MANITOBA SENIOR BASEBALL LEAGUE

Still without any Winnipeg and eastern Manitoba representation, the MSBL continued to grow in 1975 with the addition of an eleventh entry, the Angusville Cardinals, from the western part of the province. Acclaimed as the senior-level champions of the province by the M.B.A. without any challenges, the league’s all-star squad advanced directly to the national championships. The biggest changes adopted by the 1975 circuit were the use of aluminum bats and the designated hitter rule.

(May 25)  The Riverside Canucks took over where they left off last season by winning their opening game of the 1975 MSBL campaign. The Canucks, backed by the three-hit pitching of Grant Everard, blanked the visiting Virden Oilers 5 to 0. All three safeties Everard yielded were singles. He struck out five, didn’t issue a walk and faced only 28 hitters in the contest, thanks to two double plays by his mates. Craig Bell and Ed Beare both notched three hits for the winners including a double for Bell. Losing pitcher Wade Sauter hurled seven innings and was nicked for ten hits and a walk.

Sauter, Thompson (8) and Fordyce
Everard (W) and C. Seafoot, Gullett (7)

(May 25)  Import right-hander Danny Kaupla lived up to his advance billing as he tamed visiting Grandview on two hits in twirling the McAuley Blazers to an opening-day 7 to 0 whitewashing of the Lakers. Kaupla fanned 11 in six frames before turning the horsehide over to Ross Lynd who mopped up with three innings of two-hit shutout work. Don Luhowy suffered the loss, surrendering ten hits including a pair of home runs by Wayne Poole. Jon Langston contributed a double and single while Brian Purcha stroked a brace of singles.  

Luhowy (L), Kalechyn (6) and Kalechyn, Lawless (6)
Kaupla (W), R. Lynd (7) and Lowes

(May 25)  Bruce Bremer, back in the MSBL after failing to report to the Binscarth Orioles last season, looked right at home in his return to the circuit as he struck out 11 in five innings as the Birds went on a hitting spree to clobber the invading Neepawa Cubs 12 to 1 in the first league action for both squads. The fireballing Bremer also had an eye at the plate, leading the 13-hit Binscarth batting attack with three singles and three RBI’s. A seven-tally uprising in the fourth frame, sparked by Don Gies’ three-run dinger, put the result on ice for the O’s. Gies also added a single while brother Dale Gies and Bill Derlago chipped in with two singles apiece. Catcher Chuck Long added a bases-empty tater in the sixth. Loser Don McGorman encountered control problems, walking seven while surrendering four safeties, before turning over mound duties to cousin Ron in the fourth. The lone marker scored by the Cubs came on a solo four-bagger by Pat Angers in the top-of-the-fourth-panel. Angers delivered a one-bagger as well while Ron McGorman garnered a pair of singles.  

D. McGorman (L), R. McGorman (4) and Buchanan
Neville, Bremer (W) (5) and Lang

(May 25)  Jerry Araujo struck out 14 and tossed a solid four-hitter for his new team as the Dauphin Redbirds opened the season successfully with a 3 to 1 conquest of the hosting Souris Cardinals. Dauphin managed just a pair of hits in the contest but got all the help they needed in the sixth spasm when the Cards committed a pair of miscues and allowed two unearned runs. Newcomer Ken Vertz, who allowed both Redbird hits and was relieved by import Ray Bruels in the eighth episode, suffered the loss. Designated hitter Bill Carpenter doubled to drive in the lone Souris tally, an unearned marker, in the sixth and added a single.  

Araujo (W) and Manthorn
Vertz (L), Bruels (8) and Leslie

(May 25)  The visiting Angusville Cardinals, playing their first game ever in the MSBL, were unable to solve the pitching of four Hamiota chuckers and fell to the hosting Red Sox 7 to 2. Manager Al Robertson of the Sox, not wanting to risk injury to any of his heaving corps, utilized four of them all for at least two innings each. The quartet limited Angusville to a pair of hits. Cards’ skipper Joe Parobec also sent four flingers to the hill and they combined to give up seven Hamiota safeties. Brent Montague paced the Crimson Hose offensively with two singles, driving in a pair of runs. Ron Ramsey also collected a brace of one-base raps.

B. Chuchmuch, Robinson (L) (5), B. Flyn (8), Hrubeniak (9) and Chipelski
Knight, Ramsey (3), Labossiere (5), D. Anderson (W) (7) and Young

(May 29)  Rick Hlady made his MSBL debut as playing-manager of the Brandon Cloverleafs a winning one at chilly Kinsmen Stadium. The new skipper scored from second base in the bottom-of-the-ninth inning on Bob Wilson’s one-out single to give the Leafs a narrow 4 to 3 victory over the visiting McAuley Blazers. Hlady also picked up the mound victory after replacing veteran southpaw Brian Hodgson in the eighth episode. Hodgson had taken over from Brandon starter Dale Harvey in the third inning. The Cloverleafs never had the lead through the first eight innings as McAuley led 1 – 0, 2 – 1 and 3 – 2 before the Wheat City nine pulled even for the last time with a singleton in the seventh. Import Dan Kaupla, who replaced starter Jon Langston in the ninth inning was tagged with the loss. Bob Thompson led the Leaf attack with two doubles and three runs scored while Dennis Wiebe had a triple, a single and two RBI’s. Besides Wilson’s game-winning blow, he had another one-base knock. Catcher Rick McFadyen delivered a double and single with an RBI. For the Blazers, Barry Jamieson had a two-bagger and single while Langston, Terry Lynd and Wayne Poole each added two singles. 

Langston, Kaupla (L) (9) and Lowes
D. Harvey, Hodgson (3), Hlady (W) (8) and McFadyen

(May 29)  The Virden Oilers scored three runs in the fourth inning and added two more in the sixth as they went on to defeat the Hamiota Red Sox 7 to 2 in MSBL action. Larry Thompson went the distance on the hill for the Oilers, scattering seven hits, walking three and whiffing nine batters. Ron Ramsey, who was relieved by former Oiler Mike Labossiere in the seventh inning, suffered the loss. Virden scored all the runs they needed on home runs. Bob Senff nailed a two-run dinger in the sixth while Blair Fordyce delivered a solo shot in the second panel. Senff also drilled two singles while Fordyce added one. Terry Good and Boyd Henuset picked up two singles each. Ramsey led the Red Sox attack with two singles and a double while teammate Ross Poole added two singles.

Ramsey (L), Labossiere (7) and Young
Thompson (W) and Fordyce

(May 30)  Back with the Dauphin club after a tumultuous season at Binscarth, Dave Rottman pitched a four-hitter while his teammates unleashed a 17-hit attack as the invading Redbirds thumped the Grandview Lakers 14 to 1 to pick up their second straight win. Rottman had little trouble subduing the Lakers, ringing up 17 punchouts while issuing not a single free pass in an impressive route-going performance. Grandview starter Don Luhowy was saddled with his second defeat of the campaign. Cleanup hitter Garry Keating whacked a triple, double and single for the Redbirds. Ken Buchy followed with two doubles while John Morrison and former Riverside Canuck Ron Russell had a double and single each. Siggi Sigurdson cracked a triple and single while Dave Manthorn and Jerry Araujo added two singles each. Deryl Ortynski stroked two singles for the Lakers. 

Rottman (W) and Manthorn
Luhowy (L), Kalechyn (6), Luhowy (9) and Lawless

(May 31)  Souris Cardinals’ import pitcher Ray Bruels displayed unexpected hitting power, pounding out a pair of home runs and driving in five runs as the hosting Cards outlasted the arch-rival Riverside Canucks 8 to 7. Adding to Bruels’ brace of bombs was teammate Wayne Keeler who teed off for a three-run shot in the fourth frame. In gaining the pitching win, Bruels was touched for ten hits while walking five and fanning eight. Three Riverside pitchers, including starter and loser Rob Medoff, allowed only five Souris safeties. The trio breezed 11 while handing out three free passes. Mark Fisher paced the Riversiders offensively with two singles and a solo home run. Cliff Seafoot added a single and double while Morley Hartel stroked a pair of one-baggers.

Medoff (L), R. Seafoot (5), Beare (6) and Gullett
Bruels (W) and Leslie 

(June 1)  Bouncing back from a Saturday evening setback, the Riverside Canucks whipped the visiting Neepawa Cubs 12 to 3 in a Sunday afternoon MSBL encounter. Craig Bell blasted a three-run homer and two singles to pace the 15-hit attack for the Riversiders. Bob Williamson and Mark Fisher also had three safeties while Ed Beare delivered a solo four-bagger and a single. Catcher Bruce Gullett followed with a brace of one-base raps. Grant Everard of the Canucks won for the second time this season, scattering ten hits, striking out seven and walking a pair. Neepawa starting heaver Pat Angers was nicked with the loss. Don Martin and Ron McGorman each singled twice for the Cubs.   

Angers (L), R. McGorman (6) and Buchanan, Hemstad (7)
Everard (W) and Gullett, Campbell (8)

(June 1)  The Hamiota Red Sox invaded Souris and humbled the hosting Cardinals 6 to 2. Crimson Hose chucker Dennis Anderson checked the Cards on six hits and three free passes while whiffing eight in capturing his second pitching win in as many decisions. Flychaser Mel Smith aided the Hamiota cause with a two-run homer and a single. Ken Wowryk added a pair of singles. Losing twirler Ken Vertz surrendered eight of the ten Red Sox’ safeties before giving way to Bob Fitchner in the seventh stanza. Stan Furman, with a brace of two-baggers, was best with the baton for Souris.  

D. Anderson (W) and Labossiere
Vertz, Fitchner (7) and Leslie

(June 1)  Speedball artist Bruce Bremmer rang up a dozen punchouts in hurling the Binscarth Orioles to a 2 to 0 conquest of the McAuley Blazers. Both Bremer and losing flinger Ross Lynd of the Blazers went all the way as the Birds outhit McAuley 9 to 7. Dale Gies doubled in the opening canto to drive in Garth Jackman with the Orioles’ first run. The insurance counter came in the sixth when Chuck Lang crossed the dish on a fielder’s choice. Jackman had three of the Binscarth hits, all singles, while Barry Jamieson topped the Blazers’ willow wielders with a double and two singles. .  

Bremer (W) and Lang
R. Lynd (L) and Lowes

(June 1)  With import Jim Deaver on the knoll, the hosting Grandview Lakers upset the Brandon Cloverleafs 1 to 0. Deaver limited the Leafs to just three hits, all singles, while swishing eight. Playing-manager Rick Hlady of the Wheat City brigade, yielded seven base raps, in taking the loss. The Lakers picked up the game’s only tally in the first inning when Steve Archambault, the team’s other import, doubled home Tony Kalechyn who had doubled himself. Archambault added a three-bagger to go along with his game-winning double.   

Hlady (L), D. Harvey (8) and McFadyen
Deaver (W) and Lawless

(June 1)  The Angusville Cardinals recorded their initial MSBL victory, stopping the visiting Virden Oilers 4 to 0. The Cards received an excellent four-hit pitching effort from Bob Chuchmuch, who fanned ten and walked five, in breaking into the win column. Kevin Mickelson, the first of three Oiler chuckers, gave up all four Angusville runs and suffered the loss. Barry Wowk led the Cards’ eight-hit offense  with a double and single while Bob Mazur added two singles. Virden catcher Blair Fordyce had two, both singles, of the four Oiler safeties. 

Mickelson (L), Thompson (3), Bridgett (9) and Fordyce
B. Chuchmuch (W) and Chipelski 

(June 3)  The McAuley Blazers struck for five first-inning counters, shelling Virden starter Larry Thompson in the process, and went on to subdue the visiting Oilers 6 to 2. Dale Lowes, with a two-run shot, Wayne Poole and Graeme Lee all lit up Thompson for dingers in the opening-canto outburst. Kevin Mickelson took over heaving chores for Virden with only one retired and pitched into the fifth frame when he served up a second bases-empty tater to Poole. Import Dan Kaupla checked the Oilers on five of their seven hits in securing the pitching win. Rick Bohonis nailed a double and single for the vanquished nine while teammate Perry Kalynuk singled twice.

Thompson (L), Mickelson (1), Bridgett (5) and Fordyce
Kaupla (W), Langston (W) and Lowes

(June 5)  The Brandon Cloverleafs hammered two McAuley chuckers for 15 base blows and went on to outlast the invading Blazers 10 to 6 at Kinsmen Park. Losing heaver Garth Neville of the Blazers was rocked for 12 of those bingles, six of the extra-base variety, prior to heading for a seventh-inning shower. Lefthander Brian Hodgson of the Leafs got the win with relief help from Rick McFadyen. The Brandon duo gave up ten McAuley hits. Bob Thompson had two doubles and a single for the winners while the versatile McFadyen clipped the orb for a triple and double, accumulating four RBI’s along the way. Bill Chapple, Bob Wilson and Mel Harvey each contributed two singles. Glen Hodgson paced the Birds with the baton, slamming a double and triple while driving in a pair of runs. Teammate Ron Low followed with a brace of one-base hits.

Neville (L), McCauley (7) and Lang
Hodgson (W), McFadyen (7) and McFadyen, M. Harvey (7)

(June 5)  The hometown Neepawa Cubs hung on for a 14 to 12 triumph over the Souris Cardinals in an MSBL slugfest limited to seven-and-a-half innings because of darkness. Two runs in the sixth and a singleton in the seventh allowed the Cubs to annex their first win of the campaign. At one point in the contest, they were in arrears by a 12 to 7 deficit. Fifth-inning reliever Pat Angers copped the hurling victory while Bill Carpenter, the last of three Souris hurlers, was stung with the loss. Ron McGorman slammed a three-run homer and a single for Neepawa, driving in four counters. Norm Hemstad also dialed long distance for the Cubs with a solo tater in the seventh spasm. Brian Reid added a double and single for the victors. Wayne Keeler drove in five markers for the Cards with a three-run dinger and a brace of one-baggers. Ray Bruels also went yard for Souris with a three-run circuit-jack in the second spasm while clubmate Dwayne Kirkup belted a double and single. Brent Kerslake, Carpenter and Greg Cameron lashed out two singles apiece.     

Furman, Dwayne Kirkup (1), Furman (2), Carpenter (L) (5) and Leslie
D. McGorman, R. McGorman (2), Angers (W) (5) and Buchanan

(June 6)  Craig Bell smacked a solo home run, his second tater of the season, in the bottom-of-the-eighth inning to break a 9 – 9 tie and give the hosting Riverside Canucks a 10 to 9 win over the Brandon Cloverleafs. The Riversiders led at one point 9 – 3 but the Cloverleafs clawed back to deadlock the score in the seventh. Reliever Ron Seafoot captured the pitching win for the Canucks while Dale Harvey, who took over Brandon pitching chores in the fifth, was tagged with the defeat. Bell had a single to go along with his round-tripper while catcher Bruce Gullet also unloaded a bases-empty dinger for the winners. Morley Hartel added a brace of one-baggers. Bob Thompson nailed a two-run four-bagger for the Leafs while Rick Hlady, who started on the hill for the Wheat City aggregation, had two doubles and a single. Coming in with a pair of singles each were Rick McFadyen and Bill Chapple.  

Hlady, D. Harvey (L) (5) and McFadyen
Everard, Mealy (6), R. Seafoot (W) (7), Beare (9) and Gullett

(June 6)  The Binscarth Orioles pushed across two eighth-inning runs to down the visiting Grandview Lakers 5 to 4. Although outhit 12 to 6 by the Lakers, the Birds took advantage of nine walks issued by import tossers, loser Jim Deaver and starter Steve Archambault. Binscarth’s Bryan McCauley pitched 8-2/3 innings to record his first win of the season. Glen Hodgson was the only Oriole to get more than one hit, cracking out two singles. Deryl Ortynski had a stellar night at the plate for Grandview, doubling once and adding three singles. John Hendle laced three one-baggers while Deaver singled twice.

Archambault, Deaver (L) (5) and Lawless
McCauley (W), Bremer (9) and Lang

(June 6)  The McAuley Blazers swung through Hamiota and soundly thrashed the hosting Red Sox 11 to 1 in MSBL play. The hard-hitting Blazers pounded losing chucker Dennis Anderson and two relievers for 18 base knocks as winning heaver Ross Lynd went the route with a seven-hitter.  Brian Rose and Brian Purcha had four singles each for the McAuley nine while Brian Lindsay drilled a brace of one-baggers and drove in three runs. Doug McPhail and catcher Bob Young both singled twice for the overmatched Scarlet Stockings.

R. Lynd (W) and Lowes
D. Anderson (L), R. Knight (7), Scott (8) and Young, Woods (6)

(June 6)  Greg Cameron and Stan Furman teamed up to help the Souris Cardinals down the Angusville Cardinals in an MSBL game of namesakes. Cameron got on base three times, with a single, double and walk. and each time was driven home by Furman, who slammed a triple, single and sacrifice fly. Ray Bruels improved his pitching record to 2 – 0 with the complete-game win. He gave up just four hits and one walk while fanning four. Losing twirler Bob Chuchmuch also pitched well in defeat, surrendering five hits and an equal number of free passes while whiffing seven. 

B. Chuchmuch (L) and Wowk
Bruels (W) and Leslie

(June 8)  Pat McGehee fashioned a one-hitter in pitching the Angusville Cardinals to a 5 to 1 victory over the visiting Neepawa Cubs in a seven-inning, rain-shortened MSBL affair. McGehee, who swished six and walked three, lost his no-hit bid in the seventh and final stanza when veteran Norm Hemstad of the Cubs stroked a single up the middle. Angusville scored all the runs they needed in the second spasm on the strength of a walk and four consecutive one-baggers off the slants of losing chucker Dennis Buhlin. Bob Mazur, McGehee and Bill Flyn/Flynn stroked two singles each for the winners. 

Buhlin (L) and Buchanan
McGehee (W) and Chipelski

(June 8)  Rain halted proceedings prematurely at Virden where the invading Dauphin Redbirds remained undefeated by blanking the Oilers 1 to 0 in five innings. Dave Rottman was credited with his second win in as many verdicts by shutting down the Oilmen on two hits. Back-to-back errors, at the shortstop position, set up the game’s lone run in the third inning. The miscues came with a runner at first base and allowed the Redbirds to load the bases with just one out. Ron Russell then drove in John Morrison from third base with a sacrifice fly. Losing flinger Larry Thompson was touched for five Dauphin safeties.

Rottman (W) and Manthorn
Thompson (L) and Fordyce

(June 11)  The South Division-leading Riverside Canucks lashed out 13 hits, including a pair of home runs, and took advantage of four Hamiota errors to down the Red Sox 11 to 4. The Canucks teed off against Red Sox starter Ron Ramsey for five runs in the first two innings, went in front 7 to 3 after seven spasms then added a four-spot in the eighth to consolidate their triumph. Grant Everard, in relief of starter Rob Medoff, picked up his third win of the season. Everard took over in the fifth frame after a two-run homer by Hamiota’s Doug McPhail. Bob Williamson had a leadoff homer to start the game and later added a double and single for the Riversiders. Ed Beare had his second dinger of the campaign, a solo shot in the four-run eighth. Morley Hartel added two single for the winners. McPhail, in only his second game for Hamiota after returning from the U. S. college ranks, hit a single to go along with his tater while Ramsey and catcher Bob Young added two singles each.

Ramsey (L), Labossiere (8) and Young
Medoff, Everard (W) (5) and Campbell, Gullett (5) 

(June 12)  The Grandview Lakers shaded the Angusville Cardinals 2 to 1 to move into a tie with the Cards for fourth place in the Northern Division of the MSBL. Import hurler Jim Deaver tossed a five-hitter at the offensively-anemic Angusville squad which has a sub-.200 team batting average. Deaver singled home John Hendle in the top-of-the-ninth with what turned out to be the winning run. Tim Matz, an import making his first MSBL start, went all the way on the knoll for the Cardinals, giving up seven hits while punching out 13. He did not issue a single base-on-balls. Hendle and Tony Kalechyn banged out two singles each for Grandview. Curnie Chuchmuch singled twice for the Cards.  

Deaver (W) and Lawless
Matz (L) and Chipelski
 
(June 12)  A 4 to 3 win by the Neepawa Cubs over the Virden Oilers forced a three-way tie for fourth spot and tightened things up considerably in the Northern Division standings. Winning pitcher Pat Angers of the Cubs limited the Virden batters to six hits and slugged a three-run circuit-jack in the third inning to tie the score after the Oilers had taken an early 3 – 0 lead. Neepawa pushed across the winning run in the sixth stanza when Stan Sawatsky singled to drive in Brian Reid. Losing flinger Kevin Mickelson was raked for ten hits in going the distance. Angers added a single to his four-ply clout while teammates Norm Hemstad and Don Martin lashed out two singles each. Boyd Henuset, with a double and single, was the only batter from the Oilmen to collect more than one hit. 

Mickelson (L) and Fordyce
Angers (W) and Hemstad
 
(June 12)  The McAuley Blazers moved to within a half-game of the North Division-leading Dauphin Redbirds by doubling the Souris Cardinals 8 to 4. Import slabster Danny Kaupla won his third game of the season, striking out 13 and walking three, before giving way to Ross Lynd in the eighth. Ken Vertz absorbed his third consecutive loss. Jon Langston hit a double and single to lead McAuley at the plate while Gerry Coppicus chipped in with two singles. Stan Furman cracked out three hits for Souris, a double and two singles, while Greg Cameron and Dwayne Kirkup delivered a brace of one-baggers each. 

Vertz (L) and Leslie
Kaupla (W), R. Lynd (8) and Lowes

(June 13)  The Souris Cardinals rocked Neepawa starting and losing heaver Ron McKinnon for eight runs in less than two innings and coasted to a 14 to 3 victory over the visiting Cubs. In the one-sided clash, the Cards walloped 17 base hits to give winning chucker Ray Bruels, 3 – 0, all the help he needed. Greg Cameron and Stan Furman both lashed out four safe swats for the Cards with Furman’s total of base raps including a home run and a double. Clubmate Doug Armour came through with three base knocks, one of which was a bases-empty round-tripper. For Neepawa, Dan Secundiak and Terry Oliver each stroked a pair of one-base hits.  

McKinnon (L), R. McGorman (2) and Hemstad
Bruels (W) and Leslie, Dwayne Kirkup (7) 

(June 13)  The last-place Virden Oilers came out swinging, scoring five runs in the first two innings, and went on to upset the hosting Binscarth Orioles 7 to 6 in an MSBL tilt. Winning flinger Dave Ehrhardt of the Oilers was combed for ten hits while walking an equal number but dodged a bullet when the Birds stranded 13 baserunners. Losing slabster Bryan McCauley allowed eight hits and walked five. Boyd Henuset and shortstop Rick Bohonis both drove in a brace of counters for the victors, each punching out two singles. Glen Hodgson had three singles for Binscarth while teammate Herb Andres added a two-run homer.  

Ehrhardt (W) and Fordyce
McCauley (L) and Lang, Wasslen (7)

(June 13)  The Dauphin Redbirds extended their unbeaten streak to four games by thumping the McAuley Blazers 11 to 5. The Dauphinites jumped on losing twirler Jon Langston for seven counters in the fourth frame, highlighted by Garry Keating’s three-run homer. Jerry Araujo picked up his second win of the season, scattering seven hits before giving way to Brodie McLean in the seventh. Keating added a pair of doubles to the Redbirds’ attack while Araujo also drilled a brace of two-baggers. Ken Buchy and Dave Manthorn pitched in with two singles each. Brian Purcha nailed a four-ply clout for McAuley while Ross Lynd added two singles. 

Langston (L), Jamieson (8) and Lowes
Araujo (W), McLean (7) and Manthorn

(June 13)  Recovering from an early 4 to 0 deficit, the Hamiota Red Sox came back to edge the invading Brandon Cloverleafs 5 to 4. Dennis Anderson went the distance on the hill for Hamiota, giving up eight hits and five walks, in winning his third game. Loser Brian Hodgson was nicked for 11 hits and three bases-on-balls. The winning run was plated on a fielder’s choice when Hodgson elected to throw to first base after retrieving pinch-hitter Ross Poole’s dribbler in the seventh spasm, allowing Ron Ramsey to scamper home from third base. Mel Smith and Ramsey each had three hits for the Red Sox while Anderson helped his cause with a brace of one-baggers. The big blow for Brandon was Roy McLachlan’s second-inning three-run homer. Bob Wilson contributed a double and single while Dale Harvey singled twice.

Hodgson (L) and McFadyen
D. Anderson (W) and Young

(June 15)  The travelling Riverside Canucks began their two-game, split-venue set on the road with a win, shading the hosting McAuley Blazers 2 to 1. Grant Everard scattered seven hits, allowed two walks and struck out three in recording his fourth win of the season. Losing pitcher Ross Lynd also went all the way on the knoll, surrendering eight hits while fanning four. The Riversiders plated both their tallies in the fifth frame on consecutive singles by Bob Williamson, Dan Cassils and Bruce Gullett after Everard reached first base on a fielder’s choice. McAuley’s lone marker came on a sixth-inning, bases-empty home run by Terry Lynd. Williamson, Morley Hartel and Gullett had two singles each for the Canucks. Barry Jamieson and Brian Purcha both singled twice for the Blazers.

Everard (W) and Gullett
R. Lynd  (L) and Lowes

(June 15)  The homestanding Binscarth Orioles dropped the Souris Cardinals 11 to 6 in the opening portion of a three-team doubleheader. Winning flinger Garth Neville allowed nine hits and struck out ten Cardinals in eight innings of mound toil. Import Scott Parr of Souris gave up only five hits but doled out eight bases-on-balls during the five frames he toed the rubber. Glen Hodgson and Bruce Bremer both registered a double and single for the Orioles, an output equalled by the Cards’ Doug Armour. Greg Cameron, Ray Bruels and Dwayne Kirkup each stroked a brace of singles for Souris.

Parr (L), Kerslake (7) and Leslie
Neville (W), Kutzan (7) and Lang

(June 15)  Binscarth and Riverside, both playing their second game of the day, locked horns on the Orioles’ home turf with the Birds coming out on top 5 to 2 for a sweep of their three-team double-dip. The defeat for the Canucks evened their daily record at a win and a loss. Glen Hodgson’s two-run four-bagger in the seventh spasm off losing pitcher Rob Medoff broke a 1 – 1 tie and put the Birds in front to stay. Hodgson added two singles to his circuit-jack while Bruce Bremer won his third game without a defeat for the Orioles, stifling the Riversiders on just four hits. Bremer helped his cause by nailing a double and a single as part of the nine-hit Binscarth attack.

Medoff (L) and Campbell
Bremer (W) and Lang

(June 15)  Newcomer Gerry Falk pitched a three-hitter and struck out 14 Neepawa batters as the Dauphin Redbirds won their fifth straight with a 9 to 2 conquest of the hometown Cubs. The Redbirds made things easier for Falk to annex his initial pitching decision by hammering out three home runs. Falk himself started the power surge off with a two-run dinger in the second panel. Catcher Dave Manthorn followed by delivering a two-run shot in the third while Dave Rottman went yard with a three-run tater in the eighth. Manthorn added a brace of singles to go along with his circuit-blast while Sig Sigurdson also drilled a pair of one-base hits. Neepawa’s Dennis Buhlin lost for the second time in as many decisions in a route-going performance. He was raked for a dozen safe swats while racking up ten punchouts. Ron McGorman had two of the three Cub safeties, both singles.

Falk (W) and Manthorn
Buhlin (L) and Buchanan

(June 17)  Playing-manager Rick Hlady hardly worked up a sweat at Kinsmen Stadium as the Brandon Cloverleafs blanked the visiting Neepawa Cubs 5 to 0. Playing-skipper pitcher Hlady threw just 80 pitches while giving up five scattered singles in posting the shutout mound win. Loser Ron McGorman pitched the first 5-2/3 frames for the Cubs before being lifted in the sixth stanza with his team trailing 4 – 0. Mel Harvey lashed out three singles for the Cloverleafs, driving in two runs. Rick McFadyen also notched a pair of RBI’s with a double and a bases-loaded walk. Bill Chapple added a triple and a single the Brandon’s seven-hit attack. Brian Reid picked up two of Neepawa’s five singles.  

McKinnon (L), R. McGorman (6) and Buchanan
Hlady (W) and McFadyen

(June 17)  The Riverside bats were booming at Virden where the invading Canucks banged out a season-high 21 hits in a 13 to 6 thumping of the Oilers. Import Kevin Mickelson of Virden was the early victim of the Riverside barrage, getting the hook after 4-1/3 frames in which he allowed ten hits. Canuck reliever Ron Seafoot, who took over from rookie Cam Mealy with two gone in the third, annexed his second win of the season. He helped himself with the lumber along the way, cranking out two doubles and a one-bagger. Craig Bell and Cliff Seafoot had productive nights with the bat for the Riversiders, belting out four hits each. One of Bell’s blows was his third homer of the season, a two-run shot in the seventh. Seafoot had a double to do along with three singles. Grant Everard and Bruce Gullett added a brace of one-base hits each to the onslaught. The Oilers stung the sphere for a dozen safeties in the offensively-charged affair and were paced in the batter’s box by hard-hitting Boyd Henuset who cracked out a triad of safe swats, including a three-bagger. Import Dave Ehrhardt followed with two singles.

Mealy, R. Seafoot (W) (3) and Gullett, Campbell (8)
Mickelson (L), Thompson (5), Bridgett (7) and Fordyce

(June 17)  The McAuley Blazers rode the two-hit pitching of Jon Langston to a 6 to 2 victory over the hometown Angusville Cardinals. Import Tim Matz, with two singles, was the only Angusville batter to connect for a safety off Langston. He collected two singles while the rest of the Cardinals, collectively hitting 40 points below the Mendoza Line, were helpless against Langston. Losing chucker Pat McGehee was touched for seven safeties, the most crucial of which was a seventh-inning, two-run single by Langston that broke a 2 – 2 tie. Barry Jamieson belted a triple and single for McAuley with Langston adding a brace of one-baggers.

Langston (W) and Lowes
McGehee (L) and Chipelski

(June 18)  The bubble burst for the Dauphin Redbirds who were handed a 5 to 3 setback by the visiting Grandview Lakers. Import pitchers Jim Deaver and Steve Archambault combined to hold the hosting Redbirds to seven hits and hand them their first defeat of the MSBL season. Dauphin starting heaver Dave Rottman was nailed for the loss. The Redbirds played poorly behind him, committing four errors including back-to-back miscues in the fifth inning when the Lakers scored the winning and insurance runs. Deryl Ortynski, Deaver and Dwayne Lawless paced the Grandview Gang offensively with a double and single each. Winning tosser Archambault added a pair of singles. Leadoff hitter Ken Buchy had three safeties for Dauphin, including a double. Catcher Dave Manthorn added a three-bagger and single. 

Deaver, Archambault (W) (4) and Lawless
Rottman (L), Falk (6) and Manthorn

STANDINGS

NORTH DIVISION                   W        L        Pct.      GBL
Dauphin Redbirds                 5        1       .833      ----
Binscarth Orioles                5        2       .714      0.5
McAuley Blazers                  5        4       .556      1.5
Grandview Lakers                 3        3       .500      2.0                
Angusville Cardinals             2        4       .333      3.0
Neepawa Cubs                     2        6       .250      4.0   

SOUTH DIVISION                   W        L        Pct.     GBL
Riverside Canucks                6        2       .750      ----
Brandon Cloverleafs              3        3       .500      2.0           
Hamiota Red Sox                  3        3       .500      2.0
Souris Cardinals                 3        5       .375      3.0
Virden Oilers                    2        6       .250      4.0

(June 20)  Grant Everard, the winningest pitcher in the MSBL, struck out 11 Souris batters and poked a pair of base hits as the hometown Riverside Canucks dumped the Cardinals 8 to 2. It was the fifth mound victory for Everard and the seventh of the campaign for the Riversiders who took control of the game by scoring four runs in the sixth spasm. Craig Bell continued his hot hitting, belting a double and single to drive in three runs. Everard, Cliff Seafoot, Morley Hartel and Bob Williamson all had two singles to help in the Canucks’ 13-hit attack. Souris rookie chucker Ken Vertz was snake bitten once again, losing his fourth game of the season in a route-going effort. No batter from the losing Cardinals lineup managed more than one hit.  

Vertz (L) and Leslie
Everard (W) and Gullett, Campbell (9)

(June 20)  Despite being touched for 12 hits, Bruce Bremer punched out ten Dauphin batters and won his fourth consecutive game as the hometown Binscarth Orioles moved into first place in the North Division with a 7 to 4 conquest visiting Redbirds. Catcher Chuck Lang slammed a solo home run for the Orioles while teammate Dale Gies came out of a recent batting slump by doubling twice. Delivering two singles each for the winners were Herb Andres, Reg Parton and Bremer. Losing chucker Jerry Araujo stroked three singles for the Dauphinites but the Redbirds’ top swatsmith in the tilt was Dave Rottman who blasted a two-run homer to go along with a double and single. Catcher Dave Manthorn continued to hit well for the vanquished nine, nailing a double and two one-base hits.

Araujo (L) and Manthorn
Bremer (W) and Lang

(June 20)  The hosting Brandon Cloverleafs scored five times in the seventh inning to break a 3 – 3 tie and go on to a 9 to 5 victory over the Hamiota Red Sox. Three consecutive doubles in the fateful seventh chased losing tosser Ron Ramsey from the bump. Rick McFadyen, in relief of starter Dale Harvey, earned his first pitching verdict of the year and picked up two singles and a double as well. Clubmates Bob Thompson and Dennis Wiebe both doubled twice. The youthful Hamiota nine were led at the plate by versatile Ellis Woods who slammed two triples and two singles, Ramsey contributed a brace of one-baggers.

Ramsey (L), Labossiere (7) and Young
D. Harvey, McFadyen (W) (5) and McFadyen, M. Harvey (5)

(June 20)  Catcher Dale Lowes had four hits, including a double, as the McAuley Blazers had little trouble in sidelining the visiting Neepawa Cubs 7 to 1. Import Dan Kaupla pitched a steady six-hitter for the winners, ringing up 11 punchouts while walking just two. Besides Lowes’ fine evening at the dish, Wayne Poole singled and doubled for the Blazers while Brian Lindsay checked in with a couple of singles. Ron McKinnon went all the way on the hill for the Cubs in absorbing the loss. Neepawa’s top hitter was Ron McGorman who singled twice.

McKinnon (L) and Wallin
Kaupla (W) and Lowes

(June 21)  The Angusville Cardinals began a two-game weekend set by falling 4 to 1 to the hosting Binscarth Orioles on Saturday evening. Losing pitcher Pat McGehee allowed just five hits, all singles but walked ten Binscarth batters. Bill Derlago singled with the bases loaded in the third inning to score two runs and that was all winning pitcher Garth Neville needed. Neville gave up seven hits and walked five while registering six strikeouts. Reg Parton picked up two singles for the Orioles. Tim Matz and Marion Kotelniski each doubled and singled for Angusville.
  
McGehee (L) and Wowk
Neville (W) and Lang

(June 22)  Things went no better for the Angusville Cardinals on Sunday afternoon as the visiting Brandon Cloverleafs scored four runs in the eighth inning to cop a 5 to 2 come-from-behind victory over the Cards. As during the evening previous, the Cards outhit the opposition but couldn’t come up with a timely blow. Rick McFadyen’s two-run single was the most impactful blow of that eighth-episode uprising for the Brandonites. Lefthander Brian Hodgson gave up seven hits, walked four and fanned six in earning the win. Tim Matz, nicked for five base raps, suffered the loss. Bob Thompson hit a double and single for the Wheat City nine while catcher Lorne Chipelski singled twice for the Cardinals.

Hodgson (W) and M. Harvey
Matz (L) and Chipelski

(June 22)   Two runs in the bottom-of-the-eighth inning gave the Dauphin Redbirds a 6 to 5 victory over the Hamiota Red Sox in the first half of a three-team doubleheader hosted by the Birds. The Virden Oilers moved to the dugout vacated by the vanquished Red Sox for the late portion of the twin-bill and fared even worse than the Hamiotans, falling 7 to 1 to the Dauphinites as winning pitcher Dave Rottman subdued them on just one hit. 
    
In the lid-lifter, Gerry Falk won his second game of the season for the Redbirds, whiffing 12 while walking five Red Sox batters. Veteran Glennis Scott went the distance for Hamiota in taking the setback. He was touched for eight Redbird safeties while walking seven and whiffing four. Dauphin catcher Dave Manthorn continued his devastation of MSBL pitching as he stroked three singles, boosting his average to an impressive .531 mark. Clubmate Jerry Araujo hammered a third-inning dinger while Ken Buchy delivered two singles. Mike Labossiere led the Sox offensively with an opening-inning, three-run homer.

Scott (L) and Young
Falk (W) and Manthorn

Rottman, now 3 – 1, struck out 13 and walked three in the late encounter against the lowly Oilers. The lone hit he surrendered was an eighth-inning single by catcher Blair Fordyce. Dauphin scored all the runs they needed when John Morrison launched a three-run circuit-clout in the opening canto. Dave Ehrhardt, the starter and loser, and Larry Thompson shared the pitching chores for Virden, giving up 11 base raps to the hosts. Third baseman Ken Buchy stroked three singles for the Redbirds. Sig Sigurdson doubled and singled while Jerry Araujo singled twice. 

Ehrhardt (L), Thompson (4) and Fordyce
Rottman (W) and Manthorn

(June 22)  Jon Langston fashioned a six-hit shutout as the invading McAuley Blazers defeated the South Division-leading Riverside Canucks 6 to 0. Langston whiffed 11 and walked just three in taming the heavy-hitting Canucks. Rob Medoff, who had the starting assignment for the Canucks, was tagged with the pitching defeat. Import Dan Kaupla, playing second base in this contest, had a double and single to pace the seven-hit McAuley offense. Teammate Brian Lindsay picked up two singles and a brace of RBI’s. Bob Williamson was best with the lumber for the Riversiders, connecting for two doubles and a one-bagger. 

Langston (W) and Lowes
Medoff (L), Beare (5) and Gullett

(June 24)  Diminutive portsider Dennis Anderson fired a sparkling no-hitter to lead the Hamiota Red Sox to a 5 to 0 victory over the Grandview Lakers. Anderson struck out five and walked an equal number in recording the nine-inning gem. Import Jim Deaver, nicked for six of the seven Red Sox safeties, suffered the loss. Anderson’s batterymate, catcher Bob Young, helped out offensively with a double and single while Doug McPhail singled twice.

Deaver (L), Kalechyn (8) and Lawless
Anderson (W) and Young

(June 24)  The Brandon Cloverleafs, powered by a three-run homer off the bat of Bob Wilson and a solo dinger by Mel Harvey, defeated the host Virden Oilers 5 to 2. Leafs’ playing-manager Rick Hlady went the route on the hillock for the win, his third in four verdicts, allowing just five hits while punching out 13 and walking a pair. Virden’s Kevin Mickelson, the first of three Oiler flingers, was slapped with his fourth consecutive defeat. Wilson had a single to go along with his tater. Boyd Henuset continued to display steady offensive punch for the lowly Oilers, drilling a brace of one-baggers.

Hlady (W) and McFadyen
Mickelson (L), Ehrhardt (8), Thompson (9) and Fordyce

(June 24)  The Angusville Cardinals won their third game of the season as they upset the North Division-leading Dauphin Redbirds 5 to 4. It was a classic come-from-behind victory for the Cards, Heading into the eighth episode, they had been hamstrung by losing pitcher Jerry Araujo who had faced just 24 batters, three over the minimum. In the eighth, however, Araujo issued a leadoff walk to Clinton Pushka and the inspired Cardinals responded with four consecutive hits, three singles and a two-run double by winning heaver Pat McGehee, for four big counters to erase a 4 to 1 deficit. McGehee entered the game in the fourth inning as a reliever and allowed three safeties while fanning six in holding the Redbirds scoreless. Bob Mazur had three singles for Angusville in their winning effort. Araujo laced a double and single in a losing cause while Dave Rottman singled twice. 

B. Chuchmuch, McGehee (W) (4) and Chipelski
Araujo (L) and Rideout

(June 25)  Dale Harvey allowed one run in the first inning and then shut the door on hosting Souris as the Brandon Cloverleafs defeated the Cardinals 3 to 1 in MSBL action. Bob Thompson’s bases-empty four-bagger in the fifth frame put the Leafs in front 2 to 1, a lead they never relinquished in the hard-fought affair. Harvey was sharp in picking up his first win of the campaign. In going the distance, he allowed eight hits, fanned eight and walked three. Souris’ Ray Bruels, meanwhile, was stung with his first loss of the season after reeling off three consecutive victories. He surrendered ten hits and struck out six. For the Leafs, Thompson added two singles to go along with his circuit-jack. Teammates Bob Wilson and Dennis Wiebe each singled twice. Designated hitter Bill Carpenter led the Cardinals with a triple and single while Stan Furman checked in with a brace of one-base knocks.

D. Harvey (W) and McFadyen
Bruels (L) and Leslie

(June 25)  Jerry Falk of the Dauphin Redbirds kept his unbeaten pitching string going with his third win as the Redbirds collected 14 hits and defeated the McAuley Blazers 11 to 5. Falk, now 3 – 0, whiffed nine and issued five walks in pitching the entire game. Dave Rottman paced the Redbirds with the baton as he stroked three singles off losing pitcher Ross Lynd. Sidekicks John Morrison and Jerry Shumanski each delivered a double and single while Jerry Araujo and Sig Sigurdson had two safeties each. Barry Jamieson and Dan Kaupla accounted for two of McAuley’s five runs with solo round-trippers.

Falk (W) and Rideout
R. Lynd (L), Jamieson (9) and Lowes

(June 25)  The Hamiota Red Sox evened their won-loss record at 5 – 5 as they scored six times in the seventh inning and beat the Neepawa Cubs 9 to 4. Mike Labossiere’s bases-loaded triple highlighted the seventh-stanza uprising. Ron Ramsey picked up his first pitching win after suffering three setbacks. He allowed 11 hits but was only in trouble in the third panel when the Cubs got to him for a couple of tallies. Mel Smith belted a solo homer to go along with a one-bagger for the homestanding Sox. Ramsey and Bob Young added two singles each. Pat Angers suffered the hillock defeat but paced the Neepawa offensive attack with two singles and a two-bagger. Brian Reid and Neil Martin each singled twice.

Angers (L), R. McGorman (8) and N. Martin
Ramsey (W) and Young

(June 26)  One of the MSBL’s premier slab artists a few seasons back, Riverside Canucks’ Mark Fisher, made an infrequent mound appearance at Kinsmen Stadium and pitched the Riversiders to an 8 to 2 triumph over the rival Brandon Cloverleafs, a win which left the visitors alone in sole possession of top spot in the South Division. A first baseman, for the most part, because of a lingering back injury, Fisher scattered six hits and struck out four with an assortment of curves and change-ups. Always a dangerous hitter, Fisher stroked two singles despite the back ailment which at times still affects his swing. Eight bases-on-balls by a trio of Brandon chuckers, including four in the sixth spasm when the Canucks tallied a five-spot, proved to be the Leafs’ undoing. Losing pitcher Brian Hodgson, now 2 – 2, was given the hook in the disastrous sixth. The Riverside middle infield, composed of keystone sacker Bob Williamson and shortpatcher Morley Hartel, played a flawless game, combining for eight putouts and six assists. Craig Bell doubled and singled for the winners while Fisher and Ed Beare came through with a pair of one-base hits each. Bob Thompson led the Wheat City nine at the platter, crushing a booming triple and two singles. 
  
Fisher (W) and Gullett
Hodgson (L), McFadyen (6), Klym (8) and McFadyen, Hlady (6), McFadyen (8)

(June 26)  The Angusville Cardinals scored three times in the seventh and added another trey in the ninth to dispose of the hosting Grandview Lakers 6 to 1. Winning pitcher Steve Matz not only struck out ten Lakers while allowing just three hits but, with the Cards trailing 1 to 0, led off the seventh inning with a double and scored the game’s tying run. Import Steve Archambault suffered the mound defeat for Grandview. He allowed eight hits and struck out ten batters. Angusville’s Bob Mazur, with two singles, was the only player to have a multi-hit game.

Matz (W) and Chipelski
Archambault (L), Deaver (9) and Lawless, Kalechyn (2)

(June 27)  The lowly Virden Oilers seem to have a hex over the Binscarth Orioles. For the second time in two meetings this season, the Oilmen came out on top in a close encounter, this time emerging with a 4 to 2 triumph. Import Dave Ehrhardt was the hero in this game as he hammered a three-run homer in the seventh inning to seal the deal for Virden. The American pitcher was also near flawless on the mound, striking out 12 while giving up no walks. Binscarth errors also helped the winners in the contest in which both teams registered five hits. Garth Neville of the Orioles was impressive in taking the loss. He fanned nine and issued two free passes. Terry Good singled twice for the victors while Bruce Bremer had three singles and two stolen bases for the Birds. 

Neville (L) and Lang
Ehrhardt (W) and Fordyce

(June 27)  Souris batters were unable to solve import pitcher Dan Kaupla of the invading McAuley Blazers as he struck out ten and effectively scattered eight hits in a game in which the visitors prevailed 8 to 1 over the Cardinals. Souris starting heaver Scott Parr lasted just 3-2/3 innings on the bump and was nailed with the setback. Terry Lynd, Dale Lowes, Wayne Poole and Brian Lindsay paced the ten-hit McAuley attack with two singles each. For Souris, Greg Cameron responded with a brace of one-baggers.

Kaupla (W) and Lowes
Parr (L), Vertz (4) and Leslie, Ramsey (9)

(June 27)  Stan Sawatsky lashed a two-out single in the bottom-of-the-ninth inning to drive in teammate Neil Martin with the walkoff winner as the hometown Neepawa Cubs upset the South Division-leading Riverside Canucks 6 to 5. Trailing for almost the entirety of the game, the Cubs kept pecking away at the deficit and finally drew even with a single tally in the eighth. Ron McGorman, with relief help from Pat Angers, notched the pitching win in the free-hitting tilt in which Neepawa had a 12 to 11 edge in base raps. Riverside’s Grant Everard was nicked with his first loss of the year. Brian Reid paced the Cubs’ attack with a solo home run and a single. Angers stroked three singles while Lawson Davies delivered a brace of one-baggers. Hard-hitting Mark Fisher blasted a two-run dinger and a single for the Canucks while clubmate Bob Williamson singled twice and doubled. Morley Hartel followed with a triad of one-base hits. 

Everard (L), R. Seafoot (9) and Campbell, Gullett (7)
R. McGorman (W) and Hemstad

(June 28)  Dennis Anderson, the little Hamiota left-hander, just keeps rolling along. Anderson won his fifth hurling verdict in six decisions as the Red Sox thumped the visiting Binscarth Orioles 14 to 2 in MSBL action. The final result was somewhat deceptive as both clubs clipped the horsehide for a dozen safeties. Bruce Bremer, lifted in the fourth inning, suffered his first loss of the campaign. Mike Labossiere led the Hamiota hitters with three singles. Bob Caldwell drilled a double and one-bagger while catcher Bob Young picked up a brace of one-base hits. Ron Low topped the Binscarth batting brigade with three singles. Ron Falloon and Bremer added a couple of singles each.

Bremer (L), Derlago (4), Lang (5), Hollender (8) and Lang, Derlago (5)
Anderson (W) and Young

(June 29)  The Grandview Lakers withstood a five-run rally in the ninth inning by the hosting Virden Oilers to emerge with a 7 to 6 win. Jim Deaver, who took over pitching chores from starter Tony Kalechyn in the fifth frame, got credit for the win. Import Steve Archambault, in bailing out Deaver during the last-gasp outburst by the Oilmen in the final canto, recorded a save. Larry Thompson, the first of three Virden tossers, absorbed the loss. John Hindle paced the Grandview team at the plate with a pair of singles and a double. Deryl Ortynski added a double and single. Rick Bohonis stroked a couple of one-baggers for the losing Oilers.

Kalechyn, Deaver (W) (5), Archambault (9) and G. Ortynski
Thompson (L), Bridgett (3), Mickelson (7) and Fordyce

(July 1)  Birtle annual MSBL Canada Day baseball tournament

(July 6)  The invading Virden Oilers were mauled 15 to 3 by the Grandview Lakers. A nine-run third inning for the Lakers pretty well decided the outcome. Jim Deaver went the distance on the knoll for Grandview and, except for the odd lapse with his control, was never in any trouble. He allowed seven hits, issued seven free passes and fanned ten Oilers over the route. The Virdenites used three chuckers. Between them, they walked nine and had six strikeouts. Deryl Ortynski, Tony Kalechyn, John Hendle, Don Luhowy and Dick Friesen had two hits apiece for the victors. Shortstop Rick Bohonis was the offensive sparkplug for the Oilers, drilling two doubles and a single.

Mickelson (L), Thompson (3), Bridgett (3) and Fordyce
Deaver (W) and xxx

(July 7)   The visiting Souris Cardinals scored five times in the ninth inning but it was not enough as they dropped an 8 to 7 decision to the MSBL’s other Cardinals, from Angusville. Tim Matz, now 2 – 2, picked up the pitching win for Angusville but needed relief help from Pat McGehee in the ninth. Matz struck out 14 and allowed all 11 Souris hits. Ken Vertz suffered the loss, his fifth straight. He was combed for 12 hits while walking two and fanning eight. Bill and Jim Flyn/Flynn topped the Angusville offensive attack. Bill had three singles and two RBI’s while Jim had a double and single. McGehee and Henry Hrubeniuk each singled twice for the winners. Doug Armour stroked two singles for Souris while catcher Wayne Ramsey and Stan Furman knocked out two one-base hits apiece. 

Vertz (L) and Ramsey
Matz (W), McGehee (9) and Chipelski, Wowk (6)

(July 8-13)  Canadian Senior Baseball championships   

(July 13)  The expansion Angusville Cardinals made the 1975 MSBL debut of vacationing mercenary Ross Stone a miserable one, pounding the Saskatchewan pitcher for ten hits and eight runs en route to a 9 to 2 thrashing of the visiting Dauphin Redbirds. The Redbirds suffered a second loss when hard-hitting catcher Dave Manthorn, leading the MSBL in batting, injured his knee sliding into third base and will be lost to the club for an unknown period of time. The Cards wasted little time in getting to Stone, scoring twice in the opening canto and once more in each of the second and fourth frames. The big inning, though. was the seventh, when they scored five times, four off Stone and one against reliever Jerry Araujo, who finished the game. Pat McGehee went the distance for Angusville, scattering four hits. Import Tim Matz led the Cardinal hitters with three singles while McGehee added two.

Stone (L), Araujo (7) and Manthorn, Rideout (5)
McGehee (W) and Wowk. 

(July 13)  Pat Angers fashioned a five-hitter in pitching the Neepawa Cubs to a 9 to 0 whitewashing of the visiting Hamiota Red Sox. The Cubs lit into losing heaver Mike Labossiere for nine of their ten hits and all nine runs during his eight panels of mound work. Brent Montague pitched the final inning for Hamiota. A five-run eighth inning by the victors broke the game open. Lawson Davies doubled and singled for Neepawa while Ron McGorman singled twice. 

Labossiere (L), Montague (8) and Young
Angers (W) and Buchanan

(July 13)  The travelling Grandview Lakers lost a pair of MSBL games to South Division clubs, 5 to 3 to the Riverside Canucks and 7 to 3 to the Souris Cardinals, in a Sunday split-venue two-game sojourn.
    
In their afternoon tilt at Riverside, the Lakers made a late burst by coming alive for three runs over the final two innings but their rally fell short. Winning tosser Ed Beare, touched for five safeties, outduelled Grandview’s Jim Deaver, who gave up eight hits. Danny Cassils paced Riverside with the bat, cuffing a pair of singles while Beare had a double and two RBI’s. The Ortynski boys, Deryl and Glen, had four of the Lakers’ five safeties with two singles each 

Deaver (L) and G. Ortynski
Beare (W) and Gullett

Deaver was the surprise starter in the nightcap at Souris since he had just finished hurling eight innings at Riverside. After going five frames against the hosting Cards, he left with a 3 to 1 lead. Unfortunately for the Grandview Gang, his two successors didn’t fare as well as the Souris squad came on late to snatch the victory. Designated hitter Bill Carpenter drove in two of the three seventh-inning Souris runs that hung the defeat on Grandview’s Tony Kalechyn. Winning flinger Ray Bruels annexed the twirling verdict with a route-going six-hitter. Greg Cameron had a double and single for the Cards while Bob Leslie added a pair of singles. Glen Ortynski had a brace of one-baggers to lead the Lakers. 

Deaver, Kalechyn (L) (5), Luhowy (7) and G. Ortynski
Bruels (W) and Leslie

(July 14)  The McAuley Blazers scored 13 runs in the first three innings, four of those tallies coming on a grand-slam home run by Brian Purcha, and humbled the host Binscarth Orioles 14 to 4. Purcha belted his tater à la grand-salami in the third stanza and added a pair of singles as Jon Langston, now 3 – 1, picked up the mound victory. Langston went the distance, giving up eight hits and striking out six. Losing chucker Bryan McCauley was shelled from the bump after just 2-2/3 innings as the pitching-short Orioles went to Ron Low, an infielder, to finish the game. Barry Jamieson had two singles and a double for the Blazers in leading their 14-hit attack. Terry Lynd launched a two-run dinger while Wayne Poole lined three singles and Brian Lindsay a pair, with three RBI’s.  For the Orioles, Chuck Lang had a solo dinger, Bill Derlago stroked three singles and Herb Andres delivered a brace of one-baggers.

Langston (W) and Lowes
McCauley (L), Low (3) and Lang

(July 15)  Portsider Brian Hodgson had an easy evening in winning his third game of the campaign as his Brandon Cloverleaf teammates rang up 14 base hits and ran roughshod over the visiting Virden Oilers 20 to 1. The thrashing began in the second spasm when the Wheat City squad put up 11 runs on the scoreboard against the inept Oilers. Hodgson breezed to the victory, doling out just six singles. No slouch at the plate, either, the veteran lefthander banged out two singles and a triple, driving in four runs. Besides Hodgson’s heroics, Rick McFadyen doubled twice, Roy McLachlan had a double and one-bagger and Rick Hlady picked up a couple of singles. Virden’s Kevin Mickelson, bounced from the knoll in the second inning was nicked with his sixth loss of the season. Bob Senff had two of the six hits yielded by Hodgson, both singles.

Mickelson (L), Thompson (2), Bridgett (8) and Fordyce
Hodgson (W) and Hlady, M. Harvey (9)

(July 15)  With their import pitchers leading the way, the Angusville Cardinals kept on winning, unloading 18 hits to defeat the Neepawa Cubs 11 to 6. Californians Tim Matz and Pat McGehee combined to allow 11 Neepawa hits and two walks as starter Matz chalked up the win. Ron McGorman suffered the loss, surrendering nine runs and 14 hits in 5-1/3 innings. Bob Chuchmuch belted a bases-empty four-bagger and a single for the victors while teammates Barry Wowk and Bill Flyn/Flynn added a double and two singles each. Bob Mazur stroked three one-base hits and Matz, McGehee and Curnie Chuchmuch each delivered a pair.  Norm Hemstad had a three-run homer and a double for the Cubs. Pat Angers also homered, a solo dinger, while Brian Reid and Rob Smith added three and two singles respectively. 

Matz (W), McGehee (8) and Wowk
R. McGorman (L), Angers (6) and Hemstad

(July 15)  The Binscarth Orioles scored twice in the top-of-the-ninth inning to edge the hometown Grandview Lakers 6 to 5. Bill Derlago drove in the tying marker with a single and later plated the deciding run on Chuck Lang’s double. Making an infrequent mound appearance, Marv Hollender  pitched the first eight episodes for the Birds and was credited with the win. Bruce Bremer got the save with a two-strikeout ninth-inning. Despite ringing up 11 punchouts, import Steve Archambault faded in the ninth and was nicked with the loss. Glen Hodgson, Lang and Roy Reagh had a double and single each for the O’s. Tony Kalechyn, with two singles, was the only Grandview batter to hit safely more than once.

Hollender (W), Bremer (9) and Lang
Archambault (L), Deaver (9) and G. Ortynski

(July 16)  The Hamiota Red Sox ran their win streak to five with an 8 to 6 win over the Souris Cardinals in a hard-fought MSBL tussle. Portsider Dennis Anderson picked up his sixth win of the season against one loss, yielding ten hits and two walks while fanning five. Starting heaver Scott Parr of the Cards was tagged with the loss, exiting after allowing seven Hamiota runs in just 1-1/3 innings. Ken Vertz went the remainder of the game on the knoll for the Souris squad and did a stellar job. Ron Ramsey’s three-run circuit-jack in the second spasm put the Red Sox in front 7 to 1 and provided his team with all the runs they would need. Mike Labossiere and Bob Caldwell each singled twice for the winning Sox. Greg Cameron continued his power hitting for the Cards as he hammered a two-run dinger to go along with a single. Teammates Stan Furman and Wayne Ramsey both delivered a double and single while Doug Armour singled twice.  

Parr (L), Vertz (2) and Leslie
D. Anderson (W) and Young

(July 16)  The McAuley Blazers put an abrupt halt to the four-game win streak of the Angusville Cardinals, scoring eight runs in the opening canto en route to a 15 to 5 lambasting of the Cards. Playing at their second home in Moosomin SK, the Blazers rocked three Angusville twirlers, in particular starter and loser Bob Chuchmuch, for 18 hits in registering the blowout. Chuchmuch failed to retire even one McAuley batter before getting the hook. Ross Lynd went the distance for the Blazers in picking up the victory. He allowed 12 hits and struck out six. Barry Jamieson and Dan Kaupla had a banner evening at the dish for the Blazers. Jamieson belted a bases-empty tater and three singles while Kaupla nailed a grand-slam homer as well as a double and single. Terry Lynd followed with two singles and a double and Ross Lynd drilled a pair of two-baggers. Wayne Poole stroked three singles, one more than teammate Dale Lowes. Curnie Chuchmuch and Brian Fedyk led the Angusville swatsmiths, each contributing a double and single.

B. Chuchmuch (L), McGehee (1), Fedyk (4) and Wowk
R. Lynd (W) and Lowes

(July 16)  In a battle of Division leaders, the invading Dauphin Redbirds conquered the Riverside Canucks 7 to 4. Dave Rottman, in relief of Dauphin starting heaver Jerry Araujo who got the heave-ho from the umpire in the fifth frame, was credited with the pitching win. Ron Seafoot, the first of three Riverside chuckers, was tagged with the loss. Veteran Ross Stone had a two-run round-tripper for the victorious North Division-leaders while Gerry Falk, Dale Rideout and Ken Buchy each doubled and singled. Araujo added a brace of one-baggers before his early departure. Dan Cassils and Bruce Gullett both stroked two singles for the Canucks. 

Araujo, Rottman (W) (5) and Rideout
R. Seafoot (L), Mealy (4). McNish (5) and Gullett, C. Seafoot (7)

(July 17)  In a battle of Division tail-enders, the Virden Oilers pulled off a rare victory, stopping the fumble-fingered Neepawa Cubs 7 to 2. Both teams registered seven base hits but, while the hosting Oilers played flawlessly afield, the Cubs committed four errors, two of them coming in Virden’s six-run fourth frame. Winning heaver Dave Ehrhardt and losing chucker Dennis Buhlin, each with seven punchouts, both went the route. Ted Bridgett’s two-run circuit-clout and a two-run double off the bat of Terry Good, did most of the damage during the six-run spurt made by the Oilmen in the sixth. Good added a single to with his two-bagger. Norm Hemstad led the Neepawa batters with a double and a single.

Buhlin (L) and Buchanan
Ehrhardt (W) and Fordyce

(July 17)  Import Dan Kaupla tossed a two-hit shutout as the invading McAuley Blazers blanked the Grandview Lakers 2 to 0. Demonstrating pinpoint control, Kaupla never walked a batter while whiffing six in a route-going effort that netted him his sixth win of the campaign. Losing flinger Jim Deaver toiled the first six innings for the Lakers, allowing all nine McAuley hits and both runs. Barry Jamieson picked up a double and single for the winners while clubmate Wayne Poole had two singles.

Kaupla (W) and Lowes
Deaver (L), Archambault (7) and G. Ortynski

(July 17)  Held to just four safeties, the Dauphin Redbirds still managed to ride the effective pitching of lefthander Ross Stone to victory in recording a 3 to 0 blanking of the homestanding Hamiota Red Sox. Stone fanned eight and effectively scattered eight hits to preserve the shutout win. Hard-luck losing chucker Ron Ramsey was nicked for two of the four hits he surrendered by Jerry Araujo, both singles, the last of which drove in a pair of Redbird counters in the eighth episode to break the back of the Scarlet Stockings. Doug McPhail had three singles for the Sox, one more than Bob Caldwell.  
  
Stone (W) and Rideout
Ramsey (L) and Young

STANDINGS

NORTH DIVISION                   W        L        Pct.      GBL
Dauphin Redbirds                10        4       .714      ----
McAuley Blazers                 11        5       .688      ----
Binscarth Orioles                8        5       .615      1.5
Angusville Cardinals             7        7       .500      3.0
Grandview Lakers                 5        9       .357      5.0                
Neepawa Cubs                     4       10       .286      6.0   

SOUTH DIVISION                   W        L        Pct.      GBL
Brandon Cloverleafs              8        4       .667       ----
Riverside Canucks                9        5       .643       ----
Hamiota Red Sox                  7        7       .500       2.0
Souris Cardinals                 6       10       .375       4.0
Virden Oilers                    4       11       .267       5.5

(July 18)  With the help of a short right-field porch at the Binscarth ball yard and a favorable wind for left-handed hitters, four balls sailed over the fence for round-trippers as the hometown Orioles shaded the Brandon Cloverleafs 8 to 7. Herb Andres’ second tater of the game in the eighth episode proved to be the winning run for the Birds and allowed reliever Garth Neville to pick up the pitching victory. Binscarth starting heaver Bob Kutzan allowed all ten Brandon hits before departing in the top-of-the-eighth. Dale Harvey went all the way on the hill for the Leafs in suffering the defeat. He was raked for 11 hits and five walks. Andres’ first dinger, a two-run shot, came in the opening panel. Chuck Lang doubled and singled for the winners while Reg Parton stroked three one-baggers. Two left-handed swingers went yard for the visiting Cloverleafs. Brian Hodgson dialed long distance with a two-run circuit-clout and added a single while Bob Thompson belted a bases-empty goner. Other hitters of note for the losing Wheat City nine were skipper Rick Hlady who had a double and two singles as well as Dennis Wiebe who poked a two-bagger and a one-base rap.  

D. Harvey (L) and Hlady
Kutzan, Neville (W) (8) and Lang

(July 18)  Brent Montague got his first starting mound assignment of the year and, despite issuing 11 bases-on-balls, still managed to pitch the Hamiota Red Sox to a 6 to 2 win over the visiting Virden Oilers. In winning his first decision on the strength of a four-hitter and seven Virden errors, Montague left after seven stanzas as Mike Labossiere took over and didn’t allow a hit during the final two frames. Winless Kevin Mickelson dropped his seventh straight hurling decision, allowing eight hits and eight walks. Labossiere and Bob Caldwell were Hamiota’s most productive swatsmiths, each with a double and single. Ron Ramsey singled twice. The four Oiler hits were all singles and were garnered by four different batters.

Mickelson (L) and Fordyce
Montague (W), Labossiere (8) and Young

(July 20)  Playing back-to-back games on the road at two different locales proved no barrier for the travelling Binscarth Orioles. With import lefthander Bruce Bremer toeing the rubber, the O’s blanked the hosting Angusville Cardinals 6 to 0 to start the day. Following the post-game jaunt to Neepawa, Garth Neville tossed a rain-shortened, six-inning no-hitter as the Birds shutout the Cubs 4 to 0. The double win for Binscarth moved them to within a half-game of the North Division co-leading Dauphin Redbirds and McAuley Blazers.

Bremer, in upping his pitching record to 5 – 1, stymied the Cardinal batters on three hits and no free passes while recording ten punchouts in the opening road game. Angusville’s Pat McGehee yielded a dozen Binscarth base raps and was ragged with the loss in going the route. His mates made things more difficult for him by committing five errors. Bill Derlago had a good game at the plate for the Orioles, cuffing the horsehide for a double and two singles. Reg Parton contributed three singles while Herb Andres added a double and single. Garth Jackman came through with a couple of one-baggers. Bill Flyn/Flynn was the only Cardinal to get more than one safety, banging out two singles. 

Bremer (W) and Parton
McGehee (L) and Wowk

Heavy rains poured down on the Neepawa diamond after six innings of the second game, slightly tainting Neville’s no-hitter. The Binscarth right-hander, relying mainly on his fastball, struck out four and walked four, displaying complete control of proceedings from the start. Ron McKinnon, 0 – 5, took the loss. Bruce Bremer’s presence was felt in this abbreviated late encounter as well as his winning role in the initial tilt at Angusville. Bremer smashed a four-bagger and a single as part of the Orioles’ seven-hit offense. Flychaser Roy Reagh clicked for a double and single.

Neville (W) and Derlago
McKinnon (L) and Buchanan

(July 20)  The McAuley Blazers, playing at their alternate home base in Moosomin SK, scored six times in the opening inning and went on to hammer the Brandon Cloverleafs 12 to 2. Five doubles, two Brandon errors and a sacrifice fly produced the first-inning Blazer eruption. Cloverleaf playing-manager Rick Hlady was the victim of the early assault but he persevered, lasting into the sixth spasm before bowing out. Jon Langston, 4 – 1, tossed a six-hitter and whiffed 12 for the complete-game win. Wayne Poole drove in four runs for the winners with two singles and two doubles. Terry Lund followed with a brace of one-baggers and a double. Dale Lowes and Danny Kaupla each delivered a two-bagger and single. For Brandon, Dennis Wiebe collected a pair of singles. 

Hlady (L), McLachlan (6), McFadyen (8) and McFadyen, Hlady (8)
Langston (W) and Lowes, Purcha (9)

(July 20)  A split-venue doubleheader in North Division territory earned the travelling South Division Riverside Canucks both a win and a loss. The Riversiders nosed out the Grandview Canucks in their matinée performance of the day then fell 8 to 3 to the hosting Dauphin Redbirds in the sunset portion of the twin-bill.
    
The Canucks scored a run in the seventh inning to break a 4 – 4 tie in the opener at Grandview and held on for the win. Grant Everard scattered six hits, whiffed six and walked three in copping the mound verdict. Steve Archambault was tagged with the setback, giving up ten hits and walking five while breezing five. Danny Cassils was the big man with the bat for Riverside, collecting a double and two singles. Morley Hartel and Mark Fisher delivered a pair of one-baggers each. The Lakers’ Don Luhowy matched Cassils’ batting performance. 

Everard (W) and Gullett
Archambault (L) and G. Ortynski

The Canucks fell behind early in their clash at Dauphin and never recovered. After three innings were in the books, the Redbirds held a 6 – 1 lead. Part of the downfall of the Riversiders was their five errors. Dauphin’s Gerry Falk, 4 – 0, who retired after five innings in favor of Ross Stone, earned the easy hillock win. Canuck starting heaver Ed Beare was dinged with the loss. Falk led Dauphin hitters with three singles while Garry Keating had a two-run homer and a one-bagger. Bob Williamson and Cam Mealy slammed out two singles apiece for Riverside.

Beare (L), R. Seafoot (4), Cassils (6) and Gullett
Falk (W), Stone (6) and Rideout

(July 21)  Light-hitting pitcher Bob Chuchmuch managed three hits in four official at-bats, the last of which was a game-winning, solo home run as the Angusville Cardinals edged the visiting Hamiota Red Sox 4 to 3. While toeing the rubber, Chuchmuch found time to limit the Red Sox to six hits while striking out as many and walking three in winning his second decision. The teams had started with a flurry with all the scoring prior to Chuchmuch’s eighth-episode dinger, coming in the first three innings. Pat McGehee drilled a double and single for the victors. Doug McPhail was best with the baton for Hamiota, nailing a bases-empty four-bagger and single while losing pitcher Ron Ramsey clipped the orb for a two-base knock.  

Ramsey (L) and Young
B. Chuchmuch (W) and Wowk

(July 22)  The invading Brandon Cloverleafs found the short fences at the Neepawa ball park to their liking as they hammered out five home runs in thumping the hosting Cubs 10 to 4 in a darkness-shortened, seven-inning MSBL encounter. Flychasers Bob Thompson and Bob Wilson blasted two homers each for the Cloverleafs with playing-manager Rick Hlady hitting the other. One of Thompson’s goners was a three-run shot. Brian Hodgson, now 4 – 2, allowed four of the six Cub hits, in pitching the first five frames. Touched for five hits in just 1-1/3 innings of mound toil, Neepawa’s Ron McGorman was tagged with the loss. Brian Moffatt delivered s double and two singles for the Wheat City nine while Rick McFadyen added a double and single. McGorman had a brace of one-baggers for the vanquished nine.

Hodgson (W), McFadyen (6) and McFadyen, Hlady (6)
R. McGorman (L), McKinnon (2) and N. Martin

(July 22)  In a slow-moving tilt at Virden, replete with 24 runs scored, 28 base hits and 11 errors, the visiting Angusville Cardinals outlasted the hometown Oilers 14 to 10. It took only eight innings to accomplish all this, due to darkness. Angusville’s Clinton Pushka had four singles and three RBI’s to help Pat McGehee pick up his fourth pitching win of the season against three defeats. Virden starting heaver Dave Ehrhardt was charged with the defeat. McGehee helped his cause by ripping three singles. 

Matz, McGehee (W) (5) and Wowk
Ehrhardt (L), Mickelson (6) and Fordyce

(July 23)  Trailing 9 to 2 after seven innings had been played, the Grandview Lakers scored six times over the final two frames but fell one run short of drawing even with the Brandon Cloverleafs. The Wheat City nine, surviving 9 to 8 victors, won for the tenth time in 16 starts, largely on the effort of versatile Rick McFadyen. The hard-throwing catcher moved from behind the plate to the mound in the eighth episode to record a save for winning pitcher Dale Harvey. He also found time to drive in three runs with a double and single. Skipper Rick Hlady led the winners with a triple and a pair of one-base knocks while Brian Moffatt and Bob Thompson each checked in with a three-bagger and a single. Bill Chapple doubled and singled to round out the Brandon attack. Don Luhowy went all the way on the knoll for the Lakers, allowing 11 hits and seven walks while whiffing four. He also led the Grandview Gang offensively, spanking the sphere for a double and two singles. Clubmates Deryl Ortynski and Jim Deaver both stroked a pair of singles. The win for the Leafs allowed them to leapfrog over the Riverside Canucks into top spot in the South Division.  

Luhowy (L) and Lawless
D. Harvey (W), McFadyen (8) and McFadyen, Hlady (8)

(July 23)  An upset 9 to 3 loss to the homestanding Hamiota Red Sox dropped the Riverside Canucks into second place in the South Division pennant-race, a half-game behind the Brandon Cloverleafs. The spunky Red Sox pounded Riverside’s ace slab artist Grant Everard for ten hits in 5–1/3 innings, saddling him with his second defeat of the campaign. Portsider Dennis Anderson stretched his pitching record to 7 – 1 as he stopped the Riversiders on eight hits. Hamiota’s first baseman Bob Caldwell continued his torrid batting streak with two singles and a double. Teammates Mel Smith and Mike Labossiere added a double and single each. Bob Williamson and Ron Seafoot had two safeties apiece, including doubles, for the Canucks. 

Everard (L), Mealy (6), Hunter (7) and Gullett
Anderson (W) and Young

(July 23)  The Dauphin Redbirds pushed across a single run in the bottom-of-the-ninth inning to earn a 4 – 4 stalemate with the visiting Binscarth Orioles. Darkness caused the game to be halted at that time. A final result in the deadlock may have to be determined later should it have a bearing on the final standings. Jerry Araujo went the distance on the bump for Dauphin, allowing 11 hits, while Binscarth’s Garth Neville and ninth-inning replacement Bruce Bremer yielded ten base raps. Araujo lashed out three safeties for the Redbirds, one of them a double. Dave Rottman and Dale Rideout stroked two singles each. Herb Andres collected a trio of one-baggers for the Orioles while Chuck Lang added a brace of singles.

Neville, Bremer (9) and Lang
Araujo and Manthorn 

(July 24)  Pat Angers scampered home from third base on an eighth-inning wild pitch to score the winning run as the Neepawa Cubs, despite making nine errors, edged the visiting Grandview Lakers 13 to 12. No attempt was made to play beyond that point as darkness enveloped the skies. Ron McGorman, in relief of Angers, was credited with the pitching victory. The two allowed ten hits, walked five and fanned five. Grandview reliever Tony Kalechyn delivered the wild pitch and suffered the loss. He had ascended the hill in relief of starting heaver Steve Archambault in the fourth. McGorman led the 11-hit Neepawa hitting attack with a double and single while Angers, Norm Hemstad and Ed Williams each stroked a pair of singles. The Lakers, who committed six errors themselves, were led at the dish by Archambault and Kalechyn. Archambault pounded a three-run homer in the fourth inning and added a single while Kalechyn had a triple and one-bagger. Don Luhowy delivered to safeties, both singles. The loss officially eliminated Grandview from playoff contention.

Archambault, Kalechyn (L) (4) and Kalechyn, Lawless (4)
Angers, R. McGorman (W) (4) and Buchanan

(July 24)  Ross Lynd twirled a six-hitter, evening his record at 3 – 3, in going the route as the McAuley Blazers shutout the host Virden Oilers 7 to 0. Lynd was sharp in picking up the win, ringing up ten punchouts while allowing nary a base-on-balls. Luckless Virden slabster Kevin Mickelson dropped his eighth straight mound decision of the season, pitching 6-1/3 innings before getting the hook. Wayne Poole and Jerry Coppicus led the Blazers offensively with two singles each. Bob Senff singled twice for the Oilers.

R. Lynd (W) and Lowes
Mickelson (L), Bridgett (7) and Fordyce

(July 25)  Seven errors, which figured in every run scored by the visiting Dauphin Redbirds, proved to be the undoing of the Brandon Cloverleafs as they dropped a 7 to 2 decision to the North Division-leading Redbirds at Kinsmen Stadium. With hired gun southpaw Ross Stone on the hillock, the Dauphinites reeled off their 12th triumph of the season against four defeats. Collecting just five hits off losing pitcher Rick Hlady, the visitors did display adequate defense while the Leafs did not. The Wheat City baseballers, behind 3 – 2 going into the eighth inning, booted the ball three times and allowed two hits which netted the Redbird pastimers four runs and put the game out of reach. All five Dauphin hits, in each case a single, were stroked by a different batters. Bob Thompson led the seven-hit Cloverleaf offense with a triple and a single while catcher Rick McFadyen singled twice.

Stone (W) and Manthorn
Hlady (L) and McFadyen

(July 25)  The Souris Cardinals virtually assured themselves the final playoff spot in the South Division of the MSBL by downing the visiting Virden Oilers 8 to 3. Rebounding from a 2 – 0 deficit, the Souris squad erupted for a five-spot in the fourth frame to take control of the game. Ray Bruels tossed a four-hitter and struck out ten, the same number of punchouts as recorded by his mound opponent, Dave Ehrhardt. The Oiler import, however, was combed for 11 Cardinal base raps. Wayne Ramsey, Bob Leslie and Bill Carpenter had two hits each for the Cards with one of Ramsey’s blows being a solo dinger in the eighth episode. The game finished Virden’s season with a 5 – 15 won-loss record. On the other hand, Souris still has four games remaining on the schedule and one victory in those remaining contest will lock up fourth place.

Ehrhardt (L) and Fordyce
Bruels (W) and Leslie

(July 25)  Former Detroit Tiger farmhand out of California’s Fullerton College, Danny Kaupla, pitched and batted the McAuley Blazers to an 8 to 4 conquest of the visiting Hamiota Red Sox. The import right-hander hurled a seven-hitter to improve his season’s record to 7 – 1 and whacked a three-run triple in the five-run McAuley eighth inning. Prior to that outburst, losing heaver Ron Ramsey and the Red Sox were nursing a 4 – 3 lead. The quick change in fortune, however, dubbed Ramsey with his sixth loss in seven decisions. He was raked for 12 hits while swishing ten Blazers in going the route. Terry Lynd had a double and single for the winners while Barry Jamieson, Wayne Poole, Dale Lowes and Brian Purcha laced a brace of one-baggers each. Ramsey was the lone Sox batter with two base raps, both singles.

Ramsey (L) and Young
Kaupla (W) and Lowes

(July 25)  The Riverside Canucks banged out two home runs en route to a 7 to 3 triumph over the host Angusville Cardinals. Craig Bell’s three-run dinger in the fifth frame, his fourth round-tripper of the campaign, broke a 2 – 2 tie and lifted the Riversiders to the win and a half-game lead atop the South Division. Ed Beare went the distance on the bump for the Canucks, scattering nine hits. Angusville’s Pat McGehee was tagged with the loss. yielding eight hits while fanning the same number in pitching the route. Bruce Gullett had Riverside’s other four-bagger, a two-run shot in the second stanza. Teammate Morley Hartel added a couple of one-base knocks. McGehee was the top dog with the stick for the Cards with three singles. His batterymate, Barry Wowk, chipped in with a double and single.

Beare (W) and Gullett
McGehee (L) and Wowk

(July 26)  Ron Low’s three-run homer highlighted a four-run uprising in the third inning as the Binscarth Orioles stopped the Hamiota Red Sox 8 to 2 and handed southpaw Dennis Anderson his second loss in nine decisions. Bruce Bremer improved his pitching record to 6 – 1 for the hometown Birds by effectively scattering eight hits and striking out 13 in copping the complete-game win. Bill Derlago drove in a couple of runs for the O’s with a double and single while Bremer helped himself with two singles. Herb Andres, Reg Parton and Don Gies also contributed a pair of one-baggers. Mel Smith drove in two runs for the Red Sox on the strength of his third homer of the season. Ron Ramsey and Ellis Woods delivered two safeties each.
  
D. Anderson (L), Scott (5) and Labossiere
Bremer (W) and Lang

(July 26)  It took the determined Grandview Lakers ten innings to edge past the visiting Neepawa Cubs 5 to 4 in MSBL action. The hosting Lakers had to scramble for two runs in the bottom-of-the-ninth inning to knot the count at 4 – 4 and send the match into overtime. Don Luhowy went the distance to gain the win over Pat Angers, who relieved starting Cub slabster Ron McKinnon in the ninth panel. An oddity of this game, in which Neepawa had a slight 10 to 9 edge in base hits, was the fact that there were no walks issued by the three pitchers.

McKinnon , Angers (L) (9) and Buchanan
Luhowy (W) and G. Ortynski

(July 27)  The lowly Neepawa Cubs went into Dauphin and upset the homestanding Redbirds 5 to 3, much to the glee of the idle McAuley Blazers who forged a half-game ahead of Dauphin in the race for the North Division pennant. The Cubs jumped on previously unbeaten Redbird chucker Gerry Falk for four runs in the opening canto, the big hit being a two-run triple by veteran Norm Hemstad, who also added a double and single. Ron McGorman picked up his second mound win of the season, scattering eight hits. Falk and John Morrison both had a double and a single in a losing cause.

R. McGorman (W) and N. Martin
Falk (L) and Manthorne

(July 27)  The hosting Riverside Canucks completed their 20-game schedule with twin wins, 6 to 2 over the Angusville Cardinals and 11 to 4 against the Binscarth Orioles, guaranteeing themselves at least a tie for first place in the MSBL’s South Division.
    
Craig Bell pounded out a triple and a single, driving in a brace of tallies, to help Canuck heaver Rob Medoff, with a seven-hitter, gain his first hurling triumph in four decisions in this first clash of a three-team double-dip. Angusville, on the road for two games in a split-venue scheduling situation, were the victims of four double plays by the Canucks in this contest. Losing flinger Bob Chuchmuch was nicked for eight Riverside base raps in suffering the loss. Chuchmuch and Clinton Puska drove in the Cardinal counters with run-producing singles.

B. Chuchmuch (L), Hrubeniuk (7) and Chipelski
Medoff (W) and Gullett

Craig Bell’s bat remained hot as the Binscarth Orioles moved into the visitors’ dugout for the twilight tussle of the day in which Grant Everard outduelled Garth Neville for the pitching decision. The Canuck outfielder managed a three-run homer, a double and two singles, driving in six runs. Dan Cassils also launched a tater for the Riversiders. Bruce Bremer starred for the Orioles at the plate, connecting for three singles.

Neville (L), Hollender (5) and Lang
Everard (W) and Gullett, Campbell (8)

(July 27)  Licking their wounds following the ambush at Riverside, the Angusville Cardinals headed north for an evening encounter at Kinsmen Stadium with the waiting Brandon Cloverleafs. The Wheat City nine proved to be inhospitable and drubbed the Cards 9 to 1 to maintain their slim chance of catching Riverside in the South Division pennant race. Catcher Rick McFadyen helped his batterymate Brian Hodgson cop his fifth pitching win of the year by blasting a triple, two doubles and a single. Hodgson was touched for eight Cardinal safeties, three of them by leadoff batter Bill Flyn/Flynn. In Angusville’s second half of a double-defeat, Tim Matz absorbed the loss.
  
Matz (L), Hrubeniuk (6) and Wowk
Hodgson (W) and McFadyen

(July 27)  The travelling Souris Cardinals had two opportunities to formally clinch the last playoff berth in the South Division but failed on both occasions, dropping a 15 to 2 afternoon encounter to the Dauphin Redbirds before traversing to Grandview where they were blanked by the Lakers 2 to 0 in an evening tilt.
    
Dauphin literally walked to the win in the early event on their home turf as Souris starting hurler Scott Parr gave up 13 bases-on-balls before being lifted in the eighth inning. The Cards were limited to six hits by complete-game winner Jerry Araujo. John Morrison managed a double and single for the hosts, driving in two runs for the winners who scored six runs in the opening panel and two more in each of the second and third stanzas to put the game out of reach.

Parr (L), Dwayne Kirkup (8) and Leslie, Dwight Kirkup (7)
Araujo (W) and Manthorne, Buchy (7)

Following the spanking in Dauphin, the Souris Squad motored 28 miles to Grandview where they put up a good fight against the hosting Lakers before succumbing to complete the day with a double defeat. Grandview’s Steve Archambault, who tired in the late innings and needed relief help from Jim Deaver, notched the heaving victory over winless Ken Vertz, 0 – 6, of the Cards who showed little in the way of offense. The Lakers  had a 9 to 6 edge in base hits.

Vertz (L) and Leslie
Archambault (W), Deaver (8) and G. Ortynski

(July 29)  In anything but what baseball purists consider a classic all-star game, the North and South Divisional Selects of the MSBL botched their way to a 15 – 15 stalemate at Virden. Eight pitchers, four from each team, were bombed for 31 hits before darkness, mercifully, set in to end the fracas after six innings. Although the hitting was great, especially from Stan Furman of the South Division who banged out four hits, the collective pitching was a great disappointment. John Morrison of the North Division had the game’s lone home run.

Kaupla, Matz (4), Araujo (4), Rottman (5) and Lowes
Anderson, Ehrhardt (3), Everard (6), Ramsey (6) and Gullett

(July 30)  Feeling the stress associated with his team’s inability to win and what he perceived as a poor umpire decision, manager Bill Kirkup of the Souris Cardinals was ejected from the game as his charges dropped a 10 to 3 decision to the hosting Brandon Cloverleafs, failing once again to lock up fourth place and the final playoff spot in the upcoming South Division playoffs. Roy McLachlan, the regular third baseman on the Cloverleafs won his first-ever MSBL pitching decision with a route-gong effort while import Ray Bruels, the Cards’ ace chucker, was tagged with the complete-game loss. Souris had a narrow 10 to 9 margin in base hits. For the Cloverleafs, former Cardinal Brian Moffatt stroked three singles against his old team. Wayne Keeler had a double and two singles for the Souris aggregation. Import Scott Parr doubled and singled while Stan Furman singled twice.

Bruels (L) and Leslie
McLachlan (W) and Hlady

(July 30)  The McAuley Blazers dumped the homestanding Neepawa Cubs 10 to 0 to clinch at least a tie for the North Division pennant. Dan Kaupla, now the top pitcher in the league with a 7 – 1 record, spun a five-hitter, issued no walks and struck out five in going all the way for the win. Neepawa’s Ron McKinnon, who was relieved by Ron McGorman in the seventh inning, suffered the loss. Wayne Poole, Brian Purcha and Brian Lindsay each stoked three singles in heading the McAuley 16-hit offensive thrust. Barry Jamieson added a solo home run while Kaupla singled twice. Neil Martin had two singles for the Cubs.

Kaupla (W) and Lowes
McKinnon, R. McGorman (7) and Buchanan

(July 30)  Hamiota and Grandview wound up their regular-season schedule obligations by battling to a 13 – 13 tie game, shortened to seven innings because of darkness. The game will not be replayed because the result has no bearing on the final standings. It was a heavy-hitting affair with 28 hits, 15 by the visiting Red Sox. Both clubs used two pitchers in the slow-moving affair, interrupted three times by rain. Glennis Scott, not known for his batting power, nailed a grand-slam homer and a single for the Crimson Hose. Doug McPhail and Mike Labossiere each had a triple and two singles. Bob Caldwell contributed a pair of doubles, Brent Montage a double and single and Ron Ramsey two singles. For the hosting Lakers, import Steve Archambault hammered a two-run circuit-clout and a three-bagger. Jim Deaver had two doubles and a single while John Hendle and Glen Ortynski each doubled and singled. 

Montague, Ramsey (2) and Sheardown
Luhowy, Kalechyn (5) and G. Ortynski

(July 31)  The Binscarth Orioles and Souris Cardinals settled nothing as they fought to a 1 – 1 tie on the home turf of the Cards. The game was called after nine innings on account of darkness and will be replayed on August 2 as the result has playoff implications for the Souris Squad who still need one more win to move into post-season play. Ken Vertz of the Cardinals and Binscarth’s Bruce Bremer locked horns in a real pitcher’s duel. Bremer pitched a five-hitter and rang up 18 punchouts while Vertz tossed a four-hitter and whiffed 11. Each chucker walked two. Chuck Lang spoiled Vertz’s bid for a shutout with a second-stanza bases-empty home run, his fourth of the season. Vertz drove in the only run for Souris with a two-out, seventh-inning single.
  
Bremer and Lang
Vertz and Leslie

(August 1)  With the chips down and needing a victory to stay alive in the hunt for the MSBL’s North Division pennant, the Dauphin Redbirds came through with an 8 to 4 victory over the Binscarth Orioles in a contest played at Grandview. The win, behind the five-hit pitching of rookie Gerry Falk, propelled the Redbirds into a tie for the division lead with the McAuley Blazers and sets up a sudden-death tie-breaker game for the bunting. The Redbirds pushed across four runs in the second stanza off losing twirler Bob Kutzan to take control of the game. Kutzan was nicked for eight hits overall in going the route. Dave Rottman led the victors at the plate with three singles while Garry Keating added a triple and one-bagger. Five Orioles managed one single apiece.

Kutzan (L) and Lang
Falk (W) and Buchy 

(August 2)  The Souris Cardinals, after blowing four previous attempts, finally wrapped up the final MSBL playoff spot by capturing a come-from-behind 7 to 6 victory over the visiting Binscarth Orioles. This game, called after eight episodes because of darkness, was a replay of the deadlocked clash between the two combatants from just two days previous. After a shaky start in which the Orioles jumped into a 5 – 0 lead, winning pitcher Ray Bruels of Souris settled down and allowed his teammates to come alive with the lumber. And fight back they did, finally taking the lead in the sixth stanza on a two-run single by Bill Carpenter, one of eight safeties relinquished by complete-game losing heaver Marv Hollender. Carpenter, Stan Furman and Bob Leslie each had two hits for the Cards while Bruce Bremer, with a bases-empty circuit-clout and a one-bagger, was the only Oriole to get more than one hit off Bruels, who gave up seven safeties.

Hollender (L) and Lang
Bruels (W) and Leslie

FINAL STANDINGS

NORTH DIVISION                  W       L       Pct.      GBL
McAuley Blazers                15       5      .750       ----
Dauphin Redbirds               15       5      .750       ----
Binscarth Orioles              12       8      .600       3.0
Angusville Cardinals            9      11      .450       6.0
Grandview Lakers                7      12      .368       7.5
Neepawa Cubs                    6      14      .300       9.0

SOUTH DIVISION                  W       L       Pct.      GBL
Riverside Canucks              13       7      .650       ----
Brandon Cloverleafs            12       8      .600       1.0
Hamiota Red Sox                 9      10      .474       3.5
Souris Cardinals                6      14      .300       7.0
Virden Oilers                   5      15      .250       8.0

NORTH-DIVISION FIRST PLACE TIE-BREAKER  McAuley Blazers vs Dauphin Redbirds  (sudden-death)

(August 5)  Danny Kaupla pitched a seven-hitter for his ninth victory of the MSBL season, giving the McAuley Blazers a 4 to 0 victory over the Dauphin Redbirds and the pennant in the North Division. Along with the pennant, the Blazers’ win earned them the Les Edwards Memorial trophy, awarded each year to the MSBL team compiling the best won-loss record. In this sudden-death tie-breaker, McAuley scored single runs in the fourth, sixth, eighth and ninth innings off portsider Ross Stone who went the route and allowed just six hits. Wayne Poole led the Blazers with a single and double, an output replicated by the Redbirds’ Dave Rottman.

Kaupla (W) and Lowes
Stone (L) and Manthorne

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PLAYOFFS
DIVISIONAL SEMI-FINALS

NORTH
Angusville Cardinals vs McAuley Blazers
Binscarth Orioles vs Dauphin Redbirds

SOUTH
Souris Cardinals vs Riverside Canucks
Hamiota Red Sox vs Brandon Cloverleafs

(August 6)  Seemingly improving with age, 39-year old Glennis Scott held the Brandon Cloverleafs to six hits at Kinsmen Stadium as the Hamiota Red Sox pounded out a 12 to 1 win in the first game of their South Division semi-final. Scott had plenty of help from his Sox teammates who belted out ten hits, three by Mike Labossiere, and from the hosting Leafs themselves who booted the horsehide around for seven errors. The Hamiotans wrapped up the game with a five-spot in the fifth frame, turning the contest into a laugher. Labossiere  drove in four runs with two singles, a triple and a bases-loaded walk. Teammates Ron Ramsey and Mel Smith cracked out two singles apiece off starter and loser Brian Hodgson as well as Rick McFadyen, who was ineffective as a reliever. Scott, meanwhile, was rolling along, piling up seven strikeouts while walking just one.

Scott (W) and Young, Sheardown (9)
Hodgson (L), McFadyen (5) and McFadyen, Hlady (5)

(August 6)  Despite losing first-string catcher Bruce Gullett to injury during a pre-game warm-up, the Riverside Canucks persevered and opened their South Division semi-finals series by shading the invading Souris Cardinals 6 to 5. A run-scoring single by Mark Fisher in the seventh inning broke a 5 – 5 tie and allowed the pennant winners to grab the lead in the series. Fisher’s one-bagger, his third of the game, drove in Craig Bell from the keystone sack and made a winner out of right-hander Grant Everard. The Canuck slabster yielded only five hits and fanned eight in a route-going effort. Youthful Ken Vertz, who gave up nine hits and breezed seven, was saddled with the loss. Dan Cassils single twice for the Riversiders, an offensive output equalled by Souris’ Stan Furman.

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

(August 6)  Import pitcher Pat McGehee limited the heavily-favored McAuley Blazers to six hits in leading the Angusville Cardinals to a 7 to 4 South Division playoff victory. The Cards raked three Blazer hurlers for 16 hits, including a couple of singles by McGehee, in defeating McAuley for the first time this season. The Angusville squad chased Blazer starter and loser Ross Lynd from the knoll in the fourth frame and kept up the rampage against two relievers. Clinton Pushka doubled twice for the winners while clubmates Bill Flyn/Flynn, Tim Matz, Bob Chuchmuch, Barry Wowk and Bob Mazur all delivered a two-bagger and a single. Catcher Dale Lowes had two of the six McAuley safeties.

McGehee (W) and Wowk
R. Lynd (L), Langston (4), Jamieson (7) and Lowes

(August 6)  The home run proved to be a decisive weapon as the Binscarth Orioles opened their North Division semi-final series by thumping the visiting Dauphin Redbirds 12 to 4. The Orioles belted three homers off Redbird chucker Jerry Araujo. The first, and perhaps most damaging, was a second-inning grand slam by Glen Hodgson. Dale Gies delivered a solo shot in the fifth and a three-run blast by catcher Chuck Lang in the eighth sent the victors into an almost insurmountable 12 to 2 lead. Given such support, Binscarth ace chucker Bruce Bremer had little difficulty in going the distance to rack up the win although he was touched for 11 hits. Bremer registered the same number of punchouts. Surprisingly, Araujo also went the distance despite surrendering 15 hits and a walk, while fanning seven. Hodgson collected four hits in the game, the other three being singles, while Gies stroke a pair of singles in addition to his dinger. Bremer and Bill Derlago added a double and single apiece. For the visitors, Araujo had three singles while John Morrison drilled a double and a brace of one-baggers.

Araujo (L) and Manthorne
Bremer (W) and Lang

(August 7)  The McAuley Blazers, behind the sharp two-hit pitching of Jon Langston, registered a 6 to 2 Northern Division playoff victory over the Angusville Cardinals, tying the series at a game apiece. The Blazer right-hander gave up a solo homer to Bob Chuchmuch in the second inning and a double to losing pitcher Tim Matz in the fourth frame of the rain-delayed encounter which was eventually called after eight innings on account of darkness. Matz, on the other hand was rocked for three runs on six hits in the first four chapters. First baseman Wayne Poole topped McAuley’s ten-hit batting parade with a double and single while a pair of Brians, Purcha and Lindsay, each had a pair of one-base hits. 

Langston (W) and Lowes
Matz (L), B. Chuchmuch (4), McGehee (4) and Wowk

(August 10)  A pair of walks issued by Brandon reliever Dale Harvey to start the bottom-of-the-ninth inning came back to haunt him as a bases-loaded loaded single off the bat of Ron Ramsey, his third hit of the game, soon followed and drove in the winner that gave the Hamiota Red Sox a narrow 6 to 5 victory over the visiting Cloverleafs and a 2 – 0 lead in their South Division semi-final series. Harvey had taken over pitching chores from Leaf starter Brian Hodgson to begin the last-half of the ninth after starter Hodgson, who hadn’t given up a run since the fifth and appeared to be getting stronger as the game progressed, had been pulled for a pinch-runner in the top-of-the-panel during a Brandon rally that had netted them one run and a 5 – 5 tie. Mike Labossiere, who faced only one batter, got credit for the hurling triumph. Ramsey had another RBI to go along with his game-winning drive while Labossiere delivered two safe swats that drove in four counters for the Sox. Bob Wilson belted a two-run dinger for the Wheat City nine while Brian Moffatt had a double and a single. His two-bagger came in the ninth, driving in the Cloverleafs’ tying tally, but in trying to stretch it into a triple, was thrown out at third on a perfect Mel Smith to Bob Caldwell throw from centre-field.  

Hodgson, D. Harvey (L) (9) and McFadyen
D. Anderson, Labossiere (W) (9) and Young, Sheardown (6) 

(August 12)  The Riverside Canucks pelted three Souris pitchers for 19 hits, including four home runs, and scored a 21 to 6 victory over the Souris Cardinals and a 2 – 0 lead in their best-of-five South Division semi-final. The one-sided contest was called after eight innings due to darkness. Rob Medoff was the beneficiary of the heavy-hitting Riverside attack, pitching seven innings to earn the mound win. Ron Seafoot mopped up over the final two frames. Losing chucker Ray Bruels was kayoed from the hillock in the second spasm after giving up a three-run tater to Craig Bell, his first of two dingers in the contest. Bell added a second circuit-jack in the third chapter, a two-run blast off reliever Murray Cameron. Bruce Gullett and Danny Cassils added solo round-trippers for the Riversiders in the fifth and eighth episodes, respectively. Cassils picked up three singles in addition to his homer while Bob Williamson lashed out a double and two singles. Morley Hartel, Gullett and Ed Beare also had two hits apiece for the winners. Greg Cameron and Bill Carpenter had a four-bagger and single each for the outclassed Cards while catcher Bob Leslie chipped in with three singles.

Medoff (W), R. Seafoot (8) and Gullett, Campbell (6)
Bruels (L), M. Cameron (2), Carpenter (6) and Leslie, Dwight Kirkup (7)

(August 12)  The Hamiota Red Sox, a promising team which features a quality blend of youth and veterans, are apparently coming of age. With 39-year old Glennis Scott on the bump and a band of free-swinging youngsters plotting the course, the Scarlet Stockings impressively crushed the homestanding Brandon Cloverleafs 10 to 3 to win their semi-final series in straight games and sideline the favored Wheat City nine. Scott throttled the hosts on four hits, two of which were of the infield variety, while striking out six and walking only three. A triad of Sox swatsmiths took care of the offense. Brent Montague drilled a double and two singles to drive in four runs. Bob Caldwell ripped a double and single and Ron Ramsey delivered three singles. In total, Hamiota collected 14 hits off losing heaver Rick McFadyen and eighth-inning reliever Roy McLachlan. After trailing 2 – 1 through five innings, the Crimson Hose suddenly changed matters in a big way by scoring three in the sixth, two in the seventh and four in the eighth. McFadyen crushed a triple and a double for the vanquished Leafs.

Scott (W) and Young
McFadyen (L), McLachlan (8) and M. Harvey, McFadyen

(August 13)  Terry Lynd’s bases-loaded triple keyed a five-run eighth inning as the McAuley Blazers bounced the Angusville Cardinals 6 to 1. The big inning, which snapped a scoreless tie, provided McAuley with a 2 – 1 lead in the best-of-five North Division semi-final series. Danny Kaupla went the distance in picking up the win, limiting the visiting Cards to five hits while striking out six. Losing slabster Pat McGehee, meanwhile swished nine but was rocked for 12 hits in going the route. Lynd also had a double in the game while Jon Langston, Brian Lindsay, Barry Jamieson and Wayne Poole all singled twice. Curnie Chuchmuch led Angusville with two singles.

McGehee (L) and Wowk
Kaupla (W) and Lowes

(August 14)  Pitcher Ken Vertz, winless during the regular season with a unenviable 0 – 6 record and beaten in the opening game of the playoffs, picked up his first victory of the season, hurling a seven-hitter as the Souris Cardinals stayed alive in their South Division semi-final series by shading the hosting Riverside Canucks 2 to 1. Vertz walked four in outdueling Grant Everard, who also threw a seven-hitter. The Cards scored both their runs in the fourth inning, the first coming on a leadoff home run by Greg Cameron. Designated hitter Wayne Ramsey drove in Bill Carpenter, who had doubled, with the second tally. Morley Hartel singled in Bruce Gullett from third base with the lone Canuck marker in the eighth. Danny Cassils, attempting to score the tying counter from second base on the same hit, was thrown out at the plate. Carpenter added a single to his two-bagger for a multi-hit performance while Hartel and Cliff Seafoot singled twice for the losing Riversiders.

Vertz (W) and Leslie
Everard (L) and Gullett

(August 14)  The Angusville Cardinals, on the brink of playoff elimination by the McAuley Blazers, rode the five-hit pitching of Bob Chuchmuch and a two-run homer by Pat McGehee to double the Blazers 4 to 2 and tie their North Division semi-final series at two games each. McGehee’s circuit-clout was launched in the sixth inning off losing chucker Jon Langston and broke a 2 – 2 tie. McGehee had singles in each of his other three times at bat. The New York Yankees’ draftee also stole two bases and scored three runs. Bob Chuchmuch added two singles for the Cards. The Blazers’ Terry Lynd, who clicked for three singles, was the one big thorn in the side of Chuchmuch.

Langston (L) and Lowes
B. Chuchmuch (W) and Wowk 

(August 15)  The defending playoff champion Riverside Canucks moved a bit closer in their quest for a three-peat when they exploded for four runs in the fourth inning on the way to an 8 to 4 victory over the Souris Cardinals. The win, achieved in seven innings because of rain, gave the Canucks the best-of-five South Division semi-final series three-games-to-one. Ed Beare registered his first pitching win of the playoffs, checking the Cardinals on five hits. Beare was breezing along until the seventh and final canto when he was touched for three runs, one of which came on a bases-empty homer by Stan Furman. But, by then, it was too late for import Ray Bruels and his Cardinal teammates. Bruels was combed for 14-base knocks by the Riversiders in taking the heaving loss. Craig Bell lit into Bruels’ offerings for four safeties, including a double, while Bob Williamson had a home run and two singles. Bruce Gullett added a two-run double and a single while Morley Hartel and Mark Fisher connected for a brace of one-baggers each.

Beare (W) and Gullett
Bruels (L) and Leslie

(August 17)  Ross Stone of Dauphin atoned for the first-game 5 to 4 loss by pitching the Redbirds to a 5 to 0 blanking the Binscarth Orioles in the nightcap of their MSBL playoff doubleheader played in Hamiota because of wet field conditions in Dauphin. The Sunday split left the Orioles with a 2 – 1 advantage in the best-of-five, rain-delayed North Division semi-final series.
     
John Morrison staked the Redbirds to a 4 to 0 lead in the opening inning of the oft-delayed first game by belting a grand-slam home run off ultimate winning pitcher Bruce Bremer who settled down after that blast to pitch shutout ball. As the game progressed and the Orioles began to chip away at the deficit, Dave Rottman still maintained the Redbirds’ lead by keeping the O’s off-balance for the most part with an assortment of junk pitches. Stone took over in relief with one out in the ninth and a runner at first. After a force out at second on a fielder’s choice, baserunner Garth Jackman moved to third base on Glen Hodgson’s single. A pop single to the right garden by Herb Andres, which was misjudged, allowed Jackman and Hodgson to cross the pan with the tying and lead counters. Bremer shut the door in the bottom-of-the-ninth and finished with a seven-hitter. Andres wound up with two singles for the winners who also collected seven base raps. Bert Ready led the Redbirds offensively with a double and single while Rottman added a couple of one-baggers.

Bremer (W) and Lang
Rottman, Stone (L) (9) and Manthorne

Somewhat dispirited but still fresh with less than an inning of mound work in the opener, Stone ascended the hill as the starter in the second contest and won over Binscarth heaver Garth Neville. Both chuckers went the distance and both fired seven-hitters. Dauphin broke open a 2 – 0 game with a three-run rally in the seventh. Catcher Dave Manthorne had three singles for the victors while for the defeated Orioles, Chuck Lang and Dale Gies cracked to singles each.

Neville (L) and Lang
Stone (W) and Manthorne

(August 17)  Danny Kaupla choked Angusville on five hits to lead the McAuley Blazers to an 11 to 1 road triumph over the Cardinals. With the win, the Blazers took the North semi-final series three-games-to-two. McAuley battered Pat McGehee, the Cards’ starter and loser, for seven hits and six runs before Henry Hrubeniuk to over on the knoll in the third spasm. Kaupla struck out five and didn’t walk anyone in going the route. Terry Lynd punched out two singles and a double for the Blazers while teammates Brian Lindsay, Brian Purcha, Dale Lowes, Wayne Poole and Jon Langston added two hits each to McAuley’s 17-hit attack. One of Langston’s blows was a two-run homer in the eighth inning. Also included in the victors’ offensive assault  were triples by Lowes and Poole. Lowes drove in four runs. Import Tim Matz was the only Angusville batter to get to Kaupla for more than one hit, slapping out a pair of singles.

McGehee (L), Hrubeniuk (3) and Wowk
Kaupla (W) and Lowes

(August 21)  The Dauphin Redbirds pounded Garth Neville for 13 hits in the first six innings and winning chucker Gerry Falk baffled the hometown O’s on just two safe raps as the Redbirds evened the best-of-five North Division semi-final series at two-game each with a 9 to 0 pasting of the Orioles. It took four frames for Dauphin to cash in on Neville but when they did, they did it with a vengeance, plating a quartet of counters in the fourth, one more in the fifth and adding a deuce in the sixth. The winners added singletons in the seventh and eighth off reliever Bryan McCauley before the game was called due to darkness. Falk fanned eight and walked the same number. Dave Rottman and Bert Ready pounded out three hits apiece for the Redbirds while Falk, John Morrison, Jerry Araujo and Siggi Sigurdson added two each. One of Falk’s base knocks was a solo homer in the seventh.  

Falk (W) and Morrison
Neville (L), McCauley (7) and Lang

(August 24)  Playing another home game on the road, this one in Gilbert Plains, because of wet field conditions on their home diamond, the Dauphin Redbirds eliminated the Binscarth Orioles from the MSBL playoffs by registering a 6 to 3 win to take their North Division semi-final series three-games-to-two. Jerry Araujo had the hot bat for the Redbirds, keying a three-run fourth frame with a two-run single and adding a solo home run in the sixth. Run-producing singles by winning pitcher Ross Stone and Dave Rottman were the timely blows delivered during a two-run seventh. Stone, who earned his second playoff victory, gave up seven hits and fanned four in beating Binscarth ace Bruce Bremer. The import fireballer also gave up seven safeties while whiffing three and walking four. Rottman had an earlier one-bagger to go along with his run-producing single. Herb Andres singled twice for the Orioles while Designated Hitter Ron Falloon checked in with a double and single. 

Bremer (L) and Lang
Stone (W) and Morrison

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DIVISIONAL FINALS  (best-of-five series)

NORTH
Dauphin Redbirds vs McAuley Blazers

SOUTH
Hamiota Red Sox vs Riverside Canucks

(August 17)  The aging arm of Glennis Scott came through again as the Hamiota Red Sox drew first blood in their MSBL South Division final with a 3 to 2 victory over the Riverside Canucks. Trailing 2 – 1 going into the final frame, the underdog Red Sox plated the tying counter on an RBI-single by Brent Montague and then shocked the hosts later in the chapter when Montague crossed the pan on a wild pitch by losing heaver Rob Medoff. The Riversiders loaded the sacks in the bottom-of-the-ninth but the crafty Scott whiffed dangerous Craig Bell to end the proceedings. Scott was touched for a dozen Canuck safeties, including Mark Fisher’s two-run dinger in the third canto, but was effectively able to scatter the bingles to keep the hosts off the scoreboard for the rest of the game. He struck out four and walked two, one intentionally. Medoff was nicked for eight hits and gave up three walks, two intentionally, while breezing three. Scott led the Hamiota hitters with a double and single. Cliff Seafoot banged out three hits for Riverside with Morley Hartel adding a pair of singles.

Scott (W) and Young
Medoff (L) and Gullett

(August 24)  Grant Everard won his second pitching decision of the playoffs, tossing a four-hitter in leading the Riverside Canucks to a 3 to 1 victory over the Hamiota Red Sox. The verdict ties the best-of-five South Division final series at a game apiece. Everard struck out eight and walked two in handing veteran Hamiota hurler Glennis Scott, nicked for eight hits, his first setback in four playoff decisions. The Red Sox took a 1 – 0 lead in the third inning on a run-scoring single by Ron Ramsey. In the sixth, Riverside’s Bob Williamson doubled home teammate Craig Bell from second base then scored himself on a single by Ed Beare. Williamson also scored the eight-inning insurance tally for the Canucks, coming around on Mark Fisher’s one-bagger. Williamson, with a single in addition to his run-producing two-bagger, was the only player in the game with two safeties.

Scott (L) and Young
Everard (W) and Gullett

(August 26)  The McAuley Blazers bunched together five of their eight hits in a decisive fifth inning in which they plated five tallies to send Jerry Araujo and the Dauphin Redbirds to an 8 to 4 setback. The win gives the Blazers a one-game lead in the North Division finals. After breaking a 0 – 0 deadlock with a pair of runs in the fourth, McAuley put the game virtually out of reach with the fifth-frame outburst. Dauphin, aided by two Blazer miscues, struck for a four-spot in the sixth, with the big blow being Araujo’s three-run homer. Araujo went the route, walking five and striking out four, in absorbing the loss. Winning heaver Dan Kaupla, who also allowed eight hits, fanned eight and didn’t issue a walk. Terry Lynd doubled and singled for the winners while Jon Langston singled twice. Araujo had three one-base raps in addition to his dinger for the vanquished nine while Dave Rottman managed two singles.

Araujo (L) and Morrison
Kaupla (W) and Lowes

(August 26)  Four consecutive bases-loaded walks during a disastrous second stanza were the downfall of the Riverside Canucks who were bounced 13 to 5 by the hosting Hamiota Red Sox. The Hamiotans now hold a 2 – 1 advantage in the South Division finals. Surprise starter Mark Fisher and second-inning reliever Ron Seafoot were responsible for the flurry of free passes which, along with a pair of key hits by the Sox off the slants of Seafoot, resulted in seven big counters for the homesters in that spasm. That big rally was more than enough to erase a 1 – 0 deficit, which came as a result of Fisher’s bases-empty tater in the top-half of the second. The Scarlet Stockings out-hit the visitors 11 to 9 as youthful southpaw Dennis Anderson went all the way, fanning seven, for the mound victory. Middle pasture patroller Mel Smith paced the Red Sox offensively with a three-run homer and a brace of singles. Ron Ramsey followed with a pair of one-base raps. Fisher had a double and a single to go along with his early dinger.

Fisher (L), R. Seafoot (2) and Gullett
D. Anderson (W) and Young

(August 27)  Dave Rottman, who pitched sparingly throughout the regular season, made his second start of the MSBL playoffs and lifted the Dauphin Redbirds back on even terms with the visiting McAuley Blazers. Rottman checked the Blazers on six hits while walking two and fanning six as the Redbirds notched a 9 – 3 victory to square the Northern Division finals at a game each. The validity of the win, however, has been challenged by the McAuley management who filed a protest over the fact that Dauphin didn’t have a sufficient number of players on hand for the scheduled 6 p.m. starting time. A seven-run second-inning, in which losing chucker Ross Lynd was kayoed, virtually put this game on ice for the Redbirds. Ken Buchy singled three times for the winners while clubmate Garry Keating ripped two doubles. Rottman helped his own cause with a brace of one-baggers. For the visitors, Dan Kaupla delivered two singles.

R. Lynd (L), Jamieson (2) and Lowes
Rottman (W) and Morrison

(August 27)  The surprising Hamiota Red Sox edged the Riverside Canucks 8 to 7 to eliminate the defending MSBL champions from the playoffs by capturing the South Division final series three-games-to-one. The Red Sox, who used the long ball to advantage, scored four runs in the seventh inning and two more in the eighth to register the win, although they had to withstand a two-run Riverside rally in the ninth. Mike Labossiere, who relieved winning pitcher Ron Ramsey in the eighth episode, clouted a three-run homer off losing chucker Grant Everard in the seventh to put Hamiota in front 6 to 3. In the eighth, Craig Bell of the Riversiders and Red Sox flychaser Mel Smith traded two-run circuit-jacks. Then, in the ninth, Ed Beare led off with a solo dinger and a bases-loaded walk to Dan Cassils cut the Sox lead to one. But Labossiere got pinch-hitter Garth Seafoot to ground into a game-ending double play. Labossiere had a double and two singles to go along with his tater in pacing the Crimson Hose batters who had a 16 to 11 margin in safeties. Brent Montague managed two singles and a double while Ramsey and Jeff Sheardown both singled twice. Bell and Beare of the Riversiders both stroked one-baggers in addition to their goners.

Everard (L), Medoff (8) and Gullett
Ramsey (W), Labossiere (8) and Young

(August 29)  The Dauphin Redbirds scored four runs in the second inning and added six more in the sixth spasm to outscore the hosting McAuley Blazers 12 to 7. The win moved the Redbirds into a 2 – 1 lead in the North Division finals, pending the outcome of the Blazer protest lodged just before the start of game two of the series. Dauphin roughed up three McAuley pitchers, notably import starter and loser Jon Langston, for 13 base blows, three by Garry Keating. Keating drilled a two-run double to cap the winners’ second-inning charge and then smashed a bases-empty home run off reliever Ross Lynd in the seventh. Jerry Araujo went the route on the hillock for Dauphin to register his initial payoff triumph. Catcher Dave Manthorne had a single and double as part of Dauphin’s 13-hit attack while Dave Rottman, Siggi Sigurdson, Ken Buchy and Bert Ready each registered two singles. Barry Jamieson led McAuley’s ten-hit offense with a solo homers and a pair of one-base hits. Terry Lynd collected a pair of singles.

(August 30)  MSBL president Dick Campbell ruled in McAuley’s favor regarding the game two protest, throwing out the on-field Dauphin victory and declaring the game a non-contest. The Redbirds, with only eight players available at the scheduled starting time of 6 p.m., penciled in the name of Siggi Sigurdson as their ninth player. Sigurdson, a Dauphin dentist, was some 17 or 18 minutes late in arriving, being delayed in treating an emergency patient. The reversal deadlocks the series at a game apiece.

(September 1)  Fuming after having the second game victory in their series snatched way from them by a boardroom decision, the Dauphin Redbirds were further aggrieved when the invading McAuley Blazers handed them a 6 to 1 setback to move ahead in the North Division finals two-games-to-one. Danny Kaupla increased his playoff pitching record to 4 – 0 with a complete-game ten-hit effort. Dave Rottman also went the route in absorbing the loss, surrendering 13 base knocks. One of those Blazer blows was a fourth-inning solo dinger by Terry Lynd. Barry Jamieson, Brian Purcha, Brian Lindsay and Lynd all finished with two safeties. Hot-hitting Dave Rottman had three base raps for the Redbirds, including a double, while John Morrison and Bert Ready contributed two one-baggers each.

Kaupla (W) and Lowes
Rottman (L) and Morrison

(September 3)  The McAuley Blazers, behind the hitting and pitching of import Jon Langston, have advanced to the MSBL finals against the Hamiota Red Sox. The Blazers scored three times in the first inning and went on to post a 4 to 1 victory over the Dauphin Redbirds. The win gave McAuley the North Division playoff crown by virtue of a three-games-to-one series’ conquest.  Langston sparked the opening-panel rally with a two-run double while fellow Collegian Brian Purcha doubled him home for the third tally. Langston tossed a seven-hitter, struck out nine and walked six, losing his shutout in the ninth inning on one of four errors committed by the Blazers. Losing slabster Jerry Araujo, with five punchouts, was touched for nine hits and a pair of free passes. Besides his early run-scoring two-bagger, Purcha delivered a second double. Dave Rottman starred at the plate for the eliminated Redbirds with a double and two singles. Dave Manthorne chipped in with two singles.

Araujo (L) and Morrison
Langston (W) and Lowes 

NORTH – SOUTH MSBL FINALS
Hamiota Red Sox (South Division) vs McAuley Blazers (North Division)  best-of-five series

(September 5)  Danny Kaupla tossed a seven-hitter for his fifth playoff win as the McAuley Blazers whipped the Hamiota Red Sox 11 to 1 in the opening game of the MSBL’s best-of-five North-South final. Kaupla, the circuit’s leading hurler during the regular season with a 9 – 1 mark, went the distance with a six-strikeout, two-walk performance. The Red Sox, playing for the first time in nine days, got to Kaupla for a first-inning run but were blanked by the Californian the rest of the way. Meanwhile, Designated Hitter Jerry Coppicus’ two-run double in the second inning sparked a three-run McAuley rally that got the North Division champs off and running. The Blazers added two runs in each of the third, fifth, sixth and seventh stanzas to win going away. Hamiota starter and loser Dennis Anderson gave up 11 hits and nine runs in his six innings of work. McAuley used the long ball to their advantage in copping the easy victory. Catcher Dale Lowes slammed a two-run dinger in the fifth frame and shortstop Barry Jamieson clouted another two-run shot in the following stanza, both circuit-jacks coming off Anderson. Jamieson added a double and single to his tater while Lowes had a one-bagger to go along with his round-tripper. Brian Purcha contributed two singles to the Blazers’ 11-hit attack. Doug McPhail and Ron Ramsey cracked two safeties each for the Red Sox with Ramsey’s brace of swats including an RBI-double.

D. Anderson (L), Ramsey (7), Labossiere (8) and Young
Kaupla (W) and Lowes

(September 7)  The hosting Hamiota Red Sox scored four times in their opening turn at bat and went on to defeat the McAuley Blazers 7 to 5 to even the MSBL finals at a game apiece. Veteran right-hander Glennis Scott plugged along for the complete-game pitching win by fanning four and yielding seven hits while losing chucker Ross Lynd, who also went all the way, was raked for a dozen safe swats. Scott’s trek was made more difficult as his mates committed five errors behind him. Hamiota’s Bob Caldwell drilled a pair of run-scoring singles while teammate Mike Labossiere slugged a bases-empty four-bagger. Brian Purcha launched a solo circuit-clout for McAuley. 

R. Lynd (L) and Lowes
Scott (W) and Young

(September 9)  The Hamiota Red Sox put a halt to McAuley pitcher Danny Kaupla’s playoff winning streak as they surprised the hometown Blazers with a 4 to 2 victory. The Crimson Hose win vaulted them into a 2 – 1 lead in the best-of-five final series. The Blazers scored singletons in each of the third and fourth chapters and carried a 2 – 0 lead after seven spasms. In the eighth, an up-to-then stagnant Hamiota offense came alive for a three-spot on a muffed fielder’s choice at the plate, Mel Smith’s run-scoring double and an RBI-single off the bat of Mike Labossiere. They added another insurance counter in the ninth when Doug McPhail’s sacrifice fly scored Bob Caldwell from third base. Labossiere was summoned to the knoll in relief of winning chucker Dennis Anderson in the ninth, bailing him out of a two-on, none-out jam with a ground-ball double play to earn a well-deserved save. The Sox had nine base knocks off Kaupla while McAuley’s seven hits all came off the slants of Anderson in his eight innings plus of mound toil.

D. Anderson (W), Labossiere (9) and Young
Kaupla (L) and Lowes

(September 11)  The McAuley Blazers deadlocked the best-of-five MSBL final series at two games each by squeezing out a narrow 5 to 4 win over the hometown Hamiota Red Sox. The game. delayed 25 minutes in getting started due to rain, was called after eight innings because of darkness. The Red Sox had a slight 6 to 5 edge in base hits but were hurt badly by untimely errors. Jon Langston outduelled Glennis Scott for the knoll decision, both heavers going the distance. Neither team was able to run across a tally in the first three innings. Over the course of the middle three frames, each club scored three times. The seventh stanza was scoreless but, in the top-of-the-eighth, a dropped fly-ball, two singles, a walk and a brace of sacrifices netted the Blazers a deuce. The Scarlet Stockings put on a last-gasp rally in their half of the canto, narrowing the gap to a single tally when Brent Montague doubled home Mike Labossiere with two out but Langston ended the uprising by punching out Jeff Sheardown.  

Langston (W) and Lowes
Scott (L) and Young

(September 14)  Before a record-shattering 1,000 fans from the McAuley-Moosomin vicinity who decided to forgo harvesting operations, their beloved Blazers downed the Hamiota Red Sox 6 to 1 to capture the 1975 Manitoba Senior Baseball League championship. The crowd wasn’t held in suspense long as Wayne Poole blasted a two-run homer off Hamiota starter and loser Dennis Anderson in the first inning. McAuley stretched their lead to 4 – 0 in the second stanza as Anderson was given the hook in favor of Glennis Scott. Bob Young got the Red Sox on the scoreboard in the third inning with a solo homer off winning pitcher Danny Kaupla but the Blazers took command with two more runs in the fifth. Kaupla won for the sixth time in the playoffs against one defeat, by giving up seven hits, walking one and punching out nine. Anderson was nicked for five of the nine McAuley safeties. Brian Purcha had three singles for the winners while Terry Lynd delivered a double and single. Brian Lindsay added two singles. Young, who added a brace of one-baggers to his goner, and Mike Labossiere, with two singles, were the only Hamiota batters with more than one hit. 

D. Anderson (L), Scott (2) and Young
Kaupla (W) and Lowes

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INTERLAKE BASEBALL LEAGUE

NORTH DIVISION
Inwood : 
Lundar Falcons : 
Oak Point : 
St. Laurent Rams :                                   
Woodlands :

SOUTH DIVISION
Balmoral Orioles : 
Grosse Isle : 
Teulon Whips : 
Warren :

FINAL STANDINGS

NORTH DIVISION          W      L      T     Pts.
Lundar                 12      1      1      25
St. Laurent            10      4      1      21
Oak Point               6       8     1      13
Inwood                  5       8     0      10
Woodlands               2      12     1       5

SOUTH DIVISION          W      L      T     Pts.
Warren                 11      2      2      24
Balmoral                7       5     2      16
Grosse Isle             5       9     0      10
Teulon                  4      12     0       8

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SOUTH-CENTRAL (EAST) BASEBALL LEAGUE 

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

PLAYOFFS
SEMI-FINALS  (best-of-three series)

(July 23 & 25)  The Glenboro Canucks advanced to the finals of the S.C.B.L. by defeating the Carberry Royals in two straight games, 4 to 3 on July 23 and 12 to 7 at the Carberry ball park on July 25. Al Hurton and Chuck Hilhorst were the winning pitchers.

FINALS

(August 1)  The Glenboro Canucks, behind the strong hurling of lefthander Chuck Hilhorst, jumped into a one-game lead in the best-of-three S.C.B.L. finals by edging the pennant-winning Cypress River nine 1 to 0. Rich Christie drove in Hilhorst with the only run of the game with a timely two-base hit off losing heaver Rene Aubry in the fifth frame.

(August 6)  Riding high on the home run bat of catcher Don Hurton, the Glenboro Canucks stormed their way to their third straight South-Central Baseball League title when they stopped a determined Cypress River aggregation by a 3 to 1 count. Hurton delivered a two-run circuit-jack in the third canto to give winning tosser Chuck Hilhorst all the runs he needed to record his third playoff win. 

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SOUTH-CENTRAL (WEST) BASEBALL LEAGUE

Brandon Kiwanis Bisons : 
Elgin Cubs :     
Killarney : 
Wawanesa Orioles : 

PLAYOFFS
FINALS

(August 16)  The Brandon Kiwanis Bisons edged the Egin Cubs 9 to 7 at Kinsmen Stadium to win the 1975 South-Central Baseball League championship, The victory was Brandon’s second straight in the best-of-three series. Gary Kaluzniak received credit for the pitching win, going 8-1/3 innings and allowing all seven runs on 13 hits. Blaine Peterson relieved in the ninth and struck out the two batters he faced.

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MANITOBA INTERMEDIATE BASEBALL LEAGUE

Giroux Athletics : 
Sanford Mallards : 
Teulon Cardinals : 
Woodland Braves : 

(June 17) Gordie Leduchowski fired a no-hitter at Giroux as Teulon Cardinals edged Woodridge Braves 1-0 on a home run by Ron Jaremy. In the seven inning game Leduchowski struck out six and walked two. Teulon collected just two hits off losing hurler Barry Dupre. Jaremy had both hits.

Final Standings      W     L     T    Pts.
Teulon Cardinals     9     3     0     18
Giroux Athletics     8     3     1     17
Woodridge Braves     3     8     1      7
Sanford Mallards     3     9     0      6  

(August 30-31 – September 1)  Western Canada Intermediate Championship

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MANITOBA JUNIOR BASEBALL LEAGUE

Carman Goldeyes : 
Earl Grey Barons :
Legion #141 : 
River East Raiders : 
St. Boniface Legionnaires : 
Transcona Jaycees : 

There were no inter-league playoffs administered by the Manitoba Baseball Association in 1975 to determine a senior-level champion as the MSBL was ceded that title.
    
However, two double-knockout intermediate-level tournaments were held in early August, a five-team event at Cypress River and a four-entry affair at Elgin, which reduced the entrants to two, both of whom qualified for the western Canada championships in Watrous SK on the Labor Day weekend.

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M.B.A. INTERMEDIATE PLAYDOWNS

CYPRESS RIVER ELIMINATION TOURNAMENT

Interlake League All-Stars
Coulter
Morden
South-Central League – East
Santa Clara All-Stars

ELGIN ELIMINATION TOURNAMENT

Teulon Cardinals (Manitoba Intermediate Baseball League)
Elgin Cubs (South-Central League – West)
Cartwright-Mather
Waskada Orioles

(August 9-10)  In separate tournaments held over the weekend, the Teulon Cardinals of the Manitoba Intermediate Baseball League and the South-Central (East) Baseball League All-Stars won the right to represent Manitoba at the western Canada intermediate baseball championships. 
    
Playing at Cypress River, the South-Central (East) League all-stars breezed through the five-entry double-knockout tournament unbeaten, hammering Santa Clara 20 to 4 in the final.

A bracket
South-Central  8 - Morden  5
Santa Clara  7 - Coulter  5
South-Central  6  - Interlake  4
South-Central  14 - Santa Clara  7

B bracket
Coulter  8 - Morden  3
Coulter  12 - Interlake  10
Santa Clara  8 - Coulter  0

A – B final
South-Central  20 - Santa Clara  4 

Meanwhile at Elgin, the Teulon Cardinals of the MIBL were similarly successful, stopping Waskada 5 to 3 in the showdown match.  

A bracket
Waskada  8 - Elgin  2
Teulon  9  - Cartwright-Mather  1
Teulon  8 - Waskada  3

B bracket
Cartwright-Mather  11 - Elgin  9
Waskada  3 - Cartwright-Mather  0

A – B final
Teulon  8 - Waskada  3 

 

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