WINNIPEG SENIOR BASEBALL

The oft-maligned Winnipeg & district component of the Manitoba Senior Baseball League, commonly referred to in the print media of Manitoba’s capital city as the Eastern Division, finally disintegrated into oblivion after a number of recent seasons where instability was the norm. No evidence was found in print as per any remnants of an organized senior-level league within the environs of Winnipeg in 1973 although one team from the previous campaign, the South End Sioux, did surface temporarily and register with the M.B.A. for playoff status at the senior level but was eliminated from contention in an early round by the Giroux Athletics. A thriving junior-level loop did, however, continue to flourish.

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MANITOBA SENIOR BASEBALL LEAGUE

No longer saddled with a dysfunctional Winnipeg & environs counterpart utilizing the same name, the Manitoba Senior Baseball League went back to its roots, an all-western Manitoba alignment. With the departure of the Minot franchise, euthanized because of a lack of fan support, and the addition on a new entry from McAuley, the Blazers, the MSBL reverted from a north-south to an east-west format in 1973.

EASTERN DIVISION
Brandon Cloverleafs
Dauphin Redbirds
Riverside Canucks
Souris Cardinals

WESTERN DIVISION
Binscarth Orioles
Hamiota Red Sox
McAuley Blazers
Virden Oilers 

(May 24)  The homestanding Brandon Cloverleafs opened the 1973 season by edging the Eastern Division rival Souris Cardinals 6 to 5 at Kinsmen Stadium. Both teams stroked seven safeties in the contest but the Cards threw away their opportunity for victory by committing five errors while the Leafs played flawlessly afield. Other than the top-of-the opening inning when they spotted the Souris squad an early run, the Cloverleafs led from start to finish. Lefthander Brian Hodgson, the winning heaver, exited in the sixth stanza with a healthy 6 to 1 lead but the margin was almost frittered away by his successors in the later innings as the Wheat City nine were forced to hang on for the narrow victory. Part of their problem was their inability to connect for hits when bingles meant bacon as they stranded 15 baserunners. Cardinal starter Cam Denbow, who experienced control problems and was kayoed in the second spasm, was nailed with the pitching defeat. 

Denbow (L), B. Neufeld (2), E. Neufeld (7) and Dell
Hodgson (W), Harvey (6), Thompson (7) and McFadyen, Brown

(May 24)  Bruce Bremer made an auspicious return to the Manitoba Senior Baseball League as a member of the Virden Oilers. Bremer, who was with the now-defunct Minot Merchants for part of last season, hurled six innings and struck out 13 as the Oilmen humbled the Hamiota Red Sox 10 to 0. The Virden southpaw gave up but two hits before developing a blister on a finger and turning the horsehide over to Mike Labossierre who yielded one safety over the course of the final three panels. Hamiota went through three chuckers with starter Ron Ramsey being tagged with the loss. Shortstop-turned-reliever Labossiere swung a big bat for the Oilers as he drove in four runs with two doubles and two singles. Ron Ritchie added two singles to the ten-hit Virden attack.

Ramsey (L), McNiven (5), Andrews (8) and Sheardown
Bremer (W), M. Labossiere (7) and B. Labossiere

(May 25)  The McAuley Blazers received a rough initiation to the MSBL as they suffered a 12 to 5 drubbing at the hands of the defending champion Binscarth Orioles. Garth Neville hurled a five hitter for the Birds in going the distance for the win. walking eight and fanning 11 along the way. Blazer starting heaver Ross Lynd, lifted in the middle of a six-run Binscarth fifth-inning, was saddled with the defeat. The O’s collected 11 safe swats off Lynd and his two successors. Ron Low, runner-up for the league batting title last season, got off to a flying start at the plate. leading the Orioles’ attack with a double and two singles which accounted for two RBI’s. Neville and Reg Parton each rapped two singles with Neville’s raps driving in a brace of tallies. 

Lynd (L), Skulmoski (5), Brian Johnson (9) and Lowes, Bruce Johnson (7)
Neville (W) and Reagh, Bicknell (8)

(May 27)  A two-run homer in the third inning by catcher Rick McFadyen provided the Brandon Cloverleafs with the margin they needed to nip the hosting Virden Oilers 3 to 2. With six stanzas of toil on the bump, portsider Brian Hodgson of the Leafs upped his pitching record to 2 – 0, yielding eight hits and two walks while walking a pair. Rick Read, who hurled for Souris last season, tossed the final three frames for the victors without giving up a hit or a base-on-balls. Losing heaver Bill Koering, an addition to the Oilers from last year’s defunct Minot Merchants, surrendered eight hits and two walks, while punching out ten, in going the distance. The Cloverleafs outhit Virden by a narrow 8 to 7 margin. Bruce Bremer of the Oilers, with three singles, was the lone batter in the match to pick up more than one base knock.

Hodgson (W), Read (7) and McFadyen
Koering (L) and Vanrobaeys, B. Labossiere (7)

(May 27)  Brian Moffatt’s two-run round-tripper in the top-of-the-ninth inning off reliever Ed Beare carried the visiting Souris Cardinals to a close 6 to 5 triumph over the Riverside Canucks. The first four batters in the Souris lineup accounted for eight of their ten hits.  Moffatt had a single to go along with his game-deciding four-bagger. Greg Cameron belted a four-ply clout, a solo shot, off losing twirler Beare and added a single. Not to be outdone, Bill Carpenter added third dinger to the Cards’ total of taters with a fourth-frame blast off Canuck Starter Grant Everard. Doug Armour delivered two doubles and a single. The losing Canucks got to complete-game winner Ray Bruels, making his first MSBL start, for nine hits and seven walks. Craig Bell led their offensive push with a homer and double while Everard and Garth Seafoot both ripped a pair of singles.

Bruels (W) and Dell
Everard, Beare (L) (7) and C. Seafoot

(May 27)  The invading Dauphin Redbirds breezed to an easy 11 to 0 win over the expansion McAuley Blazers. Dauphin struck for five counters in each of the third and fourth panels in blowing away the overmatched Blazers. Garry Keating hurled a two-hitter for the Redbirds while walking eight and fanning four. Losing heaver Barry Jamieson of McAuley was given the hook in the fourth panel when Gerry Coppicus took over. The Blazer tandem were rocked for 13 base blows by the Dauphinites. Outfielder John Morrison tripled in two runs in the third inning and also singled. Keating and Dave Rottman drilled three singles each while Kelly Turner stroked a pair.

Keating (W) and Bell
B. Jamieson (L), Coppicus (4) and Lowes, R. Jamieson (9)

(May 29)  The Hamiota Red Sox roared back from a 7 – 1 deficit with five runs in the sixth inning and six more in the seventh to hand the McAuley Blazers their third straight MSBL setback, 12 to 9, in a darkness-shortened contest limited to seven stanzas. The expansion Blazers scored five times in the fourth to move in front by a six-spot and appeared well on their way to victory until the Crimson Hose suddenly reversed things. Three McAuley chuckers were raked for 11 big tallies before a fourth, Dale Lowes, put out the fire in the seventh. The second of that quartet, Brian Johnson, was tagged with the loss during a short 2/3 of an inning stint on the rubber. The sandwich hurler in the Hamiota triad of heavers, Laurie Andrews, was credited with the victory. Andrews also had the most impactful hit of the game for the victors, a bases-clearing double in the seventh spasm. Teammates Ellis Woods, Ron Ramsey and Bruce Stephens all delivered a double and single with Woods’ and Ramsey’s blows accounting for a brace of RBI’s. Barry Brooking and Don Sangster collected two singles apiece. Ross Jamieson, with three singles, knocked in a pair of runs for the Blazers. Barry Jamieson and Ross Lynd both punched out a couple of one-base hits.

Lynd, Brian Johnson (L) (6), Skulmoski (7), Lowes (7) and R. Jamieson
McNiven, Andrews (W) (4), Ramsey (8) and Stephens, Sheardown (7)

(May 29)  A third-inning throwing error allowed what turned out to be the winning run to score as the Binscarth Orioles won their second game in as many starts, 4 to 2 over the Virden Oilers. The visiting Oilmen, with an 11 to 7 advantage in base knocks, had the best of the play but hampered their chances by committing all three of the game’s fielding miscues. Les Lisowski hurled the first five frames for the Birds to gain credit for the win while Bruce Bremer, who toiled the entire distance for the invaders, was nicked with the loss. Ron Low had the Orioles’ only extra-base hit, an RBI-double. Don Gies and Larry Muratore also had run-scoring hits for the winners, both singles. Ted Bridgett hammered out a double and two singles, driving in a pair of tallies, to lead Virden at the plate. Mike Labossiere followed with a couple of one-baggers.

Bremmer (L) and B. Labossiere
Lisowski (W), Neville (6) and Reagh

(May 29)  A five-run outburst in the fourth frame, accomplished with the aid of only one base hit, was the difference as the visiting Dauphin Redbirds won their second game of the MSBL season, 6 to 4, over the Riverside Canucks. Darkness halted the game after eight innings. Three walks, a hit batsman, a sacrifice fly, a wild pitch and John Morrison’s two-run homer gave the Redbirds a five-spot and the lead they never relinquished. Dave Rottman went all the way on the slab for the victory, striking out 14 along the way. He yielded eight hits and walked three. Ed Beare absorbed the heaving setback for the Riversiders. His biggest liability was lack of control as he walked eight batters, in addition to yielding four of the five Dauphin hits and all six of their runs, before retiring in the sixth in favor of Lorne Lilley. Morrison added a single to his four-ply clout. Cliff Seafoot, playing third base instead of his customary catching slot, banged out a two-run homer and a couple of singles for the Canucks. Teammate Bob Williamson clicked for three one-base raps.

Rottman (W) and Bell
Beare (L) Lilley (6) and Campbell 

(May 30)  The Souris cardinals handed the Brandon Cloverleafs their first MSBL defeat of the young season by nosing out the visiting Brandonites 4 to 3. Souris starting pitcher Bob Fitchner went six innings on the knoll to earn the win. Bob Thompson went all the way of the hill for the Leafs in absorbing the loss. Both team stung the horsehide for ten base raps. The Cards scored what proved to be the winning run in the bottom-of-the-seventh stanza when John Dells singled to drive in Brian Moffatt who had led off with a base hit. Moffatt single three times and scored three runs for Souris. Wayne Keeler and Ray Bruels each had two singles with Bruels driving in two runs. Bill Chapple was Brandon’s big gun with two doubles and a pair of singles while Dennis Wiebe cracked a solo home run in the ninth.

Thompson (L) and McFadyen
Fitchner (W), E, Neufeld (7), Bruels (9) and Dell

(May 31)  Lefthander Brian Hodgson ran his unbeaten pitching string to three games, limiting the Riverside Canucks to four hits as the Brandon Cloverleafs came up with a 7 to 1 MSBL win at Kinsmen Stadium. Mark Fisher, plagued with arm trouble, made his first appearance of the season for Riverside, and was charged with the loss. He was relieved in the sixth inning by veteran Lorne Lilley. Bert Ready, who isn’t noted for his ability with the bat, came up with two crucial hits for the Wheat City diamondeers, driving in a total of three runs. Bill Chapple tripled to send across a counter and singled as well while Bob Wilson came up with a pair of one-baggers. Grant Everard had two of the four safeties garnered by the Riversiders, a three-bagger and a single. 

Fisher (L), Lilley (6) and C. Seafoot
Hodgson (W) and McFadyen

(June 1)  The Dauphin Redbirds maintained their undefeated record, downing the visiting Souris Cardinals 7 to 5. Dave Rottman garnered his second pitching triumph for the Redbirds in going the distance and effectively scattering ten hits. He punched out ten and walked four along the way. Souris starting heaver Bob Neufeld, driven to the showers in the fifth frame, was handed the setback. Dauphin only managed to acquire five base hits in the tilt but made the most of their opportunities, bunching four of those safeties into a very productive fifth chapter when they rolled over a five-spot. Top swatsmith in the contest was Doug Armour of the vanquished Cards who got to Rottman for three one-baggers and a four-ply clout. Teammate Brian Moffatt followed with a brace of one-base raps. Garry Keating had a pair of RBI’s for Dauphin.   

B. Neufeld (L), Hodgson (5) and Dell
Rottman (W) and Bell

(June 1)  The Binscarth Orioles sent the hosting McAuley Blazers down to their fourth straight MSBL defeat, clipping the expansion crew 7 to 3. Winning pitcher Donn Feldner went the distance for Binscarth in his first mound assignment of the season, surrendering five hits and four walks while whiffing three. The Blazers used four slabsters in their attempt to subdue the Orioles with starter Jerry Coppicus being saddled with the defeat. Glenn Hodgson and Ron Falloon both hit bases-empty round-trippers for the victorious Birds.

Feldner (W) and Reagh
Coppicus (L), Brian Johnson (5), B. Jamieson (5), Poole (6) and Bruce Johnson

(June 1)  The Virden Oilers came to life offensively and triumphed over the Hamiota Red Sox 11 to 9 in a slugfest at Hamiota. Virden pounded Red Sox pitching for 13 base blows including six extra-base clouts. Bob Downey had three RBI’s with a triple and single while Bruce Bremer, Mike Labossiere. Bill Koering and Gerry Fox all stung the horsehide for a double and single. Tom Vanrobaeys added two singles. Jeff Sheardown cracked a two-run dinger and added a single for the Scarlet Stockings. Clubmate Mel Smith hammered a solo tater along with a single. Barry Brooking drilled a brace of one-base hits.

Bridgett (W) and McCartney
Ramsey (L), Anderson (6) and Sheardown

(June 3)  Garth Neville rang up 16 punchouts as the unbeaten Binscarth Orioles extended their unbeaten string to four games, defeating the winless Riverside Canucks 10 to 5 in MSBL action. Grant Everard went the route for Riverside, dropping his first decision. Both combatants had nine base hits but it was the Birds that struck for the majority of the power shots with ducks on the pond. Reg Parton walloped a grand-slam four bagger along with a single for the winners. Teammate Dale Gies delivered a two-run tater as well as a three-bagger while Ron Low had a double and single. Mark Fisher drilled a solo dinger for the Riversiders while Cliff Seafoot ripped a double and two singles. . 

Everard (L) and Campbell
Neville (W) and Reagh

(June 5)  The defending MSBL champion Binscarth Orioles captured their fifth consecutive win in the new season, blanking the hometown Hamiota Red Sox 5 to 0. Les Lisowski spun a three-hitter in picking up the complete-game win. He struck out nine and walked only one. Al McNiven pitched all but the final frame for the Red Sox and was stung with the loss. He surrendered five of the six Binscarth safeties and walked eight. A three-run outburst by his Oriole teammates in the third stanza was all the offensive help that southpaw Lisowski needed.

Lisowski (W) and Reagh
McNiven (L), Ramsey (9) and Woods

(June 5)  Paced by the long distance dialing of Bob Wilson, Bill Chapple and Rick McFadyen, the Brandon Cloverleafs pummelled the host Riverside Canucks 11 to 4. The MSBL contest was called at the end of eight innings because of darkness.  The result vaulted Brandon into a first-place tie with the idle Dauphin Redbirds in the East Division standings and left the winless Riversiders mired in the depths of the Division cellar. Wilson teed off with a two-run circuit-jack in the fourth frame while Chapple and McFadyen went yard with solo shots in the fifth and eighth innings respectively. Wilson also doubled while Chapple added two singles, one more than McFadyen. Roy McLachlan continued the Cloverleaf onslaught with a double and two singles. In recording the mound verdict, winning heaver Rick Read worked five full innings before giving way to Brian Hodgson. The duo allowed nine Souris safeties. Charged with the defeat was complete-game tosser Ed Beare who was combed for a dozen base knocks. Craig Bell drove in two runs for the losing Cards on the strength of a pair of doubles. 

Read (W), Hodgson (6) and McFadyen
Beare (L) and Campbell

(June 6)  Bruce Bremer scattered five hits and struck out 11 in leading the Virden Oilers to a 6 to 0 over the hapless McAuley Blazers, The fireballing Bremer, with a 2 – 1 record, raised his strikeout total to 34 in three starts. He walked seven. Blazer Starting chucker Ross Lynd was tagged with the loss. He was charged with four of the six Virden runs and five of their eight safeties before getting the hook in the fourth frame. Ted Bridgett led the Oilers offensively with a solo home run and a single.

Bremer (W) and B. Labossiere
Lynd (L), Araujo (4), B. Jamieson (6) and R. Jamieson

(June 7)  The Riverside Canucks came close to winning their first of six starts in the MSBL as they played to a ten-inning 2 – 2 tie with the hosting Souris Cardinals. The clash, terminated after one bonus round of play because of rain, featured stellar pitching by both Garth Everard of the Riversiders and Souris import Ray Bruels. Everard scattered five hits, walked two and fanned ten. Bruels was nicked for eight safeties while walking seven and breezing eight. Morley Hartel singled twice for the Canucks while the Cardinals’ Don Hodgson replicated the output for his club.

Everard and C. Seafoot
Bruels and Dell

(June 8)  The Hamiota Red Sox knocked the Binscarth Orioles from the ranks of the undefeated by laying a 5 to 2 loss on their West Division hosts. Ron Ramsey threw a five-hitter at the Division front-runners, walking five and fanning four, in earning the heaving triumph. Starter Donn Feldner of the Birds was tagged with the defeat. Bob Caldwell belted a solo home run for the victors.

Ramsey (W) and Woods
Feldner (L), Neville (8) and Reagh

(June 8)  The Dauphin Redbirds remained the only undefeated team in the Manitoba Senior Baseball League by dumping the invading Souris Cardinals 9 to 4 in a darkness-shortened, eight-inning affair. The Redbirds jumped into a quick 7 – 0 lead after three innings and coasted to the win. Brodie McLean, in his first MSBL pitching start, went all the way for the win, allowing just four hits while walking seven and punching out eight. Souris starting heaver Bob Fitchner was dinged with the loss. John Morrison rammed three hits, a homer, double and single, and drove in a pair of runs for the Redbirds. Mike Mutcheson knocked in a run with a double and single. Don Hodgson had a pair of RBI’s for the Cards. 

Fitchner (L), Denbow (3), E. Neufeld (7) and Leslie
McLean (W) and Bell

STANDINGS

EAST DIVISION              W       L       Pct.      GBL
Dauphin                    4       0     1.000       ----
Brandon                    4       1      .800       0.5
Souris                     2       3      .400       2.5
Riverside                  0       5      .000       4.5

WEST DIVISION              W       L       Pct.      GBL
Binscarth                  5       1      .833       ----
Virden                     3       2      .600       1.5
Hamiota                    2       3      .400       2.5
McAuley                    0       5      .000       4.5

(June 10)  The Riverside Canucks finally came up with a win when they knocked off the invading McAuley Blazers 5 to 1 in a battle of division cellar-dwellers. Veteran Lorne Lilley hurled a sparkling game for the Riversiders, limiting McAuley batters to four hits and four free passes. Losing flinger Gord Leduchowski was tagged for four runs on four hits and a walk before being driven to the showers in the third inning. Grant Everard of the Canucks and the Blazers’ Dale Lowes, both with two singles, were the only players in the game to pick up more than one hit.

Leduchowski (L), B. Jamieson (3), Lynd (5) and Bruce Johnson
Lilley (W) and C. Seafoot

(June 10)   Speed-ball slabster Bruce Bremer hurled a one-hitter and rang up 15 punchouts in pitching the Virden Oilers to a 5 to 0 whitewashing of the hometown Souris Cardinals. In four hurling assignments this season, Bremer had accumulated 49 strikeouts. He also paced the Oilers at the plate in this contest with a double and single. Losing twirler Bob Fitchner lasted on the hillock until the ninth panel, being responsible for all five runs on nine Virden hits. Ted Bridgett of the winners had a pair of singles while Bob Downey drove in two runs with a ninth-inning double.

Bremer (W) and McCartney
Fitchner (L), E. Neufeld (9) and Dell

(June 10)  The Dauphin Redbirds dropped from the unbeaten class in the MSBL when they were drubbed 8 to 1 by the hometown Binscarth Orioles in a clash of division leaders. Les Lisowski upped his pitching record to 3 – 0 with a four-hit winning mound performance. He walked four and struck out a dozen in the complete-game effort. Vern Nickel, in his first starting assignment on the knoll for the Dauphinites, was nailed with the loss. He went the distance, allowing 13 hits and five free passes while whiffing four. Larry Muratore, with  his first home run of the season and a single, led the Orioles’ attack. Lisowski added two doubles and a single while Dale Gies punched out a pair of two-baggers. Don Gies chipped in with three singles and Reg Parton added a pair. Bob Buchy had two singles for the Redbirds. 

Nickel (L) and Bell
Lisowski (W) and Reagh, Bicknell (6)

(June 12)  Another ballplayer named Seafoot could be on the way to stardom in the MSBL. Playing at Virden, Ron Seafoot drove in three runs with a pair of singles, helping the Riverside Canucks to their second straight win, a 5 to 4 triumph over the hosting Oilers. Grant Everard went the distance on the hill for the Riversiders, scattering seven hits and walking four while swishing eight. Everard drove in the other two Canuck tallies with a two-run double. Mike Labossierre, Virden’s starting heaver, was lifted in the fifth frame and was tagged with the setback. As part of the ten-hit Riverside attack, Mark Fisher stung the sphere for three singles. Ted Bridgett paced the Oilers at the dish with a double and two singles while Brent McCannell delivered a two-bagger and single.  

Everard (W) and C. Seafoot
M. Labossiere (L), Kaiser (5) and B. Labossiere, McCartney (5)

(June 12)  The Hamiota Red Sox shaded the hometown Souris Cardinals 6 to 5 in an inter-division MSBL match. The Scarlet Stocking poured all six of their counters across the pan in the second spasm and hung on for the win over the slumping Cards. Winning tosser Ron Ramsey was nicked for six hits while import Ray Bruels was stung for a dozen safeties in absorbing the loss. Ramsey walked four and whiffed nine while Bruels issued just one base-on-balls while fanning seven. Barry Brooking ripped a triple and single for the victors while Ellis Woods, Ross Poole and Ramsey all singled twice with Ramsey’s brace of one-baggers accounting for two RBI’s. Blaine Fallis drove in three Souris counters with a pair of one-base raps. 

Ramsey (W) and Woods, Stephens (2)
Bruels (L) and Leslie

(June 13)  In arrears by a 3 to 0 count after three innings of play, the McAuley Blazers, winless in their first six MSBL encounters, caught fire and went on to throttle the travelling Souris Cardinals 13 to 3. Outhit by a 12 to 7 margin, the Souris contingent didn’t give their mound staff much help as the Cards booted the ball a total of seven times. Ross Lynd, the third Blazer hurler, picked up the pitching win. The Cardinals went through six chuckers , a couple of them being position players when all else failed. Bob Fitchner, the third out of the stable, was clipped with the loss. Lynd paced the McAuley batters with three singles. Dale Lowes added a double and single while Wayne Poole singled twice. Souris’ Greg Cameron stung the spheroid for a double and two singles in a losing cause.

Denbow, E. Neufeld (4), Fitchner (L) (4), Fallis (6), Hunter (8), Hodgson (8) and Dell
Coppicus, B. Jamieson (2), Lynd (W) (4) and R. Jamieson

(June 13)  The homestanding Dauphin Redbirds moved into sole possession of first place in the East Division with a 6 to 2 win over the Hamiota Red Sox. Vern Nickel, in relief of starter Randy Wills, got the win after ascending the bump in the third inning.  Al McNiven, driven to the showers in the fifth frame in favor of Don Sangster, was tagged with the loss. Kelly Turner and John Morrison each had two of the victors’ seven safeties, a pair of singles apiece with Turner’s brace of raps accounting for three RBI’s. Hamiota’s Barry Brooking also singled twice.

McNiven (L), Sangster (5) and Sheardown
Wills, Nickel (W) (3) and Bell

(June 14)   Behind the stellar relief hurling of import Rick Read, the Brandon Cloverleafs dazzled the invading Binscarth Orioles at Kinsmen Stadium, coming away with a 7 to 3 MSBL victory. The win lifted the Leafs once again into a tie for top spot in the East Division with the Dauphin Redbirds. Read came on in relief of starter Brian Hodgson in the third inning of a tie game with the bases loaded and pitched near perfect ball in holding the Birds to one run on two hits the rest of the way. Oriole starter Garth Neville was nicked with the loss. He surrendered all seven Cloverleaf runs on eight hits and two walks before departing in the fourth frame. His replacement, Donn Feldner, pitched admirably, allowing just two hits and no runs. Roy McLachlan had a two-run triple and Bert Ready a two-RBI single for the winners. Ron Low, with two singles, had half of Binscarth’s four base knocks.

Neville(L), Feldner (4) and Reagh
Hodgson, Read (W) (3) and McFadyen

(June 14)  The Riverside Canucks scored five times in the top-of-the-ninth inning to gain a 9 – 9 tie with the hosting Hamiota Red Sox. The winner of the game will be decided when the two teams meet again on July 10. With the bases loaded in the ninth, three consecutive singles off the bats of Grant Everard, Mark Fisher and Craig Bell accounted for the all five tallies in the comeback. Fisher started on the mound for Riverside but gave way to Lorne Lilley in the third inning. Dennis Anderson toiled on the knoll for the Scarlet Stockings until one was retired in the ninth when veteran Glennis Scott was called into action. Bell led the Riversiders offensively with a double and two singles, driving in four tallies. Everard delivered a pair of one-baggers. Jeff Sheardown and Mel Smith had a double and single each for Hamiota

Fisher, Lilley (3) and C. Seafoot
Anderson, Scott (9) and Woods

(June 14)  At Virden, the Oilers and McAuley Blazers fought to an 8 – 8 stalemate before darkness ended the skirmish after eight innings. Virden had superb offensive production from Mike Labossiere and Bob Downey. Labossiere ended the game with three RBI’s. two coming on a third-inning dinger and one on a single. Downey slammed a two-run tater in the fifth. Also swinging the bat well for the Oilmen were Tom Vanrobaeys who doubled and singled for a brace of RBI’s and Ted Bridgett who added two singles. Brian Rose tripled and singled for McAuley while Dale Lowes and Barry Jamieson each doubled and singles. Each team used a couple of chuckers with Virden’s Ted Bridgett lasting the longest, going seven stanzas. The Blazers had 11 base raps to nine for the Oilers.

Araujo, B. Jamieson (6) and R. Jamieson
Bridgett, Bremer (8) and McCartney.

(June 17)  The Virden Oilers’ Bruce Bremer and Ross Stone of the Dauphin Redbirds staged a dynamic strikeout battle in an MSBL tussle at Virden, won by the Redbirds 9 to 3. Bremer sent 17 Dauphinites down on strikes in just seven innings while Stone punched out 13 of the Oilmen in the same number of cantos. In Stone’s first appearance of the season, he picked up the win by yielding seven of the eight Virden hits before giving way to Randy Wills in the eighth episode. Bremer ran his league-leading strikeout total to 67 while surrendering 11 hits before heading to the showers as a loser after seven spasms. Dave Rottman rapped a double and three singles for the Redbirds, John Morrison chipped in with three and Ken Buchy homered and singled.  Catcher Harry Bell contributed a brace of one-baggers. Tom Vanrobaeys doubled and singled for the Virdenites while Ted Bridgett launched a bases-empty four-ply clout, his second tater of the year.  

Stone (W), Wills (8) and Bell
Bremer (L), M. Labossiere (8), D. McCannell (9) and B. Labossiere, McCartney (8)

(June 17)  The much-improved Riverside Canucks came up with their fourth consecutive errorless performance in downing the Binscarth Orioles 7 to 3. Winning twirler Grant Everard turned in a complete-game performance, allowing six hits and one walk. Les Lisowski started for Binscarth and was tagged with his first loss of the campaign. The Riversiders got to him for eight of their 11 safeties before he was derricked in the fifth frame. Mark Fisher and Cliff Seafoot each had three singles for the Canucks.

Lisowski (L), Neville (5), McCauley (8) and Bicknell, Reagh (5)
Everard (W) and C. Seafoot

STANDINGS

EAST DIVISION              W       L       Pct.      GBL
Dauphin                    6       1      .857       ----
Brandon                    5       1      .833       0.5
Riverside                  3       5      .375       3.5
Souris                     2       6      .250       4.5

WEST DIVISION              W       L       Pct.      GBL
Binscarth                  6       3      .667       ----
Virden                     4       4      .500       1.5
Hamiota                    3       4      .429       2.0
McAuley                    1       6      .143       4.0

(June 18)  The cellar-dwelling McAuley Blazers confined all their scoring into the first two innings and took a 5 to 3 West Division decision over the Hamiota Red Sox. The win was McAuley’s second of the season and moved them to within one game of the third-place Red Sox. Jerry Araujo hurled into the seventh stanza for the Blazers in earning the pitching win. Losing heaver Ron Ramsey of the Sox was battered from the slab in the second panel after he had walked six and given up two hits which accounted for the five McAuley tallies. Barry Jamieson picked up five of the Blazers’ seven hits, all singles. Bob Caldwell had a double and two singles in a losing Hamiota cause while Barry Brooking and Dale Newton added two singles each.

Ramsey (L), Brooking (2) and Woods
Araujo (W), Lynd (7) and Bruce Johnson

(June 20)  Don Sangster took care of the mound duties and his batterymate, Ellis Woods, drove in the decisive runs as the Hamiota Red Sox defeated the Virden Oilers 4 to 2. In going the distance for his first win, Sangster scattered six hits, walked three and struck out ten. Losing chucker Tim Kaiser also went the route and was lit up for eight safeties, the most damaging of which was a two-run single in the second spasm by Woods that gave the Sox a 3 – 0 lead. Ron Ramsey also had a productive night at the plate for the Sox, collecting a double and two singles. Darryl McCannell homered for the Oilers.

Kaiser (L) and McCartney, B. Labossiere (8)
Sangster (W) and Woods

(June 21)  In a rare classic pitching battle in the heavy-hitting MSBL, the Brandon Cloverleafs nosed out the Virden Oilers 2 to 1 in 13 innings to climb past the Dauphin Redbirds into the East Division lead. It was a quintessential confrontation between the flamethrower, Bruce Bremer of the Oilers, and the junk-ball artist, the Leafs’ Brian Hodgson. The Wheat City portsider, however, wasn’t around when this one came to a conclusion. He gave way to the ultimate winning tosser, Rick Read, after 10-2/3 innings. The end came rather suddenly for Bremer and perhaps the strain was taking something off his pitches. Heading into the 13th inning, he had thrown 172 pitches. The first batter he faced, Bill Chapple, hit an off-field double over first base. Upon retrieving the horsehide, right-fielder Tom Vanrobaeys hustled the throw into second base but it was over the head of the infielder covering the bag, allowing Chapple to scamper into third. Then, Bob Wilson pounded Bremer’s first offering into the left-centre field power alley to drive in the walkoff winner. It was a tough loss for Bremer who yielded but six hits, struck out 11 and walked five. Hodgson surrendered a mere four hits, whiffed seven and issued three free passes while Read pitched hitless ball, walked one and fanned three. The Cloverleafs scored the first run of the game in the fifth on Doug Fraser’s solid RBI-single. Virden got that one back in the seventh when playing-manager Ted Bridgett walked, advanced to second on a single by Bob Downey and scored on an overthrow to first base on an infield ground ball.

Bremer (L) and B. Labossiere
Hodgson, Read (W) (11) and McFadyen

(June 21)  After a slow start, the Hamiota Red Sox appear to be getting some traction as evidenced by their 4 to 0 whitewashing of the Dauphin Redbirds. The win allowed the Sox to climb into second place in the West Division while the setback for the Dauphinites shunted them into the runner-up position in the East Division, a half-game back of the Brandon Cloverleafs. Ron Ramsey scattered four hits while walking six and fanning four in going all the way for the shutout pitching win. Veteran Lynn Caldwell provided Ramsey with all the firepower he needed at the plate with a single, double and two RBI’s. Dauphin right-hander Dave Rottman, nicked for seven safeties, absorbed the loss in a route-going effort. He rang up six punchouts but had some command issues, doling out eight bases-on-balls.

Rottman (L) and Bell
Ramsey (W) and Woods

(June 22)  The Binscarth Orioles moved two full games in front of the Hamiota Red Sox in the race for the MSBL’s West Division pennant  by clobbering the Souris Cardinals 17 to 0. The Birds utilized three pitchers in claiming the three-hit shutout victory, not by necessity but simply to keep their stable of chuckers loose for upcoming games. Starter Les Lisowski pitched the first five frames, leaving with a 9 – 0 lead, and received credit for the win. Ray Bruels, the first of three Souris heavers, took the loss. Dale Gies paced the 16-hit batting splurge from the winners with a three-run homer, two singles and six RBI’s. NHL’er Ron Low stroked three singles, Gerry Bicknell a double and single and Larry Kearns as well as Reg Parton delivered two singles each.

Bruels (L), E. Neufeld (6), Hodgson (6) and Leslie
Lisowski (W), Neville (6), Feldner (8) and Reagh, Bicknell (7)

(June 22)  Veteran catcher Cliff Seafoot stroked a run-scoring single to plate Mark Fisher in the top-of-the-tenth inning that provided the Riverside Canucks with a 5 to 4 conquest of the McAuley Blazers. Grant Everard, coming on in relief of starting hurler Rob Medoff in the eighth episode, picked up the pitching win. Besides scoring the winning run, Fisher pounded out a three-run homer in the opening inning. Third-inning reliever Jerry Araujo was charged with the loss despite hurling six scoreless frames before surrendering the winning counter in the overtime session. Aside from his respectable work on the bump, Araujo didn’t embarrass himself with the bat, punching out four singles. Teammates Dale Lowes and Barry Jamieson managed three and two singles respectively

Medoff, Everard (W) (8) and C. Seafoot
Lynd, Araujo (L) (3) and R. Jamieson

(June 24)  Gene Cory spiced a four-run opening-canto explosion with a two-run single as the Riverside Canucks, behind the seven-hit pitching of Grant Everard, whipped the Virden Oilers 8 to 0  in an MSBL contest hosted by the Riversiders. With the early four-run cushion, Everard breezed to his fourth win in five pitching decisions by striking out ten Oilers and walking only two. Ted Bridgett went the distance for Virden an experienced control problems, issuing nine walks. He struck out three and was touched for eight hits. Everard and Mark Fisher paced the Canucks offensively with a double and single each. For the Virdenites, Gerry Fox contributed two singles to the cause.

Bridgett (L) and McCartney
Everard (W) and Campbell

(June 24)  Randy Wills, an import playing only his second game in a Dauphin uniform, tossed a three-hitter as the Redbirds moved into a first-place tie in the West Division with the Brandon Cloverleafs by downing the McAuley Blazers 3 to 1. Wills fanned four and walked five. The Redbirds scored all of their tallies in the fifth frame with Wills’ two-run single the big blow. Paul Chartrand, McAuley’s starting hurler, suffered the loss. Mike Mutcheson cracked a triple and single for Dauphin with Vern Nickel cuffing a brace of singles.

Chartrand (L), Poole (6) and Bruce Johnson, R. Jamieson (6)
Wills (W) and Simes

(June 25)   Ron Ramsey pitched perfect ball for five innings but the weather was less than perfect and, as a result, the Hamiota right-hander got a no-decision in an MSBL contest against the visiting Brandon Cloverleafs. Rain forced postponement of the game after five innings with the score ties 0 – 0. The game will be completed at a later date, possibly within 24 hours when the two teams lock horns once again at Brandon’s Kinsmen Stadium. The only three hits in the game, all singles, were stroked by the Red Sox off Cloverleaf twirler Brian Hodgson.

Hodgson and Brown
Ramsey and Woods

(June 26)  Brian Moffatt slammed a line-drive home run down the left-field line in the bottom-of-the-ninth inning as the Souris Cardinals and McAuley Blazers battled to a 1 – 1 deadlock in MSBL action. The teams played two extra innings before the game was called on account of darkness. Bob Neufeld, who hadn’t toiled on the hill in over a week got his full share of work and then some in going the 11-inning distance for the Cards. He was touched for six safeties while fanning 11 and walking three. Import Jerry Araujo was on the slab for the Blazers during the first nine innings before Barry Jamieson took over for the last two. The duo walked four and gave up five hits. Moffatt added two singles to his game-saving four-bagger for Souris. Wayne Poole stroked two singles for the Blazers.

Araujo, B. Jamieson (10) and Bruce Johnson
B. Neufeld and Dell, Leslie (11)

(June 26)  The Dauphin Redbirds took over sole possession of first place in the East Division of the MSBL by whipping the invading Virden Oilers 6 to 1. Import Randy Wills of the Redbirds led off the bottom-of-the-first-inning with a home run to help Dave Rottman to his third win in as many decisions. Rottman went the distance, yielding just four hits while striking out 13 Virden batters and walking just one. The lone Oiler run, scored in the eighth inning, was unearned. Darryl McCannell made his pitching debut for the Oilers and was tagged with the loss. He allowed 12 hits and three walks before exiting in the eighth episode. Along with his solo dinger in inning one, Wills added a double and single for the victors. Veteran Garry Keating added a bases-empty tater plus a couple of one-baggers. Brent McCannell ripped a brace of one-base knocks for Virden.

D. McCannell (L), Bohonis (8) and B. Labossiere
Rottman (W) and B. Buchy

(June 26)  In the completion of their five-inning tie game of just an evening previous, the Hamiota Red Sox scored three times in the extended four-inning mini-game for a 3 to 2 comeback victory. The Sox then went on to win the regular-scheduled MSBL game 4 to 3. After giving up a deuce to start the carry-over skirmish, Ron Ramsey pitched one-hit ball for the next six stanzas before turning the ball over to Glennis Scott in the eighth episode after the Leafs had rallied with two out. Ramsey got credit for the twin triumphs while Scott got the save in the regular encounter. On the other side of the coin, the Cloverleafs’ Bob Thompson was dinged with the double-defeat in just four innings of toil on the bump. Ramsey banged out three singles in four trips to help his cause while Brian Hodgson cracked a double and one-bagger for the Wheat City nine.

Hodgson, Thompson (L) (6) and Brown, McFadyen (6)
Ramsey (W) and Woods

Ramsey (W), Scott (8) and Woods
Thompson (L), Hodgson (5) and McFadyen

(June 27)  The Binscarth Orioles, spearheaded by the pitching of left-hander Les Lisowski, blanked the McAuley Blazers 3 to 0 in an MSBL tilt played at Moosomin SK, the co-supporting community of the expansion team. Lisowski scattered six hits in the contest while walking five and striking out seven. McAuley’s Jerry Coppicus, who was relieved by Paul Chartrand in the seventh stanza, was charged with the loss. Don Gies and Ron Falloon paced the nine-hit attack of the division-leading Orioles with two singles each. Dale Lowes of the Blazers matched that offensive output.

Lisowski (W) and Reagh, Muratore (2)
Coppicus (L), Chartrand (7) and R. Jamieson

(June 27)  In what’s shaping up to be a two-team race in the West Division of the MSBL, the hometown Hamiota Red Sox defeated the slumping Souris Cardinals 4 to 1 to remain on the heels of division-leading Binscarth. Neither team showed much spunk at the plate as only six base hits were registered, three by each aggregation. Al McNiven, who went the distance for the Red Sox, earned his first pitching win in three decisions this season. He walked seven and fanned eight while complete-game losing chucker Ray Bruels issued six bases-on-balls while whiffing eight. Hamiota picked up their trio of runs, all unearned, in the fourth frame on a wild pitch and a two-run single off the bat of rookie Dale McKinnon. Bruels drove in the Cards’ lone counter with a ninth-inning single.

Bruels (L) and Dell
McNiven (W) and Woods 
 
(June 29)  The third-place Virden Oilers upset the division-leading Binscarth Orioles 4 to 2 in a West Division clash at Virden. The Oilers plated a four-spot in the eighth to break up a scoreless pitching duel between Tim Kaiser and Binscarth’s Garth Neville. With the bases loaded, Bob Downey stroked a two-run single and, after two had been retired, Brent McCannell added another one-base rap that produced two RBI’s. The Orioles struck back for a deuce in the ninth, taking advantage of reliever Bruce Bremer’s wildness, but fell short in their comeback attempt. Kaiser was the winner with a four-hitter while Bremer didn’t allow any hits but walked four and allowed two of them to score on wild pitches. Neville was touched for six hits and five walks in absorbing the defeat. 

Neville (L) and Reagh
Kaiser (W), Bremer (9) and McCartney

(June 29) The visiting McAuley Blazers picked up an unearned run in the opening canto and went on to cool off the streaking Hamiota Red Sox 1 to 0. Import Jerry Araujo, after reaching the initial sack on a fielding miscue, eventually plated the lone run of the contest for the Blazers on a second Hamiota error. Ross Lynd went the first five innings on the hill for McAuley to annex the hurling decision. He was touched for two of the three Red Sox hits before turning the horsehide over to Araujo who, in turn, pitched two scoreless panels before Barry Jamieson locked the shutout up with another brace of no-run innings. Losing tosser Ron Ramsey gave up just five singles in absorbing the complete-game loss. There were no multiple-hit performances in this clash.  

Lynd (W), Araujo (6), B. Jamieson (8) and R. Jamieson
Ramsey (L) and Woods

(June 29)  Rookie Blaine Fallis lined a 3 – 2 pitch for a run-scoring single in the top-of-the-ninth inning that drove in Ray Bruels with what turned out to be the winning run as the slow-starting Souris Cardinals edged the Brandon Cloverleafs 2 to 1 at Kinsmen Stadium. It was a a pitcher’s battle from inning one, with Rick Read of the Leafs and Souris starter Bob Fitchner locked up in an occasional-single-but-that’s-all type of game before Fitchner was forced to leave with a sore flipper in favor of winning pitcher Bruels in the eight episode. Fitchner yielded only two hits while Read was touched for four singles by the Cards. Read had an opportunity to drive in the tying tally in the bottom-of-the-ninth but popped up to end the game.
         
Fitchner, Bruels (W) (8) and Dell
Read (L) and McFadyen

(July 2)  Birtle annual Canada Day tournament

(July 4)  The West Division cellar-dwelling McAuley Blazers continued to struggle and took a 13 to 0 pounding at the hands of the hosting Brandon Cloverleafs. Following a three-up and three-down top-of-the-first inning for the Blazers, the Wheat City nine went right to work and took control of the game, plating a four-spot in their first turn at bat and a trey in the second round, kayoing losing heaver Jerry Coppicus from the hillock. Complete-game winning flinger Rick Read yielded five hits in improving his record to 4 – 1. The Leafs accumulated 11 base knocks off three opposing twirlers. Roy McLachlan unloaded a two-run homer and a triple that drove in two more tallies for the victors. Playing co-manager Bob Thompson also starred offensively, banging out a two-run triple and an RBI single. Bob Wilson and Bert Ready both had a brace of one-base raps, including a perfectly-placed bunt single down the third-base line by Ready. Coppicus, with two singles, was the lone visiting batter with a plural hit total.

Coppicus (L), Leduchowski (2), Poole (6) and Bruce Johnson
Read (W) and McFadyen, Brown (6)

(July 4)  Taking full advantage of starting pitcher Randy Wills’ difficulty in locating the strike zone, the Riverside Canucks rode to an 8 to 2 conquest of the hosting Dauphin Redbirds. Wills, on four walks, a hit batter and an error, gave up four counters in the very first panel without yielding a hit and was out of the game and in the showers after 2-1/3 innings on the knoll. Riverside’s Grant Everard fashioned a seven-hitter in going all the way for his fifth mound win. He had a dozen punchouts but also experienced some control problems, walking seven. Cliff Seafoot cracked a double and single to lead the Canucks’ ten-hit offense while Ron Seafoot collected a pair of one-baggers. Garry Keating stroked two singles for the Redbirds. 

Everard (W) and C. Seafoot
Wills (L), Keating (3), K. Buchy (5), B. Buchy (6) and Gallant

(July 5)  The visiting Riverside Canucks battered the Brandon Cloverleafs 13 to 7 in an MSBL Eastern Division clash at Kinsmen Stadium. The victory lifted the Riversiders into a second-place divisional tie with the Leafs. Both teams trail the pace-setting Dauphin Redbirds by 1-1/2 games. The warm, calm evening was just what the hitters ordered as they took advantage, pounding out a total of 23 hits, 13 by the Canucks whose victory was their seventh in succession. The invaders started fast, hammering Cloverleaf starter and loser Brian Hodgson off the mound by the fourth frame. Seven runs were already across the dish when Hodgson was give the hook, taking his first loss of the season with him. Rob Medoff, in his second start of the campaign for the Canucks, went eight innings to get credit for the easy win. The Brandon pastimers played loose afield, booting the ball on five occasions. Mark Fisher had a double, two singles and three RBI’s for the winners. Morley Hartel drilled two singles, driving in four runs, while Medoff singled twice. Bill Chapple, Doug Fraser and Roy McLachlan each laced a brace of one-base hits for the Wheat City nine.

Medoff (W), Beare (9), Lilley (9) and C. Seafoot
Hodgson (L), Harvey (4), Kramble (7) and McFadyen

(July 6)  Veteran Lynn Caldwell’s timely hitting lifted the Hamiota Red Sox to a 3 to 2 come-from-behind victory over the hometown Virden Oilers. The win moved the Red Sox into a first-place tie with the Binscarth Orioles in the MSBL’s West Division. With the Birds out in front by a 2 – 0 margin heading into the seventh spasm, Caldwell started  the Crimson Hose on the comeback trail with a run-scoring single. Then, in the ninth, after a sacrifice fly by Mel Smith had tied the score, Caldwell drilled a solid single up the middle to score winning flinger Ron Ramsey with the go-ahead counter. Ramsey, who went the distance in picking up his sixth win, then did his part by retiring the Oilers in the bottom-of-the-ninth to preserve the lead and cop the victory. Both Ramsey and losing twirler Bruce Bremer doled out just seven opposition safeties. The Hamiota right-hander walked four and struck out six while portsider Bremer rang up 15 punchouts, lifting his league-leading total to 97, and didn’t issue a single base-on-balls. Caldwell added a third one-bagger to his total in leading the Scarlet Stocking swatters. The Oilers’ Ted Bridgett pounded out a pair of doubles, one of them driving in a brace of tallies, while teammate Bob Downey had a two-bagger and a one-base rap. 

Ramsey (W) and Sheardown
Bremer (L) and McCartney

(July 6)  The Dauphin Redbirds scored ten times over the course of the final four frames en route to an 11 to 7 victory over the hosting Souris Cardinals. The win moved the Redbirds two full games in front of the idle Riverside Canucks and Brandon Cloverleafs in the East Division standings. Mike Mutcheson started the late Redbird surge with a two-run dinger in the sixth stanza. Mutcheson also added a single as part of Dauphin’s 12-hit total. John Morrison did most of the offensive damage for the Dauphinites with a three-run double and a two-run single. Ken Buchy, Kelly Turner and winning flinger Dave Rottman stroked two singles apiece for the winners. Import Ray Bruels started of the hill for Souris, going seven innings and taking the loss. Topping the ten-hit Cardinal offense was Doug Armour who launched a two-run tater plus a one-bagger. Greg Cameron had three hits for the cellar-dwellers, one a double, while flychaser Wayne Keeler managed a double and one-bagger.

Rottman (W) and Gallant
Bruels (L), Carpenter (8) and Leslie

(July 6)  Proving that they do indeed belong in the MSBL, the McAuley Blazers, playing on the road, mounted a 19-hit attack and knocked off the defending champion and current West Division front-running Binscarth Orioles 13 to 4. Import Jerry Araujo effectively scattered ten hits, while walking four and whiffing five, in going the distance for the win. Barry “Sam” Jamieson doubled and added three singles for the Blazers off loser Garth Neville and seventh-inning reliever Ron Low. Checking in with a double and two singles each were Araujo, Dale Lowes and Wayne Poole. Catcher Ross Jamieson contributed two singles. Glenn Hodgson cuffed three singles for the O’s and Don Gies added a pair. 

Araujo (W) and R. Jamieson
Neville (L), Low (7) and Reagh

(July 8)  Veteran Bill Carpenter launched a two-out, two-run four-bagger in the eighth episode that lifted the Souris Cardinals past the Riverside Canucks 2 to 1.  Winning heaver Bob Fitchner went the distance, limiting the heavy-hitting Riversiders to a measly four hits and an equal number of free passes. Fitchner made only one costly mistake, grooving a pitch that Mark Fisher sent into orbit for a fourth-inning bases-empty dinger and a 1 – 0 Canuck lead. Garth Everard, who also went the route, suffered the loss. He gave up eight hits and three walks. Besides his game-winning tater, Carpenter also singled. Clubmate Doug Armour contributed a pair of one-baggers. Garth Seafoot tagged a couple of one-base hits for Riverside.

Fitchner (W) and Leslie
Everard (L) and C. Seafoot

(July 8)  Playing on the diamond of their co-supporting neighbors in Moosomin SK, the McAuley Blazers scored twice in the bottom-of-the-eighth inning to edge the Brandon Cloverleafs in an offensively-charged MSBL match that featured seven pitchers and 22 hits. The win for the Blazers, their second in a row, moved them to within a half-game of the third-place Virden Oilers in the league’s West Division. Barry Jamieson, the third and final tosser for the McAuley squad, got credit for the win. He ascended the mound in the fourth frame. Co-manager Bob Thompson started on the hill for Brandon and lasted just one inning. Rick McFadyen, who was behind the plate for the first five frames of the fracas, shed his catching gear and followed Thompson and two other Cloverleaf chuckers to the knoll in the sixth but came away as the losing heaver. Both aggregations spanked the sphere for eleven base blows. The big difference in the game was the number of free passes issued. The Leaf twirlers gifted McAuley batters with 14 walks while the Wheat City nine were the beneficiaries of eight bases-on-balls. Jerry Araujo and Ross Jamieson stroked two singles apiece for the victors. Dennis Wiebe and Bob Thompson collected three safe swats each for the vanquished Leafs with Wiebe’s sum including a solo four-bagger and Thompson’s total a double. Bill Chapple and Bert Ready followed with a couple of one-base raps each. 

Thompson, Read (2), Wiebe (3), McFadyen (L) (6) and McFadyen, Wright (6)
Chartrand, Lynd (2), B. Jamieson (W) (4) and Bruce Johnson, R. Jamieson (3)

(July 8)  The Binscarth Orioles scored four times in the third inning and went on to defeat the Dauphin Redbirds 5 to 2 in a clash of division leaders. Binscarth’s Les Lisowski went the distance on the bump to record his sixth win in seven decisions. He scatters seven hits, walked five and struck out six. His mates backed him up with three double plays. Loser Ross Stone was tagged for 11 hits and a walk, while breezing four. The Orioles’ big inning was the fourth when the put up a three-spot with Dale Gies’ two-run single the big blow.

Lisowski (W) and Reagh
Stone (L) and Gallant

(July 9)  Brian Moffatt put on a hitting show in leading the Souris Cardinals to a 10 to 8 victory over the homestanding Virden Oilers. Moffatt got his act going early, unloading a two-run circuit-clout in the opening inning. His encore trips to the dish were equally constructive, producing a triple, double and two singles. In five official trips to the plate, Moffatt drove in five of his team’s ten counters. Ed Neufeld, in relief of starter Ray Bruels, picked up the mound decision. He was touched for four of the eight Virden hits but surrendered just one run. Jim Kaiser started of the slab for the Oilers and suffered the loss. The Cards raked Kaiser and fourth-inning reliever Ted Bridgett for nine base raps. Aside from Moffatt, Doug Armour added to the Souris offense with a double and single. All eight Virden safeties were evenly divided.

Bruels, E. Neufeld (W) and Dell
Kaiser (L), Bridgett (4) and B. Labossiere 

(July 10)  The Riverside Canucks snatched a pair of MSBL victories from the invading Hamiota Red Sox. The hosts captured the completion of a suspended 9 – 9 tie encounter from June 14 by scoring three runs in the third inning to prevail 13 to 10 then went on to annex the regularly-scheduled tilt 8 to 7 in ten innings. Cliff Seafoot’s bases-loaded sacrifice fly knocked in the winning tally in the suspended affair and Ross Kinsley doubled to add a brace of insurance markers.

Rob Medoff, who took over hurling chores for the Riversiders in the third inning, was credited with the twin triumphs. Ron Ramsey was nicked for the Hamiota loss in the carry-over match while Glennis Scott, who came to Ramsey’s aid in the fourth frame and went the rest of the way, was stung with the setback in the regularly-scheduled overtime event. Grant Everard’s two-bagger drove in Bob Williamson with the winning run for the Canucks in the bottom-of-the-tenth inning. For the winners, Ross Kinsley had a pair of doubles while Craig Bell and Everard delivered a double and single each.

Fisher, Lilley (3), Medoff (W) (12) and C. Seafoot
Anderson, Scott (9), Ramsey (L) (10) and Woods

Ramsey, Scott (L) (4) and Woods
Lilley, Medoff (W) (3) and C. Seafoot
                                      
(July 10)  An 11th-hour line smash off the bat of Doug Fraser that landed deep into the left-centre field power alley, netted the Brandon Cloverleafs a thrilling 4 to 3 win over the Dauphin Redbirds at Kinsmen Stadium. Officially credited as a single, Fraser’s two-out blast in the bottom-of-the-ninth panel drove in Bill Chapple with the walkoff winner, climaxing a Brandon comeback from a 3 – 0 deficit that featured two runs in each of the eighth and ninth chapters. Roy McLachlan’s towering two-run tater in the eighth, preceded by a leadoff single from Fraser, had narrowed the deficit to a singleton. In the ninth, Chapple sliced a double off complete-game loser Dave Rottman that plated Bert Ready, setting the stage for Fraser’s timely game-deciding swat. The Leafs had a slight 9 to 8 edge in base hits. Winning heaver Rick Read was not spectacular but was steady, particularly when he had to, in capturing his fifth win in six verdicts.

Rottman (L) and B. Buchy
Read (W) and McFadyen

(July 11)  A wide 13 to 7 disparity in base raps favoring the visiting Virden nine didn’t help on the scoreboard as the Oilers fell 9 to 5 to the hosting Binscarth Orioles. The victory for the Birds, gained primarily on the strength of a five-run outburst in the bottom-of-the-eighth-episode, was their tenth in 15 starts this season. Five costly fielding miscues by the Virdenites helped Binscarth reliever Grant Neville pick up his third win of the campaign. Tim Kaiser started on the bump for the invaders, giving way to eventual loser Mike Labossiere in the fourth frame. Dale Gies, with a pair of singles, was the lone batter from the victors to reach plural hit totals. Darryl McCannell and Ian McCartney topped the Oiler swatters with a double and two singles each. Bob Downey followed with a two-bagger and single while Brent McCannell collected a pair of one-base hits.        

Kaiser, M. Labossiere (L) (4) and McCartney
Feldner, Neville (W) (6) and Reagh

(July 11)  After being nicked with three pitching defeats, big Bob Thompson finally broke into the win column as he came on in relief in the fourth canto to engineer the Brandon Cloverleafs past the hosting Souris Cardinals 7 to 5. With the game deadlocked 4 – 4 as Thompson took over for Leaf starter Brian Hodgson, Thompson ascended the hillock and checked the Cards on two hits and a pair of free passes the rest of the way. He fanned five and didn’t allow a Souris counter until the bottom-of-the-ninth. Starter Bob Fitchner suffered the heaving loss for the homesters, getting the hook in the fifth in favor of import Ray Bruels. The duo allowed a dozen safe swats, nine off Fitchner. Brandon’s Roy McLachlan stroked three singles in a winning effort. Teammate Dennis Wiebe unloaded a fifth-inning solo circuit-jack and added a double. Bill Chapple and Rick McFadyen added two base raps apiece. Doug Armour topped the Cardinals at the plate with a couple of one-baggers.

Hodgson, Thompson (W) (4) and McFadyen
Fitchner (L), Bruels (5) and Leslie, Dell (6)

STANDINGS

EAST DIVISION              W      L       Pct.      GBL
Dauphin                    9      5      .643       ----
Riverside                  9      6      .600       0.5
Brandon                    9      6      .600       0.5
Souris                     5     10      .333       4.5

WEST DIVISION              W      L       Pct.      GBL
Binscarth                 10      5      .667       ----
Hamiota                    9      8      .529       2.0
McAuley                    5     10      .333       5.0
Virden                     5     11      .313       5.5  

(July 13)  Jerry Araujo’s 16 strikeouts were the highlight and nine errors the low point of the clash as the McAuley Blazers and the hometown Virden Oilers each won a ball game in MSBL action. The game was used to break an 8 – 8 tied encounter between the two teams and the hosting Oilers got the jump in that portion of the affair, taking a 1 – 0 lead after the third inning to win the suspended tilt. The Blazers, however, squeezed across a run in the top-of-the-ninth to break a deadlock and take a 4 to 3 decision in the regulation game between the two West Division tail-enders.

Araujo gave up only five hits but it was three McAuley errors in the third inning which pave the way for Virden to annex its suspended-game victory. The Oilers’ Bruce Bremer, who went all the way on the hill for a win and a loss, was nursing a 3 – 0 cushion after four frames and appeared in command but the Blazers began to chip away with a deuce in the fifth and a single counter in the seventh to knot the count. Then, in the top-of-the-ninth episode, Dale Lowes singled, swiped the keystone sack and, in his attempt to pilfer the hot corner station, was the beneficiary of an off-target throw by Virden catcher Bob Labossiere which sailed into the left pasture, allowing Lowes to easily plate what turned out to be the decisive tally. Lowes garnered a double in addition to his ninth-canto one-bagger while clubmate Terry Lynd cracked a brace of doubles. Jerry Coppicus and Ross Lynd added a couple of singles each. The five Virden safeties were equally distributed.

Araujo (W) and R. Jamieson
Bremer (L) and B. Labossiere

(July 13)  The West Division-leading Binscarth Orioles battered Hamiota’s Allie McNiven for 12 runs in less than five innings as went on to secure a 13 to 5 victory over the visiting Red Sox. The win for the O’s clinched at least a tie for the division pennant. McNiven was tagged for a three-run homer by Binscarth’s Dale Gies during his disastrous start, eventually being replaced in the fifth frame by Barry Brooking who completed the debacle relatively unscathed. Bob Kutzan, the first of three Oriole tossers, pitched seven stanzas and got credit for his first win of the season. Gies had a double in addition to his four-bagger, accounting for four RBI’s. Teammate Glenn Hodgson cracked a double and single while Ron Falloon and Larry Muratore stroked two singles apiece. Jeff Sheardown clouted his second round-tripper of the year for the Scarlet Stockings and added a double. Bob Caldwell delivered a couple of one-base raps.

McNiven (L), Brooking (5) and Sheardown
Kutzan (W), Lisowski (8), Feldner (9) and Bicknell

(July 15)  Some timely hitting, especially by flychaser John Morrison, paced the  Dauphin Redbirds to an 8 to 4 doubling of the Brandon Cloverleafs at Kinsmen Stadium. Morrison had singles in his first two times at bat, good for three RBI’s, and added a double to his swat total later in the game. Ross Stone got the pitching win, his second against one loss. He went seven innings before turning the horsehide over to Vern Nickel who closed things out. Starter and loser, Rick Read, along with Bob Thompson, toiled on the bump for the Leafs, who were out-clubbed by an 11 to 6 margin. Kelly Turner, Mike Mutcheson and Dave Rottman stroked two singles apiece for the winners while Roy McLachlan belted a two-run homer, his third dinger in four contests, along with a one-bagger, for the vanquished nine. Teammate Bill Chapple added a double and single.

Stone (W), Nickel (8) and B. Buchy
Read (L), Thompson (6), McFadyen (8) and McFadyen, Brown (8)

(July 15)  A brace of opening-canto counters gave the Riverside Canucks one victory and propelled them to a second one, a 10 to 3 conquest of the homestanding Souris Cardinals, in MSBL action. The 2 – 0 first-inning lead gave the Riversiders the win in the previously-tied game of June 7, called after 11 stanzas because of darkness. That triumph, along with the regular-game blowout, boosted the Canucks into a first-place East Division tie with the Dauphin Redbirds. Grant Everard went all the way on the hill to earn two mound wins, striking out ten along the way. Losing chucker Bob Neufeld, derricked after six spasms, was saddled with both setbacks. Mark Fisher paced Riverside’s 14-hit attack with a double and two singles, driving in three runs. Bob Williamson added a double and single while Everard, Ron Seafoot and Ed Beare each had two singles. Doug Armour and Greg Cameron collected two singles each for the cellar-dwelling Souris squad.

Everard (W) and C. Seafoot
B. Neufeld (L), Bruels (7), E. Neufeld (9) and Dell, Leslie (8)

(July 17)  The West Division disposed of their Eastern Division counterparts 5 to 3 in a sloppily-played MSBL all-star tilt at Brandon’s Kinsmen Stadium. The winners had a 9 to 4 edge in base hits with McAuley Blazers’ shortstop Barry Jamieson emerging as the only hitter in the contest to collect a brace of bingles.

 Everard, Read (L) (4), Rottman (6) and C. Seafoot
 Lisowski, Ramsey (W) (4), Bremer (7) and Woods

(July 18)  The Binscarth Orioles officially clinched the MSBL’s West Division pennant by edging the hosting Souris Cardinals 8 to 7. The visitors accumulated 13 hits, including two homers, one of which was a three-run blow by Larry Kearns in the opening panel. Ron Low, who took over on the knoll in a rare pitching performance from the first to the end of the fourth, had the other Binscarth four-bagger. Ed Neufeld, the first of three Souris slabsters, hurled three innings and was tagged with the loss while the victory was credited to Low. Kearns and Low each added a single to their four-ply clouts but it was teammate Dale Gies who had the most productive evening at the dish for the winners with three singles and a double. Glenn Hodgson added two singles. The Cards managed only five singles as no one from their squad rang up multiple safeties.
                                                                                                     
McCauley, Low (W) (1), Neville (5) and Reagh
E. Neufeld (L), B. Neufeld (4), Fitchner (8) and Leslie

(July 18)  It’s been a long haul but the Riverside Canucks, the hottest team in the Manitoba Senior Baseball League, have finally reached the top rung of the loop’s Eastern Division. Dead last on June 6 with a 0 – 5 record, the Canucks have since won 12 of their last 13 games to edge past the Dauphin Redbirds into top spot with a half-game lead. Complete-game winning slab artist Bob Medoff upped his pitching record to 4 – 0 and knocked in Craig Bell with the winning run on a ninth-inning sacrifice fly. The Leafs’ Brian Hodgson pitched well in taking the loss, holding the rampaging Riversiders to seven safeties while his mates collected eight hits. Bell had two doubles for the Canucks while Doug Fraser and Dennis Wiebe delivered two singles apiece for the Wheat City nine. 

Hodgson (L) and McFadyen
Medoff (W) and C. Seafoot

(July 18)  Losers of their first six starts as an expansion team in the 1973 MSBL, the McAuley Blazers continued to play a competitive brand of baseball by staging a late comeback for a 3 to 2 conquest of the Hamiota Red Sox. Playing at Moosomin SK, a co-supporter of the team, the Blazers won for the seventh time in their last 12 outings. Trailing 2 – 0, the Blazers plated a singleton in the eighth and had to score a deuce in the ninth to pull out the thrilling victory. Two errors by Hamiota third baseman Lynn Caldwell, the only miscues committed by the Sox during the entire evening, opened the door for McAuley in the final frame and it was Brian Rose’s double which spiced the rally. Jerry Araujo went all the way for the hillock triumph.

Anderson (L), Sangster (9) and Sheardown
Araujo (W) and R. Jamieson

(July 20-21-22)  Brandon Kinsmen Tournament of Champions

(July 24)  The Dauphin Redbirds scored a single run in the bottom-of-the-seventh inning, just before the game was called because of darkness, and were awarded an 8 to 7 triumph over the travelling Brandon Cloverleafs. The Wheat City nine had tied the game in the top-half of the canto when Roy McLachlan belted his fourth homer of the season. Lefthander Ross Stone, with ten punchouts, earned his third win of the campaign by tossing a six-hitter for the Birds but five errors by his mates kept him in hot water. Wildness on the part of Leaf starter and loser Rick McFadyen, the clubs’ regular catcher, hurt his squad even more. McFadyen issued 11 free passes in addition to ten hits before Marv Hollender bailed him out. Ken Buchy banged out two singles and a double for the Dauphinites. Kelly Turner added a double and single while Dave Rottman clicked for a pair of one-baggers. McLachlan added a one-base rap to his solo dinger. 

McFadyen (L), Hollender (7) and Ready, McFadyen (7)
Stone (W) and Gallant                                                                                                                                                                                  

(July 25)  A 3 to 1 triumph by Dauphin over the Riverside Canucks reduced the magic number for the Redbirds to two for clinching the East Division pennant. Dave Rottman tossed a six-hitter in going the route for the win while Grant Everard, roughed up in the early going, was nailed with the loss. Ken Buchy led the Dauphinites at the plate with three singles while Kelly Turner added a pair. Five different Riversiders managed one single each.

Rottman (W) and Gallant
Everard (L) and C. Seafoot

(July 25)  The homestanding Hamiota Red Sox and the West Division pennant-winning Binscarth Orioles battled to a nine-inning, 0 – 0 tie in an MSBL clash called due to darkness. Binscarth’s Les Lisowski spun a nifty one-hitter while walking four and whiffing seven over the route. Ron Ramsey of the Red Sox also went all the way, scattering five hits and walking five while punching out a dozen. Garth Neville of the Orioles, with two singles, was the only batter to acquire plural hit figures.

Lisowski and Bicknell, Reagh (6)
Ramsey and Stephens

(July 25)  The Virden Oilers erupted for a deuce in the fourth and four more in the fifth frame and went on to whip the McAuley Blazers 6 to 1. The win moved the Oilers into a third-place tie with the Blazers in the West Division. Both aggregations stung the sphere for six safeties but McAuley frittered the game away by committing six errors. Darryl McCannell copped the pitching victory over Jerry Araujo. Bob Downey singled twice for the winners and was the lone batter in the game with more than one hit.

D. McCannell (W) and McCartney
Araujo (L) and R. Jamieson

(July 27)  The Dauphin Redbirds, paced by the shutout pitching of Ross Stone, whitewashed the Souris Cardinals 8 to 0 to clinch at least a tie for the MSBL’s East Division pennant. Stone scattered four singles in picking up the win over Ray Bruels who was kayoed off the rubber in the third spasm. Dave Rottman doubled and single for the victors while five Redbirds – Ken Buchy, Kelly Turner, John Morrison, Garry Keating and Jerry Shumanski – managed two singles apiece.

Bruels (L), E. Neufeld (3) and Dell
Stone (W) and Gallant

(July 28-29)  1973 M.B.A. senior baseball playdowns  (semi-final double-knockout tournaments)

(July 31)  The Dauphin Redbirds clinched the 1973 East Division pennant by virtue of a 5 to 1 win over the third-place Brandon Cloverleafs. Veteran heaver Ross Stone scattered five hits in winning his fifth game of the campaign. Cloverleaf starter Rick Read absorbed the loss. Garry Keating of the Redbirds, with two singles, was best with the baton and the only batter in the contest to have more than one safety.

Read (L), Wiebe (7) and Wright
Stone (W) and Gallant

(July 31)  The Binscarth Orioles, dispelling any hint of a sophomore jinx, continued to pile up wins in their second season of MSBL company by doubling the Virden Oilers 8 to 4. The game was limited to eight innings because of rain. Winning twirler Les Lisowski pitched the first five innings for Binscarth, shutting out the hosts on two hits. Lisowski, who now sports a 7 – 1 record, gave way to Bob Kutzan in the sixth and the Oilers responded with four runs on five hits. Ted Bridgett, who went the distance for Virden, was tagged with the loss. Dale Gies, Ron Low and Ron Falloon all delivered two singles for the O’s with Gies’ raps driving in a brace of counters. For the Oilers, Denis Lemieux unloaded a two-run double while clubmates Ian McCartney and Bruce Bremer delivered two singles each.

Lisowski (W), Kutzan (6) and Reagh, Bicknell (6)
Bridgett (L) and McCartney

(July 31)  The McAuley Blazers ended their inaugural season in the MSBL with an 8 to 5 triumph over the Souris Cardinals. The win enabled the Blazers to escape the Western Division basement as they finished with an 8 – 12 record which was better then both the West Division Cardinals and the Virden Oilers. The hosting Cards had a 9 to 6 edge in base hits but also out-fumbled their foes by an 8 to 4 margin. Import Jerry Araujo gained his fifth pitching win in going the distance while Bob Fitchner, who also hurled the entire game, was stung with the defeat. Brian Rose and Wayne Poole hit two-run singles for the Blazers. Bob Leslie couldn’t be faulted for the loss as he nailed four singles for the vanquished Birds. Brian Moffatt followed with a double and a single.

Araujo (W) and R. Jamieson
Fitchner (L) and Dell

(August 1)  The visiting Riverside Canucks edged their East Division champion hosts, the Dauphin Redbirds, 5 to 4. The Canucks scored four times in the fourth frame in helping league MVP Grant Everard record his eighth win of the season. Everard checked the Redbirds on eight hits and four free passes while whiffing ten. Vern Nickel went the route in taking the loss for Dauphin, giving up ten base raps and a pair of walks while breezing four. Gord Hunter provided the visitors with the necessary margin for victory thanks to a two-run triple. Mark Fisher added a double and single while Gene Cory stroked two one-baggers. Ross Stone topped the Redbirds offensively with two doubles while Lyle Gallant ripped a brace of singles. 

Everard (W) and Campbell
Nickel (L) and Gallant

(August 1)  The Brandon Cloverleafs took full advantage of ten errors by the West Division champion Binscarth Orioles to coast to an easy 15 to 8 victory. Although touched for 15 hits, left-hander Brian Hodgson went all the way for the pitching victory. The Orioles used three chuckers with starter Donn Feldner taking the loss. The trio yielded 14 Brandon safeties. Roy McLachlan paced the winners at the plate with a pair of doubles and a single. Doug Fraser also managed three base knocks, one of them a two-bagger. Dennis Wiebe chipped in with a double and single and Marv Hollender delivered two singles. Even though the Orioles lost, Binscarth’s Gies brothers had a field day. Don hit a double and three singles while Dale stroked three singles. Ron Low also starred with a double and two singles.

Hodgson (W) and Wright
Feldner (L), Kutzan (4), Lisowski (8) and Reagh

(August 16)  Already each having won a Divisional playoff round, the Binscarth Orioles and Hamiota Red Sox still hooked up in the final regular league contest at this late date. The tilt, resulting in a 5 to 4 Binscarth triumph, was the replay of a previous nine-inning scoreless tie the two squads played on July 25 and the outcome had a direct bearing on some prestigious league titles.

• with the win, the Orioles finished the regular schedule with a 14 – 6 record, tying the Dauphin Redbirds for the best record in the circuit and the Les Edwards Memorial Trophy.
• Binscarth outfielder Dale Gies went three-for-five at the plate, boosting his batting average to .404, to nose out runner-up Mark Fisher of Riverside for the batting title.
• Oriole left-hander Les Lisowski picked up the mound win, giving him an 8 – 1 record for the season, to edge Riverside’s Grant Everard for the best winning percentage.

Although the West Division pennant winners had a healthy 14 to 4 edge in base hits during the contest, it wasn’t until the final frame that they finally subdued the pesky Sox. Ron Falloon led off with a triple and trotted home with the winner when Larry Muratore doubled. Barry Brooking, who relieved Hamiota starter Don Sangster in the eighth episode, was the losing heaver. Falloon stroked three singles in addition to his three-bagger.

Lisowski (W) and Reagh
Sangster, Brooking (L) (8) and Stephens

FINAL STANDINGS  Dauphin and Binscarth finished regular schedule tied for Les Edwards Memorial Trophy honors as team with best overall record in either division.

EAST DIVISION              W      L      Pct.      GBL
Dauphin                   14      6      .700       ----
Riverside                 13      7      .650       1.0
Brandon                   10     10      .500       4.0
Souris                     5     15      .250       9.0

WEST DIVISION              W      L       Pct.      GBL
Binscarth                 14      6      .700       ----
Hamiota                    9     11      .450       5.0
McAuley                    8     12      .400       6.0
Virden                     7     13      .350       7.0

---

(August 2)  1973 M.B.A. senior baseball playdowns  (first game of best-of-three final series)  See below

(August 3)  1973 M.B.A. senior baseball playdowns  (second game of best-of-three final series)  See below

(August 8)  1973 M.B.A. senior baseball playdowns  (third game of best-of-three final series)  See below

PLAYOFFS
DIVISIONAL SEMI-FINALS  (best-of-five series)

EAST
Brandon Cloverleafs vs Riverside Canucks
Souris Cardinals vs Dauphin Redbirds

WEST
McAuley Blazers vs Hamiota Red Sox
Virden Oilers vs Binscarth Orioles

(August 10)  It was a Jekyll and Hyde performance for the victorious Brandon Cloverleafs. Playing the first four-and-a-half innings like they had pianos on their backs, the Leafs fell behind 4 – 0, only to turn things around and look like world-beaters in the concluding portion of their East Division playoff opener in which they emerged as 5 to 4 conquerors of the invading Riverside Canucks. The Wheat City aggregation scored all of their runs in the sixth spasm when they sent ten batters to the plate. The five-run explosion rocked losing flinger Rob Medoff from the knoll and made a winner out of reliever Rick McFadyen who had replaced starter Brian Hodgson on the hill in the top-half of the sixth canto. McFadyen, in turn, had to be bailed out by Bob Thompson in the ninth after he found himself in a bases-loaded, none-out jam. Thompson rose to the occasion in garnering the save, setting the Riversiders down in one-two-three order. Over the course of the fracas, the Canucks had a 12 to 10 advantage in base knocks. Dennis Wiebe connected for four Brandon safeties, one of which was a double, while Bill Chapple registered a two-bagger and one-base knock. Craig Bell had a perfect four-for-four evening at the plate for Riverside, all the raps being singles. Mark Fisher was close behind with a booming triple and a pair of singles. Morley Hartel banged out a couple of one-baggers.

Medoff (L), Lilley (6) and C. Seafoot
Hodgson, McFadyen (W) (5), Thompson (9) and McFadyen, Ready (5), McFadyen (9)

(August 10)  A two-out run-scoring single by Dave Rottman in the bottom-of-the-ninth inning netted the Dauphin Redbirds a 1 to 0 triumph over the visiting Souris Cardinals in the lid-lifter of their East Division playoff series. Winning heaver Ross Stone, who was touched for six safeties, and the Cards’ Ray Bruels, raked for seven hits, went head-to-head in a scoreless battle that appeared to be headed for extra innings. With two out and no runners aboard in the bottom-of-the-ninth, Ken Buchy singled, his second base rap of the contest, and stole second. Pinch-hitter Rollie Secord drew a walk, setting the stage for Rottman who lit into a 2 – 2 pitch from Bruels for a crisp one-bagger that plated Buchy. Garry Keating and Stone both got to Bruels for a brace of safe swats while the Cardinals’ Brian Moffatt was their toughest batter against Stone, clipping the orb for a pair of one-baggers.

Bruels (L) and Dell
Stone (W) and Gallant

(August 10)  The defending league champion Binscarth Orioles got the jump on the Virden Oilers as their Western Division semi-final set-to got underway. The hometown Birds doubled the last-place Oilers 4 to 2 as Garth Neville, with ten whiffs, picked up the pitching decision over hard-throwing Bruce Bremer who fanned seven. Both chuckers went the route and both were nicked for 11 safeties. Ron Falloon paced the Orioles at the plate with a double and single. Teammates Neville, Glenn Hodgson and Larry Kearns added two singles apiece. Bremmer delivered three of the Souris safeties, one more than teammates Darryl McCannell and Denis Lemieux.

Bremer (L) and B. Labossiere
Neville (W) and Muratore

(August 10)  Glennis Scott pitched the Hamiota Red Sox to a 5 to 1 home-field win over the McAuley Blazers in a West Division semi-final playoff clash. Scott allowed seven safeties in gaining the mound decision over import Jerry Araujo who was combed for ten base raps. Both twirlers went the distance. Scott helped himself with the bat, drilling a pair of singles, one of them highlighting a three-run uprising in the fourth inning. Bob Caldwell was also potent at the platter for the winners with three hits including a double. Wayne Poole, with a two-bagger and one-base hit, was the only Blazer to acquire two safeties. Terry Lynd drove in McAuley’s lone tally with a fourth-inning single. 

Araujo (L) and Lowes
Scott (W) and Woods

(August 12)  The Riverside Canucks squared their playoff series with the Brandon Cloverleafs, outlasting the Wheat City nine 8 to 6 in a scuffle that featured 25 hits and four home runs, two by each team. Mark Fisher unloaded a two-run tater in the sixth spasm to put the Canucks in front 7 – 6, a lead which they never relinquished. Craig Bell also went yard with a dinger for the winners and added a pair of singles. Ed Beare, meanwhile, added two hits including a double while Morley Hartel singled twice. The visiting Leafs received two-run round-trippers from Bill Chapple and Bob Thompson. The two Brandon veterans also hit singles. Doug Fraser and Bert Ready both stroked three safeties with one of Fraser’s hits being a double. Grant Everard, in far from his best pitching effort of the season, managed to survive to go the distance, scattering 13 hits along the way. Losing chucker Rick McFadyen and Thompson each took two turns on the bump for the Cloverleafs with McFadyen, who also went behind the plate to some receiving, giving up all 12 Riverside safeties.

McFadyen, Thompson (3), McFadyen (L) (5), Thompson (8) and Ready, McFadyen (3), Ready (5)
Everard (W) and C. Seafoot

(August 12)  The Souris Cardinals erupted for three runs in the seventh inning en route to a 4 to 1 victory over the Dauphin Redbirds in MSBL East Division playoff action. The win for the hosts evened the best-of-five series at a game apiece. Bob Leslie drove in a pair of the seventh-inning tallies for the Cards while Greg Cameron knocked in the other. Ed Neufeld went the route in gaining the mound decision over Dauphin’s Vern Nickel who needed relief help from Garry Keating in the seventh. Neufeld checked the pennant-winning Redbirds on four singles. The Dauphin duo gave up five hits. Ken Buchy of the vanquished nine, with two singles, was the only player in the game with a multiple hit total.

Nickel (L), Keating (7) and Gallant
E. Neufeld (W) and Leslie

(August 12)  The defending-champion Binscarth Orioles continued their march toward a successful defense of their title by clipping the hometown Virden Orioles 12 to 4 to forge ahead in their West Division series by a 2 – 0 margin. Les Lisowski, in relief of starter Donn Feldner, copped the hillock verdict over Virden’s Tim Kaiser, who gave way to Ted Bridgett in the fourth frame. Import Larry Muratore led the 14-hit Oriole offense with a solo homer and a pair of doubles. Ron Low was equally effective with four hits, one of them a double. Dale Gies followed with two singles. Darryl McCannell and Bruce Bremer topped the Oilers with a double and single each while clubmate Bob Labossiere drilled two singles.

Feldner, Lisowski (W) (5) and Muratore, Bicknell (5)
Kaiser (L), Bridgett (4) and McCartney, B. Labossiere (6)

(August 12)  A costly two-base error and a timely single by Don Sangster propelled the Hamiota Red Sox to a 1 to 0 MSBL playoff win over the McAuley Blazers. The Red Sox, who now lead the best-of-five West Division semi-finals two games to none, scored the lone tally of the skirmish in the second stanza. With two out and Lynn Caldwell at first base as a result of a leadoff walk, an ill-timed faux pas afield allowed Caldwell to scamper around to third base from where he scored on  Sangster’s opportune blow. Winning heaver Ron Ramsey checked the hosting Blazers on three hits but walked eight in gaining the knoll triumph over Ross Lynd, who gave up only five hits and four free passes. Barry Brooking singled twice for the victors.

Ramsey (W) and Woods
Lynd (L) and R. Jamieson

(August 14)  The Souris Cardinals, a team that spent most of the MSBL regular schedule solidly entrenched in the East Division basement, have the pennant-winning Dauphin Redbirds on the ropes in the playoffs. The Cards scored five times in the eighth inning and went on to upset the hosting Dauphinites 6 to 3 to take a 2 – 1 edge in their best-of-five semi-final round. In arrears by a 2 – 1 count as they came to bat in the seventh, the Souris squad parlayed a two-run double by Doug Armour, run-scoring singles by Brian Moffatt and John Dell and a throwing error into a five-spot and the ultimate victory. Bob Fitchner scattered seven hits and an equal number of walks to come out on top of the pitching joust against Redbird Ross Stone who was roughed up for 11 base knocks and a pair of free passes. Bob Leslie and Armour topped the Cardinal batting attack with a double and two singles each. For Dauphin, Dave Rottman collected a triple and single while Garry Keating added a brace of one-base raps.

Fitchner (W) and Dell
Stone (L) and Gallant

(August 14)  Garth Neville fashioned a three-hitter and received some solid hitting support as the Binscarth Orioles eliminated the Virden Oilers from the playoff picture with a 5 to 1 home-field win. Neville registered ten strikeouts while walking half a dozen. Import speedballer Bruce Bremer of the Oilers was tagged with the loss. He surrendered nine hits and five walks while punching out nine. Dale Gies gave Neville all the run support he needed with a two-run homer in the first inning. Don Gies and Gerry Bicknell contributed two singles apiece to the Birds’ attack. Mike Labossiere accounted for the lone Virden run with a sixth-inning solo dinger. He also drilled a one-bagger.

Bremer (L) and McCartney
Neville (W) and Bicknell

(August 14)  Consecutive RBI-singles by Bob and Lynn Caldwell in the first inning opened the door for the Hamiota Red Sox to take a 2 to 1 decision from the McAuley Blazers in MSBL West Division action. The hard-fought win gave the Red Sox, who had only three hits in the entire game, a sweep of their division semi-final. McAuley amassed five safeties and plated their lone tally in the fourth frame when hard-luck losing pitcher Jerry Araujo singled home Dale Lowes. Veteran right-hander Glennis Scott picked up the complete-game win. Perfect in the control department, the Hamiota heaver issued not a single walk while Araujo walked only two. Brian Lindsay and Araujo had two singles each in a losing cause.

Araujo (L) and R. Jamieson
Scott (W) and Stephens

(August 15)  the Brandon Canucks erupted for 14 hits, but needed a five-run outburst in the eighth inning to solidify things en route to a 12 to 6 doubling of the Riverside Canucks. The win puts the Leafs in the driver’s seat in the series. Brandon grabbed an early 6 – 0 lead but, by the end of the seventh, the Canucks had closed the gap to 7 – 5 and had visions of overtaking the Cloverleafs. Riverside starter Ed Beare was tagged with the loss although it was eighth-inning reliever Lorne Lilley who was lit up for the five-spot that put the game on ice. Brian Hodgson went all the way on the bump for the Wheat City nine, striking out eight, walking five and giving up 11 hits. Dennis Wiebe continued to hit the ball hard for the Leafs, banging out three hits including a double. Dialing long distance for the victors with four-ply clouts were Bob Thompson who belted a two-run tater while Marv Hollender nailed a solo shot to go along with a one-bagger. Hodgson aided his own cause with a double and single while Bert Ready and Doug Fraser contributed two singles apiece. Mark Fisher launched a bases-empty dinger as well as two singles for the Riversiders. Teammate Cliff Seafoot followed with three singles.

Hodgson (W) and McFadyen
Beare (L), Lilley (8) and C. Seafoot

(August 16)  Mark Hunter and Craig Bell smashed back-to-back home runs as the Riverside Canucks flexed their batting muscles and battered the Brandon Cloverleafs 8 to 1 to even their best-of-five series at two games each. The Riversiders raked losing chucker Bob Thompson and two relievers for 20 base blows in acquiring their convincing, series-tying victory while winning twirler Grant Everard, with a four-hitter, was coasting to the easy mound triumph. Aside from his four-ply clout, Bell had a double and single while veteran catcher Cliff Seafoot delivered three hits, including a two-bagger. Everard and Ross Kinsley added three singles apiece. Ed Beare unloaded a two-run triple plus a double while Gord Hunter singled twice.

Everard (W) and C. Seafoot, Campbell (9)
Thompson (L), Wiebe (5), McFadyen (8) and McFadyen, Ready (8)

(August 16)  With their backs against the wall, the East Division pennant-winning Dauphin Redbirds responded with an 8 to 5, error-marred MSBL playoff victory over the Souris Cardinals to force a fifth and deciding game in their semi-final showdown. The hosting Cards outswatted the Dauphinites 9 to 7 but committed seven of the game’s 11 errors which dimmed their prospects of a win. Dauphin pitcher Dave Rottman, recovering from an arm injury while throwing a football no less, walked four and registered nine whiffs in copping the knoll verdict. Loser Ray Bruels allowed six walks while fanning five. Garry Keating led the victors offensively with a double and single, driving in a pair of runs. Greg Cameron starred for Souris with three hits, including a double while Bruels also came through with a triad of base raps, all singles. Doug Armour got to Rottman for a two-run dinger in the eighth episode.

Rottman (W) and Gallant
Bruels (L) and Dell

(August 19)  The Riverside Canucks ousted the Brandon Cloverleafs from the playoffs by doubling the visiting Wheat City nine 6 to 3 to wrap up their East Division semi-final series with a 3 – 2 advantage. The Cloverleafs had a 1 to 0 lead until the bottom-of-the-seventh stanza. Losing chucker Brian Hodgson forced in the tying tally when, with the sacks full, he plunked Bob Williamson with a slow curve. Two more Riverside counters followed when shortstop Bill Chapple bobbled a ground ball and hurriedly threw the pill past second sacker Bert Ready in an unsuccessful force out attempt. The Brandonites never recovered from that faux pas and the Canucks added to their total in the bottom-of-the-eighth with a three-spot, once again with the assistance of an errant throw by Chapple. A two-run round-tripper in the ninth by the Leafs’ Bob Wilson narrowed the gap but it was simply a case of too little, too late. Bob Medoff, with eighth-inning relief help from Grant Everard notched the pitching win while Hodgson, stung for nine base raps, went the route in absorbing the setback.

Hodgson (L) and Mcfadyen
Medoff (W), Everard (8) and C. Seafoot

(August 19)  The Dauphin Redbirds jumped all over two Souris chuckers for 18 hits as they pummelled the invading Cardinals 10 to 2 in the deciding game of their East Division semi-final. Winning heaver Ross Stone scattered nine hits, struck out eight and walked four in going all the way. Ken Buchy paced the winners at the plate with four hits, including a triple, which accounted for three RBI’s. Gary Keating followed with a triad of safe swats, one of which was a three-bagger. Kelly Turner, Lyle Gallant and Dave Rottman chipped in with two singles apiece. Import Ray Bruels was the top Souris batter with three singles.

Fitchner (L), E. Neufeld (5), Fitchner (8) and Dell
Stone (W) and Gallant

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DIVISIONAL FINALS  (best-of-five series)

EAST
Riverside Canucks vs Dauphin Redbirds

WEST
Hamiota Red Sox vs Binscarth Orioles

(August 19)  The Hamiota Red Sox, spearheaded by the hurling and hitting of right-hander Ron Ramsey, upset the Binscarth Orioles 6 to 4 in the opening game of the West Division finals. Ramsey limited the heavy-hitting Orioles to seven hits while collecting three himself. He punched out seven and walked five in gaining the win over Garth Neville who also yielded seven safeties while walking an equal number and recording 14 whiffs. Ramsey was helped to the victory by solo home runs off the bats of Jeff Sheardown and Bruce Stephens. For Binscarth, Glenn Hodgson swatted a double and two singles while Dale Gies delivered a couple of one-baggers.

Ramsey (W) and Stephens
Neville (L) and Muratore

(August 21)  The Binscarth Orioles grabbed a 3 – 0 lead after three innings and hung on to shade the hosting Hamiota Red Sox 3 to 2, deadlocking their West Division finals at a game apiece. Les Lisowski struck out nine and walked five while tossing a four-hitter to lead the Orioles to their slim victory. Losing flinger Glennis Scott gave up five hits, issued three free passes and swished six. Hamiota errors, more than any potent Binscarth offense, assisted the West Division pennant winners in garnering the victory. The Red Sox committed six errors, and two of those miscues – dropped fly balls – led directly to a pair of Oriole counters in the second stanza. Ron Falloon and Larry Kearns had  a brace of one-base raps for the Birds, an output equalled by Hamiota’s Bob Caldwell.

Lisowski (W) and Bicknell
Scott (W) and Stephens 

(August 23- 26)  Canadian senior baseball championship tournament 

(August 26)  While their Eastern Division counterparts were busy competing in the Canadian senior championships in Edmunston NB, the Hamiota Red Sox and Binscarth Orioles continued to duke it out for supremacy in the Western Division of the MSBL. In a split-venue double-bill, the teams traded victories, leaving the series in a 2 – 2 stalemate. The Orioles hosted the afternoon encounter and, despite benefiting from a seven-run opening panel, allowed the visiting Scarlet Stockings to escape with a 13 to 8 verdict.  The teams then travelled to Hamiota for the nightcap and the Birds walked away with a 10 to 2 win.

In the opening tussle, the Crimson Hose battled back from an early deficit thanks mainly to the home run power of Bruce Stephens, Lynn Caldwell and Laurie Andrews. Caldwell also contributed a double and single. Dale Gies got the Orioles going on the right foot with a three-run homer in the first inning but Hamiota reliever Don Sangster throttled the Binscarth attack the rest of the way. Bryan McCauley, the sandwich hurler between starter Donn Feldner and seventh-inning reliever Bob Kutzan, was tagged with the defeat. 

Andrews, Sangster (W) (1) and Stephens
Feldner, McCauley (L) (2), Kutzan (7) and Muratore

In the clash at Hamiota, Kutzan returned to the knoll in a must-win situation and pitched the O’s to the victory with a complete-game seven-hitter. Red Sox starter Al McNiven suffered the loss. Reg Parton had three hits for the winners while Roy Reagh delivered a brace of one-baggers, driving in three runs. Mel Smith and Sangster paced the Red Sox batters with two singles apiece.

Kutzan (W) and Reagh
McNiven (L), Anderson (4), Brooking (7) and Stephens 

(August 29)  The East Division finals of the MSBL got underway in Dauphin and saw the invading Riverside Canucks come out on top over the hometown Redbirds by a 6 to 2 count. A three-run homer by light-hitting shortstop Morley Hartel in the seventh stanza lifted the Riversiders to the triumph. Seldom-used Brodie McLean of the homesters, a surprise starter on the bump for the East Division pennant winners, had not allowed the Canucks a base hit up until that point. He went all the way and finished with a four-hitter while fanning three and walking an equal number. The Redbirds committed seven errors behind McLean which helped to inflate the deficit. McLean’s performance was overshadowed by Riverside’s winning tosser Grant Everard who yielded six hits, struck out 15 and didn’t walk a batter. Top swatters in the tilt were Garry Keating and Lyle Gallant of the Feathered Flock who both stroked two singles.

Everard (W) and C. Seafoot
McLean (L) and Gallant

(August 30)  The Riverside Canucks were awarded a forfeiture win in the second game of the MSBL West Division finals when the Dauphin Redbirds were failed to make the trip to Riverside, citing a shortage of players.

(August 31)  A 4 – 4 tie in a playoff encounter halted after nine innings because of darkness left the Eastern Division finals between Riverside and Dauphin stalled at 2 – 0 in the Canucks’ favor. Unfortunately for the Dauphinites, they were not able to compete with anything near the same lineup that won the Eastern Division pennant. It was a reasonable facsimile but not the same Redbirds. Only eight of their registered players were available for service so the hosting Riversiders allowed the Birds to use an ineligible player, who happened to be a member of their executive and their official scorer, in right field. In a do-or-die situation, Dauphin went with dependable Dave Rottman on the mound. After being tagged for a run in the fourth canto, Rottman settled down and appeared to have things under control when his mates erupted for four runs, all with two out, in the fifth. Riverside made it 4 – 2 with a tally in the fifth and had to put on a last-inning charge to salvage the tie. Lorne Lilley went six innings on the hill for the Canucks with Ed Beare finishing up. Rottman was touched for eight hits over the nine innings while ringing up 11 punchouts. Ross Kinsley of the Riversiders was the only batter in the game to collect more than one safety, drilling a brace of one-base raps. The player-strapped Birds picked up five safe swats off the slants of the Canuck pitching duo.

Rottman and Gallant
Lilley, Beare (7) and Campbell, C. Seafoot (7)

(September 5)  With second-stringers manning all three outfield posts, the Dauphin Redbirds pulled off a 6 to 4 victory over the Riverside Canucks to remain alive in the East Division finals. The Canucks still hold a 2 game to 1 advantage in the best-of-five series. Trailing 4 to 3 in the seventh, the Redbirds knotted the count with an RBI-single by Bob Buchy. Vern Nickel’s two-run double followed to put the Dauphinites in front for good. Winning heaver Dave Rottman and Grant Everard of the Riversiders, neither showing top form, both gave up ten hits in going the distance. Rottman didn’t walk anyone and breezed six while Everard walked three and swished five.  

Everard (L) and C. Seafoot
Rottman (W) and Bell

(September 5)  The Hamiota Red Sox were awarded the fifth and final game of their Western Division series against the Binscarth Orioles. The Binscarth squad, having previously committed to participating in the lucrative Kamloops International Baseball tournament over the Labor Day weekend, were not available to play in the scheduled encounter. 

(September 7)  Rob Medoff tossed a five-hitter as the Riverside Canucks defeated the Dauphin Redbirds 6 to 3 to win the Eastern Division final series three games to one with one game tied. With hired gun Ross Stone no longer available for Dauphin, Brodie McLean, who didn’t have a start throughout the regular season, was sent to the knoll to begin proceedings for the second time in the series. He was rocked for five hits and three runs in just two innings before Bob Buchy, normally an infielder, took over mound duties and finished the game. Grant Everard led the ten-hit offensive assault by the Riversiders with a single and double. Morley Hartel picked up a brace of singles, one of which drove in a pair of early counters. Cliff Seafoot and Ross Kinsley also delivered a brace of one-baggers. For Dauphin, Dave Rottman had a double and single and catcher Harry Bell poked out two singles. Leo Valcourt had the Redbirds’ most productive safety, a two-run single in the fourth frame.

McLean (L), B. Buchy (3) and Bell
Medoff (W) and C. Seafoot

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EAST-WEST FINALS  Hamiota Red Sox (West Division) vs Riverside Canucks (East Division)  best-of-five series

(September 9)  The Riverside Canucks took a stranglehold on the MSBL championship, vaulting into a two-game lead in the best-of-five finals with a two-game sweep over the pitching-poor Hamiota Red Sox. Hamiota’s only reliable hurler, Ron Ramsey, hooked up against Riverside’s Grant Everard in the first game of the doubleheader but succumbed 3 to 1. In the late tilt, the Riversiders scored in eight of the nine innings and trounced the Sox 16 to 7.

Everard tossed a five-hitter at Hamiota in the curtain-raiser but it took a two-run rally in the seventh inning to break a 1 – 1 tie and give the Canucks first blood in the series. Garth Seafoot’s single knocked in both runs in the decisive inning. Everard struck out nine and didn’t walk a batter while Ramsey, who was touched for ten base raps, walked six and breezed the same number. Cliff Seafoot banged out four singles in as many trips to the plate to spark the Riversiders. Bob Williamson and Garth Seafoot added two singles apiece. No batter from the Hamioatans had more than one base hit.

Everard (W) and C. Seafoot
Ramsey (L) and Stephens

Hamiota’s fortunes went up and down like a see-saw in the second encounter before the Riversiders walked away with the game by scoring nine runs in the final three frames. The Canucks led 7 – 2 after the top-of-the-sixth but, in the bottom-half of the chapter, the Crimson Hose erupted for a five-spot and a 7 – 7 tie. Then, the roof fell in on them over the last three cantos. In all, the visitors pounded out 17 base blows against six Red Sox’ chuckers while Canucks’ starter Ed Beare and winning tosser Lorne Lilley were raked for ten safeties. Laurie Andrews, the third pitcher for Hamiota, was the loser. Williamson had the game’s longest blow, a two-run homer, in addition to a double and single. Teammate Craig Bell clicked for three singles while Everard, Ross Kinsley and Mark Fisher struck for two singles each. Bob Caldwell, Ramsey, Mel Smith and Bruce Stephens cracked out a brace of one-baggers each for the Scarlet Stockings.

Beare, Lilley (W) (6) and C. Seafoot, Campbell (6)
Sangster, Anderson (4), Andrews (L) (7), Brooking (7), Woods (8), B. Caldwell (9) and Stephens

(September 16)  A doubleheader split against the Hamiota Red Sox earned the hometown Riverside Canucks the 1973 Manitoba Senior Baseball League championship. The Sox forced a fourth game in the final series when veteran right-hander Glennis Scott stymied the East Division champions on four hits as the Hamiotans prevailed 6 to 1 in the matinée tilt. However, Riverside’s Grant Everard turned things around for the hosts in the finale, tossing a six-hitter back at the Sox to earn his fifth playoff mound decision.

Recently returned from the Intercontinental Baseball championships in Italy, Scott completely baffled the Canucks in the lid-lifter, scattering the six Riverside hits about as evenly as possible. In only one inning, the ninth, did the Riversiders put together more than one base rap and it led to their only run of the game. The Red Sox nursed a 1 – 0 lead from the first inning to the sixth when they got two more. They broke the game open with three runs in the seventh. Rob Medoff was the starting and losing moundsman for the Canucks. Ed Beare turned in a one-hit relief job over the final three frames. Mel Smith was the hot hitter for the winners, hitting a double and two singles. Cliff Seafoot had two singles in the losing Riverside cause.

Scott (W) and Stephens
Medoff (L), Beare (7) and C. Seafoot 

In the decisive second tilt, the Canucks banged out eight hits off three Red Sox hurlers and had eight additional baserunners derived from walks and Hamiota errors. A three-spot, garnered in the opening canto off losing twirler Ron Ramsey, proved to be all the margin the Riversiders and winning tosser Everard would need. Mark Fisher was a one-man show at the plate for the Canucks in the final game, slashing out two doubles and two singles. Smith was once again the best with the baton for the vanquished Sox, connecting for a couple of one-base hits.
  
Ramsey (L), Anderson (6), Sangster (7) and Stephens
Everard (W) and C. Seafoot

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OTHER MANITOBA LEAGUES/TEAMS/ROSTERS

SOUTH-WEST BASEBALL LEAGUE

Carberry Royals                             
Cypress River
Glenboro Canucks
Holland Athletics
Notre Dame de Lourdes

GAME REPORTS
PLAYOFFS
FINALS  Carberry Royals vs Glenboro Canucks  (best-of-three series)

(August 15)  Behind the five hit pitching of Warren Oliver, the Carberry Royals shaded the Glenboro Canucks 4 to 3 in the opener of the South-Central League finals. Charlie Hilhorst, in relief of Ken Vertz, was tagged with the loss.

(August 17)  The visiting Glenboro Canucks squared the best-of-three South-Central League finals at a game apiece with a convincing 12 to 5 decision over the Carberry Royals. Ken Vertz, who replaced Charlie Hilhorst on the mound in the opening inning, picked up the knoll victory. Don Barr had two base knocks for the winners.

(August 22)  With Ken Vertz spinning a three-hitter, the Glenboro Canucks defeated the Carberry Royals 5 to 2 to capture the 1973 South-Central Baseball League championship. Vertz struck out eight and walked four in chalking up his second win of the series. Don Rankmore, Dwayne Hamilton and Don Barr paced the Canuck attack at the plate with two hits each.

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NORTH-WEST BASEBALL LEAGUE

Angusville Cardinals
Grandview Lakers                    
Neepawa Cubs
Spy Hill Indians                                              

North West League All-Stars : Angers Pat 3B, Buelin Dennis P, Chuchmuch Bob P, Clark Morley, Fraser Bill P, Furman Stan SS, Hemstad Norm C, Hunter Dennis 1B, Kalechyn Tony OF, Luhowy Don P, Martin Dennis, McGorman Ron P, Ortynski Deryl 2B, O’Sullivan Bill C, Reid Brian OF, Taylor Ross OF

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BORDER BASEBALL LEAGUE

Cartwright
Clearwater                             
Pilot Mound Pilots             
Morden Mohawks

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SOUTH-CENTRAL BASEBALL LEAGUE    

Baldur Regals
Boissevain Border Kings
Brandon Wilton Mercuries                          
Elgin Cubs
Nesbitt
Riverside Colts                       
Wawanesa Orioles

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WINNIPEG JUNIOR BASEBALL LEAGUE

Assiniboia Buffaloes
Carman Goldeyes                                                                                          
Earl Grey Barons
Legion #141
MacDonald/Sanford Mets                                                                              
River East Raiders                                                                                  
St. Boniface Legionnaires
Transcona Mallards    

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MANITOBA BASEBALL ASSOCIATION SENIOR PLAYDOWNS

The Manitoba Baseball Association arranged for two qualifying tournaments to be held during late July 1973, the winners from each then advancing to meet for the provincial senior title. The tourneys, with four teams in each event, were scheduled for Crystal City and Neepawa.

SEMI-FINAL DOUBLE-KNOCKOUT TOURNAMENTS

(July 28-29)  Two Manitoba Senior Baseball League all-star teams had an easy time of it during the weekend, each winning M.B.A. tournament titles while advancing to face each other for the right to represent Manitoba at the Canadian championships next month in Edmundson NB.

At Neepawa, the MSBL West All-Stars – with players from Binscarth Orioles, Virden Oilers, Hamiota Red Sox and McAuley Blazers forming the squad – defeated the North-West Baseball league All-Stars 6 to 1 in the final. No other details on the tournament were printed although it is known from pre-tournament publicity that the Thompson Reds were one of the participants along with the two finalists.

At Crystal City, the MSBL East All-Stars – made up of players from the Brandon Cloverleafs, Dauphin Redbirds, Riverside Canucks and Souris Cardinals – shellacked the South-Central Baseball League Selects 23 to 0 in the final of the four-team tournament. The winners pounded out 17 hits in the one-sided affair, scoring in six of the seven innings played. Dave Rottman earned the pitching victory, receiving tremendous offensive support from his mates who bashed six home runs. In earlier games, the East All-Stars whipped the South-Central League clan 12 to 3 and beat the Giroux Athletics, an independent team representing south-eastern Manitoba, 4 to 1. Outfielder Bob Wilson slammed three home runs over the weekend.

FINAL SERIES 

(August 2)  Dauphin’s Dave Rottman hurled a six-hitter in pitching the East Division All-Stars to a convincing 7 to 0 shellacking of the West Division Selects in the opener of the best-of-three M.B.A. senior finals. The East squad knocked around Binscarth’s Les Lisowski for nearly eight innings before he was mercifully removed. Ted Bridgett, finished up, retiring one batter. Brandon’s Roy McLachlan was the defensive and offensive hero for the East. Third baseman McLachlan made three unassisted putouts and assisted on four others. At the dish, he delivered a double and single. Dauphin flychaser Garry Keating was the only other East player to get more than one hit, banging out a single and double. Binscarth’s Ron Low nailed a double and single for the West while fellow Oriole Don Gies added two one-base raps.

Lisowski (L), Bridgett (8) and Stephens
Rottman (W) and C. Seafoot

(August 3)  Dale Lowes of the McAuley Blazers took one for the team as he was hit by an errant pitch from Brandon reliever Rick Read, with the bases loaded in the bottom-of-the-eighth episode, forcing in what turned out to be the winning run as the West Division All-Stars squared the M.B.A. senior final series at a game apiece with a 3 to 1 verdict over their East Division counterparts. Garth Neville of Binscarth went all the way for the West Selects, giving up only three hits. Riverside’s Rob Medoff, the East’s starter took the loss.  The West took a 1 – 0 lead in the fourth frame when Virden’s Ted Bridgett singled home McAuley’s Barry Jamieson. A pair of Brandon players combined to push the East into a 1 – 1 tie in in the seventh. Doug Fraser’s single knocked in Roy McLachlan with the equalizer. In the eighth, the West rallied and, after loading the bases, kayoed Medoff from the rubber as Read was brought in to put out the fire. Read got two strikes on Lowes before plunking him on the third delivery, forcing in Binscarth’s Don Gies with the lead run. Mel Smith of Hamiota followed with a sacrifice fly, plating an insurance tally. Lynn Caldwell had two singles to spice the West offensive attack.

Medoff (L), Read (8) and C. Seafoot
Neville (W) and Woods, Stephens (7)

(August 8)  The MSBL East Division All-Stars will represent Manitoba at the Canadian senior baseball championship tournament at Edmunston NB later this month after coming from behind to nip the West Division All-Stars 5 to 4. Dauphin outfielder Garry Keating’s top-of-the-ninth inning single broke a 4 – 4 tie and drove in Brandon’s Roy McLachlan with the lead run. Winning pitcher Grant Everard of Riverside then ascended the knoll for his second inning of relief work and made the lead stand up by retiring the West Stars in order. Losing chucker, Binscarth’s Grant Neville had issued two-out walks to McLachlan and Riverside’s Cliff Seafoot just prior to Keating’s decisive base knock. The winners trailed 4 – 3 after Hamiota’s Lynn Caldwell belted a two-run dinger in the seventh. The East tied it in the eighth when Keating walked, moved to second on a pinch-hit single by Brandon’s Dennis Wiebe and scored when another Cloverleaf, Bill Chapple, also drilled a one-base rap. Despite the closeness of the score, the East outhit the West 12 – 6 and played errorless afield while the West committed five infractions. McLachlan was best with the baton for the East with three singles. Caldwell had a double and one-bagger for the West in addition to his four-ply clout.

Hodgson, Everard (W) (8) and C. Seafoot
Ramsey, Lisowski (3), Neville (L) (8) and xxx

MSBL East All-Stars :  Armour Doug 2B, Bell Craig OF, Buchy Ken 3B, Chapple Bill SS, Everard Grant P/OF, Fisher Mark 1B, Fitchner Bob P, Fraser Doug IF, Hartel Morley SS, Hodgson Brian P, Keating Garry OF, McFadyen Rick C, McLachlan 3B, Medoff Rob P, Moffatt Brian OF, Morrison John OF, Read Rick P, Ready Bert 2B, Rottman Dave P, Seafoot Cliff C, Seafoot Garth OF, Stone Ross P/1B, Thompson Bob P, Wiebe Dennis 1B, Wilson Bob OF

MSBL West All-Stars :  Araujo Jerry P, Bremer Bruce P, Bridgett Ted 1B/P, Caldwell Lynn 3B, Downey Bob OF, Gies Dale OF, Gies Don OF, Hodgson Glenn 2B, Jamieson Barry SS, Jamieson Ross C, Kaiser Tim P, Labossiere Mike SS, Lisowski Les P, Low Ron 1B, Lowes Dale 2B, Lynd Ross OF, McCannell Darryl 3B, Neville Garth P, Parton Reg OF, Ramsey Ron P, Smith Mel OF, Stephens Bruce C, Woods Ellis C

 

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