Monthly Archives: June 2013

Elkton Cruises In Curley Cup

Easton, MD– On an often rainy, humid day on the Maryland Eastern Shore, 3 historic rivals got together to honor the memory of Scott “Curley” Murphy, the captain of the Talbot Fair Plays who tragically passed away 2 years ago in a match with the Atlantics.  All 3 clubs took time between games to honor the fallen captain of the home club.  In the first game of the day, the Fair Plays hosted the Atlantics.  A couple of weeks before the Atlantics swept both games at Smithtown, Long Island.  On this day though it was a much better game.  A tie game in to the last frame made it quite an entertaining afair.  The hometown Fair Plays scored twice though and won a hard fought match 8-6.

The Atlantics were then ready to play their 4th match in two days against the Eclipse who the Atlantics had lost to only once in 17 tries.  After scoring the game’s first run, the Atlantics looked like they may win yet again.  However the Eclipse had other thoughts and piled on 2 runs in the first and then took a 11-2 lead in to the 8th inning.  The Eclipse then tallied 8 runs to win going away 19-5.

In the 3rd game of the day, Elkton picked up where it left off against the Fair Plays.  8 runs in the first inning for the horsemen lead to a 20-5 blow out for the visitors from Elkton.  It was a great day of base ball and fellowship by 3 clubs who really enjoy playing each other.  Great food and drinks were provided by the Talbot club for a wonderful day of base ball.

Atlantics, Eclipse to Meet Fair Plays in Easton

This Sunday, June 23rd 3 of the historically better clubs in the MAVBBL will hook up for the Annual Curley Cup honoring the Talbot’s fallen captain who passed away on the field two years ago.  Brooklyn and Elkton have not met since 2011 while the Fair Plays just came back from a trip to Smithtown dropping two to Brooklyn.  The day starts at 11am with Brooklyn playing Talbot, a 1pm match up between the Eclipse and Atlantics and then the wrap up at 3pm between the Fair Plays and Eclipse.  The match will be located at the Fair Plays home field in Easton, Maryland.  If you are a fan of 19th century base ball, you won’t want to miss this day of great competition while honoring Curley.

Old Dominions Faire Well in Oatlands

On Sunday June 2nd, with afternoon weather of suspicion, the Old Dominions of Northern Virginia rallied twice to hold 2 wins versus the famed Potomac squad of Washington, D.C. The matches were played at the majestic Oatlands grounds in the heart of Loudon County Virginia. Food (the provisions were most satisfying) was available to cranks who made the journey to Oatlands to see the elephant. The kind Oatlands staff were most hospitable, providing cheers to the ballists, making certain that players were not replete of water, and even lending several muffins to partake in the base ball foray.
 
The first match started as any other sort, with a zip and whiz of the base ball across the lush green field as the Potomacs, who were victorious in the bat toss and elected to swing the willow first, must have felt the itch to strike and scored 5 tallies by the bottom of the fourth inning. However, veteran Old Dominion hurlers Stoney and Skipper were sound on the goose as they settled down the Potomac bats, allowing only one more run for the rest of the match. The match was tooth and nails after the fifth inning. The Potomac Nine were threatening on the base paths as they must have jayhawked a dozen bases. Fate would soon change, when in the bottom of the 8th the Potomacs were on the shoot with muffin Doug Miller of Oatlands. Doug, a ballist to the manner born, walloped a bases loaded sky ball deep into the rolling meadow scoring 3 aces for the Old Dominions. The jig was up for the Potomacs. The Old Dominions won the first match 10-6.
 
As clouds and thunder began to make their way towards Oatlands, both clubs ponied up to play another 7-inning match. In the second match, the Old Dominions opened the ball with 4 unanswered aces in the first 4 innings. However, the mighty Potomacs were not to be outdone, scoring 4 tallies of their own in the bottom of the fourth inning. As in the first match, both clubs battled back and forth, with strong hurling and solid defense by the basetenders. That is, until the top of the 7th when Gashouse stepped up to the dish and hit a daisy cutter through infield for a base hit. Then, Roman hit the onion to reach base. Brooklyn and Stoney handily followed to pluck the apple scoring two tallies for the Old Dominions. Stoney whitewashed the Potomac bats in the bottom of the 7th for an 8-6 Old Dominion victory. Huzzah!
 
Many thanks to our hosts at Oatlands, our friends from the Potomac Nine, and the brave muffins who supported both clubs in the base ball affair.