Our Base Ball Club and How It Won the ChampionshipBrooks, Noah
General
Our Base Ball Club and How It Won the Championship
Brooks, Noah
Baseball stories
Once more the Catalpas added to their score, the glory of making a home
run falling this time to "The Lily." Coming to the square, he swung his
ashen bat over his shoulder, and selecting a "drop ball," he hit with
a will and with all his might, and the sphere flew far over the center
fielder's head, giving the gratified catcher of the home nine the first
and only home run of the game. Before the ball could be returned to
the diamond, Van Orman had cleared the circuit of the bases, and, as
he seated himself breathlessly on the players' bench, he was greeted
with a hearty round of cheers from the excited throng. Cries of "Good
for 'The Lily' of Catalpa!" burst from the multitude, and Ida Boardman
waved her scarf at the bashful William, who detected the compliment
from his post on the opposite side of the amphitheater.
"Get up, Bill, and show yourself proud!" cried Neddie Ellis. "You have
won an encore." At this, Bill heaved up his burly form, doffed his cap
and grimly bowed to the spectators, who cheered him more wildly than
ever.
But Larry, who now took his bat to the square, was the cynosure of
all eyes. Somehow, the confidence of the great assembly was with him
always, even as their affection seemed lavished on peachy-cheeked
Neddie Ellis. But Larry failed to win the plaudits that would have
readily followed the least pretext for a burst of applause. He made a
single hit, but did not score a run, as Sam Morrison, Neddie Ellis and
Charlie King were rapidly retired, one after another. In this inning,
the Calumets succeeded in keeping themselves within one run of their
opponents. Jamie Kennedy made a two-base hit, and, after Charlie Webb
and James McWilliams were retired at first base, they scored a run
which was achieved by Captain Darius Ayres making a base hit. Sam
Morrison ended the inning by going out on a "liner" to Larry Boyne.
The score now stood four to three in favor of the Catalpas, and as "The
Lily" sagely remarked, "It's anybody's game." The home club tried every
possible maneuver to increase their lead; but all was in vain. The
contest was now drawing to a close, and the least bit of luck falling
into the hands of the visiting nine would carry them so far ahead that
defeat would be inevitable for the Catalpa club. Hart Stirling, John
Brubaker, and Hiram Porter, the first three strikers for the home club,
went out very quickly in the order named. Then the Calumets came to the
bat with high hopes of securing at least the one run needed to bring
them up to an even score with their adversaries. But they, too, were
doomed to disappointment. John Handy, Rob Peabody, and Tom Shoff were
put out in "one-two-three order," so skillful was the fielding and so
accurate the throwing of Larry Boyne, Hart Stirling, and Al Heaton.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account