Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1891-07-16

'iNohil II 'o lCClaliij uui1 -Os
1t was a peculiar game the audience
at the park witnessed last Sunday.
They might go there again for years
without seeing another like it, 1t was
half dozen varieties of games crowded
into one, and the spectators were made
weary, interested, discouraged and en-
thusiastic-all in short while. The
players did sharp fielding, made mex
cusable blunders, put up stiff game,
went to pieces, batted like Bostonians
and struck out-did everything contrary.
Wilkes-Barre started out at a winning
gait, and had in the box young twirer
named Devlin, whose delivery was as
mysterious as his disposition was petu-
liant. He had good drop ball, which
fooled Freeland for awhile in the early
part of the game. But he was easily
ratified and had less control of his
temper than he had of the ball.
Wilkes-Barre was forced to the most tire
some dllatory tactics to delay the game
every time Devlin lost his head, and the
patience of the onlookers was often taxed
beyond the ordinary limit. The visi-
tors are good batters and Welch had his
hands full in trying to puzzle them, and
his support was not gilt-edged by great
deal when supertine ball playing was
required. The most reliable men ran
about like q lot of amateurs when good
work was expected, and moment
afterward would give exhibitions of
fine professional fielding. 1t was a
genuine razzledazzle until the sixth
inning, with Wilkes-Barre steadily ad-
vancing to the goal of victory. Free
land could not get more than two men
over the plate up to this time. They
even had the bases filled and none out,
but the sluggers at the bat couldn't hit
safely just then if their lives depended
on it.
Then the seventh opened. The score
was to 2, and it looked gloomy for the
home team. 1t was with sickly smile
Freeland's batters stepped to the plate,
but Brady's music-box was set going and
Devlin had to succumb to It's influence.
Two safe hits, two stolen bases, two
errors and two runs were scored. 1t
was getting interesting, and Freeland
took courage when Brady went to the
which Swartman captured, dropped and
picked up as it touched the ground.
Everyone thought he was safe, but
Umpire Bonner took a different view
and called him out. All hands took
part in the discussion that followed, and
a break in the game was averted by Mr..
Bonner resigning as umpire. He was
succeeded by John j. McNelis, but the
decision stood and Freeland had to take
the field. The visitors were quickly re-
tired without scoring, and as the eighth
opened Welch touched off the fireworks
with single. Then the fun began.
Wilkes-Barre showed how much they
don't know about base ball, and in a
shorter space of time than it takes to
tell it the score was tied. Brilliant mis-
plays, beautiful fumbles, wild throws
and costly errors characterised the work
of the county seat folks. In the mean
time Freeland men were running bases
and scoring as they pleased. Ten
players had completed the circuit when
the inning ended. In the ninth Wilkes
Barre put in as battery Swartman and
Zeller, Devlin going to right and Brown
to first. The change, however, was
made "too late" Freeland scored two
more and gave the visitors one, finish
ing the game 16 to Z.