Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1899-06-10


become famous as a baseball authority
of the third degree. 1t is needless to
state that the JOURNAL refers to THE
Scorer -
The Frostburg Baseball club went to Rom
ney by the overland route last Saturday and
won a game from the Potomac Academy
team, of that place
The distance from Frostburg to Romney is
"a miles-tO the average man pretty tough
iaunt. The roads lead over mountains, up
hills, down dales and through some of the
prettiest scenery one wishes to view
The start was made from the st. Cloud
Hotel at o'clock. just when the flush of
daylight began pushing backward the
shadows of night.
AT we crossed the now historic combina-
ton Of natural" and artificial pollution"
known as 1.-THE Potomac" and were among
the hills of "old Virginia." passed over
knobly, down through Short Gap and into
the sleepy town of Frankfort. Here we met
Louis Gehauf, who used to be baseball
rooter at Pompey Smash, now Vale Summit,
% years ago. Louis has not forgotten old
times. Soon as he saw manager Dillon he
asked-'aint there a baseball game some
where to-day?
After getting proper directions from our
friend, Gehauf, we pulled out for Springfield,
the birthplace of that all-round, clever, silver
tongued conversationaist, J. B. Shannon.
Here we were informed that the Homecoming
band were guests Of the town and would de-
light the people of that section with pleas
ing entertainment that evening to which we
were cordially invited.
But our journey was not ended and we
pulled on for Romney. Five miles from
Springfield we crossed the South branch of
the Potomac. We met party of Lonacon-
ing fisherman encamped here and they
seemed to be having good time.
We struck the Green Spring and Romney
railroad, by which our road runs past
Hanging Rock" right into the old town,
but ready for the fray.
We were entertained at the keller House."
The proprietor, Skip" Keller being an old
Frostburg boy, paid us the very best atten-
ton. Here we learned that the day was
holiday, being Decoration day, and the town
soon filled with good people coming from
every direction, dressed in holiday garb, to
assist in the ceremonies and ito see the
Maryland boys play ball
About 300 people gathered on the Academy
grounds to see the game, which began at
1870. Frostburg was ''short" a pitcher, and
manager Dillon wisely decided to play Willie
Spates, of the junior team, in that trying
position. The choice proved good, as Spates
pitched creditable game; never once lost
his head or went up in the air" though the
roofing at times was something awful. So
loud and long was the "hollering" that Will
hams, who caught an excellent game at
times could not hear the umpire call balls
or strikes" Everyone except the 'mutes'
| rooted loud enough to be heard in Grants
vile, and they rooted by making vehement
signs and jumping up and down. The sup
port given the battery in the first three in
nings was a little "lobsterish." In the third
inning, when the score was to / it looked
like a sure victory for the Romney team.
Our boys kept pegging away, however, and
IN the sixth inning they made four runs,
passing their competitors. The shouts of
the rooters that were awakening the echoes
of the Romney hills died away like the
| murmurings of the sad sea waves.
DIN Gunnett, the efficient captain and
third base-man, made some lightning plays
that were hair-raisers, though, on the other
hand, he contributed his share to the error
column. Generally he played good ball and
kept the team together till the victory was
ours. Frank Spates, at short, played good
ball, covering lots Of ground and taking
every chance without the semblance of an
error. Miller, who played second base, was
decidedly in the game from the start, and his
voice on the coaching lines was heard despite
the efforts of the ''coon" rooters to drown him
out. GeraCh, Powers and "Old Hoss" Jack
played the out-field and cut big figures in a
victory that at one time looked like sure de-
feat.
For the Romney team Ellery, the Mute"
at shortstop; Austin, the catcher, and Fish
er, at third, led their club both in the field
and at the bat. Grove, in the left field, made
two very difficult catches. One of jack 5
bats was good for three bases had he not got
under it Just in time.
All in all it was pretty fair game, though
some errors were made on both sides.
The tabulated score follows: