Swift Current Tournament
(July 8) The Regina Red Sox took home top prize after winning a weekend tournament in Swift Current, defeating the Melville Millionaires 7 to 0 in the tourney final. Earlier the Sox had eliminated the Moose Jaw Devons with a 7 to 2 win while the Millionaires had upset the home-standing Swift Current Indians 7 to 3.
Kindersley Elks Tournament
(July 14-15) Garth Neville was a major cog as Binscarth Orioles captured top money in the seventh annual Kindersley Elks' Tournament. Neville, who had fired a two-hitter as the Manitoba club won its semi-final, pitched 3 2/3s innings of hitless relief Sunday to help the Orioles to a 6-3 win in the final over Eston Ramblers. The right-hander entered the game in the 6th inning after three straight walks by starter Bob Kutzan had helped Eston to score a pair to tie the contest at 3-3. Don Gies led the offense with three singles.
Kutzan, Neville (W) (6) and xxx
Sheehan (L) and xxx
Neville allowed just a double and bunt single to North Battleford's Jim Johnston as Binscarth downed the Beavers 3-1 in semi-final action. Orioles scored twice on five hits in the first inning and never looked back. Larry Muratores led the 10-hit attack with a double and two singles.
Neville (W) and xxx
Sallaway (L) and xxx
Eston made the final with a 9-5 victory over Saskatoon as the Commodores made seven errors. Tim Sipe picked up the win. Al Saisi had a double and single for the Ramblers.
Sipe (W), Larson (6) and xxx
Kemp (L), Plummer (5) and xxx
In the tournament opener on Saturday, Commodores shaded Unity 8-7 in 10 innings as Fred Maxemiuk tripled to drive in Don McLeod with the winning run. Unity had scored three in the 9th to send the game into extra innings. Jeff Benedetti picked up the pitching win.
Brandon, Benedetti (W) (8) and xxx
Tom Kendall (L) and xxx
Al Saisi went four-for-four to lead Eston to a 5-4 decision over Regina Red Sox. Lynn Allan was the winning pitcher with relief from Terry Sheehan.
Singer (L) and xxx
Allan (W), Sheehan and xxx
In other first round action, Binscarth topped Kindersley 9-4 as Les Lesowski pitched a seven-hitter. Mike Murphy took the loss.
Lesowski (W) and xxx
Murphy (L), xxx, xxx, xxx and xxx
Vince Rucobo allowed just six hits and fanned 15 in leading North Battleford to a 6-1 victory over Kamloops Okonots Hugh McIvor led a 10 hit Beavers' attack with a homer and single. It was the only home run of the tournament. Bob Bridges took the loss.
Rucobo (W) and xxx
Bridges (L) and xxx
Lacombe Tournament
(July 25) Before near-record crowds of close to 10,000, the 24th Annual Lacombe Tournament kicked off Wednesday with Alberta teams winning three of four games.
The Calgary Jimmies erupted for six runs in the 7th inning and held on to down Swift Current Indians 6-4. Down 2-0, Jimmies relied on the long ball as Dave Edson crushed a three-run homer and Steve Powers followed up with a two-run shot. Edson is on loan to the Jimmies from the Giants. Brian Dickie clubbed two homers and Harvey Nybo one for the Indians. Don Rogelstad, imported from Vancouver for the tourney, captured the win, Terry Buck took the loss.
Buck (L), Girazian (7) and Nybo
Rogelstad (W), Lynn (9) and Dave Powers
A four-run 6th inning, in which Lethbridge combined four hits with three Kamloops' errors, propelled the Lakers to a 7-5 win over the Okonots. Paul Sullivan scattered nine hits to register the win. John Harr of the BC squad had the only homer. June Jermany took the loss.
Jermany (L), Bridges (6) and Smoke
Sullivan (W) and B. Maxwell
Former Montreal Expo farm hand Dave Croft pitched Kindersley Klippers to a 3-1 triumph over Red Deer. The right-hander allowed just six hits, three of them in the 9th, and whiffed 11. Croft had blanked the Generals until the final frame. Dave Robb, last year with the tourney champion San Mateo Bulldogs, accounted for most of the offense with a homer and a single and two runs batted in.
Croft (W) and Don Jackson
Cardwell (L) and Testa
Stu Henderson's two-run homer with two out in the top of the 9th inning gave Edmonton a 4-3 victory over Saskatoon Commodores in the final game of the opening day. Ron Watamaniuk was on base with a single before Henderson's thrilling blast. Tim Brady, who relieved starter Pat Murphy in the 5th got the win. Vince Rucobo was the tough-luck loser, allowing just six hits. The Commodores had 11. Lee Van Hagen had a triple and double for the Commodores while Hugh McIvor chipped in with three singles.
Murphy, Brady (W) (5) and Gullett
Rucobo (L) and Van Hagen
(July 26) In an awesome display of power, Wayne Commodore crushed four consecutive home runs and a double as Lethbridge whipped Calgary Jimmies 15-6 in semi-final action at the Lacombe Tournament. Commodore, who had seven runs batted in, tagged Juan Eichelberger for round trippers to left-centre and right field then crushed pitches from reliever Don Davis down the left field line and up the left-centre field alley for two more. Catcher Bryan Maxwell had a homer, two doubles and two singles. Rob Roy added a four-bagger. Rod Taylor was the winnie in relief.
Eichelberger (L), Davis (3), Lynn (6) and D. Powers
Ferchuk, R. Taylor (4) and B. Maxwell
(July 26) Edmonton Tigers won a spot in the Lacombe final with a 6-4 win over Kindersley Klippers. Mickey Hall needed relief help from Les Ohrn to register the win. Bruce Gullett belted a home for the winners, Terry Ruggles had one for the Klippers.
Hall (W), Ohrn (7) and Gullett
Lysgard (L), Murphy (4) and Don Jackson
(July 26) Lethbridge Lakers claimed $1,200 top prize at the Lacombe Tournament doubling up on Edmonton Tigers, 8-4 in the final. Shortstop Marty Maxwell led a 14-hit attack with a double and three singles. Brother Randy Maxwell pitched into the 7th inning to capture the win. Rob Roy clubbed a two-run homer for the winners while Brian Betts belted one for the Tigers. Marty Maxwell was named tournament MVP. Wayne Commodore, a 26-year-old from Valmarie, Saskatchewan, who never played a game of minor ball and was introduced to the game by the Swift Current Indians in 1966, was retired just once in 10 trips to the plate in Thursday's action.
Ohrn (L), Brady (4), Ewasiuk (6) and Gullett, Franchuk (8)
R. Maxwell (W), Taylor (7) and B. Maxwell
Calgary Tournament
(July 28) Bob Bridges pitched a four-hitter as Kamloops Okonots clipped Calgary Giants 7-1 in the opening game of the 4th Annual Calgary Major Baseball Tournament. Outfielder John Haar socked a two-run homer in the first frame as the Okonots, of the BC Metro Baseball League, jumped out to a 3-0 lead and added single runs in the 3rd and 4th innings. Kamloops added two more in the 9th. Bridges had some control problems, with five walks and a hit batsman, but struck out 11. Harr had three runs batted in with his homer and single. Dick Bass contributed a double and single while John Yanoski and Leo Gauthier each had two singles.
Bridges (W) and Smoke
Clayson (L), J. Peterson (5) and Edwards.
Eston third baseman Terry Ruggles doubled in the winning run in the top of the 10th inning as the Ramblers shaded Lethbridge Lakers 9-8. Eston took advantage of Laker miscues to build a 7-0 lead after 5 1/2 innings. Catcher Larry Muratore and outfielder Al Sasisi each belted two-run homers. The Lakers came storming back with a homer by Rob Roy in the 6th, four runs in the 7th and another three in the 8th to take the lead. Ramblers knotted the count in the 9th as Reg Andrew doubled in Ruggles. Bruce Bremmer got the win over Rod Taylor.
Allan, Bremmer (W) (7) and Morrice, Muratore (7)
Ferchuk, Purcell (7), Winder (8), Taylor (L) (9) and B. Maxwell
Saskatoon Commodores edged Calgary Jimmies 6-5. Pinch-hitter Zenon Markowsky doubled to drive in the winning run in the 8th inning. Jimmies blew a four-run lead as Saskatoon third sacker Al Mitchell keyed a four-run outburst in the 6th inning with a three-run homer. Commodores took the early lead with an unearned run in the first inning but the Jimmies tied on Dave Croft's homer and charged into the lead with three runs in the 4th. Dave Powers also homered for the Jimmies. Wayne Plummer, the third Commodore hurler, got the victory.
R. Peterson, Eichelberger (L) (6) and D. Powers
Benedetti, Kemp (4), Plummer (W) (8) and Von Hagen, Maxemiuk (5)
Doug Simon ripped a pair of homers and two singles to lead a 17-hit attack as Moose Jaw Devons advanced with a 10-6 triumph over Red Deer. Roy Rowley added two doubles and a single. Roger Pozzo clouted a two-run homer for the Generals and Irv Homs had two doubles. Dave Dupree, the second of three Moose Jaw hurlers picked up the win. Red Deer starter George Bryce was saddled with the loss.
Girazian, Dupree (W) (5), Murphy (8) and Gillies
Bryce (L), Pasutto (7) and Testa
Ned Andreoni's two-run homer in the 8th inning sent Moose Jaw Devons into the final of the Calgary Tournament with a 9-7 decision over Kamloops, Devons, once down 7-1 to the Okonots, chipped away at the margin and scored a pair in the 7th to tie setting the stage for Andreoni's heroics. Lefty Bud Papadakis was the winner with 2 2/3s innings of hitless relief. Doug Simon also had a four-bagger for the winners.
Murphy, Dupree (3), Rowley (3), Papadakis (W) (7) and Gillies
Jermany, Bridges (L) (6) and Smoke
Veteran Vince Rucobo blanked Eston Ramblers on two hits as Saskatoon moved into the final with a 2-0 victory. Rococo fanned six and walked three. Commodores took the lead in the 3rd inning on Gary Brandon's triple and an infield hit by Randy Munch. A single by Munch and two Eston errors resulted in the 2nd run in the 6th inning. Saskatoon had just five hits off loser Tim Sipe and reliever Bruce Bremmer.
Sipe (L), Bremmer (7) and Morrice
Rucobo (W) and Maxemiuk
Moose Jaw Devons managed just four hits but won top money of $1,250 at the Calgary Tournament with a 3-2 win over Saskatoon Commodores in the tourney's finale. Bud Papadakis, winner in relief in the semi-final, fired a seven-hitter for the victory. Devons scored the winner in the 8th inning as Ned Andreoni reached base when hit by a pitch. He advanced on a wild pitch and infield grounder. Clark Gillies' sacrifice fly plated the deciding marker. Commodores had taken the early lead with a run in the 1st inning. Hugh McIvor, who had walked, scored on Ken Haanen's single. Papadakis drove in two runs for Moose Jaw with a single in the 4th before Saskatoon knotted the count in the 7th on a single by Don McLeod, a sacrifice and a single by Gary Brandon. Jeff Benedetti took the loss.
Moose Jaw dominated the tournament awards as Papadakis was named the tourney's top pitcher and Doug Simon, with his 6 for 13, 3 home run tournament, the top hitter. The Devons' playing manager, Ned Andreoni was selected as Most Valuable Player. He had seven hits in 12 at bats and starred at shortstop.
Benedetti (L) and Maxemiuk
Papadakis (W) and Gillies
Kamloops International Tournament
(August 30) The Alaska Goldpanners, fresh from victory at the National Baseball Congress tournament at Wichita, Kansas, captured the inaugural Kamloops International Tournament Monday with a 2-1 win over the host Kamloops Okonots in the tourney final. The Goldpanners, who pocketed $5,000 for the triumph, went through the double elimination event unbeaten.
Homers - by pitcher Gary Wheelock (left) n the 3rd inning and Mark Lucich in the 8th - provided the margin of victory. On the hill, Wheelock held the Okonots to seven hits. Loser Dwaine Shultz allowed ten hits. For Kamloops it was their fourth game in a little more than 24 hours as they lost their second game in the tourney and were forced to wind their way through the losers' bracket to reach the final.
Wheelock (W) and Redmon
Shultz (L) and White
The Goldpanners kicked off with an 8-3 win over over El Chicanos of Seattle on Friday and took out Cordoba, Mexico 9-2 on Saturday. A 7-3 win over Binscarth, Manitoba, in the semi-final Sunday guaranteed a spot in the championship game.
Against Cordoba, a team of professionals, Alaska scored five runs in the 1st inning and coasted to the victory. Singles by Creighton Tevlin and Kenny King and successive doubles off the bats of Lee Iorg, Mike Umfleet and Tommy Sain (left) helped the northerners get off to the big lead. Sain had two doubles and a single to pace the offense. Stan Meek and Ed Matta combined on a five-hitter.
Deldin (L), Palacz (1), Pelacion (2), Uzcanda (6), A. Gutierrez (8) and V. Gutierrez
Meek (W), Matta (6) and Redmon, Chander (7)
The Goldpanners also used a quick start to set aside the Binscarth nine.
They jumped into a 6-0 lead after five innings, three runs scoring on Umfleet's 5th inning homer. Marty French had a two-hit shutout through six innings but weakened a bit in the latter frames.
French (W), Beem (8), Matta (9) and Redmon, Chandler (7)
Kutzman (L), Lind (5) and Labossiere
Kamloops won $2,500 for its second place finish and Binscarth Orioles took home $1,500 for third.
Kamloops topped Binscarth in a semi-final 4-2. The Orioles had earlier lost a 7-3 decision to Alaska.
Kamloops lost 5-4 to Binscarth in the opening round.
Tommy Sain was selected as the tournament's Most Valuable Player.
Intercontinental Cup Tournament
1973 marked the debut of the Intercontinental Cup Tournament featuring teams from the International Baseball Federation. The event was scheduled for every second year with the initial tourney held in Italy. Japan finished with a 6-1 record to take the title.
(August 26) Officials announced the roster for the Canadian team at the Intercontinental Cup Tournament in Italy. British Columbia and Alberta each placed six players on the roster. Three apiece come from Saskatchewan and New Brunswick and two from Manitoba.
Catcher - Brian Cox, Andy Logan, First base - Wayne Martin; second base - Ted Darling; shortstop - Ron Watamaniuk, Outfield - Norm Gaig, Len Gemlin, Brian Betts, Rod Taylor, Tommy Reid, Doug Simon, XXX, Pitchers - George Bryce, Nick Mitchell, Mike Findlay, Les Ohrn, Fred Cardwell, Phil LePage, Glennis Scott, Garth Neville. Andre Pratt of Montreal is the field manager.
(August 27) Edmonton City Council approved a motion of "support, encouragement and best wishes" to Canada's national team at the Intercontinental Cup series in Italy. Four of the club's 18 players are from the city - Brian Betts, Les Ohrn, Ron Watamaniuk and Don Darling and two more from the Alberta Major Baseball League - Rod Taylor of Lethbridge and Fred Cardwell of Red Deer.
(September 1) In opening action at the Intercontinental Tournament at Bologna, Italy, the United States whipped Canada 6-1 in a game marred by a 7th inning brawl.
The Americans had just seven hits but took advantage of five stolen bases and four Canadian errors. John Camiera struck out ten over seven innings in helping the U.S. to the win. He allowed just three hits before Mike Ambury took over for the final two frames. The outburst occurred in the bottom of the 7th inning when the U.S. scored once to take a 4-1 lead. Glennis Scott, of Hamiota of the Manitoba Senior League, who had just relieved starter George Bryce, was tossing some warm up pitches. Two of his throws whizzed past the ear of the next batter, Art Fischetti who took offence and charged the mound. Both benches emptied and resulted in a flurry of punches. Fischetti and Richard Cerone, both of the American squad, were ejected.
Camiera (W) and xxx
Bryce (L), Scott (7) and xxx
In other games, Puerto Rico trounced Argentina 12-0, Nicaragua downed Italy 4-1, and Japan 10 whipped Taiwan 1.
(September 2) Canada dropped its second straight at the Intercontinental Baseball Tournament losing to Nicaragua 10-9 on an unearned run in the 10th inning.
Five pitchers combined on a one-hitter as the United States trounced Argentina 10-0. The Americans cracked three homers in the victory, by Bill Almon, Richie Cerone and Kevin Craig.
Japan edged Puerto Rico 1-0 and Italy downed Taiwan 7-5.
(September 3) Canada notched its first win of the Intercontinental Baseball Tournament shading Nationalist China 7-6. Wayne Martin of Vancouver belted a two-run homer in the first inning to get Canada underway. After Taiwan plated a pair in their half of the first, Canada scored four in the second, another in the 5th and held on for the win. Rod Taylor of Lethbridge and Doug Simon of Regina each had three hits to spark the attack. Garth Neville of Brandon came out of the bullpen in the 2nd inning and held the Chinese to just six hits the rest of the way for the pitching win.
Simon singled to lead off for Canada in the 5th, advanced on a single and scored the deciding run on a single by Len Gamblin of Vancouver.
Mike Finlayson, Garth Neville (W) (2) and xxx
xxx and xxx
The United States won it's third straight, 13-0 over Nicaragua. Japan routed Argentina 25-0 for its third straight victory
(September 4) Canada downed Puerto Rico 5-3 to even its record a 2-2 behind the pitching and hitting of reliever Phil LePage of Fredericton. The right-hander took over in the 2nd inning with Canada trailing 3-0. He blanked the Puerto Ricans on two hits the rest of the way while helping the offense with two doubles and a single. Rod Taylor of Lethbridge had two safeties for Canada.
xxx and xxx
Les Ohrn, LePage (W) (2) and xxx
The US won its 5th straight, 5-2 over Taiwan on Kevin Craig's two-run homer. Bob Powers hurled a five-hitter for the win. Japan crushed Italy 11-5. Nicaragua topped Argentina 5-2.
(September 5) Italy upset the USA 6-5 in 10 innings.
Canada had three homers in trouncing Argentina 12-3. A four-run 2nd inning proved to be enough for the victory.
(September 7) Canada had just four hits but seven Italian errors helped the Canadians to a 7-6 victory at the Intercontinental Baseball Tournament.
The United States remained in the hunt for the Intercontinental title with a 1-0 win over Japan as John Caniera won his 3rd game of the tourney. Caniera, a 6'3", 200 pounder from Connecticut struck out nine and walked four in going the distance. He had a scare in the 9th allowing two hits but worked out of the jam. The only run came in the 4th inning when Bill Almon of Rhode Island doubled and scored on a two-bagger by Kevin Craig from Oceanside, New York.
Puerto Rico won its 4th of the tournament, edging Nicaragua 4-2. Taiwan clobbered Argentina 13-0 in a game called after seven innings.
(September 8) Japan captured the Intercontinental Baseball championship Saturday with a 1-0, 10 inning victory over Canada. The only run came on a Canadian error. Canada out hit the Japanese 7-5 who finished with a 6-1 record. The United States and Puerto Rico each won five and lost two. The U.S. lost an opportunity to tie for the top slot in dropping a 9-2 decision to Puerto Rico.
World Seniors Tournament
Later, in November, 1973, another international tournament was held in Nicaragua.
The members of the team were selected at a Daytona Beach, Florida, training camp.
Rod Taylor (Edmonton), Mike Findlayson (Victoria), Phil LePage (Fredericton), Fred Cardwell (Innisfail), Greg Lindsay (Vancouver), Brian Cox (Fredericton), Syd Sharp (Surrey), Mike Teahen (Waterloo), Doug Simon (Regina), Wayne Commodore (Sherwood Park), Bill Daley (Chatham), Ted Spingamatic (Surrey), Wayne Martin (New Westminster), John Osborne (London), David Grass (Victoria), Marty Maxwell (Lethbridge), Bob Brown (Saskatoon), Brian Hamagami (Christina Lake), Dick Hazell (Edmonton), Gary Picone (Trail).
(November 20) The United States clipped Canada 7-1 Wednesday for its 6th straight win at the World Amateur Baseball Championship at Managua, Nicaragua. Puerto Rico (5-1) topped Mexico 2-1 in 14 innings hand the Mexicans their 6th consecutive defeat. The host club remained unbeaten (3-0) with a 4-2 victory over Costa Rica.