Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-12-09
q ocal ann State Nems.
The Junior Championship.

The Junior Championship.
As the base ball season of 1870 has fairly
closed, it may not be uninteresting to review
the career of the Dirigo club of this city, since
organized. 1t was formed in the spring OF
1867. Seven games were played during that
year, with the principal clubs in kennebec
county, the Dirigo's winning them all. In
their second season they played nine games,
of which they won seven. They met two sue
cessive defeats in the early part of the season,
after which they gave themselves hard prac-
tice, and on Aug. 10TH won the ''Prize Bat,
emblem Of the Junior Championship of Maine,
from the North Stars of Portland, by score
of 20 to IS. They succeeded in keeping it
through the season. Having thus become
champions and obliged to accept all challenges
from the junior clubs throughout the State, it
became necessary to have strong team for
1869. Accordingly the nine were fully re-
organized and drilled with the determination
to retain their laurels. The season an
exciting one, and showed that their claim to
the title of champion was founded on supe-
rior playing. They played ten games, of
which they won nine. Six of these were con-
tested for the prize bat; the Dirigos winning
them ALL They met but one d, feat and that
by the Fairmounts, (senior) of Malboro', Mass.
In Sept. they made trip to Massachusetts,
where they played three Of the best Junior
clubs in the vicinity of the "Hub." The games
were played on the Union Grounds, against
the Excelsior's and Stars of Boston and the
Bay State club of Lynn, Chen holders of the
Champion Bat of that State). The Dirigos
were triumphant in each game, and by their
brilliant playing, shew themselves entitled to
rank as one of the first junior clubs in New
England. The past season Of 1870 has been
one of unusual interest among the juniors of
this State. The Association rule allows THAT
club which shall hold the bat for two years, shall
become its permanent owners" Accordingly
the junior clubs of the State redoubled their
efforts to win it from the Dirigos. The
Eagles of Augusta, Resolute and North Star
clubs Of Portland and the Passages of Belfast
each endeavored to carry off the prize, but
were defeated. The latter game was the best
ever played in Augusta and the Dirigos may
we'll be proud of their victory. One game
was forfeited to them by the Eureka's of River
side. In August they made their SECOND tour
to Massachusetts,, and while there played seven
games against the smartest junior clubs in the
State. They lost one game each to the Bay
State club of Lynn and the Unas of Charles
town. They defeated the Excelsiors of Bos-
ton, Young America of Waltham, Haverhil's
of Haverhill, Aurora's Of Chelsea and Lin
coins of Lowell. The match with the Bay
States was played for the Junior Champion
ship of New England; although the Dirigos
were beaten, they were satisfied that they could
play a better game, and challenged them to
another game, to take place, either on the
Union Grounds or at Lynn. The Bay States
refused to accept the challenge, and conse-
quently the matter was dropped for that sea-
son. The Dirigos are the only junior club in
Maine that ever ventured out of the State,
and their enterprise and pluck has deserved the
success which 1t has attained.
OF the ten games played with the leading
junior clubs of the Bay State, the Dirigos
have won eight. The record of our champions
would do credit to any club. The late con-
vention Of the ''National Junior Base Ball
Association" to which the Dirigos belong,
elected one of its members as Vice President.
We give below the average of the Dirigos for
the past year: