Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-08-30
BELLIES AT THE BAT.
How sixteen Girls and Two Boys Played
the National Game
PhiLqdeIDhfa Times

PhiEddelphid Times
Sixteen young ladies, aided bv two
young lads, played base ball Yesterday at
Fastime Park in the presence of 400 or 500
persons, OF whom few were ladies. The
players were mOdestly dressed.as TO their
bodies, and their skirts reached to their
knees: one side wore dresses of white.
with Dlue trimmings, and stockings of
a light green color, while the other
had red trimmings and red stock
lngs. All wore jaunty little white cloth
hats and base ball shoes OF the regu-
latlon style, except one girl, who luxuri-
ated in tifteen-button CATERS that reached
span above her ankles, and must have
taken half an hour each to fasten: all had
untanned belts around their little waists
MISS Williams, who acted as Captain of
the Reds, had full suit of that color. and
Miss Evans, who held similar command
ON the other side, sported a lovely outft
OF cerulean blue and little hat that had
Haunting blue ribbon.
GIRLS ''ON DECK"
When the game was called the Reds
went to the bat, each girl clamorino
about the scorers table to know when If
would be her turn to .'go in" Finally.
Miss Poole, dumpy little girl of about
Il, took the bat, which she handled much
as II 1t were doll baby. The Blue field
ers were Miss Willis, catcher; Miss
Evans, pitcher; Miss P. Darlington,
short stop; Miss Sallie DARLINGTON
first base; Miss Jenny, second base.
Miss Elliott, third base; Miss
Hurry, right field; Miss Cassidy, centre
held, and Miss StauntOn, left field. When
they had all been shown to their places
Misss Evans delivered high one to Miss
Poole, who hit it full and sent it back to
her with whiZZ. Miss Evans lodged If
carefully and left field, coming in to cover
her miss, got her hat knocked off and
giggled hysterically Meanwhile the
plucky hitter had run three bases and was
standing on third putting like a porpoise.
Then Miss Miller took the bat and
threw up fly one that fell almost into
Miss Darlington's hands, through which
1t passed and rolled half a dozen wards
away. Miss Darlington looked disap-
pOIntedly at the fugitive ball, but made
no attempt to follow it, and the result was
that Miss Poole came home and Miss Mil
Ter putfed around to third base. The ball
finally reached the hands of the pitcher
by three easy stages, being missed twice
successfully on its way.
NEED A SMALLER FIELD,
1t was evident from the start that the
diamond of the regulation size was en-
entirely too large for the girls either for
running or throwing. A ball thrown
from the pitcher to the second base almost
invariably fell short and was stopped on
the roll. The throw from first to third
base was an utter impOssibilitv. The
throw was novelty at Pastime, and ex-
clted the players, who watched the game
10 uncomfortable laughter, All the girls
handled the ball in the same wav. The
right arm was doubled and the hand
brought near the face: then a sudden
JERK threw 1t thirty feet or so.
In catching, all the girls held
ther hands out in front of them
with the palms up, and if
the ball was well-directed and came at a
nice curve, they caught it well enough.
but If 1t came straight and fast their
courage failed, and they got out of its way
without delay. Captain Williams was
the fercesU hitter on the field, sending one
ball far past the centre field and making
three bases on it, but in the field she was
evidently afraid of her pretty hands and
refused to oppose them to
any fast-coming ball. Miss Healey. who
was phenomenally tall and thin, showed |
no fear of the ball and much proficiency |
at the bat. Once she sent a flyer over the |
head of left field, Miss Stanton, who tried !
to catch 1t i'll her lap, but made a muff |
Of it.
HOW THE BLUES PLAYED.
OF, the Blues Miss Eyaps Yasc nr;obaehlY
were far below par. In throw |
ing, she held her right elbow close to her |
side, and flung the ball with Iady-like |
Jerk that raised it seven or eight feet in |
the air and propelled it probably ten |
yards. Miss j. Darlington, who was first |
base for the Blues, did honor to the |
position. When the ball was carefully |
tossed to her so that she could put her
hands down and scoop it in she took hold
Dt 1t gracefully and sent it back to the
pitcher, but if it came at any speed she
quietly stepped aside and smilingly let
IL pass. So it was, indeed, with the
most of the tielders. The most promising
HES slipped through their lovely little
hands like water through a sieve, but
still they smiled and contentedly ran after
the playful ball, as though it were lust as
well to deliver it at one time rs at another.
There was no unladylike hurrying about |
their play and they never cOndescended
TO the excitement that inspires the other
sex when engaged in this interesting
game. Speed was of no great moment
and no young lady in running to the bases
was seen to sprawl fiat on her face and
crawl, as it were, to the bag-a thing
hat may be seen any day when men are
playing.
NINE INNINGS PLAYED.
Indeed, dignity and perfect mOdesty
IneSe female players, who |
seemed to enjoy their game greatly and TO
)ay little heed to the jOcOse advice of the
spectators, who gave frequent
llnts and suggestions as to their method
If play, and often urged them to run
u to hit harder, and to ''hold on to her.
Nary and so on. There were nine
innings played, in which Captains
Williams and Evans covered them
selves with glory and applause, and
Misses Willis, Elliott, Cassidy and STAN
on, of the Blues, and Misses Miller, Nor
'is,sMay and Norris, of the Reds, ran their
)ases with rare speed. Miss Miller as a.
pitcher was gentleness itself, and sent
such lovely full balls that it was pleas
Ire to hit them. Miss Williams sue
;eeded her, but her pitching was not
equally effective. There were nine innings
played, the Reds making % runs and the
Blues s.
The young ladies have been only ten
lays in practice. When they master the
manly style of throwing and catching.
which they declare they will soon do.
heir play viii be well worth seeing.
They are to play game on September /,
IN halfsized diamond, which will bet
er suit their style of batting and throw
ng.