The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-06-12
BASE BALL IN PORTO RICO.
The Games Are Played in the Plains Below
1OrrO.

Among other innovations on the isl
and of Porto Rico, for which American
energy is responsible, are outdoor
sports of various kinds. Even the tor
of MORO, that sacred, well-guarded pile
whose mysterious precincts were never
before entered by other than officers
and Soldiers of the crown, has been in
vaded and a tennis net stretched be-
hind it's frowning guns. Every week
the great plain just below and south
east of the castle is the scene of ac-
tivity such as the stately dons of the
past and the apathic Porto Rican OF
the present never dreamed Of. Here
army and navy meet on the base bal
diamond, each side represented by we'll
drilled teams.
No more ideal spot could be selected
for the game. Girdled by sea walls
behind which the breakers sing, and
swept it's entire length by cooling
breazes, the rolling surface flattens to-
wards the centre in an even plateau
forming natural ampitheatre. Tents
are pitched to shelter the daintily
gowned spectators who flock to the
ground and cheer each side impartially
lIlOuGll Lie dlIIG pa Gu Win III Nv ~
earnestness.
The soldiers and sailors started the
game as a little private diversion but
so much skill has developed that the in
terest has extended to officers and the
American public generally. The work
of the picked teams has reached a pro-
fessional standard and regular match
games are being played for the cham
pionship. Last week the pennant was
n mr. h1r oh
their competitors work was in every
way worthy of their mettle.
The Nashville had arrived in the har-
Dor and to make a creditable showing
of their prOwesS before the officers and
crew of the little gunboat which bears
the honor of having fired the first gun
to the late war, both teams prepared
for their best work. They played eX-
celIently. The base running on both
sides was not UP to the standard, but
the fielding vas excellent and the bat
ting good The excitement was intense
when the score was tied at three runs
and remained d tie until the seventh in
ming. At this point the army catcher
received an injury to his knee, and hav-
ing no substitute, continued to play in
Il partially disabled plight.
In the next inning the sailors clinched
the victory by making five runs The
in the sixth inning, when occurred that
rare thing in base ball, a triple play.
Second and third bases were occupied,
when low line fly to left was hit. 1t
seemed safe, but was captured and both
runners were put out by very fast
work on the part of the sailors.
The scene among the spectators at
this stage was wildly funny The crews
of the Panther and Nashville who lined
the seawalL broke into enthusiastic
cheers, dancing and gyrating fantasia
calIy, while the broad collars and bell
shaped trousers of their snowy uni
forms fiuttered in unison with their
movements The women under the
tents We're on their feet, waving fans
and handkerchiefs, while officers Joined
in dignified applause.
1t has been an incentive for ambition
on the part of both teams and the
training goes on with the object of do
ing uneXcelled work in the future. This
would be an ideal spot for the early
spring training of professional teams
and would provide an object lesson for
the Porto Ricans, whose physical con-
dition would be incalculably benefited
by the adoption Of American athletic
sports along with our national princi-
ples.-Philadelphia Times.