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| '55 Resorters League Champs |
Lowry's inaugural 1954 baseball season had been pretty good, finishing 2nd in the Resorter's League with a 7-2 record behind Evansville and losing to them in the playoffs, with one game the wrong end of a 19-0 score.
1955
The '55 club was managed by Dr. Lawrence Wright, a St. Olaf grad who had completed his service in the US Air Force in 1953 and started a dental practice in Lowry. There were high expectations for the season and the boys did not disappoint. The season turned on a marathon 14 inning home win over Miltona just a week after a loss to Brandon. Jerry Hayenga pitched a complete game, facing 55 hitters. He recorded 20 strikeouts. (Apparently, pitch counts were not in vogue in 1955. They didn't keep track of such esoteric statistics then, but 55 hitters must translate to 250 or more pitches. Ice that arm.) Georgie Dieter hit a 3 run walkoff homer in the bottom of the 14th. Lowry finished the season with a 9-1 record, 1 game better than runner-up Brandon.
Lowry & Brandon had split their 2 games during the season, but Lowry advanced to the double elimination Region 9 Class B tournament with 2 straight playoff wins over Brandon. The tourney, held in Morris, was for the right to advance to state tourney in Chaska. Region 9 teams included: Resorters League (Lowry), Chippewa River (Elbow Lake), Land-o-Ducks (Wheaton); Pomme de Terre (Clontarf) and Corn Belt (Willmar). Because of the number of games in a short period, teams were allowed to "draft" 2 pitchers and a catcher from other teams in their league. Corky Sherrer and Dean Plaster from Brandon and Larry Wilke from Miltona joined the roster for the tournament.
"Among standouts on Lowry's roster are George Dieter, a hard-hitting outfielder; Al Sell, a smooth fielding 2nd baseman; Jerry Hayenga, pitcher and infielder; and Glen Herrlinger, catcher."
Lowry dropped the first game to Wheaton 10-9 in 12 innings. Wheaton scored 6 runs in innings 7-8-9 with 2 in the 9th to send the game to extra innings. With 2 out in the bottom of the 12th, Wheaton pushed across a run on a misfired pickoff play to take the win. The Wheaton catcher recorded 18 putouts - I suspect almost all would have been strikeouts and Lowry committed 5 errors. What's that adage about pitching and defense? Disappointment awaits.
Lowry battled back in the losers bracket, beating Clontarf 4-1 behind the pitching of Jeener Bosek, but were eliminated by Willmar 6-3 in the evening tilt.
Wheaton won 4 straight Region 9 games, defeating Willmar in the championship game taking them into the State Tournament. However, Wheaton got clobbered by Rollingstone in the 1st round of the state tourney. Cold Spring was the eventual 1955 Class B Minnesota State Champion.
The following April, the Resorters champion Leghorns were feted with a banquet sponsored by their fans and hosted at the Dahl House in Lowry with about 45 attendees. Mayor Chester Bennett lauded the players fine performance in the '55 season, stating "their skill and sportsmanship were an asset to the community." He then presented the Resorters League championship trophy and the Region 9 sportsmanship trophy to the team.
John "Jeener" Bosek was awarded a medal for the highest league batting average. Gary Boldenow was awarded a medal for the highest batting average in the playoffs. George Dieter was voted MVP with his 15 hits, 15 runs & 15 stolen bases during the regular season.
With the departure of Doc Wright, Al Sell was elected manager; Jerry Hayenga & George Dieter co-captains; Ray Hayenga, secretary-treasurer and Arnie Gunness director along with Ray for the '56 season.
With everyone committed to returning, there were great hopes for a repeat title in '56.
*1955 Lowry Leghorn playoff team photo
(I'm guessing on some of these - indicated by a "?" and some I cannot place the name with the face. Help me out - corrections welcome)
Back Row - left to right
Dr. Lawrence Wright, mgr; Dean Plaster, Brandon pitcher (draftee), Burdell Benson?, Dave Opheim?, Corky Scherrer, Brandon catcher (draftee), Dennis Bosek, Jerry Hayenga, unidentified, Gary Boldenow, Glen Herrlinger, Larry Wilke, Miltona pitcher (draftee)
Front Row - left to right
John "Jeener" Bosek, Georgie Dieter, unidentified
Bat Boy - who was that lucky kid? Bruce Hayenga (Jerry's little brother)
Candidates for the "unidentifieds": Benjie Troen, Frank Bosek, Arnie Gunness ...
Note: This series of posts is supported by Ray Hayenga's scrapbook which came to me from his son Bruce by way of Dave Chan. Ray collected every Park Region Echo clipping on the Lowry ball team from 1954 to 1962. I have digitized this scrapbook. If you want a look, here's a link:Ray Hayenga's Scrapbook. Caveat: It's a large .pdf file. Your browser may not be able to preview it but you should be able download it.
Episode 1: The Ballpark
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Copyright © 2018 Dave Hoplin
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