MANITOBA SENIOR BASEBALL LEAGUE (WEST DIVISION)
Brandon Cloverleafs
Dauphin Redbirds
Hamiota Red Sox
Riverside Blues
Souris Cardinals
St. Lazare Athletics
Virden Oilers
(May 18) The defending champion Brandon Cloverleafs jumped into an early lead and then held off some ninth-inning dramatics by the Riverside Blues to post a slim 7 to 6 win. The Leafs used three pitchers with ace reliever Ron Powers getting credit for the win. Ross Kinsley was tagged with the loss as the Cloverleafs pounced on him for six runs on seven hits. Shortstop Bill Chapple led the winners at the plate with three singles. Warren Veale had a double and single and catcher Bill Gray a pair of one-baggers. Cliff Seafoot and Gene Cory rapped out a single and double each for the Blues and Barry Moffatt added two singles.
Kinsley (L), Everard (3), Fisher (7) and C. Seafoot
Hodgson, Holmstrom (5), Powers (7) and Gray
(May 23) Limited to just two hits, both singles, by the tandem of Carl Cunningham and Don Hunter, the St. Lazare Athletics still managed to pull off a 2 to 1 victory over the Souris Cardinals. Cunningham pitched the first six innings for the Cards before giving way to Hunter who was the eventual loser. Mickey Torres went all the way of the hillock for the A’s, giving up just five hits. No batter from either squad managed to acquire plural hit totals. The longest blow of the game was a two-bagger by Souris’ Randy Lindbloom.
(May 25) The St. Lazare Athletics doubled the hosting Brandon Cloverleafs 4 to 2 at Kinsmen Stadium. Rookie chucker Barry Jamieson held the Leafs to five hits, hit a triple and scored the winning run in the ninth after drawing a walk, moving to third on a base hit by Mickey Torres and touching home on Tony Kalechyn’s sacrifice fly. In that frame, the A’s had come-from-behind to tie the score at 2 – 2 on an RBI-single by Merrill Kiliwnik. Torres later scored the insurance marker. Ninth-inning reliever Ron Powers failed to hold the lead for Brandon starter Brian Hodgson who was charged with the loss.
(May 27) Mark Fisher yielded four hits in four frames of mound toil as he led the Riverside Blues to an 11 to 2 victory over the Virden Oilers. Fisher aided his own cause with three hits while Barry Moffatt, Wes Rathwell and Garth and Cliff Seafoot each hit safely twice for the Blues. Losing heaver Ted Bridgett went five innings before being replaced by John McGee. Dennis George had a pair of safeties for the vanquished Oilers.
(May 28) Cecil Dawley limited Dauphin to only three hits and struck out six in leading the Souris Cardinals to an 8 to 1 triumph over the Dauphin Redbirds. Losing flinger Bob Kutzan went the route. Doug Armour of the victors and the Redbirds’ Neil Geekie both had two safeties for their respective teams.
(May 28) The Brandon Cloverleafs prevented the Riverside Blues from making a sweep of their weekend games by dropping the Blues 5 to 3 behind the pitching of Ron Toews. Losing pitcher Mark Fisher replaced starter Gary Everett in the fifth inning with the Riversiders in front 3 – 1. Tom Town won the game for the Cloverleafs with a three-run homer in the ninth inning. Brandon’s Doug Ross had earlier connected for a solo round-tripper in the fifth. Marv Robinson and Garth Seafoot delivered two hits apiece for the Blues who outhit the Leafs by an 8 to 7 margin.
(May 28) Mick Torres went the route in pitching the St. Lazare Athletics to an 8 to 7 victory over the Virden Oilers. Virden starter Dennis George was nicked with the loss. Ron Falloon had two doubles and a single for the Saints
while teammate Louis Guay picked up three singles. Ralph Gardiner was the big gun for the Oilers, spanking the sphere for three singles and a double. Norm Hemstad followed with three singles while Ron Goethe contributed a pair.
(May 30) With reliever Gary Keating earning the pitching win in a slugfest, the Hamiota Red Sox trounced the St. Lazare Athletics 18 to 9. Keating helped his own cause as he went four-for-four at the plate. Russ Reid was tagged with the loss. Bryan Smith smashed a homer, double and single for the Sox while Mel Smith had a double and two one-baggers. Al Bray collected a single and triple for the Athletics while Reid, Mick Torres and Randy Earl all delivered a double and single.
(May 30) The Souris Cardinals blanked the winless Virden Oilers 7 to 0 as winning pitcher Bill Carpenter throttled the Oilers on only three hits while ringing up 16 punchouts. Ted Bridgett, kayoed from the hill in favor of Dennis George after only 1-1/3 innings, took the loss. Doug Armour had three hits for the Cards while teammate Don Hunter delivered a pair.
(May 31) The Brandon Cloverleafs clipped the wings of the Dauphin Redbirds 7 to 1 at Kinsmen Stadium. After the Birds took an early 1 to 0 lead, the Leafs went ahead to stay by posting a four-spot in the second stanza. Winning chucker Gerry Holmstrom went the distance, struck out nine, walked six and yielded just three hits. Pat Fitzpatrick, combed for seven safeties, was the loser.
(June 2) The Riverside Blues coasted to an easy 10 to 2 conquest of the Virden Oilers behind the fine pitching effort of Mark Fisher. Fisher struck out 12, gave up eight scattered hits and walked six in going the route. Virden starter John McGee, replaced on the hill in the opening panel by Ted Bridgett, was stung with the loss. Cliff Seafoot had three safeties in pacing the 12-hit Riverside attack while Gene Cory ripped a brace of doubles and Marv Robinson and Fisher both delivered a double and single. Bridgett and Ralph Gardiner both collected a pair of base raps for the Oilers with one of Bridgett’s swats being a two-bagger.
(June 4) Winning pitcher Glennis Scott struck out nine batters and had four hits in leading the Hamiota Red Sox to a 10 to 3 trouncing of the St. Lazare Athletics. Scott gave up eight hits in going the route and gaining the verdict over Mickey Torres who fanned seven and allowed two walks. Scott nailed the horsehide for a double and three singles in giving himself all the support he needed. Teammate Al Robertson had a home run and a single while Mel and Bryan Smith had two hits each for the Red Sox against Torres. The Saints’ Garth Sarasas was able to get to Scott for a double and single and outfielder Dave Bender connected for a four-bagger.
(June 4) The Riverside Blues doubled the Dauphin Redbirds 4 to 2 as Grant Everard went the distance for the hillock verdict, yielding nine hits. The Blues got to complete-game loser Pat Fitzpatrick for ten base knocks. Wes Rathwell had three hits in leading the Riverside offense. Teammate Garth Seafoot followed with a triple and single. Rick Day and Roland Secord stroked two safeties apiece for the Redbirds.
(June 5) The hosting Hamiota Red Sox continued their winning ways as they blanked the Dauphin Redbirds 6 to 0 behind the pitching of Leighton Kachur and the hitting of Denny Smith. The Red Sox duo gave up only six hits between them while their mates were busy banging out 11 safeties off loser Neil Geekie who went went the distance. Denny Smith singled three times for the victors, Don Smith delivered a triple and single and Ross Poole drilled two one-base hits. Neil Amy bashed a brace of safeties for the vanquished Redbirds.
Geekie (W) and Jack
Kachur (W), Keating and Don Smith
(June 5) The defending-champion Brandon Cloverleafs managed only six hits in dropping a 2 to 1 decision to the Souris Cardinals at Kinsmen Stadium. Winning heaver Cec Dawley walked three and fanned nine in going all the way on a six-hitter. Bob Thompson, making his first appearance of the season for the Cloverleafs after shoulder surgery, was the loser in relief after taking over from Brian Hodgson in the ninth. Hodgson held the Cards to four hit and walked three before getting the hook. Thompson walked Dauphin catcher Bob Payne, who was then sacrificed to second, went to third on a passed ball and scored on a fielder’s choice. Don Hodgson had two of the four Dauphin safeties. Maurice Oakes responded with a brace of bingles for the Wheat City nine.
Dawley (W) and Payne
Hodgson, Thompson (L) (9) and Oakes, Gray (8)
(June 6) Bob Thompson limited the homestanding Virden Oilers to just five hits in pitching the Brandon Cloverleafs to a 4 to 2 win over the cellar-dwellers. Losing chucker Ted Bridgett also went the route, surrendering seven safeties. Roy McLachlan had a double and single to lead the Leafs offensively. Norm Hemstad of the Oilers blasted a homer and a single.
Thompson (W) and Wright
Bridgett (L) and Gardiner
(June 7) The St. Lazare Athletics edged the Souris Cardinals 5 to 4 in a darkness-shortened, seven-inning affair at Souris. Gary DeBenedetti gave up four hits, walked six and fanned seven in copping the pitching win over Dick Limke, who surrendered only three hits but was plagued by five miscues on the part of his mates. Nary a batter from either team had more than one base hit.
DeBenedetti (W) and Kiliwnik
Limke (L) and Payne
(June 9) Pace-setting Hamiota slammed invading Riverside 9 to 3 in MSBL action. The Red Sox slammed out 12 hits while the Blues managed eight off winning slabster Gerry Keating and reliever Bryan Smith. The Riversiders went through five different heavers as starter Ross Kinsley absorbed the loss. Don Smith paced the Scarlet Stockings with the lumber, connecting for a home run and single. Gord Lyall had a double and two singles and Bryan Smith a pair of two-baggers. Cliff Seafoot singled three times for Riverside.
(June 11) St. Lazare and hosting Riverside divided the spoils in a two-game set which saw the invading Athletics come out on top 13 to 9 in the opening fixture while the Blues copped the late affair 7 to 3. Despite being raked for 11 safeties in the lid-lifter, Mickey Torres of the A’s managed to persevere to a complete-game mound win. Loser Grant Everard ran into trouble in the third inning and was lifted. Dave Bender and Gary DeBenedetti had three hits apiece for the Saints with a pair of Bender’s blows falling in for doubles. Catcher Merrill Kiliwnik slammed a solo home run for the Saints to close out their scoring. Barry Moffatt was the top willow wielder for the Blues, lacing a trio of one-base raps.
Torres (W) and Kiliwnik
Everard (L), Lilley (3), Evans (8) and C. Seafoot
Mark Fisher gave up five hits and punched out 13 in the sunset skirmish as the Riversiders extracted revenge. A five-run seventh inning put this one on ice for the Blues. Moffatt, Bob Ash and Fisher each had two safeties off the slants of DeBenedetti, the losing heaver, and reliever Russ Reid. Dave Bender was the Athletics’ only serious threat with the baton, slugging a three-run circuit-jack in the eighth episode to account for all their runs.
DeBenedetti (L), Reid (7) and Kiliwnik
Fisher (W) and C. Seafoot
(June 11) The Virden Oilers finally hit the win column with a narrow 1 to 0 triumph in the last-half of a twin-bill with the Dauphin Redbirds. The Dauphin nine pummelled the Oilers 16 to 1 in the matinée portion of the double-dip at Virden.
In the early tussle, Gailand Henard of the Redbirds limited the Virden batters to two hits while breezing 13. Losing twirler Ted Bridgett of the Oilers was hung out to dry through the whole nine innings without any relief assistance. Catcher Bernie Basaraba laced three hits while Ray Strable, Rick Day and Neil Amy all punched out a pair for the victorious Dauphinites.
Henard (W) and Basaraba
Bridgett (L) and Gardiner
After eight-and-a-half scoreless innings of the finale, the Virden baseballers finally achieved success when they pushed across a tally in the bottom-of-the-ninth inning for the walkoff victory. Dennis George won the mound duel with a six-hitter while hard-luck loser Strable gave up only four safeties and punched out 18 Oiler batters. Virden’s Bridgett and Rick Day of the Redbirds were the lone swatsmiths to hit safely twice in this nail-biter.
Strable (L) and Kabel, Jack, Kabel
George (W) and Gardiner
(June 12) Scoring nine runs in their first four turns at bat, the hosting Souris Cardinals dumped the Brandon Cloverleafs 10 to 5. Winning pitcher Dick Limke limited the Leafs to seven hits and struck out 11 in pitching the entire game. Losing flinger Ron Toews was relieved by Brian Hodgson in the fourth frame. The Brandon tandem were nicked for eight safeties. Don Hunter and Don Hodgson provided the power for the winners as each belted a two-run homer. Chipping in with a brace of singles each were Doug Armour, Bob Payne and Limke. Brandon’s Brian Hodgson also had two singles.
Toews (L), Hodgson (4) and Oakes
Limke (W) and Payne
(June 13) The Hamiota Red Sox scored four runs in the seventh stanza to pull off a 10 to 8 victory over the Virden Oilers. Although Virden had two more hits than Hamiota and committed two fewer errors, they could not get over the hump against Red Sox starter Bryan Smith and reliever Leighton Kachur. Don Smith banged out a double and single for the victors while Denny Smith and Al Robertson each stroked two singles. Ted Bridgett performed well with the lumber in defeat, clubbing two doubles and a single. Jack Day followed with a double and one-bagger while losing hurler Doug Fowler and Jim Procyk came through with a pair of singles each.
Fowler (L), Lund (4), George (8) and Gardiner
B. Smith (W), Kachur (5) and Don Smith
(June 16) The Riverside Blues dumped the Souris Cardinals 8 to 2 as winning heaver Mark Fisher recorded ten strikeouts in going the distance. Loser Cec Dawley gave up all eight runs scored against Souris before being replaced by Don Hunter in the eighth. Barry Moffatt and Fisher both had two safeties for the Blues while Doug Armour, Jim Neilson and Dick Limke reciprocated for the Cardinals with a solo homer in the opening panel included in Armour’s sum of swats.
Dawley (L), Hunter (8) and Payne
Fisher (W) and C. Seafoot
(June 16) The front-running Hamiota Red Sox disposed of the tail-end Virden Oilers 6 to 3 as the rich got richer and the poor got poorer. Both pitchers of record, winning tosser Gary Keating of the Red Sox and the loser, Oilers’ Ted Bridgett, went the nine-inning stint. Gord Lyall had a pair of safeties for the victors. For Virden, Doug Fowler laced a double and single while Norm Hemstad singled twice.
Keating (W) and Don Smith
Bridgett (L) and Gardiner
(June 18) The runner-up St. Lazare Athletics nipped the Dauphin Redbirds 4 to 1 behind the pitching of Mickey Torres. The Saints’ southpaw limited Dauphin to five hits, all singles, in subduing the Redbirds. The A’s plated all the runs they needed in the sixth spasm when they ran across a trey off losing flinger Neil Geekie. Garth Sarasas, Larry McWilliams and Ron Falloon each had a double and single to lead the St. Lazare 10-hit offense.
Geekie (L), Henard (7) and Basaraba
Torres (W) and Kiliwnik
(June 18) The Souris Cardinals solidified their hold on third place by bombing the Riverside Blues 7 to 1. Winning hurler Dick Limke stymied the visiting Blues on three hits in going the distance. Riverside starter Ed Evans was stung with the setback. Doug Armour laced a double and two singles in pacing the ten-hit Souris attack. Clubmates Jim Neilson and Cec Dawley delivered a brace of singles each.
Evans (L), Kinsley (7) and C. Seafoot
Limke (W) and Payne
Standings W L Pct. GBL
Hamiota 7 0 1.000 ----
St. Lazare 7 3 .700 1.5
Souris 6 4 .600 2.5
Brandon 4 4 .500 3.5
Riverside 5 5 .500 3.5
Dauphin 2 6 .250 5.5
Virden 1 10 .091 8.0
(June 20) The seventh inning proved disastrous for the Dauphin Red Birds as the hometown Riverside Blues scored all their runs in that inning to wipe out Dauphin’s five-run lead. The splurge resulted from three hits, two walks, a pair of hit batters and an error. Over the course of the tussle, the Red Birds had a 6 to 4 margin in base knocks. Sixth-inning reliever Ross Kinsley, the sandwich portion of three Blues’ hurlers, was the eventual winner. Losing flinger Gailand Henard was derricked in the fateful seventh for Pat Fitzpatrick, who doused the fire, but the damage had already been done. Dauphin’s Ray Strabe, with three safeties, was the lone batter from either squad to collect more than one hit.
Henard (L) Fitzpatrick (7) and Hodgson
Fisher, Kinsley (W) (6), Everard (8) and C. Seafoot
(June 21) The Dauphin Redbirds edged the invading Brandon Cloverleafs 5 to 4, outhitting the Wheat City nine by a 9 to 8 margin. Ray Strable, powerful Dauphin right-hander, racked up 17 punchouts in going the distance for the win. Bob Thompson suffered the loss. Neil Amy drove in three runs with a double and single for the victors.
(June 22) It was not a pitcher’s evening at Kinsmen Stadium as the undefeated Hamiota Red Sox pounded the Brandon Cloverleafs by a 10 to 6 count. The teams combined for 29 base raps with the Red Sox delivering 15 times. Brandon starter and loser Jack Denbow was pulled after three innings when he had given up six runs and nine hits. Hamiota’s Glennis Scott went the distance for the win. Rick Robinson, filling in at shortstop, drove in three runs in the eighth inning to provide the winning margin for the Crimson Hose. He finished the game with two hits, a triple and single, and four RBI’s. Lynn Caldwell led the Sox with three safeties, one a double. Bob Wilson and Maurice Oakes had three singles each or the Leafs.
Scott (W) and Don Smith
Denbow (L), Hodgson (3) and Oakes
(June 23) The Riverside Blues scored five times in the fourth and fifth innings to hand the Hamiota Red Sox their first loss of the season, a 6 to 4 setback. Starting hurler Mark Fisher, with aid from a pair of relievers, copped the win. Starter Gary Keating of the Sox, who turned pitching chores over to fifth-inning fireman Bryan Smith, was hit with the loss. Cliff Seafoot’s two-run dinger in the fifth off Smith gave the Blues a five-run cushion and allowed them to stay in front for good. Teammate Ross Brownlee had a brace of bingles. Denny Smith ripped three one-base knocks for the Hamiotans while Lynn Caldwell had two hits, including a solo homer.
Keating (L), B. Smith (5) and Don Smith
Fisher (W), Evans (7), Kinsley (8) and C. Seafoot
(June 23) Ted Bridgett gave up just six hits, all singles, and was tough in the pinches as he led the hosting Virden Oilers to a 2 to 1 upset win over the St. Lazare Athletics. Bridgett aided his own cause offensively as he collected two singles and drove in one of the two Oiler tallies.
DeBenedetti (L) and Kiliwnik
Bridgett (W) and Gardiner
(June 25) Ron Toews yielded only three hits and the Brandon Cloverleafs ran across all six of their counters in the fourth inning to pin a 6 to 4 loss on the front-running Hamiota Red Sox. The setback for the Scarlet Stockings was their second in succession. Bob Wilson and Bob Thompson gave Toews all the help he needed as each clouted a four-bagger to put the Cloverleafs in front to stay. Al Robertson replied by going yard for the Red Sox but it was not enough to overcome the early lead built up by the Brandon club. Roy McLachlan and Maurice Oakes had two safeties apiece for the Wheat City gang. Hamiota starter Leighton Kachur, replaced on the knoll in the fourth frame, absorbed the loss.
Toews (W) and Gray
Kachur (L), B. Smith (4) and Don Smith
(June 25) Dick Limke pitched a three-hit shutout and his teammates blasted starter Ray Strable for ten safeties as the Souris Cardinals whitewashed the Dauphin Redbirds 8 to 0. Limke had nine strikeouts and walked three. Pat Fitzpatrick replaced Strable in the eighth and allowed no further damage. Bill Carpenter walloped a home run for the homestanding Cards.
(June 27) The travelling Brandon Cloverleafs knocked off the hosting St. Lazare Athletics 6 to 2. Scoring a deuce off the slants of losing heaver Mick Torres in the top-of-the-opening panel, the Leafs never trailed, outswatting the A’s 11 to 7. Winning slabster Bob Thompson, who breezed nine, provided himself with all the offensive support he would need by cracking a two-run tater in the sixth spasm to give the Leafs a commanding 5 – 1 lead. Doug Lund helped out in the Brandon hitting department with two singles. Garth Sarasas matched that two safety output for the Saints .
Thompson (W) and Oakes
Torres (L) and Kiliwnik
(June 27) Rebounding from two straight defeats, the pace-setting Hamiota Red Sox shutout the Souris Cardinals 5 to 0. Winning twirler Glennis Scott stymied the Cards on just two hits. Don Smith smashed a solo dinger for the Sox to go along with a single. Denny Smith had also picked up two hits for the winners off complete-game loser Bill Carpenter.
Scott (W) and Don Smith
Carpenter (L) and Payne
(July 1) Birtle $1,600 Canada Day baseball tournament
(July 3) Dick Limke limited the Riverside Blues to only six hits in pitching the Souris Cardinals to a 5 to 3 victory. Limke struck out four and walked five in going the distance. Losing flinger Mark Fisher left the game in favor of Grant Everard in the eighth inning. Doug Armour and Brian Moffatt each stroked two singles for Souris while Gene Cory, with a double and single, was tops with the lumber for the Blues.
Fisher (L), Everard (8) and C. Seafoot
Limke (W) and Payne
(July 3) The Hamiota Red Sox dumped the Dauphin Redbirds 10 to 0 behind the shutout twirling of Gary Keating. The Redbirds got to Keating for ten safe blows but were unable to hit in the clutch when bingles produced bacon. Keating fanned six and walked a pair in going the distance. Dauphin used three tossers with starter Neil Geekie being tagged with the loss. Keating as well as Bryan Smith, Mel Smith, Denny Smith, Al Robertson and Lynn Caldwell each delivered a brace of safeties for the Sox. Rick Day, Neil Amy and Bob Kutzan of the Redbirds each lit up Keating for two hits.
Geekie (L), Kutzan (4), Hrychuk (6) and Hodgson, Billows
Keating (W) and Don Smith, Wright
(July 5) St. Lazare doubled up on the floundering Virden club 14 to 7. Winning pitcher Mickey Torres gave up eight hits while the Oiler tandem of loser Ted Bridgett and reliever Dale Lund were combed for 14 safeties. Ron Falloon collected a home run and two singles for the Athletics while teammate Ken McBean punched out two singles. Virden’s Norm Hemstad topped all batters in the contest with a four-ply clout and three singles.
Bridgett (L), Lund (5) and Hemstad
Torres (W) and R. Jamieson
(July 7) The Hamiota Red Sox extended their lead atop the MSBL when they doubled the visiting St. Lazare Athletics 4 to 2. Winning pitcher Bryan Smith surrendered six hits, collected a double and single and got some fine defensive help to gain the win over Gary DeBenedetti, the St. Lazare hurler. Al Robertson led the Red Sox 12-hit offense with two doubles and a single, followed closely by Don Smith who collected three hits. Larry McWilliams single twice for the A’s.
DeBenedetti (L) and Falloon, R. Jamieson
B. Smith (W) and Don Smith
(July 9) The Riverside Blues put up a deuce in the opening panel and added a five-spot in the third on their way to blowing out the lowly Virden Oilers 11 to 4. Mark Fisher was the winning pitcher, surrendering eight hits, striking out three and walking four before being relieved in the eighth. Losing pitcher Dennis George went four frames on the hill and was responsible for the first seven Riverside counters. Garth Seafoot got the Blues off to a rousing start in the first inning by clouting a home run with one aboard. Greg Leachman delivered three hits for the winners and Gene Cory a pair. Jim Procyk doubled and singled for the Oilers while Norm Hemstad laced a brace of one-baggers.
George (L). Lund (5) and Hemstad
Fisher (W), G. Seafoot (8), Kinsley (9) and C. Seafoot
(July 10) Two double plays and six hits weren’t enough to topple the league-leading Hamiota Red Sox as they hung a 2 to 0 loss on the Brandon Cloverleafs at Kinsmen Stadium. It took eight innings before the Red Sox broke the ice in a scoreless stalemate and plated a pair on a bases-loaded double by catcher Don Smith. Gary Keating went all the way on the knoll for the visitors, walking one and striking out four. Bob Thompson pitched a fine game for the Leafs in defeat, yielding six safeties, swishing seven and allowing no walks. Gary Greaves of the Wheat City nine picked up the most hits in the game, a double and two singles.
Thompson (L) and Oakes
Keating (W) and Don Smith
(July 10) The Dauphin Redbirds defeated the St. Lazare Athletics by a convincing 7 to 1 count. Winning pitcher Ray Strable fashioned an impressive two-hitter in taking the mound decision over Mickey Torres. Rollie Secord nailed a double and single for the winning Redbirds while Neil Amy singled twice.
Strable (W) and Hodgson
Torres (L) and R. Jamieson
(July 10) The Riverside Blues waltzed to a 10 to 4 drubbing of the lowly Virden Oilers as winning pitcher Grant Everard had a great day at bat, pasting the pill for a double and three singles. Bob Ash followed with a brace of two-baggers. Virden’s Norm Hemstad hit a home run and double while Ian Whyte connected for three singles.
Everard (W) and C. Seafoot
Bridgette (L), Goethe (8) and Gardiner
(July 12) Facing an 8 to 3 deficit as they came to bat in the bottom-of-the-ninth canto, the homestanding Hamiota Red Sox responded by picking up six counters for an amazing 9 to 8 come-from-behind win over the Riverside Blues. Glennis Scott chalked up the win in relief while Riverside’s Ross Kinsley, who gave up the six-spot in the final spasm, was the loser. Cliff Seafoot of the vanquished Blues was the chief hitter in the clash with three singles and a double while Don Smith topped the Hamiota swatters with a double and a brace of one-baggers.
Fisher, Kinsley (L) (9) and C. Seafoot
B. Smith, Scott (W) (5) and Don Smith
(July 12) The Souris Cardinals edged out the St. Lazare Athletics by a 3 to 2 count behind the six-hit pitching of Dick Limke. The Cards’ right-hander struck out 13 and allowed only two walks. Losing heaver Gary DeBenedetti and reliever Russ Reid were touched for ten safeties. Doug Armour and Bob Payne had two singles apiece for the victors, an offensive output replicated by Ron Falloon and Mickey Torres of the A’s.
DeBenedetti (L), Reid (7) and Kiliwnik
Limke (W) and Payne
(July 13) A quartet of overmatched Virden hurlers were raked for 16 hits as the Brandon Cloverleafs marched to an easy 13 to 3 trouncing of the league doormats at Kinsmen Stadium. The pitching-challenged Oilers, with starting heaver Dale Lund taking the loss, were easy prey for the Leafs in this fiasco. Ron Toews, with a six-hitter, handled most of the pitching chores for Brandon, bowing to Ron Powers in the ninth. Catcher Maurice Oakes slammed a pair of triples in support of his batterymate. Every player in the Wheat City lineup had at least one safe rap. Bob Wilson came on with a double and single while Roy McLachlan and Gary Greaves picked two one-base hits.
Lund (L), George (2), Goethe (8), Bridgett (8) and Gardiner
Toews (W), Powers (9) and Oakes
(July 19) League play was scheduled to resume following a series of six exhibition games by a west division MSBL all-star team against Canada’s entry in the Pan American games. The Cross-country Selects prevailed four games to two following completion of the sixth and final game on this date.
(July 20) The Brandon Cloverleafs improved their playoff chances at Kinsmen Stadium, dumping the St. Lazare Athletics by an 11 to 3 count. Bob Thompson and Ron Powers shared the pitching chores for the Leafs with Thompson taking the win. Starter Mickey Torres of the Saints was saddled with the defeat. Mike Repin and Roy McLachlan had two hits each for Brandon. Cloverleaf catcher Bill Gray had the unusual distinction of playing for both teams in this game. When the shorthanded Athletics were without a catcher to start the contest, Gray, on loan, began behind the plate for the visitors and once the late players arrived on the scene, took over backstop chores for the Leafs, replacing Mort Wright.
Torres (L), Haney (7) and Gray, Falloon
Thompson (W), Powers (6) and Wright, Gray
(July 21) The second-place Souris Cardinals improved their lot with a 5 to 4 win over the last-place Virden Oilers. Dick Limke tied as the top winner in the circuit with a two-hitter and ten strikeouts. He also walked four in recording his sixth victory in seven decisions. Ted Bridgett took the loss after relieving starter Henry Palk in the fourth frame. A three-run eighth episode propelled the Cards to the triumph. Jim Neilson and catcher Bob Payne had two singles apiece for the Cards.
Limke (W) and Payne
Palk, Bridgett (L) (4) and Gardiner
(July 21) The league-leading Hamiota Red Sox strengthened their grip on the penthouse position with a 12 to 8 conquest of the third-place Riverside Blues. It was a pitcher’s carousel at Riverside as the visiting Scarlet Stockings used three chuckers while the Blues countered with four in the darkness-shortened, eight inning tilt in which Hamiota had a 15 to 11 margin in base knocks. Winning tosser Bryan Smith held the Riversiders off the scoreboard after taking over mound duties in the third chapter with his club trailing 8 to 3. He also collected four hits to pace the victors with the lumber. Mel Smith followed with three safeties. Ed Evans, the third of the Blues’ quartet of heavers, was nicked with the setback. Garth Seafoot was a perfect-four-for-four at the dish for the vanquished nine. Lynn Caldwell of the Red Sox and Riverside’s Ross Kinsley belted home runs.
Keating, Kachur (3), B. Smith (W) (3) and Don Smith
Lilley, Everard (4), Evans (L) (4), Mealy (6) and Kinsley
Standings W L Pct. GBL
Hamiota 14 2 .875 ----
Souris 9 5 .643 4.0
Riverside 9 7 .563 5.0
Brandon 9 7 .563 5.0
St. Lazare 9 9 .500 6.0
Dauphin 4 11 .267 9.5
Virden 2 15 .118 12.5
(July 24) Dick Limke and junior call-up Bob Neufeld combined to hold the penthouse-dwelling Hamiota Red Sox to six base hits as the runner-up Souris Cardinals narrowed the gap between themselves and the league-leaders to three full games with a 6 to 4 conquest of the visiting Crimson Hose. Neufeld, ace slab artist from the junior Cards of the South-Central League, worked the first 8-1/3 innings on the knoll to take the well-deserved win while Limke garnered the save with a ninth-inning appearance. Starter Gary Keating of the Sox suffered only his second loss of the campaign. Don Hunter hit the only home run of the game. His solo blast in the eighth gave the Cardinals an important insurance run. Hunter and Neufeld both had two safeties in the winning effort.
Keating (L), Robinson (2), Lyall (3) and Don Smith
Neufeld (W), Limke (9) and Hodgson, Payne (9)
(July 24) The Riverside Blues came away with a controversial 7 to 4 win over the visiting Dauphin Redbirds in a game which was called because of darkness with the final score reverting to the end of the eighth inning. The Redbirds had rallied for a trey in the top-of-the ninth to deadlock the score but, since the hometown Blues didn’t have a chance to bat in the bottom-half of the frame, it went into the books as a Riverside victory after the eighth episode. Dauphin had a 12 to 9 advantage in base hits although Garth Seafoot was awarded the hillock win at the expense of Redbirds’ starter Ray Strable. Bob Ash, Gord Hunter and Mark Fisher all acquired two safeties for the Blues while Bob Buchy, Pat Mitchell, Dennis Madrigga and Strable all hit safely twice for Dauphin with a solo homer included in Strable’s total.
Strable (L), Henard (7) and Sheldon, Day (3)
G. Seafoot (W) and C. Seafoot
(July 24) Scoring three times in the opening canto, the hosting Brandon Cloverleafs went on to a 6 to 2 conquest of the Virden Oilers. The loss for the lowly Oilers was their 17th in 19 games. Winning heaver Ron Toews worked into the eighth inning before Bob Thompson took over hillock duties and blanked the visitors the remainder of the way. Starter John McGee of the Virdenites gave up five tallies and six of the 14 Brandon hits in absorbing the setback. Toews had four RBI’s on a pair of two-RBI singles to give himself all the run support he would need. Fireman Thompson was also potent with the hickory, collecting four hits in a perfect evening at the plate. Adding additional offense for the Cloverleafs were Bill Chapple and Mike Repin who delivered three safeties apiece.
McGee (L), George (3) and Gardiner
Toews (W), Thompson (8) and Gray
(July 26) Dick Limke won his seventh decision of the season as the invading Souris Cardinals downed the St. Lazare Athletics 4 to 1. Limke swished ten batters while yielding six hits and two walks in neutralizing the Saints at the platter as he improved his record to 7 – 1. The game was scoreless until the seventh inning when the Cards exploded for three tallies and the Athletics one. Souris added their final counter in the top-of-the-ninth off complete-game losing heaver Mick Torres. Limke was his strongest supporter with the bat as he laced three singles and a double. Clubmates Lynn McEvoy and Jim Neilson both chipped in with two singles. The Saints had two swatters with a pair of base knocks, Torres and Larry McWilliams.
Limke (W) and Payne
Torres (L) and Falloon
(July 26) The Virden Oilers got a fine five-hit pitching effort from Ted Bridgett and surprised the pace-setting Hamiota Red Sox, downing the Scarlet Stockings 4 to 1. Bridgett, in his strongest start of the season, struck out six and walked five. Catcher Ralph Gardiner and Mark Wilton had two hits each in pacing the Virden eight-hit attack against losing flinger Gary Keating. Bryan Smith hit an inside-the-park solo homer to account for the lone Hamiota tally.
Bridgett (W) and Gardiner
Keating, Don Smith (7) and Don Smith, Wright (7)
(July 26) The homestanding Dauphin Redbirds banged out 11 base raps and played errorless afield as they defeated the fourth-place Brandon Cloverleafs 3 to 1. Lefthander Gailand Henard of the Redbirds scattered six hits and fanned nine in recording the complete-game triumph. Ron Powers, who has worked almost exclusively out of the Brandon bullpen this season, made a rare start and was stung with the loss. Dennis Madrigga bagged three safeties for the winners while Henard came up with a pair. Jack Borotsik laced a brace of bingles for the Leafs.
Powers (L) and Gray
Henard (W) and Hodgson
(July 27) The Brandon Cloverleafs moved to within one game of second place on the strength of a 5 to 1 win over the Souris Cardinals. The Leafs exploded for all five of their counters in the fourth frame after Dick Limke had staked the visiting Cards to a 1 - 0 lead when he lit up complete-game winner Bob Thompson for a solo round-tripper in the opening chapter. Souris could only manage four hits off Thompson who fanned eight. Loser Bill Carpenter had just the one bad inning and finished with nine punchouts and a seven-hitter.
Carpenter (L) and Payne
Thompson (W) and Gray
(August 1) The Hamiota Red Sox scored a dozen markers over two innings to halt a three-game losing streak and dump the Souris Cardinals 12 to 3. The win for the Sox boosted their lead over the second-place Cards to four games. Bryan Smith went all the way on the knoll for the Sox, claiming the win after whiffing five while surrendering nine hits and two walks. Young Bob Neufeld yielded all 12 Hamiota runs and took the loss for Souris. Buck Mathison was the big man at the dish for the victors, rapping out a a triad of singles. Lynn Caldwell followed with a double and one-bagger. Jim Neilson, injured in the contest after colliding with teammate Lynn McEvoy, and Dick Limke had two safeties each for the Cardinals.
Neufeld (L), Payne (6) and Payne, Lindbloom (6)
B. Smith (W) and Don Smith
(August 3) The Riverside Blues edged the hosting Brandon Cloverleafs 3 to 2 in ten innings to pull into a third-place tie with the Leafs. The Blues scores a pair in the opening canto while the Brandonites plated a deuce in the fifth to deadlock the score. Four scoreless frames followed, sending the game into overtime. With the bases loaded in the top-of-the-tenth inning, the Blues scored what turned out to be the winning tally on a wild pitch by complete-game loser Bob Thompson. Winning flinger Mark Fisher increased his record to 7 – 1 and moved into a tie with Dick Limke of Souris for the pitching lead. Fisher gave up seven hits and struck out six but had control issues, handing out ten free passes. Thompson was nicked for nine safeties while fanning six and walking three. Bob Ash was the Blues’ top hitter with three singles while Fisher contributed a triple and one-bagger to his own cause. Tom Towns and Bill Gray had two singles apiece for Brandon.
Fisher (W) and C. Seafoot
Thompson (L) and Gray
(August 6) The Souris Cardinals consolidated their hold on second place in the MSBL as they trounced the Brandon Cloverleafs 7 to 1. Dick Limke twirled five innings of no-hit ball to begin the game and pick up the victory. In the sixth, regular catcher Bob Payne took over mound chores and gave up Brandon’s lone run on two hits. Cloverleaf starter Ron Toews was tagged with the loss. Jim Neilson proved to be the killer for the Cards as he lashed out two home runs and a single. Payne added a triple and single while Don Hodgson belted a two-run dinger in the fifth.
Toews (L), Powers (6) and Gray
Limke (W), Payne (6) and Payne, Couvier (6)
Standings W L Pct. GBL
Hamiota 17 5 .773 ----
Souris 13 7 .650 3.0
Riverside 11 8 .579 4.5
Brandon 11 10 .524 5.5
St. Lazare 9 10 .474 6.5
Dauphin 7 13 .350 9.0
Virden 4 19 .174 13.5
(August 8) The Riverside Blues doubled the Brandon Cloverleafs 6 to 3 to move two full games ahead of the Wheat City nine in the battle for third place in the MSBL. The Blues struck for all six of their runs in the second spasm to take control of the game. Winning flinger Mark Fisher struck out ten and walked three while scattering nine hits. Brian Hodgson, returning to the wars after an extended stint on the injury list, took the loss. He was combed for ten base raps while breezing four and walking one. Cliff Seafoot lit him up with a two-run dinger. Bob Ash also did well at the plate for the winners, slapping out three safeties while Marv Robinson contributed a triple and single. Maurice Oakes, Roy McLachlan and Gary Greaves all registered two hits for the Leafs with Oakes delivering a two-bagger in his brace of swats.
Hodgson (L) and Gray
Fisher (W) and C. Seafoot
(August 9) A 4 to 0 whitewashing of the Dauphin Redbirds strengthened the grip of the Souris Cardinals on the runner-up spot in the circuit. Winning heaver Dick Limke was the hero in the clash, hurling a one-hitter for his ninth win in ten decisions. Limke punched out 11 while walking two in the complete-game effort. Losing flinger Gailand Henard managed to get the only hit Dauphin could muster off Limke. Henard swished 11 and walked six while yielding six hits. Jim Neilson and Limke were the Cardinals’ top hitters with a double and single each.
Henard (L) and Hodgson
Limke (W) and Payne
(August 11) The Hamiota Red Sox defeated the Brandon Cloverleafs 5 to 3 and, in doing so, clinched first place and the 1967 pennant. The victorious Sox had only three hits while Brandon collected five. Gary Keating gained his seventh pitching win, striking out five and giving up three walks. Ron Toews was tagged with the loss. He sent five batters down swinging and walked five. Toews, with a brace of singles, was also the lone player in the contest to punch out two hits.
Toews (L) and Gray
Keating (W) and Don Smith
(August 11) A major upset occurred when the tail-end Virden Oilers knocked off the second-place Souris Cardinals 6 to 2. Although outhit by a 6 to 5 margin, the lowly Oilers made the most of their scoring opportunities. Ted Bridgett went the distance on the hill for Virden in picking up the win. The Loser was starting heaver Grant Moffatt. Henry Palk nailed a pair of doubles for the winners while Jim Neilson singled twice for the Cards.
Bridgett (W) and xxx
G. Moffatt (L), Payne (6) and xxx
(August 11) The Dauphin Redbirds put together a pair of timely hits to score a single tally in the final inning of an an abbreviated eight-inning contest to nip the Riverside Blues 2 to 1. The telling blow was a two-bagger by winning heaver Ray Strable that drove in Gerry Shumanski, who had singled and moved into scoring position on a walk, with the winning counter. Strable had a two-hitter with 13 strikeouts and two walks to finish the season with a 7 – 5 record. Loser Grant Everard gave up seven Dauphin hits, walked three and fanned eight. In addition to his game-winning two-bagger, Strable also stroked a single.
Everard (L) and xxx
Strable (W) and xxx
(August 13) The Brandon Cloverleafs all but eliminated the St. Lazare Athletics from the playoff picture when they trounced the fifth-place club 11 to 3 behind the five-hit pitching of Bob Thompson. Losing twirler Mickey Torres and fifth-inning reliever Merv Haney were combed for 11 Brandon safeties. Mort Wright clubbed a solo homer and a pair of singles for the Leafs. Teammate Ron Toews also had a sharp batting eye, slamming two doubles and a one-bagger. Gerry MacKay with a double and single and Bob Wilson with a brace of one-base raps were the other Brandon swatters with plural hit totals. Dave Bender led the A’s with the baton, spanking the sphere for a double and single.
Thompson (W) and Gray
Torres (L), Haney (5) and Kiliwnik
(August 13) The Souris Cardinals sewed up second spot in the standings by taking a 13-inning 5 to 2 win over the Riverside Blues. Dick Limke improved his pitching record to 10 – 1 in outdueling young Mark Fisher who weakened in the fourth round of overtime and was nicked for a three-spot on five hits. Over the course of the 13 innings, Fisher was lit up for 11 safeties by the Cards while Limke was tagged for five. Jim Neilson, Doug Armour and Bob Neufeld were the top Souris batters, each with two hits.
Limke (W) and Payne
Hunter (L) and C. Seafoot
(August 20) The St. Lazare Athletics swept a crucial doubleheader from the Riverside Blues, by scores of 11 to 10 and 8 to 2, to keep their playoff hopes flickering. With the twin-triumphs, the Saints moved to within a half-game of the Blues and the Brandon Cloverleafs who are tied for the third place.
The desperate A’s captured the opener when Merrill Kiliwnik connected for a double with two on in the bottom-of-the-ninth inning to snap a 10 – 10 deadlock. Merv Haney pitched the final three frames to earn the win after taking over for Mickey Torres in the seventh spasm. Reliever Lorne Lilley of the Blues took the loss. Larry McWilliams, Allan Bray and Kiliwnik had three hits each for the winners while Ross Jamieson and Haney each added a pair. Gene Cory hit a solo home run and a single to pace the Blues while clubmates Wes Rathwell both cracked a double and single.
G. Seafoot, Lilley (L) (5) and C. Seafoot
Torres, Haney (W) (7) and R. Jamieson
In the second game, the Athletics hammered out 13 hits in coasting to the triumph. Haney went all the way to record the win, scattering seven hits while whiffing four and walking two. Riverside starter Ross Kinsley was bombed from the bump after giving up five runs on 12 hits and five walks during the first six stanzas. Jamieson and Bray once again stroked three safeties for the Saints while McWilliams and Garth Sarasas had a pair. Cliff and Morris Seafoot had two base raps each for the Blues.
Kinsley (L), Hunter (7) and C. Seafoot
Haney (W) and R. Jamieson
(August 21) Gary Keating and the pennant-winning Hamiota Red Sox ended the St. Lazare playoff dreams by hammering the hosting Athletics 9 to 1. The Crimson Hose smacked three home runs to back Keating who went the route, fanning ten, on a two-hitter. Al Robertson belted the first of the three dingers, a three-run shot off loser Merv Haney in the opening panel. Both of the remaining taters came in the sixth stanza when Mel Smith launched a three-run smash and Bryan Smith a solo four-bagger.
Keating (W) and Don Smith
Haney (L), McBean (2), B. Jamieson (6) and Kiliwnik
THIRD-PLACE TIE-BREAKER
(August 22) No winner was declared on the diamond in an attempt to determine a third-place finisher in the MSBL as the Brandon Cloverleafs and the hosting Riverside Blues fought to a nine-inning 3 – 3 standoff. The issue had to be settled by MSBL prexy Cliff Cory of Virden on the basis of runs scored for and against between the two clubs. Riverside got the nod on the basis of a slim 21 – 20 count. In the game itself that turned out to be meaningless, both starting heavers, Riverside’s Grant Everard and Jack Denbow of the Cloverleafs, went the distance as the Leafs had a 10 to 7 advantage in base hits. Maurice Oakes clubbed two doubles and a single for the Wheat City nine while Mort Wright also picked up three safeties. Cliff Seafoot and Everard had a brace of bingles each for the Blues with one of Seafoot’s swats being a double.
Denbow and Oakes
Everard and C. Seafoot
PLAYOFFS
SEMI-FINALS Brandon vs Hamiota & Riverside vs Souris (best-of-five series)
(August 23) The pennant-winning Hamiota Red Sox stopped the fourth-place Brandon Cloverleafs 5 to 3 as the MSBL semi-finals got underway. Southpaw Bryan Smith of the Sox was the winning tosser, limiting the Leafs to seven hits. Another portsider, Brandon’s Brian Hodgson, was nicked for 11 Hamiota safeties in absorbing the loss. Mel Smith led the Scarlet Stockings at the plate with a double and single while brother, Bryan, as well as Buck Mathison and John Wright. each delivered two singles. Maurice Oakes had a couple of one-base raps for the Brandonites.
Hodgson (L) and xxx
B. Smith (W) and Don Smith
(August 23) The Souris Cardinals edged the Riverside Blues 10 to 8 in the opening game of their semi-final series. Winning pitcher Dick Limke was used twice on the knoll by the Cards in this encounter. He started on the hill and went seven stanzas before moving to first base as catcher Bob Payne took over mound chores with Souris well in front by a 9 to 3 count. When Payne had a ninth-inning meltdown which resulted in a five-run Riverside rally, Limke was summoned back to the slab to douse the fire. The Blues used four chuckers with starter Mark Hunter being stuck with the defeat. Doug Armour, Lynn McEvoy and Brian Moffatt had two singles apiece for the Cardinals. Playing-manager Gord Hunter was the top hitter for the Riversiders, collecting three singles, while Cliff Seafoot smacked a double and single and Marv Robinson a pair of one-baggers.
Limke (W), Payne (8), Limke (9) and Payne, Couvier (8)
Fisher (L), Kinsley (3), G. Seafoot (4), Hunter (4) and C. Seafoot
(August 25) Even though they were outhit by a 9 to 6 margin, the underdog Brandon Cloverleafs squared their semi-final showdown by dumping the pennant-winning Hamiota Red Sox 7 to 2 at Kinsmen Stadium. A five-run seventh inning helped put this one in the bag for the Wheat City gang. Ron Toews went the distance for the Leafs, striking out nine batters and walking five. The Sox used two hurlers with starter Gary Keating being nicked for the loss.
Toews (W) and Oakes
Keating (L), Kachur (9) and Don Smith
(August 25) The hosting Riverside Blues upset the Souris Cardinals 5 to 1 to knot their best-of-five series at a game apiece. Grant Everard whiffed 14 batters and limited the Cards to five hits in copping the complete-game pitching verdict. Bill Carpenter gave up seven Riverside safeties in taking the loss. Bob Ash was the big gun at the dish for the Blues as he had a two-run double plus a single. Don Hodgson led Souris with two singles.
Carpenter (L) and xxx
Everard (W) and xxx
(August 27) The upstart Brandon Cloverleafs surprised the Hamiota Red Sox once again, handing the hosting pennant winners a 3 to 2 setback to take the lead in their best-of-five series. Both squads nicked the horsehide for eight safeties. The Leafs scored the winning tally in the top-of-the-ninth canto when winning twirler Brian Hodgson doubled and scored on a disputed single by Maurice Oakes. Both Hodgson and losing flinger Bryan Smith went the route. Tom Towns and Oakes both finished with a double and single to lead the Leafs offensively. Teammate Bob Wilson delivered a couple of one-base raps. Mel Smith and Al Robertson had two singles each for the Red Sox.
Hodgson (W) and Oakes
B. Smith (W) and Don Smith
(August 27) A 6 to 2 conquest of the invading Riverside Blues has given the Souris Cardinals a stranglehold on their best-of-five series. Winning slab artist Dick Limke, voted as the circuit’s MVP, allowed the Blues just three hits, all singles, and rang up 11 punchouts in going all the way. Riverside’s Lorne Lilley, derricked during the winning Souris rally in the eighth episode, was nailed with the loss. The Cardinals collected seven safeties as catcher Bob Payne led the way with a triple and double.
Lilley (L), Hunter (8) and C. Seafoot
Limke (W) and Payne
(August 29) For the second year in a row, the Brandon Cloverleafs have knocked the highly-regarded Hamiota Red Sox out of the playoff picture. The Leafs managed this feat by downing the pennant winners 12 to 6 at Kinsmen Stadium. Both combatants hammered the horsehide for nine safeties with many a blast leaving the ball park. The visiting Sox grabbed an early 5 – 0 lead on the strength of a double by Lynn Caldwell and a three-bagger off the bat of Al Robertson in the opening panel plus a three-run dinger by flychaser Mel Smith in the second spasm. The early Hamiota outburst seemed to shake Brandon complete-game winner Ron Toews out of the doldrums as the Cloverleaf slabster settled down and limited the Sox to one tally for the final seven chapters. Meanwhile, his mates began chewing away at the deficit which they narrowed to a deuce. Then, in the seventh, they exploded for a four-spot, driving losing heaver Gary Keating from the hill. In the eighth episode, they added five more markers on four-ply clouts by Bob Wilson, with one aboard, and Toews whose tater brought home three.
Keating (L), Don Smith (7), Lyall (7) and Don Smith, Wright (7)
Toews (W) and Oakes
(August 29) The Riverside Blues overcame a three home-run performance by Cardinal Bill Carpenter to dump invading Souris 18 to 11, forcing a fifth and final game in their series. Two of Carpenter’s taters were leadoff solo shots and came late in the slugfest when the Blues had built up an insurmountable lead. His first dinger, also with no runners aboard, came in the third canto. Two other Souris batters also nailed four-ply clouts in a losing cause. Jim Neilson launched one in the opening panel with a runner aboard and Lynn McEvoy drilled one in the ninth with the bases empty. Despite giving up a dozen base blows, including the five round-trippers, Riverside’s Mark Fisher survived on the hillock for the full nine innings to grab the pitching win. The Blues ripped into the offerings of a quartet of Cardinal chuckers for 20 base knocks as Fisher and Garth Seafoot added to the bevy of round-trippers being accumulated by clouting one each. Playing-manager Don Hunter, the third of the four Souris slabsters, was nailed with the loss. Barry Moffatt and Cliff Seafoot had four hits each for the victors while teammates Fisher and Bob Ash both delivered three.
Neufeld, Payne (3), Hunter (L) (3), Neilson (6) and Payne, Couvier (3)
Fisher (W) and C. Seafoot
(August 31) A three-hitter by pitching ace Dick Limke propelled the Souris Cardinals to a narrow 5 to 4 conquest of the stubborn Riverside Blues and a berth in the MSBL finals. The Cards, who had eight safeties off losing heaver Grant Everard, did not gain a handle on the victory until their final turn at bat. Trailing 4 to 3, the Souris nine had to rely upon a clutch two-run single by infielder Don Hodgson to pull off the triumph. Limke walked four in his route-going performance as a double by Garth Seafoot was the longest hit the visiting Blues were able to manage off him. Brian Moffatt, Doug Armour and Hodgson had two safeties apiece for the winners with a two-bagger included in Moffatt’s total of raps.
Everard (L) and C. Seafoot
Limke (W) and Payne
FINALS Brandon vs Souris (best-of-seven series)
(September 5) Big Bob Thompson stymied the Souris Cardinals on just three hits in pitching the Brandon Cloverleafs to a convincing 6 to 0 whitewashing of their hosts. The mound triumph for Thompson was an especially pleasing one as he bested Dick Limke, the loop’s MVP, in their mound joust. Thompson walked just one and was bothered by only one Souris swatsmith, Brian Moffat, who got to him for a single and a double. The game was scoreless until the fifth when the Wheat City nine broke through for a three-spot. They added another trey in the eighth to put a bow on it. Tommy Towns had three hits, all singles, of the nine surrendered by Limke. Bill Chapple followed Towns with a double and one-bagger
Thompson (W) and Oakes
Limke (L) and Payne
(September 7) The Brandon Cloverleafs took a commanding two-game lead in the MSBL finals as they dumped the Souris Cardinals 8 to 4 behind the pitching of Ron Toews and some timely hitting. A defensive meltdown by the Souris squad, wherein they committed six errors, was also a major factor in their downfall. Toews went all the way on the hill for the Leafs, striking out 11 batters and walking two while surrendering nine safeties. He was able to bail himself out of a couple of jams with timely whiffs and forced the Cards to strand nine baserunners. Brandon had a balanced hitting attack and got to losing flinger Bill Carpenter and seventh-inning reliever Cec Dawley for a dozen base knocks.
Carpenter (L), Dawley (7) and Payne
Toews (W) and Oakes
(September 8) A 6 to 4 triumph over the Souris Cardinals gave the Brandon Cloverleafs a three-games-to-none lead and put them just one victory away from winning the MSBL title for the second consecutive year. The listless Cardinals, committed errors on easy fly balls and were hardly ever a serious threat to the Cloverleafs. They did make a run at it briefly, holding the Leafs to a 3 – 3 stalemate through the first 4-1/2 frames but, after that, it was no contest as they provided little in the way of solid defensive support for their complete-game losing pitcher Bob Neufeld. Brian Hodgson, who made his first start in the finals, went all the way on the knoll for Brandon, striking out 12 Cardinal batters and walking five. Both Hodgson and Neufeld gave up eight safeties. Gary Greaves led the Cloverleaf hit parade with a home run and single while teammate Roy McLachlan stroked a double and single. Bob Payne was the most productive Souris swatter, collecting two doubles and a single. Don Hodgson followed with a couple of one-base hits.
Hodgson (W) and Gray
Neufeld (L) and Payne
(September 10) In a complete turnabout from their uninspired effort of two days previous, the Souris Cardinals put on one of their best performances of the season and remained alive by getting past the Brandon Cloverleafs 3 to 1 in the fourth game of the finals. Dick Limke went all the way on the hill for the Cards, collecting eight punchouts while giving up seven hits and two walks. Losing twirler Bob Thompson also went the route, surrendering nine hits and issuing one free pass while breezing nine Brandonites. Consecutive singles by Brian Moffatt and catcher Dean Couvier drove in Limke and Don Hunter with the first two Souris runs in the second spasm. The Leafs got one back in their half of the frame when Thompson tripled a then jogged home on a single by Tommy Towns. The Cards plated the final counter of the clash in the fifth on an RBI-ground out by Bill Carpenter. The Wheat City nine threatened in the bottom-of-the-ninth inning and had runners at the corner bases with two out but the potential rally was snuffed out when baserunner Doug Lund was cut down by Couvier in an attempted theft of the keystone sack. Limke was his best offensive friend, smashing a double and two singles. Don Hodgson was the only other Souris batter to run up plural hit totals as he came through with a couple of one-baggers. Bob Wilson was the big man with the stick for the Leafs, collecting three singles while teammate Town had a pair.
Limke (W) and Couvier
Thompson (L) and Oakes
(September 14) The visiting Brandon Cloverleafs and the Souris Cardinals battled it out in the fifth game of the MSBL finials but without a winner being declared. The game was called because of darkness after two batters had been retired in the top-of-the-tenth inning with the teams deadlocked in a 1 – 1 tie. Cec Dawley, who toiled the entire game on the bump for the Cardinals, limited the Leafs to four hits while Brian Hodgson, on the hill for Brandon, was being touched for seven safeties. Jim Neilson of the Souris squad was the only player in the game to get more than one hit as he collected two singles.
Hodgson and Oakes
Dawley and Lindbloom
(September 15) The Brandon Cloverleafs knocked off the tough Souris Cardinals 4 to 1 to annex the Manitoba Baseball League championship for the second year in a row. Bob Thompson picked up his second complete-game win against Souris in this sixth game of the series. He struck out 13, gave up six hits and issued one walk. Losing heaver Bill Carpenter and Bob Payne shared the mound duties for the Cardinals with all eight Brandon hits and four runs being charged to Carpenter. The vanquished Cards put up a valiant fight but were unable to raise a concentrated attack without their departed leader, Dick Limke. Doug Lund had a double and single for the Cloverleafs while Thompson nailed two singles. Don Hodgson had a triple and single to pace the losers offensively.
Carpenter (L), Payne (9) and Lindbloom
Thompson (W) and Oakes
MANITOBA SENIOR BASEBALL LEAGUE (EAST DIVISION)
Only in the newspapers of the Manitoba capital was this Winnipeg & environs circuit referred to as the eastern division of the MSBL. No such acknowledgment of an east-west divisional relationship within one loop appeared in the Brandon Sun. Game results seldom appeared in the sports section of the Winnipeg Free Press.
Balmoral Orioles
C.U.A.C. Blues
St. Boniface Maple Leafs
Transcona Atomics
(June 21) Terry Moore tossed a four-hitter and struck out 13 in pitching the Transcona Atomics to an 8 to 4 triumph over the CUAC Blues. The duo of “Curly” LeClerc and Bill Walmsley were raked for 11 hits by the Atomics. Ron Twerdochlib banged out a triple and single for the ‘Sconas while teammates Cam Hurst and Gerry Bolin singled twice.
(June 27) Bob and Al Hunter’s combined efforts spelled disaster for the St. Boniface Maple Leafs. Bob Hunter, the pitcher, and Al Hunter, the batter, did everything in a big way in pacing the Transcona Atomics to a 13 to 1 route of the Leafs. It was the ‘Sconas fourth win in six games this season, having lost one and tied one. The Saints could only pluck four hits off the Atomic southpaw heaver who rang up seven punchouts and gave up five walks. Al, on the other hand, pounded four safeties off losing chucker Don Wylie including a triple and double. Bob Audette didn’t make Wylie’s chores any easier either as he pounded a triad of base raps, one a three-bagger. Archie Curtis of the Leafs had two hits in a losing cause.
(July 4) The Transcona Atomics prevailed 18 to 13 over CUAC in an East Division slugfest. Neither pitcher of record, winning flinger Bob Audette, or losing chucker, Bill Walmsley, survived to the finish. Jack Seitz and Al Hunter both launched a four-bagger and two singles for the Atomics. Nick Banera of the Blues banged out a pair of three-baggers.
(July 6) The Hunter brothers teamed up to spark Transcona to a 4 to 3 victory over Balmoral. Portsider Bob Hunter won the mound decision, striking out 14 Orioles while Al Hunter dealt the contest’s decisive blow, a game-winning home run. Jerry Lavery helped out with a triple and single for the Atomics. Don Frolek was the loser.
(July 12) “Curly” LeClerc picked up his second win of the season as he pitched a seven-hitter, fanned seven and had two RBI’s in the CUAC Blues’ 3 to 1 win over the Balmoral Orioles. Paul Chartrand took the loss. The CUAC hurler was supported by the powerful hitting of Neil Borys, Nick Banera and Don Kurtz.
(July 18) Bill Walmsley hurled CUAC to a 6 to 4 victory over the St. Boniface Maple Leafs in a Senior League tussle. Nick Banera and Steve Derewianchuk each had three hits for the winners. Don Wylie was the losing chucker.
(July 25) Norm Rodgers/Rogers pitched a four-hitter in leading the St. Boniface Maple Leafs to a 4 to 2 victory over the Balmoral Orioles. Paul Chartrand, who gave up three singles each to Jack Ritchie and Don Craw, was charged with the pitching loss.
Final Standings W L Pct.
Transcona 9 4 .692
St. Boniface 9 6 .600
Balmoral 6 6 .500
C.U.A.C. 3 11 .214
PLAYOFFS
SEMI-FINALS C.U.A.C. vs Transcona & Balmoral vs St. Boniface (best-of-seven-series)
(August 10) Ken Simon pitched the Transcona Atomics to a 10 to 6 victory over the CUAC Blues in the opening game of their semi-final series. Simon went the distance, giving up five hits and striking out 13. Terry Hrycyk was the loser. Gerry Lavery hit three singles for the Atomics while Al Hunter clubbed a home run and single. Simon helped his own cause with a double and one-bagger. John Happychuk collected three singles for the Blues.
(August 13) The Transcona Atomics exploded at the plate to take two games from the CUAC Blues in a playoff doubleheader. The twin triumphs vaulted the ‘Sconas into a commanding 3 – 0 lead in the semi-final series.
Bob Audette pitched the Atomics to a 15 to 4 win in the first game, yielding seven hits, striking out nine and walking four. Ron Twerdochlib led the onslaught with two home runs and a single, driving in five runs. Cam Hurst also picked up three hits while Bob Hunter launched a round-tripper. Bill Walmsley absorbed the pitching setback. Steve Derewianchuk and Nick Banera picked up two hits each for the losers.
Lefthander Bob Hunter took over mound chores for Transcona in the second contest and pitched a complete-game 5 to 1 victory. He allowed seven hits and four walks while whiffing 12. Twerdochlib once again did the most-damage with a three-run homer while winning heaver Hunter unloaded his second four-bagger of the day. Though he gave up only five hits, John Kosowan was tagged with the loss. Dennis Gamble and Nick Banera led the Blues offensively with two hits each.
(August 16) Bob Hunter ran up 15 punchouts and hurled a no-hit, no-run gem as the Transcona Atomics blanked the CUAC Blues 6 to o to sweep their semi-final series in four games straight. Hunter allowed two walks before the game was called at the completion of seven innings because of darkness. Terry Hrycyk was nailed with the pitching loss. Ron Twerdochlib had two safeties for the winners.
FINALS Balmoral vs Transcona (best-of-seven series)
(August 22) The Transcona Atomics and Balmoral Orioles fought to a 2 – 2 tie in the opening game of the East Division finals. Each team receives a half-point for the series. Terry Moore went the distance on the hill for Transcona and allowed four hits, an equal number of walks while fanning nine. The Birds’ Don Frolek pitched the first seven frames and surrendered five safeties. Tom MacKay drove in the two Balmoral counters while Al Hunter, Bob Audette and Jack Seitz provided the Atomics with hitting power.
(August 24) The Transcona Atomics went ahead one-game-to-none in their final series with Balmoral when they whitewashed the Orioles 9 to 0. Bob Hunter struck out 12, walked two and allowed two hits in recording the win. Rick Chartrand, relieved midway through the game by Rick Cruise, suffered the loss. Jack Seitz, with a homer and single, and Al Hunter, with a double and single, powered the ‘Scona hitting.
(August 27) The Transcona Atomics moved to within one game of winning their East Division final series by winning two games from the Balmoral Orioles by scores of 10 to 9 and 5 to 1. Bob Hunter, in a relief role, captured the opening game mound victory and went the distance on the knoll in the second contest to emerge as the hero for the Atomics. George Ledochowski and Don Frolek took the losses in respective order. Al Hunter hit five singles and Cam Hurst added a home run, double and single to power the ‘Sconas matinée-game win. Bob Audette rapped two singles with three RBI’s and Jack Seitz hit safely twice for the winners in the nightcap.
(August 29) The Transcona Atomics won the MSBL eastern division title with a 7 to 1 romp over over the Balmoral Orioles. Ken Simon allowed five hits and two walks while fanning five in earning the win while Bob Essery gave up 13 Atomic safeties in absorbing the loss. Cam Hurst and Gerry Bolin each collected three singles and Bob Audette a pair to pace the Transcona hitters. Gord Ledochowski delivered a brace of safeties for Balmoral.
MANITOBA SENIOR BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
Transcona Atomics (east) vs Brandon Cloverleafs (west) (best-of-five series)
(September 17) The Brandon Cloverleafs and Transcona Atomics divided the spoils from their two-game set which got the overall Manitoba senior baseball championship series underway. All games were scheduled to be played at Brandon’s Kinsmen Stadium with the teams alternating as the home club. The Cloverleafs captured the curtain-raiser 5 to 2 while the ‘Sconas prevailed 6 to 5 in the 11-inning finale.
Both teams had five hits in the opener but losing flinger Ken Simon issued seven bases-on-balls while winning chucker Ron Toews gave up just two free passes. The Atomics scored both of their runs in the opening canto on a two-run circuit-jack by Cam Hurst. The Leafs evened the count in the fourth, went on to score two more in the fifth and a singleton in the seventh. Brandon’s Bill Chapple and Transcona’s Al Hunter both drilled a pair of singles for their respective clubs.
Simon (L) and A. Hunter
Toews (W) and Oakes
A solo home run by Jack Seitz in the bottom-of-the-eleventh inning allowed the ‘Sconas to capture the sunset skirmish and even the series. The Atomics outswatted the Wheat City nine by an 11 – 9 count in the exciting fracas. The Cloverleafs forced overtime by pushing across the tying counter in the top-of-the-ninth. Winning heaver Bob Audette went all the way while Toews, who came on in relief of starter Brian Hodgson in the seventh stanza, was the loser in this one to square his record at 1 – 1 for the day. Hunter was again prominent with the stick for the Atomics, punching out two singles and a double. Ron Twerdochlib followed with three one-baggers. Bob Wilson had a double and single for the Leafs while Doug Lund singled twice.
Hodgson, Toews (L) (7) and Oakes
Audette (W) and Rogoski
(September 23) The Brandon Cloverleafs exploded for five runs in the sixth stanza to down the Transcona Atomics 9 to 5 and take a two-games-to-one lead in the Manitoba senior baseball finals. Both winning heaver Bob Thompson of the Cloverleafs and Transcona southpaw Bob Hunter went the route and both surrendered ten hits. Thompson fanned ten and walked four while Hunter whiffed seven and handed out six free passes.
B. Hunter (L) and Rogoski
Thompson (W) and Oakes
(September 24) The Transcona Atomics trounced the Brandon Cloverleafs 9 to 1 to force a fifth game in the Manitoba senior finals and then went on to cop the 1967 championship with a 5 to 4 victory in the nail-biter clincher.
In a must-win situation for the ‘Sconas, winning heaver Ken Simon came through in grand style, punching out six and giving up an equal number of hits. Starting tosser Ron Toews, battered from the rubber in the third canto, was the loser. The Winnipeg suburbanites put a bow on the game with a five-spot in the second spasm followed by a deuce in the third. During those early frames, the Wheat City nine imploded with a bigtime defensive lapse that resulted in six very costly errors. Jack Seitz led a balanced Atomics’ hitting attack with two singles. Brandon was led at the plate by Maurice Oakes who stroked a double and single as well as Mike Repin who singled twice’
Toews (L), Denbow (3) and Oakes
Simon (W) and Rogoski
Portsider Bob Hunter, coming on in relief of Transcona starter Bob Audette in the fourth frame, lodged the twirling triumph in the twilight tilt. Ron Toews was charged with his second loss of the day after coming to the aid of Bob Thompson in the sixth stanza. The teams were knotted at 2 – 2 entering the eighth episode when the Atomics exploded for a trey on Gerry Bolin’s bases-loaded double. Brandon scored twice in the bottom-of-the-ninth and threatened with two out and a pair of runners aboard when Bill Chapple lined out to second sacker Bolin to end the game and the series. Cam Hurst was the best hitter for the champion ‘Sconas, collecting three singles and a double, good for a pair of RBI’s.
Audette, Hunter (W) (4) and Rogoski
Thompson, Toews (L) (6) and Oakes, Greaves (4)
NEEPAWA & DISTRICT BASEBALL LEAGUE
Eden
Carberry Royals
Neepawa Cubs
Neepawa Farmers
M.B.A. SENIOR PLAYDOWNS
NORTHERN DIVISION
(August 20) The Neepawa Cubs captured their M.B.A. district series when they defeated the Eden team in a two-game set. In the afternoon, they came from behind to win 7 to 3 and, in the evening, jumped out to an eight-run first frame lead en route to a 20 to 7 triumph. Dan Ardron and Ron McKinnon were the winning pitchers in the two games and playing-manager Eddie Crabbe was one of the star swatsmiths with six safeties, one of which was a two-run homer, in nine trips to the plate during the double-dip.
(August 23) The South-Central League champion Rivers Comets took a one-game lead in their best-of-three series with the Neepawa & District League champions by hammering the Neepawa Cubs 19 to 1. Ron Ramsey, a playoff pickup from Oak River, earned the pitching win in the one-sided affair. Neepawa starter Dan Ardron was tarred with the loss. Top hitters for the victorious Comets were Wilf Taylor, who had a two-run homer and a single, and Mel Harvey who singled three times. Bill Fraser had a pair of one-base raps for the vanquished Cubs.
Ramsey (W), Birch (7) and Harvey
Ardron (L), Fraser (1), McKinnon (8) and Dagg, Hay (6)
Binscarth eliminated Angusville
NORTHERN M.B.A. FINALS
(September 8 & 10) The Binscarth Cardinals disposed of the Rivers Comets in two straight games. In the first meeting played in Rivers on Friday, the hosting Comets lost 9 to 3. On Sunday, playing at home, the Cardinals nosed out Rivers 5 to 4 to sweep the best-of-three series and advance to meet the southern winner, either Pilot Mound or Deloraine in the M.B.A. north-south finals.
SOUTHERN M.B.A. FINALS
Pilot Mound ousted Deloraine
M.B.A. NORTH-SOUTH SENIOR FINAL SERIES Binscarth Cardinals (north) vs Pilot Mound Pilots (south) (best-of-three series)
(October 1) The Binscarth Cardinals defeated the Pilot Mound Pilots 7 to 0 behind the one-hit pitching of Garth Neville the capture the 1967 Manitoba Baseball Association senior title. Neville struck out ten Pilot Mound batters, allowing one scratch single in the sixth inning. Pilots’ stating twirler Walter Hall, replaced on the knoll in the seventh stanza by Walter Mueller, was tagged with the defeat. Catcher Orville Stainer was the Cardinals’ top hitter with a double and single. The game was played in the neutral Souris ball park.
Neville (W) and Stainer
Hall (L), Mueller (7) and Webber
SOUTH-CENTRAL BASEBALL LEAGUE
Elgin CubsGlenboro Canucks
Oak River
Rivers Comets
Souris junior Cardinals
Treesbank Tigers
(May 23) Homestanding Rivers hammered the Souris junior Cardinals 16 to 2 as the South-Central League got underway.
(May 24) The Glenboro Canucks banged out 14 hits to smother the hosting Treesbank Tigers 16 to 2. Charlie Hilhorst tossed a two-hitter in going the route for the pitching victory over Terry Everard. He also collected three base hits as did Walt Hilhorst and Ivan Donald. Teammates Greg Arason and Don Barr both hit homers for the Canucks.
(May 26) The invading Elgin Cubs were nosed out 5 to 4 by the Glenboro Cubs at the Glenboro Sports Grounds in a hard-fought South-Central League battle. Both teams stung the sphere for seven safeties. Winning heaver Harry Lalonde and losing flinger Brian Gates both went the distance on the hill. Lalonde helped his own cause by blasting a homer. Greg Arason topped the winners with three hits, including a double, while the Cubs’ Murray Thomas belted a round-tripper and Lawrence Reed two singles.
(June 1) Veteran pitcher Harry Lalonde of the homestanding Glenboro Canucks won a tense mound battle as he led his club to a narrow 3 to 1 win over the Souris Junior Cardinals in South-Central League action. Lalonde went the route, surrendering just three singles while ringing up a dozen punchouts. Loser in the knoll duel was young Bob Neufeld who gave up only four hits and sent 11 Glenboro batters down swinging. Walt Hilhorst was the big gun offensively for the winners as he slammed a two-run homer. Smart hit a pair of singles for Souris.
(June 4) Three Rivers’ pitchers combined to hurl the Comets to an 8 to 5 South-Central League decision over the Glenboro Canucks. The trio allowed eight hits as starter Rob Thomas was credited with the win. Losing flinger Harry Lalonde was relieved in the sixth stanza by Charlie Hilhorst. Neil Reeves belted a two-run homer for the Comets while Ivan McDonald had three hits, including a double, for the Canucks.
(June 6) In a slugfest at Rivers, the hosting Comets clobbered Oak River 17 to 8. The teams combined for 28 base hits with the winners accumulating 16 of them. Wayne Kaplar, the second of a trio of Rivers’ pitchers, got the win while Oak River starter Ron Ramsey was saddled with the defeat. Nere Hache had four singles for the Comets and teammate Bill Whitton three. Ramsey nailed a three-run dinger and a single for the Rivermen while Brian Argue ripped a solo tater.
Ramsey (L), Paxton (1) and Sparling
White, Kaplar (W) (2) , Birch and Harvey
(June 7) Defensively-challenged Oak River committed eight errors and were pounded 21 to 8 by the Glenboro Canucks. Winning slabster Charlie Hilhorst fanned a dozen batters but gave up ten hits. He had plenty of offensive support as his clubmates ripped into the offerings of losing twirler Ron Ramsey and two relievers for 17 base blows. Hilhorst, Don Barr and Greg Arason accounted for three safeties each with Arason’s triad of swats including a four-bagger.
(June 11) Oak River rebounded from an earlier drubbing to get past the Glenboro Canucks 5 to 3. Doyle Bailey was the hillock victor, giving up six hits while recording nine strikeouts. Losing flinger Harry Lalonde and reliever Charlie Hilhorst were combed for a dozen base raps. George Bridgeman and Lyle Ramsay had three hits each for the winning nine while Lalonde and Don Barr belted four-ply clouts for the Canucks.
(June 13) A large crowd at Elgin witnessed the hometown Cubs dropping a 5 to 3 decision to the Glenboro Canucks. Winning pitcher Harry Lalonde gave up six hits and struck out five while loser Lawrence Reed fanned eight and yielded nine hits but was plagued with seven fielding miscues from his mates. Don Barr had three hits for Glenboro and Ivan Donald a pair, including a home run. For the Cubs, Reed and Murray Thomas checked in with two safeties each.
(June 16) Fighting back from a 4 to 0 deficit, the visiting Treesbank Tigers rolled to a 6 to 4 conquest of the Glenboro Canucks. The Bengals had an 8 to 6 advantage in base hits as Jim Rodgers copped the pitching victory over Glenboro starter Charlie Hilhorst. Hank Fleming was the big noise at the plate for Treesbank, launching two home runs and a single which accounted for five RBI’s. Teammate Terry Everard picked up two safeties.
(June 20) The Elgin Cubs upset front-running Rivers 12 to 10.
(June 25) The Rivers Comets clinched first-place in the South-Central Baseball League with a 12 to 4 win over the homestanding Treesbank Tigers. A trio of Rivers’ pitchers hamstrung the hosts on just three hits with starter Ron Thomas getting credit for the victory. The game was highlighted by four taters socked by the Comets. Connecting for dingers were Nere Hache, Wes Walker, Larry McCulloch and Wilf Taylor. Walker had three other base knocks in addition to his three-run homer. McCulloch also had two additional safeties to go along with his circuit-jack. Not to be outdone, Neil Reeves entered the hit parade with a triad of bingles. Treesbank starting twirler Craig Bell took the loss.
Thomas (W), Kaplar (5), Birch (7) and Harvey
Bell (L), Boak (7) and Cullen
(June 28) Clutch pitching and heads-up defensive play in perilous situations gave the Glenboro Canucks a narrow 3 to 2 win over the hosting Souris Junior Cardinals. Charlie Hilhorst fashioned a three-hitter, walked four and punched out 11 in taking the hillock verdict from Bob Neufeld who matched Hilhorst in base raps surrendered and free passes issued while breezing eight. The Canucks’ Greg Arason had the contest’s longest clout, a two-bagger.
(June 29) Although limited to only four hits, the Glenboro Canucks took advantage of eight errors by the short-handed Rivers Comets to bounce the pennant-winners 9 to 1. Mixing up his assortment of slants with excellence, winning pitcher Jack Mahon befuddled the visitors and spun a no-hitter. Cam White was the loser. Don Barr had two of the four hits secured by the winners.
Final Standings W L Pct. GBL
Rivers Comets 8 2 .800 ----
Glenboro Canucks 7 3 .700 1.0
Elgin Cubs 6 4 .600 2.0
Oak River 4 6 .400 4.0
Souris junior Cardinals 3 7 .300 5.0
Treesbank Tigers 2 8 .200 6.0
PLAYOFFS
SEMI-FINALS Oak River vs Rivers & Elgin vs Glenboro (best-of-three series)
(July 6) The Rivers Comets scored two runs in the bottom-of-the-ninth inning of their semi-final game with Oak River for an 8 to 7 win and a one-game lead in the series. Reliever Ed Weymouth, the third Rivers pitcher, and Doyle Bailey of Oak River, who succeeded starter Ron Ramsey in the ninth, were the pitchers of record. Neil Reeves had two singles and a triple for the pennant winners and Weymouth picked up three singles. It was winning tosser Weymouth’s two-run single in the final canto that produced the walkoff win. Losing heaver Bailey hit a home run for the vanquished nine.
R. Ramsey, Bailey (L) (9) and L. Ramsey
Thomas, Birch (6), Weymouth (W) (8) and Wareham
(July 9) Glenboro ousted Elgin from the playoffs by one-run margins in the two games played.
FINALS Glenboro vs Rivers (best-of-three series)
(August 9) The Rivers Comets came through with three runs in the bottom-of the-seventh and final inning to pull out a razor-thin 4 to 3 win over the Glenboro Canucks in the opening-game of the South-Central League finals. The game was terminated after the dramatic come-from-behind surge as darkness prevented further play. The visitors took early leads of 3 – 0 and 3 – 1 against Rivers starting twirler Ed Weymouth before the desperate Comets exploded for a trey in their final turn at bat. Wayne Kaplar, who took over knoll chores from Weymouth in the second stanza, was the winning tosser. Losing heaver Charlie Hilhorst struck out 13 Comet batters while issuing just three hits but put himself in jeopardy throughout by giving up a dozen bases-on-balls. Kaplar’s two-run double in the seventh drove in the tying and winning tallies.
C. Hilhorst (L) and W. Hilhorst
Weymouth, Japlar (W) (2) and Harvey
(August 20) The Rivers Comets plated singletons in each of the second and eighth innings to blank the hosting Glenboro Canucks 2 to 0 and wrap up the South-Central Baseball League championship in two straight games. Harry Lalonde was the losing pitcher for Glenboro.