Mid Atlantic Vintage Base Ball League

Four MAVBBL clubs saw action in the 2nd Annual Gettysburg 19th Century Base Ball Tournament this past weekend and three of them made it to the semi finals.  None of them though won the championship as Saginaw Michigan slugged their way to the winners circle.  Chesapeake City defeated the Huntington Champion Hilltoppers and the Flemington Neshanock to win their division, while Elkton downed the Cincinnati Buckeyes and the Central City Stars from Colorado to win their bracket.  Flemington made it in as the wild card after soundly defeating the Hilltoppers.  Mechanicsburg also competed playing the Mudville Nine from New England and the eventual champion, the Saginaw Old Golds. 

In the first semi final, the Eclipse snuck by the Neshanock 9-8 in one of the best games played by these familiar foes in years.  In the other match, the Old Golds overwhelmed the Cecils with a 9 spot to cruise to an 11 run win.  In the championship, after the Eclipse scored 1 in the 4th to start the scoring, the Old Golds layed a 10 spot down to eventually go on to a 22-5 win to take home the gold ball.

Diamond States/ Chesapeake Split

In other matches this weekend, Delaware traveled to Kingsville to take on the Chesapeake Nine from Baltimore.  The Chessies were coming off of a 9-8 loss to Central City, Colorado just a couple of days before.  In the first match, Chesapeake won 12-9 while the Diamond States took revenge in the second game 10-2

This past Saturday, July 9th, we lost one of the most likeable players in vintage base ball.  Scott “Curley” Murphy was the field captain of the Talbot Fair Plays and one of the nicest human beings you will meet.

EASTON Scott Murphy of Galestown passed away Saturday, July 9, 2011, at the Memorial Hospital at Easton. He was 44.

He was born March 23, 1967, in Easton, the son of Wayne M. Murphy and Marie Turpin Coulbourne.

He was a graduate of Colonel Richardson High School, Class of 1985, and had attended Chesapeake College. He served his country in the United States Army. He was employed by UPS Freight in Federalsburg as a tractor-trailer driver. He was a member of the Mt. Vernon United Methodist Church in Sharptown, where he taught Sunday School, served as a Lay Minister and was a member of the Pastor Parish Relations Board. Scott has played and coached baseball for 20 years. He played for The Historical Society Vintage Baseball of Talbot County Fair Plays, Maryland’s first vintage baseball club, where he also served as Captain. For the past six years, Scott attended the Ravens NFL Football Camp at the M&T Stadium, where he served as coach, teaching the fundamentals of flag football. He coached flag football in Preston for nine years, coached Pop Warner football in Delmar, and coached indoor soccer for the Nets in Salisbury. He was a member of the American Legion Post 243 in Hurlock.

He is survived by his father Wayne M. Murphy and his wife Sherry of Seaford, Del.; his mother, Marie Turpin Coulbourne and her husband Wayne of Federalsburg; his wife of 26 years, Kim Parrott Murphy of Galestown, whom he married Dec. 8, 1984; two sons, Daniel Murphy and Todd Murphy, both of Galestown; grandson Noah Michael Charles of Sharptown; two brothers, Alan Murphy of Hurlock and Jeff Murphy of East New Market; two half-sisters, Sharon Sexton of Georgetown, Del., and Shanna Murphy of Seaford; mother-in-law Bertie Parrott of Cambridge; a nephew, Dylan Murphy of Hurlock, and a niece, Madison Sexton of Georgetown.

He was preceded in death by grandparents Allice and Francis Turpin, and Roy Murphy and father-in-law Harry Parrott Jr.

Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Saturday, July 16, at the Framptom Funeral Home, Federalsburg, with the Rev. Everett Landon officiating. Interment will follow in Junior Order Cemetery in Preston.

Friends may call at the funeral home 6 to 8 p.m. Friday and noon to 1 p.m. Saturday.

Memorial contributions may be made in his memory to the Mt. Vernon United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 132, Sharptown, MD 21861, or to the Historical Society of Talbot Co. Fair Plays, 25 S. Washington St., Easton, MD 21601.

Flemington falls to Elkton at the Shore

Cape May, NJ– In a match that took up to 5 hours to get to and 1 1/2 to play, the Flemington Neshanock took on the Elkton Eclipse in its traditional 4th of July Weekend Match at Cold Spring Village in Cape May, New Jersey.  The Neshanock last year lost 35-10, but this year things were much closer.

In the only game scheduled involving MAVBBL clubs this weekend, the Neshanock and Eclipse played a close match for the first 5 innings as the score remained 3-3 after 5.  The Eclipse then started to pull away despite the slendiferous pitching effort by one Brad Shaw.  After the Elkton club scored 5 and the Neshanock only 1 the next frame, the Marylanders started to pull away and finished strong to win 15-6 at the Cold Spring Village’s Independence Weekend Celebration.  The Eclipse lead the series 3-0 after 3 straight wins outside of Cape May in three years.

The MAVBBL was in full swing this past weekend and featured some of the power clubs sweeping their opponents as we get towards July.  The New York Gothams took care of business winning two against the Neshanock, the Elkton Eclipse took a pair from Mechanicsburg, the Brooklyn Atlantics won both against the Resolutes and the Talbot Fair Plays swept the Diamond States including a white wash.

Gothams Take Pair From Flemington

Our first match began with the Gotham BBC at the bat. Collector lead off with a 2 base hit and came home on Scratch’s two base hit. In the bottom of the 1^st frame, the Gotham BBC held the Neshanock to 0 aces. For the next 4 innings, this is how the two teams played out the match. The Gotham BBC scoring aces and the Gotham BBC holding the Neshanock to none.

 In the 5^th frame, the Gotham BBC allowed an ace. However, our 2^nd base tender Sleepy made sure that was the only ace we allowed. With Neshanock on 1^st and 2^nd base, Sleepy gobbled up the ground ball tagged the runner going from 1^st to 2^nd and deftly threw to 1^st base to force the striker our. Two hands in 1 play, Huzzah! By the end of the 5^th frame the Gotham BBC had a commanding lead of 13-1.

 The Gotham BBC scored 5 more aces and allowed 3 more. The final score was Gotham BBC 18 Neshanock 4.  It started very differently than the first one when the Neshanock scored 9 aces through a combination of well placed strikes, sloppy fielding and Bugs’ inability to pitch into the new strike zone (or get the proper call). The Gotham BBC responded to the 9 aces with one of their own. Collector walked, stole 2^ndbase and Oates hit him home with a 3 base hit. Unfortunately he was left there.

 In the 2^nd frame, the Gotham BBC pulled off a nice 2 out in one play, when Scratch made a nice diving catch and instigated a successful run down between 1^st and 2^nd. This play held the Neshanock to 2 aces. In the bottom of the 2^nd frame, the Gotham BBC batted around scoring 6 aces and Monk had a 3 base hit.

 In the 3^rd frame, Hanky hit a 1 base hit and then got caught stealing. The striker, Bugs, hit a screeching line drive that was surely was going to be a 3 base hit, unfortunately for him, the dejected Hanky was still strolling off the field and the ball hit Hanky! The umpire called it a dead ball and Bugs proceeded to pop up to the pitcher.

 In the 4^th frame, with Weed’s adept base coaching, the Gotham BBC batted around twice. Collector, Monk and Stacks each scored twice. Feeling bad for the Neshanock and wanting to put an end to the drubbing, Scratch decided to get himself out by trying to steal 4^th base. He succeeded. This was one of the most productive innings the team has ever had. By the end of the 4^th frame the score was Gotham BBC 22 Neshanock 12.

 In the 5^th frame the striker Sleepy assisted with an ace. With Monk on 3^rd base, the pitcher pitched the ball. Sleepy let the ball hit him on the head and Monk scampered home!  In the 6^th frame, with the Neshanock threatening with runners on all the bases, the striker hit a screeching line drive to 3^rd base. With instant reaction, Stacks caught the ball, ending the Neshanock threat.  With both teams hot and tired, the match was called at the end of the 7^th frame with the final score Gotham BBC 28 Neshanock 17.

ELKTON TAKES TWO FROM MECHANCISBURG

In Westminster, Maryland at the Corbitt’s Charge event, over 300 fans crammed in to the old high school grounds to see Mechanicsburg and Elkton meet up for the first time ever.  The Eclipse scored 3 in the first frame followed by 1 ace for the Mechanicsburg Nine.  In a game that was closer than the score indicated, the Elkton nine won 15-6 after scoring some extra runs in the late innings to insure the victory.  After a generous meal where both clubs ate along side of soldiers from both sides of the conflict, the two clubs met again for the nightcap of the twilight double header.  The same results though insued as the Elkton club won again 10-6.

BROOKLYN DOWNS ELIZABETH

The Atlantic welcomed the Elizabeth Resolutes of New Jersey to the Islip Grange in Sayville by challenging them to a pair of matches.  Not only were the locals entertained by live period music and knowledgeable displays of base ball history, but they were treated to two thrilling matches played to the rules of 1864 and 1870.
 
While the local farmers market provided fresh produce, it was the Atlantic bats which did the producing this day, taking the 1864 game by the score of 17-6.  Toothpick led the Atlantic bats with 3 hits and aces, while the rest of the Atlantic battery of Shakespeare, Dreambucket, Flash, Wildhorse, Willy Mo and Butcher each had 2 hits and 2 aces a piece.  The cranks in attendance were treated to some fine defensive work in the first inning, as Elizabeth baserunners were eliminated consecutively on a caught stealing attempt and a hidden ball trick on Rookie Secondbaseman Marlin.  Wildhorse continued his excellent pitching regimen and came out the winning pitcher.
 
With a change in umpires and rules, the Elizabeth club fared no better in the second match as the Atlantic scored 9 aces in the bottom of the first frame on the way to a 21 run rout.  Again, Toothpick flexed his batting pedigree and had 5 hits, while Dreambucket and Wildhorse had 3 hits each.  In this even handed attack, every Atlantic in uniform scored at least one ace.  Shakespeare showed his prowess in delivering the sphere in an underhanded manner and held the Elizabeth club to a season low 3 aces scored.

New York Gothams at Philadelphia Athletic

The first game was a display of fielding skills on the part of both teams. The Athletics scoring their first ace in the second inning off was quickly countered by Oates in the 3^rd frame with a 4b strike deep to right center. After holding the Athletic tied for a frame, Scratch also struck a long blow to lf for a 4b of his own. In the 4^th frame the Athletic tied the game with another ace but Gotham responded with 3 aces of their own, Oats with a two ace 3b followed by a 1b Keystone who also later scored on an infield single. Another 3b from Oates in 7^th frame allowed the last ace of the game to tally.

Final score Gotham BBC 6, Athletic 2

After a brief lunch and lemonade the contest resumed with Monk on the mound for the Gotham BBC. The heat of the day building and the ball getting a worse for wear, the second match was a much different affair. Keystone came back to his form and began striking the ball sternly. Gotham posted 4 aces in the first frame on a series of 1b hits followed by the Athletic with 3 runs to counter. Gotham nearly batted through the order again in the 2^nd frame but held the Athletic in the bottom of the 2^nd.

 Gotham scored 13 more aces in the next 3 frames with 3 2b hits from Bugs, Crash and Mike topped with another long strike from Keystone and one more strike by Scratch which was so great that it caused the Athletic lf to fall to his back in admiration of the towering strike off a maple tree in lf. Gotham continued the offensive display with the entire order scoring multiple hits and aces over the remaining innings. The Athletic defensive efforts never surrendered in spirit but a brief but light rain from the ever threatening skies and the heat of the day combined to erode the energy that remained. The Athletic were held scoreless after the 5^th frame and the game ended with the score Gotham BBC 37, Athletic 10.

Gotham Base Ball Club of New York vs Philadelphia Athletics

Tug-o-War Match

Philadelphia, PA   June 11, 2011

 After our Doubleheader, our hosts challenged us to one more game… not a game of bat and ball, but one of rope and might. The Gotham BBC agreed to hold their end of a Tug of War. The two tattered teams gathered their gusto and sections of rope, a 200 foot, 150 lb rope. A small flag in the middle of the two teams was placed between the two lines making up the pitchers mound. The first team to pull the flag across their line would be declared winner. On the Athletics there were a few ballists that seemed more like anchors than base stealers and that worried the Gotham BBC a bit. The man in blue started the countdown from 3 and the tugging began. Those with cleats dug in with their heels and gave it a heave and a grunt. What seemed to last minutes was over in only seconds and the Gotham BBC were once again victorious, a 3-0 day in Philadelphia. 

Potomac Downs Elkton; Also Wins Against Chesapeake

The first game between Elkton and Potomac was nip and tuck throughout the entire 9 innings, as each team displayed stellar defense while exchanging one run leads.  Down by one run in the bottom of the ninth, Josh “Lightning” Leiling of Potomac came through with a game winning 2-run hit sealing the 5-4 victory for the Potomac Nine, their first ever against Elkton, the reigning Maryland State champions.

The second game between Elkton and Chesapeake featured plenty of offense.  Elkton won this match 22-2 and earned them a split on the day.  The third and final match went a rain-shortened 6-innings, with Potomac narrowly defeating Chesapeake 9-5.  The Chesapeake and Potomac squads proudly displayed their sharp looking brand new uniforms on this fine day.  The teams displayed outstanding sportsmanship throughout the day and many thanks go to Richard “Pastime” D’Ambrisi for umpiring all three games.

Significant vintage base ball interest was generated among the hundreds of spectators as players mingled with attendees, including dozens of thrilled children. Multiple photographers and press were present to record the special day.  In the coming days, articles and photos will be shared with all. 

Talbot and Chesapeake City Split

Talbot came up to Cecil County to take on the Cecil’s in a battle of two Maryland State heavyweights and contenders for the league title.  In the first game of the day, Chesapeake City downed the Fair Plays 26-13.  In the night cap, the visitors from Easton turned the tables and took the second game 15-9 earning a split and also earning 1 point in the Maryland State Series as both clubs completed their match against each other so each picks up 1 point in the final standings in what is turning in to a true barn burner as the clubs race towards the state championship tournament in Glen Burnie in September.

Diamond States Sweep Arundel

A special event was planned for the visitors from Glen Burnie as its match with the Delaware Nine took place on Pea Patch Island in Delaware.  After ferrying over to the site, the home club was not as hospitable as the Excelsiors would have liked as the Diamond States won 28-8 and 15-3 to sweep the match.

Brooklyn- Newtown Postponned by Rain

Saturday’s match between the Atlantic and the Sandy Hooks was wiped out by bad rain storms.  We have not heard of a make up date as of yet.

Brooklyn vs Newtown Sandy Hooks

The Newtown Sandy Hooks traveled to Smithtown, NY to celebrate Old Dutch Day with the Atlantics.  Backed by a solid defensive effort, Willy Mo pitched his first game of the season and came out with his first victory of the year.  The Atlantics well-rounded offense scored often and although the skilled ballists of Newtown hit the ball hard it was to no avail as the Atlantics walked off with a 20-8 victory.  TC and Dreambucket each had 4 hits to go with 4 aces.  Toothpick and Wildhorse contributed doubles.
 
After a ceremony commemorating the efforts of Old Dutch as one of the founders of Vintage Base Ball, the teams played an 1886 match, with Wildhorse taking the ball for his first overhand pitching performance of the year.   A back-and-forth contest through three innings, Newtowns solid pitching and defense over the last three innings kept the Atlantic bats at bay.  The Atlantics managed 8 runs but the Newtown bats hit the ball hard and often tallying 18 aces and a split of the doubleheader.  Toothpick, Willy Mo, TC and Flash each had 2 hits against the Lefthanded Ace from Newtown.  The Atlantics travel to Newtown, CT next Saturday June 11th in a rematch at McLaughlin Vineyard.

In other matches, the Cecil Club of Chesapeake City rolled to their 7th straight win without a defeat to remain at the top of the overall standings.  The Cecils traveled to Havre de Grace and were not very gracious visitors winning in a convincing 27-2 fashion.  Chesapeake City next hosts Talbot in a key match up next Sunday June 11 at Terrapin Station Winery.

Familiar foes the Neshanock and the Resolutes met up once again and this time, Elizabeth came away with a 19-10 victory to improve to 4-3 in the Northern Division.

The Mechanicsburg Nine finally got in to action this week after several postponnements due to weather and other clubs not having enough players.  Unfortunately for the Nine from Mechanicsburg, they were a little rusty as the seasoned Fair Plays from Talbot swept them 11-5 and then 19-12 in the night cap.

Diamond States Go West!

The Diamond State Base Ball Club made their furthest trip ever over the weekend when they traveled to the Steel City area to play a double-header against host Pittsburgh Franklins BBC and the Frosty Sons of Thunder BBC of Somerset, PA.  Though the competition was fierce on Saturday, the Delaware club prevailed with two victories.

 In the first match of the day, it took the ballists from the First State a few innings to adjust to the more genteel style of play adopted by the western clubs.  Diamond State managed to stay neck and neck in a low scoring affair with the Franklins until the 7^th inning when the Blue and Black busted the game open with an 8-run frame.  Pitcher Dan ‘Mini’ Minutola and a stout Diamond State defense held the Pittsburgh nine to a single tally in the final two innings leading to a 15-8 victory.

 Diamond State jumped on the Frosty Sons of Thunder to open the second match.  The Blue and Black never looked back on their way to a 7-4 win over the club from Somerset.

The Blue and Black return to Mid Atlantic League play this coming Sunday, when they host the visiting Excelsior BBC of Arundel.  The clubs will travel by ferry boat to scenic Pea Patch Island on the Delaware River for a match of ball at historic Fort Delaware.

One club was playing this weekend in the MAVBBL and it was the Brooklyn Atlantics.  The Atlantic have become quite acustomed to New England this year, and this weekend was no exception.  Because there were not a lot of games this weekend, make sure you check out the all new updated Festivals and Tournaments section for 2011.  If you know of a festival or tournament featuring one or more of our MAVBBL clubs, let us know so we can publicize your event!

The Atlantics celebrated Decoration Day by traveling to Hartford, Connecticut for the Colt Meadows Invitational.  In a time-limited first match, the Atlantics went eight strong innings against the Whately Pioneers in a 1886 match.  Up against former Major League Pitcher and World Series Champion Jim Bouton, the Atlantics fell to the score of 7-5.  Shakespeare, Dreambucket, Willy Mo and Butcher all collected singles while Captain Pigtail showed how its done with a deep double to leftfield.  TC did not chase Bouton’s infamous knuckleball and amassed 2 walks, 2 stolen bases and 2 aces. 

As the temperatures rose in Hartford, the Atlantics joined the New London Thames for a friendly 1864 match.  The Atlantics have not seen New London since 2005, and quickly reminded them of our famed Atlantic Defense taking a 9-1 lead.  Dreambucket, Toothpick and Flash (double, triple) all had two hits and Pigtail picked up the victory with a 10-4 win.

 The Atlantics next play an underhand/overhand doubleheader (1864/1886) to celebrate Old Dutch Day on Saturday June 4th vs the Newtown Sandy Hooks at home in Smithtown, NY.

The Talbot Fair Plays ventured to Smithtown, New York for the first time for a first class match featuring two of the league’s historically best clubs.  The Atlantic offense started off strong with 5 aces tallied in the top half of the first capped by a Flash homerun over the centerfield fence.  From there on out the Fairplays and Atlantics played a balanced game with the Atlantics taking the 10-4 victory.  TC, Shakespeare, Toothpick, Wildhorse, Hammy and Flash all contributed two hits to the Atlantic offense.  The Atlantic defense in keeping with our mission statement of teaching vintage base ball supplied Talbot leftfielder Moonlight with a first hand lesson on the intricacies of the Hidden Ball Trick.  Atlantic Captain Hammy was on a similar train of thought as he provided a tutorial on the incorrect method of sliding into third that required the local ambulatory wagon.

The second match, also an 1864 event, featured the Wildhorse show, as George Ferchland compiled 4 hits, 3 aces and pitched a complete game 18-10 victory.  TC and Butcher were right behind him with 3 hits and 2 aces a piece.

The Atlantics and Fairplays will meet again July 9th in Easton, Maryland.
  
Atlantic Base Ball Club of Brooklyn vs Essex Base Ball Club
 
On Sunday, the Essex Base Ball Club traveled to the Islip Grange in Sayville, New York to play the Atlantics in a rematch from the week before.  With both teams taking advantage of the short rightfield treeline, this back and forth contest concluded in the Atlantics favor to the score of 18-13.  Tree pitched the first 8 innings with vintage closer Mickey The Lip throwing a 10 pitch, 1-2-3 ninth inning.  Tree avenged his loss from last weekend and the Atlantic offense swatted 7 doubles into the trees.  Shakespeare had a day going 4 for 4, with Toothpick, TC and Hawk each muscling 3 hits a piece. 

The 1861 match went back and forth through 5 innings, but the Essex club took a 14-7 lead into the ninth.  The Atlantics made a match of it with a four run rally but fell short 14-11.  Dreambucket and Butcher contributed 3 hits each and the Atlantics sent five more doubles into the woods. 

The Essex Base Ball Club took the season series from the Atlantics 3 games to 1.

Eclipse BBC of Elkton 9  Diamond State BBC of Delaware 8

In what was one of the finest matches played involving the Eclipse Club, the Diamond States gave the visitors all they could handle and more.   For the first time in the Eclipse’s history, not only were they white washed for the first 3 innings, but held hittless as well.  The First Staters didn’t fare much better as they could muster only 2 hits through the first 4 innings.  The game was very well played in the field by both clubs as both showed off their defensive prowess.  Not a muff was to be made until the 4th inning by either side.  Hitting was at a premium as well.  Finally, the willows woke up for both clubs after a time around the line up.  Delaware struck first with an ace in the 4th and then the Eclipse came back with a pair in its half of the inning.  The timely hitting of Dubs, Hammer, and Cowboy kept the visitors in the match all day.  Small ball was the order of the day as both clubs traded the lead back and forth each inning, until the Diamond States struck with 4 runs in the top of the 8th inning to take an 8-5 lead.   In the bottom of the eighth, the Eclipse’s relaibles rallied to pull the score to 8-7 going in to the 9th.  The hosts from Delaware were held scoreless in their frame and faced the lower half of the Eclipse order.  Early got on base first and was moved over to second on a clutch ground out by Taco.  Ones, who had not seen a base all day then hit the ball to right promting Early to steam around third without looking and slid in to home under the tag and drop from the catcher.  Ones then advanced to 2nd on the play.  A long drive and hit by Dubs fittingly brought Ones home for the 9-8 win at Hagley in North Wilmington for the Eclipse’s 8th win of the season.

The Athletic of Philadelphia traveled up to New York for its first ever meeting with the Gothams this past weekend.  To help the Gotham BBC inaugurate its home field, the Philadelphia Athletics swaggered into town pontificating that the Athletics are known to dominate lowly New York City teams. Hah! the Gotham team exclaimed.

 In its first match for the first time ever, Bugs took the mound to pitch. Through 9 frames, Bugs pitched a masterpiece by walking no one, and demonstrated an amazing confidence in his defense by pitching the ball before most of them were ready. In the top half of the first frame, the Athletics drew first aces with 2. In the bottom of the 1^st frame, the offensive horse carriage, Keystone hit a 3 base hit, but his Gotham BBC teammates failed to bring him home. In the 2^nd frame, the Gotham BBC held the Athletics scoreless and the Gotham BBC scored two on well struck 1 base hits and steals by Monk, Bugs and Stacks.

In the top half of the 3^rd frame, the Athletics scored 2 more aces. In the bottom half of the 3^rd frame, Flytrap scored an ace on a 1 base hit, 2 stolen bases and a 3 base hit by Wickets. Huzzah? With Collector umpiring the frame, 1 hand and Wickets on 3^rd base, Wickets started reading from his well known how-to-run-the-bases book “Wickets and the Art of Running.” Monk hit a beautiful fly ball to left field; Wickets seizing the opportunity ran home; and the the left fielder proceeded to catch the ball and through to 3^rd. Unfortunately for the Gotham BBC Wickets got doubled up. Collector with his usual enthusiasm, screamed him out!

 In the 4^th frame, the Athletics scored 1 ace and the Gotham BBC batted more than around scoring 9 aces with Monk and Bugs scoring twice that frame. In the 5^th frame, the Athletics scored 1 and the Gotham BBC followed with 3. The 6^th frame, the Athletics scored for the last time that game and the Gotham BBC scored 8 more aces, with 4-pack getting his first stolen base as a Gotham. In the top of the 9^th with 1 hand down and one Athletic on 1^st base, Stacks took the cue from Bugs and believed in the Gotham BBC superior defense. He allowed a towering fly ball to drop through his hands, picked it up, threw to 2^nd base getting the runner; and Keystone threw to 1^st base getting the striker. Double play, end of game. Gotham BBC 21 Athletics 8.

In the 2^nd match,  the Gotham BBC began the match with Collector, Flytrap and Bugs scoring aces. Hanky hit a 2 base hit but was stranded there. The Athletics matched the Gotham aces by tallying 3 of their own. Wickets stymied the Athletic offense by picking off an errant Athletic. In the top of the 2^nd frame, Stacks, Mouth (Athletic), Collector, Flytrap and Wickets scored aces. In the bottom of the 2^nd frame, the Athletics scored 1 ace. In the 3^rd frame, the Athletics held the Gotham BBC to 0 aces and the Athletics scored 1 ace. In the top of the 4^th frame, Wickets and Monk scored two aces. In the bottom of the 4^th frame, the Athletics did not score thanks to an amazing foul ball, 1 bound out, slam into the fence, catch by Wickets.

 In the 5^th frame, Collector, Wickets and Monk struck well, stole bases and scored aces! The Athletics scored 0 aces. In the top half of the 6^th frame, the Gotham BBC did not score. In the bottom half of the 6^th frame, Weed participated in all 3 hands holding the Athletics to 0 aces. In the 7^th frame, Flytrap, Wickets and Monk hit 1 base hits, stole a few more and scored aces. Of course, Wickets kept his Gotham BBC teammates in conimption fits by almost getting picked off at 2^nd base. In the the bottom of the 7^th frame, Wickets picked off another Athletic. Apparently, the Athletics have studied Wickets’ 842 page tome “How to run bases AND get picked off.”

 In the 8^th frame, Wickets was picked off at 2^nd. However, Collector, Flytrap, Monk and Stacks scored aces, with Stacks stealing his way to 4^th base. In the bottom 8^th with an Athletic on 1^st and 2^nd bases, the Athletic struck the ball high to left field, the 2^nd base base runner ran, Collector made a great catch, threw the ball perfectly to Hanky waiting at 2^nd base to make the 2 handed play. No one scored in the 9^th frame and the Gotham BBC won 20 Athletics 7.

TALBOT SWEEPS POTOMAC

In an important southern division match, the Fair Plays from Talbot kept up their winning ways by defeating the Potomac Nine from Washington 14-4 in the first game and squeeking by the club from our Nation’s Capital 6-5 in the night cap.  The Fair Plays improve to 5-1 in the Maryland Series and 4-0 in the southern division.

ELKTON TAKES A PAIR FROM HAVRE DE GRACE

The Dauntless scored the first ace of the day in the first game, but then where white washed the rest of the way out as the Eclipse scored 22 unanswered runs to win the first game 22-1.  The second game was much more of a contest.  The Dauntless scored early and often to jump out to a good sized lead.  The Eclipse wittled their way back and facing a 13-12 deficit going in to the bottom of the 9th frame, the visitors from Elkton tallied 2 aces to win 14-13 in a very spirited match on what turned out to be a fine day for base ball.

CHESSIES TAKE PAIR FROM EXCELSIOR