The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-07-08
Portage Lake News
That Exciting Game
of Base Ball Played
Yesterday
Won BY the Hancock Team.
The Score stood zee 10 IN at the End
ofthe Fifth lnnings-Other Por-
tsge Lake News.

jim Fisher, of Hancock, and Wesley
Downing, OF Calumet, settled a score yes
terday OF two years standing. They did
il with bat and ball on the green dia-
mond, and Il. II. Shields refereed the
match. Incidentally, they we're sup
ported each by eight lusty townsmen,
and the score at the end OF five innings
was % to Is in favor OF James club.
This makes things even, for the game two
years ago was in favor OF the Calumet
boys. The doughty captain OF the Calu-
NETS played star position behind the
bat, while Jim contented himself with
the less conspicuous position OF center
field. He had provided himself with a
good sized dry goods box, in which to
catch flies, but the best he could do was
to fall over the box while someone else
fielded the ball.
But it was not in the field that the
Hancock captain most did distinguish
himself, but in the highly successful man.
ner in which he got to first base every
time he went to bat. He knew he could
by no chance ever hit the ball, so he
would pick out one OF Pitcher Kings
easy coming ones and would so wriggle
about as TO receive the ball on the broad
est portion OF his anatomy, and would
trot to first with an excellent limp.
-Four times were these tactics successful,
and it was afterwards discovered that he
had on three extra pairs of trousers.
Both captains coached and kicked in
an up-to-date manner. but the latter
would not go at all with Umpire Shields,
who. disdaining to use words, made a
wave OF the hand just as effectual and
several times quelled an incipient riot.
Capt. Fisher counted on the UNI
pire's residence at this end OF the
line, and Capt. Downing on his
domestic relations with Calumet,
but neither reason swayed the stern ar
bitter OF the field, for when he had called
ball batted by a Hancock man oyer
the grand stand safe he would immedi-
ately proceed to even things up by an
equal present to the other side.
For the Hancock team Will Harry did
good work at first and in batting. He
stole bases like the fellow that stole Mey
ers' watch OF the Fourth, only he did not
get caught at It. Tom Lang was reg
ular Standard Oil monopoly out in the
right garden. He caught onto and held
all that came his way. Mort Getchell
was behind the bat and his play was pc
culiar in that he caught most OF the balls
with his ungloved hand.
The Calumet team were poor coachers
and when they were at bat there was a
dispiriting calm. Old Profesh Ed Hook
ing on the other hand made a regular
night mare OF the hancock's turn at bat.
To this fact Captain Downing attributes
his defeat and then his men could not be
induced to steal anything.
The whole team started out with a
rush and the display Of midday fireworks
was wonderful. Flies, grounders and
liners came from every man at bat, even
Ed Cuddiby could hit the ball that in
ming. But the next inning they went out
in one two three order and the
next resulted in a goose egg as
well. In the fourth inning they again
showed championship form. but not quite
enough OF it. Charles Fichtel played his
usual good game at short and was good
for two Dagger each time at bat
At one time it looked az though the
Hancocks would lose their head push.
jamie tried to get through u hole in the
| fence and got stuck. Half his team got
behind and pushed and the other hall
hauled and he finally emerged minus the
| top OF his cap.
The Calumets were arrayed as though
bound for church picnic, that is, at the
start. A slide to second would first cover
the front OF those immaculate duck trou-
sers with dirt and vain effort after a
fly, ending in a moment for rest on the
turf, would put one big grass stain on
| the reverse.
The result leaves Downing and Fisher
game and game, but the struggle for the
championship will not be played this sea-
| son; once season is enough Tor them.