As the Saskatchewan Major Baseball League was about to embark upon its sophomore campaign, a couple of surprise developments surfaced.
The Swift Current Indians requested, and were granted, a one year leave of absence, thereby reducing the number of franchises from six to five. Along with that decision came the announcement from long-term Saskatoon baseball enthusiast and promoter Spero Leakos that he was withdrawing his Boston Royals from the league and had folded the team. The SMBL moguls moved quickly to replace the Royals as it was unanimously acknowledged that a club from the Hub City was an absolute necessity in order for the loop to operate during 1976. The Saskatoon Cals of the Long Lake Intermediate A Baseball League were asked to fill the void created by the Royals sudden departure. The Cals’ management rose to the challenge and readily accepted the request to step up in competition and join the loop.
With no regular statistician during the inaugural season of 1975, the SMBL schedule got terribly out of whack so, by season’s end, no one seemed certain exactly where some of the teams belonged in the standings. To rectify that problem, the league hired a statistician for the 1976 campaign.
Weather permitting, each of the five member clubs is scheduled to play 26 league games and when the regular season ends, four of them will make the playoffs. Import restrictions remain the same as last year. Eston and Unity are allowed four each while the other three clubs are limited to two apiece. Only one member team, the Saskatoon Cals, announced their intention to utilize Saskatchewan players only and declined to bring in any American imports.
1976 SMBL Game Reports
(May 30) Following two unsuccessful attempts to open the 1976 SMBL season, both foiled by rain, the Moose Jaw Devons were the first team to get out of the gate and post a win, defeating the newcomers from Saskatoon, the Cals, 5 to 1 at Ross Park in the Friendly City. Second baseman Rick Johnson’s three-run double in the opening frame proved to be the difference and supplied the Devons with all the counters they would need to triumph. Winning twirler Tim Hengen went six innings on the hill, striking out three, walking four and surrendering all five Saskatoon hits. Dick Hanson, the Cals’ playing-manager, tossed seven and a third stanzas and was nailed with the loss. He fanned five, walked three, hit one batter and was nicked for six safeties. No player on either team was able to register more than one base hit. Other than Johnson’s two-bagger, the only other extra-base blows in this contest were mustered up by Ken Neff of the Devons and Bram Wonko of the Cals. Both had doubles.
Hengen (W), Heisler (7) and Devine
D. Hanson (L), Boryski (8) and Sapieha, Woronuik (8)
(May 31) The Regina Red Sox overcame an early three-run deficit and struck for seven runs in the third inning as they went on to thump the Moose Jaw Devons 9 to 4 in a game at Currie Field that was interrupted twice by intermittent showers. Veteran left-hander Randy Sawa of the Red Sox, who has seen very limited mound action during the past couple of seasons because of an ailing shoulder, returned to the fold and looked promising in his five innings on the hill, fanning seven along the way while giving up three hits and issuing five walks. Reliever Marde Gideon, a long, tall Texan, was impressive in his four frames of fireman duty, allowing only a lone Moose Jaw batter to reach base and that as a result of a walk. Devons’ new second sacker, Rick Johnson, cranked a three-run circuit clout in the first inning. Rich Gergley and Gideon both hammered two-run round-trippers for the Scarlet Stockings. Andy Logan drove in the other brace of Regina runs with a double.
Andrie (L), Devine (5), Hennenfent (6) and Devine, Schwab (5)
Sawa (W), Gideon (6) and Logan
(June 2) Don McIntyre hit and pitched the hometown Unity Cardinals to a 7 to 4 victory over the Eston Ramblers in SMBL action. The game was the first of the season for both teams. McIntyre picked up the hill triumph with the aid of relief help from Doug O’Brien in the fifth inning. He also drilled two doubles for the Redbirds off losing chucker Gorman Heimueller. The Cards collected 10 hits while the Wanderers responded with seven. Reg Andrew wielded the hottest stick for the Nomads as he picked up a double and single. Heimueller added a brace of one-baggers.
Heimueller (L) and Morrice
McIntyre (W), O’Brien (5) and Wilburn
(June 5) Behind the solid nine-hit pitching of veteran left-hander Bob Currie, the visiting Regina Red Sox hung a 5 to 3 defeat on the Eston Ramblers. The Queen City portsider received plenty of offensive support at the plate. Playing-manager Doug Simon lashed three singles while Ross Mahoney and Rich Gergley both hit a brace of one-baggers. Bill Bell delivered a key double for the Sox which produced two runs. Neil McMillan went the route for the Ramblers and was nailed with the loss.
Currie (W) and xxx
McMillan (L) and xxx
(June 6) The defending SMBL champion Eston Ramblers rebounded from a loss the previous evening to take both ends of a double-dip from the Saskatoon Cals, trouncing the Bridge City Boys 11 to 3 in the opener and following that up with another shellacking, this time by a 12 to 2 margin. In the matinee game, Eston’s Randy Arthur scattered eight hits to earn the win. Loser Jim Elliot of the Cals was given the hook in the second frame after encountering serious control problems. The Nomads collected but six hits from the offerings of three Saskatoon pitchers as many of their batters reached base via the free pass route. Rod McIvor had a home run for the winners.
Elliot (L), Boryski (2), D. Hanson (5) and xxx
Arthur (W) and xxx
Robert Murphy, one of the Ramblers’ four imports, turned in an impressive three-hit, route-going mound performance in the second game. He was supported by the heavy hitting of his teammates as they roughed up three Saskatoon pitchers for 11 hits. Hub City starter Lloyd Guenther was nailed with the defeat. Gorman Heimueller hit a two-run homer for Eston as well as a double and single. Teammate Rick Morrice also nailed a dinger.
Guenther (L), D. Hanson (3), Boryski (5) and xxx
Murphy (W) and xxx
(June 6) The Regina Red Sox three-game winning streak was snapped by the homestanding Unity Cardinals in the second game of a weekend twin-bill. The Reginans picked up their third win of the campaign by taking the ten inning opener 2 to 0 but the U-Birds came back to capture the nightcap by a 7 to 5 count. Singles by Ross Mahoney and Gerry Fellner in the extra frame gave the Crimson Hose their first-game victory. Randy Sawa scattered eight hits in picking up his second pitching win of the season. Mahoney, Fellner, Doug Simon and Jim Paisley each hit a pair of singles off losing pitcher Mike Farris.
Sawa (W) and xxx
McIntyre, Farris (L) (9) and xxx
The key blow in the second game was a two-run homer by Gord Johnson of the Cards in the third inning. Ed Ralston stroked a two-bagger for the winners while Bob Brown and Gary Wilburn both singled twice. Doug O’Brien went the distance on the hill for Unity to capture the win over Regina’s Brian Fedyk.
Fedyk (L), Kit (5) and xxx
O’Brien (W) and xxx
(June 8) The Regina Red Sox scored five runs in the fifth inning and went on to drub the Moose Jaw Devons 8 to 1 in SMBL action at Ross Park in the Mill City. The win, Regina’s fourth against only one defeat, increased the Red Sox’ lead atop the SMBL standings to one full game over the Unity Cardinals. The Crimson Hose fifth-inning splurge broke open a 3 to 1 ball game. The key blows were doubles by Andy Logan and Jerry Zrymiak. Logan also cracked a pair of singles during the course of the evening. Zrymiak had a one-bagger to go along with his double while Bill Bell contributed a pair of singles. Both hurlers, winner Marde Gideon of the Sox and loser Rod Heisler of the Devons, went the distance on the mound. Gideon gave up four hits, issued four free passes and struck out nine. Heisler yielded nine hits, gave up seven bases on balls and managed eight strikeouts. Gary Erfle hit a triple for the Devons.
Gideon (W) and Logan
Heisler (L) and Devine
(June 9) The frustrations continued for the youthful Saskatoon Cals as they dropped a 15 to 7 decision to the Regina Red Sox at Currie Field. It was the fourth defeat in as many SMBL starts for the Saskatonians. Both teams provided plenty of offensive strength as the Sox pounded out 15 base hits while the Cals responded with eleven. Regina’s Andy Logan set the tone for the game as he smashed an opening-inning three-run homer. Later in the game, he added a single. Jim Paisley also had a circuit clout and a single for the Red Stockings. Jerry Zrymiak added a pair of doubles and a single while Doug Simon and Rich Gergley both contributed two singles and a double. Losing chucker Jim Elliot of the Cals had a four-bagger and a single while teammate Gary Hollman singled three times. Bob Currie started the game on the hill for Regina but failed to pick up the win as he gave way to the eventual winner, Wade Wanner, after four innings.
Elliot (L), Mortenson (8) and Sapieha
Currie, Wanner (W) (5), Kit (7), Paisley (8) and Logan
(June 9) Both pitchers were in top form as the Eston Ramblers came away with a narrow 1 to 0 victory over the Unity Cardinals in an SMBL game played in Eston. Gorman Heimueller of the Wanderers and Mike Farris of the Redbirds locked horns in a tight joust which saw the Eston left-hander emerge the winner. The Cards stroked five hits while the Nomads came up with four. Heimueller plated the game’s lone run in the seventh when he doubled and was driven in by Rod McIvor.
Farris (L) and xxx
Heimueller (W) and xxx
(June 11) It took the Saskatoon Cals a while to pick up their first SMBL win but the paying patrons at Cairns Field got their money’s worth as the rookie-laden Hub City squad took the defending league champion Eston Ramblers to the brink and finally prevailed 13 to 12 in 13 innings. Not only was it the first win for the Cals but also their first home game after dropping their first four games on the road. Trailing 11 to 7 as they approached their last official turn at bat in the bottom of the ninth, the Cals picked up an unearned run to narrow the gap to three and then tied the match when Eston centre fielder Gorman Heimueller unsuccessfully attempted to make a shoestring catch on infielder Gary Hollman’s bases-loaded sinking line drive. As the ball bounced past Heimueller, all three runners crossed the plate to knot the count and send the game into extra innings. The game was decided in the bottom of the fourth extra-frame as Eston pitcher Robert Murphy was facing Scott Woronuik at the plate with Bram Wonko on third base and one out. The Eston import hurler picked an untimely place to unload a wild pitch and Wonko raced home with the run that finally ended the ball game. Tom Boryski, the fourth Saskatoon pitcher, was credited with the win. The Cals collected a total of 16 hits off a trio of Rambler chuckers. Ken Loehndorf, Dave Korol, Jim Elliot and playing-manager Dick Hanson each had a single and double to pace the Bridge City attack. Murphy had a two-run homer in the fourth to go along with a double and single in leading the Nomads at the platter.
McMillan, Arthur (4), Murphy (L) (9) and Morrice, McDonald
D. Hanson, Mortenson (5), Boryski (W) (11) and Sapieha, Woronuik
SMBL standings as of end of June 11
W L Pct. GBL
Regina Red Sox 5 1 .833 ---
Unity Cardinals 2 1 .667 1 1/2
Eston Ramblers 2 3 .400 2 1/2
Moose Jaw Devons 1 2 .333 2 1/2
Saskatoon Cals 1 4 .200 3 1/2
(June 12) After registering their initial SMBL victory, the Saskatoon Cals were quickly jolted back into reality as they played more than hospitable hosts and were thrashed 14 to 1 by the Regina Red Sox. Things started off badly for the Cals and never got much better as the evening progressed. Red Sox catcher Andy Logan drilled a grand slam homer in the first inning to push the Saskatonians into a big hole. Logan later clouted a two-run double in the second frame and added another two-base hit in the fourth inning before being ejected from the game while a baserunner. Playing-manager Doug Simon also rang up the Saskatoon pitching for three safeties, garnering two doubles and a single. The Redlegs used three pitchers as Simon decided to give his mound staff a workout. Bob Currie, the second hurler to take the mound for Regina, threw three innings and got credit for the win. The young Cals were out hit by the Sox 14 to 3.
Gideon , Currie (W) (3), Kit (6) and Logan, Bell (4)
Boryski (L), Adams (3), Elliot (5) and Sapieha
(June 13) The Moose Jaw Devons couldn’t find the scoreboard in either game as the hometown Unity Cardinals swept a doubleheader from the Packers by scores of 3 to 0 and 6 to 0. Although out hitting their hosts 7 to 6, the Mill City visitors couldn’t string their hits together and fell victim to a three-run Unity fourth inning which proved to be decisive in the opener. The Unity infield played air-tight defense, successfully handling three double plays. Middle infielders Rick Johnson and Ned Andreoni of the Devons both singled twice off winning chucker Don McIntyre. The Unity hurler collected an RBI double to help his own cause.
Hengen (L) and xxx
McIntyre (W) and xxx
The Cardinals rocked Devons’ starter and loser John Davidson for five first-inning runs in the nightcap. Moose Jaw bats were silenced as Unity pitcher Rod Gehring gave up but one hit, a Rod Heisler single, in recording the Redbird’s second shutout of the day. The Cards weren’t exactly potent at the dish either, recording only four base hits, but loose fielding by the visitors aided their scoring. Glen Miller had a brace of hits for the Cards.
Davidson (L), Schroeder (2) and xxx
Gehring (W) and xxx
(June 13) Playing a double-dip in Eston, the visiting Regina Red Sox dropped a razor thin 1 to 0 opening game to the Ramblers but hung on to take the second contest 8 to 7 for a split of the day’s proceedings. Gorman Heimueller tossed his second consecutive 1 to 0 shutout as the Ramblers edged by the Sox in the opener. The Red Stockings had an ample number of baserunners but all eleven were left stranded. Heimueller surrendered five hits and fanned seven. Complete game loser Bob Currie gave up just three hits and whiffed five. The Ramblers’ run was scored in the second inning when Heimueller reached base after Currie plunked him. He later came in to touch home on a single by Randy Arthur.
Currie (L) and xxx
Heimueller (W) and xxx
The Red Sox broke a 7 – 7 tie in the top of the ninth, scoring once, to eke out the second game triumph. A leadoff walk turned into the lead run following a two-base error. The Ramblers out hit the visitors 12 to 9. Both teams had one home run. Don Peters connected for Eston and had a single to go along with it. Robert Murphy, Greg Goldade and Gorman Heimueller each had a double and single.
Gideon, Wanner (W) (2) and xxx
Widlund (L) and xxx
(June 16) The Eston Ramblers had little trouble disposing of the Saskatoon Cals 8 to 0 in SMBL action at Cairns Field. Randy Arthur scattered five hits and struck out nine to record the shutout pitching win. Jim Elliot, the first of three Saskatoon pitchers, took the loss. The Ramblers scored once in the first inning and, as things turned out, the rest of the contest was a mere formality. Don Peters was the big hitter for Eston with a double and two singles while outfielder Gorman Heimueller added three singles. Veteran Greg Goldade chipped in with a brace of one-baggers. Third baseman Bram Wonko was the lone Saskatoon player to manage two singles.
Arthur (W) and Morrice
Elliot (L), Boryski (8), Coates (9) and Sapieha, Woronuik (9)
(June 19) The Moose Jaw Devons delighted a hometown crowd with a 4 to 2 triumph over the Unity Cardinals. Two import pitchers led the Devons to victory. John Davidson was credited with the win with relief help from Tim Schroeder. Doug O’Brien took the loss for Unity. Gary Erfle had two singles for Moose Jaw while Brad Devine had a double. Mike Farris and Randy Munch had two singles apiece for the Redbirds while Bob Brown hit a two-bagger.
O’Brien (L) and Wilburn
Davidson (W), Schroeder (7) and Devine
(June 19) The visiting Eston Ramblers edged the first-place Regina Red Sox 6 to 5 at Currie Field. A rash of Red Sox fielding miscues, wild pitches and walks in the eighth inning allowed the Ramblers to claw their way back into this game from a 5 to 1 deficit and overtake their hosts for the victory. Doug Overbo, a returning Red Sox import from Crosby, North Dakota, had limited the Wanderers to three hits through the first seven innings while the defense had played impeccably. After Overbo gave up back-to-back singles in the eighth, he was promptly removed for relief ace Marde Gideon. Although he didn’t surrender any hits, Gideon give up a pair of walks which, combined with three errors by the suddenly nervous Regina infield, led to five Eston runs. The shaken Red Sox, who had touched Nomads’ pitcher Gorman Heimueller for 11 hits in the first seven innings, failed to mount a serious threat after that. Gerry Fellner and Andy Logan both had two hits for Regina, with each connecting for homers.
Heimueller (W) and Morrice
Overbo, Gideon (L) (8) and Logan
(June 20) The Regina Red Sox, current penthouse occupants of the SMBL, had to settle for a split in a Sunday doubleheader with the runner-up Unity Cardinals. The Red Stockings took the opener 4 to 1 but dropped the nightcap 2 to 1. The Crimson Hose rode the four-hit pitching of Wade Wanner in taking the initial encounter. Losing chucker Mike Farris was lit up for nine Queen City hits. Gerry Fellner accounted for three of those, all singles while catcher Andy Logan hit a double and single. Second sacker Jim Paisley singled twice.
Farris (L) and xxx
Wanner (W) and Logan
Glen Miller scored what proved to be the winning run for the U-Birds in the second game by stealing home in the sixth inning. The crafty manoeuvre occurred when Red Sox backstop, Andy Logan, attempted to throw out the Cards’ playing-manager Gary Wilburn who was in full flight from first on his way to the keystone sack. Rod Gehring picked up the win for the Redbirds, surrendering seven hits, one less than losing pitcher Bob Currie.
Gehring (W) and xxx
Currie (L) and Logan
(June 20) The Moose Jaw Devons turned back the Eston Ramblers 6 to 5 in the matinee game of a SMBL twin-bill but had to divide the day’s spoils as the visitors came back to salvage a split with an extra-inning 9 to 8 triumph in follow-up match. In the first game, Moose Jaw pushed across the winning run in the seventh inning. Tim Schroeder earned the win for the Devons in relief of starter Rod Heisler. Import Robert Murphy struck out eleven in going the distance for Eston and suffered the loss. Gorman Heimueller hit a solo home run for the Nomads while Heisler connected with a two-run shot for the winners.
Murphy (L) and Morrice
Heisler, Schroeder (W) (5) and Devine
Import Don Peters of the Ramblers wielded the big bat in the high-scoring second affair. Peters tripled home the winning counter in the tenth inning and also blasted a circuit-dinger plus a single. Losing chucker Rod Heisler, the last of a quartet of Devon hurlers, hit a solo home run for the Mill City crew, his second tater of the day. Don Widlund picked up the complete game win for Eston. Reg Andrew drove in four runs for the winners with a double and single. Brad Hennenfent came away with a double and two singles for the Devons while outfielder Jim Baba laced a triple to go along with an RBI single.
Widlund (W) and Morrice
Hengen, Davidson (6), Andrie (7), Heisler (L) (9) and Devine
SMBL standings as of end of June 20
W L Pct. GBL
Regina Red Sox 8 4 .667 ---
Unity Cardinals 5 3 .625 1
Eston Ramblers 6 5 .545 1 1/2
Moose Jaw Devons 3 5 .375 3
Saskatoon Cals 1 6 .143 4 1/2
(June 29) Following a long layoff, the Saskatoon Cals returned to SMBL action but found the wheels rusty and made numerous defensive mistakes as the visiting Unity Cardinals pummelled them 12 to 1 at Cairns Field. Eight fielding miscues and ten bases on balls by four Saskatoon pitchers were the only advantage that the Cards needed to romp to the victory. Import Mike Farris, the first of three Unity pitchers, went five relatively easy innings to pick up the pitching win for the Redbirds. The U-Bird trio limited the youthful Cals to two base hits. Loser Roy Kemp made his first SMBL start and worked four innings before being driven to the showers. Unity’s eight-hit offense was paced by Glen Miller who picked up two singles and a double. Bob Brown had a triple and single while Gary Wilburn stroked two singles.
Farris (W), Gehring (6), Schwartz (8) and Wilburn
Kemp (L), Andreen (5), Guenther (8), Warwick (9) and Woronuik
(June 29) The Regina Red Sox dumped the Moose Jaw Devons 10 to 3 in SMBL action at Moose Jaw’s Ross Park. The Scarlet Stockings were behind 3 to 0 after giving up trio of unearned runs in the third-inning but then their bats started booming and and it was only a matter of time until the rout began. Gerry Fellner hit a two-run homer in the fifth, Andy Logan clubbed a solo shot in the seventh, Bill Bell launched a two-run circuit blast in the eighth and Doug Simon added a three-run dinger in the ninth. Jim Paisley added two singles. For Moose Jaw, losing twirler Rod Heisler hit a double. Marde Gideon, the second of three Capital City chuckers, was credited with the mound win.
Currie, Gideon (W) (3), Sawa (6) and Logan
Heisler (L), Schroeder (7) and Devine
(July 4) A pair of shutout wins was the prize as the Regina Red Sox, top dogs in the SMBL, twice laid waste to the circuit’s whipping boys, the Saskatoon Cals, at Currie Field by 3 to 0 and 2 to 0 counts. Veteran Regina left-hander Randy Sawa, touted to be washed up only two years ago following an injury, showed great presence on the hill and threw a seven-inning, first-game no-hitter against the young Cals squad. Jim Paisley’s two-run double in the third inning turned out to be all the run support that Sawa would need. Losing pitcher Lloyd Guenther looked good in tossing a three-hitter but not-so-good when compared to Sawa’s performance.
Guenther (L) and xxx
Sawa (W) and Logan
As if by cue in the second game, import pitcher Marde Gideon of the Sox picked up where Sawa left off as the lanky portsider struck out 13 en route to another whitewash. The Cals managed five hits off Gideon but were never able to put them together to score any runs. Gideon showed more than just pitching ability. Nursing a 1 to 0 lead following a solo home run by Bill Bell in the third inning, Gideon put the lid on a little tighter by launching a towering blast over the left field fence. Both homers were served up by Lyle Johnson who went the distance for Saskatoon, allowing six hits. Johnson played for the Red Sox last season and was an integral part of their pitching staff.
Johnson (L) and xxx
Gideon (W) and xxx
(July 4) One run made the difference in each of the Moose Jaw Devons’ games as the homestanding Eston Ramblers came up with 1 to 0 and 4 to 3 victories in SMBL play. A sixth inning bases-empty home run by the Nomads’ was the only scoring in the tightly contested opener. Devons managed just three hits, two of which were garnered by losing twirler Tim Schroeder. The Wanderers accumulated six safeties.
Schroeder (L) and xxx
xxx (W) and xxx
The second encounter was equally close. With the Ramblers leading 3 to 1 in the seventh inning, Moose Jaw’s Brad Devine narrowed the differential to a single counter when he clouted a solo four-bagger. But, that was as close as the visitors got. Eston had ten base hits off the slants of losing hurler Rod Heisler while the Devons responded with nine.
Heisler (L) and xxx
xxx (W) and xxx
(July 6) The visiting Regina Red Sox exploded for seven runs in the third inning en route to a 15 to 5 triumph over the Moose Jaw Devons in SMBL action. Seven Moose Jaw errors and 15 base hits by the Red Sox told the story. Winning pitcher Wade Wanner stroked two singles while Jerry Zrymiak and Rich Gergley both had two-run doubles in the third-inning outburst. Rod Heisler blasted a bases-empty circuit-jack for the Devons.
Wanner (W) and Bell
Rubino (L), Andrie (4) and Devine
(July 6) Eight Saskatoon errors in addition to ten bases on balls were the gifts showered upon the Unity Cardinals as they visited Cairns Field and were virtually handed a 13 to 7 win over the cellar-dwelling Cals. The homesters actually held a 4 to 1 lead after two innings until the roof fell in. Import Rod Gehring was the winning pitcher for Unity. He entered the game in relief of starter Les Schwartz in the second inning after Schwartz was sent to the showers because of control problems. Playing-manager Dick Hanson started on the hill for the Cals and was painted with the loss. Mike Farris was the big offensive push for the U-Birds. He unloaded a solo homer in the first inning and later added a double and single. Byron Merkowsky added a double and single for the Cardinals. Cal Thompson, Al Sapieha and Jim Elliot each managed to single twice for the losers.
Schwartz, Gehring (W) (1) and Wilburn
Hanson (L), Boryski (4), Elliot (6) and Sapieha
(July 7) Standings and statistics released this date by the Saskatchewan Major Baseball League as of and including games of July 6 follow:
SMBL standings as of end of July 6
W L Pct. GBL
Regina Red Sox 12 4 .750 ---
Eston Ramblers 9 5 .643 2
Unity Cardinals 7 4 .636 2 1/2
Moose Jaw Devons 3 9 .250 7
Saskatoon Cals 1 10 .091 8 1/2
Leading Pitchers
W L
Wade Wanner (Regina Red Sox) 3 0
Randy Arthur (Eston Ramblers) 3 0
Randy Sawa (Regina Red Sox) 2 0
Rod Gehring (Unity Cardinals) 2 0
Don McIntyre (Unity Cardinals) 2 0
Leading Hitters
AB H Avg.
Don Peters (Eston Ramblers) 32 15 .468
Andy Logan (Regina Red Sox) 47 19 .404
Rich Gergley (Regina Red Sox) 40 15 .375
Gorman Heimueller (Eston Ramblers) 50 18 .360
Doug Simon (Regina Red Sox) 50 18 .360
Rick Johnson (Moose Jaw Devons) 37 13 .351
Gerry Fellner (Regina Red Sox) 49 17 .346
Gary Erfle (Moose Jaw Devons) 41 12 .292
Gary Wilburn (Unity Cardinals 35 10 .285
Jim Paisley (Regina Red Sox) 36 10 .277
(July 7) The first-place Regina Red Sox romped to an early 8 to 0 lead and staved off a late rally by the Saskatoon Cals to post a 13 to 7 victory in an error-filled SMBL contest at Cairns Field. Bob Currie, the first of three Regina pitchers, gained credit for the win. He pitched the first seven innings, striking out five, walking one and allowing three Saskatoon runs on seven hits. The Cals sent four chuckers to the hill in an attempt to quell the Regina offensive thrust. Starter Roy Kemp, who failed to get out of the third frame, suffered the loss. Bill Bell was the big hitter for the Red Sox, leading their 13-hit attack with four singles. Rich Gergley added a double and single for the Redlegs. Ross Mahoney and Jerry Zrymiak each added a brace of one-baggers. Bram Wonko was the Cals’ top offensive threat with three singles and a double while driving in three runs. Cal Thompson added a pair of singles.
Currie (W), Kit (8), Gideon (8) and Bell
Kemp (L), Mortenson (3), Coates (5), Guenther (9) and Sapieha
(July 8) The Unity Cardinals took down the visiting Eston Ramblers 7 to 3 in SMBL action. In spite of being lit up for 16 safeties by the hard-hitting Eston nine, the Unity pitching tandem which included winner Doug O’Brien, fanned 13 along the way and were able to prevent the big hits with runners in scoring position.. Eston starter Gorman Heimueller, driven from the hill in the third inning, took the loss. Gary Wilburn had three hits for Unity to lead their eight-hit offense. For the Ramblers, Don Peters and Randy Arthur both stroked three hits while Heimueller contributed two.
Heimueller (L), McMillan (3), Cavanah (7) and Morrice
McDonald, O’Brien (4) (W) and Wilburn
(July 13) Three costly errors by the Moose Jaw Devons in the 11th inning allowed the Saskatoon Cals to score two runs and take a 7 to 6 SMBL victory. The Devons had scored in the top of the 11th to take a short-lived 6 to 5 lead. Saskatoon had overcome an early 4 to 0 deficit with a four-run outburst in the eighth inning. Tom Boryski was the winning pitcher in relief of Lloyd Guenther. Moose Jaw’s Tony Rubino, who entered the game in the eighth in relief of starter Tim Hengen, suffered the loss. Cal Thompson and Ken Loehndorf had two singles each for Saskatoon while Tim Schroeder had three base hits for Moose Jaw. It was the second win in 13 starts for the Cals and moved them to within one game of fourth-place Moose Jaw.
Hengen, Rubino (L) (8) and Devine
Guenther, Boryski (W) (8) and Sapieha
(July 15) The Unity Cardinals swamped the Saskatoon Cals 13 to 0 in SMBL play in Unity. The Redbirds cruised to victory, piling up 15 base hits while the overmatched Cals committed ten errors. The Cals managed six hits off winning pitcher Don McIntyre. Dick Hanson, the playing-manager of the youthful Hub City squad, started on the mound and was nailed with the loss.
D. Hanson (L), xxx and xxx
McIntyre (W) and xxx
(July 16) The Moose Jaw Devons tripped the visiting Regina Red Sox 2 to 1 to record their first win over the Queen City squad this season. With the score tied 1 – 1 in the bottom of the ninth inning, Brad Hennenfent doubled and was advanced to third on an infield out by winning pitcher Rod Heisler. Gary Erfle then drilled a single over second base off loser Bob Currie to plate Hennenfent with the winning tally.
Gideon, Currie (L) (7) and Logan, Bell (7)
Heisler (W) and Devine
(July 16) Playing in a makeup game, the hometown Eston Ramblers defeated the Unity Cardinals 4 to 1. No game details or batteries were printed in newspapers from either town.
xxx (L) and xxx
xxx (W) and xxx
(July 17) The Moose Jaw Devons never trailed as they downed the Eston Ramblers 8 to 5 in a SMBL game at Ross Park. The Devons led 7 to 1 going into the seventh inning when Eston rallied for four runs but that was as close as the Nomads would come.
xxx (L) and xxx
Heisler (W) and xxx
(July 18) The Eston Ramblers bounced back from a slim 2 to 1 defeat in the opener of a SMBL doubleheader with the Regina Red Sox and drubbed their hosts 11 to 4 in the follow-up game. The Red Sox seven hit offense in the matinee game wasn’t much to rave about but the stellar pitching performance of Wade Wanner was. With one exception, he handcuffed the Eston power bats, limiting the Ramblers to five hits while striking out eight. Import Gorman Heimueller of the Wanderers spoiled Wanner’s shutout bid with a two-out, solo homer in the third inning. With the score knotted at 1 – 1 in the sixth frame, the Scarlet Stockings plated what turned out to be the winning marker. Doug Simon belted a one-out double and crossed home plate when Andy Logan cracked a single. Randy Arthur went the route on the mound for the Nomads and took the loss.
Arthur (L) and Morrice
Wanner (W) and Logan
The Ramblers jumped into a 6 to 3 lead after two innings of the second game and gradually pulled away from the Capital City crew to chalk up the victory with ease. Reg Andrew led the winners at the dish with a home run, double and single of the slants of complete game loser Randy Sawa. Bill Bell and Doug Simon had circuit-clouts for the Red Sox. Neil McMillan, who was relieved by Robert Murphy in the eighth, picked up the win.
McMillan (W), Murphy (8) and Morrice
Sawa (L) and Logan
(July 18) The Moose Jaw Devons couldn’t buy a run in the first game of their twin-bill with the Unity Cardinals as the Redbirds blanked them 6 to 0 at Ross Park. Things improved for the Mill City bunch in the second encounter, however, as they came back to stymie the U-Birds 6 to 2 to split the day’s spoils. Winner Rod Gehring of the Cards limited the Devons to four hits and fanned six in posting the whitewash victory in the opener. Losing hurler Tony Rubino was touched for ten hits while retiring an equal number of Unity batters on strikes. Gehring’s batterymate, Gary Wilburn, had a two-run homer for the winners in the fifth frame.
Gehring (W) and Wilburn
Rubino (L) and Devine
Unity went ahead 1 to 0 in their first turn at bat in the late encounter but the Devons struck for four tallies in the second inning and were never headed from that point on. Brad Devine’s two-run double was the most decisive blow of that frame. The homesters out hit the U-Birds 6 to 5. Both chuckers went the distance.
O’Brien (L) and Wilburn
Hengen (W) and Devine
(July 19) Playing in front of the home folk at Currie Field, the Regina Red Sox picked up an 11 – 6 win over the Moose Jaw Devons. In this rather lacklustre affair, the winners hit the ball well but their defence was suspect and their hurlers experienced difficulty in locating their pitches. Home runs by Gary Erfle and Tom Schroeder staked the Devons to a 4 to 1 advantage after 3 1/2 innings. But the Redlegs turned things around quickly in their half of the fourth. Losing chucker Rod Heisler issued a bases-loaded base on balls to Doug Simon, forcing in a run which narrowed Moose Jaw’s lead to two. Then Andy Logan drilled a Heisler offering over the right field fence for a grand-salami and the Crimson Hose broke out on top 6 to 4, a lead they never relinquished. In all, the Red Sox wound up with 12 hits. Logan hit a double and a single in addition to his home run. Also slamming four-baggers for the Reginans were Rich Gergley and Marde Gideon with Gergley also contributing a single. Others wielding a big stick for the Sox were Bill Bell with four singles and Jerry Zrymiak with a double and single. Winning pitcher Bob Currie of the Sox gave up five runs on seven hits and a walk before giving way to Gideon in the sixth inning.
Heisler (L), Andrie (4) and Devine
Currie (W), Gideon (6) and Logan
(July 20) The Saskatoon Cals scored four times in the fourth frame to erase a two-run Regina Red Sox lead en route to a 10 to 5 SMBL victory at Cairns Field. Jim Elliot went the distance on the mound for the Cals, limiting Regina to eight hits. He struck out six and walked three. Brian Kit, relieved by Bob Currie in the sixth, was tagged with the loss. The Regina duo allowed six hits. Leading to the Redlegs’ downfall were six fielding miscues. Ken Loehndorf led the Cals’ attack with a double and two singles. Stu McLellan, Ross Mahoney, Gerry Fellner and Rich Gergley all had two hits for Regina.
Kit (L), Currie (6) and Bell
Elliot (W) and Sapieha
(July 23) The Saskatoon Cals tripped the hometown Eston Ramblers 7 to 4 for their third win in their last four games. The Saskatonians were sparked by their best defensive display of the campaign as they went through the contest without committing an error. Lloyd Guenther scattered nine Eston hits in earning his first win of the season. The Ramblers’ Jim Cavanaugh was charged with the loss as both pitchers went the distance. The game had to be called after eight complete innings due to darkness. Saskatoon scored three runs in the third, added two more in the fourth and fifth, and then staved off a late rally by the Wanderers for the win. Their record improved to 4 – 12 as they continue to fight with the Moose Jaw Devons for a playoff berth. Second baseman Cal Thompson and outfielder Larry Hanson each had a double and single to pace the Hub City 11-hit attack while Ken Loehndorf chipped in with two singles. Import Robert Murphy hit a solo home run and single for the Nomads while veteran Blythe Irvine managed two singles.
Guenther (W) and xxx
Cavanaugh (L) and xxx
(July 24) The Unity Cardinals edged the Moose Jaw Devons 4 to 3 in a SMBL contest played in Unity. The Devons held a short-lived 2 to 0 lead in the early stages but the Cardinals came back to take a 3 to 2 lead before Moose Jaw tied the score in the seventh. Unity scored the winning counter in the eighth. Don McIntyre gave up nine hits while fanning six in picking up the mound triumph. Moose Jaw’s Tony Rubino was nicked for seven hits while whiffing an equal number of Unity batters as he was saddled with the defeat. Gary Wilburn had two singles and a double for the Cards and Glen Miller drilled a triple. Rick Johnson was the top Mill City batter with three singles while Rubino smacked a pair of doubles. Ken Neff added a three-bagger.
Rubino (L) and Hennenfent
McIntyre (W) and Wilburn
(July 25) The Saskatoon Cals found the wrath of the Unity Cardinals in Unity as the Cals, who had won three of their last four outings, dropped both ends of a doubleheader to the Cardinals by 14 to 0 and 6 to 2 counts. Import Doug O’Brien tossed a one-hit shutout in the opener as the Redbirds supported him with a 14-hit offensive display. Loser Jim Elliot was battered from the hill in the second frame during a nine-run outburst by the Cards. Rod Gehring had a triple and two singles to lead the U-Birds at the platter while Gord Johnson had a triple and single. Bob Brown added two base knocks and three RBI’s. Dick Hanson’s double was the only hit the Cals managed off O’Brien.
Elliot (L), D. Hanson (2) and xxx
O’Brien (W) and xxx
In the second game, Unity scored three runs in the fourth inning to break open a close 1 to 0 battle and went on to victory. Dale Robertson allowed three hits in a route-going performance for the Cardinals to gain credit for the win. Rick Mortenson allowed seven Unity hits in taking the loss for Saskatoon. Byron Merkowsky had a double and single for the Redbirds and Randy Munch delivered a brace of singles.
Mortenson (L) and xxx
Robertson (W) and Volk
(July 25) One run in each game of their double bill with the Eston Ramblers prevented the Moose Jaw Devons of winning their first game on the road this season. The Ramblers took the matinee match 1 to 0 in an extra-inning affair and then completed the sweep by edging the Friendly City visitors 4 to 3 in the finale. In the overtime affair, losing hurler Tim Hengen issued a bases-loaded base on balls to force in the winning marker. Import Gorman Heimueller went all the way for Eston to earn the shutout win.
Hengen (L) and xxx
Heimueller (W) and xxx
Heimueller launched a home run for the Nomads in the late affair as Randy Arthur took the mound triumph over Moose Jaw starter Tim Schroeder.
Schroeder (L), Andrie (4) and xxx
Arthur (W) and xxx
(July 27) The improving Saskatoon Cals took an early 4 to 0 lead and held on for a 4 to 3 SMBL victory over the Unity Cardinals at Cairns Field. Saskatoon scored three runs in the second inning and one in the fourth before the Cardinals came back with a pair in the fifth and and a single run in the eighth. Lloyd Guenther scattered six hits while striking out five to pick up the win for Saskatoon. Les Schwartz, who was relieved by Mike Farris in the third inning, was charged with the loss. Cal Thompson of Saskatoon had four hits in five appearances, including an RBI triple. Rod Gehring had a pair of hits for Unity including a solo homer in the fifth.
Schwartz (L), Farris (3) and Volk
Guenther (W) and Sapieha
(July 28) The Eston Ramblers scored eight runs in the top of the ninth inning to record a come-from-behind 13 to 10 verdict over a stunned group of Saskatoon Cals. After scoring five runs in the bottom of the eighth frame, it
looked like the Cals had things well in hand. But, in their final turn at bat, the Ramblers unleashed a devastating display of hitting, ripping into the offerings of three Saskatoon pitchers. Robert Murphy, the third of three Eston pitchers, received credit for the win after taking the mound in the eighth inning. He also had a double and a single at the plate in addition to a solo homer to lead off the fateful ninth. Reg Andrew added a trio of one-baggers for the Nomads. Ken Loehndorf paced the Bridge City 17-hit arsenal with a double and two singles while playing-manager Dick Hanson added three singles. Jim Elliot, Bram Wonko and Roy Kemp each contributed a double and a single while Cal Thompson kept up his current hitting ways with two singles.
Cavanaugh, McMillan (8), Murphy (W) (8) and McDonald
Kemp, Johnson (6), Elliot (8), Mortenson (L) (9), Boryski (9) and Sapieha
(July 29) The following is a compilation of standings, leading pitchers and batters as released by the SMBL this date.
SMBL standings as of end of July 28
W L Pct. GBL
Regina Red Sox 17 7 .708 ---
Unity Cardinals 13 7 .650 1/2
Eston Ramblers 14 9 .609 2 1/2
Moose Jaw Devons 6 16 .273 10
Saskatoon Cals 5 16 .238 10 1/2
Leading Pitchers
W L
Rod Gehring (Unity Cardinals) 4 0
Don McIntyre (Unity Cardinals) 3 0
Randy Arthur Eston Ramblers 3 0
Wade Wanner (Regina Red Sox) 3 0
Randy Sawa (Regina Red Sox) 2 0
Top Hitters
AB H Aver.
Don Peters (Eston Ramblers) 37 18 .486
Andy Logan (Regina Red Sox) 49 19 .388
Gorman Heimueller (Eston Ramblers) 63 23 .365
Glen Miller (Unity Cardinals) 55 20 .364
Rich Gergley (Regina Red Sox) 49 17 .347
Al Sapieha (Saskatoon Cals) 29 10 .345
Doug Simon (Regina Red Sox) 57 19 .333
Gary Wilburn (Unity Cardinals) 57 18 .316
Rick Johnson (Moose Jaw Devons) 52 16 .308
Gary Erfle (Moose Jaw Devons) 52 16 .308
(July 30) The Eston Ramblers and Unity Cardinals played to a 3 – 3 draw in a makeup game in Eston that had been previously rained out. The tussle had to be called after nine innings because of dark skies.
Gehring and xxx
Heimueller and xxx
(August 1) The Unity Cardinals, playing on their home turf, rode the timely hitting of Mike Farris to take both ends of a S.M.B.L. twin-bill from the Eston Ramblers by scores of 5 to 2 and 7 to 3. Farris drilled a double and a home run in support of winning hurler Don McIntyre in the opener. McIntyre struck out six and walked two. Eston’s Randy Arthur was nailed with the loss.
Arthur (L), Murphy (3) and Morrice
McIntyre (W) and Wilburn
Unity’s Doug O’Brien got the pitching win in the nightcap over the Ramblers’ Jim Cavanaugh as Farris backed his chucker by recording three singles. Other Redbird hitters of note were Glen Miller with a double and single as well as Randy Munch and Byron Merkowsky who both singled twice. Rod McIvor and Merle Byrnes each hit solo homers for Eston.
Cavanaugh (L) and McDonald
O’Brien (W) and Wilburn
(August 1) The Moose Jaw Devons enjoyed a successful day at Ross Wells Park as they swept a doubleheader from the Saskatoon Cals, taking the first encounter 6 to 1 and following that up with a 6 to 4 win in the late game. Tim Schroeder tossed a six-hitter for the Devons in the first game. Saskatoon’s Lloyd Guenther also allowed six hits as he absorbed the defeat. Seven errors by the Cals proved extremely costly as the Devons clinched the issue with a three-run outburst in the third inning. Bryan Adams, a former Devon, notched two hits for the Cals, a double and a single while catcher Al Sapieha singled twice.
Guenther (L) and Sapieha
Schroeder (W) and Devine
Moose Jaw’s Tony Rubino allowed but three Saskatoon hits in earning the mound win in the second game. Moose Jaw opened up a 6 to 0 lead before the Cals roared back with four runs in the top of the seventh inning as Jim Elliot connected for a grand-slam home run. Playing-manager Dick Hanson gave up ten hits in a route-going mound effort and took the loss. Brad Hennenfent paced Moose Jaw’s output at the plate with a home run and single while Jim Baba added a double and single.
D. Hanson (L) and Carroll
Rubino (W) and Devine
(August 3) The Moose Jaw Devons earned the fourth and final playoff berth in the S.M.B.L. with a 6 to 4 victory over the hometown Saskatoon Cals. The Devons scored two runs in the top of the ninth inning after two were out to sideline the Cals from post-season activity. The late rally began with a Saskatoon error followed by Brad Hennenfent’s single and then capped by Jim Baba’s double. Left-hander Rod Heisler scattered seven hits while striking out 11 to record the hill win for Moose Jaw. Cals’ Roy Kemp surrendered five hits and fanned an equal number in taking the loss. Hennenfent had a pair of singles in pacing the Devons at the dish. Kemp was Saskatoon’s top swatter with a double and two singles while Jim Elliot contributed a pair of singles. All remaining games in the schedule will not be played because playoff berths have been decided.
Heisler (W) and Devine
Kemp (L) and Sapieha
Final SMBL standings
W L Pct. GBL
Regina Red Sox 17 7 .708 ----
Unity Cardinals* 15 7 .682 1
Eston Ramblers* 14 11 .560 3 1/2
Moose Jaw Devons 9 16 .360 8 1/2
Saskatoon Cals 5 19 .208 12
* Unity and Eston also had a tie game which was not replayed
Semi-final playoff pairings will pit the pennant-winning Regina Red Sox against the fourth-place Moose Jaw Devons in one series while the runner-up Unity Cardinals will take on the third-place Eston Ramblers in the other bracket. Both rounds will be best-of-seven.
SMBL PLAYOFFS
(August 9) Despite displaying less than classic baseball, the Regina Red Sox still had plenty in the tank to knock off the visiting Moose Jaw Devons 14 to 5 at Currie Field to grab the first game of their semi-final playoff series. Although the Scarlet Sox collected 11 hits, it wasn’t entirely their offensive punch that made the difference in this contest. The Regina task was made relatively easy as the Devons committed four fielding miscues while their trio of pitchers had difficulty finding the strike zone and issued eleven bases on balls. Marde Gideon, who went the distance on the mound for the Reginans, didn’t have a particularly memorable performance either. He gave up seven hits but also walked nine. Jerry Zrymiak had a round-tripper and a single for the Sox. Club mate Andy Logan pitched in with a double and single while Bill Bell singled twice. Moose Jaw’s Rod Heisler managed to garner a pair of base hits.
Heisler (L), Schroeder (2), Andrie (7) and Devine
Gideon (W) and Logan
(August 10) The Moose Jaw Devons and Regina Red Sox played to a 2 – 2 tie at Ross Park in the second game of their best-of-seven showdown. Darkness prevented further play. The Red Sox took a 2 to 0 lead with single tallies in the fourth and fifth innings but the Devons pulled even with a pair of runs in the sixth. Both pitchers, Randy Sawa of Regina and Moose Jaw’s Tim Hengen, were stingy with the base hits. Sawa allowed two while Hengen gave up three. Stu McLellan of the Sox was the only player in this game to come up with more than one safety as he produced a double and single.
Sawa and Bell
Hengen and Devine
(August 11) Gary Wilburn’s home run in the top of the 11th inning gave the Unity Cardinals a 2 to 1 squeaker over the Eston Ramblers in the opener of their SMBL playoff encounter played in Rosetown. Unity had opened the scoring in the second inning on a bases-empty homer by Gord Johnson before Eston came back to force extra innings with a single counter in the ninth. Doug O’Brien struck out six and scattered ten Eston hits in picking up the mound win. Loser Gorman Heimueller struck out five and gave up six hits in going the distance for the Ramblers.
O’Brien (W) and Wilburn
Heimueller (L) and Morrice
(August 11) With only 12 players in uniform, the Regina Red Sox rose to the occasion as the presence of several veterans was felt which led to a convincing 6 to 1 win over the Moose Jaw Devons and a two games to none lead with one tie game in their playoff series. The Sox turned four double plays which made things considerably easier for complete game winner Wade Wanner who gave up six hits. Ross Mahoney produced all the runs the Red Sox needed with a three-run homer in the bottom of the first inning. Loser Tony Rubino was nicked for eight Regina hits.
Rubino (L) and Devine
Wanner (W) and Logan
(August 12) At Unity, the Eston Ramblers downed the hometown Cardinals 9 to 4 to tie their best-of-seven series at one game each. Neil McMillan scattered eight Unity hits to record the victory for the Cards. Starter and loser Don McIntyre of the Redbirds was driven from the mound in the second frame. Eston’s Gorman Heimueller got things going for the Ramblers as he belted a first-inning two-run homer and later added a single. Teammate Robert Murphy drilled three singles while Don Peters added to the Eston offensive punch with a pair of doubles. Gary Wilburn belted a home run for the U-Birds while Gord Johnson and Byron Merkowsky each had two singles.
McMillan (W) and Morrice
McIntyre (L), Farris (2) and Wilburn
(August 12) The pitching-strapped Regina Red Sox, with both of their import hurlers having departed for the rest of the campaign, travelled to the Mill City and were forced to use regular second baseman Jim Paisley on the mound for their playoff tilt with the Devons. The result was a 5 to 2 win for Moose Jaw, their first win of the series. The Sox still lead the semi-final two games to one with one game tied. Paisley’s performance on the hill was adequate but the Regina offense sputtered and wasn’t able to supply him with enough runs. The infielder-turned-pitcher gave up nine hits, fanned three and walked two. Winner Rod Heisler held the Sox in check, limiting them to four hits while whiffing seven. His wildness was apparent, however, as he walked ten. Jim Baba did the most damage for Moose Jaw offensively, collecting three hits including a two-run homer in the first inning. Bill Bell was the only Sox player with much life in his bat as he picked up a run-scoring triple and a single.
Paisley (L) and Bell, Logan
Heisler (W) and Devine
(August 14) The Regina Red Sox edged the Moose Jaw Devons 5 to 4 at Currie Field to pad their margin in their SMBL semi-final round to a three games to one lead with a single game tied. Veteran Randy Sawa earned the mound victory for the Sox as he spun a complete game three-hitter while whiffing eight Moose Jaw batters. Tim Schroeder, who came to the rescue of Devons’ starter Tim Hengen in the first frame, allowed 12 hits and was stung with the loss. Bill Bell led the Regina artillery slamming a pair of home runs plus a single. Ross Mahoney clouted a four-bagger, Andy Logan hit three singles and Jim Paisley singled twice. Schroeder and Rod Heisler each hit homers for Moose Jaw.
Hengen, Schroeder (L) (1) and Devine
Sawa (W) and Logan
(August 14) The Unity Cardinals edged past the Eston Ramblers 2 to 1 in the third game of their SMBL playoff round. The victory, achieved in Unity, gave the Cards a two games to one lead in the semi-final series. The Cards scored both of their runs in the second inning. Brennan Merkowsky and Rod Gehring, both of whom had singled, came around to score on an Eston throwing error. Gehring went the route to earn the hurling triumph.
xxx (L) and Morrice
Gehring (W) and Wilburn
(August 15) The Moose Jaw Devons rocked Wade Wanner for ten hits on their way to a 12 to 6 win over the Regina Red Sox. The Mill City victory narrowed Regina’s lead to a single win in their playoff series. Tony Rubino earned the hill win for Moose Jaw, allowing seven hits. The Devons’ arsenal produced three round-trippers. Catcher Brad Devine cracked a grand slam, Gary Erfle hit a three-run shot and Brad Hennenfent launched a solo homer. Regina’s Doug Simon belted a two-run circuit-jack in a losing cause.
Wanner (L) and Logan, Bell (3)
Rubino (W) and Devine
(August 15) The Unity Cardinals decimated the visiting Eston Ramblers 18 to 1 in the fourth meeting between the two clubs in playoff action. The Cards scored 12 runs in the fifth inning to put the game out of reach.
xxx (L), xxx, xxx and Morrice
O’Brien (W), Farris, Brown and Wilburn
(August 16) Game five of the Eston versus Unity SMBL semi-final in Eston saw a ten-inning game without a winner being declared. The Ramblers and Cardinals battled to 1 – 1 tie and after the extra frame was completed the game had to be called because of darkness. Unity still has a two-game advantage while Eston is facing elimination with one more loss. Neither the Eston Press Review nor the Unity Herald printed any game details or batteries.
xxx and xxx
xxx and xxx
August 17) The Unity Cardinals defeated the Eston Ramblers in Eston to win their series three games to one with one game tied. Details of the game including the final score and batteries was not reported to either of the local newspapers.The Redbirds now await an opponent from the Regina-Moose Jaw series to battle for league supremacy.
xxx (W) and xxx
xxx (L) and xxx
(August 19) Delayed for a number of days by inclement weather, the SMBL semi-final between the Regina Red Sox and Moose Jaw Devons resumed at Currie Field and saw the hometown Sox earn a berth into the SMBL final following their 7 to 5 triumph over their trans-Canada rivals. The win for the Reginans gave them the series with four victories, two losses and a tie. With the score tied at 1 – 1 in the third stanza, Red Sox Rich Gergley blasted one of losing hurler Tim Schroeder’s offerings into orbit for a three-run dinger and lead. Schroeder was done on the hill after two and two-thirds innings as the Crimson Hose stung him for five counters in that fateful third. Complete game winner Wade Wanner yielded seven safeties and fanned nine. Warren “Smokey” Kivell led the Sox hitting attack with a double and two singles in four at-bats. Doug Simon added three singles while Gergley had a single to complement his homer. Schroeder topped the Friendly City batters, cracking three singles. Playing-manager Jim Baba singled twice for the Devons. The Red Sox now enter the SMBL best three-of-five final series without the services of their two import pitchers who have returned to the United States. Their opponent, the Unity Cardinals, still apparently have three imports available, all pitchers.
Schroeder (L), Hengen (3) and Devine
Wanner (W) and Logan
(August 21) The Unity Cardinals opened their best-of-five SMBL final series on a winning note, edging the host Regina Red Sox 5 to 4. Stu McLellan’s three–run homer in the first inning staked the Scarlet Stockings to an early lead in the battle at Currie Field. But the Cards came back in the fourth inning to tie the game and nabbed two go-ahead runs in the fifth inning. Although the Redlegs came back and added one more run, it just wasn’t enough. Both pitchers, winner Rod Gehring of the U-Birds and Regina’s Randy Sawa, threw complete games and both surrendered nine base hits.
Gehring (W) and Wilburn
Sawa (L) and Logan
(August 22) Playing in Unity for the second and third games of the league final, the visiting Regina Red Sox got back into the series in a big way by taking out the Cardinals twice, 7 to 0 in the opener of the twin bill and 5 to 2 in the finale. Regina’s Wade Wanner allowed only three hits and earned the shutout win despite three errors by his teammates. The Red Sox rocked loser Mike Farris for ten hits including a two-run homer and single by Rich Gergley. Jim Paisley cracked a triple and single while Doug Simon, Andy Logan and Ross Mahoney all struck for doubles.
Wanner (W) and Logan
Farris (L) and Wilburn
The Redbirds’ defence was porous in the second encounter, with five errors the result. Regina southpaw Bob Currie gave up eight hits in picking up the win. Unity’s Doug O’Brien yielded five hits to the Reginans. With the score tied in the sixth inning, Stu McLellan of the Sox came up with a run-scoring single to give his team the lead. Andy Logan’s eighth-inning inside-the-park homer provided an insurance run.
Currie (W) and Logan
O’Brien (L) and Wilburn
(August 23) Practicing in preparation for the fourth game of the SMBL final series, Regina Red Sox players were given the news that the Unity Cardinals had lost the services of their three import pitchers and would be unable to complete the series in Regina as scheduled. That, in effect, gave the Redlegs the 1976 SMBL championship through the forfeiture. Despite the way that the Sox were awarded the SMBL championship, an eight-year drought for Queen City baseball fans, dating back to the Southern League, was ended.