(May 29) The defending NSBL champions from the Hub City, no longer called the Commodores, swung into 1974 action without missing a beat. The newly christened Saskatoon Boston Royals, named after their sponsor's elite pizza, pushed across six runs in the first inning and went on to hammer the visiting North Battleford Beavers 12 to 4 at chilly Cairns Field. The Royals displayed their hitting skills to the fullest, pounding out 15 hits off loser Bill Lumsden and reliever Brian Lampitt. Winning hurler Wayne Plummer of Saskatoon tossed effectively and left the hill with a comfortable 11 to 1 lead after six innings were in the books. Ken Haanen of the Royals collected four hits including a double while teammate Fred Maxemiuk drilled three singles for four runs batted in. Gord Johnson added to the woes of the Beaver pitching staff slashing a double and triple while Don McLeod pitched in with a two-bagger and single. Catcher Mike Hanus was North Battleford's top hitter with a double and single while Brian Lampitt added a brace of one-baggers.
Lumsden (L), B. Lampitt (7) and Hanus
Plummer (W), Brandon (7), Parenteau (9) and Maxemiuk
(May 29) The Eston Ramblers opened the 1974 campaign on a winning note, downing the Kindersley Klippers 13 to 7 in Kindersley. Right-hander Neil McMillan picked up the pitching win for the Ramblers. No other game details or complete batteries were published.
Working backward from the season-end pitching stats, either Kindersley's Tom Christiaens or Richard Dahl was the losing pitcher in this opener.
N. McMillan (W) and xxx
xxx (L) and xxx
(May 31) Ken Parenteau pitched his way to his first NSBL victory as the Saskatoon Boston Royals disposed of the North Battleford Beavers 9 to 4 at North Battleford. In 8 2/3 innings on the slab, Parenteau allowed four hits, walked five and struck out two. In addition to his fine mound chore, Parenteau collected three hits, one going for two bases, off the slants of losing twirler Cliff Ballou. Don McLeod smashed a triple and single while Bryan Adams produced two safeties to add to the bean-town pizza boys' offensive attack. Brian Lampitt and Ken Nelson led the Beavers with a pair of hits apiece.
Parenteau (W), Brandon (9) and Maxemiuk
Ballou (L) and Hanus
(May 31) The Eston Ramblers defeated the Kindersley Klippers 13 to 0 in an NSBL game played in Eston. 20 year old import Randy Will from Bismarck, North Dakota struck out 11 would-be hitters in firing a no-hitter. The Ramblers broke the game open by scoring ten runs in the second inning. Rick Morrice and Kevin Gillies had two hits apiece for the winners with one of Morrice's blows being a triple.
Again, the year-end pitching totals reflect that either Tom Christiaens or Richard Dahl of the Klippers had to be the losing twirler as both finished with a record of 0 - 1.
xxx (L) and xxx
Will (W) and Morrice, James
(June 2) The Saskatoon Boston Royals unleashed a 16-hit attack and easily went on to pulverize the Kindersley Klippers 21 to 3 in a lopsided NSBL contest at Kindersley. Left-hander Bruce Turner, out of Chapman College in California, made his first pitching start of the season for the Royals and allowed only two safeties in his six innings of mound work. Randy Arthur and Dave Anderson were the only Klippers to dent Turner's armour with base raps. Arthur accounted for Kindersley's three runs by belting a three-run homer in the fourth inning. Anderson tripled in the second frame. Turner also collected two of Saskatoon's hits, both singles, before handing the ball over to reliever Ken Haanen who pitched hitless ball over the last three innings. Losing chucker Tim Schommer left the game in the third inning with a pulled muscle. Randy Munch led the Saskatonians in the hitting department with four singles and a double. Don McLeod and Al Mitchell each rapped three safeties.
Turner (W), Haanen (7) and Maxemiuk
T. Schommer (L), Flanagan (3), Christiaens (4), Hanley (6) and D. Schommer
(June 2) Playing on their home turf, the North Battleford Beavers erupted for seven runs in the first three innings and never looked back as they stomped all over the Unity Cardinals 11 to 1. Bill Lumsden worked the full nine innings on the hill for the Beavers in cruising to the pitching win, fanning eight Cardinals while issuing but one free pass. Loser Fred Delainey also whiffed eight but was touched for 14 North Battleford safeties. Hugh McIvor wielded a big stick for the winners, slamming three triples and a double. Cam Sternig came through with a pair of doubles while Ken Nelson chipped in with a three-bagger and single. Delainey picked up a double and single for the Cards.
Delainey (L) and xxx
Lumsden (W) and xxx
(June 5) The Saskatoon Boston Royals extended their season-starting winning streak to four games, edging the Eston Ramblers 5 to 3 in a rain-shortened NSBL contest played in Eston. The Royals exploded for three runs in the top of the first inning and added another one in the second to build up an early 4 to 0 lead. The game was called in the bottom of the seventh inning when a steady drizzle turned into a downpour. Winning pitcher Wayne Plummer was a tower of strength on the mound, fanning 12 Ramblers in six innings. Plummer allowed four hits including two safeties by Reg Andrew. Import Gorman Heimueller was tagged with the loss while giving up six hits and five walks. Saskatoon's Don McLeod highlighted the first inning outburst with a home run. Eston's Rod McIvor counted the first run for the homesters with a bases-empty homer in the fourth.
Plummer (W) and Maxemiuk
Heimueller (L) and Morrice
(June 7) Cliff Ballou and Doug Wilkinson combined to produce an end result that had eluded the North Battleford Beavers in the early stages of the NSBL schedule. Wilkinson provided the hitting to back up the pitching of Ballou as the Beavers handed the Saskatoon Boston Royals their first loss in five games this season, a 4 to 1 decision at Cairns Field. The Beaver pitcher threw the complete nine innings, allowing five hits while striking out six. Wilkinson, his batterymate, provided the punch, driving in all four Beaver tallies off loser Bruce Turner. A two-run fifth inning single was followed by his two-run double in the seventh frame. Don McLeod picked up a pair of hits for the Royals.
Ballou (W) and Wilkinson
Turner (L), Parenteau (8) and Maxemiuk
Saskatoon 4 1 -----
Eston 2 1 1
North Battleford 2 2 1 1/2
Unity 0 1 2
Kindersley 0 3 3
(June 10) The Unity Cardinals and Eston Ramblers split an NSBL double-bill.
No scores, batteries or game details provided. Eston's Gorman Heimueller was the winning pitcher in one of these games while teammate Bruce Freeburg was stung with the loss in the other. The same holds true for Unity's Tom Sharpe who picked up a victory while his Fresno hurling sidekick, Al Cuadros, was nailed with a defeat in the other contest.
xxx (W) and xxx
xxx (L) and xxx
xxx (L) and xxx
xxx (W) and xxx
(June 11) The Saskatoon Boston Royals got back on the winning track by unleashing an 11-hit attack to throttle the visiting Unity Cardinals 16 to 1. Saskatoon pitcher Wayne Plummer earned his third victory of the campaign, a complete game four-hitter. Fred Delainey, the first of two Redbird chuckers, was nailed with the loss. Outfielder Gord Johnson of the Royals was the main instigator of the Cardinal pitching staff woes as he clouted a home run, double and single to amass five runs batted in. Don McLeod and Al Mitchell also turned in fine performances at the plate. McLeod drove in three runs with a triple and double. Mitchell had two singles and a double which were good for three RBI's. Shortstop Jesse Chavez was the only Cardinal to register two hits.
Delainey (L), Miller (6) and Harris
Plummer (W) and Maxemiuk, Gautschi (8)
(June 12) Jeff Benedetti and Fred Maxemiuk were a two-man wrecking crew in Eston, much to the dismay of the home-standing Ramblers. Benedetti pitched a four-hitter, collecting 11 strikeouts, as he won his first start of the season in tossing an 11 to 2 victory for the Saskatoon Boston Royals in NSBL action. Maxemiuk, who handled the catching duties for Benedetti, ripped a bases-loaded double and a two-run single, plating five runs, to provide the big offensive thrust for the Bridge City brigade. Al Mitchell had three hits for the winners while Maxemiuk, Gord Johnson and Benedetti each had a pair. Kevin Gillies had two of the Rambler Hits.
Benedetti (W) and Maxemiuk
Heimueller (L), Beckstrand (9) and Morrice, James (9)
(June 12) The North Battleford Beavers took over second place in the NSBL as they battered the hometown Unity Cardinals 16 to 3. The Beavers broke a 3 - 3 tie in the seventh with five runs and added five more in the eighth. The Beavers raked two Unity pitchers for 14 hits. Doug Wilkinson had a two-run homer and two singles against his former mates. Ken Nelson also hit a two-run homer for the winners while Brian Lampitt added two triples. Bill Lumsden collected the mound decision with an eight-hitter while Redbird Jesse Chavez, in a relief role, took the loss.
Lumsden (W) and xxx
Rosenstein, Chavez (5) (L) and xxx
(June 13) Import Gorman Heimueller tripled and knocked in three runs to lead the Eston Ramblers to a 5 to 2 win over the Kindersley Klippers. Eston starter Neil McMillan picked up the mound win, besting Kindersley's Stan Moline.
Moline (L) and xxx
N. McMillan (W), xxx (6) and xxx
(June 14) Kindersley pitcher Bud Papadakis, making his first appearance of the season, drove in a pair of runs in the opening inning and held his team in contention until the seventh when he was chased off the mound as the high-flying Saskatoon Boston Royals went on to defeat the visiting Klippers 12 to 3 in an NSBL contest at Cairns Field. The victory boosted Saskatoon's record to 7 - 1 which gives them a firm grip on first place in the standings. Winning pitcher Bruce Turner and Papadakis were locked in a pitching duel until the seventh when everything fell apart for the Klips. Don McLeod's bases-loaded triple ignited the Hub City rally. Gary Brandon finished the game with a double and single while Randy Munch and Turner each added two safeties. Papadakis' two hits topped the Klippers' attack.
Papadakis (L), Hanley (8) and Bringhurst
Turner (W) and Gautschi
Saskatoon 7 1 -----
North Battleford 3 2 2 1/2
Eston 4 3 2 1/2
Unity 1 4 4 1/2
Kindersley 0 5 5 1/2
(June 16) The Eston Ramblers and North Battleford Beavers split split a Sunday doubleheader played in Eston. The hitters had the upper hand in both games which saw the Beavers taking the opener 15 to 13 while the Ramblers rebounded to capture the second tilt 9 to 8. It took North Battleford 11 innings to subdue the pesky Ramblers in the matinee contest. The Beavers pounded out 17 hits while Eston collected 15. Dave Ruybalid was credited with the pitching win after relieving North Battleford starter Cliff Ballou in the eighth. Loser Gorman Heimueller went the route on the hill for the Ramblers. Blythe Irvine and Rick Morrice both had three base hits for the losers.
Ballou, Ruybalid (8) (W) and xxx
Heimueller (L) and xxx
In a reversal of fortune, Dave Ruybalid of the Beavers was nicked for the mound loss in the second game, again in a relief role, as Gorman Heimueller drove home the tying and winning runs with a single in the bottom of the ninth. Both teams had seven safeties. Eston's Oakley Wright was credited with the pitching victory in relief of Neil McMillan. Reg Andrew and Heimueller paced the winners offensively with a pair of base raps each.
Lumsden, Cline, Ruybalid (L) and xxx
McMillan, Wright (W) and xxx
(June 16) The Unity Cardinals swept a twin-bill from the host Kindersley Klippers, taking out the Klips 6 to 5 in ten innings in the opener and then following up with a 15 to 12 decision in the nightcap. Unity's two victories moved the Cardinals to within three and one-half games of the front-running Saskatoon Boston Royals who were idle.
Kindersley's Lane Jackson belted a two-run double and Don Jackson drove him home with a two-out single as the Klippers scored three times in the bottom of the ninth to send the first contest into overtime. Unity won in the 10th, however, when Dale Robertson reached second base on an error and moved around to score on a fielder's choice and sacrifice fly. Al Cuadros notched 12 strikeouts in the winner's role while Stu Bringhurst whiffed 10 in a losing cause. Ed Ralston belted a solo home run for the Redbirds to pace a 10-hit attack while the Klippers managed eight safeties.
Cuadros (W) and xxx
Bringhurst (L) and xxx
Hal Harris led the Cards offensively in the second contest with with two home runs, a triple and five runs-batted-in. Ed Ralston collected his second home run of the day to go along with three singles. Kindersley scored five runs in the sixth inning to take a 9 to 7 lead but Unity responded in the top of the seventh with six counters to put the game away. Fred Delainey was credited with the mound win as his teammates turned in a 16-hit attack while Stan Moline suffered the loss with the Klippers offering support in the form of 12 hits. Bud Papadakis had two doubles and two singles for the Klips while Moline clouted a three-run circuit-blast.
Delainey (W) and xxx
Moline (L) and xxx
(June 18) Wayne Plummer fired a complete game four-hitter in picking up his fourth win of the NSBL season as the Saskatoon Boston Royals downed the North Battleford Beavers 5 to 1 in Beavertown. Losing chucker Cliff Ballou allowed just three hits over eight innings before Bill Lumsden took over mound chores in the final frame. The Saskatoon victory was their third win in four tries against the Beavers and improved their league-leading record to eight wins against a single defeat, Royals' outfielder Ken Haanen was tops in the hitting department with a brace of singles. Brian Lampitt hit a triple for North Battleford.
Plummer (W) and Gautschi
Ballou (L), Lumsden (9) and Hanus
(June 18) The Eston Ramblers maintained their hold on second spot in the NSBL by doubling the Kindersley Klippers 8 to 4 in Eston. Bruce Freeburg picked up the mound win for the Ramblers, striking out ten and walking five. Bud Papadakis of the Klips was nailed with his second loss of the campaign, striking out nine and walking two. Gorman Heimueller led an 11-hit Eston offense with a triple and single while Oakley Wright added a double and single. Lane Jackson and Stu Bringhurst notched two singles apiece for the Klippers.
Papadakis (L) and xxx
Freeburg (W) and xxx
(June 19) The Eston Ramblers manufactured 15 hits as they tripped the Unity Cardinals 6 to 4 in Unity. Eston has won four of their last five games but the blistering pace set by the Saskatoon Boston Royals has not allowed them to gain any ground. Neil McMillan picked up the pitching victory for the Ramblers with relief help from Oakley Wright in the seventh. The duo gave up 8 hits. Tom Sharpe struck out 14 in the loser's role as teammate Jim Holowachuk contributed two singles and a double. Reg Andrew led Eston offensively with three singles and a double.
N. McMillan (W) and xxx
Sharpe (L), Wright (7) and xxx
(June 19) The Kindersley Klippers suffered their ninth straight NSBL defeat when the visiting Saskatoon Boston Royals, behind the two-hit hurling of Jeff Benedetti, shutout the homesters 3 to 0. Benedetti chalked up nine strikeouts en route to the victory while losing pitcher Stan Moline fanned eight batters. Randy Munch and Ken Parenteau spearheaded Saskatoon's 11-hit attack with a pair of singles apiece. Stu Bringhurst had a three-bagger for Kindersley.
Benedetti (W) and Gautschi
Moline (L) and D. Jackson
(June 20) The North Battleford Beavers captured a see-saw battle from the Unity Cardinals, finally disposing of the Redbirds 8 to 6 at Beaver Lions Stadium in North Battleford. The Cardinals held a 4 to 2 lead in the sixth inning but the Beavers went ahead by plating three runs in the bottom of the frame. Unity added two in the seventh but the Beavers came back again with three in the last half of the inning. Dave Ruybalid picked up the win in relief of starter Hal Cline. Ruybalid took to the hill with two out in the bottom of the seventh and struck out five while allowing one hit. Gene Zaichowsky was the loser in relief of Cards' starter Al Cuadros. Mike Hanus led a 10-hit Beaver production with a double and two singles.
Cuadros, G. Zaichowsky (L) and xxx
Cline, Ruybalid (7) (W) and xxx
Saskatoon 9 1 -----
Eston 7 4 2 1/2
North Battleford 5 4 3 1/2
Unity 3 6 5 1/2
Kindersley 0 9 8 1/2
(June 21) A bases-loaded walk to Al Mitchell in the bottom of the 10th inning forced in the winning run as the Saskatoon Boston Royals edged the luckless Kindersley Klippers 4 to 3 in an NSBL contest at Cairns Field. The walk to Mitchell was his fourth of the game and sent the Klips reeling to their tenth consecutive defeat. The Royals were riding a 3 to 0 cushion behind the pitching of Steve Kemp entering the ninth frame. Kemp. making his first start of the campaign, got into a jam and, two relievers later, the Klips had deadlocked the score. Mitchell's free pass off losing pitcher Al Saisi in the extra frame then decided the issue and made a winner out of Wayne Plummer. Ken Haanen had a pair of singles for the Royals while Stu Bringhust collected a double and single for Kindersley.
Ruggles, Saisi (5) (L) and Bringhurst
Kemp, Brandon (9), Plummer (9) (W) and Maxemiuk
(June 21) Gorman Heimueller tossed a three-hitter as the Eston Ramblers blanked the Unity Cardinals 7 to 0 in Unity. Tom Sharpe, relieved by Dale Robertson in the sixth inning, suffered the defeat. The Ramblers' hitting attack was powered by Oakley Wright who produced a home run and single. Blythe Irvine picked up a pair of singles for the winners.
Heimueller (W) and xxx
Sharpe (L), Robertson (6) and xxx
(June 23) The Saskatoon Boston Royals split a double-bill with the Unity Cardinals in weekend NSBL action in Unity, dropping the opener 10 to 6 while winning the second contest 10 to 9. The first game defeat was only the second loss of the season for the Bridge City nine who rebounded for their 11th win in the nightcap. The Royals seemingly had control of the matinee game, holding a 6 to 3 lead entering the bottom of the sixth inning, but the Cardinals erupted for seven runs to claim the victory and hang the loss on reliever Gary Brandon. Al Cuadros was the winning pitcher, striking out seven and issuing one walk while giving up seven base hits. Ken Haanen had a double and single for the losers.
Turner, Brandon (6) (L) and Gautschi
Cuadros (W) and Harris
The Royals trailed 9 to 7 entering the sixth frame of the second encounter but Bruce Turner's thundering two-run homer capped a three-run Saskatoon uprising which put them ahead to stay. Wayne Plummer, the second of three Royal chuckers, picked up his sixth victory of the season. Fred Delainey was the loser. Ken Haanen had a trio of safeties for the winners while Randy Munch and Gary Brandon each collected a pair of hits. Ed Ralston relied with two singles and a double for Unity with Hal Harris connecting for a brace of one-baggers.
Parenteau, Plummer (3) (W), Haanen (6) and Maxemiuk
Delainey (L) and Wandler
(June 23) The North Battleford Beavers took both ends of an NSBL doubleheader from the Kindersley Klippers by scores of 8 to 7 and 6 to 1. The Klippers blew a 7 to 1 third-inning lead in the opener as North Battleford roared back with four tallies in the fourth, sparked by winning pitcher Don McIntyre's two-run double, and then added three more in the fifth. Hugh McIvor's two-run double in that frame drove in the tying and winning markers. Doug Mitchell was Kindersley's leading batter with a double and single which produced three runs.
Papadakis (L), Moline (5) and xxx
Lumsden, McIntyre (3) (W) and xxx
North Battleford's Dave Ruybalid was the mound winner in the late affair, allowing the Klippers three hits in the opening frame and then holding them hitless for the remainder of the game. Ruybalid also picked up two singles while teammate Don Hilsendager added a double off loser Stan Moline.
Moline (L) and xxx
Ruybalid (W) and xxx
(June 25) Trailing 5 to 2 entering the bottom of the fourth inning, the Saskatoon Boston Royals came to life with a three-un outburst capped by Don McLeod's two-run homer and went on to trounce the Eston Ramblers 14 to 5 in an NSBL contest at Cairns Field. The Royals went ahead to stay in the fifth on Fred Maxemiuk's two-run, pinch-hit single. The Ramblers had raked Royals' starter Jeff Benedetti for four runs in the first frame, driving him to the showers. Steve Kemp then came on and held the visitors to a single tally the rest of the way in earning the win. Kemp allowed six hits, struck out seven and walked one. Eston starter Bruce Freeman was tagged with the loss. In addition to his home run, McLeod ripped a two-run triple to finish the game with four runs batted in. Al Mitchell added to the 13-hit Royal attack with three singles while Gord Johnson and Gary Brandon each had a double and single. Rick Morrice, Greg Goldade and Rod McIvor paced the Ramblers with two hits apiece.
Freeburg (L), Heimueller (5) and Nelson
Benedetti, Kemp (1) (W) and Gautschi
(June 25) The Kindersley Klippers registered their first win of the season, scoring five runs in the third inning at Kindersley to dump the Unity Cardinals 8 to 2. Bud Papadakis belted a three-run four-bagger for the Klippers which was immediately followed by Stu Bringhurst's solo blast. The back-to-back dingers sparked the cellar-dwellers to their initial victory in thirteen starts. Winning pitcher Terry Gray who hurled the first seven innings and reliever Terry Ruggles combined to limit the Cardinals to six hits. Losing pitcher Tom Sharpe, who had a home run for Unity, gave up ten hits.
This game would later result in a forfeit.
Sharpe (L) and xxx
Gray (W), Ruggles (8) and xxx
Saskatoon 12 2 -----
Eston 9 5 3
North Battleford 6 4 4
Unity 4 9 7 1/2
Kindersley 1 12 10 1/2
(June 27) At North Battleford, the second-place Eston Ramblers edged the Beavers 4 to 3. Eston starter Neil McMillan was credited with the win although Bruce Freeman came on to pick him up in the fifth. During McMillan's stint on the mound, he allowed one run on three hits while Freeburg gave up two runs on four hits. The loss was charged to Cliff Ballou who was nicked for nine hits. Rick Morrice, Oakley Wright and Blythe Irvine garnered two singles apiece for the winners. The Beavers' Ken Nelson ripped two safeties in a losing cause.
N. McMillan (W), Freeburg (5) and xxx
Ballou (L) and xxx
(June 27) After 12 straight losses in the NSBL, the Kindersley Klippers have finally found the route to victory. The Klippers won their second game in a row, beating the first-place Saskatoon Boston Royals 6 to 3 at Kindersley. Stan Moline went the distance for the Klippers on the slab, surrendering seven hits in a winning effort. Jeff Benedetti, now 1 - 1, allowed nine hits in taking the loss. Import Bud Papadakis paced the Klippers at the dish rapping a triple and single. Randy Arthur and Terry Ruggles each banged out two safeties for the winners while Gord Johnson blasted a triple for the Royals.
The result of this game would later be reversed as the result of a forfeiture.
Benedetti (L) and xxx
Moline (W) and xxx
(June 28) Neil Lampitt sliced three singles as the North Battleford Beavers tripped the Unity Cardinals 5 to 1 in a NSBL contest played in Unity. Lampitt's output accounted for half of the Beavers' hits while the Cardinals touched winning pitcher Hal Cline for four safeties. Hal Harris collected two singles for Eston while Jesse Chavez added a double. Both Cline and loser Dale Robertson had one-hitters entering the seventh frame.
Cline (W), Ruybalid (7) and xxx
Robertson (L), Sharpe (7) and xxx
(June 30) While they were away competing in the annual Eston senior baseball tournament, the luckless Kindersley Klippers had both of their 1974 NSBL victories to date stripped from their record with both the Unity Cardinals and Saskatoon Boston Royals being the benefactors. League moguls decided that contests played June 25 and June 27 by the Klippers were to be defaulted to Unity and Saskatoon as Kindersley had used an extra import in these games. Eston, Unity and Kindersley will now be allowed to use five imports on their squads while North Battleford and Saskatoon will still be restricted to four imports.
Saskatoon 13 2 -----
Eston 9 5 3 1/2
North Battleford 8 5 4
Unity 5 9 7 1/2
Kindersley 0 14 12 1/2
(July 3) Gary Brandon reached first base twice with singles and wound up scoring on each occasion as the Saskatoon Boston Royals blanked the North Battleford Beavers 2 to 0 in NSBL play at Cairns Field. The two runs wound up being the only tallies of the game and provided winning pitcher Steve Kemp with all the cushion he needed as he spun an effective two-hitter while walking one and striking out eight. Loser Dave Ruybalid also had a fine outing, fanning eight while issuing only five hits. Randy Munch of the Royals also delivered two hits in the game, a double and single.
Ruybalid (L) and Wilkinson
Kemp (W) and Maxemiuk
(July 4) The Kindersley Klippers are back in the NSBL win column, shelling the hometown Eston Ramblers 11 to 3. After forfeiting two earlier victories because of exceeding the import quota, Kindersley entered the game with a 0 - 14 record. However, five run outbursts in the third and fourth innings broke the game wide open. Bud Papadakis collected the pitching victory in relief of Klippers' starter Terry Gray. Oakley Wright suffered the loss. Papadakis had a double and two singles at the plate while Don Jackson added two singles for the Klips. Rod McIvor's trio of one-baggers led Eston offensively while Gorman Heimueller blasted a homer.
Gray, Papadakis (W) and xxx
Wright (L) and xxx
(July 5) After 23 walks were issued and three batsmen were hit, the Unity Cardinals emerged with an 11 to 10 triumph over the Saskatoon Boston Royals. The run which turned out to be the winner was plated in the top of the ninth when Andy Wandler came dashing home from third base on a passed ball that eluded Saskatoon catcher Fred Maxemiuk. Jesse Chavez crashed a solo home run for the winners in the fourth frame. Glen Miller and Ed Ralston each rapped a pair of singles for the Cards with Ralston's brace accounting for four runs driven in. Maxemiuk and Don McLeod led the Royals' eight-hit attack with a pair of safeties each.
Delainey, Robertson (3) (W), Cuadros (7) and Wandler
Benedetti (L), Turner (6) and Maxemiuk
(July 5) In an NSBL encounter shortened to seven innings because of darkness, the Kindersley Klippers edged the Eston Ramblers 8 to 6. Stu Bringhurst scattered five hits in recording the mound win while Neil McMillan was hit with the loss. Don Jackson of the Klippers rapped two singles to lead all hitters.
N. McMillan (L) and xxx
Bringhurst (W) and xxx
(July 7) The Saskatoon hurling tandem of Wayne Plummer and Steve Kemp picked up a victory each and held Eston batters to a total of six hits as the Boston Royals swept a doubleheader from the Ramblers in Eston by scores of 2 to 1 and 3 to 2. The Royals took a 2 to 0 first-inning lead in the opener when outfielder Gord Johnson parked one of losing chucker Bruce Freeman's offerings over the fence with a mate aboard. The blast was all that Wayne Plummer needed as he tossed a complete-game four-hitter, allowing only a single Rambler tally in the third frame. Plummer struck out nine and walked one in improving his record to 7 - 0. Freeman also went the route, striking out seven, walking two and giving up five base knocks. Not one player on either squad managed more than one hit.
Plummer (W) and Maxemiuk
Freeburg (L) and Nelson
Another two-run outburst highlighted Saskatoon's first turn at bat in the follow-up contest. Steve Kemp of the Royals was cruising along with a no-hitter when, with two out in the seventh inning, Eston's Reg Andrew belted a two-run homer to tie the contest. In the top of the ninth, Ken Haanen smashed a leadoff home run to put the Hub City crew ahead for good and send Eston pitcher Gorman Heimueller down to defeat. Kemp wound up with a two-hitter, whiffing eight along the way, as he won his third game against no defeats. Haanen added a single to his home run while teammates Gord Johnson and Fred Maxemiuk contributed two singles apiece.
Kemp (W) and Mitchell
Heimueller (L) and Nelson
(July 7) The Kindersley Klippers bombed the Unity Cardinals 9 to 3 after dropping the opening game of their twin-bill in Unity 2 to 1. Unity captured the first game of their doubleheader behind the four-hit pitching of import Al Cuadros while Bud Papadakis gave up 5 hits in the loser's role.
Papadakis (L) and xxx
Cuadros (W) and xxx
Winning pitcher Terry Gray, who gave up five hits, was supported by an 11-hit Klipper attack in the second game. Tom Rosenstein was the loser.
Gray (W) and xxx
Rosenstein (L) and xxx
(July 9) Gary Brandon picked up his first pitching win in NSBL action as his teammates made sure he did not work himself into trouble. Brandon hurled a complete-game seven-hitter but received help in the form of the pitcher's best friend, the double play, to get him out of some tight spots as the Saskatoon Boston Royals downed the Eston Ramblers 5 to 1 at Cairns Field. The Ramblers threatened in their first turn at bat and, with the sacks full, Reg Andrew grounded into an inning-ending twin-killing. Infield double plays in the seventh and ninth also kept Brandon's head above water. The Royals counted three runs in the second inning to provide the margin necessary for victory on this evening. Neil McMillan, who surrendered 8 hits while fanning five, was tagged with the loss. Gord Johnson led Saskatoon's offensive thrust with a pair of singles while Bruce Freeburg collected two safeties for the Ramblers.
N. McMillan (L) and Nelson
Brandon (W) and Ryan
(July 9) The hometown North Battleford Beavers scored a pair of seventh-inning runs to break an 8 - 8 tie and register a 10 to 8 win over the Kindersley Klippers. Don McIntyre relieved Cliff Ballou in the fifth to pick up the pitching win while Bud Papadakis, one of three Klipper chuckers, suffered the loss. Kindersley had forged comfortably ahead in the middle innings on dingers by Al Saisi and Stu Bringhurst. Saisi jacked a grand-slam tater in the fourth while Bringhurst followed with a two-run shot in the fifth. The Klippers had 13 hits while the Beavers collected 12. Hugh McIvor was the top swinger for North Battleford with a double, single and three runs driven in.
xxx, Papadakis (L), xxx and xxx
Ballou, McIntyre (5) (W) and xxx
(July 10) Hal Harris, the NSBL's leading hitter at this point in the schedule, slammed two doubles and added a pair of singles to propel the Unity Cardinals to a narrow 5 to 4 win over the Ramblers in an error-filled tussle played in Eston. The Cardinals committed three fielding miscues while the Ramblers were guilty of six errors. Dale Robertson picked up the win in relief of Tom Sharpe. Import Oakley Wright, who relieved starter Bruce Freeburg, took the loss. Glen Miller contributed a single and two doubles to Unity's eight-hit offense. Gary Nelson singled twice for the Ramblers who wound up with six safeties.
Sharpe, Robertson (W) and xxx
Freeburg, Wright (L) and xxx
(July 11) The North Battleford Beavers proved to be poor hosts to the Saskatoon Boston Royals when the gang from the Bridge City journeyed into their territory for an NSBL game. The Beavers downed the Royals 6 to 1 with complete-game hurler Hal Cline checking the league-leaders on four hits while whiffing seven. The victory moved the second-place North Battleford to within four-and-a-half games of the pace-setting Saskatonians. The Beavers pounded loser Shelly Gautschi and two relievers for 11 safeties. Hugh McIvor led the North Battleford hitting spree with three singles followed by Brian Lampitt's double and single. Cline and Rick Johnston cracked two singles each
Gautschi (L), Parenteau (5), Plummer (8) and Ryan
Cline (W) and Hanus
Saskatoon 17 4 ------
North Battleford 10 6 4 1/2
Eston 9 11 7 1/2
Unity 8 10 8 1/2
Kindersley 3 16 13
(July 16) The Saskatoon Boston Royals plated a pair of runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to get past the Eston Ramblers 8 to 7 at Cairns Field. The Royals held a 6 to 2 lead after five innings but the Ramblers kept chipping away at the deficit but fell one run short in spite of a two-run ninth inning. Saskatoon starter Steve Kemp pitched the first five innings and got credit for the win, his fourth of the campaign. Eston's Gary Vincent, who also toiled the initial five frames on the mound, was tagged with the loss. Don McLeod led the Hub City 15-hit arsenal with a double and two singles while Al Mitchell added three singles. Randy Munch, Fred Maxemiuk and catcher Pat Ryan each contributed two singles. Gorman Heimueller headed the Ramblers' 11-hit attack with three singles.
Vincent (L), N. McMillan (6) and Nelson
Kemp (W), Benedetti (6), Plummer (8) and Ryan
(July 16) Hal Cline gave up but two safeties in his eight innings on the hill as the hometown North Battleford Beavers clobbered the Unity Cardinals 11 to 2. Cline retired 16 consecutive Cardinal batters at one point in the game as his teammates piled up the runs to give him a comfortable cushion. Fred Delainey suffered the loss, giving up six runs in the second inning before being replaced on the slab by Hal Harris. Cam Sternig was the hitting star of the game with a bases-loaded double and a single for a total of four RBI's.
Delainey (L), Harris (2) and xxx
Cline (W), B, Lampitt (9) and xxx
(July 17) The Eston Ramblers and Kindersley Klippers played 11 innings of an NSBL contest at Eston but they were unable to declare a winner. The two teams battled to a 1 - 1 draw before the game was called because of darkness. Bud Papadakis and Randy Arthur shared mound duties for Kindersley while Bruce Freeburg and Gorman Heimueller pitched for the Ramblers. Don Jackson and Arthur accounted for five of the Klippers' six hits. Jackson had two doubles and a single while Arthur added a pair of singles. Heimueller headed Eston's 10-hit attack with a double and single while Reg Andrew, Rick Morrice and Rod McIvor all notched two singles.
Papadakis, Arthur and xxx
Freeburg, Heimueller and xxx
(July 18) The Saskatoon Boston Royals were dull at the plate but most of the credit would have to go to the Unity Cardinals' Tom Sharpe. The import hurler handcuffed the Royals on three hits while striking out 17 as the Redbirds romped to a 9 to 0 victory in an NSBL contest in Unity. It was the third time that the Cards have beaten Saskatoon this season and the first time that the Royals have been shutout. The Cardinals scored twice in the first inning to provide Sharpe with all the runs he would ultimately need. Ed Ralston belted a three-run homer for Unity in the fifth inning to provide some insurance tallies. Jeff Benedetti, driven from the hill in the fourth frame, suffered the loss.
Benedetti (L), Brandon (4), Adams (8) and Ryan
Sharpe (W) and Harris
(July 18) The North Battleford Beavers collected nine hits as they dumped the Kindersley Klippers 8 to 1 in North Battleford. Don McIntyre scattered five hits while striking out eight to pick up the mound victory for the Beavers. Stu Bringhurst, who worked from the slab for the first two frames, was hit with the defeat. Doug Wilkinson led North Battleford at the plate with two singles which produced three RBI's.
Bringhurst (L), Saisi (3) and xxx
McIntyre (W) and xxx
(July 22) The Unity Cardinals picked up their fourth victory in six tries against the top-dog Saskatoon Boston Royals this season, thumping them 20 to 2 at Cairns Field. The Saskatonians used three chuckers in an attempt to stop the bleeding as the visitors pounded out 21 hits and were the recipient of 10 bases on balls. Ken Parenteau, who tossed the first four frames, suffered the loss. Unity's regular catcher, Hal Harris, made a rare appearance on the mound and held the host Royals to six hits in earning the complete-game win. The NSBL batting leader also punched out four hits, including a double. Tom Sharpe added three singles to the Redbirds' offensive production. Every other batter in the Cardinal lineup was credited with a pair of hits. Shelly Gautschi was the bright spot in the batting order for Saskatoon as he accounted for a trio of base raps, including two doubles. Gerry Purcell followed with a triple and single.
Harris (W) and Burton
Parenteau (L), Benedetti (5), Brandon (6) and Ryan
(July 22) The hometown North Battleford Beavers bunched four runs in the third inning as they defeated the Eston Ramblers 5 to 2. The triumph moved the Beavers to within two-and-a-half games of the top-place Saskatoon Boston Royals. Cliff Ballou, who struck out five and allowed eight hits, took the mound win for North Battleford. Eston starter Neil McMillan, driven to the showers in the third, suffered the loss. Cam Sternig picked up three singles for the Beavers. Import Oakley Wright clouted a home run for the Ramblers while teammate Bruce Freeburg added a trio of one-baggers.
N. McMillan (L), Vincent (3) and xxx
Ballou (W) and xxx
(July 24) See Lacombe Tournament
(July 26) The Saskatoon Boston Royals broke their longest losing streak of the season -- two games -- when they tripped the Eston Ramblers 6 to 3 at Cairns Field. Jeff Benedetti picked up the hurling decision after having been plagued by a sore shoulder in his last few outings. Benedetti struck out eight and allowed five hits in going the distance. Gary Vincent was tagged with the loss. He gave up seven hits while whiffing nine. Ken Haanen headed Saskatoon's hitting attack with a pair of singles and a double. Randy Munch came through with a brace of one-baggers. Gary Nelson was the top Rambler hitter with a double and single.
Vincent (L) and Nelson
Benedetti (W) and Maxemiuk
(July 26) Scoring seven times in the second inning, the Unity Cardinals drubbed the visiting North Battleford Beavers 9 to 6. Unity's Tom Sharpe struck out 11 en route to his second consecutive pitching victory. Don McIntyre, who was relieved by Cliff Ballou in the seventh frame, suffered his first loss of the season as the Beavers dropped three-and-a-half games behind pace-setting Saskatoon. Both teams had nine hits. Ed Ralston slugged a three-run homer to highlight the Cardinals' uprising in the second. Teammate Glen Miller picked up two singles in the contest. Rick Johnston had three singles for the Beavers while McIntyre added a pair of safeties.
McIntyre (L), Ballou (7) and xxx
Sharpe (W) and xxx
(July 28) The Eston Ramblers and Unity Cardinals divided a Sunday twin-bill played in Unity in games dominated by the pitchers. The Cards opened with a 2 to 0 blanking of the Ramblers but fell 1 to 0 in the second game as Eston's Gorman Heimueller twirled a no-hit, no-run gem. Al Cuadros tossed a five-hit shutout for the Cards in the matinee affair, recording 10 strikeouts in winning his fourth game in five pitching decisions. Loser Bruce Freeman also gave up five hits.
Freeburg (L) and xxx
Cuadros (W) and xxx
In addition to chucking a no-hitter, Eston's Gorman Heimueller singled home the game's only run as the Ramblers salvaged a split by taking the second encounter. Heimueller struck out 12 and had two of Eston's five hits off loser Dean Burton.
Heimueller (W) and xxx
Burton (L) and xxx
(July 29) An unearned run in the ninth inning gave the visiting Unity Cardinals a 9 to 8 victory over the Eston Ramblers in an NSBL game. Tom Sharpe, who entered the game in the eighth inning, collected the win while Neil McMillan, the second of three Eston pitchers, took the loss. McMillan hit a three-run homer for Eston while Oakley Wright also had a four-bagger plus a double. Hal Harris led the Unity hitting with two doubles and a pair of single. Unity out-hit Eston 15 to 14 in the contest.
xxx, Sharpe (8) (W) and xxx
xxx, McMillan (L), xxx and xxx
(July 30) The Kindersley Klippers won for only the fourth time this season as they edged the Eston Ramblers 8 to 7 in a game at Kindersley in which the hitters dominated. Terry Gray picked up the hill triumph, taking the mound decision over lanky import southpaw Gorman Heimueller of the Ramblers. Bud Papadakis clouted a home run and two singles for the winners. Heimueller, a Californian, spearheaded the 15-hit Eston offense, stroking three singles. Terry Ruggles and Stu Bringhurst drilled a triple and single each as part of Kindersley's 14-hit attack.
Heimueller (L) and xxx
Gray (W) and xxx
(July 30) Steve Kemp picked up his fifth NSBL win of the 1974 campaign as the Saskatoon Boston Royals won a close 3 to 1 decision from the Unity Cardinals. Kemp struck out 15 batters and allowed just four hits. Losing pitcher Tom Sharpe's performance, although not as impressive as Kemp's, could hardly be scoffed at. Sharpe struck out 10 and gave up six hits. Saskatoon first baseman Gary Brandon drove home two of the Royals' three runs with a fourth-inning, Texas League single to right field and also provided the fielding gem of the game, diving and snaring a line drive down the first-base line to rob the Redbirds' Jesse Chavez of a sure extra-base hit. Randy Munch garnered a pair of base knocks for the winners.
Sharpe (L) and Harris
Kemp (W) and Ryan
(August 1) The 1974 NSBL regular schedule ended with a doubleheader sweep of the Eston Ramblers by the second-place North Battleford Beavers. The Beavers grabbed the initial contest 6 to 4 and maintained their momentum by taking the follow-up match 2 to 1. North Battleford's Cliff Ballou, who allowed eight hits, picked up the mound triumph in the opener. Ken Nelson Jr. drove home two runs in the first inning with a double to open the scoring. Nelson later added two more singles and an additional RBI. The Ramblers came back with a run in the fourth and two in the fifth to take the lead. The Beavers responded with a three-spot in the fifth as Rod McIvor crossed the plate with what would eventually be the winning run. North Battleford may have scored more than three times in that frame had it not been for southpaw chucker Gorman Heimueller of the Ramblers who stepped in to temporarily replace starter and loser Bruce Freeburg. With the sacks full and only one retired, Heimueller retired the side without any further damage to end the inning. Freeburg then came back in the sixth to finish the game. Doug Wilkinson had three singles as part of of North Battleford's 11 hits. Heimueller had a double and two singles for the Ramblers.
Freeburg (L), Heimueller (5), Freeburg (6) and xxx
Ballou (W) and xxx
Dave Ruybalid was the story for the Beavers in the second game. The complete game moundsman allowed just five Eston base runners on a pair of base blows and three walks while striking out eight. Loser Gary Vincent gave up five hits, walked two, hit one batter and struck out five. The Ramblers held a 1 to 0 lead until the sixth inning when Rod McIvor tripled home Doug Wilkinson to tie the game. Ruybalid's two-out single in the seventh drove in Neil Lampitt with the winning run.
Vincent (L) and xxx
Ruybalid (W) and xxx
Final Standings W L Pct. GBL
Saskatoon Boston Royals 20 6 .769 ----
North Battleford Beavers 15 7 .681 3
Unity Cardinals 13 13 .500 7
Eston Ramblers 10 19 .334 11 1/2
Kindersley Klippers 4 17 .190 13 1/2
(August 4) See Killam Tournament
(August 7-11) See Canadian Senior Championship
LEAGUE SEMI - FINALS
(August 16) Al Cuadros tossed a four-hitter and received support in the form of nine hits as the third-place Unity Cardinals, playing at home, romped to a 7 to 1 victory over the second-spot North Battleford Beavers in the opener of one NSBL best-of-five semi-final bracket. Hal Harris and Dean Burton led Unity at the dish with a double and single each off losing twirler Dave Ruybalid. Neil Lampitt provided a double and single for North Battleford.
Ruybalid (L) and xxx
Cuadros (W) and xxx
(August 16) A bases-loaded walk to Saskatoon's Don McLeod in the bottom of the eighth frame forced in the lead run, which proved to be the winner, as the Boston Royals of the Hub City edged the Eston Ramblers 3 to 2 in the opening game of their best-of-five NSBL semi-final series. The visiting Ramblers and the Royals both scored twice in the opening inning but then chuckers Wayne Plummer of Saskatoon and Bruce Freeburg of Eston took control of things and were mighty stingy in the stretch when it came to allowing base runners. In the eighth, however, Freeburg began to weaken as he issued a leadoff base on balls which was followed by a single. Later in the inning, with first base open and two down, Ken Haanen of the Royals was intentionally walked to load up the sacks. The strategy backfired, however, as McLeod showed restraint by waiting Freeburg out and drawing the RBI free pass. Up until his eighth frame bout of patience at the plate, McLeod had been aggressive with the stick, lighting Freeburg up for three singles. Plummer struck out an even dozen while finishing with a three-hitter. He also added a pair of singles from the batters' box. Teammate Fred Maxemiuk kicked in with a double and single as part of Saskatoon's nine-hit offense. Freeburg struck out six Royals and walked seven.
Freeburg (L) and Nelson
Plummer (W) and Ryan, Gautschi (7)
(August 18) The spoils of games two and three of the NSBL semi-final playoff series between the Unity Cardinals and the North Battleford Beavers were divided in a double-dip played in Beavertown. The visiting Redbirds doubled the homesters 4 to 2 in the first match to take a 2 to 0 lead in the series. The Beavers, however, with their backs to the wall. rebounded with a slim 5 to 4 decision in the second encounter to stay alive in the best-of-five showdown. Winning chucker Tom Sharpe of the Cardinals singled home the run that proved to be the winner in the opener. Teammate Glen Miller then added an insurance run for Unity with a solo home run in the sixth frame. Cliff Ballou, who was tagged with the loss, allowed 11 hits. Sharpe struck out seven and yielded seven safeties while Ballou whiffed four.
Sharpe (W) and xxx
Ballou (L) and xxx
North Battleford's Hugh McIvor blasted a three-run circuit clout to lead the Beavers to their first series' win. McIvor was also the recipient of a bases-loaded base-on-balls in the bottom of the eighth frame which forced in the winning run. Winning hurler Don McIntyre allowed 10 Unity hits while fanning eight. The Cards' surprise starter, Tim Herback, gave up six hits and struck out one Beaver batter in the loser's role. His achilles heel in this contest was his erratic control as he gave up 12 walks.
Herback (L) and xxx
McIntyre (W) and xxx
(August 18) The Saskatoon Boston Royals tripped the Eston Ramblers 4 to 2 and, then, followed up by edging the Ramblers 10 to 9 in an NSBL playoff doubleheader played in Eston. The Royals' double victories enabled them to capture their best-of-five semi-final 3 games to 0. Saskatoon's Steve Kemp was credited with the mound decision in the matinee encounter. He allowed eight hits and had outstanding offensive support from Pat Ryan who collected more than half of the Royals' five hits with a single, double and a two-run homer. Gary Vincent was tagged with the loss. Greg Goldade and Reg Andrew both had a pair of singles to head Eston's batting attack.
Kemp (W) and Maxemiuk
Vincent (L) and Nelson
The Royals scored eight runs in the first two innings of the series' clinching game but still needed two more in the sixth to claim the victory. Al Mitchell pasted a first-inning four-bagger for the winners off losing hurler Neil McMillan who was driven from the hill in the second frame. Oakley Wright made sure the Ramblers remained in the game by launching a two-out, bases-loaded tater in the opening frame and connecting for a two-run shot in the third. Two sixth frame counters by the Saskatonians sealed the deal. Gord Johnson used a double to plate Randy Munch and came home with the winning tally on Shelly Gautschi's single. Winning twirler Pat Ryan needed relief help from Steve Kemp in the seventh as the Ramblers exploded for three three runs. Gautschi led the Royals' 10-hit attack with three singles while shortstop Randy Munch had a single and double. Wright added a single to his two home run production for Eston who wound up with eight base knocks.
Ryan (W), Kemp (7) and Maxemiuk
N. McMillan (L), Heimueller (2) and Nelson
(August 20) The Unity Cardinals and North Battleford Beavers played to a 2 - 2 tie in the fourth game of their NSBL semi-final series in Unity. The game was called after nine innings due to darkness. The Cards lead the best-of-five series 2 games to 1. Al Cuadros pitched the full nine innings for the Redbirds, striking out eight and walking three while North Battleford's Dave Ruybalid fanned nine and gave up two free passes. Cuadros allowed just four hits while Ruybalid scattered eight. Ken Nelson Jr. singled home both Beaver tallies in the opening frame. Following a leadoff single in the second inning to North Battleford's Mike Hanus, Cuadros did not yield another base rap for the remainder of the contest. The Cardinals scored their runs in the second frame when Andy Wandler drilled a two-out single to drive in a pair.
Ruybalid and xxx
Cuadros and xxx
(August 21) The North Battleford Beavers captured a 17-inning marathon with a 4 to 3 victory over the Unity Cardinals to even their best-of-five semi-final series at two games apiece. The winning run, of the unearned variety, was scored in the bottom of the eighth extra-frame by Dave Ruybalid when he reached first base on a fielding error, was sacrificed to second and scored on two passes balls. Dean Burton had staked the Cards to a 3 to 1 lead in the sixth inning with a three-run homer after North Battleford's Rick Johnston had singled in the fifth to drive in the first Beaver tally. North Battleford forced the extra innings with four successive hits with two out in the eighth to knot the count. Cam Sternig singled to drive in the tying runs. Doug Wilkinson, who relieved Beaver starter Cliff Ballou in the ninth inning, was the winning hurler while Al Cuadros took the loss. Cuadros took over on the pitching slab in the 12th inning when Unity starter Tom Sharpe was hit on the side of the head by a batted ball lined up the middle by Beaver shortstop Neil Lampitt. Wilkinson led the North Battleford hitting with a double and two singles while Ron Hein had three singles for Unity.
Sharpe, Cuadros (12) (L) and xxx
Ballou, Wilkinson (9) (W) and xxx
(August 22) Facing elimination for their past four games, the North Battleford Beavers earned to right to meet the Saskatoon Boston Royals in the best-of-five NSBL final series by coming through with a hard-fought 4 to 2 victory over the Unity Cardinals in Unity. With the win, the Beavers captured the semi-final round 3 games to 2 with one game tied. Don McIntyre, who allowed 10 hits, went the distance to pick up the victory. North Battleford touched Unity starter and loser Tim Herback and Dale Robertson, who took over in a relief role in the eighth inning, for nine safeties. The Beavers opened the scoring with two runs in the top of the third but the Cardinals matched that output in the bottom of the frame. Doug Wilkinson accounted for the winning run in the seventh when he was issued a bases-loaded walk for the Beavers' third run. Ken Nelson led the winners offensively with two doubles and a single while Cam Sternig added a triple. Jesse Chavez replied for the Redbirds with a double and two singles. Ed Ralston added a double and a triple which drove in both Unity runs in the third.
McIntyre (W) and xxx
Herback (L), Robertson (8) and xxx
LEAGUE FINAL SERIES
(August 23) After allowing the visiting North Battleford Beavers to score three times after two were out in the top of the ninth inning to take a 7 to 6 lead, the Saskatoon Boston Royals quashed any Beaver thoughts of a storybook comeback by scoring twice in the bottom of the frame to edge North Battleford 8 to 7 in the opening match of the 1974 NSBL finals. What was particularly surprising about the Beavers' top-of-the-ninth, two-out uprising was that each of the consecutive batters who reached base had fallen behind in the count 0 - 2 off the offerings of Saskatoon's Wayne Plummer. The Royals' chucker, although hanging on for the win, was rather wild on this evening, hitting five Beaver batters over the course of the tussle. His mates, however, came through in the bottom of the ninth when Pat Ryan singled home the winning marker after the tying counter had been plated on an infield miscue. Both Plummer and losing chucker Dave Ruybalid surrendered seven base knocks in this opening contest. Plummer finished with 11 strikeouts while walking four in addition to his array of hit batsmen. Ruybalid fanned nine and issued eight free passes. Doug Wilkinson headed the Beavers' offensive thrust with two singles, a feat matched by Saskatoon's Don McLeod.
Ruybalid (L) and Hanus
Plummer (W) and Ryan
(August 26) The North Battleford Beavers evened the NSBL final series by taking a 5 to 2 decision from the Saskatoon Boston Royals in a contest played in North Battleford. Winning chucker Don McIntyre of the Beavers had his shutout bid thwarted in the top of the ninth frame when the Saskatonians scored both their runs. North Battleford out hit the visitors by a 5 to 4 count. Wayne Plummer, the league's leading pitcher during the regular season with a 7 - 0 record and a 1.47 earned run average, was tagged with the loss. Plummer held the Beavers scoreless in the first inning and retired the first two batters he faced in the second inning. He then imploded, walking five batters in a row which accounted for the first two North Battleford runs. Shelly Gautschi replaced Plummer to get the final out of the inning and pitched the remainder of the game. McIntyre struck out five and walked three en route to the win. Gautschi whiffed four and issued three free passes while Plummer fanned a single batter and issued six bases on balls. The Beavers put the game away in the sixth, scoring three times. Doug Wilkinson was tops in the hitting department for the winners, slashing a brace of one-baggers, Don McLeod provided a pair of safeties for the Bridge City brigade.
Plummer (L), Gautschi (2) and Ryan
McIntyre (W) and Hanus
(August 28) The Saskatoon Boston Royals have put the North Battleford Beavers into a "do or die" situation with an 8 to 3 win over the hometown Beavers in the third game of their NSBL final set-to. The Royals now sport a two games to one edge in the best-of-five joust. Left-hander Gary Brandon went the route for the visiting Saskatonians, hurling a four-hitter while ringing up four strikeouts. Cliff Ballou, who allowed seven runs on nine hits in the loser's role, received relief help from Neil Lampitt in the eighth inning. Lampitt gave up one run on four hits. Brandon walked seven while Ballou issued one free pass. The Beavers opened the scoring with three runs in the third, initiated by Doug Wilkinson's two-run single, but it was the Royals' game after that. Saskatoon bounced back with two counters in the fourth when, with two out, Gord Johnson, Fred Maxemiuk and Al Mitchell hit consecutive singles. The Hub City gang bounced ahead by picking up a pair of markers in the sixth on back-to-back doubles by Ken Haanen and Don McLeod, followed by a pair of sacrifice flies. The Royals then added four more runs in the eighth on five singles and a walk. Shelly Gautschi capped the outburst by drilling a two-run single. Don McLeod was again the leading batsman for Saskatoon, claiming two doubles and a single. Ken Haanen added to the Royals' offensive attack with a double and single while Maxemiuk and Mitchell both were credited with two singles. Cam Sternig had a brace of one-baggers for North Battleford.
Brandon (W) and Ryan
Ballou (L), N. Lampitt (8) and Hanus
(August 29) Don McLeod touched North Battleford Beaver pitching for just one hit in game four of the NSBL finals at Cairns Field, but it was more than enough. McLeod belted a two-run homer to provide the Royals with the winning margin in a 4 to 2 victory over the Beavers. The win established the Royals as 1974 NSBL champions, claiming the series three games to one. The Beavers struck first in this game, taking a 1 to 0 second inning lead which stood up until the sixth. The one-run margin looked big as losing pitcher Dave Ruybalid had allowed only one Saskatoon hit in the first inning but had shut them off after that until the fateful sixth. Randy Munch started the Royals' uprising in that frame with a one-out double. Ken Haanen then followed with another double which plated Munch, setting the stage for McLeod's go-ahead blast. Hub City hitters added another tally in the seventh as the winners finished the evening with eight base blows to nine for the Beavers. Munch and Haanen both ended up with a double and single while Doug Wilkinson and Cam Sternig reciprocated with identical totals for North Battleford. The Beavers added a final tally in their half of the eighth but it was a case of too little, too late as Saskatoon captured their second consecutive NSBL title, albeit their first as a Boston Pizza sponsored club after so many years of being associated with field manager Spero Leakos' Commodore Cafe.
Ruybalid (L) and Hanus
Plummer (W) and Ryan