Independents hosting Welkins Club of Port Huron
Saturday, June, 16, 2007 | vs. Port Huron

Bay City 28, Welkins 5

swingin Jeff
Carroll Park, Bay City – It was a warm, hazy day that saw the Welkins Club saunter in from their long trek north. This would be the first time that the Port Huron gentlemen would sample the hospitality of the Bay City nine, and the home town crowd was busy with anticipation. Bay City would win the coin toss that was watched over by none other than “Honest” John Gravlin, and they elected to take first cracks at the old onion before the seams could be weakened and its innards turned to mush.

Striking first was shown to be a wise decision, as the Bay Citys pelted the pill for 6 aces in the first innings. The Welkins club would not be put away quietly either, and they struck for 2 runs of their own, thanks in part to a home run from a young country boy whom this writer could not put name to. Regardless, at the conclusion of the first innings the score would stand at 6-2.

The Welkins Club, having shown fine ability in their first opportunity, was determined to put up a good fight in only their 3rd match in existence, but the newly crowned, State Champion Independents were just getting started. In the second innings the Bay Citys would push across 4 more tallies, and one of those came from a single stroke of the willow by Scott “Umpy” Umphrey who gathered the first home run laurels in his club membership.

After much glad-handing the home town nine would lay down some whitewashing on the Port Hurons, and then went back to striking the sphere with much ferocity. The innings would not end until Bay City had put up 11 runs, and at the conclusion of the Welkins turn in the third innings the score would stand at 21-3.

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Both club’s striking would dissipate as the sun rose higher and the temperatures climbed past the sweltering point. The Welkins would tally twice more, with one coming in the eighth innings, while the Bay Citys would add 7 more to their total with 5 coming in the final two innings of play.

In all it was a fine showing of striking ability for the Bay City nine, and an admirable effort for the first year Welkins Club. Although the striking was fine during the day, no official striking record exists, as the official score sheet has disappeared. Many suspect the Bay City captain of the theft for in the club’s first six contests for the year he has failed to tally a run. Hiding the evidence is no way to shield you from shame Mr. Johnson. Others point to photographical evidence that shows the Port Huron catcher, “Pappy”, was the last ballist to lay hand on the sheet. Wherever it may be, let this account be a lasting record of the events. These two nines will meet again in Port Huron for a return engagement on June 30th, and a celebration of Port Huron’s sesquicentennial.