SOUTHERN LEAGUE
Following a one year leave of absence, the Melville Millionaires returned to Southern League wars for the 1973 campaign. However, the number of teams shrank from five to four as the Yorkton franchise withdrew and the Saskatoon Commodores, following two seasons of only limited success against Southern League competition, went back to their northern roots in the N.S.B.L.
One other development of note, that being the installation of lights at Regina's Mount Pleasant Park which will now allow for night games, the first time in several years.
(May 27) The Regina Red Sox made the Melville Millionaires return to the Southern League a losing one as rookie Howard Singer guided the Sox to a 1 to 0 victory at Pirie Field in the Rail Town. An unearned run in the top of the fourth proved to be the difference as Singer out-dueled Brad Gyug for the win. Singer scattered four hits and whiffed six in his successful debut. Gyug, also a newcomer to the Southern League, allowed just three hits, bur five walks, a hit batsman and three errors behind him proved to be his undoing. Melville's Bill Sobkow was the only player from either team to register two hits.
Singer (W) and Logan
Gyug (L) and Ortynsky
(May 27) Roy Rowley and Rod Heisler combined to limit the defending champion Swift Current Indians to five hits as the Moose Jaw Devons spoiled the home opener for the Tribe by clipping the homesters 5 to 2 at Mitchell Field. Catcher Clark Gillies hit the first home run of the Southern League season in pacing the Devons' seven-hit attack off loser Wayne Pusch. Teammate Gary Erfle picked up a double and single.
Rowley (W), Heisler (8) and Gillies
Pusch (L) and Nybo
(May 29) Don Szabo pitched a six-hitter as the Swift Current Indians defeated the Moose Jaw Devons 6 to 2 at Ross Wells Park. Wayne Pusch's two-run single in the fifth inning provided the margin of victory. Losing pitcher Rod Heisler gave up six hits in six innings before being replaced by Brian Chalmers who was lit up for three more safeties in the final three frames.
Szabo (W) and Nybo
Heisler (L), Chalmers (7) and Gillies
(May 31) Cashing in on eight Melville errors, the Moose Jaw Devons ran roughshod over the Millionaires 11 to 3 in Southern League action in the Rail Town. Each error by the Moneymen resulted in a Moose Jaw run. Roy Rowley, who came on in a relief role in the fourth, got the win. The game was called after eight innings because of darkness.
Chalmers, Rowley (4) (W) and xxx
M. Valberg (L), Albers (4) and xxx
(June 2) The Regina Red Sox won their second straight Southern League game, both wins coming on the road, but they had to survive a ninth-inning comeback attempt by the Swift Current Indians to chalk up a 2 to 1 victory. A single by Kim Williams, a throwing error and a wild pitch resulted in the first Regina run in the third. Jack Buch's run-scoring single gave the Sox their second counter and provided winning hurler Lyle Johnson with the margin he needed. Losing pitcher Wayne Pusch drove in the only Swift Current run with a two-out single in the bottom of the ninth.
Johnson (W) and Logan
Pusch (L) and Logan
(June 5) The Melville Millionaires dropped their third straight start when they took a 12 to 3 lacing at the hands of the Moose Jaw Devons at Ross Wells Park. The Moneymen committed seven errors in this contest, bringing their total to 15 in their last two games. After two frames, the Devons had piled up an insurmountable eleven runs, more than enough needed by rookie Rod Heisler to coast to victory. Clark Gillies had a pair of run-scoring singles for Moose Jaw while Heisler chipped in with a double and single. Brad Gyug drove in two of Melville's three runs in the fifth with a double.
Burgess (L), M. Valberg (1) and Albers
Heisler (W) and Gillies, Neal (5)
(June 6) Riding the five-hit pitching of Ben Valberg, the Melville Millionaires romped to an 11 to 4 thrashing of the Moose Jaw Devons at Pirie Field. The win was the first of the season for this new group of Moneymen, back in the circuit after a one year's absence. Valberg, with twin brother Mike behind the plate, set 13 Devons down on strikes. Scott Simpson paced the Millionaires' 10-hit attack with a double and single. Don Bowes drilled a pair of singles and drove in three runs. Clark Gillies was the hit leader for the Devons, driving in a pair of runs with two one-baggers.
Chalmers (L), Andreoni (6) and Neal
B. Valberg (W) and M. Valberg
(June 8) Down to their last out in the bottom of the ninth inning, the Regina Red Sox, with Kim Williams as the trigger-man, squeezed out a narrow 5 to 4 win over their arch-rivals, the Moose Jaw Devons. Williams' two-out infield single sent Jim Paisley scampering home from third base and broke up a 4 - 4 tie. Left-hander Bob Faith picked up the win in relief of Regina starter Howard Singer who was driven to the showers after giving up a two-run bases-loaded single by Clark Gillies in the seventh inning. It was Gillies' second single of the game. Randy Ludwar hit a solo homer for the Devons, giving them an early 1 to 0 lead. Rich Gergley drilled a fifth-inning two-run blast to give the Red Sox the lead after they had tied things up in the second. The Red Sox out-hit the Friendly City nine 12 to 7. Gergley, Mike Riley and Fred Heward all had a brace of base raps for the Scarlet Stockings.
Rowley (L) and Gillies
Singer, Faith (7) (W) and Logan
[Mike Riley, an outfielder with the Regina Red Sox during the 1973 season, spent the summer in the Queen City with his father, Bud Riley, who was then an assistant coach with the football Roughriders. Mike later became a head coach in the CFL with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and won two Grey Cups during his tenure. He also had a fling in the NFL as head coach of the San Diego Chargers.]
(June 9) Displaying considerable power at the plate, the Swift Current Indians began their two-game weekend set with the Melville Millionaires by hammering the Moneymen 18 to 2 at Mitchell Field. Rick Ellert with four hits, and Brian Keegan and Don Schneider with three each, led the Indians' offensive muscle at the platter. Glen Ortynsky accounted for the only Melville scoring with a two-run homer off winning pitcher Wayne Pusch in the fifth.
Albers (L), M. Valberg (4), Albers (6)and xxx
Pusch (W), LeBere (8) and xxx
(June 10) The Swift Current Indians collected a total of 18 base hits, five each by Brian Dickie and Terry Buck to overwhelm the hapless Melville Millionaires 26 to 14 in a Southern League game marked by less-than-stellar performances by hurlers on either pitching staff. Gary Reagan and Bob Lewis each hit a homer for the Tribe with Reagan's clout coming with a runner aboard. Glen Ortynsky was Melville's top hitter with a trio of raps. The sweep of the weekend series by the Indians gives them a share of first place in the circuit.
Gyug (L), B. Valberg (3), Albers (5) and xxx
Szabo (W) and LeBere (7) and xxx
(June 11) The Moose Jaw Devons turned 13 hits and nine Red Sox' errors into a 15 to 3 triumph over their Regina guests at Ross Wells Park, handing the Redlegs their first defeat of the young campaign. Dave Dupree, a right-hander from Fresno City College, was making his first appearance in a Devon uniform and his debut was impressive. The Californian stymied the Crimson Hose with a four-hitter and keyed an eight-run outburst in the fifth with a grand-slam homer. He also added a double to the Moose Jaw barrage off two Regina hurlers. Playing-manager Ned Andreoni collected three doubles, Bryan Adams three singles and Roy Rowley a two-run homer for the Devons. Doug Simon, making his first appearance in a Red Sox uniform since returning from Washington State University, and playing-manager Jim Paisley each collected a double off Dupree.
Johnson (L), Faith (5) and Logan
Dupree (W), Heisler (8) and Gillies
(June 12) The visiting Melville Millionaires scored first but saw that 1 to 0 lead quickly evaporate as the Regina Red Sox turned on the hapless Moneymen to register a 16-hit, 16 to 1 pulverizing of the visitors from the Rail Town. Russ Barr hurled a steady six-hit, six strikeout game to pick up thewin.The Regina barrage included four home runs, two by Andy Logan, and three doubles. Doug Simon had one of the dingers to go along with a two-bagger while Rich Gergley had the other circuit-clout. Rookie catcher Bill Bell had a trio of one-baggers in his first appearance behind the plate.
B. Valberg (L), Bowes (7) and Albers, B. Valberg (7)
Barr (W) and Bell
Southern League standings (as of end of June 12)
W L T Pts.
Regina Red Sox 4 1 0 8
Moose Jaw Devons 4 3 0 8
Swift Current Indians 3 2 0 6
Melville Millionaires 1 6 0 2
(June 13) The Moose Jaw Devons grabbed sole possession of first place in the Southern League as they downed the Swift Current Indians 8 to 2. The game was called after eight innings because of darkness. Roy Rowley gave up seven hits in earning his third mound win. Wayne Pusch was saddled with his third loss in four decisions. The Devons came up big at the plate, netting three homers, a double and two singles. Ned Andreoni cracked out two homers and drove in five runs. Dave Dupree hit the other homer and added a single. The Indians could manage nothing more than singles off Rowley with Gary Reagan picking up two of them.
Rowley (W) and Gillies
Pusch (L) and Nybo
(June 14) Ned Andreoni smacked a home run to lead the Moose Jaw Devons to a 6 to 2 win over the Melville Millionaires in a Southern League encounter at Pirie Field. Dave Dupree went the distance on the mound for Moose Jaw, giving up six hits. Brad Gyug allowed eight hits in going down to his third defeat. Wes Waselenchuk of the Moneymen was the only player with two hits in this game, both singles.
Dupree (W) and Gillies
Gyug (L) and Ortynsky
(June 15) Roy Rowley smashed a grand-slam home run in the fifth inning to power the Moose Jaw Devons to a 9 to 4 win over the Regina Red Sox in a Southern League contest at wind-swept Mount Pleasant Park. Mike Girazian was the winning pitcher, giving up two runs on two hits while whiffing nine in the seven innings that he toiled. Girazian had three singles in the game before handing the ball over to Rod Heisler to finish the game. Shortstop Ned Andreoni also had a trio of base raps for the winners.
Girazian (W), Heisler (8) and Gillies
Faith (L), Gamble (3), Barr (9) and Logan
(June 16) Import left-hander Terry Buck, in his fifth season in the Southern League, made his initial pitching start of the campaign and turned in a four-hit, 12-strikeout performance in guiding the Swift Current Indians to a 9 to 2 drubbing of the Melville Millionaires in the first game of a weekend set in Speedy Creek. Buck also helped his own cause at the plate with a triple and single. Brian Dickie chipped in with a pair of run-scoring singles. Don Bowes went the distance for the Moneymen, fanning seven in a losing cause. Iggy Barneski led the Millionaires at the dish with a brace of one-baggers.
Buck (W) and Nybo
Bowes (L) and Ortynsky
(June 17) The Swift Current Indians climbed into second place in the Southern League by taking the second game of their weekend series from the Melville Millionaires by a score of 5 to 2. Wayne Pusch went the distance to gain the win, hurling a nifty three-hitter while whiffing eleven. Terry Buck picked up a trio of one-baggers in leading the Tribe at the platter. Bob Lewis and Gary Reagan added a pair of singles each with Reagan's brace driving in four runs. Steven Clausen and Gene Gerrard, a pair of imports from Santa Clara University, shared the mound duties for the Moneymen with Clausen taking the loss. Clausen also collected a pair of singles for Melville.
Pusch (W) and Nybo
Clausen (L), Gerrard (6) and Albers
(June 17) The Moose Jaw Devons made it two in a row over their Capital City rivals and stretched their unbeaten string to five games with a 12 to 2 thrashing of the Regina Red Sox at Ross Wells Park. The Devons jumped on Regina starter and loser Lyle Johnson for a pair of first-inning tallies and never looked back. Included in their 17-hit barrage was a two-run homer and a double by playing-manager Ned Andreoni. All the Red Sox could muster in the way of offense off winner Roy Rowley and Dave Dupree, who came in to mop up, were five hits including a triple by Doug Simon.
Johnson (L), Gamble (5) and Logan
Rowley (W), Dupree (8) and Neal
(June 20) The Regina Red Sox hit three balls out of newly-named Red Sox Park, touching Swift Current ace Terry Buck for nine hits and seven runs. As well, they played nearly flawless defensive ball yet came up on the short end of an 11 to 7 count. Regina starter Howard Singer's lack of control cost the Red Stockings big time at the start as he walked four and hit three others in just an inning and two-thirds of mound work which saw the Tribe jump all over him for five runs. The five run bulge was sufficient cushion to offset the two home run performance of Regina's Andy Logan plus a solo round-tripper by Jerry Zrymiak in the middle innings. Second baseman Gary Reagan of the Indians also connected for a four-bagger.
Buck (W) and Nybo
Singer (L), Faith (2) and Logan
(June 20) The Melville Millionaires went into Moose Jaw and snapped their losing streak as the Devons committed seven errors, leading to a 4 to 3 victory for the Moneymen. Both winning pitcher Steve Clausen and loser Dave Dupree gave up six hits. Clausen picked up two of the Millionaires' hits, both singles. Moose Jaw's Bryan Adams had a double and single as did Bernie Albers of the Millionaires.
Clausen (W) and Albers
Dupree (L) and Neal
(June 22) The Swift Current Indians handed the Moose Jaw Devons a decisive 8 to 2 setback at Mitchell Field. Left-hander Wayne Pusch scattered five hits in squaring his mound record at three wins and three loses. Import right-hander Mike Girazian was nailed with the complete game loss. Catcher Harvey Nybo blasted out a pair of doubles for the Tribe while Gary Reagan had a triple and single. Terry Buck collected a double and single and Brian Dickie chipped in with two singles. Girazian had two of the Moose Jaw hits, a double and a single.
Girazian (L) and xxx
Pusch (W) and Nybo
(June 23) Winless in their last two starts, the Regina Red Sox came into the Rail Town for a two-game weekend series and promptly bounced the Melville Millionaires 9 to 3 in the opener. The Red Sox struck for four runs in the third inning to break up a tight game. Doug Simon smacked a triple and single for the winners while Mike Riley contributed a brace of one-baggers. Lyle Johnson got credit for his second win, besting import Gene Gerrard. Jim Schmidt had a pair of singles for the Millionaires.
Johnson (W) and Bell
Gerrard (L) and Albers
(June 24) Striking for 20 base hits, the Regina Red Sox pummelled the Melville Millionaires 20 to 13 in a Southern League game that pitchers on both sides would rather forget about. Doug Simon hit for the cycle for the visiting Sox, collecting a homer, triple, double and single as the Reginans exploded offensively to complete a weekend sweep. Andy Logan also had a healthy day at the plate, pasting a double and three singles. Jack Buch, Rich Gergley, Jim Paisley and Jerry Zrymiak all added three hits apiece to the Red Sox attack. Glen Ortynsky had a double and single for the Moneymen.
Barr, Faith (3) (W), Logan (8) and Bell
Clausen (L), Gyug (4) and Ortynsky
Southern League standings (as of end of June 24)
W L T Pts.
Moose Jaw Devons 8 5 0 16
Swift Current Indians 7 3 0 14
Regina Red Sox 6 4 0 12
Melville Millionaires 2 11 0 4
(June 25) The Swift Current Indians, boosted by Terry Buck's clutch pitching and a couple of key fielding plays by shortstop Brian Dickie, edged the Moose Jaw Devons 4 to 3 at Ross Wells Park. Buck bailed Swift Current starter Don Szabo out of a seventh-inning jam and got himself out of trouble when the Devons threatened to tie the game in the ninth. Losing pitcher Roy Rowley surrendered nine hits, including a double and single by Gary Reagan, and struck out eleven. Gary Erfle tagged a wind-blown home run for Moose Jaw. Clark Gillies led Moose Jaw at the plate with a double and single.
Szabo (W), Buck (8) and Nybo
Rowley (L) and Gillies
(June 26) The Regina Red Sox hit everything that the visitors from the Rail Town could throw at them and then took untold liberties on the base paths. The result was 19 hits, 14 stolen bases and a 25 to 7 victory over the hapless Melville Millionaires. Stu McLellan was the big noise for the Sox, ripping a double and three singles off a pair of Melville chuckers. Not to be outdone, Doug Simon smashed a towering two-run homer plus a triple and single. Randy Sastaunik led the Moneymen with the lumber, cracking a pair of doubles and a single.
Stelmak (L), Albers (2) and Kohey, M. Valberg (6)
Singer (W), Gamble (7) and Logan, Bell (2)
(June 27) Wayne Pusch threw a four-hitter in leading the Swift Current Indians to an 8 to 1 victory over the Regina Red Sox in Speedy Creek. Pusch struck out five in pitching the entire game. Gary Reagan smacked a two-run homer and single for Swift Current.
Gamble (L), Faith (4) and Logan
Pusch (W) and Nybo
(June 28) The Swift Current Indians downed the Moose Jaw Regals 11 to 8 for their seventh straight Southern League win. Left-hander Terry Buck allowed eleven hits and struck out an equal number in posting the pitching win. Buck aided his own cause with a double and single while teammate Gary Reagan had a double and two singles. Losing chucker Dave Dupree gave up ten hits and fanned eight. Dupree also had a three-run homer, his third circuit-clout of the season, while Roy Rowley added a two-run dinger, also his third of the year.
Dupree (L) and Gillies
Buck (W) and Nybo
(June 29) Scoring three runs in the top of the ninth inning to break a 7 - 7 deadlock, the Moose Jaw Devons defeated the Regina Red Sox 10 to 7 in a free-swinging Southern League affair in the Capital City. The Devons used the long-ball effectively in ruining the return to the line-up of gritty left-hander Randy Sawa who has been on the sidelines for some time with a shoulder ailment. Although toiling for the entire nine innings, it was evident that Sawa was far from his old self and the Mill City crew took advantage of his diminished effectiveness with Dave Dupree, Clark Gillies and Jim Baba lighting him up for home runs. The Red Sox had plenty of opportunities to emerge as the winner but left 18 runners stranded, 11 of them in scoring position. Bryan Adams picked up the win in relief of starter Rod Heisler. The victory lifted the Devons to within two points of the front-running Swift Current Indians.
Heisler, Adams (3) (W), Rowley (9) and Gillies
Sawa (L) and Logan
(July 2) Dave Dupree pitched a four-hitter and struck out 13 as the Moose Jaw Devons defeated the Melville Millionaires 10 to 2 in a Southern League match-up in the Friendly City. Gary Erfle had a triple and three singles and Roy Rowley a double and two singles in spearheading the Devons' 12-hit offense against losing pitcher Gene Gerrard. Catcher Clark Gillies continued his recent power surge for Moose Jaw with a two-run homer and a double, knocking in three runs for the winners.
Gerrard (L) and Albers
Dupree (W) and Gillies
Southern League standings (as of end of July 2)
W L T Pts.
Swift Current Indians 10 3 0 20
Moose Jaw Devons 10 7 0 20
Regina Red Sox 7 6 0 14
Melville Millionaires 2 13 0 4
(July 4) The Regina Red Sox needed a brilliant four-hit pitching effort from Lyle Johnson, an air-tight defense and a timely run-scoring double by playing-manager Jim Paisley to pull out a 4 to 3 victory over the lowly Melville Millionaires. Johnson handcuffed the Moneymen over the first seven innings while submarining right-hander Steve Clausen out of Santa Clara University kept the Sox off the scoreboard until the sixth when the Reginans pushed across three counters. Paisley's ground-rule double in the seventh chased home Greg Young with what proved to be the winning run. The Millionaires retaliated by scoring all three of their tallies in the eighth but fell short as Johnson set them down in order in the ninth. Paisley and Doug Simon had a brace of base knocks each for the Red Stockings while Clausen picked up a pair for the Moneymen.
Clausen (L) and Albers
Johnson (W) and Logan
(July 7) Members of the Moose Jaw Devons hold the top three spots in the Southern League batting race, as disclosed in the Regina Leader-Post edition of this date. Roy Rowley and Clark Gillies are tied for the top spot with .396 averages. Rowley also leads in runs scored with 23, walks with 19 and is second among top pitchers with a 4 - 2 record, an earned-run average of 2.01 and a winning percentage of .667. Teammate Ned Andreoni is third with a .364 average. Andreoni also leads in hits with 24, doubles with seven, RBI's with 18 and is tied with teammate Dave Dupree and Andy Logan of the Regina Red Sox for the most home runs, each having four. The leading pitcher to date is Terry Buck of the Swift Current Indians who has three wins in as many starts.
(July 9) The Swift Current Indians picked up their eighth straight win, a 5 to 2 decision over the Moose Jaw Devons. The Indians were sparked by the fine five-hit mound effort from import left-hander Terry Buck, Gary Reagan's performance at the plate and by two outstanding outfield catches by Dwayne Dekowny which saved the game. Reagan had a solo homer and a pair of singles, one of which plated a run for the Tribe while Bob Lewis stroked a bases-loaded single.
Buck (W) and Nybo
Girazian (L) and Gillies
(July 10) Steve Clausen scattered ten hits over the distance and even contributed a home run to the cause but it wasn't sufficient as his Melville Millionaires were on the short end of a 3 to 2 count in their Southern League game with the Regina Red Sox. After the Moneymen had completed their turn at bat in the fifth and held a 2 to 0 advantage, it appeared as though an upset was in the making. The Red Sox came back in their half of the frame to knot the count on Jack Buch's two-run four-bagger and then pushed across the deciding marker in the seventh, aided by a pair of Millionaire miscues, when winning pitcher Jim Hanson crossed home plate.
Clausen (L) and Albers
Hanson (W) and Logan
(July 11) The Regina Red Sox, aided by some outrageous generosity of the Melville nine, posted a convincing 9 to 2 verdict over the Millionaires in Southern League play at Pirie Field. The Red Sox, clinging to a 4 to 2 advantage entering the final frame, exploded for five runs thanks largely to a pair of Melville miscues. The Millionaires committed nine errors during the contest. Jim Paisley spearheaded the Regina attack with a bases-loaded double in the ninth to go along with an earlier single. Bob Faith went the distance for the Scarlet Stockings permitting just three Melville hits while striking out ten. Santa Clara Bronco Gene Gerrard hurled nine trying innings for the Moneymen in taking the loss.
Faith (W) and xxx
Gerrard (L) and xxx
(July 11) A bases-loaded triple by third baseman Greg Steele gave the Moose Jaw Devons a 3 to 2 victory over the Swift Current Indians at Mitchell Field. Dave Dupree went the distance for the win while the Devons ripped loser Wayne Pusch for nine hits. Dupree was aided by a pair of double plays including one that ended the game.
Dupree (W) and Gillies
Pusch (L) and Nybo
(July 13) The Regina Red Sox pounced on the short-handed Moose Jaw Devons, ripping the visitors to shreds by a ludicrous 29 to 7 count. With Ned Andreoni and Roy Rowley out of the line-up with other commitments and clean-up hitter Clark Gillies sent to the showers in the second inning for disputing a ball-strike call, a Red Sox rout became inevitable. Not accustomed to playing night ball, Moose Jaw fielders stumbled about in semi-blindness and committed 15 errors. Shattered by the lack of fielding support, Devons' chuckers permitted 11 free passes and hit three batters. Rich Gergley poked a home run and laced a pair of doubles for the Sox. Doug Simon swatted two singles and a double. Third baseman Bill Bell had a home run, two singles and a double and Andy Logan laced a trio of one-baggers. For the Devons, Dave Dupree hit a solo homer and three singles while teammates Gary Erfle and Greg Steele both belted two-run round-trippers.
Girazian (L), Heisler (5) and Gillies, Baba (2)
Johnson (W), Gamble (9) and Logan
(July 14) The Melville Millionaires and Swift Current Indians went at it for eleven innings at Pirie Field with no winner declared. The game ended in a 0 - 0 draw. The scoreless contest was the first of a two-game set scheduled for the weekend in the Rail Town. Steve Clausen was a standout on the mound for the Millionaires, striking out seven and limiting Swift Current to three hits. Melville collected a total of five hits off Terry Buck and Cliff Lawson. Wes Waselenchuk had a brace of one-baggers for the Moneymen.
Buck, Lawson and Nybo
Clausen and xxx
(July 15) The Melville Millionaires came from behind in the seventh inning to edge the Swift Current Indians 4 to 3 in the second game of their weekend set-to. Southpaw Gene Gerrard gave up seven hits while earning his first Southern League victory. The win was only Melville's third of the campaign. Loser Wayne Pusch fanned seven and gave up seven hits in the closely fought game. Bob Lewis and Cliff Lawson both had two hits for the Tribe.
Pusch (L) and Nybo
Gerrard (W) and xxx
(July 16) The Moose Jaw Devons took over sole possession of first place in the Southern League when they blasted the visiting Regina Red Sox 22 to 5. It was payback time for the Devons who had been licking their wounds following their humiliating setback administered by the Redlegs just three days ago. Moose Jaw now has a one-point edge over the Swift Current Indians at the top of the heap. Roy Rowley was the winner, aided by home runs from Gary Erfle and Greg Steele. The Devons scored 11 of their 22 runs in the fourth inning.
Faith (L), Gamble (3), Paisley (4), McMillan (6) and Logan, Bell (6)
Rowley (W) and Gillies
(July 17) Brian Keegan's sacrifice fly in the bottom of the ninth inning scored Rick Ellert from third base and gave the Swift Current Indians a come-from-behind 3 to 2 triumph over the Regina Red Sox at Mitchell Field. Cliff Lawson was the winning pitcher after taking the mound in the eighth inning in relief of starter Wayne LeBere. The former Moose Jaw southpaw was making his first Southern League mound start in four years. Harvey Nybo led the Tribe at the plate with a double and single while Jerry Zrymiak had a pair of singles for the Red Sox.
Johnson (L) and Logan
LeBere, Lawson (8) (W) and Nybo
(July 18) The Melville Millionaires exploded for four runs in the fourth inning and went on to defeat the Moose Jaw Devons 6 to 1 at Pirie Field. The win was the second in a row for the cellar-dwellers and their fourth of the season. Steve Clausen got credit for the complete game win, his second victory over the Devons. Dave Dupree took the loss for Moose Jaw, his third this campaign. Dupree and teammate Greg Steele both had a pair of hits in a losing cause. Brad Gyug doubled home two runs for the Moneymen.
Dupree (L) and Gillies
Clausen (W) and Ortynsky
(July 20) The Regina Red Sox scored twice in the bottom of the ninth inning to short-circuit the Swift Current Indians 6 to 5 in a Southern League tilt at Red Sox Park. Rich Gergley ripped a two-out pitch off Terry Buck into an outfield gap, allowing Andy Logan to score the winner. Earlier in the frame, Jim Paisley had delivered a bases-empty dinger to knot the count. Buck suffered his first loss of the campaign as a result of the Regina comeback. Neil McMillan picked up the win in relief of Sox' starter Howard Singer. Andy Logan had a fourth-inning four-bagger for the Red Stockings.
Buck (L) and Nybo
Singer, McMillan (W) and Logan
(July 22) The Regina Red Sox nosed out the Swift Current Indians 1 to 0 in a Southern League battle at Mitchell Field. Left-hander Wayne Pusch pitched a dazzling two-hitter for the Tribe but lost. The lone run of the game came in the fourth inning as Doug Simon scored on a two-out single by Jerry Zrymiak. Winning pitcher Lyle Johnson was tagged for five hits, two by Harvey Nybo.
Johnson (W) and Logan
Pusch (L) and Nybo
(July 28) Wayne Pusch allowed hits by the first two Melville batters but shut the door for the remainder of the game as the Swift Current Indians blanked the visiting Millionaires 6 to 0 in the matinee of their weekend get-together at Mitchell Field. Pusch struck out 13 batters in going the distance. Gene Gerrard, relieved by Brad Gyug in the sixth inning, took the loss.
Gerrard (L), Gyug (6) and xxx
Pusch (W) and xxx
(July 29) The Swift Current Indians squeezed past the Melville Millionaires 3 to 2 to capture a sweep of their weekend joust with the visiting Moneymen. Terry Buck was the winning pitcher in relief of Indians' starter Cliff Lawson. Buck drove in the winning marker in the seventh inning with a single off losing hurler Steve Clausen. Brian Keegan had two hits for the Tribe while Melville's Glen Ortynsky topped all swatters with a three-hit output. With the victory, the Indians moved a point ahead of the Regina Red Sox at the top of the Southern League heap.
Clausen (L) and xxx
Lawson, Buck (W) and xxx
(July 30) The Swift Current Indians captured the 1973 Southern League pennant by taking a narrow 5 to 4 decision from the Regina Red Sox at Mount Pleasant Park. Wayne LeBere, out of circulation for the past four seasons while recuperating from a serious bout of surgery, scattered nine hits effectively to guide the Tribe to the pennant. Catcher Harvey Nybo provided LeBere with strong support, crashing a two-run double in the first inning, followed by a round-tripper in the third. Right-hander Lyle Johnson started for the Red Sox and was bombarded for all five Indian runs. Jim Paisley was the biggest thorn in the side of LeBere, touching him up for three singles. Jack Buch and Jerry Zrymiak both collected a brace of one-baggers. Swift Current now draws the cellar-occupying Melville Millionaires in the semi-final playoffs.
LeBere (W) and Nybo
Johnson (L), McMillan (5) and Logan
(July 31) Taking advantage of a team celebrating the night before, the Regina Red Sox romped to a 14 to 1 victory over the pennant-winning Swift Current Indians. The Speedy Creekers, already assured of first place, simply played out the string with many second-stringers in their line-up. The Reginans rocked Swift Current starter Wayne Meyers for five runs in the first three innings before breezing home easy winners. Howard Singer worked the first six frames for the Sox, picking up his third triumph in four decisions. Only Rick Ellert was able to seriously touch Singer's offerings, slamming a circuit-smash in the fifth. Doug Simon backboned the Regina offensive, stroking four singles. Two-run homers by Stu McLellan in the third and Rich Gergley in the seventh, sewed up the Red Sox' rout.
Meyers (L), Lawson (5), Reagan (7) and Hogg
Singer (W), Barr (7) and Logan, Bell (7)
(August 2) The Melville Millionaires forfeited their final league game, a make-up contest with the Moose Jaw Devons, and opted instead to begin their semi-final playoff series with the Swift Current Indians. The unearned two points moves the Devons a bit closer to the Regina Red Sox in the joust for second place in the Southern loop.
(August 3) The Moose Jaw Devons and the Regina Red Sox battled to a scoreless tie in the Southern League's last game of the regular season. The tie gave the Red Sox second place over the Moose Jaw squad. The 0 - 0 saw off was terminated after the seventh frame because of darkness. Both teams garnered five base hits in the abbreviated contest. Roy Rowley had two hits for Moose Jaw while Jack Buch singled twice for the Red Sox. The two teams will now meet in a best-of-five semi-final playoff series.
Barr, Johnson (6) and Logan
Girazian and Gillies
Southern League final standings
W L T Pts.
Swift Current Indians 15 8 1 31
Regina Red Sox 14 9 1 29
Moose Jaw Devons 13 10 1 27
Melville Millionaires 4 19 1 9
SEMI - FINAL PLAYOFF SERIES
(August 2) Wayne Pusch hurled a four-hit shutout and struck out eleven as the pennant-winning Swift Current Indians opened their playoff semi-final with the Melville Millionaires by blanking the Moneymen 4 to 0 in Speedy Creek. Gene Gerrard was tagged with the loss, giving up eight hits and walking seven. Terry Buck and Harvey Nybo had solo home runs for the Tribe while Cliff Lawson contributed three singles.
Gerrard (L) and xxx
Pusch (W) and Nybo
(August 4) The Swift Current Indians took a stranglehold on their best-of-five semi-final with the Melville Millionaires when they ran roughshod over the Moneymen7 to 3 in their second meeting of the series. The Millionaires had their first lead in the series, a 3 to 2 margin, midway through the game but couldn't hold it as losing hurler Steve Clausen lost it all in the eighth when he was lit up for a two-run circuit-blast by Cliff Lawson after Rick Ellert had tripled. Terry Buck went the route for the Tribe. Clausen had a double and single off Buck's slants as did his teammate Gary Jones. The game was halted after eight innings because of darkness.
Buck (W) and Nybo
Clausen (L) and xxx
(August 6) The Melville Millionaires were bombed 16 to 2 by the Swift Current Indians in the third, and what turned out to be, the final game of the best-of-five semi-final series between the two clubs. The Tribe solidified the sweep by jumping on Melville starter Gene Gerrard and reliever Ben Valberg for a total of 14 runs in their first two times at bat. Terry Buck led the 11-hit Tribe attack with three singles while Cliff Lawson had a double and single. The game ended after 5 1/2 innings of play due to heavy winds. Harvey Nybo singled twice for the Redskins who now await a challenger from the Moose Jaw - Regina series.
Gerrard (L), B. Valberg (2) and xxx
Pusch (W) and Nybo
(August 7) The Moose Jaw Devons drew first blood in their semi-final round with the Regina Red Sox by posting a 6 to 3 decision over their Queen City hosts. Import right-hander Dave Dupree scattered seven Regina hits while fanning ten to get the playoff win. Outfielder Stu McLellan inflicted the most damage against Dupree with solo home run in the fourth and a run-scoring single in the sixth. Bases on balls were losing hurler Russ Barr's worst enemy during his short tenure on the hill. Later in the contest, loose fielding on the part of the Sox cost them three more unearned runs and, eventually, the ball game.
Dupree (W) and Gillies
Barr (L), Paisley (2), Faith (3), Johnson (8) and Logan
(August 8) The Regina Red Sox tied up their best-of-five semi-final series with the Moose Jaw Devons, slapping down their arch-rivals with an 11 to 4 lacing at Ross Wells Park. The game was pretty well decided in the seventh inning when the Red Sox struck for eight runs that erased a 4 to 2 Moose Jaw lead. Doug Simon, the league's batting champion, led the Regina offense with a double and two singles, Rich Gergley and Andy Logan connected for a double and single each while Stu McLellan singled twice. The Devons managed just five hits off three Regina hurlers, two of them going to losing pitcher Mike Girazian.
McMillan, Barr (5), Johnson (5) (W) and Logan
Girazian (L), Rowley (7) and Gillies
(August 10) The Moose Jaw Devons unleashed a 17-hit attack that produced a 14 to 5 thumping of the Regina Red Sox in the third game of their semi-final series. With the triumph, the Devons hold a two games to one edge. Home runs were plentiful in this contest. Dave Dupree, who tied for the home run leadership during the regular season, smashed a pair of three-run bombs for the winners. Mike Girazian lit up loser Howard Singer for a two-run dinger in the opening frame while Jim Baba hit a bases-empty shot in the second. Bob Faith, the second of four Regina pitchers, had a sixth-inning solo circuit blast for the Red Sox. Roy Rowley struck out eight to pick up the complete game win.
Rowley (W) and Gillies
Singer (L), Faith (2), Johnson (5), Gamble (8) and Logan, Bell (3)
August 8) The Regina Leader-Post of this date mentioned that Doug Simon of the Regina Red Sox had captured the 1973 Southern League batting title with a .493 average. In addition to leading the league in hitting, Simon also led in runs with 32, hits with 33 and triples with three. Dave Dupree of the Moose Jaw Regals and Andy Logan of the Regina Red Sox tied for the home run leadership with five apiece. Brian Dickie of the Swift Current Indians was declared as the top base stealer with ten. His teammate, Terry Buck, emerged as the top hurler with a 5 - 1 record and an .833 winning percentage.
(August 11) Jim Baba's single in the bottom of the eighth inning pulled the Moose Jaw Devons into a 2 - 2 tie with the Regina Red Sox in the fourth game of their semi-final showdown. The Devons still have the upper hand in the series with a two games to one lead plus the stalemate of this date. The Red Sox had jumped off to a 2 to 0 lead in the first inning on RBI singles by Rich Gergley and Stu McLellan and had things pretty much their way until the eighth. The Devons had picked up a single tally in the fifth on Clark Gillies RBI single.
McMillan, Johnson and Logan
Dupree and Gillies
(August 12) The Moose Jaw Devons advanced to the Southern League final series with a 15 to 1 whipping of the Regina Red Sox at Mount Pleasant Park. The win gave the Devons the best-of-five series three games to one with one game tied. The home run proved to be Moose Jaw's major weapon as the Devons ripped three, two-run circuit-blasts, in destroying the Red Stockings. Mike Girazian virtually silenced the Sox' bats, giving up just three singles with two of them coming long after the contest was decided. The two-run dingers came off the hickory of Girazian, Roy Rowley and Greg Steele. Dave Dupree, Ned Andreoni, Vern Neal, Girazian and Steele all picked up three hits for the winners who will now play the Swift Current Indians in a best-of-seven series for the Southern League crown.
Girazian (W), Heisler (9) and Gillies
Barr (L), Singer (3), Faith (4), Paisley (8), Logan (9) and Logan, Bell (9)
LEAGUE FINAL SERIES
(August 13) The Moose Jaw Devons overcame a 5 to 0 deficit to edge the Swift Current Indians 8 to 7 in the first game of the best-of-seven Southern League final series. The Devons scored two runs in the top of the ninth inning on singles by winning pitcher Roy Rowley and first baseman Mike Girazian to forge ahead for good. Rowley gave up 11 hits and struck out eight. Losing pitcher Wayne Pusch was tagged for nine hits and whiffed eight batters. Moose Jaw's Ned Andreoni had a three-run homer while Swift Current teammates Bob Lewis and Terry Buck cracked one circuit-blast each.
Rowley (W) and Gillies
Pusch(L) and Nybo
(August 14) The Swift Current Indians scored seven runs in the fifth inning, six of them unearned, to defeat the Moose Jaw Devons 10 to 6 and even their best-of-seven playoff final at a game apiece. Terry Buck was the winning pitcher, giving up ten hits, while Dave Dupree surrendered eight base blows and was nailed with the loss. Dupree was relieved by Rod Heisler in the sixth inning. Buck and Brian Dickie had two singles each for the Tribe while playing-manager Brian Keegan slammed a two-run homer. Ned Andreoni contributed three singles to the Moose Jaw cause while Clark Gillies blasted a three-run dinger and a run-scoring single. Roy Rowley singled twice for the Devons.
Buck (W) and Nybo
Dupree (L), Heisler (6) and Gillies
(August 15) The Moose Jaw Devons took a two games to one lead in the best-of-seven Southern League playoff final with a convincing 14 to 3 shellacking of the Swift Current Indians in the Frontier City. Winning pitcher Mike Girazian gave up six hits and struck out three. Losing hurler Wayne LeBere and relievers Cliff Lawson and Gary Reagan combined to give up 16 hits. Greg Steele and Ned Andreoni had three-run homers for the Devons while Clark Gillies smashed a solo four-bagger. Andreoni, Roy Rowley and Girazian each had three hits. Rick Ellert and Brian Dickie had two hits apiece for the Tribe.
Girazian (W) and Gillies
LeBere (L), Lawson, Reagan and Nybo
(August 17) Roy Rowley scattered four hits and struck out five while Ned Andreoni knocked in three runs to lead the Moose Jaw Devons to a 12 to 0 drubbing of the pennant-winning Swift Current Indians. The victory for the Devons left them within a single win of claiming the Southern League title. Wayne Pusch was lit up for 12 Moose Jaw hits in taking the loss. Rowley, Vern Neal and Mike Girazian all singled twice for the winners.
Pusch (L) and Nybo
Rowley (W), Heisler (9)and Gillies
(August 18) A bases-loaded double by third baseman Cliff Lawson with two out in the bottom of the ninth inning cleared the sacks to save the day for the Swift Current Indians as they were able to emerge with a 6 - 6 tie with the Moose Jaw Devons to remain alive in their quest to repeat as Southern League champions. Up to that point, the Devons had been in charge, out-hitting the Tribe 13 to 8. Moose Jaw catcher Clark Gillies drove in three runs with a pair of triples.
Dupree, Heisler (9) and Gillies
Buck and Nybo
(August 19) Harvey Nybo knocked in seven runs with a single, double and triple to guide the Swift Current Indians to a 13 to 8 victory over the Moose Jaw Devons and force a seventh game in the circuit final showdown. Moose Jaw leads the series three games to two with one game tied. Brian Keegan had a massive evening at the plate. The Tribe's manager-first baseman stroked out six hits including two doubles as the Indians' bats were on fire. Don Szabo was the winner, allowing 12 Moose Jaw hits.
Szabo (W) and Nybo
Girazian (L), Heisler (3), Adams (6), Andreoni (8) and Gillies
(August 20) The Swift Current Indians and Moose Jaw Devons battled to a 2 - 2 tie in the seventh game of their attempt to determine a Southern League champion. Moose Jaw leads the series three games to two with two games tied. The Indians scored single runs in the fourth and eighth innings while the Devons picked up a brace of tallies in the eighth. Mike Girazian, who went the distance on the mound for Moose Jaw, struck out six and did well with the lumber, picking up four singles. Swift Current's Wayne Pusch fanned 11 Devons. Harvey Nybo was the leading swatter for the Tribe with a single and double.
Girazian and Steel
Pusch and Nybo
(August 21) Veteran right-hander Roy Rowley scattered nine hits in pitching the Moose Jaw Devons to a 9 to 2 victory over the Swift Current Indians and the 1973 championship of the Southern League. The Devons won what had been scheduled to be best-of-seven series four games to two. A pair of games also ended in ties. Terry Buck started for Swift Current and took the loss.He was relieved by Don Szabo in the fifth and together they gave up 12 hits. Dave Dupree and Ned Andreoni led the Devons at the plate, each with a homer and two singles. Vern Neal added two singles to drive in four runs. Jim Baba also drilled a homer for the Devons. Brian Dickie, Brian Keegan and Buck each had two hits for the Tribe. Rowley was named the MVP of the playoffs and winner of the John Probe memorial trophy.
Buck (L), Szabo (5) and Nybo
Rowley (W) and Gillies
(August 21) Doug Simon of the Regina Red Sox has won the Dave Dryburgh memorial trophy as the Southern league's batting champion as well as the Heinie Rogers memorial trophy as the circuit's most valuable player. Simon copped the batting crown with a hefty .493 average. Clark Gillies of the Moose Jaw Devons picked up the Gus Riddler memorial trophy as the top catcher in the four-team circuit. Bill Bell of the Regina Red Sox was named the top rookie and winner of the Father Athol Murray trophy while Terry Buck of the Swift Current Indians won the Doc Hughes memorial award as the top pitcher in the loop. Buck posted a 5 - 1 record,good for an .833 winning percentage.