Canadian-American League
Semi-finals :
September 1 - John Werhas, named by Edmonton fans as the team's most valuable player, homer and doubled to lead the Eskimos to a 3-1 win in the opening game of the best-of-seven semi-final series against Saskatoon. After Werhas' double in the second, Len Gabrielson walked and Art Ersepke drove both home with a double. Jim Sims scattered six hits to get the win. Lew Hobson also allowed just six hits in a losing cause for the Commodores. A crowd of 2,170 was in attendance at Renfrew Park.
Sask 000 000 001 1 6 1
Edm 020 000 01X 3 6 0
Sims and Heath
Hobson and Garrett
September 2 - John Werhas had four hits and five runs batted in to lead Edmonton to a 10-9 win over Saskatoon and a two game lead in the semi-final series. Werhas, the hitting star of the first game, blasted a three-run homer in the second to give Eskimos a 7-0 lead. Commodores bounced back with three runs in the seventh, four in the eighth and a pair in the ninth to make it close. Joe Fischer had a three-run homer for Saskatoon.
Sask 000 000 342 9 10 3
Edm 430 100 02X 10 14 3
Graves, Crittenden (1), Popkin (2) and Garrett
Forsythe, Vold (8) and Heath
September 2 - Mike Noakes singled home Steve Strother with the winning run in the bottom of the ninth as Regina topped Lloydminster-North Battleford 4-3 in the opening game of a best-of-seven semi-final series. Strother had tripled to open the inning. Senators had blown a 3-0 lead as the Combines got one in the eighth and a pair in the ninth to tie. Pitcher Ted Richardson led the Combines at the plate with three hits.
Lloyd 000 000 012 3 9 3
Reg 210 000 001 4 8 4
Richardson, Kostenuk (9) and Tanner
Warren and Strother
September 3 - Regina exploded for eight runs in the opening frame and coasted to a 12-2 win in the second game of the semi-final series with Lloydminster-North Battleford. The big blow was a bases-clearing triple by Ray Boaz. The Senators scored seven runs before the Combines could get anyone out. Outfielder Mike Noakes led the winners with four hits. Combines had a miserable night in the field with seven errors.
Lloyd 010 010 000 2 7 7
Reg 803 100 00X 12 13 0
Dayne, Kostenuk (1) and Tanner
Reed and Strother, Bach ()
September 3 - Edmonton broke a 1-1 tie with three runs in the eighth inning to post a 4-1 victory, their third straight in the semi-final series against Saskatoon. Three of the Eskimos runs were unearned as the Commodores committed six errors. Jim Withers went the distance for the win.
Edm 000 001 030 4 5 1
Sask 100 000 000 1 6 6
Withers and Heath
Yates, Graves (8) and Garrett
September 4 - Lefty Bruce Gardner tossed a brilliant one-hitter as Regina shaded the Combines 1-0 and took a 3-0 stranglehold on the semi-final series. Senators scored the only run in the seventh inning when Roger Tomlinson raced home from third on a passed ball. Combines' catchers were charged with just two during the entire regular schedule. The game was called after seven by darkness. Gardner lost his no-hit bid in the fifth when Ken Nelson broke the spell with a single up the middle. He walked two and fanned four.
Reg 000 000 1 1 7 1
Lloyd 000 000 0 0 1 0
Gardner and Strother
Searcy and Bryson
September 4 - Edmonton held off a 9th inning rally by Saskatoon to score a 5-3 win and take the semi-final series in four straight games. John Werhas homered for the Esks, an inside-the-park four bagger, his third home run in the series. Roland Jones, with 9th inning relief from Ralph Vold, was the winner.
Edm 000 001 121 5 10 1
Sask 000 100 002 3 7 2
Jones, Vold (9) and Heath
Hobson, Graves (8) and Garrett
After the game it was announced that three Saskatoon players -- Jeff Williams, Eloyd Robinson and Bill Lynn -- might be joining Lloydminster-North Battleford for the rest of the playoffs.
To pour salt on Saskatoon's wounds, two city detectives were on hand to serve players with summonses charging them under the Lord's Day Act. Those receiving summonses were ordered to appear in court on September 8th.
September 5 - Ted Richardson tossed a five-hit shutout to keep the Combines' playoff hopes alive. Jeff Williams, an addition to the Combines from Saskatoon, drove in three runs with a pair of singles. Don Buford and Bill Lynn also had two hits each. Zoonie McLean, a playoff addition from Williston, got two hits for Regina. A feature of the game was the first triple play of the season. With men on second and third in the third inning, John Regoli grabbed Curly Williams' sharp grounder, stepped on third for one, fired to Ron Stillwell for the second out and Stillwell threw to Wayne Tucker at first to complete the triple.
Reg 000 000 000 0 5 0
Lloyd 100 030 00X 4 10 1
Sylvester and Bach
Richardson and Tanner
September 6 - Regina whipped the Combines 9-0 to take the semi-final series in five games. Roger Kudron pitched a six-hitter for the win. The Senators scored four in the first and another four in the third and cruised to the victory. Ron Stillwell had three hits for Regina.
Reg 404 000 010 9 12 0
Lloyd 000 000 000 0 6 1
Kudron and Bach
Powell, Kostenuk (3) and Tanner
Finals :
September 7 - Mike Gillespie's pinch-hit single in the bottom of the 11th inning scored the winning run as Edmonton took the opening game of the best-of-five final 3-2 over Regina. Senators' Frank Warren had a 2-0 lead with two outs in the bottom of the ninth when Stan Charnofsky belted a two-run homer to send the game into extra innings. Norm Forsythe, a 14-game winner during the regular season, went the distance for the win, holding Regina to five hits. Don Buford, picked up by Edmonton from Lloydminster-North Battleford for the final series, played a key role in the victory. He robbed Zoonie McLean of an extra-base hit with a diving catch in the second inning and cut down Ron Stillwell with a perfect throw to the plate in the ninth.
Reg 001 000 100 00 2 5 2
Edm 000 000 002 01 3 11 1
Warren and Bach
Forsythe and Heath
September 8 - Edmonton scored another come-from-behind win to take a two-game lead in the final with a 5-2 victory over Regina before 713 fans who braved 41-degree weather at Renfrew Park. Eskimos erased a 2-0 Regina lead with a five-run eighth inning. A two-run single by Art Ersepke was a key blow.
Reg 000 002 000 2 6 1
Edm 000 000 05X 5 7 1
Read, Sylvester (8), Kudron (8) and Strother
Sims and Heath
Edmonton picked up Monte Bond from Lloydminster-North Battleford as Norm Forsythe and John Werhas had to return home and three more players, Joe Campise, Roland Jones and Jim Sims were scheduled to depart.
September 9 - Regina got a measure of revenge against the Eskimos with a 16-3 victory in the third game of the Can-Am final. Bruce Gardner, who pitched a one-hitter against Lloydminster-North Battleford in his last start, allowed just three hits. He fanned 12 and walked four. Gardner had a no-hitter into the eighth inning until a Monte Bond single. Mike Gillespie and Don Buford followed with hits as the Esks scored their three runs. Senators punched out 20 hits. Catcher Steve Strother drove in five runs with a triple, single and sac fly. Zoonie McLean had four hits and Ray Boaz added three.
Edm 000 000 030 3 3 7
Reg 034 106 20X 16 20 2
Withers, Yaryan (3) and Heath
Gardner and Strother
September 10 - Edmonton scored seven times in their first at bat and never looked back in trouncing Regina 14-4 to capture the Can-Am baseball final in four games. Fred Scott led off with a triple. After Tom Satriano had drawn a walk, Don Buford belted a homer to give the Esks a 3-0 lead. Stan Charnofsky and Monte Bond also hit first inning homers. Buford led the Esks' attack with his homer and two singles. A crowd of nearly 12-hundred took in the game.
Edm 710 006 000 14 15 4
Reg 100 000 102 4 6 1
Hobson, Vold (8) and Heath
Sylvester, Barnson (1), Warren (1), Read (6) and Strother
Saskatchewan Amateur Baseball Association
(July 18-19) Saskatoon Bavarians claimed a berth in the final round of the Saskatchewan senior baseball playdowns edging Prince Albert Excelsiors 9-8 Sunday in the deciding game of a four-team tournament. Bavarians held a comfortable 9-4 lead after seven innings but the Excelsiors rallied with four in the 8th and had two on base when Jerry Duffus come to the rescue of starter Rod Campbell to retire the final batter. Jock McKenzie and Ken Johnson each had two hits for the winners who were out-hit 13 to 9. Dave Balon collected three for Prince Albert.
Adams (L), Skalicky (6), R.Balon (6), Adams (8) and Dutka
Campbell (W), Duffus (8) and Goodwin
Prince Albert beat Asquith 7-2 on Saturday as Ron Skalicky twirled a six-hitter for the Excelsiors who collected 13 hits for the win. Ken Hagen and Tom Swack led the attack each with three safeties.
Skalicky (W) and R.Balon
Sirota (L), Farley and Brooks
Bavarians got a brilliant 14-strikeout performance from Marcel Richard in turning back Meota 8-3. Elmer Walker led Saskatoon with three hits while Norbert Grat had three for Meota.
Richard (W) and McKenzie
Foster (L), Taylor (8) and Strautman
(July 19) Balcarres whipped Regina Night Hawks 10-5 Sunday night to win their senior playoff tournament. Art Obey, unbeaten in the Southern League this summer, topped the Night Hawks with a nine-hitter.
Obey (W) and xxx
xxx and xxx
Balcarres Braves advanced to the final trouncing Moose Jaw Lakers 14-2 Sunday afternoon. Gerry Walker belted a pair of home runs and a single to lead the assault. Don Dreger helped with a single, double and triple while Larry Trapp furnished a single and triple. Norm Goodwin fired a sharp three-hitter for the win.
Goodwin (W) and xxx
Joe Devine (L) and xxx
The Night Hawks, whose home base is Vibank, squeezed out the Notre Dame Hounds 3-2 scoring two in the eighth inning for the victory. Ed Bobowski held the Hounds to three hits and fanned 11. George Ingatescue had three of five hits collected by the Hawks.
Bobowski (W) and xxx
Hugh Carr (L) and xxx
Melville Millionaires got by Yorkton Phillies 11-10 in a seven-inning final Sunday to advance in the Saskatchewan senior baseball playoffs.
Pete Sawchuck (W) and xxx
Orest Achtymichuk (L) and xxx
Melville earlier coasted to a 13-6 triumph over Springside-Theodore as Pete Sawchuck, Cliff Mein and Alvin Kosteroski clouted home runs. Mein fanned 13 in handling the mound work for Melville.
Mein (W) and xxx
xxx and xxx
Yorkton scored four run in the first inning en route to a 9-4 win over Neudorf.
xxx and xxx
xxx and xxx
(July 22) Swift Current Indians blasted Kindersley Klippers 17-2 Wednesday to advance in the provincial senior playoffs. Indians rapped out 16 hits, four by Terry Burns who had a double and three singles. Gus Twamley added three safeties. Jackie McLeod held the Klippers to nine hits, including two apiece by Wally Jackson and Irl Flanagan.
J.McLeod (W) and xxx
xxx and xxx
Swift Current got into the tournament final when their scheduled opponent, Eston, failed the show. Kindersley took a semi-final from Shaunavon by an 18-8 margin. Irl Flanagan picked up the mound victory.
At Estevan, the Maple Leafs got by Bienfait 4-3 to take top honours in the Estevan tourney. Gary McKechney, who relieved starter Ernie Dyda in the second inning, was the winning pitcher. Harold Schnell helped the cause with a double and single. Gord McDonald took the loss.
Dyda, G.McKechney (W) (2) and xxx
McDonald (L) and xxx
Leafs topped Regina Red Sox 9-3 in the opening round with Naisie Schnell clouting a three-run homer and three singles to power the offense. Merv Sanderson handled the hurling for the winners. Vic Wall took the loss. Denny Cochrane hit a pair of singles for the Sox.
Sanderson (W) and xxx
Vic Wall (L) and xxx
Bienfait dumped Weyburn 7-4 as Jack Doer out-pitched Jerry Wenman. Hank Dornstauder, the Bienfait playing-coach, collected a double and single as did Ed Wyant for Weyburn.
Doer (W) and xxx
Wenman (L) and xxx
(July 24) Catcher Gilbert Boyle was the hitting hero Friday in leading Melville Millionaires to a 7-3 victory over Balcarres Braves in a provincial senior playoff. Boyle smashed a grand slam homer in the sixth inning and knocked in another run in the eighth. Lefty Cliff Mein allowed just two hits and fanned 12 for the win in spite of nine bases on balls. Norm Goodwin took the loss.
Mein (W) and xxx
Norm Goodwin (L), Guy Blondeau (5) and xxx
(August 1) Veteran Jackie McLeod served up a dazzling three-hitter Saturday to spark his Swift Current Indians to a 4-1 triumph over Saskatoon and the Saskatchewan senior baseball title. The left-hander faced just 28 batters, one over the minimum, and fanned 11. His control was superb as he went to a three-ball count on just one batter. He lost his shutout in the sixth inning when Ted McKenzie cracked a homer to right field. Marcel Richards and Jim Cosgrove, the only other Macs to solve McLeod were both wiped out on double plays. Centre fielder Terry Burns contributed three singles to the offense and catcher Gord Johnson had success against his old battery mate, Rod Campbell. He drove home a run in the first inning with a single and dropped a bunt for a hit in the third which helped in a two-run rally.
Campbell (L) and J.Goodwin
McLeod (W) and Johnson
Keith Swan settled the issue in the day's most exciting battle driving in Johnny Goodwin, who had walked, in the tenth inning to give Saskatoon a 5-4 victory over Melville. Rod Campbell picked up the win in relief of starter Marcel Richard.
Sawchuk, Mein (L) (6) and Boyle
Richard, Campbell (W) (9), Richard (9), Campbell (9) and T.McKenzie
Leo Heit, a right-hander from Tramping Lake, checked Estevan on six hits as Swift Current won its semi-final 12-3. Gord Johnson led a 13-hit attack with a second inning homer and a two-run double in the third. Nick Baiton, Jackie McLeod, Gus Twamley and Heit each had a pair of safeties.
Heit (W) and Johnson
Sanderson, Dyda (3) and McKechney, Schnell (8)