Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-09-01
TRULY RURAL BALL.
FOREST hill sTRiPLiNos WHITE
WASH THE EL6A NINE.
a Game That Was one-sided FROM Start
to finish-Utseriy Featureiess Play
ing Fatigued the Cranks.

Yesterday afternoon small number OF
cranks crossed over the river to the ball
park on Mayo's Island 10 see club from
Elba wipe up the ground with club from
Manchester. What wonder that the crowd
was small What wonder that the faces
OF the cranks were grim and not lighted
by anticipation of pleasure For they mad
seen the club from Elba play ball. and
they had also seen the club from Manches-
ter daily with the rotund horsehide; and
having seen both clubs at work on otner
DAYS, they did not agree IN the prophecy
that victory would perch IN the vicinity OF
the doughty men of Elba.
Usually at ball game there are plenty
OF men on either side who are Wiling 10
stake a few samollans on their fayorite
.eam. but there was no one ia slRht y es-
terday afternoon who was willing 10 FISK
his gold on the fortunes of the West-End
folk, aud consequently the contest pro-
ceeded amid truly moral atmosphere.
1t was beautiful day for athletic sport.
About midday there was SOFT gentle
shower. But al o'clock the rain drifted
| away like Main-street dust on windy day
| and left clearness. GOODNESS, and bright
ness behind 1t.
f, now THEY SLEW TIE.
It was agreed beforehand that the eight
should open at 4:30 o'clock, but when that
hour came Elba was not in readiness Tor
| the fray. The men on this nine were very
| slow TO arrive and two or more never put
| In their appearance. Such substitutes as
| could be picked up on tho grounds had to
be secured and play commenced nearly
| half hour late.
Elba went into the field. IL had been
| La AarantirO Hfharnian
| sphere-hurler known TO the ball world as
| Michael Enright would twirl for them, but
| for some reason, which was not made pub
| lie. the box knew not the agile tread OF
Michaers No. IFS. In his place MIR. Dis
| ney. also probably Hibernian. stood up TO
pitch.
wANTED--A CATCHER.
| It Is usual to say that So-and-So pitched
and was caught by So-and-So, but this
cannot be said in this connection. 1t is
| true that Nunallie (the captaIn) stood be-
| hind the plate, but he did not catch the
ball-he simply let IL pass by him, I'M
touched. urfngered. By the time the first
| half of the inning was over and the Forest
Hills got themselves put ont after scoring
| two runs the cranks decided that MIR.
Nunallie couldn't play ball. He seemed to
be utterly unable to locate the ball, and
moved about behind the bat very slowly.
In fact, he made errors 50 fast that the
| scorer could hardly keep track OF them,
and a small boy, who was perched on the
sharp edge of the fence, chanted this ex-
| pressIye rune:
Get a new catcher-get him quick
Or Elba will the bucket kick"
Their catcher way, way, way off; but the
tout ensemble of the Ella club was not so
bad. Disney pitched slowly but surely,
and was not hit very hard, and the field
ers sought the flying sphere successfully.
and. perhaps. had the advice of the small
boy been followed and new catcher been
gotten right quick, the game might have
been more even. After awhile Mr..
Nunnallie went out to third base,
so often, and Balm put on the mask. This
was better. for Rain played earnest ball.
But 1t would have taken better club than
Elba to yanquish the Forest-Hill boys.
IT WAS so EASY.
The Forest Hills played carelessly, but
did they need 10 play otherwise II was sc
easy to win from Elbal They made seven
runs and might have made as many more
if they had been needed.
And Elba couldn't hit Quarles. His
curves were like the nectar IN the cup o.
Tantalus-ln sight but never touched
Inning after inning went by and nary ar
Elbarite crossed the plate. When the
game was over their score stood where 1
was when the umpire said PLAY ball,
and the BOYS limped home covered with {
thick coat of whitewash.
There was no kicking because Mr.. j. b
McKenney was the umpire, and the firm
ness and infexibllity Of that gentleman Il
q proverb. Besides, he had been giver
authority TO fine any player who kicked.