The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-05-01

The opening of the Western Association
championship season i'm this city yesterday
afternoon at Washington Park between the
indianapolis and Dayton teams witnessed
the downfall of the Daytons from the one
thousand mark. where they have sojourned
for a few days. through having defeated
the Columbus aggregation four straight
games on the old soldiers battlefield AZ
Dayton. The $500 people had frequent op-
portunities TO applaud. as there were sew
cral plays that awakened the baseball in
terest of the spectators. The final score
was 8 to 3 in favor of indianapolis.
The preliminary display consisted of a
parade of the two teams. headed by the
Indianapolis Military Band. over the down
town streets. The players occupied car
riages and were driven to the park about
2:30. At 3 o'clock practice began, the Wis
itors warming up for fifteen minutes and
the Hoosiers then taking the field. A large
crowd had gathered before the players went
TO the field. and it was Immediately seen
that there would be plenty of encourage
ment offered the players and the new or
ganization by the Indianapolis rooters. The
crowd cheered the Dayton players as they
took the field. and fifteen minutes later,
when Captain Kelly and his Hoosiers
marched to the home plate from the club
house the applause was general through
out the stand and bleachers. The men, in
their new white suits, marched to the plate.
where they made a left wheel and doffei
their caps to the spectators. The crowd
cheered the gingery work displayed by the
ffoosiers during practice. and just before
time for calling the game loud cheers were
gwen for Tony Mullane, the umpire, as he
walked toward the home bench.
EMIL FERTIG'S ARRIVAL.
Next in line for an ovation was Emil
Fertig. the king of rooters. He was a little
late In arriving, but not too late to wit
ness the first ball pitched. Buffalo Bill
could not have excited more interest by
entering the park on a galloping horse
than did Fertig as he pranced down the
line 10 take his accustomed seat near the
south end of the left field bleachers. The
| crowd paid tribute to him and he returned
the compliment by declaring that he was
on hand to help indianapolis win If neces-
sary.
But Fertig's aid was not needed in the
game. The Dayton aggregation helped In
dianapOlis to land a victory just as much
as the Hoosiers aided themselves. The
work OF both teams, however, was COM
mendable and the fans realized that they
will get a run for their money" this sea-
son in the Western Association. II is said
that Wicker is the star slab man for the
Daytons, and he was a disturbing element
Yesterday. probably due TO the fact that
a small pickaninny followed his carriage
for a square during the parade. Wicker
strutted around the box like a game chicken
and was burdened evidently with the
weight of his own importance, or probably
he thought he would show Indianapolis
people how to cut up a little. His feroclous
frowns DELAYED the game fully twenty min
utes, for when things didn't go just 10 suit
him he would tie his eyebrows IN a knot
with his mitt before continuing the game.
But while Wicker will have TO be taken
down a peg or two before his usefulness
will be of Al quality. he struck nine or the
Eoosiers out yesterday and but five hits
were made off him. His chief fault In the
box was his erratic work, and largely
through that and the fact that n few
errors were made behind him at critical
times the indianapolis team won.
GUEsE WAS EFFECTIVE.
Guese was on the slab for indianapolis.
and was especially effective at critical
times. He gave two bases on balls and was
penalized three times by men being sent 10
first when they put out their chests and
allowed the ball to Craze their uniforms.
The work behind Guese was fast and but
two dinky errors were charged against the
Hoosiers. The backstop work OF Heydon
was par excellence. and he threw TO bases
IN fine style. The outfelders covered all the
territory necessary. Bey taking in four
hard chances in the center garden. Flynn
was one of the stars. as his two safe hits.
one A three-bagger and the other a double.
gave Indianapolis the victory. Hifkey
PLAYED a fast game at third and Fox was
right in line for applause at second. The
game opened with a sensational catch of a
line drive from DOnnelly's bat by Flynn.
and closed with a sensational play by Fox
in the ninth inning. Wheeler. the first man
up. secured a single and Wicker popped an
easv one 10 Hickey. Donnelly connected
and sent a line drive toward second base
Fox made a leap and brought the ball
down. throwing to first and doubling
Wheeler. /
DAYTON DREW FIRST BLOOD.
There was no scoring in the first inning.
and Dayton started the run-setting in the
second inning. After Smith was retired
Meyers hit 10 right for two bases and
scored on Miller's single TO left. Miller was
doubled when Smink hit 10 Fox. Indianapo- |
lis went one better in the last OF the Sec
.,I tVfrtor rraooptaI Hoxrlo-, vs.L -,