1951 Western Canada League Game Reports

(February 28)  From a $63 series of advertisements in The Sporting News, the Swift Current baseball club has received 230 applications for positions on the 1951 team.  Responses have come from as far away as Southern California and Florida.  A players' committee is to screen the applications and whittle them down to about 30 prospects.  In the end, about 18 to 20 players are to be invited to Swift Current for a tryout.

(April 4)   Swift Current announced the hiring of Jim Ryan as playing-manager of the town's ball club.  Ryan, who'll play first base, managed the Edmonton Cubs of the Alberta Big Four League last season.  He is reported to be bringing two or three top players from Alberta.  Among the newcomers is Alex Palica, a right-handed pitcher, brother of Erv Palica of the Brooklyn Dodgers (and Ambrose Palica, who has pitched in the Pacific Coast and International Leagues, and Nick, the only non-pitcher in the family who played in the Southeastern League last season).  Alex pitched with the Seattle Rainiers in 1945, Vancouver Caps in 1946 and Durham, South Carolina the last two seasons.  Also bound for mound work is "Buck" Tinsley, a Montanan with Class AA experience who was an All-Star with Farnham of the Provincial League last season. Another pitcher coming later is Johnny Mulholland who is finishing his university education at McGill.  When Palica drives from California, he is to bring along Bob Hobbs, an outfielder-shortstop who has slugged over .300 in four professional seasons and hit 22 home runs last season.

(April 11)  Swift Current Indians announced the signing of Robert J. Maren, a pitcher-outfielder from Des Moines, Iowa.  Maren was reported to have played with the House of David the last two seasons.  The 29-year-old has played for six seasons in the minor league systems of the St. Louis Cardinals and Philadelphia Phillies.  Also joining the Indians is catcher Harry Monroe from Worthington, Minnesota.  Monroe played in the Florida International League last season and has managed in Great Falls, Montana and played with Rapid City, South Dakota.

(April 19)   The April 19th edition of The Leader Weekly News (Leader, Saskatchewan)  carried a story from Swift Current's The Sun on Sceptre baseball.

" ... Sceptre, the smallest town on the continent to have a 'big league team' is at it again ... Alex Maxwell, who managed the Swift Current Indians in 1950 is at the helm of the Sceptre club this year.  It is also reported that Sceptre may have one of the biggest pitching names in the colored baseball world ... perform for them, none other than Chet Brewer, the successor to the crown once held by Satchel Paige.  Chet was negotiating with Swift Current early last season, but then decided to accept a fabulous offer from the Mexican league.  Again this spring he contacted this club, but his asking price was too high for the local executive to consider.  If persistent reports are right, he will perform for Sceptre."

(May 3)  Regina Caps announced the acquisition of two more import pitchers.  Frank Joyner and Eli Merritt both spent 1950 with the Philadelphia Colored Giants the same club which produced manager Bob Wright.  27-year-old Merritt was ranked by Wright as the Giants' #1 pitcher for the last two seasons.  The lefthander reportedly won 23 games with only one defeat last season after a 20-2 campaign in 1949.  Joyner finished at 17-3 last season with Philadelphia.  He formerly played with the Raleigh Tigers of the Negro Southern Association.  Other imports signed by Regina include catcher Bob Turner, infielder Roland Miles, pitcher Carl Higginbotham and shortstop Bennie Horowitz.  Wright started his career with the Philadelphia Pals and later joined the Bacharach Giants a touring club which saw action in Winnipeg.  In recent years he has managed the Philadelphia Colored Giants.

(May 9)  Estevan manager Baldy Benson announced the signing of four members of the 1950 Southern league champions for the 1951 season.  Pitcher Al Lefty Bryant returns along with catcher-outfielder Leroy Pettus, the versatile Wilbur Green and pitcher Mel Torgenrud.  

(May 15)   In their first league game of the season, Swift Current Indians blew a seven-run lead but managed to hang on for an 8-7 win over the Caps at Regina.  Jim Ryan and Bob McIvor each had three hits to pace the offense.  Alex Palica registered the win.

Palica (W), Stephenson (5) and xxx
Merritt (L), xxx (4) and xxx

(May 16)  Swift Current Indians downed Sceptre 4-2 in an exhibition match before 15-hundred fans at Swift Current.  Jim Ryan's entry in the Western Canada Baseball league scored three in the 2nd inning to take the win.  Alex Palica, the California hurler, gave up eight hits to outshine Chet Brewer the outstanding Sceptre twirler. Pakuca fanned ten. Harry Monroe, Baldy Smith and Ken Hughes each had two hits for the Indians.  Roy Scheppert had a pair for Sceptre.  Sceptre had Pedro Osorio and Bob Prescott in the lineup.  Both had come all the way from Panama.

Palica (W) and Munroe
Brewer, C Jacobson (7) and Kjarsgaard    

(May 16)  The Valley Miners of Drumheller opened the 1951 season with a 4-2 win over Delisle.  Jimmy McKinnon was on base four times for the Miners.

(May 17)   Eston Ramblers pleased the home crowd with a 6-4 win over Swift Current.  Clint McNeil fired a four-hitter for the win.  Seven errors by the Indians sealed the win for the Ramblers.

McNeil (W) and xxx
Stephenson (L), Mulholland (7) and xxx

(May 18)    Swift Current downed Sceptre 5-2 as Vern Callihan pitched a five-hitter, whiffing eight.  Kenny Hughes had three hits for the winners. 

Price (L), Jacobson (7) and xxx
Callihan (W) and xxx

(May 19)   Nearly 46-hundred fans, the largest Regina crowd in years, watched the Caps edge Sceptre 6-5 in an exhibition tilt at Taylor Field.  Jackie Fulton's three-run homer in the 2nd inning sent Regina into a lead they never relinquished.  Jackie McLeod had a homer for Sceptre.  Frank Joyner went seven innings for the win.  Chet Brewer took the loss.

Brewer (L) and Glasser
Joyner (W), Chadwick (8) and Kyle

(May 19)  Swift Current Indians whipped Eston Ramblers 13-1 for their third straight home victory.  Ken Nelson and Ken Hobbs paced the 14-hit attack with three hits apiece.  Buck Tinsley and McIvor combined to hold Eston to four hits.

H Stevenson (L), McKinnon, Terry, McNeil and B Stevenson
Tinsley (W), McIvor (6) and Monroe

(May 19)  Edmonton Oilers took a pair from Delisle Gems, 11-5 and 9-6.   In the second game, Delisle's Bert Forbes blasted a homer on the first pitch of the game. Bill Gadsby had four hits for the Oilers.

(May 20)   Edmonton's Oilers downed Delisle 3-2 to sweep the three-game weekend exhibition series.  Al Purvis picked up the win in relief of starter Dick Lowe.  Neil Courtoreille went the distance for Max Bentley's Gems.  

Courtoreille (L) and xxx
Lowe, Purvis (W) (5) and xxx

(May 21)  Estevan Maple Leafs topped Minot Mallards 9-7 to square the exhibition series at a game apiece.  Leafs broke loose for five runs in the 7th.  Wilbur Green, with a double and two singles, paced the winners.  E.L. Hester drove in a pair with two singles.  Jack Bruton drove in five runs for the Mallards with four singles in five trips to the plate.  Minot committed seven errors.

Bryant, Young and Landrum
B Wiles, Cathey (6) and C Wiles

(May 22) After piling up a huge 7 - 0 lead in the first 3 innings, the Swift Current Indians had to fight back a gallant Cap rally to eke out a skin-tight 8 - 7 decision over the Reginans in the opening game for both teams in the new W.C.B.L. The Tribe started quickly, swatting lefty Eli Merritt's pitches all over the lot for a single counter in the 1st and three each in the 2nd and 3rd. Dave Chadwick took over for Merritt and held the Speedy Creek crew to one run and 5 hits in the last 6 frames. Alex Palica, older brother of Brooklyn Dodgers' pitcher Erv Palica, started for the Indians and received credit for the win but wasn't around at the finish, giving way to Bill Stevenson after the Caps had reduced the lead to 7 - 5. Walter "Butch" Buttgereit, the long-time Wilcox Cardinal, paced the Caps' 15 hit attack going 3 for 5 including a double. Gus Kyle hit safely 3 times in 4 attempts. Swift Current first sacker Jim Ryan and outfielder Bob McIvor each went 3 for 4 to lead the Indians at the dish.

Palica (W), Stevenson (5) and Munroe
Merritt (L), Chadwick (4) and Kyle

(May 22) Trotting across 4 runs in the 7th inning, the Estevan Maple Leafs went on to score an 8 - 5 victory over the Indian Head Rockets in their Western Canada Baseball League opener. Starter Mel Torgenrud of the Maple Leafs, although requiring relief help, picked up the win. Jim Morrow started on the hill for Indian Head but he also failed to go the route and was saddled with the defeat. LeRoy Pettus was the top man at the dish for Estevan with 3 hits in 5 trips.

Morrow (L), Blackburn (7) and Barnhill
Torgenrud (W), Greene (7) and Landrum

(May 22)   In a slugfest at Sceptre Park on Tuesday, Sceptre topped Eston 14-12.  Hal Price, who relieved Cliff Jacobson in the seventh frame, picked up the win.  Herb Stevenson, who followed Andy Porter on the mound, was the loser.  Sceptre had 13 hits, including a homer by Doug Scott.

Porter, Stevenson (L) and xxx
Jacobson, Price (W) (7) and xxx    

(May 23)   Johnny Mulholland pitched a gem, holding Indian Head to just three hits, but dropped a 3-1 decision as a passed ball and an error accounted for all the Rockets' scoring.  Peanuts Davis held the Indians to four hits in registering the win.

Mulholland (L) and Nelson
Davis (W) and xxx 

(May 24)  Swift Current Outlaws captured top money of $400 at the Gull Lake sports day.  Outlaws downed the host club, Gull Lake, 11-6 to reach the final.  Shaunavon topped Medicine Hat 10-1.  Swift Current took the title with a 7-5 win behind the pitching of Kjarsgaard.

(May 24)   Indian Head swept a pair from the Indians at Swift Current.  Rockets won the opener 10-6 and came back with a 4-2 win in the second game. Bob McIvor led the Indians with three hits in the first game.  The Rockets sewed up the first game in the 6th when they scored 3 times to take a commanding 8 - 2 lead. Each team clouted out 13 hits in the tussle. Longest blows were triples by Tom Alston of the Rockets and by two Indians, Ken Nelson and Ken Hughes. Johnny Coleman, the first of 3 Indian Head chuckers picked up the win while the Indians' starter, Vern Calihan, who had relief help from Wimpy Stephenson took the loss. Rockets held Swift Current to four hits in the second game.

Coleman (W), Blackman, Davis and xxxx
Calihan (L), Stephenson (7) and Ken Nelson

xxx and xxx
McIvor (L) and xxx

(May 24) Art Worth was the thorn in the side of the Regina Caps as the Moose Jaw Canucks swept a double bill from the Queen City nine by scores of 5 - 4 and 5 - 2. Patrolling right field in the afternoon tilt, Worth belted a 3 run homer to give the Canucks the margin of victory. In the nightcap, he performed on the mound and limited the Cap sluggers to 9 scattered safeties. The Caps outhit the Canucks in the opener but Murray O'Flynn, who was on the hill for Moose Jaw, bore down in the clutch to gain the triumph. Caps' starter and loser Lloyd Wooley lasted 6 innings before heading for the showers. Jackie McLeod had 2 hits for the Canucks while Pee Wee Collins and Jimmy Randolph duplicated the feat for the Caps.

Wooley (L), Higgenbotham (7) and Kyle
O'Flynn (W) and Harford

In game 2, Carl Higgenbotham, who had finished the opener as a reliever, started on the hill for the Caps but was shelled in the 3rd when Moose Jaw plated 3 runs to hang the defeat on him. Worth pitched a complete game for Moose Jaw and had a shutout for 8 innings. Left fielder Bob Dill cranked out a home run for Moose Jaw. Players with 2 hits in this game were Art Stone, Bob Turner and Barry Wolstencroft of the Caps and Jim Harford and Bob Dill of the Canucks.

Higgenbotham (L), Merritt (3) and Kyle
Worth (W) and Harford

(May 25) Unleashing a 9 run outburst in the top of the 9th, the Swift Current Indians swamped the Estevan Maple Leafs 16 - 7. Entering the final frame deadlocked, the Tribe plated their feast on 4 hits and 6 Leaf miscues. Lefty Allan Bryant, who completed the entire game on the hill for Estevan, was the victim of the onslaught and took the loss. Wimpy Stephenson picked up the win in relief.

Palica, Stephenson (W) (4) and Nelson
Bryant (L) and Landrum

(May 25)    Regina Caps got in the win column after beginning the season with three straight losses.  20-year-old Carl Coons, from Cardinal, Ontario, tossed a seven-hitter as the Caps pulled out a 6-3 victory over Moose Jaw.  Coons, who pitched for Oshawa in the Ontario Senior league in 1950, fanned five and walked two.  17-year-old Berlyn Hodges, son of the Moose Jaw manager, allowed just eight hits in a losing cause.  Pitchers Coons and Hodges were the only players to collect 2 hits in this game.

Hodges (L) and Harford
Coons (W) and G Kyle

(May 26) The Moose Jaw Canucks came through in the clutch to wrap up win number 3 in 4 starts when they squeezed out a narrow 7 - 6 victory over the Indian Head Rockets. After blowing an early 4 run lead, the Canucks chalked up a photo finish win when shortstop Gerry Parker led off the bottom of the 9th with a triple and scored the winner on a tag up, fly ball out to center field by catcher Jim Harford. Moose Jaw's Al "Lefty" Erfle gave up 12 hits in his complete game victory. Jesse Blackman was tagged for the loss. Horace Latham, stocky Rocket third baseman, was the game's leading hitter going 3 for 5 at the plate.

Jenkins, Blackman  (L) (1), Davis (9) and Barnhill
A. Erfle (W) and Harford

(May 26) For the second straight night, the Swift Current Indians and Estevan Maple Leafs put on a slugfest with the Indians coming out on top by a king-sized count of 19 - 13. The Indians cut loose with two 7 run innings to win handily. Four homers were slugged during the game. Bob Hobbs and manager Jim Ryan connected for the Tribe while Lee Landrum and Wilbur Greene did the same for the Leafs. Starter Buck Tinsley picked up the win for Swift Current while Elmer Heaster, the first of 3 Estevan chuckers, was pinned with the defeat.

Tinsley (W), McIvor (5) and Nelson
Heaster (L), Greene (2), Young (4) and Landrum

(May 26)  Regina Caps upset the star-studded Minot Mallards 8-1 in an exhibition game at Regina.  21-year-old Al Vogt, from Odessa, held the visitors to seven hits.  Second baseman Rollie Miles sparked the Caps with 3 hits, one being a double. Ted Zack chipped in with 2 safeties including a triple.

Cathey (L) and Wiles
Vogt (W) and Kyle

(May 26)  Edmonton Oilers trounced the Great Falls Montana Airlifters 15-6 in an error-filled game at Edmonton.  Oilers won the first two games 5-4 and 5-3.  There were 18 errors in the Saturday game, 11 by the Airlifters. The Edmonton club has won six straight to start the season.  

(May 27)  Minot won the second game of its weekend series with Regina taking the Caps 9-5.  Cowboy McHenry and Sugar Cain handled the pitching for the Mallards while Tony Maze, Frank Joyner and Dave Chadwick split the mound chores for Regina.

McHenry, Cain and xxx
Maze, Joyner, Chadwick and xxx

(May 29)  In opening action at the Swift Current tournament,  Harry Monroe blasted a grand slam homer to lead Sceptre past Indian Head 6-2.  

(May 30)  Sceptre walked off with the $1,000 top prize in the Swift Current tournament beating the host club 9-3 in the final.  

(May 30)   The Swift Current Sun had some good things to say about Indian Head :

"We can't finish this dissertation without a good word for that very progressive town of Indian Head which with some 1500 population supports and classy team like the Rockets, an all-colored aggregation.  They dropped $8500 last year, Editor Phil Flude of the News told us, but the folks are in the ring again this year.  They get quite a kick out of their club.  They nearly didn't have them.  Some 2500 miles away last week, in North Carolina, the team bus went down a 300 foot embankment, with the players plunging out to safety.  Then to maintain their schedule here, they piled eight into the manager's big Hudson car; hired a taxi in which another eight players jammed themselves and arrived in Estevan to open the season Monday night.  Sixteen big ballplayers in two cars.  But they made it.  Yup, the taxi brought them all the way from Nawth Carolina." (May 30, 1951)

(May 30)   The Swift Current Sun reported some friction between members of the ball club.  Catcher Harry Monroe and pitcher Buck Tinsley had apparently left the team. 

(May 31) The Regina Caps turned back the Indian Head Rockets 9 - 3 as Lloyd "Monty" Wooley pitched a complete game 8 hitter. The Caps batting attack produced hits in bunches in defeating the Rockets' Joe Leal. Clean-up hitter "Butch" Buttgereit was the top man with the stick as he paced the Caps' offence with 3 hits in 4 trips.

Wooley (W) and Turner
Leal (L) and Barnhill

(May 31) Aided and abetted by costly flubs and spotty twirling, the Estevan Maple Leafs dumped the Moose Jaw Canucks by a 9 - 5 count. Moose Jaw starter Jackie McLeod was shelled from the mound early and absorbed the loss. Lefty Bryant went all the way for the Leafs to pick up the win. Jack Bruton, Estevan's clean-up hitter, had a double and 2 singles. Wayne Brock of the Canucks also had a double and a pair of singles.

Bryant (W) and Landrum
McLeod (L), Hodges (4), Worth (7) and Harford

(June 1)   The Sceptre team left on a three-week tour taking in tournaments in North Battleford, Edmonton, Lloydminster, Camrose, Lacombe, Calgary, Lethbridge and Medicine Hat.

(June 1)  Regina Caps fought back from a 7-1 deficit to shade Estevan 11-10 in 10 innings.  Caps had rallied for two in the bottom of the 9th to tie. Roland Miles drove in Eli Merritt with the winner.  Merritt was the winning pitcher with 7 1/3 innings of three-hit relief.  He also had three hits in four trips to the plate.  Walter Butch Buttgereit had a triple, double and single to drive in four runs.  Albert Young had three hits for the Maple Leafs.

J Bruton, W Green (L) (9) and Landrum
Maze, Merritt (W) (3) and Turner, Kyle (9)

(June 1)  Bud Ellington's 10th inning single gave Medicine Hat Mohawks a 5-4 win over Moose Jaw Canucks in the Mohawks' first start in the newly-formed Western Canada Baseball league. The first sacker's line drive came with Gene Jacobs on base with a single and Nat Bates who reached on an error. Mohawks had a chance to win in the 9th when they loaded the bases with one out, but reliever Jackie McLeod forced Tony Nunez to hit into a fielder's choice and then fanned Joe Mocha.  Rudy Garcia went the route for the 'Hawks allowing seven hits. He fanned six and allowed three bases on balls.  McLeod, who relieved starter Berlyn Hodges in the 2nd inning, was charged with the loss.

B Hodges, McLeod (L) (2) and Harford
R Garcia (W) and Bechelli

(June 2)   Freddie Shepard clouted a homer, triple and two doubles to lead Estevan Maple Leafs to a come-from-behind 10-8 win over Regina Caps at Taylor Field.  Leroy Pettus also had four hits for the Leafs while Jack Burton added three.  Jimmy Randolph drove in four runs for the Caps.

W Green (W) and Landrum
Vogt, Merritt (7) and Turner

(June 2)   Jim Morrow pitched Indian Head to a 7-2 win over Saskatoon.

Morrow (W) and xxx
xxx and xxx

(June 2)  Medicine Hat split a doubleheader with Moose Jaw, dropping the opener 5-0 before taking the second game 3-2.  Art Worth hurled both games for Moose Jaw. After blanking the Mohawks on 7 hits in the first game, he held a 2 - 1 lead in the last inning of the finale until some shakey fielding by his infield enabled Medicine Hat to score 2 runs.

Worth (W) and xxx
xxx and xxx

Worth (L) and xxx
xxx and xxx

(June 3)  Medicine Hat Mohawks shaded the powerful Eston ramblers 7-6 in the first of two.  The clubs tied 4-4 in the nightcap.

(June 3)  Indian Head Rockets took a pair from Delisle Gems, 16-9 and 11-4.  Horace Latham walloped three homers.

(June 4 ) The hard-hitting Estevan Estevan Maple Leafs scored their second straight victory over the Regina Caps when they walloped the Capital City crew 14 - 11. Lefty Bryant, in relief of starter Wilbur Greene, picked up the win. Cliff "Lefty" Harrison, who came on for Carl Coons, took the loss. Big hitters for Estevan were outfielder Joe Paige who had a double and 2 singles and first baseman Jack Bruton with a home run and triple. Leaf second sacker Toby Simms also had a round-tripper for the winners. Clean-up hitter Butch Buttgereit slammed a home run, double and single in 4 trips for the Caps.

Greene, Bryant  (W) (4) and Landrum
Coons, Harrison (L) (5) and Turner

(June 4)   Indian Head downed North Battleford Beavers 9-1 behind the nifty mound work of Jesse Blackman.  It gave the Rockets a clean sweep of their four-game series in the north.  Jim Williams had a pair of homers on the jaunt.

(June 4)  Sceptre handed Edmonton Oilers an 11-2 beating, the first loss of the season for the Alberta club after nine victories.  Bob Prescott paced the winners with four hits including a two-run homer in the 6th inning.  He had a total of five runs batted in.  Cliff Jacobson went the route for the win.

Jacobson (W) and xxx
Forss (L), Thorseth (6) and xxx

(June)   On the tour of Northern Saskatchewan and Alberta, Sceptre ran into hockey-like weather but managed to split a twin-bill with North Battleford, losing the opener but taking a 7-4 victory in the second game.  They downed Vegreville 17-10 and beat Edmonton Oilers 11-2.  They dropped a 4-2 decision to Morinville at the Lloydminster Tournament.

(June 6)   Steve Wylie pitched North Battleford to first place in the annual Lloydminster tournament with an 11-1 win over Morinville.  

(June 6)  Regina announced the release of two imports, outfielder Bob Ennals and pitcher Frank Joyner.  Arrangement were made for both players to join the Dauphin Redbirds.  Indian Head announced the acquisition of three players, Henry Red Cameron, Les Witherspoon and John Ford.

(June 7)  Edmonton Oilers whipped Sceptre Indians 15-4 in an exhibition match at Edmonton.  Lefty Ed Belter went six innings for the win.  Cy Thorseth finished up.  Chet Brewer failed to get out of the first inning as the Oilers scored three runs before Hal Price relieved.

Brewer (L), Price (1) and xxx
Belter (W), Thorseth (7) and xxx

(June 9)  Estevan Maple Leafs rallied for six runs in the 8th inning to dump Moose Jaw 8-4.  Mel Torgenrud was the winner scattering nine hits and striking out 7. Torgenrud also had 2 of the 8 Maple Leaf hits off loser Murray O'Flynn. Wayne Parker and O'Flynn led Moose Jaw with a pair of base raps.

O'Flynn (L) and Harford
Torgenrud (W) and Landrum

(June 10)  Medicine Hat/California Mohawks trounced Morinville 11-1 to win top prize money at the second annual Lacombe tournament.  

(June 11)   Regina Caps had no shortage of hitting stars as they overwhelmed Moose Jaw 20-6 at Taylor Field.  Walter Butch Buttgereit knocked in six runs with four hits, including a pair of triples.  Newcomer George Galloway also had four hits.  He drove in three.  Rollie Miles clubbed a three-run homer.  Four Caps -- Pee Wee Collins, Miles, Buttgereit and Galloway -- each scored four times.  Dave Chadwick pitched into the 9th to pick up the win.

A Worth (L), B Hodges (4) and Harford
Chadwick (W), Vogt (9) and Turner

(June 12) The Regina Caps staged a thrilling last inning finish to count a pair of markers and edge the Estevan Maple Leafs 4 - 3. Pee Wee Collins' squeeze bunt scored pinch-runner Art Stone from third base with the winning run. Earlier in the inning, winning pitcher Eli Merritt singled cleanly into right field to bring around Barry Wolstencroft with the tying marker, Merritt, the strong armed southpaw, went all the way to post the win, allowing 8 hits and fanning 8. Fastballer Elmer Heaster started for Estevan but was removed for losing pitcher Wilbur Greene in the 5th. Collins, Rollie Miles and Walt Buttgereit had 2 hits each for the Caps as did LeRoy Pettus of the Maple Leafs.

Heaster, Greene (L) (5) and Landrum
Merritt (W) and Turner

(June 13)  Medicine Hat  is off to a 2-1 start from its opening series against Moose Jaw.  In exhibition action, the Mohawks downed Eston 7-6 and played to a 4-4 tie.  Bud Ellington, who's 10th inning single gave the Mohawks a win in their league opener, belted two homers during the 'Hawks five game stint.  

(June 13)  Lefty Arnold tossed a three-hit shutout as Saskatoon 55s whipped Kamsack 12-0 to cop the $1,000 top prize in the Nipawin Tournament.

(June 13) Swift Current knocked off the defending champion Sceptre Panthers 6-4 in the final to win the $4,400 Camrose baseball tournament.  

(June 13)   Mohawk's boss Brick Swegle announced the acquisition of five new players from California -- outfielder Johnny Perasso, infielders Johnny Kane and Ray White, catcher John Noce and pitcher Bud Watkins.  The late arrivals bring to 26 the number of players on the Medicine Hat roster.  

(   )   Indian Head manager Jim Williams has picked lefthander Daniel Jenkins to start tonight's game against Medicine Hat.  A native of Durham, NC, the 6-1, 185-pounder is expected to go about five innings.  Williams will then throw in Cuban Toribio Leal, 5-6, 135-pound lefty who has played in Havana and Mexico. Missing from the Mohawks will be Lou Pisani, Jim Peterson and Tony Nunes who have been sent to Colonsay of the North Saskatchewan league.

(June 14)  Regina Caps came back from an early three-run deficit to shade Estevan 8-7 for first prize money in the Moose Jaw tournament. 

(June 14)   Jesse Blackman and Edward "Peanuts" Davis combined on a three-hitter as Indian Head Rockets blanked Medicine Hat Mohawks 6-0 in the opener of a three-game series.  Bill Rehder gave up just seven hits and one earned run in a losing cause.  Mohawks, returning from a strenuous tournament tour in Northern Alberta, made eight errors.  Lester Witherspoon led the Rockets with two hits, including a triple, and scored three times.  The win moved the Rockets out of a three-way tie with Estevan and Regina into sole position of second place behind Swift Current. 

Blackman (W), Davis (6) and Cameron
Rehder (L) and Noce

"Davis provided the comic relief needed to keep the fans interested in the game. 'Peanuts' would go into an exaggerated wind-up, twirling his glove and kicking his leg into the bleachers, then throw the ball.  If the ump never called the pitch a strike Davis would rant and rave on the mound, making chicken-like squawks.  Davis, however, is an outstanding pitcher even with his parodies.  He has played with Jackie Robinson's All-Stars and chucked against two of baseball's all-time greats -- Bob Feller and Satchel Paige."  (Medicine Hat News, June 15, 1951)

(June 15)   The Mohawks and Indian Head split a twin-bill at Medicine Hat.  The home club trounced the Rockets 14-4 in the opener but came out on the short end of an 11-2 count in the nightcap.  However, the Rockets might end up with two wins.  They protested the 'Hawks win saying the club had more than 18 players dressed and in the dugout.  

Medicine Hat pounded out 17 hits in their 14-4 first game victory, three apiece by catcher John Noce and second baseman Willie Reed, who each scored three times. Shortstop Johnny Kane drove in five runs with a pair of hits.  Rudy Garcia held the Rockets to seven hits, three by right fielder Shedrick Green. 

Coleman (L) and Cameron
Garcia (W) and Noce

Horace Latham belted a grand slam homer as the Rockets whipped the Mohawks 11-2 in the second game. In was one of three hits by the Indian Head second baseman.  He drove in five runs and scored four times. Lester Witherspoon went 4 for 5 and Tom Alston, Jim Williams, Henry Cameron and pitcher Jim Morrow each had two hits.  Morrow, who had 10 strikeouts, allowed just seven hits in gaining the win.  Al Endriss, with a triple, and Ray Perasso, with a double, had the only extra base hits for the Mohawks.

Morrow (W) and Cameron
Bates (L), Stavrianoudakis (6) and Noce

(June 15)   A seven-run 2nd inning carried Regina Caps to a 12-9 win over the Maple Leafs at Estevan.  It was the 5th win of the week for the Caps.  Five hits and four Estevan errors figured in the outburst.  Gus Kyle's bases-loaded single was a key hit.  Walter Buttgereit belted a two-run homer for Regina in the 7th.  Fred Shepard went 4 for 5 and Jack Bruton had three hits for the Leafs.  Lee Landrum cracked a two-run homer.

Vogt a(W) nd Kyle
Torgenrud (L), Bruton (2) and Landrum

(June 16) Moose Jaw's slumping Canucks dropped their fourth successive game 8 - 4 to the Estevan Maple Leafs and, in doing so, consolidated their hold on the basement position in the W.C.B.L. The shorthanded Canucks, having only 9 regular players and an untried bench player, started out well but faded in the middle innings in this 8 inning contest that was shortened by darkness. The Leafs got to the slants of loser Art Worth in the 5th, scoring 5 and breaking the game open. Dave Thomas picked up the complete game win for Estevan. First sacker Wilbur Greene with a triple and single led the Maple Leafs offensively. Moose Jaw shortstop Gerry Parker and catcher Jim Harford both had 2 safeties in a losing cause, one of Harford's being a three bagger.

Thomas (W) and Burleson
Worth (L) and Harford

(June 18) Walter (Butch) Buttgereit slammed a three-run homer in the seventh inning to carry Regina to a 6-3 win over Estevan in the final of the Lafleche baseball tournament.  

Coons (W) and Kyle
Bruton (L) and Landrum

(June 19) Sceptre Panthers won first prize money of $1,000 in the Medicine Hat tournament defeating the Indian Head Rockets 4-1 in the final.

(June 19)   A five-run rally in the bottom of the 8th inning carried Estevan to a 7-6 win over Regina Caps at Nicholson Field.  The outburst featured doubles by Lee Landrum and Albert Young and singles by Leroy Pettus, Jake Page and Jack Bruton.  Mel Torgenrud, who took over from Wilbur Green in the 5th, picked up the win. Caps' pitcher, lanky Dave Chadwick, was in cruise control for the first 6 innings but in the 7th he began to weaken, giving up a pair of tallies. Then, in the 8th, he blew a tire as the Rockets had their big inning and took the lead for good. Gus Kyle had 3 hits to lead the Caps offensively. Jack Bruton hit a round tripper for the Leafs.

Chadwick (L) and Kyle
Green, Torgenrud (W) (5) and Landrum

(June 21)  Indian Head Rockets moved into a tie for first in the Western Canada loop when they downed Estevan 7-5 before 14-hundred fans at Indian Head.  The Rockets share the top rung with Swift Current.  Clemente Varona paced the winners with three hits.  Les Witherspoon and Red Cameron each had a pair.   Pee Wee Davis went the route to get the win. Lefty Bryant was saddled with the loss. LeRoy Pettus, Fred Shepard, Jake Paige and Jack Btuton each delivered a brace of safeties for Estevan.

Bryant (L), Lombard (5) and Burleson
Davis (W) and Barnhill

(June 21)  Regina and Swift Current battled to a 4-4 draw in a game called after 11 innings because of darkness.  For the first four frames the offenses took over as the Indians got one in the 1st and three in the 4th and the Caps got a pair in their half of the 1st and another two in the 3rd.  Both pitchers, 20-year-old Johnny Mulholland for the Indians and Eli Merritt for the Caps, pitched hitless ball over the last four innings.  Merritt was one of three batters to collect three hits.  The others were the Caps' Jimmy Randolph and Ray Steele, the California student who was outstanding for the Indians at second base.

Mulholland and Hobbs
Merritt and Turner

(June 22) The Swift Current Indians came through with a 5 run rally in the 7th inning to clip the Regina Caps 6 - 3. The Reginans looked like money in the bank until losing pitcher Al Vogt suddenly lost his control in the 7th. Reliever Dave Chadwick couldn't put out the fire quickly enough and the game slipped away. Winner Bob Maren tossed steady ball for Swift Current in going the route. Outfielder Ken Hobbs had 3 hits for the Tribe to lead all hitters.  Swift Current fans had their first look at newcomers Crouch at third, Bent McNabb catching, Del Young at shortstop and Ray Steele at second.

Vogt (L), Chadwick (7) and Turner
Maren (W) and McNab

(June 22)  Estevan edged Moose Jaw 10-9  in a closely fought W.C.B.L. tussle. Wilbur Green clouted a home run and single to pace the Leafs' 13 hit attack off 2 Moose Jaw twirlers. LeRoy Pettus and catcher Gerry Burleson each hammered out a double and single. Mel Torgenrud, who took over mound duties in the 4th, was the winning hurler. Sharing the hurling chores for the Canucks were loser Lefty Erfle, who was shelled in the 3rd, and newcomer Dick Stone.

A. Erfle (L), Stone (3) and Harford
Bryant, Torgenrud (W) (4) and Burleson

(June 23)   Estevan Maple Leafs strengthened their hold on third place in the Western Canada Baseball league with a 6-2 win over the cellar-dwelling Moose Jaw Canucks.  Jack Bruton held the Canucks to seven hits.  Loser Murray O'Flynn gave up 11 Maple Leaf hits. Jackie McLeod hit a triple and single to pace the visiting Canucks. For the winners, Jake Paige and Wilbur Green both had a double and a single.

O'Flynn (L) and Harford
Bruton (W) and Landrum

(June 24)  Indian Head Rockets won the $1,500 top prize in the Kinsmen second annual tournament in Prince Albert.

(June 26) Lloyd Wooley doled out 5 carefully spaced hits in pitching the Regina Caps to a 5 - 1 victory over the Estevan Maple Leafs. Wooley was staked to a first inning 4 - 0 lead and had things well under control throughout the remainder of the game. Estevan's Henry McHenry also went the distance and took the loss. Wooley and Rollie Miles of the Caps both had 2 hits as did Jake Paige of the Leafs. Outfielder John McDaniels homered for the Caps.

McHenry (L) and Burleson
Wooley (W) and Turner

(June 27)  Rain washed out the semi-finals and final of the $2,500 Biggar tournament.  

(   )    Bill Rehder, the 6-foot, 5-inch lefthander, fired a four-hitter as Medicine Hat dumped Edmonton 6-2 in the opener of a three-game series. Rehder had 8 strikeouts and 6 walks. Al Endriss led the Mohawks at the plate with two hits, a triple and single. 

Rehder (W) and Noce
Lowe (L), Devine (8) and Warwick

(   )  Medicine Hat announced several roster moves.  Five players have been released -- catcher Dick Bechelli, infielder Tom Gillio, outfielders Bob Castagnetto and Jim Olsen and pitcher Stan Jarvis.  Pitcher-outfielder Tom Sorenson has been loaded to the SAR Flyers.  The club earlier chopped Lew Wigley, Dick Meister, Lou Pisani, Jim Peterson and Tony Nunes.  Wigley and Meister have returned to California while the latter three have been farmed out to Colonsay.  Castagnetto was believed to be joining Indian Head while Jarvis is to suit up with Sceptre Panthers. Sorenson has just graduated from Benecia, CA high school and is to enroll at Oregon State University this fall.  He pitched a 5-4 win over Athabaska on a recent road trip of northern Alberta.

(June 27 )   Medicine Hat arrived in town last night after an absence of nine days to open a three-game series against Estevan Ramblers.  This will mark the third home series for the Mohawks who took two of three from Moose Jaw June 1 and went 1-2 against the Indian Head Rockets last time out.  On the road, the Mohawks took two of three from Edmonton Oilers and downed the Ligon All-Stars and lost to North Battleford in the Prince Albert tournament.  Their scheduled games with Moose Jaw and Swift Current were rained out.

(June 27)   The bats came to life for Medicine Hat as the Mohawks pounded out 26 hits for 23 runs in taking both games of a twin-bill from Estevan, 18-6 and 5-0 and in the process, vaulted from fourth to second place in the W.C.B.L. standings.

"Crowds at both games were noticeable by their absence.  A maximum for 80 people turned out to the opener and approximately 400 to the nightcap.  With a winning club like "Brick" Swegle has, who can blame him for crying the blues over the sparse turnouts to the games?  No doubt he is wondering if he has to give away a free car with every ticket before the stands will be packed.  If he doesn't have a full house tonight, seeing as it is "ladies night," there isn't a person could blame him if he folded the Mohawks and took them back to California." (Medicine Hat News, June 28, 1951)

Al Endriss belted a two-run homer in the bottom of the first and the Mohawks never looked back in trouncing Estevan in the opener.  Medicine Hat had an 8-0 lead after two innings.  Pumpsie Green also homered for the 'Hawks while Gene Jacobs drove in five runs with a pair of doubles and a single.  John Noce had three hits and scored twice.  Endriss, Green, Willie Reed and Bud Ellington each scored three times.  Reed and Ellington had triples for the winners.  Bud Francis, who went the first five innings, picked up the win. 

Torgenrud (L), Lombard (2) and Landrum
Francis (W), Mocha (6) and Noce

Nat Bates tossed a five-hitter in the nightcap to blank the visitors 5-0.  Al Endriss scored what proved to be the winning run on a comedy of errors in the 4th inning.  He got on base on a miscue by centrefielder Fred Shepard, then scored on another error by Shepard and one by catcher Lee Landrum.  Willie Reed's 5th inning double plated two more runs.  In the 7th, Reed singled, stole second and third and scored on a drive by Endriss who was outstanding in the field with several circus catches. 

Bryant (L) and Landrum
Bates (W) and Noce

STANDINGS
Swift Current  4 -  2
Medicine Hat   5 -  3 
Indian Head    6 -  4 
Regina         7 -  7 1.0
Estevan        9 - 10 1.5
Moose Jaw      4 -  9 3.5

(June 28 )  Medicine Hat made a clean sweep of their series against Estevan when they whipped the Maple Leafs 7-2.  Wednesday, Mohawks had battered Estevan 18-6 and 5-0.  Mohawks moved into a tie for top spot with Swift Current Indians.  Ladies' Night drew fewer than 400 fans, although a threat of rain and chilly winds likely kept many supporters at home. Bud Watkins scattered six hits, allowing just one earned run, to pick up the win.  Al Endriss paced the hitters with a triple and two singles. Pumpsie Green and Ray White each drove in a pair.

Bruton (L) and Landrum
Watkins (W) and Noce

(June 29)  Indian Head scratched out a run in the bottom of the 9th to gain a 5-5 tie with Medicine Hat.  The game was called after nine innings because of darkness. Bob Prescott, the Rockets new infielder from Panama, scored the tying marker on a ground out by Charlie Harris. Mohawks led 3-0 after two innings but Prescott got Indian Head on the scoreboard with a homer in the 3rd.  Mohawks increased their margin to 4-1 in the 4th but Les Witherspoon triple and scored for the Indians in the bottom of the inning. More than 1,000 fans were treated to a pitching duel between Chet Brewer, making his first home start for the Rockets, and the Mohawks Cliff Allmon.  Witherspoon was the leading hitter for the Rockets with 2 safeties. For the Mohawks, Willie Reed hit 3 for 4.

Rockets received news they were awarded a protested game earlier in the season at Medicine Hat.

Allmon, Rehder and Noce
Brewer, Blackman (9) and Cameron

(   )   Mohawks whipped Saskatoon 55's 10-1 in an exhibition tilt in Saskatoon.  Bill Rehder fired a six-hitter for the win.  Medicine Hat had just eight hits but took advantage of four errors.   A six-run uprising in the 5th broke a 1-1 deadlock. Hawks scored three more in the 6th before Charlie Beene took over on the hill and pitched hitless ball the rest of the way.

Rehder (W) and Noce
Stavrianoudakis (L), Hannah (5), Rumball (6), Beene (6) and Watrous

(July 1)  Roland Miles socked a pair of homers Sunday as the Caps beat Rockets 9-2 in an exhibition match at Carlyle Lake. Jimmy Randolph and John McDaniels also had four baggers for the Queen City crew.

(July 2) The power-packed Indian Head Rockets shaded the Regina Caps 7 - 5 in the opener of a twin bill in W.C.B.L. play, allowing the Rockets to consolidate their hold on first place. Jim Morrow pitched a complete game win for the Rockets. Caps' starter Carl Coons was driven from the hill in the 3rd and Eli Merritt took over, completing the game.

Coons (L), Merritt (3) and Kyle
Morrow (W) and Cameron

The nightcap of the double dip was a thrilling see-saw encounter that was called at the end of 9 with the teams deadlocked 5 - 5. A sensational steal of home by Pee Wee Collins in the 9th frame enabled the Caps to walk off with a tie.

Vogt, Chadwick (8), Merritt (9), Maze (9) and Turner
Leal, Blackman (3), Brewer (8) and Cameron

(July 2)  Eston won $1,200 first prize money in the Saskatoon Optimist tournament upsetting two-time champion Delisle Gems 6-3 in the final before an estimated 8-thousand fans. 

(July 3) The Regina Caps and the Indian Head Rockets played another doubleheader and the results were the same as 24 hours previous in that Indian Head came away with a win and a tie. In the opener, the Rockets led all the way to post a 7 - 4 triumph. Lefthander John Coleman pitched into the 9th for the win. Carl Coons suffered the loss. Indian Head catcher Henry Cameron had 3 hits in the victory.

Coleman (W), Davis (9), Blackman (9) and Cameron
Coons (L) and Turner

In the second game, the Caps tossed away a big 5 run lead in the 9th, sending the game to extra innings. There was no scoring in the 10th and the contest ended 7 - 7. Dave Chadwick and Peanuts Davis both pitched the entire 10. Tom Alston of the Rockets led all hitters with 4 base knocks. Regina's Pee Wee Collins had 3.

Davis and Cameron
Chadwick and Kyle

(July 3)  Medicine Hat vs. Eston Ramblers ??

(July 3)  Medicine Hat  fought to a 7-7, 12-inning tie with North Battleford.  Bill Rehder started for the Mohawks, giving way to Bud Francis.

(July 4)  Medicine Hat opens a three-game series against the Caps tomorrow.  The two teams meet in a double-header today at Regina. Mohawks have played nine league games to date with a 6-3 record but one of the wins was protested by Indian Head.  Walter Buttgereit will be leading the Caps.  He had a 4 for 4 against the Rockets July 3rd.

Al Endriss is out of the lineup after receiving a bad spike wound when the Mohawks lost to Colonsay in the Saskatoon tournament. 

(July 4)  Regina shutout Medicine Hat for 16 straight innings in sweeping both ends of a doubleheader at Regina, 3-0 and 4-2.  

Al Vogt fired a three-hitter in blanking the 'Hawks 3-0 while Tony Maze and Eli Merritt combined to hold the visitors to six hits in the second game.

Gus Kyle gave the Caps the only run they would need when he led off with a single in the 4th inning and came around to score on a pair of errors.  

Caps got away to a 2-0 lead in the 2nd frame of the nightcap as Barry Wolstencroft tripled with two out.  Ted Zack followed with a double and Maze with another triple. 

Allmon (L) and Noce
Vogt (W) and Kyle

Barclay (L) and Noce
Maze (W), Merritt (6) and Kyle

The high winds sent the wedding of Caps' pitcher Carl Coons and Miss Valeria Ann Keeler indoors.  They were married Wednesday afternoon

(July 4 )  Indian Head scored three runs in the first inning of each game and went on to trounce Swift Current 9-5 and 13-1 in a twin-bill at Swift Current.   In the opener, Rockets put seven on the board in the first three frames against Alex Palica before Vern Callihan could come to the rescue.  Jesse Blackman started for the Rockets and pitched shutout ball for three innings before being pulled with a 7-0 lead.  Jim Morrow finished up.

Blackman, Morrow (W) (4) and Cameron
Palica (L), Callihan (3) and MacNab

Toribio Leal fired a two-hitter for the win in the nightcap as his teammates connected for 17 hits. Pedro Osorio led the Rockets with a homer, double and two singles.  Tom Alston, Les Witherspoon and Shedrick Green rapped out doubles.

Leal (W) and Barnhill
Mulholland (L), Johnson and MacNab

(July 5) The league leading Indian Head Rockets trounced the Swift Current Indians 9 - 5 to sweep their 3 game series. The potent power of the Rockets at the plate, aided by 6 Indians' miscues, was the downfall of the Tribe who were only able to get 6 base knocks off winner Lefty Dan Jenkins and 2 relievers. Johnny McManus went the distance for the Indians, giving up 10 hits in his losing performance. Rockets' second baseman Bob Prescott was the hitting star of the game, banging out 3 hits in 5 trips.

Jenkins (W), Coleman, Davies and Barnhill
McManus (L) and McNab

(July 5)  Medicine Hat downed Regina 5-1 Thursday night in the first of a three-game series at Athletic Park.  Nat Bates was the winner with a six-hitter. Chet Carr knocked in three runs with a pair of hits.  Roland Miles had three safeties for the Caps.

Wooley (L), Galloway (3) and Kyle
Bates (W) and Noce

(   )   Medicine Hat released three players to make way for new additions.  Owner-manager Brick Swegle announced the departure of coach Joe Mocha, outfielder Gene Jacobs and pitcher Rudy Garcia.  All have signed on with the Sceptre Nixons.  Mohawks have acquired pitcher Curt Barclay of Missoula, Montana and Pete Beiden of Fresno State who will coach the club when he arrives in two or three weeks.  Pitcher Don Barnett is rumoured to be joining the Mohawks.

Sceptre owner Red Nixon said the deals to obtain the three players were all "above board".  He inferred that two of his players -- Pedro Osorio and Bob Prescott -- were taken by the Indian Head Rockets on a "dirty deal."  He said that after he had paid $916 in transportation costs to bring the players from Panama, the two players, along with Chet Brewer, went to the Rockets.

(July 6)  The host club won.  Sceptre Panthers erupted for four runs in the sixth inning to defeat North Battleford Beavers 6-3 in the final game of the Sceptre tournament.

(July 6)  The Brandon Greys of the Mandak League scored two lopsided victories to claim the title in the $2,200 Moosomin tournament.

(July 7) The Estevan Maple Leafs regained their winning ways with an 11 - 3 win over the last place Moose Jaw Canucks. The Leafs led 9 - 0 after the 6th and coasted to victory behind Henry McHenry's 9 hitter. McHenry and outfielder Fred Shepard with 3 hits led the batting barrage for the Maple Leafs. Wes Richardson took the loss, lasting until the 5th. Estevan's LeRoy Pettus and Wayne Brock of the Canucks both had a pair of hits.

Richardson (L), Brock (5) and Harford
McHenry (W) and Landrum

(July 7)  Dave Chadwick fired a three-hitter as Regina downed Medicine Hat 5-1 in the opening game of a double-header at Medicine Hat. Caps got all the runs they needed as Gus Kyle doubled to drive in Roland Miles and George Galloway singled to score Kyle.  Three of the Caps' runs against Bud Watkins were unearned.  Bud Ellington scored the only run for Medicine Hat when he tripled and scored on a passed ball.

Chadwick (W) and Kyle
Watkins (L) and Noce

Carl Coons pitched a six-hitter besting Cliff Allmon who was making his first start for the Mohawks, as the Regina Caps downed Medicine Hat 7 - 3 and completed a sweep of their twin bill. The Caps went ahead early and were never really seriously threatened. Pee Wee Collins had a pair of hits for the winners. Johnny McDaniels' triple for Regina was the game's longest base blow.

Coons (W) and Kyle
Allmon (L) and Noce

The three-game series concludes tomorrow.  Caps will start Carl Coons, a 19-year-old southpaw who was married Wednesday.  Mohawks will counter with Cliff Allmon whose last appearance in Medicine Hat was in the tournament as he pitched the 'Hawks to a 14-3 win over Lethbridge Cubs

(July 7)   Moose Jaw announced the acquisition of two players, infielder Dwight Rip Collins from Oklahoma and outfielder Lowell Hodges.  Pitcher Murray O'Flynn and outfielder Jackie McLeod left the club last week.  O'Flynn returned to his home in Spokane for business reasons while McLeod left at his own request to join the Eston Ramblers of the Northern league.

(July 7)  Indian Head Rockets whipped Swift Current in both ends of a double-header, 12-3 and 13-5.  The sweep gave the Rockets a 15-3 record on the season.  The club pounded out 16 hits in each contest.  Indians jumped into a 3-0 lead in the first game chasing starter Dan Jenkins in the opening frame.  But Jesse Blackman shutdown the Indians the rest of the way.  Jenkins was also chased early in the second game as Swift Current tied the contest 4-4 with a run in the 3rd.  Jim Morrow took over and held the Indians in check.  Bob Prescott homered for the Rockets in the opener while the Rockets got five circuit blasts in the evening game.  Tom Alston belted a pair with others going to Les Witherspoon, Pedro Osorio and Morrow.  One of the day's features was a triple play.  With runners on first and second, Alston speared a line drive, doubled the runner off first and threw to second to complete the triple.

Callihan (L), Mulholland (4) and MacNab
Jenkins, Blackman (W) (1) and Barnhill

Johnson (L), Nelson (5) and MacNab
Jenkins, Morrow (W) (4) and Barnhill

(July 8)  Indian Head Rockets trounced Estevan 13-7 in an exhibition match at Carlyle Lake. Dan Jenkins tossed the first three innings for the Rockets with Peanuts Davis finishing up.

(July 9)  After eight consecutive losses, Moose Jaw Canucks broke the spell with a 10-6 win over Estevan at Exhibition Park, Moose Jaw.  Canucks built up an 8-0 lead then weathered an Estevan comeback attempt to take the victory.  Newcomer Rip Collins sparked the Canucks with a double and two singles. Gerry Parker chipped in with three hits and 2 RBI.  Art Worth went the distance for the win.  He had a three-hit shutout through six innings before tiring in the latter frames. He helped at the plate with a two-run double. 

Lombard (L) and Landrum
Worth (W) and Harford

(July 9)   Indian Head Rockets wiped out a 6-0 deficit with two, three-run innings to salvage a 6-6 tie with Medicine Hat Mohawks.  The game was called after nine innings because of darkness.  A two-run homer by Bobby Prescott was the key hit in the Rockets' rally.  Each club was held to five hits. Al Endriss had a pair for the Mohawks and Pedro Osorio two for the Rockets.  Horace Latham, injured earlier in the season,  made a timely return to the Rockets' lineup, playing shortstop. Last weekend the Rockets lost the services of shortstop Clement Varona when he broke his leg in the Moosomin tournament. 

Barclay and Noce
Jenkins, Blackman (1), Leal (3), Morrow (9) and Cameron, Barnhill\

(July 9)  Swift Current Indians, with a disappointing, last place showing, announced a major shake-up including the release of playing-coach Jim Ryan.  Others who have departed include pitchers Alex Palica, Bob Maren and Johnny Mulholland, catcher Brent McNabb, third baseman Crouch and outfielder Bob Hobbs.  John McManus, who is set to return to his university position in Nova Scotia after the holidays, takes over the club.

Remaining with the club are pitchers McManus, Al Johnson and Vern Callihan, Del St. John, Del Young SS, Ray Steele 2B, Bill Clovinski OF, Ken Nelson OF, Cliff Beisel 3B and Eddie Lang OF.  Catcher Jack Mowbray is also expected to join the team, as is "Lefty" Strong, a good local hurler, and there is a report Jackie McLeod may return.

The executive also announced a reduction in admission fees, from 75 cents for adults down to 60 cents.  High school students will pay 25 cents and public school children 15 cents.

(July 10)   Medicine Hat rallied for three runs in the 8th inning to shade Estevan 3-2 at Nicholson Field in Estevan.  Nat Bates hurled a seven-hitter for the Mohawks.  Lefty Bryant held the Mohawks to just one hit during the first seven innings but was nicked for three singles and a double during the 'Hawks 8th inning outburst.  Collins Jones of the Maple Leafs had three hits.  Leafs scored in the 3rd on a double by Junior Walter and a passed ball.  Bud Ellington walked and John Kane singled to start the Mohawks' rally.  Pumpsie Green doubled to score the first run and Kane notched the equalizer. Ray Perasso's drive plated Green with the winner. 

Bates (W) and Noce
Bryant (L), McHenry (9) and Landrum

(July 10)  In a season dominated by the hitters, fans in Moose Jaw saw a pitchers' duel as Dick Stone, the Canuck newcomer and former major leaguer, took on Walter Buttgereit who made his first start of the season.  The Canadian kid won out as Regina squeezed out a 1-0 victory. There were just 12 hits in the game, six by each side.  The only run came in the 5th inning when second baseman Roland Miles belted a triple to drive in Pee Wee Collins.

Buttgereit (W) and Kyle
Stone (L) and Harford

(July 11)  Indian Head bounced the Beavers of North Battleford 10-3 to win top prize in the Foam Lake tourney.  

(July 11)  Moose Jaw manager Clint Hodges announced the club had signed Alex Palica of the Swift Current Indians to play for the Canucks for the remainder of the season.  Palica's brother Erv is a member of the mound staff of the Brooklyn Dodgers.

(July 11)   Regina Caps busted loose for 17 hits to crush Moose Jaw 14-8 at Taylor Field.  Canucks took a 3-0 in the top of the first inning but the Caps quickly responded.  Pee Wee Collins belted Lefty Erfle's first pitch for a homer and Roland Miles hit the second for a double as Regina went on to score three of their own.  Bob Hobbs, who started the season with Swift Current, had three hits for the Caps including a pair of triples.  Gus Kyle and Jimmy Randolph each had three hits.  Dave Chadwick went the distance for the win. Dick Stone emerged as Moose Jaw's best hitter in this game as he came through with 3 base raps.

Erfle (L) and Harford
Chadwick (W) and Kyle

(July 11)  Estevan took a pair from Medicine Hat, 4-3 and 7-6 as Henry McHenry picked up both wins with sterling relief efforts.  McHenry relieved Buddy Lombard in the 7th inning of the opener and held off the Mohawks and, at night, took over from Mel Torgenrud in the 2nd frame and went the rest of the way. Maple Leafs rallied to win both tilts.  A two-run 7th inning was decisive in the first game. Key hits came from Freddie Shepard and McHenry. Leroy Pettus had doubled in the 3rd to plate Shepard and Collins Jones.  Leafs won the nightcap with a four-run rally in the  8th inning. Jack Bruton led off with the single and scored on Gerry Burleson's triple, Wilbur Green brought the Leafs to within a run with a single and Lombard followed with a walk.  Al Endriss relieved starter Bud Francis but delivered two wild pitches allowing Greene and Lombard to score the tying and winning runs.  Ray White of the Mohawks had the only homer. 

Allmon (L) and Noce
Lombard, McHenry (7) and Landrum

Francis, Endriss (8) and Noce
Torgenrud, McHenry (2) and Landrum

(July 12)  A pair of one-hit shutouts highlighted the $1,500 Brandon invitational tournament as Elmwood captured the top prize. 

(July 12) The Swift Current Indians turned back the Moose Jaw Canucks 2 - 0 in a W.C.B.L. encounter earmarked by the superlative pitching of Indians' hurler Vern Callihan who scalped the Canucks with a brilliant 3 hitter. The Tribe scored both of their runs in the top of the 1st, the only tallies of the game. Portsider Art Worth went the distance for the Canucks and took the loss. John Mulholland of the Indians rapped out 3 base knocks to lead all hitters.

Callihan (W) and St. John
Worth (L) and Harford

(July 13) Newcomer Bob Hobbs was the key figure as the Regina Caps swept a twin bill from his former team, the Swift Current Indians, by scores of 13 - 5 and 10 - 4. In the matinee attraction, Hobbs sent the Caps on their way with a bases loaded triple, one of two for his 3 hit game, in the 3rd inning. In this match, the Caps' Al Vogt got the pitching win although requiring relief help from Eli Merritt. John Mulholland of the Tribe was the loser. Pee Wee Collins and Gus Kyle also contributed a trio of safeties for the winners.

Mulholland (L) and St. John
Vogt (W), Merritt (6) and Kyle

The Caps had to come from behind to win the evening tilt. During this encounter, Hobbs drove in the Caps' first run and then capped the day's work by socking a 2 run homer in the 8th. Eli Merritt was again the Caps' fireman and, this time, got the win. Speedy Creek's Vic "Lefty" Wall took the loss. Two batters, Swift Current catcher Del St. John and Caps' outfielder Ted Zack, led their respective teams with 3 hits each.

Wall (L), Johnson (7) and St. John
Galloway, Merritt (W) (3) and Kyle

(July 13)   Saskatoon 55s downed Kamsack 4-1 to take top prize in the Kamsack tournament.

(July 13)  Jack Bruton of the Estevan Maple Leafs, who has 20 base hits in 46 at bats for a .435 average, is the first half batting leader in the W.C.B.L. Indian Head's Lester Witherspoon is second, hitting the ball at a .421 clip. Jake Paige of the Estevan Maple Leafs ranks next with a .410 average. Then comes Bob Hobbs (Swift Current and Regina) and Walter "Butch" Buttgereit of the Regina squad, both with .379 averages. Gus Kyle and Rollie Miles of the Caps each have stung the horsehide at a .375 pace.

(July 14) Pitcher Dick Stone's performance in a double dip was the main factor in a Moose Jaw Canucks' sweep of the Swift Current Indians by scores of 7 - 4 and 9 - 3. Stone limited the Tribe to 5 hits in the matinee to pick up the complete game win. The Canucks broke a 4 - 4 tie with a 3 run outburst in the top of the 8th to pull out the win. Shortstop Rip Collins touched off the rally with a double and scored the winner on Berlyn Hodges' single.

In the evening encounter, Stone went to the mound to rescue young Wes Richardson in the top of the 1st when Swift Current had scored 3 times and had the bases loaded with none out. He quickly retired the side and pitched shutout ball thereafter.

Stone (W) and xxx
Oldheiser (L), Wall (9) and xxx

Richardson, Stone (W) (1) and xxx
McManus(L), Wall, Straub, Johnson and xxx

(July 14)   Ray Perasso's 6th inning triple drove in Johnny Kane with what proved to be the winner as Medicine Hat shaded Regina 3-2 to gain a split of a twin-bill at Regina.  Caps scored a 10-9 triumph in the opener, taking a 10-3 lead and holding off a late charge by the visitors.

Mohawks had just six hits in the nightcap but scored a pair in the1st inning on a single by Pumpsie Green, double by Al Endriss and an outfield error.  Pee Wee Collins scored for the Caps in the 3rd on a four-base error and Barry Wolstencroft  batted in Jim Randolph with a 6th inning double. Regina had a strong threat in the 9th, but Bob Hobbs filed out with runners on second and third.  Bud Francis topped Butch Buttgereit in a mound duel.  Regina second baseman Roland Miles, experimenting as a switch-hitter, had a double and three singles for the Caps. 

Francis (W) and Noce
Buttgereit (L) and Kyle

Miles crushed a homer and triple to lead the Caps to their afternoon victory.  Miles, Bob Hobbs and Gus Kyle each drove in a pair of runs.  Mohawks outhit the Caps 18 to 11.  Carl Coons was the winner in relief.  Mohawk's starter Nat Bates was forced to leave the game in the 5th inning after being struck over the right eye by a line drive off the bat of Art Stone.

Bates, Rheder (L) (5), Watkins (9) and Noce
Galloway, Coons (W) (4), Chadwick (9) and Kyle, Turner (8)

Mohawks' Ray White reached base eight times in nine at bats in the twin-bill.  He had two triples, four walks, hit by a pitch and reached on an error.

(July 14)   Indian Head Rockets scored eight in the 1st and went on to wallop Estevan 21-0 for the Rockets 16th win in 19 games.  Tom Alston and Bobby Prescott each had three hits.  Bee Bee Green belted a three-run homer in the 1st and Les Witherspoon blasted a two-run homer in the 5th.  Chet Brewer pitched a gem -- a three-hitter with 14 strikeouts.

Lombard (L), W Green and Landrum
Brewer (W) and Cameron

(July 15)   Swift Current downed Moose Jaw 9-4 in exhibition action.  Bob Maren, who was slated to leave the club, stayed on and pitched the victory.  Indians had Jackie McLeod in the lineup at first base.

xxx and xxx
Maren (W) and xxx

(July 16) The Indian Head Rockets kept blazing along in W.C.B.L. wars when they dumped the Medicine Hat Mohawks 8 - 6 in an abbreviated contest called after 5 1/2 innings because of darkness and threatening rain. Catcher Henry (Red) Cameron and outfielder Pedro Osario belted home runs as the Rockets registered their 14th win in succession in league play and their 17th victory out of 20 games played this campaign. Jim Morrow was the winning pitcher as he limited Medicine Hat to 6 hits. Loser Bud Watkins gave up 7 safeties, including a pair by Osario.

Watkins (L) and Noce
Morrow (W) and Cameron

(July 16)   Estevan Maple Leafs erupted for nine runs in the 1st inning en route to a 13-2 win over Swift Current Indians.  Included in the onslaught were triples from Leroy Pettus, Bill McCullough and Wilbur Green.  Curly Andrews added a double.  Collins Jones, the only player not to score in the 1st inning, led off the 2nd with a homer.  Junior Walton also had a four-bagger.  Lefty Allan Bryant held the Indians to seven hits with eight strikeouts and one walk.  Andrews and McCullough, former members of the Ligon All-Stars, played their first games with the Leafs.

McManus (L), Nelson (2) and St. John
Bryant (W) and Landrum

(July 17)   Indian Head Rockets swept a twin-bill from the Caps at Regina, 6-2 and 4-3.  Toribio Leal, the 135 pound southpaw,  pitched a five-hitter and fanned nine in the opener to register the win. Dave Chadwick took the loss for the Caps. Les Witherspoon of the Rockets was the only player on either side to produce 2 hits.

Leal (W) and Barnhill
Chadwick, Coon (8), Merritt (9) and Kyle

Ed Peanuts Davis and Chet Brewer pitched the Rockets to the second game win with Davis getting credit for the victory.  Carl Coons suffered the loss and that third sacker Charlie Robinson of the Rockets led all batsmen with a trio of base knocks.

Davis (W), Brewer (7)
Coons (L) and Kyle

(July 17)   Medicine Hat rallied for four runs in the 9th inning to take a 7-4 decision from Estevan.  A double by Al Endriss, a single from Bud Ellington and two Leaf errors accounted for the winning margin.  Although touched for 14 hits, Nat Bates went the distance for the Mohawks.  He had four strikeouts and two walks.  Jack Bruton went the route for the home club allowing right hits with six strikeouts and four bases on balls.  Fred Shepard and Leroy Pettus belted triples for the Indians while Junior Walton added a double and two singles. 

Bates (W) and Noce
Bruton (L) and Landrum

(July 20) Hal Price tossed a two-hitter and fanned thirteen as Sceptre and Regina Caps battled to a 1-1 tie in an exhibition match at Taylor Field.  A comedy of errors led to Regina's only run.  Price struck out Art Stone, leading off the third, but catcher Grant Warwick dropped the third strike.  Warwick made a wild throw to first as Stone scampered down the base path.  Another miscue by the third basemen allowed Stone to pull up safety at third.  A sacrifice fly brought in the run. Sceptre got its only run in the 6th when Del St. John led off with a single and Cap pitcher George Galloway proceeded to walk three straight batters.

Price (W) and Warwick
Galloway (L) and Turner

(July 20)  The revamped Swift Current Indians downed Moose Jaw 5-4 to move out of the basement in the Western Canada league standings.  Bolstered by members of the Sceptre touring club, the Indians built up a 4-0 lead then stopped a Canucks' rally in the 9th to take the win.  Joe Mocha's three-run homer in the 3rd was a key hit for the Indians.  Roy Scheppert, with a double in the 8th, drove in Mocha with the winning run.  Alex Palica had two triples and three singles in five at bats for Moose Jaw.  Ken Nelson went 4-5 for the Indians.  The Swift Current and Sceptre clubs decided to join forces for the rest of the season.

C Jacobson (W) and Garay
Worth (L) and Harford

(July 20)  Les Witherspoon's two-run double in the 11th inning gave Indian Head a 5-3 win over Estevan.  It was the Rockets' 20th win in 23 starts.  Witherspoon had singled and scored the Rockets' first run in the 1st inning.  Fred Shepard's homer tied the count.  Curly Andrews and Shepard drove in Leaf markers in the 7th while Indian Head notched single runs in the 8th and 9th to force extra innings.  Shedrick Green scored in the 8th on two Estevan errors and Red Cameron scored in the 9th on a hit by Jesse Blackman.  Blackman went the distance on the hill holding the Leafs to five hits.  He fanned 12.  Henry McHenry gave up nine hits.

Blackman (W) and Cameron
McHenry (L) and Landrum, Burleson

(July 21)   Walter Buttgereit's pitching and hitting led Regina Caps to a 4-1 win over Medicine Hat before 1,400 fans at Taylor Field in Regina.  Buttgereit held the Mohawks to four hits while he knocked in the winning run with a 7th inning double.  He later scored an insurance run.  Nate Bates went the distance for the Mohawks allowing eight hits.  Mohawks' regular catcher, Joe Noce, was out of the lineup serving a one-game suspension following a dispute with an umpire during a game in Estevan.  Lloyd Wooley was released by Regina and is expected to join Estevan.

Bates (L) and Green
Buttgereit (W) and Turner

(July 21)   Estevan Maple Leafs took a pair from Swift Current, 11-6 in 13 innings,  and 8-3.   Jack Bruton, who came on in relief in the 9th inning of the first game, picked up the win.  Leafs were helped by eight errors by the Indians.  Buddy Lombard, who went eight innings in the first game, came back to go the distance in the evening contest.  Del St. John led the Indians with three hits in the first game and a pair in the second. 

Lombard, Bruton (W) (9) and
Callihan, Wall (4), Johnson (7), Jarvis ( ) and xxx

Lombard (W) and xxx
Mulholland (L), Garcia (4)and xxx

(July 22)  Estevan dumped Swift Current 8-5 to complete a three-game, weekend sweep.  Santa Fe Morris made his initial start for the Maple Leafs and stopped the Indians on an eight-hitter.

Morris (W) and xxx
McManus (L), C Jacobson (9) and xxx

(July 22)  Indian Head Rockets ran their winning streak to 19 games by take a pair from Moose Jaw, 11-2 and 8-6.  Peanuts Davis tossed a seven-hitter for the first game win and the Rockets pounded out 13 hits to win the second contest.  Tom Alston, Bob Prescott and Shedrick Green each had three hits in the opener.  Prescott clouted a homer to pace the hitters in the evening game.  Art Worth had the lone four-bagger in the first game.  

Palica (L) and Harford
Davis (W) and Cameron

B Hodges (L) and Harford
Leal (W) and Cameron

(July 23)   Veteran Dick Stone fired a five-hitter to lead Moose Jaw to a 5-1 victory over Medicine Hat.  Stone fanned eight batters and gave up just one base on balls. Shoddy fielding did in the Mohawks as they committed five errors allowing the Canucks to tally five unearned runs.  Cy Thorseth, up from the Southern League for his debut with the Mohawks, allowed just seven hits, whiffed seven and walked four. Outfielder Art Worth led Moose Jaw with three hits.

Thorseth (L) and Noce
Stone (W) and Harford

(July 23) In a thriller from the get-go, the powerful Indian Head Rockets nailed their 20th straight W.C.B.L. victory, scoring a last inning run to edge the Estevan Maple Leafs 4 - 3. Les Witherspoon's bottom of the 9th RBI single off loser Lefty Bryant won the game for the Rockets. Witherspoon had 3 of the 8 Indian Head safeties to lead all hitters. Winning chucker Chet Brewer had 7 strikeouts in his mound performance, surrendering 6 hits.

Bryant (W) and Burleson
Brewer (L) and Barnhill

(July 23) The Regina Caps strengthened their hold on second place in W.C.B.L. wars, sweeping a doubleheader from the Swift Current Indians by scores of 13 - 3 and 7 - 2. In the opener, lanky winner Dave Chadwick and homebrew reliever Walter Buttgereit combined for an easy afternoon of work in shutting down the Tribe on 5 hits.

Chadwick (W), Buttgereit and xxxx
xxx and xxx

Southpaws Tony Maze and Carl Coons hurled a 5 hit job for the Caps in the 8 inning nightcap. Maze picked up the win but was forced to leave the game early when struck on the pitching arm on a ball hit by rival pitcher Vic "Lefty" Wall. Walter Buttgereit had a towering home run for Regina to go along with a double and single. Cliff Beisel sparked the Indians attack with a double and single while catcher Al Powell poled out a triple.

Maze (W), Coons (5) and Turner
Wall (L) and A. Powell

(July 24)  Medicine Hat handed the Swift Current Indians their third straight double defeat dropping the cellar-dwellers 8-3 and 8-5.  Indians lost a pair to Estevan on Saturday and two to Regina on Monday.

Bud Francis tossed a six-hitter for the win in the 1st game.  A four-run 1st inning for the Hawks proved enough for the victory.  The big hits were a triple by the Indians Ed Garay and a double by the Mohawks Al Endriss.

Francis (W) and Noce
Jarvis, Jacobson and Garay