1976 Tournaments     

FIFTH ANNUAL TRAIL INVITATIONAL BASEBALL TOURNAMENT

(June 30 – July 4) The Selkirk Selects rebounded from a 6 – 0 deficit and went on to beat Seattle Seiko 10 to 7 Sunday and win the Trail International Baseball tournament. Earlier, in the final day of the event, they had handed the Seattle squad their first setback, a 1 – 0 decision on George Cloakey’s two-hitter.

Selkirk reached the finals on Saturday night with a narrow 3 to 2 conquest of Kamloops. Previous to that game, Kamloops had eliminated a game Castlegar Sentinel Colt aggregation 5 to 4. Kamloops earlier had bounced Shuswap 6 to 5 while Castlegar had knocked out the Edmonton Jasper Place Bisons in a 5 to 3 tussle.
    
Friday night, Selkirk handed the Castlegar nine their first loss when they pasted the Colts 11 to 1. Seattle defeated Shuswap by the same score and the defending tournament champions from Dallas, Oregon lost their second straight when lefthander Tom Biko, a Medicine Hat product, pitched a perfect game in leading the Edmontonians to a 7 to 0 whitewash of the Americans. Biko, a portsider, struck out 15 and did not issue a walk.
    
In the first two days of the tournament, the Selects spoiled a no-hit bid by Dale Sismey in the last inning to nip Kelowna 2 to 1, Seattle Seiko dropped Dallas, Oregon 5 to 1, Castlegar beat Edmonton 5 to 1 and Shuswap thumped Kamloops 11 to 3.


BIRTLE ANNUAL MSBL CANADA DAY $2,500 BASEBALL TOURNAMENT

(July 1)   Brandon Cloverleafs captured their first tournament title at Birtle downing Hamiota Red Sox 7-4 in the final of the July 1st event. The action-packed tourney, with all ten Manitoba Senior League teams featured a no-hitter by Jerry Araujo of Souris and a couple of huge upsets by the Red Sox.

Cloverleafs, who shared top money with Binscarth in the 1972 tourney got the win on Rick McFadyen's three-run homer in the bottom of the eighth inning. Roy McLachlan, in relief of starter Brian Hodgson got credit for the win with Dave Marabella, the import knuckleball hurler, taking the loss. Norm Hemstad added three hits for the Cloverleafs and Bob Thompson was on bases four times with walks.  Ron Ramsey collected three hits for Hamiota.

Brandon reached the final crushing Binscarth 15-4 and topping Souris 6-2 on Thompson's three-run homer in the semi-final action. McFadyen handled the mound work in the romp against Binscarth and Hodgson did the same against Souris.

Hamiota blanked Dauphin Redbirds 9-0 in an opening round match as Dennis Anderson got the shutout and Mike Labossiere poked a homer. The Redbirds sustained two injuries and the lack of replacements forced 63-year-old manager Andy Newton onto the field for an inning and a half.

The Sox engineered their major upsets on the arms of Glennis Scott and Ron Ramsey. Scott outdueled Jon Langston and reliever Brian Purcha as Hamiota shocked league-leading McAuley Blazers 6-4 on a two-run homer in the bottom of the final frame by Labossiere. In their semi-final, the Red Sox slipped by Riverside Canucks 5-4 as Ramsey got the win over Grant Everard.

Araujo fired his gem in a noon assignment against Grandview Lakers. Cardinals won 3-0. In one of the first games of the day, Binscarth shelled Virden Oilers 16-6 as Billy Derlago collect four hits and Lyle Robinson had an inside-the-park home run.  Riverside clobbered Angusville Cardinals 11-2 as Bruce Gullett had a four-bagger and Ron Seafoot picked up the mound victory.


ESTON TOURNAMENT

(July 1-2)  Red Deer M&K Generals breezed to $1,000 top money in the Eston Tournament downing the host Eston Ramblers 15-3 in the final. Generals scored four runs in the first inning, three on back-to-back home runs by Hal Harris and Pete Duncan and another on a sac fly. More long balls followed with Blair Hanna clouting a two-run homer in the 3rd, Randy Rasmussen adding a two-run shot in the 5th and Al McKee with a solo homer in the 6th. Rasmussen led the Generals with four hits in five trips to the plate.  In addition to his homer, Duncan had a bases-loaded double. Brad Kelly coasted to the win with a three-hitter. 

Kelly (W) and xxx
xxx and xxx

Eston reached the final with a 6-3 win over the Berkeley, California, Bears. 

Al McKeeRed Deer needed a pair of late inning home runs to edge Unity Cardinals 6-4 in 10 innings in semi-final action.  Down 4-1, Generals got a run in their half of the 8th and Pete Duncan smashed a two-run homer in the 9th for the tie. Al McKee's (left) two-run circuit clout in the 10th was the winner. Bob Brown slugged a two-run homer for the Cardinals. Rod Gehring had a strong mound outing in the losing effort.

Behlen, Duncan (W) (7) and xxx
Rod Gehring (L) and xxx

Bob BridgesA bases-loaded single by Roger Pozzo in the bottom of the 9th inning carried the Red Deer Generals to a 2-1 victory over Regina Red Sox in the opening round of the Eston Tournament. Generals were held to three hits by starter Wade Wanner and reliever Bob Currie but an error, a balk, and an intentional walk in the 9th opened the gates for a Red Deer victory. Bob Bridges (right) fired a sparkling two-hitter with 16 strikeouts to notch the win. His only mistake was a home run ball to Jim Paisley in the 6th inning.

Bridges (W) and xxx
Wanner, Currie (L) (6) and xxx

Unity beat Moose Jaw Devons 6-3 as Glen Miller smacked a homer and Byron Merkowsky had four hits to lead the offense against the Devons. Bob Dobey, the Cardinals' newest import hurler, picked up the pitching win.

Berkeley Bears punished Kindersley Klippers 23-4 and Eston downed Saskatoon.


KILLAM TOURNAMENT

(July 3-4)    Bob Bridges fired his second compete game win in four days to lead Red Deer to top money at the Killam Tournament with a 5-0, five-hit, triumph over Berkeley, California, Bears in the championship final. The teams were locked in a scoreless tie after five innings.  Then, in the 6th, Larry Kowalishen lost control with the bases loaded and walked in two runs and hit a batter for a third. Ken Nelson's sac fly brought in another. Blair Hanna singled in the final run in the 8th.

Bridges (W) and xxx
Kowalishen (L), Hughes and xxx

Pete Duncan was the story in Red Deer's 7-4, 12-inning, win over Unity Cardinals in a semi-final.  He pitched all 12 innings giving up just four hits after the first inning when Unity used five safeties to take a 3-0 lead. Duncan's two-run homer in the top of the 12th proved to be the difference. Gary Ledbetter had three of the Generals' 11 hits. Unity had tied the contest with two out in the bottom of the 9th on Ed Ralston's pinch-hit single. Don McIntyre went nine strong innings for Unity.

Duncan (W) ands xxx
McIntyre, Gehring (L) and xxx

Berkeley blanked the Edmonton Tigers 7-0 to reach the final.

Red Deer opened the Killam Tourney with a 12-2 lacing of the Grand Centre Northlanders. Roger Pozzo scattered seven hits for the win. Randy Rasmussen, Al McKee and Pete Duncan each had two hits for the Generals.

Pozzo (W) and xxx
xxx and xxx

In other opening games, Berkeley downed the Edmonton Cardinals 10-0. Edmonton Tigers beat  Viking 4-3 and Unity shaded St. Paul Bears 7-6. Unity's Doug O'Brien had a shutout for 8 2/3s innings before the Cards gave up six unearned runs. Gord Johnson broke out of a hitting slump with a pair of hits.


UNITY TOURNAMENT

(July 10-11)    After losing in the semi-finals in two straight tournaments, the host Unity Cardinals took top money in their own affair downing the Regina Red Sox 5-2 in the final.  Gordy Johnson's two-run homer put Unity ahead in the second inning. Regina quickly rebounded to plate a pair in the bottom of the second to tie, 2-2.  Unity's winning margin came in the 7th inning.  After Bob Brown walked and Johnson reached on an error, Bryon Merkowsky singled to score what proved to be the winner. The Cardinals got some insurance runs on a double by Randy Munch which scored Johnson and Ed Ralston who had reached on a fielder's choice. Rod Gehring was the winning hurler giving up eight hits while fanning six and walking one.  Bob Currie took the loss.

Gehring (W) and xxx
Currie (L) and xxx

Unity nipped Moose Jaw 5-4 in the semi-finals as Glen Miller clouted a homer and Gary Wilburn had three hits. Doug O'Brien picked up the win with relief help from Bob Dobey.

O'Brien (W), Dobey (9) and xxx
xxx and xxx

Red Sox reached the final by trouncing Eston 13-3 in a five-inning victory. Randy Sawa picked up the pitching win as Gerry Fallner cracked a three-run homer to lead the attack. Unity blanked Kindersley 6-0 in their opening game behind Don McIntyre's four-hitter. Byron Merkowsky helped the offense with two hits. .Regina got by Two Hills, 5-4 with Doug Overbo earning the win.


EDMONTON TOURNAMENT

Rasmussen scores(July 10-11)   In their third tournament victory in three tries, Red Deer Generals unleashed a 20-hit attack in crushing the Edmonton Tigers 13-1 in the championship game of the Edmonton Tournament.

Hal Harris, with four singles, a triple and three RBI and Blair Hanna with bases-loaded, inside-the-park homer and a single, led the offensive.

The tournament's most valuable player, Randy Rasmussen (scoring another run above), added three singles. Pete Duncan blanked the Tigers over seven innings before giving way to Tom Sharpe.

(Photo - Edmonton Journal, July 12, 1976)

Duncan (W), Sharpe (8) and Adams
Brown (L), Currie (3), Anderson (6) and Brusegard

Generals rebounded from a 5-3 deficit to top the Berkeley, California, Bears 11-5 to win a berth in the final. Red Deer had 16 hits, three apiece by Pete Duncan and Marty ShepherdBrad Kelly was the winner in relief.

Bungarz (L), Peretti (5), Kowalishen (7) and Sagisi
Ballinger, Kelly (W) (4), Behlen (7) and Adams

Edmonton Tigers advanced with an 8-5 victory over Barrhead.

xxx and xxx
xxx and xxx

In their opening round match, Red Deer shaded St. John, Washington, 3-1 behind the nine-hit, 12 strike out, pitching of Bob Bridges. The Dodgers got on the board first as Bob Aoki reached with a single, was sacrificed to second and came home on a bloop single by Vic Jacobson. Gens took the lead in the 5th on Randy Rasmussen's two-run double. They added an insurance run in the 7th on singles by Al McKee and Marty Shepherd and an error. Jim Guy gave up just eight hits in taking the loss.

Guy (L) and Rollie
Bridges (W) and Adams

Larry Kowalishen held Calgary Jimmies to six hits as the Berkeley Bears came away with an easy 11-1 victory. Terry Teale homered in a four-run 8th inning and Dick Hazell tossed a two-hitter as Edmonton Tigers topped the Viking Shamrocks 4-1, and Barrhead scored six runs in the 10th inning to stop St. Paul 9-3.


QUESNEL BILLY BARKER DAYS TOURNAMENT

(July 16-18)   Led by American college star Barry Silver the Sexsmith Rainiers won Quesnel's Billy Barker Days Baseball Tournament over the weekend.

Silver pitcher the Rainiers to a 5-2 win in their opener against Vernon then came back to pitch the final, an 8-2 victory over the Prince George All-Stars. Silver, in Sexsmith for the summer with fellow San Mateo College teammate Juan Rodriquez, went the distance in both games fanning eight in the first game and seven in the second.

In the final, Sexsmith romped to an easy win scoring four times in the second inning. Wayne Lock led the attack with a homer, double and single. Silver, who scattered nine hits for the pitching win, helped out at the dish with a two-run double. Omer Gascon took the loss for Prince George.

The the opening game of the tourney, the Billy Barker nine came from behind to top Smithers Glaciers 12-7. Barry Walker led the charge with a homer, double and two singles. He scored twice and drove in three and topped the day by pitching the last two innings to earn the victory.

Sexsmith plated three in the first inning and coasted behind Silver's pitching to beat Vernon. Silver had trouble in the initial frame giving up two runs but then pitched shutout ball the rest of the way.

Kamloops Okonots clobbered the Cariboo A's 14-4 as Jack Goddard powered the attack with a three-run homer and three singles. Cal Cooper added a two-run blast. John Hogg went the distance for the mound triumph. Lefty Rodonets took the loss.

In the final opening round game, the pitching of Bruce Taylor and the hitting of Greg Polis led the surprising Prince George All-Stars to a 7-3 win over Jens Hobos. Taylor pitched shutout ball for seven innings and fanned 13. Polis had the big blow, a two-run homer.

In semi-final action, Sexsmith crushed Billy Barker 17-3. Already well ahead, the Rainiers ran wild with an eight-run explosion in the eighth inning. Dale Stokke, who came on to pitch in the fourth inning got the win and helped the offense scoring three times. Chuck Stojan led the winners with a double and three singles good for three runs batted in.

The second semi-final proved to be the most exciting game of the tournament as the All-Stars came from behind with six runs in a wild eighth inning to edge Kamloops 6-5. Trailing 5-0, Bill McIntyre walked and Bill Haymar brought in the first run with a triple. Polis slammed his second homer of the tourney to make it 5-3. After another walk, Brian Gates singled and Tino Cassino tied the game with a two-run single. Then, with a bloop single to right, Taylor chased Cassino home with the winning run. Polis, who relieved in the fifth, struck out eight to earn the mound victory. Claude Lefebvre was charged with the loss.


BARRHEAD TOURNAMENT

(July 17-18)   The hometown Cardinals downed Berkeley, California, Bears 8-5 to win the Barrhead Tournament.

The Bears reached the final with a 6-2 win over the Red Deer Generals as John Hughes held the Gens to four hits, two of them first inning homers by Hal Harris and Pete Duncan. Bears walloped three circuit blows, a two-run shot by Randy Hooper in the first, a two-run blast by Tim Martin in the 3rd and a solo homer by Bob Silverman in the 8th.

Hughes (W) and xxx
Brad Kelly (L), Behlen (8) and xxx

Cardinals blanked Calgary to reach the final.

Generals won their opener, crushing Two Hills 12-2.  Pete Duncan got the Gens going with a three-run homer in the first inning. Blair Hanna belted a homer in the 8th. Duncan and Bill Adams each had three hits. John Ballinger went seven innings to pick up the win.

Ballinger (W), Sharpe (8) and xxx
xxx and xxx

In other games, Barrhead beat Kindersley 5-0, Calgary who topped St. Paul 8-4 and Berkeley opened with an 8-3 win over Edmonton. 


LACOMBE TOURNAMENT

(July 21-22)    17-year-old Ron Leach held the powerful Red Deer Generals to five hits as Calgary Jimmies crushed the favoured Gens 12-3 to win the 27th Annual Lacombe Tournament.  The left-hander from Fresno, California, gave up three runs in the 3rd inning, but blanked the Gens the rest of the way while the Jimmies were smacking 13 hits, including homers by Al Price, Bob Papworth and Don McLeod, off a pair of Red Deer hurlers.  Rick Johnson added three hits. Randy Rasmussen had a circuit clout for Red Deer. Calgary took home first price money of $2,300. 

Leach (W) and Price
Sharpe (L), Behlen (2) and Adams

Maxwell steals second

Calgary's Marty Maxwell steals second as Randy Rasmussen of Red Deer awaits the throw. The
Advocate, Red Deer, July 23, 1976

In a semi-final, Calgary took advantage of sloppy defensive play by the Berkeley Bears taking a a 3-0 lead in the 3rd inning, without a hit, and holding off the Bears, 5-4.  Berkeley out-hit the Jimmies 11 to 4, but their five errors led to four unearned runs.  Down 3-0, the Bears got a two-run homer from Murray Wilson in the 4th to cut the lead to a single run.  But the Jimmies got a run-scoring double from Rick Johnson and an infield hit by Don McLeod in their half of the frame to expand the lead to 5-2.  Wilson's sac fly for the Bears in the 8th made it 5-3 and John Caselli made it uncomfortably close with a homer in the 9th. Larry Kowalishen took the tough defeat in a route-going effort.

Kowalishen (L) and Sagisi
Forgie (W), Cruess (6) and Price

Randy RasmussenRed Deer crushed Eston 16-4, in a game called after five innings by the 10-run mercy rule, to advance to the final. The offensive display was one of the most powerful seen in the history of the tournament. In just four turns at bat, the Generals had 17 hits, nine for extra bases.  Randy Rasmussen (left) led the parade with a pair of homers. Hal Harris and Pete Duncan also had circuit clouts while Ken Nelson swatted two doubles.  Grant Becker knocked in four runs with two singles. For the Ramblers, Robert Murphy had a homer. Bob Bridges coasted to the win.  Steve Ward lasted just a third of an inning to take the loss.

Ward (L), Maynard (1), Cavanagh (3) and Morrice
Bridges (W) and Adams

Eston Ramblers rallied with three runs in the 8th inning to edge Edmonton Tigers 4-3 and win a spot in the semi-finals of the Lacombe Tournament.  Catcher Rick Morrice started the uprising with a single to centre and after moving up on a wild pitch scored on Robert Murphy's hit up the middle. Greg Thys beat out a bunt and both runners advanced on a ground out.  Reg Andrew then delivered the game-winning blow, a double down the left field line. Gorman Heimueller held Edmonton to six hits in going the distance for the win.  Dave Curran was the loser.

Curran (L), Randall (8) and Brusegard
Heimueller (W) and Morrice

Randy Hooper's single in the 8th inning scored John Hughes with the winning run as the Berkeley, California, Bears shaded Barrhead 8-7 in the opening game of the 27th Annual Lacombe Tournament. The Bears took an early 7-2 lead but the Cardinals narrowed the margin to 7-5 in the 5th on a sacrifice fly by Gary Picone and two-run double by Lawrence Niven.  John Osborne drove in Mike Mukanik in the 6th to make it a one-run game and Walt Mason doubled in the tying run in the top of the 8th. Hooper led the Bears attack with three hits and three runs batted in. Hughes was the winning pitcher with 3 1/3 innings of one-hit relief.

Hendley, Kammer (4), Van De Keere (L) (8) and Teahen
Martin, Hughes (W) (6) and Sagisi

In other opening round games, Calgary fell behind 3-0 in the first inning but rebounded to edge Unity 4-3. John "Boom-Boom" Self smacked three hits and knocked in the winning run with a double in the 8th to pace the Jimmies. Dean Moranda pitched into the 9th inning to take the win in spite of six hits and nine walks.  One of the first inning hits against Moranda was Gerry Fellner's two run homer for Unity.

Moranda (W), Forgie (9) and Price
Gehring (L) and Wilburn

Nelson steals

Red Deer's Ken Nelson raises a cloud of dust while stealing second base against Norlake. The
Advocate, Red Deer, July 22, 1976

Red Deer Generals upset the defending champion Norlake All-Stars 10-2 as first baseman Hal Harris smacked three doubles and a single and scored three times.  Pete Duncan pitched into the 7th inning to get the win with relief from Brad Kelly.  Second baseman Dave Robb had three of Norlake's 12 hits.  Starter Kevin Kane took the loss.

Duncan (W), Kelly (7) and Adams
Kane (L), Dumbeck (3), Baehle (7), Kain (8), Danielson (8) and McDonald

The game between Edmonton Tigers and Eston Ramblers was postponed because of rain.


CANADIAN FEDERATION OF AMATEUR BASEBALL SENIOR ELIMINATiON SERIES  Saskatchewan vs Manitoba  (best-of-three series)

(July 24-25)   Team Manitoba walloped Saskatchewan 14-3 Sunday to win a berth in the Canadian Amateur Baseball finals in Fredericton in mid-August. Manitoba won the best-of-three series played at Hamiota two games to one.

Manitoba took the opener 8-2 on Saturday before Saskatchewan roared back weith a 12-4 win earlier on Sunday.

Garth Neville tossed a three-hitter in the final, racking up 15 strikeouts. He had a no-hitter into the sixth. Stan Furman led the offense with five hits and five runs batted in. He had a two-run homer in the first and added a double and single in the fifth. Mike Labossiere also had a two-run homer and Bert Ready and Wayne Poole each contributed three hits.

Mark Fisher had three hits, including a homer, to pace Manitoba to the 8-2 triumph. Gerry Falk, his right knee tightly bandaged, scattered six hits and fanned ten in going the distance.

Doug Simon put on a power show in the Saskatchewan victory pounding a pair of home runs and a single driving in six runs. Jim Paisley added three hits. Randy Sawa survived 13 hits to go the route for the pitching win. Ron Ramsey collected three safeties for the losers. Fisher had a pair of doubles. Manitoba's Bob Thompson and Saskatchewan catcher Andy Logan were ejected in the eighth inning following a dust-up at home plate when Thompson tried to score and objected to the tag.


BC SENIOR BABE RUTH CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT

(July 28)  A 2 to 1 semi-final loss to Kelowna relegated the Selkirk Selects to third-place in the B.C. senior Babe Ruth baseball championship tournament at Nanaimo. The darkhorse entry from Port Alberni went on to capture the 1976 provincial title by edging Kelowna 5 to 4 in the tourney final.


BC SENIOR AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP

(July 30 - August 2)   The Vancouver Pharaohs/Capilanos out-slugged Surrey Sports 11-6 Monday to win the BC Senior Amateur Baseball Championship at Victoria. Nick Miller and Al Forman each had four hits and two RBI while Rick Bultitude drove in two runs and scored three with a pair of doubles and a triple to lead the winners. Ossie Chavarria knocked in four runs with four hits for Surrey. One of the blows was a two-run homer.

Vancouver 11 Surrey 6
Keith Wilson (W) and Len Gamlin
Randy Wiens, Greg Lindsay (L) (2), Brad McArthur (5), John Mickey (9) and Don Gurniak

Surrey forced the double-knockout event to the limit by defeating Pharaohs 5-2 with Rick Haughton's homer the key blow after having dumped Victoria 10-4.

Vancouver 2 Surrey 5
Brant Wragg (L), Les Babuin (6) and Len Gamlin
Steve Hynek (W), John Mickey (7) and Don Gurniak

Surrey 10 Victoria 4
John Mickey (W), Greg Lindsay (5) and Don Gurniak, Bob McAuley (6)
Bob Mabee (L), Gerry Lister (5) and Rick Mark, George Pakos (7)

On Sunday, Surrey had advanted with two shutouts, 9-0 over Nanaimo on Nick Mitchell's two-hitter and 8-0 over Vernon behind Gord Johnson's mound effort.

Surrey 9 Nanaimo 0
Nick Mitchell (W) and Bob McAuley
Buzz Forrest (L), Bruce Wilgress (4), Art Fransen (6) and Shawn McCumber

Okanagan 0 Surrey 8
Wayne Dye (L), Daryl Leier (4) and Gord Flann, Ed Johnston (5)
Gord Johnson (W) and Dan Gurniak, Bob McAuley (5)

Also on Sunday, the Pharaohs managed to squeak by Victoria 12-11.

Vancouver 12 Victoria 11
Les Babuin, Bill Bazaluk (4), Rick Mosher (6) and Len Gamlin
Wayne Krimmer, Derek Drinkwater (3), Rick Cook (5), Terry Karpiuk (7) and Rick Mark

Earlier, the Pharaohs also got a shutout as Keith Wilson turned the tables on Surrey spinning a four-hit gem and Rick Bultirude belted a homer in the eighth for a 1-0 triumph.

Vancouver 1 Surrey 0
Keith Wilson (W) and Len Gamlin
Randy Wiens (L) and Don Gurniak

Nanaimo edged Quesnel 2-1.

Quesnel 1 Nanaimo 2
Bruce Taylor (L) and Steve McDonald
Wayne Fransen, Art Fransen (W) (7) and Bruce Wiggress

The Okanagan All-Stars trailed Smithers until the Stars struck for four runs in the sixth inning and went on to a 7-6 win. Wayne Dye, Jeff Todd and Eddie Johnstone all had run-scoring hits in the big inning. Peter Brooks of Lumby picked up the pitching win in relief of John Hogg of Kamloops.

Smithers 6 Okanagan 7
Gary Pison, Bill Janzen (6), Don Janzen (6) and Tim Janzen
John Hogg, Peter Brooks (W) (6), Daryl Leier (7) and Jeff Todd

In opening action, Rick Mark singled with two out to give Victoria a 3-2 extra-inning victory over Nanaimo Friday in the first game of the BC Senior Amateur Baseball Tournament at Lambrick Park. The ninth inning safety by the Victoria catcher brought in Mike Squire, who had walked, with the deciding run. Mark, who had a single in the seventh inning, managed the only hits off the Nanaimo duo of Art Fransen and Al Hill. Fransen was relieved in the fifth after giving up his seventh base on balls. Gerry Lister, who gave up seven hits, went 8 2/3s for the winners with Rick Cook getting the final out with runners on first and third.

Fransen, Hill (5) and S.McCumber
Lister (W), Cook (9) and R.Mark

Held to just two hits in their first game, Victoria broke loose for 10 hits Saturday to trounce Smithers 12-2. Vancouver Capilanos blanked Surrey Sports 1-0, Smithers edged Quesnel 4-3 and Surrey beat Vernon's Okanagan nine 1-0.

Again, Rick Mark was the main man for Victoria with three hits. Garnet Moen drove in three runs, Bob Moysey had a two-run double and Dave Graas scored three times. Roy Maretti registered the win allowing two hits over five innings of work.

Brad McArthur fashioned the top mound performance of the event with a one-hit shutout in Surrey's triumph. He fanned 11. Wayne Martin doubled and scored on a single by Wayne Soroka in the sixth inning. Leo Gauthier, who yielded four hits in taking the loss, had the lone hit off McArthur.

Smithers 2 Victoria 12
Bill Janzen (L), Don Janzen (4) and Tim Janzen
Roy Moretti (W), Mike Squire (6) and Rick Mark

Quesnel 3 Smithers 4
Al Cameron, Bruce Atkins (5), Greg Polis (6) and John Booth
Bill Janzen, Don Janzen (W) (6) and Tim Janzen

Brad McArthur fired a one-hit shutout to lead Surrey to a 1-0 victory over Vernon. Losing pitcher Leo Gauthier, who got the only hit off McArthur, held the coast club to just four safeties.

Surrey 1 Vernon 0
Brad McArthur (W) and Dan Gurniak
Leo Gauthier (L) and John Flann


TWO HILLS TOURNAMENT

(July 31-Aug 2)   As a pitcher and hitter, Pete Duncan was the story for the Red Deer Generals Monday in a 9-5 victory over Barrhead Cardinals and top money at the Two Hills Tournament.  It was the fourth tournament win for the Generals this summer. Duncan scattered 11 hits and smacked a pair of two-run homers to power the Generals. Duncan and Hal Harris each had three of Red Deer's 16 hits. John Osborne and Burt Hass clouted homers for the Cards.

Duncan (W) and xxx
Hendley (L), Paiement (7) and xxx

Red Deer made it to the final by topping Calgary Jimmies 7-5. Bob Bridges cruised into the 9th inning with a two-hit shutout but the Jimmies erupted for five runs on a two-run homer by Ray Forgie and a three-run double by Rod Cruz. Generals had taken the lead in the 4th as Marty Shepherd singled in a run. Pete Duncan homered in the 7th to make in 2-0.  Then, in the 8th, the Generals had their own five-run inning.  Ken Nelson hit one out of the park and singles by Bill Adams and Randy Rasmussen, a walk, a fielder's choice and an infield out added up to four more. Rasmussen had three of Red Deer's seven hits, two of them doubles.

Bridges (W) and xxx
Moranda (L) and xxx

In the opening round, the Generals got a scare from the underdog St. Paul Bears who took a 10-2 lead before the Generals got untracked and prevailed, 15-10. The slugfest featured 35 hits, 19 by Red Deer. Gens exploded for seven runs in the 6th inning and four more in the 7th highlighted by Blair Hanna's three-run homer. Randy Rasmussen led all the hitters with five hits in six trips. Al McKee and Ken Nelson each had three. Jim Irvine and Jim McDonald each contributed four hits for St. Paul.

Kelly, Becker (5), Behlen (W) (5) and xxx
xxx and xxx


Canadian Sr. ProgramCANADIAN SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP, Fredericton

(August 19-22)  Calgary Jimmies trounced Chatham, New Brunswick 11-2 Sunday to claim the Canadian senior baseball title.  John Self's three-run homer in the first inning proved to be all the Jimmies needed.  Marty Maxwell added a two-run homer in the 8th. Ray Paiement had a three-hitter into the 8th inning when he weakened and allowed both Chatham runs. Phil LePage was the losing hurler.

Paiement (W), Hazell (8) and xxx
LePage (L), McClure (2), Peterson (9) and xxx

Terry LyndEarlier Sunday, Manitoba All-Stars won third-place bronze coming from behind on Terry Lynd's (left) three-run homer in the 9th to top Fredericton All-Stars 11-9.  Manitoba had an 8-5 lead until Fredericton got home runs in the 8th from Jean-Guy Pelletier and Jim Maxwell to plate four runs and take the lead. 

Alderman (L) and xxx
xxx, Falk (9) and xxx

Calgary advanced to the final with a 6-5 win Saturday night over Fredericton and Chatham won a finals berth by edging Manitoba 4-3 in a game that ended early Sunday morning.

Behind the solid hurling of Garth Neville, Manitoba carried a 3-2 lead through six innings, before Chatham scored a pair in the 7th.

Neville (L) and xxx
xxx and xxx

Alberta concluded preliminary play Saturday taking a slugfest from Chatham 18-17 while Manitoba shaded Fredericton 9-8.

Stan FurmanBoth Manitoba and the host team had 15 hits, but the prairie squad had the long ball. Stan Furman (left) clouted a three-run shot in the first, Barry Jamieson a two-run homer in the 6th and Mark Fisher added a solo blast in the 7th. Glennis Scott picked up the win in relief.

Ross Lynd, Scott (W) (7) and xxx
Alderman (L) and xxx

Tournament officials named Calgary's John Self as the most valuable player. The first baseman was a .500 hitter with 15 runs batted in with his four homer performance. He was named to the all-star team joining teammates Marty Maxwell at shortstop, Bob Papworth at second base and pitcher Ray Forgie. Others named were Fredericton outfielder Paul Hodgson and DH Jim Maxwell, Manitoba third baseman Stan Furman and Chatham outfielders Brent Hallett and Bill Daley.

Manitoba eliminated Ontario with a 5-3 win Friday. Chatham sent Quebec packing with a 13-0 triumph.

Gerry Falk tossed a seven-hitter for Manitoba and received support from a 13-hit attack, including Stan Furman's two-run homer in the 5th. Bert Ready and Dale Lowes each contributed three hits. Phil Schmidt took the loss.

Falk (W) and Lowes
Schmidt (L), Ambrose (3), McKillop (8) and Flanagan

Calgary whipped Quebec 16-2 in the opening round of the Canadian senior baseball championship Thursday.  First baseman John Self connected for two homers, one of them a grand slam. Dale Tilleman drilled a three-run shot to cap a six-run first inning.  Jimmies raked two Quebec hurlers for 18 hits.

Elias (L), Clement (8) and xxx
xxx and xxx

In the other game on opening day, the host Fredericton All-Stars parlayed a walk, a sacrifice and a throwing error into a 1-0 win over Ontario, an all-star club from the provinces Inter-County Major Baseball League.


WESTERN CANADA INTERMEDIATE BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT

(September 4-5)  A team representing the east-central Alberta village of Czar, located some 43 miles from the border with Saskatchewan, captured the western Canada intermediate A baseball championship in a two-day double-knockout tournament held in Glenboro MB. The Alberta representatives had qualified for the western finals by eliminating the Edmonton Cardinals of the Sunburst Baseball League, amongst others, to annex the intermediate title within the Wildrose province.
    
Along with Czar, competing in the tourney were clubs from the South-East League of Saskatchewan, the Manitoba intermediate representative Teulon Cardinals and the hosting Glenboro Canucks of the South-Central (East) League.
    
Czar won the “A” bracket in the event defeating Teulon 3 to 2 on the strength of a three-run homer by John Anderson. The Cardinals then sidelined Glenboro 10 to 4 to take the “B” side of the competition and followed that up with a 17 to 1 pasting of Czar, behind the pitching of NHL’er Chuck Lefley as well as the hitting of Brock McConachy and Boris “Yogi” Happychuk, to force another showdown match.  In the finale, the third meeting between the foes, the Albertans broke a 9 – 9 tie in the bottom-of-the-ninth inning on a solo home run by winning pitcher Daryl Charlton off former Neepawa Cub Pat Angers, to grab the rubber-match and the championship in a 10 to 9 walkoff thriller.


ENDERBY SENIOR BASEBALL TOURNAMENT

TEAMS
Brewster WA Spoilers
Calgary Cardinals
Calgary Odeons
Enderby Legionnaires
Quesnel Billy Barker Inn
Quesnel Kopetski A’s
Vancouver Puccinis

(September 4 – 6)    Vancouver Puccinis downed Calgary Odeons 6-2 over the weekend to capture top money of $500 in the annual Enderby Senior Baseball Tournament. The host team finished third in the seven team event. Ron Peterson of Vancouver was named the top pitcher and teammate John Haar the best hitter. Enderby's Ron Carter was selected as the most valuable player. The tourney saw six home runs, two by Haar, and singletons by Gerry Reimer and Cam Hannah of Enderby, Steve Huska of Quesnel and Robert Pozzi of Vancouver.


KAMLOOPS INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENT

(September 6)   The Washington State All-Stars upset the defending champion Alaska Goldpanners 10-9 Monday to take top money of $5,000  in the Kamloops International Tournament. In a see-saw affair, Washington went ahead for good with a three-run rally in the 8th inning. Reliever Brad Meyring was the winning pitcher. John Mangusso took the loss in relief of Mike Couchee.  Panner catcher Pete Rowe was ejected during an argument after a runner was called safe at home. It was the second time in the tourney the All-Stars had beaten the three-time champion Goldpanners. All-Stars won 10-8 in 11 innings Saturday night. The Alaska squad then rebounded to down Red Deer 14-6 to advance to the final.

Goldpanners had a 3-1 lead after two frames keyed by Phil Westendorf's homer. Dan Newell had given Washington the lead with a first inning circuit clout. Bob Krause made it 3-2 with a four-bagger in the third and Washington pulled ahead on a two-run homer by Jim Carrithers in the fifth.  Alaska regained the advantage as Jim Chapados cracked a homer with a man aboard in the bottom of the fifth.  Trailing 8-7 in the eighth, Washington scored three times, a pair coming home on Carrithers' single and another, the eventual winner, on a single by Bill Hainline, his fourth hit of the game.

Pete RoweNewell, the Washington shortstop, was selected as the tournament's Most Valuable Player. Alaska catcher Pete Rowe (right) was tabbed as the defensive star aided by his offensive output which included seven RBI in games prior to the final and a teaming leading batting average.

Oregon second baseman and DH Tom Rush was the tourney's top hitter while Meyring was selected for the top pitching award.

Riechenburg, Meyring (W) and xxx
Couchee, Mangusso (L), Wilkins and Rowe, xxx

In the opening game of the tournament, Edmonton won by default over Walla Walla.

The Washington All-Stars launched their championship bid with a 9-2 triumph over Gresham, Oregon. Bill Hainline's two run homer in the second inning sparked a 12-hit attack. Jim Carrithers had a solo homer and Bob Weiss had three hits and scored four runs.  Bruce Fox had a circuit clout and a run-scoring double for the losers. Brad Meyring was the winning hurler.

Meyring (W) and xxx
Bruce Plato (L) and xxx

Hillsboro, Oregon battered Vancouver Auroras with a 17-hit offensive in notching a 12-8 victory, highlighted by homers from Wally Backman, Cory Kerwood and Jay BeckmanSteve Voorheis drove in the first two runs and had three hits. Tom Bush added a single and a pair of two-baggers.  Don Gurniak led Vancouver with four hits.

John Dunn (W) and xxx
xxx and xxx

Alaska Goldpanners scored five runs in the 4th inning Friday to take an 8-0 lead and went on to dump Red Deer 9-3 in their opening game.  Eric Wilkins recorded the pitching win, with help from Mike Kinnunen and Mike Couchee. Jeff G. Doyle and Jeff D. Doyle combined for four runs batted in.

Wilkens (W), Kinnunen, Couchee and xxx
Bridges (L), xxx, xxx and xxx

Gresham, Oregon won by default over Walla Walla.

Red Deer crushed Vancouver 18-7 as reliever Gorman Heimueller settled down a see-saw game in the early innings, notching three pickoffs to give him six in two games.  The Red Deer onslaught included 23 hits with Al McKee slugging a homer, double and single. Marty Maxwell punched out four singles and John Self and Russ McKee added four-baggers. For Vancouver, John Duda hit his second and third homers in a losing cause. Ossie Chavarria added a three-run homer in the first inning for Vancouver.

Williams (L), Lindsay (4), Johnson (8), Duda (8) and Gurniak
Kamp, Heimueller (W) (4) and Price

Ray Forgie fired a four-hit shutout as Red Deer trampled Edmonton 11-0 as Marty Maxwell clubbed a pair of two-run homers. Russ McKee added a two-run shot and Hal Harris had a solo blast.

Forgie (W) and Price
Thompson (L), Kowalishen (6) and Ireland

Jeff DoyleThe Alaska Goldpanners broke loose in the late innings to down Hillsboro, Oregon, 7-2 Saturday.  Tied 1-1 into the seventh inning, Alaska pulled ahead on a run-scoring single by Jeff D. Doyle (left) and also had back-to-back homers in the eighth by Pete Rowe and pinch-hitter Jim Chapados. Oregon got a homer from Mike Backman.

Bill Knudson, Mike Hendley and xxx
Glen Heard (L) and xxx

Washington exploded for four runs in the first inning and coasted to a 12-2 victory over Edmonton.  Craig Caskey was the winning hurler.

Caskey (W) and xxx
xxx and xxx

Wally BackmanInfielder Wally Backman (left) had a sensational game both in the field and at the plate in leading Hillsboro to a 12-4 victory over Gresham.  The 16-year-old high school student cracked two homers, a double and two singles and sparkled in a defensive role. 

Mike Spring added a four-bagger, double and two singles, good for five runs batted in. Steve Rudolph and Bruce Fox homered for Gresham.  Gary Zagelow had 18-hit support in posting the pitching victory.

Zagelow (W) and xxx
xxx and xxx

In a Sunday night, 11-inning thriller, Washington topped Alaska 10-8 on former Goldpanner Greg Chandler's game-winning homer.  Bob Krause and Mike Carey also had two-run shots for the winners. Alaska got a three-run blast from Tim Twyte and a two-run clout from Doug Elliot both in the fifth inning. Craig Caskey, a former Goldpanner and major leaguer with the Expos did an outstanding job in relief in the 11th inning.

xxx, Caskey and xxx
xxx and xxx

The Goldpanners jumped into a big, 7-1 lead, after two innings, keyed by Tim Twyte's grand slam homer, to trounce Red Deer 14 to 6 and win a berth in the tournemant final. Pete Rowe drove in five runs for the winners with a homer and three singles.

Reynolds (L), Bridges (2), Heimueller (4) and Price
Wilkins (W), Kinnunen (7). Leach (7) and Rowe

Washington won a spot in the final with an easy 13-0 romp over Hillsboro as Dan Schmid fired a four-hitter for the shutout.

Schmid (W) and xxx
xxx and xxx