Jul 2008
Akron Cup
Akron Cup
Stan Hywett Museum, Fairlawn, Ohio
Match #1
Bay City 18, Ohio Village Muffins 3
The lads from Bay City packed up their clubs and headed south to the great state of Ohio to participate in the 12th Annual Akron Cup hosted by the fine gentlemen known as the Black Stockings. The boys were honored to find that their first opponent would be none other than the Ohio Village Muffins one of the oldest and grandest of vintage base ball clubs.
The match would start fast for Bay City as they tallied three runs in the first innings thanks in part to a howitzer to the long field from the bat of Brian “Butterfly” Beceril. The bats of the Bay Citys would not slow down much, as the club found a way to tally in 5 of the 7 innings played in the contest. Thanks to many a cracker-jack play in the field and the striking of Branden “The Rope” Revette the match was well in hand, and would finish with a final ledger of Bay City 18 and the Village Muffins 3. The striking standout of the game Rope Revette made his second twice and his third once on strikes to the long field and he tallied 3 times in the match.
Regardless of the outcome, the Bay Citys found it an honor to take the field against such a storied group. Huzzah to the Muffins and all they have done for the game!
Ballist H.L. Runs
LeRoux ss 1 3
Garcia K. cf 1 3
Beceril 1 3
McInerney lf 1 3
Revette 3rd 0 3
Koch 1st 1 1
Dinauer 2nd 2 0
Johnson c 2 0
Brissette p 1 1
Decuf rf 1 0
Banister 1 0
Freehling 3 0
O’Laughlin 3 0
Elf 2 1
Total 21 18
Match #2
Bay City 16, Hoover Sweepers 3
Once again Bay City would win the coin toss and chose to strike first. Once again the top of the order came through in fine fashion when four of the top five strikers each drove balls into the long field that allowed them to take extra bases. Misters LeRoux, Garcia, and Revette were each able to take their second on their howitzers, while Mr. Beceril was able to take his third. Each of the aforementioned strikers would tally in the innings to give the Bay Citys a 4 run lead.
The Independent’s defense would skunk the Sweepers for 8 innings while their strikers continued to put runs on the ledger for 6 of the next 8 innings. The standout strike of the day came from the bat of Dean “Sawmill” Koch who made a circuit of the bases for a home run in the third innings. The contest would come to a close when the Sweepers pushed 3 aces across the plate to bring the final score to Independents 16 and the Hoovers 3.
Ballists H.L. Runs
LeRoux ss 1 2
Garcia cf 3 1
Beceril 2 1
McInerney lf 4 0
Revette 3rd 1 3
Koch 1st 1 3
Dinauer 2nd 2 0
Johnson c 1 1
Brissette p 2 1
Decuf rf 3 1
Banister 2 1
Freehling 2 1
O’Laughlin 2 1
Elf 1 0
Total 27 16
Match #3
Bay City 8, Akron 9
Immediately preceding their match with the Hoover boys the Independents were scheduled to take on the host club of the tournament, the Akron Black Stockings captained by Mark Hepner. Both clubs had labored all day in the hot sun, but somehow each was able to muster the vim and pluck that would see them play a seesaw match that would have put the tragic, Greek, figure Sisyphus to shame. (As an aside Sisyphus was condemned by the gods to spend his day pushing a giant rock uphill, only to have it roll back down time and again.)
In the first innings, having just come out of the field against the Sweepers in their previous match, the Independents chose to strike first. Despite our hometown boys putting several runners on base the gentlemen from Akron were able to skunk the Bay Citys. In a reversal of fortunes the Black Stockings were able to squeeze an ace out of only two safe strikes and took the lead in the match at 1-0.
The Bay Citys would match the Akrons in the second when Dean “Sawmill” Koch tallied after a fine shot to the long field from Fred “Twinkle-Toes” Brissette. The Black Stockings would not be outdone in their second as one of their young lads crushed a howitzer that allowed him to make his third which drove in the gentleman immediately preceding him. Both runs would tally for Akron and they would regain control of the contest at 3-1.
In this seemingly relentless uphill battle the Independents again charged into the foray. Misters Beceril and Garcia formed the spearhead in this Bay City rendition of the “Charge of the Light Brigade”, and the famed Lord Cardigan couldn’t have been prouder as both lads would tally to deadlock the match. In true form for this game of ball, the match would not stay tied for long as the Black Stockings answered the charge with a volley of aces and retook the field leading the match now at 5-3.
In the fifth innings the Bay Citys would muster their sun, sapped, strength once again, and place the first two strikers of the innings, Mr. Brissette and Mr. Decuf, on base safely. The next two hands would be lost, and it appeared that much like the Dragoons of the Crimean conflict the early efforts of the Independents would be for naught. The next striker to the line for the striped-stocking lads would be none other then “Irish” O’Laughlin. The elder statesman of the Bay Citys let loose with a cannonade into the Valley of Death, and easily made his third driving in two runs and garnering cheers on both sides. Mr. O’Laughlin would also tally along with “Tanner” LeRoux before the innings were over and suddenly Bay City would lead the contest 7-5. The Black Stockings would not be forgotten and they too would add a run to make it 7-6 Bay City after five innings each.
In the sixth innings the Bay Citys charge would be repulsed as the Akrons whitewashed them in the field and then regained the lead with two runs of their own. This back and forth battle would now stand Black Stockings 8, Bay City 7. It would stay that way after each club had skunked the other in the seventh innings as well.
The eighth innings began with little hope for reprieve for the Independents as the first two hands would be lost. That brought on the first striker in the Bay City order, “Tanner” LeRoux, and in fine fashion he gave new life to the Bay Citys with another safe strike to the long field. He would be brought to tally when “Kid” Garcia, resembling the Biblical Sampson, smote the ball deep to the long field just as hard as Sampson beat down the merciless Philistines. Garcia would swiftly make his third on the drive, but he would be left there as the next striker would lose the third hand of the innings. The match was tied, and thanks to fine fielding by the Independents it would remain so, as the Stockings would be skunked in their eighth. The score now stood at 8-8.
Just like the Light Brigade of renown, the Bay City charge would be for naught as the Stockings held them scoreless in their ninth, and would answer with the winning run in their turn at the plate. The final score would stand at 9-8 for the contest in favor of the hosting Black Stockings. In three matches between Akron and Bay City there is currently one win each coupled with an extra-innings tie, and a combined run total of 25-25. All evidence points to a fine pairing of the two clubs, and after the conclusion many compliments were given each to the other. No doubt the spectators went home happy having seen a truly fine display of base ball.
Ballist H.L. Runs
LeRoux ss 2 2
Garcia cf 1 1
Beceril 1 1
McInerney 3 0
Revette 3rd 4 0
Koch 1st 0 1
Dinauer 2nd 3 0
Johnson c 3 0
Brissette p 1 1
Decuf rf 2 1
Banister 1 0
Freehling 3 0
O’Laughlin 2 1
Total 27 8
Stan Hywett Museum, Fairlawn, Ohio
Match #1
Bay City 18, Ohio Village Muffins 3
The lads from Bay City packed up their clubs and headed south to the great state of Ohio to participate in the 12th Annual Akron Cup hosted by the fine gentlemen known as the Black Stockings. The boys were honored to find that their first opponent would be none other than the Ohio Village Muffins one of the oldest and grandest of vintage base ball clubs.
The match would start fast for Bay City as they tallied three runs in the first innings thanks in part to a howitzer to the long field from the bat of Brian “Butterfly” Beceril. The bats of the Bay Citys would not slow down much, as the club found a way to tally in 5 of the 7 innings played in the contest. Thanks to many a cracker-jack play in the field and the striking of Branden “The Rope” Revette the match was well in hand, and would finish with a final ledger of Bay City 18 and the Village Muffins 3. The striking standout of the game Rope Revette made his second twice and his third once on strikes to the long field and he tallied 3 times in the match.
Regardless of the outcome, the Bay Citys found it an honor to take the field against such a storied group. Huzzah to the Muffins and all they have done for the game!
Ballist H.L. Runs
LeRoux ss 1 3
Garcia K. cf 1 3
Beceril 1 3
McInerney lf 1 3
Revette 3rd 0 3
Koch 1st 1 1
Dinauer 2nd 2 0
Johnson c 2 0
Brissette p 1 1
Decuf rf 1 0
Banister 1 0
Freehling 3 0
O’Laughlin 3 0
Elf 2 1
Total 21 18
Match #2
Bay City 16, Hoover Sweepers 3
Once again Bay City would win the coin toss and chose to strike first. Once again the top of the order came through in fine fashion when four of the top five strikers each drove balls into the long field that allowed them to take extra bases. Misters LeRoux, Garcia, and Revette were each able to take their second on their howitzers, while Mr. Beceril was able to take his third. Each of the aforementioned strikers would tally in the innings to give the Bay Citys a 4 run lead.
The Independent’s defense would skunk the Sweepers for 8 innings while their strikers continued to put runs on the ledger for 6 of the next 8 innings. The standout strike of the day came from the bat of Dean “Sawmill” Koch who made a circuit of the bases for a home run in the third innings. The contest would come to a close when the Sweepers pushed 3 aces across the plate to bring the final score to Independents 16 and the Hoovers 3.
Ballists H.L. Runs
LeRoux ss 1 2
Garcia cf 3 1
Beceril 2 1
McInerney lf 4 0
Revette 3rd 1 3
Koch 1st 1 3
Dinauer 2nd 2 0
Johnson c 1 1
Brissette p 2 1
Decuf rf 3 1
Banister 2 1
Freehling 2 1
O’Laughlin 2 1
Elf 1 0
Total 27 16
Match #3
Bay City 8, Akron 9
Immediately preceding their match with the Hoover boys the Independents were scheduled to take on the host club of the tournament, the Akron Black Stockings captained by Mark Hepner. Both clubs had labored all day in the hot sun, but somehow each was able to muster the vim and pluck that would see them play a seesaw match that would have put the tragic, Greek, figure Sisyphus to shame. (As an aside Sisyphus was condemned by the gods to spend his day pushing a giant rock uphill, only to have it roll back down time and again.)
In the first innings, having just come out of the field against the Sweepers in their previous match, the Independents chose to strike first. Despite our hometown boys putting several runners on base the gentlemen from Akron were able to skunk the Bay Citys. In a reversal of fortunes the Black Stockings were able to squeeze an ace out of only two safe strikes and took the lead in the match at 1-0.
The Bay Citys would match the Akrons in the second when Dean “Sawmill” Koch tallied after a fine shot to the long field from Fred “Twinkle-Toes” Brissette. The Black Stockings would not be outdone in their second as one of their young lads crushed a howitzer that allowed him to make his third which drove in the gentleman immediately preceding him. Both runs would tally for Akron and they would regain control of the contest at 3-1.
In this seemingly relentless uphill battle the Independents again charged into the foray. Misters Beceril and Garcia formed the spearhead in this Bay City rendition of the “Charge of the Light Brigade”, and the famed Lord Cardigan couldn’t have been prouder as both lads would tally to deadlock the match. In true form for this game of ball, the match would not stay tied for long as the Black Stockings answered the charge with a volley of aces and retook the field leading the match now at 5-3.
In the fifth innings the Bay Citys would muster their sun, sapped, strength once again, and place the first two strikers of the innings, Mr. Brissette and Mr. Decuf, on base safely. The next two hands would be lost, and it appeared that much like the Dragoons of the Crimean conflict the early efforts of the Independents would be for naught. The next striker to the line for the striped-stocking lads would be none other then “Irish” O’Laughlin. The elder statesman of the Bay Citys let loose with a cannonade into the Valley of Death, and easily made his third driving in two runs and garnering cheers on both sides. Mr. O’Laughlin would also tally along with “Tanner” LeRoux before the innings were over and suddenly Bay City would lead the contest 7-5. The Black Stockings would not be forgotten and they too would add a run to make it 7-6 Bay City after five innings each.
In the sixth innings the Bay Citys charge would be repulsed as the Akrons whitewashed them in the field and then regained the lead with two runs of their own. This back and forth battle would now stand Black Stockings 8, Bay City 7. It would stay that way after each club had skunked the other in the seventh innings as well.
The eighth innings began with little hope for reprieve for the Independents as the first two hands would be lost. That brought on the first striker in the Bay City order, “Tanner” LeRoux, and in fine fashion he gave new life to the Bay Citys with another safe strike to the long field. He would be brought to tally when “Kid” Garcia, resembling the Biblical Sampson, smote the ball deep to the long field just as hard as Sampson beat down the merciless Philistines. Garcia would swiftly make his third on the drive, but he would be left there as the next striker would lose the third hand of the innings. The match was tied, and thanks to fine fielding by the Independents it would remain so, as the Stockings would be skunked in their eighth. The score now stood at 8-8.
Just like the Light Brigade of renown, the Bay City charge would be for naught as the Stockings held them scoreless in their ninth, and would answer with the winning run in their turn at the plate. The final score would stand at 9-8 for the contest in favor of the hosting Black Stockings. In three matches between Akron and Bay City there is currently one win each coupled with an extra-innings tie, and a combined run total of 25-25. All evidence points to a fine pairing of the two clubs, and after the conclusion many compliments were given each to the other. No doubt the spectators went home happy having seen a truly fine display of base ball.
Ballist H.L. Runs
LeRoux ss 2 2
Garcia cf 1 1
Beceril 1 1
McInerney 3 0
Revette 3rd 4 0
Koch 1st 0 1
Dinauer 2nd 3 0
Johnson c 3 0
Brissette p 1 1
Decuf rf 2 1
Banister 1 0
Freehling 3 0
O’Laughlin 2 1
Total 27 8
Aces Wild
Carroll Park, Bay City, MI
Bay City 31, Kents 11
It was a breezy, sunny day in Bay City, as the Independents prepared to host the mighty Kent Base Ball Club of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Bay City was hopeful that the sunshine would hold a chance of victory against a club that they have never been able to best in many a try. Although triumphant in every match against Bay City, the Kents had always been gracious winners and fan favorites in the city by the Bay, so it was no wonder that the crowd of spectators at Carroll Park had ringed the outfield and numbered near 500 strong.
“Honest John” Gravlin was back from his trek to the great north woods, and he would govern the match game on this day. The Kents won the coin toss, and elected to take the field to begin the match. The Bay Citys took the opportunity afforded to them and sent 7 strikers to the line, and tallied 3 aces to begin the match. The Kents would tally once as well when their captain Lance Brewer crossed the plate. At the end of the first innings the score stood at 3-1 in favor of Bay City.
The second innings held more of the same medicine for the Kents as the Independents sent 9 more strikers to the stripe, and plated 4 more runs to bring the hometown total to 7. The Kents would answer in ferocious fashion by pushing their first 3 strikers across the plate. More runs may have been scored if not for a cracker jack played pulled off by the Bay City fieldsmen. With Kent runners occupying first and second sack with only one out, the 6th Kent striker sent a daisy cutter into the middle of the diamond for what appeared to be a sure hit, and another run for the Kents. However, this ball was hit into the realm of “Tanner” LeRoux, the short stop extraordinaire of the Independents, with a speed and grace that mirrors the winged Mercury LeRoux deftly tracked down the orb, flipped it to “Double D” Dinauer, the second sacker, for one hand lost, and Dinaur then rifled the ball to the first sacker Dean “Sawmill” Koch for another hand lost, and the third of the innings. The Bay City spectators erupted at the conclusion of the inning, and applauded the scientific play of the Independents. At the end of the second innings the score was now 7-4 for the Bay Citys.
In the third innings the Independents crowd would be treated to a spectacle of Herculean proportions when “Doc” Garcia, the Bay City first sacker, hit a corker to the long field that cleared a fence some 310 feet from home plate that drove in one run, and allowed Garcia to make his third. Garcia himself would later score, as would two more Bay City strikers which would bring the Bay City tally to 11.
The Kents would be whitewashed in two of the next four innings, and would add 5 more runs to their total, while Bay City would add another 3 in the same span to bring the total of the match to 14-9 in favor of Bay City. The crowning moment in the middle innings of the match would see the Kent striker, Mr. Wade; make a complete circuit of the bases for the lone home run of the contest.
The match was now much closer then the Independents would care to have it, so they grasped a firm hold on their resolve, and proceeded to punish the pill to the tune of 17 aces in just three innings. The Bay City defense held just as well by skunking the Kents twice more and allowing just two more runs to be added to the Grand Rapids total. The final ledger would read Bay City 31, and the Kent Base Ball Club 11.
After the completion of the match the Independents discovered that the Kents were as gracious in defeat as they were in victory, and each club settled down to a fine feast of fried chicken, polish sausage and sauerkraut, a delicacy of the polish immigrants to our fair town, and many other Bay City specialties. Stories were shared by both clubs, and laughter was the order of the day until the Kents packed up their buggies and headed home with their bellies full of the Independents’ hospitality.
Ballist Hands Lost Runs
LeRoux ss 3 2
Kid Garcia cf 2 3
Doc Garcia 1b 1 4
McInerney lf 0 4
Dinauer D. 2nd 2 2
Koch 3 2
Dinauer J. 3rd 2 2
Johnson J. 2 2
Brissette p 1 2
Decuf 3 1
Banister 2 2
Freehling c 1 3
O’Laughlin 1 1
Umphrey 0 1
Johnson A. rf 4 0
Totals 27 31
Bay City 31, Kents 11
It was a breezy, sunny day in Bay City, as the Independents prepared to host the mighty Kent Base Ball Club of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Bay City was hopeful that the sunshine would hold a chance of victory against a club that they have never been able to best in many a try. Although triumphant in every match against Bay City, the Kents had always been gracious winners and fan favorites in the city by the Bay, so it was no wonder that the crowd of spectators at Carroll Park had ringed the outfield and numbered near 500 strong.
“Honest John” Gravlin was back from his trek to the great north woods, and he would govern the match game on this day. The Kents won the coin toss, and elected to take the field to begin the match. The Bay Citys took the opportunity afforded to them and sent 7 strikers to the line, and tallied 3 aces to begin the match. The Kents would tally once as well when their captain Lance Brewer crossed the plate. At the end of the first innings the score stood at 3-1 in favor of Bay City.
The second innings held more of the same medicine for the Kents as the Independents sent 9 more strikers to the stripe, and plated 4 more runs to bring the hometown total to 7. The Kents would answer in ferocious fashion by pushing their first 3 strikers across the plate. More runs may have been scored if not for a cracker jack played pulled off by the Bay City fieldsmen. With Kent runners occupying first and second sack with only one out, the 6th Kent striker sent a daisy cutter into the middle of the diamond for what appeared to be a sure hit, and another run for the Kents. However, this ball was hit into the realm of “Tanner” LeRoux, the short stop extraordinaire of the Independents, with a speed and grace that mirrors the winged Mercury LeRoux deftly tracked down the orb, flipped it to “Double D” Dinauer, the second sacker, for one hand lost, and Dinaur then rifled the ball to the first sacker Dean “Sawmill” Koch for another hand lost, and the third of the innings. The Bay City spectators erupted at the conclusion of the inning, and applauded the scientific play of the Independents. At the end of the second innings the score was now 7-4 for the Bay Citys.
In the third innings the Independents crowd would be treated to a spectacle of Herculean proportions when “Doc” Garcia, the Bay City first sacker, hit a corker to the long field that cleared a fence some 310 feet from home plate that drove in one run, and allowed Garcia to make his third. Garcia himself would later score, as would two more Bay City strikers which would bring the Bay City tally to 11.
The Kents would be whitewashed in two of the next four innings, and would add 5 more runs to their total, while Bay City would add another 3 in the same span to bring the total of the match to 14-9 in favor of Bay City. The crowning moment in the middle innings of the match would see the Kent striker, Mr. Wade; make a complete circuit of the bases for the lone home run of the contest.
The match was now much closer then the Independents would care to have it, so they grasped a firm hold on their resolve, and proceeded to punish the pill to the tune of 17 aces in just three innings. The Bay City defense held just as well by skunking the Kents twice more and allowing just two more runs to be added to the Grand Rapids total. The final ledger would read Bay City 31, and the Kent Base Ball Club 11.
After the completion of the match the Independents discovered that the Kents were as gracious in defeat as they were in victory, and each club settled down to a fine feast of fried chicken, polish sausage and sauerkraut, a delicacy of the polish immigrants to our fair town, and many other Bay City specialties. Stories were shared by both clubs, and laughter was the order of the day until the Kents packed up their buggies and headed home with their bellies full of the Independents’ hospitality.
Ballist Hands Lost Runs
LeRoux ss 3 2
Kid Garcia cf 2 3
Doc Garcia 1b 1 4
McInerney lf 0 4
Dinauer D. 2nd 2 2
Koch 3 2
Dinauer J. 3rd 2 2
Johnson J. 2 2
Brissette p 1 2
Decuf 3 1
Banister 2 2
Freehling c 1 3
O’Laughlin 1 1
Umphrey 0 1
Johnson A. rf 4 0
Totals 27 31