ALBERTA MAJOR BASEBALL LEAGUE
The five-member teams hooked up with the Clubs from the Northern Saskatchewan Baseball League in inter-league play.Calgary Cubs
Edmonton Angels
Edmonton Tigers
Foothills Giants
Red Deer Elks
(May 23) The Cubs and Angels split a pair at Renfrew Park, Angels taking the opener 5-2 and Bob Baird firing a one-hitter as Cubs took the second game 6-0. Rick Horb survived a tough first inning in the first game as four hits and an error led to two runs for the Cubs, but that's all he'd allow in going the distance for the win giving up nine hits over-all. Ron Moffat of Calgary was the big hitter with four hits, including a triple. Bill Schur and Don Darling each had two hits for the winners. Al Herback of the Cubs was outstanding in the field starting two double plays while handling eight chances flawlessly.
Sedran (L), Lynn (5) and Johnston
Horb (W) and Thompson
Dick Thompson got the only hit for the Angels, a single off the third base bag to open the 6th inning. Baird, a right-hander with three years of pro experiences, had little trouble with the Angels.
Baird (W) and Burley
Little (L), Ewasiuk (2), Poelzer (7) and Thompson
(May 23) Edmonton Tigers received shutout hurling from Bill Berry and Cliff Mein in setting down the Calgary Foothills Giants 6-0 and 5-0. Giants managed just four hits on the day as Mein had a one-hitter in the nightcap after Berry had earlier tossed a three-hitter. Dave Sowinski led the Tigers in the opener with three hits and Don Stewart helped with two runs batted in. Stewart had two hits in the second game and Dave Kostenuk knocked in a pair.
Berry (W) and Franchuk
Taylor (L) and Hogan
Mein (W) and Waddle
Loveless (L), Fehler (5) and Hogan
(May 24) Cliff Ballou, a 20-year-old from Walla, Walla, Washington, held the Foothills Giants to five hits as Red Deer Elks won their AMBL debut, 6-2. Jim Strachan took the loss giving up four runs on ten hits in six inning of work.
Strachan (L), Vejprava (7), Gallivan (7) and Hogan
Ballou (W) and Lyssons, Grant (6)
(May 25) Edmonton Angels scored eight runs in the 1st three innings and coasted to an 11-4 triumph over the Tigers at Renfrew Park. Dick Thompson energized the Angels attack with a two-run triple off the centre field wall in the opening frame. He also had a double and knocked in another run in the Angels' five-run outburst in the 3rd. Bill Schur rapped four hits and drove in three for the Angels. Max Lindstrand added three safeties. Dave Sowinski had three hits for the Tigers. Gord Sinclair, knocked out of the game in the first inning, took the loss.
McKee (W) and Thompson
Sinclair (L), Marion (1), Panteluk (3), Resler (8) and Franchuk, Waddle (7)
(May 27) Calgary Cubs handed the Foothills Giants their fourth straight setback of the 1971 season, 9-6. Catcher Ron Johnston and outfielder Rod White paced the attack, dividing six hits. Johnston clouted a home run, triple and single while White added a bases-loaded double and two singles. Shortstop Bruce Lofting belted a pair of homers for the Giants. Malcolm Lynn picked up the win in relief of starter Bob Baird. Al Taylor took the loss, his second of the young season.
Taylor (L), Gallivan (8) and Hogan, McAuley (8)
Baird, Lynn (W) (5), Sedran (8) and Johnston
(May 30) Red Deer Elks swept a pair from Edmonton Tigers Sunday at Red Deer, 7-1 and 5-4. Laverne Bonham led the Elks with two hits in each game while the club got complete game performances from Cliff Ballou in the opener and Al McKee in the second game.
Ballou and loser Cliff Mein each gave up eight hits in hurling the first game. A three-run 3rd inning was key for the Elks.
Mein (L) and Waddle
Ballou (W) and Grant
McKee, making his first start in two years, held the Tigers to four hits in the wrap up contest. He did, however, issue nine bases on balls. Loser Bill Berry allowed ten hits.
Berry (L) and Franchuk
McKee (W) and Lyssons
(May 30) The Edmonton Angels went into extra innings to take both games of a twin-bill from the Foothills Giants, 2-1 in 12 innings in the opener and 12-7 in 11 frames in the second game.
Ken Ewasiuk went the distance, allowing just six hits, to win the opener. He also scored the winning run crossing home on a single by Bill Schur who led the offense with three hits.
Ewasiuk (W) and Thompson
Loveless (L) and McAuley
Schur belted a two-run homer in the second game, in which the Tigers erupted for five runs in the top of the 11th. Rick Horb pitched 9 2/3s innings of relief to capture the mound victory.
Christianson, Horb (W), (2) and G. Taylor
Strachan, Vejprava (L) (9),
A. Taylor (11) and McCauley
Red Deer 3 0 ---
Edmonton Angels 4 1 ---
Calgary Cubs 2 1 1.0
Edmonton Tigers 2 3 2.0
Foothills Giants
0 6 4.5
June 1) Calgary Cubs collected 12 hits and were helped by seven errors in trouncing the Giants 12-2 at Foothills Stadium. Gary Malmberg, with a double and single, sparked the Cubs' offensive driving in five runs. Ron Johnston added a double and single and had the fielding gem of the night with a sprawling effort of a fly ball down the right field line. Ron Moffat and Rod White each had two hits while John Hines led the Giants, now 0 and 7, with three safeties. Alf Sedran picked up the win in relief of starter Malcolm Lynn. Al Taylor took the loss.
Al Taylor (L), Gallivan (7) and xxx
Lynn, Sedran (W), Pushkarenko and xxx
(June 1) Edmonton Angels scored four runs in the first inning en route to a 6-2 victory over Red Deer. The Elks were forced to insert seven rookies in the lineup because of travel delays in getting some regulars to the city. Edmonton got two walks and two triples in the first frame. Larry Giltner, making his debut, also had trouble in the second inning, giving up three singles, but settled down to hold the Angels to two hits over the last seven innings. Wayne McKee went the distance for the winners, holding the Elks to eight hits while compiling ten strikeouts. Shortstop Max Lindstrom had a triple and two singles for the Angels.
Giltner (L) and Grant
McKee (W) and Thompson, Taylor (7)
(June 3) With a seven-run outburst in the 5th inning the Calgary Cubs clobbered the Red Deer Elks 13-3. Outfielder Gary Malmberg continued his torrid start to the season driving in four runs with a triple and three singles. Rod White had a pair of run-scoring triples and Al Herback chipped in with two singles. Roger Pozzo had three hits for the Elks. The Cubs latest import acquisition, Chris McKinnie, fired a two-hit shutout over five innings for the win. Bob Baird finished up. Cliff Ballou, hurt by seven Red Deer errors, took the loss.
Ballou (L), Karry (5), Luke (5) and Grant
McKinnie (W), Baird (6) and Johnston, Burley (6)
(June 4) The Tigers and Angels battled to a 1-1 tie as rain forced a half to the game at Edmonton. Bill Chahley and Ken Ewasiuk were locked in a pitchers' duel when the game was called after six innings.
Ewasiuk and Thompson
Chahley and Franchuk
(June 8) With right-hander Bill Chahley winning both games, Edmonton Tigers took a pair from the Edmonton Angels 3-2 and 13-3. The first game was the completion of a June 4th 1-1 tie. Angels went ahead 2-1 in the top of the 9th but the Tigers rebounded with a pair in the bottom of the 9th as Fred Seyers' squeeze bunt scored Ron Watamaniuk to knot the count and a single by Dave Sowinski scored the winner. Bill Schur belted a homer for the Angels.
Ewasiuk (L), Hob (9) and Thompson
Chahley (W) and Franchuk
Chahley pitched the first five innings of the second game to chalk up the win. Tigers scored 11 runs in the first three innings against Wayne McKee, who suffered through six Angels' errors. Dave Kostenuk belted a three-run triple for the Tigers in the second inning.
McKee (L) and Taylor
Chahley (W), Mein (6) and Franchuk, Waddle (5)
(June 10) Foothills Giants scored four runs in the first inning and held on to notch their first win of the season, 6-3 over the Calgary Cubs. Outfielder John Hines led the Giants with three hits, a triple and double included. Newcomer Phil Kelber contributed outstanding defense at shortstop and had two hits, a bunt single and run-scoring triple. Steve Loveless went six innings for the win. Ron Moffat was the Cubs' offense with a homer in the first and a two-run double in the 3rd. Gary Malmberg had two hits for the Cubs.
Loveless (W), Changnon (7) and Hogan
Lynn (L) and Johnston
(June 12) The Edmonton Angels edged past the Neilburg Monarchs 3 to 2 in an interlocking game in Edmonton. The Angels came from behind to score two runs with two out in the bottom of the eighth to pull out the victory. Rick Horb went the distance in picking up the pitching victory while Don McIntyre suffered the loss. Bill Shur led the Halos offensively with a triple and two doubles.
D. McIntyre (L) and Chamberlain
Horb (W) and Thompson
(June 12) The Calgary Cubs of the A.M.B.L. shaded the North Battleford Beavers of the N.S.B.L. 4 to 3 in an inter-league contest in the Cowtown. The Cubs rallied for three runs in the ninth inning to edge the Beavers. Import Chris McKinnie went the distance for the pitching win while Tom Sallaway, who also pitched a complete game, took the loss.
Sallaway (L) and Settle
McKinnie (W) and Johnston
(June 12) The hometown Unity Cardinals shutout the Calgary Giants 5 to 0 in interlocking action. Ross Stone drove in two runs in the fourth inning in helping his own cause as winning pitcher over the Giants. Doug Wilkinson also batted in a pair of tallies by drilling two singles for the Cards. Stone held the Calgarians to a double and two singles in earning the shutout.
Taylor (L), Strachan (8) and Hogan
Stone (W) and Wandler
(June 12) The invading Edmonton Tigers throttled the Kindersley Klippers of the N.S.B.L. 11 to 1 in Kindersley. Edmonton's Cliff Mein tossed a six-hitter for the win while Kindersley's Steve Behlen was pinned with the loss. The Klippers played a poor defensive game, committing six errors. Dale Ferchuk led the Bengals at the dish with two singles while Don Jackson had a brace for the Klips.
Mein (W) and Franchuk
Behlen (L), Arthur (7) and Jackson
(June 13) The Neilburg Monarchs came away as losers for the second time in their Alberta road swing as the Calgary Cubs administered a 4 to 0 blanking of the Saskatchewan visitors. Bob Baird pitched five shutout innings in relief of starter Alf Sedran to pick up the win for the Cubs in the rain-shortened game. Lonnie Funk took the loss for Neilburg.
Funk (L), Drilling (7) and Chamberlain
Sedran, Baird (W) (3) and Johnston, Burley (7)
(June 13) The Unity Cardinals won their second straight against A.M.B.L. competition when they dropped the Edmonton Tigers 8 to 4. Doug Wilkinson led the Unity offensive brigade against three Tiger pitchers, slamming four singles while Larry Brown had a double and two singles. Larry Haylor went the route for Unity to earn the win.
Chahley (L), Berry (5), Waddle (5) and Franchuk
Haylor (W) and Wilkinson
(June 13) The North Battleford Beavers evened their weekend record in Alberta at a win and a loss by taking the measure of the Red Deer Elks 7 to 1 in Red Deer. The Beavers struck for four runs in the fourth inning when losing chucker Cliff Ballou gave up two walks, a double and a home run to Hugh McIvor. Jack Rowley drove in four runs for the winners. Maury Barden had a home run for the Elks. Rick Cook, with relief help from Gary Barker, got credit for the hurling triumph.
Cook (W), Barker (7) and Settle
Ballou (L), Pozzo (4), Ballou (5) and Grant, Lyssons (9)
(June 13) Calgary Foothills Giants handed the Kindersley Klippers their second loss of the weekend, this time 4-0. Winning twirler Tom Changnon hit a two-run triple to lead the Giants to victory in a rain-shortened contest. Kindersley had the bases loaded with none out in the seventh inning when the game was called. Gary Schnell was the losing pitcher.
Changnon (W) and Hogan
Schnell (L) and Jackson
(June 15) Steve Loveless, the Libby, Montana, product, held the Cubs to five hits in hurling the Giants to a 7-1 victory at Foothills Stadium. He struck out eight and walked three in coasting to the win. The lone run he allowed was unearned. The Giants had just six hits but made them count. Brian Hogan had a two-run single in the 2nd inning, Stu Heron belted a two-run homer in the 3rd, Paul Gallivan had a run-scoring single in the 4th and John Hines knocked in a run with a triple in the 6th. Losing pitcher Malcolm Lynn fanned 12 in his seven innings of work.
Lynn (L), Sedran (8) and Burley
Loveless (W) and Hogan
(June 19) The Unity Cardinals withstood a ninth-inning rally by the Calgary Cubs to win an interlocking match 4 to 2 in Calgary. The Cardinals scored all their runs against losing right-hander Chris McKinnie of Calgary in the fourth inning. Winning pitcher Vince Rucobo struck out 20 and wasn't scored upon until the ninth when an error by shortstop Ed Holzman opened the door for a pair of Cubbie runs.
Rucobo (W) and Wandler
McKinnie (L), Sedran (7) and Johnston
(June 19) The North Battleford Beavers of the N.S.B.L. tripped the Red Deer Elks of the A.M.B.L. 7 to 4 in inter-league play in North Battleford. Tom Sallaway struck out 11 Elks in piloting North Battleford to the win. Elroy Hard, who was relieved in the sixth inning by Bill Luke, took the loss. Don Hilsendager set the pace for the Beavers, connecting for a double and single.
Hard (L), Luke (6) and Lyssons
Sallaway (W) and Settle
(June 19) The Neilburg Monarchs lost their third straight against Alberta opposition when the invading Calgary Giants dropped them 5 to 1. Phil Kelber drove in three runs with two homers to carry the Giants to victory over the Monarchs. Tom Changnon was the winning pitcher while Bob Drilling suffered the defeat. Neil Urlacher topped Neilburg hitters with a double and single.
Changnon (W) and Hogan
Drilling (L), Funk (8) and Chamberlain
(June 19) The Kindersley Klippers stopped the Edmonton Angels 6 to 2. The Klipper-Angel confrontation featured 29 strikeouts, 19 by Kindersley hurlers. The Klippers scored three runs in the third on three hits and an Edmonton error, then settled back behind winning tosser Les Ohrn and reliever Steve Behlen to hold their hosts to two runs on three hits. Ken Ewasiuk took the loss.
Ohrn (W), Behlen (7) and D. Jackson
Ewasiuk (L), Poelzer (5), Christensen (9) and Taylor
(June 20) The Unity Cardinals came away with a sweep of their Alberta tour by squeezing past the Edmonton Angels 3 to 2 in the Oil Capital. The Redbirds rallied for three runs in the eighth inning to nip the Angels. Larry Haylor went the distance for Unity, picking up his second win of the season against Alberta teams. Relief pitcher Rick Horb of the Halos was charged with the loss.
Haylor (W) and Wandler
McKee,
Horb (L) (8) and Thompson
(June 20) The visiting Edmonton Tigers mauled the North Battleford Beavers 15 to 1 in interlocking play. The Tigers, led by Tim Brady who scattered six hits, tore up the ball park in North Battleford. The Edmontonians collected 26 base hits off three Beaver twirlers. Dave Kostenuk of the Bengals smashed a two-run homer.
Brady (W) and Franchuk
Barker (L), Cook (4), Lampitt (5) and Settle
(June 20) Red Deer Elks dropped the Neilburg Monarchs 7 to 2. Red Deer's Cliff Ballou went the distance for the win, giving up seven hits while striking out 11. Lonnie Funk, who pitched the first three innings for Neilburg, took the loss. Don Maxwell and Roger Pozzo led the Antlered Tribe in hitting with a double and two singles each. Bill Sobkow belted a homer for the Monarchs.
Ballou (W) and Grant
Funk (L), Edwards (4) and Chamberlain
(June 20) The Calgary Cubs blanked the Kindersley Klippers 3 to 0. Right-hander Dan Drake and Malcolm Lynn of the Cowtowners combined for a two-hit shutout. Right-hander Jerry Schnell of the Klips was tagged with the loss.
Schnell (L), Behlen (7) and D. Jackson
Drake, Lynn (5) (W) and Johnston
Calgary Cubs 7 4 ---
Edmonton Tigers 6 4 0.5
Edmonton Angels 6 5 1.0
Red Deer 4 4 1.5
Foothills Giants
4 8 3.5
(June 22) Calgary Cubs used a 14-hit attack to demolish the Foothills Giants 12-3. A four-run 2nd inning proved enough for the win, but the Cubs piled it on in the late innings, scoring two in the 8th and five in the 9th. Bob Baird, the third hurler for the Cubs picked up the win, his 3rd. Al Taylor, 10-2 a year ago, fell to 0-5. Dave Morris had three hits for the winners and Reg Gerlitz added a pair. Ron Johnston belted two doubles. Phil Kelber, John HInes and Steve Loveless each had two hits for the Giants.
Sedran, Lynn (5), Baird (W) (6) and Johnston
Taylor (L), Loveless (2), Hines (9), Vejprava (9) and Hogan
(June 22) Edmonton Tigers were out-hit 12-9 but managed two big innings to down Red Deer 7-4. Tigers scored four in the 3rd and three in the 7th. Bill Chahley pitched into the 8th to capture the win over Al McKee.
A. McKee (L) and Grant
Chahley (W), Anderson (8) and Franchuk
(June 24) Southpaw Tom Changnon, from Stanford University, fired a three-hitter and set down 13 by strike outs as the Foothills Giants blanked the Cubs 1-0. It was his 3rd straight victory and lowered his ERA to 0.33 for 27 innings. Stu Heron lead off the Giants' 8th with a walk and scored without the benefit of a hit. An errant pick off attempt got Heron to second and he advanced to third on Lyle Moffat's deep fly to right. He scored the only run on Al Twa's sacrifice fly to centre. Chris McKinnie gave up just six hits in taking the loss.
Changnon (W) and Hogan
McKinnie (L) and Burley, Johnston (8)
(June 26) High-flying left-hander Ross Stone pitched his third straight shutout as the Unity Cardinals downed the Red Deer Elks of the A.M.B.L. 2 to 0 to remain undefeated this season in interlocking action. Stone surrendered five hits, two being singles by Red Deer's Rick Grant, to pickup the goose egg win. Loser Elroy Hardt surrendered only three hits. Tim Young led the Cardinal sluggers with a double and single. Unity picked up their first run in the opening frame and added an insurance marker in the seventh.
Hardt (L), Trembecky (7) and Grant
Stone (W) and Wandler
(June 26) Marv Chamberlain socked a game winning homer in the bottom of the 9th inning to give Neilburg Monarchs their first win in inter-league play, 6-5 over Calgary Cubs. Pitcher Don McIntyre earlier homered for the Monarchs while Ron Moffat clouted a four-bagger for the Cubs. Lonnie Funk was the winner, in relief.
Drake, Sedran (4), Lynn (L) (4) and Johnston
D. McIntyre, Funk (W) (9) and Chamberlain
(June 26) The Calgary Giants of the A.M.B.L. nipped the North Battleford Beavers 4 to 3 in Calgary. The Giants used a three-run rally in the bottom of the ninth to edge the Beavers. Right-hander Steve Lawless picked up the victory for the Giants while the Beavers' Tom Sallaway was tagged with the loss. John Hines led Calgary's hitting attack, stroking four hits.
Sallaway (L), Perkins (9) and Settle
Lawless (W) and Hogan
(June 26) The Kindersley Klippers of the N.S.B.L. dumped the invading Edmonton Angels 8 to 2 in weekend interlocking play. Darryl Lauer's two home runs propelled the Klippers to the victory. Lauer drove in three runs in support of winning pitcher Les Ohrn who allowed 10 Edmonton hits while striking out 15 batters. Loser Rick Horb gave up eight hits and fanned five.
Horb (L) and Thompson
Ohrn (W) and Jackson
(June 27) Maintaining their strong showing against Alberta teams, the Unity Cardinals defeated the Calgary Cubs 7 to 5 at Unity. The Redbirds rallied for five runs in the seventh inning to down the Alberta visitors. A bases-loaded triple by Doug Wilkinson tied the score and then Ed Ralston singled to score Wilkinson. Reliever Larry Haylor was credited with the win while Bob Baird took the loss.
Baird (L), Lynn (7) and Johnston
Ferchuk, Haylor (W) (4) , Rucobo (8) and Wandler, Wilkinson (7)
(June 27) The Red Deer Elks defeated the Kindersley Klippers 7 to 3 in an inter-league tussle played in Kindersley. Cliff Ballou pitched the Elks to the victory. Jim Berlando connected for the only homer of the game for Red Deer. Rick Boyd paced Kindersley, belting three singles. Klippers' starter Rick Schnell, who was relieved by Steve Behlen in the seventh, was dubbed with the loss.
Ballou (W) and Grant
Schnell (L), Behlen (7) and O'Sullivan
(June 27) The North Battleford Beavers maintained their lead atop the Northern Saskatchewan loop by edging past the Edmonton Tigers 4 to 3 in the Alberta capital. Two unearned runs in the sixth inning gave the Beavers the win. The Tigers touched winning pitcher Rick Cook for a single counter in the first and a pair in the eighth inning. The two eighth-inning runs came on a double by shortstop Jeff Chavez who also had a single and two walks. Outfielder Hugh McIvor drilled two hits and scored a pair of runs for the Beavers.
Cook (W) and Settle
Brady (L) and Franchuk
(June 27) The Neilburg Monarchs made it two in a row against Alberta squads when they trimmed the Edmonton Angels 6 to 5 in Neilburg. Neil Urlacher slammed a ninth-inning double to drive in the winning marker for the Monarchs. Relief pitcher Lonnie Funk earned the victory while Steve Purcell was tagged with the loss. The Angels smashed three home runs, two by Greg Taylor and the third by Wayne McKee.
Purcell (L) and G. Taylor
Edwards, Funk (W) (5) and Chamberlain
Edmonton Tigers 7 5 ---
Calgary Cubs 8 7 0.5
Edmonton Angels 6 7 1.5
Red Deer 5 6 1.5
Foothills Giants
6 9 2.5
(June 29) Al McKee allowed just one hit, a tainted infield single, as the Red Deer Elks shaded the Foothills Giants 2-1. Stu Heron registered the one safety when he hit a routine grounder between first and second and it scooted through when Elks' playing manager Jim Berlando slipped and fell as he moved to field the ball. Red Deer scored in the 4th on two singles and a wild pitch and in the 9th on Berlando's double and Roger Pozzo's single. Giants made it interesting in the bottom of the 9th as they scored once as Heron walked, advanced on another base on balls, went to third on an infield dribbler by Paul Gallivan and stole home as Gallivan and Elks' Brian McCook were getting untangled from a collision at first base. Hard luck loser Al Taylor fell to 0-6.
A. McKee (W) and Grant
Taylor (L) and Hogan
(July 1) With Phil Kelber running and Brian Hogan bunting, the Foothills Giants used a squeeze play in the top of the 9th inning to score the winning run in a 5-4 decision over Calgary Cubs. Leading off the 9th, John Hines singled off Alf Sedran, the third Cubs' pitcher. Kelber followed with a sacrifice bunt and Cubs' catcher Ron Johnston misfired in trying to throw out Hines at second. As the ball bounced away Hines scampered to third and Kelber to second. With Stu Heron given an intentional pass to load the bases, Lyle Moffat's dribbler was fielded cleanly and Hines was forced at home, bringing Hogan to the plate. Tom Changnon took care of the Cubs in the bottom of the 9th, fanning the side, to seal the victory for the Giants. The left-hander gave up all four runs in the first two innings before blanking the Cubs the rest of the way. Cubs out hit the Giants 10-8 with Al Herback rapping two doubles and a single
Changnon (W) and Hogan
Baird, Lynn (6), Sedran (L) (7) and Johnston
(July 1) With an eight-run eruption in the 2nd inning, Edmonton Tigers held on to top Red Deer 9-6. Tigers had 13 hits to aid Cliff Mein who went the distance for the win.
Mein (W) and Franchuk
Gephart (L), Miller (2), Luke (2) and Grant
(July 3) The Kindersley Klippers tripped the Calgary Giants of the A.M.B.L. 11 to 8 in the Stampede City. Kindersley exploded for nine runs in the top of the ninth inning to topple the Hulks. The rally pulled the Klips from behind an 8 to 2 deficit and gave left-hander Steve Behlen his second victory of the season. Gordon Vejprava, the second of three Calgary pitchers in the ninth, was charged with the loss.
Behlen (W), Schnell (9) and D. Jackson
Loveless, Vejprava (9) (L), Changnon (9) and Hogan
(July 4) The Calgary Cubs of the A.M.B.L. slipped by the North Battleford Beavers of the N.S.B.L. 5 to 4 at North Battleford. The Beavers took a 3 to 2 first-inning lead on a three-run homer off the bat of Mark Perkins. Calgary tied the score 4 - 4 in the third, scoring two runs when the Beavers committed the only error of the game. The Cubbies notched the winning marker in the fourth when John Vandenberg scored on a single by Dan Drake. Ron Stephens got the pitching win for the Calgarians while Rick Cook took the loss.
Stephens (W), McKinnie (7) and Burley
Cook (L), Sallaway (7) and Johnston, Settle (8)
(July 4) The Red Deer Elks edged the Kindersley Klippers of the N.S.B.L. by scoring a single run in the bottom of the tenth inning in Red Deer. The exact final score was not printed, only the fact that it was a one-run margin attained in an extra frame. Rick Grant's double in the bottom of the first overtime stanza scored Don Bonham with the winning marker. Bonham had opened the inning with a double off losing pitcher Les Ohrn. Cliff Ballou fired a seven-hitter to win his fifth game of the season.
Schnell, Ohrn (L) (7) and D. Jackson
Ballou (W) and Grant
(July 4) The Edmonton Tigers nipped the Neilburg Monarchs out of Saskatchewan 5 to 4 in an inter-league contest in the Alberta capital. The Edmontonians plated a pair of counters in the bottom of the ninth to pull out the victory. The Tigers, who trailed throughout the game, capitalized on a Neilburg error to score the equalizer. Ron Watamaniuk then smashed a double to score Fred Feyer with the winning marker. Tim Brady picked up the twirling win while Lonnie Funk was nailed with the defeat.
Edwards, Funk (L) (3) and Chamberlain
Anderson, Brady (W) (9) and Franchuk
(July 4) Unity's Ross Stone had a no-hitter for eight innings as Unity Cardinals downed Foothills Giants 6-1. Al Twa led off the last of the 9th inning for the Giants with a looping double for the only hit off Stone. The run scored against Stone in the 5th inning was the first the Unity ace has given up in four complete games. It was unearned as Stone walked catcher Brian Hogan to lead off the 5th and then committed an error fielding Stu Heron's bunt and threw wildly on a pick-off attempt allowing Hogan to scamper all the way home. Cardinals had a big, five-run, 1st inning and coasted to the triumph.
Stone (W) and Wandler
Taylor (L), Changnon (1) and Hogan
Edmonton Tigers 9 5 ---
Calgary Cubs 9 8 1.5
Red Deer 7 7 2.0
Edmonton Angels 6 7 2.5
Foothills Giants
7 12 4.5
(July 6) With a 13-hit attack, Edmonton Tigers downed Red Deer Elks 3-1. Tim Brady and Cliff Mein, who relieved in the 6th, combined on a five-hitter for the Tigers. Maury Barden belted a solo homer for the Elks.
Luke (L) and Grant
Brady (W), Mein (6) and Waddle
(July 7) The Angels and Tigers split a twin bill Wednesday. In the opener Rick Horb hurled a four-hit shutout as the Angels won, 2-0. All the runs were unearned as the Tigers made five errors. Bill Chahley gave up just three hits in taking the loss.
Horb (W) and Thompson
Chahley (L) and Franchuk
Tigers rallied to take the second game 5-4 jumping on Wayne Mckee for five runs in the 8th inning. McKee had been in control to that point holding the Tigers to three hits over the first seven innings as the Angels held a 4-0 lead. Ed Anderson picked up the win in relief.
W. McKee, Ewasiuk (8) and Taylor
Marian, Anderson (W) (5), Brady (9) and Waddle, Franchuk (9)
Edmonton Tigers 11 6 ---
Calgary Cubs 9 8 2.0
Red Deer 7 8 3.0
Edmonton Angels 7 8 3.0
Foothills Giants
7 12 5.0
(July 8) Red Deer Elks rode the four-hit pitching of Al McKee to a 5-1 win over the Calgary Cubs at Great Chief Park. The Elks had just six hits off four Cub pitchers, but bunched four of them, with an error and a walk, to score all their runs in the 3rd inning. McKee had 11 strikeouts and five bases on balls. Rick Grant led the offense with a double and two singles. Maury Barden reached bases three times, all on walks. Catcher Fred Burley had a triple and two walks for the Cubs.
Sedran (L), Lynn (3), McKinnie (6), Stephens (8) and Burley
McKee (W) and Grant
(July 11) Edmonton Angels and the hometown Elks split a twin-bill at Red Deer. Elks took the opener 2-1 behind Cliff Ballou's four-hitter. And the winning pitcher knocked in the winning run as Ballou's single in the 7th inning brought in Billy Luke with the deciding marker. Gord Tucker had three singles for the Elks. Nels Christianson took the loss.
Christianson (L) and xxx
Ballou (W) and xxx
Lefty Ken Ewasiuk tossed a six-hitter in the nightcap as the Angels won, 8-1.. Angels managed just six hits but were helped by 12 walks and six Red Deer errors.
Ewasiuk (W) and xxx
Luke (L), xxx and xxx
Edmonton Tigers 11 6 ---
Calgary Cubs 9 9 2.5
Red Deer 9 9 2.5
Edmonton Angels 8 9 3.0
Foothills Giants
7 12 5.0
(July 13) Calgary Cubs scored two 1st inning runs and made them stand up for a 2-1 victory over the Foothills Giants. Lefty Tom Changnon hit the leadoff batter Dave Morris and Al Herback followed by reaching on an error. John Vandenberg then drove in both runners with a towering double to centre. Changnon blanked the Cubs the rest of the way but it wasn't enough as the Giants could plate just one marker. In the 8th Phil Kelber was hit by a pitch, stole second, advanced on an error, and came around to score on John Hines' single. Bob Baird tossed five shutout innings for the win.
Changnon (L) and Bjerke
Baird (W), Stephens (6), McKinnie (8) and Burley
(July 13) Edmonton Tigers took both games of a double-header from the Edmonton Angels, 4-0 and 7-3, as the Angels committed 15 errors, six in the first game and nine in the second. Bill Chahley blanked the Angels on six hits in the opener. Ed Anderson held the Angels to eight hits to win the nightcap. Tigers had ten hits in each game.
Chahley (W) and Waddle
McCarthy (L) and Taylor
Anderson (W) and Franchuk
Horb (L), W. McKee (7) and Thompson
Edmonton Tigers 13 6 ---
Calgary Cubs 10 9 3.0
Red Deer 9 9 3.5
Edmonton Angels 8 11 5.0
Foothills Giants
7 13 6.5
(July 14) Al McKee carried a no-hitter into the 9th inning but lost the no-no and the shutout as Red Deer survived a 9th inning rally by Edmonton Tigers to win 7-5. Tigers managed two hits off McKee in the 9th and combined them with four walks and an error to score five times. Cliff Ballou relieved McKee and got the final three outs. Catcher Rick Grant led the Elks' attack driving in four runs with a pair of doubles. McKee aided his own cause with a double and single while Gord Tucker rapped three singles.
A. McKee (W), Ballou (9) and Grant
Mein (L), Brady (7) and Franchuk
(July 18) Calgary Giants took both ends of a double-header in Edmonton downing the Angels 6-3 and 12-7. In the first game, Tom Changnon hurled a six-hitter for the win, having trouble only in the 3rd inning when he gave up all three Angels' runs. The left-hander fanned 11. Phil Kelber led the offense with four hits, one a double.
Changnon (W) and Hogan
Horb (L) and Taylor
John Hines and Hy Lewis each had three hits to lead Calgary in the second game. Steve Loveless survived four errors by his teammates to go the route in the 12-7 victory. He allowed seven hits in the seven inning contest. George McCarthy took the loss. Ken Ewasiuk rapped a pair of doubles for the Angels.
Loveless (W) and Hogan
McCarthy, Ewasiuk (4), McKee (5) and Thompson.
(July 25) The North Battleford Beavers moved to within a half-game of the first-place Unity Cardinals in the N.S.B.L. by virtue of a 7 to 0 win over the Edmonton Angels of the A.M.B.L. The interlocking contest was the final one of the season for North Battleford and gave them a 4 - 4 won-lost record against Alberta clubs. The game lasted only six innings long as rain washed out the final three frames. Tom Sallaway went the distance for the win, evening his hurling record at 4 - 4. Edmonton's Wayne McKee was the loser. Mark Perkins led the Beavers offense with a double and two singles while Jim Johnston had a brace of singles. Dick Hazel singled twice for the Angels.
McKee (L), McCarthy (6) and Thompson
Sallaway (W) and Settle
(July 25) Foothills Giants and Red Deer Elks exchanged 2-1 victories at Red Deer Sunday. Elks took the opener behind Al McKee who won his 5th of the season with a nine-hit effort. McKee, who fanned 12, also drove in both runs with a double in the 5th inning off losing pitcher Tom Changnon. The only Giants' run came in the 7th when Changnon, who had singled, scored on a sacrifice fly by Phil Kelber.
Changnon (L) and xxx
A. McKee and xxx
In the second game, Steve Loveless held the Elks to three hits besting Cliff Ballou who allowed five safeties in taking the loss. All the scoring came in the 4th inning. The Giants' Lyle Moffat singled, went to second on a passed ball and scored on Al Twa's single. Twa later scored on an error. For Red Deer, Bob Trembecky doubled and McKee singled for the lone run for the Elks.
Loveless (W) and McAuley
Ballou (L) and Lyssons
(July 27) Bill Luke fired a two-hitter and set down 14 by strikeout to lead Red Deer Elks to a 4-0 shutout of the Angels at Edmonton. Elks had 12 hits, three by Gordie Tucker. Maury Barden, Roger Pozzo and Al McKee each had a pair of safeties. Don Kadatz took the loss.
Luke (W) and Grant
Kadatz (L), McCarthy (8) and Thompson
(July 28) Calgary Cubs plated six runs in the 2nd inning and cruised to a 12-5 win over the Foothills Giants in a sloppy contest in which the teams made a combined ten errors. Ron Stephens, who allowed just two unearned runs in seven innings, was the winner. Steve Loveless who gave up nine runs, just one earned, took the loss. Gary Malmberg led the 11-hit attack for the Cubs with a pair of two-run singles. John Hines had three singles for the Giants.
Stephens (2-0), Sedran (8) and Burley, Dawson (8)
Loveless (L), Vejprava (6) and Hogan, McAuley (6)
(July 28) Edmonton Tigers whipped the tail-end Angels 8-0 and 11-1 in a twin-bill at Edmonton. Tim Brady hurled a three-hitter in the first game for his 4th win.
Hazell (L), Poelzer (2) and Thompson
Brady (W) and Franchuk
Cliff Mein held the Angels to seven hits to register his 4th win as the Tigers scored three in the first and coasted to the 11-1 victory.
W. McKee (L), Ewasiuk (5), McCarthy (6) and Thompson
Mein (W) and Franchuk
(July 31) Tom Changnon had a five-hitter as the Foothills Giants trounced Red Deer 12-4 at Calgary. Giants rapped 11 hits off Al McKee and two relievers. McKee also walked eight. Phil Kelber punched out three hits for the Giants while Lyle Moffat poked a homer and single. Stu Heron knocked in a pair with two hits. Changnon helped his own cause with a two-run double.
McKee (L), Luke (7), Ballou (8) and Grant
Changnon (W) and Hogan
(August 1) Calgary Cubs swept a pair from the Edmonton Angels 8-5 and 5-1. In the opener, Cubs handed the Angels a 3-0 lead in the first inning then roared back with three runs in the 2nd and four in the 3rd to run away with the victory. Malcolm Lynn scattered eight hits for the win. Outfielder Dan Drake banged a double and single in the 2nd and 3rd inning offensives to drive in a pair. Fred Burley and Bob Bjornson added two singles apiece and Lynn smacked a two-run double.
Horb (L), Christianson (3) and Thompson
Lynn (W) and Burley
Lefty Ron Stephens held the Angels to five hits and whiffed a dozen in the Cubs 5-1 win in the second game. Al Herback's two-run single in the first inning proved enough for the triumph. George McCarthy, the Angels starter walked the first four batters, forcing in a run in the first and Herback met reliever Nels Christianson with his base hit.
McCarthy (L), Christianson (1) and Taylor, Thompson (3)
Stephens (W) and Burley
(August 2) Edmonton Tigers and Calgary Cubs divided a pair at Calgary with the losers out hitting the winners in each game. Tigers had ten hits, Cubs just five in the opener but the Cubs managed a 4-2 victory with a three-run 6th inning. Chris McKinnie went the route for the win while Tim Brady took the tough loss. Ron Johnston had two hits for the Cubs, while Dave Sowinski, Julie Owchar and Larry Proctor had two each for the Tigers.
Brady (L) and Franchuk
McKinnie (W) and Burley
Bob Baird limited the Tigers to four hits in the seven-inning second game, walked three and fanned 12 but came away a loser as the Tigers had some clutch safeties in taking the 8-5 decision. A key blow was Fred Seyer's bases-loaded triple in the first inning when Edmonton scored four times. Cliff Mein hurled a six-hitter for the win.
Mein (W) and Waddle
Baird (L) and Burley
(August 2) Red Deer Elks broke open a tight 2-1 game with a four-run outburst in the 8th inning and downed the Edmonton Angels 6-1. Cliff Ballou held Edmonton to five hits in gaining the win.
Poelzer (L) and Thompson
Ballou (W) and Lyssons, Grant (6)
(August 7) Neilburg Monarchs clinched third place in the NSBL standings with a 10-5 victory over Red Deer. Marv Chamberlain led the attack with two doubles and a single. Ron Hein added two hits, one a double. Don McIntyre picked up the win in relief of starter Don McDuff.
xxx and xxx
McDuff, D. McIntyre (W) (3) and xxx
(August 7) Tigers and Cubs split a twin-bill at Edmonton with the Cubs winning 5-4 in the first game before the Tigers rebound with a 4-1 decision in the second. Chris McKinnie took the win in the opener, scattering nine hits.
McKinnie (W) and Burley
Anderson (L) and Franchuk
Tim Brady fired a six-hitter for the Tigers in the nightcap as Edmonton won, 4-1. Bob Baird allowed nine hits in taking the loss.
Baird (L) and Johnston
Brady (W) and Waddle
(August 8) Foothills Giants took both games from the Tigers in a double-header at Edmonton. Tom Changnon survived 11 hits to lead the Giants to a 9-7 win in the opener. Changnon helped with the bat punching out three hits, including a triple. Brian Hogan had four hits and scored the winning run in the 9th inning when Al Twa tripled to break up a 7-7 tie.
Changnon (W) and Hogan
Marian, Hee (L) (4) and Waddle, Franchuk (3)
Changnon also started the second game, giving way to Hy Lewis in the 4th inning. The pair limited the Tigers to five hits. Stu Heron led the attack with the triple, double and single.
Changnon, Lewis (W) (4) and Hogan
Mein (L) and Franchuk
(August 8) Elks took both ends of a double-header from the Cubs at Red Deer, 6-5 and 5-4. Cubs' skipper John Elick blamed a tired pitching staff for the double defeat. "Malcolm Lynn was slated to start the second game but for some reason he didn't show," said Elick. Cubs were forced to start Dan Drake, who has been nursing a sore arm, and bring in ace right-hander Chris McKinnie for relief. Roger Pozzo hurled the victory. In the opener, the Elks got away to a 6-1 lead against Ron Stephens. Cubs scored our on Cliff Ballou in the 8th to make it close. It was Ballou's 8th win of the season.
Stephens (L) and xxx
Ballou (W) and xxx
Drake, McKinnie (L) and xxx
Pozzo (W) and xxx
(August 9) Rookie Gord Vejprava made his first start of the season a winning one as the left-hander allowed no earned runs as the Foothills Giants clobbered Red Deer Elks 13-3 at Calgary. Vejprava gave up eight hits, walked two and whiffed three. The Giants pounded three Red Deer hurlers for 18 hits with starter Don Bonham taking the loss. Vejprava was a major asset with the bat driving in two runs with four hits in five trips to the plate. Al Twa had three singles and Paul Gallivan knocked in four runs with a pair of safeties. Stu Heron had two runs batted in with a pair of doubles and Phil Kelber accounted for two runs with a double and single.
The Elks pitching problems were compounded recently with the loss for the playoffs of ace right-hander Al McKee who is out for the season following a freak construction accident from which McKee narrowly escaped with his life. A crane he was operating struck a power line and McKee suffered extensive burns and shock from the resulting electrical jolt.
Bonham (L), Trembecky (3), Berlando (4) and Grant, Lyssons (3)
Vejprava (W) and McAuley, Bjerke (7)
(August 10) Pitcher Ken Ewasiuk led Edmonton Angels to a 4-3 win over Red Deer. The left-hander threw a complete game five-hitter and drove in two runs with a fourth inning single. Tied 3-3, the Angels loaded the bases on two walks and an error setting the stage for George McCarthy's single to score the winner. Cliff Ballou took the loss.
Ballou (L) and Lyssons
Ewasiuk (W) and Thompson
(August 11) Edmonton Tigers picked up a win in the boardroom. The Unity Cardinals forfeited their last game of the season which was scheduled against the Edmonton Tigers in Edmonton. The forfeiture automatically hands the N.S.B.L. pennant to the North Battleford Beavers who finished the schedule with a 16 - 10 won-loss record, a half-game ahead of the Redbirds who finish at 15 - 10. .
(August 11) Edmonton Tigers wrapped up the regular schedule hammering the cellar-dwelling Edmonton Angels 23-1. Tigers ripped three Angel hurlers for 19 hits and took advantage of 12 errors by the hapless Angels. The Tigers had a 10-0 lead after six innings when they erupted for 11 in the 7th inning to make mockery of the game. Tim Brady picked up his 6th win in a relief role. Tigers' Orv Franchuk had the only homer.
Hee, Brady (W) (4), Anderson (7) and Franchuk
Poelzer (L), McKee (4), McCarthy (8) and Thompson
FINAL STANDINGS * W L Pct. GBL
Edmonton Tigers 19 11 .633 ----
Calgary Cubs 16 14 .552 3.0
Red Deer Elks 15 15 .500 4.0
Foothills Giants 15 15 .483 4.0
Edmonton Angels 9 21 .429 10.0
* Red Deer awarded third place in final standings on
basis
of superior record in intra-league games than Foothills Giants
* imbalanced won-lost totals due to interlocking games against
teams from Northern Saskatchewan Baseball League
PLAYOFFS
SEMI-FINALS (best-of-three series)
(August 14) Two first inning errors by the Giants led to four Edmonton runs and the Tigers were on the way to a 14-6 victory in the opening game of their semi-final series. Tigers had a 12-0 lead before the Giants got to Tim Brady for five runs in the 8th, highlighted by a three-run homer by Hy Lewis. Orv Franchuk had a three-run blast for the Tigers.
Edmonton Tigers 14 Foothills Giants 6
Brady (W) and Franchuk
Loveless (L) and Bjerke, Hogan (8)
(August 15) Foothills Giants scored four in the 9th and the winner in the 10th to eliminate the pennant-winning Edmonton Tigers with a 5-4 victory. Held to four hits over the first eight innings by Bill Chahley, the Giants used four hits and a walk to tie the score. Stu Heron and Al Twa each drove in two runs in the uprising. Phil Kelber walked to open the 10th and he advanced on a sacrifice and wild pitch. He scored on an infield out.
The Giants tied the series in the opener as Tom Changnon, who was the winner in relief in the first game, fired a five-hit shutout in a 7-0 triumph. Heron had a triple and single and knocked in a pair.
Foothills Giants 7 Edmonton Tigers 0
Changnon (W) and Hogan
Anderson (L), Mein (2) and Franchuk
Foothills Giants 5 Edmonton Tigers 4
Lewis, Vejprava (6), Changnon (W) (9) and Hogan
Chahley, Brady (L) (9) and Franchuk
Red Deer Elks scored five in the first inning and went on to a 9-6 win over Calgary Cubs to take a one game lead in their semi-final series. Roger Pozzo who fired seven shutout innings in relief keyed the Elks`victory. Don Bonham led the offense with two triples and a single. Ron Moffat had three singles for the Cubs.
Calgary Cubs 6 Red Deer 9
Baird (L), Stephens (1), Baird (2) and Burley
Ballou, Pozzo (W) (2) and Grant
(August 17) Calgary Cubs capitalized on a control lapse by Red Deer starter Al McKee to score four runs in the 3rd inning en route to a 6-2 victory to knot the semi-final series at a game apiece. McKee, in his first start this month following a construction accident in which he suffered severe burns from an electrical shock, walked the bases full and Bob Bjornson's bad-hop single produced two runs. An outfield error allowed the third run to score and Bjornson scampered home on Fred Burley's Texas Leaguer. Don Bonham provided the offense for Red Deer with a two-run homer in the 5th inning. Chris McKinnie gave up ten hits in registering the win.
McKee (L), Ballou (6) and Grant
McKinnie (W) and Burley
(August 18) Calgary Cubs fell behind 3-0 after three innings but rebounded to down Red Deer Elks 5-3 to advance to the AMBL finals against the Calgary Giants. Red Deer's Bob Trembecky doubled in the first run of the game in the first inning. Red Deer took a 2-0 lead in the 2nd on an run-scoring single by Jim Lyssons and In the 3rd, Gord Tucker tripled and came home on a sac fly. Meanwhile, Elks Roger Pozzo was sailing along with a three-hit shutout heading into the 6th. Calgary loaded the bases on three straight singles and Gary Malmberg drove in a pair with another single. The fifth straight safety, Ron Stephens' bunt single re-loaded the bases and the tying run scored on a ground out. Cubs got the winner in the 7th as Rich Dawson tripled and came home on a single by Reg Gerlitz. Ron Moffat doubled to notch an insurance run. Stephens held the Elks to six hits for the win.
Pozzo (L), Ballou (7) and Grant
Stephens (W) and Burley
FINALS (best-of-five series)
(August 22) Calgary Giants broke open a tight game with eight runs in the 8th inning and whipped the Cubs 10-3 in the opening game of their AMBL final series. Phil Kebler three-run double was a highlight of the outburst. Hy Lewis and Harold Iverson each knocked in a pair and a wild pitch produced the other marker. Tom Changnon had an eight-hitter for the win.
Changnon (W) and Hogan
Baird (L), Lynn (8) and Burley
(August 23) 20-year-old Chris McKinnie fired a six-hitter for the shutout as Calgary Cubs downed the Foothills Giants 2-0 to even the best-of-five final series at one game each. The American college star whiffed 11 and walked three in besting Steve Loveless of the Giants. Cubs got the only run they needed this night in the third inning as Fred Burley singled, stole second, reached third on an error and scored on a single by Dave Morris. Al Herback plated an insurance run in the 9th.
McKinnie (W) and Burley
Loveless (L) and Hogan
(August 26) A bases loaded sacrifice fly by pinch-hitter Harold Ebel in the 6th inning scored Brian Hogan with the only run of the game as the Foothills Giants blanked the Calgary Cubs 1-0 to take a 2-1 game lead in the final series. Tom Changnon checked the Cubs with a six-hitter. He whiffed nine and did not issue a single base on balls.
Changnon (W) and Hogan
Stephens (L), Baird (6) and Burley
(August 28) Calgary Cubs took a 6-0 lead after six innings then held off a late rally by the Foothills Giants to score a 6-5 victory to extend the final series to a fifth and deciding game. Chris McKinnie of the Cubs had a three-hit shutout going for six innings but Al Twa rattled a line drive off McKinnie's heel and right-hander seemed to lose his rhythm and the Giants scored three in the 7th and added two more in the 8th to make it a 6-5 game. Malcolm Lynn relieved McKinnie with the bases loaded and two out and got a strikeout to end the inning and had a 1-2-3 9th to preserve the win. Steve Loveless allowed just eight hits in taking the loss.
McKinnie (W), Lynn (8) and Burley
Loveless (L) and Hogan
(August 29) Rallying from a 3-0 deficit, Foothills Giants erupted for five runs in the 5th inning and went on to down Calgary Cubs 6-5 to win the Alberta Major Baseball League championship. Left-hander Tom Changnon pitched into the 8th inning to record the win, his fifth in the playoffs to go along with a 7-2 mark during the regular season. Cubs got on the board in the first inning on back-to-back doubles by Fred Burley and Chris McKinnie. They added one in the third as Gary Malmberg scored on a sacrifice fly. The Giants got one back in the 4th on a bases-loaded infield grounder then exploded in the fifth. Phil Kelber drove in one run with a triple then knotted the count in scoring on an error. Al Twa followed with a single and Hy Lewis drew an intentional walk. Brian Hogan`s double brought home another. Stu Heron greeted reliever Ron Stephen`s with a two-run single and what proved to be the winning tally. Cubs came back with one in the bottom of the fifth and another in the 9th but it wasn't enough.
Changnon (W), Lewis (8) and Hogan
Baird (L), Stephens (5) and Burley
SOUTHERN ALBERTA BASEBALL LEAGUE
Formed from the remnants of the 1970 Lethbridge City Recreational Baseball League, the 1971 SABL encompassed eight entries. Brooks Lions
Foremost Braves
Lethbridge Cubs
Lethbridge Junior Miners
Medicine Hat Chinooks
Milk River
Pincher Creek
Taber-Enchant Combines
EDMONTON SUNBURST BASEBALL LEAGUE
Burns’ ShamrocksLeduc Oilers
Northgate Shell Regals
Weiller-Williams Colts
WHEAT BELT BASEBALL LEAGUE
Beaverlodge Royals
Dawson Creek Cardinals
Fairview Outlaws
Grande Prairie Eskimos
Nampa Leths
Peace River Stampeders
Sexsmith Rainiers
ALBERTA BASEBALL ASSOCIATION SENIOR PLAYOFFS
The A.B.A. divided the province into four zones for playoff purposes.
- north
- central
- south
- Peace country
NORTHERN ALBERTA ZONE SENIOR BASEBALL PLAYDOWNS
PRELIMINARY PLAYOFF SERIES
(August 8) Ernie Leeck was the whole show as the Edmonton Weiller-Williams Colts edged the Viking Shamrocks 5 to 4 to capture their northern Alberta qualifying series in two straight games. Leeck allowed only four hits and struck out 11 batters in hurling the Colts to the victory. He also lit up losing chucker Dave Newton for a pair of home runs. The Edmontonians had an earlier 6 to 5 triumph over the Shamrocks.
(August 8) The Cold Lake Parrots eliminated the Linaria Flyers by scores of 11 to 6 and 13 to 0.
(August 8) The Two Hills Eagles disposed of the Edmonton Northgate Shell Regals 7 to 0 and 8 to 7.
NORTHERN ALBERTA ZONE SENIOR BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT
(August 14-15) The Weiller-Williams Colts of Edmonton’s Sunburst Baseball League captured the northern Alberta senior baseball championship by going undefeated in a two-day, double-knockout tourney at Breton. The Colts came up with strong pitching performances as they edged the Cold Lake Parrots and Two Hills Eagles by identical 4 to 3 counts. They earned the right to host the provincial championships next weekend by polishing off Cold Lake 9 to 3 in the tourney final. After their first-round setback, the Parrots bounced back to defeat the Breton Eagles 4 to 3 and Two Hills 16 to 2, Breton dropped a 12 to 8 verdict to Two Hills and was the first club to be eliminated.
CENTRAL ALBERTA ZONE
A team from Czar emerged as the 1971 Central zone representative.
SOUTHERN ALBERTA ZONE SENIOR BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT
(July 23-25) The Lethbridge Crighton Cubs cruised to three straight victories to easily capture the southern Alberta zone senior baseball playoffs in Medicine Hat. The Cubs were never threatened in their bid for the south zone title as they dropped all their opponents with authority. Friday night the Cubs slashed the Milk River Lions 17 to 9 and then whipped the host Medicine Hat Chinooks 7 to 1 Saturday to reach the tourney final undefeated.
In the championship final on Sunday, the Milk River squad were the Lethbridge squad’s victims once more as winning heaver Greg Lazaruk tossed a three-hitter and rang up eight punchouts. Rob Roy and Bruce Gullett stroked three hits each for the Bridgemen with Gullett’s total including a two-bagger.
Against the Lions on Friday, Bernie Sonntag out-dueled Harvey Howard in copping the mound win while Roy and Howie Heggedal cracked out two singles apiece for the winners.
Al Ferchuk was the gem on the knoll for the Cubs against the hosting Chinooks Saturday night, yielding just five hits while fanning ten. Harold Hunchak of the Hatters was combed for a dozen base knocks in taking the loss. Roy was potent with the hickory once more, stroking a double and single while Gullett did most of the offensive damage, with a two-run homer and a one-bagger.
In earlier contests in the tourney, the Hat crew edged the Taber-Enchant Combines 8 to 6 in the tourney opener, Milk River trimmed the Combines 5 to 4 and the Lions splattered the Chinooks 12 to 2 in the loser’s bracket final.
ALBERTA PEACE COUNTRY ZONE SENIOR BASEBALL PLAYOFFS
(July 21) Hosting Fairview and the Peace River Stampeders played to a 3 – 3 draw in the opening game of the Alberta Peace country zone senior baseball playoffs.
(July 23) The Peace River Stampeders blanked the Fairview Outlaws 3 to 0 to take a one-game lead in the best-of-three A.B.A. Peace country zone senior playoffs. Al Hebert notched the pitching win over Jerry Howard. Mel Korte slammed a long home run to give the Stamps a lead they held for the entire game.
(July 31) A 10 to 6 victory over the Fairview Outlaws earned the Peace River Stampeders a trip the the four-team provincial senior finals in Edmonton. Leo Gauthier earned the pitching win and was ably supported by third baseman Murray Steeves who belted two round-trippers, one of them being a grand-slam tater. Outlaw chucker Jim Fox suffered the loss.
______________________________________________________________________________________
ALBERTA BASEBALL ASSOCIATION SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT
Czar (representing the central Alberta zone)
Edmonton Weller-Williams Colts (northern zone titlists)
Lethbridge Crighton Cubs (southern zone winners)
Peace River Stampeders (Peace country zone champions)
(August 21-22) The Lethbridge Crighton Cubs bombed the Edmonton Weiller-Williams Colts 12 to 3 Sunday to win the two-day, double-knockout Alberta senior baseball playoff tournament. The Cubs of the Southern Alberta loop rocked four Colt pitchers for 18 hits. Dennis King recorded the heaving win while Glen Winder was tagged with the loss. The Cubs knocked Winder from the slab in the seventh stanza when they paraded 15 batters to the plate, scoring nine runs. They had been held scoreless until that point. Outfielder Tony Sutcliffe had four hits for Lethbridge while catcher Bruce Gullett, who was voted the most-valuable-player of the tournament, slammed three safeties. Shortstop Athol Thomas also ripped a triad of base knocks for the victors. Lethbridge now advances to the Canadian championships in Kenosee SK.
Earlier in the day, Edmonton defeated Lethbridge 7 to 3 with Winder decisioning King in their first head-to-head clash, sending the southerners into the loser’s bracket and putting the pressure on them to win three in a row to annex the championship. In their second tussle of the day, the Cubs began the huge hurdle by defeating the Wheat Belt League winning Peace River Stampeders 8 to 4 as Greg Lazaruk copped the hurling verdict over Al Herbert of the Stamps. Then, Lethbridge came back to beat the Edmontonians 9 to 3 in an afternoon tilt to set the stage for the sudden-death final.
Saturday, the Colts topped Czar, champions of the central Alberta zone, 9 to 1 with Ken Fox taking the win while the Cubs were nosing out Peace River by a 4 to 3 margin. The Stampeders then drubbed Czar 14 to 7 in the first elimination game of the event.