Lakes Division Tourney Champions: On left side, left to right: Rick Berry, Dennis Kennedy, Manager Gary Hillabolt, Ralph Wolf, Tim Loeffler, and Doug Warwick. On right side from left to right: Doug Friesen, Frank Rouse, Jim Votel, Don Scoggins, Bob Ziedler, and Billy Jacobson.
Larry Wolfe
In the opening contest of the Lakes Division tournament, Manager Vern Rodgers’ top-seeded First Response Roofers drubbed Manager Dave Kratz’s A-1 Golf Carts squad by a 16-4 score. Batting champ Doug Friesen led the victors with three hits and a walk. Dick Bleich and Dan Malachuk added three safeties each. Bill Matson had three hits for the Golfers.
In the second game, the Young Home Team, managed by Gary Hillabolt, edged Manager Kim Van Nausdle’s Robson Reserve squad 17-15 in a high scoring affair. Jim Votel led the Realtors with four hits; he was supported by Bob Montelione, Doug Warwick and Mike Willits, who each had three hits. Don Fulton led the Reservists with three hits and a walk including two triples.
On day two, the Young Home Team beat the Roofers 19-16. The Realtors trailed the Roofers 16-13 entering the final inning but plated six runs to take the lead. The Roofers loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh but were held scoreless. Frank Rouse went five for five to lead the Realtors with Ralph Wolf banging out four hits. Manager Rodgers led his team with four hits and a walk while Kelly Anderson and Garnet Hammer also had four hits each.
In game four the A-1 Golfers eliminated Robson Reserve 19-13. Billy Jacobson, with four hits including a home run, and Dave Swann, with four hits including two doubles, led the Golfers while Don Scoggins and John Vesey had three safeties each for Robson.
On the final day of the tournament the A-1 Golfers topped the First Response Roofers 18-9. In what was a close contest through six innings with A-1 leading 10-8 at that point, but they rallied for an eight spot in the seventh to secure the win and a trip to the championship game. Dave Martin paced the Golfers with four hits. He was supported by Manager Kratz, Warren Littleford and Jim Votel, who each had three hits. Dan Malachuk had three hits for the Roofers.
In the thrilling championship game, A-1 trailed the Young Home Team 20-13 entering the final frame, but they rallied for eight runs to take a one-run lead at 21-20. Sadly, for the Golfers, that was not enough, as the Realtors pushed across two runs of their own to win the championship 22-21 in the highest scoring game of the entire tournament. Doug Warwick led the winners with five hits while Billy Jacobson and Bob Zeidler added four each. Bob Molter led the Golfers with four hits including a long triple. He was supported by six teammates who had three safeties each.
Tournament leaders in the major hitting categories were:
Jim Votel, most singles, 14
Doug Warwick, most doubles, four
Don Fulton, most triples, two
Billy Jacobson and Ron Guidi, most homers, one each
Bob Zeidler, highest batting average, .909
Doug Warwick, highest slugging average, 1.056
Congratulations to Manager Hillabolt and the entire Young Home Team. Also, kudos to Manager Kratz and the scrappy A-1 Golfers, who after finishing last in the regular season, almost pulled a major upset.