Jun 2007
Independents visit Welkins Club of Port Huron
Saturday, June, 30, 2007 | vs. Port Huron
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Lincoln Park, Port Huron – The Bay Citys packed up their horseless carriages and headed south for a return engagement with the Welkin Club in Port Huron. If readers recall, just a short time ago it was the Welkin Club who had made the trip north to Bay City in order to celebrate our beautiful town’s sesquicentennial and now it was the Independent’s turn to reciprocate. The past match saw the gentlemen from Port Huron fall to the Bay City nine in rather convincing fashion, but they had hopes that a home field might be to their advantage in this contest.
The Independents would fire a return volley aimed squarely at the Welkins, and would tally twice themselves before the conclusion of the first innings. The runs came behind the fine striking of the aforementioned Mr. David who led the inning off with a sharp safety down the right field line. Mr. David would be helped home by consecutive howitzer shots by Justin “Doc” Garcia and Jason “Buttons” McInerney. Each of these blows to the long field would allow the previously spoken of Bay City strikers to gain their second. When the action had concluded the Bay Citys found themselves in a tight scratch with the Welkins, as the score stood at 4-2 in Port Huron’s advantage.
In the fourth innings the Independents would strike nearly through their order and scored 6 aces before losing their third hand. The blow of record for the innings would belong to Mr. McInerney, who would make his second safely for his first two consecutive turns at the plate. The tide had now seemed to have turned in the match as Bay City now understood how best to strike in this quaint, Port Huron field. The ledger now stood at 8 runs to 4.
The Welkin Club would be skunked again in the ninth innings, and Bay City would tally 3 more to bring a conclusion to the match. The final score would stand at 22-6, but would seem much closer than that, as the Welkin Club had made many a stride toward achieving respect on the ball grounds. Perhaps these two clubs will meet again before season’s end as they are both currently set to take part in the World’s Tournament to be held on Aug. 4 and 5th in Greenfield Village.
In a side note the score sheet from the prior contest of these two clubs, having been thought misplaced, had in fact been borrowed by the Welkin Club so that they could duplicate the information for themselves and has now been returned. It seems that Mr. Johnson’s honor is now restored, as the score sheet that he was thought to have lost is found, and he has finally tallied an ace for the season. Huzzah!
Independents hosting Welkins Club of Port Huron
Saturday, June, 16, 2007 | vs. Port Huron
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Bay City 28, Welkins 5
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.
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.
Kents vs. Bay City
Saturday, June, 09, 2007 | at
Grand Rapids | +
Silas K. Pierce Cup
2007 – Grand
Rapids, MI
Kents 14, Bay City 4
The final
match of the day would place the Bay Citys against
the Kents, a formidable opponent and one that the
Independents have never found success against. That
success would elude them again on this day, as the
Kents tallied six runs before the Independents could
score any.
Having been placed squarely in a whole the Bay Citys attempted to mount a challenge but in 5 innings they could only muster 3 runs against the gentlemen from Grand Rapids. In the meantime the striking of the Kents and the pounding of the mid-day sun would help to melt the Bay City defense and they would see the Kents score 8 more times before the contest came to a merciful end.
For their part the Bay Citys would tally only once more behind Mr. McInerney, and never found their footing after a long delay between matches. The final score would stand at 14-4, but the Bay Citys would find themselves Champions of the State of Michigan again thanks to their fine play earlier in the day. Perhaps someday they will find the Achille’s heel of the Kents, but for now they will have to take their medicine and like it.
Kents 14, Bay City 4
Having been placed squarely in a whole the Bay Citys attempted to mount a challenge but in 5 innings they could only muster 3 runs against the gentlemen from Grand Rapids. In the meantime the striking of the Kents and the pounding of the mid-day sun would help to melt the Bay City defense and they would see the Kents score 8 more times before the contest came to a merciful end.
For their part the Bay Citys would tally only once more behind Mr. McInerney, and never found their footing after a long delay between matches. The final score would stand at 14-4, but the Bay Citys would find themselves Champions of the State of Michigan again thanks to their fine play earlier in the day. Perhaps someday they will find the Achille’s heel of the Kents, but for now they will have to take their medicine and like it.
Akron vs. Bay City
Saturday, June, 09, 2007 | at
Grand Rapids | +
Silas K. Pierce Cup
2007 – Grand
Rapids, MI
Akron
6, Bay City 8
Match 2 - The second match of the day for Bay City followed fast on the heels of the first, and found them facing a more familiar foe. The Akron Black Stockings battled the Bay Citys to a ten all tie in the Silver Ball Tournament in Mumford, New York in 2006. The match was well played and left both sides admiring the fine play and manners of the other. The second meeting of these two clubs would be just as entertaining.
Akron took a quick lead in the contest when Mr. Blasick tallied a run due to Mr. Lee’s howitzer to the long field. Mr. Lee was able to attain his second before the ball found it’s way back to the infield. The next play was defensive brilliance personified, when Mr. Jason Zedak of the Balck Stockings drove a dying ball into the shallow left field, and “Kid” Garcia, the left fielder renowned of the Bay Citys, charged in from the long field like Little Phil Sheridan and bottled the drive in style. He then fired a blast from his backside into the second sacker and picked off Mr. Lee, who undoubtedly believed that Zedak’s ball would fall in safely. Instead of another run scoring and another striker safely in, the Black Stockings would find themselves with 2 hands lost. The innings would end with Mr. Russell flying to Mr. Garcia as well. Even after the fine defensive play, the Independents could not coax their striking from it’s slumber, and they found themselves skunked again.
Akron would begin their parade of aces again in the second inning and score 3 more times to bring their lead to 4-0. The Independents would finally make their mark in the match and score two runs of their own when Branden “The Rope” Revette and “Twinkle-Toes” Brissette crossed the plate thanks to the fine striking of Ron “Irish” O’Laughlin. This would bring the score to 4-2, and help to put the Bay Citys back in the match.
In the third innings the Black Stockings would score another time and lengthen their lead again to 5-2. It was this innings that the Independents became determined not to be put down, and through a succession of single hits they began a parade around the bases that would see eleven strikers come to the plate and 5 aces score. The rally started with Ray “The Banker” Banister crossing the dish, and he would do so again in the fourth innings to help the Bay Citys take the lead 8-5. The Black Stockings would add another ace in their part of the fourth innings to bring the match to 8-6.
The fifth innings would see the Bay Citys succumb to the whitewashing of the Black Stockings defense, and put the home town boys back onto the field. The Akrons would see their first two hands lost in the innings, and then put their next two strikers aboard. It was then that Mr. Russell stepped to the plate for the Stockings and drove a howitzer into the gap between the center field and right field. The newcomer to the Bay Citys, Mr. Jason “Buttons” McInerney, made a mad dash into the foray and found himself holding the sphere safely in his hands before any further damage could be done. It was a bully play for the you lad, and surely one that saved the day for the Independents.
The final score would stand at 8-6, and the Bay City nine would move on successful once more.
Match 2 - The second match of the day for Bay City followed fast on the heels of the first, and found them facing a more familiar foe. The Akron Black Stockings battled the Bay Citys to a ten all tie in the Silver Ball Tournament in Mumford, New York in 2006. The match was well played and left both sides admiring the fine play and manners of the other. The second meeting of these two clubs would be just as entertaining.
Akron took a quick lead in the contest when Mr. Blasick tallied a run due to Mr. Lee’s howitzer to the long field. Mr. Lee was able to attain his second before the ball found it’s way back to the infield. The next play was defensive brilliance personified, when Mr. Jason Zedak of the Balck Stockings drove a dying ball into the shallow left field, and “Kid” Garcia, the left fielder renowned of the Bay Citys, charged in from the long field like Little Phil Sheridan and bottled the drive in style. He then fired a blast from his backside into the second sacker and picked off Mr. Lee, who undoubtedly believed that Zedak’s ball would fall in safely. Instead of another run scoring and another striker safely in, the Black Stockings would find themselves with 2 hands lost. The innings would end with Mr. Russell flying to Mr. Garcia as well. Even after the fine defensive play, the Independents could not coax their striking from it’s slumber, and they found themselves skunked again.
Akron would begin their parade of aces again in the second inning and score 3 more times to bring their lead to 4-0. The Independents would finally make their mark in the match and score two runs of their own when Branden “The Rope” Revette and “Twinkle-Toes” Brissette crossed the plate thanks to the fine striking of Ron “Irish” O’Laughlin. This would bring the score to 4-2, and help to put the Bay Citys back in the match.
In the third innings the Black Stockings would score another time and lengthen their lead again to 5-2. It was this innings that the Independents became determined not to be put down, and through a succession of single hits they began a parade around the bases that would see eleven strikers come to the plate and 5 aces score. The rally started with Ray “The Banker” Banister crossing the dish, and he would do so again in the fourth innings to help the Bay Citys take the lead 8-5. The Black Stockings would add another ace in their part of the fourth innings to bring the match to 8-6.
The fifth innings would see the Bay Citys succumb to the whitewashing of the Black Stockings defense, and put the home town boys back onto the field. The Akrons would see their first two hands lost in the innings, and then put their next two strikers aboard. It was then that Mr. Russell stepped to the plate for the Stockings and drove a howitzer into the gap between the center field and right field. The newcomer to the Bay Citys, Mr. Jason “Buttons” McInerney, made a mad dash into the foray and found himself holding the sphere safely in his hands before any further damage could be done. It was a bully play for the you lad, and surely one that saved the day for the Independents.
The final score would stand at 8-6, and the Bay City nine would move on successful once more.
Sheridan Dandies vs. Bay City
Saturday, June, 09, 2007 | at
Grand Rapids | +
Silas K. Pierce Cup
2007 – Grand
Rapids, MI
Sheridan
4, Bay City 8
Match 1 - The Independents began defense of their state championship in a match against the Dandies of Sheridan Michigan. It was the first time these two clubs had met on the field, but there were some familiar faces on the Dandies nine. The club had been started by a couple of fellows from the Kent first nine, Adam Whilmore and Charles Bliss. The latter of the two made his reputation by robbing “Doc” Garcia of the Bay Citys of a long strike back in 2005. A play that is still remembered to this day by the Independents, much to their chagrine.
The match itself began without much distinction as both clubs ended the first innings without notching a tally. In the second innings the Bay Citys found their striking form and scored 6 runs, thanks in large part to the striking of Dan “Rainmaker” Decuf, who found himself standing on third sack after one of his colossal clouts, and Sean “Tanner” LeRoux who made his second easily in his turn at the plate. The Dandies would find some holes in the Bay City nine’s defense, and tally 2 aces of their own in the third innings, and brought the score to 6 to 2.
The Sheridan boys tightened their belts and held the Bay Citys to some whitewashing in the third and fourth innings, and then scored another 2 aces of their own in the fifth to bring the total to 6-4 in the Independents favor.
The hometown nine would not be held scoreless for much longer and ran across an ace in the fifth and sixth innings in the persons of Scott “Umpy” Umphrey and Brian “Hooks” Freehling. That would be the end of the scoring as the Bay City defense rose to the challenge and skunked the Dandies for the remainder of the match. The first step towards the championship was taken and found to be on solid ground as the Independents were triumphant at 8-4.
Match 1 - The Independents began defense of their state championship in a match against the Dandies of Sheridan Michigan. It was the first time these two clubs had met on the field, but there were some familiar faces on the Dandies nine. The club had been started by a couple of fellows from the Kent first nine, Adam Whilmore and Charles Bliss. The latter of the two made his reputation by robbing “Doc” Garcia of the Bay Citys of a long strike back in 2005. A play that is still remembered to this day by the Independents, much to their chagrine.
The match itself began without much distinction as both clubs ended the first innings without notching a tally. In the second innings the Bay Citys found their striking form and scored 6 runs, thanks in large part to the striking of Dan “Rainmaker” Decuf, who found himself standing on third sack after one of his colossal clouts, and Sean “Tanner” LeRoux who made his second easily in his turn at the plate. The Dandies would find some holes in the Bay City nine’s defense, and tally 2 aces of their own in the third innings, and brought the score to 6 to 2.
The Sheridan boys tightened their belts and held the Bay Citys to some whitewashing in the third and fourth innings, and then scored another 2 aces of their own in the fifth to bring the total to 6-4 in the Independents favor.
The hometown nine would not be held scoreless for much longer and ran across an ace in the fifth and sixth innings in the persons of Scott “Umpy” Umphrey and Brian “Hooks” Freehling. That would be the end of the scoring as the Bay City defense rose to the challenge and skunked the Dandies for the remainder of the match. The first step towards the championship was taken and found to be on solid ground as the Independents were triumphant at 8-4.