North Battleford Tournament
(July 1) Garry Barker fired a two-hitter, with 11 strikeouts, to help North Battleford Beavers to top money at the North Battleford Tournament with a 2-1 victory over Kindersley in the final. The winning run scored on a sacrifice fly in the 4th inning. With the score tied 1-1, Jack Rowley doubled to lead off the 4th inning. Neil Lampitt moved him to third with a sacrifice and a fly ball brought in the eventual winning run for the Beavers. Randy Arthur allowed just five hits in taking the loss.
Barker (W) and xxx
Arthur (L) and xxx
Neilburg Monarchs claimed the consolation prize with a 9-8, 10 inning win over Unity Cardinals.
Lonnie Funk (W) and xxx
xxx, Gary Bock (L) and xxx
Cam Sternig rapped a homer and three singles to lead the Beavers to a 9-4 win over Neilburg in the first round. Tom Sallaway hurled a six-hitter. Losing pitcher Don McIntyre belted a homer for the Monarchs.
Sallaway (W) and xxx
Don McIntyre (L)
Kindersley Klippers shaded Unity in 14 innings. Les Ohrn picked up the win in relief while Larry Haylor went the distance for Unity. Haylor, who had seven hits in 11 trips to the plate in the tourney, went 4 for 6.
xxx, Ohrn (W) and xxx
Haylor (L) and xxx
Kindersley Tournament
(July 17-18) Vince Ruboco tantalized the Saskatoon Commodores by loading the bases in the 9th inning on three straight singles then struck out the side to preserve Unity`s 3-0 victory in the final of the Kindersley Tournament. Rucobo had relieved starter Gary Bock in the 7th inning.
Bock (W), Ruboco (7) and xxx
Martinson (L) and xxx
Saskatoon advanced to the final with an 8-0 triumph over Minot Merchants in their first game Saturday and 2-1 win over the host Kindersley Klippers in the semi-final. Unity trounced Edmonton Tigers 7-0 in a semi-final after defeating Thompson, Manitoba 5-2 in their opener. Edmonton beat Eston Ramblers 3-0 and Kindersley downed Calgary Cubs 4-2 in first round action.
Lacombe Tournament
(July 22) Edmonton Tigers rallied for four runs in the 9th inning for a 6-6 tie with Fargo, North Dakota, in the final of the Lacombe Tournament. The game was called at the end of nine innings because of darkness and the teams were declared co-champions. The Tigers were down 6-1 after five innings. Ross Marion started the comeback with a homer in the 7th. In the 9th, with one run already in, Fred Seyer`s bases-loaded single cleared the sacks.
Tim Brady, Ross Marion (5) and xxx
Dick Marsden, Mark Munson (9), Steve Idso (9) and xxx
Edmonton advanced to the final by downing Unity 6-2 and Fargo won a slugfest with Kamloops, 11-10.
(July 21) Fargo, North Dakota, bombed North Battleford Beavers 9-1 on a 12-hit attack. Beavers didn`t help their cause making three errors. Kraft belted a homer for the winners. Steve Idso went the distance for the win.
Idso (W) and Tessar, Manson (8)
Barker (L), Sallaway (8) and Sette
Bob Bridges held Red Deer to five hits as Kamloops Okonots beat the Alberta club 7-1. Randy Rota had a homer for Kamloops,
Bridges (W) and Gustafson
Ballou (L), Changnon (7) and Grant
Vince Ruboco fired a two-hitter, setting down 14 via strikeouts, as Unity Cardinals downed Calgary Jimmies 2-0. Rococo also scored the winning run as he led of the 5th inning with a double to right centre and scored on Tim Young`s single. Young came around to score on a sacrifice fly. Unity, which won the Kindersley Tournament last weekend, has had their pitching staff go 36 consecutive tournament innings without allowing an earned run.
Rucobo (W) and Wandler
Stephens (L), Lynn (5), Wolfe (8) and Chamberlain
Edmonton topped the defending champion Jamestown Elks 6-3 behind the eight-hit pitching of Tim Brady.
Otto (L), Haas (6) and Jensen
Brady (W) and Franchuk
Calgary Tournament
(July 24/25) Edmonton Tigers of the Alberta Major Baseball League edged Unity Cardinals of the Northern Saskatchewan League 8-7 in 10 innings to take top prize at the Calgary Baseball Tournament. Tigers, who were out hit 14-5, scored three runs on bases-loaded walks and five more through errors.
Cards took an early 2-0 lead with three hits in the first inning. Tigers responded with three in the 5th as Unity starter Gary Bock filled the bases on walks and manager Irl Flanagan put in the call for lefty ace Vince Rucobo who had just finished a nine-inning stint a few hours previous. Rucobo walked in three before he began throwing strikes and Edmonton had a 3-2 lead. Unity came back with a pair in the 6th to retake the lead, 4-3. In the top of the 9th, Rucobo had two out and a runner at second when an error on a routine grounder opened the floodgates and Edmonton followed with a walk, wild pitch and a Texas Leaguer to account for three runs and a 6-4 margin. Unity wasn't though just yet. In the bottom of the 9th they worked reliever Ross Marian for a double and a walk and Larry Balon ripped a pinch hit single off lefty Cliff Mein to narrow the margin to 6-5. Unity knotted the count at 6-6 when Mein walked Ed Ralston with the bases loaded. In the 10th, two Unity errors accounted for two more Tiger runs and the Cards responded with just one in their half of the inning as Tim Brady came on to halt the rally.
Mein, third of four Tiger pitchers, was credited with the win. Tom Sharpe, third Unity hurler took the loss.
Sharpe and Jim Shaw each had three hits. No Tiger had more than one.
Edmonton pitcher Tim Bradley was named the tournament's most valuable player. Unity's Sharpe was the top batter and Vince Rucobo the top pitcher.
Anderson, Marian (9), Mein (9) (W), Brady (10) and Franchuk
Bock, Rucobo (6), Sharpe (10) (L) and Wandler
In semi-final action, winning pitcher Tim Brady tripled to setup the deciding run in the 8th inning as the Tigers shaded the Calgary Cubs 2-1. Brady and Ed Anderson combined on a six-hitter.
Brady (W), Anderson (8) and Franchuk
Lynn (L), Baird (8) and Chamberlain
A five-run 3rd inning, in which Unity collected four of its five hits, carried the Cardinals to a 5-3 win over Walla, Walla. Vince Rucobo held the Americans to seven hits in going the distance for the win. Dick Rousseau was the tough luck loser.
Rousseau (L) and Olson, Gannon (4)
Rucobo (W) and Wandler
In opening round play, Calgary Cubs trounced Kamloops Okonots 12-2 in a game called after seven innings because of the 10-run rule. Chris McKinnie tossed a three-hitter for the win and helped at the plate with a homer. Marv Chamberlain also had a four-bagger for the Cubs.
McKinnie (W) and Chamberlain
Bridges (L), Plummer (4) and Gustafson
Edmonton Tigers scored three in the 8th and six in the 9th to down Minot Merchants 11-6. Minot out hit the Tigers 12-7. Fred Seyer homered for Edmonton, Don Werlinger had a homer for Minot. Lonnie Funk went the route for the win.
Funk (W) and Franchuk
Brules (L), Koering (9) and Werlinger
Tom Sharpe hurled a four-hitter and Unity had a four-run 3rd inning to down the defending champion Jamestown, North Dakota, Elks 5-3.
Haas (L), Otto (3) and Jensen
Sharpe (W) and Wandler
Down 4-2 in the 7th inning, Walla Walla, Washington, scored three runs to take a 5-4 decision over Regina Red Sox. The game was held up for 90 minutes because of a power failure.
Homme (L), Currie (8) and Logan
Conover (W), Walker (8) and Gannon