Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-04-18
GOATS THE yICTORS.
Bluebirds Couldn't Hit Nj. Cbssbfo, and
Were Therefore Defeated.
A VERY EXCITING CONTEST.
Both Teams Fought Desperately for
Nine Innings-Ames Was Batted
More LberaIly Than Was His OPP
ponent-The other Games.
Richmond, II Roanoke, 4.
Petersburg, 8, Lynchburg, 10.
Norfolk, 81 Portsmouth, 10.
Twas ever thus" One day we r

"'Twas ever thus" One day we ride
upon the crest OF the waves Of Joy. and
everything assumes a roseate hue; the
next we are cast down in the slough Of
despair, and the roseate hue gives place
to a tinge of blue, and our cup runneth
over.
Thus 1t is in the everyday world, and
thus II Is In the baseball world. Were
1t not for the ups and downs in the ma
tional game, 'twould long ago have lost
its interest for the genus crank, and the
bleacheries at West-End Park would
never have been.
The league season opened Thursday
afternoon. and the Bluebirds defeated
the Roanoke Goats, and Joy in Richmond
reigned supreme. Yesterday. the Blue
birds again met the Goats on the dia-
mond. but, oh, how different was the
RESULT Instead of achieving a glorious
victory. as all had anticipated would be
the case, the Birdlings were thrown
down and trampled upon by the Quadru-
peds, and the 1900 cranks who witnessed
the slaughter left the park with heavy
hearts and downcast heads.
A SHAMEl A SHAMB!
Twas a shame! That's what It was;
but il couldn't be helped. The Blue
birds fought manfully for supremacy.
but Mr.. Chesbros delivery was too much
for them. and they had to yield the palm
TO him. Chesbro is a short, trick-set
little fellow. whom Roanoke has en-
gagged to do the twirling for them He
L. oNH Ja ho to bftr
and he knows how to use II. He didn't
resort to any curves or trickery yester-
day but just STAYED 'em in over the
plate as straight as he knew how, and
the Bluebirds couldn't touch him.
Ames was in for Richmond. and he
clso had speed; but he was found with
greater frequency than was his opponent,
and thereby hangs tale. The Goats
didn't outplay the Blucbirds, though they
did equally as well; but they used their
sticks more effectively, and batted out
four runs, while Richmond was only able
to score one.
WAS EXCITING THROUGHOUT.
Neither team scored until the fourth in
ming, and matters began TO grow ex-
citing; but In this inning the Champions
broke the spell. and when Chesbro pre-
sented Groves with his base, and Boland
ing Groves, and bringing himself up
on third, pandemonium broke loose. The
side was retired ere Boland could reach
home, but all were content-Richmond
was In the lead.
The Goats didn't do anything in their
half of the fourth, and the Bluebirds
were blanked in one. two. three
order in the fifth; but then there
came trouble. The Mushroom lads came
to the bat, and Sullivan led off with a
double into deep left field; then Tate fol-
lowed with a single into centre field. and
Sullivan came over the rubber. Gochnour
put single into Grovess territory.
and put Tate on third. Gochnour was
caught at second by a clever throw.
made by Boand, and Tull few cut to
Kain, thereby giving Tate an opportunity
TO reach home. though he narrowly
escaped being put cut on the plate, as
Kain made a very quick throw-in.
THE THING WAS SETTLED.
1t is needless to tell of the rest of the
game. Richmond was defeated then and
there: for, try as they would, the Blue
birds could not get another man In
home. In the eighth they got the bases
full. and with two men out, Berte came
to the bat and struck out. and killed all
OF Richmonds chances for victory.
The score shows how twas all done.
Read it.; then pause. and shed a tear: