National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-04-22
FOR THE CHAMPIoNsHIP.
The First Victory for the Nationals-Th'
Game with the Holyokes.

The First Victory for the Nationals-The
Game with the Holyokes.
The National Club met the Holyokes, of
Massachusetts, yesterday aud inaugurated the
contest between the professional clubs Of the
National Association for the championship of
the present season. There was an unusually
and the exhibition doubtless proved satisfac-
tory to a majority of the audience Consider
able Importance was attached to the game on
account Of 1t being the first time the home
club had really been put upon its mettlo and
forced to show something of its ability to con-
tend with frst-class Mines The display was
excellent and exceeded both the hopes and de-
sircs of the patrons of tho game. The Ma
tionals went on the field with fixed deter
mination to win, aud their handling of tho
ball up TO the seventh inning was almost fault
less, and Il? to that time their opponents had
failed to score.
So effective was Lynch's pitching, and he
was so excellontly supported, that none Of the
lIolyokcs, with one exception, found the route
to second base. Having the closing half Of the
seventh inning they found good luck for
them. When the Nationals went out they had
secured four runs by square honest batting,
and IT became evident that daylight would
scarce hold out sufficiently for the other side
to finish their inning 1t becomes dark very
rapidly upon the grounds, and although both
pitcher and catcher complained Of the dim
light, the umpire kept them at work until
three mcn were put out. 1t was in this cOndi-
ton of affairs that the errors were committed
by which the llOlyokcs secured the five runs
aud earned none. Lynch aud Trott did yco.
man service in the infeld the former working
| like Trojan and the latter picking n couple
\ fft Tins off ha has In fine gtNln Whi1n Rake
handled the first for all it was worth Booth
I did well at second, and gives evidence that the
| man for the position has been found. In the
out.fcld Holly carried OF the honors. The
entire nine punished Sullivan pretty severely,
McClclland aud Booth corking his medium dc
livery for two and three bases.
The Holyokcs were outfcldcd and Outhattcd
and nobody realized sooner than themselves
that they were ovcrmatchcd. They stuck tc
| the work maufully, but tho batting was Ia
inevitably weak, none of them seeming able t
| hit Lyuch's pitching, excepting Winchester
and his efforts brought poor return. If they
| don't want to build up an ugly reputation they
must do less grumbling and iault-fnding, OF
| they will soon be dubbed "thc kickcrs."
Yesterday Mr. Mclean was agreed upon a
umpire and performed the duties until the sec
! Und inning. when, in consequence of the ugly
spirit shown by the captain and members o
| the Holyoke nine he declined further to per
| form the duties, and Mr. Kip was induced {
take up the unpleasant task Probably thi
would prove the most speedy and successful
way of breaking up this incessant growln
against the decisions of umpres. Let thcs
gentlemen upon such occurrence leave tn
field, and when clubs find themselves withou
umpircs they will probably play in more har
mony aud become respectable 1t is only ju:
tice to say that the National Club abided by
| without murmur, the decisions of the umpire
L ia g,
cases thrown against them. Appended is til
score