hits, one a double. A highlight for the Odeons was the first triple play of the season. Second baseman Ed Muchowsky snared Trembecky's line drive and his throw to second and the relay to first caught the two runners.
Pasutto (W) and Bonham
Reed (L), Miller (6), Cross (7), Sim (8) and McGeachie, Johnston (7)
(July 15) Edmonton Tigers gave the Oilers a run in the top of the 1st inning then proceeded to demolish the Oilers 19-5. Ernie Leeck survived ten hits to go the distance for the win and was a star on offense driving in seven runs with four hits, including a double. Tigers battered three Oilers' pitchers for 15 hits with starter Don Kadatz taking the loss.
Kadatz (L), Kosteniuk (6), Littlechild (8) and Thompson
Leeck (W) and Franchuk
Edmonton Tigers 16 8 ---
Drumheller Miners 15 8
0.5
Edmonton Angels 14 9 1.5
Edmonton Oilers 9 14 6.5
Calgary Odeons 9 14 6.5
Calgary Giants 7 17 9.0
(July 16) Calgary Giants exploded for five runs in the 9th inning to down Drumheller 10-5. Winning pitcher Rick Horb launched the rally with a lead-off single and advanced on a sacrifice. Bob Duncan then knocked in what turned out to be the winner with his fourth hit, a double to left-centre. Lyle Moffat drove in another run with a double to the opposite field. Wayne Thomas singled to right to score Moffat and Hy Lewis capped the big inning with a two-run homer. Miners had fought from behind to tie the count three times before the Giants put it out of reach with the 9th inning eruption. Rick Horb gave up 11 hits but picked up his first win of the season, defeating Drumheller ace Harold Hunchak who was knocked out of a game for the first time this season.
Horb (W) and Heatley
Hunchak (L), Trogan (9) and Bonham
(July 17) Bill Chahley threw a six-hitter, fanning ten, as Edmonton Tigers consolidated their hold on first place with a 3-2 win over the Edmonton Blue Willow Angels. Ross Speers doubled in Frank Ketcham in the 7th inning with the winning run. Catcher Orv Franchuk drove in Wally Waddle in the first and third frames with the first two Tigers' markers. Angels' catcher Harry Hodgson belted a two-run homer to account for all the Angels' scoring.
Curtis (L), McKee (8) and Hodgson
Chahley (W) and Franchuk
(July 17) Al Taylor held the Odeons to six hits and the Giants thumped their Calgary rivals 7-3 with a 12-hit attack. New second sacker Hy Lewis led the way knocking in four runs on a double, single and sacrifice fly. Lewis had blasted a two-run homer in his debut Wednesday. Lyle Moffat, with a double and single, Al Johnson and Taylor with two hits piece, backed up Lewis' performance.
Taylor (W) and Sidle
Miller (L) and McGeachie
(July 18) A seven-run explosion in the top of the ninth inning capped the victory for the Edmonton Angels over the Edmonton Oilers. Angels had plated a pair in the first and singletons in the sixth and seventh. Lynn struck out 14 batters in going the distance for the winners. George McCarthy fanned seven before leaving the game in the final frame.
Lynn (W) and xxx
McCarthy (L), Littlechild (9) and xxx
(July 20) In a game called after just five innings because of rain, Ross Marian threw a two-hitter as the Edmonton Tigers blanked the Calgary Odeons 3-0 in the first game of a double-header. Tigers scored a pair in the first inning of the opener as Ross Speers and Frank Ketcham picked up the RBI and added another in the 5th on a double by Wally Waddle.
Odeons won the second game 6-1 with two, three-run innings. Veteran right-hander Jim LaDuke allowed just three hits and an unearned run in pitching into the 7th inning before arm trouble forced him from the game. Ernie Pushkarenko finished. A run-scoring single by Don Maxwell, followed by Bob McGeachie's two-run homer accounted for the first inning explosion. Singles by Wayne Davies and Maxwell and a bases-clearing triple by Ron Moffat resulted in the three runs in the 7th.
Marian (W) and Franchuk
Cross (L) and McGeachie
Murray (L) and Franchuk
LaDuke (W), Pushkarenko (7) and McGeachie, MacRae (8)
(July 20) At Edmonton, the Blue Willow Angels belted out 13 hits in trouncing the Drumheller MIners 12-4. Jim Poelzer, in relief of starter Ken Ewasiuk, picked up the win in the seven-inning contest, shortened by inclement weather. Angels scored in every inning but the 4th.
Ewasiuk, Poelzer (W) (2) and Hodgson, Symington (7)
Trogan, Pasutto (L) (2) and Bonham
(July 22) Edmonton Angels rebounded from an early 5-0 deficit to edged the Oilers 9-8 in ten innings. Angels rallied with two in the 4th, one in the 5th and four in the 6th to take the lead. Oilers came back with three in the 7th before the Angels scored in the bottom of the 10th for the win. Harry Hodgson, picked up the win in relief of starter Al McKee. Hodgson, normally the Angels catcher, came into the game in the 2nd inning for mound duties and went the rest of the way.
Brimacombe, McCarthy (L) (6) and Thompson
A. McKee, Hodgson (W) (2) and Symington
(July 23) Edmonton Tigers crushed the Oilers 12-2 behind a 16-hit attack and Larry Murray's nine-hit pitching. Tigers broke up a close contest with a seven-run 6th inning. The win increased the Tigers' margin over second place Angels to a game and one-half.
Murray (W) and Franchuk
Kadatz (L), McCarthy (6), Michaelchuk (9) and Thompson
(July 24) Rick Horb shutout the Calgary Odeons on six hits Thursday as the Giants posted a 6-0 triumph to tie the Odeons for fourth place in the standings, each with five games remaining. It was the seventh loss in their last nine games for the Odeons. Run-producing singles by Al Johnson and Bob Duncan broke up a scoreless tie in the fifth. Horb helped the offense with a two-run double in the sixth. The Giants recent success coincides with the arrival of hard-hitting infielder Hy Lewis from Stanford University. In three games, Lewis has five hits, including a homer, in eight at bats.
Cross (3-5) (L), Pushkarenko (6) and W. Horb
R. Horb (2-4) (W) and Heatley
(July 25) Edmonton Angels downed Edmonton Tigers 6-4 as Rick Curtis scattered nine hits for the win with 9th inning relief help from Al McKee. Ernie Leeck took the loss.
Curtis (W), McKee (9) and xxx
Leeck (L) and xxx
(July 27) Calgary Giants blew an 8-3 lead in losing the first game of a double-header to Drumheller, 11-8, as Bob Trembecky highlighted the Miners comeback with a grand slam homer in the 8th inning. Miners were out hit, 13-11, by the Giants and had to overcome five errors to notch the win. Don Pasutto managed to go the distance for the mound victory. Hy Lewis had a homer for Calgary.
Erhardt, Duncan (L) (8), Lewis (8) and Sidle
Pasutto (W) and Bonham
Giants continued their hit spree in the second game pounding out 21 hits in a 13-8 triumph. Giants took an 11-0 lead before the Miners got on the scoreboard in the 3rd inning. First baseman Stu Heron rapped a double and four singles to lead the Giants while Ed Chala added four hits. Al Taylor, with relief by Hy Lewis, registered the win.
Taylor (W), Lewis (6) and Heatley
Trembecky (L), Trogan (1), Berlando (2), Trogan (4) and Bonham
(July 27) At Edmonton, the Odeons lit up three Oilers pitchers for 15 hits in the opener to take a 13-6 victory. Bob McGeachie's three-run homer in the 9th was a highlight of the win for the Calgary crew. Wayne Davies helped with four hits, one of them a triple. Wayne Miller, with relief help from Wally Cross, picked up his first victory of the season. Oilers starter Don Kadatz took the loss's. Larry Proctor had a solo homer for the Oilers.
Miller (W), Cross (8) and McGeachie
Kadatz (L), McCarthy (6), Daley (9) and Thompson
In the second game, the Oilers scored four times in the first inning and that's all they needed in a 4-1 decision over the Odeons. Ron Wilson fired a six-hitter for the win.
Sedran (L) and McGeachie, W. Horb (6)
Wilson (W) and Thompson
(July 29) In a wild affair in Calgary, the Giants upended the Odeons 16-7 in a game forfeited to the Giants in the 8th inning. Odeons' manager Bob Norton and two players, Bob McGeachie and Ron Johnston were ejected in the 6th inning after an argument over whether Odeons' batter Ed Muchowsky had been hit by a pitch. In the 8th, Odeons' coach Gordie Sim announced the team was calling it quits and forfeiting the game. Murray Heatley led the Giants' offensive with a double and three singles and Al Johnson chipped in with three hits. Hy Lewis drove in four runs with a double and single and Bob Duncan belted a two-run homer in the 5th. Odeons got two hits apiece from Ron Ernie, Rich Dawson and Rod White. Rick Horb picked up the win.
R. Horb (W) and Heatley
Pushkarenko (L), Sedran (6), Reed (7), Davies (8) and McGeachie, W. Horb (7)
Edmonton Tigers 19 10 ---
Edmonton Angels 18 10 0.5
Drumheller Miners 16 11
2.0
Calgary Giants 12 18 7.5
Calgary Odeons 11 19 8.5
Edmonton Oilers 10 18 8.5
(July 31) Calgary Giants shortstop Doug Chilton drove in the winning run in the bottom of the 11th inning for a 7-6 win over the Drumheller Miners. The single helped to make up for six errors he had committed earlier in the game. Right-hander Hy Lewis went all the way for the victory, yielding six hits and four walks. He racked up 13 strikeouts. Drumheller's Harold Hunchak again fell short in his bid for a 10th victory. He gave up 13 hits.
Hunchak (9-4) (L), Pasutto (11) and Bonham
Lewis (1-0) (W) and Sidle, Heatley (8)
(August 1) Edmonton Tigers downed the Oilers twice, 9-5 and 11-6, to douse any hopes that the Oilers could make the playoffs. The opening tilt was a partial replay of an earlier contest in which a protest was upheld. Bill Chahley was the winner pitcher while Doug Brimacombe took the loss. Each team had 11 hits.
Chahley (W) and xxx
Brimacombe (L) and xxx
Frank Ketcham and Ron Watamaniuk belted home runs leading the Tigers to the 11-6 win in the second game. Ketcham had four hits, adding two doubles and a single to his four-bagger. Watamaniuk had three hits overall. Dennis Michaelchuk had a double and two singles for the Oilers. Ernie Leeck compiled 13 strikeouts as the winning pitcher. George McCarthy, first of three Oilers' hurlers took the loss. Bill Berry, a promising rookie with Jasper Place made his debut with the Oilers taking over from McCarthy in the first.
Leeck (W) and xxx
McCarthy (L), Berry (1), xxx and xxx
(August 3) Drumheller Miners won both ends of a double-bill with Edmonton Oilers, 5-4 and 7-6. Miners won the opener in spite of being out hit 15-8. Don Pasutto struggled but went the distance for the win. He had allowed just one run through eight innings before the Oilers erupted for three in the bottom of the 9th.
Again in the second game, Miners jumped out to an early lead and had to hold off a last inning rally for the Oilers. Drumheller had a 7-2 margin going into the last of the 7th, the final frame, when the Oilers scored four times before Roger Pozzo could get the last out. Starter Len Zachowsky picked up the win. Willie Littlechild was the loser.
Pasutto (W) and Blainy
Daley (L) and Robson
Zachowsky (W), Pozzo (7) and Bonham
Littlechild (L) and Robson
(August 3) Edmonton Angels and the Odeons split a pair at Calgary. The home team took the first game 7-5 as Wally Cross threw an eight-hitter. He gave up all five runs in the 2nd inning but pitched shutout ball the rest of the way. Left-hander Ken Ewasiuk fired a one-hit shutout as Angels took the second game 6-0.
Curtis (L) and Hodgson
Cross (W) and McGeachie
Ewasiuk (W) and Hodgson
Pushkarenko (L), Prokopy (5) and Johnston
(August 4) Calgary Giants captured the fourth and final playoff slot with a 4-0 victory over Drumheller in a rain-shortened game at Calgary. Right-hander Andy Shorthouse was credited with the win in the six-inning contest.
Bester (0-1) and Bonham
Shorthouse (2-1) and Sidle
(August 9) Bill Chahley scattered six hits before giving way to Larry Murray in helping Edmonton Tigers to a 10-2 win over Edmonton Angels. Jim Poelzer took the loss.
Chahley (W), Murray (8) and Waddle
Lynn, Poelzer (L) (2) and Schur
(August 10) Edmonton Angels wrapped up their regular season with a win, 14-3 over Drumheller Minters. Lefty Ken Ewasiuk gave up two runs in the top of the first inning then allowed just one more run the rest of the way. Angels responded with three in their half of the first and added six in the 3rd to romp to the victory. Wayne McKee`s two run single sparked the big inning.
Zachowsky (L), Berlando (2), Pozzo (3), Trembecky (5) and Bonham
Ewasiuk (W) and Sc hut
Playoffs
(August 17) Edmonton Tigers and Calgary Giants split the opening two games of their best-of-three semi-final series. Tigers, behind Bill Chahley's four-hitter won the first game 6-1 while the Giants notched a 4-3, 10-inning victory in the nightcap. Chahley, the AMBL's top pitcher for its three seasons, gave up the hit which scored the winner in the second game. Hy Lewis was on base when Ed Chala lined Chahley's second pitch to the scoreboard in left centre to plate the winner. Lewis went the distance on the hill for the Giants in the second game holding the Tigers to six hits.
Horb (L), Swinehart (8) and Heatley
Chahley (W) and Franchuk
Lewis (W) and Heatley
Leeck, Murray (L) (5), Chahley (10) and Franchuk
(August 19) The Drumheller Miners have refused to share home dates with the Blue Willow Angels for the AMBL semi-finals. The Angels were scheduled to play in Drumheller Saturday and to return to Edmonton Sunday for the second and possibly third games of the set. Bob Trembecky Sr., sponsor of the Miners, said, "It was our understanding all games would be in Drumheller". The series was scheduled for Drumheller last weekend but the first game was rained out Saturday and there was no action Sunday. On paper, the first and second place finishers were to get the home games. Angels won second place but had their series scheduled for Drumheller last weekend because the Tigers and Calgary Giants had use of Renfrew Park for their semi-final series. League officials were not available for comment.
(August 26) The Edmonton Angels scored twice in the eighth and added two more in the ninth to break a 5-5 tie to down the Tigers 9-5 in the opening game of the Alberta Major League final series. Angels rapped 13 hits including triples by Bud Morrison and Ken Ewasiuk.
(August 28) Edmonton Angels erupted for 16 hits Thursday to whip Edmonton Tigers 10-4 to take a 2-0 game lead in the best-of-seven Alberta Major Baseball League final. Ken Ewasiuk yielded nine hits and whiffed nine to pick up the mound victory. Angels won the opener 9-5 on Tuesday. Catcher Harry Hodgson and second sacker Bill Miller each had three hits for the winners. Joe Fletcher cracked a two-run double for the Tigers in the fourth. Ernie Leeck took the loss.
ALBERTA BASEBALL ASSOCIATION PLAYOFFS
SENIOR DIVISION
NORTHERN ALBERTA QUALIFYING SERIES
(July 27 and August 3) In best-of-three quarter-final series, the Burns Shamrocks, Edmonton Sunburst League champions, eliminated the Viking Shamrocks of the Powerline Baseball League while two representatives from the Oilfield Baseball League, the Warburg Buffaloes and the Leduc Oilers, advanced by sidelining Mayerthorpe and the Two Hills Braves respectively. The other northern semi-finalist, the Cold Lake Parrots, got by Vimy of the North-Central Baseball League to advance to the final four northern tournament.
NORTHERN ALBERTA FINALS TOURNAMENT
(August 9-10) The Edmonton Burns Shamrocks of the Sunburst Baseball League won the northern Alberta senior baseball title with three straight victories in a four-team tournament staged in Cold Lake. The Shamrocks dropped the Warburg Buffaloes 3 to 1, the Leduc Oilers 13 to 6 and the hosting Cold Lake Parrots 9 to 6 to qualify as one of the four zone representatives in the double-knockout provincial series scheduled for North Edmonton’s sports grounds next weekend.
SOUTHERN ALBERTA FINALS TOURNAMENT
(August 9-10) The Lethbridge Flyers captured the southern Alberta senior baseball championship when they blasted the Enchant Red Sox 23 to 3 in the final game of a two-day tournament at Henderson Stadium. The Flyers took the tough route in claiming the title. After scoring a 5 to 1 victory over the Vulcan Giants in the opener of the double-knockout playdowns, they were dropped into the loser’s bracket when they were subdued by the Brooks Lions 7 to 5. A 24 to 1 thrashing of the Milk River Athletics got them back on the winning track and boosted them into a semi-final matchup with one of their city rivals, the Lethbridge Cubs. In that showdown , the Flyers edged the Cubbies 4 to 3 in the best game of the tournament. On they marched to the loser’s bracket final where the eliminated Brooks with an 8 to 2 conquest. From there, they were faced with the task of defeating the winner’s bracket winner, Enchant, twice to take the crown. They rose to the occasion by whipping the Red Sox 9 to 4 to force a sudden-death contest for all the marbles.
Bob Gooder fired a seven-hitter in the one-sided finale while Darryl Daniels, one of a number of Enchant hurlers, took the loss. Athol Thomas paced the Flyers at the plate with four singles while Bill Kenny chipped in with a triple and two-one-baggers. Enchant’s Reg Wiest poked out a brace of one-base raps in a losing cause.
CENTRAL ALBERTA FINALS
(August 10) The Stettler Braves downed Trochu to win the Central zone senior playoffs.
FAR NORTH ALBERTA FINALS
(August 9 & 12) The Peace River Stampeders eliminated the Nampa Leths in two straight games to qualify as the Far North representative in the Alberta senior playoff tournament to be held in Edmonton.
PROVINCIAL FINALS TOURNAMENT
(August 23-24) The Edmonton Burns Shamrocks, showing awesome power at the plate, captured the Alberta senior baseball championship following the completion of a four-team weekend tournament at the North Edmonton Sport’s Grounds. After dropping the first game of the double-knockout tourney 4 to 3 to the Stettler Braves, representing the Central zone of the province, the Shamrocks roared back with four consecutive victories. In the process, they gave opposing pitchers a severe case of shellshock by exploding for a total of 63 hits.
The Burns Brigade clobbered the Peace River Stampeders, the standard bearer from the Far North, 10 to 2, outlasted Stettler 17 to 13 in a second clash and then shattered the southern titlist Lethbridge Flyers 12 to 4 and 9 to 2. Lethbridge had reached the final by dumping Peace River 7 to 3 and Stettler 12 to 2.
Right-hander Rick Andersen hurled both wins for the Sunburst League champions over Lethbridge, the first in relief. The Capital City Crew erupted for seven runs in the eighth inning to down the Flyers in the first showdown match of the finals. Stan Kulka rapped three hits with Archie Miskiw, a pickup from the Oilfield Equipment Oilers, and Vern Holland unloading four-ply clouts.
In the game for all the marbles, the North Alberta winners scored a trey in the opening panel off the slants of losing heaver Ron Stevens, an addition to the Lethbridge squad from the Milk River Athletics, and were never headed. Adrian Bouchard and veteran catcher Kulka paced the victors with three safeties apiece. Andersen, who pitched 20 innings in the two-day event, held the Flyers to five hits in the deciding game, whiffed six and didn’t walk a batter.
Tony Andreas picked up the knoll decision over Stettler and Dennis Fitzgerald set down Peace River. Bouchard launched a home run and a triple in the slugfest against the Braves while first sacker Don Chapman, one of ten Stettler players bearing that surname, cracked a round-tripper, three doubles and a single. The Edmontonians will now host the western Canada senior baseball championship next weekend. The runner-up Flyers also qualified as the fourth entry in this upcoming tournament because of the Shamrocks’ status as host team.
WESTERN CANADA SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT
(August 30-September 1) Edmonton’s Burns Shamrocks, sparked by the heroics of right-hander Rick Andersen, annexed the 1969 western Canada senior baseball championship over the holiday weekend. The fireballer hurled two victories in the double-knockout competition, including an 8 to 3 verdict over Manitoba in the sudden-death final. The tourney was held at the North Edmonton Ball Park. The Shamrocks, a first-year entry in the Capital City’s Sunburst Baseball League, had seven players on their roster who toiled last season with the defunct Devon Safeway Kings of the Oilfield Baseball League.
Andersen limited the Manitobans, represented by the Binscarth Orioles, to six hits, walked two and fanned three as the Shamrocks jumped on loser Ed Weslowski for three runs in the third stanza and another trio of counters in the fifth. Stan Kulka, Gene Sharun, Larry Brandenburg and Andersen each collected two hits. Dale Turner's single in the third drove in two runs and Brandenburg duplicated the effort in the fifth.
Manitoba forced the deciding game by slamming Alberta 11-6 behind southpaw Brian McNally. Tony Andreas, the first of three Edmonton pitchers, suffered the loss.
Shamrocks edged Manitoba 4-3 in a preliminary round game on Dave Reiniger's two-run single. Andersen scattered nine hits to pick up the win. Dennis Fitzgerald fired a two-hit 3-0 shutout over the Prince Albert Bohemians in the semi-finals. Kulka's two-run double in the third inning off losing heaver John Mills was the key blow. Binscarth advanced to the final by scoring two in the ninth inning to down Prince Albert 5-3.
Alberta's other entry, the Lethbridge Flyers, were eliminated on opening day, losing 2-1 to Saskatchewan and 3-1 to Manitoba in spite of superlative pitching performances by Greg Lazuruk who fired a three-hitter against the Bohemians and Dennis King who spun a four-hitter against the Orioles.
Andersen, a right-hander, performed a similar pitching feat last weekend when Burns Shamrocks grabbed the provincial title. He pitched 22 innings and won the final game over Lethbridge.
JUNIOR DIVISION
NORTHERN ALBERTA FINALS
(July 27) The Edmonton Martin Estate Tigers were awarded the junior title in the Alberta Baseball Association’s northern zone playoffs when their scheduled opponent, Fort Saskatchewan, defaulted the best-of-three series.
SOUTHERN ALBERTA FINALS
(August 3) The Lethbridge Miners are the southern Alberta junior “A” baseball champions. They won the title at Henderson Park by nipping the Calgary Indians 2 to 1 to win the best-of-three series in two straight games. Randy Wolstencroft gave up only four hits and fired the third strike past 11 batters in posting the mound victory. Jim Strachan, who was tagged with the loss, allowed only four hits with the only extra-base blow, a double, coming off the bat of Rick Campbell. Randy Johnson paced the Calgary batters with two singles.
PROVINCIAL JUNIOR FINALS
(August 16-17) The Edmonton Martin Estate Tigers prevailed as 1969 junior baseball champions of Alberta by upending the southern champion Lethbridge Miners and a team from Clive, regional winners from central Alberta.
(May 22) Rick Andersen fired a no-hitter Thursday as Burns Shamrocks clobbered the Weiller-William Colts 19-2 in Sunburst League play. The right-hander fanned 12 and had a perfect game for six innings. The Shamrocks blasted 19 hits.