The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-05-05
OPENING OF THE SEASON
Scranton Gave a Creditable Exhibit
ton and Succeeded in Taking
a Game from Wilkes Barre.
The Game in Detail.

The Atlantic league season in this
city opened yesterday in a highly aus
picious manner.
The home team defeated their dear
est enemies--WilkeS-B Barre-tho crowd
was large and the weather fine.
Early in the afternoon the members
Of the two clubs in carriages and nead-
ed by the Lawrence band. paraded the
streets of the city and then proceeded
to the base ball park for their prelim-
mary practice.
When Umpire Hardie Henderson, the
cX-National league pitcher. called play
at $50 every thorough paced fan was
present and most of them occupied the
identical seats that were their favor
ties when Scranton last had profess
sional ball. The game was featured by
not a few brilliant plays that gave the
enthusiasts an opportunity to exercise
their lungs. They allowed no opportu-
nifty to pass.
WilkesB sent up a respectable
sized crowd of rooters who gathered
around the Wilkes-Barre stockholders
in the grand stand and did what they
could to cheer up the Alligator boys.
The sixth and ninth innings were the
only occasions when the Wilkes Barre
ans had an opportunity for enthusing
and they proceeded TO grasp them.
The impression made by the Scranton
club was very favorable. 1t was the
general sentiment that Manager Swift
has lot of earnest. active players who
will win a strong position for Scranton
in the league race. The home team be-
gan the run getting in the first inning.
Knoll, the first batsman, was given
first on balls and proceeded to steal
second. Lippert made a. single, Dillon
flew out and then Pete E'gan came to
the bat
PETB WAS RELIABLE.
His friends gave him a very hearty
hand as he walked to the plate and he
thanked them by lusty drive into
short left that brought in Knoll and
Lppert.
lGgan's re-appearanCe on q Scranton
diamond was a decided success.
Fill Coughlin, the active young man
who covers third for Wilkes Barre, is
a Scranton boy, and when he went to
the plate to bat in the first his Scran-
ton friends presented him with a hand
some gOld-headed umbrella, through
Umpire Henderson. The gift was mod
estly acknowledged by Coughlin.
No man was ever known to hit the
ball after a presentation of that ma
ture and Of course Coughlin went out
at first. He distinguished himself later
in the game by making three singles
and batting in several runs.
1t was estimated that upwards OF
$500 persons saw yesterdays game.
Although SWifts men won, their VIC
tory was by no means easily earned,
Notwithstanding the score was II to
in their favor when Wilkes Barre be-
gan the last half of the ninth inning
1t seemed fitting and proper that the
seasons opening game should not be
commonplace, that it should contain
something Of the heart breaking order
before the finish. If the cranks looked
forward to something of this kind they
were not disappointed for in the wind
up of the final chapter, Risley, who
had permitted only eight hits. was
made the victim of some punched
pounding, five hits for six balls, which
with an error by Knoll, developed five
runs and sent the big crowd into fits
of excitement. The game closed with
Wilkes Barre within two points of a
tie and a runner on second base
OPENED Up WELL.
The Scrantons We're first at bat and
opened the matinee auspiciOusly by
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