WYNDMERE BASEBALL

By George Johnson, Jr. Adelaide Wodarz Mel & Harriet Hendricks

"Take me out to the ballqame." Sunday afternoon pastimes in the hamlets and small towns on the North Dakota prairie in the late 1880's and the early 1900's included the competitive game of baseball and Wyndmere was no exception. Wherever family or neighborhood gatherings were held during the spring and summer months baseball was played. Men and boys "chose up" sides and with the "womenfolk" as spectators, competitive games were played. The first baseball diamond was located north of West Birch, where the race track and grandstand were standing. With the automobiles arrival, the population became more mobile and competition was created between towns. About that time the baseball diamond was moved south of the schools where the present school now stands.

1933 Baseball Team

Front Row: Duane Mellem, Gordon Jones, Shorty Naze, Fred Pelvit, George Carver, Arnold Dahlman. Back Row: Byron Lee, Lyle Gullickson, Laddie Anderson, George Dahlman, Lester Blow, Irwin Dokken. Bat Boy: Hoddy Jones.

1947 Baseball Team

Front Row: Huns Wittkopp, Eldon Starin, Met Hendricks, Fritz Pelvit, Hoddy Jones, Elmer Lischefski. Bat Boy: Jimmy Freese. Back Row: Norman Oberg, Don Griffin, Web Erickson, Butch Mathiesen, JR Johnson, Alvin Dotzenrod, Johnny Schmit and George Carver, coach.

The Southern Valley League was organized in 1947, with Wyndmere and eight other clubs participating. The first year in the league was probably one of Wyndmere's most exciting and eventful. Some of the articles taken from the Wyndmere Herald describe the outstanding games that perpetuated the enthusiasm for this sport: Thursday, Aug. 21, 1947-WOW! WHAT A GAME!-Over 300 attending the Wyndmere-Great Bend ball game last Sunday experienced enough thrills to last them for several days. Scorekeepers ran short of zeroes as ten and one half innings rolled by without a runner crossing the home plate to tally. Then came the last of the 11 th, and a lone tally pushed across by Hendricks of Wyndmere which was needed to end the struggle. Here's the way it happened: Hendricks, first up, singled sharply, Griffin lifted a high one just back of the infield which dropped safely between three Great Benders, any of whom could have grabbed it for an easy out; a pinch hitter swung at a third strike, a wild pitch by Bohn of Great Bend, runners advancing to 2nd and 3rd. Lischefski up, with orders to pull a surprise bunt from coach Carver; everything set for bunt and run; Bohn throws a wide one to Lischefski; Hoddy Jones, Wyndmere's ace pitcher rushes out with a plea to Carver to let Lischefski sock it; a change of signals developed accordingly, but, third base coach and runner Hendricks failed to catch the change; results on the next pitch to Lischefski, a wide one, Hendricks started for home and was two-thirds of the way in, when he found he was trapped; forcing the throw from catcher to third baseman and back to catcher several times, he finally lunged for home. Great Bend's catcher was squarely in his path and put the ball on Hendricks, but Hendricks using his prerogative, spilled the catcher with the ball dropping from his hand. The game was a pitchers battle from start to finish. Hoddy Jones of Wyndmere striking out 24 and allowing only 3 hits and Bohn of Great Bend taking 14 strike outs and allowing but 8 hits. Hoddy also got himself a nice 2 bagger but was out at third when trying to stretch it into a triple. Alvin Dotzenrod came close to having a perfect day at bat, but robbed of a three bagger when the umps called a line drive of his foul, which according to spectators on the foul line near where it landed, claimed it was two feet inside the line. The hit, made in the 9th might have ended the game without extra innings as it could have been a homer before retrieved. The loss of the game was costly to Great Bend as a victory would have created a tie with McLeod for the playoff. Hendricks had a perfect day at bat and stopped a wild heave from the infield in a later inning to put out the two runners on 2nd and 3rd."

1953 Baseball Team

Front Row: Balzer Freezon, Jake Lillestol, Ray Heitkamp, Mel Hendricks. Back Row: Don Dahl, Duke Snyder, Bill Brown, Web Erickson, Vern Eberly, Jimmy Freese, Hoddy Jones, Conrad Sanden, JR Johnson, Don Griffin, Al Dotzenrod.

Wyndmere Herald-Thursday, Aug. 28, 1947­"WYNDMERE NINE WINS SOUTHERN LEAGUE TITLE-Celebrations were numerous on Sunday night among the Wyndmere fans as they headed for various places of amusement following the play off clincher Sunday afternoon. McLeod, second half winners were downed by Wyndmere, winners of the first half, and runner up for the final half by the score of 16-5. Things, however, were not so rosy in the first three innings of the game as McLeod piled up a four run lead in the second when Hoddy Jones, tired from his pitching efforts of the previous day proved ineffective. He was relieved following the McLeod outburst in the third by Alvin Dotzenrod, who after settling down, allowed the McLeod boys but one hit and one run. Alvin, a speed ball artist had a little difficulty in the third, filling the sacks, but settled down at this point and closed McLeod out scoreless, putting the ball on a third base runner himself who attempted stealing home when catcher Wittkopp was out of the catcher's box. Wyndmere scoreless up to this time, woke up in the fourth and their bats began to sing sweet music as hits intermingled with errors of their opponents rushed across four runs for a tie in the fourth. Griffin, hitting for a homer with two on, Lischefski and Jones, Dotzenrod scoring previously. In the fifth they followed thru with three more runs, Wittkopp, Hendricks and Dotzenrod sinking their spikes into the home plate. In the sixth, Wittkopp and Griffin added two more to the run column, Jones scored in the seventh and in the eighth McLeod blew their top and watched Hendricks, Dotzenrod, Lischefski, Jones, Johnson and Mathiesen cross the platter to swell the total to 16 runs. McLeod was thru following a solitaire in the fifth when I. Olerud scored and Dotzenrod burned them over for the balance of the game being charged with one lonely hit for his six innings out there on the mound. Wyndmere's summary for the game was 16 runs, 12 hits and 3 errors; McLeod, 5 runs, 4 hits (3 off Jones) and 9 errors."

Wyndmere Herald-Saturday, Aug. 30, 1947­"Saturday's game, Wyndmere 5, McLeod 2, was a beauty to watch. Jones held McLeod down to 4 hits and Dale Hauge on the mound for McLeod allowed but five hits. Five errors by his support, however, materially assisted in his defeat. Wittkopp and Mathiesen were responsible for the two runs that crossed the platter in the third and Dotzenrod, Lischefski and Jones scored in the sixth. That was all, as Hauge tightened up at that point. Batting punch in the play off which had considerable to do with the decision going to Wyndmere was as follows: Wittkopp-166, Hendricks-250, Dotzenrod-416, Lischefski-200, Jones-593, Schmit-125, Griffin-250, Johnson-166. The season's batting averages for the Wyndmere boys is, Jones 359, Dotzenrod 356, Griffin 340, Lischefski 314, Hendricks 300, Schmit 271, Johnson 258, Erickson 200, Wittkopp 170, Pelvit 167, Mathiesen 162. That's really batting strength that would make any opponents in the same league class shudder. The pitching of Jones and Dotzenrod was sensational throughout the season as well and the boys won their games thru consistently smart ball playing. They are entitled to their splendid success throughout the season." Wyndmere Herald-Thursday, Sept. 4, 1947-"WYNDMERE BOYS PLACE THIRD IN STATE BASEBALL TOURNEY", following a beautiful 2 to 1 victory for Wyndmere over a fast New England ball club on Thursday, the boys took on the Rugby Club to the tune of 8 to 5. Then came the crucial game with Valley City. Injuries to Wyndmere pitchers, Milt Bohn who broke his pitching arm during warm up Thursday and Hoddy Jones, whose arm showed an infection on top of being sore, had put the entire pressure on Hauge and Dotzenrod with Jones pitching at intervals. In spite of this tremendous handicap, the boys came thru and twice were leading Valley City. The score stood 10 to 8 in the 9th with VC on the long end. Wyndmere in the top end of the inning came to bat, Olerud went out, Hendricks hit a stinging single, Griffin grounded to second. Hendricks had to hurdle the hit ball which he clearly did; VC's 2nd baseman bobbled the ball and it rolled past him; Hendricks had slid into second, figuring the play would be close but was up in a flash, urged on by third base coach to head for third, another slide and a close play but umpire Powell, guardian of the third sack decision, called him safe. Wyndmere coach Carver, signaled for Lischefski, next batter to let the first ball pass and for Griffin to attempt to steal to second. At this point, catcher manager of VC, who previously had caused one of the four umpires to reverse a decision, took off his mask and walked down to the umpire at third base and presented a claim that Hendricks should be called out for interference with Griffin's hit thru second. Powell then reversed his decision and called Hendricks out. Bedlam broke loose in the stands as coach Carver and the entire Wyndmere team vehemently protested but to no avail. The irony of the situation developed soon after when Lischefski came thru with a long double which in all probability would have scored the two runs needed for the tie. Wyndmere, the surprise team of the tourney, was thru as the next batter lifted a short pop up for the final out."

A roster of players throughout the years of ball in Wyndmere were: Hoddy Jones, AI Dotzenrod, Huns Wittkopp, Mel Hendricks, JR Johnson, Web Erickson, Conrad Sanden, Don Griffin, Jack Griffin, Jack Bailey, Roger Mathiesen, Ken Krause, Fred Pelvit, Jim Freese, Gary Dahl, LeRoy Lekang, Johnny Schmit, Duke Snyder Elmer Lischefski, Butch Mathiesen, Wayne Link, Ray Heitkamp, Roger Nelson, James Springer, Bill Brown, Jerry Bratten, Denny Freese, Donald Dahl, Jake Lillestol and Vern Eberly.

There was always excitement and intense baseball fever at each game. One such incident took place at Galchutt. The tension was running high because both teams needed this victory. Suddenly an irate fan from Galchutt, darted out and landed a solid left hook to a Wyndmere coach, knocking him down and out cold. The fans erupted from the stands and cars and jumped in to defend their colleagues. Fortunately a group of quick-thinking Galchutt fans removed the puncher from the ball park and saved the potential fracas. That's baseball FEVER!!!

Later in 1954, Wyndmere joined the Twin State League. In 1958, George Carver was president of the North Dakota Amateur Baseball Association, and JR Johnson and Mel Hendricks were officers in the Twin State League. We have two players who have been inducted into the North Dakota Baseball Hall of Fame: Hoddy Jones, inducted January 8, 1970 and Melvin Hendricks, inducted March 6, 1982. There were faithfuls who never missed a practice, those in the agricultural community who often left a busy harvest to participate. Wyndmere's baseball team was always followed by a host of faithful fans. Baseball was introduced into the Wyndmere school system and in 1957, the Warriors honored the community with the state championship. During the years of the 1950's to the 1980's, the American Legion has sponsored the baseball program for the youth.

Wyndmere Missile-August 5, 1965 - "WYNDMERE JUNIOR LEGION BASEBALL TEAM DISTRICT 5 CHAMPS-The district 5 Legion Tournament was held in Mooreton, with Wyndmere meeting their first tournament team Mantador, and defeating them 8-3. Semi-final play brought Wyndmere against Great Bend, with Wyndmere defeating them 14-4. The championship game was held under lights at Mooreton, August 1, to a capacity crowd. Wyndmere played an errorless game to become victorious over Walcott Legion 6-2. This was a hard fought game. Walcott scoring 2 runs in the top of the first inning, Wyndmere coming through with one score in the bottom of the first, tying the score in the bottom of the second. Wyndmere went ahead in the 7th inning, scoring one run, added 3 more runs in the 8th inning, to become the Legion District Champs. The battery for the 3 games were Brian Griffin and Vance Cink with Dean Haberman relieving Brian in the bottom of the 6th of the semi-final game. The Legion team are: Jim Borud, Dean Haberman, Dave Sanden, Brian Griffin, Dan Thompson, LeRoy Fickert, Keith Duncan, Vance Cink, Greg Boyer, John Steele and Curt Griffin with coaches Al Dotzenrod and Mel Hendricks."

Slowly baseball has given away to softball in the Wyndmere area.

American Jr. Legion Team

Front Row: Frances Heitkamp, Curt Iwen, Greg Puetz, Dennis Foertsch and Jerry Nankivel. Back Row: Scott Link, Chuck Hendricks, Randy Iwen, Pat Link, Miles Johnson, Henry Wittkopp and Steve Becker.