Key figures in founding the team and marketing it were school principal Martin Chalaturnyk and dedicated coach Johnny Parobec. Parobec played, coached or managed for four decades. The Angusville Cardinals were always a top contender in the North West League, and travelled extensively throughout Manitoba and Saskatchewan to play tournaments- Saltcoats, Langenburg, Churchbridge, Spy Hill, Madge Lake, Binscarth, Gilbert Plains, Gradview, Oak River, Cardale, Birtle, etc. The Cardinals won one provincial intermediate championship in 1965 and lost in two provincial finals in 1963 and 1968. Later the Angusville Cardinals moved to senior calibre ball and competed very well for nine years in MSBL.

The top news story from Angusville in 1963 was when the Angusville Cardinals won the Ab Richardson trophy, which was presented at their banquet. This was awarded to Angusville as runners-up for the Provincial Baseball championship. During the playdowns, after winning the North-Western Baseball League, they defeated all opposition until they finally lost out in the third and deciding game of the final championship series with Pilot Mound.

The Cardinals relied on the pitching skills of left-handers Jack Kostuik, Brian McCauley, Currnie Churchmuch and right-handers Stan Furman, Henry Hrubeniuk, Joe Blackbird, Richard Gallant. Catching duties were shared by Bill Sidoryk and Barry Wowk until a sharp shooter named Merril Kilwnik appeared on the scene.

The team was spearheaded by Team Manager John Parobec whose love and dedication for the game prompted recruitment of players from neighbouring communities. John’s playing, coaching, and managerial skills marked a period of four decades in the Angusville Community.

The following year of 1964, the Cardinals won the Juvenile Championship. Once again, the year 1965 brought well-deserved honours for the Cardinal team. Angusville Cardinals won the Manitoba Intermediate Baseball Championship by defeating Pilot Mound Pilots 4-3 in 13 innings. Currnie Churchmuch provided the heroics with a home run in the bottom of the thirteenth inning. The champs received the D. Stark and Son Trophy, and the F. Clement & Sons Trophy.

The Cardinals did extensive travel to tournaments taking top prize money in Rehin, Saltcoats, Spyhill, Langenburg, Churchbridge, McNutt, Calder, Mag Lake, Binscarth, Gilbert Plains, Gradview, Oak River, Cardale, Notre Dame De Lourdes, Sommerset, etc.

In 1966 the Cardinals had a terrific season, only to be beaten by the Binscarth Orioles in the league finals.

In 1968 the Cardinals once again won the Northwest League and proceeded to the Provincial Finals only to lose to the Thompson Reds in the third and deciding game. In 1968 ball players were in abundance thus resulting in the formation of a junior team following in the footsteps of the Cardinals.

Other notable years were 1972 when the Angusville Cardinals won the Senior “B” Provincial Championships.

The Cardinals later joined the Manitoba Senior Baseball League where their presence was known for nine years.

The Baldur Regals captured the Border West Senior AA Baseball League title six consecutive seasons (2006-2011) and went on to win the Manitoba Senior AA provincial crown three straight years, 2008-10, while also being the 2011 Senior AA semi-finalists. They reached the pinnacle of Senior AA supremacy by winning the Western Canadian title at Peace River, Alberta in 2009.

Series MVP Darrick Jones was named 2009 Senior AA player of the year, and the Regals’ coach Gerry Janz was selected as the MBA High-Performance Coach in 2009. Pitcher Chris Reykdal was Senior AA player of the year in 2008 and southpaw Anthony Friesen was also a key member of the Regals pitching staff.

https://web.archive.org/web/20150615181849/http://www.pembinavalleyonline.com/local-sports/44516-regals-join-baseball-hall-of-fame-video

Back Row, left to right: W.G. Glen Cumming, Glen Stephenson, Ron Gray, Harvey Gray (Coach), Babe (James) Gordon, Harvey (Wimp) Williamson, Roy Gislason, Neil Cline.
Middle Row: Dick Myers, Dan Hyrich, Leo Stephenson, Henry Nicholson.
Front Row: Bub English, Grant Stephenson, Lloyd (Dudley) Lambkin, Tommy Lee, Ronny Mathers (bat boy) Lorne Lambkin (fan).
Missing: Lloyd Danridge.

In 1935 Belmont had 2 teams, a senior club and a high school team, but only one set of uniforms. Played off for the uniforms and the high school team won so they got the uniforms and thus began Belmont A’s. Successive coaches were Reg Sadler (teacher), Alex Reid, Lloyd Mathers and Harvey Gray. The first tournament always was May 24th at Ninette. Played 4 tournaments a week in July, no Sunday ball except at Notre Dame, often played 3 successive days. Harvesting in August curtailed play. Won $300 at July 1st tournaments in Morden and Neepawa, lost in finals to Neepawa in first interleague playoffs (1951) won Central Manitoba Baseball Association crown at Neepawa (1052). Belmont A’s were highly respected and successful in the 30s, 40s and 50s in Manitoba and eastern Saskatchewan due to great pitching and hitting. In 1946 Belmont A’s tied Brandon Greys 4-4 at Kinsmen Stadium. “Babe” Gordon, Lloyd Dandridge and Neil “Dozer” Cline were great chuckers.

From 1991-1996 the Boissevain Centennials dominated the South West League and were regular attendees at the Manitoba Senior AA Championships where they often took home the titles.

The team won the S.W.B.L. title each year from 1991-1994 and again in 1996. In 1993 and 1994 they finished their season undefeated.

In 1991 and 1996 the Centennials won the Manitoba Senior AA Championship. In 1992 and 1993 they qualified for the provincial competition and made it to the semi-finals.

In 1996 at the Senior AA Championships held at Grandview the team gave up only five runs in their first five games thanks to M.V.P. pitcher, Junior Brake.

Back Row: Ed Strain, Johnny Maroniuk, Roy Meneer, Barney Strain, Ivan Grant, Cliff Holloway, Alex Baron
Front Row: Tommy Inverarity, Arnold McFarlane, Wilbur Strain, Claude Reid.Bat Boy: Ivan Strain

Missing: Tommy Dickson, Harvey McFarlane, Roy Minera,  Clarence Strain

The 1946 Carberry Royals are the first team inducted into a special category for teams from communities with less than 1000 people. The team travelled nearly 3200 miles and won almost $3500 in tournaments held in various places in southern Manitoba. They travelled by truck with the body of a bus on the back.

During the six years from 1979–1984, the Carberry Royals won five Santa Clara Baseball League titles losing n the finals the other year. This group of entirely local players was managed by Malcolm McDonald. They won 159 games over this span losing only 62 times. They owned their own bus, enjoyed playing together, created considerable community interest and had a large fan base.

During the early 1950’s, players from the Wheathill, Buffalo Lake, and Chatfield areas joined together to form a baseball team in Chatfield. From 1949 to 1954, the team was in their building stage. By 1952, Chatfield has established a very strong and dominant baseball team that played in weekend tournaments. Chatfield played in tournaments throughout central Manitoba. Some of the interlake towns with baseball tournaments that Chatfield took part in were: Arborg, Ashern, Broad Valley, Eriksdale, Fisher Branch, Hodgson, Inwood, Gimli, Lundar, Poplarfield, Oak Point, St. Laurent, Siglunes, Stonewall, Teulon, and Woodlands. Chatfield also ventured out to bigger tournaments such as Vita and Notre Dame de Lourdes. In these distant tournaments, Chatfield played against well-known Manitoba teams such as Fort Whyte, Precious Blood, St. Boniface, Brandon, Carman, and teams from the United States.

Chatfield also had their own tournaments. In 1955 they held three tournaments in Chatfield and won all of their tournaments. At most tournamentsChatfield was usually in the finals and very rarely would they go home without any of the prize money.

Clearwater has hosted an annual Canada Day Baseball Tournament for the past 64 years. Despite the community’s small population, Clearwater has fielded a competitive team in this tournament for the last 50 years.

In 1984, Clearwater won the Provincial Senior AA Championship under colourful manager Harold Orr at Grosse Isle. They won a second championship at Sinclair Park in Winnipeg in 1987.

In 1986, Clearwater captured the Border West Baseball League title. Clearwater were league finalists in 1985 and West Division champions in 1988.

The Deloraine Royals of the early 1980s were frequent champions of the South West League. On three occasions they also won what now would be called the Manitoba Senior AA Championship. They were runner-up once. During this span of six years they represented Manitoba in the Western Canadian championships four times, and at Vibank, Saskatchewan, in 1983 they won this event. The members of the Deloraine Royals were an integral part of their town and contributed to the community in a number of ways. In particular, many of them coached youth baseball and other minor sports.

The Ebb and Flow Lakers representing the Ebb and Flow First Nation in central Manitoba were a very successful tournament team during the early 90’s not only in the province but also in Saskatchewan, Alberta, and Minnesota. Although no statistical records were kept, the team had an estimated .900 winning percentage against several of competition including such top teams as the Elmwood Giants, Teulon Cardinals, Reston Rockets. Competing one year in the provincial intermediate playoffs they were runner-ups to the Waskada Orioles. Their successes culminated in 1995 at Blaine, Minnesota, when they won the North American Indigenous Games final by a score of 4-1. Archie Mclover pitched a three hitter to beat the state-selected team representing Minnesota.

“The Ebb and Flow Lakers, are the first First Nations team to be inducted into the Manitoba Baseball Hall of Fame, Charlie tells me they are the only First Nations team, to play in the senior baseball league in Canada. During the 1990’s they had two teams, a team of young guys and a team of old ones, I used to see them down in Stonewall, every year in the 90’s, they loved their ball but it’s not easy keeping a team on a Native Reserve, together and playing. They played all over Saskatchewan, Alberta, and Manitoba they were happy to play against the Teulon Cardinals and the Elmwood Giants, who were two of our premier teams, but the highlight of their years, was in 1995 when they won the North American Indigenous games, in Minnesota. The pitcher and I hope he is here tonight Archie who is just about 50 years old and still pitches for them, he pitched the complete game three hitter, when they won the North American Championship. Now these guys arent playing ball some of them are very good hockey players, I went with them one time, even though they said they didnt need anyone to come with because they thought they could take care of themselves, but I said no you gotta take somebody to be you guide, so they said well we dont like him but if we have to take someone we will take Gladwyn to look after us, Anyway they love hockey and ball and are very honored to be inducted as a small community team into the Manitoba Baseball Hall of Fame”

In the early 1940’s, Eden schoolteacher W.J. McLaughlin taught the fundamentals of baseball to a group of farm boys and a team developed that became a local dynasty. The Eden team became well known on the sports day circuit in the 40s, and the formation of the Neepawa and District League in 1950 gave them an opportunity to show off their skills for the next twenty years. They won five league championships, in 1950, 1953, 1958, 1961, 1966. The 1950 team featured renowned players such as Manitoba Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Mel McGorman, Mel’s brothers Gordon and Claire, Roy Kilburn, Merv Chorneyko, Russ Ivey, Gordon Lang, Harry Smithson, George Wilkinson, Harold McFadyen, Doug Birch, John Jackson, and Bill Jackson.

In tournament play, Eden was especially tough at home. They won their own tournament six times during the 1950’s. They also performed very well at Neepawa tournaments, appearing in seven finals, from 1948-1965, and winning two of them.

The Elkhorn Blue Sox were formed in 1959 and played in the Pipesonte Albert League which they won in 1962-63-64.

The League consisted of Reston, Grand Clairiere, Sinclair and Cromer.

The Elkhorn Blue Sox had their best season in 1963 when they won nine consecutive tournaments with twenty-seven straight wins. They won thirty-nine and lost one during 1963.

Several players, Doug Lund, Jack Day and Bill Chapple advanced to play in the Manitoba Senior Baseball League from Elkhorn.

The Fisher Branch Falcons were a very good small community team which excelled in tournament baseball.

Their best season was in 1957 when they won $1600 in prize money by winning 13 of 14 tournaments at Lundar, Eriksdale, Arborg, Ashern, Teulon, Chatfield, Fisher Branch, Beausejour, Hodgson, Oak Point, Moosehorn, Poplarfield, and Keewatin.

The team was managed by Metro Melnyk who kept the team together with strict expectations and led by pitchers like John Obelnicki and Deb Mealey.

Grosse Isle was part of an Interlake League which over the years included teams from Lundar, St. Laurent. Warren, Stonewall, Teulon, Balmoral, North Winnipeg, Springfield, and Vita. In three of the six years between 1988 and 1993 the Grosse Isle Blue Jays were champions of the League, and in two other years, they were finalists. The team won the Manitoba Senior AA championship in 1988 and represented Manitoba at Western Canadians in Kamloops. In 1994 they won the AA Senior title again. They were always tough to beat, especially at their home Atree Field. The team featured a strong pitching staff. It was managed by Art Essery and coached by Dan Cassils.

Lyleton dominated the Southwest League and western Manitoba tournament play for half a dozen years.

The team ran an annual Dominion Day tournament which still flourishes.

Lyleton featured five Murray brothers, and Barry Edgar, Ted Gardner, and Ollie Pateman. Other driving forces of the team included Ted Waiser and Cecil Murray.

Perennial contenders in the Mid-West League and a great tournament team. Averaged about 65 games a year and only about 10 losses. Had a strong group of pitchers including Murray Richardson, Ross Pollock, Harold Pollock, Ray Asselstine, Gladwyn Scott, Glennis Scott. The main catcher for 25 years was Jim Scott (Sr.) Special events included playing the travelling (Negro) Muskogee (Oklahoma) Cardinals at Rossburn, playing the tough Holar (Saskatchewan) team at Russell, and playing in the 1955 Indian Head tournament with $1,000 as the top prize.

From 1956–1962 the Miami Senior Team played in the South Central Border League (also known as the South Central League and South Eastern Manitoba League). The team often competed against local teams such as Winkler, Altona, Plum Coulee, Carman, Roland, and Morden. The league expanded to include several teams from the United States, allowing the Miami team to compete against Cavalier, Walhall, and Neche out of North Dakota.

The team consisted of players from neighbouring towns, including Manitou, Graysville, Altamont, and Roland. Many of these players have been previously inducted into the Manitoba Baseball Hall of Fame as individuals and as a part of other successful teams.

The team was extremely successful in this league, winning the League in 1956, 1957, 1958, and 1960. They went on to win the Play-off Championships in each of these years except 1957 when they lost to Carman in the semi-finals.

They were often victorious when they travelled to local tournaments. In the Annual Morden Tournament held on July 1st saw them in the finals each year from 1956-1960. In 1957 and 1960 they took hold the title of tournament champions.

The Pilots, in the early and mid-sixties, were always the team to beat in the Manitoba Border League which extended from Manitou to Cartwright. They were always a powerhouse in League and Tournament play and had good pitching and solid hitting. As one opponent said, “most of them were left-handed, consistent hitters”. They won Border League Championships in 1962, 1963, 1965, 1966, and 1967.

Their outstanding year was in 1963 when they captured the Manitoba Intermediate B Championship. In the Manitoba Final, they scored a 3-0 victory over Angusville with Brian Hodgson giving another outstanding performance by tossing a no-hitter.

The Plum Coulee Pirates were a prominent team in southern Manitoba in the 1950’s, but their best year was probably 1955. They won tournaments at Winkler, Vita, Carman, St. James, Plum Coulee and two in Manitou. They also won the Southeastern Manitoba League championship with a pair if 1-0 wins in a best of three series against Miami (Miami took game 2, 2-0.

The Plum Coulee Pirates were a great tournament team and were well known and respected. They won 7 tournaments in 1955, and in 1956 was equally as good, especially when pilot Mound picked the two best teams to play at their fair day. Belmont from the west and Plum Coulee from the east. plum Coulee won 6-4, in a tremendous game.

The Pirates were a very well balanced team with great speed, good pitching and strong hitting.

The Snowflake team won four straight Border League titles from 1948-51 and were finalists in 1952.

The team was also very prominent in tournament play in southern Manitoba in the later 1940s and early 1950s.

A highlight of the team was a victory in a big Morden July 1st tournament. The team was led by Dave Harms, Ralph Motheral, and Kitch Handford.