The age-herald., 1901-06-13
Little Rock at Chattanooga.
Shreveport Took One.

Through the courtesy of Umpire Ebright and the good pitching of Sample, Shreveport captured the last game of the series yesterday afternoon. Ebright, at all times hard on the pitchers, was es- pecially so yesterday and in addition rem dered three or four decisions on bases that might be overlooked on the corner lots or the commons about town but cer- tainly not on a league diamond where two evenly matched teams are battling for the pennant One of these decisions gave Shreveport two runs and the game Mir. Ebright Is rated as the best umpire in the Southern Association, and there seems to be some ground upon which to base this estimate, but he was sadly off yesterday and Birmingham suffered. He Is honest, no one questions that, but he should brighten up his lamps and try to see plays as they really occur. Both teams suffered from his rank decisions, but those against the visitors were harm less while at least one in their favor enabled them to score two runs after the third man had been touched out.
 The umpires have not been criticised in the local press this season, although there have been on several occasions when they could have been justly criticised, but the sporting writers have preferred to pass all this up rather than have the impression go out that the umpire is blamed for the home teams defeat. MT Ebright's work yesterday, however, was too raw to go unnoticed.
 The particular decision that proved so costly to Birmingham occurred in the fifth inning. With two out and Sample on second and Montgomery on first, O'Rourlse hit to short. Moss knocked the ball down and tossed it to Mills, while Montgomery was still four feet from the base. The Birmingham men started to the bench, but MT. Ebright called Mont gomery safe to the astonishment of ev- erybody, even the Shreveport players themselves being surprised This filled the bases. Culver threw to second to catch Montgomery, who was almost midway between second and third, and Sample started home. The ball was returned to Culver, and he started to third, and fin- ally threw to third, but the ball struck Sample on the arm and bounded out of
 
 cry ran home with what proved to be the winning runs.
 The weather was fine yesterday, and it was ladies' day at the ball park, and the locals had already taken two falls out of the leaders. This combination of circumstances attracted about 400 per- sons to the park, and they were well re- paid for the hour and forty minutes in tvh ha n Both teams were on their metal and 1t was game for blood. Sparger, Manager Mills new southpaw was in the box for the locals, and Sample for the visitors. Both pitched magnificent ball, and were given splendid support. While the visit ors are credited with ten hits, only four of them went outside the diamond and resulted from attempts to bunt. That they were hits was due to the fleet footedness of the batters Only three of the hits counted in the run-getting.
 Sparger had magnificent control of the ball, and pulled himself out of several tight holes, In one inning three hits be- ing made with but one man out, and no runs resulting.
 The features of the game were catches by Mills and Sullivan, the former jump ing into the air and pulling down a be- whiskered liner from Bammert's bat that looked to be sure two -bagger
 Gettinger was sick and unable to get in the game, Gillen taking his place in left field. In the third inning a foul tip struck Mcclure. catcher for the visitors, on the ungloved hand, retiring him from the game. Montgomery came in from cen ter field to relieve him, Keefe going to center and Stultz to right.
 The locals were blanked in all but one inning, and then they earned two runs. Moss, first up in the sixth. hit the ball in the nose for a three-sacker. which landed up against the right field fence. Veltch followed with two bagger to the same garden sending Moss across the home plate. Leidy hit to right center field.
 The visitors broke the ice in the sec ond. Hulsman singled to right and was